Celebrating the "Small Stuff"

Yes, I am celebrating the "small stuff"- those non-scale victories!  You see- for too long I looked to the scale for validation and when it didn't show the validation that I craved- I gave up.  I said, it's too much, too hard, too exhausting, will take too long, etc, etc, etc.  You name the excuse, I gave it.  While I am still on this journey I have no desire to lose my last 10 or so pounds without putting out the effort in my work and diet.  It's not going to be a quick fix- this is not a "I got to my goal now I can ease up".  This is a work to get to my goal and then I work to maintain it! 

So, in light of all of that- I know that to keep my focus and motivation I need to celebrate the small stuff- again those NSV!  I have two today- and they may see incredibly silly but they are mine and they help me know that I am making progress- even on those days when I don't "feel it"

NSV#1- several years ago I bought a just above the knee denim skirt.  Has a little a-line to it and is cute and at the time I was close to that size.  However many years later it still has the price tag on it and 4 months ago I couldn't even get it up over my legs and rear.  The other day I tried again just for kicks and it fits- it's still a bit snug (wouldn't wear it in public just yet) but it FITS- buttoned, zipped and all!  I was SO excited!

NSV #2- and this is probably the silly one for most people.  We have disaster drills at our school (aka tornado drills) to practice in the event of a real one (which we had two real ones within the last two years so the practice is good...).  I have to show the children how to sit in the hallway.  Nowadays they have them sit with their backs against the wall, knees drawn up, head and neck covered with arms (which means your neck is leaning forward).  A year ago I couldn't do it comfortably- it was the most uncomfortable position I have ever put myself in.  It hurt my stomach to have it pressed on and I didn't have the strength in my neck or my legs to keep them there.  Fast forward to today- I was showing them how to do the drill and I had an epiphany!  I could do it!  With ease!  I had the strength in my abs and legs to sit the way I was supposed to have them sit the whole time.  My thighs weren't pressing into my stomach causing all kinds of discomfort and I could do it!  While that seems silly- it's HUGE for me!

So- it helped me to realize the importance of celebrating the "small stuff" because it's actually "big stuff"!

Balance and Plates Crashing...

It's been a while- I have traveled for my dad's 60th birthday, I have added a few more miles to my running shoes, and I have dealt with barometric pressure and cold weather- through all of that- I haven't done all that I NEEDED to do and am seeing the results of that (aka a plateau). 
I know what I need to do (quit the diet soda cold turkey....again!, get serious in the gym, add even more miles to my running shoes, and get some cold weather exercise clothes) so right now it's about finding balance.

 Do you ever feel like you are juggling so many plates that you aren't sure how to keep them all up in the air and deal with them effectively?  From relationships (or lack thereof) to professional to spiritual to just every day life- I have them all flying through the air and there seems to be no sense of order to them.  That needs to change- I recognize that but I am unsure how to do so.  One thing I DO know- if I don't take care of it all those plates will come crashing to the ground and I will end up crashing and burning.  How do you find the balance we so desperately need?

In the meantime- I have found several posts throughout blogland that I have been wanting to link up- some are workouts- some are just posts with thought provoking questions...  Take a peek! 

Making Fitness a Priority!- I think I need to reread this one myself!

Teaching young children about healthy minds and bodies (my passion!)

Looking for the positive!

And a workout for you- a Commercial Break challenge- I need to make this big and hang it on the wall by the tv!

And one last thing: UnderArmour has a "what's beautiful" campaign.  This graphic is probably my favorite one from all that they have pinned so far! 

What are you striving for today???

Goal setting, life, and a question

I guess I'll start with a question- I am on the hunt for how these graphics are made

I know that there's a text box but what I want to know is what kind of backgrounds and/or program would you use for these?

Life- yeah, life has been a little crazy.  My schedule has been out of routine the last couple of weeks and it looks to be more of the same for the next few weeks.  My desire is to continue to keep my focus and perspective on what I am doing and WHY I am doing it.  Accountability is key for me- I have seen failure and progress, felt joy and pain, and sweated A LOT!  And through it all, I can feel myself getting stronger.  I need to continue that!

Goal setting- working on some goals for 2013- some will be personal, some will be professional, and some will be fitness related.  Any thoughts?

So far:

1) Determine where and what God is leading me to- even if it means CHANGE!

2) to complete 13 races (of any sort) in 2013.  This one is huge for me because this is not something I would have ever considered in the past.  There's even a big race I am considering- do I think I'll run the whole thing- no- but I'll never know if I don't try!  This will mean continued training! 

3) to remember why I am on this journey- I have been given an amazing gift of a body that works and health.  Yes, I have some health issues/considerations but I have the ability to get out there and TRY!

Those are just a few- I am continuing to build on them and would love to hear your thoughts!

One Step at a Time

Today was rough day- just overall frustrating but I wanted to share something positive that came out of all that- here's what I posted on FB:

A reminder of how far I have come- today (as I mentioned) was a bit of a rough day- just very discouraging but I kept with my plan and went to my spin class anyway. I cranked it up and pushed through- and in the 45 minutes of class I burned 486 calories. On my way home I called my dad (in response to a text he sent- since I don't text and drive!) and was telling him about it. Mentioned the 486 calories- he responded that it wasn't 486 calories of food that isn't good for me. I am an emotional eater so I have to be sure that I think through my choices carefully. I am coming up on the 4 month mark of my journey. 4 months ago I would have dealt with my stress by eating that 486 and more. Still have a long way to go but am stepping in the right direction. Love that man! He reminds me of what my goals are and where I am going!

and on that note of goals- I am setting some goals for 2013- I am working on compiling them to post closer to the end of the year but would love to hear your fitness/healthy living goals!

