See Ya Next Year...ha. ha. ha. ha.

Oh my. One of my least favorite things about this time of year. People just LOVE to say, see you next year. And they all think it's funny. Even if I've heard it 13 times that day, they seem to think that they are the only person on the planet original enough to come up with it. I still laugh. It's part of my job, but man oh man. I fight the eye roll.
One of my most favorite things about this time of year is that in 4 days we all get a fresh start! It's a shiny new year! Time to grab life by the horns and do all the things that we have ever dreamed of! Granted, in about 15 days, 80% of us will have given up on one or all of our resolutions. Or maybe you're like me, and anti-resolution? Well, normally I am, but this year, rather than calling them resolutions, I'm calling them goals. Resolutions are such a flash in the pan. Goals sound much more...um...solid. So without further adieu, I share with you my GOALS FOR 2013 (Sharing them means I need you guys to check in with me from time to time to make sure that I'm achieving my goals!)

1. Continue with my getting fit plan. The last couple of weeks haven't been so great. I've not been to the gym much at all really. I am still so good at making excuses for reasons to not go. I need to stop with the excuses. My goal for 2013 is to get in a workout 4 days a week on average. Sometimes I may get on a roll and get in 5 or 6, and sometimes, I may feel like utter pooh and only get in one. But I'd like to do physical activity 208 of the 365 days of 2013.

2. Get better about my eating. I'm already doing better....most of the time...but I have a long way to go. I need to avoid the siren song of McDonald's and their damn breakfast burritos. They are just so good and so easy and so warm on the cold mornings we've been having. Yes, boys and girls, you read it here first...I am back to my burrito habit. It's the only time I eat fast food which is a VAST improvement over me from about 2 months ago, but it's not where I want to be yet. I want to not want the damn things. I want to WANT to cook...to get up 20 minutes early so I can eat a good healthy breakfast before I leave for work.

3. Speaking of work. I am ready to move on. I've been in my current position for 8 years, and I've officially hit a big brick wall. I can't learn anything else from this job, I can't move up, I can't take on new responsibilities. I can just keep coming in and doing the same dreaded work every day. I am bored to tears with my position, and I find that that is never a good thing. So, even though I've always perused job postings and even applied here and there for one that sounds interesting, in 2013 I am going to really amp up the job search. I am going to figure out what it is that I want to do...what I could feel a little passionate about...and I am going to persue it with wild abandon. And hopefully, something will come to fruition for me.

4. Continue to work on my finances. In 2012, I got everything paid current. It was the best feeling in the world. In 2013, I'm trying to pay things down. I don't have any credit cards...thank goodness...but I have my mortgage and my car payment, and I'm adding a little bit to each payment to help get them paid down a little faster. It's not a lot, but it's something. And if I just calculate it as part of my payment, I'll never miss it. I also want to build up my savings this year. I have never had an emergency fund, and that is just NOT OKAY. So I'm starting small. $50 a paycheck for now, but hoping to build to closer to $150 a check soon. I want to have something to fall back on if I ever need it. I don't want to ask my mom for help all the time.

5. Last, I am going to really get settled into my house. I have plans to finish off various rooms and I'm going to follow through with them. Some just require a little elbow grease and some paint. Some need to be completely refurnished. Either way, I'd like to get going on them and quit living in disarray!

So, what are your goals for 2013? Or are you a fan of resolutions? I hope you all have a very happy new year!!

It's Gonna Snow!!

Today is a much better day. I walked away all the frustration of yesterday on the treadmill. I really can't think of anything better than working up a good sweat to get rid of anger..except maybe wine...which I didn't even drink last night. That's just another bonus to working out. Once I finish a workout, I don't want to ruin it by drinking, and if I'm working out the next day, I don't want to feel groggy, so I don't drink then either. Needless to say, that means I drink A LOT less than I used to. Ultimately, I do suppose that is a good thing, but I do miss my wine! I did make a decision to skip the gym tonight. I'm having major issues with my feet. I think I need thicker socks because my feet slip around in  my shoes a bit and cause a little friction which is making the bottoms of my feet BURN. They still really hurt today, so I thought I'd do an evening of stretching at home...have to get the hammies loosened up a little! And then back to the gym tomorrow
I am super excited for the snow that we are supposed to get tonight. I predict that it won't end up being that bad because it never is as bad as "they" make it out to be. Fortunately for me, I guess, I drive to work WAY before everyone else is out and about and I leave before rush hour in the afternoon, so I can avoid the crazies that will be out on the road.
Hope everyone stays safe and warm tonight!!

