The Jury is Out...

So the jury is still out on how this Monday is going to go...it is the last day of the month so call volumes could get crazy and then tomorrow is the first day so it could get even worse...

But I started my day out great :)

Met Alyssa at the gym, ran/walked for over a mile on an incline for about 22 minutes, wanted to reach the 200 calorie mark which I did :)

Showered in record time (sometimes it takes a system!) and got Starbucks on the way to work.

Had a blonde roast with half and half and a protein bistro box (didn't eat the apples). It was very good and filling. Planning on subway for lunch.

This weekend was wonderful. Some potential absolutely amazing news coming soon regarding a couple different parts of my life. Don't worry grandma, I'll call you not make you read it in my blog ;)

Thinking I'm going to start planning meals...been eating out a lot and I tend to eat more that way :/

And this will be a trying week for James...so if you think about him please pray. He works 7 out of the next 8 days. And pray for me that I can help him in any way I can to make life easier.

We had a really touching prayer night just between the two of us last night. We were praying over some new job possibilities for both of us and getting through this week and being joyful in trials. I was crying happy tears by the end (you all know me and emotions!). I always break down when he prays so sweetly for me. Don't let it out that he has a tender heart for those he loves. ;) I'm a lucky girl. 

Here's to hoping its a great Monday :))

Love, Rachie

Bad start to a Friday...

Nothing exciting to report...today hasn't been too great. People drive stupid in the rain and was 7 minutes late to work despite leaving in plenty of time. Woke up with a bad headache so I didn't go workout...then I found out they counted every day I was in Hawaii as a different attendance occurrence. So I got the talk from my supervisor that I could be "terminated at any time" due to my attendance. So basically if I ever do something they don't like, they have a reason to fire me. Been writing a rocking cover letter all morning between calls. Gonna start sending out applications like crazy...

Have tomato soup for lunch...had coffee this morning. A white mocha...so it definitely had sugar.

Next week needs to go better with exercise and diet. My fault. Its hard to motivate myself when other things are going wrong. I don't know what I would do without Alyssa :) I felt bad not going with her this morning...but hey if guilt is the only motivator I'll take it :P

Halfway done with work. 3:30 please come soon.

Rachel

Almost Friday....

Well...I set three alarms to wake me up so I could go to the gym this morning. Even went to bed in gym clothes so I could just get up. I must have really not wanted to go subconsciously since I apparently turned them all off in my sleep. Woke up at 6:25....I usually leave for work at 6:20. I made it...clocked in 1 minute late but that's not bad considering I didn't speed :P

My meals are soooooo good...at work. 

Then I get home and it all "goes to hell in a handbasket". 

When I bring food to work....I only have so much I can eat no matter how much I want to. When I'm home, I'm only limited by the amount of money in my bank :)

Last night wasn't horrible...stopped by Stanford's and had an interesting experience there....

But I are fine. Had the salmon oscar which is really quite healthy. Salmon, crab, dipping the fork in the sauce instead of pouring it all over.

Then I got hungry on my way home from James....here's what's frustrating. I didn't even want Taco Bell but I was hungry and there was nothing else around. So I did. :( 

So as of right now I'm making a vow. No more Taco Bell and no more soda.

Alrighty....now you guys have to hold me to that :)

Planning to actually get back to working out tomorrow...if not in the morning James has the day off so he would probably go with me after I'm off work. 

We are thinking about going on a date tomorrow :) we have cinetopia tickets...any good movies out?

I just love my doggies :)

Rach

Another 3 day week...on accident.

Sorry about the lax on the blogging. I never do it over the weekends and I've been sick these last two days :/ which means my eating has suffered and I haven't been working out. Today I'm getting back on track with eating and gonna start working out again tomorrow. Alyssa has been sick too :( which totally lowers my motivation to work out :P after the Hawaii trip...I ate well for three days, then I got sick. So I'm pretty much back to where I started which is frustrating. It doesn't take much to go from doing so well to back to square one. Arg. 

Breakfast was 1/2 costco blueberry muffin, second half is for snack later today...lunch is chicken dumplings my mommy made, and lots of water for the day. Dinner is going to be something at Stanford's...thinking ill do salmon or something healthy like that. 

I reeeeeally don't want to be at work today. I need a new job ASAP. And I'm really aiming on finding one in Vancouver...the taxes and the commute are killing me :/

So I've realized that as a general rule in my life...I need something to look forward to in order to help me complete my goals. For example...just getting through work, I tell myself I get to go home and read my book and snuggle with James. That's just a small one :) and doesnt always work as motivation. Hawaii was obviously a big motivator. And James and I are probably going to a Winterhawks game on Friday which is something to look forward to. And he has the weekend off so we can actually spend time together :) (he worked Saturday and Sunday this last weekend and it sucked!)

