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2 years ago
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
L- 7 days
Today calls for a bulleted list:
•THE REUNION IS NEXT WEEK
•A week of late meetings, deadlines and rainy weather
•Foul moods do not make for a productive clean-eating, shredding week
•On Wednesday morning I built myself a carb pyramid, it was one of THOSE weeks.
•Wednesday afternoon I threw most of the carb pyramid in the trash.
•Wednesday evening I couldn’t eat I was so miserable.
•I had only a protein shake for dinner.
•Thursday I was back on track and managed to get in a run and Shred.
•My body thanked me for the exercise and clean food intake by allowing my energy levels to come back and my sinuses to drain less.
•I brought my oldest to work with me today, this is the first time he has seen my work. We’ve had a lot of fun seeing “space stuff”.
•He doesn’t understand the significance now but I hope he will appreciate that he had this experience.
•My youngest is turning 2 tomorrow.
•Where does time go?
•I FAILED on all of my goals for the week.
•I’m not concerned, I’m wearing size 8’s right now and I’m very happy with my progress thus far.
•My fit initiative will not end at L-0 days as I have not reached my goal weight.
•Breathing deeply.
•One day at a time.
•My goal for the week is only one…enjoy every minute of every day.
Have a great weekend.
•THE REUNION IS NEXT WEEK
•A week of late meetings, deadlines and rainy weather
•Foul moods do not make for a productive clean-eating, shredding week
•On Wednesday morning I built myself a carb pyramid, it was one of THOSE weeks.
•Wednesday afternoon I threw most of the carb pyramid in the trash.
•Wednesday evening I couldn’t eat I was so miserable.
•I had only a protein shake for dinner.
•Thursday I was back on track and managed to get in a run and Shred.
•My body thanked me for the exercise and clean food intake by allowing my energy levels to come back and my sinuses to drain less.
•I brought my oldest to work with me today, this is the first time he has seen my work. We’ve had a lot of fun seeing “space stuff”.
•He doesn’t understand the significance now but I hope he will appreciate that he had this experience.
•My youngest is turning 2 tomorrow.
•Where does time go?
•I FAILED on all of my goals for the week.
•I’m not concerned, I’m wearing size 8’s right now and I’m very happy with my progress thus far.
•My fit initiative will not end at L-0 days as I have not reached my goal weight.
•Breathing deeply.
•One day at a time.
•My goal for the week is only one…enjoy every minute of every day.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, June 04, 2010
L-2 Weeks
Wasn’t it just yesterday that I was starting out with 15 weeks to go? Sure feels like it. But man…I sure don’t look like I did 15 weeks ago. No worries…pictures will be posted shortly after “launch” (the reunion).
Remember in my last post I said to indulge a little? Well…this chicka didn’t waste any time with “a little”. Let’s put it this way…there was some significant damage done by a certain someone to a lemon cooler cake from Costco. It was divine and I have not one regret. On Monday night when I ate my last GYNORMOUS piece...with a BIG OLE glass of skim milk, I went to bed miserable…freakin miserable. Sure the temp in the house was left warmer than normal but I was blaming it all on the cake and my body going…WHAT…THE…HECK! Needless to say I didn’t and still do not have a need to eat cake for a while.
I didn’t work out the entire holiday weekend either…I was kinda bummed about that so I pushed myself to complete my workouts this week.
I ran Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday, I went to change clothes at our gym and a big ole thunder clap sent me back to my car then on to the house in case the weather was clear on my side of town. No joy. I could have done the elliptical but I didn’t. I’ll make up for it on Saturday to get my fourth run for the week in.
Last Friday I graduated to level 2 on the 30 Day Shred. Oh good grief! Jillian loves her plank moves. I like it because it is challenging and different than level one. I can see definition in my legs…from all the squats…and my arms…especially my shoulders. For 20 minutes coupled with a 3 mile run it’s a perfect routine for me.
This weekend we have our first T-Ball meeting to form teams then 2 nights a week during the week will be filled with practice and games. Thinking about it…the month of June is going to be non-stop. My youngest turns 2 on the 12th, pre-reunion party on the 18th, reunion on the 19th, Father’s Day – 20th, Family vacation to California 23rd-29th, my oldest turns 6 on the 26th. Not to mention babies randomly being born...I better start a list.
Food has remained on track since Tuesday, although I did something I’ve never done before…I ate cauliflower and enjoyed it! We had two heads of cauliflower in the fridge so I decided to roast it and it goes like this:
Oven – 425
Chop the cauliflower and place in a baking dish, drizzle a bit of olive/sesame oil, throw in a bit of soy sauce, garlic and sesame seeds and bake for 40 minutes, stirring about halfway through. YUM-O-LICIOUS! I even ate the left over’s. AND I DON’T do raw cauliflower.
Recap of week 2 goals:
•12oz of water with every meal - FAIL
•Shred every day of the week - FAIL
•Limit carbs to 1 a day, before 3 – with only two weeks to go I’m going hard core. – FAIL
That was a big check mark in the FAIL column. Holidays...humprh...Let’s try again.
Goals for week 1:
•12oz of water with every meal
•Shred every day of the week
•Eat Clean everyday
Those are totally manageable.
I’m out to get my run in then shred. Have a great weekend.
Out!
Remember in my last post I said to indulge a little? Well…this chicka didn’t waste any time with “a little”. Let’s put it this way…there was some significant damage done by a certain someone to a lemon cooler cake from Costco. It was divine and I have not one regret. On Monday night when I ate my last GYNORMOUS piece...with a BIG OLE glass of skim milk, I went to bed miserable…freakin miserable. Sure the temp in the house was left warmer than normal but I was blaming it all on the cake and my body going…WHAT…THE…HECK! Needless to say I didn’t and still do not have a need to eat cake for a while.
I didn’t work out the entire holiday weekend either…I was kinda bummed about that so I pushed myself to complete my workouts this week.
I ran Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday, I went to change clothes at our gym and a big ole thunder clap sent me back to my car then on to the house in case the weather was clear on my side of town. No joy. I could have done the elliptical but I didn’t. I’ll make up for it on Saturday to get my fourth run for the week in.
Last Friday I graduated to level 2 on the 30 Day Shred. Oh good grief! Jillian loves her plank moves. I like it because it is challenging and different than level one. I can see definition in my legs…from all the squats…and my arms…especially my shoulders. For 20 minutes coupled with a 3 mile run it’s a perfect routine for me.
This weekend we have our first T-Ball meeting to form teams then 2 nights a week during the week will be filled with practice and games. Thinking about it…the month of June is going to be non-stop. My youngest turns 2 on the 12th, pre-reunion party on the 18th, reunion on the 19th, Father’s Day – 20th, Family vacation to California 23rd-29th, my oldest turns 6 on the 26th. Not to mention babies randomly being born...I better start a list.
Food has remained on track since Tuesday, although I did something I’ve never done before…I ate cauliflower and enjoyed it! We had two heads of cauliflower in the fridge so I decided to roast it and it goes like this:
Oven – 425
Chop the cauliflower and place in a baking dish, drizzle a bit of olive/sesame oil, throw in a bit of soy sauce, garlic and sesame seeds and bake for 40 minutes, stirring about halfway through. YUM-O-LICIOUS! I even ate the left over’s. AND I DON’T do raw cauliflower.
Recap of week 2 goals:
•12oz of water with every meal - FAIL
•Shred every day of the week - FAIL
•Limit carbs to 1 a day, before 3 – with only two weeks to go I’m going hard core. – FAIL
That was a big check mark in the FAIL column. Holidays...humprh...Let’s try again.
Goals for week 1:
•12oz of water with every meal
•Shred every day of the week
•Eat Clean everyday
Those are totally manageable.
I’m out to get my run in then shred. Have a great weekend.
Out!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
L-3 Weeks
This week was a very good week. Today will be all about bulleted list…caust that’s how I roll.
Workouts:
•Shredded 5 times this week (week being Sat-Fri) – Advanced from level 1 to level 2 on Friday. I’ll let you know how that went on Monday.
•Ran 3 times this week (Mon, Tues, Fri), I would have liked to have gotten in a run on Thursday but I was fully booked.
Meals:
•I am very happy to report that I stayed on task with my meals all week. No cheating, no bad cravings and I feel great.
Here is what I primarily eat during the week:
•Breakfast
o ½ cup of old fashion oats
o 1 tsp of walnuts
o 1 scoop of Elite vanilla whey protein powder
o 1 pkt of Stevia
o Berry of my choice (this week it was blueberries)
•Mid morning snack
o I must say this week I skipped it mostly…oatmeal keeps me pretty full most of the morning
o If I am hungry I’ll eat edamame or a protein bar
•Lunch (my hubby calls this a freak sandwich)
o All natural oven-roasted Turkey breast deli meat (or ½ of a chicken breast or a salmon patti)
o A wedge of Laughing Cow
o Sandwich Flat (100 calories)
o ½ of red bell pepper
o ½ Luna Bar for dessert
•Afternoon snack
o Other half of the Luna bar
OR
o Beef Jerky
OR
o Protein bar
OR
o Protein shake (when Jodie doesn’t eat all of the ice…sheesh…pregnant women) ;)
•Dinner
o 3oz salmon or ahi tuna filet
o Broccoli
OR
o ½ chicken breast
o Broccoli
OR
o Breakfast for dinner...(my fav)
Egg whites
Morningstar Sausage patty
Ezekiel bread
•Evening snack
o Protein cake (hubby calls this one “freak cake”)
1 scoop of Dessert protein powder – I have chocolate coconut now…heavenly
¼ tsp Baking powder
1 TBL All natural applesauce
1 pkt Stevia
1 egg white
Mix in a wide, deep cup and cook in microwave for 1:30 sec and you have yourself a nice little protein cake…that is almost as good as the real thing.
The texture depends a lot on the protein powder you use…I’ve used several diff ones and the best results have been with the Dessert powder…just sayin.
Long and drawn out I know but I thought I should lay out what I’m stuffing in my pie hole.
I put on a size 10 capri’s on this morning and I need a belt to hold them up. It’s way awesome. Operation closet clean up is commencing tonight!
If you haven’t heard STS-132 landed yesterday…it was picture perfect…no really…here is a shot one of my colleagues’ took as she was there to witness landing…if she wasn’t so nice I would tell her she sucked. (I’m just jealous)
I am working on a separate post of all things STS-132 to commemorate my experience.
My oldest bestie (since we were 8 and 9) is coming into town this weekend and a bunch of us are meeting for a little din and shenanigans…I’m way excited. She was in town back in November and we hung out a bit. At one point in our friendship we didn’t talk for ten years. It’s crazy to think there is a reason you connect with someone and more than words can articulate…that reason is for them to be your lifelong friend.
I’ve managed to accumulate several “to do’s” for today so I better get to it.
The crew comes in at Ellington this afternoon and 4 and I’m planning on attending, I’ve never made an effort before, it seems that my opportunities are numbered so I’m going to give it a go.
Before I do…let’s discuss goals:
Recap of goals for week 3:
•12oz of water with every meal– with the exception of 1 or 2 so not EVERY (but doing better) - FAIL
•Shred every day of the week – All but 2 but still not EVERY day - FAIL
•Follow a clean eating meal plan without any deviations – WIN
Note: I’m not a black and white person…I’m about all kinds of shades of gray so even though technically I FAILED I still look at them as wins because I’m doing WAY better.
