Learning and Snuggles Too :)

So, I did not get my workout in yesterday. I said I definitely would and I didn't.
I let a lot of other stuff get in the way, good stuff :), but still I let the day get away from me.
I had a fantastic day, really great, so I cannot complain. But I do see where I could have a done a few things differently and gotten my workout in. So I am going to pay attention :)
First, I decided to let my workout wait when my son woke up early.  I chose snuggle time over workout time. I am happy to snuggle, I am sure it helped make the day so fantastic, snuggles are awesome!!! 
But, I am sure I could have squeezed my 1/2 hour in there somewhere. Actually I know I could have.
Once I let it slide in the morning it was easier to push it til "later" and then, when I was really busy I didn't end up getting to "later". 
So last night at 10:30 I decided to start again this morning and I did. 
I left out all the old ugly thinking and just decided to learn from this day.
One day missed is not a catastrophe, as much as I would like to pretend it is and console myself with cookies :)  I am doing great and I see how I can plan my workouts better, so it's all good.
That's it!

Bye for now,

Keeping It Up!!!

I did my 1/2 hour workout again yesterday and, no surprise, I felt fantastic!!!
I haven't yet today, but it is definitely going to happen.
I had a visit yesterday.
With someone who I like very much and who I have had quite a few really interesting discussions with. Usually after this person leaves I pull out everything I said and analyze it and criticize myself and just, plain, feel like crap!
Yesterday I chose not to do this. I chose to look at everything I said and be kind to myself.  I chose to be a friend to me.  I used to compare myself and come up lacking. 
This time I just chose to be me. 
I really believe that every person comes into our lives for a reason.
Yesterday my interaction with this person did a crazy thing for me.  I am not sure how, but it was like I was able to just stop and observe myself without criticism or judgment and see how I had really gotten back into the habit of hurting myself.  With my thoughts.  With my words.
I thought I was past it and yesterday a light was shined.  That seems to be happenning a lot lately :) 
You know why?  I am sure the light was there all along, but now I am looking for it, now I am ready to see it.
Before I would have spent wasted time analyzing words that I can't take back anyway, today I am just grateful that I feel more awake again, more me. 
That may have been confusing :)  I get rambly when I am trying to work stuff through. 
But little by little I am unraveling this issue again. 
I am happy to do it. 
I am just, really feeling grateful today.  It is so nice.  Life is better when I live it with gratitude :)

Working Out Feels Good....

Who knew???
Uh, ME!!! :)
So, why haven't I been doing it for so long?
I think I may have gathered some insight into that.
This morning I got on the Wii and I did my 1/2 hour and it wasn't a hard workout or anything, not such a huge deal, but I felt good. Really good!!!
I was happier today, noticeably, and just feeling really good!
I like this feeling , I want to keep it :)
I think the reason I quit doing things that make me feel so good is as simple and as complicated as this: I feel guilty when I am happy, and I don't feel like I deserve it!
Huh!
I thought I had worked that one through already when I wrote my post on deserving.
I guess I need a refresher :) 
I am ready to be as happy as I can, I am ready to make being happy my full time job :) 
I deserve it, we all do! 
I will not hold myself back any longer.  I am making a commitment to myself.
I will get back to working through my stuff and most of all to loving and accepting me. 
It is way past time. 
I am deserving!!!
I guess I could have just said that I completed my workout, and it felt good, and I have completed day one, but I guess I had some other stuff to say too :)

That's all for today!
Bye for now,

Weigh-In Day

Happy Tuesday :)
That means it is weigh in day, and I am happy to be keeping up with my posts!
My weight this morning was 148.94 lbs.
The scale is moving down, but I am not satisfied with how I feel.
I know that I can do better and feel better, so I think it is time to kick things up a notch and start working out again. I just feel so much better when I do.
Don't get me wrong, I am happy to see the scale moving down, but now, for me, it is more about how my body feels.
Right now I feel kind of sluggish, lazy, tired and flabby.  I am ready to feel fabulous again :)
So, because I am Cara, and because I like to keep things simple, I am going to do what works for me :)
I will be doing one of the following everyday: 30 minutes of Wii Fit Plus or The Horrible and Dreaded 30 Day Shred.  Gotta love Jillian :) 
I am sure we all know which one I will choose most days, for a while at least ;) 
That's it, nothing crazy or drastic.  I usually find that just doing one of these two every day gets me moving in so many other ways.  I feel better all around, and it feels easy.  So, I like :)
That's all for today!

