Oh, Monday

Today could've started off better, let me tell you. I had a hard time getting out of bed and going through the motions of my usual morning routine. I just wanted to stay inside and curl up with yet another good book. But, alas, real life butted in and I had to go to work.

The commute was, shockingly enough, not too bad (unless you count the two women talking very loudly the whole trip AND the obnoxious teenagers who .. well, behaved like obnoxious teenagers. At 7:30AM it's way too early to deal with people).

When I got to work I realized I had mud all along the bottom of my work pants.  *insert heavy sigh*  I also managed to spill water all over my desk... not once, but twice. Fingers and toes are crossed there will NOT be a third time.

My weekend was nice, I would like to do most of it again. I went to the movies with my cousin Saturday. Iron Man 3 (love Tony Stark) and Star Trek Into the Darkness (love Chris Pine). I walked out with a migraine, though. Note to future self: Do not attempt to see two movies in one day, it will cause a migraine. I managed to get us home, though, so it was a bearable one. I did end up going to bed insanely early for a Saturday. It had to be done. Took 4 advil and climbed beneath the blankets. Slept like a baby, too.

Yesterday was very nice, very relaxing and kind of what I needed. I read three books. I also caught up on Hannibal (love Hugh Dancy!). I read on the couch, I read in bed... if I could've read upside down, hanging from a tree, I would've. But, it was crappy outside and that probably would've given me a headache anyway.

I'm torn between what book to start next. I have a bunch on my Nook, but the ones I want to read have not been released yet.

That is all I have to say for right now.

Romance / Erotica

As someone who has read romance and erotica books for years, I'm really appalled that a lot of readers' standard for a well-written story in the genre is Fifty Shades of Grey.  Really? That's your standard?

I recently finished reading Rush by Maya Banks, the first of three books in the Breathless trilogy about three best friends who went into business together. The first book revolves around Gabe and Mia (Mia being the little sister of one of the other friends). While the only similarity I see between the two books involve a contract of some sort, Maya Banks is a well established, professional writer who has the ability to suck you into the story and have you fall in love with the characters.  I could not put the book down, it was extremely well-written and, overall, one of the better books in the genre I have read in a long while. I enjoyed it to the point where I pre-ordered book #2 (Fever) and will be pre-ordering book #3 (Burn). I normally do not pre-order books.

After reading the negative 1-star reviews on Barnes and Noble for this book, I began to wonder what kind of taste those people have. Apparently, they do not know a great book when they read one, if the end-all / be-all of erotica is Fifty Shades. That’s pretty scary. BN.com Rush Reviews  My favorite is the review is the one that states that Fifty Shades had more romance and a twist. Um, okay?  

It’s amazing, and incredibly sad, that Fifty Shades is considered the template for this genre. Do the people who read and fawn over it realize the genre was establish years before that book was written?  Probably not. The only positive Fifty Shades did was put a spotlight on a genre that was never talked about; a genre that women read in secret.

Did I enjoy Fifty Shades? It was okay, in my opinion. I have read better, and I’m sure going forward I will read better. 

Want recommendations?  I highly recommend the following:

1 – Bared to You (#1), Reflected in You (#2) by Sylvia Day (in the Crossfire Trilogy) (Entwined With You - #3 – will be released 6/4/2013)

2 – Rush (#1) by Maya Banks (Breathless Trilogy) (Fever - #2 – to be released 4/2/2013 and Burn - #3 to be released 8/6/2013)

3 – Perfect Play (#1), Changing the Game (#2), Taking a Shot (#3), Playing to Win (#4) by Jaci Burton (Play-by-Play Series - #5 to be released 3/5/2013 – Thrown By a Curve #5)

4 - Men Out of Uniform by Maya Banks / Karin Tabke / Sylvia Day

5 - Game For Anything (#1), Game For Seduction (#2), Game For Love (#3) by Bella Andre (Bad Boys of Football series)

Want good, steamy romance author recommendations? Here are some authors I have no problem recommending:

1 – Jill Shalvis (esp. the Lucky Harbor series)

2 – Susan Mallery (esp. the Fool's Gold / Buchanan Family / Bakery Sisters)

3 – Robyn Carr (esp. Virgin River)

