Happy Mother's Day
Happy Mother's Day.
Today I have been taking it easy. Enjoying my day off. Dorian and I went to the Red River Zoo today for the first time. It was quite enjoyable. Loved all the animals and the closeness of it all.
Dorian did take off from me in a dead run out into the construction area passed the carasoul. OMG. There I am running up a hill after my 2yr old. I really do need to increase my cardio! LOL.
Just wanted to check in and say HI to everyone. Taking D to the park now to let off some more energy!
Until later.
Posted by: sumrlvn on 5/11/2008 at 4:19 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Fitness Challege Assessment PT. II
Evening everyone.
On Monday, I met with Kendall for my final physical assessment test. I performed the same exercises as the start of the challenge
- cardio endurance, walking on tradmill and increasing the incline ever 2 minutes
- leg press
- chest press
- sit in reach
- plank
- situps
I have good news to report.....my cardio endurance increased ever so slightly. It wasn't where I wanted it to be, but it was an improvement. Whenever I did cardio at the gym, I mainly did the elliptical and stationary bike, had started to do the stair stepper the last 2 weeks of the challenge and rarely walked on the treadmill. (Something that I will be working on over the summer though)
My sit and reach increased from 18.5" to 19.5" (gotta love being flexible!)
My leg press improved the most with a 105% increase. Starting at pressing 291# to 396#.
I increased the time of holding the plank position by 10 seconds. (went from 12 to 22 sec)
I increased the amount of sit-ups (yes girly ones) I went from being able to do 8 to 15.
I increased the bench/chest press going from pressing 125# to 142#
To be honest with you all, my weight fluctuated throughout the challenge. The day of the assessment I was up 1.4# from the start of this challege. However, I was unable to have my measurments taken the day of the 2nd assessment and this will be done within the next few days. I can tell you all that I have dropped 1 pant size and have gotten lots of comments from people about being able to see a differnce in my face in regards to weight.
On Monday evening, Randy, Lida and myself met with Erin at the Forum to have a sit down chat session about how the challenge went, what we gained out of it, lifestayle changes etc. etc. etc. (I will not disclose anything here, as I want you to read it when the article comes out!)
I will continue to post even though the challenge is over. I believe that I have been given the tools to move forward in the right direction and want to continue to move forward with my lifestyle change.
I want to THANK YOU ALL, for following me through this 12 week journey. I know that there were inviduals who would respond to my posts and then there were those of you whom I called my "silent followers." I want you to know that each of you have made an impact by just showing your support by following me along this lifestyle change. I hope you all continue to follow along through the summer. In Sept I will have another physical assessment test, to see how much progress I have made on my own and through the summer months.
Stay tuned, more to come!
Posted by: sumrlvn on 5/07/2008 at 11:32 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Challenge is Over
Morning everyone.
Even though the challenge was officially over on Friday. I will be meeting with Kendall to complete my final physical assessment test. I was supposed to complete it on Thurs. but Kendall had to stay home due to sick kids.
Fri. I spoke to Jen, the nutritionist over the phone. I explained to her what was going on since the last time we had met. She was taking notes (as she always did in each of our sessions) and then will be compiling stats to give to Erin. Jen has been great. She said I could email her anytime with questions or concerns, which I appreciate very much. I feel she has given me the tools to succeed but I just have to follow them, continue to journal, and not punish myself if I get off track. One thing that I have really been aware of these last 2 weeks, is that I really am en emotional eater. Since the day of Kyle's accident through yesterday (his funeral) I was such an emotional eater. I have eaten some healthy things but the bad really outway the good these past couple of weeks. Dorian and I will be going to Hornabachers here in a bit to purchase groceries. I am going to cook today to try to have meals ready all week. I work today through Fri now.
I have decided to make goals for myself everything month now.
May Goals:
- Consume more than the required 6-8 8oz glasses of water every day
- Journal (every day - even if I don't want to face the truth about what I have eaten)
- Exercise.
- Find a few stress releasers.
Well time to go. Will check back in a little bit
Posted by: sumrlvn on 5/04/2008 at 8:57 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Just checkin' in
Morning fellow bloggers and readers.
I was supposed to have my final physical assessment this morning but Kendall had to re-schedule, so Monday morning, is on.
I am still meeting with Jen tomorrow though one last time.
Just wanted to check in quick. Will check back later.
Summer
Posted by: sumrlvn on 5/01/2008 at 9:41 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Goodbye's - the saddest word
Yesterday I lost a friend and co-worker.
