You stole my heart

What I love about my life right now:

Singing "We are never EVER EVER getting back together...like ever" with Miss Elly Monroe. 

The notorious Monroe sisters

Seeing the Elly Bean and Jack-Jack give their testimonies today.

Listening to "Just give me a reason" by Pink and that guy from Fun. I am in love with his voice. He is my new Adam Levine.

Organizing my life. I think I do it to combat the seasonal affective disorder that hits me every summer. It is sooo hot here and that makes me angry and sad. 3 1/2 months until fall.

Speaking of which, I love PA summer thunderstorms. They are like no other rain I've ever experienced. 

I love that as I lose weight I am sleeping less and less. I think I average about 6-7 hours a day. Much better than 9-10. I want to be awake for my life.

Another side effect is the increased energy and focus. Which is odd because I am completely off caffeine and sugar but I am more focused and energized than ever. Anyway, I am starting to kind of dust off my life ambition list and I am thinking more and more that there is nothing I can't do if I want it enough. 

Being off facebook. It kind of reminds me of my relationship with caffeine. I didn't think I'd be able to get by without it, but ultimately it's kind of draining. 

Watching my sister's kids sporting events. They are still at an age where they get excited when they make a good play or their team wins. Something about their big smiles and excitement is so magical to me. 

Lori Ann

Run,run,run,run,run,run,run,run,run,run,run away

More health and fitness life updates! (yes! You know are you freakishly excited!)

Is masochism a pre-req for personal trainers, do you think? Or does it just develop over time within the profession? Because my personal trainer is EVIL and enjoys seeing me SUFFER. (yes, all caps was called for in both of those).Today; after every painful thing, he would say "see? that was cake" and then say "Don't worry, we've only got 3 sets left".

Today I did dumbbells and that thing where you push the bar with weights when you are laying on your back. Like legit gym stuff.

Evil. Evil. Evil.

On a positive note, I've lost a total of 109 lbs from my all time high, 20 something just since I've been going to the gym.I think I am developing what they call a 'transfer addiction'. I've given up sugar and caffeine and am now obsessed with working out. This is an addiction I can live with!

I am also obsessed with "the voice". It makes me mad when people get angry when 'the really good singers' are eliminated. Listen, I don't care if you are a vocal powerhouse. I want to feel a sense of connection and some entertainment, people. Also, once you wear feathers, I can't vote for you anymore.

That was kind of random.

This whole post is random. Maybe because I am writing it superfast in between my 8 APPOINTMENTS today.

I am back in that crazy phase where I am overbooking and oh my gosh I wish it were Friday at 5 pm already.

So I could be done for the week and go work out:)

Lori Ann

We take increased devotion

It's Memorial Day.

And I am in my office before 7 am.

I don't have to work today but something about having the day off inspires me to come in and get work done. Which is; of course, the opposite of how I feel on days when I am actually at work.

I have a lot of random life updates. But I will fill you in another day.

 Because it's Memorial Day. One of the most important days of the year.

As I have gotten older I have come to appreciate Memorial Day more. Maybe because I am increasingly aware of how rare a thing true freedom really is or because I'm old enough to be the mother of a lot of the soldiers that gave their lives for this country.

I couldn't imagine having my son sent home to me in a pine box. How do you live through something like that? That kind of sacrifice is; for me, unfathomable.

But it does remind me, as Memorial Day always does, that being an American is more than just a privilege but a responsibility.

To whom much is given, much is expected.

Lori Ann

Ps- this is a picture of my grandpa Hinsdale( far left)and two of his brothers. All WW2 vets. (and very handsome... I can't believe how young they look!)

Same old song

Ok, so you know when blogs start to get all themey? And tedious?

That's totally the direction this blog is going in.

TSC's new theme is health and fitness, baby!

Yesterday; after work, I walked 2.2 miles. In a dress and sneakers.

Today; before work, I walked for a total of an hour (2.5 miles) and did my strength training.

I have lost 6 lbs this week.

I will admit that I do have a kind of manic tendency to get fixated on something and then burn out.

Like making wreathes out of felt.

Watching Harry Potter movies over and over.

The Brokeback Mountain obsession of 07.

Making my own soup when I lived in NC.

The election.

Glitter.

Adding the word b@$*ches to the end of all of my sentences.

Hummus.

All of these obsessions have come and gone.

But I'm hoping this one..this "I've got to work out somehow today" obsession doesn't burn out.

We'll see...b@$*ches!

Lori Ann

I don't want to be a pretty girl

Sooo....

I lost 3 more lbs. That's 103 for all of you keeping count. And since I avoided the camera like a plague when I was at my all time high (in 2009-2010 ish) the only before picture that I have is of my license. Brace yourselves. 

Yikes. 

This is my current after picture- I still have a long way to go. 

So..that's my progress so far. (this was for you, Tyler!)

On a related note, I went walking at the park today. 2.2 miles. I always tell my clients to do something that is rejuvenating for them. For me, walking in PA is the ultimate in rejuvenation. I don't know why but no place compares to here. I love the trees. They are just the right shade of green. I love the rainy spring days and the chilly fall nights and absolutely everything in between. (ok..except for the humidity in summer... I wish I could live in Colorado every summer)

Anyway, just walking, listening to my crazy mix of music and being outside makes me feel like I can do anything. Here are my favorite parts of the trail that I walk. 

And lastly, on a completely unrelated note, I am trying to find quotes to hang up in my office. Another thing that is rejuvenating for me is surrounding myself with quotes and song lyrics. Does anyone have a favorite? Something that you would like to see on the wall of your therapists office?

Thanks for listening to me ramble!!

Lori Ann

I felt like a caged elf

Random Updates on a weird Saturday afternoon.

Erin visited this week. She is half pot stirrer, half therapist. It's always so much fun to have her home though. 

I can't stop listening to "My name is" by Eminem. It's straight up late 90's in this house right now. 

I went to Walmart at 6 am this morning. To buy crunch n' munch and a pink camisole. I bet they thought I was high. All I needed to add to my cart was some tuna and a fake pumpkin or something.

Oh no..MacArthur Park just came up on the iTunes shuffle. This song makes me feel crazy!

I have been thinking about writing my book again. I have to do it. I just really want to be rich and buy a stone farmhouse in the PA country side. With a pool and a theater room. And a wrap around porch.

So far the only character I have for my book is an orange cat named Captain Jack. 

I have been working out a few times a week for a little while now. My trainer is nuts. But I think (knock on wood) that it is really starting to click with me that I have the power to change my body and change my life. I dread going to the gym a little less each time.

Anyway, I am going to post something in the "live your life" series this week. I don't know what. But I (or maybe 'we'- me and my sister's kids) are going to LIVE OUR LIVES (somehow)! 

Lori Ann

100

It's official.

I have lost 100 lbs from my all time high. (which was only 120 to begin with so...yeah, I'm 20 lbs now)

I want to thank the following people and things:

My parents- for dealing with the craziness and always making me jello and delicious  (small) servings of chicken

Diet coke- for finally relinquishing the strange hold of obsession you've had over me the last 20 years

Tory- my trainer. He's bald, scrappy, and kind of like a therapist but who makes you do bench dips and keeps yelling "one more set!"

My sisters- For celebrating every single pound along the way.

People and things I DO NOT want to thank:

The scale- which tried to lie to me today. Good thing I stepped on it 3 times until it told me what I wanted.

Jr- for bringing an ever whirling array of carbs and sugar into my life

My wholesome pilgrim genetic code which interprets one missed meal as a reason to hold onto every single calorie like it's about to be winter in Jamestown all over again.

That is all.

Lori "it's ok to hate me even more now" Ann