So I need to plan something fun. Only problem is...fun usually needs money to happen :) at least a little money. And these past couple pay checks have been sadly lacking due to vacation and being sick :/

I'm seeing a connection here. It's like a circle. Getting healthy means being sick less. Being sick less means going to work and making money. Making money means I can take care of bills and have some left over for fun. Having some left over for fun means I can plan things to look forward to. Planning things to look forward to motivates me to do and be my best. Doing and being my best causes me to be healthy and there's the first part of the circle :) hmmm. Amazing how it can get thrown off so easily.

Waiting for groupon to send me my sketchers fit band :) then I can start posting my calories burned and steps taken...and it tracks my sleep too! Awesome. 

1 1/2 hours down...7 to go!!

(From the Winterhawks game with Alyssa in Friday!)

Love, Rach

3 Day Weeks :)

I want to work three days every week!

Returning to the cold in Vancouver has been depressing. It's under 50 degrees outside but in Hawaii it didn't dip lower than 68!! 

James and I are suffering withdrawals. 

Worked out this morning...it's like starting over again because of the vacation break...I worked out a couple days but not daily. And the last few days my eating got bad. 

Had a headache this morning so I did some running but mostly walking for 25 min, had a Quaker bar for breakfast before and half a bagel afterwards with an ice water and a blonde roast with half and half. Tomato soup for lunch and don't know yet for dinner.

I didn't sleep well last night so today should be interesting...hoping today is reeeeally slow for calls. I can't deal with stupid people today. I already started the day spilling coffee on my white shirt :( needless to say...I'm wearing my jacket all day now :)

After some drama that recently happened at my work, I have deleted about half of my Facebook friends. So...if you're reading this, you made the cut ;) which means...

A.) You don't cause drama

B.) I care about you knowing what's going on in my life

C.) I want to know what is going on in your life!

Anyways...good times :)

Have a good day! Pretend you're in Hawaii. It's what I'm doing :)

Love, Rachel

Hawaii Review!

Sorry guys, didn't want to waste time on my ipad in the most beautiful place in the world. :)

Here are some pictures and tomorrow will start back up on health!

My favorite thing in Hawaii was just sitting on the beach watching James and the kids play in the water :)

And now I'm back in Vancouver....TAKE ME BACK! 

7 Hours to Freedom!

I will be the happiest person ever at 3:30 today! (Aside from my abs killing me cuz Alyssa and I did abs and arms like champs today!) After 3:30 today....I will not be back at work until 3/19! Nothing makes me happier than not going to work :)

This is my awesome schedule.

Saturday: workout, massage chairs, red light therapy, mani/pedi, family party, dinner with the work girls

Sunday: church, then packing

Monday: workout, help James pack and relax

Tuesday: 5am leave for the airport to Hawaii!!!!

Saturday: meeting up with Heather in Hawaii :)

Tuesday: back from Hawaii

It's gonna be an awesome time!

Yesterday I did mostly good on food. Had that protein box for lunch, has 4 mini pieces of candy for snack when I was hungry, had a plan crispy chicken sandwich and 3/4 of a soft pretzel...my biggest downfall was the three sugary drinks I had at the Tool concert last night. But this morning of abs and arms made me feel better :) also...my belt is a loop or two tighter today :)) 

Today's lunch is a pb&j sandwich with apples and peanut butter for snack if need be!

I'm going to continue to post while in Hawaii...will be accompanied with some pictures I'm sure :) James and I are going to be sharing a lot of meals and he said he would workout with me too! Cuz I doubt my family will ;) mom and I may do hula dancing classes....see, I don't wanna slack. Alyssa and I are gonna be ready for this summer and every week makes a difference!

That's all for today folks!

Rachel

Missed Wednesday...oops!

As my grandma so lovingly pointed out...it was a good thing I called her last night otherwise she would have no idea what happened in my life on March 5 2014 since I missed my blog!

Yesterday I did really good on eating. Pb&j for breakfast, coffee with half and half, apples and peanut butter for snack, tomato soup for lunch and a plain crispy chicken sandwich for dinner was all I had for the day. Workout yesterday was cardio and arms. Did day 3 of couch to 5k with Alyssa and some weight lifting for arms.

