I cannot believe June is over! 6 months of the year are gone (just call me Captain Obvious). Without further ado, here is my June report.
June starting weight: 194
June ending weight: 189.8
Total loss: 4.2 pounds
Week 4 was definitely better than week 3, thank goodness! I ended up burning a little over 3200 calories for the week in just 5 days (I worked out for over an hour on Friday and Saturday to compensate for week three's lack of exercise).
The month in review:
1. Run, bike, or walk at least 18 miles a week. DONE 3 out of 4 weeks.
2. Stay within my calorie range 6 out of 7 days a week. I only did this 1 week (week 2). Weeks 1 and 4 I stayed in range 5 out of 7 days, and week 3 only 4 days.
3. Strength train at least twice a week. 100% DONE. Out of all the goals, I did not think this would be the one I would meet every week, but I did! And I am starting to enjoy it again, which is great. Watch out for my guns, people! They are coming! :)
4. Lose 4 pounds. DONE. I wish I could have kept the momentum I had from the first week so I could have lost more than this, but I will take the 4 pounds. Too bad only 2 of them are "new" pounds lost. I have to stop bouncing around the same weight and say goodbye to the 190s for GOOD!
5. Read 3 books: one I've already read, one fiction, and one non-fiction. DONE, sort of. I read 3 books, but I didn't read from the specified categories. I read 1 I've already read and 2 fiction books, but I haven't yet finished the non-fiction book on worry.
All in all, I am pleased with how this month went. Even though it wasn't perfect, I made progress, especially in the realm of self-confidence and body image. I'm all about the non-scale victories lately, so I hope to see more of those in July!
Stay tuned for Wednesday's post on my goals for July (try to contain your excitement until then). :)
How did YOU do in June?
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Vanity Masked as Insecurity
On Sunday I put my new "bare arms" challenge to the ultimate test: I wore a sleeveless dress to church. I am not sure why this seemed like a bigger deal to me than going to a baseball game, but perhaps it's the fact that I sing in the choir, and the choir sits in the choir loft for the duration of the service, which means I'm in full view of everyone in the congregation. Of course, I didn't for one minute think everyone in the congregation was going to be staring at me during the whole service, but in general I feel very exposed when in the choir loft, so that feeling of exposure was elevated even more with the wearing of a sleeveless dress. (Writing out this whole paragraph has made me aware that I am ridiculous.)
Furthermore, the fact that not only was I baring my arms but was doing so in a dress complicated the situation. I am pretty much a pants girl; aside from weddings, I do not generally wear dresses or skirts. I feel that dresses accentuate my body more than other articles of clothing, and naturally I'd rather my body go completely unnoticed, so dresses aren't my first clothing of choice. Before losing weight, the baggier and less form-fitting a piece of clothing was, the better. I was paranoid of having layers of fat show in my clothes, so this paranoia manifested itself in the wearing of clothes that often floated away from my body, sometimes not even touching my skin. And I liked it that way. I can't say this aversion to form-fitting clothing has changed much even though I've lost 70 pounds. I have tried on many tops that other people would consider to be perfectly fine, but I won't buy them because I can see the shape of my body. Clearly, I have issues.
Truthfully, the dress I chose to wear I probably would not have even bought had my husband not been in the store with me and told me how much he liked it and how good it looked. The lack of sleeves was the first strike against it, and then the fact that you could actually see a slight silhouette of my body was the second. The kicker was the fact that it just barely brushed my knees, and I am used to wearing dresses or skirts that go much longer than that. I just knew that if I bent over in the slightest, I'd be flashing all of America. However, I decided to be brave, listen to my husband, and buy the dress (it was on sale for a great price--bonus!).
I ended up bringing a light black, three-quarter length sweater to church with me because it is often cold, and I also figured that the sweater would make me feel better about the dress because at least my arms would be bare. But as I was sitting in the choir room before we were to enter the sanctuary, I was waging war in my head. The dialogue went something like this:
Practical Erin: "It's going to be hot in the sanctuary, Erin. Just take off the sweater."
Fearful Erin: "NO! Everyone will see my flabby arms holding the choir book. I can't do it."
Practical Erin: "Your arms are the last thing anyone should be concerned about in church. It's about JESUS, remember? Shouldn't you be thinking about HIM?"
Fearful Erin: "Well, it will be easier for me to think about Him if I were wearing my sweater..."
Practical Erin: "Now you're just making excuses. Leave the sweater and get your mind in the right place!"
So I did. And you know what? I didn't get any disgusted glances from people and no one said anything to me about my arms. No one cared! So why do I constantly make this an issue? For someone who is supposedly insecure, I sure am vain.
Now, one last thing. Photographic proof of this momentous day:
Furthermore, the fact that not only was I baring my arms but was doing so in a dress complicated the situation. I am pretty much a pants girl; aside from weddings, I do not generally wear dresses or skirts. I feel that dresses accentuate my body more than other articles of clothing, and naturally I'd rather my body go completely unnoticed, so dresses aren't my first clothing of choice. Before losing weight, the baggier and less form-fitting a piece of clothing was, the better. I was paranoid of having layers of fat show in my clothes, so this paranoia manifested itself in the wearing of clothes that often floated away from my body, sometimes not even touching my skin. And I liked it that way. I can't say this aversion to form-fitting clothing has changed much even though I've lost 70 pounds. I have tried on many tops that other people would consider to be perfectly fine, but I won't buy them because I can see the shape of my body. Clearly, I have issues.
Truthfully, the dress I chose to wear I probably would not have even bought had my husband not been in the store with me and told me how much he liked it and how good it looked. The lack of sleeves was the first strike against it, and then the fact that you could actually see a slight silhouette of my body was the second. The kicker was the fact that it just barely brushed my knees, and I am used to wearing dresses or skirts that go much longer than that. I just knew that if I bent over in the slightest, I'd be flashing all of America. However, I decided to be brave, listen to my husband, and buy the dress (it was on sale for a great price--bonus!).
I ended up bringing a light black, three-quarter length sweater to church with me because it is often cold, and I also figured that the sweater would make me feel better about the dress because at least my arms would be bare. But as I was sitting in the choir room before we were to enter the sanctuary, I was waging war in my head. The dialogue went something like this:
Practical Erin: "It's going to be hot in the sanctuary, Erin. Just take off the sweater."
Fearful Erin: "NO! Everyone will see my flabby arms holding the choir book. I can't do it."
Practical Erin: "Your arms are the last thing anyone should be concerned about in church. It's about JESUS, remember? Shouldn't you be thinking about HIM?"
Fearful Erin: "Well, it will be easier for me to think about Him if I were wearing my sweater..."
Practical Erin: "Now you're just making excuses. Leave the sweater and get your mind in the right place!"
So I did. And you know what? I didn't get any disgusted glances from people and no one said anything to me about my arms. No one cared! So why do I constantly make this an issue? For someone who is supposedly insecure, I sure am vain.
