Spring?

There's a blizzard warning for tonight, but it was in the 50s today so we took advantage of it and walked to the park (TWICE!)

A Night at the Museum

Or really at the Zoo! Last night Maggie & I spent the night at the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls at the first ZooZnooze. The zoo has hosted sleepovers like this for Girl & Boy Scouts, but we were too late to register. It was a pretty amazing night!

We got there at 7 pm and the evening started with a pizza party and animal encounters. We met a Indian Star tortoise, a hedgehog & a lizard. Maggie really liked Bolt the lizard & Ellie the tortoise, and thought Sonic the Hedgehog was cute. But her favorite one was Bolt because he's pretty cool and his spines he uses for protection.

After the animal encounter, we did some stations to learn about animals. Maggie thought the giraffe skull was pretty cool.

We then got to take a night your of the zoo. We saw the caribou, llamas, primate house (with monkeys, apes & lemurs) and the red fox.

We then returned to the museum to get ready for bed & pick out a movie. "Night at the Museum" was the overwhelming favorite. Though it wasn't long before Maggie said she was ready for sleep.

In the morning after breakfast, we met a skunk and red tailed hawk. Then we got to dissect an owl pellet to determine what the owl has to eat. We discovered a rodent skull in ours!

We ended our time at the zoo with a morning tour. We did get to see the giraffes, though it was still too cold for them to be outside.

It was a very cool overnight adventure and Maggie is already looking forward to the one in the fall -- either another family or this time, with Girl Scouts!

Dinner & a Movie

Many years ago, TBS used to have segments about cooking during their Friday night movie, and the meal always matched the movie. And I've wanted to do something like that for some time. Finally tonight! We did our dinner & a movie with Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2. We were able to find a list of all of the foodimals from the movie and we served:

Tacodiles with Flamango salsa, Pickle People, Bananastritches, and Watermelonphant punch.

Both girls enjoyed helping me make the Pickle People. Aunt Tammy & Cousin Taylor came over to eat & watch the movie. I really think we'll have to do this more often. I've seen a lot of ideas on Pinterest for a lot of Disney movies and I think the girls would really enjoy it, especially helping make the menu!

Frustration

I'm starting to become frustrated. Starting, well, not really, it's a feeling that's been bubbling for some time. I've been working out for almost 6 months, logged over 360 miles and 40 hours (of distance & time that I actually recorded). I've sweated and returned to work flushed, a flush that lasts at least an hour after spin class. I've added lifting weights. Yet, my clothes aren't fitting better and the weight is not coming off. Now, I know that the weight didn't come on overnight [even if it seems like it did].

I now realize I have to change my eating habits if I'm going to get this going. I need to get this jump started and working out alone is not doing it. So I think I'm going to start the Daniel Fast a little earlier than planned. It's taken some prayer consideration, but I'm feeling led to start working this into my regular diet. I'm starting to look at meals and think, "could I make this Daniel Fast friendly?" Could I have black beans instead of the meat?  Would I still enjoy it? Would I feel full?

We shall see ...

Sore sore sore

So much truth here. Weights class. I've been to 3 classes so far and I love it! I think I've finally figured out this gym thing. I do not do well at the gym on my own. If I'm in a class, I push myself harder, faster.  

It is amazing how sore various muscles can be after just 30 minutes of weights. I'm excited to see where I am at the end of this semester.

Who IS That?

Ugh. Is that really me? Yes. Yes it is. A year ago, all the weight I lost after I had Jessie started creeping back. In the last year, I've put on more than 20 pounds and gone up 2 sizes. 

I started really noticing the gain when Maggie & I went to Girl Scout camp & my shorts were a bit snug. Then my rings started feeling tight. Suddenly none of my clothes fit right. I kept telling myself I'd do something about it later. Later never really comes, does it? Until, well, you just HAVE to do something or just give up. 

So when we started work at SDSU, we also joined the Wellness Center. With Rocky's alum status and both of us working, we got a huge discount. And classes at the wellness center were included. After a few weeks I decided to check out the spin class.

I spent last fall going to spin class, averaging probably twice a week with a goal of getting to the gym 3 times a week. Unfortunately, the scale kept going in the wrong direction!! Which means more drastic measures need to happen.

 This is me right now. A little definition, but way too much fluff. My plan is to continue going to spin (and loving it), trying to hit all 3 classes at lunch time. I decided to add a weight class twice a week and start watching what I eat, adding more fruits and veggies, less processed food. I'm also planning to attempt the Daniel Fast over Lent (not just for weight loss, but those will be other posts). But, I'm not putting out a numbered goal. I'm not on a "diet." I want to be healthier and I want my clothes to fit.

I want to track my progress, my successes, my 2nd chances (not failures :) and see where I end up!