I did my Y orientation today - the orientation is when they go over all the machines, teaching you how to use them, figuring out what works for you. We also went over heart rates and what I should shoot for in working out. We did a workout with all the machines, one rep per machine, after I did a very short warm up on the treadmill.

So far my plan is to go on Monday-Wednesday-Friday to do the treadmill warm up (cardio) and then all the machines - working upper and lower body. On Tuesday and Thursday I will do the treadmill warm up and then swim - or not swim, depending on … whatever, my mood, time, etc. On the weekends I am going to be sure to be active with my kids - I’d like us to go for walks or even just play, like playing soccer in the yard.

My goal is to lose 15 pounds in two months. I also plan on running a 20 minute mile and a half - sure that sounds easy for some people, but I haven’t worked out since last spring, seriously worked out I mean. The mile and a half is something being done before Chris graduates in May - its a family run the morning of graduation. Sure it is a military run, but I’ve heard it is a slow pace (thus my wanting to do it in 20 minutes). I know I can do a 20 minute mile already, that’s not hard, but just add “run” to that and I shudder. I really don’t like running.

I had another great workout today at the Y. I did a mile and a half walk/run - I tried the cardio and the fat burn settings but ended up finishing on manual. Afterward I got ready to leave but ran into my Dad at the child care and we all played basketball for about a half hour. The kids were frustrated they couldn’t make a shot but of course they are short and the hoop is far up there. Dad has a hoop at the house and it is much lower so we will probably play basketball this weekend.

I’m meeting with a personal trainer - or at least he works for the Y, I just assume he’s a trainer - tomorrow afternoon. He is going to do an assessment and an orientation with me that shouldn’t take longer then a couple of hours. I had no idea what the assessment was - I figured I’d have to jump on a scale and … well, that’s all I could think of! But I talked to a friend and she said they will most likely figure body fat and weigh me and a few more things. I am definitely not looking forward to that!

The workouts make me tired, normal I’m sure, and I am going to start doing South Beach in the next couple of days. I plan on making weekly menus and the only bad part of that is taking into account feeding my kids. I’m sure they will  eat whatever I make though.

We went back to the Y again yesterday! I walked and ran just over a mile and then swam for about twenty minutes. I felt so tired after that! I’m trying to push myself on the treadmill - I grabbed a magazine but after a few minutes couldn’t read it. Then I read an article that said if you can read while you are working out, you aren’t pushing yourself. And I need to push myself.

On Monday I mostly walked a mile and also did the elliptical for a bit and I was tired afterward. I felt like I had a good workout. Yesterday I felt like I had a better workout. I’ve never followed a specific thing while working out, just working on machines here or there and walking or swimming. I am meeting with a trainer on Friday to go over the machines and do an assessment. I’m not exactly sure what we are going to do but I’d like for the trainer to give me a routine to follow.

We are going back today and I plan on doing the same thing as yesterday. Once I get a routine down I’ll switch the workout up. But for now, I just need to get moving.

I spent all of Sunday morning cooking and making desserts. I wanted to make a carrot cake, a cherry cheesecake and Dad requested a strawberry pie. First up is the carrot cake - I used the one most recently featured on the Pioneer Woman Cooks blog (love her writing and pictures!). Here are my ingredients - I did use wheat flour and organic sugar, as well as olive oil, and none of those seemed to alter the taste or cooking time.  Don’t mind the phone and computer - I had to look up the recipe and call my Grandma.

It was very easy to make and the only hold up was Dad having to run out and buy a cake pan. Yep, he had no cake pan! The mix ended up sitting in the bowl for a little while because of that. I didn’t mind that I had to wait to cook it because I forgot to get the butter out for the frosting. I haven’t made homemade frosting in a long time and wow, the frosting tasted delicious.

I had all of that left after frosting the cake. I used a regular cake pan and maybe I was supposed to use a bigger size?

Few people ate though we had ton of food and I ended up sending a large chunk of the cake home with one of my brothers and then had a piece. It was awesome. I love carrot cake!

We still have a lot left over and I’m not sure what we are doing with it. I may send it to work with my brothers, but other then that no ideas.

Yesterday I found out I have lost 11lbs! I was both surprised and excited when I saw that. I haven’t been trying to lose weight though I have been watching what I’m eating. I haven’t been getting seconds at any meal and making sure I’m drinking plenty of water. I have been eating better now then I had at my Aunt and Uncle’s house.

So…11 lbs!!! Yay! My jeans are looser and my watch fits farther down my wrist, but I didn’t think anything of it. My goal is to lose 15lbs in the next two months - a high goal but something to strive for.

