Challenging the Stars

An Archer's observations on daily life -- Earth

[jupitersarcher]

So i'm on the fourth day of the fitgirl plan. I like it a lot. I'm not eating as much as I was before with the 6 small meals during the day. If I was moving more, it would make sense. Right now my days and nights are blurred together and moving - with it being so cold out - isn't happening as much as I'd like. Even today, I had a 5 am call and I got up at 4:30 am thankfully to check it was confirmed. 

I've had meetings back to back all morning and I love my job no doubt. I would be working out now, but I have more emails to hit up and things to knock out.

I also have cupcakes to make for my son's class and a few cards to get for Valentines Day. I get more cards for people than I receive always lol

Anyways, back to the meal plan, I love it! Street tacos are easy to make and tons better with the sweet potatoes and portobello mushrooms. 

The pita pizza was amazing! I've been on my water/lemon/mint kick daily as before, so no major change for me there. 

The fridge oats have grown on me even more and I set up my last three last night and one this morning. Killed it. I need more chia seeds for sure! Home goods, here I come this weekend!

I'm ready to see what week two holds in store. The only things holding me back is just getting a full workout in that lasts more than 20 minutes. I plan to keep up the meal plan and look to move more as the weeks go by. If i had a treadmill in my room and a stationary bike, I could hit quicker before going to bed. Something to invest in for sure next year. 

The meals = Awesomeness and nothing new or strange in the way of eating fresh veggies and fruit. My hard boiled eggs are nothing new and I had one this morning with breakfast because I'm so full with dinner, I can barely get an egg down lol

So, week one is almost over and I'm ready to go shopping for week two! 

Let's keep going!

[jupitersarcher]

FitGirl! - Give it a whirl

So I've tried so many meal plans and many of them have worked for me. It's all a combo of fitness and a balanced meal. The thing is with my body, after about a month, it adjusts and then I end up gaining and still slimming but then the meal plans don't work. I increase calories to balance out my routine and then I drop calories because I end up bulking up when I want to loose.

So I'm giving FitGirl a try. I saw it on instagram through a few other health food accounts I follow and the results of various women in different sizes is what caught my eye. It wasn't a small girl who was already thin and wanted to loose bloat for a bikini. It is older women, women who have kids, stretch marks, heavy stomachs and big thighs like me. I'm not fat, but I don't feel healthy the way I usually do. I'm active as is; biking, jogging, running, working out and more when it is warmer. You can't stop me. I used to do tons more; rock climbing, day hiking, hashing (running with beer lol #onon) and much more. 

I just had breakfast about an hour ago and I'm still quite full. It was Fridge Oats with strawberries/bananas/frozen cherries. I was speculative of the meal but used to the ingredients it calls for and the oats since I'm an oatmeal and steel oat eater daily. This meal literally is packed full of everything I'd eat for breakfast in various ways; smoothie, topping, full meal or side dishes with protein options. After the first few bites I was like "meh". By the time I got down to the last few bites, I was completely full. I am still full and not sluggish. I actually felt the burst of energy from the chia seeds and felt the full feeling hit me from the oats and yogurt. I had a small cup of coffee right after with a drop of unsweetened almond milk. Quite tasty.

I'm not looking for a miracle, but something to help keep me focused while I motivate myself into a plan to help me stay on track with my meals and focus my energy into the right exercises. 

I will stay updated on here and keep moving!

JupitersA

[jupitersarcher]

How Many Ways?

If someone ever asked me "How many ways do you love that person?", how would I answer?

I can sit and think of how many ways that person annoys me...yes, my husband. The silly things he does, says and even the way he looks. 

The antics and habits that totally piss me off to no end, knowing good and well, they get my goat! I can go on about the misplacement of tools, how he'll make a mess and then say "I'll get it later!" (OMG NO< GET IT NOW! lol) and the small things like spending hours and hours on research for his Linux Box, researching picking the perfect rims and upgrades to his Caddy (though being smart, won't blow money on it until we eventually pay off major bills) and other things.

