damn its been a while

Wow, its been over a year since I've last updated by blog. It feels like so much and yet so little has happened at the same time.

 

I no longer take classes at MCC, that was only for one semester. I still have the same job, been there for 2.5 years. Lots has changed there, but that's a whole another story that is too boring for this blog. Who wants to here about office politics and layoffs??

 

Been making new friends on my team, dating different guys (but currently single), and still enjoying the rugby scene. Still playing and hitting it hard. I am really starting to feel like part of the team with a group of friends, I no longer feel like an outsider looking in.

 

I started working out with a trainer a few months ago. Its been a rough start, but I think it is helping me reach my goals. I'm not 100% committed to her program yet, but I have made changes. I've lost some body fat and about 10 lbs. I've also increased my fitness level. I finally feel like I am catching up to the rest of my teammates, but I have a long way to go.

 

I moved out of my old apartment, and now I have a roommate. I love my new apartment, it's in central phoenix at a much prettier complex. I feel safer there, and it feels more like a home. My roommate and I have been friends for ages and we are getting along well most of the time.

 

My biggest obstacle right now is getting my life organized. My bedroom is a complete mess, and my apartment is in desperate need of cleaning. I need to become a neater person before I feel like I can be an actual mature adult.

I am not really concerned with dating right now, I am honestly not. For maybe the first time ever. It reallly doesn't sound appealing to me at the moment. I have other shi*t I want to take care of before I worry about meeting my soulmate and all that stuff. If it happens it happens, but being single is kinda nice. I don't have to worry about impressing anyone else, or what they think of me, or making sure they are happy. I just worry about myself and my sh*t.

Pieces from the end of the semester for life drawing

Below are some of the last pieces I did in my life drawing class. These were all two day (two class periods) poses. The bottom on is only after the first day, I haven't taken a picture of the finished piece of work yet. I placed them in order of when they were done, be warned there is some nudity down below, but nothing too graphic, in my opinion anyway. I guess after staring at naked people for so long all semester I just got used to it. It's no big deal really.

 

Fitness blog #3 & Summer News

Today (Friday) and Tuesday I went to a fitness class at my gym called Body Works plus Abs. I'm not sure if a lot of fitness gurus would think much of a LA Fitness class, but this is class is just at the right level for me with the instructor. She mixes strength training that targets certain muscle groups with cardio, and with other exercises likes squats and such. Lots and lots of beautiful squats. Then we do ab exercises at the end. The strength training definitely wears me out in a good way, and the best part is you pick your weights so I try to do what I know is going to be challenging. The cardio we do is much like what we do in conditioning for rugby, for example jumping jacks, high knees, burpees, mountain climbers, all the favorites. Haha, or not. Actually the cardio is the most challenging for me so far (go figure I always knew this is something I need to work on). I hope by continuing to go this class I will be fitter when rugby season comes around again.

I'm feeling mixed things about rugby right now. Again go figure, it's always been a love/hate relationship. I love the camaraderie, the kicking ass part, and the great feeling of exhaustion and accomplishment after a good game or practice, but I hate it when I feel like the worst girl on the field. I think I would love it even more if I was in better shape and was better at the basics. Getting in shape is really hard y'all! Like really really hard! Sigh, but you know what they say, if it was easy everyone would do it, right? I'm working on it, I really really want to be better for the fall and spring. If I'm not ready then it might be time to stop. I don't want to, but it might just be my time and focus on something else. For all the time I've spent trying to play rugby, it sure has given a lot to me that I have neither the energy or thought process to describe right now.

BUT on a happier note, I have so good news....well it could be good news I am not sure yet. On THIS Tuesday I have a consultation to see if I can get LASIK. I've always been scared of it, I mean they slicing into your freakin' eyes! But I'm tired of wearing contacts and since my parents are willing to pay for it, I'd be stupid not to. I have heard from my sister and mom that it really really isn't that bad and sooo completely worth it.  Also in other medical news, I will most likely be getting my wisdom teeth out August 3rd, which is completely scary to me because I have never had surgery before, and now I will be out of it while they slice my mouth open. Okay gotta stop thinking about it, that's gross.

Comic con madness.

No fitness blogs for a while, spent all of the weekend walking around at Phoenix Comic con with the occasional dancing and stair climbs.

Here's some pictures from the weekend, it was undoubtedly an experience to remember for a looooong time. I didn't have my real camera so all of these are from my iphone.

 Apparently I am doing this wrong, because Han Solo had the gun under the table. I dunno, haven't watched Star Wars in forever.

The second day dressed up as Shaun(a) of the dead.

Leela met up with Zapp Brannigan! No pity sex or other nakedness happened after that. Fans of Futurama will understand what I am talking about.

Actress Jewel Staite at her panel. Shiny! 

Upstairs at Hanny's downtown for some nighttime fuel and drinks.

Map of Arizona at the LEGO exhibit in the dealers room.  

Apollo 11 in LEGOs. 

Kaylee from Firefly!

Scalzi and Wheaton together again, hilarious panel! Yeah sorry this is the best pic I got.

The crowds at comicon. Holy crap they got really bad at some points, but it was still fun overall.

I wish I had more pictures, I was kinda lame with them over the weekend. Maybe I was too busy pushing thru the crowds, trying to find people, and enjoying the people watching to take that many. The first 3 I even stole from my sister. Haha.

Fitness diary #2

30 Minutes on tredmill at 1% incline, interval training @ 12:00min overall pace, with a few 30sec rests thrown in there.

3 Rounds of:
10 sit-ups
10 push-ups
10 squats
10 lunges

Still slow at the running but you gotta start somewhere. Need to work on the diet too if I want to burn off more calories than I take in.

I've gained a bit of weight in the last 6 months, a little over 10lbs and I'd like to drop that plus some more. I'm hopeful that I can, but if not at least I can always get fitter.

fitness diary #1

2 miles on the treadmill at 1% or .5% incline: interval running @ a 12:00min pace overall

1500m row in 10min 30sec at level 7 resistance


Not a bad start, need to keep this up!

slow progress is real progress

So like many girls do, I was dreaming about my weight and size back in high school. Who doesn't! But you know what I realized while day dreaming of yesterday, I am probably healthier and fitter than I was then! Definitely fitter, no question about that. I couldn't run more than a block, and I definitely didn't have any significant muscle mass. You can laugh because I know I am still quite squishy looking, but I can feel the things that rugby and working out have done to my body. I can do real sit ups now, I can run over a mile with no problem! I've gone from a couch potato to a fitness novice. I sometimes forget how far I have come until I go hiking or work out with friends or family who don't play rugby. Sorry guys, I still love you! <3 But it's so true.

Don't get me wrong, I still think if only I could shed some of this extra poundage so I could be faster and speedier and look a little better in a bikini, right? However, I am still proud of myself for where I have come, which was coming from nowhere really. Before I starting playing this crazy sport I had no idea what it meant to push myself physically. Also, the stereotype is true, it often is more mental than physical, it's about pushing you body where your mind doesn't want you to go, and having your mind decide you will live through this and you can do it. One day at a time, because slow progress is real progress, and I know I always have room for improvement.