We All Have Shitty Days

So, I'm trying to keep up with this whole blogging thing. It holds me somewhat accountable for things and a few people have even mentioned that they enjoy reading it. I don't really have a lot to say today since I'm trying to keep this blog positive, but in order to also keep it real, I figured I couldn't just write on my happy days. Today is NOT a happy day. I woke up this morning and my back is twinging a little. There is nothing that can ruin my day like my back hurting. I get almost paralyzed with fear that if I do anything, it will go out and I'll be incapacitated for a week again. For anyone that has a bad back, you know what I'm talking about. For those that don't, consider yourself lucky! I also stepped on the scale last night and low and behold, I've gained about 5 pounds. Add in a horrendous morning at work and I am just feeling less than stellar about EVERYTHING. I keep trying to remind myself that we all have days like this...the kind that make you find the negative in every little thing that happens. Alas, I can only remind myself so many times. When it's your very own shitty day, it's hard to see past it and appreciate the good. Days like this I bombard myself with all of my mom's silly cliches that annoy me so much..."it could always be worse." " Everything happens for a reason." "God won't give you more than you can handle." Well, I know it could be worse. And tell me mom, what is the reason?? I can't think of one. And lastly, God has a lot more faith in me than I have in myself because I really feel like I'm at my breaking point. (I'm sure at this point you're wishing I would just stick to the postitive posts!)

So today, today is a shitty day. I hope I wake up tomorrow to a much less shitty day. But for today, I'm putting my nose to the grindstone at the office. I've made it through other horrible days here...and I know I'll have more. Then I'm going to hit the gym and see Jason, which almost always perks me up. And then I'm going home...and I'm going to open that bottle of wine in the fridge and have a glass and toast my shitty day...and then shut the door on it and not look back.

What do you do when you have a horribly awful, no good day?

Hi Ho. Hi Ho. It's Back to the Gym I Go.

So it's only been a week since I was at the gym and only 4 days since my last workout, but I can tell. I'm not sleeping well. I'm tired all the time. I don't even eat the same. Lazy Keri craves carbs and cheese. Kick Ass Keri craves veggies and protein. I am looking forward to Kick Ass Keri making a comeback later today. I don't get to go back to boot camp, which I can tell you, I am bummed about. But, I am going to hit the treadmill for a bit and do some work with Jason on some exercises to strengthen my core and my back. I will have a strong core that will support my back. I will! I will not live a life full of fear of doing things like starting the lawn mower, emptying the dishwasher, painting my deck, or putting on pants (all things I was doing when my back has gone out.) I am looking forward to sweating. I am looking forward to my legs and my stomach "muscles" feeling the burn. I am looking forward to not thinking twice about bending down to pick something up off of the floor! I was going to take my measurements every week or so and post updates, but I'm not going to this week since I haven't done much of anything...and I haven't been eating so great because when your back hurts, the last thing you want to do is stand in the kitchen and cook. So check back next week and I'll have a progress report for you!

It's a Bump in the Road....Not a Dead End.

So I've hit a bump in the road. A big, scary bump. I worked out yesterday and a few hours later, my back was flaring up. Anyone that knows me knows I have a bad back. Recently it's started acting up more than ever. This year I've missed two whole weeks of work because I couldn't get out of bed, use the restroom without issues, stand long enough to shower, etc. So yesterday I took it easy, took Advil to help with any inflammation, and took two hot, hot baths. I was so hoping that I would wake up this morning and it would be better, I have boot camp today and I wanted to go. But, instead I'm spending my afternoon at the chiropractor and then on an ice pack. I am so completely and utterly bummed. I am doing all of this work in the hopes that my back will stop having issues! It's such a catch-22. I actually think I know what might be the cause of my problem, so I'm starting by eliminating that. Unfortunately, that means no biking. I think the movement is causing issues with my hips...which are the cause of all of my back problems to begin with. I hadn't ridden the bike in awhile because my back was still hurting when I got it and I noticed it got a little worse each time I used it. So, I guess I'll have to get my butt out of the house and drive to the gym and use the treadmill next time. I just have to keep going at it. This is just a bump in the road...not a dead end. So, dear readers, wish me luck today and no pain tomorrow!

I'm (just gonna have to keep) Dreaming of a White Christmas

Shitter was full!