4 – Sylvia Day (ALL) 

5 – Jaci Burton (ALL)

6 – Victoria Dahl (esp. Donovan Brothers)

7 – Kristan Higgins (ALL)

8 – Bella Andre (esp. Sullivans / Bad Boys of Football) 

9 – Jennifer Prosbt (esp. Marriage series)

Want paranormal romance, I highly recommend the following series:

1 – The Black Dagger Brotherhood – JR Ward

2 – Argenau Series – Lynsay Sands

3 – Love at Stake – Kerrelyn Sparks

4 – Immortals After Dark – Kresley Cole

5 – Lords of the Underworld – Gena Showalter

If it's not obvious, I really enjoy reading. My Nook certainly gets a work out. I wish there were more hours in a day to read. 

Whether you agree or disagree with me, that is your opinion. Just as this post is my own. I base what I like to read, what I enjoy to read, solely on what makes me happy. The authors and/or series I've listed above do just that. They leave me wanting more, craving more, looking forward to the next release.

I'm not a book snob, I do not stick solely to romance. Currently, I'm reading a mystery book, and if something else comes along that is highly recommended, I'll be sure to read that as well. 

2013 Book List

Another year, another growing list of books. I surpassed my book goal for 2012 by reading 135 (and a half) books.  Here's to a new year, with a new list. I'll take any recommendations, so if you have any, feel free to leave a message.  

End of 2012 (still reading as of 1/1/13): Alluring Tales 1: Awaken the Fantasy by Vivi Anna, Sylvia Day, Delilah Devlin, Cathryn Fox, Myla Jackson, Lisa Renee Jones, Sasha White (12/29/12)

Book List

1 - Here by Denise Grover Swank
2 - There by Denise Grover Swank
3 - The Racketeer by John Grisham
4 - The Look of Love by Bella Andre
5 - From This Moment On by Bella Andre
6 - Can't Help Falling in Love by Bella Andre
7 - I Only Have Eyes for You by Bella Andre
8 - If You Were Mine by Bella Andre
9 - Let Me Be The One by Bella Andre
10 - Come a Little Bit Closer by Bella Andre
11 - One Perfect Night by Bella Andre
12 - Under the Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis
13 - Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros
14 - Playing for Keeps by LuAnn McLane
15 - 11/22/63 by Stephen King
16 - Falling For Her Fiance by Cindi Madsen
17 - The Seventh Victim by Mary Burton
18 - Hip Check by  Deidre Martin
19 - Rush by Maya Banks
20 - Nightwatcher by Wendy Corsi Staub
21 - Sleepwalker by Wendy Corsi Staub
22 - Shadowkiller by Wendy Corsi Staub
23 - Lullaby and Goodnight by Wendy Corsi Staub
24 - Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas
25 - Dream Lake by Lisa Kleypas
26 - Crystal Cove by Lisa Kleypas
27 - The Best Man by Kristan Higgins
28 - Immortal Ever After by Lynsay Sands
29 - Edge of Dawn by Lara Adrian
30 - Three Sisters by Susan Mallery
31 - Thrown By A Curve by Jaci Burton
32 - Always On My Mind by Bella Andre
33 - Strong Enough to Love by Victoria Dahl
34 - All the Way by Jennifer Probst
35 - Her Perfect Stranger by Jill Shalvis
36 - Weekends Required by Sydney Landon
37 - Not Planning on You by Sydney Landon
38 - Fall For Me by Sydney Landon
39 - After Math by Denise Grover Swank
40 - Wait For You by J. Lynn
41 - Save Me by Lisa Scottoline
42 - The Perfect Game by J. Sterling
43 - The Baby Bargain by Jennifer Apodaca
44 - Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
45 - Hardball by V.K. Sykes
46 - Fastball by V.K. Sykes
47 - Lover at Last by J.R. Ward
48 - The Wanderer by Robyn Carr
49 - Bigger Than Beckham by V.K. Sykes
50 - Fever by Maya Banks
51 - Instant Gratification by Jill Shalvis
52 - Instant Temptation by Jill Shalvis
53 - The Practice Proposal by Tracy March
54 - The Dark Tide (Ty Hauck #1) by Andrew Gross
55 - The Bet by Rachel Van Dyken
56 - One Week Girlfriend by Monica Murphy
57 - Second Chance Boyfriend by Monica Murphy 
58 - A Night of Southern Comfort by Robin Covington
59 - Beach Colors by Shelley Noble
60 - Locked (The Alpha Group #1) by Maya Cross
61 - Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
62 - Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally
63 - Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally
64 - Stranded With A Billionaire by Jessica Clare
65 - Easy by Tammara Webber
67 - Falling Into You by Lauren Abrams
68 - Falling Into Forever by Lauren Abrams
69 - The Summer He Came Home by Juliana Stone
70 - Halfway There by Susan Mallery
71 - Beauty Awakened by Gena Showalter
72 - Under the Dome by Stephen King
73 - Indulgent Pleasures by Karen Erickson
74 - Colters' Woman by Maya Banks
75 - Colters' Wife by Maya Banks
76 - Colters' Lady by Maya Banks
77 - Colters' Daughter by Maya Banks
78 - Colters' Promise by Maya Banks
79 - True by Erin McCarthy 
80 - Inferno by Dan Brown
81 - Lockout (The Alpha Group #2) by Maya Cross
82 - Selling Scarlett by Ella James
83 - It Had To Be You by Jill Shalvis
84 - Blue Flame by Jill Shalvis
85 - Just One Kiss by Susan Mallery
86 - Tempting the Player by J. Lynn
87 - The Temporary Wife by Jeannie Moon
88 - Tangled by Emma Chase 
89 - Entwined with You by Sylvia Day
90 - One Sweet Ride by Jaci Burton
91 - Redesigned by Denise Grover Swank
92 - Wicked Games by Jill Myles / Jessica Clare
93 - Blind Attraction by Eden Summers
94 - Lost and Found by Nicole Williams
95 - Joyland by Stephen King
96 - Playing Games by Jill Myles / Jessica Clare
97 - Something Wicked by Lisa Jackson

