August 18th, 2008 by Robin

Yep…I have been fighting this for a week.  I think I am officially sick.  Last week a soldier carried his strep throat infected behind into my office.  He was really really sick…I thought I was careful…but apparently I picked up something from him.  My head hurts…nose is stuffed up…and my throat is killing me.  I tried to do a workout but was only able to get through 15 minutes before I felt like I was gonna collapse.  I’m going to take some Nyquil and pass out.  I will be back tomorrow…hopefully feeling better.

August 18th, 2008 by Robin

…what is it with us and Hurricanes?  It is almost like they are following us.  My family PCS’d from Germany in 2005.  We decided to stop off in New Orleans for a little while.  A Tropical Storm passed through and then the next week Hurricane Katrina.  I missed Katrina by a couple of days. 

 Florida hadn’t had a Hurricane in two years.  Now Florida is in the path of Fay…which is projected to become a Hurricane by tomorrow.  Guess where my husband is right now??

FLORIDA!

We must be doing the special Hurricane Rain Dance or something.

My husband said they may be evacuating them…which means added days to the school.  I am going to hold off buying plane tickets to meet him at the end of the class.  I have a feeling they will be adding on another week to his school.

Sigh

August 18th, 2008 by Robin

…and it was eventful!  I FINALLY got my day off of work last Friday.  I was so excited to NOT go in I didn’t know what to do with myself.  My Sister in Law, Kellie,decided to bring me damn near into Mexico.  We went to the Super Walmart in Douglas to go shopping and basically to get me as far away from Ft Huachuca as she could.  She had been fussing because I had been working really hard…and on the weekends.  I am starting to realize the NCOs in the Army have their hands full with the daily issues and drama of the soldiers.  I know my job isn’t even a piece of the stress that they deal with…but the issues and drama that I deal with is enough for me to bow down to each NCO I come across and scream “I’M NOT WORTHY!!” :)

Anyway…I went to Douglas…got some shopping done and broke a nail.  I was gonna wait until next week to get mt nails refilled but I was told by one of the soldiers that I am a Diva.  Me?? A Diva??  I would have never thunk it… So of course I had to get my nails done…my feet done…and my eyebrows waxed.  Doing one without the other makes no sense.  I didn’t workout on Friday due to TOM starting.  The first day of that for me usually means doing nothing but trying to stave off the pain.  Exercise is out of the question!  I did weigh myself:

153.2

Up a bit but I liken that to TOM and not food.  I do expect to see a loss this Friday since all the bloating the bitchiness will be a thing of the past.  I usually become Robzilla during TOM week.  Most males flee the area when they see me.  I really need to look into getting treatment for PMDD.  No PMS is that bad…

SO…Saturday rolls in and I decided to have two Midlife crisis moments.  I decided to get my nose pierced and get a new tattoo.  The tattoo was discounted by the artist because…

1. He thought I was “perfect“.  My daughter was FREAKING because the guy was flirting his tail off.  He was in his middle 40’s and just couldn’t get over that I am 39.  My child had to leave the area several times because she said that watching and listening to this guy hit on me was just “grody“.  It also didn’t help that I didn’t notice any of this until after she pointed it out to me.  I told her he was probably just jocking for a tip.  My daughter tells me that discounting a tattoo the size that I got by 75.00 was not him “trying to get a tip“…she says he was “trying to get a booty call“.  Whatever…
2. He was a “guest artist” from North Carolina.  That just may have been the reason it was discounted…still my daughter insists that it was “booty hunting“.  I wonder about that child..

I have been wanting this tattoo for almost three years.  I figured that it had to be the one since I still wanted the damned thing as much in present day.  I will get a picture of the “kitty cat” tat this evening and post it.  It was so funny.  When I was getting it about six Asian Pacific Islanders (that is the PC thing to say…right?) that own the China Buffet next door to the shop came in.  One of them was getting a tattoo…and the rest were there to support the kid I guess.  The female came right up to the chair and started to stare at my back.

