March!?

Woah. Where did February go?! My February goals went really well I think.  March will be much of the same (Lent and all), also going to try to do more food prep on Sundays.  What's in store for March? So much, but I'm trying not to focus on them too much. Just one day at a time, one meal at a time! I'm feeling confident in what I'm doing - eating and in the gym, so I don't want to jinx it really by talking a bunch about it.

Here's what's on tap:

Maybe some C25k. I have registered for two 5ks that are taking place in May. I hope to be able to run a full 5k by then.

Reaching my fitbit goal of 7500 steps & 10 flights of stairs every day.

Weekend water goals -- I have no issues during the week with water intake.

Read one (1) book.  Don't judge me that it takes me a month to read a book. :) 

What are your active, healthy, wellness goals for March?

February

Pondering what my February goals should be... Yes, the first day of the month is already over, but there's 27 more days to attack what I want to accomplish.

Focusing on eating. I'll keep going to the gym and start logging my miles again, but going to focus on clean.

No candy
No cakes
No chips
No white bread
No fast food
No chocolate
No ice cream

To make it more significant and more of a habit, I may continue this through lent (which begins February 18).

What do you want to work on for February?

Abs are created in the kitchen :)

2014 In Review

I've been pondering this post for a few days. I'm not sure what to say about 2014.  In between the good trips we had, it was pretty craptastic.  I only did one race and was not motivated about 'being healthy' at all.  This is shown by how I feel after 'starting over' last week with the trainer.  It's also shown by my blood sugar numbers... my check up was supposed to be on the 16th, but because of how I've been feeling and my numbers - the dr moved it up to the 5th.

Some good things from the year

• Road trip to California in February to attend Children's Pastor's Conference. Amazing scenery! Included going to Spring Training on the way home.
• Many trips to Nebraska to see my favorite man. He is what I never knew I wanted. :)
• Being able to attend ALDS Game 3 at the K! A postseason game is obviously on my bucket list and unless I come into some money, the World Series is out. :) But being there when the Royals won it to move on to the ALCS was classic and one of the best baseball moments I've had.

Other than that... there was loss.  CJ's dad passed away in July. After being with her family all week to help where I could, her dad's funeral on a Friday -- my mom called on Saturday to say that my grandma had passed.  Since then CJ's family has had even more loss, even up until a few days ago.

I know I'm blessed to have what I have, but 2014 was also a struggle. I have never struggled with singleness as much as I did last year. I'm not sure if it was my age inching closer to "mid-30s" or what. I can't even describe it really.

Moving on to what is hopefully a better year.

March

I'm sick of snow... I'm sick of being sick. Ugh. The end of February was awful, let me just say.Being sick has really thrown me off ~ I was looking forward to a chiropractor appointment this morning and then going in to work. A new discovery that apparently I can't eat shellfish with my medication left me up all night in the bathroom (tmi, I know). So, I cancelled my appointment and stayed in bed. I've extended February's goals into March.

I bought a Living Social coupon for two weeks of unlimited classes at Title Boxing. I haven't gone in for my first session yet, but I'm excited. Today I'm thinking of different Random Act's of Kindness to do this month.

How is your season of Lent going? I'm quite surprised that I've made it 18 days without Facebook. I finished book #2 of the year -- The Sensational Scent of Prayer. It was just a short little book for those that struggle with prayer. I pray, but don't always believe that God will make it happen. I know He protects me. I know it's all in His time, but sometimes I'm tired of waiting.

Off my pity pot ~ What are your goals for the month?

Random Acts of Kindess

My goal was to do one RAC per week in February. Here's what I did:

Week 1: I sent texts of encouragement to random people that I haven't talked to in awhile. A few I knew were having a tough time, so I let them know I'm praying for them!

Week 2: I knew it was a tough week for my roommate because of Valentine's Day & her birthday the next day. At church on Valentine's Day, I threw a surprise birthday party for her. The week before I had every class do cards as their craft. I bought cake and they all gave her their cards.

Week 3: I was down for the week because of the flu, but my roommate did a wonderful RAC for me! :) The day I came home with the flu, she came home with chicken noodle soup and apple juice. What a life saver!

Week 4: I adopted another Soldier from Soldier's Angels. My last soldier was sent home and I hadn't adopted another one yet (it's been over 6 months).

I'm going to keep doing different RACs every week of March, not just for people I know! This month was kind of easy stuff, and mostly for people I know, but we're going to change that for next time.

How did your February goals go?? The ab challenge wasn't part of my goals, but I only got 1/2 way done.

Preparation

Here we are, six days into the season of Lent. I'm trying, once again, to give up Facebook. Last year I made it 12 days. I'm not doing too bad! I've even deleted the app from my phone so I'm not tempted. This year I didn't want to concentrate on food. So much of my life is already overloaded with food do's and don'ts. I wanted to focus on the one thing that takes up more time than anything else. Something that is distracting me from getting in God's word.

Today's devotion was about Adam and Eve in the garden... Why was Eve so quick to believe the serpent? Why are we so quick to believe the devil when he lies to us? We can't be angry with Eve because we do the same thing! When the enemy tells us we're too fat or we can't do something, we believe what he has to say, and we can't get past that. We can't trust God with our lives because we're so in tune with untruths about ourselves.

