The Shred

I am just wrapping up week two of Jillian Michael's The Shred, and I LOVE it.  Y'all, if you need a good workout regime to follow, this comes highly recommend.

Her workout DVD is only 20 minutes long.  20 minutes!  If it was any longer, I can promise you I would never do it and it would stay wrapped in that pretty plastic base.  But, it is so easy to find 20 minutes to squeeze into your day.

The video has three levels, and while each level increases the intensity and challenge, it sticks to 3 basic circuits of: 3 minutes of strength training, 2 minutes of cardio, and 1 minute of abs.  All you need is hand weights and a mat!  However, don't get me wrong.  The 20 minutes is INTENSE. You don't stop moving the entire time.

I'm happy to report I've seen some positive results, too!  I feel great, my clothes are fitting better, and getting on the scales isn't so painful anymore.  I've lost three pounds in two weeks, which I think is a pretty reasonable and healthy weight loss. . . especially considering that last weekend, I threw all dieting rules out the window when I got together with great friends from college.  Let me tell you, too much beer Friday night led to a hangover bacon, egg, and cheese bagel hangover breakfast Saturday, and for some reason I didn't look back from that unhealthy binge all week.  Needless to say, I had to reevaluate my goals on Sunday when I got home. hehe:)

I will say, however, that I have not been following Jillian's "diet" plan because it sounds disgusting. And unreasonable.  Her weekly meal plan (besides the aforementioned salmon-- side note, thanks for the recipe ideas!!) include unusual items like curried swordfish and lamb kebobs.  First, while that buying fresh produce and other healthy items can be more expensive that say, gushers, I don't think that it should have to break the bank.  Case in point, though I like lamb, I am NOT buying it weekly.  And second, I'm an admitted food snob, but I still believe that it is a reasonable expectation that healthy food should and can taste good!

I don't think "dieting" should mean eating strange foods or depriving oneself of great tastes.

So I've just kind of been making up my own plan. . . using Cooking Light recipes or recipes from a great book by Ann Kulze called "Dr. Ann's 10- Step Diet"  It's all about your own personal wellness, and why you should eat certain foods and avoid others.  My plan is simple, realistic, and flexible. . . and I think when you are trying to cut back a few LBS, you gotta do what works for you!

Restaurants.com

Whew, sorry for the lack of posts this week!  It's been crazy week!  I had a big annual review at work on Friday, so I have had to spend most of the week soul searching and thinking back over the last few months.  I find it incredibly difficult to believe that this time last year I was a senior in college, enjoying those last few moments at school.  One thing I have realized is that life in the real world FLIES by.  I thought college went fast. . . man, it is nothing compared to the working world.

On a positive note, I'm still really enjoying my job.  Of course, being excited about going to work some days is easier than others, but I think that is part of the deal.  Thankfully, most mornings, I do wake up pretty excited about what the day could hold.  I laugh at how I used to plan my course load at Wofford so I could space out my classes and not have to spend one. whole. afternoon. in class. What a joke!!  Now, I have 9-5 day (at a minimum)- no question!  I swear college students have no idea how great they have it. . . hehehe

One thing I must tell you all about is the great site I've found called Restaurant.com. I love to eat out and try new foods and flavors, but I hate paying ridiculous prices!  So, voila!  A solution!

All you have to do is type in your zip code and the search engine pulls up all these great deals that local restaurants are sponsoring.  And you can purchase discounted gift certificates to restaurants as well.  I think typically you can get $25 gift certificates for $10 (and so on), but it must have been my lucky day last week because I purchased 2 $25 gift certificates for $2 EACH!  Wooo Hoo!  So tonight I'm going to test it out and make sure this deal of the decade is no scam!  I can't wait.

ThyPhone

Lash and I have been regularly attending St. Michael's Epsicopal Church, and love the church home away from home it is becoming.  We've started going to this class/dinner and a movie called Alpha on Tuesday nights, and it has been a great way for us to meet people in the Charleston area outside of work, school, and our Wofford bubble.