Goals for week 2: (gonna see some repeats)
•12oz of water with every meal
•Shred every day of the week
•Limit carbs to 1 a day, before 3 – with only two weeks to go I’m going hard core.
Wow…that was wicked long but I apparently had a lot I wanted to say.
It’s a holiday weekend…have FUN, indulge a little, be safe and I’ll catch you on the flip side of May!
Workouts:
•Shredded 5 times this week (week being Sat-Fri) – Advanced from level 1 to level 2 on Friday. I’ll let you know how that went on Monday.
•Ran 3 times this week (Mon, Tues, Fri), I would have liked to have gotten in a run on Thursday but I was fully booked.
Meals:
•I am very happy to report that I stayed on task with my meals all week. No cheating, no bad cravings and I feel great.
Here is what I primarily eat during the week:
•Breakfast
o ½ cup of old fashion oats
o 1 tsp of walnuts
o 1 scoop of Elite vanilla whey protein powder
o 1 pkt of Stevia
o Berry of my choice (this week it was blueberries)
•Mid morning snack
o I must say this week I skipped it mostly…oatmeal keeps me pretty full most of the morning
o If I am hungry I’ll eat edamame or a protein bar
•Lunch (my hubby calls this a freak sandwich)
o All natural oven-roasted Turkey breast deli meat (or ½ of a chicken breast or a salmon patti)
o A wedge of Laughing Cow
o Sandwich Flat (100 calories)
o ½ of red bell pepper
o ½ Luna Bar for dessert
•Afternoon snack
o Other half of the Luna bar
OR
o Beef Jerky
OR
o Protein bar
OR
o Protein shake (when Jodie doesn’t eat all of the ice…sheesh…pregnant women) ;)
•Dinner
o 3oz salmon or ahi tuna filet
o Broccoli
OR
o ½ chicken breast
o Broccoli
OR
o Breakfast for dinner...(my fav)
Egg whites
Morningstar Sausage patty
Ezekiel bread
•Evening snack
o Protein cake (hubby calls this one “freak cake”)
1 scoop of Dessert protein powder – I have chocolate coconut now…heavenly
¼ tsp Baking powder
1 TBL All natural applesauce
1 pkt Stevia
1 egg white
Mix in a wide, deep cup and cook in microwave for 1:30 sec and you have yourself a nice little protein cake…that is almost as good as the real thing.
The texture depends a lot on the protein powder you use…I’ve used several diff ones and the best results have been with the Dessert powder…just sayin.
Long and drawn out I know but I thought I should lay out what I’m stuffing in my pie hole.
I put on a size 10 capri’s on this morning and I need a belt to hold them up. It’s way awesome. Operation closet clean up is commencing tonight!
If you haven’t heard STS-132 landed yesterday…it was picture perfect…no really…here is a shot one of my colleagues’ took as she was there to witness landing…if she wasn’t so nice I would tell her she sucked. (I’m just jealous)
I am working on a separate post of all things STS-132 to commemorate my experience.
My oldest bestie (since we were 8 and 9) is coming into town this weekend and a bunch of us are meeting for a little din and shenanigans…I’m way excited. She was in town back in November and we hung out a bit. At one point in our friendship we didn’t talk for ten years. It’s crazy to think there is a reason you connect with someone and more than words can articulate…that reason is for them to be your lifelong friend.
I’ve managed to accumulate several “to do’s” for today so I better get to it.
The crew comes in at Ellington this afternoon and 4 and I’m planning on attending, I’ve never made an effort before, it seems that my opportunities are numbered so I’m going to give it a go.
Before I do…let’s discuss goals:
Recap of goals for week 3:
•12oz of water with every meal– with the exception of 1 or 2 so not EVERY (but doing better) - FAIL
•Shred every day of the week – All but 2 but still not EVERY day - FAIL
•Follow a clean eating meal plan without any deviations – WIN
Note: I’m not a black and white person…I’m about all kinds of shades of gray so even though technically I FAILED I still look at them as wins because I’m doing WAY better.
Goals for week 2: (gonna see some repeats)
•12oz of water with every meal
•Shred every day of the week
•Limit carbs to 1 a day, before 3 – with only two weeks to go I’m going hard core.
Wow…that was wicked long but I apparently had a lot I wanted to say.
It’s a holiday weekend…have FUN, indulge a little, be safe and I’ll catch you on the flip side of May!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Someone is in single digits!!
That’s right. The fam went to the pool for the first time this season and I was hunting for my bathing suit. I pulled a storage box down from the closet that had all my “skinny” clothes and I didn’t find my suit but I found almost an entire new wardrobe!
Capri’s and shirts and more shirts…shirts that are perfect for our upcoming trip to California. Shirts to wear to wear to work...shirts I haven’t seen or fit into in over 3 years but are still totally in style…that’s how I roll. I’m a classic kind of girl.
I was even able to fit into a size 6…let me qualify…the “Kohl’s” definition of a size 6 which in my opinion is really a size 8. To prove my point I tried on my old school “Old Navy” jeans that are what used to be known as size 8’s and although I could fit into them I had a muffin top but I am well on my way to being muffin topless.
I was excited about my find and I plan on rearranging my closet on Friday…out with the old and in with the new old.
Two posts in one day…I’m on fire…I guess I should crack open my book and study for my PMP (Project Management Professional) exam.
Peace and Love!
That’s right. The fam went to the pool for the first time this season and I was hunting for my bathing suit. I pulled a storage box down from the closet that had all my “skinny” clothes and I didn’t find my suit but I found almost an entire new wardrobe!
Capri’s and shirts and more shirts…shirts that are perfect for our upcoming trip to California. Shirts to wear to wear to work...shirts I haven’t seen or fit into in over 3 years but are still totally in style…that’s how I roll. I’m a classic kind of girl.
I was even able to fit into a size 6…let me qualify…the “Kohl’s” definition of a size 6 which in my opinion is really a size 8. To prove my point I tried on my old school “Old Navy” jeans that are what used to be known as size 8’s and although I could fit into them I had a muffin top but I am well on my way to being muffin topless.
I was excited about my find and I plan on rearranging my closet on Friday…out with the old and in with the new old.
Two posts in one day…I’m on fire…I guess I should crack open my book and study for my PMP (Project Management Professional) exam.
Peace and Love!
Professional Maturity
Look at me…I’m blogging way early in the week. I told you my schedule would free up. Not that I’m without stuff to do …I have stuff but I’m not really motivated to do any of it.
I am happy to report I am on day 8 of the 30 Day Shred. I’ve even been getting up at 4:30ish…ok…5 in the AM to get my shred on and then I’m able to run after work. It seems to be working out just fine…this week.
Speaking of running…last week I was struggling to run in the heat and looking back there was a combo of things…fueling properly, my lightening quick (faster than I should be going to sustain a consistent) pace and I blamed it all on the heat.
Since I have been struggling with the runs I decided that running during my lunch hour would help alleviate the heat excuse. On Monday, I had a couple of meetings and headed back to my desk to make sure I was good before I headed out when low and behold I had some work to do…and I had a choice…I could go run and do what needed to be done when I got back…but who knew how long it would take and I needed everyone in their brother to review the pitch and the reviewers are on a one hour earlier time zone OR…wait and run after work.
I made the professionally mature (I love that term) decision, stayed and did what I need to do, missing my opportunity to run in cooler temps.
At 4 I go out to the trails and I start out on my 3 mile run/walk and I’m feeling good, really good in fact. I get to the 1.5 turnaround and I’m still feeling strong. I am now attempting to figure out why it is that I’m feeling this strong after a week of struggling and things start to add up.
I ate properly, didn’t miss any meals and I drank my water. I’ve been shredding and I would like to think that had something to do with feeling stronger and then I noticed the lack of my shadow on the ground. YES! There was a cloud following me and not in a dismal, rainy kind of way. A cloud, that shaded me from the death rays of the sun, a glorious cloud that when the wind kicked up made everything a smidge cooler. I swear that cloud followed me from start to finish and kept the temps at least 5 degrees cooler. And I must also mention I intentionally kept a much slower pace than last week.
It could be a mere coincidence but I’m going to think of it as a reward for making a responsible decision earlier in the day.
I am happy to report I am on day 8 of the 30 Day Shred. I’ve even been getting up at 4:30ish…ok…5 in the AM to get my shred on and then I’m able to run after work. It seems to be working out just fine…this week.
Speaking of running…last week I was struggling to run in the heat and looking back there was a combo of things…fueling properly, my lightening quick (faster than I should be going to sustain a consistent) pace and I blamed it all on the heat.
Since I have been struggling with the runs I decided that running during my lunch hour would help alleviate the heat excuse. On Monday, I had a couple of meetings and headed back to my desk to make sure I was good before I headed out when low and behold I had some work to do…and I had a choice…I could go run and do what needed to be done when I got back…but who knew how long it would take and I needed everyone in their brother to review the pitch and the reviewers are on a one hour earlier time zone OR…wait and run after work.
I made the professionally mature (I love that term) decision, stayed and did what I need to do, missing my opportunity to run in cooler temps.
At 4 I go out to the trails and I start out on my 3 mile run/walk and I’m feeling good, really good in fact. I get to the 1.5 turnaround and I’m still feeling strong. I am now attempting to figure out why it is that I’m feeling this strong after a week of struggling and things start to add up.
I ate properly, didn’t miss any meals and I drank my water. I’ve been shredding and I would like to think that had something to do with feeling stronger and then I noticed the lack of my shadow on the ground. YES! There was a cloud following me and not in a dismal, rainy kind of way. A cloud, that shaded me from the death rays of the sun, a glorious cloud that when the wind kicked up made everything a smidge cooler. I swear that cloud followed me from start to finish and kept the temps at least 5 degrees cooler. And I must also mention I intentionally kept a much slower pace than last week.
It could be a mere coincidence but I’m going to think of it as a reward for making a responsible decision earlier in the day.
Friday, May 21, 2010
L-4 Weeks
No numbers to post this week…and why not…BECAUSE I’m not weighing myself anymore. YAY ME. Numbers don’t mean jack anyway.
What will matter is the before and after pictures I’m going to post to showcase my progress. I’m super duper excited about that.
This week has gone okay in the eating dept…I say ok because I was in training for three days and day one I did well…then day two and three happened. Let’s just say I indulged in the muffins and kolaches…although I didn’t over indulge and that is a positive. As soon as I got home I’ve been eating clean. Such is life.
Due to the time constraints of the week I decided to dust off my 30day Shred DVD. Am I weird that I like to feel the soreness of a good workout? Weird or not…I do. It reminds me of my accomplishment for the day.
I’ve ran twice this week and I’m fixin to embark on run number 3 as soon as this is posted. Man it’s getting hot. Yesterday was rather challenging. (I lied…I’m going to post some numbers) I adjusted my interval times to 2:1. I really missed that extra :30 of rest yesterday.
The STS-132 mission is going great and I got a nice surprise when I came in this morning…an email from space! If you think of it as just an email it’s no big deal but when you try and wrap your head around it…it’s pretty amazing. I never thought I would begin a sentence…”Life on Earth is…”. I have a cool job!
That’s about it…short and sweet for a change. But I can’t leave without a recap of goals.
