A long, sweaty, stinky weekend

Saturday, I got up early and hit the walking trail off Pulaski Pike. I wanted to get a long walk in before the weather turned HOT! I strapped on my new Nike's and headed out. I walked 4 intense miles. I was drenched in sweat when I finished but my energy was pumping.

After my walk I drove to the co-op for cow manure to spread on my garden. I got 3-50 pound bags and spread it on my vegetable plants and flowers. That should help fertilize it and give it a growing boost. All that bending over, squatting and digging sure left me sore. Good workout for me and my garden :)

Today I'm feeling the effects of overdoing it. I took it easy with my workout doing 30 minutes of stretching with the medicine ball. I also had to finish this week's challenge which is 200 pushups. I do those using the bathroom counter. Helps keep the impact low.

So the good news on this post is I've lost 2 inches from my hips and waist.

I am slowly working my way to becoming WAFF's Biggest Loser :)

Go Green Team!

Ooooey, goooey good

I am also craving a stuffed potato from Big Bob Gibson's in Decatur. I love the steamy hot potato loaded with smoked chicken, cheese, sour cream, and chives topped off with a good drizzle of white sauce. Ohhh so good!

Food craving you can't make me cheat! I will not give in to your luscious temptations. I will replace you with a sensible healthy meal. I will dream of you and think of you fondly though. I will not be defeated!!

DQ or bust

Since I've started Biggest Loser my food cravings have simmered down somewhat. Now and then I get hungry for a treat. Today is that day. On blazing hot summer days I love ice cream but with blood sugar problems diving into a DQ Blizzard isn't something I can freely do. Last year, DQ came out with a Girl Scout Thin Mint Blizzard TO DIE FOR!! I had one and only one and let me tell you it was lip smackin good! I've been trying to adopt a sugar free version to make over the Fourth of July. I will let you know how it turns out and possibly post a recipe if it is yummy.

Here's to you DQ for such an ingenious idea!

Room to wiggle...

Today I am wearing a suit jacket that weeks ago had to be unbuttoned on the bottom just so I could breath. Not today, I can sit comfortably. My jacket fits lose on me. I am very proud of the way my clothes are beginning to fit.

Last night I did 1 hour of cardio. I did about 30 minutes of fast dance and boxing!! To finish, I ran track and I did kick ups. Those are hard but you can feel the burn in your thigh muscles. This week's challenge has a military theme, I suppose in honor of Memorial Day. We have to do 200 push ups before Sunday and run. I've got to buy new tennis shoes before I hit the track. I will try to do that after work tomorrow.

On a sad note, my sweet Aunt Alta is dying. Hospice told the family if anyone wanted to see her they should do so today. She is such a beautiful, kind, christian woman. She and my Uncle Bill, who passed away last year, were married some 60 years. She is so talented. She keeps a beautiful, well decorated, clean home, she can cook like a trained chef and she loves to gossip ha/ha I love her very much and as hard as it is to see her so sick, you know there is a better place to call home than this one here on Earth.

Climb Every Mountain...

I'm no Julie Andrews but Saturday I felt the hills were very much alive...with anything but the sound of music! More like screams of fear and gasps of total exhaustion :)

We started our 6 mile hike at 8:00 Saturday morning. The weather was cool and foggy. It had rained the night before so everything was soaked--making the ground very muddy and slippery. At first, things went smoothly. A few jagged rocks and downed trees but nothing too bad. Then, things started to go down hill...literally. I was like a cat dodging rocking chairs. I was jumping from one slick rock to another, turning my ankle over a dozen times, falling into the mud, sitting on my rear end and scooting down wet rocks, grabbing trees, twigs anything along the way to hold my balance. At one point, I thought I might crack my head open or fall off the side of the cliff. I had HEMSI Search and Rescue programmed into speed dial just in case.

Then things started to flatten out. For about a mile or so I was convinced I was going to be ok. Then the terrain changed, and we started our climb. At this point, I was pouring sweat out of my body. My hair, my clothes, my shoes were soaked. I pressed on, trying to prepare myself for what was ahead. The last thing I remember was passing one of my team members to get a move on climbing that never ending mountain, I now lovingly refer to as "heart attack hill.". I was so out of breath, my heart was racing, my vision became blurred and I swear I was talking out of my head. I stopped for a moment and had to mentally bring myself back to life. I was like the little engine that could...only I couldn't. I finally collected myself enough to slowly push my way through the pain, sweat and tears.

After 3 intense hours of pounding the ground, sucking down every once of water I could find in my back pack, the journey was over. Finally back to civilization. I can't believe I did it! I hiked 6+ miles and I didn't die!!! I quickly texted Lane and told him I made it. I called my parents to tell them I was alive. Nobody could believe that I had it in me...and neither did I!