Now, one last thing. Photographic proof of this momentous day:
Friday, June 26, 2009
Friday Five: Dream Vacations
Places I would love to visit at least once in my lifetime. Choosing only five was quite the challenge.
1. Italy. Ideally, I'd go on a month-long tour of the whole country, but as my millions haven't started rolling in yet, I would settle for going to Rome and Venice. And Florence. And Milan. :)
2. New York City. Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Times Square, Central Park, all kinds of shops with clothes I can't afford. What more could I want? It would be especially amazing to go during Christmas season.
3. Prince Edward Island. I blame my desire to visit this little country on Anne of Green Gables. Plus, it's gorgeous.
4. Queensland, Australia. I have wanted to go snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef for years. I hope it happens someday.
5. Chiang Mai and Phuket, Thailand. I loved Thailand when I visited Bangkok six years ago, and I think it would be fun to see northern Thailand and also one of the islands.
Honorable mentions:
Hawaii, Paris, San Diego, and London.
What are your dream destinations?
1. Italy. Ideally, I'd go on a month-long tour of the whole country, but as my millions haven't started rolling in yet, I would settle for going to Rome and Venice. And Florence. And Milan. :)
2. New York City. Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Times Square, Central Park, all kinds of shops with clothes I can't afford. What more could I want? It would be especially amazing to go during Christmas season.
3. Prince Edward Island. I blame my desire to visit this little country on Anne of Green Gables. Plus, it's gorgeous.
4. Queensland, Australia. I have wanted to go snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef for years. I hope it happens someday.
5. Chiang Mai and Phuket, Thailand. I loved Thailand when I visited Bangkok six years ago, and I think it would be fun to see northern Thailand and also one of the islands.
Honorable mentions:
Hawaii, Paris, San Diego, and London.
What are your dream destinations?
Thursday, June 25, 2009
What Does It Take?
I have had several people ask me what my "secret" is to losing weight. So I'm going to reveal it to you, right here, right now. Are you ready? Here it is.
I exercise and count calories.
That's it. No gimmicks, no pills, no special food delivered to my door, just good old fashioned cardio and nutrition. That's all it takes.
Well, almost.
It actually takes a whole lot of mental resolve and commitment. If you're not committed to losing the weight, you'll let yourself skip workouts, you'll choose donuts over fruit every time, and you'll soon lose interest in counting calories. I have written before about the mental side to losing weight, so feel free to read that post if you missed it. Today I thought I would share with you some things that have been vitally important to me on my journey. I have these "keys to success" posted on my SparkPage (my profile on SparkPeople), but I wanted to share them here as well.
My Keys to Success
1. Make no excuses! I don't skip exercising unless I am too ill to go to work or am severely sleep-deprived. I schedule exercise like any other appointment.
2. Plan! It's true that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail! I try to plan out in advance what dinners I will cook and serve each week, and I also log in my food a day in advance so I know what I'm going to eat. I allow myself some flexibility, but having a plan in place makes me less likely to blow it.
3. Use the tools you've been given! For me, this includes SparkPeople's Nutrition and Fitness trackers and the countless articles on fitness, weight loss, and motivation (all of this is FREE); all of these tools are lifesavers, especially if you're just starting the program or are struggling with motivation. Even if you don't use SparkPeople, educate yourself by finding out what foods are best for your health, what types of exercises you can do at home, what opportunities for fitness are available in your community.
4. Make fitness fun! Walking on the treadmill or using the elliptical can be dreadfully dull, so spice it up with intervals and fast-paced music. I'm also a big fan of at-home DVDs, and when I first started exercising, dancing DVDs were a foolproof way to get me excited about working out. I may look like a fool dancing around my living room, but I am having fun and losing weight.
5. Be realistic! Don't expect change to happen overnight. Slow and steady weight loss is the best, as those who lose weight slowly are more likely to keep it off. Losing weight the right way (with no magic pills or crash diets!) requires dedication, consistency, and hard work. Realize there will be weeks when the scale doesn't give you the number you want, but that doesn't mean you give up. It's going to take time, but you're worth it!
6. Don't compare yourself to others! Many of you know I am guilty of this myself but am working on it. There are a LOT of people on SparkPeople and on the Internet who have lost a LOT of weight, and if you compare your progress with everyone else's, that's a surefire way to sabotage your own success! Don't do it. Everyone's body is different, everyone loses weight at a different pace, and all that matters is that you give it your best, day in and day out.
7. Seek support and accountability! The longer I am in this journey, the more important this has become. This can include support from friends, family members, spouses, and even an online community. I know I've been successful because I've made other people a part of the journey I'm on. It's much easier to succeed when you have people cheering you on and encouraging you, and it's much easier to motivate yourself to work out or eat healthy if you know that other people are going to hear about it if you don't. Don't isolate yourself!
One of my favorite quotes says it all: "You can either make excuses or get results, but you can't do both!" Tom Venuto
What tips do you have for success at weight loss? I'd love to hear them!
I exercise and count calories.
That's it. No gimmicks, no pills, no special food delivered to my door, just good old fashioned cardio and nutrition. That's all it takes.
Well, almost.
It actually takes a whole lot of mental resolve and commitment. If you're not committed to losing the weight, you'll let yourself skip workouts, you'll choose donuts over fruit every time, and you'll soon lose interest in counting calories. I have written before about the mental side to losing weight, so feel free to read that post if you missed it. Today I thought I would share with you some things that have been vitally important to me on my journey. I have these "keys to success" posted on my SparkPage (my profile on SparkPeople), but I wanted to share them here as well.
My Keys to Success
1. Make no excuses! I don't skip exercising unless I am too ill to go to work or am severely sleep-deprived. I schedule exercise like any other appointment.
2. Plan! It's true that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail! I try to plan out in advance what dinners I will cook and serve each week, and I also log in my food a day in advance so I know what I'm going to eat. I allow myself some flexibility, but having a plan in place makes me less likely to blow it.
3. Use the tools you've been given! For me, this includes SparkPeople's Nutrition and Fitness trackers and the countless articles on fitness, weight loss, and motivation (all of this is FREE); all of these tools are lifesavers, especially if you're just starting the program or are struggling with motivation. Even if you don't use SparkPeople, educate yourself by finding out what foods are best for your health, what types of exercises you can do at home, what opportunities for fitness are available in your community.
4. Make fitness fun! Walking on the treadmill or using the elliptical can be dreadfully dull, so spice it up with intervals and fast-paced music. I'm also a big fan of at-home DVDs, and when I first started exercising, dancing DVDs were a foolproof way to get me excited about working out. I may look like a fool dancing around my living room, but I am having fun and losing weight.
5. Be realistic! Don't expect change to happen overnight. Slow and steady weight loss is the best, as those who lose weight slowly are more likely to keep it off. Losing weight the right way (with no magic pills or crash diets!) requires dedication, consistency, and hard work. Realize there will be weeks when the scale doesn't give you the number you want, but that doesn't mean you give up. It's going to take time, but you're worth it!
