senior year

As I roll over at 5:15 this morning I realize I forgot to set my alarm for 4:30 am.. Which now means I have already messed up my workout for the day. I am seeing that my early morning workouts aren't going to "work out" as I had hoped, being that I have to be in another town for student teaching by 7:30.

So what am I going to do about it? Make a new plan. I've decided that since I don't have time to drive to the gym every morning, so why not do my Biggest Loser DVD in the morning? It's a really great work out and I used to do it all the time. It gives me the extra sleep in the morning and I don't have to waste time driving to the gym. So here is my new schedule:

Monday-Friday: 5:30- Biggest Loser DVD
6:15- Gym (Cardio)
(Throwing in a couple of classes at the gym as well)
Saturday: Gym
Sunday: Outside Cardio

It's going to be a busy year, but I am excited!
Today is my first day with my first graders...My nerves are running on a high! I met most of them last night and they seem wonderful! Graduation is so close I can almost touch it!

Uncharted

Finally, I have compiled a list of 75 things that I want to do, or have the ability to do, in my lifetime. Some things may seem silly to others but, well, I am a silly person at heart. Some may be personal things that I have never addressed but need to do so before it’s too late. My list ranges from falling in love to rock climbing…traveling to just staying home. It’s only natural that my list will grow as I mark things off my list and find more things that I would like to do. I intend on doing a lot this summer and continuing on into the fall, maybe taking one item a month. Most things will be done with my friends, but others are things I will have to face alone. I won't do this in any certain order, and the list isn't in any order either...somethings I won't have the opportunity to complete until later in life, however, many I can do now.
So here it is…my 75 wants in life:
1. Learn to play tennis
2. Go to Seattle, Washington
3. Rock climb
4. Wear a bikini
5. Get-a-weekend alone
6. Feel accomplished
7. Buy size 6
8. Go skiing in Colorado
9. Figure out what I want to do in life
10. Be adventurous
11. Let go of fears
12. Sail
13. Scuba dive
14. Go to a UGA game
15. Sing karaoke
16. Talk to my dad again
17. Italy! ….and eat pizza
18. Visit a 3rd world country and work with children
19. Travel across the border (up or down)
20. Learn to cook a really expensive dish
21. Buy a pair of MinoloBlancs
22. Fall in LoVe
23. Finally feel completely comfortable with myself
24. Return to NYC
25. Take a train ride
26. Dance in the rain
27. Be completely spontaneous for one day
28. See Adele in concert
29. VEGAS
30. Learn to play the piano again
31. Run 3 5k’s in 6 months time
32. Learn to ride a horse
33. Ride in a hot air balloon
34. Get married
35. Go camping
36. Move from Macon, Ga
37. Learn to surf in the Pacific
38. Go to wine country
39. Greece
40. Go to the Grand Canyon
41. See a fashion show
42. Run a half marathon
43. Learn to sew
44. Get my masters
45. Get a degree in nutrition
46. Let the walls fall down
47. Change a tire
48. Disney World
49. Zip-line
50. Adopt a cocker-spaniel
51. White Water Rafting
52. Visit New Orleans
53. Sell a painting
54. Volunteer for a homeless shelter
55. Volunteer at a children’s home
56. Change someones life for the better
57. Do an obstacle course
58. Dance on a bar
59. Amsterdam
60. Backpack in Europe
61. Plastic Surgery
62. Have an amazing NYE
63. Random road trip
64. Learn my Nana’s recipes
65. Gamble
66. Jeep
67. Have a Hangover night
68. Parasailing
69. Buy a hotdog from a Hot Dog Stand in Central Park
70. Mexico: Tacos and Margaritas
71. Get a meaningful tattoo
72. Take painting classes
73. Trust
74. Go kayaking
75. Triathlon

Quote:"I know I'm going nowhere,
When I only sit and stare like I'm going down,
Follow if you want, I won't just hang around,
Like you'll show me where to go..."-Sara Bareilles (Uncharted)

Comes the Dawn

After a While After a while you learn
The subtle difference between
Holding a hand and chaining a soul
And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning
And company doesn't always mean security.

