Wishy Washy

Me? Mood Swings? Noooooo.........*cricket*

So, today has been interesting. I've eaten healthy for breakfast and lunch, have Zumba class tonight, and am wearing a cute new dress. So I should be super happy like Barney, right? Well, instead I'm focusing way too much on what I don't see. I feel like I should have lost more weight right now, and after thoughtful consideration I realized I can be angry with no one but myself, ya know? I have had a LOT of "I don't care" days, non-exercise days, cheat meals, etc. And I am just like stuck in stone at 25 pounds. I haven't lost any weight in like 2 1/2 weeks.

My friend Lindsay posted some before and after pics today and she deserves a huge shout out because she looks AMAZING. Absolutely beautiful. She literally looks like half of herself. YAY LINDS!! I Love you and miss you!!!!

Now, whilst viewing this beautiful woman that she is becoming, I realized I still look like I just started. Linds - what is your secret?? What do you eat?! What is your workout?! Please, do tell! :) And to make matters soooo much worse, I just spent the last 30 minutes viewing pictures of myself from last weekend and I am not kidding - I looked terrible. I mean, I felt like I looked worse in these pictures than I did before this whole process began. And I know I have had lots of bad days, but also lots of good days. So WHY WHY WHY after 5 months do I still look/feel like this? I should be practically a new woman by now. Ugggggh. I am having one of those moments where I don't even want to go in public. And may not.

These ups and downs are wearing me out! I've had a fantastic week, now a rougher than hell day - who knows what tomorrow is! I think that I am somewhat justified though. I mean, when you work hard at something for 5 months, you expect to see results. Like, if you spent 5 months writing a paper and then realized you only had 2 pages ready to turn in - wouldn't you feel frustrated?

The sun'll come out.....tomorrow
Micha

Can you say Latina?

Holy sneezing fit today! What is UP with this weather? When it was all nice and sunny my allergies were normal. Now that its beastly cold and rainy 24/7, I am sneezy and congested. Woof.

ANYway, I am on the ball today! I somehow got out of bed ten minutes early (whaa???), so once I was ready I decided to make a real breakfast. I had two wheat tortillas filled with scrambled eggs, 2% cheese, and a tbsp of bacon bits. It was YUM! Scarfed it down on the way to work and then drank 32 ounces of water. So needless to say I was quite full this morning. For lunch today I had nothing exciting - just a turkey sandwich on wheat sandwich thins, a handful of baked lays, and some fresh broccoli with ranch. I'm getting better at operating my bottle of ranch dressing. This time only half a bucket came out. Progress.

Now on to the important stuff: Zumba. Now, I know if you've followed this blog at all then you have been reading my weekly posts that tell you all about my adventures in Zumba. Just like a quality Lifetime movie you laugh, you cry, you try to change the channel but can't; the usual. But today my friends, I have a whole new level of Zumba to share with you! Remember how our regular instructor Kelly is out of town, and that girl who taught us on Monday basically just had us do amped up show choir moves and I was all sad? Well fret no more. Miss Latina taught us last night and it was a HOOT!

So to start things off, she was about 10 minutes late, and I started to seriously consider going home. I really didn't want to go last night anyway after a long day, but I had made myself so I figured I may as well stick it out and if she was more than 15 mins late I'd leave. She walked in right as I had that thought process (yes God, I hear you) and she jumped up on stage with more energy than anyone I have ever seen. Ever. They asked her if she wanted the mic and she was like "Um, no. I'm great, thanks", turned the music on and then magic happened. This woman was absolutely everything you are picturing in your head right now - dark hair, perfect skin, voluptuous curves, and hips that don't lie. They don't even think of lyin'. She had this uber thick accent that was perfect, and she calls out, "Hokay, we ah going to do it like theees" and she starts MOVING. I swear I wish I had kept a flip cam in my sports bra last night, because it just yearned to be documented. All of the music was different than what we normally use, which means that none of us knew any of the moves at ALL. There were around 150 women in there, and about 147 of us were laughing hysterically. Not at her - at ourselves! She would do something and we were like little puppies learning how to stay on all fours (or in our case, all twos). The music was way more Latin/Cuban inspired, and the dances reflected that completely.

As I'm typing this I am realizing that my words are doing this class NO justice whatsoever. If it was on my body - it shook, shimmied, cha cha'd, meringue'd, or salsa'd. And at warp speed! She did this one turning type move where we had to cha cha then take it straight into this huge turn, cha cha then back around and everytime I turned I could see every woman in the room going a different direction, but with a huge smile on their face. We were having SO much fun, and I think I sweat more in that hour than any hour of Zumba I have ever had!