6. Don't compare yourself to others! Many of you know I am guilty of this myself but am working on it. There are a LOT of people on SparkPeople and on the Internet who have lost a LOT of weight, and if you compare your progress with everyone else's, that's a surefire way to sabotage your own success! Don't do it. Everyone's body is different, everyone loses weight at a different pace, and all that matters is that you give it your best, day in and day out.
7. Seek support and accountability! The longer I am in this journey, the more important this has become. This can include support from friends, family members, spouses, and even an online community. I know I've been successful because I've made other people a part of the journey I'm on. It's much easier to succeed when you have people cheering you on and encouraging you, and it's much easier to motivate yourself to work out or eat healthy if you know that other people are going to hear about it if you don't. Don't isolate yourself!
One of my favorite quotes says it all: "You can either make excuses or get results, but you can't do both!" Tom Venuto
What tips do you have for success at weight loss? I'd love to hear them!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Skinny=Happy?
I have said before that if I am expecting weight loss to make me deliriously happy, I am setting myself up for failure. Most days I am fully aware of and accept that fact, but some days I fall into the trap of thinking, "If I could just be a size 10 everything would be perfect." Of course that kind of thinking is a total lie because losing weight doesn't make all of life's problems go away, and yet how can we escape that kind of thinking when the world around us constantly lauds people for their beautiful physical appearance?
I have thought about this a lot recently as I have looked back to where I was before I started trying to lose weight last January. I have read many weight loss stories in which the people telling them say varying versions of "My life was miserable, I was miserable, and I just wanted to be thin!" They paint a picture of their "fat" life as being one of unhappiness and despair and their new "skinny" life as one of rainbows and sunshine. And while I definitely think that losing weight has made me feel more confident and happier to a certain extent, I also can't say that my "fat" life was one of misery and unhappiness. Yes, I had my difficulties, especially during grad school, but those difficulties weren't caused by my obesity; they were caused by my insecurities about my intelligence and personality. To look back on my life before I started losing weight and just see a miserable fat person is to see the past incorrectly. You see, while some things about my life have changed, like the fact that I now love cardio (who knew??) and eat better foods and focus more on my physical health, a lot of things about my life have not changed, like my faith in Jesus, my love for my husband, my relationships with dear friends, my love of books. Yes, losing weight has made it easier to find clothes and has allowed me to feel better about my outward appearance and I do get a little thrill when I see a lower number on the scale, but if I am neglecting my relationships or neglecting the cultivation of my inward appearance, what am I really gaining?
However, just because I know I am the same person now in a lot of ways doesn't mean I don't struggle with how I used to look then. The hardest thing is looking at pictures of my wedding. I see myself in those pictures and have thought more than once, "Why didn't I lose the weight then? Then I could be proud of how I look!" But then I stop myself because I realize that the person in those pictures is glowing with happiness, with love. The person in those pictures is thrilled to be marrying the love of her life. And that person is still here today. Sure, it would have been wonderful if I could have worn a size 10 or 12 wedding gown, but just because I didn't doesn't mean I should look on that day with regret. So I choose the alternative. I choose gratitude. I am grateful for the life I have lived, both past and present, for I know that all of it has made me who I am, and at the end of the day, the number on the scale or on the waistband of a pair of pants means little when compared to a life lived to the fullest.
I have thought about this a lot recently as I have looked back to where I was before I started trying to lose weight last January. I have read many weight loss stories in which the people telling them say varying versions of "My life was miserable, I was miserable, and I just wanted to be thin!" They paint a picture of their "fat" life as being one of unhappiness and despair and their new "skinny" life as one of rainbows and sunshine. And while I definitely think that losing weight has made me feel more confident and happier to a certain extent, I also can't say that my "fat" life was one of misery and unhappiness. Yes, I had my difficulties, especially during grad school, but those difficulties weren't caused by my obesity; they were caused by my insecurities about my intelligence and personality. To look back on my life before I started losing weight and just see a miserable fat person is to see the past incorrectly. You see, while some things about my life have changed, like the fact that I now love cardio (who knew??) and eat better foods and focus more on my physical health, a lot of things about my life have not changed, like my faith in Jesus, my love for my husband, my relationships with dear friends, my love of books. Yes, losing weight has made it easier to find clothes and has allowed me to feel better about my outward appearance and I do get a little thrill when I see a lower number on the scale, but if I am neglecting my relationships or neglecting the cultivation of my inward appearance, what am I really gaining?
However, just because I know I am the same person now in a lot of ways doesn't mean I don't struggle with how I used to look then. The hardest thing is looking at pictures of my wedding. I see myself in those pictures and have thought more than once, "Why didn't I lose the weight then? Then I could be proud of how I look!" But then I stop myself because I realize that the person in those pictures is glowing with happiness, with love. The person in those pictures is thrilled to be marrying the love of her life. And that person is still here today. Sure, it would have been wonderful if I could have worn a size 10 or 12 wedding gown, but just because I didn't doesn't mean I should look on that day with regret. So I choose the alternative. I choose gratitude. I am grateful for the life I have lived, both past and present, for I know that all of it has made me who I am, and at the end of the day, the number on the scale or on the waistband of a pair of pants means little when compared to a life lived to the fullest.
Monday, June 22, 2009
June Goals Checkup: Week 3
June starting weight: 194
Last week's weight: 189.4
This week's weight: 192.0
GAIN of 2.6 pounds (YIKES)
Week 3 was pretty wretched, to be completely honest. I didn't even want to write this blog, but I know that part of being honest with myself and this process is not just blogging the good weeks and the victories but also the bad weeks and the failures. I only exercised 3 times this week, and while I could blame it on the allergy problems, knee problems, and "other" problems I encountered, the truth is that I took the easy way out and didn't push myself. 3 days of exercise isn't terrible, but when it is coupled with less-than-stellar eating, it's a recipe for failure, and that's what happened this week. I am not really sure what happened, except that I let laziness and self-pity win out over determination and commitment.
Here is my (completely depressing) report on my goals for the past week:
1. Run, bike, or walk at least 18 miles a week. NOT DONE. I only logged 9 miles this week. Pitiful.
2. Stay within my calorie range 6 out of 7 days a week. NOT DONE. I only stayed in range 4 out of 7 days.
3. Strength train at least twice a week. DONE. One of the few things I did right! My arms are still sore from Saturday's session!
4. Lose 4 pounds. I'd like to lose more, but will be happy with 4.Since I met this goal in week 1, my new goal was to lose 3 more pounds. At this point, I will be happy to reach my original goal of 4 pounds lost.
5. Read 3 books: one I've already read, one fiction, and one non-fiction. MAKING PROGRESS. I am still reading Running Scared, and if I finish that I will start the first book in the Little House on the Prairie series (how fun is that??).
If you can't tell, I am really unhappy with myself about my performance this past week, and I am determined that week 4 will be a completely different story. I really want to end June on a high note, so it's time to stop making excuses and start seeing results!
