Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is day 3 of counting calories. Today was my splurge day. I actually ate 1600 calories, and burned 600 exercising. The worst of these 3 days, but it was the one time for Tim and I to go out to eat. Who knew nachos were so bad for you! We ate at Bennigans and split a 12oz steak and the Southwestern Sampler. It actually kinda made me sick after watching very carefully what I’ve been eating for just a couple days. I’m glad we ate then went exercising ’cause I feel a lot better now. Tim was a good sport to do the cardio of my workout with me. Okay, he actually fussed a LOT! But, he still did it with me.

I’ve completed 3 weeks working at the high school. It’s still going well. Some days are better than others and it all depends on the student’s moods. We have to feel out how they’re doing each day and some each hour to know how to deal with some of them. Please keep these kids in your prayers. I pray for them every day. I didn’t exactly enjoy high school, and to be on this side watching kids go through it is interesting, especially the ones that don’t know Christ.

Pray for me. My biggest thing for the year is to stay committed and on track with teaching 2nd grade Sunday school, 9th grade confirmation, and doing the 40 Days of Purpose small group. Also pray that this weekend wont be tempting being home and around food all day. It’s been easy at school ’cause I just don’t take much food, and I’m forced to follow my meal plan that way.

If I haven’t jogged or biked in a day I feel so lazy! I’m not sure if it’s possible, or if it’s even happened, but I think I might be addicted to working out, or maybe just the feeling of being healthy. I highly doubt that I’m addicted to working out because it feels like such a chore to do, but then I love how I feel afterwards. Kinda weird. I worked out Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I skipped it Monday because I cleaned the house all day long and still felt like I got a work out. And today I haven’t worked out because it’s been super windy outside all day and now it’s dark. My knees don’t enjoy jogging anymore, so I’d rather bike, but it’s killer to bike when it’s windy. If it’s still windy in the morning I’ll have to jog instead ’cause we have company coming to stay that will be here a little after lunch. Then hopefully I’ll get myself up early Saturday before our training too.

Here’s a few tools I use for working out:

www.mapmyrun.com David, my brother-in-law showed me this, which I really like to use. Mainly just to keep track of what days I work out. But it’ll calculate your calories if you put in your miles and time when you work out.

The Biggest Loser Fitness Plan – this link and exercises are different than the ones in the book I’m using, but I’m sure you could put all these together into a good circuit.

Crunch Fat Burning Pilates, Crunch Burn and Firm Pilates and Crunch Pick Your Spot Pilates:
These three videos I really enjoy. They give you a challenge, but not one of those where you quit half way through. My favorite is the Fat Burning Pilates. Right after doing the 45 minute workout I feel great. When you do it for the very first time be ready to feel a bit of soreness ’cause it gives you a great workout! What sold me on all three of these videos is the trainer, Ellen Barrett. She is a nice calm trainer who isn’t one of the bubbly annoying ones I’m use to seeing that you get frustrated with how much fun and excitement their having when you feel like you’re dying doing the same thing.

Tonight during Soul Fuel for our high school students my attention was brought to a small quirk/plus with Tim being a youth pastor. I bought an exercise ball a while ago and it has always stayed in our living room. Tonight I was wondering if we had a nice house like my parents, or most people their age, their living room would be too nice to always keep the exercise ball in there. But at our house it serves as a favorite chair to the youth when they’re at our house! I just thought that was funny and had to share. Plus I think if I had to move it out of the room when I wasn’t using it, I probably wouldn’t use it. Just yesterday while doing a puzzle I used the ball to roll around to whatever side of the table I was at. It’s pretty much more of a chair or toy than anything else, but at least when using it for that I get better exercise than just plopping down on the couch (which I like to do too!)

We had the senior high students over last night for Bible study. Had 6 come to hang out, a good number for random summer events. I really enjoyed seeing the youth again, it feels like it’s been a while. After Bible Study we had one girl (in my small group!) stay a little later with her Mom to visit since we haven’t seen each other in a while. Then my friend Amanda came over to return our bike rack and to visit for a little bit. Everyone was out of the house pretty late, and then I got online to check email and stuff.

When I was about to go to sleep Tim asked if I wanted to help him make the video of a free give-away drawing he was doing for his blog. I was tired, but excited to be a part of his online ministry…here’s the video:
http://www.vimeo.com/1469494

We slept in this morning, but I still forced myself to get up and do my Biggest Loser circuit training then my 3 mile jog. Then I finally had my first meal of the day at 11:30. I made a real tasty omelette with egg whites, tomatoes, orange pepper, white and purple onions and cheese. Yumm!

