30 for 30 - Days 23 & 24

Courtney
Friday: 1
Saturday: 1/2
Total: 11

Boom! I'm super excited about this whole gym thing. I've been tearing it up recently, and now I've got my brother and my sister signed up to start coming with me! :)

I know that my schedule over the next few weeks is going to be KILLER. Up at 5:30 for work, possibly squeezing in science homeworking during naptime (since that's all I'm taking this semester, then I'm done with my AA!), working out at the gym after nanny mom gets home between 5:30-6:30, then coming home for shower and dinner, and then all night doing more homework, which might also cut out my institute attendance. This leaves little room for a social life or book writing, but sacrifices must be made, as demonstrated in this little meme here. Decisions, decisions...

Regardless, this is only the short term schedule, because I am going to be saving up money for school in the fall, and that's when the real challenge will begin. So I'll bite the bullet for now, and just do this one day at a time. One more week till this challenge is over, and then Jenny and I will start something new! :) Best of luck to all of you and your goals!

Jenny: (uhm, I just sat here and struggled to type my name...)
23: 1
24: 0
Total: 11.5 (I think...have to check.)

Hey y'all. Guess what I did this weekend?
I drove to Utah and had lunch with my Grandmother who just turned 82! :)

It was so good and much needed weekend break from school, working out and Rexburg. Don't get me wrong, I love all of those things, but each of them in too much dosage has started to take a toll.

Since I was the primary driver today and we barely got home in time for church and taught our first week of primary and had company for dinner tonight, I'm pretty whooped. I might slobber on my arm before my homework is done tonight...mmm...visuals!

Seriously though, life is good. I'm feeling super blessed lately. I have a really full schedule and a lot to think about and do lately, but I can't complain on bit. I know I'm where I'm supposed to be, I am who I'm supposed to be with and I'm making every effort to be better.

As far as working out on Friday, I headed to my Aerobics class only to realize we don't meet Fridays. So I went to the gym for the hour instead. I think I'll do that every Friday since I already have that hour blocked out.

Ed and I got some workouts helping people move this weekend too. In return for our service, we got some free furniture, which we're really grateful for! We also bought a table and chairs which has made me a VERY happy wife.

Like I said, good things all around.
I hope you all had a good weekend and are also working towards your workout goals. We are rooting for you!

As a final thought, I realized all over again that I love myself regardless of the number on the scale.
There are a few reasons. First of all, I really believe God saved me from a world of pain when he made me chubby as a kid. I can't imagine going through some of the vulnerable and hard times in my life with adding relationships or guys chasing me, or even the thought of being promiscuous too early.
Secondly, I am grateful that I can help people feel comfortable around me. This might not seem like it's related to weight, but one fat joke, one crack about reality or food or just being different and I can usually diffuse differences and help people realize that I'm secure with myself and like to laugh at myself sometimes. I don't know if this one is making sense, but I promise I mean it in a good way ;)

Anyhow. I love you all.
Be happy and healthy!
-Jenny

30 for 30 - Days 21 & 22

Courtney:
Wed - 1
Thurs - 1
Total - 9 1/2

Moving up in the world :)

I've had some pretty productive days recently. I re-activated my account with LA Fitness - I had the membership while I lived in San Diego, but I put it on hold while I had been out of work. It felt good to finally getting back to working my body. Cause let's be real, walking has been the extent of my "workouts" the past few weeks. But now I'm back in the game :)

And this little lady explains the hardest part. Get out of your own way! Be productive! And happy TGIF to everyone :)

Jenny:
W: 1
Th: .5
Total: 11.5

Oh man...you guys...18 credits wasn't the best idea I ever had.
I just started my new job today as a personal assistant/caretaker and even though it doesn't require a lot physically (yet) it has drained me mentally.
It could be because of my course load too, but still...I'm tired.

Today was good though. I really love this job. I get to help a good friend of mine that I taught as a missionary in Portland. He is going to school here and needs someone to help him with time management, meal planning and taking meds, etc.
In my Child Development and Psychology classes I'm learning a lot about people with different disabilities and it's been neat to live what I'm learning.

In other news, I'm excited for my fitness class tomorrow since we're doing kickboxing! Wooohooo!!
My exercise Wed is from that class. I had to do a fitness assessment and I'll do another one midterm and as a final. I'm excited to see how I progress. I have a lot of body fat (we had it measured), but I am pretty flexible. I beat a lot of the "skinny" girls on the flexibility tests, but push ups and jump rope nearly killed me. I am determined to get better!
I'm giving myself a half point for today for walking around all of campus, running errands for our new apartment and helping a couple in our ward move...they live upstairs!! I definitely worked up a sweat a few times today!