Seriously. Where is winter? Don't get me wrong, I love 60's & 70's and it would be awesome if it would stay that temperature all spring, summer and fall. But, I also LOVE winter. Especially snow. I'm having a hard time getting into the winter spirit with it being 60+ out there every day. I'm ready for a good snow storm, some hot chocolate (or wine...which I find warms me just as well), a fire in the fireplace, and an evening of my favorite Christmas movies (Elf & Christmas Vacation). Alas, it appears that I will have to keep dreaming of such an evening since the weather here in KC is a little more fabulous than I desire.
On an unrelated note, I've now made it through two sessions of bootcamp. I enjoyed the second session a lot. I was able to hold things for the correct count and do the set number of reps on most things. So even after just two workouts I'm seeing progress. And all I can say about that is that it feels real nice. I've also managed to make every meal so far this week in my kitchen, so today, I'm looking forward to having lunch with my big sister at my FAVORITE Mexican restaurant (and lunch may include a margarita!) But I'm feeling good and I'm making changes/progress, and that's all that matters.
On a second unrelated note, if you didn't know it already...I'm HILARIOUS. Just ask my sister...

Spaghetti Arms & Jello Legs

So I made it through my first day of boot camp! I won't say I was perfect, but I did my best! Jason is the most awesome trainer. He had a group of 8 people....and each and every one of us was at a different level of ability, yet he managed to keep us together and have modifications so that each of us could complete the exercises. I've always ended up feeling like the world's biggest loser (and not like the successful one from the tv show) when I can't complete something, but last night I really felt good about what I did. I had to walk the side shuffles, but I did them. I couldn't do as many reps as other people, but I did what I could. Overall it was such a great experience, and I am so looking forward to Thursday's session!
I've also managed to curb my eating out so far. I've gone home each evening and prepared and packed a breakfast (usually a banana and either oatmeal or greek yogurt-keeps me full until lunchtime) and lunch. I went to the grocery store yesterday to pick up some healthy options (chicken, shrimp, salad greens, cottage cheese), and good snacks for before boot camp since it falls at the time I'm eating different meals, so I have to put something in my belly, but not too much. It's nice to see my bank account staying steady, too. No more 3 meals a day charged to my account! It is making a difference...especially since I got overzealous buying Christmas presents out of this paycheck!!

Also, I took pictures to post with my blog but blogger has changed and it is a bitch to post pictures now. I'll work on figuring that out to make this much more interesting to read!

My Bravest Moment

My sister called me brave this morning for saying I would put my measurements on my blog. I told her they were just numbers and I didn't really care about numbers, but they are much bigger numbers than I thought, so now, I'm a little freaked out. Did I really say that I was going to post my measurements on here? Will anyone really notice if I don't follow through? Okay. Fine. Maybe it will help someone else someday. They'll get some sort of inspiration from me getting up off my lazy butt and doing something about these horribly icky numbers (well, minus the bust one of course. I don't mind that one at all!)  Without further ado....

Bust 51 1/2"
Waist/Belly (because sadly I no longer have a waist) 58"
Hips 59"
Upper Arm (or the flabby teacher arm as I have always called it) 18"
Thigh 34"
Calf 20"

So there they are. I'm looking forward to seeing progress over the next few weeks. I know that they won't magically get smaller, so I am prepared to put in the work. My nerves are getting the best of me right now as I prepare to go to my first boot camp session in about 2 hours. I haven't been active in months and seeing many of the other people that are participating scares me because I know I am so much further behind in my fitness goals/abilities, but I'm going to do this anyway. And I KNOW that Jason will make sure I succeed as long as I put in the work.

Boot Camp Eve

My how 6 months flies by! I can hardly believe it's been that long (okay, yes I can) since I last blogged. I didn't feel like I had much to say...nothing work putting out into the everlasting memory of the internets at least. Life has been pretty mundane. I work. I sleep. I work on the never-ending beast of a house that I live in. I occasionally socialize. Pretty boring. But, now I am about to stir things up a bit. Tomorrow I start boot camp with my friend (at least he still is today) Trainer Jason. I figure what better way to hold myself accountable for my progress than to tell all of my (3, maybe 4 since I now know that Joe reads if I post) readers out there! So tonight I'm going home, I'm feasting on Stroud's for dinner...then...I am going to do something scary....I'm going to take my measurements and post them on my blog tomorrow. I have that much faith in Jason and in myself that those numbers will be a little bit smaller after 3 weeks. I'm also committing to one other change during these three weeks. Since I've given up Diet Coke (yay me!! That was TOUGH!), and feel confident that that is a permanent change, I am now committing to dining in for 18 of the 21 meals each week. Sounds easy, right? Not so. Being a single gal that eats alone almost all of the time, running and grabbing something has just become too easy. So that is change number 2...cutting WAAAAYYYY back on my eating out. So boys and girls, wish me luck! And I don't want to see any jaws dropping when I post those numbers tomorrow morning.

PS-If you haven't already, you should definitely check out Jason's Facebook and Twitter. He's incredibly motivating, always positive, and an all around great guy and friend.