Thursday, March 31, 2011

Busy!!!

Busy with school! I'm still reading post when I can and not writing much but for in my head. 
Will be back next week after my test on Thursday! 
Busy busy busy!!!
Missing everyone's blog! Be back soon!
~RustiAnn

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

WWW Wrap Up!

Hello all,
I am wrapping up how I did on the Winter Wonderland Warriors Challenge:

1. Run 5K on February 12th as planned. Failed. I did not succeed at training for this 5K or any other 5K during this challenge.
2. Lose 30lbs. Fail. I was in a weird funk all winter and I am so glad spring is here. During winter I did not get outside much. Already this spring we have been aching to get out in the sun and enjoy the warm weather, which is something that has NEVER happened before!
3. Stop all UN-necessary spending starting Jan 3rd. (aka spending fast). Um so did not happen. I will never make a goal like this again.
4. Continue spending fast for a ONE full year. I don't think I'll ever accomplish not spending "extra" money for an entire year.
5. Save $250 by end of challenge. We had it saved a couple times but then emergencies would come up.
6. Pay down debt. (find a job) Done-ish. We did pay off $2140+ in debt but I did not find a job and now I won't be finding one since we only have one car.
7. STOP drinking ALL caffeinated beverages. I'm drinking a Dr. Pepper right now so nope this didn't happen either.
8. Use Bikram Yoga Groupon by March 10th.(that's when it expires) DONE. I used my groupon and went to 4 of the 10 classes I had purchased. I enjoyed it however, I think I will enjoy it more at a much smaller size.
9. Learn to cook vegetables more ways. Learned one or two new ways, definitely not enough to count this as complete.
10. Workout consecutively for 6 days. (have not done this since high school 5.5 years ago. Nope. I had a serious lack of motivation this winter. Even with my inspiration board with the Shape magazine pictures of Kelly Osbourne with my face over hers, I didn't find the kick in the butt I needed to get going. Really hoping the warmer weather will help with that.
I really did enjoy this challenge. I know I did not succeed very well at my goals, but I learned about myself. I need a plan and one that I can stick with. I learned that the "gym" needs to be a back up plan for bad weather or other circumstances. I learned that I enjoy walking our dogs and taking our son out in the stroller or letting him play at a playground and chasing him. I like orange juice, who knew??? And I also learned that sleep is a very important part of weight loss and just better for me in general. I am slowly but surely getting used to the idea that I could very well become one of those people that goes to bed by 10 and no later and gets up before the sun to get in my workout. I really learned that I need discipline and a structured plan. I need to write every thing down. What I plan to do to workout every week and what I plan to eat everyday and then I need to write down what I actually do and eat on  a daily basis. I think I have learned more about my self over the length of the this challenge than I have ever learned about myself at any other time of my life. 

I am super excited about the Spring Fever Challenge!!! I am looking forward to less goals so that I can focus on the really important ones that I want to accomplish. 
And about that new plan that I created, I am very happy with what I have come up with!!! YAY! More on that later. 
Well that is all for now,
~RustiAnn 

 

Thursday, March 24, 2011

I love this post by Randa.

The other day I was catching up on blog reading and I came across a post by Randa @ About Life

Click HERE to read the post.

I really like what she says in this post about not having much to lose but still facing such major problems in later life if she doesn't change it. The side effects of being overweight don't just affect those of us that are greatly over weight or obese, they affect even someone who is only 2lbs over. 
Just a reminder that some "skinny" people may not be as healthy, on the inside, as they seem on the outside. I mean no dis-respect by saying any of this. I am just pointing it out. The idea in this blog forum is to accept all people who want to get healthy and fit, right?
~RustiAnn

Random Thursday Post!

Hello all,
All is well here with me. I am at school on the computer because we have been having internet connection problems at home. Should be resolved by next Tuesday at the latest. So I am wearing those shorts that I got the other day. They are comfy and I am comfortable wearing them. I will say this though, I NEED A DANG TAN!! My legs are so white I'm afraid I'm going to blind someone with them. I also would like my legs to be less jiggly lol. I am going to be super busy this weekend coming up with a new plan of action for weight loss for me. I will be doing my official weigh in tomorrow morning. I will post Monday what my new plan is, along with my official weigh in and measurements. It will have a lot of at home workouts involved because hubby and me are down to one car so no trips to the gym for me. I will be making healthy food menus for the month probably 2 weeks at a time. I will be posting my menus up on here. I am going to have my husband take progress pictures and measurements every month. After 3 months of consistency I will post the pictures up on here. I don't want to post the "before" pics now and then not have any change in the progress pictures. I want the pictures to show a change! I am excited for this new plan that I am going to be creating. 