But all in all -- they are all small "things". The scheme of the pact of love, faith, honesty, trust, give and take and more we made to each other almost 4 years ago...they are all small things in the scheme of EVERYTHING.

Next May 2015 will be 4 years of marriage IN those almost 4 years, we will have been apart 2 1/2 of them. Due to the nature of his work and what he has had to do, what we have had to do as a family, we've had to be apart for him to take a job overseas.

Many have told me "I could not have done what you have done", "There is no way my significant other could leave", "How do you do it?" etc. etc. etc.

The most troubling thing is, being isolate and alone. Not just on my side, but his side. It's like a horrible blanket of gray matter someone throws on you and leaves you alone. No one calls. No one emails. No one texts or comes by. No one sends a birthday card or Happy New Years. you are just left out. People say "You are in my prayers" but never follow up with any type of reach out.

Beyond that constant isolated feeling, I go back to my faith and to the dedication and love He shows us.  His life isn't just on the line, but everything else for us.

I love how many ways:

Faith Kindness Dedication Loyalty Family Honesty Sacrifice Pain Honor Manhood Smilie Tears Power Powerful Knowing to never give up even in all odds

I love him in ways that I haven't even discovered yet, but those ways I pray to God, I can learn with many more years to come in our lives together. Even from a great distance, I can feel him. Even when we go days without communicating due to circumstances that are above us, I can feel him. I love him in ways that go beyond just a touch or a feel, or a hello. It's what he's given to me through our Son, who has been a greater strength to me than I can know.

Through our Son, I know God is stronger than anything physical and his testemonial to me to continue each day as if it was the best and hardest day of my life. Days I know I have experience and will experience again.

How Many Ways Do I love You? How Many Ways Do I Love Him?

I can't count. I can't say. I can't write down. I can't recited in a poem or vows long enough in this lifetime.

I can and will never know another like him that leaves me speechless, even in times with the silliest "Things" get on my nerves, it comes back to more Ways that I know that overpower them.

I pray for more years. I pray for more kisses, hugs, I love you's, more talks in the dark, more hands being held and more love to be shared. 

I love you more ways than I, than you, than anyone will ever know.

Thank you God for that love.

Jupiter

[jupitersarcher]

Making the best of everyday, everything, every breath

As we go into our 2nd deployment, I am more optimistic this time, as I know what to expect. It is harder this time since our son is almost 3.

I thought about this a lot, but "007" has only been home for 13 months of his life, while the rest of the time he has been overseas. Now, as we start the first full week of "007" back overseas in the desert, we will be back on the road of separation and isolation. Another 11-12 months.

I haven't cried this time. Is something wrong with me? Should I have balled like a baby at the airport?

I don't think so. It's not me. But I do find small things that show happiness, thankful deeds and more set me off onto a whim of crying like a baby wanting his mother.

Our son is a lot more clingy and scared of everything; the dark (normal), the house (uh?), can't find me, scared of the "man" in the room or the "kid" in the room. HE starts to make up things because he wants to stay on me. This morning it was scared of "the stairs" and coming down them crying. When I came around the corner, he lost his mind, screamed with his mouth open and flooding in tears and grabbed on me. I went from one room to the next and he had a fit because I wasn't with him in the other bed. He ran literally through the Jack & Jill bathroom to me, climbed up the bed and grabbed onto me, laid on my arm and told me not to leave, that I couldn't go and to stay. Then preceeded to tell me to take a nap and asked if we could stay home in bed? How I wish we could've, but life dictates something else now and other responsibilities we can't change at this time. 

So up and out we went.

Attachment issues are big and he is scared of being "left" and asks for his "Big Pillow" lately -- being "007". 

Sigh.

I have a lot going on. I'm just working to keep my head above ground and breath at each turn. 

