weight loss wednesday: week 5

I'm a tad frustrated. I haven't lost any more weight. I have a meeting with my trainer on Friday to make sure I'm doing my workouts correctly. In the meantime, here are some possible reasons as to why I'm not losing weight:

-I have extremely low vitamin d levels. It's hard to lose weight with low vitamin d. (Seriously, I'm not making that up. google it!). I was put on 2,000 iu a day a few weeks ago, but my internist has upped it to 4,000 just on Monday. I'm gonna be walking on sunshine ya'll!
-I'm building a ton of muscle. I'm trying to tone as well as lose weight. I'm up to pushing 70lbs on the sitting row machine and 60 on shoulder and chest press. My arms are getting really strong. My legs are getting stronger with the bike and walking/jogging I'm doing.
-I had to miss Zumba and that's a high calorie loss workout for me.
-I haven't been swimming, because of my eye situation, and that's where I burn a ton of calories also.

So, I think I just need to work with my trainer on doing higher burning workouts at the gym. I also need him to help me with the whole shin splint situation.

Workout Log

• Thursday 7/25 Couch to 5k training in the morning, and a double header softball game in the afternoon. We only played 1/2 the second game though, so it's not like it was a super intense work out.
• Friday 7/26. I'm the crazy fool who woke up early the day I was leaving for vacation to go work out. I did my circuit training and burned about 300 calories.
• Saturday 7/27 Rode my bike 8 miles around Mackinac Island. We stopped a lot and weren't going fast, but still. A good workout!
• Sunday 7/28 Off day, unless you count walking around Bronners Christmas Store.
• Monday 7/29 My Birthday! I woke up early, attempted to do Couch to 5k but got severe shin splints so I stopped and did 3 miles on the bike, 15 minutes on the nustep, and weights.
• Tuesday 7/30 I was really way too tired to work out Tuesday morning, so I went in the afternoon instead and once again attempted couch to 5k training, but once again my shin splints were very painful. So I did the bike again, and weights.
• Wednesday 7/31 Still a little iffy about my eye. So I did 4 miles on the bike, 12 minutes on the nustep, and 10 minutes on the row machine which is freaking HARD. Also did a quick set of weights for my arms.

Other Random Things

• Although the numbers on the scale don't reflect what I want to see, I feel so much better and stronger. Now I just want the pounds to shed off.
• It's possible to make healthy choices when eating fast food. Fries sound good, but a small fry is 310 calories. Add a crispy chicken sandwich (my personal favorite) into the mix, and your meal is 850 calories and a ton of fat/salt! I went to Wendy's on Friday and I got a grilled chicken sandwich without the bun and a baked potato, plain with just salt and pepper on it. (and only a little salt). My meal was about 440 calories, half of what I would normally choose.
• Subway has the healthiest "fast food" breakfast. Although I try to keep breakfast at work or bring it with me, sometimes I forget. So I did some random googling of nutrition menus to see what the healthiest breakfast was. Subway wins. I can get a 3" flatbread with egg white, pepper jack cheese, ham, and green pepper for just 106 calories. That's way less than anything on a McDonalds menu, or even Tim Horton's.  Plus Subway's website has a cool "calculate your own" tool so you can see if what you want to add makes a difference.
• Be weary of salads! Not every salad is healthy! Get the dressing on the side and take out cheese.
• Try to cook at home as often as possible, try new recipes. When you do cook, immediately put half in a Tupperware to bring to work for lunch. That way you won't overeat at dinner.
• Go for a walk at work. Even if it's just around the building. I force myself to get up at least once a day and take a quick walk around the building. Except now I have to bring a coworker because there was a murder in the apartment complex next door.  Isn't life exciting?
• Recruit your friends to work out or to make healthy eating choices. It's so much easier to do this when the people around you are being careful, too.
• I know that not every gym is like this, but mine has trainers walking around the place at all times helping you with machines. Today I was having issues on the bike, I felt like I wasn't going fast enough. I got up and asked a trainer to come over and she told me my seat was too low. It was a quick fix, but it helped a ton. So don't be afraid to ask!

9 Months

Dear Ryan,
My birthday was yesterday and the best gift was that I got to see you. I kept talking about it all day, that I was most excited to be able to see you at dinner. You sat right next to me and I fed you bananas and applesauce. You made a big mess, but you sure love those bananas. It was so good to see you and have you next to me. You did totally try to steal one of my gifts, though. Except you only wanted the paper. I let you have it. The poor people at the restaurant had a big mess to clean up.

Oh! And guess what? You're like totally crawling now. It's so weird! Just a few weeks ago, you couldn't do it and now you're crawling all over the place. And you're starting to love that dog Clancy of yours even more now that you have more strength to pull on his ears and his hair. He loves you too. He protects you.

