As I sit here listening to the sound of Sasha Fierce scarf down her dinner- I have decided to blog it up.
A lot has changed since my last entry!  I am in a new apartment, I am in an amazing relationship ( 5 months today) and I feel like I finally have some productive goals in my sights.  Sites?  I'm not a gun person, not sure which it is.  Witch?  Which.   Moving on.

Teaching at the university level.  It was a goal I first mentioned flippantly when I was in high school.  Get my teaching degree, teach at a high school level, then go back and get a masters and a doctorate to teach at a college or university.  For those of you following along at home- I am currently paused in the middle of that cycle.  Ed degree?  Check.  Teaching experience to date: 7yrs.  Masters? Check.
Resign from my teaching job due to complete and total burnout? Check.  (Just threw that one in unexpectedly...oops)  Find an amazing place to work with fellow musicians/teachers on the retail side of things?  Check.  (also an add-on)  So here I am.  Ready to resume my original cycle- but unfortunately it is not that easy.  How does one accomplish this, you ask?  Well me too.  I also ask.
I have some ideas though.   I would like to get back into the classroom, but was unable to secure a teaching job for this school year.  I have other musical endeavors that will keep me busy until the next time around though.  Getting back into composing/arranging which is really exciting for me.  (Also meant I got to buy a new keyboard- which is more exciting)  I really enjoyed arranging things for my kids when I was teaching-but didn't really have the time to dedicate to it.  So that is what I shall focus on for now.  I was telling a coworker a bit about it today- and he said oh, sounds like a great basis for a masters or phd route!  I hadn't thought about it- but he is right!  My focus is on composing and arranging for kids with 1-2 years of experience. I think I will also really look into what is on the market now also.

Anyhoodle-
That is a brief glimpse into what I'm up to.

in 5Krazy land- I plan on walking the Mini Marathon 5k in May...and MAYBE the Monumental this November- but I need to get back into the habit of walking on a regular basis.  I've been doing alright lately- and have even been out on my bike a couple of times too.  We'll see how all that goes.
For now- signing off.

Until we blog again...

Mixing things up

Oh, hello!

Didn't see you there.
Once again, there is a lovely gap between blog dates. I have had lots happen since last we blogged.

I'm happy to report that my skinny, skinny sister has been inspired to hop on the elliptical due to my blogging and running and general lifestyle change!  Go Meg!  Woot!


I am also happy to report that I have met my first goal of 10lbs lost!  I will be scheduling that mani/pedi soon.
Until then I'm trying to decide on a 20lb goal. 


I'm open to suggestions, faithful readers!  I have a few things in mind, but I'm putting it out there for you.


Looking forward to suggestions!
Mo

Choices

Greetings bloggians.

Good week this week.

Saturday was my nephew's 4th birthday party. It was fun, and yes, I had a piece of bday cake with a smidge of ice cream. It was a very tasty treat. I had been very good that week, so I thought I deserved a piece of his bday cake!

Then the choices went down hill from there. I went to dinner with mom and dad, and loaded up on the calories. Had half of my huge burger, and of course most of the fries. Also munched the appetizer, BUT I did not have a roll. (and yes, we were at O'Charleys) so if you know me...you know that was tough! I had worked out that morning, so I was only barely over my calories for the day. (Good thing I chose to workout!)

Had a great outing on Sunday to the Monon with my friend Rachel and my dog Sasha. We walked for about an hour and felt great!

Then we decided to have pizza. Not the greatest choice, but it was just that- a choice.

I've also been to the gym every day this week so far.
Thursday is my usual weigh-in, and with that I report...

1lb gained. I know- bummer, right? BUT considering all the crud I ate this weekend, it was to be expected. I'm glad it was only 1lb though-that's for sure.

I guess it just gets me to thinking about choices. (Noticing a theme here?) I chose to get back into running. I chose to join the gym. I chose to start watching calories. So in the grand scheme-those are all good choices. Its the small day-to-day choices that will get you. But I stand behind them, 100%. I am fully aware of what I am putting into my body, and I live with the consequences of said choices. Those tasty, caloric, buttery choices. Mmmm....choices.

Sorry.


Thats all for now, bloggers. I pledge to make better choices this week in hopes to have lost that pesky pound, and a couple of his friends too.

PS-  Mad props to C&C Music Factory for getting me through the end of my workout.  They certainly encouraged me to sweat.
Also, I was a squirrell just tryin' to get a nut.

Ha ha...you've been usurped!

This mayor of taco bell is now also the mayor of Anytime Fitness.

Boo friggin Yah, people!

