Mental Toughness

I have always found it interesting that the things I feel like I need to devote more attention too, but somehow don’t, still find a way of coming around again and again until I finally start paying attention. Why is it always so hard to dedicate yourself to things that you know in your heart will improve your life?

For me, exercise has been an on and off habit my entire life. The health benefits are well documented of course, which had nothing to do at all for why I’d slip away from regular exercise. It’s not even logical! I have always enjoyed sports & exercise; from ballet, track and softball as a kid, to those aerobic classes in my 20’s, to all The Firm, Abs of Steel & Reebok Step videos in my 30’s. Now in my 40’s, I find myself branching out with bootcamps and jogging (maybe a little running). I only did my first 5k a couple of years ago and now in 2013 I’ve already got 6 under belt, with more on the horizon.

The interesting thing is that since turning 40, all sorts of mostly-minor medical issues keep popping up. What I find incredibly annoying is that in MY head, I think I’m pretty healthy no matter how long of a break I’ve had from regular exercise. Oddly enough, whatever stupid medical thing throws itself at me, I seem to recover strong. I’m extremely sensitive to it all, after watching my mother live in a wheelchair for some 30+ years. She was still the strongest person I have ever known in my life…but she couldn’t walk. Mental toughness is a phrase my Dad uses a lot and I like to think he has instilled that in me. At the same time, I still fight for a healthy physical self. I accept my age and my basic body-type; in addition I am well aware I will never be one of those tiny little women. This does not stop me from knowing I can still be strong, fit and healthy.

My mental toughness is not just a product of my awesome parents, it also stems from a strong faith instilled in me having been raised Catholic. My Mother and Grandmother were very devout Catholics. Unfortunately, when my mother was paralyzed at the young age of 30 with 2 little girls to raise, we got away from regular church attendance. As the years passed my mom used to worry about that, but she had no need. Our family had built a strong foundation. So even throughout my adulthood, I’m still pretty erratic in attending church. I’m kind of a Holidays & Lent person, but I have my faith and my beliefs that she taught me and I know they are incorporated in my daily life. However, I recently took a new step; I joined a bible study group with some incredible women I have attended bootcamp classes with. As far as I can tell, they attend different churches, be it Baptist, Catholic, Methodist—honestly I don’t know. But they all seem to be warm and loving people, who just want to live, learn and love in faith.

I have been struggling with my spiritual life and I have been trying to find ways embrace it more. I think I have struck gold with this group and I am so looking forward to what we can learn and share with each other.

Time flies

I have no idea where the last 3 weeks disappeared too! While I still love this time of year, boy has it kept me busy, busy, busy! One long holiday weekend, football season started, one awesome Jason Aldean/Jake Owen concert, and one “fun” 5K, and oh yea, work and bootcamp! Whew! No wonder time is speeding by!

‘Tis the season for races, and I started with The Color Run 5K! This was the first time it’s come to Tallahassee, and from the huge turnout and positive feedback I’ve heard, it was a smashing success! A great time for sure! The wonderful thing about an untimed course involving hills & high heat: no guilt when you slow to a total walk! Heck, it was practically a stroll on some parts! At the same time, after 6 weeks of Tabata Bootcamp, I could tell my endurance was high, despite the fact I have not really been running lately.  I am adding it back in though, as I’ve let a friend convince me I can do a half-marathon in early February—stay tuned, this should be interesting!

I cannot say enough good things about my bootcamp with Badass Fitness.  Our fearless leader, Shannon Colavecchio provides constant reinforcement and motivation. The class is still tough, especially since I strained my shoulder, but I am so much stronger than I have been in years! I admit, I was hoping I'd be just a wee bit farther along, but I'm getting there. There are still 2 more weeks to this particular session, but I have already committed to another round that starts in October! While there are still dietary changes I am struggling to make, for the most part I’m eating better than I can ever remember. I have lost quite a few inches, definitely feeling and seeing some muscles, but have not really lost a lot of weight. Perception however, is different, apparently I LOOK like I have lost a lot!  Seeing people I haven’t seen in months commenting on it—YES it’s still an ego boost and YES it definitely keeps me motivated! Muscle might weigh more than fat, but it definitely looks leaner!