OH! I almost forgot - there was a second Latina woman who led us for one song. She was about 4 ft tall, had crazy curly hair, pleasantly plump, and enough 'tude to fill all of Cuba. She got up there and girl threw. It. Down. She did this one move where we had to put our legs out really wide and kind of gallop like we were riding a horse, while our hands banged conga drums in the center and our hips shook like an earthquake. And while doing all of this at the same time, we had to turn in a circle. I could NOT take my eyes off the instructor because she was FOR REAL!! She RODE that pony, turned in that circle and played those drums like she was Donkey Kong on holiday - woooo girl! Every single woman in that room was laughing so hard we couldn't breathe partially because she was just awesome, and partially because we were having SO much fun trying this move.(granted, I'm sure we all looked a fool, but for some reason this didn't occur to us). The song was insanely fast so we didn't have time to stop and think. When she finished we actually applauded and hooped and hollered!

SO yes, last night was awesome. And here is the best news of all: When I started Zumba I literally thought I would die everytime I went. I would hurt, limp, crawl, slide or slump to my car when I finished, then come home and literally not be able to move save for the 30 minute long unbearably hot shower that I would take. And now? I actually am realizing I feel GOOD afterwards! And during! My body is really starting to adjust to it. I feel my waist starting to move more, and my hips, and I'm lighter on my feet. I've stopped concentrating on the moves and instead just focus on dancing, tightening my abs and butt, and all that jazz. Now last night, I totally looked a fool but it was FUN, best workout I've had in weeks, and afterwards I felt energized. So again, in yet another tiny way I am making progress! I'm not a size 6, but I can still dance and have fun and do things I wouldn't have even considered 5 months ago when I started this!

Go me! ;)
Micha

Pictures!!

I realized today after that loooong post yesterday I failed to post any documentation. So today shall be a picture post - pics of the yardsale excursion, a few pics of the wedding, and first some pics of food. :)

After a weekend of wedding food and homecooked meals I've had to jump back on the bandwagon so to speak. Yesterday for breakfast I had a thing of yogurt and a lovely breakfast bar. The breakfast bars are 190 calories for two (they come in pairs), and though this is a little more than I like to spare for breakfast bars they are super delish and quite filling. I also had a cup of coffee with the most amazing creamer I have ever had. Ever. Whtie Chocolate Macademia Nut - omg. Buy it.

Lunch yesterday was surprisingly good. I had one of the new Lean Cuisine - Southerwestern Style Chicken Rolls. The pic I nabbed with my cell phone makes them look huge, but they in reality are about the size of a finger. But with a big ol' plate of broccoli they make quite a yummy lunch for only 200 cals! Please ignore the river of ranch dressing - I did NOT eat all that. My stupid bottle of ranch doesn't have a nice convenient easy-squeeze top. Instead, its a big gaping hole like its 1985 and we don't know no better. So when I tipped it to pour out a little ranch, a monsoon of ranch came out instead.

Sooo good! Last night I went to Zumba. Now normally what would proceed is me telling you all how I huffed and puffed and blew the house down then died. However, last night was SO not that. We had a guest instructor - our regular instructor is out of town for 2 weeks apparently. I have decided this is both a blessing and a curse. The reason being: our guest instructor was SOOOOOO easy! She did mostly the same songs, but without any pop hits - just all Zumba/Latin stuff - and the routines (to me at least) were nothing like what we normally do. I immediately realized that I am not crazy - Kelly (our regular) really is a Zumba beast!! Because when she teaches, I die. I mean, I like it - but I die. The routines are fast moving, high impact, crazy cardio, err'body in the club gettin' winded. But with new homegirl, I felt like I was taking a Sunday stroll through the park compared to what I normally do! Now don't get it twisted - I was totally sweating, and it was indeed a workout. But I was also completely able to do everything, never once felt like I was going to die, and actually at times found myself a little....bored. So blessing: I won't die in the next two weeks. Curse: I may  only be burning like 1/4 of the calories I normally do. Not sure!

Anyway, after Zumba, I came home and had a delightful dinner. I bought a bunch of new "toys" at the grocery this weekend - and by toys I mean new foods. :) They were things that I had seen on my friend Lindsay's blog and she motivated me to try them! One was these whole-grain/whole-wheat sandwich things. Instead of eating a sandwich on regular bread, these thin little things are actually good! I toasted mine then put honey roasted turkey and 2 % cheese on, and had some baked Lays and some more fresh broccoli (again - pleading the damn 5th on the 18 pounds of ranch dressing in the picture).

