Most Important Mile

Today I'm honored to be featured on Another Mother Runner with a piece I submitted about my most important mile running. Check it out here.

Thankfully Yours

No matter what has happened in my life this year I have found myself being very grateful.  Allow me to share...

I'm grateful my mother passed away peacefully in her sleep and not in some tragic accident or long, drawn out disease.  I am also thankful for the wonderful memories I have of her, including phone calls discussing what part of Thanksgiving preparations we were on in the days leading up to the holiday.  

I'm also grateful for cell phones.  This photo is the last time I saw my mom in person -- almost a full two years prior to her death last January -- and I was shocked that it was that long since I had seen her in person because we were able to stay so close with today's technology.  

I'm grateful for my husband who works hard, makes time for our family and is quick to smile....even for me when I visited him at work the day before his 40th birthday a couple weeks ago.  He listens wonderfully and always has the right thing to say when I need some insight or another point of view.  

I'm grateful for three healthy teenagers who can still have fun.  A day does not go by that I have to get on somebody for their attitude, but neither does a day go by that I don't look at them with love and am grateful they are alive and well.  

My son's ski accident last spring could've paralyzed him or killed him;  it only injured him.  Though he's still healing from that injury he is alive and well.  (And I am also giggling that I mentioned they are healthy...and posting a picture of them at McDonalds...on my healthiness blog...[grin])

And it wouldn't be right to post on here without saying I'm thankful I am truly making a healthier, happier ending in my life.  I'll never regret taking the first step towards becoming healthier.  Had I not done that I couldn't have borrowed my husband and son's clothing to dress up like a soccer girl for a sports-themed baby shower recently. [more grinning]

To sum it up....life brings trials sometimes -- joy and pain, laughter and tears-- but by God's grace I am still alive and can honestly say I am thankful for all God has done in my life through it all.

I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!

p.s.  I am also very, very Thankful for a father who has not shut himself away from the family since my mother's death.  We also stay in touch regularly via texts, emails and phone calls.  It's more than every before and I'm so, so glad.  He's a great man who has been through the most since losing his spouse of almost 40 years, and I know he could've handled things very differently as many others do.

Thankful Healthy Blogger 5K

 

I forgot to mention I'm participating in running a 5K over the Thanksgiving holiday.  Feel free to join me by clicking above!  

Home Sweet Gym

I've now gone back to the gym 2 days a week for two weeks now.  It feels like I've returned home after a long, arduous trip. 

Funny thing is when I decided I needed to get back to the gym I tried going to one that was farther away because I really like a trainer there. (We are military and this large base has a few gyms to chose from.) 

Well, I loved her class, but it's really too far out of my way to fit into my busy days.  I also tried another gym closer because ours was having the floors redone.  This time I did not care for the instructor, but the class was fine.  

Well, last Friday I went back to "my" regular choice of gym on base, even though it was a new-to-me class in the time slot I usually go.  I was nervous, but I needed to get back to my familiar grounds and I knew I couldn't wait until Monday.  

It went so good!! 

I wanted to share this when I got home that day, but my schedule was too packed to blog.  

That day the gal that instructed that class commented on how good it was to see me again.  She has no idea how touched I was to hear that.  I filled her in a little on my weight gain, frustration and determination to get back into shape and not quit. 

She said, "Well, it's good to have you back!!"

Then this past Monday I went back to one of my favorite classes and was welcomed by one of my favorite instructors who was out for maternity leave.  Seeing her, along with a few regulars, was so comforting.  

I felt like I was home.  

Because I talk too much, and because I have this need to explain why I'd been gone for so long and looking pudgier upon my return, I shared a bit with the instructor and one of the regulars a little of having gained some, not worked out and finally getting back on track.  They were both very encouraging.

And once again I felt like I was home. 

Home Sweet Gym

I am only committing to the Monday and Wednesday classes, because I run at home 2-3 days a week, but those two days of strength training apparently made a world of difference in my life physically and emotionally and after just one week of taking them I already feel so much better.

It's a good feeling.  More on track.  More like I'm finding some semblance of normal back in my life with regards to my health.  What a lovely thing!

Updated Progress Pictures

This is rather hard for me to post, but I always feel honesty is the best policy.  Plus, you may not understand how excited I'll be when I get these 15 pounds off if you don't see some proof of what they looked like on.  

With my abdominoplasty (aka "tummy tuck") it's easy to think I still look great, and I don't look "bad", but...none of my clothes fit well.  I've actually pulled out some pants that were very loose on me last year, and a sweater or two that I almost got rid of because they were too big, and been grateful I had them because my other jeans don't fit comfortably now.  

In fact, I'm even noticing my arms don't fit well into some shirts.  That's when it really hit me that I'd lost muscle tone along with gaining 15 pounds ... when I felt it in my arms.  Weird. 

So, while this kind of progress isn't in the direction I want to go I wanted to have updated pictures of me to add to my "Progress Pictures" so that others can see the gain and then see the proof when I get things back on track as well.  

Thanks for checking in!  It's not over and I'm still plugging along.  

Happy Veteran's Day

As a proud Navy wife I want to take a minute to thank all the servicemen and women who have served their country and helped to protect our freedom.  As this cartoon rightly states, to me you do a lot of the work, and we get the benefits.  

Again, as a proud Navy wife I also want to thank the families of these veterans who have stayed by the stuff allowing their men and women to do their jobs effectively.  Last year my husband was deployed for eight months (not including the months and weeks prior of out-of-town training he was gone for)and I learned a lot about what it takes to let your loved one go and serve their country.  

It's not easy, and some make the ultimate sacrifice and never see their loved one return, but we appreciate the sacrifice and are grateful and proud of those who serve at home while their loved ones serve in our armed forces.  