Recap of week 4 goals:
•12oz of water with every meal – WIN (FINALLY)
•Follow the 14 day clean eating meal plan – FAIL
•Run at least 4 days and lift at least 3 days – half WIN (I changed my plans…I lifted on Monday then decided to Shred) I think that should still count.
Goals for week 3:
•12oz of water with every meal (gotta keep this one there to make it a habit)
•Shred every day of the week
•Follow a clean eating meal plan without any deviations
Off to get my run on…
Out!
What will matter is the before and after pictures I’m going to post to showcase my progress. I’m super duper excited about that.
This week has gone okay in the eating dept…I say ok because I was in training for three days and day one I did well…then day two and three happened. Let’s just say I indulged in the muffins and kolaches…although I didn’t over indulge and that is a positive. As soon as I got home I’ve been eating clean. Such is life.
Due to the time constraints of the week I decided to dust off my 30day Shred DVD. Am I weird that I like to feel the soreness of a good workout? Weird or not…I do. It reminds me of my accomplishment for the day.
I’ve ran twice this week and I’m fixin to embark on run number 3 as soon as this is posted. Man it’s getting hot. Yesterday was rather challenging. (I lied…I’m going to post some numbers) I adjusted my interval times to 2:1. I really missed that extra :30 of rest yesterday.
The STS-132 mission is going great and I got a nice surprise when I came in this morning…an email from space! If you think of it as just an email it’s no big deal but when you try and wrap your head around it…it’s pretty amazing. I never thought I would begin a sentence…”Life on Earth is…”. I have a cool job!
That’s about it…short and sweet for a change. But I can’t leave without a recap of goals.
Recap of week 4 goals:
•12oz of water with every meal – WIN (FINALLY)
•Follow the 14 day clean eating meal plan – FAIL
•Run at least 4 days and lift at least 3 days – half WIN (I changed my plans…I lifted on Monday then decided to Shred) I think that should still count.
Goals for week 3:
•12oz of water with every meal (gotta keep this one there to make it a habit)
•Shred every day of the week
•Follow a clean eating meal plan without any deviations
Off to get my run on…
Out!
Friday, May 14, 2010
L- 6 and L-5 Weeks
Wow…Time flies when you sleep may or may not be an option busy.
I can’t believe it’s been so long since I’ve updated my progress and progress it has been.
L- 6w I successfully carb depleted. To be honest…it wasn’t as bad as the first time around and I’m down 6 lbs. Eating clean for the past month or so definitely helped ease the transition into a week with no carbs.
Now L-5w…I don’t even want to talk about it. But I’m going to…the last couple of weeks have been out of control crazy at work with launch prep. Launch prep meaning Space Shuttles…or just one in this case. As the lead Flight Data File (FDF) Coordinator for STS-132 my activities go into overdrive at about launch minus 3 weeks. Throw on top of that a kiddo with a double ear infection and “aunt flo” coming way earlier than expected…my head exploded as well as my need to stuff crap in my pie hole.
I’m riding with it…not getting too upset with myself but upset enough not to continue the cycle.
I ran Monday and Thursday and I am really loving it again. I look forward to the “me” time, pushing myself and I’m feeling stronger after every run. I’m not training for anything in particular just enjoying the exercise.
With launch today I am anticipating my schedule will be freed up considerably, without as many distractions, because there are always distractions (refer to double ear infection above) and I can get back to a regularly scheduled lifting and running program.
At L-4w I will begin again…clean eating with a balance of carbs and proteins and working my hiney off…literally. I’m stepping it up a notch now we are in the home stretch.
Off to see my boys launch! God speed ATLANTIS!
Just I’m back from Mission Control and a picture perfect launch, the only thing better would have been to see it in person. My work here is done.
Recap of week 5’s goals:
•12 oz of water with EVERY meal – FAIL
•Carb delete successfully – WIN, down 6.
•Fuel up before working out – PERHAPS? I seriously don’t remember and I didn’t work out last week because of the deplete but I haven’t been feeling nauseous after my runs so let’s say WIN!
Goals for week 4:
•12 oz of water with every meal – (I’ve seen this one before…)
•Follow the 14 day clean eating meal plan
•Run at least 4 days and lift at least 3 days (running and lifting may happen on simultaneous days)
Alrighty…apparently I am attending a post launch happy hour. I’ve got some celebrating to do.
Peace!
I can’t believe it’s been so long since I’ve updated my progress and progress it has been.
L- 6w I successfully carb depleted. To be honest…it wasn’t as bad as the first time around and I’m down 6 lbs. Eating clean for the past month or so definitely helped ease the transition into a week with no carbs.
Now L-5w…I don’t even want to talk about it. But I’m going to…the last couple of weeks have been out of control crazy at work with launch prep. Launch prep meaning Space Shuttles…or just one in this case. As the lead Flight Data File (FDF) Coordinator for STS-132 my activities go into overdrive at about launch minus 3 weeks. Throw on top of that a kiddo with a double ear infection and “aunt flo” coming way earlier than expected…my head exploded as well as my need to stuff crap in my pie hole.
I’m riding with it…not getting too upset with myself but upset enough not to continue the cycle.
I ran Monday and Thursday and I am really loving it again. I look forward to the “me” time, pushing myself and I’m feeling stronger after every run. I’m not training for anything in particular just enjoying the exercise.
With launch today I am anticipating my schedule will be freed up considerably, without as many distractions, because there are always distractions (refer to double ear infection above) and I can get back to a regularly scheduled lifting and running program.
At L-4w I will begin again…clean eating with a balance of carbs and proteins and working my hiney off…literally. I’m stepping it up a notch now we are in the home stretch.
Off to see my boys launch! God speed ATLANTIS!
Just I’m back from Mission Control and a picture perfect launch, the only thing better would have been to see it in person. My work here is done.
Recap of week 5’s goals:
•12 oz of water with EVERY meal – FAIL
•Carb delete successfully – WIN, down 6.
•Fuel up before working out – PERHAPS? I seriously don’t remember and I didn’t work out last week because of the deplete but I haven’t been feeling nauseous after my runs so let’s say WIN!
Goals for week 4:
•12 oz of water with every meal – (I’ve seen this one before…)
•Follow the 14 day clean eating meal plan
•Run at least 4 days and lift at least 3 days (running and lifting may happen on simultaneous days)
Alrighty…apparently I am attending a post launch happy hour. I’ve got some celebrating to do.
Peace!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
L-7 Weeks
The scale and I had one last rendezvous this morning and success is mine! Down 2.1 and my first 10 pounds are history. Hello new outfit, nice to finally meet you. The scale and I came to an agreement that I will not weigh again until Monday morning and I promise to stay off until next Monday morning for a carb deplete week weigh-in. Let’s talk about carb deplete…
With 7 weeks till my event, I am not thrilled with the rate of weight loss so I’m going to mix things up. I went back and logged the food that eat regularly and I found that I’m not doing a good job balancing my carbs and proteins, my carb numbers are way too high.
As a result I’m going to start a carb deplete week next week and begin the “Crack the Fat Loss Code” way of eating. Last time I had minimal success…I lost successfully the first two weeks then failed miserably. I’m in a better place now with my eating and I’m very confident that this will be just what I need to get me back on target.
Something I learned today…I cannot do upper body then go run 3 miles worth a flip if I haven’t fueled my body properly. Talk about ZERO energy. My 3 mile run turned into mostly a ½ walk ½ run. It was a tough one. Protein shake from now on…I’m going to have to set a daily reminder for the future.
Something else I learned today…BOTH training wheels are going back on. I am SOOO not ready for 3:1’s. But I do know I am ready for a change so it’s 1:5:1.5 for me. I’ll report next week how that worked out.
Report on my goals announced on week 10 for week 9:
• Morning workouts all week – NOPE! But I have been doing them in the evenings or during lunch when time permits. This seems to work and I don’t have to go to bed at 8p to get my 7 hours in.
• Fruit and beef jerky late afternoon snack – NOPE! But I have been eating a Luna bar and drinking 24 oz of water on the way home from work…this seems to have helped.
•12 oz of water with EVERY meal – NOPE! No buts…haven’t done it.
So…goals for week 6:
•12 oz of water with EVERY meal
•Carb Deplete successfully
•Fuel up before working out
Good luck to all the weight warriors out there…keep up the good work.
Peace!
With 7 weeks till my event, I am not thrilled with the rate of weight loss so I’m going to mix things up. I went back and logged the food that eat regularly and I found that I’m not doing a good job balancing my carbs and proteins, my carb numbers are way too high.
As a result I’m going to start a carb deplete week next week and begin the “Crack the Fat Loss Code” way of eating. Last time I had minimal success…I lost successfully the first two weeks then failed miserably. I’m in a better place now with my eating and I’m very confident that this will be just what I need to get me back on target.
Something I learned today…I cannot do upper body then go run 3 miles worth a flip if I haven’t fueled my body properly. Talk about ZERO energy. My 3 mile run turned into mostly a ½ walk ½ run. It was a tough one. Protein shake from now on…I’m going to have to set a daily reminder for the future.
Something else I learned today…BOTH training wheels are going back on. I am SOOO not ready for 3:1’s. But I do know I am ready for a change so it’s 1:5:1.5 for me. I’ll report next week how that worked out.
Report on my goals announced on week 10 for week 9:
• Morning workouts all week – NOPE! But I have been doing them in the evenings or during lunch when time permits. This seems to work and I don’t have to go to bed at 8p to get my 7 hours in.
• Fruit and beef jerky late afternoon snack – NOPE! But I have been eating a Luna bar and drinking 24 oz of water on the way home from work…this seems to have helped.
•12 oz of water with EVERY meal – NOPE! No buts…haven’t done it.
So…goals for week 6:
•12 oz of water with EVERY meal
•Carb Deplete successfully
•Fuel up before working out
Good luck to all the weight warriors out there…keep up the good work.
Peace!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
L-9 and L-8 Weeks
EEEk…I’m so behind. Whatev, not gonna dwell on it. I’ll sum up the last two weeks…FRUSTRATING!! Net loss is .5 with a total loss of 7.8. URGH! I STILL haven’t gotten to wear my new outfit. BUT…I’ve lost (glass half full baby!)
So…my scale and I are NOT friends anymore. It’s not you…it’s me. We need some space, a trial separation if you will. That’s all I can offer right now. How about we meet up again on June 1st and see if we can salvage this thing…deal!
The numbers are stagnant I’m starting to play mental games by over thinking, adding unnecessary pressure and rationalizing ways to get the numbers down and then I’m a big o ball of stress and really think about giving up. (This is so much harder than it used to be…Getting old sucks!)
As frustrating as it is watching the scale go back and forth 1-2 lbs I am noticing changes in all the right places AND some wrong places too…by the way…If you happen to come across my boobs please tell them I miss them and they are welcome to come back but the extra lbs are not welcome.
My scale is the target of my wrath but it doesn’t feed me or work out for me…I am responsible and suck it up WAYNE…I need to manage my time better to allow myself to workout. Food wise…although I’m eating the right stuff…I’m thinking portion sizes are doing me in and with 8 weeks to go I am really…for reals cutting back my cheat day to a single cheat meal (I think I said that a few weeks ago but I never followed through). According to my scale I am staying on track throughout the week and losing quite nicely then on Saturday, my cheat day, I eat whatever I want…gain 5 lbs and spend the rest of the week taking it off. NOPE!