The sandwich was super yummy, and I totally love the new baked Lays! Last time I had Southwestern Ranch style and they were a bit too spicy for my style. So this time I went with some time of Parmesean blend, and they are perfection. In all honesty, I will probably have this exact meal for lunch today! I ended up being hungry later on last night (because even low-impact Zumba apparently makes me a hungry beast), so again I pulled a suggestion from the Lindsay book. Only I tweaked it slightly! Her snack is to have a small bagel (slightly larger than bite-sized) with peanut butter and banana. So whilst at the grocery, this is what I grabbed first. Well then I thought instead of small, i would get regular sized bagels but whole-wheat. I then looked at them and nearly choked when I realized they are 240 calories EACH. I ain't tryin' to waste 240 calories on bread alone. So I was going to forgo the entire snack, but then dug around the bread aisle and found my new dream: Bagel Thins. Everyboday say Heeeeeeey, Hooooooooo! These are FULL size bagels, whole wheat, BUT they are half the thickness - hence why they are thins. They're more the thickness of a piece of bread rather than a whole bagel. Best part? 100 calories for the entire bagel. I feel like I'm having a real bagel and saved allll those calories! I toasted one up right nice last night and the result? Tastes exactly like eating a bagel and I totally didn't even notice or care it was thinner. Voila:

So. In. Love. Now little mignons - run out and buy some right now! But not before you gaze at my remaining pictures. First, a small documentation of the insanity that was yesterday's yardsale excursion. (Confused? Read yesterday's post. You should read my blog regularly ANYway! MM!). I feel these do not need captions.

Also, here are some links to my new bathing suit and new purple sandals (I'm too lazy to lay them out all pretty and take pics at home. Plus the suit looks better on a human). I got the black/white polka dot design in the suit so you'll have to click on that one to see what mine looks like. :)

My New Bathing Suit

My Pretty Purple Sandals



And now, a sampling of some wedding pics. My adorable parents, me with my adorable parents, the cake that my mom made and we decorated, my piano perch where my epic song took place, and my personal favorite of Leslie laying on the floor trying to melt chocolate in the microwave that was on the floor because we ran out of counter space. Enjoy!

I plead the fifth on the last one,
Micha

Is that a smile I see?

Okay, I promise this post will not be as "uplifting" as the previous one. I had a nice, refreshing weekend and I feel much better today!! And I of course come bearing more stories.

So after the week from hell, on Saturday I had my sister Anissa's wedding (the wedding that I was attempting to learn that song for). Leslie and I got up and went down early to help decorate. We drove through a freaking monsoon the entire way there, and with my bad mood carried over from Friday it was gonna take a miracle for me to get through the day without slapping someone. As it turned out though, the day was a LOT of fun!! We had fun decorating the cake and putting out all the flowers and decorating. The ceremony was pretty, and I sang my song......dun dun dun. It actually was totally fine! I managed to learn it (sometimes I think I learn better under stress), and sing it. Apparently I missed this, but people teared up while I sang so that's always a good sign of approval. Well, unless they tear up because you're so foul, but I do not believe that to be the case this time. Wait....what?

ANYway, after the ceremony for the reception we basically just had a big family cookout. It was very relaxing, fun, and just what I needed! We ate ourselves silly, then had cake and dancing. Most people dwindled out and left but Leslie and I stayed and we had an impromptu dance party in the kitchen. Ha! My nephews were all there and a few other people, so we cranked up any dance song we could find and had at it. Oh, side note: Earlier during the reception, Usher's "DJ Got Us Falling In Love" was playing, so I proceeded to teach Zumba routine to this song to my mom, Anissa, and Caleb's girlfriend Amanda - it was HAlarious. Leslie filmed the entire thing (and has been threatened with death should she ever share it), and on playback my mom's attempt at Zumba absolutely cracked me up. She was flailing her arms and screaming "Woohoo!!" and shaking her hips - oh my gosh, you just have no idea how fabulous it was. lol And what is REALLY scary?! That 1. I know my Zumba routines well enough to teach them (We did one to Usher, one to a Pitbull song, and one to a Lady Gaga song, all of which I do in class), and 2. That I am the one teaching them!!! Who would have thought two months ago that of all the people in the room I would be the best option to teach 3 Zumba routines?! hahaha I was definitely sweating when we were done, as I do not normally do Zumba in a dress with my hair in curls. Leslie just stood in the corner and "Hell to the naw'd" while we danced. She was not trying to hear that.