Weigh-In Day

Tuesday is here again, and so it is weigh-in day.
I am really happy to be back to posting. Even if it has only been keeping my weight updated it still feels good :)
This morning my weight was down again and I feel like I am doing pretty well.
I am working through the head stuff and, as usual, my weight reflects that :)
I know what works for me and right now I am working it.
I have been feeling the burning desire to work out (it hits me every so often). Crazy, I know ;)
It is flickering and I am just going to have to jump in and get to it.
Right now I am just concentrating on my food, but I know that the ball is starting to roll and I am feeling so glad to get going again.
Anyway, enough rambling, on to the weight.
This morning I am at 150.26 lbs.

Bye for now,

Hello Again :)

I am very glad to be back here.
I have been dealing with a lot of stuff around here and I have been stressed and worried and I have not focused on my health or this journey at all, really. I am ready to change that!

My last post mentioned that we had a sick family member, it was my Mother In Law, and I am very sad to post that she passed away on May 3rd. She was amazing and I will miss her every day. She was like a second mother and a really great friend to me. The person I would call to talk about anything. I really love her. So, I have been sad, and mopey, and all kinds of depressing lately. But I am ready to stop that.

I have so many things to say, but nothing is coming out properly, so I will leave it there for now. I plan to be all updated and ready to go for Weigh-In Day on Tuesday. My weight today is 160.82 lbs. I am working out 30 min./day on the Wii. I am ready to get moving again :)

Bye for now,

Two Week Challenge - Day 4

Hello :) 
I am back to report that I did finish day three!  I got my workout in for today already too!  So that means day three and four of my challenge are complete. 
It feels good to be moving again, even if it is just a little.  I think it is the feeling of taking charge that is so nice.  I am not floating along, letting things happen.  I am actively moving towards my goals!  I am sure that is why working out feels so good. 
It is funny to realize, as I go along, how much of this journey is in my head.  I work all of my junk out and then I move forward.  I am really finding this whole process pretty fascinating. 
That's it for today.  Thank you for the nice comments on my progress pics yesterday :)  It is really nice to feel the support from fellow bloggers! 
My one year Anniversary (of when I started losing) is coming up on the 13th.  I am hoping to make it to 40 lbs. lost by then.  I am pretty sure I will be there any time now, so I will make it a goal to get there and have my progress pic posted by my anniversary!
Hope your weekend is awesome!!!

Bye for now,

Two Week Challenge

Hello :)  Here are the details for my personal Two Week Challenge.  It is pretty simple.  I am committing to at least 30 minutes of Wii Fit Plus each day or I can do my 30 Day Shred DVD.  I will use my weights every other day and do at least 30 crunches per day. I am back to drinking only tea or water, I just like it better, and my food intake is pretty under control.  I am really excited to be half way to my goal weight and I want to keep the momentum going!  So for now I need to focus on exercise. For me starting is always the problem, so I find if I challenge myself and just get moving it all seems to flow from there.  My last challenge was a little stricter, but this time I just needed to get moving.  So far so good :)  I am on day three.  I haven't completed my workout yet, but yesterday and Monday I did about 45 minutes on the Wii.  So that's it!  Simple, just something to get me moving again.  Small steps work great!  I have been thinking about running though - YIKES!!!  Did I actually type that?  Anyway I am off to enjoy the day.  Yay the sun is shining :)  I'll be back tomorrow to post my progress.  Oh, that is part of it too, I will post each day of the challenge.


Bye for now,

Weigh-In Day/Half Way To Goal!!!

Hello! 
I am back on a Tuesday again, so it would seem that I am getting my junk together :) 
Yay! 
This morning's weigh in was quite a surprise for me.  You may have noticed that I have been struggling.  I have been really making this harder than it has to be, I am good at that ;) 
Anyway, because of the struggle - and the fact that I have had to keep stopping myself from overeating, I figured this would be a pretty scary week.  According to the scale anyway. 
But no, I guess I am finally pulling ahead a bit. 
My weigh in this morning was 166.76 lbs, so I have lost 1.98 lbs this week.   
Plus, I didn't realize this until I updated my ticker just now, I AM OFFICIALLY OVER HALF WAY TO MY GOAL!!!!!!!  Wooooo Hooooo!!! 
Sorry about the yelling ;)  I just got a little excited. 
So, for future reference:  "Cara, no matter how badly you are doing, no matter how much junk you have given into and no matter how much you want to give up - DON'T!!!  It is never too late to stop and choose better.  You had to do it over and over and over again the last couple of weeks, and it was hard, but it was doable.  You did it!  Keep doing it!  Oh and you are Awesome :)"
I never before thought I could stop myself in the middle of one of these downward spirals, but I did.  A lesson learned!  That is a good thing.
I started my own two week challenge yesterday.  I haven't posted it yet and usually that would be a good excuse not to start, but I am going to do it backwards this time :)  I did a really great workout, and it felt fabulous!  I will be back to post the details, today is day two. 