And you begin to learn
That kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises
And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes ahead
With the grace of a woman
Not the grief of a child

And you learn
To build all your roads on today
Because tomorrow's ground is
Too uncertain for plans
And futures have a way
Of falling down in mid flight

After a while you learn
That even sunshine burns if you get too much
So you plant your own garden
And decorate your own soul
Instead of waiting
For someone to bring you flowers

And you learn
That you really can endure
That you are really strong
And you really do have worth

And you learn and you learn
With every good bye you learn.
Veronica A. Shoffstal

This poem is so inspirational, I used part of it as my senior quote from highschool. It definitely brings me up when I am feeling down! Happy Sunday Funday!

Get into tha Groove

Had an amazing time out with my friends on Cinco de Mayo! It's not very often I get to cut loose on a week night, so we took full advantage of it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friday night, I helped celebrate one of my best friends, from high school, college, graduation. I am so proud of her, she is going to be an amazing teacher! It was nice getting together with two of my best friends from high school and actually catching up. Definitely got me thinking about my future and where I want to go after graduation!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Heading into the weekend on Saturday morning, we got up super early and headed to the beach, Tybee Island. We just went for the day, but it was awesome! Best idea ever, really wished we would have been able to stay all weekend! It was a much needed trip and I can't wait to go back! School starts back at the end of May, trying to take full advantage of my "Maycation"!

ZUMBA

Lately, I've been feeling blah in the gym. Kind of lost my inspiration in the gym....well I found it tonight in Zumba class. Me and my work out partner in crime Janea, she's been mentioned before, used to take yoga classes from this amazing yoga instructor at our gym. Well...she started teaching Zumba and we LOVED her class, but haven't been able to go much. Janea mentioned she had a Monday class and we just needed to go...feeling apprehensive, I mumbled a fine...I AM BEYOND GLAD I WENT! It woke me up! Reminded me why I love working out! This instructor has so much energy surrounding her that you just can't help but enjoy her class! We even got to do some yoga moves at the end for stretching...I can't wait to get back in it and do more classes, my body is already sore and I LOVE IT! If you live in the Middle GA area and are looking for a great Zumba instructor I definitely recommend Carol, you can find her on Facebook at Zumba Loving Carol C Johnson, she is truly awesome!

There is a Change in the wind...

Losing six pounds this month, was bittersweet. While I'm glad I went down, it wasn't my goal. It only motivates me to push harder and shoot for my next goal.

Finally...I am a senior in college...I NEVER thought this year would come, and what an amazing year it is going to be. I am 23 this year, and I have high hopes. This is the year I will start thinking more seriously about my impending "adulthood". After this year I will be thrown to the wolves as I move out of my mom's house. She has been nothing but gracious and supportive of me in everything I do. I'll meet new people, start new relationships and end old ones. I'll laugh, cry, and love all at once. I will hold onto this last year as one that lacks any responsibility, soaking up each moment of it. Senior year is going to be the time of my life, I'm sure of it. I have the most wonderful friends in the world, who are ALWAYS there when I need them.

There is a Nike Ad that I find myself trying to live by these days:
"Life isn't about keeping score. It's not about how many people call you, and it's not about who you've dated, are dating, or haven't dated at all. it isn't about who you kissed, what sport you play, or which guy or girl likes you. Its not about your shoes or your hair or the color of your skin or where you live or go to school. In fact, its not about grades, money, clothes, or colleges that accept you or not. Life isn't about if you have lots of friends, or if you are alone, and its not about how accepted or unaccepted you are. Life just isn't about that. But life is about who you love. and who you hurt. It's about how you feel about yourself. It's about trust, happiness, and compassion. It's about sticking up for your friends and replacing inner hate with love one else's in a way that could never have been achieved otherwise." - Nike


