So you say you want to sell your house? (part 1)

No, this isn't fitness related, but this is what my life entails right now, so I want to share it!

So you decided to sell your house did you??  Thought it would be simple, fun, and easy did you? 

It took us almost 2 years to finally decide to list our home.  We decided to list with a Realtor who we were confident with and who (through friends) got the job done and fast. 

Someone came to take pictures.  I will tell you that if you EVER want to feel like you are living in a strangers home, prep your house for showings.  We moved furniture to our Aunt's house and we cleared all counters and clutter.  I am still looking for things that we have put away.  SO, you get the photos taken....a few days later....BAM!!!!  Your house is officially listed online for thousands of people to see.

So not only am I paranoid wondering what people think about the photos.  I am wondering if they like them enough.....will anyone come and see our house....did we list it too high....what if we miss out on a house we love because ours isn't sold yet.  My brain has been in overdrive.

So our home gets listed on a Tuesday.  Tuesday afternoon my phone goes off and someone wants to see it already the following day.  SO, we have a plan....get home from work....organize a bit and vacuum....pack up the two kids and two dogs.  We head out and grab some dinner and take the kids to the park. 

When you show your house you are given an hour time window.  This means the potential buyer can come 10 minutes before the time or 10 minutes after the end of the hour and stay until they are done.  Now, having two young children and two dogs with you, you hope they come early and leave ASAP so you can just get back home :)

Then you walk back through your door and see that little business card sitting on your counter and all you can think about is "What did they think?!"  "Will they make an offer?!".  So, you just basically have to wait and see!  We are lucky that our Realtor sends a survey which lets you know what the potential buyer thought.  The survey came back great!  So great that they came in and made an offer.....a very low offer.  We were disappointed, but started the "haggling" process and fingers crossed that it would come to an agreement.

That is where I will leave you today...this was a long one.  I will continue within the next few days of part 2!  Thanks for reading!

~ <3 ~
Me

Hit The Bottom

I have officially hit my rock bottom point since starting my journey.  Not everything I do and everything I post is positive.  Sometimes I have to keep it real and be honest with myself and others and let you know that it isn't always a glamorous fitness life.

I got dressed this morning....looked in the mirror.  I saw it.  I felt it.  I looked squishier.  My smaller jeans are getting uncomfortable.  My face is getting rounder.

My eating has been out of control.  My fitness has been lacking.  Just because I am an online fitness coach doesn't mean I can't have moments of weakness.  I still struggle with my eating issues.

I have to do something.  I haven't gotten this far to lose it all.  I worked too hard to give up.  YES I am stressed.....YES I have a lot going on, but I CAN'T use these as excuses!  I WILL NOT GIVE UP!

I refuse to be that tired, lazy, exhausted Mom.  I refuse to be the woman ashamed of her body. 

I WILL be the wife I intended to always be
I WILL be the mother that runs and plays with her children
I WILL be the woman who walks with confidence
I WILL get back into a routine
I WILL start eating better
I WILL NOT........GIVE UP!!!!!

~ <3 ~
Me

Where Have I Been?

Wow......It has been since February since I have last posted an entry.  My trainer recently asked me if I still kept up with my blog.  I had to think about it and realized that I hadn't!  So many things have changed in my life.  A lot on our plate here at home, I started a new job (which has been amazing), I have been struggling in my journey, and I have definitely fallen off the wagon.

All my life I have a pattern.  Whether it was work, or relationships, hobbies, goals.  I start and throw myself into it but then slowly I cut back and taper off and cut things entirely.  I am looking into why I do this.....I am not lazy.....but there is something.  So, here I am getting ready to start all over again!

I am keeping up with my trainer once a week, but once a week isn't enough.  The at home DVD's make it so easy to slack or turn off or just avoid in general.  Ideally, I would win the lottery and hire my trainer daily and also hire a chef to prep and pack everything for me.  Oh.....dreams....they are wonderful :)

So, why have I returned with my blog?  I need to change my habits and I also felt like I was doing better in my journey when I WAS posting my blog entries.

Since my last post, I have run various races.  A 10k, a few 5k's and various workout programs.  My race times have been embarrassing and disappointing.  It is my own damn fault.  So, how convenient now that I want to start as the weather is turning cold and winter will be here before you know it.

In conclusion, here are my GOALS for the remainder of 2015.
-excercise more regularly
-healthier choices and tracking my food
-more personal development (helps stay positive)
-more time with family and friends
-more unplugging from social networking

What are YOUR goals to finish strong this year.  Have you accomplished any that you set in January?  Thanks for reading and love to you all!

~ <3 ~
Me

Happy 100!

Happy 100th Blog Post!!!

So, I have really come a long way.  I feel like I am on this hamster wheel of fitness and going nowhere.  However, on the same hand, I see pictures like THIS and think "Wow, that is a big difference!".

I started my journey (and this blog) back in May of 2013.  I started training with my trainer in April 2014.  I have run 5k's, 10k's, done full sit ups and some band supported chin ups.  Things that I thought would NEVER be possible are becoming a reality!

I come and go on this blog.  No, I have not been consistent, but it has been so therapeutic to write when I need to vent or when I need to find support to keep going in my journey.  Have I thought of giving up?  OH SURE!  But it is so easy to just give up.  That means I am lazy and really don't care one damn bit about myself, or for that matter those around me.

A few months back, I did become a Beachbody coach.  I stepped away from that because there was a lot going on in my life and I just wasn't ready to commit.  Recently I have gotten back into it and feel so satisfied in my life.  I honestly just wasn't ready last time!  It is so hard to explain, but it just feels right the second time around.