In the last blog-stallment, I mentioned I had obtained a free pass to the gym to try it out. Well I did just that, and ended up joining. I was there 4 days last week, and as of this morning 4 days this week. Along with cutting calories, I am proud to report I am down 5.4lbs in a week.
I guess I shouldn't have worn my lead underwear when I first weighed in.

In all seriousness, I am thrilled to have the scale report such a change in just a week. I certainly wasn't expecting any change at all, let alone 5lbs! So I will keep on keepin' on and let any loss be a win!

I get two free personal training sessions with my membership, and I had my first last week. I will likely get together with her again in the next couple of weeks to really talk about whats happened, whats working/not working, and how to best keep things moving in the downward direction.

In addition, dare I say, I am actually looking forward to going out for my next walk/jog/run. After hitting the treadmill for 30min/day 4days/week, I can only hope that my endurance has increased!

Stay tuned for a short list of goals/rewards I am working on for this process. To be honest, I don't really have a goal weight or size, I just want to be happy and healthy. (Insert cliche here)
But, of course, I have numbers in mind ;-)

I'm thinking at 10lbs lost- mani/pedi. Who's with me?

I...thought...it was spring?!

Well the nice weather motivated me to get back out there last week, and now it's cold again!

I walked the dog in flurries this morning. I am not OK with this-nobody asked me, dang-it!

Well since my last post, despite the chilly weather, I've been back out a few times. I procured some new running shoes last week. I went to the Blue Mile and had a video gait analysis. I know, it sounds so fancy-but really you just walk on a treadmill and they record your feet. It showed that my feet turn in once I have all my weight on them, so I got shoes to help support in all the right places...I guess!

They are comfy though, and breaking in nicely. (I wasn't so sure after the first wearing, but they are better now)

It was really sunny after work on Monday, and all I wanted to do was go out for a jog. But I had IMB rehearsal, so that didn't happen. (It was a good rehearsal though, so that's ok)
So instead, I went after work on Tuesday, since my trumpet student was sick this week. I decided to drive to BR and hop the Monon Trail. I'm glad I did, I really liked it! Nothing like a nice trail and a friendly atmosphere to keep you motivated. I mean, seriously- there was a lot of traffic on that trail! Runners, walkers, bikers, dog walkers- it was nice! I'm discovering that there is a real sense of community among runners. I think I was hesitant to start since I am as overweight as I am, and I assumed that all the fit runners would be the kids from my elementary school days and tell me I'm too fat to join their club. It is quite the opposite, however! I mean s you run by, people say hello, and there is just this sense of...well community! "Hi, we're both running for fun and might be messed up in the head"

I, of course, being the fat fifth grader can't muster the breath to say hi back, so I simply give the knowing nod of acknowledgment. It's the least I could do. :)

Well I must get ready- I printed out a free 7-day pass to a gym for the week. Going over for the first time today to check things out. If I can afford it...thats another question!

Until we blog again-

I'm a back!

Keith- this is for you.

I hope your RSS feed lights up like a Christmas tree, as I know you've been eagerly anticipating my next blog post.

I would like to say, however, that in my previous post, under the list of things to expect from this blog...number one was 'periodic blogging'.

I'm not sure whatelse you want from me here!

Anyhoodle-
Today was the day!

I got up and did a quick little 15min wog!

This was sparred by the nice weather, and also by the fact that I became the mayor of taco bell on foursquare last night. Yes, thats right- I go there often enough to become mayor.

The burrito I get is 430 calories. My wog this morning burned 131. Isn't that sad?!

Time for the equilibrium to start shifting, people!!

Everybody else is doing it, so why am I?

The time has come.
The urge has hit.
The wine is open.


I have a hankering to start blogging again. I fear if I simply start 'blogging for blogging sake" it will never last. I need a topic, or at the very least, a range of topics.

For those of you who don't know (or are too lazy to read the previous posts) I started blogging about a year ago when I decided to train for a 5k. That was one of the best decisions I made in my life, as well as one of the best clear-cut "goal setting; mission accomplished" things I've ever done. Once that was over (in July) I was jobless and getting ready to move...somewhere.
Now that I'm settled, I am ready to get active again. With Sasha by my side, I can't go wrong!
No official training schedule yet, but it will come soon.

So back to blogging for blogging sake...

Why would I want to do this?
Well I enjoyed it while it lasted the first time, and I enjoy reading my friends' blogs too...monkey blog, monkey do.

So now I want to keep blogging about things I know.
Here is a list of potential topics:
*Periodic, sparse blogging
*Sarcasm
*Food
*Running while fat
*Food
*Music (all things B&O, and trumpet related)
*Translating the various noises/faces my dog makes into simple commands

I look forward to sharing portions of my life with the public at large once again...one weekly blog post at a time.