Gotta go for now, bye!

Hey, It Really Is Tuesday :)

And here I am. Believe me, I am shocked too :) Anyway I am here and I weighed!  My weigh-in wasn't exciting at all, I am maintaining.  I had a high calorie day on Sunday and I am back into working out.  That usually gives me a quick weight loss, maybe next week will be batter (scale-wise).  But I am just glad that I am finally getting it together and posting! 
I had company over the weekend.  I mentioned that I want to start stepping out of my comfort zone, and I did!!!  I initiated the get-together!  You probably don't think that is a big deal.  But for me it is.  I usually wait for people to contact me, I wouldn't want to bother anyone (ugh!).  But, I just did it!  I am starting to realize that people like me!  When I am just being myself, I am a lot of fun :) 
Plus, a nice thing happened while they were here.  They really noticed how much weight I have lost!  People haven't really said anything (aside from my mom and my sister's), and I was really okay with it.  I figured it was maybe awkward for someone to say 'hey, you look smaller' or something.  Plus, I can really tell a the difference, so it didn't really matter what anyone else said or didn't say.  I didn't think it would be a big deal if anyone did notice, but it was nice :) 
Anyway that's it for now.  I am thinking that I will be doing my very own workout challenge again.  It worked really well for me last time.  I seem to do fine if I challenge myself, I am still not so good at challenging others.  I am not sure if it bothers me so much now.  So, I am going to figure out my plan and post it later. 
I have been noticing some amazing changes in my body lately and I want to add more exercise in.  I miss it! Weird, huh? - LOL!

Bye for now,

Weigh-In Day

Hello :)  It's Tuesday again and, as usual, I had my date with the scale this morning.  My weight is 176.22 lbs this morning.  I am down 0.88 lbs from last week.  It isn't a huge loss, but it's a loss.  I will take it! 
In my last post I mentioned how well I was doing with my eating.  But you may have noticed that I didn't mention exercise.  That is because I wasn't doing it.  None, at all.  Anyway I decided to get back on track with that too.  I am committing to my minimum half hour per day again.  I am really glad that I did.  Yesterday I worked out for one hour on the Wii and then I did my crunches and weights.  This morning I have already completed my half hour and I feel really good. 
When I get off track and skip workouts I end up making a huge issue out of it in my head.  I will think things like "I need to start working out again" and turn it into this big huge thing in my head and then I end up not doing it and time goes by.  I realized that I was doing this and I stopped and thought that instead of making a huge deal about working out everyday, and getting back into it, and worrying about how much I should workout - I need to just get moving!!!  So I did.  I worked out yesterday and I worked out today.  I stopped worrying about the details and I stopped planning a workout and I just moved.  And, not at all surprisingly, I feel great. 
I didn't even realise I was sabotaging myself, but I was.  I was getting so caught up in thinking about what I should be doing that I wasn't actually doing anything.  Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky!!!  Does anyone else do this?  Anyway that's it for today.  I have plans for today so I better get moving.

Bye for now,

Shredding

I did it!!! Day one of the 30 Day Shred, I mean. I was thinking of joining Syl's October Challenge, but I wasn't sure if my DVD would be here on time.  And, to be honest, I was a little scared intimidated to join in.  I figured it would be hard, and horrible and unbearable.  Well, anyway, my copy got here yesterday.  So I started it today, and I am going to challenge myself.  It was hard, for sure, but not as hard as I was expecting.  It seems crazy that I can do this.  I remember when I was so challenged just doing the step exercise on the Wii Fit Plus.  I was so surprised when I finished it.  My 9 y.o. daughter asked why I was so excited and I said "I didn't think I would be able to do it" so she say's "You just don't give yourself enough credit".  Smarty Pants!!!  I guess she has been listening to me :)  Oh, and just so I can look back and see future improvement (on those days when I may want to quit) I have to say:
jumping jacks - Yikes!!!
push ups - Ouch!!!
and sideways, lunge-y thingies with hand weights - Raaaargh!!!  :)

Happy Friday,

Guess What...

