How to mess up a video blog

Just follow my lead and ramble on... Enjoy!

New Year's Eve in June

I'm sure by now, we have all seen and participated in our fair share of New Year's Eve countdowns, correct?  Well imagine that feeling of counting backwards from ten. Everyone always anticipates the ten, because they know that's when the verbal countdown begins. But think about it one more time--what really strikes you as that pivotal moment before there are no numbers left to say? For me, it's five (and one). Tennineeightsevensix...FIVE. Four. Three. Two. ONE! That five is where the anticipation really sets in and everyone is anxious and cheering and giddy and all around in good spirits. That's where I am today.

Okay, so maybe today started off a little out of the norm for me. A little? Yeah, that's an understatement if I've ever heard one. But hear me out. I woke up today without the urge to fight my clock. I set my clothes out the night before, and I knew what I had to do. Rise and shine, Redhead! Hop to it--a little Ab Ripper X action, a 5 minute run to the gym (counting toward my cardio total), 10 minutes of intervals on the stairs (pardon my lack of morning energy), some leg work to do what I can last minute to really accentuate that hamstring-glute tie-in, and the 5 minute run home. Done and done.

Now I'm not sure if I previously mentioned it, but my boyfriend and I are taking a break this week. That's right--the little yellow Keurig that sits on the kitchen counter isn't getting any action. Neither are the men that I cheat on him with (I'm talking about you, Starbucks!). I wasn't sure how I would fare, but after I got in my breakfast of champions chicken and cucumbers, I was feeling fine. Not groggy, not lethargic, definitely not energetic, but just fine. So I sat down. Big mistake. And then I chose to lay down on my freshly made bed. Bigger mistake. 7:20am and it was already nap time. I kid you not--I set my alarm for 7:40 so I could be out the door by 8, and I took a 20 minute power nap. What do you mean you don't do that too?? I wasn't sure how that would bode for the rest of the day, but I took it all in stride.

And I'm glad I did. I'm not embarrassed to admit that I NEEDED that power nap, and there's good reason to believe that I will need more throughout the course of this week. As soon as I got on the road though, I was fine, functioning normally. Or as normal as possible. I was functioning as best I could without coffee, and given that I had a gallon and a half of water to drink throughout the course of the day. READ: I stopped 3 times for potty breaks in the distance/time that I normally only stop for one.

I had a surprising revelation though. Keep in mind that the nature of my job means that I have to cater lunches to doctors in order to get up-to-date product information in front of them. It's the only way some of these folks can learn, given that they see plenty of patients a day, and one hiccup can set them back an hour, if not more. Well, working with my counterpart, she brought the food and it was very interesting--cold pizzas, but not like any pizza I have ever seen before. Patsy's Pastry Pizzas. I'll let you do the looking and the judging. These suckers looked good. And then, all of a sudden, they didn't. Okay, well yes, they still did, but they didn't seem worth it, even off-prep, and knowing myself, I would be good after just tasting them. Only because they LOOKED different. So it's not that I was going to kick all the hard work put in, and it's not that they were really a temptation, but suffice to say: Temptation kicked!

The rest of the day went on as normal (insert extra bathroom breaks here), and before I knew it, the gym was calling my name. When I first pulled in, there were no cars in the parking lot--SCORE! Nowit's not that I'm ashamed of taking selfies in the gym, I just prefer to do it when I'm alone. So naturally, I whipped out my phone and went to town, duh! I'd been getting super nervous last night, and even panicked over what vegetables to eat this week so I really lean out and everything tightens up. Well, looking in the mirror, I saw proof that "Trust the process" is a quote for a reason. Since today was my high water intake day, I am holding a leeeettle bit in my abdomen, so I opted for no sports bra photos.

#FTYF --> Check out www.flextyfamous.com if you LOVE the shirt!

A little back action

And the Flex

As compared to last night's case of the bloat:

Hi water/veggie baby! Now GO AWAY!

But rest assured, the bloat clearly came down, and I left the gym in high spirits!

That, my friends, is the face of a girl who has won no matter what. It's the face of a girl that knows she has already accomplished more than she could have even imagined. I'm happy with the gains I've made, and I know what to work on for next time. (But I still have 3 gym days, and 4 whole days before the competition!!) Nothing is impossible folks--I'm elated more than anything right now.

HOME STRETCH!!

Why don't you pass the time with a game of solitaire??

