After Christmas

I’m so proud of myself for being careful during the holidays and not only maintaining my weight, but actually losing a little bit. Despite Christmas dinner and going out to eat, I’ve still been careful to keep portions small, but still eat the things I like. It’s been a crazy week, between work, shopping for Christmas and Christmas dinner. Had a few friends over and after dinner we went to the living room and played games. I think I’ve gotten them addicted to Taboo, lol. I haven’t done my 15 Minute workout the past few days, so going to try to get that in at some point today. Only plans for today are meeting friends in San Francisco for dinner, followed by another friend’s birthday, in San Fracisco.

WI: 183.3

Update: Time to leave for SF came more quickly than expected, so while I didn’t get a 15 Minute workout in, I did dance for hours on Saturday night, enough that I was really feeling it in my legs the next morning.

Things That Rock: Earth Science Skin Care

I decided to add a new category to my blog, Things That Rock. This category will be made up of things that I love so much that I have to let everyone know.

If you’ve read some of earliest blogs or my “About Me” section you’ll know that about two years ago I started getting eczema. What is eczema, you ask? It breaks down to a combination of really dry skin and allergies. Yes, I have the allergies from hell, and I’ve always had sensitive skin, so I guess eczema is the result.

A co-worker turned me on to Earth Science skin care line, purchased at Whole Foods and 1/3 the cost of the products I’d been using. Using these 3 products has really helped my skin go from patchy dryness to silky smooth, with no irritation. I can’t wait to try out more products in the line, such as their Gentle Scrub, Night Creme and Azulene Eye Treatment.

A-D-E Creamy Cleanser
Use to cleanse even the most delicate skin. This unique formula made from natural fruit oil cleansers is ideal for removing makeup or sunscreen from all skin types, including oily skin. Rich in Plant Sterols and vitamins A, D and E to leave skin radiantly fresh and healthy. pH 5.5 8 oz.

Aloe Vera Complexion Toner & Freshener
Use daily to freshen and balance your complexion. Functions as a skin “normalizer” by adjusting the skin to its appropriate moisture level, proper anti-bacterial zone and ideal pH of 4.0-6.0 (depending on individual chemistry). With Hyaluronic Acid and 85% Aloe Vera Juice. pH 5.5 8 oz.

Almond-Aloe Moisturizers
Moisturize, nourish and protect your skin, every day. This very light but intensely nourishing lotion combines the benefits of Beta-Liposomes (nature’s tremendously effective skin softeners, soothers, and moisturizers) with herbal emollients and anti-oxidants to help protect skin from premature aging and wrinkling. Available in Lightly Scented, Fragrance Free and SPF-15 varieties. pH 5.5 5 oz.

Workout 12-23-08 (15 minute) / upper body

Wall Pushups – 2×15 (Chest, Triceps, Shoulders)
Boxer – 2×15 (Upper back, shoulders)
Bent-Over Lat Row – 2×15 (middle and upper back, rear shoulders, biceps)

3 Days Until Christmas

3 Days until Christmas and all my shopping has NOT been finished. I still have wine to buy the co-workers, and a little something for Dustin and Lu, plus a White Elephant gift for the Christmas dinner I’m planning. This is definitely going to be a hectic week. Other than Christmas shopping, I still have tons of cleaning, shopping and other errands to run. It’s also looking to be another crazy week at work, we’re still in the middle of Rebranding and I haven’t gotten all projects in to be sent on to Creative.

This past weekend was crazy and fun, both. Friday was pretty quiet, but Saturday was a Yelp Elite event at Travese in Los Gatos. It was supposed to be appetizers and a few wines to try, instead it was very few appetizers and lot of wine, poured in full servings, instead of 1oz tastings. Can we say toasted by 3pm? To fix this Susan drove us back, with a stop at Taqueria La Bamba for a Super Burrito with Carnitas. I just wish they had a smaller version of the Super Burrito, since I never can eat more than half of it, the other half goes to waste. So, half of a super burrito, followed by an hour long nap, sobered me up enough to go home and finish the scarf I was making for Susan’s Christmas gift. Thank goodness I could get it done, since I’d just found out that morning that our group of girls were doing our gift exchange Saturday night, instead of later in the week! Susan seemed to love the scarf (orange, her favorite color), Judy seemed to be excited at the Borders gift card, and Lucy seemed to love the necklace I had made for her (see earlier blog post). As for me, I was extremely excited over getting “Lust, Caution” from Judy, it’s one of my favorite movies, and I didn’t have a copy. Lucy gave me a great overnight makeup bag set (she got one for herself, too, lol0 and Susan bought the four of us matching pajamas! The pajamas are cute and very soft, but Susan wanted us to all wear them to the New Year’s Eve Pajama Party! I don’t think so, especially since Susan and Lucy will look so much better in them than I will! So, after the exchange, we went out for sushi and to see “7 Pounds” the new Will Smith movie, it was good, but I wouldn’t say great, although sad and thought provoking. All in all, a good night. Sunday was much less busy, although I should have been cleaning for Christmas, I more vegged the day away, after a quick 15 minute workout. Then, joined some friends for dinner, followed by a few games of pool, in which I didn’t completely suck, thanks to my friend Dustin’s instructions.