Last week's weight: 189.4
This week's weight: 192.0
GAIN of 2.6 pounds (YIKES)
Week 3 was pretty wretched, to be completely honest. I didn't even want to write this blog, but I know that part of being honest with myself and this process is not just blogging the good weeks and the victories but also the bad weeks and the failures. I only exercised 3 times this week, and while I could blame it on the allergy problems, knee problems, and "other" problems I encountered, the truth is that I took the easy way out and didn't push myself. 3 days of exercise isn't terrible, but when it is coupled with less-than-stellar eating, it's a recipe for failure, and that's what happened this week. I am not really sure what happened, except that I let laziness and self-pity win out over determination and commitment.
Here is my (completely depressing) report on my goals for the past week:
1. Run, bike, or walk at least 18 miles a week. NOT DONE. I only logged 9 miles this week. Pitiful.
2. Stay within my calorie range 6 out of 7 days a week. NOT DONE. I only stayed in range 4 out of 7 days.
3. Strength train at least twice a week. DONE. One of the few things I did right! My arms are still sore from Saturday's session!
4. Lose 4 pounds. I'd like to lose more, but will be happy with 4.
5. Read 3 books: one I've already read, one fiction, and one non-fiction. MAKING PROGRESS. I am still reading Running Scared, and if I finish that I will start the first book in the Little House on the Prairie series (how fun is that??).
If you can't tell, I am really unhappy with myself about my performance this past week, and I am determined that week 4 will be a completely different story. I really want to end June on a high note, so it's time to stop making excuses and start seeing results!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Friday Five: Fears I Want to Conquer
In honor of the book I'm currently reading, Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest, I decided to list five of my fears in the hopes that I will one day be able to call them former fears.
1. The fear of gaining all my weight back.
2. The fear of not finding a new job.
3. The fear of failure.
4. The fear of trying new things (which is definitely tied to #3).
5. The fear of being disliked.
If you had asked me before I read this book if I am a fearful person, I would have said no. However, I soon realized that is far from true. I am afraid of a lot of things, which is why I also constantly worry. The book is really opening my eyes to see how damaging patterns of fear and worry are to my relationship with God, and I am learning so much. Here is just one quote I have been pondering:
"We tend to judge God's words by our own feelings and sensory observations. If we feel orphaned, we believe we are orphaned. If we feel a sense of impending doom, the worst will in fact happen. If we are told that God reigns, but everything seems to be in chaos, we twist God's revelation about himself to fit our understanding of the data. Scripture, however, reveals the things we can't see with the naked eye, and God's self-revelation is a higher authority than our feelings. When our feelings conflict with God's communication, we must side with God's interpretation." (Running Scared, p. 68)
How awesome is that?? What we feel often is not what is true, and just as I have realized that about my insecurity concerning my arms, I'm also realizing that about the many fears and worries I fight every day. The truth is not found in feelings, but in God.
Do you consider yourself a worrier? What do you fear?
1. The fear of gaining all my weight back.
2. The fear of not finding a new job.
3. The fear of failure.
4. The fear of trying new things (which is definitely tied to #3).
5. The fear of being disliked.
If you had asked me before I read this book if I am a fearful person, I would have said no. However, I soon realized that is far from true. I am afraid of a lot of things, which is why I also constantly worry. The book is really opening my eyes to see how damaging patterns of fear and worry are to my relationship with God, and I am learning so much. Here is just one quote I have been pondering:
"We tend to judge God's words by our own feelings and sensory observations. If we feel orphaned, we believe we are orphaned. If we feel a sense of impending doom, the worst will in fact happen. If we are told that God reigns, but everything seems to be in chaos, we twist God's revelation about himself to fit our understanding of the data. Scripture, however, reveals the things we can't see with the naked eye, and God's self-revelation is a higher authority than our feelings. When our feelings conflict with God's communication, we must side with God's interpretation." (Running Scared, p. 68)
How awesome is that?? What we feel often is not what is true, and just as I have realized that about my insecurity concerning my arms, I'm also realizing that about the many fears and worries I fight every day. The truth is not found in feelings, but in God.
Do you consider yourself a worrier? What do you fear?
Thursday, June 18, 2009
The Right to Bare Arms, Part 2
I am proud to announce that on the very day I pledged to you (my readers who have come out of the bloggy woodwork) to wear a sleeveless shirt, I wore a sleeveless shirt! The husband and I went to see the Memphis Redbirds play, and as it was going to be in the 90s, I decided to go for it, since I preferred not to melt into a pool of sweat due to a shirt with sleeves. Turns out I melted into a pool of sweat anyway, but I like to think it would have been worse had I not gone sleeveless.
All in all, the experience was very positive! I confess that the decision to wear the sleeveless shirt was made easier by my hope that there would be few people at the game. After all, it was a game in the middle of the week, during work hours, so how many people would be there? Turns out there are a lot of crazy people who can think of nothing greater than sweating it out in a minor league ballpark in the middle of the afternoon, so there were plenty of people there! However, this caused me only about two seconds of alarm, and then I saw all the food options in front of my eyes and forgot all about it. KIDDING. (Well, sort of. I did partake of some ballpark goodies.) I had a few moments of obsessing over how my arms must look, but after my husband assured me no one was talking about my arms (at least not within hearing distance, anyway), I managed to relax and enjoy the experience. I'm even planning on wearing a sleeveless shirt again tomorrow, and I might just take pictures to document the occasion!
One thing that really helped me was the fabulous Jen's (aka Prior Fat Girl) comment on yesterday's post. She pointed out that no one cares whether I wear short sleeves or no sleeves! I can't remember what anyone I saw today was wearing, so that means it ultimately doesn't matter because no one cares. NO ONE CARES. I don't know about you all, but that's a very freeing thought. Especially for someone who is ALWAYS thinking about what other people think.
So great is my concern for what people think that I am paranoid about wearing the same article of clothing two weeks in a row. Obviously I have to wear the same pants because I do not, nor will I ever, own 14 pairs of pants, but every morning when I'm getting ready to teach I consciously go through my wardrobe and think through what I wore the previous week so I don't repeat an outfit. I just know that if I did, someone would point it out or judge me for it. (And I will never forget this one time in class when a student asked me if I liked purple because I wore it a lot, so students do notice these things!) Does anyone else do this? Am I completely alone in this practice? Please tell me I am crazy. (On second thought, tell me something I don't know!)
Now that I've conquered the bare arms, my next goal is to forget all about this insane practice of remembering everything I wear and when I wear it because honestly, no one cares! I don't think I'm going to go so far as to wear the same thing every day or anything like that, but I am going to stop obsessing about repeating outfits and just wear what I want to wear. What a thought! :)
Do you have some quirky practice or habit that you want to get rid of? Make a plan of action and start today!