I got to see you swim around in your little pool a few weeks ago. You were so happy splish splashing around. I hope you continue to love the water, because kid, we've GOT to get you to Ft. Walton Beach! I can't go in the salt water with you because I'm allergic, but the pool, count me in!

Your mommy and daddy went on a trip over the weekend so Grandma and Grandpa Carolin stayed with you. They took such good care of you. They are wonderful grandparents to you and they adore you. They raised us all so well, and now they are passing on their wisdom to you. You were in such good care and comfort with them. You're lucky to have them as grandparents. Very lucky. Don't ever forget that.

We are just 3 months away from you turning 1 year old. It's so hard to believe it's happening that quickly. I'll never forget that day or holding you for the first time. I'll never forget that little smile of yours. You are the most important person in my life, Ry. I love you!

Love, Aunt Megan

26th Birthday!

I'm 26 today.

That feels old, to me.

Probably because when I was 16 and dreaming of my life 10 years ahead, I imagined I'd be married, have this really awesome job, maybe even be pregnant or have a kid.

Nah.

I'm 26, trying to figure out this whole dating thing, have a pretty okay job, and I am most definatley not pregnant nor do I have a kid.

But that's okay. I've really learned to be happy with my age and not put so much stress on myself to find my happily ever after. Because in reality life IS a happily ever after. We're here and we're alive and breathing and shouldn't that be enough? I just play life day by day, one step and one bill at a time.

Last year I loved my birthday post. I'm not so sure I can top it this year. Instead, I am going to list random facts about my birthday.

• I share a birthday with Martina McBride and Elise Testone (American Idol Season 10).
• My birthday is Oprah's 1/2 birthday. That makes us soul sisters, obviously.
• As a kid I could never bring in birthday treats on my actual birthday. Once in a while I'd bring them on my 1/2 birthday, just to feel normal.
• Every day at Mercy they announce the birthdays of students and staff. Summer birthday's get missed. My sophomore year, my friends got special permission to announce my 1/2 birthday so that I could feel special.
• The most sentimental birthday present I ever received was from my friend Alicia. She got a mirror and decorated it, and then put a post it on it that said  something like "You've given me a gift I could ever ask for- YOU!".
• Coolest birthday I had was last year, when I got to have breakfast with Melinda Doolittle, my favorite Idol contestant ever.
• On my 1st Birthday I shoved my hands into the cake and then all over my hair. I had to take a bath before I could open presents.
• My family doesn't do anything huge for birthday's, but we always got to pick our favorite meal. I usually picked sish kabobs.
• I seem to be out of town for my birthday a lot. Chicago with my daddy, up north with my friends growing up, Mercy Volunteer Corps orientation, Indianapolis the past two years.
• Fire is the element for those born on July 29th. I just learned this today, and it's weird, because it's the symbol I chose when I was a retreat leader in high school. We are supposed to have a very positive energy and enthusiasm.
• There is a hilarious video of me on my 2nd birthday opening a gift. It's a big box and I am so excited that I rip it to shreds and then peek in. I see it's Big Bird and start yelling "BIG BIRD BIG BIRD" and try to tear it out of the box. My mom leaves to go get it out of the box and I push aside every other gift I got in anticipation.
• Today my coworkers went freaking above and beyond. I got a beautiful, delicious cake from a well known bakery, cards, wine, a Taylor Swift album, and a fruit basket.

I have enjoyed my 26 years here on Earth. I know that sounds kinda silly, but I have. I've had a lot of ups and downs and twists and turns. But I'm here and I'm alive. I've picked up something from each and every person I've met, I've been influenced by words, music, and art. I love people and hearing stories. I try to be positive, and when I am not I have someone in my life who whips me into shape. I aim to please, I want to help other people, I hate to see people get sad. I love nature and quiet time and comfy clothes. I have a strong faith and believe that God is right by my side. He has put some amazing people in my life.

Happy Birthday to me, and thank you to each and every single one of you who have influenced my life. I think that's the best part about my life. Each of you. I know a lot of people read this but don't comment or tell me you read it, and I just want you to know if you're reading this right now, I love the crap out of you and I hope you're happy today. I hope you find peace or hope or sunshine or whatever it is you need. And please know that you are special to me. Hugs to everyone!

Girls Weekend!

For a few months now, a group of gals and I have been planning a trip to head to Northern Michigan for the weekend. I've got to hand it to my friend Kristen for handling all the details. Thanks Kristen!

My roommates and I packed up Lauren's car on Friday morning and headed up 75. The trip was quick (mostly because I slept for all of it). We met up with the other group of girls (four of them) at the local grocery store to get some essential items for the weekend. We grabbed lunch and then found our cute little cottage. After throwing our bags on the beds and putting groceries away, we headed to the beach. Except...you know.. it was cloudy and cold outside. Michigan weather has officially gone bipolar on us, folks. So since the beach didn't work out, we headed to the indoor pool instead. That's where the fun started. A group of 7 girls in the pool, doing synchronized swimming and taking silly pictures. Acting like we were children. Laughing hysterically. Just the way it should be.

