Will the cosmos ever cease to amaze?

I realized as I was doing an interview for a friend's blog today, it has been a long time since I've updated mine.  So, while I have to be up at 5:00 tomorrow morning, things need to be written.

First, still not there yet (I know, shock right?) While I'm still plugging along, I've realized now WHY God hasn't pushed me to the edge yet.  You remember those ladies in Norm's bootcamp I was telling you about, right? Good! If not, go back a few blogs. Anyway, these ladies surprise me everyday. Here's how this time:

About three weeks ago, supposedly a camera crew was going to be there to feature the bootcamp! Well, of course I wanted to be there 'cus it kicks arse, how can I not be?! Of course everyone looked so pretty that day (sans yours truly!) the camera folk were all "oh, just be natural" yadda yadda!  But you know when someone with a camera says that, you have to try to look bad ass! On our first water break, they wanted to interview someone. Okay, all these women are beautiful, in and out, so I was thinking anyone would be awesome. Nope,  I got called over. Gah! Well, as questions were happening, I was just going with the flow, then before I knew it, I learned that those damn ladies nominated me for a makeover!!  You know when you watch those shows and you say "yeah, right. They didn't react like that."  Well, I was that person. You could have knocked me over with a feather!!  EVERYONE knew...EVERYONE but me!!

So, I was shopping at the mall today with the woman who definitely knows style (my idea of fancy is a clean shirt and clean shorts!)  As I was walking through the mall, who comes around the corner? MY RECRUITERS!!!  Whoa!  Now you might ask "why is this a big deal?" Well, just the day before, I was in the office, with the company commander!! I spent a good two hours there, shooting the breeze! That trip will be a whole other story! Anyway, I thought it was such fate that I was getting this whole new look and the people who want to see my succeed, come wandering down the hall! Yes, small world indeed!

Friday is the big day!! I'm getting my hair done, my make up done, the whole nine yards! I don't even own make up, so this is a big deal!!  (I promise I'll put a link to the video up when I can!) OH...I forgot to mention the best part, it's going to be on TV! It's going to be on Twin Cities Live at 3:00 on channel 5 (also known as ABC) So, catch it if you can!

This story is just the tip of the ice berg my friends. The cosmos have been lining up these last few weeks, but we'll take it one story at a time! For now, good night, good evening and good luck!

Facebook

Ya know, I don't think enough credit is given to this miraculous thing called "Facebook" or as someone I know calls it "Facey-space."

I'm at a low point in this journey of mine.  Not for any "real" reason, except the fact that I'm working five jobs and trying to keep stress down.  Can I tell you? That is certainly not an option.  Stress is an everyday thing for me. Balancing work, a social life, a romantic life and all the bills. I know, everyone has stress, it's how we all deal with it that makes us different.

Me? I post 10 million Facebook status updates, songs, lyrics, poems and quotes that I think will inspire people to no end. (Turns out it's just a lot of jib jab, but that's okay, you can just simply ignore me, I won't be offended!)

My status a couple days ago was one of great despair. Not five minutes after posting, I had people chiming in with words of wisdom, and offers for a shoulder or just an ear. I took some up on that offer, which honestly, I had never done before.  Not only did it alert those on my Facey-space of my lowness, but when I went to bootcamp, it made folks aware in "the real world" too. I had a couple people just offer a pat on the back and one who offered an ear, which I think the poor girl got a lot more than she anticipated.

However, with that low point, it made me realize how unbelievably blessed I am to have friends around the world, who simply give a damn.  They WANT to see me succeed, and aren't just putting on a front. If I have gotten anything out of this journey, other than this weightloss and new health, it's meeting all these wonderful people I've gotten to!  Most I've met face to face, others I have yet to actually meet on this journey. (But I expect to, because you guys have delt with my crap just as much as everyone else!)