This time, faith won't be waved and I know what to expect, though it won't be easier -- especially the isolation and lack of support from others near me. I just go and go and go.

One day, I will be able to actually STOP and just smell the grass, take in the sun on my face and not feel so rushed.

It will come for us. It will. I am staying positive.

I am by nature, a true Sag Archer Girl.

~ Jupiter

[jupitersarcher]

Starting week 3 of the 21 day fix

With some Maroon 5 "Maps" to get me going today, I am feeling good as far as my body.

I am starting week 3 of my challenge (1st go around) and I weighed myself this morning. I missed part of my workout last night due to a rain storm, loosing power and then falling behind on a list of things that needed to get done. I was able to squeeze in a 10 minute ab routine, of which I will be doing 3xs a week. I've lost 2 and 1/8th lbs so far in 2 weeks. I am so happy with that result. My pants and clothing fits looser already in the right spots that I want and need to target. 

I plan on doing my legs workout tonight along with cardio at the same time.

I like the plan and I find it easy to stick with. My tastebuds have changed a lot, but to something familiar. I am using way way less salt in my food and have cut back way on the sugar, unless naturally in the fruit or veggies. I have used just about all of the veggies I bought at the farmers market and the super store (BJ's). My fruit supply is low so I'll have to get more tonight. 

My son is energized about me doing my exercise routines and asks me to do my pilates. Most of the time so he can stretch with me and then play on me as I am working out. As long as he see's me being active and eating well, he mimicks the good actions.

As soon as I get home, I change into my workout clothes; as to get my mind and body ready to workout within an hour after eating my early dinner. I usually have a salad or a small meal right when I get home and then wait an hour so it goes down. 

I have more energy for many things now...but I am still struggling to push through school. That's a whole other blog post though. 

I am more focused, I have energy after my morning shake which I drink on the way to work. And though I am tired when I get home from work to play with my son, when I am rested after about 15-20 minutes, I have more energy with my husband and don't feel tired or as if being with him was exhausting but leaving me wanting more. Roar...but he's just irresistible like that ;0) 

I plan to continue this style of eating and working out through the end of the year. The big test is when it gets cooler and I start my cravings of chocolate chip cookies, chai tea, pumpkin spice lattes and muffins in the winter. I like to bake cookies, muffins and more fun goodies in the winter for family, friends and neighbors. I may try and do some baking for volunteer work either for my son's school or a local group. 

The FIX as I call it, has really been more of a kickstart for me as I've eaten the 5-6 meals before and exercised. I like the DVD's with each day changing and I find myself picking and choosing what I can do each day. If I can't get to the DVD, then I just do my 30 minutes of a strong walk with my son or alone. As it gets cooler, I want to get a stationary Schwin bike to put in the basement and switch it up between the bike and the eliptical machine. I get great results on a treadmil, but one thing at time. 

This has been a really great ride so far and I don't plan on getting off until I get my goal of 10-15 lbs by the start of Fall. 

I'm thankful for my friends getting me on this ride and I am super grateful! 

[jupitersarcher]

UP and on the 2nd week of the 21 day fix

Okay so I had some setbacks in the last few months. But I have rejuvinated myself by joining friends in the 21 Day Fix. I am starting week 2 this week and I already feel great.

My face is leaner, my headaches are gone (unless when I am stressed) and I feel wonderful inside and out. My plan is to tone up, slim down, and hopefully loose about 5 lbs or so in the next three weeks. I am walking daily and working out with the DVD workout plans that came with it. I Feel good and I have some major goals to hit personally for the 2nd half of the year.

Get back into Education

Push on my Degree and getting it approved this Summer

Loose weight and tone up

Get back nicely into my size 12's and hopefully size 10's by winter and keep it off

I plan to keep my hair short the rest of the year 

Get an exercise bike for the gym

Pick back up on my drawing or reading

Learn how to cook something I've never cooked before - either a baked good or something exotic

Pay off all credit cards

Learn to drive a stick V8

Make it through the rest of the year alive with my family alive with me!