What Week Is This?

It has most certainly been a while since I last updated my blog. Weight was (and still is) going relatively well, though I hit a bump in the road. Some weeks are harder than others but, I suppose, I should rewind a bit.

Back in August, during the beginning of my morning work out, I felt a really bad twinge in my lower back.  I stopped what I was doing and figured it was just a freak thing and I would be better the next morning.  The next morning came and it was not better. Neither was the morning after. I was progressively getting worse as the week went on.  That Thursday, I called in sick at work and at 9 on the dot I called my doctor because the pain was unbearable. When they told me they had nothing available, I got upset. The woman I spoke with said she would see what she could do and get back to me. 

A couple hours later, she had an appointment for me. Someone willingly gave up their appointment so I could be seen, which was just amazing. After seeing him, he prescribed me with an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever. I knew I had to get to work the Friday so I was relieved. I went home and took the medicine.

The next morning, the pain was 10 times worse, if that was possible. Moving from my bed to an upright position and to the bathroom was a chore in itself and actually getting back into bed was worse. I ended up sitting on the edge of my bed and that was a big mistake. On a hospital scale of 1-10, the pain was a 10. I couldn’t move and with every tiny portion of my body that did move, I would scream out in pain. I sat on the edge of my bed, screaming for almost an hour when I was finally able to fight through the pain shimmy to the end of the bed. I used my dresser and a folding chair to finally get myself up and into the living room so I could call in sick again. There was no way I would be able to do anything, and the thought of getting on the subway didn’t help with the pain.

At 9, again, I called my doctor’s office and told them the pain was worse. They said if it progresses, to go to the ER because they would be helpful faster.

That Friday, I suffered through the pain. I used a cane to help myself get around the house and when the pain became too unbearable, I laid down on the spare bed because that was more comfortable than my own.

Saturday morning, I was worse off. I attempted to take a shower. Do you know how hard a shower is when you can barely move and are relying on a cane to get around? I was lucky I managed to get my hair washed. After the shower, I told my mother I needed to go to the ER. There was no way I could fake the level of pain I was feeling. After giving my father a call at work, they agreed I would go to the ER after he got home.