 Oh yeah…I got a semi Tramp Stamp.  It is a lower back tattoo…but it is low enough where it doesn’t peek out and be obnoxious over my jeans.  Plus…it is just a kitty cat with some paws prints leading up to the cat. 

 Where was I??

The woman…

Well the woman was just staring at my back.  She was bent over staring at my lower back.  Then she called out to the 4 other MALES and had them come and stare at my lower back.  I was like…”Um…may I help you??”  BTW…while all this is going on…my nose starts to bleed because I had just pierced it…So uncomfortable.  Here I am…bloody nose, lower back exposed, getting stabbed in my spine while a guy was trying to hit one me, with 5 Asian Pacific Islanders all bent over staring at my back. Real cute and real sexy…   The female was all excited…pointing at my back and telling the guys something.  The Artist stopped what he was doing for a moment and glared at them…my daughters kept asking me if I was alright…and for some reason my leg and foot kept jumping into the air.  It was at that moment the tattoo artist reached the nerve in my spine that controlled my leg.  I was really expecting them to pull out cameras and start taking pictures.  Finally she asks me in broken English…”It hurts? I want THAT. It hurts??”  Now…I already found out that EVERYONE in the world has the dragon tattoo that I picked out for myself.  I haven’t seen this kitty cat/paw combo anywhere.  So of course I tell her…the pain is terrible.  It hurts really bad!  It didn’t really hurt but I at least wanted the tattoo for a day before someone else got the exact one in the same place.  So they all turn their attention to the kid getting his, guess, DRAGON TATTOO that is exactly like mine.  :)  I’m getting the dragon fixed some kind of way to make it look different.  I even saw this damned dragon on Angus Sutherland’s back from Lost Boys 2: The Tribe movie.  It is on Twelve Pack from I Love New York…and Angelina Jolie has this particular tat.  I believe this dragon will become a flower really soon.

So my weekend was spent recouping from getting the piercings and the tattoo done.  I did workout on Sunday.  I started with Dedication.  Billy will definitely get me into the shape that I have been wanting for a long time.  I have more inspiration to keep fit since I got this latest tattoo. 

I know I am going through my crisis…just like my husband did.  The difference between his crisis and mine is I am decorating myself with ink and jewelry.  He decorated himself with 20 year olds.  My daughter thinks my crisis is way cooler… I would have to agree.

I am working out tonight…I will be back later…

August 14th, 2008 by Robin

…eating some shrimp and crab meat pasta that I made last night.  It is low carb…and wonderful. If anything this lifestyle has caused me to learn how to adjust my cooking.  I am a master at making copycat recipes.  Everything that I cook has been adjusted to fit my lowcarb lifestyle.  Yep…even the people that took the turtle hostage (he is being interrogated as we speak) like my foods.

I am not a recipe person…I mainly cook by taste and by sight.  This is so good I will never eat Olive Garden again…my stuff tastes better anyway.

Lemme try to get the ingredients:

• 1 box Dreamfields Penne Pasta
• 1 1/2 pounds medium shrimp
• 1/2 pound lump crab meat (picked clean)
• 8 oz Cream Cheese
• 4 oz Parmesan cheese (shredded or grated)
• 2 cups half and half
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 stick butter
• dash of nutmeg
• dash of salt
• white pepper (to taste)
• Old bay seasoning to taste

Okay…that is what I remembered putting in the dish…you can adjust the seasonings and make it your own.  This was simple…very quick and tasty.  Dreamsfields Pasta is only 5 NET carbs per serving and it doesn’t stall me.  I am not sure how it reacts with others…

Okay…

1. Boil the pasta according to directions.  Rinse with cold water to stop cooking.
2. Melt butter in a pot over low heat.  Make sure you don’t burn the butter.
3. Add the half and half, heavy cream, and softened cream cheese to the melted butter. Adjust heat to medium.  STAY WITH THE POT!  Stir constantly until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth.  Add nutmeg, pepper, Parmesan cheese, old bay seasoning.  Adjust to taste.
4. Add shrimp (cleaned and deveined of course) and crab meat to sauce.  Stir gently.  Let cook for 5-10 minutes.  Sauce will begin to thicken.
5. Fold Penne Pasta into the sauce…make all pasta is coated.
6. SERVE WHILE HOT!  Sprinkle more cheese or pepper flakes if you like.