As soon as I got to the car I felt instant pain....and relief to be sitting down. I got home, and just sat in my car wondering if I would have to crawl to my front door or muster the energy to walk. I took off my shoes, which at this point weighed about 40 pounds each. I drug myself to the shower and felt my muscles turn to Jello.

After some aches and pains over the weekend I will say the hurt was worth it. I LOST 4 POUNDS!

Green Team made a great showing Saturday.
Plans are to do a second hike in 2 weeks.
EG won't be attending. I've learned I have no skills and it was purely luck I didn't kill myslef :)

Take a hike, losers!

ok so I still that title from my boss. I thought it was catchy though!

I should be in the bed resting up before tomorrow morning's traumatic 6 mile hike across Monte Sano. Instead, I'm sitting at my computer trying to catch up on blogging. Our hike is part of the Biggest Loser program myself and several other co-workers are participating in. I've got my cold water, Gatorade, fruit and snack bar ready. I've also downloaded some fresh music to my MP3 player. I'll probably die doing this but I'm not going down without a fight...or at least an attempt at one :)

The Wii cardio is rocking fun! I've had the best time learning to do some of the exercises. The only ones I don't like are the squats and lunges. That's just because my hip injury from my car wreck won't let me flex the way I need to. I digress. The dance and boxing are my favorite. I could do that for hours.

Here's to the Green Team! Hoping for a great hike and no fatalities :)

Be a Pepper Drink Dr. Pepper (Diet that is)

So the one thing, among many, that I have done away with for Biggest Loser is carbonated beverages. Today, though, I needed a caffiene boost to help shake the blah's. You can only drink so much water a day. I snuck a Diet Dr. Pepper from the vending machine at work (which is off limits to Green Team). I've taken a couple of sips out of it and I already feel a little better. :)

Here's to you Diet Dr. Pepper for helping me get through the hump day blues. You've perked me up a little and for that I say thank you!

Today's meal plan...

Breakfast:

8 ounce Slim Fast

Lunch:

egg salad on whole grain tortilla

baked Cheetos

banana

1/2 cup of sugar free chocolate pudding

3 slices of watermelon

1/2 cup cottage cheese with blueberries

Dinner:

TBA

Go Green Team!

Feel the burn baby!

The Wii Cardio is kicking my behind...literally!! Last night was my second 30 minute work out and let me tell you I'm feeling the burn. I ran track, walked, did low leg kicks, high leg kicks, squats, arm work outs with the rubber band, lunges. Total I burned 146 calories in 24 minutes. By the end I didn't have a dry thread on me and my knees were weak. Before that I played about 20 minutes worth of tennis and baseball to warm up. I can already feel a little tightness in my shoulders. :) That is a good thing!

As for diet, keeping to a 20 point Weight Watcher diet. No major cravings and no desire to stray.

Press on Green Team!

Edible Arrangement...EG style

You've probably heard of the company "Edible Arrangements." They make "flowers" out of fruit. Let me say, they are expensive! The cheapest order starts around $60.00.

My nice, Mary Beth, wanted her Aunt Cizzy to buy her strawberries for her birthday. Its a tradition just between us gals. This year, I decided to put some creativity into it. I bought a flower pot, a piece of foam, some wooden skewers, chocolate, strawberries, and grapes. I filled the pot with fruit and that little girl LOVED it!! Plus, it didn't break the bank.

So if you don't want to work overtime to pay for hand dipped fruit, get creative and do it yourself! Its fun and the effort means much more than the gift!

Wii came...Wii conquered...Wii about died

I guess you can tell from the title of this post I hooked up the Wii this weekend. Who would have thought a gaming device could cause so much pain, sweat and heart palpitations. Wheeew! You know you are out of shape when the gaming console realizes you are trying to cheat because you can't catch your breath. I am proud that I made it 21 minutes doing straight up cardio. I walked, I ran track, boxed, did squats, lunges and in-line skating, along with a few other sorted torture methods. To warm up I played a few rounds of boxing and even baseball. My shoulder feels like I should be a pitcher on the Brave's Baseball Team. I will admit I LOVE my Wii!!! Its a great way to get fit without leaving the comfort of an airconditioned room. I signed up for the Wii 30 day challenge. If I don't die first, I hope to see some major results.

Speaking of self-inflicted death, several co-workers, along with Green Team members are going for a hike on Saturday. Not just a little stroll through the woods mind you but a 6 mile trek up Monte Sano. My suggestion is to have an ambulance waiting so when I roll down the hill at the end, they can just scoop up my lifeless, limp, body, hook me to oxygen and start the reviving process. Been a LONG time since I've hiked up anything :)

Press onward...

Breaking up is hard to do...

