Day 123 – a new start

This is it. This is the big dealio!

Ok guys, we all know I’ve needed to kick it up a notch here in exercise land. I really do want my waist to look like a fiddle!

I have decided that Jan 1st I will start something new and fresh here, and add some rules to my eating habits also.  For exercise I will be doing a video 5 days a week and allowing two days for yoga or snowshoeing.  Each week in January, I will do a different video. I am going to start out with Jillian Micheal’s 30 day shred. I know and like this one, and it’s a good one to start me out. I’ll also do a pilates one, and kickboxing, and a dance video (ohh I bet you can’t wait for that one, no I will not be recording any video’s of myself).

I will also be eating no sugar in January! I know that this is strict but it is sooo what I need. I am a sugar addict ya’ll!  I have decided to allow myself two tiny dark chocolates each day to have a tiny treat, but no other sugar. I am not even eating jelly, yogurt unless it’s plain, or salad dressing, and no cereal with sugar… none! I will allow a bit of honey or maple syrup but no sugar.

My only other rule will be having to do with drinks. I am allowed my morning coffee and one other drink, otherwise water the rest of the day. I know for me, I’ll guzzle juice if I don’t have sugar sooo I am going to eliminate that option.

So obviously this is not a new years resolution, it’s just for January then I will reevaluate. I am not making this blog about weight loss, but more exercise and the discipline of it, which has been so incredibly good for me. But, I have lost 18 POUNDS this last year 🙂 and hope to lose 10 more in all.

What do you think?

Day 121

Wow. Tonight I went out for a walk with the dog. What a cool night. It feels like Spring! The wind is weird, and the snow is half gone. The clouds were amazing. There were all these really low white puffy clouds, that were moving so fast, and I could catch glimpses of the gorgeous stars beyond them.

I really had hoped that the neighbors had put up their creepy Santas but no such luck. Maybe after new years.  I mean really, anyone who puts up a life size Santa, is crazy about Christmas, and is going to leave it up until New Years at least! Right?

109

Have no fear, even though I was puking my guts out and taking care of little pukies too, I still managed to do my yoga 🙂 But now I am back! I had energy yesterday finally and I headed out on my snowshoes in the glorious, sparkly white.  Previously, I had only gone on the little bit of trail by my house but I recently found that there is another snowshoer in our neighborhood. Not only does he go out more often than I, but he has gone much farther!  For some reason I felt sort of like I had to at least go as far as he did! I really wanted to see where his trail led to. So I kept going, and going, and going… eventually my foot was getting a bit numb and I had to think about turning around. You know what though, I followed his trail over the bridge, and over the river, and to a little road, where it abruptly stopped. I didn’t go any further either, because I knew without his trail, I would not be able to find my own way back home! It was awesome. What I loved about it most is that I’m totally alone. I could laugh, sing, pray or cry if I wanted to. I may or may not  have done a few of these yesterday.

Day 93

So there are a few gaps in the days. so what! I still exercised every single day. We were out of town, and I didn’t have a computer for most of the days 🙂 I have dedided to not go back and try to remember what I did each day.

I will tell you one little story though. The first four nights we were staying with my little sister and her husband. Liz is pregnant with her first (yippee!) and I knew she wasn’t feeling up to going out for a walk with me in the dark and frigid weather… so I made Scott come 🙂 Liz and Jordan live in Nebraska, there aren’t very many trees and the wind whips!  We walked for a bit and it was sooo cold, so we went in. When we walked in Liz and Jordan started laughing at us! I was like “what??” and she goes “you were gone about ummm, eight minutes.” HA HA sooo I did some stretching also that night.

I have some really exciting news. I’ve been looking at snowshoes for awhile now and finally ordered them today!! I can’t wait!! AND… by the time 2-5 business days pass, we should have an abundance of snow too. 🙂 I WILL post photos of that event, my first snowshoe trek!

Day 93 –  walking with the kiddos- 25 minutes

Days 78-92  – walking,  yoga, and stretching… and that’s about it!