As I get older, I see myself changing into this person I have never known before, someone who is stronger than the person she was yesterday. I am finding the things I cared and worried about last year, aren't even on my plate in the present. I am learning that life doesn't pan out the way I thought when I was 12...which at 12, I thought I would be old, married, and have 2 kids and a dog by 25. However, at 23, I don't see those things happening in the next two years, and I couldn't be happier about it. Looking back on the tears that I have shed over the years, I realized they were meant to mold me into the person I am becoming today. Good things come and go, as well as the bad. I see that the real friends, the ones who truly matter, give the best advice. They don't tell you what you want to hear, even though they understand, they tell you what you need to hear (the advice you don't want to know). Marilyn Monroe has one of the best life quotes, that I personally feel, every girl, woman, young lady should live by at least for one time period in their life.

"This life is what you make it. Not matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes, it's a universal truth. But the good part is you get to decide how you're going to mess it up. Girls will be your friends - they'll act like it anyway. But just remember, some come, some go. The ones that stay with you through everything - they're your true best friends. Don't let go of them. Also remember, sisters make the best friends in the world. As for lovers, well, they'll come and go too. And babe, I hate to say it, most of them - actually pretty much all of them are going to break your heart, but you can't give up because if you give up, you'll never find your soul mate. You'll never find that half who makes you whole and that goes for everything. Just because you fail once, doesn't mean you're gonna fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don't, then who will, sweetie? So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about."
— Marilyn Monroe

I live by this, I couldn't have said it better myself. Anytime I am feeling bad I read this, and I am reminded that I am special and that at the end of the day I have to be happy with myself rather than with others. This year is going to be great, I see so much change coming in my future. I see love, laughter, and life coming at me with full force and a new chapter beginning to be written. I am excited to lose more weight and meet this new Elizabeth that I have never known.

"I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles."
— Audrey Hepburn

*food for thought...its all i need*

Last week was beyond stressful. Everything in the world was due for school and I didn't get to eat my meals or hit the gym like I wanted to. Felt discouraged and disappointed heading into the weekend, only to be brought back to reality that life is not that bad from my friends. Friends and family brought me an amazing weekend that made me stress free for the first real time all semester. Glad to be back in my normal routine with the gym and eating properly.....and best of all I CAN WEAR WHITE! I know that Stacy and Clinton threw this rule out the door, but my Nana and Mimi raised me southern, and you can NOT wear white before Easter. I have been holding out all season and was so happy to finally put on that white dress and my favorite white shorts. :D

I am proud to say, today for the first time ever, I was NOT a procrastinator. I did everything that was due for the week in one day and can just chill out the rest of the week and into the weekend. I have a weigh in this week...not particularly excited about it considering my week last week, but all can do is try harder in the weeks to come :)

We celebrated my maternal grandparents 50th wedding anniversary. If I ever find someone to love me like my Grandaddy loves my Nana, I'll be set for life. He is the epidemy of the Brad Paisley song "Waitin' on a Woman".

putting on my dancing shoes

My first week of working out with a trainer went great...however I am finding it hard to eat all of my 1200 calories in a day. It's so easy to over eat when you aren't paying attention, but when you are actually counting calories and charting it out it is SO difficult.
Saturday night I went to the "Big Dance" here in my hometown. I never....and I mean NEVER EVER wear high heels. Well I did this night and after all the fun of dancing and hanging with friends not only were my feet sore but holy cow my calf muscles ached! and they are still a little sore!
It was a blast though! Only five more days till the race on Saturday. I'm still working on my time but it should be great!

Weekend Update

UGH...I can't move I am sooo sore from the gym yesterday, it's a good thing though. Well one of my best friends got married yesterday, it was so good to see all my old friends from highschool and the beginning of college. She looked absolutely beautiful yesterday. Afterward we all went out, it was nice getting out, haven't been out in forever because of school.
I worked out yesterday with a trainer, thought I might die in the process. After the session though I was thinking about how much I could use the help. So I have talked to my mom and because I am a poor college student, she has decided to help me out and get me one. I am excited about it. I am trying to get ready for a 5k at the end of the month, I've got a ways to go. My goal at the moment is to get my mile under 10 minutes, right now I am at 11:30 minutes....I know I can do it though!