Jodie convinced me to start running again and oh how I’ve missed thee. I’m starting slow as to not injure myself…not getting younger and one wrong twist and my back is out for a month…did I mention getting old sucks!! I’m doing the C25K program to get me back up to speed…HA! (Did you see what I did there?) It’s been a perfect start, distance wise I go about 3 miles with 1:1.5 intervals. I’ve done that for a couple of weeks and I’m ready to move to 3:1. I find myself almost sprinting (well…sprinting in my book) with the 1:1.5 intervals and I would like to take the training wheels off…perhaps just one wheel and see where I stand.
For those toe grippers out there…I’m WAY BAD. My first run I didn’t have my toe condoms on and holy sore pointer toes…is there a name for your second toe next to your big toe? Ok, so they are not toe condoms they are Digital Caps and you can find them at any Walgreens or CVS. I use these and I seriously cannot run without them. When I was training for my ½ marathon I lost a toenail before I realized what was going on. I thought it was because my shoes were too small…NOPE…I’m a gripper.
It looks like we are California bound the end of June! WOOT! My hubby’s fam lives in San Diego and although the reunion spurred my motivation to get fit again, Cali is now my motivation to work harder…there are BEACHES in San Diego and lots of FIT people and I have summer dresses that desperately need to be displayed on a FIT body…MY FIT BODY.
Last year we went to visit the fam and the hubby and I took a side trip to Vegas and let’s just say I wasn’t in the best shape. HA! (Understatement) Some of those pictures are just gross and I’m not up for a repeat this year.
My pre-flight work for STS-132 is slowing down and time will again be on my side…barring any unforeseen incidents…who am I kidding there are always incidents.
I’ve had a great experience with this crew. They are a fun group of guys and they have really made my job incredibly easy. May 14th is the last shuttle launch of Atlantis. To show you how fun they are…check out their flight poster. Yeah…that’s right…the Juice Box baby! If you blow up the pix I'm in the orange circle...small I know.
Keep your glass half full…I’m out..
So…my scale and I are NOT friends anymore. It’s not you…it’s me. We need some space, a trial separation if you will. That’s all I can offer right now. How about we meet up again on June 1st and see if we can salvage this thing…deal!
The numbers are stagnant I’m starting to play mental games by over thinking, adding unnecessary pressure and rationalizing ways to get the numbers down and then I’m a big o ball of stress and really think about giving up. (This is so much harder than it used to be…Getting old sucks!)
As frustrating as it is watching the scale go back and forth 1-2 lbs I am noticing changes in all the right places AND some wrong places too…by the way…If you happen to come across my boobs please tell them I miss them and they are welcome to come back but the extra lbs are not welcome.
My scale is the target of my wrath but it doesn’t feed me or work out for me…I am responsible and suck it up WAYNE…I need to manage my time better to allow myself to workout. Food wise…although I’m eating the right stuff…I’m thinking portion sizes are doing me in and with 8 weeks to go I am really…for reals cutting back my cheat day to a single cheat meal (I think I said that a few weeks ago but I never followed through). According to my scale I am staying on track throughout the week and losing quite nicely then on Saturday, my cheat day, I eat whatever I want…gain 5 lbs and spend the rest of the week taking it off. NOPE!
Jodie convinced me to start running again and oh how I’ve missed thee. I’m starting slow as to not injure myself…not getting younger and one wrong twist and my back is out for a month…did I mention getting old sucks!! I’m doing the C25K program to get me back up to speed…HA! (Did you see what I did there?) It’s been a perfect start, distance wise I go about 3 miles with 1:1.5 intervals. I’ve done that for a couple of weeks and I’m ready to move to 3:1. I find myself almost sprinting (well…sprinting in my book) with the 1:1.5 intervals and I would like to take the training wheels off…perhaps just one wheel and see where I stand.
For those toe grippers out there…I’m WAY BAD. My first run I didn’t have my toe condoms on and holy sore pointer toes…is there a name for your second toe next to your big toe? Ok, so they are not toe condoms they are Digital Caps and you can find them at any Walgreens or CVS. I use these and I seriously cannot run without them. When I was training for my ½ marathon I lost a toenail before I realized what was going on. I thought it was because my shoes were too small…NOPE…I’m a gripper.
It looks like we are California bound the end of June! WOOT! My hubby’s fam lives in San Diego and although the reunion spurred my motivation to get fit again, Cali is now my motivation to work harder…there are BEACHES in San Diego and lots of FIT people and I have summer dresses that desperately need to be displayed on a FIT body…MY FIT BODY.
Last year we went to visit the fam and the hubby and I took a side trip to Vegas and let’s just say I wasn’t in the best shape. HA! (Understatement) Some of those pictures are just gross and I’m not up for a repeat this year.
My pre-flight work for STS-132 is slowing down and time will again be on my side…barring any unforeseen incidents…who am I kidding there are always incidents.
I’ve had a great experience with this crew. They are a fun group of guys and they have really made my job incredibly easy. May 14th is the last shuttle launch of Atlantis. To show you how fun they are…check out their flight poster. Yeah…that’s right…the Juice Box baby! If you blow up the pix I'm in the orange circle...small I know.
Keep your glass half full…I’m out..
Friday, April 09, 2010
L-10 Weeks
I’ll get straight to the weigh in…. 1.2 lbs…WOOT! I’m 2.6 lbs closer to my new cutie patootie spring outfit in celebration of my 10 lb loss. Of course I’m not there yet so it’s still taunting me in my closet.
Jodie and I were walking during our lunch break the other day and I confessed to her I was a slave to my scale. I’m truly obsessed. Seriously…I need an intervention. I am weighing before bed, in the morning, before I workout, after I workout. I know why I’m doing it…seeing that needle move (totally old school) number decrease is giving me validation that I’m moving toward my goal. Luckily I don’t get depressed when I see a number bigger than I expected, I use it as motivation to figure out what I did wrong and make better choices the next time around. Seems to be working for me right now….I will agree…if at any point I become depressed and want to give up and stuff my face full of cheetoes then I will chunk the scale for the duration. Agreed?
Workouts for the week are not happening on schedule…meaning I’m doubling up on cardio/weight training because I’m missing days. This could be easily remedied if I would do my workouts in the morning. So…there is a goal for week 9… workouts in the AM!
I’m doing well in the food dept…no crazy cravings. (Wait…I did remember I had a handful of chips last night after work…I was STARVING). Chips are my nemesis. Never fear they are gone and will NOT be replaced. The afternoon after work and before dinner I seem to be way hungry and struggling and grabbing whatever is available. This weekend I am going to have more fruit and beef jerky in the house. I just need something to tide me over till dinner without ruining my appetite. Goal #2.
Let’s recap the goals for week 9:
• Morning Workouts all week
• Fruit and beef jerky for late afternoon snack
• 12 oz of water with EVERY meal
I will be interested to see my progress in the weight dept sticking to those goals.
What changes have you made that have given you the biggest results?
Have a fantabulous weekend.
Jodie and I were walking during our lunch break the other day and I confessed to her I was a slave to my scale. I’m truly obsessed. Seriously…I need an intervention. I am weighing before bed, in the morning, before I workout, after I workout. I know why I’m doing it…seeing that needle move (totally old school) number decrease is giving me validation that I’m moving toward my goal. Luckily I don’t get depressed when I see a number bigger than I expected, I use it as motivation to figure out what I did wrong and make better choices the next time around. Seems to be working for me right now….I will agree…if at any point I become depressed and want to give up and stuff my face full of cheetoes then I will chunk the scale for the duration. Agreed?
Workouts for the week are not happening on schedule…meaning I’m doubling up on cardio/weight training because I’m missing days. This could be easily remedied if I would do my workouts in the morning. So…there is a goal for week 9… workouts in the AM!
I’m doing well in the food dept…no crazy cravings. (Wait…I did remember I had a handful of chips last night after work…I was STARVING). Chips are my nemesis. Never fear they are gone and will NOT be replaced. The afternoon after work and before dinner I seem to be way hungry and struggling and grabbing whatever is available. This weekend I am going to have more fruit and beef jerky in the house. I just need something to tide me over till dinner without ruining my appetite. Goal #2.
Let’s recap the goals for week 9:
• Morning Workouts all week
• Fruit and beef jerky for late afternoon snack
• 12 oz of water with EVERY meal
I will be interested to see my progress in the weight dept sticking to those goals.
What changes have you made that have given you the biggest results?
Have a fantabulous weekend.
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
L-11 Weeks
What I have learned this week…FOOD Journals are critical to weight loss success. When I’m asking myself why the scale only moved a smidge to the left…left right…right? (I am SOOOO left/right dysfunctional. I was the kid that played twister with an L and R written on the back of my hand.) But I digress…
This is the first time I have committed to sticking with a food journal and to calculate my calories and more importantly my macros. I’ve begun using dailyplate.com…thanks janetha! I was using SparkPeople but I found I was going to thedailyplate to get all my nutrition info…who knew! The dailyplate also allows you to input homemade recipes and then calculate the nutritional info. I’m using it as a tool to plan my eating to guarantee I stay in my caloric/fat/carb/protein range. Way coolio!
I’m down .8 for this week. Initially I was sad it wasn’t more…but I am beginning to realize I may have expected too much to soon in the 2 lb a week dept. Regardless it is still a goal and I’m using my journal to look back and see what areas could be tweaked to give myself a better chance of making the weekly goal. Again, the looseness of my clothes is telling me I’m on the right track.
My home is where my workouts are happening…I use free weights, elliptical, bench, a weight machine and a balance ball. For the most part I’m happy with my progress with my arms…I totally hurt for a few days my workouts after but I’m thinking I’m underestimating my leg strength and not challenging myself enough.
The weather is ripe for running outside (for this month) and I’m planning on going tomorrow to renew my gym membership at work so I can have the option of running the trails and not to mention have access to the gym when I can’t make my workouts happen at home. (i.e., mix it up a bit).
Goal for next week…I’ll actually post that tomorrow since I’m sorta a week behind and the goal for next week happened last week and since last week already happened I know right now if I made it or not. :D (I am weighing on Wednesday’s and I didn’t post anything last week but it is only Tuesday so I’m still on last week…this week). EXACTLY!
OUT!
This is the first time I have committed to sticking with a food journal and to calculate my calories and more importantly my macros. I’ve begun using dailyplate.com…thanks janetha! I was using SparkPeople but I found I was going to thedailyplate to get all my nutrition info…who knew! The dailyplate also allows you to input homemade recipes and then calculate the nutritional info. I’m using it as a tool to plan my eating to guarantee I stay in my caloric/fat/carb/protein range. Way coolio!
I’m down .8 for this week. Initially I was sad it wasn’t more…but I am beginning to realize I may have expected too much to soon in the 2 lb a week dept. Regardless it is still a goal and I’m using my journal to look back and see what areas could be tweaked to give myself a better chance of making the weekly goal. Again, the looseness of my clothes is telling me I’m on the right track.
My home is where my workouts are happening…I use free weights, elliptical, bench, a weight machine and a balance ball. For the most part I’m happy with my progress with my arms…I totally hurt for a few days my workouts after but I’m thinking I’m underestimating my leg strength and not challenging myself enough.
The weather is ripe for running outside (for this month) and I’m planning on going tomorrow to renew my gym membership at work so I can have the option of running the trails and not to mention have access to the gym when I can’t make my workouts happen at home. (i.e., mix it up a bit).