Anyway, we got home around 12 or 1AM, and I crashed. Then yesterday morning my phone rings while I'm asleep and it's my dad. He tells me they are almost to my apartment and are taking me to get gas, buy groceries, go get a bathing suit, and to get out of bed and look like something. HA! I was totally asleep and had no idea what was going on and had to make him repeat it all - even then I barely grasped. So I rolled out of bed, got dressed, made myself "look like something" and there they came! We went to pick up Leslie, and the plan was to go to Kroger's first.  I say "plan" because that implies that said plan did not happent. MmmmHmm. We are driving out of Leslie's street, cleared about 200 yards, and we see a yardsale. Mom, Leslie and I all screamed and Dad very quietly said, "oh no" as Leslie proceeded to slam on the brakes, do a full out U-turn and guides us back to the garage sale. We got out of the car and literally ran to the sale - I can only assume the people who lived there though "Mmm no - we don't want any crazy today."

We get up there, and Leslie quickly discovers every item they are selling matches the decor in her house exactly - and it was NICE stuff. She lives in an uber nice neighborhood, so people who have yard sales there don't play. The stuff they get rid of is the stuff I aspire to afford. Sad, but true. So, Leslie bought EVERYTHING they had. I'm not kidding. Not even a lil' bit. She cleared their driveway, and the tables inside. So much so that she had to put the seats down in her SUV - her very LARGE SUV mind you - and then we wouldn't fit in the car. So we had to very sheepishly/proudly ask the house owners if we could chill in their driveway while Les and Aaron drove the stuff back to her house and emptied the car out. I mean, who goes to a yard sale and has to sit in the people's driveway while someone takes the crap home?! LOL And that isn't even the worst part! While Les and Aaron took the stuff home, mom and dad and I stayed at the yardsale. So what happens? Mom and dad start shopping and buy the few items left! Then Leslie comes back and we had to fill the car up AGAIN. Then Les decided to go ahead and buy the table she had been eyeing the first time (granted, mostly because I made her) and literally the people had nothing left. They said we were the best sale they had all weekend.  Well yeah - when you make more in one sale than I make in one week? I'm sure we were their favorite people EVER.

After about 2 hours of this detour, we then realized the mall was closing at 6 and decided to go there first. Thus began the task of purchasing new bras and a bathing suit, which after last week's process I was NOT looking forward to at ALL. Mom and I went to Lane Bryant, who now carries bathing suits in the store and they were all actually super cute. However, the first 10 or so I tried on were simply tragic. Like, really really tragic. I actually put one on, and the strap snapped off in retaliation. So I started having flashbacks of last week and was getting really upset. But finally after much deliberation: I FOUND A BATHING SUIT! It actually makes my boobs look small (I know, right? Miracle) and its cut like a 1940's pinup girl - you know the style?? Well anyway, it was definitely the best option so we went for that. AND my mom found the most gorgeous sundress EVER that is purples and paisleys, and she made the mistake of telling me to try it on - and it fit - and i loved it - mmmhmm. :) Oh....and I may or may not have found the most AMAZING purple shoes EVER EVER EVER. I'll have to take a pic of them. I die.

So I was all happy and ready to leave, when mom reminded me we still had bras to go. Woof. My high immediately went low again as I stared at the floor to ceiling wall of options. I didn't even know where to begin, so we nabbed a sales girl and I asked her to do a bra fitting for me. She measured me, and much to my surprise I was a full 2 inches smaller around than I had even considered looking at! So she took over and all I had to do was stand in the fitting room and she whisked away to pull sizes. the very first one I put on fit PERFECT. It has been quite some time since I have seen my boobs sit where they should! ha I put my shirt on to test it out, and my shirt was loser automatically just because I was wearing the right fit bra! It was amazing. So I bought one in each color of course. :) My mom and I were checking out, and she said "I know you needed this lift of spirits. I'm glad to see you smiling." She is such a good momma. And she's right - I did need it, and after a successful bathing suit and a successful bra fitting, its hard not to feel brighter. :)

We went to the grocery afterward and I stocked up on uber healthy foods and fresh veggies and lots of wheat things. ha So I am re-juvenated for Thintervention now. This weekend was truly what I needed - quality time with my family, shopping with my momma, a few things to remind me I am making progress, some healthy food, and more laughter than I could ever share in one blog post. (because trust me, I have left out like fifty eleven stories, but I ain't got time).

