15 Week Challenge

Good morning!!

So clearly things are changing here on this little ol' blog of mine. Quite frankly, I've lost my flow. Life has taken priority and every time I think about what I want to share with you, I just can't come up with anything awesome.

One thing that's happened to me this year (that I am less than impressed with I might add) is that I have gained some weight. Blame it on stress, the fact that I'm so tired by the end of the workday that I frequently have been skipping the gym, the chaos that has been our life or the fact that we now have a family cottage that I go to regularly, which makes me feel like I'm constantly on vacation, which translates into beer, fry shacks and big greasy breakfasts.

Regardless of why it's happened, the fact is that it has and now I have to do something about it. 

....SO, what's the plan????

Let's just say I've decided to start a 15 Week "Get Fit! Eat Clean!" Transformation Plan

I chose 15 weeks because we have a family trip to Disney World planned from November 2 - 10 and it is exactly 15 weeks `til then.

The long-term goals I hope to reach at the end of the 15 weeks are:

*To lose 25lbs
*To re-gain the muscle definition in my arms and back
*Get back to my weekly yoga class that brings so much "zen" to my life
*To start preparing meals at home again {Gah! - I've never eaten so much takeout in my life!!!}
*Eat local, eat organic as much as possible ---- re-develop these as my regular habits
*Get more comfortable with weight training and incorporate that into my weekly workouts
*Establish a workout schedule that I can follow consistently that includes 4 to 5 workouts per week
*BE COMFORTABLE IN MY OWN SKIN AGAIN

My plan is to update you weekly on my planned workouts and eats and then at the end of each week to give you the lowdown on how I did. Throw in some fun workout ideas, new recipes (OMG, a new recipe --- it's been FOREVAH!!!) and I just might get this little blog of mine back up & running.

So that's the direction I'm heading in and hopefully I'll figure out exactly where I want to go with the blog and a new direction will become clear to me.

Take care, have a great weekend and I will see you very soon with the plans for Week #1!!

Andrea

a whole lotta things

So, it's been a while since we last chatted and there's a lot of things that I want to share. So guess what.....you guys are about to get a great big brain dump to bring you up to speed.

 

on your mark. get set. GO!!

 

1.  I seriously don't know what we'd do without these two characters. We haven't had the time, or at times, patience that they usually receive and deserve, yet they have been amazing. They are a constant source of love, loyalty and comedic relief. Here, they're {im}patiently waiting for their dad to get home.

 

2. I have recently discovered a love/hate relationship with soft serve half & half ice cream. Dipped in chocolate, rolled in sprinkles, stuffed deep inside a waffle cone --- yep, I pretty much love it all ways. I crave it every day because my tastebuds love it, but my butt ... not so much.

 

3. Derek's mom has bought a cottage on a nearby lake. Clearly the ice cream has got to stop if I'm going to spend my weekends on the beach. She takes possession of it on Friday and I am so excited to spend our summer together up there! I've already picked out my our bedroom. What else am I excited about?! --- frozen boozy drinks.....apparently all the neighbours go to the beach each night to watch the sunset with their favourite bevy. My classy plastic wine glass is already packed.

 

4. In preparation for the summer months, I'm super excited to be participating in the Fitnessista's Summer Shape Up 2013, which starts TODAY!! This is the first week in the past 5 where I actually have a plan in terms of workouts and meals and it feels good. It's not too late if you want to participate. Just check out Gina's intro post here and sign up

 

5. My bestie, Krista, is coming home for a visit in one month and five days and she and her family are staying for most of the summer. We make a point of doing yoga together on Saturdays and have a weekly date night for dinner and wine. I. CAN'T. WAIT.

 

 

 

6. Derek and I are hoping to put an addition on our house this summer. We're in the planning/getting quotes stage and while I'm dreading the mess and chaos, I am really looking forward to re-decorating our existing home and planning out the new portion. I figure, if we're going to have a huge-ass mess, why not re-do the entire house while we're at it?! My inner design-diva has come alive and I have become addicted to this blog. I have plans to start vision boards with new designs for every single room in my house. My husband is thrilled, NOT.  

 

7. My family has booked a Disney trip for later this year. Derek's never been to Disney World and I am really excited to take him and to see my neice and nephew discover the Disney magic for the first time. Personally, I'm most excited for the Animal Kingdom and the water parks. If you have any "must dos" in Orlando, let me know....my parents were planning the trip, but my sister and I have taken that job over. We're kinda bossy that way.

 

8. And lastly, congratulations to some of my favourite bloggers: to Jenna and Kelly on their recent weddings and to Kate on her wonderful news!

 

So, I think that's all I've got for today. What's new & exciting in your neck of the woods?

 

See you in a couple of days with a swoon-worthy recipe,

 

Andrea

xoxo