It made me raise my game, And I'm still rising, I'm still rising

Joy is what happens when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.

– Marianne Williamson

Today mum, myself, and my sister Kaitlin went out to the mall to get some things... We were able to get yoga mats which is lovely. We got six, in total I think, since four of us are going to be consistently going to Yoga starting Thursday, and since we may or may not have friends/family who go with us.

When we got home I felt a bit nauseous, so I went to my room for a lie down. I think the Zyban is the cause of it, at least I hope it is I would hate to be coming down with something. I have to say I have been feeling much better these past few days.

I walked my mile, but didn't push it further than that since I knew I would be going to my Tai Chi class a bit later. It was very relaxing, I enjoyed it greatly. My only problem was that at the end of the hour (I hadn't even realized the time had past!) my legs were so shaky from holding my weight, moving my weight, etc. in a bent position, slowly changing directions. My thighs are sore, which I expected after I had been in there for a little while, and my abs are a bit sore from it, which I didn't expect at all.

I think what I enjoyed about it most was the way I cleared my mind and thought. I thought a lot about the book I have just finished, (Excuse me, your life is waiting, by Lynn Grabhorn), and I have to say that while some of it just seems like horsewash the fundamentals of it are something I have always believed in. Like attracts like. I think reading it has reaffirmed some of my positive thinking, or at least some of my attempts at positive feeling, and perhaps has even given me a small amount of spiritual enlightenment.

Thursday I will be going to an art class in the morning, I spoke with the woman who holds them on the phone about it, and though I don't really need a class to teach me to paint I do very much want to be around artistically inclined minds. She told me that there are people there with various levels of skill in her classes, and that for those more skilled in their craft it is for criticism. I am very excited for this class, I think it will be amazing to be around others in such a setting again, I miss it. Mum, my sisters, and I will be attending Yoga as well that evening... and maybe Zumba, depending. I am mildly wary of the Zumba, not because it's dancing... I am sure it will me amazing though.

I hope everyone in the USA has a lovely 4th of July, to all my friends and family there: I miss you dearly.

--A.E

But I can see through you, see to the real you.

A strong woman understands that the gifts such as logic, decisiveness, and strength are just as feminine as intuition and emotional connection. She values and uses all of her gifts.

– Nancy Rathburn

Today was a good day. I went out with my mum and my sister Kaitlin to the Fish Market here in Auckkers. My sister bought some of the most amazing sushi ever, and I looked at all the whole unaltered fish. We ended up purchasing two red snappers and several kilo's of muscles... as well as other things that I don't remember.

I have to say that Kaitlin is a riot, especially when in a weird mood. I had mentioned the red snapper had a tongue, and Kaitlin just went closer to it, face to face with it with her tongue out, mum her and I all making smart ass comments... If I were a wicked sister I would have pushed the fish into her face.

Kaity also kicked my ass today while we jump roped... tomorrow I need to run on the treadmill first because daaaaaaaaaaaayum. She made me keep going even after I was so completely over it. Here in autumn I thought swimming would be an easier idea than having her make me jump so much. She's a good motivator though, and though my muscles already hurt, I know she is good for my weight loss goals. In the long run, though my body aches and complains now, it will thank her later.

I also cooked dinner tonight, it was healthy enough, and everyone seemed to love it. Mum is making Armenian Kebobs tomorrow night, and I can't wait. I will help her with them, because mmm mmm mmm!

So I joined Spark People a few weeks ago, and I tried to stay true to it... tried to bother writing down calories in and out... but honestly it just doesn't feel like there is enough time in the day. I give up on Spark People, it lacks what 3fatchicks.com has, as well as the time it seems to take up.

I am going to sign up to Jillian Michaels (free) and see where that gets me... I am also thinking of looking into getting the bike in the garage up and running. Mum, Kaity and I were talking about bicycles in different styles... I must admit, I want banana bars, and a bell on mine... and to tell the truth, a basket on the back. Anywhozit, this is what JillianMichaels has to say about my height/weight ratio and what it seems I need to do from the preliminary questions:

• 1. Variety is your get-skinny solution!
• Because you crave fruit and bread as well as salty foods, cheeses, and meats, you may be a balanced oxidizer (the fancy term for your metabolic rate). Put simply, you need equal proportions of protein, carbs, and fat to process the nutrients in your food optimally. Lucky you — your diet is the easiest to follow! You feel your best on a diet that incorporates a wide range of foods, and your ideal macronutrient ratio is roughly 40% carbs: 30% protein: 30% fat.
• 2. Follow the rule of four:
• Eat every four hours to optimize your body’s fat-burning potential. When your system goes for long periods without eating you go into starvation mode, effectively shutting down your metabolism.
• 3. Get Moving!
  The greater your muscle mass, the higher your metabolism. My killer cardio and fitness program will help you build lean, strong muscles so you lose weight faster and with less effort.
• 4. Do the work.
  You need to remove the toxins from your diet and your environment, restore healthful nutrients, and rebalance your energy. The result: a body that's essentially a fat-burning machine.

So these things are what I am doing, minus maybe her killer cardio and fitness program, we will see! I still need to pull out her video for Yoga... but I have come to realize I have no mat, and it would bite to do yoga on tile with no mat!!! Kaity and Keely are uninterested in Yoga... but are both interested in jumping rope. I can see positive things on using JillianMichaels.com, but it seems like the same thing as SparkPeople but paying 20 USD a month for it... which while I can afford it, seems pointless.

Tomorrow is my second weigh in, I am hoping I haven't gained weight... If I have then I don't know where I went wrong, really.

Hoping for a kilo less!

-A.E.