Goal for next week…I’ll actually post that tomorrow since I’m sorta a week behind and the goal for next week happened last week and since last week already happened I know right now if I made it or not. :D (I am weighing on Wednesday’s and I didn’t post anything last week but it is only Tuesday so I’m still on last week…this week). EXACTLY!
OUT!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
L-12 weeks
Week one on the BFL program is complete…then I had to go and screw it up over the weekend. I did great during the week, got all of my workouts in and stayed on task with food and water. I went into the early weekend planning to make Friday my cheat day since I was spending the day at the rodeo with my oldest and hello…nachos and funnel cake…and I lost all control from there…
Saturday came around and here I will list the things I could have done differently
…choose egg whites instead of three full eggs. I know this but I was just lazy when I made breakfast for the fam.
…pack food with me for ANY outing so I will not be tempted to eat what is available via fast food…even if it is one nugget and a handful of French fries…not acceptable.
…pass on the cake and chips and rice crispy treat at the birthday party…I already had my cheat day and I need to be make sure I’m not hungry or bring my own food that is within my plan.
Moving on to Sunday
…choose egg whites yet again and the waffle and ham samich can be eaten sans butter.
…Mexican food is OUT OF THE QUESTION on a non-cheat day. I am not to even consider it when asked where I want to eat for lunch.
For those reasons I lost 1 lb. I will so take that win in spite of making bad food choices. Tonight I am so going to measure because the scale may say I lost a 1lb but the clothes are saying…lost some inches and me likes! It’s regrettable I didn’t take measurements in the beginning but oh well…onwards and upwards.
This week is proving a bit tough schedule wise to get my workouts in…I did fine on Monday but new schedule challenges have come my way and mornings are going to be the only way I can get my workouts in…and Wednesdays I will carve out time to hit the gym sometime during the day.
Can’t say there is ever a dull moment around my house. Or lack of sleep…which I have to get so from now on I’ll be going to bed yesterday…every night…I’m actually sleep typing right at this moment.
Luck!
Saturday came around and here I will list the things I could have done differently
…choose egg whites instead of three full eggs. I know this but I was just lazy when I made breakfast for the fam.
…pack food with me for ANY outing so I will not be tempted to eat what is available via fast food…even if it is one nugget and a handful of French fries…not acceptable.
…pass on the cake and chips and rice crispy treat at the birthday party…I already had my cheat day and I need to be make sure I’m not hungry or bring my own food that is within my plan.
Moving on to Sunday
…choose egg whites yet again and the waffle and ham samich can be eaten sans butter.
…Mexican food is OUT OF THE QUESTION on a non-cheat day. I am not to even consider it when asked where I want to eat for lunch.
For those reasons I lost 1 lb. I will so take that win in spite of making bad food choices. Tonight I am so going to measure because the scale may say I lost a 1lb but the clothes are saying…lost some inches and me likes! It’s regrettable I didn’t take measurements in the beginning but oh well…onwards and upwards.
This week is proving a bit tough schedule wise to get my workouts in…I did fine on Monday but new schedule challenges have come my way and mornings are going to be the only way I can get my workouts in…and Wednesdays I will carve out time to hit the gym sometime during the day.
Can’t say there is ever a dull moment around my house. Or lack of sleep…which I have to get so from now on I’ll be going to bed yesterday…every night…I’m actually sleep typing right at this moment.
Luck!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
L-13 weeks
I have officially dusted off my copy of Body for Life (BFL) and put together a little workout plan. With 13 weeks left to the reunion I’m putting myself in a position to rock my cute little black dress.
I began at L-15 weeks giving myself a goal of losing 2 lbs per week. 30 whole pounds! Holy schmoly…I was probably at that number before I met my husband 7 years ago, maybe (I didn’t own a scale back then), but not since. And when I was just out of high school I was athletic skinny but without any muscle definition to speak of. I think it is a perfectly reasonable and attainable goal…heck…it works out on paper…but until this week the execution was sorely lacking.
Making substantial sweeping changes all at once NEVER works out for me. I can plan like no one’s business but I tend to over look the risk management phase of the planning stage. And true to form I became overwhelmed with trying to do EVERYTHING (plan, shop, and make clean meals, plan and actually execute work outs, drink water and give up ALL my bad habits regarding food) and I almost…was this close…had one hand in the cookie jar, the Mexican food jar and the cake jar …but I was able to reign myself in by remembering the bigger picture…cute little black halter dress hanging in my closet.
Thankfully, I still have time on my side and I told myself to take two weeks to get my food on track then I’m going all BFL on myself.
At L-15, by changing only my food choices - NO fast food, desserts or BBQ or MEXICAN and eating clean, for the most part, I was able to knock off an easy peasy 2.4 lbs. HOLLA…2.4 lbs without trying really…really hard!
At L-14 I continued with my clean eating plan and set goals for how I would tackle the next 12-13 weeks. I did really well up until Sunday, I’m finding the weekends are the hardest to stay on task. So here we go…
The BFL way is, in a nut shell, clean eating with portion control and a specific workout regime for 12 weeks and one day a week you can have a cheat day. I live for cheat days…but now I’ve gotta earn it. Earning it means in order for me to have a cheat MEAL…not giving myself a day, yet…I workout at least 4 days that week and one of those days must be Saturday (the day in which I will be partaking in my cheat meal). Needless to say I have not earned a cheat meal but I’m well on my way this week.
On the H2O front I’ve happened on motivation from a couple of blogs I came across…OH! Side note>>
I made a yummy clean bean soup last week and the only thing missing was corn bread…of course I only know how to make my Grandma’s yumicilious cornbread with loads of butter and sugar. I googled “clean cornbread” and happened on a blog of a woman that lives in the Woodlands, about 30 minutes from me who had an incredible weight loss journey and her blog linked to another girls blog that has had huge success on BFL. Crazy how small the internet makes the world. >>
H20, the reason I mentioned that story is because I was noticing that these ladies were drinking at a minimum a gallon of water a day. WHAT!! I gallon…I can’t even get my 8 recommended servings much less a freaking gallon…what… do these people have camel backs attached to them at all times? Then I solved the formula and made it a game…I am so competitive.
1 gallon of water = 128 ounces.
I make myself a Chai tea soy latte in the morning…al la starbucks style but only 120 calories and $5 saved. Before I can drink my tea I have to drink 30 oz of water, usually on my way in to work.
I eat breakfast at work – usually oatmeal featuring Ash’s oats of the month and before I can eat lunch I have to finish 24 oz.
At lunch I have a diet Dr. Pepper…I know not clean but at this point I’ve gone from 3-4 to 1 a day…progress…and baby steps.
After lunch I have another 24oz that must be finished before I leave for the day.
24 oz for the ride home (45 min to 1 hour).
And finally 30 oz before dinner (I originally tried before bedtime but I DESPISE getting up in the middle of the night to pee).
That’s 132 ounces people. IT CAN BE DONE.
Yesterday I managed 102 oz and I was so close I had to figure out how I can make myself WIN…I mean drink a gallon of water daily.
Yesterday’s stats were:
W: BFL Upper Body
B: 1/2c Oatmeal, walnuts, nutmeg, cinnamon and peaches, Chai Latte
L: 15 Bean soup with 1/2c of brown rice, DDP
S: Waffle, almond butter, banana (usually the other half of the one I used in my oats)
D: Ahi Tuna Burger, half a sweet potato
Water: 102 oz
That’s all I got…for today.
Keep on…keepin on.
I began at L-15 weeks giving myself a goal of losing 2 lbs per week. 30 whole pounds! Holy schmoly…I was probably at that number before I met my husband 7 years ago, maybe (I didn’t own a scale back then), but not since. And when I was just out of high school I was athletic skinny but without any muscle definition to speak of. I think it is a perfectly reasonable and attainable goal…heck…it works out on paper…but until this week the execution was sorely lacking.
Making substantial sweeping changes all at once NEVER works out for me. I can plan like no one’s business but I tend to over look the risk management phase of the planning stage. And true to form I became overwhelmed with trying to do EVERYTHING (plan, shop, and make clean meals, plan and actually execute work outs, drink water and give up ALL my bad habits regarding food) and I almost…was this close…had one hand in the cookie jar, the Mexican food jar and the cake jar …but I was able to reign myself in by remembering the bigger picture…cute little black halter dress hanging in my closet.
Thankfully, I still have time on my side and I told myself to take two weeks to get my food on track then I’m going all BFL on myself.
At L-15, by changing only my food choices - NO fast food, desserts or BBQ or MEXICAN and eating clean, for the most part, I was able to knock off an easy peasy 2.4 lbs. HOLLA…2.4 lbs without trying really…really hard!
At L-14 I continued with my clean eating plan and set goals for how I would tackle the next 12-13 weeks. I did really well up until Sunday, I’m finding the weekends are the hardest to stay on task. So here we go…
The BFL way is, in a nut shell, clean eating with portion control and a specific workout regime for 12 weeks and one day a week you can have a cheat day. I live for cheat days…but now I’ve gotta earn it. Earning it means in order for me to have a cheat MEAL…not giving myself a day, yet…I workout at least 4 days that week and one of those days must be Saturday (the day in which I will be partaking in my cheat meal). Needless to say I have not earned a cheat meal but I’m well on my way this week.
On the H2O front I’ve happened on motivation from a couple of blogs I came across…OH! Side note>>
I made a yummy clean bean soup last week and the only thing missing was corn bread…of course I only know how to make my Grandma’s yumicilious cornbread with loads of butter and sugar. I googled “clean cornbread” and happened on a blog of a woman that lives in the Woodlands, about 30 minutes from me who had an incredible weight loss journey and her blog linked to another girls blog that has had huge success on BFL. Crazy how small the internet makes the world. >>
H20, the reason I mentioned that story is because I was noticing that these ladies were drinking at a minimum a gallon of water a day. WHAT!! I gallon…I can’t even get my 8 recommended servings much less a freaking gallon…what… do these people have camel backs attached to them at all times? Then I solved the formula and made it a game…I am so competitive.
1 gallon of water = 128 ounces.
I make myself a Chai tea soy latte in the morning…al la starbucks style but only 120 calories and $5 saved. Before I can drink my tea I have to drink 30 oz of water, usually on my way in to work.
I eat breakfast at work – usually oatmeal featuring Ash’s oats of the month and before I can eat lunch I have to finish 24 oz.
At lunch I have a diet Dr. Pepper…I know not clean but at this point I’ve gone from 3-4 to 1 a day…progress…and baby steps.
After lunch I have another 24oz that must be finished before I leave for the day.
24 oz for the ride home (45 min to 1 hour).
And finally 30 oz before dinner (I originally tried before bedtime but I DESPISE getting up in the middle of the night to pee).
That’s 132 ounces people. IT CAN BE DONE.
Yesterday I managed 102 oz and I was so close I had to figure out how I can make myself WIN…I mean drink a gallon of water daily.
Yesterday’s stats were:
W: BFL Upper Body
B: 1/2c Oatmeal, walnuts, nutmeg, cinnamon and peaches, Chai Latte
L: 15 Bean soup with 1/2c of brown rice, DDP
S: Waffle, almond butter, banana (usually the other half of the one I used in my oats)
D: Ahi Tuna Burger, half a sweet potato
Water: 102 oz
That’s all I got…for today.
