Que han de llorar cuando te vayas

It's a wonder I get anything done at work between taking selfies and plotting revenge on my coworkers. 

So, one of the things I know you all love about this blog is hearing me talk about myself.

I'm kind of fascinating like that, I know. 

Therefore, you'll be especially psyched to see me write the following:

In the tradition of the recent facebook trend,

Here are....

10 things you probably don't know about me.

(The weird Wednesday Night Edition!)

10. My favorite album of all time is Songs about Jane by Maroon 5

9. I'd rather have a baby than a dog. Being a dog owner sounds so exhausting.

8. Some of my clients get angry if I don't have candy available. I've set a bad precedent.

7. I never intended to become a therapist. I really just fell into it. Most of my life I planned to be a lawyer. 

6. I judge men who take baths

5. If I weren't Mormon I would honestly consider converting to an Amish lifestyle

4. I know all 4 verses of the Star Spangled Banner. (well, there are 8 really, but only 4 are usually in hymn books)

3. When I go into Walmart I just start walking fast. I can't stop it. I feel like I have to zip around in there. I also tend to forget what state I am in when I'm in Walmart. 

2. If I were 18 again and starting college I think I'd want to train to be a general contractor. I would love to restore old homes for a living.

1. Some songs make me feel angry and even nauseated. Like that Cruel Summer song from Karate Kid. And that weird song that goes "travel the world and the seven seas, everyone is looking for something" 

I hope that helps to satisfy the insatiable curiosity that you all have about me:) 

Lori Ann

I found you here

Random Tuesday Night Updates

This is sunset from my office. It makes staying late at work not as tragic

This is sunrise from the Walmart parking lot. Yes, I go to Walmart before sunrise. I refuse to consider what that means about me and my life :) 

I tried to take a picture of myself with sunrise in the background. But the sunrise didn't show up. I must have outshone it or something:) 

I finally got my ancestry breakdown from 23andme! Who knew that I was part Finnish? So weird.


My friend Michele told me today that she has read my entire blog. All 4 painful years. Yikes. Later in the day she said that she had a headache. I wonder if there is a correlation there somewhere...?
(but seriously, coolest friend ever!)

A new client of mine came into my office today and immediately said "Oh my gosh, you' re so young!" Did I say new client? I meant my favorite client. (p.s.-I told her that I was going to brag to everyone I knew about this and she gave me full permission to do so)

My trainer Tory asked me to write a testimonial for the gym that they can post on their website. I already know what I want to say. "Tory is evil. Run, run, run far away!"

This whole healthy living crap has thrown my schedule out of whack. I've been going to bed no later than 9 pm and waking up around 4 or 5 ish. I'm like Ben Franklin. Or whoever it was that said "early to bed and early to rise make a man healthy, wealthy, and wise".

Except for the 'healthy, wealthy, and wise" that is me to a T.

It's going to be a LONG day tomorrow. Wish me luck!!

Lori Ann

My dentist is evil

I just had my second root canal in a week. Yikes.

I think dental work is killing my manic high.

I didn't walk today.

Which is sad for two reasons:

1. Today is the most beautiful day I've seen all fall

2. I got to the park, with my shoes on, and my music

But then I saw someone who looked like a serial killer. And there was an old, weird van in the park parking lot and I couldn't stop the soundtrack from all of my mom's murder shows from playing in my head...

"Lori probably didn't realize that today would be her final walk when she started out on that brisk, November morning. Her dentist, the last person to see her alive, reports "Well, it surprised me to hear that she was murdered. I thought her teeth would be the cause of death. That being said, I'm sorry to lose my best customer."

So, in conclusion...

Laziness, dental work, and fear of death kept me from walking today.

Come to think of it, those three things keep from accomplishing a lot of my goals.

Lori Ann

p.s.- If I do get murdered, I expect you all to come to my funeral- IN PERSON. (don't be cheap)- Also, prepare to speak for 5-7 minutes about how this blog changed your life. I'd start preparing those remarks now, if I were you. (they can also be used when you are interviewed after I win a Nobel Prize or something)

With the words of a love song

My new favorite quote. 

Random Saturday Update-around twilight

(why do I feel like I should have to capitalize the 'T'?)

Anyway,

First, let's talk about my therapy. Not at all awkward for all of you, I am sure.

I didn't get to address my Harry Potter fixation in therapy...yet. 

Judy, my therapist, told me one major thing which I found really eye opening.

She said that I kind of live in two different places. On one hand I am very tightly connected to my family and religion which can be insular. I completely agree with this. I feel like, to a certain degree, that my family and religious culture is one of 'we don't talk about things'. (which I am not judging at all- I'm comfortable in that place) She said the other place I am is being a therapist- which is almost the exact opposite. I talk to people with all kinds of lives about everything- all the stuff most people don't want to talk about. She feels like trying to balance these two worlds causes me anxiety. 