My body has gone through a lot in the last week since I started doing the circuit training. And on Sunday we had wake ‘n ski which my back and shoulders are completely sore from. Tim and I both tried wake boarding and wake surfing for the first time and got up! I didn’t last too long, but I was impressed that I learned how to get up and stay up for a little bit. That’s a big accomplishment in itself!

I’ve used the excuse of living in Minnesota and having to be cooped up inside for long enough. I was so excited when the snow melted the first time here and went for a jog. The snow came back and I had to take a break and wait for it to melt again, and then again. I have really enjoyed jogging, but I noticed I hit a plateau. I bought The Biggest Loser book from Target and figured if I learned something about fitness and nutrition that should help. It helped Tim and I financially when we read a book about that.

I was excited and proud of myself while reading The Biggest Loser, and kept up my jogging. While on vacation I finished the book with the last chapter on the success stories of those who were on the show. I was shocked to read about the girls who weigh more than me but are fitting into smaller clothes. Come to find out I can’t just do cardio, I have to do a total body work out and work on my muscle which will then help burn more calories when I do cardio.

Their total body workout only takes about 20 minutes, but it is killer! I did it 3 days in a row hating to have to walk up and down our stairs when I needed, and I didn’t sleep well ’cause every time I moved I was in pain! Today was actually the first day since I started, that I walked down the stairs without hurting. What a nice feeling! After doing the routine for 2 days I told myself I’d give my muscles a break, but I could actually see a change physically and decided to do the routine again right before jogging. Wow that was a good work-out!

So that’s been going good, and I’ve been able to ride my bike twice this last week, once with Amanda, and then yesterday with Tim and Amanda and her family. I even pulled Amanda’s 2 kids in their trailer behind me.

I’m really enjoying being active. I am nervous about when the snow comes again this year. But I hope I have a long time until then. Our high today is 79, which is a great temperature to get out and do stuff. If the rain will hold out Tim and I are going skiing with the youth group on our lake. Should be fun!

Tim has set up 2 nights this summer for parents to come over for dinner and get to know Tim, myself, and other parents. Tonight was our first one, and it was great! We had 8 people show up, with us made 10. Everyone brought part of the dinner, and we sat around sharing about how to better serve the youth, helping them in their spiritual walk. I really don’t like to talk in large groups, and with 10 of us it was a little hard, but I kept feeling God pushing me to share a couple things, so I did. I had seen and knew who each parent was, but it was nice to have time to talk with them and get to know them better. We’ve been here for 18 months, and we still have a lot of people to get to know.

So, my last blog was about healthy stuff, and I’ve been doing pretty good, until today. Kelsey (the Mom and friend I am baby sitting for) bought some M&M ice cream treats for Tim and I. Tim wont eat them ’cause they’re colored, so there’s a whole box for me. Yikes! Luckily we have lots of college students (about 50 I’m hearing…) coming over, so I’m sure I can get someone to eat them. But, I also made the cheddar biscuits from Red Lobster, and we have a lot left over to give away tomorrow. I ate 1 and half of another, went back for seconds on the lasagna, and ate until I was really full. I’m glad our Pastor was here to ask me if I had gone jogging today ’cause I hardly thought of it today, and pretty much figured it was too late to jog. But once everyone was gone, and it was a little after 9 with a tiny bit of light left, I headed out.

I am so grateful for that accountability. For some reason when I put my ipod on and started stretching I got quite a bit of energy. I think I probably did my first mile in about 10 minutes, but I didn’t want myself to slack off after that so I forced myself not to look at my watch. It was so tempting the whole time to look ’cause I kept up my pace during my second mile and even sped up going up the hills. On my 3rd mile I slowed down a little, but still kept faster than my usual. When I finished I was so proud ’cause I did the 3.08 miles in 33:58!

I usually average around 36 minutes and however many seconds. This was a major improvement. Especially while still digesting food. I kept on thanking God the whole time for giving me the energy to keep up my pace. Especially when I got inside the house and there was no more sun light. Hopefully I wont be to burned out tomorrow so I can do another 3 miles jog. Hopefully at the same pace, but I’m not counting on it!

I jogged 3 miles today. That seemed like such a long distance to run, but looking at the schedule I am using, 3 miles is nothing. Tomorrow I get a day off on the schedule that I am very excited about. Then Wednesday I’m back to 2 miles, then Thursday and Friday are 3 mile routes. I love how I feel after jogging. I’m always in a better mood and my body feels cleansed.

