20 Things Thursday

Great things from the past week! (More pictures to come)

1. JAMES TAYLOR with Tammy! AMAZING, so glad I finally had the chance to do it!!

2. Red Poppy Ride (see previous Blog)
3. My friend Heather Coming into town
4. Girl’s Night
5. Cleaning out my car!
6. Cleaning and organizing my apartment :) Who knew it would make things easier?
7. Hanging out with Susan and grilling out!
8. Sweet card in the mail from a friend!
9. Getting a REAL massage…one that made me be able to use my right shoulder like it was meant to be…RON VAUGHN…is AMAZING!
10. Getting a second litter box for Bailey…it makes things easier for both of us!
11. Realizing that I am only hurting myself (see Monday’s blog)
12. Getting back on track with a Plan
13. REALLY using the plan
14. Wearing my new necklace that says “the journey begins today”
15. New Clothes (they make me feel pretty)
16. Surviving the Mexican Food Potluck
17. Spending time with friends in the middle of the week!
18. Hearing from my dad and mom!
19. Getting a couple of donations for the 3-Day…STILL NEED HELP! :)


20. Giving up Starbucks…it is so nice to my wallet!

Highlights for the upcoming week:
Date Night
Bun Run with Kathy!
Leaving on a Jet Plane for Tulip Time

Red Poppy?

So on Saturday I participated in the Red Poppy Ride in Georgetown Texas. I did this bike ride last year with Dusty and we did the 49 mile route…and holy cow was I ever hurting! But we finished. No idea how long it took last year!

This year I did the 30 mile route while Dusty and Misty did another route. It was good for me to get in there and do it by myself. No one had to wait for me and I had to wait for no one. I was alone with my thoughts and music and I truly enjoyed myself!

As we get all our stuff out of our cars a brief shower passed over us and we thought…no big deal lets go! We started the race after most people had left which makes it much easier to get started especially with wet ground!

So about a mile in I separated from Dusty and Misty and just kept a steady even pace. Now for those who don’t know…I used to kind of stink up the room when it came to hills! I had never been good at pedaling through and I don’t know when things shifted…but I have learned to pedal through the hills and push hard on the down hills. THANK YOU DUSTY!

So here I am about 7 miles in and I see the first rest stop and I think…eh…I am good, keep going! So on to rest stop 2, where I did stop. Grabbed a couple of cookies (homemade chocolate chip), ½ a banana, and a potty break. I texted J because he was on his way out to cheer me through. Then got back on the bike and did a loop that brought me back to rest stop 2. NOW….let me tell you about the turn to head back in to the finish line. I am pretty sure…it was all up hill and into gale force winds! It was SO windy…I couldn’t even hear the music that was in my ears! About a mile from getting back to rest stop 2…it started POURING rain! Lucky for me…it stopped right as I pulled in! So I texted J and he was SHOCKED that I was already there! (YEAH ME!)

Grabbed another cookie or two J, some more water for my bike and got back on. It was at this point that I realized that my hiney was aching! But…I had 14 miles to go and no choice! So I kept on! When I got back to the first rest stop I called J and let him know that I should be crossing the finish line in 30 minutes or so…poor thing was lost and frustrated! But I couldn’t let that get to me…so I told him to stop and ask for directions. I got off the phone and got back on the bike!

I forgot to mention that there is a Red Poppy festival in Georgetown going on during this whole thing. But…I never saw 1 red poppy! I saw all kinds of other beautiful wild flowers and I wish I had taken my camera out to take pictures…but I was on a MISSION! It is so beautiful out there early in the morning…it really was! As I was checking out my time on my HRM I realized that it was entirely possible that I could finish the ride in 2 ½ hours…my goal when I set out was 3 hours. About a mile and a half from the start finish line my iPod died and while this wasn’t a big deal, the last song I heard was some slow country song! So I had to dig DEEP to find some pedal fast mojo!

As I crossed the finish line there was J walking towards it…I stopped and looked at my HRM…2:36. I WILL TAKE IT…and the 1460 calories I burned!

I now know how I lost that 70 pounds back in 2004/2005…my butt was always on my bike…who knew that it was THAT good of a workout?