For those of you who read the Forum (on-line or the actual paper), the picture of Kyle in todays paper is how I will always remember him.
Please keep Kyle's family in your thoughts and prayers. Remember, 911 dispatchers, law enforcement, fire/ems, we are all human too. We perform our duties to the best of our abilities and we grieve just like everyone else.
Even though working the day of Kyle's accident was very hard, the grieving process has just begun. We have yet to say goodbye.
Goodbye's the saddest word I'll ever hear.
Posted by: sumrlvn on 4/29/2008 at 3:45 AM | Comments (3) | Permalink
Drama - not TNT drama either!
Me again. Just have to vent quick. Back in March I hired another sitter for Dorian. This was after the previous one I hired in Jan, up and quit after a month.
This girl seemed very put together, nice etc. A couple times over the last month, she would text me stating she couldn't watch Dorian (even though it was the night she chose to watch him). I was able to find replacements (luckily) but its nevera guarentee.
Today she texts me again. This tells you about the age in which we are living, she has a phone but she would never call - just text! SERIOUSLY. Anyways, she tells me she has a meeting tonight and can't work.
So I text back........ "Unfortunately, I have to work too. This is the 3rd time that you have agreed to watch my son and then have not followed through with your committment. I need someone who is reliable, with that said, I would appreciate you returning my keys asap since you are paid in full"
She then fires back that she is glad I see it that way because she was going to have to give her 2 week notice. Honeslty. What happened to kids having work ethics like ours? Kids now a days are spoon fed and have everything handed to them on a silver platter. SAD SAD SAD.
Thanks for letting me share this and get it off my chest.
Posted by: sumrlvn on 4/28/2008 at 3:10 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Last week of challenge
Hey everyone. The snow is still melting! Such a good sign. Hopefully we are done with the white stuff until November!! HA HA HA
Well, I met with Kendall this morning. Had a superb workout. How many of you ever jump hurdles? Anyone ever use them for anything else? That is what Kendall had me do today. Instead of jumping over them, he raised them and had me squat under them. Very interesting.
I also throw a ball against a wall (3 reps of 12) each direction. The purpose of this exercise is mobililty. Your squating and then rotating at your hips, not really using the force of your arm to throw the ball.
I worked on the ladder again (you know the one where I feel like a football player doing fancy footwork). This time the fancy foot work was me going backwards, forwardss, sideways, and then doing a hopscotch type hop (which was a lot harder then it looked)
Kendall also had me do whats called the airplane (I think that is the name of it). Your on your hands and knees on the mat, and you raise your left arm(facing forward and straight) and raise the opposit leg, so in this case it would have been my right leg (straight back, like someone was pulling on it). I did this 30x's/3 reps each. I recommend this one.
I did a squat life with a bar, and some cardio. Thursday is my last meeting with Kendall :( We will be doing the phycial assessment test all over again. This is what I did the first time I ever met Kendall. Hopefully there will be some big improvements!
Posted by: sumrlvn on 4/28/2008 at 3:03 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Sore - Sore - Sore
Happy Sunday.
At least the weather is cooperating to help melt all the white stuff we accumulated Fri and Sat.
Dorian and I just got home a short time ago. My aunt and uncle are moving to Arizona next week, so we went and spent a couple of hours at their house. I am sad about it because this uncle is my mom's brother. When they leave next week, its just my brother and I that live here in Fargo. My dad and step-mom live 5 mins from Albertville but its not like having family right here....ya know?
So on Fri. I spent an hour with Kendall. I noticed yesterday my legs hurt butits nothing like today. It totally feels like I have a groin pull or something along those lines. I keep trying to rack my brain over the things that Kendall had me do:
- back lunges
- side lunges- I think this is the culprit to be honest with you.
- side to side steps with a band around my ankles - When you do this exercise you can feel it in your butt cheeks! Kendall even told me you can buy this band at Dick Beardsly. I had never heard of it before and he told me its located by Qudoba on 45 St. I am going to have to pay them a visit!
- some type of arm curl with a standing weight machine. When I was doing this, I told Kendall I felt like I was punishing myself! He didn't want me to do that.
D and I are in need of a nap. We got up early this morning. Plus when we wake up we have some more errands to take care of.
Enjoy the weekend.
Posted by: sumrlvn on 4/27/2008 at 1:48 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Honesty - full blown
Happy Saturday everyone.
Serioulsy, I have said this before but what in the world is mother nature thinking? I have yet to travel outside this morning, not sure if I want to either after seeing cars stuck in the middle of the parking lot and drive here at my bldg. Sheesh.
