A New Year

Over the last year I have made some big changes. I started healthier eating habits and found the 80/20 balance. I began making the gym a commitment, and have slowly gone from afternoon workouts to being in the morning crowd. I transitioned from the elliptical to the treadmill (something I have always been terrified of looking like a fool doing) and I increased my speed and endurance beyond anything I've ever had. It has been a year of milestones and a year of making small changes to benefit me in the long run. I even lost 30 lbs! It's mostly from my arms, legs and boobs, but it's finally starting to attack my burrito of a belly.

I could have starved myself dieting, pushed myself harder at the gym, or did a million other things to drop the weight already, but I know that doing something that drastic wouldn't have been good for me in the end because it would be a quick fix. I've learned the right way to do things this year, making smart choices, focusing on nutrition and still enjoying my life and not being a slave to the gym. I never told myself a certain type of food was bad, or ate things that said "diet" or "low cal" on them. I simply focused on hitting all of the areas of the food pyramid and trying new things.

This year, I plan to take it a few steps further...

♥  Green tea will be my friend. The health benefits are off the chart for Green Tea and I love the flavor of it. Not a hard transition since i'm a huge tea drinker anyways!
♥  I plan to do challenges while tv watching at night. Right now i'm working on the plank challenge. A series of 5 planks that you hold for a longer period of time each evening. You are supposed to do it in 2 weeks and get up to a full minute for each version, but i'm taking my time and moving at a comfortable speed. I'm up to 35 seconds! I think after this one I might try the push-up challenge.
♥  Once all of the new resolution crazies are out of the gym, I would love to add in a weekly class. I finished up school, so why not continue my one evening out routine and try my hand at yoga, cycling, etc. I'm excited to find a class I can look forward to and enjoy being in.

Overall, I'm just excited for a new year. I changed a lot in 2013 and made myself a better person.

It will be exciting to see what happens in the next 365 days!

Jenni ♥

Results!

It's been a long time since I posted, but this year has been a year of changes. I began a fitness journey back in February with a goal of simply becoming healthier. I wanted to eat clean and start incorporating exercise into my routine. Of course I wanted to also lose weight, but that wasn't the priority. Three months again Thread Eleven posted a 90-day fitness challenge, and I figured, why not! I went ahead and participating, not changing much, but really making sure to keep myself accountable. I had some moments that were tough to get through, but overall i'm really happy with what i've been able to accomplish in 90 days! I'm currently in Second place, which makes me incredibly happy :) (The winner so far is a good 200 "likes" ahead of me) So even though I don't see myself getting another 200 likes to compete with her, I still want to share my results and show off that i'm proud of myself for the hard work.

Feel free to go and "like" my photo here.

I'm just proud of what i'm done.

Cheers to another 90 days of great results!

Come Spring, i'll be running in my first 5K and will hopefully have lost even more!!

♥

Jenni

Hitting my Stride

I have officially decided to run in my first 5K!

I am waiting to see if my friend Steph will join me for a Color Run in September.

I think it will be a fun way for me to get started in doing them, and I'm super excited for the hot bod I hope to have from it all.

To train I have decided to start getting up early to take my dogs on a run/walk. Currently I am breaking up my run by running one block and then walking one block. The dogs keep me motivated to keep going and they love the morning activity. Each time I plan to push myself one house further in my run. In addition to that, I plan to continue hitting the gym 3-4x a week with a goal of running 3 miles in 30 minutes on the elliptical, and then allowing myself to either stop for the day, or do some extra cardio and/or weights if I feel the energy to keep going.

My diet is great! I eat lots of fruits, veggies and proteins every day and I drink water like a camel. So far, I feel great! I'm in clothes that I haven't been able to wear in a long time, and I can see the changes in my arms, legs and face as my body becomes more toned. I so far have lost about 12 lbs. The scale hasn't moved beyond that lately, but it also hasn't gone back up, which to me means that I am losing enough weight at the same speed that I am building up muscle. Eventually the scales will tip and I will be burning off the weight and keeping the muscle!

This week I will make it to the gym for two days in a row... but then it's break time.

Why?

I'll be in Florida!!!!

Just 32 hours or so until i'm on my way to the Sun and Sand!

-xoxo-

Jenni

10 days

10 days until I get to relax, lie on a beach and spend time with my cousin!

I will be in Florida, on Clearwater Beach for 5 days, and I can not wait! 

Spencer will even be joining us for the weekend!

This is his first trip to Florida and i'm excited to see what he thinks.

He is NOT a fan of humidity... so, needless to say, it will be interesting :)

Not a bad place to stay :) Can't wait to hit that pool and cabana!

This week I need to hit the tanning bed for a base coat (to help keep from turning into a lobster)

and keep hitting the gym so I can feel good and look good!

This will be our first vacation for 2013

Next up will be Mexico in May!!!

(and i'm kind of hoping for an end of the year trip to Chicago... Maybe around the holidays!)

Ahhhhh... only 10 days....

Sun...Sand...and more importantly, SEAFOOD!
I am so excited!

xoxo

Jenni

Running Pains

Over the past few weeks I have really stepped up my game. I push myself at the gym, i've taken to a mix of running/walking the dogs and I've ventured into the crazy world of agonizing ab work (Come October I will be smoking hot on the beach!)

Sadly, the past 3-4 days i've been having to let myself relax a bit, and I am not a fan. 

I actually miss the gym!