Today, pb&j for breakfast...packed myself one for lunch but forgot it :/ so I stopped at Starbucks for my normal coffee and water and got a protein box meal to have for lunch :) this morning we did legs, a little arms and intervals....only 10 minutes of intervals for me, she did 16 minutes but she ate Mac n cheese last night ;)

We were discussing this morning that we have been expecting results waaaay too fast. That's why before I would always give up after just a couple days. Because you don't see it right away. But in reality...we've only been going to the gym for 4 days :P that's not that long. And doing at least 30 minutes every morning for the first week is pretty good. And we aren't gonna let up until we are where we want to be. Then we can cut it down ;)

My jeans fit better though! I used to have to work to get the zipper up all the way..the last inch was a challenge usually. But now it's smooth as butter :P 

I tend to always lose weight in my butt first!! So annoying. I like my butt!! Can't it all come out of my stomach :) yes I know...that comes last. 

I'm also going to start deskercising. Yes that's exactly what it sounds like. Exercises you can do at your desk. I have a wall I can do wall sits at while waiting for phone calls to come through :) also have some leg exercises that make me feel the burn even while on a phone call. It might look weird to my coworkers if I start doing the squats they recommend :)

That concludes my day so far.

James gets home tonight and we have tickets to the Tool concert! I'm way excited. Then after tomorrow, no work until Hawaii! It's gonna be a great next two weeks :)

Love, 

Rachel

P.S. Grandma...I love you more!!

Tuesday is better than Monday,

And Monday wasn't bad at all! It went by much quicker than I expected. I did great yesterday with food and exercise. Didn't eat anything if my stomachs wasn't growling and drank nothing but water and one cup of coffee with half and half!

Met Alyssa at the gym this morning at 5am and we did 10 minutes (Alyssa did 15) of cardio then 10 minutes of abs then 10 minutes of speed intervals on the treadmill!

For breakfast I had half a bowl of apple oatmeal, on the way to work I stopped at Starbucks and got a tall blonde roast in a grande cup, the rest of the way filled with half and half.

I feel great this morning! Feel bad for my poor co workers who have to listen to my energy babble out in the form of nonsensical sentences :) it's ok though...they love me :)

And the best news! Within the last week....I got on the scale and was at 212...yuck...

This morning, I got on the scale and I was at 204!!!!!

I know some is water weight...but I don't need ANY extra weight on me :) I'm super excited!!

It's all about the portion sizes I tell ya!

My goal is by Hawaii (Tuesday 3/11) that I will be under 200! I may even get there before. I'm planning on walking a lot in Hawaii and I would like to do some beach running potentially. I think I'll be used to waking up early after doing the gym thing this whole week. Gonna make James do it with me :)

Today is looking to be a great day. Still missing James :( but it's kinda fun taking care of his house and dogs because it's like being on my own. Don't get me wrong....I do want him coming back ;) 2 more sleeps until he's home!

Until tomorrow friends and family :)

Rachie

Yuckday

Actually...it hasn't been a terrible Monday YET. Woke up at 3:45... Yeah nuts I know but I went to bed at 8 :) took care of all the dogs...had apple oatmeal for breakfast then met the beautiful Alyssa Hillyer at Planet Fitness which we signed up for yesterday! We did cardio for 30 minutes on the treadmill with the fat burning setting. The incline was killing me! Took a shower and headed to work :)

I feel more awake now than I usually do...duh...I was awake for 3 hours by the time I got to work instead of being awake for 45 minutes :P

I did get coffee but I just got a Starbucks blonde roast with half and half, no sugar. I was hungry once I got to my desk since I ate at 4am...having some apple slices with peanut butter and I have my left over Olive Garden from yesterday for lunch! Since I only ate half which was the perfect size. It was the crab topped chicken. Probably the best thing I've ever had there. And not too unhealthy. Didn't eat a single breadstick and took my soup to go! 

It gets better! I went to my favorite bar for dinner and ordered the chicken enchilada. I got my soup to go and water instead of my angry orchard that I usually get. It's the first time I remember not eating too much of that enchilada and now I have it to look forward to for dinner! I won't have to buy any more food this week since I have left overs :) lunch and dinner is taken care of and split up into the perfect portion sizes!

So the gym we got memberships to is so cool!!

The normal plan is $10 per month for the basic but we did the $20 because we get unlimited use of the tanning beds, red light therapy, and massage chairs! SCORE! You can't even get tanning for that amount per month. We are going to be soooo sexy ;) hahaha.

I'm so excited we are doing it together. We are going to go every morning. And if she goes, I'll go and if I go, she goes. Which means we will always go :P and when I'm in Hawaii... (9 DAYS!) I'll text her and make sure she goes and I'll go running on the beach!! ;)

I'm in good spirits today even though I miss James. I did get to start off the day with my sister from another mister ;) Maybe it won't be such a terrible rotten no good kind of day. :)

Love, 

Rachel