I've said it before... I know

Y'all seriously, I know I've said this before... and I might even say it again some time, but I feel disgusting and fat.

It is absolutely ridiculous to me how much weight I have gained and how gross I feel all the time because of it. Clothes that used to fit don't, fabircs that used to look good on me now cling to fat, clothes that used to be too big are starting to get snug... It. is. gross.

So now, after my Chick-Fil-A breakfast, I want to get serious. I want to feel good again. I want to not be tired all the time and I want to feel like I'm in shape. I want my belly to be flat and the cellulite on my legs to disappear. I want to be the old me again.

So now I need some advice. We have all had our weight loss journeys or get in shape regimes. I want to know some ideas. I want to know what motivated you best. How you stuck to your plan. What your plan was. Good healthy recipes (that dont necessarily involve fish). Exercises I should do. Workout plans. Everything. Where should I start? What is a realistic goal to have? What are realistic expectations, 1 pound a week, 2, more?

To give you a brief and embarrassing breakdown of my out of shape self I have a few things listed.

Weight: Fluctuates between 137-140 regularly (I have no idea how or why it fluctuates so much, but that is my life I guess. It is usually around 138 most days.)

Running: A mile is not easy and not fun. A MILE!! Pathetic

Other workouts: I randomly do arms and legs.

Workout frequency: Maybe twice a week if I'm lucky. This week I've ran twice. 1 mile one day and 1.5 another.

Goal: Lose 8-10 pounds. I would love to be 127 (or lower) but I want to look healthy not too skinny, and with my height, there is a fine line.

Helpe me!! :)

It has been over a month since I have updated... seriously what is wrong with me. Lets start with a May round up... I went to St Louis and Houston for work. I went to Mobile for Amanda's graduation (which was awesome!!) Went to Birmingham for a wedding/Memorial Day. Got to catch up with Elizabeth, Caleb and Katie which I ALWAYS LOVE!!! Went to another Braves games (with my girl Sarah). Started on a tennis team and started training for Waumba Land at my church (this is what they call the children's area). I restarted bible study again (I took a short hiatus and missed my girls and the growing I do in the group so I reprioritized my life and got my head straight for Jesus again). Had dinner with some old friends (old coworkers) and even threw in a date or two! May was definitely a busy month and it looks like June is going to be just as busy! First weekend in June marked a trip to Auburn and more training for Waumba Land. I was in the toddlers-2 year old room and I loved it. That week I started training with a trainer (and hurt for literally 4 days after). I finally spent an entire weekend in Atlanta and went bowling with some new friends and met Leigh at a brewery in town (Red Hare Brewery) for a beer launch. How I never knew about that is beyond me, but it was such a fun environment and I definitely want to make a trip back there. This week took me to Nebraska for the first time for work. The work travel is not even close to over for the month as I will be visiting Dallas this week and then Wichita the next. It's been a crazy summer so far, but I am loving it and having a great time. I will definitely do my best to keep you updated more frequently. This weekend I'm headed home for Father's Day and cannot wait to spend the weekend with my family!

Cinco De Mayo weekend

Well this weekend is Cinco De Mayo and how will I be starting my day? Riding 60 miles on a bicycle accompanied by one of the greatest men there has ever been, my father! I'm excited for our daddy daughter time this weekend since it's rare that the two of us are able to have our own time anymore. I am not looking forward to the awkward way I will be walking for the next few days however. I figure I just ran 13.1 miles so what's 60 miles on a bike..... (I may be eating my words tomorrow afternoon).

I will spend the afternoon with my girls celebrating our Mexican heritage (wait, we have no Mexican heritage) and watching the Kentucky Derby. Should be a fun weekend!

The next week is going to be a good one though. My friend Leigh told me about a singles series that is starting up at our church (Buckhead Church). They do a series for three weeks for the singles of the church with a message directed at us. I'm excited to see how it goes and what we can learn. Leigh and I are both on a good path in our walks with God, so I'm excited to experience this with her and watch us both grow through it. We are bringing some other friends too, so I'm excited about that! Keep us all in your prayers as we are all at different points in our journey (some journeys just recently starting!!) It's crazy and amazing how God brings friends together with a similar purpose.

Wednesday morning I am off the St. Louis for work until Thursday and then I'm going to Auburn for Mother's Day. I will be in Mobile Saturday/Saturday night for a very special occassion that deserves a blog post of its own (to come soon!!) AMANDA'S GRADUATION!!! I cannot wait! Then it's round two of the singles series and then off to Texas for work again.

Big couple of weeks coming up! Until next time lovelies!

I survived, somehow

Well, we did it! We finished our half marathon. While our time was not all that impressive in comparison to other people who do these things, the fact that my training basically didn’t exist I’m so proud. 3:02:13!! Katie probably could have finished it a lot fast if she wasn’t with me, the slacker, but she was such a great encouragement and great friend to me! I might be insane because I am starting to consider running another one in Savannah later this year. More info to come. I learned my lesson though, I must train or I might die.

Yesterday and today have been pretty miserable as far as my body completely feeling like it will break at any moment, but I'm surviving. I'm hoping to be back to normal (or closer to normal) tomorrow or Wednesday because I am doing my 60 mile bike ride with my Dad on Saturday. Yes, I am insane.

