Getting By With a Little Help... From Myself...

So my fitness journey... and really everything else that I enjoy doing... has been essentially non-existent since about March.

It is amazing how you can find the smallest of excuses to not do what it right for you.  And when I say "You" I actually mean "ME"!  I injured my foot in January at about mile 10 of a half marathon.  I was working the Dopey Challenge for those of you who are familiar with the Disney races.  BTW... More posts on the rest of our Disney trip in the very near future :) 

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This is Happening!

I bought this years ago on a clearance rack and just dug it out of our boxes of DVDs that we haven't unpacked yet.

I've been starting the wheels turning on a couple things that I'll be reporting back on real soon :)

~AKO

A New Start

That is what January 1st is supposed to be, right?  Starting over… forgetting about past grudges… getting things in order…

Well, that is what 2014 is going to be for me!  I've been thinking most of today what I want 2014 to be for me and my family.  I already know it is going to be a challenging year.  Our 1st deployment as a family will be starting very soon.  Freddy will be gone for most of 2014, which is a driving force behind most of my goals for this year.

So here goes… I decided to compile a list of both short and long term goals.  I think if I include some easy goals in the mix it will help me to stay motivated by actually completing something.

Complete a Deployment file

I mentioned a couple weeks ago that we attend our Yellow Ribbon event for Freddy's deployment.  Well I still have two full tote bags of documentation to read through and organize.  In addition, we need to gather all of Freddy's personal stuff that needs to be taken care of while he's gone and and basically just get organized.

Focus on my weight-loss and fitness

For those of you who have followed my blog for awhile, you know weight-loss is a popular topic on my blog.  I've always struggled with my weight and will try to make the right decisions this year to get started in the right direction again.  I may even give meal planning a try :)  I'm starting a 21 day sugar detox on January 6.  There is a large Facebook community also starting on the 6th so there will be lots of support.  Plus, if you sign up on their website, you can get daily emails of tips and encouragement.  It is based on the 21-Day Sugar Detox program.  I plan on going through the book while doing the program.  I've also toyed with joining Weight Watchers online again while their registration is free.

Run a 5K

Yep… I've been saying it for 2 years now but this is going to be the year that I finally run a 5K.  It has been hard, as a beginner, to run in my neighborhood because it is extremely hilly.  But we have a treadmill now!  My plan is to do the Couch-to-5K Running Plan and build up my endurance on the treadmill and then tackle the hills in the 'hood.  There is a Hot Chocolate run in Philadelphia, PA in April that I would like to target as my first 5K.  Who would run for hot chocolate at the finish line :)

Complete a Project Life Album

I recently discovered the Project Life system of scrapbooking.  With Freddy leaving, I've decided we need to make sure to document 2014 so he can see Marshall growing up.  I just don't have time for traditional scrapbooking so Project Life seemed like the perfect solution.  I already have my album set up and ready to go so look for a post this week for details.

Become credit card debt free

I've struggled a bit in this area over the past couple of years.  But I've started some research on some methods that will hopefully work for us as it seems like we can never catch up.  Look for a post on our game plan in the coming weeks.  The one good thing about Freddy's deployment is we'll be getting 2 paychecks again.

Complete a 365 day project

I started one last year and never completed it.  I'd like to try and complete one again this year and, coupled with my Project Life scrapbook, it will hopefully be easier.

Read 5 new books

I need to start reading again.  Enough said!

Redesign my blog

A big goal that I have for myself is to redesign and update my blog.  I've joined a blogging support group that will hopefully help me direct my efforts in the right direction.  This will also help me to blog more and include meaningful content.  You should start seeing some changes in the next 2 - 3 months.

Plant some flowers

I know this is pretty general.  I have some plans on what I want to do with our front yard and hope to make some progress on that this spring.

Do 1 thing for me each month

I don't know where this one will lead, but with Freddy leaving I know I am going to have to make a conscious effort to take care of myself.

So there you have it… my focus for 2014.  I have some other things that I want to get done this year as well but these are items that I wanted to make sure that I focused on this year.

What goals to you have for yourself in 2014?

~AKO

Wake Up and Be Awesome!

That is going to be my new motto from now on...  "Wake Up and Be Awesome!"