FIVE dollars to the first person that can name the movie from which that quote came WITHOUT googling it. I tell you, I grew up hearing that quote because that was one of my mother's favorite movies, and to this day when anyone mentions solitaire, that quote comes to mind. However, my friends, that is far from the topic of the day! I've been so serious on the blog here lately, with competition prep and all, that it's time to have a little fun. What better way to do so than with a little game of solitaire survey!

I'm usually not one to fill these out--they remind me of the dreadfully awkward days when MySpace ruled the t(w)een internet--but it's mindless and informative. Not to mention, it's a way for bloggers to get to know some interesting facts about one another. I personally think it's especially appropriate for fitness/health bloggers because it gives us a different way to recreate our days rather than, "I woke up. I ran. I ate. I worked. I slept." Surveys not your thing? Then feel free to not read on.

1. What did you eat for breakfast?

Let's see: competition prep peak week. Water/sodium load Day 2--1 cup of egg whites sweetened with a bit of Splenda Nectress, unsweetened flavor drops, ginger, and cinnamon. Hold your urge to vom--I swear this is delicious! It's like a dessert made solely of protein...and amped up with flavor and more flavor. (Being that all food will be boiled between Monday and Saturday, I'm getting all the flavor I can get while it's allowable.) Green beans on the side (with a dose of sodium--yum).

2. How much water do you drink a day?

I can, in good faith, say that I drink at LEAST a gallon of water a day, if not more. Definitely more. Sometimes I do count unsweetened beverages (iced tea, coffee) toward this daily total, but I think that's appropriate. As a result, I also go to the bathroom a lot. A LOT, a lot. 

3. What is your current favorite workout?

I'm a super generic workout gal. Think running, stair mill, traditional lifting, etc. Very basic. That being said, I'm really enjoying the P90X Ab Ripper X. 15 minutes of balls to the wall core work, using no additional equipment. It WORKS, folks! My abs love to hate it. And running--even if it's only 2 miles, I can't stand going a day without getting my feet going. All you need is socks and a pair of running shoes and you're good to go!

Let's go, leg-os!

4. How many calories do you eat a day?

I've gotten this question on several occasions as of late, and I don't have a good answer. I can tell you how much protein I eat on any given day though--approximately 125-150g a day. 

You mean you DON'T pose with your protein??

5. What are your favorite healthy snacks?

Quest bars are my go-to favorite snack. SO good! Especially microwaved 15 seconds or baked for 5 minutes. Some like it hot! Behind that, greek yogurt (with nut butter, mmm), nuts (in moderation), and water-dense veggies like celery, bell peppers, and cukes. If only I could perfect the art of making kale chips...

6. What do you usually eat for lunch?

Which one? Meal 3 or 4 (of 6)? Typically this is meat in the form of chicken or fish...or steak earlier in prep. And greens. A hefty amount of greens. Gotta feed these muscles!

7. What is your favorite body part to strength train?

Oooh, toughie! I want to say legs--I love to hate leg days. It's the most trying day, but the most rewarding. I love a good hurting! Followed closely by shoulders and biceps. 

8. What is your least favorite body part to strength train?

Chest. Boring. Enough said.

9. What are your “bad” food cravings?

Froyo and cupcakes. And limited edition Oreos--I'm not too particular on the flavor, but I at least like to try them all. This is not to say that I give in to my cravings--my comp diet can attest for the fact that I don't--but I can at least want after these foods!

Enough said (though I prefer the chocolate wafers)

10. Do you take vitamins or supplements?

Yessir/yes ma'am! Typically I take these all in the chewable form (gummies please?!). I currently take a multi-, calcium, and vitamin C. Sometimes I add in fish oil and biotin--to keep e'erything healthy!

11. How often do you eat out?

A lot less often than I used to! Once a week currently, IF I'm lucky.

Don't worry, this is NOWHERE near recent.

12. Do you eat fast food?

No siree! On a rare occasion, I will eat Chic-Fil-A, but even that is few and far between. It's just not worth it--quality is terrible, flavor is sub-par, and fast food chains always seem dirty to me.

13. Who is your biggest supporter?

My momma, Sister Kurland, Bestie Katie, and Stacy. These gals may question my motives sometimes, but they never stop supporting my goals and want to see me succeed. There are several others on the list of supporters that need mentioning--Ashley, Lacey, Logan, Kelsey (along with those whom I've forgotten to add here)--love you all!

14. Do you have a gym membership?

Oh, not just A gym membership. TWO gym membershipS. Call me crazy... I call me crazy fit.