That was, definitely, the best decision I could’ve made. The ER wasn’t a horrible experience as I expected. I waited no more than 5 minutes before being called into the back and being looked at. I was there for no more than 90 minutes. When I first walked into the back room, I was unable to sit on the hospital bed, let alone lay back. After a few minutes, I did sit and it took every effort, and a little help from my mom, to move my legs up on the bed.  After the doctors determined it was a very bad sciatica attack, they gave me some pretty heavy duty pain meds. Within 30 minutes, I was able to move about more humanly, though the pain was still there. Before I walked out of the ER, still with the cane for assistance, I was able to get my legs up onto the bed to sit up. Laying back was still a problem, but eventually I got there.

When I got home, I let my bosses know that I had been in the ER and they told me to take a little bit more time off. I stayed out of work until Wednesday. I still wasn’t sure I’d be able to come back, but I did it. For the most part, everyone was very helpful. They understood I had limited mobility and there were things I could/couldn’t do.

I bought myself a new mattress because my old one played a factor in my bad back.  I love my new mattress. It’s like sleeping on a cloud :)

I am not 100% better, which is why I haven’t started my workouts yet. If you ever had a sciatica attack, you know it’s not only your lower back that is affected. It could also affect anything from your butt down through your lower leg.  Right now, I’m feeling it in my lower leg, and it’s pretty bad. I’m feeling a bit of numbness in a couple toes in my right foot as well.

I’m heading to the doctor for that on Friday. He believe I may have a pinched nerve somewhere and that’s what’s causing that. Hopefully it’s something that he could easily fix because there are times I feel like my leg is about to give out.

Because of everything that’s been going on since August, my weight loss has slowed down. I’m hovering around the 30 pound mark, but have yet to hit 30 pounds down. It’s a little frustrating, I’ll say that. I know how hard I worked before the sciatica attack. I know weight loss helps lower the risk of having a sciatica attack, but I need to figure out the “how to lose weight amidst a sciatica attack” aspect of that.

It never fails, though. Come August the last few years, something has gone wrong. Last year, I fell on my way to the movies and ended up straining the tendons in my right foot. That came two weeks after a minor sciatica attack.

Here’s to hoping Friday’s doctor appointment goes well. 

On a side note, I am 16 books away from my 2012 goal of 125 books. With 2.5 months left of the year, and a week's vacation after Christmas, I'm 100% positive I will finally reach my goal!

Week 12 / P90 Day 68

I like to try and get my weekly update in on Mondays but I forgot. Plain and simple.

I was dreading doing my weekly weigh in. Completely dreading it. I’ve been having a few off weeks, not consistently working out, having too much to do on weekends, etc. I sucked it up and stepped on the scale and, low and behold, guess what! A 3.5 pound weight loss. Believe me, I was surprised. That brings my total weight loss to 20.2 pounds.

My work outs have been erratic so say the least. Between going away for a couple days, family parties, baby showers and taking time off work, I haven’t been keeping to the Power 90 schedule. Having a house guest didn’t help either. I’m not entirely comfortable working out in front of people and our guest was an early riser. When I say early riser, she was already up and about by the time my 4am alarm went off. I just find it very distracting when someone attempts to hold a conversation with your when you’re in the middle of jogging in place, doing kicking and punching or on the floor doing crunches. I’m winded, trying to keep a count in my head. Conversations do not happen in those 45 or so minutes.

Today, I was able to get back to my normal routine. I almost gave up through the Abs portion of the Cardio/Abs but I pushed through the pain and got through it. Maybe I didn’t make it through 20 full body crunches, but I managed to get through 16 of them and that was good enough for me.

I’m looking forward to moving onto Power 90 Master Series. Since no calendar schedule came with the program, last Friday when I was off work and preparing for a baby shower, I picked up small poster boards in order to create a schedule to follow. I found on the Beach Body message board the schedule that Tony Horton recommends so I will create my own. What I like about that one, every day it’s something different. Right now, I’m rotating between Cardio/Abs and Circuit training. The P90MS comes with 6 DVDs and will give the workout variety.

I knew going into this, it would be challenging. It wouldn’t be easy. I wouldn’t see changes overnight. It would take time, persistence, motivation, strength and willpower.  I am in this for me, and me alone. I’m not doing it so I can look good for a special occasion, so I can wear a smaller bathing suit, so I can be noticed.