For as many of you say that I'm an inspiration, you people that pull me up when I'm down, YOU guys are the inspirations. You're moms who always find times for friends, you're athletes who always help those who need a lift and you guys are all amazing friends who know what to say, or sometimes not say! You're teachers who will always make time, and you all have your wisdoms that I love hearing.

While we are all on different paths in life, thanks to Facey-space, we all get to be part of each others' lives. So thank you Facebook, with all the drama you cause in people's lives, you are the bringer of friends and wisdom.

Perfection is the name of the game:

Okay, so here's my issue with diets. They work, and they continue to work, until you get comfortable with them. When you get comfortable is when you put their guidelines away and say "Yeah, I'm pretty sure this would be acceptable, after all, it's a lot like _______."  And that my friends, is the state I'm in right now...bad bad bad!

So this week I'm rededicating myself. I'm only 3 weeks into my diet, so let's be honest, there isn't a whole lot to "rededicate myself" to. At least that's what I thought until I retook a look at my diet sheet.  Seems I've been snipping a few corners here and there. Yeah, I'm still loosing, but who's to say that if I go back to 100% I won't loose twice as quickly?

That's my personal goal for this week. Follow the diet 100%. Make sure I'm getting all my water in, staying slightly active but not overly active, not grazing (even if it is on protein and other healthy stuff) and continue on my supplements.

Oh, and if you haven't heard, I'm a mere SEVEN pounds away from my goal weight...holy crap, seven!! My other goal, is to go back to MEPS the week of June 18th. My sister and nephew are going to be in town from Baltimore.  (**Okay, personal mushy stuff, stop if you must, continue if you'd like**) Well, my sister and I have not seen eye to eye for about, oh, 27 years now. I always looked at her as successful, strong, beautiful, and I got the hand-me-downs.  I've been learning this past three years that we're just very different. However, she is my big sister, and now she has an offspring whom I love just as much. I want to make them both so proud of me.  Being from a very Liberal family, the military was never thought of as an option. And when I first decided to join (seriously join) I don't think it was the proudest moment of my sister's life.  However, being the person that she is, she has been nothing but 110% supportive. I don't think there's anything I could ask for more than to have my entire family there when I swear in!  While he may not remember it, I want someone to look at August someday and say "you were there when this whole thing started!" (**Okay, done with cheesy!**) So, the week of June 18th, everyone will be in town, and I'd love to make it an extra awesome time! :)

So this week, my goal is another 1 to 2 pounds gone.  Drink at least 80 ounces of water.  Workout correctly. And be aware of every single bite I'm taking!

Last nights adventure of section 220

Okay, so I worked at the Target Center last night, and had a night unlike ANY other I've ever experienced there before, and absolutely had to share it with everyone: 


The first incident happened with 5 minutes left in the first quarter.  I looked out my well and saw a young man (probably about 11 years old) hitting and spitting at his guardian and whipping his zipped sweatshirt at her.  She grabbed his arms and put him in a straight jacket type hold.  He fell to the ground and started screaming bloody murder. I've never heard anything like this!   I asked if I could assist and she had me call security and wanted the Minneapolis police. I had other spectators coming by asking if they could help, too. So security came about 5 minutes later, and this kid continued to hyper ventilate and flip out on EVERYONE who came near him.  Finally, his mother was called and the boy was taken home. The reason he was acting like that? His quote, I'm not lying, "I'M TIRED!!!!!!"  Oh boy...

The next incident happened after my break just barely into the 3rd quarter.  I came around the corner and the same guardian from the same group and she asked if I could help again.  She asked if I had found a shoe.  As I called in, the two other boys in the group were standing in a hall, arguing with each other.  While I was radioing in the lost shoe, one boy took the other boys hat and chucked it down the hall.  When the one ran after it, cussing at the other bot, I was still waiting for an answer on the radio.  As I looked at the second little boy (probably about 6 years old)I smiled at him, and he glared VERY evily at me and said "You're a fucking bitch!" As soon as he did that he went and tried to start kicking me and even got a brush against my leg. The guardian had to lift him out of the way to not kick me hard. On a note about these people:  They received a $1000 check for their organization before the game ever started and was recognized on the court for their outstanding work with youth!! Oh boy!!

