I’ve been neglecting this blog.
I finally saw The Graduate. It was so awkward that I had to watch it in chunks instead of all the way through. I did like it, though. The subtlety, the colors, the pacing… all very nice.
Day 261 of 1001: 76
I finally got my ass to Goodwill and donated the clothes I had dug out of my closet in 2008. One down, 2 to go.
Day 254 of 1001: 11
Taken during the first B1 (second) workout
Okay, I’m not sure if I can say that I have completed #11 (do all 6 weeks of the Red Carpet Ready program without missing a strength workout) fully. I have finished all of the workouts, but I stalled in the middle of it because of the flu, and then never really regained momentum. I staggered along towards the end and completed the program, but my nutrition fell apart the last several weeks and it was just not as cohesive as I would’ve liked for it to be. I am going to start the same trainer’s Action Babe workout though, and that’s what’s important! Strengthening resolve and going at it again. I’m not stopping here just because I faltered a little.
Let’s do some math, now:
Bust 35.4 in.
Waist 27.5
Hips 36.6
Bust 32.67 in.
Waist 26.77
Hips 35.82
First set is my measurements before starting the program. Second set is after finishing the program, even though I was eating lots of cookies by the end of it. My boobs shrank! But I lost an inch off my waist and close to an inch off my hips (aka ass). I also tightened my belt two notches and gained a sexy ab line. I hope to continue working out and get more developed abs.
After completing the program
I also encountered a pull-up bar two days ago and found that I have lost A LOT of strength. I used to be able to do 4 supinated-grip pull-ups at my strongest. Two days ago I could do only ONE AND A HALF. This will NOT do. It was SO pathetic. I need to get a pull-up bar and USE IT.
Day 245 of 1001: 66
I got a makeover at MAC today, mostly because I was bored. I wandered over to the mall, saw a MAC counter, looked around at the different foundations (I’ve been thinking about getting a new one that provides more coverage, for the engagement photoshoot that Walt and I are going to have next weekend) and a salesgirl came up to me and asked me if I wanted to have a makeover. Cross one goal off of my list, shall we?
I have to say right now that I’m a very low-key kinda gal. Typically I am content wearing some light coverage mineral makeup, lip balm, and a bit of eyeliner, but I know that there are ways to “contour” my face to make me look more attractive for pictures, and my skin isn’t the best. In order to look fabulous for these photos that many of Walter and my family and friends are going to see, I knew that I needed to put in a little more effort.
The salesgirl was really sweet and not pushy. She used eyeshadow primer, 3 color eyeshadows, 1 (green!) liner, concealer, foundation (Studio Sculpt I think), bronzer, finishing powder, and 2 types of lip color (a stick and a gloss). I am definitely not into all that and I felt like a plasticine creature when it was all over. I do have to admit that my skin looked like… well, poreless. But that’s not necessarily a good thing in everyday life. I told her (truthfully) that I wasn’t comfortable with the foundation, even though it was probably great for photographs, but I did love the mint-green liner she used. She ended up giving me some sample pots of the foundation for the photoshoot for no extra charge and I bought the eyeliner and some of the eyeshadow.
So it wasn’t a huge bust. I didn’t end up buying a $30 foundation that I might use only twice… but I do feel a *little* bad about buying $30 of eyeshadow. Sigh.
Day 243 of 1001: 25
I have a new car. Meet Cordelia, my “new” (used) 2005 Toyota Corolla. I’m still getting used to driving Cordy because I’m accustomed to heavier cars. Yay, 40 mpg!
Day 217 of 1001
Wow, we are 210 days away from getting hitched. Pretty crazy.
I haven’t been keeping up with this blog very well… I’ve been doing a lot of blogging over at the Offbeat Bride Tribe (with other like-minded getting-married folks)… and I’m sure no one really cares about wedding stuff on here, anyway, so whatever.
However, goals! Let’s see where we are:
- 10: get renter’s insurance turned in. Done!
