O.o

Good Lord!  Has it really been since September that I have posted here? Whew!  That's crazy....

So, um....yeah.  Hi.  Where do I begin?  Well, maybe bullet points are best so here goes:

• Changed careers from being a massage small business owner to working in New Home Sales.
• Quit Weight Watchers, put on 10 lbs, tried to loose it myself with different techniques
• Joined Weight Watchers again, this time online. 
• The wedding I was MOH in happened, without a hitch.
• Made some new friends, moved on from others.
• Working on moving back to the thriving metropolis that is Fredericksburg, VA
• Went to Germany....had a blast!
• Going to Vegas for the first time in April for work training...so excited!

Besides those things, life has been pretty mundane.  Busy but good.  Some ups, some downs and a lot of changes, some small some big.

I have been thinking about the blogosphere and what I want to put out into it.  Yes, I will keep reporting on my healthy lifestyle journey but I would like to focus on other things as well.  Things that inspire me, make me happy, make me think....etc.

Enough about me, how are all of you??

Product Review Time!

So my hair hasn't been quite so hot lately. Mainly due to the fact that I really need a cut and highlight in ze vorst vay. That hurdle will be jumped tomorrow evening when I have my hair appointment with the world's most awesome hairstylist, my step-sister Kristen. They have her listed as an apprentice but that is incorrect. She is a master stylist and color educator and just plain amazing!

Back to the subject. I needed something to get me by in the meantime and boy oh boy have I found it:

Sexyhair's Chocolate Soy Milk Shampoo and

Sexyhair's Soymilk Conditioner.

Love, love, love this stuff! Not only does it smell absolutely Divine but it keeps my hair shiny, bouncy and clean....longer. It is sulfate free and color safe which I love. I have fine hair that seems to get really oily as the day progresses and by the next morning I look like a grunge singer from the mid 90's. Not attractive. However with this stuff I can go almost a full day and a half before the oiliness begins to show. I have never had that from a shampoo before. :)

They carry this line at some salons and most Ultas. Go! Run! Now!

The 411

Whew! Okay, let me get my thoughts together in some organized fashion so that this post isn't a complete disaster. It's been an interesting couple of weeks and months. :)

The fluctuation of the economy has taken it's toll on many and I am very fortunate and very lucky to still be treading water. It has not been easy. Even though I have been busy promoting and marketing, the actual appointments have been somewhat few and far between. Throw in several last minute cancellations and you have a lot of low income months for me. So low in fact (here is the embarrassing honesty) that I am seriously considering applying for food assistance and Medicaid. I currently do not have health insurance and haven't for almost 6 years now. After health care, food seems to be my most expensive necessity. I still have to see if I am eligible but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Other news, I have decided to move out of my amazingly lovely and well situated apartment (which is quite pricey for me now) in January. :( I have been here for three years and have absolutely loved living within walking distance to work and everything else downtown. But one must change with the times. I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to rent a room in the beautiful house of the brother of a good friend in the neighboring county. It really only adds about ten minutes to my commute but I wont be able to walk to work anymore. Positives; huge kitchen with all the amenities and then some, central air, a huge front porch equipped with rocking chairs and porch swing, a border collie named Chico, a washer and dryer and plenty of laughs. I hope that this move will allow me to get back on track with my finances.

I leave for Denver on Sunday and I am soooooo excited! I get to spend time with my dear friends Erin and Jonathan, their two adorable children and one schmoopy named Mable. So trying to cram everything into this week and part of next (I fly back Wednesday) has been a little hair raising.

Halloween is fast approaching and every weekend this month was already booked back in September. Not with massage appointments yet but with social functions. One that I am really psyched about it is the Highland Games! Large men in kilts throwing things? YES PLEASE. I know I shouldn't say this on a weight loss blog but I have been waiting a whole year to try another one of their deep fried Mars bars. I am going to try to be very diligent with my diet and exercise so that this particular treat day wont be a huge set back.