As you can probably see I have not done anything with my blog since January :(  Make that I haven't really done much of anything with anything since January.  I went through a bit of a funk that took a loooooooong time to start climbing out of.  I still have a ways to go to get everything in order, but I seem to be on the right track.  This little gem that I got at the last National Guard Yellow Ribbon event we attend has been coming in handy :)  Seriously... a stress ball in the shape of a grenade??  Genius!!


For those of you who have been following my blog for awhile, you know I have always struggled with my weight and, as a result, self esteem.  Back in April, I found Adventure Health and Fitness along with fitness instructors Mike & Laura.  They focus on small group training for women, most of who are busy moms with crazy schedules.  I was a little apprehensive since I had never really done small group or one on one training and, of course, didn't want to look silly while exercising or *gasp* not be able to finish a session.  In addition, I had hurt my heel last year when I started training for a 5K and hadn't done any exercise since.  I finally got up the nerve to go in for my introductory session.  What I found during my first class was what I needed to start moving forward again.  Mike was fantastic.  There are women of all fitness levels in the classes and because there are no more than 6 - 8 in a class, it gives the trainers the opportunity to work with people to ensure our form is right and we're doing what we're supposed to be doing.  As I had suspected, I couldn't finish the class :(  But, I did get through about 75% before I had to stop and take a break.  But, I felt good enough to continue!  By class #4, I was able to get through the entire 40 minute class without the need to take a break other then the water breaks.  On July 29th, 3 months later, I did 5 real push-ups (NOT on the knees) and a 20 second plank (NOT on the knees)!  First time ever in my life to do this.  Oh, and by the way, be a part of one of Laura's classes is a little like working out with Jillian Michaels... except without the yelling :)  BTW... my new motto came from a Facebook post from AHF!


Another change that I've made is regarding my eating habits.  In January, I tried the Sonoma diet for a couple of weeks.  The food was great, but it was A LOT of prep and cooking.  Most nights we wouldn't eat dinner until after 8:00 PM since we usually don't get home in the evenings until almost 6:30 PM.  So it didn't really work with our lifestyle.  We need something that can be thrown together in 30 minutes or less.  I gave Weight Watchers another go, but this time online since it has been difficult to get to the meetings.  Not enough accountability for me and too many choices.  In March, I tried Jenny Craig for 30 days.  Now this was something I could do since most things were prepackaged so I didn't really have to think about what to make.  And a lot of it was pretty good.  In 30 days I lost 8 lbs so it definitely works.  The only problem is that it is so expensive.  You still have to buy your veggies and stuff to go with the meals.

Towards the end of June, one of my co-workers introduced me to Isagenix, which is a nutritional cleanse program.  It cuts out caffeine, sugar, gluten, and loads of other toxins that you put into your body everyday.  I was intrigued since I needed to do something to get myself back on track.  So, being who I am, I did a bunch of research.  A lot of the stuff they had in the program, my trainers also recommended.  So, Freddy and I decided to give the 30 day cleanse program a go.  We started on July 7th.  The program consisted of 5 days of 2 shakes, 2 snacks, and a meal and then 2 deep cleanse days where you are drinking a cleansing liquid 4 times during the day.  No food on the cleans days except for some small wafers in between drinks.  The cleanse days were surprisingly easy and I ended up losing 10 lbs on the program.  Freddy also ended up losing some weight as well.  We also ate much healthier for our dinners since we had a list of foods to choose from.  In addition, we started shopping at our Whole Foods store and ate more organic foods.  It is a little more expensive, but the combination of Isagenix AND my training classes was the same price as 30 days of Jenny Craig so I figure it all evens out in the end.  We are starting another 30 day cleanse tomorrow so I'm looking forward to reporting our progress.


AND, with all this motivation, I finally start moving forward on our house and making it a home.  We moved in last September, and then Superstorm Sandy happened, and then my motivation was gone.  Over the past 2 months, I've been making steps to get things organized and put together. I have big plans for our front yard next summer!


Oh yeah... this little guy is my main driving force for getting my behind in gear...


So... for the rest of 2013 I'm going to strive to wake up in the morning and BE AWESOME!

~AKO