Keep on…keepin on.
Thursday, March 04, 2010
"...my girls will grow up in a country where they too have to look to the history books to see what this Nation used to be capable of achieving."
This is long and lengthy but I encourage you to read through it in its entiretly. This is a collegue and he totally ROCKED it. It is refreshing to know that someone stood up and said...wait, there are people affected by your decisions.
Prepared Statement of Michael J. Snyder before the Subcommittee on Science and Space
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation United States Senate Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity to appear before your Subcommittee today to discuss the"Challenges and Opportunities of the Proposed FY 2011 Budget for NASA."My name is Mike Snyder and it has been my honor and privilege to work on the Space Shuttle Programfor the past 13 years. I am not a civil servant, a CEO of a major aerospace corporation or even a memberof senior management. I am an engineer and one of the tens-of-thousands of people across America who work daily on this Nation’s efforts in human spaceflight programs. The views you hear today are
my own but I can assure you they are representative and shared by many in the aerospace workforce at large.
It has always been my dream to be a part of the Space Program, and even as a kid, I never wanted to do anything else. This is more than just a job to me. It is a passion. It is about diligence and dedication. It is about service and about being part of something greater than myself. However, my story is not unique as these feelings and beliefs are shared by countless others who make up the backbone of any
undertaking this Nation makes with regard to spaceflight and exploration.
The Space Program is often referred to as a national asset, an asset that has, does and hopefully will continue to set the United States of America apart from all other nations. By extension, that same reference could and should be applied to the men and women that make it all happen. However, I cannot escape the impression now of being taken for granted, of being considered expendable. It seems to be assumed we are to quickly adapt and possibly relocate our families and reorient our lives easily. Perhaps most importantly, in the workplace, we are expected to compartmentalize all the unknowns and concerns about everything we have worked for seemingly slipping away and still do the job, the mission, we know we have to do. Today, I must inform you that morale across the entire human space flight workforce, civil servant and contractor, is extremely low. The lowest I have seen it in all my years of service.
Perhaps the single biggest contributor to the low morale is the perceived lack of any vision, purpose or detailed plans with clearly defined goals, objectives and timetables for the future of human spaceflight. We can all agree that Research and Development (R&D) is vitally important. However, R&D without direction and purpose, without a planned and well-defined operational concept is no more useful or
sustainable than assuming we can explore the solar system and beyond without development of new technologies. I cannot stress enough the importance of having an over-arching program with clearly defined goals that focus these R&D efforts to near term as well as long term capabilities with the intent and strong National will to use them. Congress must not let our Nation fall into the trap yet again that
vaguely ties these technologies and capabilities to some future date, future Administration and future Congress - because that way will ensure, in my opinion, that these expensive initiatives never bear fruit and will serve only as a disservice to this industry’s current and future workforce and to the United
States of America as a whole.
Along these lines, we are all told by our Center Directors, company CEOs, and our senior management that more information will be communicated about the direction of the Agency. However, the problem is that they do not yet know either. What the everyday worker does know is the inescapable fact that two of three of this Nation’s major human space flight programs are proposed to be terminated. We are
told by senior Agency officials that this will ultimately be good for every center, even if that does not make logical sense to us. We also know that it can be a lengthy process to chart a new course, request contract proposals, to negotiate contracts, and to turn that work on so people can do that work.
The question we are left asking is how can all of this possibly happen in any reasonable amount of time? The answer, many of us believe, is that it will not, given the fact we are only seven months away from the proposed end of these programs. With that knowledge, we non-civil servants are forced to choose:
do we risk completing a program that was at one time in the Nation’s best interest, and in which we have personally invested so much, then to find there are no jobs and that our dedication has been at the expense of our families? Or do we leave now, potentially abandoning our careers in a field and in a cause we find important, worthy and noble in order to assure our families are properly cared for? These
are the questions we face and each of us will have to answer individually - but for the Nation the result will be the same: a workforce with valuable and unique skills and experience that will be greatly diminished or lost completely and one that cannot be rebuilt without significant time and effort.
Contributing to the workforce dilemma is the arbitrary 2010 retirement date of the Space Shuttle that is now upon us and all the consequences that brings. Those of us who have worked on this program for the last several years obviously knew the end of the Shuttle era was coming. We had hoped that we could “pass the torch” onto a follow-on program, but now, it looks more like we are simply extinguishing
it. The Space Shuttle’s main reason for existence and its primary mission was the construction and periodic resupply of a space station. By the end of this year, that mission will still only be partially complete. It would be far easier to stand down this unique capability if there were other vehicles ready to fill the void Shuttle retirement will surely create.
However, as of today, no American replacement vehicles exist that are operational and this Nation is hinging the sustainment and full utilization of the International Space Station, our one-hundred-billiondollar investment twenty-six years in the making, on the hope and assumption that Russian, Japanese, European and unproven commercial vehicles will provide adequate personnel and logistic support to the
ISS. In my opinion, this is a strategic mistake of vast proportions and one that requires the utmost reconsideration and serious attention from all levels of government. We are on the verge of giving up the inherently robust and flexible capabilities of the Space Shuttle, capabilities that are unique to this
world and not likely to be duplicated by any nation or any company in the near future, simply because we choose to do so. Instead we have chosen to rely on a foreign nation as the sole method of transport, for an unspecified amount of time, to a space station which owes its very existence to U.S. leadership and has been so heavily funded by the American people. In general, this has been interpreted as a lack of faith from our government in our ability to fly the most capable vehicle to ever orbit and return to the Earth in support of the ISS, all so we can reallocate the approximately eight one-hundredths of one percent that represents the cost of the Shuttle Program to the Federal budget to something else.
Those of us that work on the Shuttle Program daily hear a lot about how the Orbiter is an aging vehicle on the verge of falling apart, that it has outlived its usefulness, that it is inherently unsafe and other more colorful analogies. This is the incorrect perception that constantly challenges us. As someone with intimate knowledge of our processes and procedures, I assure you each Space Shuttle flight is as safe as it can possibly be. Anyone who thinks otherwise, I invite you to Johnson Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, our other field centers, our various support and depot facilities or the countless vendors still supporting across this country. Spend a day with the everyday workers and see our attention to detail, how we rigorously test and inspect the vehicle before every
flight, how we work problems to “pound them flat”, how we run countless simulations and how we manage, minimize and accept, or do not accept if the situation warrants, the risk that is and will be associated with sending humans into space for the foreseeable future. It is time to challenge the misconceptions about the Space Shuttle that have been so carefully promoted over the last several
years, simply to help justify using the Space Shuttle budget for other activities.
To help dispel those misconceptions, allow me to cite just a few of the newer capabilities that make the vehicle safer than at any previous time in the Program’s history. The External Tank has been significantly improved to reduce the likelihood of losing foam that can harm the Orbiter. There are cameras on and around the vehicle we did not have a few years ago giving spectacular views never
before seen but, more importantly, provide invaluable data on the performance of the integrated stack during launch and ascent. We have capabilities on-orbit that allow us to know in near real-time the structural integrity of the vehicle and the state of the Thermal Protection System. This allows the opportunity to rigorously evaluate, and if necessary repair in some conditions, all abnormalities long
before ever committing to entry. We have worked an effort for the past seven years addressing all critical and critically redundant component and system level certifications verifying we “fly how we test and test how we fly” and in some cases making the appropriate changes or performing additional testing when discrepancies were found.
All of this, along with other improvements and our normal duties, has led to the fleet performing better than it ever has, and as evidence of this, I point to the just-completed STS-130 mission. Endeavour returned home from a challenging and complex mission, having performed magnificently and with zero major problems and virtually nothing to be evaluated prior to committing to the next mission. That said,
we stand ready to address any problems that may surface and we remain ever vigilant looking for and trying to anticipate that next problem before it even occurs. This is the product of a highly skilled team and a vehicle with history – a history whose final chapter should not be written until we are certain there will be a story on the next page so that full utilization of ISS to 2020, and possibly beyond, can
truly be realized.
When I and others point out the vast improvements in Space Shuttle safety and reliability, we are often labeled as “shuttle-huggers” trying desperately to maintain the status quo for our “government-funded jobs program”. We have heard it all before and I assure you that anyone who truly knows me would not
use the words “status quo” to characterize me. The reality of the situation, in my opinion, is that we need a better and smoother transition that recognizes the new robustness of Space Shuttle performance and one that does not instantly and all at once swing the pendulum to the opposite extreme. We need a transition that not only plans for the future with a detailed program including feasible and realistic timetables for beyond-Earth-orbit exploration but also supports our immediate and
critical mission: full utilization of the International Space Station. We need a transition that takes advantage of the capabilities of multiple commercial providers, in combination with any potential follow-on NASA vehicle, to ensure full utilization of the ISS. At present, this full utilization can only be accomplished with an extension of the Space Shuttle Program. Once these commercial providers or
other vehicles have met the appropriate performance milestones that prove their capability, then that is and should be the trigger for Shuttle retirement. However, if ISS is allowed to degrade or not realize its full potential, the business case for these commercial providers could possibly degrade with it.
Extension of the Shuttle Program also opens up the possibility of a Shuttle-Derived Heavy Launch Vehicle (HLV). Some form of an HLV has generally been agreed to be needed, along with several other potential technologies, to enable exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. It has been suggested that we spend some of the proposed R&D money on technologies to be used for another HLV that may come online twenty or so years from now. However, we have an HLV today and a recombination of the Space
Shuttle elements into a new in-line configuration could yield that capability in just a few years and take advantage of the natural synergies between Shuttle, HLV and their shared infrastructures, potentially driving down the costs of both.
Finally, we have heard a lot about education and inspiring the next generation – an extremely worthy goal no doubt and one I have been fortunate enough to play a part in from time to time and will do so again as my two little girls grow. It is said that the proposed new direction will do just that. However, I believe there are some concerns that need to be considered. In my opinion and experience all young
people will not get excited about only research and development that only offers the possibility of going somewhere, somehow, with something like what may be in a test stand, someday in the future. I believe the best way to inspire the next generation is for them to see real plans in action, with real hardware doing real missions and knowing there is more to come and that they too can be part of it.
I use myself as an example. I was born after the Apollo moon missions and have never seen anyone leave the confines of Earth orbit. My generation inherited the Space Shuttle Program and I am lucky enough to be a part of it and to be involved in the construction of the International Space Station. However, the Space Station Program was first announced when I was ten years old. Today, at thirty six years old, we are just finishing up construction. My fear is that kids who would otherwise do well in this field are ultimately discouraged from entering it by multi-generational programs and the constant threat of policy changes.
We are already seeing the signs of that pattern repeating, where students in college studying engineering and technology today, could be older than I am now when the theoretical HLV under thecurrent proposal finally lifts off the ground for the first time. If we as a Nation are serious about spaceflight, then that is something we together must absolutely change. As I said earlier, I never saw man walk on the moon and that was something already relegated to history books by the time I was born. My real concern with the current proposal is that my girls will grow up in a country where they too have to look to the history books to see what this Nation used to be capable of achieving.
Thank you again, Mr. Chairman, and I am happy to respond to any questions from you or Members of the Subcommittee.
Brilliant...just brilliant. (He didn't say that...that's just how I felt after reading it...for the 5th time).