Tailgating season is here, the holidays are right around the corner, and I have multiple 5K’s lined up to keep me on track. My personal perception is that I’m feeling like an athlete, and I haven’t felt like that since my 20’s! Sure, the body is definitely recovering slower, but I am so much more in tune to it now and noticing the difference between a hard workout that may leave me a little sore, versus more serious tweaks, like straining my shoulder.

Positive progress has been my theme all year, and I will continue to embrace it!

Fall is my favorite season, even though I live in north Florida and weather-wise, we don’t really get a Fall; it’s all about the image of Fall!  From back-to-school to football season, Fall has always felt like the start of a new year to me. Sure, it’s still August, and the temperatures are regularly in the 90’s with insane humidity, but the FEELING of fall is here in all its glory. Every new football season brings hope for the next national title for my favorite team, the Florida State Seminoles, which also brings long Saturdays of tailgating and friends—which I just love!  Unfortunately, I also LOVE tailgate food & adult beverages! Old habits die hard, but maybe, just maybe, they can at least wither-down some if not completely die.

Last weekend I was out of town, celebrating both my anniversary and the 40^th birthday of a good friend. I completely over-indulged, some with intent, some just because…and I paid the price! My tummy was not pleased for about 2 days…so I guess that means my body really is adjusting to the healthier & smarter changes I’ve been making the past few months. Eating rich foods and too many adult beverages really threw me off my game! Lesson learned! Not that I was totally bad, the hubby and I did start Saturday morning with an hour and half walk through the small historic town we stayed in—which was great.  Then the grill and snacks took over! C’est la vie! When I returned, I jumped back on track and attended my 6am bootcamp class Monday morning. I have learned to not become despondent after such things, just get back at it. It’s a minor setback at best.

This week will mark week 4 of 8 for Tabata Bootcamp and I think my halfway assessment will be positive. Clothes are fitting better, my muscles are sore, but starting to show themselves, and getting through those 6 am classes has definitely made me more productive the rest of the day. The struggle to make my upper body un-weak is a daily battle, but I feel just a wee-bit stronger every single day and this pushes me forward.

 Sharing the Fitness

I am 15 days into my 8-week Tabata Bootcamp and I have learned, that while I remain optimistic, I sure do have some seriously weak areas...like my shoulders, and my knees…. and my core! <insert semi-painful smirk here>  However, YES!  I am still powering my way through the workouts, maybe not at as full-intensity as I’d like—the jumping-stuff is still a challenge, but I try! One of the things I really like about this class is the size of the group. Large enough at 20 people to help “push” myself  but small enough to feel like a team sharing the hard work and results and even some fun!

I am also trying not to cross the fine line of pushing to gain strength vs. pushing and causing myself injury! Which is a small miracle considering I currently know three people in boots for various foot/ankle injuries!

What I am taking away as I enter week 3 of 8, is that I am far more aware of my physical self; I’m definitely drinking more water and I am making better food choices. It helps that my husband has a killer garden going right now!  There are also some muscles in my arms that I think are coming of out years of hibernation—hooray! That Seminole chop might look a lot better this season without a jiggly arm!

Surprising new development—a few friends that are not part of my bootcamp classes have asked me to workout with them! If that doesn’t scream results, what does? Here I am, being inspired by so many other people at various levels, it somehow didn’t occur to me I might be inspiring someone else myself! How cool is that?

Whats the big deal about The Big 4-0?

Apparently 1972 & 1973 were awesome years! WHY? Because it appears every good friend I have has hit the big 4-0 this past year or will before the year is out! Of course, not a one of them looks a day over 30, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it! I remember when I was just a young thing and my opinion on turning 40 was very different! It seemed so OLD and now that I am in my 40’s I’m can hardly believe it. How did this happen? How come I still feel all of 30? I thought I would be in a different place in life, but apparently life had other plans for me! Of course, times are also different, but I still truly believe my friends are aging pretty darn well.

Now, it might be due to a certain resistance to aging! Sure, we all have the grown-up responsibilities of family, work, kids, etc. However, we can still out-tailgate most 20-somethings—we just have a wee bit longer recovery time! It all comes down to attitude, there are a ba-zillion sayings on aging, but truly, you are only as old as you feel.