Onto week 2...I plan to weigh and measure myself Thursday morning to see how I feel.

Happy 4th!

~ Jupiter

[jupitersarcher]

Moving forward - Shredder!

So I am back on the grind after my second surgery. My mister has returned from Afghanistan and I became very ill and full of anxiety and stress just before his return. After spending a month or two from working out and then working to get my diet back on track along with my health. 

I am on the Super Shred and I started on March 17th (Guinness Day). So far I have lost 1.5 lbs and I feel much better already. I have more strength and a little extra boost. I was able to get my husband into my pilates routine and we plan to keep it up 3xs a week. We even got our little rumbler to stretch and workout with us. I plan to stay on this process for 4 weeks total and I hope to loose at least 10 lbs. If I do, that will be a huge milestone for me and just the start of me loosing 10 more in spring or summer. My goal is to maintain my loss and work on toning and then working on my yoga right after. All of this is to set me up for getting my body ready to support my mind while I get back to studying for my PhD. I need to feel good physically so my mind can focus otherwise on studying and finish up a form that I need to get submitted to begin my dissertation correctly.

I'll check back in, in two weeks with my status on how I'm feeling mentally and physically as well as how much I've improved my body with 3x's a week of pilates and 2x's a week with cardio. Hopefully I'll have lost a few more lbs and inches and be ready to go for jogs with my family, bike rides by the lake and afternoons on the jungle gym with my little Jungle Jim :0)

Onward

Forward

Keep Moving.

Jupiter's A

[jupitersarcher]

Breaking Bad Lately...but just right on time

So I am late, 5 seasons too late but never late enough where you can't appreciate and love a good/great show.

I am back on my love of Netflix, as cable has been cancelled (probably for good this time) and I'm back on Hulu, Netflix and Amazon Prime videos. (yes). Also YouTube has come in handy for videos, cartoons for my son and more fun finds.

Anyways, while he watches his favorite cartoons and I am working or trying to study, I can also watch Netflix on my tablet or computer (duel screen). I started up with Breaking Bad Sn. 1. I actually had watched the pilot and the 2nd and 3rd episode when it first aired but fell out of it due to other priorities at the time; work, school, moving in with my soon-to-be husband and a million other things I had going on at the time. I would catch an episode here and there but now I have a chance to make a bit more time and watch them online, I can appreciate the greatness of Heisnberg and boy, he is winning me over fast! I am just about addicted already to this show as I became when I went back to watch the first season of Scandal to catch up to Season 3. I can't even anticipate what may or may not happen, but just hanging on for the ride. Once i finish this show, a day I am already not looking forward to, I plan to start on Game of Thrones or House of Cards. I haven't had a chance to really get into tv or shows for that matter in a long time. I am glad to say, Breaking Bad is great; characters, stories and even the craziness of it and the "what would you do?" type of scenarios. 

I am already a little tired of Jessie's "What up B!tch!" but honestly, I am from San Diego and I've heard and seen worse from wannabe's....terribly entertaining. ha!

I am and will be a BB head! Let's keep going!

~ Archering high today

[jupitersarcher]

$5 dollar footlong no more

I honestly don't eat out much...as you may note from my first post. So now Subway has come out saying "sorry we use yoga mat poison in our bread because we wanted it to be whiter and rise faster. didn't mean to poison you...our bad, we'll stop." Thank you. I haven't eaten at Subway in months, almost a year at that. I used to get a 6 inch after a workout and it would fuel me so I could get that extra burst and extra protein along with my smoothie. I know I can, and have made better sandwiches at home. I used whole wheat pita bread, naan or just whole grain bread loafs from the local bakery. I have even gone all out and purchased a hot out of the oven loaf from Panera. A year or so ago, I was always at our local farmers market getting fresh breads, vegetables, fruits and even angus beef from a local German butcher. It's true what they say, you never know what's on your plate, even if they say it's cow, it could be kangaroo. 

