I must have released too many endorphins during my workout this morning because I am feeling a little bit too peppy. I have a ton of energy (which is rare for me) a super positive attitude (really rare) and I just feel great. That’s a far cry from how I felt when I woke up this morning, got on the scale, and was actually UP a half pound from where I started this week.
I could have chosen to stay inside the house all day and sulk but the weather has been great, a high of 82 although humid. So instead I decided to take advantage of probably the last day I will be able to walk the 1 mile each way to the mall. I threw my dear daughter in her Jeep stroller and off we went. When we got home I did my little 20 minute strength training workout that I got from Real Simple magazine and now I feel wonderful. I got on the scale (because I’m a scaleaholic like that) and it already showed the half pound is gone. Now I know that is a bit silly because body’s can fluctuate and it doesn’t necessarily mean you gained or lost but it still made me feel better.
My favorite part of exercise is once your done you feel like you can do anything, accomplish any goal! So I guess my lesson for today is when you get discouraged workout twice as hard and you will soon be as loopy as me.
Due to my super positive attitude today I decided to make Fantastical Friday a regular thing. Maybe it will help me to continue being so positive. If enough people want to join in we can make it a meme!
Have you ever said a phrase your whole life without ever thinking about what it REALLY means. This will probably sound odd but it just hit me today what the phrase “in it for the long run” really means. I was driving in my car thinking about how this health journey I’ve been on for the past year is kind of like running a marathon (even though I’ve never actually run a marathon). But anyways I was thinking about how running a marathon is about endurance. It’s not about running as fast as you can it’s about pacing yourself so that you can stay in the race and actually finish your goal. And then it hit me ohhhh, that’s what “in it for the long run” means. It is an actual run and not some obscure concept that has been twisted and stretched so that now the phrase “long run” is said without any real thought of running a long distance.
That’s how my health is for me. It’s not about losing weight as fast as I can so I can fit into that pair of skinny jeans. It is about modifying my LIFE so that I can remain healthy for the REST of my life. For the LONG RUN.
It’s also how I feel about a lot of other things in my life. I’m “in it for the long run” with my marriage. I’m not about just sticking around for the good times and then bolting when things get rough or when “that loving feeling” isn’t there as strong as it used to be. I know that if I stick through the hard times things will get better, and then worse again, and then better again. And when we finish that race together it will be the best feeling in the world. Knowing that we stuck it out and that the rewards were miraculous.
I’m “in it for the long run” as a mom. Even when I don’t know what I’m doing and my daughter has pushed every single button I have, I stick it out and try to pace myself so I don’t lose it. Knowing that at the end of the day I’ll get that hug and kiss that just melts my heart. Then, when I don’t even get that I know that the next day will bring many rewards in the midst of all the trials. Ultimately even if being a mother had NO rewards (which is impossible) being able to finish the race and still be standing at the end is reward enough.
LIFE is the “long run” Sometimes it feels like I’m jogging along the beach, and sometimes it feels like I’m running uphill against the wind. But either way I’m running it and I’m never giving up.
photocredit: flickr
Since I need some accountability in order to reach my goals (and what better people then all of you?) I would like to do a little monthly update.
These were the goals that I listed on this blog a month ago.
1. Make an appointment with a personal trainer (at my gym this is free once a month) - Made the appointment and met with him on Monday. Good news, my body fat is down to 25%! Woohoo! I set a new goal to lose five pounds so I am expecting that number to get even better.
2. Drink more water – I’ll be honest, (because how can you have accountability if you’re not honest?) I ‘m not doing so good with this one. I have some good days and some not so good days. Something I’ve noticed since I moved out here to the desert is I drink A TON of water in the summer but once winter rolls around I struggle to drink anything more than 8 oz a day.
3. Take fish oil
4. No more alcohol in the house - Another one that has been broken. I’ve had a couple glasses of wine that was left over from Christmas and a few beers on Super bowl Sunday.
5. No more sweets in the house – Oops. This isn’t looking so good. I bought WAY too much candy for dd’s birthday party and now there is a bag of it just sitting in the pantry calling my name. (I am a major sugar addict)
6. Limit eating out to once a week (including breakfast and lunch) – This one I’ve done pretty good at. We try to eat out every Saturday night but if for some reason we go during the week I’ve been cooking at home all weekend.
For my seventh goal I thought I had written this one down but I guess not. It was to limit my calories to 1500 a day and my fat grams to no more than 33 a day. And also to work out 3-4 times a week. This one I’ve done pretty good at. My working out has been consistent but it is hard for me to stay withing 33 fat grams a day. After meeting with the training yesterday I am motivated once more!
Thanks for listening. How are you doing with your goals?!
How cool is this? Thanks lady java!
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When you make pasta use the multi-grain brands. It has important Omega-3’s which are good for your child’s brain.
*photo credit: big stock photo