I guess I should work now, huh?
Micha

ready...set...VENT.

I can't. I just can't. I haven't posted in almost a week - why? I am surprised I have found time to eat and pee, let alone write a blog entry. :(  There are so many areas that blow chunks right now, ima just make a list. Mmmk?

Okay, first of all: WORK. I am not going into all the details, mostly because to the average person they would be boring, but let me just say this: INSANITY. ABSOLUTE INSANITY. I am technically an assistant to two different people, plus all the people under them, plus all of the random requests that come in on a daily basis from the random people. Now add to that a huge event that happens to be taking place this weekend (our annual youth dinner theater), and you have a Micha that is ready to literally kick and scream and throw a hissy fit. I give you, TODAY'S to-do list - yesterday was so insane I couldn't even write down anything, so who even knows where that went. And see those things tucked in and around the sides? More to-do's. MmmHmm. That's right.

Again, these are the things I remembered to write down. And why is hardly anything highlighted? Because I've been so busy doing all of the things that I didn't have written down to do in the first place. I. Am. On. Over. Load. :(

Now, in related news - I have been so stressed this week I have been having really bad stress -induced headaches. Mind you, not from just work - from all the other glorious things I'm about to share. Work is only the first part. I have basically had one continuous headache for 4 days straight and no matter what I do it won't quit. I want to cry. Literally. PLEEEEAAAASSSSE GO AWAY HEADACHE!! And because of said headache, I now move on to my next failure: Thintervention.

Have I eaten good? No. Have I exercised? Nope. Have I REMOTELY attempted to act like a normal thinterventioning human being? NO. I have eaten crap food all week partially because I have had zero time to cook, and with my headaches and general crappiness I just haven't cared. No excuse - just have not cared. Not even a little bit. That's right. I said it.

The other partial reason for eating crap leads me to my next failure of the week: Money. Or lack thereof. I am beyond broke. There should be a new word for broke actually. I have paid my bills, barely, which is just swell. But remember when I still have more bills to pay that are due like....oh, I don't know NOW? And remember when I have ZERO money to go buy groceries or go buy gas for $50.00 a gallon? So I have like no food in my house except for a few random crap items. And my car is like running on fumes, I kid you not. But quite frankly, I don't have the money to fix either problem and I don't exactly see any money fairies headed my way so that's that. I'll starve and buy a horse. Speaking of animals, my next failure: My Dog.

I am going to be gone for a week, and need a home for her. An inexpensive one at that. And it is BEYOND stressing me out. I am partially to blame because I am so damn paranoid about where she goes and making sure she's well taken care of. And partially she is the problem because her house training leaves something to be desired, so she has accidents. Grrr. I have explored about 23783510 options, and narrowed it down to a few good ones, but I am so broke that I don't know what is going to be my most financially appealing option. I really don't want to spend more on the dog that I do on my vacation. And speaking of vacation, here is my NEXT failure: Bathing Suits.

I bought a bathing suit online (mistake number one), and it arrived yesterday. So when I got home from my 13 hour day, I decided to try it on (mistake numbers two - seventeen). I had somehow disillusioned myself to believe that having lost 25 lbs trying on a bathing suit would be both less painful as well as possible. WRONG. Oh my god. It was the worst, most depressing moment of my life. I swear. Not only did it NOT fit, it actually bitchslapped me. No - really. It did. I put it on, and it was a halter-type neckline, and it actually snapped back and bitchslapped me in the back. I looked like a beached whale. After eating 40 tons of food. On a fat day. I couldn't even get it off quickly because the fit was so damn awful it was like working a puzzle just to get out of the thing. So 25 lbs? Whatevers. I am still as tragic as always when it comes down to the bare bones.

After I tried on said bathing suit/death capsule, I then tried on the next item that had arrived in the mail yesterday: a new bra. If i thought that was going to cheer me up, then I was apparently dillusional - oh wait, that's right - I was. Let's just say, I now know what Madonna would look like as a beached whale wearing cones. Again, I. Am. Tragic.