15. How many hours of sleep do you get a night?

Certainly not enough! 6-6.5 on weekdays, a little more on weekends. That explains my exhaustion...

So inviting... We should get together more often.

16. Do you have a “cheat” day?

Not really. I like to be "on" most of the time. I don't like missing workouts unless I need to or my body is telling me I need it. I never "cheat" an entire day. Perhaps a meal here or there, but guilt comes very quickly for me, so I try to limit this as best I can. That being said, when I do cheat, it's typically on weekends.

17. Do you drink alcohol?

Currently? No. When I'm not going through prep? Yes. I enjoy my alcohol, but I much prefer a nice drink (or two) and a relaxing evening over an all-out party indulgence night.

18. Do you have a workout buddy?

I wish! I used to have a few, but they've all fallen through the cracks. Pretty soon though, I'm going to need to find one, because I want to make some gains! And I'd prefer to not get trapped under any barbells while doing so...

19. What is the best thing that has changed about your life since committing to a healthy lifestyle?

I have much better sense of who I am these days. I know more about what I am and am not capable of. I've learned to be proud of who I am, proud of my accomplishments, and begin to make a plan for where I want to go. I think committing to a healthy lifestyle has made me a better person, a more likable person, and all-around more positive. And my favorite part of my life that has changed--people have started to look toward me for inspiration and motivation. I love being able to help others, even if not directly!

20. What was the last healthy thing you did?

I pissed off the server we had at PF Chang's for my sister's belated birthday celebration by completely and utterly modifying a menu item to make it competition-(and peak week) friendly. How? Well it went something like this:

"Umm, the gluten-free moo goo gai pan--how is that cooked? ...Oh you can cook it in vegetable stock? Okay, perfect, yes, let's do that. But no sauce. So just cook the chicken, shrimp, and vegetables. No oil. Please. Thank you!"

Don't worry, my mom tipped him well.

What's holding you back??

Single Digits

Today is so surreal for me--I have finally reached single digits in my countdown to the bikini stage. Am I excited? YES!! Am I nervous?? Heck yes! But all the while, this is a bittersweet time for me. I've gone through one heck of a rollercoaster ride in getting this far, and this is really only the beginning for me. I know the type of person I am, and I know that one competition is not going to be enough.

Yesterday, I was chatting with one of my biggest long-distance (okay, well an hour and a half distance) supporters and prior roommates, and she asked me in so many words, "What's next?" I know a lot of you are thinking, "This girl must be crazy--she's not even through her first competition and she's already thinking about what comes after? Why not just get through the first one first??" And yes, while those are valid questions, I think this is the exact right time to think about where I'm going from here. At this point, while competition prep is a fleeting (yet long, when-can-I-eat-cupcakes-again) endeavor, fitness is part of my everyday life. Yes, I'm looking forward to not having to wake up at 5am to start fasted cardio, but I'm sure there will be days where I want that. And even if I do choose not to go to the gym at the butt crack of dawn, I will still be there at some point each and every day (except rest days--but let's be real, I rarely take those).

So yes, what IS next? Another competition. Plain and simple. I'm not ready to stop competing. Hell, I just started! I know there are those people who see something through to say they did it, to have that experience. I'm not one of those people. I do something (especially something requiring being fit) to compete. June 29th just sets the baseline for me--if I do well, that's excellent and all the more reason to continue being a bikini athlete. If I do not do well, I work to improve my trouble areas, my weak spots, and gain greater stage confidence. No matter the outcome, there is ALWAYS room to improve. Look at some of these pro bikini competitors--many have been doing this for years, and yet if you ask the winners of these competitions, for instance the Olympia, what they strive for between now and the next competition, it's more than just, "I want to win." More often than not, they want to further develop and become a better athlete. So I strive to do the same.

I have not chosen my next show, but I have done a bit of light browsing. I want another hopefully before my birthday at the end of the summer, so I can have a little fun celebrating another year of being alive. But regardless of which date I choose, I know that I will be taking the week following the competition very easy. I have vacation plans that involve mini cupcakes, a proper celebration of Sister Kurland's 21st birthday (which was yesterday, so let's wish her a very happy birthday, folks!), and a Fourth of July and Bestie birthday celebration in Philly.

So that's what's in store for the future, but what about NOW?? What are my thoughts with 9 days left of contest prep? Honestly, this prep has been filled with a lot of losses...and a lot of gains, but let's start with the losses first, shall we?

