Day 3 =)

I had a really good day today. Saturday and Sunday aren't packed work out days but we still have a couple of things to do. My first class is usually at 8:00 am but  Saturdays start at 9:30 am. I didn't know if I would get in all of the calories I need to burn today so I went an hour early and walked 2 miles on the tread mill and then gym boot camp started. We warmed up with cardio for 10 min and then Austin, the trainer, told us that we were going to work a specific muscle group. We had two options, either work the muscles that you  use when you push something or the muscles you use when you pull something. I chose pull but at the beginning I was working on all of the machines cause I didn't really know what I was doing but then I asked and understood it all. Next we did some sprints on the treadmill and then we were done. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be but the next time I have that class I will probably have another trainer so I'll have to see. Next we had lunch and then it was off to do a 5K!! I walked it with Sara and Susan. The first 1/4 of the walk was pretty flat and then we turned the street and then we started up a hill that gradually went up for at least a mile. I thought that it would never end. Then we turned that corner and the rest of the way back was all steep uphill. I was taught to always finish what I start so up we went. Our pace did slow a bit but it was hot and I was tired. On the last stretch we did take 2 breaks but we did finish it in 1 hour and 10 min. I thought that we were going at a good pace but it turns out we were walking at about a 2.5 pace. We all go much faster on the treadmill but at least we have a time to improve on. We came back to the apartment and rested for 30 min and then we were off to Sports Chalet for Sara to get some new shoes and I wanted to try some new socks cause the bottom of my feet were burning on the walk. I wear Saucony shoes that I was fitted for and Susan suggested that I try some new socks. Any other suggestions? We also stopped at the grocery store to pick up some Powerade and protien bars. We got back to the apartment at about 5 pm and have not left. I don't think that I have the energy for anything else besides take a shower and go to bed. But the good news is that I burned 4432 calories today and yesterday 4009 =) I should do a 5 k everyday if I get those kind of results.

I am really excited to go to church tomorrow with my friend Danielle Boinay. I haven't seen her in at least 10 years. I'm not used to all of the swearing that goes on around here and I hope I never do. I have had a couple of missionary experiences. Nothing like teaching a first lesson or talking about Joseph Smith but questions about actual church and I got to explain about wards and meeting times.

Well it is about bed time again. Thanks so much to everyone for all of the emails and messages of support. I really do appreciate them and read them often.

Day 1 and 2

Wow. I knew it would be hard but WOW. I'm sore pretty much everywhere, I go to bed at about 9 pm every night and this LA sun is killing me. My first day was pretty good. I got familiar with the classes, coaches and sweating a lot. About half way through the day I got pretty emotional and then when I got back to my apartment I don't how many times I broke down and cried. Sometimes you just need a good cry - or a couple. I was mostly upset because I was wondering how could I let myself get this big that I had to come to a place like this to lose it. Plus the day was really hard and the though of doing that everyday for 6 weeks...oh boy. But I have two amazing roommates that talked it out with me and helped me feel better. I also met an amazing woman Trina that has "taken my under her wing" and has been really encouraging. To bad that she leaves tomorrow.

Today I had all different classes than yesterday so I got to learn a whole bunch of new stuff. I really enjoyed boxing. We put on latex gloves before we put the boxing gloves on and when we are done and take the latex gloves off it feels like you have just put your hands under a faucet there is so much sweat. I had a class called butts and guts and then right after that a core sculpting class and that just about killed me, I'm already feeling it =)

Tomorrow we work out for only 4 hours total and then on Sunday for 2 hours. I am so excited to go to church and get some spiritual nourishment! Not only for the emotional I have been feeling but also for all of the swearing I hear on a daily basis. I think that the F bomb was the word of choice today. It really bothered me! I am really going to do something about that.


Well it is almost my new bedtime =)

So Far So Good

Today after a 6 hour drive I arrived at Live In Fitness! It was such a hot day that I would defiantly pass way my first day of working out but the evening turned out to be beautiful so I think that I can make it =) I was shown around the facility and brought to my apartment. It is a 4 person apartment but only 3 of us are here now. My room roommate, Sara, is from England and is here for 2 weeks and Carolina is from Mexico and will be here 4 weeks. They are both super nice and I just love hearing Sara talk because of her accent. So I got all of my stuff up to my apartment and started unpacking. Dad had a meeting to go to and there really wasn't anything for him to do so he took of and of course I break down and cry. I cried when I said goodbye to my Mom back in Oregon! What 29 year old still has separation anxiety?! Me. I got all unpacked and my orientation wasn't for another 2 hours so I bummed around for a bit and went down to the meeting. I learned how to read my schedule, learned when and how to pick up my meals and got a tour of the place. I'm feeling a bit better about the whole thing.

So tomorrow morning starts with a bunch of stretching, meeting with my trainer, boxing and 2 minute drills - which are exercises (machines, dumbbells, cardio) done in 2-minute increments. In the afternoon I eat lunch, have another coaches meeting, TRX & Core - no clue what that is, Mat Class - no clue what that is either, a nutrition class and yoga. And that is what the first day holds for me. I will have to get back to you on what those other classes are later.

Well I better get ready for bed because it is the first day of my new "job" tomorrow =)

Night Before Jitters

Today Dad and I drove from Oregon to Sacramento. A total of 9 hours and we have another 6 to go tomorrow. Awesome. We are staying at my cousin Allen's house and he and my Dad are talking in their "computer language" and talking about the best way to solve the rubix cube. I can follow along pretty well but most of the time it goes over my head.