ANYWAY, 

I know that was super long and detailed but it really changed the way I see myself and the world and I am so glad I put "go to therapy" on my bucket list and I recommend it to anyone!

I did 5 miles today. 2 'running' (if it can be called running as I was lapped by several WALKING elderly people) and 3 walking. My legs still feel strange. 

19 weeks until my half marathon. I've got to get stronger. 

I've lost 5 lbs this week on my mostly protein shake diet. I earned every one of those lbs. That diet was intense! 

This picture if from the Internet! I don't own a coffee maker...I swear!

It was a good jump start though- I lost a few lbs, have been thinking before eating, and my stomach has shrunk. I tried to eat a tiny baked potato and I felt so sick. It was too much.

It was Elly's last soccer game today. I am so proud of that crazy girl!

I am cooking the turkey this Thanksgiving (on my bucket list). Any suggestions?

Lori Ann

Can only make me stronger

You guys,

I just officially registered for a half marathon!!

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh.

Also, as of today, I've lost 150 lbs total.

I need to stop posting self congratulatory posts however.

After posting how much I love walking/running, I was out on the track today, grumbling the whole way. It was ridiculous. I had to push myself to complete just 3 little miles.

I've got to get tougher if I'm going to complete 13.1!!

Mark your calenders for March 30th, 2014!

Lori Ann

p.s.- Therapy secrets will be posted this weekend!

They lead to you



I love how my cheeks look after walking in the cold (for an hour!)

I am day 4 into a 7 day protein based diet.

I am trying to jumpstart my weight loss which has stalled a little.

So, since I am avoiding food and trying to reflect on the progress I've made, I figured I'd share what I've come to love over the last year as I've worked on my health

1. I love the feeling you get when you come inside after walking out in the cold. The numb, tingly feeling, the red cheeks, the strong desire for a mug of hot chocolate- it reminds me of my childhood. I haven't made myself go out in the cold in years really and walking/running has forced me to. And reminded me how much I love it.

2. I love the feeling of when you put on some piece of clothing and you can feel that it is even just the tiniest bit looser. It's such a better feeling than the feeling of shoving yourself into jeans that once fit just fine.

3. I love just being able to take pictures and put them on facebook or this blog without trying to get the perfect angle to hide my chubby cheeks or make me look thinner. I still have the chubby cheeks and a long way to go but I'm more confident now. I don't care if people judge me:) 

4. I love the feeling of sore muscles. My shins are burning right now because I went up ten lbs in my leg curls this morning. But the burn always makes me think that it's my muscles waking up. (after a long, long sleep)

Anyway, I hope this post doesn't come across as sanctimonious. 

My point in writing is that I always thought changing my life would be so torturous and dreadful. 

And; don't get me wrong, there are parts that are SO HARD they make me want to cry.

But there is some awesome stuff I've discovered along the way:) 

Lori Ann

p.s.- Tomorrow's topic- what my therapist told me today..it was eye opening! 

Told a few thousand stories

Here are a few stories that I don't want to forget (therefore they must be written in this blog and live in infamy forever!)

* The other night I stopped by my sister's house to steal umm...borrow Halloween candy from the children. Of course I was in my pajamas and of course I yelled as soon as I walked in the door "I'm here for the candy!" and....of course, the missionaries were there. BUT, that is not even the best part of the story. So, I was sitting around the table with my nieces and nephews and I said "I want to talk about my clients and how my day went today" and without missing a single beat Jack-Jack says "I want to talk about explosives" and then James says "I want to talk about League of Legends (a video game), and Elly says "I want to talk about sports" and Katy closes with "I want to talk about cats". It was HILARIOUS.

* James, upon learning that he had to go to school on Veteran's Day, apparently had a meltdown of epic proportions, yelling "what? They won't even give us the day off to honor our Veterans?" (This from the same child who; when I asked him the day before what a Veteran was, stated "they come and take care of your animals")

* Elly scored 3 (almost 4- she keeps reminding us) goals at her last soccer game on Saturday. On Sunday, she was sitting in the row ahead of me. Every couple of minutes she kept turning around and holding up 3 fingers and nodding solemnly. That girl is crazy.

* Apparently Katy keeps going to visit Uncle Dave's apartment (in my sister's basement). Danielle was asking Dave what Katy wanted down there. Without hesitation he replied "chips". It doesn't sound that funny but it was- there was no "oh, she comes down to play or watch movies" it was just a clear, firm "chips".  Later, when I picked him up from work, he described feeling intense pressure to give her the chips or there were going to be negative consequences for him :)

Ok, so I am going back to therapy tomorrow. Brace yourselves. I cannot even imagine what will happen.

Lori Ann