Check the news, there are 60-70-80-year olds hitting the gym daily, starting new romances, & learning new technologies! It’s a wonderful thing to embrace your age and use the wisdom & experiences of life to live a full life as long as possible! I definitely plan to stick around long enough to annoy the next generation, do you?

New workout adventure!

In the past few weeks I have managed to up my workouts to four times a week, which has basically been laying the groundwork for my upcoming intense 8-week TabataBootcamp, with Badass Fitness CEO Shannon Colavecchio! I will definitely be expanding my exercise comfort zone with this.  I am both excited and intimidated at the prospect of this. Lucky for me, I have worked out with some of these great people before and I know they are all supportive and able to offer encouragement while pushing to get the most of a workout at the same time. Another realization I had, if I am feeling a bit intimidated, possibly even slightly embarrassed, at the thought of getting weighed & measured for this training, well then, I probably made the right decision to sign up for it!

We all age, there’s no denying it, (well, unless you happen to be an immortal vampire or something J ), yet I see women everyday who look and feel better in their 40’s than they did in their 20’s. While there may be a lot of science behind what happens to the body as we age, I am a firm believer that half the battle is in the mind. There are plenty of ways to exercise around a good majority of ills, and I also happen to believe that exercise does help alleviate a lot of the ills we “acquire” as we age. I just want to find some balance and live to a ripe old age. I’ve never been an extremist and I’m not about to become one now, but I have found I can incorporate a lot of healthier options into my life without suffering or feeling deprived.

The countdown clock says just 4 days until bootcamp starts, then 8 weeks of getting healthier, stronger, and developing some new exercise habits. I feel confident I am embarking on an excellent adventure, looking forward to some positive results!

Life’s All-Star Break

I am a big sports fan, and I am definitely partial to baseball. In the big leagues, the All-Star break happens in July…which even though the baseball season is not year-round, it still marks the middle of the year. The 4^th of July is kind of like the All-Star break for life, it’s summer, we’re halfway through the year, seems like the perfect time to reflect and reinvigorate personal goals.

I had a great start to the year, then, suffered some setbacks, and now I feel like I am rebounding…this applies to all areas of my life, from my personal life, to my health, to my hobbies. Isn’t it funny how everything works together? We’ve all been there when not just one thing goes wrong, but then the domino effect kicks in and it’s just one thing after another. Life is always going to give us challenges, with a little luck, they don’t all come at once—but when it rains, it pours for sure. On the flip side, once you get one item resolved, it’s just that much easier to move on to the next and the next and before you know it, multiple things are falling into place. I believe attitude has a lot to do with it, when things go wrong, we all tend to wallow. However, if you follow up by embracing the positive, amazing things can happen! Really, it can be the smallest little thing that goes your way, or works out right, and it can improve your entire mindset.

You won $2 on scratch-off ticket, you read something inspirational, you found healthy food ON SALE…it can be anything! That little anything can also inspire good moods & positive action immediately!

I enjoy working out, I know I always feel better, yet I still struggle, even with semi-legitimate rationalizations (can’t afford new running shoes, something more important happening at same time as a class, I worked too late, etc. etc.) Yet, I am self-aware enough to know I can make the time, I can find a way, and I know the rewards will be there. So, to spark myself for the second half of my personal All-Star year, I have jumped back on the horse. I am registered for 3 races in the Fall—all with a “fun” theme from mud to paint. I also committed to an 8-week Tabata Bootcamp with Badass Fitness this summer. I am quite sure this bootcamp will push some new limits for me, but I am excited to share the experience with some seriously inspirational people!

Are you ready to embrace & enjoy the second half of the year with me? Let’s do this!

Rebounding

Spring Sprung, and really not in a good way! The last few months have been a serious challenge for me and my family. I’ve felt drained mentally, emotionally, and physically. It’s exhausting to be wrapped up in so much negativity! I hate it and I am choosing to be done with it! After all, here I am, still standing, with my wonderful husband by side. Knowing we will get through whatever life chooses to throw at us—together! Is it easy? Of course not, but I am constantly reminded that we are in fact, very blessed no matter what. Getting by on one income stinks, but we know it won’t be forever and we are adapting.