Also, this weekend, we will be putting together the new dog kennel thing that my mom bought. It is a 10x10x10 chain link "kennel" for the back yard so the doggies can have somewhere to be outside while we are gone, without tearing up our fence and getting out. I am hoping that this weekend will be a very productive and active weekend. I would like to see my husband and I take our son on a couple walks with the wagon this weekend and maybe I'll get a workout in. All I know is that when Monday rolls around I want there to be a new, more organized, more determined, more DISCIPLINED version of ME getting out of that bed. I want to wake up early and get the workout in before my son even wakes up. That way the day doesn't have a chance to get away from me, before I have the chance to take on the day. My 24th birthday is April 30th and I intend to be "under construction" heading towards a healthier happier ME! 
Even if you only have 2lbs to lose or 400lbs to lose you can do it and you will be better off for it!
With this amazing weather we are having here there is no reason for us to stay cooped up inside watching movies, I want to be outside in the fresh air enjoying myself getting some much needed sunshine! Here's to a busy active weekend!!! 
~RustiAnn

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

WWW Week 12

Life's Journey with a Smile

No picture

1. What have you done this past week to help achieve your goals?
Um in a weird way my husband's car accident helped us with saving money because the car loan will now be paid off. 
2. With one week left, what is your plan?
Try as hard as I can to work on the budget.
3. What was the highlight of your week?
The rental car, fell in love it, dodge caliber, yes LOVE with it.
4. Did you have a down point? If so, how did you push past it?
this whole challenge was hard for me. never really got out of the funk. Hopefully spring fever challenge is better for me
5. Fun Question of the Week: What's your favourite television show from the past? Presently?
The past Full house. Presently it was Greek but now its no longer.

~RustiAnn

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Shorts!!!

Hello everybody! I know it has been a while since I have posted. The whole idea of using Spring Break as a reset week for my weight loss journey has been a fail. School starts back up on Tuesday for me. I am hoping to be able to get in gear next week. My spring break has been odd. I have been cleaning my house like no tomorrow!!! I can only assume that sub consciously my husband and I are preparing to move in June. Now I know that seems like a long way away to be preparing now, but if you could see my house you would know that we need to start sorting things and getting rid of stuff now so that we will not have so much stuff to deal with when it is time to start packing.
We are getting our first apartment!!!! We have been married almost 4 years and we have been living with my mom for all of that time. I can not wait to have my own place to make my own. I am very excited yet also doing all this with trepidation. It's exhilarating to be going out on our own for the first time EVER! Tuesday my spring break took a weird turn when I got a call from my husband telling me that he had been in a wreck on his way home. He is fine, no injuries or anything. Our car however...
photo.JPG
...is toast.
Thank God we have two cars and rental coverage. We have the rental until Monday and then we are officially a ONE car family until we choose other wise. Once we move it will become much easier to be a one car family. We are moving to the same complex that  friends of ours live in. My husband works with her husband so they can car pull leaving me with our PT Cruiser. We see this car accident as a blessing because our car insurance and GAP insurance will more than likely get us out from underneath the loan that we have for it with the bank, thus creating more of savings each month. 
My spring break has been exciting, laid back and relaxing on a majority basis. I did get my hair cut on Thursday to look like this

My hair is no where near that long but it's getting there. I have all the layers though so that it can just grow out into this style. My hair dresser will be fixing my color since I have been doing it at home from a box for about a year. Now that I will be going more ofter to her she is going to fix the red for my so that it will look more natural.  I have decided against the perm since it would probably just dry my hair out even more than it is already. I will just have to curl it with the curling iron when I want it curly, unless y'all have other suggestions on how to get curly hair?
Onto the name of this post SHORTS!!!! I bought my first pair of denim shorts in years yesterday!!! They are from Lane Bryant and I love them. I do not want to be stuck in jeans for a whole HOTT summer again!!! I will wear these shorts and my Capri's at every opportunity that I have. Wearing these things will hopefully continue to push me to work on my weight loss and fitness goals, since I will be showing more skin than I am used to. I have not worn a pair of shorts, in public, since I was probably 14!!! So almost 10 years. 
I am excited!!!! And I don't have a picture of it but I hung my new and first bikini top on a nail in my room so that every morning when I wake up it will remind me that it is the goal for this summer. 
So plan for this week is to get caught up on school work after our refresher class from spring break.
Workout wise is to get in at least 4 workouts this week. I am doing pretty good on my water intake and I am loving what it is doing for me. I love the way I feel when I am drinking my water. 
Yes this is a long post but I am happy I wrote it and I thank each one of you who reads it to the end!
Sincerely and respectfully grateful for my growing support system,
~RustiAnn

Sunday, March 13, 2011

WWW Week 11!!!!