So there you go folks…I went back to something I love and I had a great time with it…learned that I really have improved! I can’t wait to get back out there for the next race!

Here are some pictures from last year…and a couple from this year!

***LAST YEAR WITH DUSTY***

***THIS YEAR***

The Journey BEGINS today!

Ok…my name is Janna and I must confess! I haven’t been following the true WW plan for over a month. I have been winging it and going absolutely CRAZY with my food consumption. Especially the last 2 weeks. Because of this…I was TOO afraid to step on the scale last week and I actually decided that I won’t do it this week either.

As I got dressed this morning I put on a new necklace that an AWESOME friend sent me…and inscribed on the back it says “today the journey begins.” And that…is how it is going! I am WW 101 ALL THE WAY this week!

I hit goal…and I have 6 weigh-ins to make sure that I stay within the “range.” So next Monday I will be weighing in for weigh in number 2 on the way to 6. I will not let the events of the last couple of weeks derail almost 2 years of hard work!

So here is my plan for the week:

1. Grocery Shopping-I haven’t truly grocery shopped and cooked my own food in almost 2 weeks and this my friends has got to STOP!
2. NO STARBUCKS…NOTHING! In fact…NO COFFEE!
3. Back to no adult beverages until lifetime is attained (yeah…I know you girls that I am about to see are going to hate this…but I have to do it!)
4. Going back to the lent thing and getting in 30 minutes a day…NO MATTER WHAT. Even if it is just walking for 30 minutes around the block.
5. Remembering that whatever it is that I “think” that I am craving…it will still be there later on down the road and I don’t have to have it all in one day!
6. Start thinking about WHY I am eating. Am I truly hungry or is there something else going on?
7. Be accountable…back to blogging my food everyday. The good, the bad, and even the ugly!
8. Get in my 9 Good Health Guidelines EVERYDAY! (this is not ROCKET SURGERY :))
9. Keep my life in order…my house, my car, my office…chaos leads to chaos. So I got most everything back in order this weekend!
10. KEEP WORKING TOWARDS THE TRIATHALON! It is 6 weeks away!

So there you go folks…for myself it is in writing and I am going to work towards the finish line! I will crawl over that finish line if I have to, but I WILL FINISH! I deserve this and it is about high time I realized it!

20 Things Thursday

Time to look back at the good of the last week!

1. Last Thursday was a rough day, but the best part of it was friends that would drop everything to help me out when I needed them the most! Thanks friends!

2. Flowers from LuAnn…because SHE ROCKS!

3. A little gift from the WW scale…

4. Saturday Sushi with Tammy-ENOUGH SAID!

5. First Adult beverage since hitting goal…followed by second, third, fourth and MAYBE fifth! :)


6. Yummy hummus sandwich with GIANT mug of coffee…that swallowed my phone :)

7. New Blackberry Phone as soon as Sprint opened the doors on Sunday :)

8. New bathing suit…one that involved no tears and the comment from Tammy “you are downright skinny” HELL YEAH…that was AWESOME!

9. Finally getting in the pool and getting some laps in for Tri training…got a WEE bit of sun!

10. Finding out my friend Heather was coming to town this weekend!

11. Card from my amazing Jersey friend…it was a NICE treat! And then followed up with a sweet postcard from my friend Anika!


12. Got the ball rolling on taking some “professional” goal pictures…it is going to be exciting!

13. Got my swap package…see previous blog!

14. Working things out and finding some common ground with J

15. I got a Betty Crocker mini Chocolate Cake mix in the mail…CHOCOLATE!

16. Signing up for the Red Poppy Ride This Weekend

17. Admin Day at work…I got nice cards from my sales guys! Oh yeah…and I got to spin the wheel and win some cash!

18. Got the new Hungry Girl Cookbook

19. Seeing James Taylor Tonight

20. SUSHI tonight for dinner…Really…I LOVE SUSHI!

Blogging Swap Wonderfulness!

Circumstances beyond my control brought me my latest swap partner Laura…and I am SO glad they did. I have TRULY enjoyed getting to know her and email with her everyday! I love making new friends and now I have a new one!