We have the most supportive friends anyone could possibly wish for. Of course, no one wants to be the Negative Nelly all the time, so you keep things tight to the vest, but eventually, or at least in my case, you realize your true friends still see both sides of you, including the positive. They WILL hold your hand and offer support while you climb back up the mountain. The trick of course, is being motivated on your own to start the trek!

The year is halfway through and I would like to embrace the rest of it with positive thoughts, positive energy, and with any luck, some super-positive outcomes! In the midst of these personal setbacks, I also let my workouts fall to the back burner. WHY you may ask? I mean there I was: feeling great, losing weight, having fun, all the positive outcomes of consistent exercise and eating better.
My motivation was just gone.
I have been so wrapped in the bad stuff going on, I let the good stuff slip. The reality is though, if I KEEP the good stuff going through the bad stuff, it makes the bad stuff easier to handle. I KNOW THIS! I am finally applying it again! I worked out yesterday, yes, after about 6 weeks of virtually no workouts—realized, I’m kind of outta shape. So what? I am ready to get back at it! There is so much that happens in life that we have no control over, why wallow in that? I DO control my actions though. Whether it’s a food choice, or an exercise choice, when I have control of those things, it makes dealing with the out-of-control things just that much easier! #I WILL embrace the positive!

Happy Easter Week!

I can hardly believe we are 3 months through 2013 already!

The Lenten season has always inspired me to be more reflective on my life and try to re-focus on the messages that get lost throughout the daily life journey. I have done that to some extent, but I am also guilty of letting the negatives we are dealing with, take over my entire mental state some days. I HATE being the negative, depressed girl, and I try hard not to be. I am well aware that as bad as I think things are, yes, they could be worse, yes, there are many people in way more dire situations, and I am extremely blessed to have a good support system of loving family & friends.  That still doesn’t make it easier to deal with and sometimes I just want to wallow!

This past month, I have been reading the blogs and posts of friends taking vacations or Spring Breaks—yes with some envy. However, due to our tight family finances we won’t be doing that anytime soon. However, I have taken quite well to a few Sundays completely “OFF” from the world. Just unplugged and away from everyone and everything! I think it’s helping me keep my sanity as we deal with our life struggles. People will and DO understand! We can’t attend every gathering, see everyone, and be everywhere, it’s not realistic and it’s just not feasible for us. I have learned, my friends are still there, I still communicate with them, and I can still offer them support for whatever they may be dealing with also! Amazing right?

This year has also brought me to a more heightened awareness of my health and what makes me comfortable in my own skin. Overall I am currently down 15lbs, which I am very happy about. I also know I can work harder. I know when I am exercising regularly, I deal with the other stressors better. I struggle daily with eating junk food, getting in workouts, DESPITE knowing how good I can feel. It’s easy to give in and enjoy unhealthy foods or flop on the couch after work. There have been a couple instances where I wanted to skip out on a workout, but ended up going—of course I was so happy I did afterwards! I do not know why any of us struggle against things we KNOW are good for us, especially as we gain positive results. Yet, the battle continues and I for one am still in the fight! I started this year looking for motivation, and I am learning I find it at many random times from a wide variety of sources! I am surrounded by positive, encouraging people on a daily basis. I find that if I look to those sources every day, I am often able to rebound out of my mental funk (that is ever-so-easy to sink into) when life tries to keep me down! Life is always going to throw us challenges, there’s no need to kill ourselves making it more difficult! The real challenge is handling those challenges and leading a good and happy life! After all, isn’t that what it’s all about? J

Day 30 of #Whole30

It is amazing how fast 30 days can fly by. Thirty very hectic days I might add! Some people live fairly quiet, uneventful lives…I am not that person! All my life, I’ve been one of those people to which things just happen- some good, some bad, some great! Either way, I am never bored and hopefully never boring!

