Workout for Monday, August 18, 2008

Tonight I did The FIRM Aerobic Body Shaping with Allie from BSS4 - approx. 1 hour

Diet - not great, but not terrible

Lazy Sunday

Things have been a little crazy this last month, and this weekend has been the first in awhile where we had absolutely nothing planned.

Today we did a little summertime cooking and prepared some chickens in our rotisserie oven. I made California Cole Slaw and Grandma Ople's Apple Pie for dessert (modified slightly). I've made the cole slaw before, and we both liked it. The apple pie was a first and it was wonderful! It would have been even better with some vanilla ice cream, but who could complain about warm homemade apple pie?

I've been really a little lazy with my workouts lately. Still getting some activity in, but a lot of it is walking. I did a Firm workout on Wednesday and was sore for days! I will start back up tomorrow. I always take off a day or so when TTOM comes around as I'm just so achy, crampy, and uncoordinated. Today was that day.

But it gives me some time to read, and I've been doing a lot of that lately. Today I started reading The House at Riverton, and I can tell I'm going to love it. I'm also (finally!) buying my own MP3 player so that I can download lots of audio books and enjoy them at my leisure. DH had bought me one for Christmas a couple of years ago but kind of took it over. I figured I'd get one that is easier to use and I know I'll love listening to books on it as well as music while I'm walking, doing housework, getting ready in the mornings, and right before I go to sleep.

Workout Journal - Friday, August 15 - Sunday, August 17

Friday - off (extremely sore)

Saturday - 3 mile walk in Hinckley around lake (dirt trail) ===>

Sunday - off (it's TTOM)

Workout for Thursday, August 14, 2008

Well, despite the many unsavory things I had to be involved with today, the day went as well as could be expected.

The termination went fine. The employee was not surprised, and he left without any drama. The girl having the "very, very, very close" relationship with her boss was cooperative (although of course "nothing is going on.") And I didn't have to have the disciplinary meeting with the other employee as his supervisor said he would talk with him instead of getting me involved this time. The rest of the day was busy, but non-eventful. Still, these are the kind of days that exhaust me.

So tonight I just wanted to get outside a clear my head. DH and I went to the nearby National Park (CVNP), and took an hour long walk in the woods. It such a great way to relieve stress and wind down. I love that we live so close to such a beautiful place. The picture above is of one of the overlooks in the fall.

Workout for Wednesday, August 13, 2008

I don't know what is going on with me, but I have soooo much energy today. I had three meetings in one of our satellite offices, and they all were extremely positive. I came home and did a some more office work until 4:30, then I started cleaning the house.

I scrubbed toilets, washed bathroom rugs, mopped the master bathroom and scoured the sink, washed/changed the sheets, vacuumed the downstairs, cleaned furniture (cat hair central), weeded our landscaping beds, and got rid of our outside cobwebs. On top of that, I made a good supper for DH and me, balanced the checkbook, and had a great workout.

I did talk to my mom while I was making supper, and she said my dad has been doing really pretty well for the last couple of days, so that is a huge relief to me.

It's now 9:30, and I feel like I'll be able to sleep good tonight.

I know I have a rough day ahead of me, but that's okay. I have a meeting at lunch time to plan a termination (which will take place late tomorrow afternoon), and I also have a separate disciplinary meeting with another person regarding their (lack of) performance. Worst, I have to confront another person about the fact that they are having a less-than-platonic relationship with their supervisor (the supervisor has already been confronted and conveniently denies it). Then, the termination of the first person takes place. Ugh. But that's all in a day's work, I guess.

WORKOUT FOR TODAY: The FIRM Better Buns and Body (Tri-Trainer) - 45 min.

Workout for Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Took a long walk around neighborhood (1+ hour) - south loop + return on Hickory/bike trail + north loop.

