My Second Blogoversary ... and I Missed it!

March 31st marked 2 years since I joined this wonderful community. Of course I missed it ... I seems a fitting end to that particular year. It was definitely a challenging year.


2010 was brutal at work. Almost ended up unemployed and yet I somehow kept my job and for that I'm so grateful. Things are so much better there now.

My body transformation has been off and on (kinda like my blogging). I've never given up ... Just dealt with some challenges but I'm very happy to report that I am on track, focussed and loving the process again. I check my goals every day ... The biggest is bikini shape by June 30th. When I reach that goal, I will be under 200 lbs, have lost 4 inches off my tummy and be down a couple of sizes (my other goals for this challenge).

Blogging. What can I tell you ... I have not been very consistent with writing or reading or commenting and for that I apologize. I had so much on my mind the past year, felt so overwhelmed by everything that I just didn't have the energy. Plus I didn't really feel like I had anything worthwhile to say. Sad huh ...

But that was last year, this is a new blogging year and my life is calmer and more organized. Still busy. Still don't have much time in the evenings, but I will do more blogging. Maybe not every day, but certainly more frequently than this past year.  I'm getting a BB Torch so I'm hoping to be able to actually read blogs which in transit.  While my Curve is great ... the screen is just too small to read on.  *sigh*

I'm currently doing a detox .. My skin is taking the brunt of it ... Not to mention my frequent trips to the bathroom .... Lol. I kinda feel like I'm not only detoxing my body, but my spirit also. Getting rid of all the crap ... all the emotional turmoil cauz there's been a lot. But that was then and this is now.

This is my year ...to get in great physical and emotional shape, to get our home in ship-shape and to take the next step in my career.

I'm so excited. I hope you'll join me in my journey :)

SOS

Day 2 - Adapting to Challenges

Well, my first day was great.  Terrific workout, ate healthy all day (if you don't include the largish glass of red wine LOL), got to sleep at a good time, drank lots of water, worked in garden for about 3 hours, got my meal plan for the week ready, updated my journal for both yesterday and today.  I was all set to start this challenge at full throttle.

I don't honestly know what happened.  My alarm was set for 4:15 a.m.  I don't know if I hit the "off" button instead of the "snooze", but when I opened my eyes, it was 5:00 a.m.  Crap!  Bad start to the day.  But I ate healthy, kept a positive attitude, and the weather co-operated with me.  I was able to get out for a brisk 45 minute walk at lunch.  It felt great!  I tried very hard to restrict my coffee intake to 1 cup today.  This weather was just too much for me.  I broke down and had a second around 3:30.  But I avoided my old trap of grabbing a chocolate bar while I waited for Barry to pick me up tonight.  As it turned out, he arrived at the same time I did so it would have been a waste.

Did I mention that I broke part of my temporary crown?  It's not really painful but my jaw hurts.  Maybe it's just the weather.  Cold front is moving in.  So the dinner I was going to make is going to have to wait.  I'm having softer food that I don't have to chew much.  *sigh*

But onwards and upwards.  I'm going to make sure I get my journal updated for today and tomorrow, get to bed early and get up all bright and busy-tailed for a good leg workout tomorrow at 4:15.

The "old" me, would have gotten frustrated, thrown up hands up and think "well there's my day gone".  The "new" me, however, knows that life happens and we just have to learn to adapt.  So while I didn't get my ab workout done, I did get my cardio in.  And I ate lightly.

Tomorrow's another day ... the sun will be out (albeit a little cooler), my permanent crown gets inserted, and Barry's workout is tomorrow night.  Life is looking good!

Enjoy :)

Spring ... Time to Renew Myself

I love springtime.  It's probably my favourite time of year.  The snow melts, the birds come back, twittering away, blessing us with their song.  Plantlife comes back to grace us with their presence.  The sun shines more; the temperature climbs, people are happier.  It just makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.

So what a perfect time to "renew" myself.  I now have exactly 12 weeks to bikini shopping day.  I think my warped little mind didn't get serious until there was exactly 12 weeks left.  Now it's do or die.  It's amazing what the mind and body can do when there's a tight deadline.  I never used to thrive on that kind of pressure but having a definitive goal helps a lot.  Thanks Celia :)

So I decided to go back to basics.  Body for Life teaches to set goals (no problem, I've done that), to take measurements and weight (yup, did that this morning (urgh!), to take pictures (see below) and to plan your workout, meals and gameplan (yup ... that's done too).  The past couple of months when I've re-set the clock to zero, I was skipping all that.  This time I'm doing it right.

Obviously I'm nowhere NEAR where I want to be.  But I'm heading in the right direction.
This morning I did all of the above, plus I had a really good upper body workout, had my protein shake right after, then had a nutritious brekkie and recorded everything I did.  So I'm off to a great start!

My weekends are often spent outside at this time of year.  There's soooo much to do.  Yesterday I cut back all my ornamental grasses and some other stuff - what a difference to the landscape!  I took a bunch of stuff out of the shed and realized that I need to empty to entire shed, scrub it down, then organize everything inside.  THAT should take an entire day.  Of course ahose would help in that regard.  So off to Canadian Tire for a hose and hose reel (our other ones died last year).  Today we have some shopping to do (the list started with 3 things ... I lost track how many are on there now) then I'll be cutting back material in the north garden.  And then the fun begins....moving a rose bush, which I need to do sooner (now) than later.  That necessitates moving about 7 or 8 other plants.  Oi!  But I love it!  This is what I live for.  Getting outside in the fresh air, working with my hands, enjoying the birds and sun and warmth.

I have made one other resolution this year though.  I decided that this year I was going to enjoy my gardens, not just work in them.  So it's mulch, mulch, mulch this year.  I can't wait to have friends and family over, sit on the deck with a cold bevvie and enjoy the outdoors.  I looked at the BBQ this morning and remembered BBQ'd breakfast (french toast in AMAZING on the BBQ), latte on the deck.  I am so grateful for my life.

So....I have to make the most of it.  And that means getting back into shape (it's been a loooooong time) so I can be the best "me" that I can be, so I can offer my encouragement and my help to those who want it.

Some aspects of my life are about to get very regimented ... especially workouts and nutrition.  But I'm good with that.  I am going to start putting Barry through his paces on a regular basis ... workouts hunny, don't get too excited lol ... but I'll still have time to deal with the house and the gardens.

I just love springtime!