8.3.10

bring it

March 8, 2010
day 57 of P90X; day 1 of phase 3

so, if you read back earlier in my blog it is obvious that it has taken me longer than 90 days to complete p90x. after my car accident i took a week off & it was semi-hard to get back into the routine considering i didn't want to strain my back. then i got lazy and took a week off two weeks ago because it was hard to get back into the routine.

now that i'm in phase 3 i could dance! i am starting phase 3 today & it is my goal to complete p90x in the next 5 weeks. i'm totally pumped! and also trying to promise myself to continue to bring it! like a crazy person & keep pushing through. i'm excited that Chest & Back is making its return -- i'm a sucker for push-ups & pull-ups. i'm ready.

my last day of P90X should be April 11 -- one week before my friend's wedding!



farewell for now,
KC

7.3.10

now that's clean living

it is day 3 of eating clean, except those couple of beers i had yesterday with friend that came in town from kc out of the blue; i had to.

it is easier for me to give up sugar than it is yeast. i love beer. not in the traditional, i love getting drunk on beer sense, but the actual love for a good beer. especially with friends. you can't beat that.

sorry if this gets annoying, imaginary readers, but i'm going to list what i had to eat yesterday as well. just to remind myself & track progress.

yesterday's food choices were:
breakfast
yogurt + 5 blackberries + granola

snack
24g protein shake (always with H2O unless otherwise noted)

post-workout-shake
52g protein shake + carbs

lunch @ local-vegan-loving eatery
veggie quesadilla with cheese; still not sure what i'm doing about dairy intake, it is limited but not cut out entirely

dinner @ local brewery
veggie sandwich: hummus, peppers, goat cheese, yum!
sautéed veggies
2 beers

i ran into my long-lost buddy A, at the local-vegan-loving-eatery, who informed me that if i came in on saturday nights he would comp my meal, because i'm slightly poor. wow!

also, that was too much food for yesterday. today will be filled with correcting that. hello H2O!

today's meals:
breakfast
3 eggwhites + 1 egg
granola + local milk
kombucha
32 oz of H2O

no protein today, as it is my off day for training & i am getting a massage! so that means lots and lots of H2O. i wonder if i can drink two gallons today?

farewell for now,
KC

5.3.10

it's the start of something new

i paid my credit card off today.

i am going to start eating 100% clean.

that means, fruits & vegetables, whole grains, lean protein & water. i will also add in organic yogurt & milk from a local farm where i know how the farmer treats the cows (no hormones & give those cows grain please!). i have been inspired to do this not only because i have been doing P90X for around 60 days now, but because my convictions about food continue to grow. it is important to put money back into the local economy to stimulate my town, but also to build a relationship with the people that grow my food is amazing. i believe eating clean will also give me more energy while i am not relying on processed foods and sugars and crashing in between meals. it is much healthier for your body & hopefully it will be fun too!

okay, so i'm not all that excited about cutting out all sugar and i may even eat a cookie once in a while but i think this will be an important step into becoming the healthiest i have ever been and it will also allow/force me to not hold onto my love of sweet things --- aka cookies, ice cream, etc. it is not that those things are bad for you, but when you are trying to get "into the best shape of your life" (thanks Tony Horton!) they probably are not the best choice.

so there you have it. i am officially on my way to eating 100% clean. i don't really have a plan. i think i'll just wing it. goodbye icecream i bought yesterday, you are going down the drain.

today:
breakfast
3 egg whites + 1 whole egg; canola oil
1 piece of whole wheat toast with butter & honey
3/4 cup of organic yogurt with 5 raspberries & homemade granola (honey, almonds, oats, coconut, wheat germ, whole wheat flour, canola oil, vanilla, H2O)

snack
24g protein shake + 8 oz skim milk + mango & flax seeds

lunch
 1/2 cup of oatmeal
1 plum

snack
1/2 avocado
12 almonds
28g protein shake + H2O

62oz of H2O today; will achieve 1 gallon daily

wow. this feels good!

farewell for now,
KC

19.2.10

goal

my goal for the end of February is to have my credit card paid off.

it is amazing how easy it is to spend money.

this is a doable goal and i already cut my balance into a third this month (thanks tax refund!) and i am positive that i can have it paid off by February 28.

