Food and Workout Journal for Saturday, May 31, 2008

9:30 a.m. Bowl of Coco Wheats w/raw sugar to sweeten, 1 piece toast w/peanut butter, small glass OJ

2:30 p.m. 2 pieces Rascal House pizza w/pepperoni and onions, 3 small BBQ wings, 1 can (8 oz.) regular root beer

3:30 p.m. 3 Dove chocolate caramels

6:00 p.m. Lowfat chocolate chip mint ice cream

8:15 p.m. Another piece of Rascal House pizza w/pepperoni and onions

WORKOUT: Cathe Gym Style Chest & Triceps (Hardcore Series) - 48 min. (Oh, man....insane!)

Food and Workout Journal for Friday, May 30, 2008

8:15 a.m. Take-out from Gardenia: Bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich on bagel (pretty large one), small glass lowfat chocolate milk

3:00 p.m. 4 Hershey Nuggets

5:00 p.m. Bob Evans w/DH: 1 biscuit, 1 roll, Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad (roasted chicken, bacon, dried cranberries, pecans, and lettuce with Sweet Italian dressing)

6:00 p.m. 3 Dove chocolate caramels

WORKOUT: Walk around the neighborhood (south loop + return on bike trail from Hickory)

Food and Workout Journal for Thursday, May 29, 2008

6:20 a.m. 1 mini bagel w/whipped cream cheese, banana, small glass juice

12:00 p.m. Takeout from Scorcher's: Chicken Pita (grilled chicken, mozzerella cheese, onions, peppers on pita), French fries, diet coke, 2 root beer suck candies

2:30 p.m. 4 small candies (peanut butter cup, 2 Hershey's Nuggets, 1 Milky Way Mini)

Evening - 3 Dove chocolate caramels, 1 Fiber One bar

WORKOUT: Cathe Gym Style Legs (from Hard Core Series) - 67 minutes. Yowza! I was really proud of myself for getting through that, but I think my ass cheeks are still quivering. And that? Is not a pretty sight.

Food and Workout Journal for Wednesday,May 28th, 2008

Today was a bad food day....lots of mindless eating. Lots of stress.

6:20 a.m. 1 mini bagel w/whipped cream cheese, 1 banana, small glass OJ

10:00 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 3 medium sized M&M/chocolate chip cookies (during a meeting)

1:15 p.m. Salad w/shredded mozzerella, 2 large (but thin) pieces cheese pizza (cold!), diet coke, several handfuls of Chex Mix

4:00 p.m. 1 root beer suck candy

8:00 p.m. 6 Dove chocolate caramels

WORKOUT: Long walk around neighborhood (south loop + two cul de sacs/Hickory Lane & Bike Trail return) - probably around 1 hour

Food and Workout Journal for Tuesday, May 27th, 2008

6:20 a.m. 1 mini bagel w/whipped cream cheese, 1 banana, small glass OJ

11:00 a.m. 1 Fiber One bar

12:30 p.m. Gardenia w/Jim and Sheri: Grilled chicken fajita wrap (grilled chicken, rice, onions, peppers, cheese, sour cream, and salsa), French fries (about 1/2), diet coke

1:30 p.m. 2 no-bake cookies, 1 root beer suck candy

6:45 p.m. Ham, cheese, lettuce and mustard on wheat sandwich, 15 organic pretzel sticks, small glass vitamin water, 3 Dove chocolates

WORKOUT: Cathe Gym Style Back, Shoulders, and Biceps - Hardcore Series (50 minutes) - this is the first time I ever did this workout. The cover of the workout said it was 62 minutes, but it clocked in at 50...which was fine with me! I love pure strength style workouts every once in awhile, and this one was great.

PHR Test Looming

What is my problem?! I know my certification test is looming (I have it scheduled for June 6th), yet I can't get disciplined. That's not to say that I haven't studied at all. I have. In fact, I have hours of studying in. But I know I need more. And I just have the hardest time getting motivated. I sit down to do it, and my mind just wanders. I can't wait until this thing is over.

What's even weirder is I have full, open days (like today), and I just have the hardest time opening the book. On busy, crazy days, I'll find 1/2 hour or 45 minutes and really pack in some studying. Well, I better at least get 1/2 hour in.....