Peace
Prepared Statement of Michael J. Snyder before the Subcommittee on Science and Space
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation United States Senate Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity to appear before your Subcommittee today to discuss the"Challenges and Opportunities of the Proposed FY 2011 Budget for NASA."My name is Mike Snyder and it has been my honor and privilege to work on the Space Shuttle Programfor the past 13 years. I am not a civil servant, a CEO of a major aerospace corporation or even a memberof senior management. I am an engineer and one of the tens-of-thousands of people across America who work daily on this Nation’s efforts in human spaceflight programs. The views you hear today are
my own but I can assure you they are representative and shared by many in the aerospace workforce at large.
It has always been my dream to be a part of the Space Program, and even as a kid, I never wanted to do anything else. This is more than just a job to me. It is a passion. It is about diligence and dedication. It is about service and about being part of something greater than myself. However, my story is not unique as these feelings and beliefs are shared by countless others who make up the backbone of any
undertaking this Nation makes with regard to spaceflight and exploration.
The Space Program is often referred to as a national asset, an asset that has, does and hopefully will continue to set the United States of America apart from all other nations. By extension, that same reference could and should be applied to the men and women that make it all happen. However, I cannot escape the impression now of being taken for granted, of being considered expendable. It seems to be assumed we are to quickly adapt and possibly relocate our families and reorient our lives easily. Perhaps most importantly, in the workplace, we are expected to compartmentalize all the unknowns and concerns about everything we have worked for seemingly slipping away and still do the job, the mission, we know we have to do. Today, I must inform you that morale across the entire human space flight workforce, civil servant and contractor, is extremely low. The lowest I have seen it in all my years of service.
Perhaps the single biggest contributor to the low morale is the perceived lack of any vision, purpose or detailed plans with clearly defined goals, objectives and timetables for the future of human spaceflight. We can all agree that Research and Development (R&D) is vitally important. However, R&D without direction and purpose, without a planned and well-defined operational concept is no more useful or
sustainable than assuming we can explore the solar system and beyond without development of new technologies. I cannot stress enough the importance of having an over-arching program with clearly defined goals that focus these R&D efforts to near term as well as long term capabilities with the intent and strong National will to use them. Congress must not let our Nation fall into the trap yet again that
vaguely ties these technologies and capabilities to some future date, future Administration and future Congress - because that way will ensure, in my opinion, that these expensive initiatives never bear fruit and will serve only as a disservice to this industry’s current and future workforce and to the United
States of America as a whole.
Along these lines, we are all told by our Center Directors, company CEOs, and our senior management that more information will be communicated about the direction of the Agency. However, the problem is that they do not yet know either. What the everyday worker does know is the inescapable fact that two of three of this Nation’s major human space flight programs are proposed to be terminated. We are
told by senior Agency officials that this will ultimately be good for every center, even if that does not make logical sense to us. We also know that it can be a lengthy process to chart a new course, request contract proposals, to negotiate contracts, and to turn that work on so people can do that work.
The question we are left asking is how can all of this possibly happen in any reasonable amount of time? The answer, many of us believe, is that it will not, given the fact we are only seven months away from the proposed end of these programs. With that knowledge, we non-civil servants are forced to choose:
do we risk completing a program that was at one time in the Nation’s best interest, and in which we have personally invested so much, then to find there are no jobs and that our dedication has been at the expense of our families? Or do we leave now, potentially abandoning our careers in a field and in a cause we find important, worthy and noble in order to assure our families are properly cared for? These
are the questions we face and each of us will have to answer individually - but for the Nation the result will be the same: a workforce with valuable and unique skills and experience that will be greatly diminished or lost completely and one that cannot be rebuilt without significant time and effort.
Contributing to the workforce dilemma is the arbitrary 2010 retirement date of the Space Shuttle that is now upon us and all the consequences that brings. Those of us who have worked on this program for the last several years obviously knew the end of the Shuttle era was coming. We had hoped that we could “pass the torch” onto a follow-on program, but now, it looks more like we are simply extinguishing
it. The Space Shuttle’s main reason for existence and its primary mission was the construction and periodic resupply of a space station. By the end of this year, that mission will still only be partially complete. It would be far easier to stand down this unique capability if there were other vehicles ready to fill the void Shuttle retirement will surely create.
However, as of today, no American replacement vehicles exist that are operational and this Nation is hinging the sustainment and full utilization of the International Space Station, our one-hundred-billiondollar investment twenty-six years in the making, on the hope and assumption that Russian, Japanese, European and unproven commercial vehicles will provide adequate personnel and logistic support to the
ISS. In my opinion, this is a strategic mistake of vast proportions and one that requires the utmost reconsideration and serious attention from all levels of government. We are on the verge of giving up the inherently robust and flexible capabilities of the Space Shuttle, capabilities that are unique to this
world and not likely to be duplicated by any nation or any company in the near future, simply because we choose to do so. Instead we have chosen to rely on a foreign nation as the sole method of transport, for an unspecified amount of time, to a space station which owes its very existence to U.S. leadership and has been so heavily funded by the American people. In general, this has been interpreted as a lack of faith from our government in our ability to fly the most capable vehicle to ever orbit and return to the Earth in support of the ISS, all so we can reallocate the approximately eight one-hundredths of one percent that represents the cost of the Shuttle Program to the Federal budget to something else.
Those of us that work on the Shuttle Program daily hear a lot about how the Orbiter is an aging vehicle on the verge of falling apart, that it has outlived its usefulness, that it is inherently unsafe and other more colorful analogies. This is the incorrect perception that constantly challenges us. As someone with intimate knowledge of our processes and procedures, I assure you each Space Shuttle flight is as safe as it can possibly be. Anyone who thinks otherwise, I invite you to Johnson Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, our other field centers, our various support and depot facilities or the countless vendors still supporting across this country. Spend a day with the everyday workers and see our attention to detail, how we rigorously test and inspect the vehicle before every
flight, how we work problems to “pound them flat”, how we run countless simulations and how we manage, minimize and accept, or do not accept if the situation warrants, the risk that is and will be associated with sending humans into space for the foreseeable future. It is time to challenge the misconceptions about the Space Shuttle that have been so carefully promoted over the last several
years, simply to help justify using the Space Shuttle budget for other activities.
To help dispel those misconceptions, allow me to cite just a few of the newer capabilities that make the vehicle safer than at any previous time in the Program’s history. The External Tank has been significantly improved to reduce the likelihood of losing foam that can harm the Orbiter. There are cameras on and around the vehicle we did not have a few years ago giving spectacular views never
before seen but, more importantly, provide invaluable data on the performance of the integrated stack during launch and ascent. We have capabilities on-orbit that allow us to know in near real-time the structural integrity of the vehicle and the state of the Thermal Protection System. This allows the opportunity to rigorously evaluate, and if necessary repair in some conditions, all abnormalities long
before ever committing to entry. We have worked an effort for the past seven years addressing all critical and critically redundant component and system level certifications verifying we “fly how we test and test how we fly” and in some cases making the appropriate changes or performing additional testing when discrepancies were found.
All of this, along with other improvements and our normal duties, has led to the fleet performing better than it ever has, and as evidence of this, I point to the just-completed STS-130 mission. Endeavour returned home from a challenging and complex mission, having performed magnificently and with zero major problems and virtually nothing to be evaluated prior to committing to the next mission. That said,
we stand ready to address any problems that may surface and we remain ever vigilant looking for and trying to anticipate that next problem before it even occurs. This is the product of a highly skilled team and a vehicle with history – a history whose final chapter should not be written until we are certain there will be a story on the next page so that full utilization of ISS to 2020, and possibly beyond, can
truly be realized.
When I and others point out the vast improvements in Space Shuttle safety and reliability, we are often labeled as “shuttle-huggers” trying desperately to maintain the status quo for our “government-funded jobs program”. We have heard it all before and I assure you that anyone who truly knows me would not
use the words “status quo” to characterize me. The reality of the situation, in my opinion, is that we need a better and smoother transition that recognizes the new robustness of Space Shuttle performance and one that does not instantly and all at once swing the pendulum to the opposite extreme. We need a transition that not only plans for the future with a detailed program including feasible and realistic timetables for beyond-Earth-orbit exploration but also supports our immediate and
critical mission: full utilization of the International Space Station. We need a transition that takes advantage of the capabilities of multiple commercial providers, in combination with any potential follow-on NASA vehicle, to ensure full utilization of the ISS. At present, this full utilization can only be accomplished with an extension of the Space Shuttle Program. Once these commercial providers or
other vehicles have met the appropriate performance milestones that prove their capability, then that is and should be the trigger for Shuttle retirement. However, if ISS is allowed to degrade or not realize its full potential, the business case for these commercial providers could possibly degrade with it.
Extension of the Shuttle Program also opens up the possibility of a Shuttle-Derived Heavy Launch Vehicle (HLV). Some form of an HLV has generally been agreed to be needed, along with several other potential technologies, to enable exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. It has been suggested that we spend some of the proposed R&D money on technologies to be used for another HLV that may come online twenty or so years from now. However, we have an HLV today and a recombination of the Space
Shuttle elements into a new in-line configuration could yield that capability in just a few years and take advantage of the natural synergies between Shuttle, HLV and their shared infrastructures, potentially driving down the costs of both.
Finally, we have heard a lot about education and inspiring the next generation – an extremely worthy goal no doubt and one I have been fortunate enough to play a part in from time to time and will do so again as my two little girls grow. It is said that the proposed new direction will do just that. However, I believe there are some concerns that need to be considered. In my opinion and experience all young
people will not get excited about only research and development that only offers the possibility of going somewhere, somehow, with something like what may be in a test stand, someday in the future. I believe the best way to inspire the next generation is for them to see real plans in action, with real hardware doing real missions and knowing there is more to come and that they too can be part of it.
I use myself as an example. I was born after the Apollo moon missions and have never seen anyone leave the confines of Earth orbit. My generation inherited the Space Shuttle Program and I am lucky enough to be a part of it and to be involved in the construction of the International Space Station. However, the Space Station Program was first announced when I was ten years old. Today, at thirty six years old, we are just finishing up construction. My fear is that kids who would otherwise do well in this field are ultimately discouraged from entering it by multi-generational programs and the constant threat of policy changes.
We are already seeing the signs of that pattern repeating, where students in college studying engineering and technology today, could be older than I am now when the theoretical HLV under thecurrent proposal finally lifts off the ground for the first time. If we as a Nation are serious about spaceflight, then that is something we together must absolutely change. As I said earlier, I never saw man walk on the moon and that was something already relegated to history books by the time I was born. My real concern with the current proposal is that my girls will grow up in a country where they too have to look to the history books to see what this Nation used to be capable of achieving.
Thank you again, Mr. Chairman, and I am happy to respond to any questions from you or Members of the Subcommittee.
Brilliant...just brilliant. (He didn't say that...that's just how I felt after reading it...for the 5th time).
Peace
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
L-15 weeks - 20 Year High School Reunion
And there it is…
I worked out this morning…YAY! It so wasn’t pretty and I had to sit down because I thought I was going to throw up as I’m asking myself (Nancy Kerrigan style)…WHHHHHHYYYYYY! … (sob)…(sob)...WHHHHHHYYYYYYYY!
I know it will get better but 1. Getting up sucks it! 2. Right now I feel miserable doing it.
BUT…here comes the positive. YAY for positive!
