Mental

Prayers For Reesey

I found another mom's blog recently via FB.  She has four adorable redheads six years of age and under.  They are some of the cutest little girls I've ever seen with pretty red hair and gorgeous blue eyes.

The third little girl, Reese, was diagnosed with a brain tumor on Halloween 2012.

I spent a few hours one night a few weeks ago reading their story and it is sweet, funny, humbling, inspiring, and heart wrenching.  After reading her last entry last night, I now want to fly to Dallas and hug this amazing  little girl.  (Warning:  the blog will tug at your heart strings.  It make make you cry, but it is worth it!)

I wanted to share it here on my blog as they face another MRI next week to check the status of her tumors.  Please send out prayers, thoughts, vibes- whatever it is you do- to this family as they face this next step.

http://www.thisyearslovewilllast.com/

My Beachbody Addiction

I can't say my addiction is to exercise. I don't love all exercise.  I still can't get into yoga as much as I have tried.  My addiction is to Beachbody work out programs.

Insanity arrived on my door step yesterday and I am indeed, insane.

I might also end up divorced if I can't control myself.

Ok, I'd have to tell my husband first that I bought another program for that to happen, but I'm getting off track here.

I need to work out at home.  I've tried getting out in the early morning to a gym and it was a borderline disaster.  My daughter has no consistent sleep pattern and can wake up at 5 AM or 7:30 AM.  Since my husband is NOT a morning person, and Phoebe is a mommy's girl, it's best for everyone if I'm there when she wakes up.

Beachbody work outs like Turbo Fire, ChaLean Extreme, P90X, Insanity, Brazil Butt Lift, Les Mills Combact, and more make it SO easy for me to get fit and stay healthy without leaving my house.

I'm currently doing ChaLean Extreme, and I've layered Brazil Butt Lift on top of it.  I'm also throwing in Turbo Fire for some cardio on days I do weights.  I get the best of both worlds this way because lifting weights is so important to lose weight and change your body shape.

My living room is my gym space right now and I was up bright and early this morning.  On my schedule was Burn Circuit 1 from ChaLean Extreme and 20 minutes of Fire 30 from Turbo Fire.   I felt so stinking good afterwards!  Is it strange to love feeling  my body work and sweat?  I just feel so good, mentally and physically.  I wish I could have finished Fire 30, but the kids were both up by this point and needed me.  I still managed to get an awesome work out in- and that's what counts.

I'm excited to see how I do with these programs and I can't wait to try Insanity.  I just wonder what will be after that....

Click here to try a Beachbody work out!

2013 Goals

My parents instilled a belief that anything was possible, that I could do anything I set my mind to, as long as I worked hard.  I've lived my entire life believing in that.

I lost some of that drive as I got older.

I could blame it on having kids. Your focus and priorities in life just shift once you become a parent.  Rather easily, I lost focus on my goals and the other things I want in life in addition to being their mom..

It's become clear to me that I want to do more.  To not just exist- but live.  To lead them by example of setting goals and reaching them.

I can say to myself or my husband that I want to do this or I want to try that, but if I just say them, there's really no one to throw it back in my face when I never do it.

I need that throw back.

So, think of this as my bucket list.  Goals I will achieve in 2013.

1. Get a food processor (starting easy!)
2.  Lose the last 10-12 lbs
3.  Build my Beachbody business by making at least Ruby coach by 8/31/13.
5.  Save $25K towards our down payment for our next home by 12/31/13.
6.  Take the family on a week long vacation this summer.
7. Write on this blog at least four times a week.
8.  Never drink a diet soda again
9. Complete Insanity
10. Do more volunteer work, especially during holiday season

Maybe I'm a Nut

On New Year's Eve, I stood in my bra and underwear at my closet door, tears blinding my vision.  Everything I tried on made me feel fat and frumpy.  I rejected top after top, switched to a dress, rejected it, and then tried another.  I ripped that one off too, threw it on the floor and sat on my bed, feeling deflated and depressed.

Why is it, no matter how our bodies change or how far we come, it's still so hard for us to see it?

It took my husband telling me "You're not fat.  I can wrap my arms all the way around you" for me to almost believe it.  Ok, maybe I didn't look lumpy and overweight in everything I owned.  Maybe it wasn't the end of the world and surely, this didn't warrant ordering a large pizza and eating it all myself.

He had to remind me again today that I've lost 80 lbs. I seem to forget this because when I look in the mirror, I still see me.  The me I was my entire life- overweight, unhappy, and unhealthy. 

Howveer, I did lose 80 lbs on my own, in a healthy and safe manor.  I've accomplished something amazing.  I was looking into getting a personal trainer because I want these last 10 lbs gone. He thought I was nuts and told me as much.

Maybe I am a nut.  I need to be happy about the journey I've had and not sweat the small distance I have left to go.

2013 is going to be the year of enjoyment and adventure. I'm going to enjoy my life, my kids, my husband, my job, family, and friends. I'm going to try new things, step out of my comfort zone, and give back.

It's time to get and stay positive!

I'm Still Here!

It's been a shamefully long time since I've been here.  I can't put my finger on what made me lose focus.  Work has been extremely busy with me traveling almost every week for about a month.  We sold our house and had to fix up the new house we moved into.  Then the holiday season hit and before I could sit down to relax, it was 2013.

So where am I in fitness/health wise?

I'm surprisingly good!

I've maintained my 80 lbs weight loss!  I'm switching things up a little to tackle these last 10-15 lbs.  For Christmas, my awesome in-laws gave me these:

I'm madly in love with my SelectTech weights!  They're adjustable and range from five to 55 lbs.  I'm doing ChaLean Extreme (again) with the plan to lift heavier this time.  I've also mixed in some work outs from Brazil Butt Lift to help with my thighs (abs and butt, too- of course).  

I'm reading about paleo, vegetarian and vegan diets, watching documentaries, and thinking about making a change in my diet.  I do pretty well with eating healthy foods, but I know I could tighten it up some.

Here are some pictures from the past few months:

 

Brazil Butt Lift

When I'm done the P90X/Turbo Fire hybrid I'm currently doing, I'm going to do Brazil Butt Lift.  Mostly because just saying it makes me smile.  

I'm trying to talk my husband into doing it with me!