I like Monday...

How do you feel about Monday?  Do you hate that the weekend is over?  Do you not like the fact that there's 5 more days until the next weekend?  What is it about Monday's you don't like?  But why the negative?  Why not think about what you like about Monday's?  I'm going to tell you why I like Monday today.  

I like having a fresh new start to my week.  I do.  I like that after the weekend I feel refreshed and can start over with my week and make the changes I need to better myself.  I've set some new goals for myself over the weekend that I'm starting today and I'm hoping they will aid me in my fitness and weight loss journey.  

Time...

Who has time anymore?  Does it ever feel like you run out of time to do what you want to do?  Like every day!  It does for me.  For years my biggest excuse as to why I couldn't workout was... I don't have the time.  I'm not a morning person so I can't get up early.  Then once my day starts I have SO much to do... chores, kids off to school, more chores, pay bills, pick up kids, take kids to piano, wrestling practice, soccer for 3, church callings, meetings, boy scouts, cub scouts, birthday parties... whatever.  The list goes on.  But in there, where is my "me" time?  When do I get to do the things I want/need to do?  I have NO time for myself.  But that is because I didn't take the time.  Or want to take the time if we are being honest.  I don't like working out.  I don't.  I get all hot a sweaty.  My legs, abs and arms burn.  I'm sore afterwards.  I'd rather be scrapbooking or playing with my kids.  But I'm not going to be around to do the fun stuff if I don't get through the hard stuff.  

So I made a change.  

I sat down and started thinking.  About my days.  About my life.  About my husband and my children.  About family members and friends who have left this world a little too soon.  Then I looked in the mirror and hated what I saw.  I realized I never made time for myself because I wasn't liking myself.  I would put on a happy front for others while being ashamed inside.  I was sad.  Sad for me.  Sad for my husband.  Sad for my kids.  I looked at my schedule.  Where was there a place I could make time to make the change I wanted to make.  I found it.  I knew I had to start exercising.  I was doing well with my eating, for the most part, but had to add physical movement in the mix as well.  Where did I find the time to workout you ask?  At 5:30 am.  Yep.  This non-morning person starting waking up at 5:30 am.  I hated it.  I still do.  But I do it.  I know deep down inside that if I don't get up early to workout, it won't get done.  That's a fact.  Granted there are days I miss, but I try and make myself workout later.  I have only missed 5 days in 4 months.  And that feels good.  I also chose a workout program that would be good for me.  It's a fantastic program that really gives me a good workout AND it's only 25 minutes a day!  Can't beat that!  

Time.  Do you have any for you?  If not, MAKE SOME!  

It's all up to you...

 

Making a change in your life for the better is a choice only you can make.  And only you can stick to.  You have to have the right mindset.  It took me a while before I got there.  A long while.  I had one excuse after another.  Day after day.  People were always trying to get me to walk with them, go running with them, do a workout with them, go to the gym with them.  Even offer to help pay for whatever to help get me started.  But no one else can do it for you.  YOU need to be the one to make the change.  They can be great influences.  Great motivators.  But it's all up to you.  The ball is in your court.  It's a mindset really.  I remember waking up one morning and telling myself, "I want to inspire people to better themselves.  I want to be the one the success story is about.  I want that to be me."  I have to do it.  No one else can do it for me.  It will take hard work.  It will take determination.  But it's in me.  It's in YOU!  YOU CAN DO THIS!

Before pictures... EEEK!!

   Yep.  You read that right.  Before pictures.  My first thoughts on that... NO WAY!  Not ever!  However... in the past few weeks I've been thinking about how nice it would be to have taken before pictures.  For my eyes only really.  But it's nice to see the progress.  I've already lost over 9 inches and am going to loose a lot more!  So I'm sharing a before picture to help you along as well.

   That's me.  First one on the left.  This was my sister-in-law's wedding this past September 2013.  I'm HUGE.  I was so excited to be a part of her special day, and yet so sad that this is how I would look.  Awful.  But that was last year.  Before starting ANYTHING.  I'm down 6 pounds and over 9 inches and feeling good.  I've got lots more energy and I'm a lot more positive about... LIFE.  It's a great feeling.  Sure I have those days that I struggle.  That I feel like I can't do it anymore.  That it's not going to happen and I should just give up.  But then where would I be?  I may not ever get down to the size I was in high school, but I will get down to a normal size and I'll be happy and healthy!  And that's great!

Which one do I choose?

   Weight Watchers, Crossfit, Paleo, ViSalus, Atkins, Low-Carb, High-protein... With all the different choices out how do you know what's best for you?  Which one should you choose?

   For those of you who know me, I'm LDS.  I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  A young boy by the name of Joseph Smith had a choice to make.  Which church should I choose to attend? There were a few to choose from and he wanted to make the right choice.  So, what did he do?  Prayed. When I needed to find the right choice for myself in the fitness world, what did I do?  Prayed.  And did a little research.  What did I find?

   Everyone is different.  We all have different body types, allergies, problem areas, trials.  All workout programs are different.  All diets are different.  Some work for some people and not others.  And so really, there is no one perfect plan out there for everyone to follow.  Other then... the Word of Wisdom.  Everything in moderation.

   I found Beachbody over 7 years ago.  I bought a program one night off an infomercial.  Sad I know.  But now, I'm a coach.  Hoping to help motivate and inspire others.  After having our last baby almost two years ago, I new I needed to really make a change.  With my body type and build, it's NOT easy for me to loose weight.  I didn't drop any weight while nursing my babies.  I had most of my kids close together (which I LOVE).  I didn't know a whole lot about health and fitness when I was first pregnant.  So, yep.  You guessed it.  I gained a LOT of weight :(  And it held on for years.  I have done a few parts of Beachbody programs, and have seen results!  So I know they work!

   Right now, I'm in the middle of a 10 week Beachbody program... Focus T25.  It's great!  It's only 25 minutes long and kicks my butt every. single. time.  I actually wear sweatbands to keep sweat from dripping into my eyes!  And it's doable.  I can do it.  And no, I don't like working out.  But I LOVE the feeling afterwards!  I feel energized the whole rest of the day!  It's great!

                  Exercise gives you endorphins

             and endorphins make you happy!     

My Journey...

My journey has begun.  My life is changing.  After having my six children, not being able to loose the weight and going through bouts of depression and sadness, not doing enough to take care of myself, it finally hit me.                                       I NEED A CHANGE!
 I knew I had to make a change.  Not just for a few weeks or months, but for life.  I want to be able to play with my kids.  Be around when they are older and be able to play with my grand kids one day.  I've tried lots of diets and exercise programs.  Nothing has helped.  Mostly because I'm good at making excuses as to why I can't workout.  But not anymore.  I'm in it for the long run.  I want to inspire others to do the same!  I've become a Coach for Beachbody.  I'm sure you've seen or heard of it.  It is a fantastic program with SO much to offer... P90X, Insanity, T25, Shakeology and MORE!  So stick around and be a part of the change!