Laura KICKS butt as a swap partner! She was so thoughtful and everything was SO great! Again…I completely forgot to take pictures of what I sent to her…but it was so much fun getting things together for her and her daughter!

Laura and her husband just celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary yesterday…so HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Laura…have fun this weekend!

And here are the pictures from my GIGANTIC package!

Included in the package:

• Pink Nail Polish and a Nail File
• Note Cards
• Silver Serving Spoons
• Pink Klenex
• Coffee Mug with a J (YEAH)
• Philosophy Grace Gift Set
• Earings
• Jelly Beans
• CHOCOLATE-LOVE THIS!
• And AWESOME Monogrammed Note Pad…Janna’s Notes!


Laura…thank you for putting so much time and effort into this for me…it was SO much fun and I look forward to a great friendship for YEARS to come!

WHOOO! Another Swap!

Mamarazzi's
Favorite Things Swap!!

You gotta do it! Just head on over here and signup!

Thanks Mamarazzi for doing it again!!

Girl Moment

4 posts in one day...who knew?

I have a FREAKING headache! And I want it to go away!

So I had a mini meltdown this afternoon...seems to be the thing to do these days!

We are going to see Ave Q tonight, and I am so excited about this...and tomorrow is the one year anniversary of our first date and J has to work. So all along I thought we would go out. And while the number on ye old friend, the scale is not freaking me out as much as it was earlier this week, I did not WI today and I am probably going to do it on Saturday.

So the freakout comes in like this...I asked J on the phone, in tears mind you, when am I going to start thinking like a normal person when it comes to food again?

I know I won't ever have "normal" thoughts about food...but seriously...since last Friday...thoughts of food and what I have "missed" have CONSUMED me!

So needless to say...we aren't going out to eat tonight, even though we found a REALLY good restaurant to try...because I am afraid of what it will do to that DANG scale!

I hate being a girl...and I hate having an unhealthy relationship with food!

So there you go...I am a freak and now you all know it :)!

<--Really is ok...just having girl moments today!

Does this ever happen to you?

20 Things Thursday

20 Good things that have happened in the last week!

1. UM…topping the list…HITTING GOAL!


2. All the congratulations texts that came in as it was going on!
3. The love my peeps on my message boards showed me via a couple of different threads in my honor!
4. My blog comments!
5. The emails I have gotten from friends far and wide!
6. My favorite flowers and a card from J


7. Wonderful mail from a WONDERFUL friend!
8. The Mighty Texas Dog Walk on Saturday Morning


9. Meeting my weather man…Jim Spencer! For those who have known me a long time…they know that I love Jim Spencer! Whatever Jim says, goes! Now if I could just have a redo picture…what the HELL was up with my hair! Jim…thanks for being so nice…it was GREAT to meet you!


10. Pizza from the Brick Oven
11. Cookies from Tiff’s Treats (and learning the lesson that I need to stay away from Tiff’s TREATS!)
12. A great lazy Easter Sunday watching the Masters and hanging out!
13. Signing up for the Schlotzsky’s Bun Run in May with my great friend Kate!
14. Express Game with J and some of his friends, which are now some of my friends…it was FUN!


15. Sushi on Friday with another friend…LOVE me some Sushi!
16. Celebrating at lunch today with my normal WW meeting…it is GOING to be GREAT!
17. Girl’s Night last night with Autumn and LuAnn
18. The text from my friend Amy telling me HOW GOOD she is doing with her new lifestyle!
19. The donations that came in this week for my 3-Day…people’s generosity is AMAZING!
20. Avenue Q TONIGHT! Can’t wait!

Take some time today…and make your list!

8 is Enough!

Hadley from Life of a Dairy Queen has tagged me in 8 Is Enough.

8 Things I am Looking Forward to:
1. Ave Q Tonight at Bass Concert Hall
2. Meeting up with my Wonderful new friend Shawn this weekend
3. James Taylor Next Thursday
4. REALLY gearing up my Triathalon Training
5. Celebrating Goal today with my normal meeting
6. My secret trip coming up in a couple of weeks!
7. Meeting one of my WW friends for the first time at the end of May
8. Starting my part time gig with WW

8 Things I did Yesterday:
1. Went to the post office
2. Did my taxes (nothing like waiting until the LAST minute)
3. Cleaned the kitchen
4. Worked late
5. Rode with LuAnn to San Marcos
6. So that we could meet Autumn and have some girl time!
7. Stopped at Starbucks on the way home to get something warm!
8. Tossed and turned and didn’t get a good night of sleep!