Life's Journey with a Smile


Me when I was under 250lbs. About 243lbs here and it's amazing what just a few pounds looks like.

Week 11 {March 14, 2011}

1. What have you done this past week to help you achieve your goals? 
       Cut down our cell phone bill. We canceled our texting plan, I downgraded my phone to 
one that does not require a data plan and we lowered my husbands data plan to the less 
expensive one. We also canceled netflix and gamefly(we were only in a free trial) we didn't want
to be spending $16 a month for it anyway. We did all this to save money so we can get our first
apartment. All this, plus paying off a loan to our parents, comes too $307 a month that we won't 
be paying out anymore. It has been an incredible experience not having texting for the first
time since having a cell phone!! It is liberating really.I really like not having to have
my phone on me every second of every day. Its been great. I have still been drinking water 
everyday and I made a plan to get re started on my weight loss goals. 
And in case you were wondering, YES!!! I feel as if I am the only person on the planet that DOES NOT have text messaging!!!

2. There are two weeks left in this challenge – what goals are you making priority?
        Saving money and weight loss.

3. Many people are on or heading into Spring Break right now, do you find it easier or harder to stay
 on track when your routine disappears?
     Well, being one of the many people heading into spring break, I am actually going to use mine to
get into a routine of working out, eating healthy, sleeping rightand cleaning up my house on a more
scheduled basis.

4. Tell us something positive about this challenge. Could be something that happened to you, you did,
 you realized…etc.
     I learned that are things in life that are not a necessity;(i.e. texting). I have learned that are a
lot of things that I can and should live without on a daily basis. I don't need beef to survive or
soda. And i definitley don't need to be paying $30 a month for unlimited texting when it is something
that is clearly a luxury and not neccessary to my everyday well being. Something that may not be considered positive by some people is that I learned I need someone to be accountable to that is in my life. I need someone that I know to be there to say "hey, why are you eating that burger instead of a salad or hey did you workout today or did you read you bible today???" I need that person in my life and I think I found the friend that can do it for me. I also learned that if I don't write it down as a plan and am not completely sold out on it I won't do it. To me, all these things are positive because now I know myself so much better than I did at the beginning of this challenge.

5. Fun Question of the Week: The clocks sprung forward this weekend, does the time change mess you up
 or do you just go on like nothing happened?
      It messes up my sleep pattern for about a week usually. I feel pretty tired right now and that is why. I do however love that it means it will be lighter later outside. I am looking forward to doing 
workouts (running/walking) outdoors. 

Well that is all!! I will keep y'all updated on how the new scheduling works out over spring break!!!
~RustiAnn

Monday, March 7, 2011

WWW Week 10


Life's Journey with a Smile


My baby boy pulling my mom's rolling bag. He wouldn't let us take it away! 


Week Ten {March 7, 2011}

1.What have you done this past week to help you achieve your goals?
Honestly...nothing... absolutely nothing. No excuses here just plain honesty.
My week was very busy and I slacked off. Now that my son's bday and party
is over and done with I can focus on getting back on track.


2.New month! How are you feeling with the end of the challenge coming up soon?
Less than stellar since I have not done very well on this challenge.
I am looking forward to the spring fever challenge for another chance at it.


3.What would you change differently about this challenge for the Spring Fever Challenge beginning soon? 
Give me ideas here, goals (open number, specific number, less, more?), picture stays?, day of the week?
 another element? Questions stay or go? What type of questions would you like to be asked?
I would not change anything about what we have been up to except maybe a little more 
forceful encouragement... I know it would help me to have a swift kick in the butt every so often. Less goals...I felt like ten goals was a little much to handle all at one time.


4.What have you learned about yourself during this challenge (or past few months)?
That I am a little lazy and un-motivated and I need a dated goal...hence the 
beach trip my hubs and I are planning for July.


5.Fun Question of the Week: Do you enter contests? Have you ever won one?
sometimes...depends on the prize. lol

~RustiAnn