As you all know this past week has been one hell of a roller coaster ride. It's been a very emotional week besides the everyday things life throws at us. Yesterday was the first day all week that I went to the gym. I had an hour session with Kendall. It felt so good to workout. And when I was talking to Kendall about Kyle, it was the first time that I didn't cry this week. Kendall was great. He just let me talk, and talk, and talk some more. Very theraputic without the psychological b.s. behind it!
In all honesty, this has been a very very bad eating week for me. I have been eating like a kid in a candy jar. Serioulsy its quite pathetic. Why am I toturing myself over something I had no control over and couldn't change the outcome? It's not my fault so I shouldn't beat myself up over it. Right? R-I-G-H-T. I have to pull myself together, pick myself up and dust myself off.
Next week is the final week of the challenge. I meet with Kendall 2 days next week. The last day is Thursday where I will re-do my phsyical assessment test and have my measurements taken again. Fri. I meet with Jen for the final time also.
Kendall is going to give me all the sheets that had what exercise etc. that he had me perform over the last 12 weeks. I feel like I am just getting my feet wet, with this lifestyle change. On Monday May 5, Lida, Randy and myself will be meeting with Erin. THis will be the last time until next fall when she checks in with us to see how things went over the summer months.
Time to be productive. Check in later.
Posted by: sumrlvn on 4/26/2008 at 9:29 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Focus - Focus - Focus
Evening.
I am finally ready to face reality again after the last couple days and am focused and ready to move forward no matter what the outcomes. I want to Thank you all for keeping my co-worker Kyle and his family in your thoughts and prayers. It really means a lot to me.
There are approx 2 weeks left of the challenge. I am going to make the most of them. I meet with Kendall tomorrow at 930. I am supposed to meet with Jen too, but am going to have to change the appt or cancel as I have a meeting at 10am that I have to attend. I am going to be all red in the face after my workout! Oh well. what's a girl to do :)
Today I took Dorian to 2 different parks. One in the 1700 BLK of 34 St S and then we went to Lindenwood. We had so much fun. I can honestly say that we will be going to Lindenwood numerous times this season. When we got home, we took be best 2 hour power nap. It's a good thing I woke up when I did, otherwise I may have been late for work today. UH OH.
I will be diligent from here on out with working out, and journaling (both my food and on the blog). Talk to you soon.
Posted by: sumrlvn on 4/22/2008 at 10:42 PM | Comments (2) | Permalink
No work out today
I had every intention of meeting with Kendall this afternoon however, I went to the hospital to see Kyle and pay my respects. By the time I was able to get in to see him, I had to cancel my appt with Kendall due to tmie constraints.
In all honesty, I am very glad that I was able to spend time at the hospital, meet his family and talk to him. It will give me closure.
WIll be back to working out tomorrow!
Posted by: sumrlvn on 4/21/2008 at 2:50 PM | Comments (2) | Permalink
Bad News
Evening.
Tonight I thought I would share a little more about my "work" life with you all.
As you know I am a 911 dispatcher. I started dispatching Jan. 8, 2001. I was employeed by the City of Fargo Police Dept. On Dec. 2, 2002, RRRDC (Red River Regional Dispatch Center) was formed. On Oct. 28, 2003, dispatchers from Fargo and Moorhead consolidated together at our current location, 300 NP Ave.
I absolutely love my job. This past week, we have been celebrating National Public Safety Telecommunications Week (NPSTW). This is the time when people from all over the public safety field and beyond express appreciation for those who make telecommunications work. Myself and a couple other co-workers solicited gift certificates from local businesses that we used as daily prize drawings.
However, there are also days where I really dislike my job. Notice that I didn't say HATE. HATE is a strong word, and I love what I do, just sometimes there are circumstances that come up that we have no control over. For example;
- when I took my mom's 911 call July 15, 2002.
- And when you have an co-worker in an accident. That is what happened yesterday. One of our dispatchers is an avid skydiver, actually an instructor. Yesterday he was with some friends skydiving and he ended up hitting the ground too hard what's known as a "hard fall".
It has been a really rough couple days for me and my co-workers. The agencies we dispatch for have been great. They really rallied around us dispatchers. However, they are involved too. Kyle is someone who watched out for the men and woman in blue and brown as well as the firefighters and first responders. Please keep Kyle's family in your thoughts and prayers as well as all my co-workers (FPD, MPD, WFPD, DPD, GPD, BPD, HPD, Cass SO, Clay SO, FFD, MFD, as well as 28 rural volunteer Fire and Rescue Depts).