8 Things I Wish I Could Do:
1. Right this moment I wish I could get some more sleep!
2. I wish I could RUN a 5K
3. Travel MORE!
4. Find a way to get to Vegas for LuAnn’s birthday
5. Make Bailey feel ALL better
6. Keep my car clean
7. Express my hurt feelings to the people that hurt them
8. Spend more time with the people that I miss

8 Shows I Watch:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Biggest Loser
3. Deadliest Catch
4. Cupid
5. Oprah
6. Ugly Betty
7. One Tree Hill (I Know it is cheesy!)
8. The news

Now I'm supposed to tag 8 people to do this. . .so here goes
1. Julie
2. Jules
3. Shannon
4. Jen at Prior Fat Girl
5. Amy
6. Another Amy
7. Laura
8. Carrie

Mix My Granola Contest

Ok...so I am telling you this, but I really don't want you to enter...because I want it all for myself!

Go visit my AWESOME new friend Jen over here! Leave her a comment and tell her how AWESOME she is!!

Here is the cool website and my mix as I would make it!

Your Mix (16 oz.)
Granola Base
French Vanilla
Granola Fruits
Organic Banana Chips
CranberriesOrganic
Dried Apples
Nuts and Seeds
WalnutsOrganic
Flax Seeds
Chia Seeds

Thank You!

On to brighter and happier topics…I have the most amazing people in my life!
All weekend long people have celebrated with me, created threads on my message boards for me, sent me emails, sent me texts, left me comments on my blog…all to celebrate this accomplishment!

I want you all to know…it means SO much to me that I could share this journey with you! That you would take time out of your lives to do such meaningful things for me…it leaves me speechless!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!



No one who achieves success does so without the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.
-- Alfred North Whitehead

Fear

So Friday was a HUGE day for me. OBVIOUSLY! But since then…well I just don’t even know how to feel about this whole thing. All I have thought about all weekend was food and when could I have some of the stuff that is on a list that I have going in my head. It is actually ridiculous! It isn’t like I cut things out and NEVER had them. I am a firm believer in this plan that I can I have what I want in moderation. But the way I have acted since Saturday afternoon says OTHERWISE!

So here I am saying that I have faltered…but it isn’t unfixable! I just have to put my foot down and say enough is enough. I don’t need to cross everything off the list this week. This is my LIFE and I need to learn to not be afraid! Because really it all boils down to this…I am AFRAID!

• Afraid of what is next
• Afraid of failing
• Afraid of going back
• Afraid of letting myself enjoy what I have just accomplished
• Afraid that I am only what I accomplished and nothing more

So there you have it…all of these amazing things going on in my life and I am afraid of them! Who knew I was human? Oh wait…I did!

Thanks for “listening” to my fear…now moving on!

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.
~Eleanor Roosevelt

BELIEVE!!!

When I got in the car this morning this is what I heard on the radio...

No stress, No stress, No stress
Girl, you deserve nothing but the best
No stress, No stress, No stress

But I have to say...I was quite stressed and anxious. You see, I was going to weigh in and I wanted Goal. I wanted it so bad I could taste it.

When I got to the center I took a deep breath and got out of the car. This wasn't my normal meeting so I didn't really know anyone there. SO I walked up to this very friendly receptionist and handed her my stuff. I told her I was very nervous and she asked why...so I told her I want to hit goal today. She giggled and said...ok, well now I am nervous with you. So she did her thing and I kicked off my flip flops and got up there...she asked me what I needed to hit it and I told her. She threw her hands in the air and said...you got it! What did I do? I started crying!

2 years of hard work had finally paid off, and I cry! I stood there shaking and crying and pulled out my phone and shot off one massive text to everyone that I could, telling them that I had FINALLY DONE IT!