Day 74 -HELP-

I haven’t been blogging all too faithfully, but don’t worry I still have been exercising faithfully!  I need your help. I love the discipline of exercising every day, even if it’s only 20 – 30 minutes a day. I love that I have done this, to be quite honest. The discipline aspect of it is really good for me… now I need to add practicing my guitar everyday 🙂 But, I will say that it’s gotten a bit monotonous. I love mostly when I can get outside, as you all know. I fear snow is around the corner, and I won’t be outside quite as much. I will still get out some, but probably not as often seeing as how half of the time when I get outside to exercise it’s with children, and that is harder on really cold days.    I AM going to be buying snowshoes soon, so that as soon as we have some of that lovely white covering, I can get out there. And I am sooo excited for this. I’ve only been snowshoeing a few times, but I loved it! So, here is where YOU come in. I need your help in brain storming more exercise options… and they can’t be too expensive. So please, if you read this, comment and tell me your ideas, I need them desperately. Then when I’ve taken all the ideas in, I will do a post about it and my goals.  I know you all secretly do read here, but just don’t comment right?;) suuuuurrrreeee whatever. Please you every single one, comment 🙂 I will even comment back to you, if  you return to check! I promise.

Day 74 – walky with the doggy (oh and the baby too)

Day 71

It’s really hard to believe these last few days have been a part of our Wisconsin November!  It’s been so gorgeous and I feel so grateful. I took the kids down to the woods and walked and climbed on rocks. Story really had fun exploring. the walking counts for me today 🙂 We had fun, and actually I think I got more exercise playing on the park with them afterwards.

Day 71 – Walking with the kids -25 minutes.

Day 68

Tonight I went grocery shopping after the kids were in bed. I still needed to do most of my exercise, so that made for a late walk!  It has been such a beautiful day, and night as well. The crisp air almost smelled like  s’mores to me! I walked Shayla around the block briskly, she was almost pulling me at some points, and of course I had to pull her a bit too.  Let me tell you, The stars were glorious tonight. I said a prayer of thanks for this display of grandeur!

Day 68 – 25 minute walk with Shayla (doggie)

Day 55

I went for another jog in the woods. We have this little trail that goes back by the river and under the bridges.  I love it, it’s my new favorite place. Call me adventurous, but I even climbed up on the underside of the bridges. I think Shayla thought I was crazy!  This spot would make an amazing photo shoot place.  The other day I posted on FB a threadless T-shirt, and said something like “This may sound ridiculous to you, but this shirt almost makes me want to cry, it’s so me.”  I’ll see if I can get the link on here for you all. (you know all of my two readers  😉 ) Seriously guys, I’ve always been this way.  When  I was 10 I had a secret place I’d go in the woods. When I was 16 I loved to run alone on the cross country ski trails. When I had a broken heart, I’d go outside by the river to cry… anyways so my heart is peaceful and at rest outside, this is why I have been loving running in the woods. I also had this idea today, and am so proud of myself for thinking of it. I need to get myself some snow shoes!!! AND, I will do it! I have some birthday money unspent, so I”ll let you know when I decide which lovelies to buy.  Makes me actually a bit excited to exercise outside this winter!

http://www.threadless.com/product/2461/A_Happy_Place/tab,guys

Here is the link to the shirt.

Day 53

I went for a jog in the woods today, and it was glorious! I loved every second of it, but I wished I had twice the amount of time. Overall it was a great day, and getting in a jog was JUST what I needed!  Ever since the vacation slump I’ve been wanting to kick it back into gear, and a jog with the dog was just the trick for me. It was so refreshing. I went out alone for a bit today to drop my lovely guitar off at the shop for a tune up, and stop at a shop downtown I’ve been wanting to check out, oh and grab a coffee. 🙂 When I got home Scott had about 30 minutes before he had to leave for work so I ran our for a quick run! Shayla and I went on the woods path down by our house, we even cut through the woods to the river. I love how God has allowed me to be near nature.  The LaCrosse is not the Wolf or the Deereborn, the bluffs are not Twin Butte’s and my woods are not Glacier National Park… but He’s given me just what I need!

Day 53 – 25 minute jog in the woods!

Day 46

After we got home from vacation my mom and grandma came for a visit, and left today. So it’s been pretty busy! Because of the business and the long hours in the car, it’s been a few weeks of just barely getting in my time. But now I hope things can get back to normal a bit.

Today I got to go for a 30 minute walk alone, just me and Johnny Cash!