My diet has been off the charts these past few months. I know what I need to do and I just hope I can get my butt in gear and do it. I seem to go bonkers at social events especially if dirty martinis are involved. I went to a wedding last month and was seated next to the bar.... not a good thing for my diet. I don't tie one on often but when I do.... look out!

I started back at the gym so my September and October have been much more active. Not to mention this little guy below keeping me busy with several walks a day.

His name is Andy.

I watched him for almost two weeks for a friend's parents and he was the sweetest little schmoopy in the whole wide world. He went home tonight and I miss him already. But, not to worry he will be back for 3 weeks in December. :)

This may be the only post I will have a chance to write before I leave but I promise to be back soon with pics of beautiful Colorado.

Take Care!

Starting The New Year With A Bang!

With much optimism and love in my heart I went to sleep last night with visions of strength, courage and excitement of what the upcoming year will bring. When I woke up this morning I had a rockin' cold. Super. That's okay, it actually made me laugh a little. Whenever you make an intention about your life and happiness the universe will find a way to test you to make sure you really want what you say you want. So I say, "Bring It Universe. I ain't scurrd!"

So I have taken this morning off from my spa job to try to nurture and take care of my body. I am eating whole foods, lots of fruits and veggies and drinking plenty of water, juice and health teas. Hopefully I can kick it quickly so that I can continue to work through the busy gift certificate redeeming season. This sister needs the cash-o-la!

Psssttt, I forgot to say that I am starting the new year at 320.5lbs. I am so excited to watch that number continue to plummet. :)

Where The Heck Have I Been?!

It's been almost three weeks since I've posted and that's just CRAZY! There has been a lot going on since the Turkey Trot. The biggest and most important thing as been my inspiration. That 5k walk/run was exactly what I needed. I have really enjoyed the focus that seems to be taking over my workouts. I have been doing double workouts on Sundays and trying to hard core exercise 4 days a week. However this week is a little shot since I leave for the wedding cruise on Friday and seem to be suffering from a slight sinus issue today which has totally sapped my energy. But it still can't diminish my excitement for the Caribbean!!!

Seriously you guys, I can not wait to feel that warm ocean breeze, sand between my toes and a pina colada in my hand. We are very fortunate to be cruising on the Independence of the Seas by Royal Caribbean. This ship is INSANE! Not only does it have a gagillion pools, clubs and restaurants but it has one of the most beautiful gyms one can find on a cruise liner. I swear I am not just saying this because this is a weight loss blog but I really can't wait to workout on this vacation. Imagine walking around a track on the lido deck with nothing but the beautiful blue ocean as your backdrop. Sigh. They also offer yoga and pilates! I made a promise to myself that this vacation would be an active one. Relaxing but active which is why I have signed up to do Snuba on St. Thomas and Para Sailing on Labadee. So exciting!!!!

No on to more boring news, my eating has definitely suffered the past week and a half. The reason? No groceries and I don't plan on buying any before the trip. What would be the point since most of it would spoil before I returned? But guess what? On the ship they have every kind of fruit and vegetable you can imagine and I can't wait to consume them all. :) Since my funds are a little tight I have no plans to do any serious partying so this would be the perfect time to really detoxify my body and to soak up plenty of vitamins and minerals.

If I don't post before Christmas I hope that you all have a very healthy and happy holiday!!!

Hello Campers!

You know, when I started this blog I had grand ideas about what I would do on it, the challenges I would face and the many, many, many posts I would write. Somehow the frequency in which I post has gone from several times a week to barely one every two weeks. I am going to try to rectify that starting now. Can't make any promises with the holidays coming up and the cruise looming ever closer but I will make a massive effort. So without further ado I give you an update on my life. :)

For starters I have been really sick the past 4 0r 5 days. It's that darn cold that everyone seems to be passing around to each other and I believe I got mine from my roommate. Thanks roomie! ;) So needless to say I haven't worked out since my boot camp session and am now just finally able to breath. The boot camp was pretty awesome. It was hard..... but awesome and I felt really good afterwards. I would love to do it again but will have to wait to see how the money situation goes. I do belong to a gym which I pay a pretty substantial amount for and can't really justify spending grocery money on another workout program when I can do something similar at the gym. Even though I really like working out with my homegirl, April. I guess we will just have to continue with the trades instead. :)