The Losses

• Weight: It's probably best to start with the most obvious things first, and primarily when you think of prepping for a fitness competition, you think of dropping weight. This is the question that I get asked most frequently, and honestly, I have not really dropped a ton of weight. I've lost maybe a total of 8 pounds so far, and that's being generous. That being said, during peak week starting on Saturday, I should lose another 5 or so pounds of water weight, bringing me down to around 112-114. Yes, I just publicly admitted how much I weigh. Want to know my height too? 5'5" on a good day. You do the math (because I know you now want to).

Once I hit 120, I stayed there for a while, fluctuating between 120-122. While I do not have exact answers behind this, I can safely assume that it was due to time differences in my weigh-ins and daily ebbs such as water retention and travel. Also, I lost a good bit of muscle mass between last summer at the height of my Crossfit days and the beginning of this year--it really took me that long to get acclimated with the schedule of my job, and unfortunately I had a hard time adjusting the workout schedule to fit the work schedule. So maybe I'm not at the number I was hoping for, but in this sport, percentages matter more.

• Body fat: Another one of the obvious losses. One of the main ideas behind competition prep dieting is not only feeding your muscles, but leaning out (and doing so with lean proteins--genius!). Over the course of my competition prep, which started around mid-April, I have lost approximately 5% body fat, if not more. The last time I measured this (and keep in mind all these tools used to measure this err a little more or less on the side of inaccurate), I was at 17% body fat. That was two weeks ago. Things have tightened up since then. I feel and look leaner. I feel and look taller (ha!). Hopefully I will get a more recent measurement of this later this week, but it still falls under the category of losses.
• Mental capabilities: It's a little hard to remember things more than just a couple hours out lately. I also feel like I'm working at a slower pace. Ironic, since the brain is comprised mostly of water, and I'm drinking upwards of a gallon a day. But I think the lack of sleep and the early mornings really negate that. I've said it once, and I'll say it again, but I'm probably only working at 75% of my brain's normal rate. And for that I apologize.
• Bladder control: You should have seen this one coming, since I just mentioned drinking so much water. But yes, I frequently find myself running--literally running--to the bathroom to relieve myself. I tend to get SUPER fidgety before I do so, and some of you may have noticed that. Or if you haven't, now you have something to look for. In fact, I've already made like 4 trips to the restroom just while writing this post. Bikini competitor problems. Sigh.

The Gains

• Lean muscle mass: I do not currently have a way of measuring this, although I'm sure there are numerous tools out there to do so, but I am POSITIVE that I have gained a lot of lean muscle mass. Really, it goes hand-in-hand with losing body fat, and it is one of the reasons my weight has stayed pretty stagnant throughout the majority of this prep. I mentioned earlier, but I did have go through a period of time where fitness and working out was not one of my top priorities, and it showed. It was a gradual loss of muscle mass during that time, but lucky for me, my muscle memory stayed pretty high.
• In the gym: When I say this, I'm referring to the weight that I'm able to put up during various exercises. No, I have not hit any PRs, and I have not had any intention to. However, I have come a long way, especially training on my own, sans spotter. I've come a long way from that one fateful day when I accidentally put 25lb plates on the barbell and went on to do chest press only to get one (and a half) rep(s) and momentarily get trapped under the bar. Don't remember that? Search it on my blog--it's late and I'm too lazy to link.
• Confidence: This sport is no joke and is completely out of my normal comfort zone. Sure, I wear just a sports bra on top when I run sometimes, but only because the heat and humidity dictates that choice. I went into this proud that I have strength, but lacking in body confidence. I've learned so much about what my body can handle, how my body adapts to clean clean eating, and everything in between. Heck--I'm stepping on stage just shy of nude in 9 days, and I'm not one bit scared or shy about strutting my stuff in public. More worried that I will trip over my own feet!

I am 9 days out and I couldn't be anymore of a mix of emotions than I am now. Stay tuned!

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get some rest to fight off this stupid head cold that fought its way into my system today. GO AWAY GERMS!!!

The Easiest Thing That I Can Manage Right Now

I know it's long, but it's worth it to spend the next 10 minutes hearing how competition prep is going and accept my utmost gratitude for your support!

Video blogs are just much simpler at this point, as I can ramble to my heart's content and it saves me bunches of time. Love you all!

PS. If you don't already follow me on Instagram, you can check out pictures of my recent shenanigans by following: @eckurland

All I Heard Was "...You can still run." {Giveaway winner announced!}

In my exhaustion, I realized I forgot to follow up on my visit to the orthopedist on Friday. In case you forgot, I made an appointment because I've been having pain radiating from my large toe up along the top of my foot. I have my suspicions of what has caused it, but I'm too stubborn to do anything about it (i.e., stop running).