Food and Workout Journal for Monday, May 26, 2008

Okay, so it's Memorial Day. We did all of our family stuff Saturday and Sunday, and now we are back in our own house detoxing. As much as we love our families, it's dysfunction junction all of the way! I'm always happy to get back to the sanity of my own home.

9:00 a.m. Breakfast at the In Law's House: 1 whole wheat waffle w/syrup, couple pieces of bacon, small glass OJ

1:00 p.m.(ish) 2 no-bake cookies

4:15 p.m. Small bowl of Spagettios w/franks, 1 mini bagel w/whipped cream cheese, 5 Hershey caramel kisses.

5:00 p.m. 1 Fiber One Bar

8:45 p.m. Late dinner w/DH on deck: About 2/3 of a thin crust vegetarian pizza, 3 Dove chocolate caramels

WORKOUT: The FIRM Aerobic Body Shaping w/Allie Del-Rio (TransFIRMer Series) - 1 hour

Food Journal for May 24th and 25th, 2008

DH and I were in PA Saturday and Sunday visiting our families. We returned today (Memorial Day). Although I walked around a little, there was no real structured exercise. Food intake was pretty bad, but I'll get back on it tomorrow. I still journaled everything. On a positive note, my mom thinks I might have lost more weight. Also, MIL asked DH if I "lost a little bit of weight." She always knows how to put it into perspective! I need to have a post about MIL. Hell, I could dedicate an entire blog to her. If I was a drinker, I'd be drunk all of the time I have to deal with her.

Saturday, May 24th
7:30 a.m. Bowl of CoCo Wheats w/raw sugar to sweeten, mini bagel w/whipped cream cheese, small glass OJ
2:00 p.m. McDonald's w/Mom: Big Mac, French fries, Diet Coke, small chocolate milk shake (Yeah, yeah, yeah. It tasted good. Whatever.) 2 breath mints
7:00 p.m. Roadhouse w/DH and Bill & Judy: 1 roll w/cinnamon butter, salad w/ranch dressing, 2 chicken tenders, few French fries, glass of regular Pepsi

Sunday, May 25th
9:30 a.m. 1 Oatmeal-to-Go bar, glass OJ
11:00 a.m. Couple licks of brownie batter
2:45 p.m. 1/2 ham, cheese, lettuce, and mustard on wheat bread sandwich, 2 small York Peppermint Patties, 2 Oreo Cakesters
4:00 p.m. Spoonful of chocolate frosting
6:00 p.m. Cookout w/DH, Mom & Dad: BBQ chicken, macaroni salad, tiny bit of baked bean casserole, Doritos, 1 frosted brownie, 2 cans regular Root Beer

Food and Workout Journal for May 23, 2008

Took the day off to study....but didn't get much studying done!

8:45 a.m. 1 cup OHs! cereal with 1/2 c. 2% milk, 1 mini bagel w/whipped cream cheese, small glass OJ

12:30 p.m. Grilled cheese and bacon sandwich w/ketchup, small glass vitamin water, 2 no-bake cookies, 2 root beer suck candies

3:00 p.m. Lowfat chocolate chip mint ice cream (about 3/4 cup)

8:30 p.m. 1 large cereal bowl of air-popped popcorn w/butter and salt, 1 full can regular Coke

WORKOUT: Cathe Body Fusion (6" step) - 50 minutes

Food and Workout Journal for May 22, 2008

Well, I had another excessive eating day today. Also, I didn't get a very strenuous workout in. No big deal, but I doubt I'll be losing much this month.

6:20 a.m. 1 cup OHs! cereal with 1/2 c. 2% milk, 1 mini bagel w/whipped cream cheese, small glass juice

12:00 p.m. Ham and cheese sandwich on bun w/mustard, 15 organic pretzel sticks, 2 no-bake cookies, diet coke, 2 root beer suck candies

6:00 p.m. Ruby Tuesday's w/DH: 4 Southwestern Spring Rolls w/dipping sauce, salad from the salad bar (lettuce and veggies w/shredded cheese, sunflower seeds, ranch dressing, bacon bits, and croutons), 1 and 1/2 mini cheeseburgers, French fries, water

7:00 p.m. 5 caramel Hershey Kisses, 1 root beer suck candy

WORKOUT: One hour walk (to/from Ruby Tuesdays on bike trail)

Food and Workout Journal for May 21, 2008

Worked at home today.

