it's 5k EVE!!!

Hey y'all!!

I hope everyone has had an amazing week!!  I love coming home to visit my parents, it's like a little mini vacation.  I don't have to cook or clean, I usually get presents, and I am basically the center of attention.... DREAM :)  While all that is great, I really do love getting to spend time with my parents and sister, sometimes living a few hours away is hard.  We have always been a super close family and I really miss the day to day stuff, just laughing, talking, watching tv, making fun of each other..... it's the tits :)  So heading home tomorrow will be bitter sweet, but I do miss my pups and man!!

So, I am back in the game officially as of today!!  Last weekend I fell completely off the bandwagon with eating and working out, and this week was only slightly better.  I only did the shred once and today was my first run since Sunday, and eating, let's just say I ate.  So, I stepped on the scale today and was up 4.4 lbs.... boo!  I know I can't really blame it on my period since I have not gained once during my time of the month since starting this journey.  I know some of it is water weight, but I guess alot of it has to do with the return of fatty mcfat-ass.  It was exactly what I needed!  I started today like it was the beginning again, and very highly motivated!  My wedding is in just over a year and I can't lose focus on the prize!  While this change is NOT about my wedding day, it's what I think about when I start to lose focus.  So keep me accountable! and by the end of October I WILL officially down 50lbs, guaranteed!

Tomorrow is my first 5k!!!  I am pretty excited and nervous, especially after I have bombed the past week, but I know it's going to be great no matter what!  I am doing it with my best friend, Christina, who I don't get to see as much as I'd like to... which is basically every day, and it is for a great cause!  I can't wait to meet some amazing breast cancer survivors, run my heart out, and, of course, get my free t-shirt.... not gonna lie, I am rediculously pumped about the shirt!!  I hope this is only the beginning of my running journey and I can't wait to share the aftermath with you guys!!

Wrapping it up, I promise... I went to Kohl's  yesterday and got a great jacket and a great pair of ankle boots after realizing my calves are still too fat for real boots for $43!!!  Thank you, Kohl's cash and amazing sales!!  Then my Grandma gave me her kohl's cash, so I already have $10 off my next purchase!  I just had to share with you guys!!  I love Kohls, it is probably my favorite place to shop.... even though I don't shop all that much for now!

please excuse the crummy pic, I had been up for like 24 hours straight and had 4 day hair... yikes!

 

I'll let y'all know how the run goes!  Also, tomorrow is Ryan's birthday dinner, he's going to be the the big 27!  He hasn't decided where he wants to go yet, but please send me all of your willpower, I'll probably need it :)

 

I hope everyone has a great weekend, can't wait to stalk read about them!

 

~jenn

Where Did The Weekend Go?!?

What did you guys do this weekend?  

Well if you are anything like me, it wasn't anything too exciting, but I had a pretty great weekend all the same.... aside from eating like I used to for 2.5 days and paying the price with headaches, being bloated, tired, and ill.   When will I ever learn?!?  It still tastes good, though.  I read all kinds of things about women saying that the junk doesn't even taste good to them anymore, where can I get some of that?!?  I agree that it isn't worth it after the fact, but as it's being shoved down my face it is delicious and my mouth is a happy girl.

Back to the weekend.  As I mentioned last post, we were prepping for our first ever yard sale on Saturday.  Well, as I pulled into my driveway after work Friday morning a couple of cars followed me.  Which is odd, since there are only 2 houses on my street that are lived in.  So I get out of the car and am asked if this is where the yard sale is.  I immediately begin to panic about what I wrote on the signs.  I run and open the garage and let people start digging, even though I had planned on it  being set up like a fancy boutique.   I finally got the nerve to ask a lady if the sign said Friday, and she said "no, Friday is just a good yard sale day"  So, that is Alabama for ya.  But if you want to come buy my shit, I am more than happy to oblige.  After being up for nearly 24 hours and making $130 I crashed!

Saturday was even better!  I had completely envisioned us sitting outside with our crap all day and then finally giving up and dragging it all to good will.  But we sold EVERYTHING with the exception of alot of my books and clothes which I boxed up and put in the attic for our spring sale that we are totally having!  Our grand total was just over $400, I was floored!  I am going ASAP to put it in the Wedding/Honeymoon fund (my savings account).  That is going to cover some good times in DC!