All in all, the experience was very positive! I confess that the decision to wear the sleeveless shirt was made easier by my hope that there would be few people at the game. After all, it was a game in the middle of the week, during work hours, so how many people would be there? Turns out there are a lot of crazy people who can think of nothing greater than sweating it out in a minor league ballpark in the middle of the afternoon, so there were plenty of people there! However, this caused me only about two seconds of alarm, and then I saw all the food options in front of my eyes and forgot all about it. KIDDING. (Well, sort of. I did partake of some ballpark goodies.) I had a few moments of obsessing over how my arms must look, but after my husband assured me no one was talking about my arms (at least not within hearing distance, anyway), I managed to relax and enjoy the experience. I'm even planning on wearing a sleeveless shirt again tomorrow, and I might just take pictures to document the occasion!
One thing that really helped me was the fabulous Jen's (aka Prior Fat Girl) comment on yesterday's post. She pointed out that no one cares whether I wear short sleeves or no sleeves! I can't remember what anyone I saw today was wearing, so that means it ultimately doesn't matter because no one cares. NO ONE CARES. I don't know about you all, but that's a very freeing thought. Especially for someone who is ALWAYS thinking about what other people think.
So great is my concern for what people think that I am paranoid about wearing the same article of clothing two weeks in a row. Obviously I have to wear the same pants because I do not, nor will I ever, own 14 pairs of pants, but every morning when I'm getting ready to teach I consciously go through my wardrobe and think through what I wore the previous week so I don't repeat an outfit. I just know that if I did, someone would point it out or judge me for it. (And I will never forget this one time in class when a student asked me if I liked purple because I wore it a lot, so students do notice these things!) Does anyone else do this? Am I completely alone in this practice? Please tell me I am crazy. (On second thought, tell me something I don't know!)
Now that I've conquered the bare arms, my next goal is to forget all about this insane practice of remembering everything I wear and when I wear it because honestly, no one cares! I don't think I'm going to go so far as to wear the same thing every day or anything like that, but I am going to stop obsessing about repeating outfits and just wear what I want to wear. What a thought! :)
Do you have some quirky practice or habit that you want to get rid of? Make a plan of action and start today!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The Right to Bare Arms
For as long as I can remember, I have hated my arms. My upper arms in particular. I have always felt that they were disproportionate to the rest of my body. Even when I was at my smallest (which still wasn't small to anyone else but me), my arms were large. I sometimes had to buy shirts a size larger just so my arms would fit in the armholes! How crazy is that?? I pretty much avoided wearing anything sleeveless, even when it was 100 degrees outside with 100% humidity, such was my insecurity. I always felt self-conscious if I was wearing a bathing suit (well, I was self-conscious about that for a NUMBER of reasons) or a bridesmaid dress that was sleeveless. I sometimes couldn't even enjoy myself because I was thinking about how big and flabby my arms must look. I imagined everyone staring at them and being grossed out by how huge and fat they were. In truth, I probably imagined them to be larger than they actually were, but I do believe that for whatever reason they are abnormally large.
Now that I've lost 70+ pounds, you'd think that I'd be comfortable with my arms, right? Nope, not so much. I have several cute, sleeveless tops (one is a size LARGE!) in my closet that I haven't worn because I am afraid of what people will think. I still feel like my arms are too flabby and unbecoming to force other people to see. I have worn some tank tops while working out because running in the heat is much more bearable that way, but the whole time I'm wearing that sleeveless shirt, I'm wondering what people would think if they saw my flabby arms. Honestly, how vain am I? Does anyone even care what I am wearing, much less what my arms look like? It's not like I surround myself with shallow, cruel people who would point out my horrible arms even if they did think they looked disgusting. And it's not like I'd even want to be friends with someone who judges me based on my appearance or clothing attire. Yet I am still hung up on this.
I've decided that the best approach would be full immersion. I'm going to pledge to you, all 4 of my dear readers, that I will wear one of those aforementioned sleeveless tops out in public this week and in a situation other than exercising. And I will do my best not to obsess about what everyone else must think of my arms. I realize that this fear of bare arms and the accompanying criticism is irrational and silly and vain, and I need to get over it, so surely the best way to do this is to grin and bare 'em, right? :)
What irrational fears do you have? Any body parts you need to learn to love?
Now that I've lost 70+ pounds, you'd think that I'd be comfortable with my arms, right? Nope, not so much. I have several cute, sleeveless tops (one is a size LARGE!) in my closet that I haven't worn because I am afraid of what people will think. I still feel like my arms are too flabby and unbecoming to force other people to see. I have worn some tank tops while working out because running in the heat is much more bearable that way, but the whole time I'm wearing that sleeveless shirt, I'm wondering what people would think if they saw my flabby arms. Honestly, how vain am I? Does anyone even care what I am wearing, much less what my arms look like? It's not like I surround myself with shallow, cruel people who would point out my horrible arms even if they did think they looked disgusting. And it's not like I'd even want to be friends with someone who judges me based on my appearance or clothing attire. Yet I am still hung up on this.
I've decided that the best approach would be full immersion. I'm going to pledge to you, all 4 of my dear readers, that I will wear one of those aforementioned sleeveless tops out in public this week and in a situation other than exercising. And I will do my best not to obsess about what everyone else must think of my arms. I realize that this fear of bare arms and the accompanying criticism is irrational and silly and vain, and I need to get over it, so surely the best way to do this is to grin and bare 'em, right? :)
What irrational fears do you have? Any body parts you need to learn to love?
Monday, June 15, 2009
June Goals Checkup: Week 2
June SW: 194
Weight after week 1: 189.6
Weight after week 2 (as of Monday morning): 189.4
Loss of .2 pounds in week 2
So that loss is definitely underwhelming, but after my big loss last week I honestly wasn't expecting much (although let's be honest, I was hoping for at least a pound!). I felt I had a really good week with my food especially, and I exercised 5 out of 7 days.
Progress on my goals in week 2:
1. Run, bike, or walk at least 18 miles a week. DONE! Week 2: 19.2 miles.
2. Stay within my calorie range 6 out of 7 days a week. DONE! I did this, and I am so proud because it's the first time in a while that I've met this goal.
3. Strength train at least twice a week. DONE. I still am not satisfied with my progress in this area, but I am going to keep working at it.
4. Lose 4 pounds. I'd like to lose more, but will be happy with 4. Since I met this goal in week 1, my new goal was to lose 3 more pounds. Only 2.8 to go! Haha.
5. Read 3 books: one I've already read, one fiction, and one non-fiction. I finished Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and then read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and started Fear, Worry and the God of Rest. The book on fear and worry is already rocking my world, and I will be sharing some quotes from it at some point. I think it's going to be hugely helpful.
All in all, another successful week! I'm hoping this third week will be more of the same, with perhaps a little more weight loss.
What do you want to accomplish this week?
Weight after week 1: 189.6
Weight after week 2 (as of Monday morning): 189.4
Loss of .2 pounds in week 2
So that loss is definitely underwhelming, but after my big loss last week I honestly wasn't expecting much (although let's be honest, I was hoping for at least a pound!). I felt I had a really good week with my food especially, and I exercised 5 out of 7 days.
Progress on my goals in week 2:
1. Run, bike, or walk at least 18 miles a week. DONE! Week 2: 19.2 miles.
2. Stay within my calorie range 6 out of 7 days a week. DONE! I did this, and I am so proud because it's the first time in a while that I've met this goal.