days until goal deadline: 9

farewell for now,
KC

12.2.10

Senses

I was dancing today. I jumped up, did 180 degree turn and came down on the outside of my left foot instead of the sole. I fell. I felt my ankle burning with fire and I forced myself to move it to make sure I could. As I breathed through the pain, my senses awoke. I became more aware of the sensation going on in my body than the actual pain. What a beautiful thing. Our minds can not only tell us that a part of our body is in pain, but we can detach ourselves from that feeling and interpret what it feels like. In doing so, the pain melts and you become acutely aware of your breathing, the airy feeling in your head, the noises being blurred and running together. As I focused and became aware of the pain, while breathing through it, it faded. I got up and walked on my foot. Although still kindling with fire I was more aware that my hearing was blurred and my eyes were moving at an oddly rapid pace. The experience was revolutionary. In some degree, I controlled how much pain I felt. My mind switched to how my body was responding rather than the pain itself. It was absolutely beautiful.

The other day, a friend said this to me, Your mind creates the world around you. Now I have experienced that to be true.

25.1.10

The following is what I have learned from being in an accident:
  1. Your insurance agent does not give a shit about you, they just want to know what happened so they can pay as little as possible. Even when you pay them for 6 years in case something like this happens.
  2. People want to know way too many details. They think they are trying to help, but they are in fact making the situation worse.
  3. When you don't own your vehicle it is a pain in the ass to do anything with it, because you don't have the title at your desecration and you have to wait for others to give it to you after you explain to them, again lots of worthless detail, what you plan to do.
  4. Friends, trying to help you figure out what to do with your vehicle, are in fact worthless.
  5. If you tow your vehicle and it is kept there you're in fact screwed. You'll get to pay a holding fee of $35 a day and while all your friends and family are making the decision on what the hell to do with the vehicle your money is wasting away.
  6. The only thing you really want to do is say goodbye to your beloved friend, gut him & sell his new tires, engine, transmission, and anything else of value and mourn.

11.1.10

1.11.2010

January 11, 2010
Day 1 of 1st Recovery Phase

I thought I would look forward to the Recovery Phase & then starting something even more bad ass afterwards, but I think I was mistaken. Two Yoga X's in the same week. That's even more ass whooping than the other workouts! Oh Tony, you just love me so much you want to whip my lower body into shape in 7 days. Wonderful, thanks. I'm thinking about not doing my workout for today. Ha, like that's an option.

Farewell for now,
KC

10.1.10

1.10.2010

January 10, 2010
Day 21 of P90X : catching up for taking days off

Today is the day for playing catch up. I took Wednesday & Thursday off from the P90X routine because I thought I was getting a cold & if I learned anything from last time, it was that I need to rest when I think I am getting sick or the stinking cold will stick around forever! So I took two days off & now I'm back 100% & ready to BRING IT! So I did Legs & Back, Ab Ripper X, & am planning on doing Kenpo X later. Then all my pain will be taken away by my wonderful masseuse Maria! Which allows me to push myself even harder because I will be rewarded with a glorious one hour massage.

One thing I have learned to try & never take days off when they are not scheduled because I do not like playing P90X catch up. The one hour workouts are enough insanity for me and adding another one hour work out on top of that is just mind blowing, but I have to do it.

This is my last week through the first circuit of P90X. As of tomorrow I start the Recovery Phase, which although sounds like a nice break, I'm not too sure if "break" is the correct word. I have two Yoga X's in the same week & will probably want to die by the end. In addition, today is supposed to be my off day but I am doing two workouts instead because I am playing catch up. So this week will most likely be the hardest week of my life, which excites me but also absolutely intimidates me.

Bring It! Tony. I'm ready.

Farewell for now,
KC

4.1.10

1.4.2010

January 4, 2010
Day 15 of P90X

I just finished my last Chest & Back for 6 weeks. I'm not sure whether to be excited, because that routine is insane or mortified, because I am positive that whatever is coming next will be even harder. What I do know is that Tony Horton motivates me. Especially at the hardest point in the workout, he knows you're struggling to keep on going and that is when the encouraging words come in. My favorite, "If you want guns, you've gotta work for them!" ;) In all honesty, it is really good to hear encouragement, especially when I'm 3/4 through the workout and he tells me we're doing more decline push-ups. It's good to hear, "the first month was hard," & "keep pressing play."