Left in the Dark

*Me and my work out partner in crime*
Its been forever, and I not much has changed, weight wise anyways. I have started doing a boot camp four days a week and see myself getting stronger but the weightloss isn't happening. Even though the weight is the same I have to admit I am very inspired by my followers to work harder and do everything I am capable of doing.
I have not been on here in a while and when I saw the new comments from new followers and how I inspired them....well it lit a spark in me. In the beginning I started my journey for me, myself, and I. However, I have gained a new reason to carry on and not give up...you all. After I remembered the people I inspire, I remembered I started this blog so that not only will I be the one holding myself accountable, but others will to.
No more delays, no more excuses, I will post results on a weekly basis. Every Saturday I will have a new post (hopefully with HAPPY news)---even if not though, my readers won't be left in the dark any longer! Thanks for all of your support!


Quote of the Month (and possibly of my life):

"When push comes to shove you taste what you're made of, you might bend til you break cause it's all you can take, on your knees you look up, decide you've had enough, you get mad, you get strong, wipe your hands, shake it off, then you stand."

Awesome Updates- Been Awhile, I Know

Hey readers! I know it has been awhile, but school kicked in and then I was training for my first 5k, just didn't have a moment to blog! But I am back now!

First 5k~
My mom was diagnosed with diabetes when she was about 16 years old. She is type 1 and on a pump. I heard about a Diabetes Awareness Event in Savannah, Ga, called Sunsplash, there are three races: Kayaking, Cycling, and a 5k. I thought it would be an awesome experience for me and my family to do together. We raised over $1,000 and I ran my first 5k in 27 minutes, which I was proud of!

That's me, my brother Forrest, and Dottie, my mom, at Sunsplash, we made shirts that said "Team Dottie" on the back, I drew our logo to put on the shirts. If you want to know more about the Diabetic Association you can go to: americandiabeticassociation.org

*weight loss*
UGH! I'M SITTING AT -70 lbs for about 2 months now! I completely changed my routine in the gym but I'm still sitting at that darn number! However, I have still gone down another dress size, I am hoping that the stand still is just because of muscle gain and not because I'm not doing enough! One of my friends got married last weekend and it was awesome to be in a dress that was below size 18! Size 16 was my dress size that was even taken in, the last time I was a bridesmaid, it was a size 24...so I wore that 16 with pride.


*what's next*
THE LOVE CLEANSE
One of my favorite people to follow on twitter is: @thesinglewoman. She has a blog as well that I read time to time at: http://www.examiner.com/single-women-in-nashville/mandy-hale. Her name is Mandy Hale and she is a huge inspiration to me. She recently wrote a blog about closing a book on a former relationship and about doing this thing called "The Love Cleanse". Not only is it about freeing yourself from past relationships and moving on, but also about finding yourself and becoming a newer, better, healthier you. I'm pretty excited to give it a try! You can read more about it at this link: http://www.examiner.com/single-women-in-nashville/the-time-of-my-life.

Quote of the Month: "It's a very simple method: Don't eat like that, work out like this, push yourself harder, make good choices and you will succeed"-Tough love for myself from myself

Aggrivation and Frustration shouldnt come so quickly after hitting my goal!

*not gonna let it get me down*
So after hitting my goal, about a week and a half ago, I am already beginning to get frustrated. I don't know if its my crazy work schedule, even crazier school schedule, or starting P90x but I am literally going nowhere fast and adding 2 lbs. So have come to the conclusion that my body just isn't ready for the big X challenge and I need more time in the gym to get stronger before I can do this. The guy keeps telling me this workout isn't for everybody, and I feel like he is almost right. Its not for me right now. I know I can do this stuff eventually, but I'm just not there yet. Also, oddly enough, I miss the treadmill and elliptical like there is no tomorrow. So I'm hanging up my towel, but lifting my head. I'm constructing a new routine with allot of cardio, picking up new classes, and giving P90x another shot when I am ready to. Only 35 more pounds and I will be at the big 100. As i look back at my process I remember when I said only 35 more lbs and Ill be at 50. That gives me courage to keep going. Not setting a goal amount before has actually made this easier on me, I feel it has anyways. There isn't an expectation, just the fact that I know I'm at 65 and I have come this far so I know I can do 35 more. Please leave any suggestions, comments, or ideas. EVERYTHING is welcomed.