And to have some all-inclusive other failures of the week: I am fairly certain its almost that time of month and thats just never good. Also, I am supposed to sing in my sister's wedding on Saturday. She just officially told me the song this week, and it is of course a song I have NEVER heard before, did NOT have any music for, and have ZERO time to learn. So to "learn" it, I listened to it in a youtube video so I could hear the chords. I then wrote the words and chords out so I have "music". I played it once on the piano. As of right now, the wedding is exactly 48 hours away and I couldn't even hum you the tune of the song, let alone actually sing it. And there is precisely ZERO amount of time between now and then to learn the song. Work is too insane, I don't have a piano at home, and that is that. So I have no idea what I'm going to do, other than read it aloud as a dramatic reading. Woof.

I'm supposed to have Zumba tonight, which should be swell since I haven't been in a week. So let's recap, shall we? Work = STRESS, I've eaten a bazillion calories this week, haven't exercised since last Thursday, I have no money, I have no food or gas or the ability to purchase either, I have no dog solution, I have no bathing suit and may never try one on again, no bra, am likely getting a near visit from mother nature, and I have to sing a song in 48 hours that I need to go learn now.

I'm sorry, did I start this entry with "This week was great!" ?

Micha

Ima need a minute

"Because sometimes life's not fair, that's why!" - has your mom, dad, uncle, sister, dog or SOMEbody ever said this to you? Well, I've said it to myself a lot this week. I fear I may even say it to my children some day. But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. I can barely take care of myself and the dog, let alone bring a child into the mix right now. Oy.

Anyway, I'm having a frustrating week with everything. Work has been INSANE. Literally. Have a peek at my to-do list from just yesterday and Wednesday:

And these are just the things that I write down. Add to that about 50 million other things that I had to get done that never even made it to my to-do list. All of the things that get asked of me as I'm walking down a hall, or through a room, or someone hands me something...woof. The good news is, if it's highlighted I finished it. If not.....it gets added to today's list. I have had so many moments this week where all I want to do is stop for a minute and scream, but I have thus far refrained. I know things will calm down a little bit over the summer....only a weeeee little bit, but it counts. Between my 8-5 craziness, and then Zumba and/or gym every night until 7:30, by the time I get home I am DONE. No, there needs to be a better word for it. "Done" seems way to light-hearted.

So aside from work, this gym business. I'm doing Zumba three days a week now, and I try to do some form of something on 2 or 3 of my "off" days. So my exercise is to the max - but I weighed yesterday, and had lost ZERO pounds this week. What gives?! I'm still strong at 25, so yay for not gaining. But why didn't I at least lose a pound? I'm eating breakfast every day, drinking about fifty-eleven gallon of water a day, watching my calories, carbs, proteins, etc and trying to eat balanced. I mean, yes last weekend was bad with the Mexican and the Burger King. But honestly, that was two meals out of like 20 that weren't healthy, and I've burned a gazillion calories at the gym this week. The weird thing is, I FEEL like I've lost weight. I'm sure it is just a mind trick, but Zumba was getting easier this week because I am feeling more fit and more agile. And my clothes continue to feel a little looser all the time. Actually, in Zumba this week I had to practically keep one hand on my workout pants because they kept slipping down. sigh. So its really frustrating to hop on the scale and not see the rewards. Granted, once again I weighed at night, after having eaten 2-3 times that day, and was fresh off Zumba class so my muscles were all inflamed and swollen and pissy. But does that matter???

Sorry to have such a Debbie-Downer having lunch with Polly-Pissy-Pants in a convent kind of post, but I am just NOT feeling it today. Thoughts and ramblings are appreciated!

2+2 = 7????
Micha

Clothes

Well kids, I have survived another night of Zumba and lived to tell about it!! Actually, I'm starting to notice something - I think I'm catching on! Whaaa???? I mean, don't throw away all your beliefs and start referring to me as Shakira Hughes. But I am starting to pick up the pieces a little bit. I am to the point now where I am able to do most of the steps, though not necessarily do all of them well. I only remember some of the sequencing though. I have reached an odd conclusion on that: The songs that are just random Latin songs that are more beats than definite words, and lack complete familiarity to me I absolutely never remember the sequencing on. But the songs that are just regular songs off the radio -i.e. Lady Gaga, Usher, Gwen Stefani, etc. - I can literally almost do from memory now. Because I know the songs, and I associate the moves with the different parts of the song. I made the observation last night. There is this one song I had never heard before but I absolutely love now, and therefore I have paid attention to the music - the result is that I know that routine,too and am actually better at it. Moral of the story: listen to random ass Latin songs and pay more attention musically. Only a music nerd would go to Zumba and walk away with this conclustion. But hey, I am able to make it through the entire hour and fifteen minute class without dying now, and I would consider that an achievement in itself!