Tonight's lesson was on prayer, and they played this youtube video there.  I thought it was absolutely hysterical and had to share.  Enjoy!

Spring Fever

Right now, I would do anything in the world to be here:

I can't stand winter and cold weather.  I'm ready to get out to the beach and on the water, wear flip flops and summery dresses, and get some Vitamin D!  I had last Monday off for Presidents Day so I went to Target and TJ Maxx to kill some time and do some shopping.  It was great to see all the colorful springy clothes, but obviously I noticed how unbelievably pale I am.

Come on warm weather!!

There Is Nothing More Annoying Than. . .

. . . not being able to find your TV remote.

Uggggh.

It has been missing since last week, and we can not find it ANYWHERE.  I'm a channel-surfer, so this is driving me nuts. . . though settling in on the Olympics has not been too miserable :)  Go USA!!  Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend!

Birthday Week

Last week was my 23rd birthday week here at "Oh, the Place We'll Go."  Though I don't love being the center of attention, I do love to celebrate birthdays because it is so special to bring my friends and family together.

My actual birthday was Wednesday, but because so many people in the office are constantly traveling, we celebrated at PURE on Monday.  We ordered a delicious lunch from Red Orchid Chinese Bistro (seriously one of Charleston's best kept secrets), and my boss's wife baked me a homemade apple pie.  YUM!!

Note: Please disregard the funky angle of the picture and the bags underneath my eyes.  Not only was it Monday, but also the day after the Super Bowl. . . . . . .

On Tuesday, my mom, dad, sister, and grandmother all came to Charleston for a the night.   They stayed at one of my parents' best friends second homes, and it was so great to spend time with them (and spread out in a big house!)  My mom cooked us a fabulous meal, and we sat around the dinner table drinking wine, laughing, and telling stories until 10.  That's one of my favorite ways to spend an evening :)

Here are some pictures:

My Momma and My Poppa
(I think my mom looks gorgeous in this picture!)

Red Velvet Cake is my favorite!!  Action shot...  hahaha

Happy Birthday Cheers with my sister!

After a little too much food, wine, and laughter at the table. . .

Wednesday, my actual birthday, I had the great privilege of working from home in the morning!  I LOVED IT! What a treat to be able to work in your PJS and be in your own home!  It totally spoiled me. . . and after that, I took a half day that afternoon to maximize the birthday fun.  Unfortunately, Luci had to go back to Wofford, my dad to work, and my grandmother home but my mom and I had some wonderful bonding time.  We went on a long walk, relaxed, shopped, and had a great birthday dinner at Rue De Jean.

It was perfect!!  Though I will say that I am so glad birthday week only comes once a year because as noted yesterday, I've had to jump on The Shred to recover!! :)

Salmon

Does anyone have any good (good meaning light and healthy) salmon recipes they could share with me?

Today, I started Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred.  I have decided that finally, after five years, it is time to shred those freshmen lbs from college.

I have been mentally gearing up for this for a few days now because birthday week was not good on my waistline and it finally was the straw that broke the camels back.  So moving on, this morning, I was ready to begin.  Yesterday, I took all the measurements and fitness tests that she outlines in her book, and was prepared to start "making the cut" (so cheesy) exercise video and diet plan.

And, WOW, let me tell you, I forgot what a pain in the BUTT dieting is.  It is not easy!!!!

Anyways, tonight her Jillian's instructions and according to her recipe, I grilled some salmon for dinner.  And it was not good.  Maybe because it is a "diet" recipe, but y'all, I hate how grilling salmon makes your house smell ROTTEN.  (We don't have an outside grill so I just use a Griddler.)  I'm going to feel so bad when my roommate comes home and gets a whiff of this. . .

I was able to save the salmon with some thai chili sauce, but that is NOT Jillian approved.  So, help a sista out, salmon comes up on the menu twice a week!