Photo credit to Wader

I’ve been visiting family since right before Christmas. The kids and I are staying with my Uncle and Aunt before moving on to my Dad’s house in a couple more weeks. My Uncle and Aunt who go out to eat at least three to four times a week. That’s not a big deal - I did some grocery shopping and they still have food at the house. But eating as healthy as I’d like just hasn’t been happening.

Groceries are much more expensive here. And we are in a very rural place which means you are stuck shopping at the places around - meaning two grocery stores in a town 11 miles away. There is a small store here, but not a place you would want to do regular shopping at.

So we have been eating way too much food you make from a box or a can. Sure we have homemade bread once in a while - better then store bought? that’s what I tell myself! - and have managed a salad or two. But fresh fruits and veggies are far between.

And exercise - nonexistant! Sure we have to walk to and from the car but everything is spread out and you can’t walk to the store or to visit a friend or family member. Well I suppose we could but it’s also the wintertime. We had negative fourteen degree weather a few days ago and today are in the midst of an arctic blast of wind so it feels about negative forty.

On the plus side we are leaving in a couple of weeks to go to my Dad’s - where we can once again shop at Costco and join the Y. And I’ll be around more kids which I’m sure will mean more running around then we have here.

I’m not even going to talk about losing five pounds when I was sick for three days - mostly because it’s back now.

I like how the cleanser and toner feel on my skin - but the lotion that is included has made my skin really oily. I rinsed my face off a couple of times today because it was bothering me so much. I do not like that at all and am surprised - it is made for oily skin! You would think it wouldn’t make it oily because of that. I don’t have oily skin but since I have been breaking out the girl suggested I try it. My skin doesn’t feel dry like it has before when I tried products for oily skin, so at least that.

I am going to try either the mask or scrub tomorrow - the directions to say both can be used two to three times a week. I’ll keep using the cleanser and toner but I admit I’m not sure I want to keep up with the lotion. Maybe I should and see if my skin gets used to it?

I got a haircut today and picked up a travel set of a skin care line I’ve been wanting to try. I am always scared of trying something new for fear of *whatever* going wrong and then I’m out of my cash. I decided to go ahead and buy this because if it doesn’t work out I can take it back and get some other product or store credit for use later.

I think CVS does this? Or … Walgreens? Some store like that.

So I’m going to tonight and follow what it says to do - I got a cleanser, a tonic, a vitamin lotiony thing, a night gel, a scrub and a mask. (I love buying kits!) I figured I would start out with a travel kit just in case it doesn’t work, or I don’t care for it, then it’s less to return and less money out by me.

I have been so frustrated for the past week! Early last week I was so happy because my skin seemed to be clearing up - I’ve never had perfectly clear skin though. So I’m happy and then a few days later - boom, breakout city. Ugh! This is so annoying!

I’ve tried ProActiv which did not work for me because I am allergic to it. I’ve tried ever other over the counter thing and nothing worked - though I did find out what I am allergic to! I even had a script when I was a teenager but I don’t think that really worked either.

My friend Andrea posted about various beauty treatments not too long ago - and I swear I had never heard of any of them! I was so excited about the aspirin one - basically you let uncoated aspirin (3-5, starting off with 3 then working your way up I suppose) in hot water until they soften up. Then you add them to a face mask and use it as usual. I finally got aspirin about a week and a half ago and I used this treatment I know two times, but maybe three, and that’s why I thought my skin was clearing up.

Then I breakout and I have to admit I wonder if I’m allergic to doing using aspirin in my face mask! Or if I just had a reaction to it. I’m scared to try it again but I am just so over my skin thinking it is 16 (ha, I’ll be wanting 16 year old skin when I’m 60 I’m sure!). I want to see a dermatologist but we are leaving in a week so there is no time.

Maybe I need a new face mask too. I know I do, I’ve been using the same brand for ages. I love trying new face stuff and in the past I’ve had to slow down as sometimes that is the case for breakouts as well.

Do you have any tips or tricks for getting clear skin? Mine has never been completely clear though I’ve tried various things like drinking lots of water, exercise, eating better, etc.

Here is to clear skin!

I have plans to join the Y - again. But this time I’m going to join when we are staying with my Dad, so not for another month or so and obviously in another state. I’m excited! I really want to lose weight and get in better shape. I think they have a daycare for the kids but if not I figure I’ll ask my sister in law to watch them while I work out.

I’ll have a sister in law to ask.

That is just amazing to me. I am so happy to be able to spend a lot of time with my family before we move on! I can’t wait to see my nephews, it’s been two years since I’ve seen any of them and in that time two more have been born!