Food!

I have been reading Lindsay's blog for quite a while now and noticed at the end of every month she had this fun event called Foodie PenPals.  The setup is quite simple.  You express your interest by filling out a form and on the 5th of the month you get the details of your penpal is (and who got you will be a totally different person).  You make contact to see if there's anything they can't/don't eat/dietary restrictions and then start shopping.  You can find out more details and the link below!

Now, this month I decided to go ahead and give it a shot- I received this package with a pumpkin recipe (yum), some mango slices (another huge YUM and I had already started eating them before I took the picture-oops), some hot sauce, homemade mango/jalepeno jelly (thinking this might be good over cream cheese and with some g-f crackers...), I also got a yummy white chocolate bar and this whole foods reusable bag (which is a good size for snacks or such).  Thanks Julia- I loved it all and am looking forward to trying the jelly!

and Just a reminder as I leave you today!   Hope you will join me again soon!

And now it's time for some details about Foodie Penpals.  In case you’re a new reader, here’s a reminder of what the program is all about:

-On the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.
-You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal! 
-The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!
-You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)
-Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you are to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month. 
-Foodie Penplas is open to US & Canadian residents.  Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. We've determined things might get too slow and backed up if we're trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa. 

If you’re interested in participating for October, please CLICK HERE to fill out the participation form and read the terms and conditions. 

You must submit your information by October 4th as pairings will be emailed on October 5th!

*If you're from somewhere besides the US, Canada or Europe and want to participate, send me an email and I'll see if we get enough interest this month!

Trusting the Process and Beginning Running

Over and over I hear to trust the process.  That if something is going to work- it's going to have to be done through practice.  And that practice leads to success.  To me, that's what it means to Trust the process- believing that sticking with something, even if there aren't results, will gradually bring you amazing results!  I read this blog post this past week that talks about what you need to know when you plateau.  And then, I read this article from several years ago that dealt with the same thing.  Take a look at both- would love to hear your thoughts!

Beginning to run- I began my journey in this area back in January on the treadmill.  I have never been a runner- it was not something I enjoyed- from the sprints, to the basketball drills, to the mile runs in P.E. class- I dreaded them ALL!  However, in January I started walking (under doctor's orders).  I eventually found a couch to 5K app on my phone that I downloaded and began using and found that I didn't mind running as much as I thought I did- then life got in the way and I quit.  Then I wrote this post and things changed.  I picked it back up again with a different app (one that I like better) and brushed my running shoes off to hit the road.  I currently am only running/jogging 1-2 times a week because I am taking spinning 2-3 times a week and walking with a friend another day.  I do have a rest day built in (usually Friday unless I do Zumba).  However, in less than one month from today I will be participating in the Color Run in Nashville- while this is for fun- I still want to do well so I will need to pick up some more running here and there.  Through this I have found that I have gotten so much stronger- the last time I ran using my app I ran 28 minutes straight- for me that is a HUGE accomplishment because 3 months ago I probably suffered through 5.  If running is something you have thought about then here's a great resource for you- Lindsay's blog- The Lean Green Bean had a great post on beginning running- check it out and see what you can glean from it!

New Perspectives, Kind Words, and Joy

Random combination of words but all connected.  I'm going to hit each one of them and then close out this post with a link that I found over on Pinterest this morning

I'm going to start with New Perspectives: 

I found this over on pinterest this past week and I realized that I keep waiting until I get to my goal to feel proud of my accomplishments when in reality I should be proud of the fact that I am actually doing something.  I am setting an example for my students when I eat healthy at lunch and when I exercise alongside them in P.E. class.  I have overcome several obstacles in the past year- mainly physical but one big one is the mental block that I put up for myself by allowing myself to "talk down" to myself.  Be proud of the action!

Which leads me to Kind Words!  No pictures for this one- just a quick little paragraph and a link to an amazing blog that I read today that fits in perfectly with it.  It goes along with being proud of yourself and who God made you!  I'm learning- slowly but surely- to simply say thank you.  I had several people at church today tell me that they could tell I had lost weight and that I looked great- up to just a couple of weeks ago I would have simply said- thanks but I still have a long way to go- and honestly, I still struggle with not just saying that.  However, the fact of the matter is- it's a lifetime journey so it's something that I will always be working on and always have a long way to go so I need to stop with the negative talk and just say a simple thank you.  So, to those of you who have said those kind words to me- thank you, from the bottom of my heart.  Today I read this post- and it really hit home with me!  I'm So Sick of "F" Word   This beautiful lady is an amazing woman of God who has struggled with her own battles- but God has used those wounds to bring about an amazing testimony!  This post says it all!  We must stop this cycle!

and Joy- well, honestly I don't have much to say about that- other than making sure you are finding joy in what you are doing.  If you are then you will be more likely to stick with it and make it habit! 

One last link for today- Read this article this morning and thought it was interesting.  What is your best tip???