I started by ordering a workout program called Piyo.  I never did it.  Then I read about something called 21 Day Fix.  It is a food portion control program and it helps you to not only eat the RIGHT amount, but to eat the right foods to fuel your body!  At this point in my life, I decide to say "What

the hell!".  I mean really, what else do I have to lose, right?  I get it in the mail....read up and go grocery shopping.  My first week I dropped 1.5 lbs.  Week two I dropped 1lb.  Now this past week I wasn't doing so great with the eating, but amazing with working out.  SO, this is my third week and I cannot WAIT to see how well I do!

Now for me, this program is not just a 21 Day thing and done.  This for me is a lifestyle change to keep me healthy for my family and so I can enjoy life better!  I really noticed a difference.  I have more energy, I am happier and just all around less depressed.  Now, living in Ohio, our winters are dark and dreary, so to feel this good is AMAZING :)

I joined a free online support group during this 21 day challenge and the women have been just so wonderful and motivating.  When we have a bad day, we have support.  No judgement.  It is nice to know I am not alone when I slip up and have the support and the eyes watching me making sure I don't do it again.  My Coach has been great in putting this group together, and I have met some amazing women.

So, you can join as a coach to get the amazing discounted price off Shakeology (which is ugghhhhh  so amazing) or a fitness program, but I signed up for another reason.  For that man or woman sitting there not knowing what to do with their life.  Feeling helpless and lost.  Feeling anxiety and nervousness and apprehension of joining a gym or a fitness group.  I was there!  I started running at 200 plus lbs!  My body ached.  I couldn't breathe!  But you know what?  I did it dammit!

I hate when veteran gym rats say "Oh it'll die down after a month.....no one is going to stay".  SCREW THAT!  You go up to them and say hello.  You put a smile on their face knowing that you aren't staring at them in disgust and shame and full of judgement.  That you are there to support their journey no matter what they weigh or what their goals are.  They need people in their lives that will support them and hold them up when they feel like giving up. 

SO, as I am coming up on two years into my journey now (so hard to believe) I am looking back and remembering why I am doing this and trying to stay focused.  I feel more energized and I feel more fit.  Here is to those who are just getting started!  Don't be afraid to ask for help or support.  The people around you who care for you and believe in you will back you up 100%!

My Reason

~ <3 ~

Me

Sick of Being Sick

I will tell you what.  This, hands down, has been my worst end of year yet.  Fitness wise, health wise.  I for some reason keep getting sick.  I have been doing my best keeping up with fitness which I WAS doing decently until this week!

This weekend I have been MISERABLE!  Fevers, coughing, losing my voice, sinus infection.  It never ends!

I am literally SICK of being sick.  I am doing some healthy smoothies, taking my amazing vitamins.  All I have done this weekend has been lay on the couch and sleep.  I have changed over some laundry though LoL.

My body is sore and tired and weak.  Lots of water for me!

My next blog post will be #100!  I want it to be something big and special if I can.  We shall see :) 

Sorry that I haven't been around much.  I am trying to keep everything all in line and together!

~ <3 ~
Me

I'm Back....Right?

WOW!  Almost 2 months since my last blog post!

Well, a lot has changed since then.  First, I have been eating horribly and NOT working out other than my weekly training sessions.  Second, I decided NOT to do the body competition next year.  For me, it is not a good fit with my lifestyle at the moment.

I realized I was spending HOURS at the gym rather than with my family, and it was not what I wanted.  I DO want to get healthy and I DO want to get back in shape.  So, my trainer and I discussed it and he worked up a new plan for me.

Going back to basics!  Starting over!  Back to the beginning to get back on a good track.  To be honest with you, my eating has taken the WORST toll.  Back to my old ways, and it is even worse now because there is no yummy summer fruits that are local and fresh!  I can feel it.  I feel lazy and tired all the time.  I don't feel healthy! 

I really let myself slide this summer by NOT keeping up with my three times a week of running.  I got lazy with it.  I almost had that "I know i can do it so i don't have to prove it to myself" attitude.  I let it pass by and I am angry with myself.  I need to get back to it....I WILL DO IT!

I HAVE to do it!  One of these years I WILL wear a two piece bathingsuit...one of these days I WILL finally feel comfortable in my own skin.  I hope :)

I have to for all of the same reasons that I did it a year and a half ago!  The reasons haven't changed.  My desire for it hasn't changed.  Mentally I need to get back with it and FAST!

Sorry for being gone for so long and thanks for reading this if you stuck with me :)

~ <3 ~
Me

The First Day

Well, today was the first day of a new life.  My goal?  To be in the best possible health of my life.

I decided to take my trainer's offer of prepping for a body competition next year.  YEP!  Next year, I will be posing in a bikini....on stage....posing.  AHHHH!  Even thinking about it freaks me out!

So, my trainer gave me a whole work up of daily work out plans and eating plan.  He has kept it super easy for me to follow, which I am very thankful for.  So, as I am reading, I start to FREAK OUT!  I was so overwhelmed and had NO idea what to do.

Thank goodness for Google!  I was able to look them all up and find images to show me what exactly I need to do.  PLUS I had a fellow gym member who offered to meet me today and "show me the ropes" as you will.  I felt SO much better.

However, I can barely raise my arms to wash my hair.  My legs are so sore from a good 40 minute run and 10 minutes on the step treadmill.  I am sore but am so glad I have started this!

Just had to share, and yes, I will keep you posted.  I took a before picture a few days ago.  I will post them side by side with my progression over time!

~ <3 ~
Me