8:30 a.m. 1 mini bagel w/whipped cream cheese, sliced strawberries, small glass OJ

12:30 p.m. The other 1/2 of Panera sandwich, reduced fat chips, small glass vitamin water, 3 no-bake cookies, small glass 2% milk, 3 root beer suck candies

6:15 p.m. IAAP meeting: small salad w/reduced fat dressings, 1 roll, 1 bit of baked fish, diet pepsi, 3 small pastries

9:15 p.m. 4 Hershey caramel kisses

WORKOUT: Cathe Muscle Endurance

Food and Workout Journal for May 20, 2008

7:30 a.m. 1 mini bagel w/cream cheese, sliced strawberries, small glass OJ

12:00 p.m. Lunch in Akron office w/DED: Grilled chicken sandwich w/pepperjack, bacon, and some sauce, few potato chips, diet coke

2:00 p.m. 2 No-Bake cookies

5:10 p.m. 1/2 No-Bake cookie

6:00 p.m.(ish) Panera w/DH: 1/2 Turkey Bacon Bravo Sandwich (Turkey, bacon, cheese, onion, sauce on French bun), 1/2 small bag of chips, few swallows of Sprite

8:00 p.m. 1 and 1/2 No-Bake cookies with small glass 2% milk

WORKOUT: 1 hour (total) walk in Brecksville

I'm still chowing down the cookies and taking it easy on the physical activity, but I did feel much better today. The first full day of TTOM is always hard on me, so I babied myself yesterday.

Food Journal for May 19, 2008

Took the day off. It's TTOM and I'm having severe cramps and outrageous chocolate cravings. Food was all over the place. I'm not proud.

6:30 a.m. 1 mini bagel w/whipped cream cheese, sliced strawberries, small glass OJ

10:00 a.m. 3 Hershey caramel kisses

10:30 a.m. 1 root beer suck candy

12:00 p.m. Ham and cheese sandwich on bun w/mustard, reduced fat chips, 3 Hershey caramel kisses, diet coke, 2 root beer suck candies

5:00 p.m. Couple handfuls of chocolate chips, bowl of Spagettios w/franks (1/2 can - 1 serving), 1 mini bagel w/whipped cream cheese, small glass vitamin water

6:15 p.m. Several bites of "no bake" cookie batter; then ate 2 cookies

Later - 1/2 cookie w/small glass 2% milk

Food and Workout Journal for May 18, 2008

9:00 a.m. 1 Belgium waffle w/syrup, few pieces bacon, sliced strawberries, small glass OJ

10:00 a.m. 1 root beer suck candy

1:30 p.m. 3 Hershey caramel kisses

2:45 p.m. Grilled hamburger on bun w/ketchup, mustard, mayo, and onions; few reduced-fat chips; small glass vitamin water, 4 Hershey caramel kisses

5:30 p.m. 3 Hershey caramel kisses

7:45 p.m. Chocolate pudding (about 1/2 of a box which is 2 servings)

WORKOUT: Cathe Step, Jump and Pump - ALL STEP PREMIX (26 min) on 4" step

Food and Workout Journal for May 17, 2008

8:45 a.m. Little bit of Scottish oatmeal w/brown sugar, mini bagel w/peanut butter, 1/2 banana, small glass OJ

12:30 p.m. 2 chocolate chip cookies

3:30 p.m. Carrabba's w/DH: few small slices bread dipped in olive oil & pesto. We then split our meals: Chicken Bryan w/cavatapi, and tiny portions of chicken Parmesan and lasagna

5:45 p.m. 3 Hershey caramel kisses

6:30 p.m. 1 chocolate chip cookie

8:00 p.m. 1 fruit popsicle (40 cal.)