I had a pair of jeans on yesterday and I realized something. First of all they are bigger. All of them are getting baggy now. Yay me!!! But then I noticed that they were comfortable. That is unheard of!!! Or at least it has been in my world (aka Caraland), for a looooong time. I used to wear my jeans out and then, as soon as I was home, put on my p.j.'s comfy pants. Last night I realized I still had my jeans on and I wasn't even aware of it. Now that is progress ;) I seriously did a happy dance, my husband enjoyed that a lot! LOL! I have been doing really great with my workouts, btw. Haven't missed one yet, and it feels really good. That's it for today - just a short, silly post. Happy Friday!

Bye for now,


P.S. I am counting my happy dance as part of my workout today :)

Working Out

Hi!

Just a quick post today to say that I worked out this morning. It feels so good to be back at it again. I have been keeping active everyday. Taking walks - at least one a day, playing outside with the kids, just moving, which has been really good. But an actual workout was so nice. Weird huh? I never thought I would say those words. This morning was the first day of my No Excuse Workout Plan. I did my 1/2 hour on the Wii, then my weights and then 30 crunches. I am sure I will still get out for a walk today, my son (17 mos.) will just keep bringing my shoes to me until we get out there :) Hope your Monday is fabulous!

Bye for now,

2 Week Challenge - Day #12

Hi. I am almost done my challenge. After today there are only two more days and then I am going away for the night with my husband. I am so excited. We never go away and we have been together for 15 years! I think it is about time that we had some alone time :) I am feeling kind of lazy today. I Did not want to drag myself out of bed at all. It is not a mystery why. I definitely did not get enough sleep last night. Maybe I should include an 'in bed by ten' rule in my next challenge. Actually that is a pretty good idea! I think I will commit to being in bed by ten o'clock from Sunday to Thursday night and do it for two weeks. I bet I will feel amazing! I did my whole workout last night and I am really proud of myself. I used to have this inner tape going on that would say "You don't have time to workout today, you are too busy, just make it up tomorrow". But of course "tomorrow" I would be overwhelmed with all I had to "catch up" on that I would never get to it. Yesterday I went out with my sister and the kids and didn't workout by the time I was starting to make dinner. My sister said "Oh well! It's just one day" and the old me would have listened to her. I was even trying to talk myself into skipping it. But I did my weights while dinner was cooking and I did my crunches whenever I had a few minutes and by the time the kids were in bed I just needed to do my 1 hour on the Wii fit. Then I ran out again to see my other sister and when I got home it was a little later than I expected and I once again tried to talk myself out of exercising. I really just wanted to relax and watch a dvd :) Then I decided that I could watch the dvd anytime and today was only here right now so just workout already. I did! I completed my whole workout yesterday, even the crunches I missed from the day before. And I did it on a crazy day, when before I just "wouldn't have the time". I am definitely my only obstacle. I am the only thing that can get in my way. When this two weeks is over and I have done everything I set out to do it is going to feel so good. I am committing to this. I am changing for me! It is so funny. I sometimes, like today, start writing a post and I feel lazy or disinterested or just not "into it" - exercising and being healthy or just getting motivated, I mean. But so many times by the end of my post I have given myself a pep talk and I am ready to do it all! Blogging is definitely the best thing I could have done for myself. I am being more supportive of myself and I am getting support from some really awesome people too! :) Well that is it for today. I think it will be a nice quiet day at home with the kids today, we'll see. Either way I will definitely get my workout in.

Bye for now,

2 Week Challenge - Day #10

Day #10 and I am still doing it! It may not seem like a big deal to anyone else, but to me it is huge. I am completing something, I am following through. I used to have a hard time with this. Maybe not in all areas of my life - but definitely in this area. Choosing to get healthy is not something I have done well in the past. I am so glad to be doing it now. I am almost done with this challenge, but it will not be the last one I do. I have almost finished all of my workout for today. Tomorrow is weigh in day so I will be back to post about that. I guess that's it for today.