Workout journal - Saturday, August 9 - Monday, August 11, 2008

Saturday, August 9th - off (wedding in PA)
Sunday, August 10th - couple of leisurely strolls around mom and dad's property
Monday, August 11th - long walk around neighborhood (approx 1 hour)

Workout for Friday, August 8, 2008

Took a long walk around neighborhood (1 hour)

Workout for Thursday, August 7, 2008

Tonight (at 10:00 p.m.!) I did The Firm Cardio Sculpt Blaster w/ Lisa Kay (30 min)

Workout for Wednesday, August 6, 2008

It was a nice (but kind of humid/sticky) night, so DH and I walked the Brecksville Reservation (1 hour total to/from Panera Bread).

Workout for Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Tonight I did Leslie Sansone's WATP 3-Mile Advanced Walk (45 min.).

I will be in PA again this weekend (and next Monday), and I know I won't get much in the way of working out. I'm trying to workout every day this week until the weekend.

Workouts for Thursday, July 24 - Monday, August 4, 2008

Thursday, July 24 - walk in Brecksville, to/from Panera (1 hour, total)
Friday, July 25 - off
Saturday, July 26 - wedding/off
Sunday, July 27 - off
Monday, July 28 - walk in neighborhood (south loop + 2 cul de sacs / bike trail) - around 1 hour
Tuesday, July 29 - walk in neighborhood w/Dan (north loop) - 40 min?
Wednesday, July 30 - off
Thursday, July 31 - off
Friday, August 1 - off
Saturday, August 2 - off (PA)
Sunday, August 3 - off (PA)
Monday, August 4 - Dad had surgery in PA (off)

Workout for Wednesday, July 24, 2008

Well, I didn't blog my food today (and I didn't do so good there), but at least I got in a good workout: Cathe Body Fusion on 6" step (50 minutes). This is an "easier" Cathe, but I was really sweaty afterwards.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Took approx. 1 hour walk around neighborhood.

Today was DH and my 19th year anniversary of being together....we've been together 1/2 of our lives!

Monday, July 21, 2008

Okay, I've been lazy for far too long. And I've been gluttonous. Today was no exception on the gluttony part. As far as exercise today, I didn't have anything formal, but I did do a lot of work outside (weeding, cleaning / scrubbing the porch and some areas on the house, carrying heavy lawn furniture around so DH could spray them off, etc.).

I guess it was better than nothing!

Journal for Monday, July 14 - Sunday, July 20

Well, as expected, the food intake hasn't been good. Haven't done much in the way of workouts either. They have been as follows:

Monday - long walk w/DH around neighborhood (probably 1 hour)
Tuesday - 1 hour walk (total) to/from Ruby Tuesday's on bike path
Wednesday - Off
Thursday - Off
Friday - 45 min walk around neighborhood
Saturday - 1 hour walk (total) in Brecksville to/from Panera
Sunday - off, but I really wasn't feeling well (TTOM)

I really need to get back at it. DH bought me a large fan for my workout room to make it a little more bearable temperature-wise.

Food and Workout Journal for Thursday, July 10 - Sunday, July 13, 2008

Okay, I pretty much have completely fallen off the wagon for the last few days. I didn't track any of my food, and my workouts have been as follows:

Thursday, July 10th - Off
Friday, July 11th - Off except for a very short walk
Saturday, July 12th - 1 hour walk in Brecksville
Sunday, July 13th - long walk around neighborhood (past Calvin Park)

I'd like to say that I plan on getting right back on the saddle, but I know this week is going to be extremely tough. Tuesday is DH's birthday, Wednesday night I have a dinner to go to, and Friday night I have a baby shower (oh yea!). I know my workouts will be minimal, and my food intake will be maximal! Hopefully the week afterwards I'll start to get my act back together.

Oh, the money you'll save!

Kids are expensive. We all know that. But what makes raising them isn't just the obvious (diapers, formula, baby clothes, kid clothes, tuition, etc.). It's the other stuff, too.