Changing my eating habits for 30 days has definitely been a challenge. The thought is to create ongoing change for the better, so there is not really a pass/fail to following the #Whole30. Of course, in our society, that is not how we REALLY think, right? Tomorrow, yes, I will hop on the scale and see what the numbers say, but I can tell you now that I’ve lost weight, I’ve certainly lost inches, and I am definitely feeling great! I bought new jeans this week in a size I haven’t been in in YEARS-comfortably, not squeezed on just to say I’m in a certain size! However, I did have a few so-called “cheat” days---four in 30 days, but instead of thinking of it as failure, I just kept forging ahead, as this is supposed to be a lifestyle habit, hence need to change your mindset too.  I think you set yourself up for instant failure if you consider every setback, no matter how small, a complete failure. I KNOW I’m going eat some sugary treats in the future, I KNOW I’m going to drink adult beverages with my friends...I also know that if those are exceptions rather than the rule, I’m going to feel better, sleep better, perform better and basically not get swallowed up in guilt.

Marching In!

Almost 2 weeks since my last blog - life is so chaotic sometimes! My #whole30 journey while not a complete FAIL, definitely hit a few roadblocks. On the 11^th day I had a couple cocktails (Nicaraguan rum & coke zero) with a friend after the ball game got rained out. However the next day, which was a Sunday, rather than just chalk up a total failure, I just continued on and still treated it as Day 12. That is not what the program plan suggests, but seemed the best option for me. It seems to me that to just keep trekking on is better than nothing. By the 15^th day last week, I was really feeling pretty good, my clothes getting ridiculous baggy, so that was a good sign. However, with a rough week emotionally on the work and personal front, and crappy weather, by Saturday which was Day 18—I had only got in two decent workouts during the week and a lot of long hours with various projects, I was feeling depressed and cranky so I did do some pre-game tailgating Saturday---still far from getting drunk or anything, but 3 adult-drinks are definitely not on the program. Nor were the onion rings I had at dinner, but overall didn’t really experience any ill-effects from that. I also managed to say NO to birthday cake of a friend--fully aware was already having alcohol--and enjoying it! :-)

So here I am at Day 21*—still sleeping well, the heartburn and upset stomachs are virtually gone. With all the other life stressors, workouts been totally slacking though—fearful my 5K this weekend will not be much faster than the last one, but again, just getting it done is half the battle for me right now. Just keep truckin’ right?

The day21* equals: taken with a grain of salt since there was actual “cheating” but I still feel like moving forward better than going to square one since I am still feeling good effects. Some food choices I know am not likely to revisit in the future, but I can embrace others. I miss milk—it will make a re-appearance in my life.  I can live without most processed foods though with barely an afterthought. Three weeks has taught me that I can mostly control emotional eating, that I can feel the positive side effects of not having so much crap in my system, and that people will support me, no matter what!

2/20/13 One week of #Whole30 down!

What an eventful week! I have completed 7 days of the #Whole30 Challenge and feel pretty good! The blogs I have followed and read from others have helped keep me motivated, but they definitely take a different track than I do. This has been as much of an emotional journey as a dietary one, at least to date. This week, I do see myself venturing out a bit more food-wise. There are a lot of whole30-approved foods other people find delicious that I just cannot choke down. Fortunately there are also some delicious recipes from the ones who have gone before me that I am enjoying. I am particularly enjoy the breakfast foods as I find that is my biggest meal of the day. However, I hardly find myself starving and the other tangible changes are quite noticeable and positive!

Heartburn that I used to battle daily...gone! Bloating/gas issues...gone! Almost daily stiffness and Advil popping...gone! If one can actually feel leaner, that is how I feel, like I am actually taking up less space in the world!

I am sleeping great, feeling just that much stronger in my workouts, and it’s only been 7 days! I think I was more worried emotionally going into this about getting through tailgates sober—VOILA, made it through 4 days of Opening weekend festivities & games, in the freezing cold (especially for this Florida girl), cold sober! <pun intended>. One great thing about tailgating, I can easily have the meat done on the grill—no extra oils/sauces, totally whole30 approved! I actually found myself telling my friends what I was doing and they were quite supportive, which helps! Seeing people I haven’t seen since last season and receiving compliments—why yes that REALLY helps!

So as I head into week 2, my will is stronger, but alas, another huge temptation ahead...my best friend is coming home from Nicaragua for a month! I think I can manage my actual food choices and still avoid the dairy, sugar, grain, beans…but without sounding like too much of an alcoholic...can I still avoid alcohol? Which, by the way, would also likely entail some no-no’s when you add in mixers. Sure, I had already weaned myself to Crystal Light as mixer…but from the reading I’ve done, the sugar substitutes are nearly worse for the body than real sugar...just less calories. So we might not be hitting up my favorite Mexican restaurant for margaritas and queso, but I think we’ll manage to have some fun all the same! J

I can honestly say that I am surprised at my will power, even if I am not quite as extreme as some participants may be—this has still been a huge overhaul to lifelong eating habits, and so far seeing very positive results! As I like to say, YAY ME!