Has this affected my eating ? DUH, that is an understatement. I ate chocolate yesterday. Today has been much better. Brought 2 fruits (banana & apple) with me to work as well as some Lays Crisp Crackers. My uncle is watching Dorian for me tonight since my sitter was sick. My uncle was making dinner when I dropped D off, so I have a nice meal with me at work!
However, I have had the biggest headache from HELL ever. I woke up this morning and I could feel all the tension from yesterday sitting in my shoulderblades. Its still there but not as bad as it was. I really need to hit the boxing bag at the gym. Thank goodness I meet with Kendall tomorrow.Tomorrow I am going to the hospital and then to work out. I have a session with Kendall at 130pm and believe me, its going to be one hell of a workout.
Posted by: sumrlvn on 4/20/2008 at 8:23 PM | Comments (5) | Permalink
Recognized in public
It finally happened. One of my biggest fears of this challenge was being recognized in public. However, not just any public place but the grocery store!
Tonight, Dorian and I went to the grocery store to pick up a few items for ourselves (milk and juice) However, at the time we had a cart full of items. My one and only brother just moved into his very own apartment, no more roommates etc. He was all gung ho about purchasing furniture, cookware, silverwear, glasses, etc. etc. etc. I told him he had to let me buy him something since it's his first actual apt. by himself. So tonight we bought him groceries!
The lady that came up to Dorian and I in the store was a friend of my moms, Patty Lacroix. I had seen her in the store prior to her approaching us and I thought I recognized her. Of course when she approached, she goes, "Are you Linda's daughter, Summer?" I stated, "I am" and then she goes, "I have saved every article of you from the Forum" I advised her I would be in the Forum on Monday!! She told me what she had been up to lately etc. It was nice because as previously stated, my biggest fear was someone recognizing me at the grocery store of all places and then scrutinizing what was in my cart and that did not happen!
Tomorrow its back to work for me. I was supposed to work this morning, teaching, but I was able to finish in 2 days instead of 3, so myself and 2 out of my 3 students also had the day off today. And what a BEAUTIFUL day to have off. Dorian and I played outside all day. I even have a nice tint of sun to prove it :)
I hope that you all are able to enjoy the weather this weekend.
Until next time. Night.
Posted by: sumrlvn on 4/18/2008 at 10:09 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
A Picture is worth a 1000 words
Morning. I have been up 20 mins. Got up at 5am. I am teaching at work today, so I want to make sure I have everything ready to go. Well that and my lunch!
Today is the day that the photographer from the Forum is going to stop by work and take a picture of me eating my lunch. Thank goodness I am up early to prepare! I won't share what I am eating on here today, you will have to read the Forum on Monday!
Today is a long day for me. I am teaching at work from 8-4pm and then have to be back at work at 6pm to work a 4hr OT shift until 10p. Its days like today that I obviously don't get to see Dorian but I make up for it with the quality of time I spend with him. (And to be honest, I don't always work shifts like that)
As you can tell by my action packed day, getting in exercise is going to be tough. Which is where DVD's come into play. Below is a list of the exercise DVD's that I have.
- Leslie Sansone - Walk Away Your Waisteline (at home)
- The Firm - Lower Body Sculpt II
- The Firm - Body Sculpt Blaster
- The Firm - Cardio Sculpt
- The Firm - Cardio Sculpt Blaster
- The Firm - 5 Day Abs
- The Firm - Form Points
- Jari Love - Get Ripped
It's not exactly a "home gym" but I am trying. I also have 2 sets of free weights at home here and the following books to assist with my physical development
- The Biggest Loser Fitness Program
- The Body Sculpting Bible for Woman
- Power Sculpt (The Women's Body Sculpting & Weight Training Workout Using the Exercise Ball)
Time to jump into the shower, get ready, make lunch and head out the door. I will check back in later. Have a good day everyone!
Posted by: sumrlvn on 4/17/2008 at 5:11 AM | Comments (2) | Permalink
Reply to comment - Tee
Tee and all of my other faithful readers be advised I will continue to blog after the challenge comes to a close. I was interviewed today by Erin, the reporter for the Forum (PS..look for me in Monday's edition!!) and I also told her that I will continue to blog. I find it very theraputic in a sense. It allows me to "vent" about issues aka: stresses going on in my personal life, and also gives me the opportunity to gush about successes and milestones, no matter how big or small!
Summer is not over :)
Posted by: sumrlvn on 4/15/2008 at 9:02 PM | Comments (1) | Permalink
