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Current Obsessions

Stuff I like right now, in no particular order.

• Summer vacation
• Victoria's Secret Love Bitten
• Sally Hanson Salon Effects
• St. Ives Firming Body Lotion
• French braids
• Sundresses
• Lemonade
• Tervis tumblers
• Swimming pools
• Strawberries
• Sweet thank you notes from students and their families
• Bikinis
• Flip flops
• My Princess Kate inspired ring from my hubs
• Not being around children unless I choose to be
• The beach
• Girlfriend time
• Fat free French Vanilla Coffee Creamer
• Redbox

Wow!

So life is crazy!  Where have I been?  Well..

My friends threw me an amazing bridal shower!

I had a ridiculously fun bachelorette party.

I married the love of my life!

Had an amazing honeymoon in Maui!

Best week of my life!

Love my hubs!

Ran my first half marathon!

AND finished the two classes I took this semester.  No pics of that!

     It's been a very fun, very busy few months. Looking forward to settling into married life, and finishing off this school year!  Summer!  I'm coming for you!

So much happening!

I've always been one to have a jam-packed schedule.  In high school, I was in a zillion clubs and after school activities.  I worked full time while going to college.  Now, I've set myself up for an interesting few months.

I'm working, of course, doing the teacher thing, and I'm one of the yearbook club sponsors.  This is the time of year for yearbook to be in full swing!

I just started taking classes again - because being an awesome teacher is important to me!  I'm taking 6 credits this semester.  One is a traditional, meet in the classroom type of class, and the other is online.  Both have pretty heavy workloads.

I've hit my goal weight, but sticking with the activities and routines that got me here. That includes weekly boot camps, kickboxing, and yoga sessions.

I'm also scheduled to run a half-marathon on my 32nd birthday - May 7th.  Training has begun.. mostly.  More on that in a bit.

In the Most. Exciting. News. Ever! I am marrying the love of my life on April 16.  Ummm... 2011.  As in.. 76 days. Yes, I am certifiable. On Christmas, Mike promised my parents we would get married this year.  April 16th is the first Saturday of my Spring Break - which of course leaves the next week open for an aaaaaaamazing honeymoon. :)

Mike and I are both extremely laid back, and we very rarely fight. So, as wedding planning reached a fever pitch - it was surprising that we were arguing more and more.  We weren't even speaking to each other for a few days.  Yikes! We both made some compromises - so our wedding is going to be very small.  Immediate family only.  I am a little disappointed, because I have fabulous girlfriends that are a huge part of my life.. but starting a marriage on the right note is important to me.  I'm adjusting to the idea. :)

"There are no small marriages, only small weddings."  I just made that up.  Small does not equal any less amazing though.  I went dress shopping and to lunch with my ladies last weekend, and ordered a BEAUTIFUL dress that I never ever would have picked out 70+ pounds ago.  Sexy!  Mike better watch out!  I have some special things planned, so I know that the day will be one that we look back on with happiness for years to come.

The stress and my amount of busy are impacting my appetite.. as in - I have none.  My goal weight was pretty close to the low end of healthy weights for me - and I lost 3 more pounds this week.  My plan? MORE CHEESE! Hahaha.

Quick note.. half mary training not going so well.  Lots of snow and ice outside (I won't even get into the freezing cold temps!) have made it impossible to get outside, and I am not just a treadmill girl.  I have an attention span comprable to that of a ladybug.  Example:  My bank card was missing for 3 days.  I found it last night in a bag of chips.  I'm not stressing tooo much about it yet.  I'm doing the best I can!

So - work, school, wedding, half!  It's going to be an interesting Spring!

Are you like me - one who thrives off of being ultra busy?  Or are you better off with spread out excitement?

The soon to be Mr. and Mrs.!

My Family Gets It...

Jacket, socks, shoes, Under Armour, Garmin.. my family GETS IT.

Naturally I had to run last night to test all of this out.  My fiancé said "Call me if you get cold and need a pick up."  Later, he told me he was happy I had a hobby that made me so happy and healthy.

What a year it has been!

Merry Christmas or happy Chinese food and movie day to you!

Running through fields of snow...

I've been very open to trying new things this year, but I had mixed feelings about the Rudolph XC 5k I was registered to run yesterday.  We got snow on Thursday and it was cooooold!  I'm so glad I went, because I had a blast!

Running through fields of snow..  laughing all the way!

Definitely my first race where I had to be on the lookout for (rein)deer poo! I also had trouble with the hallow heel of my Mizuno filling up with snow - by the end of the race it felt like I was running in heels.  Something to think about before my next XC race!

Post-race pose with Santa

A great way to end my 2010 racing!  Looking forward to setting and reaching more goals in 2011!