This is a rarity for me…trying to write down something that I cooked.  All I know is it is good and I am enjoying my lunch.

I have some work on my desk to take care of…I will be back.

August 14th, 2008 by Robin

I’M SOOO HUNGRY!! 

SET HIM FREE!!

August 11th, 2008 by Robin

Okay…just did the six 10-minute workouts that came with the “extra” DVD that came with the T3 system.  Target Taebo targets every part of your body…you can customize the workouts to do the body parts you want, do one 10 minute workout a day to supplement the workout you just did, OR you can be insane like me and do the total body toning workout…

Yeah…this will be my outfit for work tomorrow :

  I am so sore I will have to ACE bandage my entire body.  Jeez!  Tough workout…but I did get through it.  I think I will break up the targeting over the week.  Just something to do after the main workout.  I know that I am committed…because throughout the routine my mind was screaming…”I AM TOO OLD FOR THIS CRAP!” but I ignored that.  The only time I listened to my mind was when Billy was doing the leg workouts and kept doing goddamned SUMO CHARGES!

I am not a Sumo wrestler.  I am not planning on becoming a Sumo wrestler.  IF I need to go that low to the ground…I will either sit my ass on the ground or find a chair.

Sumo Charges?  Pheh!

 Just like Sigourney Weaver’s character in Galaxy Quest

…I screamed “Well, SCREW THAT!”  But…I didn’t say “screw”..exactly like Sigourney’s character (check out the movie and you will see where they dubbed over the F-Bomb…I don’t blame them it was a Disney movie.  You don’t see the Little Mermaid dropping the F-Bomb).  However I am not in a Disney movie so I wasn’t dubbed to say screw.  There were many other words said tonight that I will not repeat in this blog.  I am TRYING to stay PG=13. :)   I was passionate about NOT doing that particular move.  He must be out of his MIND if he thinks a 39 year old moderately-fit woman will squat down…jump up and run forwards and backwards…the squat again.  I could feel my hip dislocating.  :)  Yeah…it was THAT bad.

Tomorrow will be another week of Amped and T3.  I really want to drop those 2 pounds by next week.  It is to prove to myself I am capable of maintaining this weight loss.  I DO NOT want the I-TOLD-YOU people lining up to say that Atkins doesn’t work.  I want to prove them wrong…and so far I have.

Later!

August 11th, 2008 by Robin

I weighed myself this morning and the results are:

151.6

Just two pounds from breaking the 150’s. I am kicking myself for not taking measurements…because I am definitely shrinking.  :)  The clothes that were strangling me 3 weeks ago are now behaving nicely.  It feels so good to be back on track.  The bloat is a thing of the past.  I look different in my pictures…for the good this time.  This new Taebo system works so well.  It is working even better mixed up with Amped. 

I am going to Walmart TODAY and I will find myself a nice cheap camera.  I cannot find any of the ones that I bought for myself.  The newest one that I purchased I used one time and then my daughter promptly dropped it and broke it.  Once I get the new camera I will start taking pictures again…I need to post something new to my Flickr account and I also want to document my results.  I want proof to be out that that Taebo and low carb works…

I am tired of people telling me that Atkins is unhealthy…or I will gain it ALL back once I add in carbs.  Okay…I did gain back SOME weight BUT it happens with any diet.  10-15 pounds is still better than everything back.  I also cut out the daily drinking and upped my water intake.  I am eating foods that I love (pork rinds…I have decided that they are good…as long as they are Mission Brand) and I am never hungry. 