Also, this weekend.  I discovered Google talk, which let me talk to my e-mail/blog buddy, Keyona ,in real time!!!!  It was fantastic, and I realized that we are soul mates and we can't live in the same state because that much awesome in one place would cause chaos!  So, big thanks to her husband for setting that up!

So, today I am back on track.  Over the weekend I consumed countless garbage including a Wendy's burger, and Domino's Pizza and cheesebread.  I haven't done the Shred since my remote was eaten, and yesterday I was only able to run 1 whopping mile before I had to get home to hit the toilet.  My goals for the week are:

~Track on MFP.  I had tracked for like 60 days straight until I missed Saturday and Sunday.  Plus, tracking makes me really think before I eat.

~Get in my water!!  

~ I will do the Shred Tuesday and Wednesday morning (at least) and then run Thursday, Friday, and of course my 5k on Saturday!!

~ I am not weighing in this week.  I know it's not going to be pretty and I am not hitting my 50lb mark this week so why even let myself go there with feeling bad about myself.

My biggest goal this week is to think of something fun for Ryan's birthday... which is Sunday.  We both have to work so I am going to have to think of something for Saturday night!!!

I saw this on the Internet the other day, and I laughed so hard.... like, inappropriately.  It combines 2 of my favorite things!  So I knew you guys would appreciate it..... maybe. 

Yes, I know honey boo boo and her family are a horrible train wreck, but I can't help it, I love it... don't judge.  And if you haven't watched the honey badger video, please do so, also hilarious, at least if you have the sense of humor of a 12 year old boy, like me :)

 I jumped on the Instagram bandwagon a few weeks ago and am addicted.... I'm just so nosey, I love seeing what other people are up to!  So I need more people to stalk follow.  leave me your user name if you don't mind!  You can follow me at jenlynn426.

Well, I'm off to bed so I can get my work week started tonight.... boo!  I hope you all had a great weekend!

Much Love,

Jenn

Weighing In (plus a bonus rant)

It seems like Wednesdays are coming faster and faster, probably because it's my favorite time of the year!!!!! I love fall and winter and all that comes along with it!  So I was down exactly 1 pound yesterday... I'll take it!  That puts me at 225.6 (eeeekkkk) which is 47.4 lbs (and yes I had to use a calculator)!!  Which means I have to buckle down and get my ass in gear if I'm going to reach my 10lb/month goal for October since this is probably the last month I could hit it.  I know I can't lose 10lbs a month forever, but hey a girl can dream.  So next week, I need to lose 2.6lbs..... we shall see :)

Okay... mini rant.  Do you guys have that one person at work that is just odd... perfectly nice, but maybe talks to themselves about their cats in a normal conversational tone/volume, or asks you questions and then freaks out on you shouting "nevermind",  or talks to you like they think you are stupid???  Yeah...... I got to be partners with that guy last night... let's just say, longest 12 hours ever!!!!!  Maybe not ever, but my anxiety level was up... and that's a lot from this girl.

these thoughts were basically on my mind all night..... what would we do without e-cards?!??!

Now, on to my big rant for the morning.... Halloween costumes.  You might be curious as to how someone could have beef with something so fun.  This is my beef.... WHY ARE ALL COSTUMES FOR ADULTS SLUTTY?!?!? I am looking for a nice, cute, PG Halloween costume to wear to a friend's house to help pass out candy to small children who do not need to learn what a vagina is from my Little Red Riding Hood costume!  ALSO,  I know I have come a long way on my journey to sexy bitch/hooker/future soccer mom-dom but I am still plus sized and these costumes should NEVER have the word plus in front of them.  No offense to the ladies who like to flaunt what they've got.... truly.  So, I am back at square one... no Halloween costume and being faced with the idea of getting some kind of animal ears,  cut up a sweatshirt flashdance style, some leggings, and making a TY tag necklace and calling myself a beanie baby.... beyond sad, I know.  So.... please please please someone have an amazing costume idea to share with me!!!  For the record, next Halloween I WILL be rocking something distastefully slutty!

I don't remember these hookers in Disney World!

