a new decade...a new perspective

artwork a la Arden-grade K

Welcome Back!

Well...it has been a LONG time since the blog was used.  Much like the snowman above, I kind of melted away from my writing and posting to focus on some other areas that needed it at the time...mainly ME!

When I first started writing this blog, back in the days of it being Waits and Measurement(s), it was primarily my way of tracking and being accountable for my health and fitness goals.  I was just one out of a zillion people blogging about the same topic.  Don't get me wrong, if this platform is the best way for people to stay on track and accountable, the I applaud the time and effort they give it.  In an era of social media and the ability to quick post, taking the time to sit and write may fall to the wayside.

There is also the idea of putting your thoughts and words out there in a more meaningful way that comes with blogging that has a certain amount of fear attached to it.  You are opening yourself up to a far more sever kind of judgement, but as opposed to things like Facebook and Instagram, the judgement may be less "viral" on a blog.

I have always enjoyed both reading and writing.  This blog does have a facebook page attached to it, and I will be utilizing both as I can, but this will be a more meaningful way to get my thoughts across.

So, I come back to this space from the same starting point as before, wellness.  What makes it different this time?  I have FINALLY truly realized the importance of overall wellness.  It isn't just about numbers on a scale and what size pants you wear.  To truly embrace wellness you need to see it from all angles...the most poignant being inward.  To start with self care and self love.

Over the years my husband and I have tied all the workouts and diets hoping to find the :"magic solution" that would make us feel and look the way we had hoped to look and feel.  We have done weight watchers, beachbody, biggest loser, Tae Bo, Atkins, vegetarian...you name it, we have tried it.  And they each worked great...until they didn't.  After turning 40 and seeing weight creep on and not drop off no matter what I did, I resigned myself to the fact that it was a part of life in a new age bracket.  As other "things" started to happen thought too (brain fog, fatigue, congestion that never went away) I started to again.  No I have done LOTS of research over the years in my own way, trying to piece together ideas of what would maximize my health.  I always come back to gut health and inflammation. After seeing a functional medicine doctor and talking more in depth about hidden inflammation and triggers, the hubs and I started 2019 off on a serious detox program cutting out foods and trying to narrow down triggers.

That was hell.  I won't lie.  If you have never done an in depth elimination diet, count yourself as one of the lucky ones.  It sucks.  BUT it helped me realize how crappy certain carb based foods and sugar made me feel.  This led us to tying the keto diet.  Just over a year later, having had cheat days (weeks) I have found that keto is still what works best for me at this point in m,y life.  I am not saying it's the ultimate answer, but for now...it works.

Keto led me to the one of the biggest break ups of my life.  Diet soda.  I bid farewell to my beloved fizzy goodness in May and haven't looked back.  This was HUGE.  If you have read my blog in the past you know that this is a struggle I honestly never thought I would win.

Outside of finding a new way to eat to make me feel better, like actually begin able to tell that my body was not in a constant state of inflammation, I also stepped away from "box video" workouts.  This was another huge one.  I started watching tutorials that my hubby shared on how to use certain machines and free weights at the gym (I had a real fear factor of these) and am finding a harmonious balance between those and my beloved running.

I also added grad school to my plate last year.  This has been such a rewarding experience.  I feel more confidant in the classes I am teaching and reconnecting to what made me love theatre to begin with.

So that is kind of 2019 in a nutshell, an overview if you will.  Because I am human, the holidays have gotten me off track with my food, and I can feel it, but I am working to get back on track.  I am focused on how good I felt when I cut out the garbage that brought on the sleepiness and pain.  I am starting to really love some of the strength workouts that I am creating for myself to work the areas I want to improve and seeing how it helps me in other areas of life.

What does 2020 look like for me?  Progress.  It is moving forward and continuing to make myself a priority.  I have started reading again for the love of reading (not just my textbooks for class) and have joined a book club.  I am reconnecting in more meaningful ways with friends, and maximizing every moment with my family.

What do you have on deck for the new decade?

Going Strong

My girls love arcade style games...anything where they can win tickets in exchange for random trinkets.  This past Sunday we decided to treat them to a family fun day at Dave and Buster's.  What I love about days like this are how good we all feel at the end of them.  Hubby and I have been killing it on our workouts and eating (not to toot our own horns too much), mini me has stepped up her game (quite literally) by taking her Fitbit she inherited from mom almost as seriously as I do :)  and my big girl started in with strength training for high school soccer last week on top of practicing with her club team 2 nights a week and games.  So we needed and deserved a crazy fun day as a family.  I will admit that the game of air hockey got a bit dicey (mini also seems to have inherited momma's fiercely competitive nature), but in the end we left laughing, smiling, and with arm loads of prizes.

It was a great way to end the weekend and recharge our  batteries.  Have you ever noticed how much better you feel and how much more clearly you think after a day like that?  I came home and packed my gym bag for the next day, got the girls lunch snacks picked out for the week (I try and give them a different kind of fruit each day and mic up there "desserts" as much as I can to keep then from getting bored).  Hubby made an amazing corned beef brisket...just a wonderful and grounding way to prepare for the week ahead.