Bye for now,

2 Week Challenge - Day #9

Hello :) Today is day #9 and I am doing awesome!!! I feel really good right now. I think I am going to keep challenging myself after this two weeks is up - it is so good to have a plan every day. I know when I am done and I know that I have accomplished something. I can do more, but I don't have to. It has really worked well for me. Helped me get into it again. I will probably keep up with the 1 hr. on the Wii every day, and definitely the crunches. Actually I guess I could keep up with all of it, it really isn't all that much after all. Every time I feel like quitting I notice something else that keeps me going. For instance, this morning I felt my shoulders and I could feel the bones. Now I sound like a weirdo, no? I mean that I can feel my shoulders more, they are coming out of hiding, I know they are ;) Woooo Hoooo!!! So far today I have completed 1/2 of my Wii workout and I have been on track food-wise. I will finish the rest of my workout sometime. My daughter is having a sleepover, so I may have to do it tonight. Having two 9 year old girls critique my workout form is not my idea of a good time. But I will do it. Well that's all for now.

I found these affirmations today:

-I am worthy of love and abundance
-I am in control of my life and destiny
-I am at peace with my true self

I found them here.

Bye for now,

2 Week Challenge - Day #8

Hello :) I almost thought I wasn't going to make it. It's a little later than usual for my post, but I made it. I actually just finished my workout. Yesterday I was feeling so into it, and then today I am having to force myself again. Whatever! I will keep it up anyway. I know that I am making progress. I can handle off days. They aren't all going to be easy after all. Some days are going to be really hard and I am going to have to push myself. But I will do it. I will keep remembering that "Self discipline is remembering what you really want". I really want to be healthy, I really want to be alive! I had to push myself, but I did it. My eating was a little off today, but I am okay with it. I did my whole workout - Yay!!! So I am off to bed. I'll be back tomorrow. I did notice that, even though I had to push myself to get up and workout, as soon as I turned the Wii on I felt relieved. It was like I had been fighting a battle with myself and I was so happy with the outcome. That is how I know that I am making progress.

Goodnight everyone,

2 Week Challenge - Day #7

Happy Friday everyone :) I am feeling a little bit fabulous today, and I am so very glad! I am so happy that I have been keeping up with my workouts and healthy eating plan. It has reinforced that I can do it, even if I don't feel like it. I noticed last night when I was doing my crunches (60/day for my challenge - remember??) that I can feel my stomach muscles!!!! Lately I have been getting off track because I was feeling unmotivated and maybe I was waiting for that feeling to come back. It was so silly of me. I need to choose to be motivated and I have to choose to do the best things for myself. This challenge has already been a gift to me. I have reinforced that I can bring that feeling of motivation and excitement back by just doing it!!! By exercising and eating healthier, even when I didn't feel like it, I am starting to feel great again. I am being motivated because I really like how I feel when I take care of myself! Every once in a while, when I am not getting "rewarded" (things like having someone notice, or the scale being nice) I slip back into bad behaviors. This challenge has gotten me into it again. I am feeling rewarded from my own hard work and I know I am in charge of how amazing I feel. It is a good thing I haven't given myself a time limit this time :) I will get there when I am ready. I am tired of this self-imposed prison sentence. I am ready to be free. It isn't even only the weight. It is my attitude. Or, I should say, it is mostly my attitude. I had this feeling for the longest time that life would begin when I got to my goal. I was so wrong. Life is happening all around me, and I just have to live it. I can be involved or not, I am the only one putting restrictions on me. I have been choosing to live lately and it is so nice. I am not all the way there for sure, but I really feel like this time I am headed in the right direction. I really recommend challenging yourself, it has been a huge eye opener for me. It has reinforced what I already know and also given me a bigger sense of control over my future. I can and will create the life I want. I am doing it every day and I am loving it. Hopefully I am out of my slump for a while, but even if I feel slumpy again:) - I will keep on going. Because it is so worth it and I am too!

I am sticking with yesterday's affirmation for today, it's a good one :) But if you would really like to be inspired go and check out the newest post at 266 - it is amazing and so inspiring!

Bye for now

2 Week Challenge - Day #5

Hi, just a quick post today. I am doing well, could be better :) I got in late last night and didn't finish my final 1/2 hour on the Wii. So instead of doing what I used to do - skip it completely and let it get me off track - I just added an extra 1/2 hour to today's workout. Simple! I reused the affirmations from the last few posts again today. I am still not feeling as "in the game" as I would like, but I am doing it anyway. Well, I guess that is all for tonight.

Bye for now,