I don't want to end on a negative note, so, I am always envious of people's awesome food posts.  And while this is by no means earth shattering, it's my go to breakfast and I loves it!!!  It's just one serving of quick cook oats, mix in 1 tsp brown sugar, and sprinkled with cinnamon!  It is yummy and filling and keeps me full til lunch and only has 195 calories.  I had tried the Weight Control brand before and it didn't seem like near as much food for only a few less calories.  Plus it's a 5 minute breakfast that I can scarf down before my workouts with Jillian and still usually make it to bed by 9am!

please excuse the shitty quality, I am hoping for a real camera from Santa!

Talk to you amazing chickies soon!!

love, jenn

PS  if anyone knows how to make the cute little signatures like I see on so many blogs,  help a tech challenged gal out and tell me how, I want to be cool too :)

PPS.  I know my grammar sucks ass.  I'm pretty sure I lost all grammatical knowledge while making room for my mad life-saving/starting an IV in 1 stick skills.  I'm sorry..... not really :)

Tuesday Tidbits

Wow..... I am probably the most boring 25 year old in the history of 25 year olds!  I'm at that awkward life stage I guess where I don't have the mini me(s)  yet but I'm not the wild and crazy single gal either since being wild and crazy often requires money.... BOO.  I have been thinking all day of something to write for you guys today and I got nothing.  So here is what I can scrape up for you awesome peeps as a blog post... sorry if I put you to sleep while sitting at the computer.

So, my fiance and I relocated to our current city about 6 months ago and we did it pretty big... we bit the bullet and bought a house, therefore committing to this city for 5-7 years???  Well I have finally decided that it is time we develop a social circle here rather than driving the 2 hours back home to see our "home friends".  I started by joining in on a group of girls at work that host dinners at their homes each month and it rotates... I'm not gonna lie, this chic is pretty excited and I can't wait to choose my month and start planning to show off my mad skills....  I also went to the movies with this group on Sunday, we saw Pitch Perfect and it was GREAT!  I think everyone should go see it. Think Bring It On, but for singing!  AND I saw previews for The Host (Stephanie Meyer's book that is a thousand times better than Twilight could ever be) and the new Le Miserables!!  I basically only go to the movies to see the previews so I elated!

I have spent the last 2 days sorting through my garage gathering up things for a yard sale that I am planning for this Saturday.  I have never really been a big yard sale person.... I feel kind of weird assuming that people are going to want to buy my old junk that I no longer deem good enough for my princess ass, but when Ryan said he was going to throw all my treasures shit away, I went into hoarder mode and decided that the only way I could part with the garbage is to sell it.  So wish my luck on my first yard sale...  I kind of have a feeling it's just going to be me sitting in my front yard at 7am with piles of shit that will be taken to good will by 10, despite my dreams of people flocking to buy my circa 2004 Abercrombie and American Eagle gear for prices I want.

On a fitness note... I think today I officially became a Jillian drop out.  I just hate doing her workouts, and not in the way where I hate it until I get started and then I'm so pumped I wanna shove my tongue in her mouth.  I truly dread every second of it.  Between working nights and that my shifts are always in a row, I feel like in order to commit to doing Jillian every day, I have to give up some of my runs.... which I LOVE!  So I think I'm going to only do 30DS on work mornings since they are only 20 minutes, but when I'm off it's just me, my Nikes, and the running trail!  I am consistently able to run a complete 5k, and today I did it in under 40 minutes (woot woot).   So now it's time for a new goal, and I am feeling more and more ready for my first 5k next weekend!!

I'll catch you guys next time with my weekly weigh in and hopefully something that doesn't bore you to tears!

Love, Jenn!

Weigh Day Wednesday

Today is that special day.... our weekly visit with our favorite whore that we just can't get enough of..... the scale!!  The day where we hop on to see just how little much all our hard work has paid off this week OR to see how bad our bad choices really were. I woke up this morning fully prepared to see my first weekly gain thanks to my 3 day return to fat girl status earlier this week where I managed to pack on 3 lbs... SERIOUSLY?!?  I've been busting ass all week in hopes to just break even.  So when I get my official weigh in of a 0.8lb gain, I don't feel SOO bad.  Actually, that is a dirty lie.. I feel horrible.  I wanted to cry a little bit, it sucked major limp D.