- 11: RCR — I was doing really well with this, not missing any workouts, until I got the flu and was out of it for a few weeks. I am going to start it up again though. And it’s not my fault that I got the flu! So as far as I’m concerned I’m still doing it.
- 39: books — I haven’t been reading as much, but I am getting back on it. February was a bit of a dud — I read only one book, and it was a graphic novel (ahem) — but now it’ll be better now that I’ve rediscovered the library. I’ve checked out a few books I’ve read already because I was feeling nostalgic, but also some new ones, most notably Art and Lies by Jeanette Winterson.
- 26: wedding budget — still working on it.
Day 196 of 1001
I got engaged on Tuesday. :)
Thus I will be working on #26 (work on wedding budget) so that I can complete #73 (get married).
Day 182 of 1001: 10, 50
Hurray!! My parents came into town and my mom, the sewing machine expert and seamstress extraordinaire, showed me how to thread my bobbin. I’d been putting it into the machine incorrectly so it kept falling out. I can cross #50 off the list. My stitches are now so beautiful and even and … well, and there!
Dad, the smart one who knows much legal jargon, showed me what was up with the renter’s insurance application, so we got that all squared away and I am going to send it in as soon as I inventory all of the necessary items!
I did eat at Magnolia twice this week, though :(
Day 173 of 1001: 11 & 12
I mentioned once before that I had tried to do an exercise program consistently without missing one strength workout, but that I had failed to do so. Well, now I’m trying again, and in conjunction with that I am also attempting #12, to eat pre-planned meals without deviating from the schedule. I think it might be too much to ask me to not deviate, ever; I’ve found that as my activity level goes from working out 3 days a week on alternating days, to working out now 4 days in a row and counting, my appetite has also gone up… therefore, I’m tweaking the menu a bit and learning how much more food my body needs. The reason for this is twofold: one, abs are made in the kitchen. I’ve been treading water for a while just maintaining, but I want to challenge myself and actually see if I can actually commit to a 6-week program. Two, I’ve noticed that I have stomachaches often and I think it’s because my on-the-fly nutrition was a little too heavy on bread products or dairy or something that aggravates my stomach. The last straw was when I had a stomachache while at work and I took a sick day for the rest of the day so I could nurse my tummy at home. I am trying out this more aware, menu approach so that I don’t have to call in sick because of a stupid, uncomfortable tummy issue.
To add to this, my work is giving away 4 free hours of paid leave for anyone who does the Texas Round-Up challenge, which is basically an exercise incentive program. Work out 30 minutes a week for 5 days a week for 6 weeks, and you’ve got yourself half a day off. Since I had a 6-week program already, I decided to just combine the two together. Win-win.
* * *
Other items of note:
- Goal 16: Eat ice cream only once a week: Accomplished. I have stopped eating ice cream since quitting my ice cream job. At first I would go back every week for some creamy treats, but my craving for it has waned. I think I realized how much happier my tummy was without that dairy. I’m sure that if I do eat ice cream, it’ll be on rare occasions.
- Goal 17: Get down to 19% body fat and maintain. I took caliper measurements tonight to track my progress with the 6-week RCR program, and I found out that I’m at 18.6% body fat. I don’t really believe it. I might have done it wrong. Or I might have done it right. I haven’t marked this one off yet because I suspect it was an error. I’d be more inclined to believe anywhere between 21-24%. The last time I was measured was back in May 2008 and I was 25% (done by DEXA, not calipers). I guess I have quit eating calorie-dense, fattening ice cream and I guess I have been doing more challenging kettlebell workouts lately… But still, I think the 19% is a fluke.
Day 164 of 1001
I did a few additions and revisions of my 101 list. Changes made:
- 47 used to be “Go rock climbing at least once.” I realized that I’m scared of heights, so this probably won’t go over very well. I changed it to “Take dance lessons.” I do have 2 left feet and bad balance, but at least I won’t fall down a rocky cliff and bust my head open dancing.
- Added new goal, 85: Do 2 pages in my art journal per week, minimum.
- Added new goal, 86: Learn how to do a handstand.