After our pool time we went back to the cottage and had a great family meal together- pasta, salad, and garlic bread. We talked, listened to music, popped in a Disney sing a long VHS. Everything a girls weekend should be. It was soon discovered that I would be the bug killer for the weekend. Once in a while I'd hear a collective "MEGAN!" and I'd come running, squashing bugs and flushing them down the toilet. The best one was when I shot down the stairs, jumped over two of the girls, and got a spider with one fell swoop. Bug Killing Skills, you guys. I have them.

Saturday morning started early. We all got ready, ate breakfast and hopped in the cars to head to Mackinac Island.  We took the ferry from Mackinaw City over, which takes you under the bridge. It was really awesome, but also FREEZING because it was once again chilly outside, and with the wind mixed in it felt like we had suddenly moved to Alaska. Brr. But it was still a beautiful view. I'm glad we chose that option!

When we got on the Island we did a little shopping, and then we rented bikes and took a bike ride around the island. This was my favorite part of the weekend. The 7 of us in a single file line riding our bikes for 8 miles. Early on in the ride, we spotted the Catholic church on the Island. Lauren and Sam knew I wanted to stop there and came in with me, and everyone else waited outside for me. The church is beautiful, and I realized it was started by Jesuits, which made me even happier. Lauren I discovered a mini "museum" in the church basement and I'm sure she noticed the massive smile on my face. It just felt right to be in there. I felt something in that Church.

I took it upon myself to be last in line on our bike ride. I wanted to make sure everyone else was okay, and it was fun to watch them have fun. We'd stop every few miles to take pictures, and we laughed a lot during the ride. I kept yelling things out to my friends, but since I was in the back I really couldn't hear them. I made myself laugh, a lot. I looked like a darn fool, riding my bike and smiling so big. But I don't care, because those two hours were pretty perfect.

After the bike ride our group split up, and Sam, Lauren, and I finished our shopping. We found a lot of cool things, got some fudge (a must at Mackinac Island), and people watched. There were a few weddings happening that day, and it was cute to see everyone dressed up.

Our crew took the 5:30 ferry back to Mackinaw City to get our cars. This time we rode on the bottom of the ferry so we'd be warm. Excellent choice. By the time we got back to our cottage, our tummies were grumbling. Lauren and I grilled the brauts (please be proud of us, we don't grill). While the other girls made corn and salad. Lauren and I only had one moment of panic, but I'd say we did pretty well. We giggled, sipped on beer, and cooked the meat. We felt so accomplished.

After we ate and cleared the table, we wanted to start a campfire. Except none of us have done that before. But, somehow, Lauren and I got it going. It took a while. It would start and then go out, but we eventually got a really good fire going. And again, we only had one moment one of panic when Lauren's pants almost caught on fire, but other than that, we ROCKED that fire. I was so proud of us! Then our group just sat around the fire, chatting, watching videos, making videos, laughing. Eventually it started to rain so we headed back inside for more story telling and laughing. It was another favorite moment from the weekend.

I think we all slept pretty well Saturday night. After biking 8 miles and walking probably 4 or 5, we were pretty exhausted. Our bodies were thankful for the rest.

Sunday morning Sam, Lauren and I packed up our car and headed out earlier than the rest of the gang. We had a lovely breakfast and drove for a few hours before stopping at Frankenmuth, another Michigan favorite. We went to Bronner's Christmas Store, the largest Christmas store in the United States, and each bought a few ornaments. We poked around a few other stores, grabbed a big lunch, and then sailed on home.

It was honestly a really great weekend. The weather sucked, but the company was spectacular and the beauty of Michigan made it all worth it. Plus I loved spending so much time with my roommates, even though I see them almost every day. Our friendship just seems to get stronger, and I'd do anything for those two. At one point on our bike ride the two of them were in front of me and I just said "guys? I love you.". I do. They are amazing friends.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the weekend. They probably won't make sense to most of you, but I gotta save these somewhere!"

"One of these days some lucky fella's gonna get an Ipass"-Mary
"Can a bear like come in the house?"-Sam
"The pants girl the pants!"-Mary
"Look, it looks like afterbirth"-Mary
"Squirt something in there!"-Tracy
"It's either fireworks...or a bear"-Me
"I feel like I'm straddling a pole"-Kristen
"How do you use a vcr?"-Julie
"Let me set the mood....to die"-Lauren
"It's either leaves...or bacon"-Mary
"How do I change my profile picture?" Sam "Just change it"-Kristen
"They never have Lady and the Tramp stuff. Guess they have something against tramps"-Sam

As you can tell, that Mary girl is pretty darn hilarious. She had us cracking up. Everyone was so fun this weekend, I just loved it. Thank you girls for such a beautiful time!