After this group finally left, I was called over to section 216.  The woman in the lifetech room was having a heart attack. Her daughter was out in the hallway freaking out due to lost keys. Okay, not just freaking out, but seriously FREAKING THE HECK OUT!!!  As I was up in the stands looking for her keys, a gentleman informed me their keys were tossed several rows down and they saw a girl "pick something up and put it in her purse."  So after being asked three times about the keys, by Jen my supervisor, Scott from security and me, the girls denied it all. I asked the man who saw them pick it up if he'd be willing to talk to police about what he saw, and at first he refused. He didn't just refuse he said "Talk to the Cops? OH HELL NO! I hate cops!!"  UGH!!!!!!!    Finally the man came down and had a few words about the girls to the police and told them what he saw.  After Jen went up and asked the girls to come down the girls willingly came down and talked to police.  On their way back up the stairs, like teenage girls, they were cussing up a storm, but my favorite was: "GAW, they're so ignorant!!!"  HA!  Finally the group left. However, the daughter who lost the keys (who, by the way, is also a nurse and refused to help her mom) had no money for a bus or taxi to get to a hospital. Well, that wasn't an issue considering the husband of the heart attack woman, just wanted to take her home right away instead of going to a damn hospital!!!!  These people are morons! So, FINALLY, they all left for a hospital!

SO, that was my night!! It was very surreal and honestly, with the second incident, I felt threatened.  This kid was seeing red and, had he been armed with ANYTHING, he would have hurt me.  With the lack of ushers upstairs, I had to deal with a two or three person job alone.  Not often am I that scared, ESPECIALLY of a kid! (Heck, I taught low income middle schoolers, I didn't think anything could be worse!) Anyway, that is that! My adventure in section 220!!

Peeves o' dieting

So I was craving something sweet today.  Peanut butter cookies as a matter of fact.  Well, I had a genius idea today that I'm going back to my "pre-MEPS" diet.  Aka, little food, few carbs and lots and LOTS of veggies and proteins.  


So craving cookies right now was a bad body choice. That's when I was thankful to have to the internet.  Well, searching Google I've found one of the really bad things about dieting...it seems the more limits of your diet, the more complicated recipes get! I'm sorry, I don't have time to mix a million things, I want quick, easy, and yummy. Really, is that so hard??


Yes.  Yes it is as a matter of fact.  So, I decided, for you, I'm going to share a couple of the simple recipes I have found that I LOVE and are also simple! 


1. Protein Pancakes:
1/4 C Egg Whites
1 Scoop Protein Powder (Vanilla)
2 Tbsp Milk
1 Tbsp ground flax seed (believe it or not, it's something super easy to find anywhere!)
Cinnamon and stevia
Splash of vanilla
1 Tbsp gluten free pancake mix.


Directions: Mix together in bowl, cook as regular pancakes. (They turn out more like a crepe, but still have an awesome pancake like texture, so it really solves that craving!)




2. Protein cookies:
1/4 C Applesauce
Cinnamon to taste
1 Tbsp Baking powder
2 Tbsp Protein powder
1/4 C egg white
2 C oats
1/2 C Peanut Butter
1/2 C dark chocolate chips


Directions: Preheat oven to 350. 
Mix together in bowl.  
PLace on greased cookie sheet. 
Bake approx 20 minutes.  
Badda bing, badda boom!




3. Cheese spread:
1/2 C margarine
3 tsp chopped garlic
1/8 tsp black pepper
1/4 C light parmesan cheese
1 C grated light cheddar cheese


Directions: Preheat oven to 450. Microwave margarine until about half melted. Mix all ingredients in bowl.  Spread over bread (sour dough is yummy). bake about 10 minutes until golden brown.






4.PIZZA!

Low carb Tortilla

Pizza Sauce

Toppings of choice (light cheese and lots of veggies!)

