Still here....

Well, truthfully, I have still been working hard the last couple of weeks... Just a bit of craziness around our house to be posting... P90X is going well. Actually, I'm sort of doing my own version. I do every day except Yoga (and sometimes I switch out Kempo for something else too). I haven't gotten in the extra cardio the way I'd like to, but I'm working on it! Trying to keep to my calories--could always use more work on that, but not doing too badly. All in all, I'm feeling really good! Results could be better, but I'm reminding myself that living healthy is a marathon--for the long haul--not a sprint, right?!!! So, I want to stay dedicated and motivated! I am planning on asking for some Tracy Anderson DVD's for my birthday! I think it will be a nice change up, and I'm excited to try them out! Cheers to anyone else out there living healthy!!!

Week 2 So Far...

Week 2 is going great! Yesterday I met my good friend, and we walked 4 miles (50 minutes). Then I came home and did "Arms and Chest" day of P90X. Today I did the "Plyometrics" day of P90X. Wow! That's quite a workout! I'm feeling good. The scale hasn't budged, but I feel so much better and some clothes are already fitting better. It's only been a week, so I'm trying to keep it all in perspective! Here's to another great week of living healthy!!!

Day 3, 4 & 5

Truthfully, I have worked hard the past three days!! I've walked, done P90X and even did some freestyle dancing... That's right, you didn't read that wrong. It was pretty funny, I have to say. But it was also FUN!!! I am also eating well which is great! I have had a significant amount of motivation this week, and I'm praying it keeps up! I have limited time to get the results I want, so I'm staying focused!!! Today, my hubby and I stained the deck where we sweated off at 10 pounds a piece!! It's SOOO hot out right now!!! Tomorrow I may try and do some sort of workout and then Monday I'll hit it hard again! Here's to the weekend--I love the weekends!!! Cheers!

Day 2

Well, it stormed in our neck of the woods lastnight. It woke me up around 3 am and wouldn't let me find my sleep again!!! So, I totally bailed on my good friend this morning. However, I had very good intentions for still working out today. And guess what? I DID!!! I completed the plyometrics day of P90X today! It is one of the most intense video workouts I have ever done. So, my legs are feeling a bit like jello at this point. But I am feeling good. I was a bit rushed and realized I skipped right over ab work. So, I plan to do some of that later this evening. It feels so good to be so excited about getting back into shape. Also, my calories have been looking pretty good for the 2nd day in a row! That makes me feel good too! YES!!! I really feel like I'm on my way! I can do this!!!

Craziness!!!

Well, it's probably silly for me to even update this... but somehow even if no one ever looks at this blog anymore, i still find it to be a small amount of accountability each day... So, the past 7 months or so have been pretty crazy, to say the least! First, we returned from Scotland and scrambled to find a place to live and feel settled. Of course, all of that took place during the holidays where there is always, unfortunately, extra stress! Then January hit and we started school--Shane started teaching, Zion started Kindergarten, and I started nursing school!!! A new level of stress was added into my life and my good habits slowly went away, and I started putting on weight and feeling terrible. The weight gain was slow, but it totals about 13 pounds in all. I can hardly believe it! And I hate even admitting it, to be honest! So far this summer we've traveled a LOT! My weight has stayed pretty well the same once I realized how much I was putting on. So, I see that as a plus. However, I have about 6 or 7 weeks before school starts again--which will bring that stress and crazy schedule again. So, I'm trying to get myself prepared!!!

Today, I am starting again. My goal is to lose those 13 pounds (at least), and to get myself ready for maintenance mode once school starts. So, this morning I met a friend and we walked 4 miles, then at home I did some ab work and some hand weights. I am planning on incorporating some of P90X into my new routine as well. I think I'll mix and match what I do. I am also planning on running along with walking. I am also cutting a lot of things out of my diet. I know I need carbs while having an intense exercise routine, but I will be careful how much. And I'm even thinking that this fall during school, I may go totally low carb! That seems to work for me when I'm not able to exercise as much.

So, there you have it, people! It's a life-long path, isn't it? One that personally I seem to sway here and there on... But I do feel that I know my body pretty well these days. So, I'm confident I can reach my goals!

Here we go again.....

So, the past 2 months have been... well... CRAZY!!!! And to top it all off, I gained around 10 lbs. through all the craziness!!! With the bouncing around while trying to find a place to live, then waiting to close on our house, then getting our house ready to actually live in, then getting us all settled and used to our new (crazy) schedule... yep, too much fast food, stress on my body--which is 30 years old now--and all that goes with a big transition like we've had... My body didn't take it too well...

So, we're almost settled and seem to be in a routine these days. So, this past week I added an early morning workout! I intended to do 4 days--Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday. However, I only managed 2 days--Monday & Tuesday! Which is still much better than anything I had been doing! So, I'm proud of that... but I truly do want to get at least 4 days a week! I think it will help many things to start my day with a workout...

My other goal is toning down my eating habits! Our new schedule is quite crazy and lends itself to poor eating habits--having to eat quickly or at weird times (in between classes or whatever)... So, I will have to be extra careful about all of that! I have dropped 2 lbs. already--just from eating better foods and working 2 times. So, that's a plus, right?!!

Here's to getting back into the swing of things.... again!!!!

Monday 11/30

Well, friends.... I am home.... (Sort of.) The past few weeks we have been transitioning, once again. We made the long trip home from Scotland. After traveling (and being awake) for about 24 hours, we were finally back in the U.S. Now as far as "home" goes--we are in the process! There is an end in sight, it's just a couple weeks away. The kiddos have been absolutely amazing through all of this! (Seriously, I don't know how they've done it!) But I can say this much, we are all ready to be in our own home and getting settled. I have gotten little intentional exercise these past few weeks, but the scale has been going down (when I check it anyway). So, I think the stress and busyness of the season (and craziness of our transition) is keeping me going with little time for food. Even through last weeks holiday, every time I got on the scale it said a smaller number! CRAZY, right?!

What I really want to share today is this... In the past few weeks, for whatever reason, I have been doing some serious thinking. There are words that I have tried to preach to others and to myself--about having a healthy body image and seeing myself through God's eyes. And while I have always forced myself to believe that, I can say for the first time in my life that I truly believe it! This is huge for me. The way I described it to my husband was this, "I feel comfortable in my skin." I am dedicated to living a healthy lifestyle and having consistent exercise in my life. But I also realize that I am built how I'm built, and I am happy with that! And I also realize that according to what God has called me to, there is only so much I will be able to do as far as exercise goes at certain times--it can always be a priority, but sometimes it gets less time than at other times.

I actually think this change in mindset for me will help me enjoy and be more committed to exercise. There will be less guilt and more commitment. Less hate and more love for doing something good for me--instead of something I have to do if I want to look a certain way....

It's late. And I feel like I'm rambling. But I felt like sharing this with all of you out there who are in the same boat as me--or at least a boat nearby (if you're reading this you must be). I hope it brings you some encouragement! I can say that it feels wonderful to feel this confidence for real. I read a post earlier where a woman spoke about wanting to use her own journey to healthy living to glorify God and further His kingdom. I have always felt the same, but even more so now. So, that is my prayer as I close this post today.

Lord, use me to minister to others, to bare their burdens, to encourage weary souls, to lift broken spirits. Help us all to be concerned about all areas of your creation--including our own bodies. Grace and peace to all... Amen.