One day

Life is so funny sometimes. Everywhere you go people struggle, people are stressed out, never have enough time for anything. Are we really living the lives we want? I am guessing not! Most of us work to survive and work too much or too hard and don't love what we do but we have no choice but to do it so we can survive. 

Life is about living - taking chances- doing what makes you feel alive. It is scary to put yourself out there and try things or take that leap of faith but living with the "what ifs" are even worse.

I have just started to take some of these chances and I haven't always been successful but I tried and at least I can say that. I have pride in knowing that I pursued some of my dreams and I will continue to move forward and pursue more. I want to look back on my life and say I loved deeply, I took some chances, I was successful and I impacted people lives in a positive way. Will your life be worth watching?

I see strength!

When I first saw the above picture, I immediately related to it. It made me go back and think about all those mistakes, failure, heartache, disappointments in my past but only momentarily because I was learning and taking valuable lessons from all of it. I would spend time wondering if it was ever going to get better, if it would ever stop being such a struggle.

 

The truth is today I do look in the mirror and I am a different person. I SEE STRENGTH, PRIDE, and BEAUTY like never before. I am no longer burdened with guilt and disappointment. I am not holding any grudges and gave forgiveness where it was needed. I am setting goals and obtaining them and this is being seen by very important people - my daughters - this is the kind of examples I want to set for them.

 

My life is good right now and I haven't remembered being so content. I am ALIVE, not just breathing!

 

 

THE LION

 

While at the gym last week I was working out with a guy who mentioned how he works out all the time to impress the ladies and he gave me the impression that the only reason he worked out was to make other people like him or accept him. I told him that I really didn't care what anyone thought of me or what I looked like. He seemed stunned that I said this. I then continued to tell him that I was at the gym for me, I love what I am doing and that is because it isn't for anyone else. I don't care if it impresses you that I lift more than someone or that I live at the gym or that I am fit and look good in a pair of jeans. I am healthy and strong and feel great and its for me.

 

I wonder if as we age we care less and less what people think of us and start to care enough about ourselves more. I haven't always thought this way, I also was like that guy at the gym. I worried about what people thought all the time and hoped they would like me and accept me. I wanted to be whatever it was they wanted. I would say YES even when I wanted to say NO. This is not the case today, I live my life and if you don't like me or you don't like what I'm doing, its okay I really don't mind anymore and you have every right to your opinion however it is no concern of mine!

 

 

Another Milestone!

On June 8th, 2013 - I posted a blog about reaching a milestone and hitting 300 lbs on the leg press machine at my gym. At the time this was such an amazing accomplishment and I remember feeling so incredible that I could actually do this. Last week Jan.17th, 2014 to be exact - lol- I pressed 500 lbs on the same leg press machine. 

In June if you asked me if I thought I would ever "stack" the leg press machine (stack meaning pressing all the weight on the machine-the entire stack) I would have said no way but I actually had it in my mind that eventually I was going to do it. I was going to be that girl at the gym who stacks the leg press - no big deal really - lol - actually ITS A HUGE DEAL - you just have to make those goals and follow them. It takes time and some days it seems near impossible but there it is - 200lbs heavier than in June. Your body will really go where your mind takes it :)

Easy?

I guess it has been a while since I have sat down to blog about my journey. Lets go back and see what has happened…….Christmas has passed and with the holidays brings some struggles like all the treats people make and the killer almond bark that a fellow worker brings me - OMG that stuff is great. It has now been 10 months of this program I have been on. Some days I think I should be ready by now and I just keep reminding myself that this is a long process and I need to just relax and enjoy it. 

So did I indulge at Christmas - yes I did. Did I feel guilty and beat myself up a bit - YEP - I did that too -lol! I also decided to get on a scale for the first time since the summer and I have gained 7 lbs - pretty sure its muscle weight but you have to be prepared for that and not FREAK out cause I wanna cry a little….lol! When you put in the amount of gym time that I do and I still feel I need to drop some weight then u gain weight - I now understand why I don't use the scale. I just need to trust my coach and the process. 

I had a girl come to me at the gym who was very stressed out and has some of the same fitness goals as myself and she was not in a good place. She thought she was going to be show-ready in as little as 4-6 months and I just told her to relax - give herself a break and take the time needed to do it and do it properly and its not EASY and it does hurt all the time and you do have to sacrifice a lot to do this but if you really want it you will do it. It is like having to constantly fight and push yourself beyond what you think you can handle and then handle more - you have to work for every single thing and it won't come easy and it won't last unless you keep doing it.

This training is not for everyone and I would never push it on anyone but staying active and healthily and taking care of yourself is so important. This is the message I want to send forward…….Do it for yourself and do it to feel amazing - nothing better than beating yourself time and time again and thinking wow I can't believe I actually did that.

Share the Journey!

When I was first asked to write about my fitness journey by a colleague at work, I was a little apprehensive. I asked her if I could do it a few months down the road when I was further along. She was persistent and I agreed to write something, but that it may be short and sweet. 

I was worried about having my thoughts and blog out there for everyone to see, how funny really because it is out here for anyone to see but what I mean is people close to me, friends, Facebook pals, co-workers, etc. I was worried about what they would think and worried about letting people read the struggle. Then it dawned on me……. I am writing this blog and mapping out this journey to help people. I want to inspire others and help in their journeys. 

My daughters were SO excited when this article was published - they told their friends their mom was in a magazine and tweeted it and everyone was so excited. I however was there feeling nervous again and kinda unsure if I liked all the attention it was bringing me. My oldest daughter Gillian said to me " MOM, u have worked so hard, you never post anything about yourself, you never talk about your accomplishments, post this on facebook!" She was right, I needed to be proud of where I have come and how much I have accomplished to date. I think I have been waiting until I get to my ideal "stage" ready state before I share my stuff and that's isn't the point is it………it's to share the journey!

I guess it has been 8 crazy, wonderful, exhausting, and rewarding months so far. I look forward to the future and all that will come with that. Until then I will keep pushing forward, I will keep updating everyone and if you haven't been taking the time for yourself - YOUR TIME IS NOW! Start doing something that makes you happy and share your journey!

Wonder Woman

Some days it actually feels like I am wonder woman - I wonder how I even accomplish what I do in a day - in a day. Here is a typical day for me - 

5:30am - Wake up 

7:00am - Start work - I have a 1/2 hr drive to work each way

3:30pm - Leave work - run any quick errands in the city before heading home

4:30pm - GYM - 

6:30pm - If all went well I'm leaving the gym

6:30-7:30pm - Making dinner / eating / cleaning up dishes, etc

7:30-8:30pm - Prepping for the next day - driving girls where ever and picking them up if needed

8:30-10:30pm - Misc stuff like laundry, cleaning up house, chatting with girls, garbage out, hot tub checked, oh did the grass get cut? What about getting the groceries and lunches and folding the laundry and killing the spiders and setting traps for the mice - really - YEP - welcome to my world and that is just a piece of it. 

10:30-11:00 - Try to be in bed and check emails, etc and rest to do it all again the next day :)

So here it is - if I can do it - so can you - I am not complaining here, I am simply pointing out how crazy my life is and to some degree it has been my choice but when there is a will there is a way! So wonder woman I am.

 Here's to all the wonder women out there - keep pushing forward - the sacrifice will be worth it!