Directions: Grease baking sheet. 

Put sauce on Tortilla. 

Use toppings of your choice (reduced fat cheeses work best and are healthiest)

Bake at 350 until edges are crisp and brown. 

Cut and serve like mini pizzas.

5. Chicken Tenders

Ingredients:

Chicken Breast

Corn Flakes

Egg Substitue

Directions:

Chop chicken into strips. Preheat oven to 350. 

Put corn flakes in heavy duty zip lock bag and smash into crumbs. 

With eggs in bowl, dip chicken strip into eggs. 

Put in bag and shake till completely coated. 

Put on Baking sheet, bake until brown

Use honey or BBQ sauce for dipping

6. Healthy Apple Crisp:

Healthy Apple Crisp:

Ingredients: 

1/4 C egg whites

1/8 teaspoon salt


cinnamon to taste

1/2 cup brown sugar (I use the Splenda brown sugar)

4 cups milk


2 cups  oats


2 large apples (2-3 cups), cored and diced

Whipped Cream

Instructions: 

1. In medium-large mixing bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Stir in salt, cinnamon, brown sugar, milk, oats, and apples.

2. Pour mixture into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until hot, bubbly, and mostly set in the middle.

Serve warm in bowls with milk on top for a delicious breakfast, or serve warm with whipped cream on top for a yummy healthy dessert  






So there are just a few of my favorites!! As soon as I get more recipes, I'll send it your way!!

Finding Zen (Oh look, there he is!)

When I set on this journey three years ago, I knew it was going to be difficult, but I also knew I'd have a ton of support along the way.  One of the things I'm discovering about me, is my passion for working out, for being healthy and for helping others.  Finding this passion is the very first step into finding my zen.

However, there's a lot more to it.  I know what I love to do, and I know what my passion is, but how do I fully get to it? The first thing was trying to get out of my head that I can't achieve it.  The biggest obstacle there was my own mind.  Learning to conquer that, that's always going to be a never ending battle!  The one thing I am able to control however, is how those thoughts effect me.

I learned a something the other day that has stuck with me, and is helping me learn my own mind.  They said "Don't try to fight your thoughts.  They are your thoughts and you will lose.  Let them come, think them, acknowledge them, let them go." For the last week, everytime a thought has come to mind that I've been trying to forget or trying to let go of, I stopped fighting them.  When I realized, this is me talking to me, I let those thoughts in.  HOWEVER, the difference is, when I let them in, I was able to release them.  Money issues, weight problems, friends, family, whatever it may be.  Instead of fighting with my own thoughts, I embrace them.

Now don't get my wrong, I still get those knots in my stomach thinking about things.  My nerves are still very present, but I know now how not to let them rule me. It's teamwork within yourself.  Once you figure out, they're thoughts, not your actions, it's so much easier to let them all go!

P.S.  Sometimes finding your Zen requires a little help from others (No, not like the Daily Show's moment of Zen!) So here are a couple thoughts to help ease and clear your mind!

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.”


“You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.”


“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”


“Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.”


(Buddha has it right I tell ya!) 

4 years

Four years ago today, I got to marry my best friend!  Everyday I count my blessings that I met this man.  While there have been many ups and downs, I don't think there's anyone I would rather have been spending my life with.

Most people say "if you can make it through the first five years, you're in the clear!" Well, we're almost to that point, but in these last four, the two of us have grown so much as a couple.  Surviving our second deployment together before we even got to celebrate a year together, was just about the most difficult thing we could have done. But we made it together, with the help of our family and friends. 

We've dealt with job losses, money problems, car issues, dish issues, parental issues, and anything and everything in between.  But we got to also have mornings together, we have two wonderful puppies, and we are starting a life that will be all our own.  We are planning our trips around the world and excited to MAYBE start a family someday.

While we've been together for four years, our lives are just beginning.  Have anniversary to my hubby, my soldier, my monkey, my best friend, my lover, my Colin!