If I'm struggling with anything lately it's hunger and calorie intake. Gotta keep myself in check before I become a garbage disposal. Ed and I are researching all sorts of protein and other things we need to do to help our workouts have more effect on our bodies. Should be good :)

Hope you laugh or smile today.
Be happy and healthy!
-Jenny

30 for 30 - Days 18 - 20

Jenny:

18: 0
19: 1
20: .5
Total: 10

Ok, so I will admit that I got kind of lazy and busy this weekend and didn't exercise. I probably could have, but I really wanted to get ready for a new semester Monday, so I didn't.

However, despite that little rain cloud, there is sunshine! I mentioned on the Facebook page today that I was accepted into an aerobics class! I am required to work out 4 times a week, keep a food and exercise log and I will even get to use a heart monitor as part of a project for class. I am excited to begin learning more about how to be healthy.

I went to the gym today and did the bicycle machine (is there a better name for it?) for just a few minutes before Ed was done with class. I also TREKED uphill for class this morning...and will have to do that every Mon, Wed and Fri mornings. I signed up for classes that are on opposite sides of campus! Duh! You see Child Development is my 7:45am class and is on the far North side of campus. Then I have Psychology on the Southern-most tip of campus. After that is this Aerobics class and that is on the far North-West side of campus. So needless to say, I either need to get in shape to do this, or doing this will force me to get in shape!

For my picture, I thought I'd go the inspirational route. I know there are moments I was chocolate more than the elliptical. There are days I long for laziness and relaxation rather than sweat and discomfort. I also know that not one day goes by that I don't see the effect of my weight on my quality of life. I often look at other women's bodies and wonder if I will ever look as wonderful or fit as they do. I also think a lot about Motherhood and the habits and traits I want to pass along to my kids. I want them to have a disciplined Mother, with healthy habits that bless their lives. I want to pass on a legacy of health and happiness and I cannot sacrifice that for the instant pleasures of the day.

Love you all. Keep moving forward!
xoxo Jenny

**Tuesday update: Today was SO CRAZY and I have to be up for my 7:45 am class tomorrow, so this will be quick. (It's past midnight now.)
I had I-Night tonight. It's a big carnival type thing for new and returning students to come to for games, challenges, hanging out and getting to know people. It also features some groups on campus, which included my comedy troupe.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE performing, but our first show was a total bust...barely any laughs and a lot of awkward silences or people saying, "awww" when someone made a funny jab at another character. Not the kind of energy we were expecting.
Luckily the second show of the night was MUCH better. It was rather emotional and exhausting, though, to give your all to something and have it feel like a failure.
I'm giving myself a half point today because Ed and I did a ton of walking this morning as we shopped for new semester items and some much needed furniture.
We are moving to the downstairs apartment in our house and we're stoked, but it's much bigger and we need to have legit furniture!
This was supposed to be short, right...sheesh.
Anyhow, if any of you have performed in any kind of theatre, it can be quite a workout. Me and the other girls on the cast had about 5 random dance parties, then we gave all we could to our characters. In one scene I throw myself on the ground and have a fit. Also, I went up and down the stairs by the theatre about a hundred times!
Anyhow...I promise to give you an update about my fitness class tomorrow :D
LOVE YOU ALL!
-Jenny



Courtney:
Sat - 0
Mon - 0
Tue - 0?
Total - Still 7 1/2

Note to self - don't ever start a new semester, a new full time job, and your period at the same time. These past few days have not been my finest. I have been an emotional and physical train-wreck since I got back from San Diego, and I'm just trying to work through it. I know that I need to be better, in a lot of aspects in my life, but I'm taking it one day at a time.

New full time nanny job includes running around after 2 toddlers, starting at 5:30 every morning. It's all I can do to stay awake during nap time to do homework, make necessary phone calls, or make little updates like this on my laptop. Once I get off work, I'm headed straight to the gym, to re-open my account at LA Fitness and then I'll hope and pray that I can wiggle the monthly dues down so that it will fit into my monthly budget. I plan on taking my nanny kids on a long walk, but that's going to be completely dependent on how freakishly bipolar the weather is feeling today. Which has also been part of my downfall, because of the 4 days of rain, I've been seriously lacking in my vitamin D / sunshine / happiness.

Also, I'm starting this new semester off with a bang, and it has been a hellish nightmare for the past 48 hours. Right now I'm an online student through BYU-Idaho, but I'm trying to change that so that I can bean on-campus student in the fall for my Bachelors (why am I trading in Florida for Idaho, you ask? Because I'm crazy, and only a certified lunatic would do what I'm doing). But I've hit about one brick wall after another trying to get everything set up in the fall, while I start the spring semester, and I haven't met one helpful person in the ten various offices that I've had to call. I would just give up now if I didn't know that it's where Heavenly Father wants me to go. So I've just got to suck it up and wait till He fixes everything, cause I've done my part.