First example of cost savings: On Friday, I saw my neighbor outside. This is the one with the enormous jungle gym and two kids who don't play on it. We had an altercation last May because she had the monstrosity placed less than two feet away from our property line. She refused to have it moved because, says she "technically, it's on my land!" I just want a peaceful existence, so I didn't fight it any further. Anyhow, we do talk to each other when we see each other, and I stopped to say hello.

She started to talk with me about how expensive everything is getting. Now this chick is a pseudo single mom ("ex" husband is listed as co-owner of the house even though he never lived there and he definitely continues to be the wallet and babysitter). The kids have the best of everything, and I don't see her sparing too many expenses.

Anyhow, she starts talking about her electric bill. She asked what ours is running. I told her it was about $70. She gasped and said that something must be wrong with her bill then because hers was close to $300! So I said, "well, DH and I don't run our air conditioning a lot....only when it's really humid. Otherwise, we love having the windows open." I said this because I know she runs hers 24/7, and that's probably why the bill was so high. She said, "oh, well, when you have kids, you can't always do that. Sophie is afraid that spiders will get in through the screens." Huh? You mean you'd rather spend $300 so your kid doesn't have imaginary fears about tiny spiders? We live in the north, for god's sake! I wanted to ask her what her excuse was in the winter, because even on the warmer days, her gas meter is going gang busters.

Our utility bills in the winter are also fairly low as we keep the temperature down and just wear layers. We're never uncomfortable. I'm sure, though, if we had kids (especially babies), we'd have to keep the temperatures a lot closer to 70 degrees. Thus, our utility bills would most likely skyrocket. As it is now, we're comfortable, but we also are a little frugal when it comes to stuff like that. ESTIMATED COST SAVINGS PER MONTH FOR US: $230.

Second example of cost savings: Yesterday, DH and I ate breakfast at Panera Bread. I love that place because it is usually a calm oasis inhabited by quiet adults. DH and I are sitting there with our bagels and fruit chatting about what we're going to do for the rest of the day. All of the sudden, a "mother" (I put "mother" in quotes because she sure as hell wasn't much of one) sits nearby with her two brats (and I call them brats because that's how they were behaving). The kids were running around like lunatics. "Mom" totally ignores them. On the table, their food lies getting cold. I can easily guesstimate that each of these meals would be at least $7/piece. They both ate perhaps two bites. That's $14 down the drain! ESTIMATED COST SAVINGS PER BREAKFAST OUT FOR US: $14.

Third example of cost savings: Vacations. I was just browsing the Sunday paper and came upon an ad in the travel section for New York State. The caption on the ad was as follows: "Good thing the third night's free, because your kids weren't about to chip in." That is almost poetic. Parents and the childfree alike might laugh about that, and the real humor is in the truth. Do people realize how much more it costs when you have four people traveling as opposed to two? Granted, you may all share the same room, but the food, admissions to events, airfares, etc. all add up. However, the biggest price is the cost of your sanity. ESTIMATED COST SAVINGS PER VACATION FOR US: ???? But I know it's priceless.

Food and Workout Journal for Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Work has been crazy busy. I'm beat.

Breakfast - small bowl organic granola + raisin cereal w/ little bit 2% milk, small glass OJ

Lunch - Caesar side salad, 1 piece pepperoni pizza, diet coke

Dinner - Breaded chicken patty on bun w/light mayo, few pickle slices, handful reduced-fat chips, small glass vitamin water, 2 large sugar cookies, 6 Dove chocolate caramels

WORKOUT: Walk around neighborhood - 45 min.

Food and Workout Journal for Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Breakfast - small bowl organic granola and raisin cereal w/ little bit 2% milk, small glass OJ

Mid-Morning - few pretzel nuggets

Late Lunch - Quizno's w/Kathy: Small Baja Chicken sandwich, small bag chips, diet coke

Evening (this it where it got a little bad) - total of 6 Dove chocolate caramels, 2 Hershey Kiss caramels, 2 sugar cookies, small glass 2% milk, few peanuts

WORKOUT: 45 min. walk around neighborhood