They Don't Call It A Challenge Because It's Easy

Let's face it, weight loss is chalk full of ups and downs. It's exhilerating, it's empowering and you feel great with a sense of accomplishment after a good workout. But then there are those other days, aren't there?

The other days where you didn't eat breakfast because you had an appointment to get to or you didn't eat protein in all of your meals because you had to go shopping or were lazy. You decided that "Hey, pizza seems like a great idea... and I REALLY don't want to make dinner in this heat tonight...". That craving for something sweet really caught up with you and you bought a tub of ice cream. OR your spouse makes it hard to stick to your diet commitment to healthy eating.

Since I have started my weight loss challenge on May 1st, I went from 180 lbs to 170 lbs (YAY!) but after a few weeks of inactivity and poor eating choices, I gained nearly four of those pounds back (nearly...)Since then, I have started the INSANITY workout with my friend Caroline, and I am almost back down to 170. One more pound to go until I'm back, baby!

Shortly after I started my weight loss challenge, I was having a rough time with my emotions from the miscarriage and found it difficult to get into workout mode. As I Was talking to one of my high school girlfriends she said:

"If anything, I have to look at you choosing a really hard time to make a change like this. Look at the good days as your time to relax and enjoy life, see what you are working for as something good for yourself and on the bad days, let them be bad. Go for a run, an fight it off. Like the punching bag effect I guess. Those feelings are so justified, I cannot even begin to understand or relate to them but just knowing you have to experience it makes me hurt. On and off (waves of emotion) is a good thing, that there are good and bad times now. Not all bad."

And she is TOTALLY right. I did chose a super hard time to try to lose weight and be disciplined when all I want to do (some days) is eat my emotions and take comfort in food.

The thing I have to keep reminding myself when I do have bad days is:

1. I do feel better when I am active and exercising, even when having a bad day.
2. I am worth it to ensure I am living a healthy lifestyle.
3. It is worth the effort to make sure that our future children have a healthy and happy mom who is a good role model.
4. It will (and is getting) get better, it just takes time.
5. I can let the bad days be bad and then move on.

I am also really excited to say, that as of tomorrow, I am starting to see a councellor about the miscarriage! Her name is Nancy and I'm looking forward to meeting here and hopefully together we can help me to move on and get prepared for my (eventual) next pregnancy.

How have you been doing lately? Are things crazy where you are or are you just strolling and enjoying the scenery?

My Girlfriends Are Amazing!

One thing that is super healpful when you are trying to tackle ANY challange, is having amazing friends who you can rely on to be your personal cheerleaders. They can be there right beside you the whole time, give you an ego boost and make your feel great about your accomplishments, or just be there to listen when you need to vent.

I have made three really great friends since moving. (And lets face it, you only need one or two great ones - I'm fortunate to have three) I met them all a few months after I moved into my new house at the first "Viva Volunteer" appreciation dinners I ever went to. I was the last of us to come in, and little did I know when I sat down, I would form a wonderful bond between these three fantastic women.

I could probably gush on and on about how great my friends are, and even though we haven't known each other for long, and there is always a chance that any one of us might move - BUT we are forming bonds that I believe will last a life time. These are my friends. They are awesome.
Caroline

Caroline is wonderful because even though she has a super busy schedule, she makes the effort to make time for everyone. She is chic, but never snobby. She is hilarious, but never cocky.
In a couple of weeks, Caroline and I will be starting the "Insanity" workout, and I have to tell you, we are bit nervous. I had never heard Insanity until she mentioned it to me and told me to Google it.

I googled it and the thing I remember most was a woman in front of the camera saying "I threw up on the first day" I texted Caroline and said, "I want to do Insanity with you! I just bought it off Amazon!"

She has such an amazing body, I can't even imagine how she will look when she's done!

Sadly, I don't get to spend as much time with her as I would like to, since she lives in the next town over. I look forward to making new opportunies to get together.

Hayley

Hayley is awesome because she is a Brit!

OK, OK, seriously, other than her accent and British vocabulary, Hayley is one of the sweetest people I have ever met and has the best conversational skills ever.

She loves discovering new places, having only been in Canada for 2 years. This summer, we are going to learn how to kayak and make our way up to the provincial park a few hours away to do some hiking. We might even succeed in tanning our pasty legs. :)

I get to spend the most time with Hayley because we are both Ladies of Leisure



Sophie

Sophie is awesome because she is 100% sincere and genuine.
Every single time I have talked to her she is able to see the silver lining in a bad situation. She always appreciates everyone for even the smallest friendly gesture they offer.

Sophie is always encouraging, optimistic and a great hugger. She sees hidden potential and urges those close to her to take the leap or take on a new challange, knowing that it can be done.


Quite a few of my friendships in the past have gone awry. Either too much drama, negativity or cattiness. None of which I have room for in my life.

The night we met, I was surprised that one of the things that was said quite often was "Good for you!" Thinking of starting a family? That's awesome! You're engaged? That's fantastic! Congratulations! Looking for a job? Is there anything I can do to help?

You get the idea. They are so supportive (We have to support each other with the lives we lead.) and I am blessed to have such great friends. Thank you to each and every one of you!

What sort of challenges have your friends helped you with lately?

On a different note, have you scrolled all the way down past the comments at the bottom? You can go see my aquarium!

Baring it all (well... almost) - The Mirror Can Tell Lies

Originally, I wasn't sure that I was going to write a blog. I was just thinking of tracking my progress in journals and such on Facebook. When I started thinking more and more about it, the more nervous I got.

All of my friends would see my "before" pictures. Me in my little red bikini that I bought four years ago. Me in my skinny blue jeans that do not make me look so skinny anymore due to the muffin top bubbling over the edge.

Then I decided that I would just start a blog. And come to think of it, I post the link from each blog post to my profile on Facebook as well as a Facebook group that I am a member of, so my friends are going to see my before pictures anyway.

And I know I'm not that big, but over the years I have accumulated cottage cheese on the back of my thighs (and I hate to say it, but on my ass as well.), my buns are losing the former "Hey, look at that chicks butt" look to them and I've developed slight back rolls. Which, when I went and looked at my self timed photo, I think my jaw dropped. I don't even know WHEN I started to get those little rolls. Why did no one tell me? Maybe, because I don't gallivant around town naked... *laughs* who knows? Maybe it's just an awkward subject to bring up.

And surprisingly, you do not see these things in the mirror after you get out of the shower. Let's all admit it, we put a show on for ourselves in that mirror. We suck in that junk food belly, we turn so that we are on like, a 45 degree angle and raise one leg just so slightly to view our sweet meats, and MAGIC! They are so nice and round! You do not... I repeat, do not see the shapeless thing you see in the picture above. The mirror can tell lies, let's just hope you didn't ask who the fairest one of all is when it lies.

I've really been keeping up my motivation! Tomorrow is the day that I'm scheduled to intensify my workouts, and I've ordered the "Insanity" workout DVDs, and I'm really looking forward to starting it with one of my girlfriends. She does live in the next town over, but we are starting at the same time and we are going to keep each other on track for the whole 60 days!

We also have a lot of support in our community for health, but that's another blog post!

What have you been doing to create your own happiness as of late? Have you been doing anything interesting that you are excited about?