Workout: (8:00am) 15 Minutes Core

Meals:
9:00am: Oatmeal with dried fruit and almonds, 1/2 fresh berries, multi-vitamin
11:30am: Eating Right Pinapple Black Bean Chicken and Brown Cow Apricot Mango Nonfat Yogurt
2:00pm: 1 mini macaroon, 1 small slice of lemon-berry cake, plus 1 cup of strawberries (2-3 in the afternoon is one of my greatest times of weakness when it comes to sweets. My energy level takes a dive and I need something to perk me up)

This work day is turning into the day from Budget hell, and I’m really craving chocolate, but trying to avoid it.

Workout 12-22-08 (15 minute)/ core

Airplane Pose – 2×15 (Back, Glutes, Hamstrings)
Dolphin Pose – 2×15 (Abs, Shoulders, Upper back)
Hip Flexor – 2×10 (Hips, Upper Thigh, Glutes)

Workout 12-21-08 (15 minute) / lower body

Squats-2×15 (quads, glutes)
Forward Lunges-2×15 (quads, glutes)
Bridges -2×15 (quads, glutes, hamstrings)

Workout 12-20-08 (15 minute) / upper body

Wall Pushups – 2×15 (Chest, Triceps, Shoulders)
Boxer – 2×15 (Upper back, shoulders)
Bent-Over Lat Row – 2×15 (middle and upper back, rear shoulders, biceps)

Turning Into a Good Day

Well, working from home again today, I have so much to do and the deadlines are looming. I can get so much more done at home, without the constant interruptions of people stopping by my cube. I just have to learn not to check every email that comes in, as soon as it comes in. I’m making pretty good progress on my major project, so that’s helping to put me in a good mood.

This working out first thing in the morning is also improving my mood, so Harrison was definitely right about that!

Breakfast: Kashi oatmeal with 1tsp each of brown sugar, dried blueberries, dried cherries and golden raisins
Lunch: A chocolate cupcake
Dinner: Red Lobster’s seafood fondue in a bread bowl, tossed salad (balsamic on the side), 1lb of snow crab legs (never got around to the baked potato) with drawn butter and lemon, half of a cheddar bay biscuit, and another cupcake.

Craving for cupcakes hit at about 2pm, out of nowhere. A while back I’d heard about a great cupcake shop that opened at Santana Row, but I’d never been. Since I needed to go to the bank, I decided to take my lunch hour, drive over, make a deposit and pick up a cupcake or two. By the time I got into the area, over 30 frustrating minutes later, it became apparent that my quick errands were going to take longer than expected. But, while I was out I decided to do a bit of Christmas shopping. I got another third of my shopping done and figured out what to get everyone else and picked up 3 cupcakes, since I couldn’t decide between them. But, I was planning on giving at least one away to a friend who had called and was going to be in the area. Instead of heading home and working some more, I picked up a friend at the train station and took him on a few of his errands, followed by dinner, followed by a return to the train station. And, he forgot to take his cupcake. Maybe I’ll give it to Susan tomorrow. But for now, my tummy is upset, it was already getting that way before the second cupcake, but I think dinner was just too rich for me, since I’m not used to eating such heavy food anymore.

Workout: core – 15 minutes in the morning

WI: 185.4 (after a quick workout AND breakfast!)

I’m starting to get used to going to bed by 11pm, in order to get up early enough to workout in the morning.

Workout 12-19-08 (15 minute)/ core

Airplane Pose – 2×15 (Back, Glutes, Hamstrings)
Dolphin Pose – 2×15 (Abs, Shoulders, Upper back)
Modified Plank – 1×2 (Abs)

It was a pretty light day, more to come tomorrow on Day 3 of the Challenge.

Workout 12-18-08 (15 minute)/ lower body

Squats-2×15 (quads, glutes)
Forward Lunges-2×15 (quads, glutes)
lateral lunges-2×15 (quads, glutes, inner thigh)