So…today is Walmart at lunch and a workout tonight…

Later!

August 10th, 2008 by Robin

…those four workouts are done.  I haven’t had time to update since Thursday but I have been doing the workouts as planned.  Kellie came by on Friday with Lou and the kids and she did the Dedication workout with me.  She doesn’t need to lose any weight at all…but she does want to tone the post baby body.  I am so proud of her…she lasted the entire workout.  I just may have another workout buddy.  If she joins me then we will be the Divas.  My Wondertwin isn’t ready to start yet…I am here waiting until he does.  I enjoy working out with my family.  It makes the workouts less boring.  Kellie noticed Billy’s lack of counting skills with this new system.  One more set becomes four more sets…or he says one more then he starts talking to the camera.  Meanwhile, back at Robin’s house, I feel like my legs and butt are about to fall to the floor.  I am doing really well with keeping up with the workouts…but the extra sets are still killing me.  I am about to locate these:

Some numbered flash cards to send to Billy.  That way they can hold them up whenever he gets lost.  I swear the man needs to learn how to count.  It is killing me.  Other than that they are great workouts and I am loving the way I am feeling and looking because of them.  I am planning on doing the T3 workouts one week and the Amped workouts another week.  I will ALWAYS do the 90 minute Ultimate workout on Saturday or Sunday.  It is a great way to start the week and as a plus…Bill keeps an accurate count in this workout.  I am planning on taking some pictures this week to show the progress I am making doing low carb and Taebo.  It is perfect combination in my opinion.  If you look at the eating plan that he includes with the systems they are all low carb.  He isn’t kidding when he says that you will see results…because I am seeing them.  Now…all I need to do is locate my camera.  If I can’t find it I will have to resort to using the phone…

I am off to cook something.  I especially want to cook now that I realize Applebee’s and Chili’s have changed their menus.  It tastes like frozen food to me and the things that I loved the most are no longer being offered.  I can’t stand the new menus and I don’t think I will be going there very often…unless I am looking for something fried.  The new steakhouse, Texas Roadhouse is a different story…I just love their menu…it is a low carbers dream meal.

I didn’t post my weight because I forgot to weigh myself…I will do that tomorrow since I weigh first thing in the morning… I am hoping to see some sort of loss.

Off to cook…I will be back with more since so much has happened since Thursday…

Later!

August 7th, 2008 by Robin

I decided to do the Commitment DVD last night instead of the Transformation one.  I think I will pop in that one in a few minutes.  The one pound weights work.  You do feel a difference with the workouts.  I will go with my sister in law next week to find some one pounders for my brother.  I am sure he will do fine with the heavier weights…but I want to make sure he walks before he runs.  I did my workout late last night and I really thought I would not be able to sleep.  I had no problem…in fact I was rested.  The long hot shower helped me relax.

I am off to get in the workout tonight…I show a loss on the scale.  I will weigh myself tomorrow morning to report it.  I am stoked…if anything the downward trend on the scale and the shrinking of my body is keeping me motivated.  I will be back later to report on Transformation.  I can say this…Billy does have a bit of a time keeping the count straight.  That is annoying…I hope it is better on this workout.  Once I know the workouts I will be able to balance the sets on each side.  I really am not looking to become lopsided…one side muscular and the other side not.  I will look like the guy from Lady in the Water  Not a cool look at all…unless I am battling mythical creatures. 

Off to sweat…

August 6th, 2008 by Robin

I got your blue bracelet!  I am ready when you are to do the new Transformation system.  I even have some weights for you….

Here is proof…

You will definitely be the “cool one” at work…just like your Big Sister.  I even have the workouts here…just in case you want to preview them before we start the new program.

Kellie…you can have the bracelet if Lou doesn’t want it.