The New Olive Garden!

Good Morning!  Is everyone getting excited for the 4th of July weekend??  I suppose if I didn't have to work on the 4th, I might  be looking forward to it, but alas, I will be at work bright and early.  That's okay :)  I really have no feeling about it one way or another.  Wayne has to work, and at 14, Adam is getting harder and harder to talk into doing things with Mom.  However, the weather is going to be spectacular, and HOT!  Awesome!

So last night the family went to the Olive Garden for dinner.  We went to support my Sissy (Laura), who just started working there.  She is waitress extraordinaire!  I'm telling you, Olive Garden is big doings in Carson City!  The place was packed!  Adam asked.."What's the big deal?  It's just Olive Garden"!  Well son, in Carson City, we don't have much excitement, so when we get something new, it's major news!  Ah, small town life!  Gotta love it!  You should have been here when In and Out Burger opened!  Anyway, it was a nice night out, and even though we requested Laura's section, and were promised that, we were seated in the lovely Amy's section.  Oh well...gives us an excuse to go back.  I was excited to find that even though it was "Olive Garden", I was able to stay within my calorie count, thus sticking to my RVL plan!  I had the apricot grilled chicken with veggies, and a bowl of Minestrone soup...500 cals!  Okay, I had a bite of a breadstick...let's be generous and say I had 600 cals!  Awesome that they have low fat and gluten free choices!

You know what helps me when going out to dinner?  Most restaurants have websites where they list the nutritional facts.  If you plot it out before you go, and not AssUMe that you will be able to make a choice on the fly, you will do much better!  Some of the items you THINK would be good choices, are actually a big ole bust!  Like a lot of the salads!  Shocking!!  Beware!!!   You think..."oh, I was so good, I had a salad for dinner"...when in fact you would have been better off with the burger!  LOL  Just make good choices, and have fun :)

Because of our culture, we have made food such a social experience.  For me, this is the hardest part of losing weight.  Every occasion, every gathering is built around food!  My Mother's (and Grandmother before her) first question when planning a family gathering is..."what are we going to eat?"  This is such a hard habit to break!  When you finally realize that you can enjoy company/family without it revolving around a meal, life is good!  Or when you realize that you don't have to join in on the food frenzy that is present to enjoy your time with folks.  I think I've finally gotten to the point where I don't feel left out and deprived.

Well, off to get the morning started!  Everyone have a good day!!!

Blessings to you all!

Leah

Zip Lining Celebration!

Last year while attending Monavie's International Convention, our team decided to stay in Park City.  After all, it's incredibly beautiful, only 20 minutes into Salt Lake, and so much to do!  I personally way dying to visit the Olympic Park.  Where else can you watch ski jumpers training in the middle of Summer???  It was awesome!  Well, they also have a zip line that goes from the top of the ski jump, and it's the steepest in the world.  Pretty cool!  Anyway, my entire team decided to zip line.  Well guess what?  I was too heavy, and didn't meet the weight requirement.  So what do you say..."I'm too fat"?  No, you say you are afraid of heights, or what ever excuse you can come up with to sit it out.  I was heart broken.

Well, this year when I returned to Salt Lake City, I took the drive up to Park City, and took a ride on the zip line!  It was thrilling!  I rode to the top, and waited in line...there it was, the scale!!  Yes, they will weigh you if there is any question of your weight!  Well guess what?  The guy didn't even look at me like he wanted to weigh me!    I put this little video together to share that moment :)

Blessings to you all,

Leah

Butt Kicking Boot Camp

So last evening we went to workout, and let me just say, it was 90 degrees!  Why they chose this day to have class at the State Capital Building, OUTSIDE, no air conditioning, no fans, is beyond me!  Let me also say that Wayne and I were the only foolish ones that showed up for this extravaganza!  Okay, my complaining aside, it was totally awesome!  A private session with trainer Colton (who happens to be less than half my age), was killer!  I love those crazy times when I'm the only one who shows up, and I can really take advantage of having a PERSONAL session.

My workouts have become so important to me in this journey.  Having come from a place where I couldn't even imagine doing a push-up, or even getting myself off the ground without a crane is still an amazement.  How fast you can transform your body is a wonderment!  To those who take on this process and say..."and I don't even exercise!"...hmmmm....WHY?  You know, that will work for a while, but truly, this part of the journey is so very important!  Don't deprive yourself of making your body the best it can be!

This has been a crazy week :)  Family Reunion this past weekend, and back to work full time, and I've still managed to lose 3 pounds!  103 pounds GONE FOREVER!  With that said, it's time to have my morning RVL shake, and then off to work!  BTW, I hate Thursday, cause I have to miss my workout!  Funny how you begin to miss it!  In the old days I would have looked forward to the day I could legitimately miss a workout...LOL...those days are gone!

Blessings to you all!
Leah