took FOREVER but here it is! My first pair of skinny jeans and GOAL COMPLETE!

FINALLY! Minus 67 pounds from January 1, 2010, I met my goal of buying my first pair of skinny jeans...along with a new shirt and a belt that I got a MEDIUM in! It felt great! and the ones in the picture felt a little baggie and I actually went down another size to size 12...two more sizes and I will be a single digit size! So whats next??? P90x! I have been sitting at 67 for a while now so it is time for a change, although I wont be doing it every day, I have decided to do it 4 days a week, and continue doing Yoga on Wednesdays, Kick Boxing on Thursdays, and Cardio on Fridays... I will do weekly updates on how it is going. I will start P90x next Saturday!

Weigh In for Month 5 is with Praise! and a lil sadness

I weighed in at the Doctor this week and have lost an additional 13 lbs which makes me at 54! While I am very excited to have this number rise, I received a disturbing phone call back from the doctor (after some blood work)in which they stated that even though I have lost weight they are not impressed with my cholesterol numbers and triglycerides. They are concerned about the condition of my heart and want to start me on medication (normally used by diabetics). Not gonna lie, this freaked me out.

I started this whole thing, not to be 120 or fit into a size 6 but to be healthy. You can be whatever size in the world, but if your not healthy, then it does nothing. It was a huge blow to my inspiration to hear that what I thought I was doing is not enough. I have 3 months to try to better the numbers where they should be on my own, if not, then I start the medication to see where it takes me. Obviously, since I have lost weight my numbers are down, but not what they want. Needing Prayers and Inspiration!

A Different Kind of Burger

While my family got ready to grill their half turkey and beef burgers, I took mine out of the freezer that I had prepared a couple of weeks ago and frozen. Its half spinach and turkey, along with some basalmic for taste.

It's my new twist on burgers that I am sure will stick with me as long as I am making the burgers... It is really good and I can hardly taste the difference, besides it being better. I also don't feel so "heavy" as I normally do after chowing down on a burger...Chips of choice? Lay's Light...They are so much better for you than regular Lay's and they taste just like the originals. I will have some baked beans though, can't help but indulge a little! What did you and your family eat for Memorial Day? Everyone have a great one!

Lazy Saturday and a Wii

You need one every now and then right? Barely going to sleep last night because I was up late hanging with old friends from high school is keeping from the gym today. Also, we had Mexican for lunch, but I am pretty proud of myself for not eating many chips and salsa :D I could have, however, done without the Chimichanga...haha oh well it happens! I didn't eat the whole thing so it's all good! My nana is making homemade Brunswick Stew, Barbecue, and Coleslaw......so today is pretty much not my best day, but that's okay, taking everything with moderation. Thinking I may do some strength exercises later just so I can say I was completely immobile today ;D haha! The overcast, no sunshine sky certainly isn't helping me in this struggle to get up!

my new workout craze

Just Dance, for the Wii, is the funnest thing I have done on the Wii. This summer I am doing Camp Tattnall at the Daycare and I brought my Wii to play with the kids, one of the kids brought this Just Dance game and let me tell you, it was the funnest workout I may have ever done...I'm talking manly sweating work out! It was great! Also, with all of the activities and sports we have plane I am looking forward to a great, active summer with the kiddies!

Does anybody else have an Wii games that help with working out? Personally I think the Wii is the best thing to ever happen to the video game world...I love that it gets you up and moving rather than just sitting and watching! Thoughts?

Everyone have a great Saturday