During Chest & Back I did 62 pull-ups (chair assisted) & over 170 push-ups. Uh. That's insane. I've never added up the numbers for this workout before, but that my friends is just plain crazy! I'm glad it is over & I'm not even going to look at what comes next after my rest week next week.

The P90X Nutrition plan is going fairly well. I've only eaten a couple of things that are not "P90X kosher," which included the scone I ate today at work because my pear got smashed in my truck. One problem I am having is loading up enough protein. 50% of my daily calories need to be coming from protein. I guess I just need to eat more lentils & hummus, because I'm getting really sick of egg whites & tofu. So I'm looking into some good protein replacements that are not too high in carbohydrates. So far, I've been downing protein shakes, which I realize is not the best & I need to find an alternative if I'm going to last 2 more weeks on this "Fat Shredder" phase.

My motivation for this week is dive bombing. I keep pressing play, but man, I don't know. I think it is the weather. It is making me not want to do anything because it is so freezing outside. Hopefully, I can adapt a better attitude about -2 degrees. So I can keep at it & Bring It!

Farewell for now,
KC

1.1.10

1.1.2010

December 21, 2009
1st Official Day of P90X

Week 2 P90X
Day 1 P90X Nutrition

Considering getting into shape is a goal of mine, I figured I might as well just dedicate this blog to my P90X progression. I'm currently one day away from completing two weeks straight of P90X. I started the program back in December, did it for roughly a week and a half and then got sick and tried to push through for a week. My official start day was December 21, 2009.

My goal is to get in better shape, by building muscle and losing body fat. Thankfully I have a pretty athletic build for a woman (thanks mom & dad); I've joked with friends that if I were a man I would be a total meat head. Doing P90X is my way of getting my head into not only working out as a way of life but altogether healthier lifestyle. At first look, some people think P90X is absolutely insane. Alright, I'd have to agree with you. It is, obviously, Xtreme. But what P90X is doing for me is exactly what I need.
  • Enables me to get into a routine & be dedicated for 90 days
  • A healthy workout routine that keeps me motivated and continues to push me to my max
  • Encourages me to eat healthier
  • Educates me on health and what is going into my body
  • Build muscle/burn fat
So, the intensity of P90X works perfectly for me. It allows me to push myself to the max, with making sure that I am determined to get to the end. Programs like this work well with my personality style. I've realized it helps me push myself in other areas of my life as well. I've heard myself say, "I can't read my bible everyday." Hey, I work out 6 times a week -- I know I can spend time with the Lord everyday. That realization has helped me to. So I'm intense about my workouts. I'm okay with that. I like it. I like fueling my body to be the best it can be. I also like glorifying God while doing it. Those are the two weights than hang in the balance.

Farewell for now,
KC

10.12.09

day 58 : dec 10

day 58
baking

today, a friend is coming over and we are going to bake some wonderful christmas treats for friends. =) i am very excited.

i am also very excited about this:

Kaldi's Holiday Roast

farewell for now,
kc

9.12.09

day 59 : dec 9

day 57
enjoying a day off

today i am actually going to rest; no work, just play. that includes drinking Kaldi's Holiday Roast, watching Boondock Saints on our new 40" flat screen tv, & baking cookies & other goodies for friend's Christmas gifts. oh boy! i am excited. a whole day of staying inside & listening to a fine frenzy & smiling. because it's cold outside & you have to enjoy God's pleasures somehow.

farewell for now,
kc

5.12.09

day 53 : dec 5

day 53

as you can tell i am not very good at keeping up with things. BUT i have gotten a lot accomplished since starting this blog. i think it's the "buckling down" factor of my life & continue to do things that i have started.

i have continued to work out at least 3 times a week.
i have continued to pray every day.
i have continued to read my bible 5 times a week.

i'm happy with achieving those goals. =)

i also started P90X last friday, november 27. i have done the routine for a week now. today was my first day on a new routine as i am switching to the "lean" workout system. it's amazing. tony horton is insane & i am very happy with pushing myself to be insane with him. i feel like somehow i want the videos to last longer than an hour because i want to keep going. crazy. we'll see if i can continue this for 90 days. =)

farewell for now,
kc

10.11.09

day 28 : nov 10

day 28 : goal 1,386
continue blogging

it's been awhile. once you get out of the groove of things, it feels like you failed something & usually never get back to it. well here i am. ready to continue to blog about some little dumb goal i put up on the web for some reason or another. i've decided to make these goals worth something. sure, sure i have a problem with being productive but the Lord has blessed me so much in the past month that it would be dumb to continue to make these goals trivial.

