New Blog!! and Weekend Shenannies

Truth. I'm fat and lazy. OK, maybe not fat, but bigger than I want to be and bigger than I have ever been. So I'm doing something about it....again...

Most of you guys know I was doing really well at the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, I broke my foot in July and that stopped me dead in my tracks. I was stuck in a huge boot for 3 weeks and couldn't go to the gym. Then, when we moved, we actually moved 20 minutes away from the gym. So, it's not on my way home or 7 minutes away anymore. However, all these are excuses. The real reason is that I'm just too lazy and I love to eat. I loooooove food. I like trying new things, I love the taste, I love cooking, I love everything about food. 

So in order to get my ass in check I started a new blog. Don't worry, Hopelessly Ever After will still be here. You guys have been awesome for me!! And I hope you'll stop by the new blog Fittin' It In and follow to help keep me motivated. 

I really am determined this time. Over the past few months I've felt really crappy about my weight. I can never find anything that looks nice because the rolls are always there. I figure if I have a blog dedicated to me getting in check I'll actually do it. 

OK enough of my filthyness...here are the Weekend Shenannies!!

Friday was pretty awesome. Mike worked so I stayed in made some hot cocoa, got comfy, and read "The Fault in Our Stars" for a while. Don't tell me what happens, I'm not done. So far I'm in love with this book. Too cute for these two love birds, even though there's cancer involved. I'm just to the part where they had dinner in Amsterdam. Can't wait to read some more!! Don't worry, I'm pretty sure I've already heard what happens at the end. But I actually like books like that. Something unpredicted.

Saturday I went to the gym!!! Yayeah!! I'm still really congested so the elliptical kinda kicked my ass but I went!! And I ran!! And then worked out a little but with arms while Mike finished up his squats. 

Then, we came home and cleaned the house for company. UFC was on Saturday and the card was awesome. Go GSP, although everyone is complaining that he shouldn't have won. Guess Hendricks shouldn't have left it in the judges hands. Dana was pissed, but here's an awesome shot of GSP's face. haha.

Mike and I are also bug Chael Sonnen fans. He's hilarious and the fact that he was fighting Rashad was even better. I used to hate Rashad, mainly because we love Rampage and so when they were coaches together on TUF I felt like Rashad was a total puss puss. I've since calmed down and actually like him now so that fight was awesome. I could have gone either way.

Sunday was a bust. lol. Mike and I slept way too late and then the Ravens game was suspended due to bad weather. While we were waiting I accidentally deleted a ton of pics from my phone. I got all freaked out because Google+ backed up my photos but I thought that meant everyone could see them on Google+ and truthfully, you don't want to see some of those pics!! lol. There are no nasty ones, don't worry, but there are some pics of me in my "draws" from the pics I took when I was working out before. And then, when I went to go check out some recipes from this blog all of my pictures were deleted from here too!!!!!! OMG!!! I freaked the frick out! But, somehow I got it figured out. It was something I had messed with with Google+ during my freak out about the backup. Whatevs. And the Ravens lost.

But it was gorgeous outside, so that made it all better. Kinda. 

Go check out the new blog!!

Linking up with Sami for Weekend Shenanigans!!

Workout Wednesday!!

First off, don't forget about the Thirsty Thursday Linkup Party tomorrow!!! Grab a button from my sidebar and post your favorite beer, wine, or cocktail!!

I'm going to kind of cheat a little for workout Wednesday and talk about an accomplishment I made yesterday.

So here's a confession....the only running I do is on the elliptical.

My whole life I have sucked at true running. I played softball when I was younger, and then again on a beer league when I was like 21. Everyone called me "Forrest". "Run Forrest, Run!!"

Here's the deal...I have really long legs. Like 95% of my body is legs. I even had a few friends in high school who called me "Leggs". 2 "g's". like 2 legs?? yeah...I'm pretty sure they might have forgotten my real name. So...when I run, it almost looks like I'm running in slow motion. It takes so long for my legs to catch up with the rest of my body. You would think I would make big strides, but I really don't. Not sure what the dilly is??

Anyway, I've always cheated at running. When I was a cheerleader yup, I know we had to run laps before practice. I don't think I made it halfway around the .25 mile track before collapsing. Then, I would walk/jog (like when it looks like you're jogging but you're really just walking. Kinda like marching in place) to make it look like I was running the rest of the way. And truth...I was captain so they couldn't really yell at me. I know, I know...cheerleading captain. I promise I wasn't like thooooose girls.

So, anyway...like I said...the only running I have done in years is on the elliptical. I like to think I can run pretty well on there. We usually run about 3.5+ miles in 35 minutes. We can even keep a steady pace of about 7.4 mph while we talk!! Which I think is a pretty good accomplishment.

The past few weeks, however, I have been wanting to push myself and run outside. My ultimate goal is to run a 5k.....someday....and that's a BIG someday...

Yesterday, I asked my workout partner, Taylor, if she wanted to run outside. My town just finished a beautiful running path that took the place of an old railroad track through the town.

VIA

I told her I wanted to start slow and we agreed upon a destination. About 1/8th of a mile into the run I was ready to quit. My pants were falling down, I was having a hard time breathing, my shins hurt...but then I turned a corner and saw our destination in the distance. And...I knew I could make it.

It was hard. Real hard!! twss

But I did it!! 