Have a good day and God Bless America!

Motivational Monday - Motivated by Katie

A week ago on Katie's Motivational Monday post over at Runs For Cookies she made a comment, "I want to go into 2015 feeling happy with where I'm at."  I read that and was like, "Yes!  Me too!"  

I'm still pretty frustrated with how this year has turned out with regards to my size, but I know I don't want to wait until the new year to start working on things again.  The holiday season is not the easiest time of the year to try and lose a few pounds, or inches, but I know it can be done, because I've done it in the past.  

Katie has also recently been through the death of close family friend and experienced some weight gain during that time.  Through the year she has been honest about her ups and downs, about trying new things to help her not binge and about buying clothes that fit her right now so she is not depressed with nothing to wear -- all things I can relate to this past nine months.  

So, when I read that she is getting back on track and aiming to start the new year feeling better than right now I was motivated.  It's not a race, but rather a little bit encouraging to see someone else get their mojo back and think, "If she can do it, so can I." 

If you can use some of that motivation check out her blog.  You will leave inspired to keep pushing on.  I know I always do.

Two-Minute Post - Exercise Thoughts

I have a birthday cake in the oven for my husband and have about two more minutes to get a quick post in.  

It's just been that kind of week... [grin]

There's been too much candy.  

Not enough water. 

But plenty of thought about why I've felt so crappy and having such a hard time getting my act together. 

To sum it up, I thought more about my 30 minutes a day to exercise and come to the conclusion that I really need to get back to the gym like I was before.  I just haven't been feeling all that great, emotionally or physically, and I think it's partly because I haven't been getting exercise like I used to. 

My husband's thought on the subject was, "It's because you're in shape now."  (So, I don't feel like I really exercised when I just go for a walk...)

When I thought over my five recent years as a healthier lady I remembered I do my best with fitness when I am going to the gym.  Even if all I do is use the elliptical or bike I do better when I've left my house and gone to the gym.  Running is the only thing I do better here at home, since we have a great neighborhood to run in. 

So, I decided that I would make time at least 2-3 days a week to get to the gym for the spin or HIIT classes.  They pump me up, make me work hard and I feel so much better throughout the day when I do them.  (The HIIT classed involve weights and I really like that.)

In fact, and the reason I'm posting so late today, I decided to get to a class today.  I knew I couldn't put it off until Monday. 

And I'm so glad I did. 

Yes, I had a house to clean, a few food items to pick up at the store and a cake to bake (and a quick trip to my husband's work when he forgot something here at home...which he didn't remember until after I'd visited him at work once to see what his coworkers did for him..but I digress..)...all for a small party we're having this evening, but first I had to take care of me and get some good exercise in.

I haven't worked that hard in about two months and it sure felt great!  

So, I am still committing to at least 30 minutes a day of exercise 5-6 days a week,  but that is to make sure I get AT LEAST that on the days I really can't squeeze an hour in at the gym.  

And this week?  It's going good.  I'm on day four of five days and plan to go for a good walk or run tomorrow -- depending on how sore I am after today's class.  lol 

Have a good weekend and thanks for checking in on me! 

Motivational Monday - Learning From Failure

At the Bible conference our church hosted a few weeks ago one of the ministers made this comment: 

"What if you fail?  

The worst that can happen is 

you learn a great lesson that will prove beneficial 

in the next stage of your life."

-Pastor Carlos Morales  Norfolk, VA

I immediately pulled out my phone to make a note because that is so true in any area of life, including weight loss and living healthier. 

When I began my final weight loss journey in 2009 I began this blog because it was a place I would be able to track my journey without having to share with anyone else about trying to lose weight [again] and face embarrassment if I failed.  

In fact, my many failed attempts at weight loss, and keeping it off, lead me to only shared my desire to gain control of my health with my husband and one close friend.  I also refrained from joining a specific diet group or plan, because I knew my problem wasn't in having a good plan to follow it was in following a good plan. 

Did you hear that?  

"I didn't join a weight loss group or plan, because I knew...."

Without even realizing it at the time, my past failures at weight loss actually taught me some things that proved very beneficial when I started out on this final attempt to lose weight and get healthier.

• I learned my lack of discipline was more to blame than the actual plans I had tried.  
• I knew my biggest success with weight loss was my one attempt at "eating when hungry and stopping when satisfied".   
• I knew losing weight and keeping it off was going to require a lifestyle change, not a quick fix.
• I knew the few times in my life when exercise was a regular habit I had felt better all around.

I guess in those years of trying and failing I learned quite a lot.

And while my past failed attempts at weight loss aren't something I'm necessarily proud of, they did give me reference points to draw on that lead to my success this final time around.

First 30-Minute Update

Today I was going to simply go for a walk to get my 30 minutes of exercise in, but then my daughter came downstairs stating she was going for a run today.  She went and came back while I cleaned up the breakfast dishes and I kept eyeing the out of doors. 

I dressed for a run and before I was out the door I knew I'd go running and not settle for a walk today.  It was a cloudy, cool day and I enjoyed every bit of my 3-mile run.  

I didn't wear my Garmin, nor did I time myself.  I simply enjoyed the brisk fall afternoon as I ran and listened to my audiobook.  

Getting my run in today helped me finish my fifth day of exercise this week and that makes me feel very accomplished and healthy. 

So, I'm grateful for my daughter sparking my desire to run in this beautiful weather and I'm grateful I was able to fit the run into my day.  Soon I shall go and shower and make a cup of warm something to sip while I work on something fun. 

Thanks for checking in.  If you decided to join me in my 30-minutes a day of exercise (mine is 5-6 days a week) leave a comment and I shall applaud you on Monday!  :) 

Have a good weekend!