1. I turned down Mexican for lunch; I should automatically lose 5lbs just for that alone.
2. I had a ton more energy this morning after my heart rate settled below astronomical
3. I got the kids to school on time
4. Even though it was torrential down pours this morning I still made it to work early
Boo-yah!
I have to say I’m already feeling a little twinge of soreness in my legs and that’s not a bad feeling either.
I had pumpkin oats for breakfast and I’m fixin to have a mammoth lunch of veggies, hummus and fruit (not together…that’s just gross) with a side of organic yogurt and I’m looking forward to making Asian Noodle soup for din.
I know it will get easier; I had that dialogue for 20 minutes this morning as I convinced myself to get out of bed.
Waters up!
Out.
I worked out this morning…YAY! It so wasn’t pretty and I had to sit down because I thought I was going to throw up as I’m asking myself (Nancy Kerrigan style)…WHHHHHHYYYYYY! … (sob)…(sob)...WHHHHHHYYYYYYYY!
I know it will get better but 1. Getting up sucks it! 2. Right now I feel miserable doing it.
BUT…here comes the positive. YAY for positive!
1. I turned down Mexican for lunch; I should automatically lose 5lbs just for that alone.
2. I had a ton more energy this morning after my heart rate settled below astronomical
3. I got the kids to school on time
4. Even though it was torrential down pours this morning I still made it to work early
Boo-yah!
I have to say I’m already feeling a little twinge of soreness in my legs and that’s not a bad feeling either.
I had pumpkin oats for breakfast and I’m fixin to have a mammoth lunch of veggies, hummus and fruit (not together…that’s just gross) with a side of organic yogurt and I’m looking forward to making Asian Noodle soup for din.
I know it will get easier; I had that dialogue for 20 minutes this morning as I convinced myself to get out of bed.
Waters up!
Out.
Thursday, February 04, 2010
NASA - Not About Space Anymore
I'm a blog stalker. I stalk blogs mainly because I use Google Reader to keep up with my many stalkees and Reader has yet to make it painfully convenient to leave comments and introduce myself...so I lurk.
I stalk a particular person that just so happens to work in the building across the street from me. No, I didn't purposefully seek her out...I think a friend recommended her for motivation during my running and tri aspirations.
I have been in meetings, worked console and stood in line behind my blog stalkee...it just "happens". When I see her around campus I often times think...Hey...it's Sarah... how is the freelance project going? You really should choose a earth tone blue color for the dining room and paint already! As I stood behind her in the cafeteria admiring her tan, shortly after her honeymoon in Belize, I wondered if Belize was as beautiful as it sounded. Stop comparing me to "Single White Female"...my hair was already brown.
Food for thought...we often times put our entire life stories into our blogs for any random person to see and isn't it weird to think that the person in line behind you knows you are searching for a remedy to stop the biting habit of your 19th month old before he is asked to be removed from daycare? (Please leave suggestions in the comment field...I BEG YOU).
I didn't intend this post to be about my blog obsession with Sarah...I'm not obsessed, I enjoy the way she writes and often times we share the same views...not politically, everyone has flaws. :D
The real reason I made an appearance today was to address the life altering decision that our Government leaders made earlier this week regarding the NASA Constellation Program. I struggled most of the week trying to put my thoughts into words and it all came out in more incoherent statements than usual. (See the post below) I wanted to share Sarah's thoughts because she sums it up nicely and I found myself surprised at how dead on our interpretation of the events are.
Unlike Sarah I am not a civil servant, I am a contractor. Although I do work for the ISS program (YAY...funding has been extended until 2020) I do not feel like my job is safe...they have to put those civil servants somewhere. I'm not sure my company will even exist with the latest decisions.
I'm all for change and restructure to utilize the best practice approach but good grief...soften the blow with a good solid vision and direction to foster hope and support. There are people associated with these decisions. Families, careers, life work and overall economics have seemingly been given no regard. Some advice...continuously answering questions with the words BOLD and AMBITIOUS does not create hope and foster change.
I'm not going down without a fight...Watch this little nugget then Write your Congressperson.
I stalk a particular person that just so happens to work in the building across the street from me. No, I didn't purposefully seek her out...I think a friend recommended her for motivation during my running and tri aspirations.
I have been in meetings, worked console and stood in line behind my blog stalkee...it just "happens". When I see her around campus I often times think...Hey...it's Sarah... how is the freelance project going? You really should choose a earth tone blue color for the dining room and paint already! As I stood behind her in the cafeteria admiring her tan, shortly after her honeymoon in Belize, I wondered if Belize was as beautiful as it sounded. Stop comparing me to "Single White Female"...my hair was already brown.
Food for thought...we often times put our entire life stories into our blogs for any random person to see and isn't it weird to think that the person in line behind you knows you are searching for a remedy to stop the biting habit of your 19th month old before he is asked to be removed from daycare? (Please leave suggestions in the comment field...I BEG YOU).
I didn't intend this post to be about my blog obsession with Sarah...I'm not obsessed, I enjoy the way she writes and often times we share the same views...not politically, everyone has flaws. :D
The real reason I made an appearance today was to address the life altering decision that our Government leaders made earlier this week regarding the NASA Constellation Program. I struggled most of the week trying to put my thoughts into words and it all came out in more incoherent statements than usual. (See the post below) I wanted to share Sarah's thoughts because she sums it up nicely and I found myself surprised at how dead on our interpretation of the events are.
Unlike Sarah I am not a civil servant, I am a contractor. Although I do work for the ISS program (YAY...funding has been extended until 2020) I do not feel like my job is safe...they have to put those civil servants somewhere. I'm not sure my company will even exist with the latest decisions.
I'm all for change and restructure to utilize the best practice approach but good grief...soften the blow with a good solid vision and direction to foster hope and support. There are people associated with these decisions. Families, careers, life work and overall economics have seemingly been given no regard. Some advice...continuously answering questions with the words BOLD and AMBITIOUS does not create hope and foster change.
I'm not going down without a fight...Watch this little nugget then Write your Congressperson.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Like sands in the hourglass…
“Like sands in the hourglass…these are the Days of our Lives” oh good grief. I need a day or two or month to recover from the past 30 days.
Uncertainty has the early lead in 2010 with cynicism and apathy gaining ground. Normally I’m a pretty optimistic person, I pretty much see the glass half full of lemonade when life is chunking lemons at me (OUCH…Dadgummit, STOP).
I don’t want to add to the negative dribble that seems to be constantly spewing out of the talking heads. But I wonder…is the pedestal we place these individuals on the epicenter of the world’s negativity? (Really…I’m blaming the media for the world’s negativity…how dramatic…). Is the media a reflection of the dramatics and cynicism we crave?
Do we, ourselves, do nothing but regurgitate negativity and cynicism in an attempt to be heralded more negative than the next person therefore the winner?
The point is one a question that has been asked for centuries…CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG??? Seriously…that simple…but…I have questions…
Why are people compelled to kill their follow mankind over a car, a wallet, money?
Why is it we live in a society where one is afraid to open the front door for fear or harm?
When did the pedophiles, rapist, and murders become top stories in the news on an hourly basis?
Why do people make it their life ambition to harm other people or races? What are they attempting to gain?
Why are we obsessed with celebrity? Most seem really...really…really…for reals unhappy, is that the common denominator? We measure our happiness by someone else’s trials and tribulation?
Why can’t we admit when we are wrong and move on when the facts are staring us right in the face so we can just be…? (therapy baby…therapy).
Why can’t we learn to sustain A VISION. A vision that men and women have fought for and continue to fight for, a vision that our founding fathers spelled out for each and every one of us in detail…not the white, black, pink or blue. EVERY ONE OF US…thanks to amendments we have necessarily evolved. World domination is not necessary to fix everyone’s problems…it is not up to our leaders to take on that responsibility.
When did racism become defined as only a “black thing”?
When did environmental phenomena become a lifestyle?
Are we the puppets to the puppet masters we elect to represent our communities and nation only to be trumped by the all mighty dollar…which isn’t so mighty…which may or may not be the plan of our enemy...
I don’t really know where I’m going with this…I’m frustrated with it all and find myself treading water in the swamp of sadness with Atreyu and Artax. AAAArrrrrtaaaax.
Faith (my luck dragon) will swoop in and save me from going under. I act…blessed by the gifts God has given me.
As heavy as this is…it’s out there. If you happen on this and have made it this far, ask yourself what you can do to be honest, kind, compassionate and an overall productive citizen of this world. Not a hoodlum, a murder, a cheater (in any sense), a cynic or a power hungry, moral lacking cancer on society. I’ve got kids people….
Perpetuate the positive and do the right thing, not at the expense of someone else but because it makes you genuinely happy. (Cue music…We are the World…(swaying back and forth)…we are the Children…)
Peace!
Uncertainty has the early lead in 2010 with cynicism and apathy gaining ground. Normally I’m a pretty optimistic person, I pretty much see the glass half full of lemonade when life is chunking lemons at me (OUCH…Dadgummit, STOP).
I don’t want to add to the negative dribble that seems to be constantly spewing out of the talking heads. But I wonder…is the pedestal we place these individuals on the epicenter of the world’s negativity? (Really…I’m blaming the media for the world’s negativity…how dramatic…). Is the media a reflection of the dramatics and cynicism we crave?
Do we, ourselves, do nothing but regurgitate negativity and cynicism in an attempt to be heralded more negative than the next person therefore the winner?
The point is one a question that has been asked for centuries…CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG??? Seriously…that simple…but…I have questions…
Why are people compelled to kill their follow mankind over a car, a wallet, money?
Why is it we live in a society where one is afraid to open the front door for fear or harm?
When did the pedophiles, rapist, and murders become top stories in the news on an hourly basis?
Why do people make it their life ambition to harm other people or races? What are they attempting to gain?
Why are we obsessed with celebrity? Most seem really...really…really…for reals unhappy, is that the common denominator? We measure our happiness by someone else’s trials and tribulation?
Why can’t we admit when we are wrong and move on when the facts are staring us right in the face so we can just be…? (therapy baby…therapy).
Why can’t we learn to sustain A VISION. A vision that men and women have fought for and continue to fight for, a vision that our founding fathers spelled out for each and every one of us in detail…not the white, black, pink or blue. EVERY ONE OF US…thanks to amendments we have necessarily evolved. World domination is not necessary to fix everyone’s problems…it is not up to our leaders to take on that responsibility.
When did racism become defined as only a “black thing”?
When did environmental phenomena become a lifestyle?
Are we the puppets to the puppet masters we elect to represent our communities and nation only to be trumped by the all mighty dollar…which isn’t so mighty…which may or may not be the plan of our enemy...
I don’t really know where I’m going with this…I’m frustrated with it all and find myself treading water in the swamp of sadness with Atreyu and Artax. AAAArrrrrtaaaax.
Faith (my luck dragon) will swoop in and save me from going under. I act…blessed by the gifts God has given me.
As heavy as this is…it’s out there. If you happen on this and have made it this far, ask yourself what you can do to be honest, kind, compassionate and an overall productive citizen of this world. Not a hoodlum, a murder, a cheater (in any sense), a cynic or a power hungry, moral lacking cancer on society. I’ve got kids people….
Perpetuate the positive and do the right thing, not at the expense of someone else but because it makes you genuinely happy. (Cue music…We are the World…(swaying back and forth)…we are the Children…)
Peace!
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