2012 Rings In and a New Chapter Begins

Isn't it wonderful how we can start over with a clean slate at the beginning of a new year so to speak??  The new year gives us a fresh perspective and also a new motivation to do things we didn't accomplish the year prior.  I am ready for some new motivation.

Christmas was good.  My best lifelong friend Angela was in town with her baby and I got to spend Christmas evening with her and her family before I had to go into work.  I am always happy to see her and miss our old times together.  Here is a pic of us before I went to work.

Me and my best lifelong friend Angie

The day after Christmas I spent an afternoon at the spa with my mom and she had a massage and I had an amazing facial and brow wax.  Nothing like a little pampering every once in a while! After our spa time and some lunch we went about our business for the day and met up again later to have dinner at Kato Japanese Restaurant.  I have exposed my mother to the world of fresh raw sushi, maki, nigiri, etc.  and she really loved it.  I love that place!  After dinner we went to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie with Robert Downey, Jr.  and it was AWESOME!  Rarely can you say a movie sequel is better than the first but this one truly is.  A must see.

New Year's Eve I was at work and each year we are allowed to wear cocktail attire for the night.  I look forward to this every year especially now that I wear a uniform for work.  I get to be my sexy self for one night.  Almost like Cinderella going to the ball.  It was crazy busy and I had a wonderful time.  Yes I know, I am at work on NYE and I had a wonderful time- I said it.  Here is a pic of me from that night.

NEW YEARS EVE 2011

I also made my 150 Jazzercise classes in the calendar year!!! I worked so hard for that!  I had the worst time here at the end trying to get the last few classes in before 12/31 because of my knee.  I have osteoarthritis in my right knee that keeps giving me the worst fit!  But I am determined this knee will not stop me from living the dreams I want to achieve.  I did low impact the entire final 14 classes I had plus I wore a knee brace and did some of the standing options for the abdominal work that is done on the floor.  I did whatever it took to keep going and to reach my goal.  Here is a pic of me in my new t-shirt! 

I DID IT 150 classes!!!


The Wednesday before I received my shirt, I had planned my day and when I would go to class to workout, etc.  my day off.  Then my mom calls and rearranges my plans due to her new plans and I was MAD!  So, I decided determinedly that this would not interfere with me getting in my classes that day so I went to the Jazzercise center in Independence, MO where she had me running to and I had a blast! I did a regular hour Jazzercise session and followed that with a Jazzercise Lite session.  Jazzercise Lite is all low-impact version and a lot of fun.  I am anxious to go back and do that again.  Everyone there was very welcoming.  Just goes to show that no matter what when you put yourself and your workout as a priority there is always a way to do it.  I went to classes in the morning and at night to get to my goal.  My knee was not happy so as a result I have taken a short hiatus from class but now I am ready to go back. So, tonight its on!  Its only been a week but I cant stand it I have to have my dance fun time.

I have talked about the Biggest Loser on here before and I have mentioned my fave contestant from Season 12 Jennifer Rumple before.  She was voted off in an abrupt way on Week 6 of the show.  But she did not let that defeat her.  She came back and won the $100,000 at home prize.  She is so awesome.  I was screaming in my living room when she won.  I can relate to her in a way I have not related to past contestants simply because she is so much like me.  She has been very encouraging to me and to many others.  She reads my blog, comments to different things on Facebook and she sends out motivational mantra on her page all the time.  Thank you Jennifer Rumple-BL Season 12.  I am going to copy something she had on her page for all of you here that is simply too awesome not to share about her views on nutrition/weight loss.  "Like" her page-its so inspirational.

The SIMPLE LIST:  (copied from Jennifer Rumple's Facebook Page)1) DO NOT EAT ANYTHING PROCESSED. Anything in a box, a can, a package ... do not buy. Do not eat. You'll be amazed how your palate changes and no longer needs the sugary, salty, fatty stuff for things to taste yummy! Trust me on this! Just give your taste buds time to adjust.
2) Stick to lean meats like chicken, turkey, fish, egg whites. Red meat is okay on occasion, but be sure it's a lean cut and ONLY on occasion.
3) Write down everything you put in your mouth and track your calories all day long. It's the best way to monitor your intake of food ... and know when you've hit your limit and you need to STOP!
4) Complex carbs are okay. Whole foods like apples, carrots, wheat pasta, multi-grain breads/cereals. Our bodies need these carbs because they contain incredible nutrients. I try to limit my carbs in the evening. Remember one of Bob's MANY truths ... "LEAN AND GREEN!"
5) Water, water, water, water. And when you think you've had enough for the day ... have another glass! :) It's key!
I've been eating organic everything and it's really made a difference in how my body responds to food as fuel! Give it a try! As far as calorie consumption ... as long as you have a deficit at the end of the day, you'll lose weight! The MAGIC to weight loss ... Calories In vs. Calories Out and move your body. It really IS that simple folks. The hard part is working on the inside and your triggers. Remember ... one meal, one day, one pound at a time. You'll get where you want to be ... eventually. That time is gonna pass anyway ... so why not MAKE THOSE HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES for YOURSELF?!

Check out her page for lots of motivation and answers to how she transformed herself.  Here is a before and after pic of Jen.  Every time I think I may stop or I cant get going to go workout I think of how she pushed her body to the limit, with a knee stress fracture to overcome and still came out a winner and if she can do that I can do this. 

Jennifer Rumple- Starting weight 330 and finale weight 185.  If 185 looks like this I WANT THAT!!

 Ok, finally on this long blog post I will share what I have in mind for my new year 2012.  Some of you who are my friends on Facebook have already seen this list so I apologize for the repetitive.  I posted this on New Year's Day. 

HAPPY NEW YEARS DAY A toast to have the best year of my life! goal weight by my 40th bday in May, a visit to Omaha and Cleveland, a hike up Mount Rushmore, possibilities to become a low impact jazzercise instructor, and
a trip to meet my cousins in San Teodoro, Sicily. i would also like to make two milestones in my career at work and just enjoy my life! CHEERS! SALUTE!

On another note I am excited that we are  getting our Weight Watchers at work group back and I have two 5k run/walk events I want to do in February.  One is the Buffalo Run 5k benefit for the Parkville Nature Sanctuary.  The other is the Groundhog Run that is done in these underground caves each year and a lot of fun.  Goal weight I mentioned above would be in 35 lbs so if I am dedicated to my workout, keep my nutrition going in the right direction I should be there. 

Life is too short not to be lived fully, to do the wonderful things we put off that we dream of.  I dream of being able to dance in a dance recital, I dream of finding a great love, I dream of robust health and accomplishment of beating my obesity.  I dream of a life that takes me on travel to enjoy the sites of our natural planet and connecting with family everywhere.  I dream of motivating others to take this journey and savor it all.  Someday I would love to do a marathon or triathlon.  I saw that the oldest woman who completed this year's Ironman in Kona,Hawaii was 75 years old.  I want that kind of superior health so I can do whatever I want for ALL of my life. 

I apologize that this has been so long and that over the holidays I didnt have the time to blog.  I am back on track now.  I will leave you with this quote I saw in my Weight Watchers magazine.  So appropriate in regard to my pesky knee issues.  "A setback is nothing more than an opportunity for a great comeback." 

I could write here all day but I will reserve more of my thoughts for my next blog perhaps next week.  Take care and remember as one of my Jazzercise instructors says - "DO SOMETHING FABULOUS FOR YOUR BODY TODAY!"  *hugs!*  Till next time!