Tonight Tim and I went to the all-district orchestra concert. There were 10 kids from my classroom that played, and then lots of youth kids from church. I always enjoy making a night with Tim and attending programs that the youth are involved in.

I have 9 more days of subbing!

After having such nice weather on Wednesday and going for a jog I am really bummed that we are covered in snow again. It’s 34*, feeling like 23* with the wind blowing at 17-23mph, and I just got back from jogging. All day long I have just been itching to go jogging again. I’d been complaining thinking there is no way I could go jogging, when finally (I guess Tim got tired of my whining) I was told, “Just go, you can do it.” So I mapped out a 2 mile route a little different than our 1.5 mile loop around our neighborhood. Turns out Google map was a little wrong though, and the side road that goes in a loop I was going to jog around, ended up being a dead end, so I just mapped out what I jogged and I only did 1.9 miles. Disappointed, but I did go for 20 minutes, and I’m happy about that.

Walking home for my cool down I felt like such a rebel being from Texas and so determined to go jogging even though the ground is covered in snow except for what has been plowed on the roads. Maybe it’s just Spring fever. I can’t wait to see our apple trees in bloom again!

Tim and I at the Twins/Rangers game in Minneapolis.

I have been deciding what to do career wise. I want to be flexible with my days so I can support Tim in youth ministry. So I was stuck between finding a permanent job or do substitute teaching and find a part time job for the evenings.

Well, today I had an interview for a different department at the company I am hired out to right now. The position is for an administrative assistant. So it’s actually an office job which I’m excited about! Leaving the interview I was thinking it went well, but wasn’t too sure trying to guess the vibes I was getting by the people in the interview. I admit, I was pretty intimidated because I was interviewed by 4 people at once for a 3 month temporary position. I haven’t gone through an extensive interview before for any temp work. It didn’t take long to hear back from the temp agency about the verdict if they wanted me or not…they decided to hire me. Now it’s just a matter of time of when I switch over from my current position to the new position. I figured I might as well try this out because it is definite work every day for the next 3 months, and it could possibly turn into something permanent, but I get to try it out by going through the temp agency first.

I am exhausted. I have been trying to teach myself how to keep our house clean…mainly the kitchen. I need to catch up on laundry, it’s all clean, just not put away. Anyways, I am trying to train myself to have the kitchen clean before I go to sleep and tonight is the 2nd night in a row. I had the day off today so I cooked a lot. I cooked an apple crisp from the apple trees we have and baked a simple lunch for us, but the downside of liking to cook is all the cleaning I have to do.

Tomorrow we start up confirmation at our church. I am really excited ’cause I’ll be co-teaching one of the 8th grade girls classes. We’ve got 6 girls so far, and I can’t wait to build strong relationships and teach these girls about Christ and the basics of the Bible, and to learn a lot myself.

I am absolutely loving married life. Tim and I have been getting along really well. We are just having fun together, and it’s nice getting to participate in his ministry, and everything is very exciting with the school year starting up. I am helping Tim in the 7th and 8th grade Sunday School class, and will help out Sunday evenings for youth group, and then Wednesday nights for 8th grade girls confirmation.

Tonight it is suppose to get down to 35 and tomorrow’s high is 64. Burr! It’s only September! I am not ready for cold weather. I was wanting to work out today, so I tried to go on a bike ride, but after only 5 minutes I was tired of the wind and my hands were getting very cold, so I turned around to come home and to my surprise I was already riding with the wind and I was miserable, so then it took me even longer to get back home fighting against the wind and thinking that the first part of my bike ride was pretty nice. So I got out my work out videos and am thinking I’ll have to stick with those ’til next June.

One of the moms of our youth gave Tim and I a gift card to the bike store in town, so we waited for the end of the season clearance and got me a bike!

Yesterday was a gorgeous day and Tim and I both came home thinking that it was the perfect day to get my bike and go riding. No kidding, we really both were thinking on the same brain wave. I thought about going to get me a bike as I pulled into the drive way then sort of forgot about it while I checked my email, then when Tim came home he said something like, “You know what we should do today?” And I replied, “Go get me a bike!” I don’t know much about bikes, so Tim did all the talking and asking about what ever he was asking. Then we went home and Tim fixed up his bike and we went riding for an hour. It was so nice to go riding. Which also meant that I didn’t have to wake up extra early this morning for my jog. I rode for another hour today. I use to drive around town figuring out which roads go where, but I like it even more getting to ride my bike. I did 30 minutes this morning by myself before lunch, and then Tim and I did 30 more minutes together before dinner.

Hopefully tomorrow will be another nice day to go bike riding again.