So I finally did it. I threw away my favorite pair of high heeled shoes. I had a blow out at the courthouse this morning and the entire left side of my foot was hanging out. I managed to hide my emabarrasment in the most uncomfortable way. Grandmother says you should never let em see you sweat! As soon as we got back to the station, I threw away my beloved open toes. Thankfully I carry spares in the trunk of my car.

Goodbye heels. You've killed by feet for the last few weeks but I remember when you were young how much enjoyment I got from you.

"Let's Get Physical."

And that's just what I plan to do....as soon as I get my new Wii hooked up. I bought the gaming system on Amazon.com, free one-day shipping later, I just have to get it set up. Yes, its still sitting in the box in the middle of my floor but I digress. I also bought the new cardio workout to go with it.

Results and reviews coming soon.

It Ain't Easy Being Green....

I will admit dieting is not an easy thing. I wish I was one of those skinny girls you love to hate but alas I'm built like my sweet maw maw. You know...small up top with hips wide enough to accomodate 3. And even though I cannot be broken mentally to cheat on my Biggest Loser diet plan, that doesn't mean I don't have moments of total temptation. In fact, today is what I lovingly refer to as my "struggle" day. When I look at my ham sandwich, bag of baked chips and cup of applesauce all I can dream of is Dream Land ribs, sauce, white bread, a bubbly fountain Coke, and a bowl of macaroni and cheese that you could die trying to eat your way back out of. Still, the goal is worth keeping focused on. I am competitive as a race horse but for me its not just about winning its about seeing something through to the end. When I reach my goal weight, Lane said he would buy me a new pair of jeans. Not just any pair of jeans but a pair that FITS like they should. Not ones too big in the waist, or tiht through the hips and legs. I want a pair that says "now that is one smokin hot woman." My mom said she would buy me a new suit. Its all worth it...even when the battle gets to be more than you can take!

Go green team!

Ghost Busters!!!

So today I got to meet "king of the screen" Dan Aykroyd. He was signing autographs at a stop off Gate 8 at Redstone Arsenal. He was in town to give a $5,000 donation to the Wounded Warriors fund. He's a really cool guy, personable enough. Was very gracious to our military and seemed as though he enjoyed his time in Huntsville.

I got to interview him one-on-one and he shook my hand. Mr. Aykroyd, it was a pleasure meeting you. I loved you in Tommy Boy and Trading places!

I'm a Loser!

And it feels GREAT!

I've joined the Biggest Loser weight loss competition with co-workers at my station. Its a heated, dirty battle to see which team can lose the most weight. I've got an awesome team captain (and I'm not just saying that because she is my GM). She's very motivational and it doesn't hurt that she leaves little bags of snacks on your desk. She's banned all vending machines for "Team Green" which should help keep us on track. The competition started Monday and goes through August 9th. I will continue to blog my progress as I strive to lose some 40 pounds!

Go Green Team!!!

Coming back to life...

So the ole blog has been out of operation for quiet sometime. My brother reminded me that it needed some attention. Problem was I couldn't remember my username/password. So I had to try everyone of my old login's and finally...I'm back!!

So everyone...Welcome BACK to my World!

Road trip pictures!!

My sweet little mother FINALLY figured out a way to send our vacation pictures! Hope you enjoy the beautiful scenery!

Bronners, turkey sandwich, and the longest trip south!!

Friday morning, we got up, packed our bags and left Mackinac City headed south to Cincinatti. First, we stopped by Bronner's Christmas Store. Bronner's was founded in 1945 by Wally Bronner. When Wally painted his first sign over 50 years ago, little did he dream that his small business would one day become the world's largest Christmas store visited by millions of people. Open 361 days of the year, Bronner's features over 50,000 trims and gifts, including Christmas ornaments, artificial Christmas trees, Christmas lights, Nativity scenes, Christmas decorations, collectibles, and more.

Bronner's Silent Night Memorial Chapel is open daily for viewing and meditation. Every evening Bronner's ½-mile long Christmas Lane glistens with thousands of twinkling lights. Over two million people, including 2,000 group tours, visit Bronner's attraction annually.

We spent about 45 minutes at Bronner's. The group decided to have lunch at a German restaurant in Downtown Frankenmuth. Mom and I split a turkey sandwich. It was good! After lunch we boarded the bus and headed south. Little did we know we were in for the ride of our lives!!! Our driver took a wrong turn somewhere and ended up in Detroit, Michigan. After circling the same church about 3 times we finally realized he must be lost. Like most men he just kept driving the wrong direction until finally stopping at a BP to ask for directions. He turned the bus around and finally got us back on the road headed south. After one more wrong turn along the way we finally got back to our hotel in Cincy around 11. Ahhhhh that soft plush bed and glorious shower!! Our dreams were only short lived. We had another 8 hour trip ahead of us to get back to Alabama. More on that disaster later...