FAT TUESDAY

The self-improvement journey continues! I have been influenced by my Badass Fitness trainer, Shannon from http://www.badassfitness.com/   and the badass warriors to really go outside my comfort zone in eating habits. A group of these friends participated in a #Whole30 Challenge http://whole9life.com/start/ in January with significant results in overall health and well-being that really got me thinking. I enjoy working out, however I also enjoy eating some crap-tastic, (but yummy) food choices. While they may provide some instant pleasure, they mostly are terrible for my body!

I have certainly known my fair share of over indulgence too, and I believe the challenge for me will be in eating better foods that might actually make me FEEL better too. I’m in my 40’s, I have a variety of minor ailments that plague me on and off, but my overall health is pretty darn good! Perhaps a more organic approach is worth trying, so I am! I try to live realistically, but have been finding that incorporating changes is actually not as hard as I once thought.

Having been raised Catholic, I have always considered the season of Lent a true time of reflection and renewal. The “sacrifice” of giving something up each year, is really a way to keep us in check and make us both spiritually insightful and grateful for the all the things we are and what can be sacrificed for a greater good. I think sacrificing some long-standing bad habits can only serve to be a good thing. With that I’m going to venture outside my comfort zone, with the awareness that there are some things I will probably not take to and already know that. Rather than focusing on the negative though, I will work within the parameters of my existing tastes and expand and hopefully discover new & fabulous options that will work for me.

Sounds good right? People participate in diets or work to change their whole lifestyles every day, what makes my journey any different? For starters, it is coinciding with the start of college baseball season. Florida State Baseball is a passion and interactive experience for me and my family. There are 36 home games between now and the end of May. Here in Tallahassee, that means some serious tailgating too. So, can I spend the first 5-6 weeks of the season sticking to a new food plan?—that remains to be seen, but let’s try! While my husband is not likely to join me on such a challenge as this, he is ever-supportive and I’m willing to bet he won’t mind cooking some of the recipes. I don’t see him giving up adult beverages, (which will be a serious challenge for me too ) but I think I can manage it for a few weeks at the least. Wish me luck!

2/6/13

Hello February! You arrived so quickly! Fortunately, I consider January a success and I am ready to move on! For me, February signals the start of the FSU Baseball season! Some folks might not think that’s such a big thing, following college baseball, but for me and the Animals of Section B, it’s a lifestyle through June. Home game attendance for 30+ games, tailgating, planning the Annual Animals Whiffleball & Tequila Picnic—it’s like a second job, minus a paycheck. Of course when June rolls around and the boys are in OMAHA playing for a College World Series Championship (which still eludes us), it seems like the season flies by! I am excited about this year’s team and look forward to many fun-filled days at Dick Howser Stadium and tailgates under The Oaks At Doak!

On a more personal front, my exercise program is still going strong, have managed to lose 9lbs. so far in 2013! Will participate in my first 5K of the year this coming weekend, and registered for one in March and two in April---monthly goals seem to work well for my motivation!

For even more ways to fill my calendar, I’ve re-joined my WAKA Kickball team after a one-season hiatus! Kickball you say?  Yes, a kickball league for adults ( www.kickball.com )
—it’s so FUN and a great way to do something active even if there are adult beverages involved (should one choose to partake of course).  Living and loving life one busy day at a time and seeing who I can pull into my adventures!

1/23/13 Treading water, in the quicksand

They weren’t kidding when they said time goes faster as you get older. I swear since I hit 40 it’s going by faster than the speed of light! Fortunately, I am surrounded by the most amazing people who make my life journey worthwhile. This past week, I once again celebrated being born. I have always enjoyed birthdays, and not just mine. My Mother always made us feel special no matter how old we got. Of course, with a January 20^th birthday, I have historically shared that day with crazy world events like the Presidential Inaugurations, MLK 3-day weekends, and even a few Super Bowls...so YES, I do feel special. This year however, was special because I am surviving adversities, and am just ever so grateful that I have cultivated friendships with some of the most outstanding people anyone could know!