The agenda tomorrow is to leave at 6 am and drive to LA. The whole time leading up to this trip I have been pretty excited but now that it is the night before I'm getting a bit anxious =) Especially since it is 100 degrees here, literally. I just keep on reminding myself that it is going to be a great experience and that I will learn a lot! Plus there are a bunch of other people going through the same things I am. I'm sure that once I am there I will love it but right now it is the fear of the unknown.

Thanks so very much to everyone that has sent me such thoughtful and encouraging message! I appreciate them so much!!

Because I'm Worth It

I have some big changes coming up this week and it basically the reason why I started this blog. On September 7th I will be going to a place called Live In Fitness in LA for 6 weeks. Basically it is a resort where you work out all day every day. Think Biggest Loser minus all of the tv cameras. Not only will I be working out a lot but I will have nutrition classes, cooking classes and get to go to the grocery store to learn how to shop for the goals that I have. I will be going to have a complete lifestyle change and a jump start to hopefully a big weight loss. I am really excited to go and get started but also pretty anxious about all of the changes that will happen. I have never really liked change but with it comes challenges that only make you stronger.

I am taking on this adventure because I do need a change in my life. I have been very aware of my weight since I was in 5th grade, 10 years old. It has been a big road block to a lot of things that I want to do in my life. Go up a flight or two of stairs without getting winded, play sports without having to stop and rest every 5 min., bend over and tie my shoes and be able to get on a flight without having to ask for a seat belt extended. Those are just some of the things that I deal with on a daily basis and that is about as personal as I'm going to get right now. Some people will post before pictures in just shorts and sports bra but I don't feel the need to do that. I figure there are 29 years worth of pictures out there so I will just up date on the weight loss. And hopefully within a short amount of time I will be going on lots of dates and not have to resort to being a cat lady =)

Now is the time that all of that is going to change. I have moved back to Oregon where I have a lot of family and they will be a huge help and support system when I get back. I will be looking for a new full time job when I get back and most likely starting up a massage business on the side.

I have laid it out all on the line here and really opened myself up. I will be needing lots of support from my family and friends. And that is where you come in. An email, text or phone call of encouragement will really help me in the next few weeks.

I am really excited to start on this new adventure. I know it will be really hard, I will be really sore and will want to quit but I won't because I know that I'm Worth It.

Little Whitney Turns 3!!

I can't believe that Taylor and Whitney are growing up so fast! It seems like yesterday they were just learning how to walk. They are two wonderful kids and so much fun to play with. Right now Taylor is into dinosaurs, swords and pirates. Whitney is interested in all things princess and that was the theme for her 3rd birthday.

All of the girls got crowns and the boys got party hats

The dinner feast was spaghetti and bread with peas, corn and carrots all on Tangled plates

These cupcakes were so good! Tye dye coloring for the cupcake with a whipped frosting.

This little princess definitely go way too many presents for a birthday but it is so hard not to spoil your nieces and nephews! Like I said before Little Whitty loves all things princess so that is basically what she got. I think that her favorite present was her Rapunzel doll that she got from her Grandma Curtis but right up there was a dress that Mom made her. She got lots of dress up princess clothes so during the present opening there were 3 wardrobe changes.

First she started out as Cinderella

Next was Tinkerbell

And then a Tinkerbell nightgown

By the end of the night she was back into her Cinderella dress. She had a great birthday party had so much fun. Erin is such a great Mom! She got most all of the costumes second hand which compared to the Disney Store she saved a lot of money and all of them where mostly brand new. Not only that she put on a great dinner and birthday party for Whitney. She is amazing! I love her so much!

Rafting On The White Salmon River

I have been rafting a few times in my life but each time I get ready to go I get scared that I will fall out of the boat, hit my head on a rock and die. But if you do all of the things that your guide tells you to do you will be perfectly safe, right?

All geared up to head down to the river

The Group: Andy (Ali's friend), Ali, Woody (our guide), Dad and I

Having a good time on the river and still in the raft =)

At first some parts of the river look pretty scary but you actually only get bounced around a little so those weren't so bad. I tried to not think too much about the big class 4 rapids we were going through and just did what our guide, Woody, told us to do. Ali and Andy were in the front and they were getting soaked. Come to find out that there is this nice waterfall right in the middle of the river. Great. It was a 14 foot drop so you had to paddle really hard and then get down and sit on the bottom of the raft into a little ball and hold on for dear life. Lucky for my, and a few other people, we could opt out and walk down the side of the river. Woody gave us enough information so that we could make an informed decision and he did say that you could be underwater for about 30 seconds. Now that doesn't sound like a long time but when your underwater it probably feels like an eternity. Ali and Andy decided to go on this fun little adventure and they did great. There were only 3 of them in the raft, so there wasn't to much weight, and once they went down they popped right back up. The raft behind them had 6 teenage boys in it and once they went down the blue raft totally disappeared for 3 seconds and then came back up. They all had very surprised looks on their faces that they all stayed in the raft. Overall it was a great experience and by the end I didn't want to get off of the river =) After getting all of the gear off we went up to out cabin on Mt. Hood and had a great dinner and relaxing evening.