The challenge

I am never going to be an every day blogger.  I just can't fit it in to EVERDAY life.  I want to be.  Some days when I am traveling, and it becomes a 12 hour day, blogging is on the back burner.  Not that it is what has kept me away the past few weeks, but it is a reality I need to accept.

I am also joining for a small NSV for this week.  More on that later.

I have had a crazy couple of weeks.  I have been traveling a TON, working out a bunch, and trying fun new recipes.  Of course snuggling with my dogs.

I had a fantastic St pattys Day down in NYC visiting my MOH.  

                                   

        

                        

We also have a grassless back yard, so we have been dealing with some flooding issues.  If any has any experience in making a french drain, it would be much appreciated!

I am still working at the dog daycare on the weekends, but I have so many obligations (like showers, bachelorette's, and WEDDINGS) this summer, I had to take off most weekends.  I had to take some off just because.  Working 7 days a week is not easy.  

Baine will be sad when he doesn't go to daycare anymore.  It is his happy place.  He can't get enough of just romping around.  

People, not so much.  After we left daycare one day, I went to Petsmart to buy him a new collar.  He was so nervous around people.  He is going to be 150+ pounds, it is not ok if he is nervous around people.  There was a group of kids that wanted to pet him and he ran behind me, shaking and cowering.  

I bought a bag of his favorite treats and then gave each of the children give him treats and pet him.  As more people came through the door, I asked them if they would give him a treat and pet him.  By the end, he was better, not great though.  I am going to make this a weekly activity for us.  Beef is a people dog, where as Baine is a huge dog's dog.  

After that quick view into my life, I am doing a challenge at my gym!

The owner of the gym wanted to do something fun, that would also really kick us into gear.  It is a team challenge, so there were 8 of us that wanted to do it, 2 teams of 4.  

Day 1 started this past Sunday.  We get points for different things we do throughout the day.  If we eat perfect, we get 1 point.  The diet is a paleo, which is different than the clean eating which I had been "following" (loosely).  

The hardest things to cut out:

-Cheese.  Love me some Mozz

-Glass of wine at night.  

-Hummus.  Chickpeas are out.  I am not sure why, but they are

-Peanut Butter-  My afternoon snack has been almonds and peanut butter.  Almond butter has been a great alternative

-Creamer.  Almond milk does not taste the same in coffee.  I am trying it black, still not great. 

-CARBS.  It is only week 1, but I am craving carbs.  A nice piece of bread, a cheesy quesadilla.

We also get points for activity.  A work out at the gym is 1 point, a workout outside of the gym is 1 point, mobility stretching for at least 15 minutes is 1 point.  Maximum points per day is 4.  We get 1 cheat meal and drink per week.  If we don't eat clean or drink more than that 1 time, it is a negative point.  I already know I am going to get negative points on the weekends.  If I drink with Ryan on Friday night and then want to go out with my friends on Saturday, I am going to.  I will just have to make up that point somewhere else!  

It is a 5 week challenge.  We were weighed and body fat indexed on day 1.  We also did a typical Crossfit work out.  We will do the same work out at the end of those 5 weeks and however many seconds we improve our score, we get that number in points!  

I am pretty pumped about this, and I haven't drank all week, and it is Thursday.  Weekday drinking is a bad habit that I want to get out of. 

That is my NSV for the week!  I tend to take days off and say "It is just one glass of wine" or "I worked out today, so I deserve one."

I have earned 3 points every day since we started.  

So far, so good.  

 I didn't travel this week, which helped.  Next week will be more difficult.  Facing those awkward moments when the others order a glass of wine and I order water.  Not ordering a wrap from McDonalds because it is easy, but going in a getting a salad.  

One day at a time, and by the end, it will be very much worth it.  Yesterday, I made two awesome recipes that I found on PaleOMG.com.  They are amazing!  I will be sharing those tomorrow.  

Baine is ready for some playtime, so I am off!

Have a great Thursday!