Field Trip!

These were my favorite jeans at one time!

The incredibly patient and understanding Alan Ali from Sweating Until Happy asked me many, many moons ago to write a guest post for his blog.  After months (yeah.. really... no, I'm not proud!) I wrote about the my weight loss journey!  So, give me your permission slip, grab your lunch box, and head on over to read my story!

My Christmas Fit List

Inspired by Kat from Kat Does Diets I am sharing my Christmas Fit List. These items are from my Amazon wish list, making it very easy for people in my life (cough cough) to get my exactly the right thing!

New shoes!

Sexy insoles!

Garmin 305!

Arm warmers!

Stocking stuffer

Socks!

"Will run for margaritas"

Keep those ears toasty!

What's on yours?

Weight loss... in pictures!

A picture is worth a thousand words. Here's a few thou for ya!

Before. Obviously.  Size 22.  June 2008

After! Size 6, post reindeer race 11/10! 65 pounds gone!

Nice little side by side comparison after 45 pound loss.

If I'm funny.. no one will notice that I'm fat.

Donated this swimsuit yesterday!  Isn't that an oddly placed roll?
It's gone!

He has ALWAYS made me feel beautiful, no matter my size!

Size 12, getting there!  I felt so good about myself when this was taken!
June 2010

Size 10/12, midsummer 2010

Size 10 jeans! August 2010

Size 8/10, October 2010.  Never would I EVER have worn leggings!

New me.. so happy!

Thankful

2010 was a difficult year.

That is probably the understatement of the century.

However, instead of wallowing in the badness - I rose above! I'm really proud to be able to look back and see how I've been able to find healthy, productive ways to deal.

My beloved grandfather passed away in February.  Exactly one month later, my fiancés father was found dead in his home. He was only 58, and it was completely unexpected.  I'm so proud that I was strong for Mike and his 18 year old sister, while being able to support my mother (she had a really difficult time with my grandfather's passing.)  I'm amazed that I was able to deal with the police, medical examiners, out of town family, make funeral arrangements. That seems like something for REAL adults to do - I'm not one of them yet!

We also lost Mike's mom's twin... at this point the losses just seem like rubbing salt into a very raw wound.

That series of events through MANY things into my life into a tailspin.  Some are really personal, and not blog fodder, but know that March, April, May, June, and July were ugly, ugly times. We made our engagement official in May (yay!) and that little ray of sunshine helped to get me through.

I was very unhappy in my previous job (as earlier postings show), but instead of feeling bad for myself (well... I did that a bit too) I made moves.  Changed to a new school in a new city teaching a new grade.  I was TERRIFIED, but I did it!

In the midst of all of this - I lost 65 pounds.  I am a runner, and I think that is definitely part of what has kept me sane.  The alone time with nature, time to think, time to process has really helped.  I'm reaching goals, reaching them, and setting new ones. I always wanted to be a runner - and now I am one!  I've stepped out of my box to try new activities like boot camp, Zumba, and kickboxing.  I got up on a rainy Thanksgiving morning to run a 5k?  WHO AM I?

I am Bonnie! I am strong - physically and emotionally. This year (the past 7 years, really) has been so hard, but my growth has been nothing short of phenomenal. I know of at least two other people that have undertaken weight loss journeys thanks to my example.

 I think about my grandfather, and I hope I make him proud. I think of Mike's dad, and I hope he sees me taking care of his children.

I know 2011 will bring more joy and more pain.  I'm not scared.  I'm ready for what comes my way, and I know where to turn for support when I need it.  And of course, I will keep running!

"What's the secret?"

I have lost 24.7 pounds since January 4th.  Stress has helped it along - work sucks this year, my grandfather  passed away, Mike lost his dad unexpectedly.  A huge lifestyle change is what has really kept me moving.  I am working towards cutting out processed foods, I exercise 3-4 times a week... I obsess a bit.

Everyone wants the secret.  I understand, I totally wanted a magic bullet that would pull off the weight I gained as I ate my way through a very difficult time in my life.  I tried EVERYTHING!  Every fad diet known to man, tried and true programs - nothing worked!  Making healthy choices for my body made the difference.  So, as I get asked over and over, I have to give the boring answer no one wants to hear - healthy choices and exercise!

Physically and mentally, I am the strongest I have ever been.  My hellish time at work, helping my loved ones through crazy, stressful situations - I was the strong one! 

I really don't mind "What's the secret?"  because it reminds me that my changes show.  I can't see the difference in my body, except for the dramatic change in my clothing size.  I just wish I had a more exciting answer :)

Let it snow!

The amazing amount of snow days this year (the school year I hate the most) is proof that God loves me and wants me to be happy.