Ahnapee bike trail

I biked twenty two miles last night on this great trail! It was nothing but me and a gravel path for miles...I saw this heron flying over my head when I passed through this wetland. I forgot how much I love to bike! I biked up to peninsula state park this past weekend (56 miles round trip)...

I am finishing up here at the research station...and it is bittersweet. I cannot wait to get the hell outta here and back home/school...but I do love the carefree life of summer, being able to bake, bike, or just do whatever and not think about school work...

I have started to record what I eat again. It really helps to do that because then I dont really stray too far from what I should or shouldnt be eating!

It is foggy this morning so I only did a mile and a half walk...I did a five mile walk on tuesday...I am being extremely active...but I just eat too much!! I just need to lighten up on the bread carbs...besides they make me sluggish and tired anyway...

Pesto roma tomato basil pizza

alright...so i have been on a binge for a few days now...and it cost me a nice trip to the bathroom where I proceeded to get rid of most of it Sunday afternoon...so I would say I am in LIMBO as of right now, searching for a place to anchor and sort out my plan.

first, i will organize my room, pack for home (I leave in a week and a half) and do my laundry...then I am heading to bed. Of course I am going to try again and proceed to achieve my goal of 140 lbs, by NOvember...*SIGH*

my current plan is to eat extremely healthy 6 days out of the week... and celebrate (modestly) on the seventh day...and then dig my heels in for another 6 days...and on the seventh....yea! good deal. good night.

Spotted cow

ahhhg...alright, I was going to let this slip by...but I must confess:

We are having a station party today! SO last night I baked and managed to not "try" any of my ingredients for quality or taste...I did so well, that I even had only veggies for dinner...until I headed to the neighbors for a little chat around their campfire and decided one spotted cow wasnt so bad...

several chips, marshmallows, and a bowl of cereal later (at ten o clock)....I feel bad about it...but I woke up this morning and did a 3 mile run to kick start today...

Today will consist primarily of picking cherries/raspberries (of which I will eat too many), then at break one of my co-workers is bringing his famous chocolate cake (hmm...I will be eating that) he said it isn't as good as the "better than sex cake" (then my boss added "like they would know") and then at the cook out tonight brats, beer, cake, slaw, chips, taco dip....you name it it will be there...all the calories, fat, sugar, carbs and goodness that comes with an end of the summer cookout...

The only thing that I can do is be proactive, skip the beer, downsize the treats....

7 reasons to be healthy

1. your organs will thank you...from what I understand your organs have to work so much harder when youre overweight or unhealthy (duh...)

2.skinny pants! who wants to have that bulge at the waist line poking out just waiting to be playfully poked and mocked by loved ones and not so loved ones.

3.be strong! in the end you are gonna be able to run longer, harder, sleep better, lift your body easier up stairs, or bend down to tie your shoes so much better when you are old if you maintain a healthy body both physically and mentally...

4. Being active and having a healthy diet promotes healthy digestion! I cant tell you how important it is to have a good "flow" or routine rather...once you get to being regular it is so hard to fall off track...I get pretty sick when I screw it up with ice cream, chips, and of course late nights downtown...

5. be beautiful! so when you walk into the dressing room with an arm load of clothes, standing under the florescent lights, surrounded by mirrors, it is really hard to find a positive part of your body. It seems like the lighting is meant to accent the cellulite, chub rolls, and cankles...maybe the bingo arms or double chin, or that scar you cannot seem to get rid of...regardless of all those things, you can win the battle if the clothing you have in your arms is a desirable size...becuase when you are finally fitting into ideal clothing size (at least what you have reasonably decided is ideal), everything looks and feels right in line.

6. Food tastes that much better...first off, when you decide to be healthy, I should think that fast food and take out are last on the list or at least brought to a minimum. Eating healthy promotes a better understanding of different foods, ethnic and cultural ways to prep meals, and the many nutritional perks that are tasty too! I have found that I feel so much better when I eat a hearty tomato versus a nutty butter bar, even though I needed the chocolate, the tomato satisfies and provides so much more to my body!

7. Being happy and confident. excercise releases endorphins in your brain to stimulate a euphoric response if tapped into just right...adrenaline too...so maybe if your feeling down, depressed, or sluggish get up off your couch and be determined to work out for ten minutes (soon you will find that once you start you wont stop). eventually, you get hooked....

Make healthy food choices and choose a few activities to spark up your life...It is so easy to sit here and ramble on and on about it...but all talk and no action= not a whole lot of progress...

Today I reached around 1500 calories, weighing in at 156...I have gained since going home this past weekend for the wedding, eating apricot tarts, ice cream, burgers, chicken strips....drinking heavily...the point being, not so good choices...I tried to run, but ended up being too hot for any real activity...

today, my goal was no bread or PB...I did have some HOneyNUT cheerios, but no Peanut butter! Success, and I managed to control my urge to eat a corn dog with my friend Angela for dinner...I swapped that idea with a nice size salad and corn on the cob (no butter)...

I also went on a 17 mile bike ride with some friends and my boss Pete from the Beach store...good ride

I think I didnt drink enough water today...I had the urge to eat again but I decided to settle on a decafe cappucino instead...that managed to do the trick...I just hope it was decafe...I just wanted to reap the antioxidant benifits from the coffee...

margaritas!

