Spring is here...for now...

We've had a good week...weather-wise...so good that Agnieszka and I both woke up a little extra early on Thursday, met at work, parked and walked for about 40 minutes...a good brisk walk.Tough to wake up but once I was walking...it felt great. That's the beauty of nice weather. The chance to do things outdoors.We're starting with a few walks a week that will eventually lead to a more intense outdoor workout!

I weighed-in this week at 142.9 lbs...yay! but that yay lasted for about 24 hrs...the next morning I was back up to 145 lbs...probably due to the sodium enriched meal I had the night before. A chicken wrap with a Caesar salad from Rockaberries...

On a totally different note...as you know, I'm taking a class at Concordia in attempts to complete a bachelors...well, had an exam a week and a half ago, just got back my grade...78%. Wasn't too excited about that but then I saw that the class avg was 63% and my grade was actually 3rd highest in the class...so, I didn't feel as bad anymore :)  Yay for me!

OH YES.....back to the business of my last post...bangs or no bangs....well....see for yourself!!!!

Ta Daaaa!!! She bangs! She bangs!

Extra! Extra! Look at these 2 munchkins....so adorable!

Rowaida

Results are in...

Blood test took place Saturday morning and I got the results today. All is well...absolutely nothing missing, wrong or backwards...which means, back to the drawing board for me. If I'm on a stand still weight loss wise, then it's on me...I know...I make things seem so complicated for myself but really they shouldn't be. So, I'll think about an efficient plan and the best way to execute that plan that best fits me and my schedule. I have a birthday goal to keep in mind. I have exactly 12 weeks not including this one. OK...WAY doable...

On a bright note...my training is definitely coming into play though I don't train as frequently as I would like...I was giving my bootcamp class this evening when I noticed that my arms are starting to look more defined than they have been in a WHILE...that was fun to see...and satisfying. It gave me a sign that things are finally going to be moving faster now....with consistency, hard work and proper planning I should easily achieve my birthday goal. And as I've mentioned in a previous note...I'd like to give myself another photo shoot when the day comes along...that's the gift to myself. 

Ok...on a different note...I'm going to get my hair trimmed this Friday and was contemplating getting bangs again. Here are 2 pics of me with bangs...one taken by me and the second taken by the awesome photographer Peter from Urban Stylz one day at the gym (and no I wasn't training...my hair would never look that way during a workout..lol..I was with a client)...what do you think?

Rowaida

Bad Timing or what...

Tuesday, took the day off work cause my sinuses prevented me from sleeping for 2 nights and I was exhausted plus my sinuses were killing me...and I finally went to see the doc. He gave me something for my sinuses...I'm allergic to something but no idea what...tried looking at my routine..the food's I eat, etc...but see nothing that would cause it. So I'm scheduling an appointment with an allergy specialist to find out where this is coming from.

While I was there, I spoke to him about doing a blood test...check out my thyroid...so I'm doing a complete blood test medical this coming Saturday and I'll be getting the results by Monday end of day. Wonderful! This way, I'll know...I'll know if there's an issue I'll need assistance with (like the thyroid) or if it's me who needs to seriously step it up....one thing though...tomorrow is my sister's birthday and a few of us are going for dinner around 8pm...my blood test is at 8 am 12 hrs later :( I have to be fasting for 12 hours so though I will be there to celebrate my sister's birthday, I will NOT be enjoying any of the food. Bad timing...Jason says to push the appointment maybe...but I've been procrastinating this check up for a long time...it's here now and I need to go through with it asap...no more waiting...after that, I build a new action plan for myself for the upcoming weeks...can't wait.

I'll keep you posted!

Meanwhile, I've got to get my partner in crime, Agnieszka, back to the blogging table...she's been so busy with work and a million and one things...She's beautiful, strong and full of amazing and uplifting energy...can't wait to see her next blog!

Rowaida

Check up needed? Perhaps...Thyroid, Iron, SINUSES :s

I need to practice what I preach. I tell everyone I talk to that's trying to get into shape or trying just to get a little healthier to get checked out...especially if there are things off balanced. You know when things are not right a lot of the times...often we tend to ignore those emotions.

No worries! I'm totally ok, lol....but better safe than sorry I'll be going to get tested for a few things. 1) Thyroid...tons of hype about this. Many people don't even know they have an issue. (affects energy, emotions, ability to normally lose weight) 2) Iron levels (for my energy levels). 3) need to ask the doc about my sinuses....this IS an issue....my sinuses are out of wack!  Random blockage...this is annoying and quite painful at times, especially when it gets me sneezing uncontrollably...like I'm totally allergic to something (I hope it's just that). So...this is my goal this month.

I need to get checked out because it's been a while and because I want to make sure that nothing big is wrong. I want to make sure that the energy shift I've felt for a while is not due to age or perhaps it is....yes, I know...I'm 30 not 300 but still...I use to bounce off the walls and that's with 6hrs of sleep...now I get my full 8hrs and I don't feel as energetic as I used to be. And MAYBE, things are in my head.

I'm due for a few days off (realized last wk I still have 2 wks to take before the next vacation cycle starts (at work...in May)...so I will schedule something at that point. Hopefully in the next wk or so. 


I'll keep you posted :)

Random (I'm going to start adding these random parts moving forward...pics, quotes, links, etc...just cause I love to share :) ): 

Me (in Pink) and 2 of my beautiful cousins!!!

Goodnight!


Rowaida
 

Perceptions...

Funny how your perception can change as time advances. What am I talking about...well, I was on Facebook walking through memory lane. For those that are Facebook friends with me and haven't notice, I have a million and one pics up....including pics of me competing in fitness events. I came up a picture of my last competition from almost 3 years ago...I can't believe it's already been 3 years...anyway...looking back at my physique at that time today I yearn to have it like that once again...it's my objective before my 31st birthday this June 4th.