A history lesson....

This is information about Mackinac Island I pulled from the internet. For those of you who have never visited, I thought you might be interested in its history. I give it 2 thumbs up and 5 stars!



Mackinac Island is the truly "all natural" theme park of America. Limited to transportation of horse and buggy, bicycle or foot, surrounded by water, it has escaped the vast changes of time.

Its real Victorian image is preserved and enhanced by a small population of 500 permanent residents and scores of summer residents, maintaining bluff cottages in original state. Families, especially children, love their relatively new found "mobility", exploring the historic, natural beauty of Mackinac Island State Park, honored by National Geographic as one of the ten finest in America.

The calendar of events on Mackinac Island is highlighted by the Annual Lilac Festival, climaxed with one of the largest "All Horse Hitch" parades known. The American Bus Association has designated Mackinac Island's Lilac Festival as one of the nation's top 100 tourist attractions.

The residents are warm and friendly, even during the Island's brief but unique winter holiday and cross-country season. Prices are best in winter, spring, and fall, of course, but the enjoyment level never fails to put new perspective into the concept of relaxation.

When you step off of the Island Ferry Dock, you will be in a living Victorian village. Please cross streets on straight angles rather than diagonally and be aware of horses, bikes and people stepping off of carriages, enjoy the downtown hustle and bustle of the early 1800s but don't miss the beauty of the Island's interior and peaceful lakefront perimeter path. Once you've visited our beautiful Island, you will find that it is your Island, too. We look forward to your return many times in the future.

Climate

The summers are moderate, with cool mornings and warmer afternoons. Islanders suggest dressing in layers, shedding sweaters, etc, as the day progresses putting them on again in the cool of the evening. Winters are interestingly cold and by February, the Straits freeze and Lake Huron is covered with ice. Average temperatures: May 50-degree, June 64-degree, July 70-degree, August 71-degree, September 63-degree, October 50-degree. Winter holidays and cross-country skiing season, mid-December through March.

Grand View vs The Grand Hotel

Wow! That's the best way to describe what mom and I experienced today. Our bus left Mackinaw City early this morning. We took a huge boat over to Mackinaw Island. We got off the boat and lined up for a horse drawn carriage tour. Motor vehicles are not allowed on the island so the only way to get around is --of course, by horse, foot or bicycle. The tour takes about 2 hours. The scenery is like taking a step back into the 50's. Everywhere you look there are beautiful fragrant flowers, white picket fences, quaint shops and pastel colored Victorian style buildings and homes.



We toured Mackinaw Islands Grand Hotel - and let me tell you it is every square inch the most gorgeous hotel I have ever seen!!! Ornate decorations, expensive art work, historical paintings, massive rooms decorated in elaborate wallpaper. Guests are literally given the red carpet treatment --and they pay dearly for it. A standard room is $300.00. If you want a suite, get ready to shell out $2,500 dollars a night!! Guests and their luggage are picked up in glassed enclosed carriages and driven by matching horses to the hotel. They are greated by red carpet, a huge widning front porch and the most beautiful scenery anywhere!

We stayed at a place called Grand View. It was the ghetto version of anything I've stayed at in a long time! The rooms were nothing special but we did have double beds, a shower, television and refrigerator :) The best part of the hotel was the fact we were only a few feet from Lake Huron. What a gorgeous view! The water's around Michigan are blue and so clear you can see to the bottom! I wouldn't trade my time at Grand View for a night at The Grand (unless somebody else was paying).

Moving on...Lunch at The Grand is buffet style and will cost you $50 a pop. Dinner is black tie/cocktail dress at a cost of $80. Mom and I just couldn't see spending good money on lunch but a few of the people on our bus did eat at The Grand and said the food was really good!! Mom and I and 2 ladies who sat near us on the bus had lunch at The Village Inn. We split a plate of chicken alfredo. Mmmmmm it was really good! Then it was time to burn off some calories with a long walk to every shop on the island. What a beautiful day and wonderful experience! Worth every dime!!!

I failed to blog yesterday. Its difficult to do on an IPhone. Here's a brief synopsis...we visited the Soo Locks. The locks are 50 miles north of Mackinaw City. The Locks is the largest waterway traffic system on earth. We actually went through the locks which was an experience. Our boat ride was raised twenty-one feet, straight up to the level of Lake Superior. Our last stop was at a casino (can't think of the name). Some gambled others held on to their $10 haha. What did mom and I do? Well let's just say I had $10.00 extra dollars to spend the next day and mom bought her little grandson a stuffed puppy :)

Tomorrow we head south...stopping at Bronner's the worlds largest Christmas store!

Stay tuned for more adventures!