3. Strength train at least twice a week. DONE. I still am not satisfied with my progress in this area, but I am going to keep working at it.
4. Lose 4 pounds. I'd like to lose more, but will be happy with 4. Since I met this goal in week 1, my new goal was to lose 3 more pounds. Only 2.8 to go! Haha.
5. Read 3 books: one I've already read, one fiction, and one non-fiction. I finished Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and then read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and started Fear, Worry and the God of Rest. The book on fear and worry is already rocking my world, and I will be sharing some quotes from it at some point. I think it's going to be hugely helpful.
All in all, another successful week! I'm hoping this third week will be more of the same, with perhaps a little more weight loss.
What do you want to accomplish this week?
Friday, June 12, 2009
Friday Five: Running Songs
Good music makes exercise so much more enjoyable, so I give you my list of favorite running songs.
1. "Control" by MuteMath. This song always gets me fired up.
2. "Just a Girl" by No Doubt. I can't help it, I love this song.
3. "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve. I love this song because it's LONG and helps pass the time and helps me get into a good running groove. It's usually one of the first songs I play.
4. "No Line on the Horizon" by U2. This is one of the songs from their newest album, and it has a great driving rhythm that is perfect for running.
5. "Classical Gas" by Mason Williams. This probably doesn't seem like a top choice for a running song since it's instrumental, but it always cheers me when I am running, and the rhythm really does work well for running. There are certain parts of the song that always motivate me to speed up and keep going.
Honorable mentions: "Clocks" by Coldplay, "Futures" by Jimmy Eat World, and "Mother We Just Can't Get Enough" by The New Radicals
What are some of your favorites? I'm always looking for new songs, so please offer your suggestions as well!
1. "Control" by MuteMath. This song always gets me fired up.
2. "Just a Girl" by No Doubt. I can't help it, I love this song.
3. "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve. I love this song because it's LONG and helps pass the time and helps me get into a good running groove. It's usually one of the first songs I play.
4. "No Line on the Horizon" by U2. This is one of the songs from their newest album, and it has a great driving rhythm that is perfect for running.
5. "Classical Gas" by Mason Williams. This probably doesn't seem like a top choice for a running song since it's instrumental, but it always cheers me when I am running, and the rhythm really does work well for running. There are certain parts of the song that always motivate me to speed up and keep going.
Honorable mentions: "Clocks" by Coldplay, "Futures" by Jimmy Eat World, and "Mother We Just Can't Get Enough" by The New Radicals
What are some of your favorites? I'm always looking for new songs, so please offer your suggestions as well!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Thursday Tune, Vol. 3
My last Thursday Tune was in April, but we won't dwell on that. Dwell instead on this humorous song called "Title of the Song," which is a brilliant parody of every boy band song ever written. I tried to find a live version because I bet it would be even better to see the movements being alluded to in the song, but to no avail. The song itself will have to suffice.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
I Left My Heart in Orlando: Highlights of the Trip, Part 2
If you missed part one, find it here. Now we get to the cream of the crop, the events that absolutely made the whole trip the unforgettable vacation that it was. I would go back tomorrow, I loved everything so much.
3. Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals: The Cavaliers vs. The Magic. I know, you're probably thinking, "One of Erin's trip highlights involves a sporting event? Who is this blogger and what have you done with the real Erin?" But honestly, we had so much fun at this game! Our seats were in the very top row, but really, it didn't seem like we were up that high! Check it out:
Everyone at the game got a free shirt, thunder sticks, and a "GO Magic" poster. Stephen and I screamed and cheered so much I'm amazed we didn't lose our voices. To make it even better, the Magic won, 99-89! I'm so glad Stephen got to see them play in a conference finals game; he's followed the team for a long time, and it made a great birthday experience for him. And I am now a true Magic fun, able to recite the major players AND their numbers. Craziness!
2. The dolphin show, "Blue Horizons," at SeaWorld. We saw the show 4 times. In 3 days. To say that we loved it would be an understatement. The dolphins were absolutely breathtakingly graceful, beautiful, and awe-inspiring. For example, check out these pictures:
How can you not love that?? I have to confess that the first time we saw the show, I actually got teary-eyed. The show itself supposedly has some sort of storyline, but even after watching it 4 times, we couldn't tell you what it is. It's definitely a bit on the cheesy side, but I could have seen it a dozen more times and been happy.
Here's a video clip of part of the show. It's a little erratic because it was hard to keep up with everything going on, but it gives you an idea of some of the greatness of the show.
1. The Dolphin Spotlight Tour. We took this behind-the-scenes tour at SeaWorld on Monday of our trip, and it was by far the best experience. Our tour guide showed us several behind-the-scenes areas in the park, where they keep different kinds of marine life that have been rescued from the wild and are being rehabilitated. We got to see backstage at the dolphin show where the dolphins rest, and we saw got to hear from one of the trainers about how she got her job and what it requires (superior swimming and diving skills, love of animals, performance abilities, and several other things that I do not possess, unfortunately). The best of all, however, was seeing the dolphins up close. Our tour guide separated our group of about 16 into groups of 4 or so, and we were assigned to a trainer and a group of dolphins. Meet our dolphins, Ajax and Jag:
I think one of the things that makes dolphins so lovable is their ability to connect with humans. When I look at one, I feel like I can see a personality, a glint of mischief or a twinkle of kindness. And even though I got to swim with a dolphin about 5 years ago, I loved seeing these dolphins up close, and being able to touch them and interact with them was thrilling for me. Dolphins are just fantastic, fascinating animals!
And there you have it! In no way does this capture everything we did (and for that you are probably grateful), but it's a good overall snapshot. I was so sad to leave, and on the last day I said a tearful goodbye to SeaWorld:
And even though it was sad to leave, I was comforted by this one fact: I am SO going back. :)
A few honorable mentions that didn't make the list but are worth noting:
1. Kraken, a roller coaster at SeaWorld. I rode this twice and loved it both times. It seemed both fast and also a long ride all at the same time. It is not the newest coaster at SeaWorld, but I enjoyed it the most.
2. The mime at the Sea Lion and Otter Theater. This guy came out before the sea lion and otter shows and entertained the crowd, and he was really funny. Part of the reason we saw the shows twice was so we could see him again.
3. Riding Journey to Atlantis with no wait! Journey to Atlantis is a water ride, so naturally the line was quite long since it was hot and humid. We were on our way to try and squeeze the ride in before a show when a woman stopped us and asked if we liked water rides. We told her we were about to go ride Journey to Atlantis, and she gave us a pass that she had gotten earlier that would let us go to the front of the line. It had rained earlier in the day and so SeaWorld had given those in line for that ride a pass to come back later but she wasn't going to use it, so we got to bypass the line and rode it right away! I was glad we didn't have to wait, too, because it really wasn't a terribly exciting ride.