Adding to this unfair day, I had to go to a re-certification class for work.... they expect me to re-learn how to save lives every 2 years...... what the real problem is that they expect me to be anywhere at 8am!  I left my house with an hour and a half to get to the hospital... plenty of time, I may even grab a Starbucks on my way in.  WRONG!  Not that I live outside a HUGE city or anything, but it is the biggest city Alabama has to offer and working night shift means, I am always going against the flow.  So as 8am comes and goes and I'm still sitting in traffic, I am pissed, have already guzzled a liter of water and have to pee like a racehorse.  I roll into my class 30 minutes late just to find out that they locked the doors and gave my spot away... apparently living in the suburbs is not a valid excuse.  So I truck it all the way back home, having wasted about 3 hours of my life last day off!  Instead of being awesome and taking my anger out on Jillian or assuring that we will have clean panties to wear for the next week, I put my night shirt back on and crawl into bed next to Ryan and my pups to try and kick the headache I have been rocking for 3 days.... cue sad violin.

About 3 hours later I wake up and decide that I'm starting over.   I hop back on the scale and what do ya know... I'm DOWN 0.8 lbs from last week.  I quickly edited my earlier post in MFP since the smaller number always wins and was instantly in a great mood and plan to tackle the rest of my afternoon and night... since I have to stay up all night anyways to prepare for my 3 days as a vampire.  I WILL clean up around the house, catch up on some of laundry mountain, and I WILL do Jillian hard core.

I am not really one for coming up with amazing recipes, I'd rather just mooch them off of my friends.  So last night I made 4 Spice Chicken Thighs (I used wings) that I stole from the amazing Keyona at Skinny and Delicious.  If you don't already follow her blog you are cray-cray go check it out.  She has lots of yummy recipes that even I can make!.  I didn't follow the directions exactly, but it was AMAZING and will definitely become a go-to in my dinner planning.  I paired it with some broccoli and was one happy girl.

Thanks for all the comments about my run yesterday!  It really made my day, y'all are the best!

love,
jenn

Dog Food :)

First, I want to start this post off with big news that I meant to post last week, but I never got around to posting it....  I finally signed up for my first 5k!!  It will be the Liz Hurley Ribbon Run on October 20th supporting breast cancer.  I am sooo excited/nervous/terrified about it.... I KNOW I can do it and that alone feels AMAZING!  My biggest fear is that is a no headphones run... WTF?!?!?

Anywhosers...  I have never been one to ask for money for ANYTHING, and had not planned on even trying to raise money aside from my donation for the entry fee, but then I figured why not?  Worst case is that no one donates and I am no worse off than if I didn't ask, and every bit helps... so below is the link to my personal donation page. Give as little or as much as you'd like, and know that I am so grateful for anything that you can give.

http://www.lizhurleyribbonrun.org/faf/login/page_edit.asp?ievent=1027732&lis=0&kntae1027732=8AD9380114C140FB996923B205C48A92

Also, if you have been touched by breast cancer, leave me a comment telling me the name of your loved one and a little about their journey.  I would love to know a little about some of the women that I am running for and also, to keep my motivated to continue running..... since Flo-Rida has been banned.

this is basically how I roll

So today was the day I decided that I no longer need the c25k app while I run.  It cuts off more often than it works and I am to the point where I just run for 28 minutes anyways.  Basically, my inner over achiever gets pissed off because I can't get that green check mark!  So this morning I took off with Nike Run ( LOVES it!) and Pandora with a goal of just to run until I couldn't anymore... or 28 minutes whichever happens first last.  1 mile in Nike informs me that I have completed a mile in 12:30 and I felt like a rockstar.  When I got to 2 miles I decided to run back to my car and be proud.  Well when I got to my car I decided that I might as well go to 3 miles, I had to be close... so despite being nearly dead, I kept going

I RAN 3.15 MILES.... a 5k!  This girl, who in August, could barely run for 90 seconds, just ran a 5k!!!  There were definitely tears shed as I dragged my jello jigglers back to the car!  I was so proud of myself,  my new goal is a 5k in under 40 minutes!  We shall see :)  So, keep on truckin' skanks... if this girl can do it, so can YOU!