In preparation for Easter, the next five weeks will prove difficult, but there's many more things for me to focus on -- Prayer, devotions, eating right, workouts, and maybe even reading an actual book. ;) I'm reading A Woman Who Trusts God: Finding the Peace You Long for by Debbie Alsdorf.

Courage

Your motivation for the day... and mine.

February Goals

Here's what we're working toward, kids!!! Don't forget our 25 crunches for the challenge!  I'm also going to try to work up my plank for another challenge and doing couch to 5k (c25k) for the 50-millionth time.

First weekends workout:

2/1/13: 10 sit ups, 25 crunches (challenge), 4 push ups, 10 second plank
2/2/13: ZUMBA, 15 sit ups,30 sit ups (challenge), 5 push ups, 15 second plank
2/3/13: 20 sit ups, 40 crunches (challenge), 6 push ups, 20 second plank
2/4/13: Day 1 c25k, 25 sit ups, 50 sit ups (challenge), 6 push ups, 12 second plank

Cross It Off!!

I completed a goal!!! *in my BEST singing voice*

Do the happy dance!!! :) I have crossed off book #1 for year - Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo. You can read what I thought HERE. It also has the complete list of books I'm reading for the year.

I'm not very good at crossing goals off my list - obviously. I haven't done one of my monthly health goals, so I need to revamp and think about the ones I'm choosing.

I'm feeling super accomplished after this one. Especially since I read the book in one morning. Seriously. Something like three hours. Another one of my goals is was to blog more. I've already surpassed what I did in December AND November -- almost combined if I finish this month strong. Ha!!

I also need to do my 5k schedule. The first one I was going to do was in February. I might should sign up if I'm still doing that one. :)

Love you guys so much. Thanks for the continued support and encouragement! I couldn't do it without you!

13 in '13!

Courtney Crozier from Biggest Loser has challenged her followers to set 13 goals in 2013. Check out her blog for more info, but I thought I'd share my list for the entire year. Some of them I've already shared with you, but that's ok.

1. Read 12 books -- I have 12 picked out, but if you have more suggestions, I can add them. 
2. Forgiveness
3. Completed couch to 5k
4. 365 miles (1 mile a day)
5. 6 5k races (last year I did 4)
6. Focus on ME!
7. Less time with technology – tv, phone, etc.
8. More time in the Word
9. More random acts of kindness
10. Try new things – boxing, dancing, etc.
11. More trips to see my family
12. Travel somewhere I’ve never been
13. Blog more

How are we doing five days into the New Year?? I'm not doing terrible, even keeping up with 50-50-50. Trying to help my body adjust to the new medicine - that's making me sick (much like the old one). Ugh. Frustrating, but I'm giving it a chance to see if I get used to it. My other medicine (the shot) is going really well! I still get nervous doing it, but it's going a lot better than I expected. One of my friends that saw me over the weekend said I made it look really easy. I was glad to hear it, considering I shake. :)

Have a fabulous Sunday, peeps! Love you all!

In Review

All in all, 2012 hasn't been a horrible year. It seems the last couple of months I haven't done so great at my goals, but this has been one of the healthiest years I've ever had. Here's what I did:

*completed four 5k races - next year I'm shooting for six.
*completed three 10-day boot camps.
*worked out with a trainer all year.
*A1c went from 6.5 to 5.7

In December I got 1/2 way through the squat challenge when the kid's Christmas program took over my life. :) I did very well at testing and meds every day.

For my January goals, I've done two fitness goals, two behavior goals, AND added one thing to add or subtract every week.

The 50-50-50 challenge is 50 push ups, 50 squats, and 50 kettlebell exercises 5 days a week. HERE WE COME 2013!!!

December Goals

Another month down and another one started. I won't even tell you how I did last month. :)

I'm in the middle of another 10-day fat blast (boot camp) at my gym. My goals for this month are a little bit different than previous ones - I'm trying to change it up, but also wanted to do goals that were realistic through the holidays, that I could continue while I'm in Nebraska for five days for Christmas.

They're pretty self explanatory. I found the squat challenge on one of the pages I follow on Facebook. It started with 20 squats yesterday and ends the month with 100. Now THAT will be the challenge.

What are yours?? I'm always looking for buddies to help motivate and encourage and hopefully I can do the same for you!!

October Goals

Here it goes. A new month that's normally full of candy and sweets. September wasn't bad, but ended on a not so high note, but nonetheless, here are my goals for October


1. No dessert
2. 10-day fat blasting again (schedule for 10/15-10/26)
3. Lose 4 lbs during fat blast
4. Only one day off a week -- including eating and gym


How do you curb your sweet tooth? I made my first pinterest recipe tonight. I'll let you know how it tastes. It's fruit dip with greek yogurt, peanut butter, honey, and cinnamon.

What are your goals for the next month. Keep me up to date on how you're doing and we can motivate and help each other!! :)

September Goals

The first couple of days every month I review my goals and look back at what I accomplished.  Here's what took place in August:

Non-scale Successes
64.41 miles (bike, walk, etc.) -- 84.94 for the 9/11 Forces Run
Ran .25 without stopping
Trainer complimented my more defined calves ... yeah!!

September Goals

1. 1. My Fitness Pal Everyday
2. 100 miles for the month
3. Hit 100 miles foro the 9/11 Forces Run (time period July to 9/11)
4. 10-day fat blasting at my gym
5. Lose 8 lbs
6. Plank a Day

What are your goals? Together we can help be accountable in every part of our lives!

Taking small steps ... to Losing Me!