Stress...

yep, when stress rears it's ugly head, well, it's just not pretty- physically or mentally.  This past week has brought up a tad bit of stress.  I have had minimal amounts of stress these last few weeks and what stress I have had I was able to work off at the gym.  The past two weeks my schedule has been anything but routine and that time has been a hard to find.  I have worked to try to find my way to the gym and then at the last minute something work related inevitably pops up, work needs to be done, lesson plans don't write themselves, and before you know it it's 11:00 and I am just then making it to bed- with a wake up time at 4:15.  *sigh*

Someone posted the above on my facebook wall this week (she knows what's going on).  That same day I was gone for a period of 12 hours for the day, all I wanted to do when I got home was sit- but at the same time I needed to fix dinner and eat, exercise, and work on lesson plans.  The first and the last things got done.  I have to come to grips with realization that it's okay if I miss a day of exercise- just means I need to work harder and "kick it up" a notch the next day.  The storms (aka the stressors) in life ARE going to come- I need to learn to run in the midst of those storms.

 

This one- I just like- I like anything by C.S. Lewis and think this is perfect for my journey.  I'm leaving many things behind- my old self, my weight, my doubts, my fears, and the list could go on- but ahead of me is so much more than I can ever dream.

So tell me, how do you deal with the stressors in life that affect your daily routine?

"Weighing in"

My blogger friend Dani over at That Fitness Chic is hosting a link up party on Wednesdays.  I thought I would "weigh in" on a few things that I have seen around the web these last few days.

-Did you see THIS NEWS???  The very first episode of The Biggest Loser I watched was the season where Jillian trained the black team in the desert.  They were the underdogs so of course I cheered for them!  That season got me hooked and I have watched it every season since.  I have laughed, cried, and hurt for the contestants.  They have inspired and motivated me and even now, several years later, I draw inspiration from so many of them- Tara holding her wall squat with a medicine ball for over 30 minutes, Tara pulling a car (twice), Ashley holding her own on the treadmill after a disaster on her first day, the multiple health problems being resolved, Ali being the first female winner, Michelle also winning and her witness today, and so many more!  I am thrilled that the show will be back on in January and as a teacher I am even more thrilled with a change in perspective on the side.  I have become more and more passionate about setting that example for the students and trying to figure out how to do that the best way.

-The following is one of my favorite pins these days.  After my last post (and my 
posting on FB of some pictures) I was lamenting the fact that I still had so far to go and one of my friends reminded me that I KNOW where my strength comes from, I know WHY I am doing this, and I know WHO I am doing this for.

-Lindsay, over at The Lean Green Bean, has a post from Tuesday with 50 Packable Lunch Ideas.  I haven't finished looking at them all but I have plans to go back and peruse this when I have time.  I pack my lunch daily and I am on the hunt for lunch ideas all the time.  Lindsay is in school to be a registered dietician and lives in the Columbus, Ohio area (Go Buckeyes)!

-And finally, I experimented with dinner tonight.  It actually turned out quite tasty.  The picture below is the best picture I could get- I don't have a table that I could take the picture on (well, I do but it's being used at the moment) but this gives you a pretty good idea.  I have seen several recipes for the zucchini boats.  I decided to put my own twist on it.  I ended up using 1 squash (because it was big) and 1 zucchini (a lot smaller).  I cut off the ends, cut it in half and then scooped out the center of each half.  In the meantime I had browned some ground turkey (16 oz), added 4 wedges of laughing cow light cheese, and one 8 oz. can of no salt added tomato sauce.  I then piled the meat into the veggie halves and then added a smidge of mozzarella cheese on top.  I put them on a baking sheet and baked them for 20-25 minutes.  They were quite tasty!  I was excited- this could be a good recipe to have in the rotation- now, I just need to find some bigger zucchini and squash.  My squash was a good size (and deep)- the zucchini was wimpy looking!  Oh, and each half is one serving- according to My Fitness Pal the calorie total for one serving (1/2 of one of them) is about 250ish calories.  I had both of these for a little over 500 (but my calorie count was lower through the rest of the day)

3 months later...

Three months ago, on June 9, I wrote this post starting my long journey.  This is a journey that is far from over and even though I see physical changes and know that I have had some emotional changes as well.  I see pictures like this one taken tonight and know that I still have quite a ways to go.  In fact, even though I see the difference and can tell in my clothes, I see this and wonder if I have made any progress at all.  *sigh* I know it's a journey that for me will never end as I will have to work at this the rest of my life.

However, here we are 3 months later, over 14 lbs lighter, emotional issues being dealt with, trying new exercise classes and so much more- and yet, quite honestly, to be where my doctor wants me- I still have about 20 more to go.  So, go I must!