Somehow I have pulled something, or pinched something and I have this ball of uncomfortable that is wedged on my neck right below my hairline. For a little while it hurt to just turn my head to the side. 

I have tried sports cream, ibuprofen and cold presses... nothing seems to get rid of it!

Any idea ladies?

I need to get back to hitting the pavement!

xoxo

Jenni

Personal Best!

Lately I have been working hard and focusing on trying to get back to the gym. I've been averaging between 2-4 trips a week. I tend to start with 30 minutes on the elliptical and then move onto other things, but last night I only had 30 minutes of time to devote, so I set a goal.

The 10 minute mile has always alluded me. I will sprint, push and sweat but the most i've been able to do is the 11 minute. I think I MAY have hit 10 minutes once, back when I was at the gym everyday, but ive never been able to repeat or to maintain...

Well ladies... I DID IT!

As the clock hit 10 minutes, my distance hit 1.0! I was so happy that I didn't even realize I was keeping up the pace. When I looked back down it was 11 minutes, and I was at 1.1. Well, of course I thought to myself... "Wow...maybe I can keep going!?" New goal? 1.5 in 15! Well, imagine my delight when the clock hit 15 and my distance hit 1.5! I WAS DOING IT! But why stop there? Why not try for 2 miles in 20? I pushed, I could feel my face getting hot, and then BAM! 2.0 in 20!

So what do I do?! 

Could it be possible?

 Can I push a little further?

At 22  minutes I started to lose some stamina... At the 23 minute mark I was only at 2.29. It couldn't be! I had to push more! I found a great song and I hit my feet to the beat! It was slow-going, but at 28 minutes I did it and caught up to 2.8! I was DYING! But with 2 minutes to go I couldn't stop now! It was only 2 minutes! I can't even play a game of Candy Crush Saga in 2 little minutes! So I pushed...I hit it hard...I closed my eyes and RAN!

AND I DID IT!!!!!!!!

As the clock hit 29.59 I hit 3 miles run!

AND THE CROWD WENT WILD!!!!!!!!! "JENNI! JENNI! JENNI!"

(or at least it did in my head)

My next goal: Maintain it the next two trips :)

(And I might have rewarded myself with some Clearance buys from Victoria's Secret last night...)

The VSX Runway Running Short

The VSX Knockout Crop

VS cute pink top

The zipper wristband
(perfect for holding my key on dog walks/runs!)

I mean, if i'm going to be such a stud at the gym, I need to look the part, right?

Jenni

7 HUGE changes in only 6 weeks!!!!!

Well, I am in utter shock at how quickly time has been moving!

A lot has been happening in my life over the last 6 weeks.

Originally the below graphic was just to illustrate the 6-week shred program that Spencer and I started... 

but it now means so much more!

To begin with, we finished our 6 weeks on the Shred Program, and I have to say... I LOVED IT! Spencer and I both lost about 15 lbs and we feel great! We ended up starting the program again (skipping week 1 since its more about prep). Both of us don't see this as a diet, but as a lifestyle change. Sure, we are still following the meal plan closely so we can continue to shred the pounds, but overall, I just like the structure of the program and I feel healthy.

One of my favorite things about it was that I was introduced to the world of delicious smoothies! I love mixing them up with a little skim milk, some greek yogurt, spinach and delicious fresh or frozen fruit (and a little flax from time to time)! No additional sugars are needed, especially now that my favorite fruits are fresh and in season! My personal favs are strawberry mango and mango pineapple with spinach. mmmm so tasty! I also really love Kale chips. They are just kind of fun to eat and they are totally and completely guilt free. Spencer says it's like eating air, but I love em!

I am also proud to say that I have finished Grad School! I had my final presentation 2 weeks ago and I now just have to do some paperwork formalities and prep to walk the stage! It only took me 4 long years, but I officially have an M.S. in Marketing Communications, and I couldnt be happier to be done!

My responsibilities at work have tripled! New changes in my job have given me a promotion, just not in pay or title (yet). I am officially in charge of all marketing for our STL office. It requires flying to St. Louis and staying overnight one night a week. I handle all of the bigger office initiatives, as well as the planning for each of the individual attorneys and local practice groups. Basically, i'm exhausted. I'm not in love with all the travel and I hope I won't have to go out there so regularly once they become comfortable with me. On the plus side: HELLO FREQUENT FLYER MILES!

And speaking of .. Spencer and I booked an anniversary trip to Mexico!!!!!!! We are returning to Mexico to celebrate three years together, and staying the same hotel chain, just further up the peninsula. :) Our hotel is the Excellence Playa Mujeres and I can't wait! We will be there October 25th - November 4th in a beautiful all inclusive beachfront suite. Ahhhh endless drinks, cabana boys, fresh fruit smoothies, delicious sushi, fresh avocado, amazing shows, beautiful views... I don't think I can stand the wait! (AND because of all my frequent flyer miles... We are flying first class baby!!!! Big comfy seats, exceptional service, ahhhh what a life!)

But, It's not just me experiencing huge exciting changes over the last 6 weeks....

Spencer started a brand new job yesterday! He now works in the distribution center for Helzberg Diamonds. :) I think he's really going to end up loving it! ...and if I end up with some pretty, sparkly things in the meantime then great!

And one of the biggest changes of all is that my family grew by one!

My sister, Andi, delivered my beautiful new niece on April 9. 2013!

Please meet Elaine (Lainey) Madison Osiek :)

Wow... It's been a whirlwind!
Here's to hoping that the next 6 weeks are just as good!

♥
Jenni