Check out them icicles!
a small success
I jogged on the treadmill for a warm-up yesterday. It was the first time I’ve attempted to jog for a set amount of time since I began training. When my warm-up was finished I wasn’t tired, I wasn’t out of breath, and I wasn’t sweating to death. It was the best feeling ever. The rest of my work-out was hard and wonderful…but that small success was the best part of my day.
no pain, no gain
Yes, I’m sore. Yes, it’s worth it. Here’s what last week’s training looked like.
Monday– 30 minutes cross-training; 15 min on treadmill, 15 min on bike.
Tuesday– 3 mile walk outside hills; 400 ft. elevation gain
Wednesday–REST (should’ve don strengthening and stretching, but we were in Provo all day, plus I needed a rest since I was super sore)
Thursday– 3 mile walk outside hills; 400 ft. elevation gain
Friday– 30 minute cross-training; 10 min bike, 10 min eliptical, 10 min treadmill. Also total body circut training
Saturday– 3 mile walk outside hills; 400 ft. elevation gain
Sunday–REST
The Friday weight training is what really got my calves sore. It’s working itself out though. I know I “should” be running, but I needed this first week to get strong enough so I don’t hurt myself when I start jogging. This week I up it to four miles and I’ll jog more of the routes. I’m going to strength train on Mon, Wed, and Fri in addition to my cross-training. Hopefully that will boost my metabolism a little more.
I kept my calorie intake below 2ooo all week— usually between 1600-1800. It feels really good to be tracking everything. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve felt this good. I’m excited to go to the gym tomorrow!!!!!!!!! Happy Training Friends.
snowy paradise
Welcome to our snowy paradise. Check out the icecicles, aren’t they awesome. Church was cancelled today because of the amount of snow that had fallen overnight. Even more than that was the fact that people couldn’t get out of driveways and/or up the hill into our community. The snow has even started to accumulate against our bedroom window. It’s so beautiful. Of course, Adam had to go check on his tent–it’s still holding (see pic below). He also drove the atv around helping people who needed it. My dear husband said he’s going to sleep in the tent again to compare it to his last experience. Supposedly, it’s warmer now because the snow is insulating it. Whatever. :) Love you, honey! One of my favorite things about the snow here in Logan is seeing the deer tramp through it. They come down to forage and play in our backyards and fields. Amazing!!! Adam and I say, bring on the snow. Oh yeah, I finally scrapped two new layouts. It’s been about a month and I finally feel up to it. I am loving using all my new product. Thanks mom and Adam. I love my Christmas presents.
Thanks, Jaimee Marie
TENÂ YEARS AGO…
i was 21 and a junior at BYU gearing up to turn my mission papers in. That was an excellent semester. My family came down to send my brother off on his mission, my roommates and neighbors were to die for, and I thoroughly enjoyed my campus job referring intramural waterpolo and basketball. My dear friend, Jessica, was also at BYU (a freshman in the dorms at the time), which made things even better. We would exercise, tromp to the cadaver lab in the dark snowy hours of the morning, and eat lunch at the WILK. It was a great semester!!!
FIVEÂ THINGS ON MY TO DO LIST TODAY…
1. Go To Church–well at least think about it…we’re snowed in and church is cancelled
2. Scrapbook–yeah, that still hasn’t happened, and I meant to start yesterday. I must get three layouts done by bedtime.
3. Play Cards–so far I’m kickin` some royal bootie…but there’s still two rounds left. Jaimee and Adam better watch their backs.
4. Update The Blog–check!!!
5. Update Training and Food Log–I’m doing awesome…only 11 more weeks till SLC, baby.
THINGS I ENJOY…
bubble baths, scrapbooking, kissing hubby, blogging, temple dates, massages, yoga, lunch with girlfriends, three layers of butter on my popcorn at the movies…don’t forget the salt, more scrapbooking, more blogging, dreaming of my Colombian babies, talking to my girlfriends, weekend escapes, snow, swimming, moose tracks ice cream, long walks when the stars are out, checking off my lists, more kissing hubby, facials, memorial day weekend, crossing off days on my calendar, friendships that matter, eating out, women’s conference, africa, traveling in general, peanut m&m’s, diet coke…………
THREE BAD HABITS…
1. Never finishing the last of anything i.e. milk jug, ice cream carton, soda can…drives Adam crazy
2. Checking my email twenty times a day to see if there’s any more “adoption” news
3. “Pouting” when I don’t get a back scratch at night
FIVE PLACES I’VE LIVED…
1. Yakima, Washington
2. Provo, Utah
3. Taichung, Taiwan
4. Las Vegas, Nevada
5. Logan, Utah
FIVEÂ JOBS I’VE HAD:
1. intramural official (volleyball, basketball, waterpolo)
2. youth activities coordinator (upward bound, washington)
3. teacher (taiwan, washington, nevada)
4. online rater (holistic scoring for the praxis, cahsee, and toeic exams)
5. house wife (best job ever!!!)