Picture taken: September 2, 2012 in Atlanta, GA after a Braves game

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Picture taken June 2, 2012 in Sevierville, TN on a hike

 

 

 

Motivation from others

These past few weeks have quite crazy with school starting and trying to keep habits going.  I have exercised pretty consistently, tried to get some sleep (not doing as well with that) and just generally tried to keep my stress level down.  The one thing that I have done is keep up with some blogs that I read and then, on top of that, I have found some new ones.  So, I am sharing with you three blog posts that I read this week that really stuck out to me (and only one of them is an actual fitness blog)

The Day I Became a Runner by Katie over Wish and Whimsy

He didn't make me fast, but I still run for His pleasure from the (in)courage blog team.  Loved this post- helped to remember why I do the exercising I do

and When Your Journey Leads you Downhill also by the (in)courage team- this post really has nothing to do with fitness but about following God's leading in your life- which for me ties into the food and fitness aspect.

and to round out today's post- my motivational "sign" for today:

It's so easy to compare myself to others around me- to get caught up in their weight loss (why isn't mine coming off faster?), their skinniness (I will NEVER look like that), and their talents/strengths/abilities (I'm not a runner, I'm not a weight lifter, I'm uncoordinated, I'm not fast, etc).  However, those are all lies- I am who I am, I am the way God made me- it is what it is.  I may not be the best, I may not be the skinniest (and quite frankly that's okay because I am not built that way), I may not be the fastest but, again, I am who God made me and that alone is a reason to NOT compare myself to someone else. 

BTW- I definitely am not perfect at this- I still deal with this and struggle with this on a regular basis but I am learning- I am learning to be content in who God made me and trust that He knows best (sorry if this seemed preachy- just felt that maybe someone needed to read it)

Fruit...

No, not the eating kind (although I love my fruit) but the kind of fruit that you see after laboring long and hard.  I have been on this journey many times in the last few years (okay, strike that- last MANY years). but this time, something is different.  I don't know if it was seriousness of the doctor, the kidney issues I deal with and being tired of that, the fact I had to go on blood pressure meds, or something else completely different; but this time- something clicked and I knew it was time.  Seeing myself in my picture from early June may have helped this thought process along for sure, bottom line, it was time.  I began this journey in spin class on June 11 but that first week was "iffy" so in all honesty, I started this journey on June 18.  Since that time, a span of two months and a few days, I have lost 14 lbs. and I don't even know how many inches (I wish I had measured before I started).  In the process of losing I have also gained- I have gained new friends.  I have made so many new friends in my spin class and I truly look forward to seeing them in class- their encouragement to me motivates me to keep on going.  I have gained confidence- I am approaching my life with a different perspective and wondering what God has for me as a result of this journey.  I have gained physically- I have pushed myself in ways I never thought possible and try to use each class to push me beyond what I did the first time. 

Am I disappointed I haven't lost more- NO!  I am learning from the fable The Tortoise and the Hare.  I may not run like the hare and that's quite alright!  Because slow and steady will win this race! 

Encouraging words

We have all experienced them (hopefully), we have all given them (hopefully).  I have worked hard this summer and while I have seen results in myself- about a month after starting- I have had several people at work and church encourage me with their sweet comments about the difference.  Anytime I get discouraged or frustrated because I can't do what I WANT to do, someone always speaks up at just the right time to encourage me in this journey.  So, the next time you notice a change in someone- speak up- it might be exactly what they needed to hear at that point in time. 

Now, the sign below is what I stared at while running on the treadmill yesterday.  For so long I wished for what I wasn't willing to work for- and then one day it clicked- if I don't work- I don't get results.  Wishing does absolutely nothing except get me frustrated.  The work is what gets me there.  I have decided this year is the year- I will gain a better grasp on my time management, I will deal with my stress in a much better (more appropriate) way, I will work for what I want.  To do that means giving up things- junk food, time spent doing other things, re-evaluating my load of work and non-work activities, etc.  If I work- I will see results!

Clean Slate

Yep, it's back to school time.  I am a teacher and started back today with some inservice time.  The students start next week.  While I have thoroughly enjoyed my summer I always look forward to the beginning of the new school year.  It's a clean slate and I look at all I did the year before and work to make it even better.  It's kind of like that with the healthy living- the eating and the exercising.  Each day has to be taken in the moment.  You need to plan but at the same time be flexible to adjust for life.  My big thing (besides the accountability- which I addressed earlier) will be the eating so I'm asking for you to share your favorite easy and healthy recipes.  They can be quick, slow cooker, breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc.  Whatever your favorite recipe is I want to hear it! 

Also- if there are any favorite exercise/workout apps that you enjoy?