Progress

One of the things I have decided is to say to hell with the damned scale. I've been using my weight as a crutch. If I wasn't doing "good" (ie losing weight,) I would work hard that day. But as soon as I lost a pound or two, I would say "Awesome! Now I can do whatever I want! " Um... not quite a recipe for improvement. Instead I just constantly assess myself. "What did I do for my health today?" It helps me stay on track a bit more.

I've made some advances. I've started some small amounts of at-home strength exercises with the help of the Back on Pointe tumblr. I want to use this blog as a sort of workout journal so that I can look back on my progress and what I've been doing.

Monday, I walked to and from work (1.4 miles,) and then went for a walk with the kids and my mother to DD for an iced coffee, (1.2 miles.)

Tuesday the kids and I walked to the grocery store, (1.8 miles), and then even went for a jog later that night with my daughter, (just a mile.)

Yesterday I did the "Wednesday" work out from the daily exercise plan on Back on Pointe, walked to work, and walked to a local convenience store for milk (.8 mile.)

Today I did the "Thursday" work out from the daily exercise plan again... Hoping to walk somewhere with the kids this afternoon and go for a run again this evening.

It seems crazy but really my change in focus has helped so much. Once you start making a few adjustments you want to continue to change. Maybe this whole time I had been asking myself the wrong questions... Looking at the wrong goal (to lose weight) instead of the right one (to be healthy.) I don't know if I'll really look at the scale for a long time... but I do know this: what I am doing is actually making a positive difference in my life.

It takes a few steps...

Here is the public announcement of (hopefully) an inner change and resolve.

I have to get fit, and hopefully look better too.

I recently had my daughter, so I'm currently in post-baby phase. Post-baby phase also means that for a long few months I let myself eat whatever I wanted. With this being the last (planned) pregnancy, I said "this is the last time in my life that it will ever be socially acceptable to gain weight." Well, that time has passed and now I need to get serious.

Especially because my brother in law's wedding is going to be in less than a month. Challenge accepted.

There are a few things you should know about my food-eating habits, and just myself in general. I am impulsive. I am also a very impulsive eater. I can start things easily... the follow through is where it gets difficult. You've heard the phrase "the journey of a thousand steps starts with walking out the front door," or something to that effect, thus emphasizing that if you just start your journey at least you'll be on your way. I constantly poop out at step 30 or so... Only to walk back to the beginning.

So this part is easy. I'm focused. I actually woke up before my kids. I did my first work out. My challenge is that I need to stay focused so the tempting bite of warmy, gooey, sugar-filled granola bars that I make for my husband this afternoon can be refused. I need to stay focused so that I continue to wake up early on day 3, 4, & 5.

I'll clue you in on some of my focuses as the days go on. But for now, rejoice with me that I have found this lovely woman's tumblr page:

backonpointe.tumblr.com

That includes this workout, "An easy Strength and Cardio Workout that Works the Entire Body," that I did this morning:
http://backonpointe.tumblr.com/post/28843984456/an-easy-strength-and-cardio-workout-that-works-the

Now, off to the rest of my day... and that joyous, ever-so-delightful, and always truly earned... post-workout shower. Delicious!!!