Well, Friday's appointment really determined nothing. X-rays were taken and no fractures were noticed. No stress fracture large enough to be depicted by the x-ray at least. I wasn't confident that it was a fracture anyway. Most likely some sort of tendon issue. I walked out with instructions to ice it for half an hour each day, take anti-inflammatories, and if something aggravates it, just take it easy. And then pretty much the only phrase I really heard, "Since it's not a stress fracture, you can still run." Doctor's orders, right?

Wrong. Oh, so wrong. But I guess the good news is I think I have narrowed down the culprit of the pain. That darn dreadmill treadmill! Lately it's been too hot to run outside by the time I get back in town from work, and I cannot wait until it cools down because I need to be in bed by about 10pm each night.  So I'd been taking it from the streets and to the gym. Not my best idea, but it certainly worked out so that I could get 2-3 quick miles in (seriously, posting some good times) before strength/target training. Well, the pounding of the treadmill has been taking a lot more of a toll than the streets and/or trails. I topped off the weekend with a jaunt along the Monticello trail (2.1 miles uphill and 2.1 miles back down), which my foot did not like at all. But my abs did. Which am I supposed to listen to?

I owe these most recent changes to P90X Ab Ripper X and my stubbornness.

My in those pictures can be attributed to several different factors:

1. Visible abs--they'll make any fit girl smile.
2. The pain was making me delusional? I kid.
3. I had my next meal to look forward to post-shower.
4. Immediately following this, I was heading to a pool to relax and hang out with some good friends.

I was so excited that I may have sent the following SnapChat to my sissy, who always tells me she wants to get in shape and asks me for advice:

The caption alludes to something
later this month (hopefully).

So you can see why I don't want to give up running just yet. Although in swimming's defense, even though I swallow a gallon of water at least, it's still an excellent core workout. It's just more time consuming in the mornings. Decisions, decisions.

Until I make that decision (tomorrow morning), I promised to introduce you to my June Blueprints today. Ignore the "June Goals" title on my lovely St. Jude notepad--we talked yesterday about my thoughts on goals.

June Blueprints

Short, sweet, and to the point.

This month's goals are actually inspired by my friend Kaitlin, one of the fellow bridesmaids in the BFFTTDID's (best friend forever til the day I die) wedding.

Isn't she lovely, folks?

Kait sent me a gchat a few days ago following one of my blog posts telling me how I've inspired her to give up sugar and bad carbs AND be nicer to people during the month of July. I was so touched by her gesture and offered to be there for her to hold her accountable. After all, I know it's always easier to have someone to talk to when you're on the edge of good and bad decisions. "But it's only one tootsie roll..." But one always leads to two, which leads to four (because you have to keep it even), etc.

Naturally, this got me thinking--last month's goals were very fitness-oriented. They were all about making me better physically, but none of them really touched on making me better as a person. Why not make June's goals about showing others the best form of myself. And if I'm starting to inspire others, I need to lead by example. It's one thing to have the drive to reach a goal, but if I'm being a b*tch while getting there, then is it really worth it? I ask this because I've met those types of people and they're never pleasant. So are they really that happy when they've reached the end and they've trampled over numerous people on their way to get there??

Take a second glance at my June Blueprints. I'm especially excited about numbers 1 and 3.

One: Reach out to one friend with whom I've lost touch each day. I don't know about you, but Facebook is a constant reminder of those with whom I've lost touch. Especially when birthdays roll around. I sit there hovering over the names on the righthand side of the screen contemplating, "Do I write a quick birthday wish? Will it mean anything to him/her?" Well I'm tired of that debate. If you are my friend on Facebook, then there is a reason and I need to acknowledge our friendship (even if it has been ages). And I need to go further and actually take the time to catch up a bit. My upcoming birthday reminders need to stop being the only reason I reach out.

Three: Stop passing judgement on others. This is a whole lot easier said than done. There's a few different aspects of me passing judgement--the times I verbalize it and the times I do it internally, usually in the form of comparison. So I am choosing to stop making outward judgements on others when I'm amongst friends (us girls can be catty!) as well as actively control my need to internally judge others. Why not instead find the positives about each person and find a way to incorporate those into my life?