Moving right along...when did I blog last?? Monday?? I'm trying to remember what I've done for food and exercise and all that jazz. On Monday night I had Zumba, then afterwards I was starving (I always am after this class! What gives?!). I came home and decided to make a turkey burger, steamed caulifower, and peas and corn. Voila:

Not gonna lie, it was soooo good! I added some red peppers to the turkey burger, then wrapped it up in a wheat wrap. I have found the BEST whole wheat wraps! Well, my mom found them and bought them for me. But still. They are only 75 calories, and only 9g of carbs per wrap!!! I consider this to be a great achievement in the bread world. So I have ditched bread pretty much all week and replaced it with these awesome wraps. I've had turkey burgers on them twice, and even had peanut butter on them last night. I want to buy some bananas at the grocery this week and fill the wrap with bananas and peanut butter, and a tsp of honey - I am thinking this will be so delish it will blow my mind. The plan is of course to use 95% bananas, and like 5% honey and PB just for the flavor. Last night for dinner I was exhausted after night two of Zumba class, so I had a can of Progresso Light soup, only 60 calories for the entire can. Granted, it didn't exactly taste like it was made by a chef. But it was totally edible, and quite frankly I was too tired to care. I had the leftover turkey burger for lunch yesterday, and couldn't really fathom firing up the George Foreman grill again. And by "firing up" I mean plugging in. Regardless, I ate the can of soup, and with it had wheat tortilla's with a tbsp of peanut butter spread between them. It was actually somewhat tasty! I drank my huge 32 ounce water bottle, and that was that.

 I've already had breakfast this morning: 8 UNsalted saltines with cheese. Have you ever heard of unsalted saltines? I hadn't! But I have now, and they taste perfectly fine to me so I am making the switch forever. I think they still have that specific taste that one craves when eating saltine crackers, but with less than half the salt. Woowoo! Perhaps not the breakfast of champions, but food nonetheless, and I drank it with a 20 oz bottle of water.

Now, you may be wondering why is the subject of this entry "clothes", when all I am talking about is Zumba, food, and albino crackers? Well, I'll tell you. This morning it is cold outside (boooo May!), so I actually had to give in and wear long sleeves. Its a thin purple sweater that I've owned forever. When I first put it on, I had this fairytale dream that it would be soooo big since I haven't worn it since winter, and that I'd be all "Ooooo, look I'm too small for this!". Nope. Not the case. Now, don't get it twisted - the sweater IS much more loose. Especially in the middle area. And my jeans are actually so big now, that I have to hold them with one hand when I walk, especially up/down stairs, or they just fall off. Literally. Fall. Off. (there may or may not be a story there....). Um, ANYway, at first I was super disappointed. I have lost 25 freaking pounds, why am I not swimming in my sweater like I'm tryin' to cross the Pond?! But then, I reached the most startling realization. Before, I was wearing my clothes so very very TIGHT. They were, in all reality, too small for me. I was sucking myself into my jeans, and pulling them up high enough to hopefully hide my mid-section so I could wear my tight ass sweater with them. I just simply could not bring myself to go up a size. It was such a defeat. So I stayed in the same size, when in all actuality I really was wearing tight fitting clothes and being that girl.

Woof. What a realization. I started ticking off my wardrobe in my head, and realized I did this in most everything. So yes, things are lose now but they are not falling off (except my jeans???). So its like a strange little form of progress. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it either. Thoughts?

Well, on that note I need to go begin my day from hell. My to-do list is as long as my Zumba shaking leg. Should be swell!!

Swim in the ocean, not in clothes.
Micha

Does this whopper make me look fat?

Why hello there Monday. There is so much to cover from this weekend, and I'm not just talkin' food! (though, it was somewhat of a rough weekend food-wise).

Friday night I did what any single girl in her twenties was doing - watching my DVR recording of the Royal Wedding. Woowoo!! Don't act like you didn't at least check out the fairytale for a few minutes! Or, if you are at all like me, you DVR'd it, watched it in it's entirety, then switched to CNN and snuggled up with the dog and watched the replay.....twice. I was not even an avid royal wedding fan, and I certainly was not taking part in all the craziness leading up to it. At best I wanted to see her dress. But then something magical happened when I started watching. I became totally entranced by the fairytale!! The wedding was gorgeous, she looked absolutely stunning, and the pomp & circumstance that was taking place was beyond words. And, being the nerd that I am my favorite part: the choral pieces during the ceremony!! Did anyone else nerd out and totally tear up during that John Rutter piece?! Or even during the second piece that was by that unknown (soon to be well known) composer? The choir was stunning, pitch perfect, 8+ part harmonies....wow. The music was stunning.