*To see many more pictures of the trip, visit these facebook photo albums:
The Stuff that Dreams Are Made of, Part 1
The Stuff that Dreams Are Made of, Part 2
All About the Dolphins
3. Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals: The Cavaliers vs. The Magic. I know, you're probably thinking, "One of Erin's trip highlights involves a sporting event? Who is this blogger and what have you done with the real Erin?" But honestly, we had so much fun at this game! Our seats were in the very top row, but really, it didn't seem like we were up that high! Check it out:
Everyone at the game got a free shirt, thunder sticks, and a "GO Magic" poster. Stephen and I screamed and cheered so much I'm amazed we didn't lose our voices. To make it even better, the Magic won, 99-89! I'm so glad Stephen got to see them play in a conference finals game; he's followed the team for a long time, and it made a great birthday experience for him. And I am now a true Magic fun, able to recite the major players AND their numbers. Craziness!
2. The dolphin show, "Blue Horizons," at SeaWorld. We saw the show 4 times. In 3 days. To say that we loved it would be an understatement. The dolphins were absolutely breathtakingly graceful, beautiful, and awe-inspiring. For example, check out these pictures:
How can you not love that?? I have to confess that the first time we saw the show, I actually got teary-eyed. The show itself supposedly has some sort of storyline, but even after watching it 4 times, we couldn't tell you what it is. It's definitely a bit on the cheesy side, but I could have seen it a dozen more times and been happy.
Here's a video clip of part of the show. It's a little erratic because it was hard to keep up with everything going on, but it gives you an idea of some of the greatness of the show.
1. The Dolphin Spotlight Tour. We took this behind-the-scenes tour at SeaWorld on Monday of our trip, and it was by far the best experience. Our tour guide showed us several behind-the-scenes areas in the park, where they keep different kinds of marine life that have been rescued from the wild and are being rehabilitated. We got to see backstage at the dolphin show where the dolphins rest, and we saw got to hear from one of the trainers about how she got her job and what it requires (superior swimming and diving skills, love of animals, performance abilities, and several other things that I do not possess, unfortunately). The best of all, however, was seeing the dolphins up close. Our tour guide separated our group of about 16 into groups of 4 or so, and we were assigned to a trainer and a group of dolphins. Meet our dolphins, Ajax and Jag:
I think one of the things that makes dolphins so lovable is their ability to connect with humans. When I look at one, I feel like I can see a personality, a glint of mischief or a twinkle of kindness. And even though I got to swim with a dolphin about 5 years ago, I loved seeing these dolphins up close, and being able to touch them and interact with them was thrilling for me. Dolphins are just fantastic, fascinating animals!
And there you have it! In no way does this capture everything we did (and for that you are probably grateful), but it's a good overall snapshot. I was so sad to leave, and on the last day I said a tearful goodbye to SeaWorld:
And even though it was sad to leave, I was comforted by this one fact: I am SO going back. :)
A few honorable mentions that didn't make the list but are worth noting:
1. Kraken, a roller coaster at SeaWorld. I rode this twice and loved it both times. It seemed both fast and also a long ride all at the same time. It is not the newest coaster at SeaWorld, but I enjoyed it the most.
2. The mime at the Sea Lion and Otter Theater. This guy came out before the sea lion and otter shows and entertained the crowd, and he was really funny. Part of the reason we saw the shows twice was so we could see him again.
3. Riding Journey to Atlantis with no wait! Journey to Atlantis is a water ride, so naturally the line was quite long since it was hot and humid. We were on our way to try and squeeze the ride in before a show when a woman stopped us and asked if we liked water rides. We told her we were about to go ride Journey to Atlantis, and she gave us a pass that she had gotten earlier that would let us go to the front of the line. It had rained earlier in the day and so SeaWorld had given those in line for that ride a pass to come back later but she wasn't going to use it, so we got to bypass the line and rode it right away! I was glad we didn't have to wait, too, because it really wasn't a terribly exciting ride.
*To see many more pictures of the trip, visit these facebook photo albums:
The Stuff that Dreams Are Made of, Part 1
The Stuff that Dreams Are Made of, Part 2
All About the Dolphins
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
June Goals Checkup: Week 1
June SW: 194
June CW (as of Monday morning): 189.6
Loss of 4.4 pounds in week 1
WHAT?? I couldn't believe it when I saw that on the scale! I lost all my vacation weight and a little extra. Woohoo! I hope it's not a crazy fluke. It very well could be, as I was 191.2 on Friday, so I lost 1.6 pounds over the weekend? Hmm...I just won't check the scale for a while. Haha.
Now, on to check the progress of my June goals. I decided that I like having monthly goals, so I am just going to be better about remembering them, and checking in once a week should do the trick.
Progress so far:
1. Run, bike, or walk at least 18 miles a week. Week 1: 21.4 miles! DONE!
2. Stay within my calorie range 6 out of 7 days a week. Week 1: I stayed in range 5 out of 7 days, which is an improvement, but I can do better.
3. Strength train at least twice a week. Week 1: DONE. I have to confess that my second session was pretty half-hearted, however, so this week the plan is to give it 100%!
4. Lose 4 pounds. I'd like to lose more, but will be happy with 4. Week 1: DONE! New goal: Lose 3 additional pounds (I'm not expecting any other crazy weight losses).
5. Read 3 books: one I've already read, one fiction, and one non-fiction. I should easily accomplish this since I am only teaching one class this month. Week 1: I'm re-reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix so I can re-read HP and the Half-Blood Prince next month in preparation for the movie. I have about 100 pages left, then I will start on a book called Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest. Not that I need to read that because I never worry. Right. ;)
All in all, week 1 was a fantastic week! I even ran 5 days out of the week, which is a new record for me, and Thursday's run was a 10:58 average pace. I'm feeling good and kickin' some June butt!
How are you doing with your goals?
June CW (as of Monday morning): 189.6
Loss of 4.4 pounds in week 1
WHAT?? I couldn't believe it when I saw that on the scale! I lost all my vacation weight and a little extra. Woohoo! I hope it's not a crazy fluke. It very well could be, as I was 191.2 on Friday, so I lost 1.6 pounds over the weekend? Hmm...I just won't check the scale for a while. Haha.
Now, on to check the progress of my June goals. I decided that I like having monthly goals, so I am just going to be better about remembering them, and checking in once a week should do the trick.
Progress so far:
1. Run, bike, or walk at least 18 miles a week. Week 1: 21.4 miles! DONE!
2. Stay within my calorie range 6 out of 7 days a week. Week 1: I stayed in range 5 out of 7 days, which is an improvement, but I can do better.
3. Strength train at least twice a week. Week 1: DONE. I have to confess that my second session was pretty half-hearted, however, so this week the plan is to give it 100%!
4. Lose 4 pounds. I'd like to lose more, but will be happy with 4. Week 1: DONE! New goal: Lose 3 additional pounds (I'm not expecting any other crazy weight losses).