Anyway, this isn't a blog for me to vent out my frustrations, it's for everyone to be motivated and healthy and happy! So since Jenny already provided you with some motivational encouragement, I will include some humor for your day. If you're struggling like me, just focus on what you can control, and we'll get through it eventually. There's gonna be a light at the end of the tunnel right?!

Keep your head in the game, people.

30 for 30 - Days...17 - Jeni

Today: 1
Yesterday: 1
Total: 8.5 (I finally went back and counted!)

Oh hello there...I know, we're practically strangers after all this time I haven't blogged. I'm so sorry. This week is my Spring Break and I think I just kind of "checked out" on a lot of things. Good thing the new semester starts next week and I will be back to a very structured schedule, which will include blogging and food and exercise recording.

In the meantime, here's the damage. After that cold that kicked my butt (and still likes to send me reminders in the morning that my throat is sore, etc.) I tried to jump back into the routine I was doing at the gym, but it was rough. I went with my husband to the gym on Monday and woke up feeling even more sick on Tuesday.

Wednesday was a fluke. I wanted to go to the gym, but somehow between babysitting and caring for my husband who had caught my cold, it just didn't happen.

However yesterday and tonight we went to the gym together and it's been so much fun. I am VERY motivated by him being there with me. I also feel like I can push through the hard parts of my workout a lot better than before! I'm getting stronger.

I really want to run a 5K in July, so I want to do the "couch to 5K" program sometime soon. I will post about it, promise. If I end up doing that I will need to structure my time at the gym a little differently.

Right now, I do 30 minutes of cardio (usually the elliptical, but I did the treadmill today and like that a lot too) and then focus on one part of my body to work on for another 10-20 minutes. Then I stretch and head home.

I really love the set up of the BYU-I gym and how many machines and how much variety they have. They have things I've never even seen as a 3 year member of 24 hour fitness. I am impressed and sometimes overwhelmed, but mostly just glad to have a place I can go where the dress code is modest and we all know the doctrine of the body :)

My picture today isn't funny, but man is it true! I needed this and many other affirmations I recently pinned. :) Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

That's all for now. I promise I will be better. Thanks for hanging in there. Love you all!

Be happy and healthy!
xoxo

30 for 30 - Days 13-17 - Courtney

Courtney:

Monday - 0

Tuesday - 1

Wednesday - 0
Thursday - 1/2
Friday - 0

Total - 7 1/2

One of my friends told me that San Diego brings me good luck. Not only did I get 3 different job offers for back home in Florida while I was vacationing in SoCal, I ALSO LOST 5 POUNDS.

Score for Courtney :) I haven't seen that scale so much as budge throughout all our healthy changes and challenges. And I wasn't moving my body any more than normal, and I would split a green smoothie with a girl friend almost every morning, which is nothing new. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, I will take what I can get! It just doesn't make any sense. But what can I say? San Diego loves me :)

Right now (Wednesday) I'm running on like 2 short power naps, because I got ZERO sleep last night - flying red-eye without Dramamine is a setup for a pretty hellish night. I didn't get airsick at all, I just couldn't fall asleep. I have a bad habit of staying up late, regardless of what side of the country I'm on, and with all my recent time traveling, my body was probably in freak-out mode, trying to figure out what it should do. So my plane landed this morning, I took a shower and a short nap, and I went to a babysitting job. Came home and took another nap, and then went to a job interview. I then realized that I had started my period (sorry to any male readers) but that is just added stress to my already worn out body. So this blog entry might come out a little delusional, but I'm going to finish this update before I conk out for good.

Tuesday my workout included running up and down flights of stairs while helping a friend move out of his apartment, and literally running across the airport, after realizing that I was supposed to be checking in at United Airlines, not US Airways. #storyofmylife

Thursday I took my nanny kids on a walk to the park just down the street, and I was thriving in the humidity :) am I weird that I love it so much? The weather was so dry and cool while I was in Cali, so being back in sunshine and warmth was good for me.

Friday - The rest of the week has been me recovering from some serious jet lag, and jumping right back into working full time. I got my first paycheck today :) and I'm making some serious goals for myself next week. I'm determined to kick the rest of this month in the junk!

As for Jenny, I'm sure you'll be hearing about her weekly update soon enough.

Best of luck to the rest of you and your goals too! :)

30 for 30 - Days 11 & 12

Courtney:
Friday - 1/2
Saturday - 1/2
Total - 6!

That's only half, haha...

I need to step it up.

Life has been crazy the past few days, because I've just been running around helping with one of my friend's weddings in San Diego. But with all the heavy lifting and decorating and body moving activities, I can safely say that I get half a point for each day.