And finally, the whole reason behind the mysterious dog food title.  Last week my fiance was forced to go into the seventh gate of Hell Walmart because our precious babies were out of food.  The next morning when I got home, Ryan tells me that he was thinking (sometimes a scary thing)  and that when he picked up the 46lb bag of dog food, he remembered that was how much weight I've lost.  So "Wing, you've lost a big ass bag of dog food" (Wing is our pet name... I'm sure I'll cover that later) was his supportive comment for the day.  Which was AMAZING once i looked at the dog food bag and containers.  I'm a visual person and since I haven't really been able to notice in the mirror this sight FLOORED me

yes that is a Christmas mat, and YES that is a case of wine, wanna be friends?                                                                                 

                                                          she tucks herself in like that

this is my shadow.... i apparently gave birth to him

So, there you have it.  I have lost enough weight to feed a German Shepherd and a Golden Mutt for about 2 weeks.

More excitement to come I'm sure.
Until then, love,
 Jenn :)

It Was A Moment of Weakness

So I know that it has been over a week since my last post and I hate that!  Firstly, because it was a goal of mine to keep up better than this!  Secondly, I feel like I have sooo much I wanted to talk about and now it's all a big gooey caramel cluster in my brain.  So I guess that just means I have material for a few posts :)

Anyways, my mom visited this week which was AMAZING!  I love spending time with my mommy!  We always have so much fun together and she is the best friend I could ever have.  I tend to think of us as the Gilmore Girls..... minus the single parent, teen pregnancy, and never ending metabolisms :)   The down side is that my mom tends to bring out my ultimate weakness.. FOOD!  Don't get me wrong, my mom is super supportive and proud of what I am doing and doesn't try to tempt me.. she just isn't on the same journey as I am and I found it easy this week to say "You being here is a treat so I'm going to have some treats" and "it's just a couple bad days, it's not forever"  WRONG IDEA!!!  I felt like shit!  I had headaches, felt bloated and  stuffed, was cranky, and lethargic!  I missed 3 workouts and didn't track calories for 2 days,  it was badness.  My fiance even told me I needed to go run because I was wearing my bitch panties!

 So yesterday, I got back on track.  I woke up, ate my sensible breakfast, threw on my tennis shoes and went to the park for my run.  Was it the best run I've ever had?  EFF NO!  But it wasn't the worst either.  I could feel all the crap I'd eaten over the past couple days jiggling around in my belly and wanted to puke whenever I thought of onion rings or little debbies, but I did it, and I felt amaze-balls after.

I think what I love about my runs is that I have nothing to do but think about things.... I think about wedding plans, my journey to a better me,  the ladies of fit camp, willing my legs to keep going and praying that they haven't actually turned to jello, the day that Chris Hemsworth asks me to play 50 Shades of Gray....all kinds of ish.  And what I thought about yesterday was how far I've come.  I used to struggle to run for 60-90 seconds and now I run for at least 25 minutes straight, and I don't pray for the creepy lady to tell me when to walk, I just run until I can't run anymore.  I thought about how great it feels to be dripping with sweat and to feel sore after a workout.  I also thought about my binge... but I didn't beat myself up about it.  Was it worth it?  NOPE  Will it happen again?  YOU BET YOUR SWEET ASS.  But what was important about it is that I picked up and kept going, it's over, it was a moment of weakness, but I'm stronger than that, and I've come too far to be taken down by oatmeal cream pies with a November expiration date (OMG so fresh!)  So don't get down on yourself about a bad day (or 3)  just remember that YOU CAN DO THIS,  put on your (smaller, sexier) big girl panties and keep on going!

Last post I promised progress pics... and I always keep my promises... no matter how mortifying.  So here it goes (soooo scary)

The photo on the left is the day we got engaged 5/15 (best proposal ever, btw).  I weight 273 lbs and was wearing some size 20 jeans that were too small.  The photo on the right was taken 9/27 at 227 lbs and size 18 shorts that are pretty loose.  I'm not sure how much of a difference I can really see, but I am extremely harsh on myself.....  I still have a LONG way to go on this journey, but I am down 46lbs and couldn't be more proud.

Thanks for reading :)
LOVE,
jenn