Hello margaritas...I was at the grocery store tonight and decided what better way to control my diet than to tap into my tequila stash on the kitchen shelf above the stove. Of course two margaritas later and a trip to my friend Sara's cabin later...along with pasta, chicken, and mushrooms smothered in alfredo sauce with a side of corn, butter, and garlic bread! WTF...it was good food, good company, and I love going to the lake on a hot friggin day like today...BUT, I am sorry that I wasnt able to be satisfied by the little cup of miso soup mix that I had prepared to eat (drink) and that I gave into my weaknesses of social influence. It is entirely my doing, or undoing...

I also had bread today when I made a point to cut out bread today...I completely forgot when Libby and I went to Subway and had subs...ofcourse it never crossed my mind...I was only concerned that if I got the sub with out cheese and no sauces that it would only be 280 calories. I did not calculate the macadamia nut cookie (220 calories) that I got with out any question...

I have been attempting to maintain my calorie load around 1200 or 1500...today is a little way the hell over the top~ not unlike most of the past few days...I am gonna go for a five mile walk in the morning and a fifeteen mile bike ride at Peninsula State Park with my boss Peter and Jackie, a friend of mine too...

I am determined to stick to it...even if it takes a few humiliating entries to sort it out.

Confession: I am thinking about a big bowl of cereal (honey nut cheerios) RIGHT NOW! but I should know that I dont need it....I DONT NEED IT~!

This isnt easy...but now I am going to bed...no cereal (at least not right now)...

hottest day ever!

Well...it is officially the hottest day today since 1919 or something like that...in Door County....whew! So, after work I went to Whitefish Dunes State Park and hung out on the beach. I was going to go for a run, but I decided it was way too hot...Maybe a bike ride later on tonight...ehhh...or not.

I am getting really anxious for school to start already! I am ready to get back to Platteville and graduate in May and maybe get a real job...I am not sure what I am going to do just yet...but come what may.

I have decided to lose some friggin' weight already...not that I havent been trying. I think my roommate Libby is worn out with all my crazy diets and health discussions...so I am going to use this blog as a means to an end. An end to binge eating that is. I am gonna use this as a public exposure to help me achieve my goal...I am shooting for 140 pounds by November. Currently I am 155 lbs...so that is 15 pounds and about a pound a week.

I have been failing lately with the whole healthy food+control+portion size. I have been eating anything some days with the intent of waking up the next day and starting a new diet plan...that usually ends with me and a 2 pound bag of m&m's. I am obsessed with my health, food, diet, and excercise. I am constantly looking at what everyone else is eating, not eating, or gulping down. I seem to think that if I lose this weight that all my problems will disolve too...even though my world isnt difficult by anymeans...

I wanna reach out and give support to others who are trying to get a handle on those handles...so I am gonna share with you my experience through this whole ordeal and other stuff along the way...I am constantly reading and searching for great excercises, clothes, foods, and tips on how to stay on track and be fit and happy with yourself...

One website that I especially enjoy is www.hungry-girl.com. it lists several foods, tips, and other fun ideas to ease the pain and strengthen your motivation to do what you set out to do...whatever your goal may be...

I also like www.mypyramid.org. This is a good one....I like to check out what foods are good and when to eat them...how much (even if a serving size is listed) sometimes I should be eating less than a serving size!

My favorite magazine for health is Womens Health Magazine. it seems to have the most realistic information and is always pretty full of tips and different workouts.

Right now...I am going to go for a bike ride. It is a little windy...it is still 89 out and its almost nine at night! HOT! After my bike ride (about 6 miles) I am going to drink plenty...that's a biggie...I have probably drank over 72 ounces of water today...9 cups of water....probably need to drink more!

I am working this week to tone up my arms and fit into my Old Navy "Skinny" pants by Labor Day weekend...so far the pants zip, but I cant really move around in them...so I am going to do 100 lunges everyday and cut out peanut butter...at least for two days...I have to say...peanut butter is my downfall....

My goal for tomorrow: drink 72 ounces of water, run 2 miles in the a.m., and no bread carbs!

Wedding bell blues

Hmmm...This would be my first post for my very own blog! exciting...yes, I am super excited about this because it is so much easier to express yourself through writing! I am ready to bare all and vent about my life to those who care to read about it... as long as you are willing to sift through all the bull, maybe you can actually learn something or help me learn along the way.

Weddings! I just got back to Door county (where I am finishing up my internship). I was back at home in the "Valley" for a wedding, Heather Dopson and Pieter Van Zyl...now Mr. and Mrs. It was a great wedding, very pretty and definitely the best wedding I have attended in a really long time. I mean it, the food was great, the party was bumpin' and the wine from South Africa kept me rosy all night. I loved it and have some great pics to prove it...

My oldest brother is getting married in September. I am standing up in that as the third bridesmaid and second "Gina" in the group...who would have thought that there could be so many of us? I have another Gina here at work (Peninsular Ag Research Station).

I am really exhausted and trying to get to bed...so until later. Peace out.