40 Days of Honor - Day 8 Grandma

Weigh In Wednesday/Thursday

Let me start this post by saying that I thought today, through out the ENTIRE day, was Wednesday. I didn't remember starting this post yesterday morning... when it was actually Wednesday. So please pretend that this was posted yesterday/today ;)

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Another pound gone, whew. I was a bit anxious to step on the scale this morning... I hard a complete breakdown yesterday and somehow I ate both a McDonald's small fry and a Shamrock Shake. I'd never had a Shamrock Shake before, so that was a little planned, but the fry was out of left field... oops? And now that my trainer has the link to this blog... oops oops? I incorporated those calories into my daily allotment, I promise!!!

Went to the regular gym for the first time in two weeks, and it was just as boring as I was anticipating. I ran on the treadmill because I have to start training for that 5k, or I might die. Literally. Right there on Akron's campus, die in my cute little purple running shoes.


It'll be like the wicked witch of the west's sister, minus the house... and my shoes are purple.

I digress.

So I ran, was bored, did some push ups, was bored and did some crunches... BORED. Why oh why does the boxing gym have to be so expensive! When I win the lotto, I'm paying off my CC debt, my school loans, my medical bills, my mortgage and then I'll get that membership ;)

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Now pretend it's a day later and Thursday!

I got to train with Heather today, wahoo! I have to apologize to her for being so grumpy at the beginning of our hour together. I was frustrated that I wasn't able to do one of the things she had planned, so I had to do an easier version. I was so pissed I wasn't able to get my body to do it. After a year of working out, getting fit and building muscle, I am still weak in certain areas. She patiently explained that I'm always going to have areas I need to work on. She put up with my attitude but she shouldn't have had to :(

I was also having a day where I felt fat. I was facing myself in the mirror and all I could see was the old me. It's so frustrating to have to work twice as hard as last time to lose the weight. I know as I get more fit it'll be harder and harder to drop pounds, but I'm really starting to freak out that I won't hit that 5% mark before the end of the contest.

I also still see my arms and legs and think that they are flabby, which they are, I just had hoped to see less jiggle when I run. I have to be positive and know that I'm on the right track, it's just hard knowing that last year at this time I was close to a 30 pound loss already and this year I'm still struggling to re-lose that 8-9 pounds I put on over the holidays.

Here's a quick look at my num num dinner. I was going to grill out but it wasn't nearly as warm tonight as it was yesterday. Tomorrow is supposed to be 65, so I'll make a turkey burger for dinner tomorrow :)


This is hat awesome 100 calorie whole wheat pita pocket by Arnold, some cubed chicken, fat free ranch, spring mix and Roma tomatoes, plus a side salad :)

40 Days of Honor - Day 7 Heather

Heather Ricardo is my personal trainer. She rocks my world and kicks my ass. She is one of the reasons I'm where I am today in my weight loss journey. She's a beautiful person and I one day hope to be as fit as her. No matter how bad a day I'm having, she knows just the right thing to say. She pushes me hard and doesn't listen to my excuses.

She has taught me how to exercise and eat right for life. She makes me feel good about myself and all that I've accomplished and she doesn't let me be negative about bad weigh in days. She's able to balance three children, a husband, job and my training sessions :) So she deserves a little honor today.

I hope Heather knows what a great person she is and how much she's influenced my life!

40 Days of Honor - Day 6 Amanda

I remember Amanda like all grown ups do some of their childhood friends. Warm but slightly fuzzy memories. Who knows, this could totally not have happened, but this is what I remember. I don't even remember her last name either, just her.

Amanda and I were close in 3rd grade. She seemed to come out of the blue. She was cool but not a "cool" kid. We both liked art and we both had brown hair and horrible bangs. For some reason, I remember feeling like we were twins. We played four square and tether ball and competed to see who could get higher on the swing set, I'm pretty sure we tied, cause I would remember if I won or lost ;) Competitive nature and all.

I think it was the last week of school, and one day before we left to get on the bus Amanda turned to me and said it was her last day and that she was moving. I don't think I realized she was serious, because it didn't sink in til the fall that my friend wasn't coming back. I vaguely remember (this is the part that my brain might be making up) her saying that she was a ward of the state, something had happened to her family and she was being put into foster care.

Today I honor Amanda as she taught me that I am truly blessed to have the life and family that I do. I can't imagine the fear, stress and pain that she must have felt having her life changed so quickly. Where ever you are Amanda, whether this event really did happen or not, you've taught me to appreciate everything that I have and that my parents and sister are together, happy and healthy. You were a great friend and maybe we'll meet again.

40 Days of Honor - Day 5 Bach

This day of honor might seem like it's coming from left field, but hear me out.

Today I honor Johann Sebastian Bach. Born March 21, 1685, this man is one of my all time favorite composers. His early life was riddled with the death of all but one of his siblings and mother and father by the time he reached ten years of age. I won't lie, I just wiki-d all that information. You would think that when honoring someone during this journey, I'd be more familiar with their life story... as it might lend some merit to WHY they influenced me.

I won't say he directly influenced me as much as his music does. Continuously! It's absolutely perfect that my two favorite pieces of his relate directly to Lent, Easter and to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. I was first introduced to The St. Matthew Passion and the St. John Passion during my time at Baldwin-Wallace College... (although now it's just Baldwin Wallace College). I associate some of my best memories of my college years with Bach's music and college choir. I find myself, during the spring, longing to get out that blue bound score and sing the notes written on those pages. To hear the glorious twining of the choral voices telling the story of Jesus' death. To sing in the oldest collegiate Bach Festival in the country was one of the best times of my life.



(I'm on the far left of this picture, top row! I was one hot looking alto 2!)

The two Passions are truly some of the most moving music I have ever sang. I weep when we get to the crucifixion as it's already an emotional story, but when told through the musical lines of Bach, I find myself appreciating more the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.

So Bach, I thank you for your gift of music to this world. I appreciate and honor your supreme talent and thank you for the joy it brings to my life.

40 Days of Honor - Day 4 Colbie Jack

Okay, this may seem cliche, to honor my dog. But let me start off by saying that this being is also a creation of the Lord. She was made and put on this earth by God, just the same as you and me! She is my roommate, my guardian and a best friend. Every minute of every day, Colbie is waiting for me at the door when I come home from work. I haven't always been perfect to her and she still comes back to me, she always loves me. I take that for granted. She has taught me patience, soooo much patience. She may be 4 years old and potty trained, but she's still my furry child who gets sick and feels horrible about chewing up things that shouldn't be chewed, my furry child who can't help her muddy feet from doing her business outside, my ADHD child who doesn't understand why she has to be alone all day.

I used to get so angry about her inability to learn that eating my shoes was bad. I even hit her a few times. That was the worst thing I could ever do, it kills me that she flinches from my hand when raised. I am no better than someone who hits their spouse or loved ones. Dogs never forget what you've done to them, neither does God. I pray for forgiveness every night for the things I do wrong, and sometimes it's not appreciating the gift that is my Colbie Jack.

Colbie has done nothing but love me. She has taught me about unconditional love and responsibility. Today I honor her and her beautiful, playful self.

40 Days of Honor - Day 3 Megan