It probably was only about 1/4 of a mile. Taylor thinks it might have been more. But I didn't really care. All it meant to me was that I pushed myself and did it. AND....I know I can continue to try and I can only get better!!

So there's my Workout Wednesday for you!! I think I'm back on that wagon!!

AND....


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Summer Kielbasa Mix

It's been a while since I've done a recipe. When The Goob and I thought this up tonight I figured it would be something good to put on here.

We had originally planned on making Jambalaya, but I wanted something to get me more in the summer mood. Unfortunately, Mike had already been to the store and we really didn't have much of anything in the house.

I checked out the stash when I got home and figured we could make do even without the corn and peppers that I would normally put in this. We did have corn on the cob, however, so we just ate that on the side.

Summer Kielbasa Mix

INGREDIENTS:

     1 package kielbasa of your coice, thick sliced

     4 red skin potatoes, cubed

     1/2 red onion, sliced

     1/4 zucchini, sliced or cubed

2 tbs (approximately) olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

     

DIRECTIONS:

     1. Turn your grill on high.

     2. Put everything together in a foil pouch. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

     3. Cook 20-30 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender.

     4. Eat!!

That's it!! So easy!! And it's sooo good.

Inches, not Pounds...

I think this should be my mantra.

I have been working my tail off (literally) for the last 4 months and have seen such little progress on the scale. When I started working out in January I weighed about 152ish. I say "ish" because it depended on the scale. Mike and I purposefully do not own a scale. For a while I used the one at the gym until I realized it was totally wrong. Sometimes Mike sneaks me into the mens locker room so I can use that one because it's pretty acurate. But it wasn't until about a month after I started this lifestyle change that I realized there was an official medical scale in room across from my classroom. Duh!

So I have been working out 4-6 days a week for 4 months now. I generally run (elliptical) for 25-40 minutes depending on the day's events at a steady pace of about 7.5-8 mph. Then, my partner and I go and lift. Now, my husband (who, if you have read, is a gymaholic) created our workout plan. In my older days of working out long long ago I was a machine whore. I would use whatever machine I felt like using that day. I never worked on one particular muscle group or lifted anything except maybe a 10 lb. dumbell. Now, since The Goober (Mike) has been helping me, we do "real" lifting. By that, I just mean we do the same stuff they do; deadlifts, barbell squats, smith machine calf raises, etc.

Point? I feel like I have been gaining a ton of muscle. This is the only reason the scale is not discouraging to me.

When I weighed myself this morning I was the same as I have been for the last 3 weeks. 146 lbs.

I am not, however, discouraged. Yay me!! I have for once in my life listened to what everyone says about  inches, not pounds. Overall, I feel better. I can fit into my clothes easier. I don't cringe when I look at myself naked.

And...the best part...My Goober tells me all the time "You're getting so skinny!!". I love him...

Mike hates this pic...don't tell him I put it on here. hehe.

I didn't want to...but I did...

     I feel like, lately, things have been very busy and I haven't really gotten to do anything fun for the blog. So...I figured I would post about my latest accomplishment. :)

     As I mentioned many times before, I have started to think about my body a little more and decided to get back in the gym. Contrary to what I originally believed would happen (and many other people too, I'm sure) I actually have stuck with it!! I owe a lot of that to my freakin' awesome workout partner, Taylor, who keeps me motivated to get off the couch. She has had an AMAZING transformation in the past year and I strive to have the same results. Most of this she did from her own home with the Insanity workout videos, but has recently gotten back in the gym with me. I feel so lucky to have someone like that as my BEASTMODE partner.

     As many of you teachers know, these past 2 weeks have been our Maryland State Assessment testing. It has been a dreadful interesting few weeks. :) Our class schedules have changed to allow for each testing class to still get specials (A.K.A. classroom teachers getting planning) and the change is horrendous!! First off, our normal planning time of 8:45-9:30 has been taken away moved to a later date (taken away). Testing starts at 9:15, however, we have to go get the testing materials and students, and before that set up the room. So...picking up what I'm putting down??(taken away) Then, for the next 2-3 hours, I get to sit in a little room and stare at 2 students while they take their test....captivating. When testing is all finished we get lunch (maybe) and start the rest of the day. 11:45 - 3:35. Straight. 5 classes. In a row. No breaks. 3 hours and 50 minutes. 4 days of this. Call you feel my exhaustion??

     I'm telling you this story for a reason. Promise. Keep reading...

     During my hour drive home all I could think about was how badly I wanted to put on my PJ's and sit down with a beer and a book. But, despite that, I got home and changed right into my gym clothes to prepare for our workout at 7:30. After eating dinner and relaxing for a few, Taylor sent me a text that she didn't think she could make it that night. "THANK GOD!!!!" I told her! Best. news. ever. 

...and then I looked down...

...I was already dressed. I had already talked myself into it. Ugh!!...

     So, at 7:30, when I should have been at home in my PJ's with a beer and a book, I headed in to the gym. I know there was no point in doing our weight lifting routine for the day, since we would just do it again tomorrow, so on the elliptical I went. 35 minutes, 473 calories, 3.5 miles, and 4 buckets of sweat later...I rejoiced in my accomplishment!!

     You see, the old me would have taken Taylor's text as a sign. This new me...she took it as an opportunity!! (or something)