The leader that was subbing for the normal leader came around and gave me a hug! My phone was going CRAZY from all my great and amazing friends congratulating me! I tried to call my dad and mom, but I couldn't get them on the phone! I went and changed into my normal clothes and then sat down to try and catch my breath! I called Dusty...I needed her to KNOW...and then the meeting started!

That was my second meeting of the week and to tell you the truth I don't remember much about the meeting other than some off the wall comment by a lady about what she does to squash out her late night eating (insert red faced leader here).

Then the celebrations came...first a couple of people celebrating their second week, a couple of 5 pound stars, 2 5% losses, and 1 10% loss...then ME! As soon as she started talking about it the tears welled up again! I DID IT...ME, no one could do this for me. It was my hard work, my will power, my self control...me! I did however have some amazing cheerleaders along the way! And man have I made some AWESOME friends!

It is all so surreal as I sit here and type this. Today is AMAZING! It feels AMAZING! In the next couple of days as I sit and reflect there will be other posts...but for now I wanted you to know that I did it!

NEVER GIVE UP! No matter how hard it gets, just keep going!

" Nothing worthwhile ever happens quickly and easily. You achieve only as you are determined to achieve... and as you keep at it until you have achieved."

20 Things Thursday

I have seen this feature on another blog I read…and I really like it! The blogger lists 20 things she has done that week…and the idea is to think of 20 good things about your life. So many times we want to look at the negative…but there is a lot of positive going on around us and I should look at those things more OFTEN! So here we GO!

1. Went to volunteer orientation for the Austin Komen Foundation
2. Went to my niece and nephew’s basketball games (and yelled a LOT, mostly at bad calls!) Got to see my dad and mom! (HI DAD, HI TERESA!)
3. Spent quality time with 2 of my nieces and took them for a beautiful 3.5 mile hike!

4. Found out one of my friends is coming to visit in May (Hi Anika)
5. Went to lunch with a co-worker for the first time in a long time and had fun getting to know them better!
6. Called my sister on her birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHELLE)
7. Interviewed with Weight Watchers to be a part time receptionist (so I can give back, future blog to come)
8. Took Bailey back for his followup...and he is improving!

9. Saw my dearest friend for the first time in a LONG time and spent some good quality time catching up with her! (HI SARA)
10. Saw Gavin DeGraw in concert (not as good as it used to be, but it was good to see him)

11. Updated the pictures in frames around my house
12. Sent out some surprise things to some friends in the mail (I LOVE DOING THIS!)
13. Got my thank you cards sent out for the donations I have received so far…THANKS FOR EVERYONE THAT HAS DONATED!
14. Got my Easter Cards sent out!
15. Went to my “regular” WW meeting and got to celebrate with my friend Susan…she has lost 45 pounds…YEAH SUSAN!
16. Meet a new friend at the meeting that I am excited to get to know better! (HI SHAWN)
17. Calling Tammy later to wish her a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
18. Got the new Rascal Flatts CD…so far so good!
19. Enjoyed all the great texts and well wishes from my friends on my interview…and just on life in general…I truly cherish their support more than they will EVER know!
20. For and extra added bonus…I have a new swap partner on a swap I am participating in…and I LOVE HER! (HI LAURA) We have such great conversations over email during the days! I love getting to know new people…Especially the AWESOME ONES!

There you go…20 great things that have happened in my world this week…I have to say, it was kind of hard to narrow it down to just 20! That is a GREAT sign!

Take some time today...and make your list!

Happy Thursday!

Spring-ified Swap

So my new friend Whitney hosted a Spring Swap and I had the BEST partner Hadley!

Hadley was an awesome partner and I have enjoyed getting to know about her and her family!

I completely forgot to write down a list or even take a picture of what I sent her...but she said she will blog about it soon...

Here is what I got from Hadley!

My box included:
• Awesome Spring Kitchen Towels
• Eat This and Not That-I have wanted to grab this book!
• A weekly Menu Planner that I can put on my fridge!
• Several different kinds of flowers to plant
• Gloves and Mini Shovel
• A Pineapple Candle...SMELLS YUMMY!
• Luggage Tags for my upcoming travels
• Pink Nail Polish
• Stuff for Home Pedicures!
• And a really nice letter!