After I finished nerding out, I did the other thing that every single gal in her twenties did....watched the Lifetime movie interpretation of "William and Kate". It was everything I dreamed it would be for a Lifetime movie - bad acting, a terrible script, the actors portraying the royals looked NOTHING like them, absolutely lacking in plot, and above all else - fabulous. I couldn't turn the channel. So I watched it, then flipped over the CNN to watch the wedding again. I fell asleep sometime around 3AM when they were about to kiss on the balcony for a second time (Ohhhh snap!)

Then came Saturday. My mom came into town to go shopping, so I got up and took a shower and dried my hair (with CNN showing wedding highlights in the background. What?). We went to grab Leslie, then we went to Kohl's. I have no money, but my mom and sister bought me some new PJ pants and a pretty purple water bottle. Probably more so because I'm pathetic than any other reason! After shopping, we went to Hacienda for dinner. I did not even make an attempt to eat healthy here. I mean, it IS Mexican food so my options weren't exactly plentiful. So I decided it would just be a cheat meal and that was that. So I ordered enchiladas covered in white queso dip. And a side of white queso dip just to dip my tortilla chips in. And rice. And beans. And a Diet Pepsi. Ooops??

Moving right along...Sunday I had EVERY intention of working out. I swear I did. (Sidenote: On Saturday my "workout" was cleaning my apartment, then having a mini-dance party which may or may not have taken place in my tighty whities.) Um, anyway....Sunday I meant to work out. But I failed. I did wake up and make a nice healthy breakfast for myself. I had scrambled eggs, 2 % cheese, and a tsp of bacon bits all wrapped in wheat tortillas. It was sooooooo yummy!! The bacon bits were such a great substitute for having bacon, and I just wanted the teensiest  taste.

After that the day went downhill. I was sooooo lazy. I spent most of the day catching up on my DVR and/or laying in bed surfing the internet. By 7:15 I pretty much committed to and owned the fact that the gym wasn't going to happen. Woof. So like a nice good girl, I made a super healthy dinner, did a home workout video, drank 32 ounces of water and went to bed. Oh WAIT....that's what happened in the parallel universe where the GOOD Micha lives. My bad. The regular sorry-ass Micha in our universe went to Burger King and had a whopper with cheese, french fries, and a large Sprite, didn't exercise at all, and was up until 3AM this morning. I'm sorry, did I start this story with "Once upon a time..."? Again, my bad.

So yeah, Sunday was a total and complete failure. I haven't had fast food in months. Haven't even thought about it. But I really wanted it last night, and I decided not to torture myself and just to go get it. And that is that. Today I had my special K for breakfast (I know you totally didn't see that coming), a Healthy Choice Steamer for lunch, have drank 32 ounces of water, and I have Zumba tonight. For reals - no tricks this time. I even went home on my lunch break and packed my Zumba bag. It's hard to tell which Micha is coming to play these days. ;)

As a result of this weekend's excursion I am now having a fat day. I understand the logistics. I did not, I repeat: DID NOT gain my 25 pounds back this weekend because I had Mexican and Burger King. (wow. hurts to type that actually...) And I understand that I look exactly the same today as I did last week when I was all happy and posting pictures and off to save the world one fat person at a time. But nonetheless, I'm having a fat day. And to be fair, I'm sure I am full of fluid and looking a smidge fouler than normal because of all the salt intake. It happens. The important thing is I am back to my normal self today and my wild hell rat of a weekend is now in the past.

And lastly, I would like to at least acknowledge the elephant in the room: Osama Bin Laden is dead. Hooray!!! I watched all the coverage live last night, from the nail-biting moment that the White House broke in and said they had an announcement, all the way until 3AM when I was falling asleep to the soothing sounds of Wolf Blitzer telling it like it is. Truly an historical moment. Regardless of political affiliation, this is a moment. Speaking of, HAlarious side note - our intern was here today and we were of course discussing the water cooler topic of the day - aka bin Laden - and he asked what party I associate myself with. I opened my mouth simply to say I'd prefer not to discuss politics at work, ESPECIALLY in a work place where I am in the political minority, and before I could answer he goes, "Oh, nevermind. You're one of those musician-y artsy type people. Of course you're an extreme liberal." BAHAHAHA How lovely to see stereotypes working at their hardest and brighest.

Fat days end too,
Micha