Three weeks into what I am hoping is a fabulous 2013, I am trying to find my inner peace, enhance my health & well-being and continue to work on digging out of financial crisis. It’s going to be a long road, but with the support I have, I remain optimistic. Not getting overwhelmed and hiding from the world seems to be the biggest obstacle!

I have signed up for my first 5K in early February, always nice to have a goal for my workouts. I know I also have to work out a plan for the upcoming FSU baseball season. No, I don’t play, but I’m a strong spectator, and worse yet; a super strong tailgater! Can I find a better balance at tailgates of better food & less adult beverages? Only time will tell! Meanwhile, I will continue to pursue my dietary & exercises changes on a daily basis as I figure out what works best for me.

1/14/13 The good, the bad, the ugly

The Good: Two weeks into the New Year and I’m feeling good! Exercise is becoming a regular activity again, and while losing 5 lbs. feels great, what I’m really excited about is that I can already see the difference in how my clothes fit again. Pounds lost may be slow, but I am feeling fitter & trimmer. I’m starting to see some muscles again—and I’m only seven workout-days in! The best part? My husband is actually noticing and commenting, which he has never done in the past!

Now the food changes come to me much slower. Deprivation has never really worked for me, so I’m more about portion control, and incorporating substitutions as I go. The most successful thing for me has been reading numerous blogs and recipe suggestions and applying what works for me. A few options outside my comfort zone have been interesting, if not particularly appealing to my palate—at least I’m trying now.

I am still adjusting to how things are at the small Methodist church we’ve started attending. Having been raised Catholic and attended suburban Catholic churches all my life, the small country Methodist church is just a bit different of an experience. However, even in my lapsed church attendance, I have still always believed God is well aware of where I am and what I’m doing all the time. If I can find my spiritual inner peace, I’m pretty sure he won’t mind which physical church I attend.

The Bad: Ongoing financial battles, constantly 2 steps forward, one step back, or maybe we’re just going ‘round & ‘round and never actually forward & back? I hate that I’m nowhere near the financial state I expected to be in at this point in my life. Not that I expected to be Bill Gates, but I definitely thought I wouldn’t be worried about making car payments! Getting in shape financially is even harder than getting in shape physically!

The Ugly: Attending a funeral tomorrow and it is never, ever an easy thing to say goodbye to someone or console friends who have lost a loved one. I will offer my love & support with the hope it gives the family a little comfort.

Circle of Life

The wheels of life roll on and if you don’t roll with them, you might get run over! I understand the circle of life, babies are born, people pass on, and that is the natural progression of things. Unfortunately, the reality is, dealing with death is never ever easy.

A close friend lost her father yesterday, and that is just awful. I hope the support I offer her will give her some comfort, but I know from experience the grief process is different for everyone and she’s going to need time. Then low and behold, another friend went in to labor later in the day and delivered a beautiful son later in the evening. Hope for the future blossoms with the birth of a newborn, which is what we all need to hold onto as we say goodbye to those that have passed on. Doesn’t make it any easier by any means, just gives us that little something that lets us know it will all be OK.

I have attended more than my fair share of funerals in the past few years, including my own Mother and a very dear friend. It just stinks no matter what. I am generally good in a crisis and I like to think I am able to offer support to my friends and loved and ones at such times.  Mostly though, it serves to constantly remind me that life is indeed very short, you never know what is going to happen. Therefore, I try to make sure the people I love know it! I encourage others to appreciate their loved ones also, because in the end, the people we love and the relationships we have are what is most important and IS our circle of life.

1/7/13

One week into 2013 and I’m feeling good about diving into some life changing habits. I’ve jumped back into exercise (3 workouts the first 5 days—YAY), and been documenting & changing some eating habits. This also included changing some alcohol-consumption habits. So far, so good as my plan was to start small (not drinking during the week) and is working out well so far. Sure, it helps to  not have a bunch of happy hours or events during the week. However there were 2 events Friday and Saturday I wanted to attend, in the end missed both due to battling a cold—so that helped me avoid drinking too. So first weekend of 2013 spent sober, kind of sick, but still made it to Saturday morning boot camp class—a fun one at that. This also provided the hubby and I some needed time together at home, just puttering around as it were.