5. Read 3 books: one I've already read, one fiction, and one non-fiction. I should easily accomplish this since I am only teaching one class this month. Week 1: I'm re-reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix so I can re-read HP and the Half-Blood Prince next month in preparation for the movie. I have about 100 pages left, then I will start on a book called Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest. Not that I need to read that because I never worry. Right. ;)
All in all, week 1 was a fantastic week! I even ran 5 days out of the week, which is a new record for me, and Thursday's run was a 10:58 average pace. I'm feeling good and kickin' some June butt!
How are you doing with your goals?
Sunday, June 7, 2009
I Left My Heart in Orlando: Trip Highlights, Part 1
So here's the deal. I have been trying for several days to write a blog entry about our trip to SeaWorld, but no matter what I do, it ends up being ridiculously long. I decided that instead of boring you all with my rapturous, minute-by-minute account, I would just hit the highlights and provide you with some accompanying video and pictures. (And be nice: this is the first time I've made any videos for the blog!) But even that ended up being ridiculously long, so I give you the first of two installments detailing the best parts of our trip, building up to the number one event.
Here's a video taken right before we ventured out to SeaWorld for the first time. We even walked there on the first day! (It was only 1.5 miles from our hotel. However, Saturday was the only day we walked there. We did enough walking in the park itself!).
The forgotten tickets that resulted in our lack of sleep on Friday night were the tickets to see the Orlando Magic play in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. I realized around 10:00 p.m. on Friday night that I had left them in Jackson, so Stephen and I left Memphis (where we were staying with my parents for the night) and drove back to Jackson to get them. We got in bed that night around 1:30 and got up around 5:45. Nice.
Now that you're finished laughing at my silliness, without further ado, the highlights of our trip to Orlando:
7. The Shark and Penguin Encounters at SeaWorld. SeaWorld had several different exhibits that allowed you to view marine animals, and these were two of my favorites. The Shark Encounter involved walking in a glass tube, where sharks and other fish swam all around you, and it was really cool. We liked the Penguin Encounter surprisingly not because of the penguins but because of a little, until then unknown to us animal called the puffin. The penguins and puffins were in separate habitats, and perhaps we just caught the penguins at an "off time," but the puffins were far more entertaining. They are small little fellows that fluff their feathers and are fairly active, and their actions were just oddly charming. It was hard to get a picture of them because of the glass, but here's a few attempts at capturing the sharks and puffins:
6. The sea lion and otter shows, "Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island" and "Sea Lions Tonight!" Both of these shows were hilarious and entertaining, and we loved watching the sea lions and their antics.
5. Animal Kingdom safari and shows. We went to Animal Kingdom on Stephen's birthday (Hooray for free birthday admission!). I had been to Disney before, but Animal Kingdom didn't even exist the last time I had gone, and both of us were curious about the park. Obviously, it was very crowded, and the lines were long, but we were able to see two shows, The Lion King show and Finding Nemo: The Musical. The Lion King show was a showcase of several songs from the film and featured lots of colorful costumes and some audience interaction. The Finding Nemo musical was basically an abridged version of the movie with songs added in, and it was thoroughly entertaining and my favorite. Here are some pictures from that day:
4. Shamu. Shamu is obviously the face of SeaWorld, so of course we went to see the shows in which he's featured: Shamu: Believe and Shamu Rocks (a . I have to say that I was a bit underwhelmed with the Believe show after seeing everything in the dolphin show, as there just wasn't as much that seemed special about it, and it was even cheesier than the dolphin show (which you will read more about later), which says a lot. However, seeing a massive killer whale leap effortlessly into the air is definitely an awesome sight, and the night show ended up being superior to the day show, in my opinion. Both shows were so much better than watching Free Willy. Which I did when I was in middle school. A LOT.
Stay tuned for the top 3!
Here's a video taken right before we ventured out to SeaWorld for the first time. We even walked there on the first day! (It was only 1.5 miles from our hotel. However, Saturday was the only day we walked there. We did enough walking in the park itself!).
The forgotten tickets that resulted in our lack of sleep on Friday night were the tickets to see the Orlando Magic play in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. I realized around 10:00 p.m. on Friday night that I had left them in Jackson, so Stephen and I left Memphis (where we were staying with my parents for the night) and drove back to Jackson to get them. We got in bed that night around 1:30 and got up around 5:45. Nice.
Now that you're finished laughing at my silliness, without further ado, the highlights of our trip to Orlando:
7. The Shark and Penguin Encounters at SeaWorld. SeaWorld had several different exhibits that allowed you to view marine animals, and these were two of my favorites. The Shark Encounter involved walking in a glass tube, where sharks and other fish swam all around you, and it was really cool. We liked the Penguin Encounter surprisingly not because of the penguins but because of a little, until then unknown to us animal called the puffin. The penguins and puffins were in separate habitats, and perhaps we just caught the penguins at an "off time," but the puffins were far more entertaining. They are small little fellows that fluff their feathers and are fairly active, and their actions were just oddly charming. It was hard to get a picture of them because of the glass, but here's a few attempts at capturing the sharks and puffins:
6. The sea lion and otter shows, "Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island" and "Sea Lions Tonight!" Both of these shows were hilarious and entertaining, and we loved watching the sea lions and their antics.
5. Animal Kingdom safari and shows. We went to Animal Kingdom on Stephen's birthday (Hooray for free birthday admission!). I had been to Disney before, but Animal Kingdom didn't even exist the last time I had gone, and both of us were curious about the park. Obviously, it was very crowded, and the lines were long, but we were able to see two shows, The Lion King show and Finding Nemo: The Musical. The Lion King show was a showcase of several songs from the film and featured lots of colorful costumes and some audience interaction. The Finding Nemo musical was basically an abridged version of the movie with songs added in, and it was thoroughly entertaining and my favorite. Here are some pictures from that day:
4. Shamu. Shamu is obviously the face of SeaWorld, so of course we went to see the shows in which he's featured: Shamu: Believe and Shamu Rocks (a . I have to say that I was a bit underwhelmed with the Believe show after seeing everything in the dolphin show, as there just wasn't as much that seemed special about it, and it was even cheesier than the dolphin show (which you will read more about later), which says a lot. However, seeing a massive killer whale leap effortlessly into the air is definitely an awesome sight, and the night show ended up being superior to the day show, in my opinion. Both shows were so much better than watching Free Willy. Which I did when I was in middle school. A LOT.
Stay tuned for the top 3!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Two Years
Two years ago on this date, I married the love of my life. And I haven't looked back since. Stephen and I have learned a lot from each other, have grown together, have shared our lives with each other. Even though it hasn't always been perfect, I've always held confidently to the truth that on June 2, 2007, we both promised to love each other forever, no matter what may come, and with that firm commitment and our faith in Christ, we'll face each day together. I know that the only change in my love for Stephen will be its increase, for I find new things to love about him all the time. Each day that we are married is a blessing, one I hope never to take for granted.
Stephen, you are God's gift to me, and I cherish all the moments we have had and all the memories we will make in the future. I love you, always and forever.
Stephen, you are God's gift to me, and I cherish all the moments we have had and all the memories we will make in the future. I love you, always and forever.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)