So, no more Subway for me ever again. I will happily drive past it even if I'm starving, or I'd rather get a bag of cheetos and crunch those. I know for a fact that that red stuff is not natural, but at least I already know it! 

Organic yes...yoga mat filler, no thank you!

5

5

5 dollar Pilates mat...any any any

#nothanksJared

[jupitersarcher]

So...I've landed -- and will not eat at Olive Garden again

Just a quick intro: I just landed back here --

I've taken a time away from Social Media and figured I'd come back in the form of a person that is seeing things with a sharper tongue and clearer vision. A lot changes in a year and a half when you go away and come back.

So this time, I come back bearing news of how much I dislike eating out at the lower end restaurants.  I don't eat out much - if at all. When I do, it's Vietnamese food (my staple if Pho Gah), fresh Thai or Chinese. When I feel like being a glutton, I'll get a burger and fries or just a burger and go home and have chips or a salad with it. That happens like once a month when I just feel like eating out -- and when I do, I don't feel guilty about it since I cook fresh at home, make smoothies, salads, fruit salads and eat as organic as possible for me and my family. No soda's in the house, organic juices and no milk other than Almond or 2% for my son. Yes, I do get crazy and heaven forbid, I feel like eating a Pringle or sometimes I'll even get a small thing of Chips A'Hoy cookies. Again, that's like once in a blue moon.

I went to a Red Lobster a few months back with a family member as a way to treat them. We both ordered healthy low sodium meals. What we got was below par and as soon as got home, we both had to run to the restroom. We didn't get drinks or even dessert and we were sent to the sick bin!

Today, I was treated to a company lunch at dun dun dun, the Olive Garden, Red Lobsters evil fake Italian brother.

As I had said before, I never really out that much so my taste buds have changed completely. Even eating a burger out compared to when I make a Bison burger at home with fresh veggies and low sodium, it tastes completely different and doesn't sit heavy on me; compared to a Wendy's burger. 

I ordered what I figured would not be too bad; a grilled chicken lasagna *530 calories*. It was very light, very little seasoning and of course has two small plates of the salad and indulged on a breadstick. I don't eat bread much at all and when I do, it's whole grain pita bread. Heck, I have all but stopped eating at Subway (too fake tasting). By the time the food came, it wasn't piping hot, just enough to have come out and sat out for a good 4 minutes before it got to me. The first bite was "okay". I knew it wasn't going to be great. By the time I got into the 4th bite, I knew I was done. I finished just half of it and then asked for a box. I can't eat much anymore anyways, so I knew I wasn't going to be able to even finish it all. Some of the salad tasted like dirt, the drink I had was okay and the lasagna was not well seasoned, the chicken left little the imagination as some of it was cooked too much and seasoned just okay on the outside. My 2 year old could cook pasta better. 

The coating on my tongue that I currently have lets me know either there was too much sodium, or just how they cook it.  As of now, I am holding down the food but I have no desire to go back to Olive Garden again. Even if I was given a gift card, I'd give it away. No lie. Red Lobster, T.G.I.F's, Olive Garden, Ruby Tuesday's...all of them. I can't win there anymore. Maybe a year of not going out to dinners and lunches  and spending $45 on two plates that I know I could fix healthier and better tasting food at home has changed me completely. Not to sound uperechelony, but I would happily pay $100 for a top notch 5 star meal if I were to go out. I can't do the 3 course meals for $20 or even a half salad with a soup that tastes like canned salt with some flavoring and a few shrimp thrown in there. 

Lesson learned -- no more low brow restaurants. I can't anymore...my stomach can't anymore, my body can't anymore. Just no, no thanks. 

My stomach is rumbling...time to run to the bathroom and go water the garden!

Jupiter --- Out