It has once again been SO much fun getting to know someone that I might never have met! And...she lives near Atlanta! Which is where I will be doing my second 3-Day this year...so we might actually get the chance to meet in person!

Thanks Hadley for being such a great partner...you made it FUN!

Go and check out Cheryl's page and sign up for her swap...they are FUN!

Pop Chip Giveaway!

My fellow blogger/we share a brain friend, Jen is having a Pop Chip giveaway! Head over there and check her out...BUT DO NOT ENTER...I want them all for myself!

:)

Coming Clean

Yesterday was supposed to be my day! I JUST knew it was going to be the day I hit goal. Well...the scale had other ideas! I was .06 short! And those ideas bummed me out and knocked me on my butt for the entire day!

After weigh in I went to my niece and nephew's basketball games and then brought my two older nieces home with me. Our day was supposed to be filled with girl time! We were going to go on a hike, maybe catch a movie, do some shopping! Yeah...it didn't work out that way!

I am ashamed to say we went to the store and got the basics for me to be able to take care of some stuff at home and then came home. I did a little cleaning while they watched a movie. Got a couple of thing crossed off the to do list and then it all fell apart. I crawled into bed and pretty much didn't get out of it the rest of the day! WELL...except to go to the grocery store and buy a bag of chips, cookie dough and dinner for the girls. I sat around and ate all that CRAP after getting SO close to goal.

I let what the scale said yesterday, dictate my entire day! WHAT THE HECK IS WITH THAT? I knew while it was going on that I was doing it, but for some reason I just couldn't stop it...part of the process I guess!

I told J last night that I think I am scared...what happens after I hit goal? Then what? I am afraid of what is next, because I don't know what that means. For almost 2 years everything has been about that scale and getting down to THAT number. I need to learn how to get away from that and start LIVING and not worrying about what that scale says so much! I know I will always have to think about that number, but it won't consume me the way it has for the last two years.

I wanted to get to this point SO bad and now that I am here...I am scared! But I WILL NOT SABOTAGE myself! I have come to far and I need to see what it is like on the other side!

Here is to not being afraid!

I apologized to the girls and I plan on making it up to them today. We have had a wonderful breakfast thanks to chef J who came over this morning and made us homemade whole wheat pancakes. The kitchen is clean and the laundry is in the dryer. We are dressed and headed out for a hike! Who knows what we will do the rest of the day...I only know we will not be sitting around!

Happy Sunday!

GO SPURS GO!

So last Tuesday I went to a Spurs game with an old friend from High School. We try to go to at least one game a year because...well...We just love them SPURS! So this time was EXTRA special. Why you ask? Because we had FLOOR SEATS! And not just any floor seats...right next to the SPURS bench! How is a girl supposed to watch a game when Tony Parker and company is less than 10 feet away? Let me tell you...IT WAS HARD!

First off...in case you don't know...I have a HUGE crush on Tony Parker! So it was hard to focus! I also really LOVE Manu Ginobili...I met him a couple of years ago and he was so NICE! Here are a few pictures from the game:
MY MAN TONY PARKER

THE BENCH

TIM DUNCAN ON THE LINE

TIM DUNCAN & POP

Ime Udoka...kinda CUTE!

Manu Ginobili...LOVE HIM! Sad he wasn't playing that night!

The ACTUAL game winning shot!

Tim and Mason Jr (the shooter of the game winning shot) waiting it out to see if they squeak by with the win!



So the SPURS won...BARELY! 107-106. And while the game and seats were AMAZING, the best part for me was meeting Sean Elliott again...I actually got the chance to talk to him for a few minutes and show him this picture:

And after I showed him the picture I proudly told him I was back to have a redo...and he told me HELL YEAH! He just kept looking at the picture and saying wow...it was NICE to hear! So even though he will never read this and never know what it meant...thanks Sean for being such a stand up MAN! I loved you way back when...but I love you even more now!
Here is the new picture:


Just a couple more pictures...I swear!
Me & Melissa

Me...in case you didn't know :)


So there you go...a little pictorial of my SPURS game...thanks for coming along! It was fun to relive it!

GO SPURS GO!