Ironically, that specific moment in time was also full of term oil, negative emotions and a ton of stress. I remember feeling so sad and so mentally unprepared for that event due to my mind-state at that time with everything that was going on in my life. In effect, that also affected, not only me, physically (I was not as ready as I needed to be...and I knew it) but me mentally. For those that know me in these past years know that I am not a shy person. Being infront of a crowd does not, in any way, stress me. On the contrary...I love it and normally do quite well, if I may say so myself.

Ok, so what am I getting at...well, despite the horrible moment in time that was for me, I look back today and wish to have that exact physique again...minus all that emotional poo. I am very happy today and am totally in love with my soul mate. Now, if I could have that body back, things would be extremely great! Here's 2 pics of what I'm talking about:

So this was my last and my worst competition ever...I cried like a little baby after that competition but not for what most people would think...sure I did horribly and was sad for that, but worse is coming to the realization that emotionally I had lost control of my life...I remember standing backstage at the end of the competition as the athletes and coaches were exiting the scene and completely being in a bubble of depressing emotions...just staring into nothing, frozen in time...what a crappy moment...Looking back at the pics today...despite all that...I yearn for that body back...I'll get it. It will be a birthday gift from me to me. 31 baby...31...right now it hurts just thinking about it but if and when this physique is back for my birthday...it will make it a little better...at least :)

Tomorrow morning I weigh-in and take my measurements....was supposed to do that today but, to be very honest...I totally forgot and only realized after I had breakfast and a tall glass of milk...so tomorrow it is!

Before I go, I added this link...nothing to do with anything I`m talking about but SUPER cute...take a look and enjoy....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R55e-uHQna0

Have a goodnight!

Rowaida

As promised...here's an update pic...

Not the best pic...took it solo but it will do for now. Actually 2 pics.

Me Pic 1

Me pic 2

 Ok, yes, I have big purple slippers and excuse Jason's orange walls... I will rectify the orangeness by normalizing the colour to something girlfriend friendly.

As you can see, even with the gradual weight loss and training, chicita has some meat in the seat. That's my problem area...I gain or lose 5 lbs, odds will be that it's in my 'behind'  or thighs...yup...not much in the boob department but plenty in the booty...it has been my forte as much as it's been a curse throughout the years.

I wish to get back to, at least, my 'off-season' physique, and I'm going to make it happen one day at a time...

Taken by the fitness industries amazing photographer URBANSTYLZ...Peter is the best at this.

  Well, that's me at about 129ish lbs, i f I could remember correctly....it's coming, it's coming! And CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Since I'm sharing all these pics, let me add this one from last night. It was taken at a family party for Valentine's!

My boyfriend is such a cutie...


Have a great Sunday everybody!!!


Rowaida

Update... Update.... read all about it....

Confessions of me...I've been inconsistent....the inconsistency in my blogging, unfortunately, reflects the same inconsistency in my training :( Big SAD face. Whatever it is, I let things get in the way. I also haven't weighed in in a while...A WHILE...so on the list of 'THINGS TO DO' this week are the following: 1) I WILL update my Goal Board which I haven't touched since December. 2) I WILL weigh in this week in the morning before breakfast. 3) I WILL post my Training Schedule for the next few weeks. 4) I will start a food journal.
Something new...I want to try Hot Yoga. My boyfriend brought it up to me that he'd like us to try it. Why not? I've heard all good things about it. Only thing I'm worried about how I'll react to be in the heat for that long....will I panic? will I get nervous? I know I'll sweat like crazy! That's for sure! We'll try out a class. If we both like it, we'll include it in our training schedules and this could be an activity we do together!!!! HOW FUN!

I actually started writing this entry yesterday...I'm happy to say I've updated my Goal Board with the new dates...and I've weighed in this morning, Here are the stats for today:

Weight: 144.3 lbs

Waist: 27"

Bust: 35"

Hips: 40.5"

Both Arms (biceps) 12.3"

Both Thighs 24.8"

Both Calves 15"

I will continue the weigh in and measurement logs every Saturday in the AM before I eat breakfast and post it in the blog. I will also take a follow up picture this weekend with the help of my wonderful boyfriend...and post it, of course! Next dates (Saturdays) for weigh-ins:

Feb. 26th, Mar. 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th, Apr. 2, 9....and we'll review at that time the frequency of the weigh ins depending on where I'm at at that point.

So what's left to do...ok, post my training schedule and start my food journal...alright...my training schedule is not complete but this is my plan for the next week and also what I did do this week....

Monday, I gave my bootcamp class and did most of it....(IT'S A KILLER). 

Wednesday, I replaced the Taeboxe instructor who normally gives that class followed by a 'Buns of Steel' class...I gave AND did both....

Today (Thursday) did weights at the gym for about an hour...lots of legs and some shoulders. No machines...plyos, Dumbbells and Bars....Jumping lunges (alternating), deadlifts, single leg squat combos..etc...lots...I have a feeling my butt will be sore tomorrow...

Friday (Tomorrow) I'm giving myself OFF...

Saturday I'll be giving and doing much of my Bootcamp class plus some weights after.

Sunday...still not sure.

Next week, the cycle starts again, except I might be doing the Hot Yoga class on the Friday!!!!

What happend to Tuesday, you may be asking...that's when I take my class at the University (working on my degree)...

Let me recap my things to do this week:

Goal Board update CHECK

Training schedule IN PROGRESS

Weigh in and measurements CHECK

Food Journal PENDING

Update Picture PENDING

The week is not over...I have until Sunday to complete this list!!! I'll keep everyone posted!

Rowaida