Ben Does LIfe

An Inspiration!

Week 2

Well, we made it through the first week!!

I'm not going to lie, there were times when I wanted to cheat and there were times when I wanted to reward myself... by cheating ;)

But I didn't and I am happy to say I am down slightly over 2lbs. this week! I was a little worried at first as I weighed myself pretty much every other day (okay.. sometimes EVERY day, or MULTIPLE times a day :P ) and I saw my weight going up, up, down and then up & up over where I started so I was completely surprised to see the number go down so drastically today. I guess all the hard work is starting to pay off! I just kept telling myself "muscle weighs more than fat" over & over this week. Now, I just have to keep the momentum going!

I will start posting fun pictures soon, maybe next week... but just not yet :)

On a side note, just to give an example of how competitive Ryan & I are... on top of competing to lose weight we have another side competition. It all started, in my opinion, to help HIM get up on time in the AM to do the workouts before work. However, I soon learned that it was a scam by him to get 10 minutes of massage from me! I personally think he has never had a problem getting up in the morning and this was his plan... all this time! Stinker!

Day 1

P90X

Ryan & I borrowed P90X from some friends of ours & decided to take the challenge!

Today was our official 1st day (of 90). We woke up bright & early at 5:30am to start the first workout. Last night I was dreading the early morning wake up call but it was actually surprisingly easy to wake up today, must have been all the adrenaline ;)

Today's workout was chest/back and tomorrow it will be pylometrics (I think?). Every day you switch it up with a new workout in order to confuse your muscles to continue to get the most from your workouts. I'm not so sure about the philosophy behind it all but I'm up for giving it a try! I think it definitely helps to be doing it with Ryan because (since he is a man) he is so much stronger and tougher than me already so it helps to keep me motivated to keep up with him :)

We have both created goals at the beginning, mine is to lose 27 lbs. to get back to the weight I was when I first met Ryan. I think it is doable since I was a little over 1/2 way to my goal weight the day we got married. But after the wedding life happened and I gained it all back, as happens to so many people! But this time I am committed to losing it & keeping it off and I'm using my blog to keep me humble and hopefully motivated since I'm sharing all of this with you! :)

Norah Jones - Man of The Hour.flv

Leavenworth Girls weekend: in pictures

First stop in Leavenworth - bratwursts & hot spiced wine for lunch!

Next up was wine tasting and did we find some tasty wines!!

Someone turns 3 today!!

My nephew Jack turns 3 today!
We went down to my sister Katie & her husband Tim's house Sunday night for the birthday festivities. Below are a couple of the pictures from the night.


The Birthday Boy, opening his presents







The youngest Gwyn, Davis with Grandpa Randy

Graduation!!!

Dreaming

harsh lights
cold tables
darting glances
and baited breaths

She reaches for his arm
Outside clouds are threatening snow
but inside her eyes only threatening tears

They make their way
slowly, with hesitance
each step, playing it over & over
others pass
but no one sees

it's almost New Years
in hours they should laughing, celebrating
creating memories

but tomorrow will be different
tomorrow will be different

5 Things

In lieu of doing a full post I have decided to begin a new weekly post of "5 things on a Monday" well... because after the weekend this is the most time/energy/motivation I have on a Monday night :)
So here is the first edition of 5 Things on a Monday
..in no particular order

5 Reasons I LOVE my job

1.) Every year in December, the father of a past patient who has beaten her struggle with cancer brings in a case full of fresh grapefruit for everyone in the clinic. I don't know him personally nor did I ever know her when she was a patient at our clinic but there is something comforting I feel every year when I walk in the break room and see that box full of grapefruit :)

2.) One morning last month as I was walking through the waiting room on my way to Starbucks with a couple of co-workers when we noticed a large box full of homemade reindeer antlers of all different colors and sizes, some were traditional brown... some pink,red, green. They were made of felt, sewn together by a child who is currently fighting cancer the receptionist told us. As we stood there admiring them someone said we should take one & wear it so all 4 of us grabbed one each and put them on our head. The rest of the day it brought a smile to my face hearing the jingle of someone walking by my cubicle or seeing antlers on nurses, doctors and patients throughout the clinic going about their daily tasks. Later that night as I left work and took off my antlers I thought about that child, sitting up and sewing all of these antlers by hand... I thought of how thoughtful and joyful they were in coming up with this idea and for putting in all the hard work when they themselves are fighting to stay alive for another Christmas. It made me question whether I would be so kind hearted and giving of my time to do that, if I were in their shoes.

3.) We have a Starbucks..wait, actually two

4.) Last week when I was walking into clinic to fill up my water bottle, something caught my eye. The father of a past patient who passed away about 3 months ago was walking into the clinic and with his back to me one of our doctors walked toward him silently and grabbed him in a big bear hug. They stood there in the middle of the clinic hallway, embraced in a moment. A moment of remembrance of the time the family spent day after day in clinic, of thankfulness for the help the doctor provided and for respect for one another.

5.) We have the BEST ice in clinic... you know, the round, ball shaped pellets like they have at Taco Bell... MMMmmm it is SO good!