9:00 p.m. 1 and 1/2 large "cereal" bowls of buttered/salted air-popped popcorn, 1 can regular Coke

WORKOUT: Cathe Step Blast - Combo 1, 2, and 3 Premix (41 min.) on 4" step

Morning Workouts

Well, I gave it a serious try. I got up between 4:50 - 5:10 a.m. to workout for a few weeks. I really wanted to make it work. It just didn't. I forced myself thinking I'd make it a habit, and that part did work. I did start getting up without too much of a problem. But the issue is, everything else suffered. First, I just didn't have much strength or coordination in the morning. There's no way in hell I could do a complicated step routine (which usually, I'm pretty good at). Also, I was just not lifting the same amounts.

Then, during the day, I dragged. I just wasn't alert. DH didn't like it either...he said I wasn't myself for weeks plus he was always startled by my alarm going off "in the dead of night." Last, my sleep suffered. Just knowing that I had to get up that early made it hard for me to sleep! As much as I loved having it done in the morning with the whole evening to do whatever I wanted, it just wasn't worth it to me. I think it may be different if I was working out at 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. But starting at 5:00 a.m.? Call me a wimp, but it isn't happening anymore.

So, this week I allowed myself to go back to my late afternoon/early evening workouts right after work. Man, I feel sooo much better. I'm back to lifting my normal weights and I'm not stumbling all over myself. My assistant said to me today, "wow, you seem like your old self today!" I asked her if I was being crabby before, and she (trying to be diplomatic) said, "well, let's just say I haven't seen your toothy smile or heard one of your hyena laughs for about a month!" I told her she wouldn't have to worry about missing my cackling anymore! I'm keeping to a normal sleep schedule from now on!

Food and Workout Journal for May 16, 2008

6:20 a.m. 1 banana, 1 mini bagel w/whipped cream cheese, small glass OJ

12:00 p.m. Fat Fish Blue w/Susan: Grilled BBQ chicken sandwich (w/cajun mayo, cheese, lettuce, and fried onions), sweet potato chips, diet coke (OMG....awesome meal!)

2:00 p.m. 4 Snickers Minis

6:00 p.m. Tiny piece of chocolate cake w/icing

WORKOUT: Cathe Push Pull (45 min.)

Food and Workout Journal for May 15, 2008

9:30 a.m. Cracker Barrel w/ Kathy and "problem employee": 1 biscuit, 2 pieces of bacon, 1 scrambled egg, 1 large glass of lowfat chocolate milk

12:30 p.m. 2 chocolate chip cookies

2:30 p.m. Small (very small) dish lowfat chocolate chip mint ice cream

5:15 p.m. Ruby Tuesday's w/DH: Salad from salad bar (greens w/veggies, shredded cheese, bacon bits, ranch dressing, croutons, sunflower seeds), 2 mini cheeseburgers, several French fries

6:30 p.m. small can regular root beer (8 oz.)

WORKOUT: Walk to/from Ruby's on bike trail (1 hr. total)

Food and Workout Journal for May 14, 2008

6:20 a.m. 1 banana, 1 mini bagel w/whipped cream cheese, small glass OJ

12:00 p.m. Other 1/2 of Panera sandwich, small baggie of baked potato chips, 2 chocolate chip cookies, diet coke

6:00 p.m. Grilled cheese sandwich, 1 piece chocolate cake w/icing, small glass vitamin water

8:30 p.m. 2 chocolate chip cookies

WORKOUT: Cathe Super Sets (53 minutes)

Food and Workout Journal for May 13, 2008

6:20 a.m. 1 banana, 1 mini bagel w/whipped cream cheese, small glass OJ

10:00 a.m. 5 powdered sugar donut holes, small glass apple juice

12:30 p.m. Chicken Philly Wrap from Gardenia (grilled chicken, tiny bit of cheese, onions, few peppers on tortilla), few chips, diet coke

2:00 p.m. 2 Hershey Nuggets, 2 mini Milky Ways

4:50 p.m. 1 piece chocolate cake w/icing, small glass 2% milk

6:00 p.m. Panera w/DH: 1/2 Turkey Bravo Sandwich (turkey, cheese, onions, bacon and sauce on ciabatta bread), few chips, 1 pickle, couple swallows of Sprite

8:00 p.m. 1 root beer suck candy

WORKOUT: 1 hour walk in Brecksville