FIVE THINGS PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT ME…
Well, I just did this sort of a few months ago so I’m not sure I have much left in me:
1. My first major in college was Dietetics
2. I taught myself to play piano on my grandma’s organ at the age of seven (mom enrolled me in lessons soon after and bought me a piano)
3. I knew the first moment Adam smiled and spoke to me that I could (and would) marry him
4. I LOVE sugar-free kool-aid. I could drink it all day, every day
5. I am currently reading “Eat, Pray, Love” “Forever Lily” and “Handbook to International Adoption”
FIVE PEOPLE I AM TAGGING…
Jaime, Jena, Jessica, Jill, and Valerie!
adam’s backyard campout
Adam had his own little campout last week. Just him, his tent, and the backyard. He tried to get me to snuggle with him, but I said, “no way.” Why would I want to trek into the house through the snow to use the bathroom during the night when I could have the king size bed all to myself. So Adam loaded up his arms with flashlight, sleeping bag, and coat. He had a great time. It gave him the chance to try out our new tent–well it’s actually a year old, but had never been set up–and to test out the warmth of his sleeping bag.
Spencer wanted to get in on the camping action, but alas, he’s a bit too little yet. Adam is sooooooo excited to bring our children home from Colombia. He can’t wait to have little ones to pal around with. He can barely contain his excitement for next year when he’ll have boys to take on campouts and hikes.
the king and i, take two…
Elk Park
On Saturday, we went to the Hardware Ranch, a wildlife management area created in 1945 by the state of Utah. Each winter, hundreds of elk gather in the valley to be fed for the winter. In the ’40s, the elk caused too many problems by foraging in people’s yards throughout Cache Valley, so the state created this place to keep them out of trouble.
During the winter, they have sleigh rides through the herd. Our guide told us that the elk are bullies; if deer try to come get the hay, they are summarily forced out! On the way up there, I even saw a moose! (They get kicked out by the elk too.) I never knew there were moose in Utah.
Brooklynn brought her friend and next-door neighbor Braden. He is one of the cutest and most photogenic kids around. Lots of snowballs thrown! All in all, a great Saturday.
Temple Worship
I love the temple. We went to the Ogden Temple after our homestudy interview yesterday (Adam wanted to check it off his “list”). It was a glorious session. I think temple attendance is my most favorite thing about being LDS. We can now get back to our standing weekly temple date.
Please, go to the temple my friends. Go as much as you can. Go every week. And, if you can’t go every week, go once every two weeks or once a month…but don’t go longer than that if proximity allows. It makes our lives better, it makes our marriages stronger, it makes our testimonies deeper, it makes our connection with the divine clearer. Go when you’re sad, go when you’re happy, go when you don’t feel like or you think you’re too busy…Just Go.
I am grateful for temples.
“Rachel, you know…”
I have visited three different doctors over the past six weeks for various baby/adoption reasons and they have all told me the same thing, “Rachel, you know, it would probably be a good thing if you lost some weight. It might help with….(take your pick)” And what am I thinking–**Actually, No, I didn’t know. I thought it was just bloating. Could you tell me again how FAT I’ve become? Could you tell me one more time how my fertility, current health, and future mortality all hinge on this one factor. That would really help my body image and self-esteem (wink, nod). * *
Okay, seriously, here’s the skinny (ha ha). The doctors are right, duh! Hello, I can’t even look at the scale when they weigh me. As far as I know, I’m in good health (except for that whole baby thing)…great blood pressure, blood sugar, and pulse. But I want to keep it that way. If this had been a previous miscarriage, I would’ve fallen back into the ooey gooey chocolatey goodness of ice cream and not come out for a long long long time. But I can’t blame the sadness of the miscarriages anymore. It’s not fair to me, my husband, or my future children.
I did lose a little weight before this last miscarriage. Now it’s time to get back on wagon. So, what to do? What to do? Hmm, I know, I’ll train for the SLC Marathon.
Okay, I’m only doing the 1/2 marathon and I’ll probably walk half of it. But that’s alright with me. It is the perfect goal for me right now. It’s how I kept fit before. And it’s the perfect thing to occupy me as I wait for adoption stuff to happen. THANKS JENA for the idea. She is coming up for it in April. Jena was my workout buddy before Adona and before we moved. I miss going to swim and do yoga with my best bud. She has a friend she is training with in Las Vegas. My hoped for training buddy (who shall remain nameless) informed me that HE doesn’t want to do it *Boo, Hiss*. That leaves me to myself. I can do it. I know I can. I think I’ll post a weekly mileage log here so my dear friends who read this can encourage me. Please encourage me. I NEED IT.