The other blueprints on my list are what they are. I need to work on abs--so that's the one physical fitness thing on my list. I need to take care of my health, and flossing tends to get thrown aside when I'm "too tired." Which brings us to sleep--I need more than 6 hours, I'm sure, but until competition time,  that's all I can afford. And I just need to read more. I really need to read more--and I'm not referring to blogs!

So there you have it folks--new month, new haircut blueprints!

Now don't you worry folks, I didn't forget to announce the WINNERS to my giveaway!

The bad news: No one guessed right. But then again, I was SUPER vague. Take a good long look at the color of the dress in the picture I added. That, ladies and gents, is the color of the competition bikini I chose!! I'm super excited that it's finally in the process of being made, and it should be in my hands NEXT Friday (6/14). Yay!!!

The good news: While there were several fun guesses, I'm very appreciative of those of you that decided to participate via the blog and Facebook. You're all winners! So, Kelsey and Melissa, please email me your addresses! (Mom, I already have yours). You should be able to find my email through my profile. If you have difficulty, either comment on this post or Facebook message me.

What are your June Blueprints/Goals?? Do you make monthly goals?

Juno!

True story: an ex-boyfriend during my first year of college once bought me a DVD player and this for my Christmas gift:

Hmm, not sure if he was trying to imply something here, but I'm not very receptive of "practical" gifts. Girl doesn't need a DVD player. And she definitely doesn't need a boyfriend that thinks it's acceptable to buy her one for a Christmas gift.

And off the tangent... Can you believe it's already June?! Where on Earth did May go?? Answer: it went in the books with my Pittsburgh Half Marathon PR, my Bedrock Trail Half Marathon finish (all I could hope for), a trip to Virginia Beach for a belated Mother's Day and some sissy time, a trip to Fairfax to commemorate Memorial Day, and a trip to the UVA hospital to visit the new mommy, Stacy. Not to mention the numerous (and I do mean numerous) 5am wakeup calls, 10pm lights out, and gym sessions. May came and went with more than it's fair share of self-portraits, but since I've practically exhausted that supply, I won't bombard you with too many.

Clockwise from top left: Bedrock Trail 1/2, movie date with Sissy, a little work action, new kicks, Pittsburgh 1/2,
the dog I saved from the side of a highway, back day, and a sassy new physique.

Now if you recall, at the beginning of May, I shared a post with my goals for the month. I created these goals for a reason: to change for the better. To remove bad habits and to create good habits. To get one step closer to the best version of myself. I'm not going to lie to you, I can't say that I 100% committed to any of these goals.

Why?

Life got in the way. The halves took more of a toll on me than I thought. I spent the entire week after the first mentally preparing for the second. Recouping from the first. Then after the trail, I had to get back in the swing of (competition prep) things. It wasn't easy.

I did have every intention of fulfilling my goals, or at least trying my best to accomplish them. In the end though, they served as a blueprint for success, and I'm all about blueprints. Just think about that term for a second--an architectural blueprint is a foundation for a structure. It's a deconstructed building.  Well these monthly "goals" are the breakdown of my ideal self, or how to achieve my ideal, happy self.

So while I can't tell you that I stuck to any goal every minute of every day, I can say that I've progressed in the month of May.

I had a goal to unplug from technology, especially during evening hours. I give this 50% effort. I started off with good intentions. I installed a sleep app on my phone to actually track my sleep cycle (movement, noise, time) midway through the month. I made a conscious effort to not have my phone out while with friends. But I still used it more often than I should. This may reappear on my list, but in a slightly varied form.

Cutting my coffee intake also did not happen in it's full form but I did spend less at Starbucks than I normally do. And I did have a few days with either only one cup or without any at all! How that happened and how I got through those days I'll never know. 80%

Increasing my water intake was probably the only goal that I feel I put in an excellent effort. I've kept my fridge stocked with various calorie-free beverages. Some favorites: sparkling water (typically TJ's, Polar, and La Croix--especially peach-pear flavor), Crystal Light, and Lipton iced tea.

Vanilla flavored. AMAZING. Even better? Orange vanilla!

Target training-- Didn't stick quite to the schedule, but my efforts did bring me closer to my end-goal. Stage in 28 days and the pictures have done all the talking.

One month's progress 

Slightly different poses, but the changes are there.

So yes, while my goals were a little off, the results weren't. Stay tuned for June's blueprints, which I will announce tomorrow, along with the winner of my guessing game giveaway. I've only had about 4 people guess (via the blog--preferred, and Facebook), so there is still time to give it a go! What's there to lose??

Happy 1st Saturday night of June, folks!