I have also have been reading more—already finished a couple books. I used to be an avid reader and I enjoy reading, so I believe the reduction in my reading just for fun was contributing to my less-than-optimistic-mindset. Sure I read blogs, emails, and work stuff all the time, but I enjoy a good book and like to read in my spare time, it gives me much needed peace.

I’m realizing more & more the need for mental peace and finding ways to achieve it. It’s a tough challenge when daily life is bombarding me with situations that need resolutions—the brain never stops when you want it too. Certainly, neither does life. There was a line in the movie “For Love of the Game” that I strive for: Clear the mechanism. Costner’s character used it to prepare to pitch baseball games, I’d just like to be able to apply it once a day or so!

The quest for a sound mind, body and spirit is a pretty classic one. The power to achieve it is within each of us, I think they build and thrive off each other. One you start working on one, it’s easier to work on the rest, at least I certainly feel it’s working that way.

Rednole Ramblings: Motivation

Rednole Ramblings: Motivation: Motivation is that wonderful thing that drives us. It drives us to work harder for success, exercise to our limits, and find whatever j...

Motivation

Motivation is that wonderful thing that drives us. It drives us to work harder for success, exercise to our limits, and find whatever joy we can in this life. It can also be very difficult to hold on to. We are all motivated by a variety of forces, some more subtle than others.

During a tragedy, we become more motivated towards causes and stopping future tragedies. In life, many of us struggle daily for fitness motivation. It does seem a bit ridiculous with today's technological tools at our disposal. You can find everything from exercise & food tips, to online friends and supporters with a few key strokes!

There is motivation everywhere we look. From the lady in the office you see take the stairs every day, to the elite athletes we watch on TV. Charitable causes that hit close to home will motivate us to donate more; be it money, time or energy.  Motivation should be the easiest thing to maintain...so why do we make it so hard on ourselves?

Take a look around, and look inside yourself and ask, what motivates you?

Personally, 2013 for me is all about tackling things differently than I have in the past. I am very fortunate to be surrounded by many people that inspire and motivate me. The big realization is that motivation truly has to start within myself. I am motivated to not only know what I want, but to know my limitations, work around them, and seek help when needed.

I started strong with a New Year’s Day unlike any of my past—I went to a 90 minute exercise class, I did not have a NYE hangover, I did not gorge myself on food & alcohol while watching bowl games all day—low and behold, I still had an awesome time, and I felt pretty darn good.  Of course, my NOLES won their Orange Bowl game—that definitely helped!

I have started utilizing some new tools for my health, and find it spilling over into other aspects of my life. I’m sure others are on a similar journey this year, and I will continue to follow those stories as mine unfolds also. So often we are reminded how short life really is, I believe we have to make the most of it, and sometimes adjust our thinking to what means and that my friends, leads to the ultimate in personal growth.

2013 underway!

Ah the promise of a new year..it's intoxicating! Lose weight, get organized, eat better, be a better friend, and on and on it goes. However, after experiencing a pretty rough 2012 full of challenges, I am embarking on 2013 with fresh perspective.
Of course I still want to accomplish all the things listed above, but now I'm actually taking the actions necessary for success.
While I was indeed raised with a strong Catholic faith, I have definitely not been much of a church-goer as an adult. I've been pretty good with Lent, holidays, weddings, etc. but not Sunday attendance. My faith is always there, but my relationship with God & religion needed work. I have slowly been giving that more attention this past year though. In August, my husband and I moved into a home that is a former parsonage for a Methodist church. Yes, that means we now live right next door to that same church and the church Board is our landlord. Even this has been a struggle financially, yet we have persevered so far. We saw this home a blessing, and it has been for our marriage at the very least.
In December, we finally started attending the church...so three whole visits to date, but you always have to start somewhere! Amazingly, we are feeling pretty good about it and things seem to be looking up in other areas of our life!
So two days into the new year, I am making some positive changes, trying to solve instead of hide from our challenges and I feel pretty good about the year and want to share that optimism with those around me. THAT is my resolution for 2013---the rest are just action items.