Other than that life’s been ok. I got a little bitten by the negativity bug again a few weeks back, but I'm slowly pulling myself out of it. I just feel like I can do so much more with my life and I am trying to figure out the best place for me to do them and what should I be doing. I want to volunteer and am thinking about volunteering with the Special Olympics. Just trying to make sure I have the time to do it.

I also have found out that I have been really negative about things that really have nothing to do with me. I'm letting other people and their negativity bring me down which in turn comes off on some of the people I care about. It’s stupid and silly and I'm not loving it. My plan: avoid any negativity for at least 2 weeks. That means, I may seem like a bad friend, but really I do care, I just can’t handle it right now. I'll be happy to be a good friend to you in 2 weeks, when I have my mind refocused and am not at a point where something you say may bring to be negative.

I also am going to try and be more open to everything. I have recently determined I have been very narrow-minded about certain things and been very judgmental. I don't like the person I was and am not going back. A new and improved open-minded and friendly and nonjudgmental Erin will emerge quickly.

Travel Travel

Seems to be the story of my life these days. The next month or so is going to be so busy traveling for both work and for fun (if you call running fun....) I just got back from a road trip around Louisiana with a coworker and we had a pretty great time. Not only did our client meetings go well, we had quite a few funny moments outside of work. One involving the rental car and basically running into a ditch, a small ditch between two parking lots, but a ditch nonetheless. Good times. We are off to St Louis and Kansas City (Sunday-Wednesday) then I'm off again to Nashville on Friday. Nashville for the half marathon I am still not ready for. I am going to take comfort in the fact that I am atleast doing it and have a great friend (and motivatitor) to help me keep going. Katie will have her work out for her, that's for sure. I'm hoping my ankle holds up for the run because its been bothering me lately. I get a week back in Atlanta then I'm off again to St Louis (yes again) for work again and then to Auburn for Mother's Day/ puppy pickup. (I miss my sweet girl already). Then comes Memorial Day and a family wedding (my cousin is getting married finally!!! They have been engaged for like 3 years I think!)). We are so excited for them and know that this wedding will be such a beautiful event, an event her mother will be proud to watch from heaven. (Elizabeth's mom lost her battle with a brain tumor late last year). I will be lifting up Elizabeth in my prayers for the next few weeks as she goes through one of the most important days of her life and struggles with not having her mother there. I cannot imagine what that would be like, but Elizabeth is strong and I know she will be beaming knowing her mom is watching over her and celebrating this moment from heaven. I have to throw in a few trips to Texas throughout the next weeks too so I will definitely be on the road a lot.

Some changes are not appreciated

So it's no shock that life after college is much different than life in college, but one thing I didn't expect was the weight I would put on during my first few years of working. I have officially been in the working world 3 years 2 months and 8 days. In that time, I have spent most of every day sitting at a desk and keeping my muscle movement and exercise regime to a minimum. While I haven't gotten to a point where I am completely disgusted with myself, I am beginning to notice the additional weight.

I won't say exactly how much weight I have put on since graduating, but let's just say I am heavier than I ever thought I should be at my age. I want to get back down to a weight that I feel comfortable and a weight that fits the clothes I have. I mean I love shopping, but I would rather reward myself with a few extra additions to my wardrobe and not have to buy an entirely new closet worth of clothes, in a size I would rather not be..

So, why am I telling all of you. I figure I will make excuses for myself and skip the gym or eat things I shouldn't if I don't tell someone. I need something to keep me accountable. I need to track my progress. I need advice. I don't know where to start or how long I should expect it to take or what to do when the weight doesn't come off as fast as I want it to. Maybe some of you do????.

Besides with my half marathon in 18 days... this body is not ready to run and finishing at this point is my only goal for that..

Any advice or direction would be greatly appreciated!.

Goals: .

Lose 15 pounds. .

Tone up. .

Exercise at least 4 times a week (1 hour each workout). .

Limit eating meals out to twice a week (if not less)..

Happy Birthday Faja!

Well I am a little behind on this post, but better late than never. Last Saturday marked a big milestone in my Dad's life... he turned 60. Yep you read that right a big 6-0! The poor man was stuck in airports for a majority of the time (don't worry; he and my Mom were coming back from a multi-week trip in Grenada, so you should not feel that bad for him). All day I schemed to make this a fun birthday for him. I ended up making 3 trips to Party City and in the end had 60 helium balloons, 1 giant "6" balloon, 1 giant "0" balloon, and a big Happy Birthday balloon. What in the world could I have done with 60 helium balloons....??? Oh you know, only fill their car (that happened to be at my house) with them. They were everywhere, even in the trunk! My pictures aren't great (since I didn't take a picture in the daytime) but you get the idea.

I was also picking them up from the airport so that is where the other balloons come into play. There is nothing like embarrassing your dear old dad with obnoxious balloons when he returns home. At least he had a sense of humor and sent me this lil gem when they got home. (Sorry it's blurry)...

It was quite a day prepping for his return but it was all for the fun of a good birthday! Happy Birthday Dad! You have survived 30 years of children with some sanity! Love you bunches and bunches! Here's to 60 more!