Well, this is my weigh in week. I am a little nervous since I haven't been able to work out in a while but I feel as if my food portions have been way better since I have been sick. The only way to know where I am is to get on that scale. SO I AM GOING TO DO IT! It has been really nice concentrating on my workouts and portions instead of "weight loss". It has taken the crazy, obsessive nature of weight loss out the equation. I am still getting compliments from people saying that I am "melting", especially on my back and bootie. So that is really nice to hear. And sometimes, on really good days, I can see it too.

I have been taking a fantastic daily vitamin that I got from the Vitamin Shoppe. It rocks the house! It's easier for your body to absorb since it comes from whole foods so you don't pee it all out just what your body doesn't use. So I credit that a lot to the fact that I am not eating as much in the portion way. My body is getting good nutrients from this vitamin so I don't crave as much either. It's awesome.

I have to step up my training for the Turkey Trot. The sickness has definitely put me behind schedule so this week it's about getting back on my workout track, eating health restoring foods and generally getting my health back in balance to survive the coming holiday season.

Oh, and this weeks healthy habit challenge is to get more fiber into your diet. I still plan on doing a liver detox but need to wait until this cold is completely out of my system since detoxing can sometimes cause you to get sick in the beginning stages. Once I am on that I will be eating a predominately vegetarian diet so that will ensure that I am getting plenty of fiber but until then up the fiber road I go!

Be extraordinary!

Baby Steps

Guten Tag!
I hope all of you out in blog land are kicking butt and taking names! :) I thought it would be a good time to update since it is the start of another week in Lyn's Habit A Week Challenge. This week it's eat a veggie or for those of us who already eat veggies it's about fitting at least one more per meal in there. I am actually really excited about this week's challenge. Fall is my favorite time of year. I love winter squashes, the holidays, the colors and the crisp touch to the air. In fact I find that I become more active in the colder months since it is usually hotter than seven hells here in ole Virginny during the summer months. I wont lie that I also enjoy lots of juicy and warming red wines this time of year. I have recently fallen in love with an Australian Shiraz that I have been trying to portion out discriminately but some nights are not as disciplined as others.

I have started my training for the Turkey Trot but I know I definitely need to up the intensity or I will be hurting on Thanksgiving Day! I am still doing my classes at the gym but am trying to train before that. Like today I went to a beautiful local park to walk what I hoped would be two miles but since the gnats were down right lynching me I had to stop at one. :( It's cool, treadmill here I come!

I am really excited about this weekend. It's the Richmond Highland Games and Celtic Festival! I am a very, very lucky girl for getting to see men in kilts on 3 different weekends in the last two months. *sigh* Plus I am getting a gorgeous desk for my massage office on Sunday. I can't wait to have my office reflect my business ethics and beliefs. I feel I will come across more professional if I have an actual place for clients to sit and fill out paperwork. :)

I feel as if I am in the most positive mind frame I have been in since starting this blog. I have been doing a lot of hard work in the mental department. Trying to get things to click and change up there so that those same changes will be reflected in my healthy and fit body. Next week will be my weigh in week. Since going to once a month I have been focusing more on having fun and doing fun activities to lose weight instead of the actual numbers. I have to be honest that I am starting to see small changes in my body here and there but my biggest change has been my attitude. Tomorrow my BFF and I are doing a boot camp style workout with our trainer friend. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous but I am also really excited because I want to see just what I am made of. :D

Until next time..... Be Happy!

This Book Is A Must Read......

for anyone and everyone who has ever been completely and utterly confused about what to eat. Science keeps changing it's mind about what we can have and what we can't, how much of it and how we can have it. I personally can't keep up with an ever changing list of rules. Which is why I was so drawn to this book. I wont go into great detail but if you have issues with weight, food and health, like I do, then please do yourself a favor and read this.