In other great news, I might have a job when I get back home! :D I've been invited to a couple interviews, but I know for sure there's this one nanny mom that needs some help the day that I get back. So I'll be getting paid, woo hoo!!! That also means that once I get a steady income again, I can go back to the GYM!!!! :D and then this challenge is going to be on like Donkey Kong. Keep that in mind, Jeni! ;)

Yesterday started out pretty rough, but I had a fantastic day at church, and I was taught many things by the Spirit, even from lessons that I had already heard before. I'm just so blessed, even in my trials - even on a Monday! ;) And I'm so grateful that the Lord is aware of me, and he wants me to be happy and successful, and he provides for me, even when I don't expect it, or deserve it.

Matthew 6:28 - "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:" <3


Jeni:

Last few days: 0
Today: 1
Total: Still don't know.

So, being sick is lame...as we all know, and I've seriously done nothing but sleep, eat, go to church and leave the house one other time.

It's been necessary, but really hurt my good streak of working out. Especially since I was working my way to more time and harder resistance.

In any case, today I'm feeling better, but Ed is super sick now :(

I'm also babysitting my neighbors newborn. So fun! Ed and I talked about working out later today, but if he's still sick, I doubt we'll go.

Being sick doesn't give me a very big appetite, so I haven't eaten a lot, but Ed has ensured that I'm getting at least some protien and starch in my dinners.

I am anxious to feel 100% and jump back into things.

My funny picture is a little jab at all of us who have used every excuse in the book to not take responsibility for our actions. Funny, but true.

I'm gonna get back to watching this precious baby take her nap :)

Be happy and healthy, loves!
xoxo

UPDATE: Just got back from the gym with Ed. He is stoked about getting back in shape too, so it will be nice to have multiple workout buddies :)

I have a couple of thoughts. First of all, a good playlist can make or break a work out session. Second of all, working out ALWAYS ends up being worth it and I'm always a lot happier and more satisfied when I go.

Lastly, I have a couple of exciting announcements for the upcoming months, but I'm finalizing a lot of things, so please keep praying and pulling for Courtney and I to be able to make our health a priority and be successful!

I can't end without a quick tidbit about the tragic bombing that happened in Boston today. There is evil in this world and there is good. There were tragedies that happened, including the little 8 year old girl who died, but there is always a lesson to be learned and a beautiful side to tragedy. I posted this picture earlier on FB from Mr. Rogers and I believe with my whole heart there is always good to be seen in moments of disaster. God lets bad things happen to good people, but He never leaves them alone.

My prayers are with you all <3

30 for 30 - Days 9 & 10

Jeni:

Today: 1
Yesterday: 0 :(((

So I got the days mixed up...and since we don't count Sunday, yesterday was actually day 9 and today is day 10.

I have a cold, so I'm sorry if this is short and scattered.

Yesterday I got into my work out clothes, drove to Rexburg to work out and then my husband basically said I couldn't workout because he was given some Elk meat from a friend that we needed to get home ASAP. Once we got home and ate dinner, his mission buddy came over to stay for a few nights...we all stayed up until about 2am chatting. So...blame my husband! ;) I feel lame about it, but I really feel like it was out of my control. I TOOK 3 FINALS THAT DAY! I accomplished something...right?

Ok, so today Ed wanted to hang out with some other buddies in town and so I spent all day on campus. I worked out HARD to make up for missing yesterday. Totally hit that point in cardio where I wanted so badly to stop, but then my favorite Imagine Dragons song came on and I finished! Felt so good. Then I focused on legs and upped my weight on all the machines. I did close to 50 reps on each machine. Either in increments of 10 or 15.

I had one other paper to write for a final and did that today too. I also ate really well and drank more water than I have been.

I posted a video about exercise on my personal facebook, but I will put it on the BwB facebook page as well.

Ok, funny picture was stolen from a lady I taught on my mission. It's sad, but true. I don't think I even want to be "smokin'," but I don't think I would be anyhow. Today I had another sad moment about the scale not changing, but I also had a really good moment when I watched that video and it said that it's still better for your health to exercise and be overweight than not to. That should be obvious, but when a doctor tells you on YouTube, that's when it's doctrine! ;)

Ok loves, I need some rest or I might be a sickling tomorrow! No bueno!

Love you all!
Be happy and healthy!
xoxo


Courtney:

Wednesday - 0
Thursday - 0
Total - still 5!

Being in San Diego, I'm finding it difficult to "work out" ... no, that's not entirely true. I'm just being pretty stinking lazy. Any free time is spent with my friends, or just relaxing. After all, this is technically my "spring break" so I'm trying to enjoy my vacation. Although I have pretty much incorporated healthy eating into my every day life, excepting the occasional dessert ;) and I even taught one of my friends here how to make green smoothies! Just spreading the natural love. Now I will bet that tomorrow and Saturday I will get a few half points because I will be part of the slave labor- er, I mean, setup and take down team, for my friend's wedding.

But in other news, I finished reading Divergent. And I have a problem - I don't have the sequel.

PS: Also, I watched Hunger Games the other night, and it made me miss Jeni <3