I’m doing this to be healthy. I want to ME to be healthier.

WW End of Week 10

I'm not sure what Power 90 day I'm on. I know I am between 65 and 70.  It was Day 60.

I lost count pretty bad, today (Wednesday, is day 65).

I lost .1 of a pound this week. My total weightloss so far as been 16.7 pounds. I'm still so very proud of that. The last couple of weeks have been very difficult, though. I know there wass a mini-vacation thrown in there, and our annual family reunion. Coming back to work was very difficult. Well, let me rephrase. Coming home from work, having dinner and not feeling satisfied so I'll have a WW ice cream and popcorn.

My motivation is not gone, I still have it and having an active "Motivate Me!" pin board on Pinterest is also helpful. Multiple times a day [after workouts, after showering, during lunch, after dinner] I browse the fitness section for motivation. Seeing things in print is very helpful, and finding other women's before/after pictures is inspirational.

Over the weekend, I discovered my dumbass-ness. Back earlier in Power 90 when I was doing phase 1/2, I  was using 3 pounds weights. They are black and have a little handle on them. Then, sometimes before graduating to phase 3/4, I switched to my pink weights. Weights that hand no numerical value on them but felt heavier so I assumed they were 5.  This weekend I went shopping and decided to buy heavier weights. I was ready for that. Or, so I thought. I found the weights no problem. The store only had 2, 5 and 8. I had wanted to pick up 7 and 10, since I thought I was using 5 already.

I picked up the 5 pounds on the shelf and, holy crap, it was a lot heavier than what I was using to begin with. Apparently, my pink weights aren't 5 pounds. My pink weights are either 2 or 3 pounds, when compared to my new 5 pound weight. I ended up buying the 5 and 8 so hopefully in the next 30 days I will progress to 8 pounds.

I ordered my next step, Power 90 Master Series. I'm so excited to start it. That would be until the end of August, but that's okay. I will get there. It will give me time to prepare. I've read that it doesn't come with a calendar like Power 90 did, but after browsing the BeachBody.com message boards, find a link to a suggested routine. I have it saved in my drafts so when the times to create it, I will be able to.

I'm looking forward to seeing how much further I can push myself with Power 90 before graduating to Power 90 Master Series.

Another week down

I knew before last week started, diet and exercise-wise, the week would not be a good one. I ended up gaining 1.1 pounds.

I had Wednesday, Thursday and Friday off of work. My plan was to get up early on Wednesday and do Wed/Thurs work outs back to back because Thursday morning I would not be home. That's exactly what I did, too. It wasn't easy, going from Power 90 Cardio/Abs phase 3-4 to Power 90 Sculpt phase 3-4, but I managed to push through, with a 20 minute break between, and get it done.

Eating was another experience. It was hard to pick something on the menu, so I ended up getting breakfast for lunch. They had an egg white omlette on the menu for lunch, so that's what I had. Dinner was difficult too, not many choices. Though, since I had been good, I decided to splurge, a little, and have meatballs and pizza bread. Since I did not have any points snacks, I stayed within my points.

Thursday morning was strange waking up with no work out to do. Breakfast was the same browsing of the menu, but I got through that. I snacked on the car ride home and finished off my points with dinner.

Friday was back to the routine, having gotten up early on my day off to work out. I didn't have much time for breakfast, so I had some microwaved turkey bacon before we went shopping. After shopping, I drove 45 minutes to my sister's place to drop off some stuff for the family reunion on Saturday and then came home.

Saturday was the family reunion and I had decided to not count points that day. I didn't over indulge or anything, but I did have a few beers (and light beers are 4 points as it is). Sunday I didn't count points either, which is probably why there was the 1.1 pound weight gain. 

I am not upset there was a gain, I knew it would happen. Even though I did not work out over the weekend, I did keep myself busy on Saturday, between swimming in the pool, playing beer pong, playing bocce ball.

The family reunion, itself, was a great success and kudos to my sister for hosting the fabulous party. I'm so proud of her, that's for sure.

Yesterday was back to work and back on track, counting points and exercising. Fingers crossed I have a weight-loss come next Monday!