the Lord will provide.

so my goal today is to smash my pride & continue with this blog & not just let it get lost & put on the list of things i started & never completed. ha. it feels good.

farewell for now,
kc

30.10.09

day 17 : oct 30

day 17 : goal 17
have fun at MWRBC

i am leaving this morning to go to saint louis to volunteer at the midwest regional barista competition. i think i would like to compete one day, so this will be a great experience. :) maybe i can aspire to compete in a year or so.

farewell for now,
kc

edit @ 30.10.09 20:03
goal achieved

wow! i did not have any idea what i was getting myself into! the midwest regional barista competition was amazing! i was blessed to be the head runner & help set up all the competing baristas - this included bringing their carts out with all their mugs, milk, pitchers, etc on them, fitting competitors with mics, telling them when they were going to go on for prep & then competing. it was a blast! if i only could have stayed for tomorrow that would have been awesome; but opening the store tomorrow will be a blast because i will be able to rave about how cool the competition was!

it looks like i will aspire to compete next year. whoa - BIG goal. check out some of the streaming video we took today. MWRBC Day 1 Competitors

29.10.09

day 16 : oct 29

day 16 : goal 16
watch a movie

i refuse to do anything today. besides have the chevy people come out & take my stupid truck away from me because it has a flat tire. did i mention i f-ed up my road bike on the spill i took yesterday? i didn't realize it until now as i took it out of the bed of my truck. the handlebar is cranked over to one side, probably from colliding into the ground. good thing that was not my head.

i will watch reign over me today & feel better.

farewell for now,
kc

edit @ 30.10.09 6:39
goal achieved

i watched about 45 minutes of the movie & got to hang out with friends today after my truck was picked up & taken to the dealer.

holla.

28.10.09

day 15 : oct 28

day 15 : goal 15
make soup today

seriously, i will make soup today!! even if i have to make it this afternoon, it will get done! i also want to finish painting my furniture because it is almost done & when i complete that, my room will be done!

farewell for now,
kc

edit @ 28.10.09 22:15
goal achieved

yum! lemon grass, ginger, garlic, kale, zucchini, peppers, potatoes, lentils, tomato juice, vegetable bouillon cubes, oregano, salt & pepper! i'm really happy with how it turned out - tomorrow i will probably cook up some onions to mix in as well. i've got soup for the next week! & the bread is in the oven!

day 14 : oct 27

goal 14 : day 14
make soup tonight

i got plenty of root vegetables at the farmer's market on saturday so i want to make soup out of them so i can start eating from home when i go to work & am out & about all day.

farewell for now,
kc

edit @ 27.10.09 6:43
goal unreached

i got a flat tire today so i was not able to make dinner, i had to go get it fixed & then babysat little Ian! hopefully today i will!

26.10.09

day 13 : oct 26

day 13 : goal 13
go to the store for bread supplies

i really want to start making my own bread at home, now that i know how -- so i need to run to the grocery & get what i need.

farewell for now,
kc

edit @ 26.10.09 16:46
goal achieved

ran to HyVee & got organic flour, brown sugar, yeast, soy milk, half & half, feta cheese, garlic, dijon mustard & raspberries. then i made my homemade granola, as i forgot how amazing it was and will strive to make it every other week at least! because it is the most amazing tasting thing i have ever had. not any other thing compares to my granola to eat for breakfast! tomorrow is soup making day & maybe i can throw some bread into the mix too before i babysit baby Ian. :)

i also painted this little end table today,

& made granola,

& peach crumble from my favorite cookbook, More-with-Less!
 
Today was a very productive day. :)

25.10.09

day 12 : oct 25

day 12 : goal 12
trust in the Lord

you know, there are always times you want to believe in something or someone so that your hopes will be reality. but it is false hope, because hope in the wrong thing always crumbles; just as the tide carries the sand into the sea. the Lord has blessed me with a sense of being prepared for things -- and honestly, He blessed me with an inexpressible joy throughout them. i know it is all Him, therefore there's nothing to be stupefied about.

farewell for now,
kc

edit @ 25.10.09 22:52
goal achieved