With Monday came the start of my Get Fit for Life challenge at work.  It seems like it will be a fun way to get people to ramp up their current workouts.  Everyone has different goals to meet based on where you were at the start.  Here is the premise, if you currently workout less than 1 time a week, you are challenged to get in 90 minutes/week for 4 weeks (based on 30 minute workouts).  If you currently workout 1-2 times per week, you are challenged to get in 120 minutes/week for 4 weeks.  And if you currently workout 3 or more times per week, you are challenged to complete 150 minutes/week for 4 weeks.  I am in the last group, which I feel good about right out of the gate.  I can't tell you how many years I have spent making resolutions to be better about working out and eating, and here we are half way through April...and my whole family is still going strong!

Six months ago this challenge would of had me worried...how will I fit it all in, we have so much going on already, blah blah blah.   Not today.  We have all reached a point where we realize, accept and encourage each other to make sure we get our workouts in.  The kids are easier, with soccer and dance and gym class and training...but they have been SO awesome about keeping mom and dad on track too.  We even have flip flopped who was taking which kid where to make sure the other could workout.  Like on Monday, I got a nice run in at the gym, and was hoping to do another workout at home...but hubby had to work late and couldn't get to the gym.  So, whereas he usually take our big girl to soccer practice on  Monday nights so mini and I can hang out, I took the big girl so he could get in his MMX workout.  It's great, and I can see the difference in our mentality (and bodies).  We were reaching a point where we were grumpy all the time and tired, so tired...now we have all this energy and we are smiling more and doing more.  It's AWESOME!  I am on track still with my training for a 10K, and have gotten to a point where my runs don't feel like a workout necessarily...I mean, they are for sure, but I still want to do more afterwards.

One of the best things we have done is sign up fr Beachbody on Demand.  It gives us access to SOOOOOOO many amazing workouts, and price wise it's no more than what our 2 gym memberships are combined for the YEAR!!!  It has given us the opportunity to try out SO many different things and find what works best for us.  It has also given me a lot to think about.  I have really taken to these programs and am seeing the proof in the pudding.  My dear friend Kate from The Well Balanced Family is a Beach body coach and has been for a while.  She had talked to me about how she really was only doing it for the discount and she has helped guide me through purchasing some of the workouts.  She even has me in an ongoing challenge group which has been amazing for accountability and support, and she recently decided she wants to take her business to the next level.  So after some thought and consideration I have decided to retire my Thirty-One hat and jump on the Team Beachbody business train!  I mean, I love Thirty-One and it has been very good to me, but you can only have so many purses and bags....you can NEVER have enough good health! 

Now, I do want to be upfront that I am sure I will talk business on this page every once and a while, its inevitable...I mean, I am DOING the beach body workouts...but I will also be staying true to the original idea I had for this page which was personal accountability.  When I was presented with this opportunity though I knew I could not WAIT, and that the results I have seen already from the workouts are in and of themselves a great form of MEASUREMENT(S), and hopefully I can inspire and help more people along the way.

Just for the Health of it

I touched on this today on my facebook page, but felt like I needed to keep the momentum of this discussion going.  More and more people in my age range (mid 30-early 40) are taking a more active approach to their own health and fitness and I think it is just AWESOME!  I mean, I think back 15 years ago to my early 20s and the crowd of smokers/drinkers/partiers I hung out with and was a part of, and I can't wrap my head around the fact that we are now the 5k, 10K, half-marathon crowd.  we are juicing and detoxing and working up a sweat.  It just makes me so damn happy and proud.  I mean, it seems like not too long ago our generation was written off as a bunch of slackers...no here we are changing the world fr the better and starting with ourselves!  We are more aware than I think even we ever thought we'd be.

Examples...my hubby and I, on and off the workout wagon for years, but in the past 6 months-year we have been pretty sticking to things....one of my besties for 20 years who guest posted here is not only an avid exerciser now, she is a Race Director for Susan G Komen...one of my hubby's friends from way back is training for his first half marathon (not even bothering with 5 or 10K just all in on the half), another friend has gotten SCUBA certified and dives frequently, and yet another hired himself a personal trainer to get it done.  Fellow parents are becoming Beach Body coaches, competing on Fitbit, doing 5Ks, taking Moms with Moves dance classes...its like an upsurge in fitness and it is just GREAT!

One of the best parts is seeing the trickle down effect to the kiddos.  Now that Momma and Dadoo both have fitbits, mini me wanted one (big girl is above such things haha)...one of my besties has one then her daughter wanted one.  She got it for her birthday and baby brother just got his for his birthday, if there dad sticks with the trainer, he may just get one for Fathers Day. :)  And it's the kids that are setting up the challenges...weekly and daily and they are busting their little butts to win.  My friends 9 year old is averaging 20K steps/day right now.  WHAT!!!

The kids want to do more too...they have asked about 5Ks, but they are all so busy with different activities already (dance, soccer, football, cheer).  We don't want to lose that excitement about being fit and healthy, so we are looking at options like virtual races, our friends at Level Up Runs can help you with that!  They have registration open RIGHT NOW for their Incredible Virtual Run which you can do on your own dime, in your own time.

The future seems so bright right now...I can't wait to see what these kids push us to do next!!!

I am a runner

I am a runner.  It has taken a long time for me to feel confident in saying that.  Despite years of track and soccer, despite running on and off over the years, despite completing (finally) my first 5K...it's just been in the last few months that I feel like I have REALLY become a runner.  I make time each week to run, whether it's outside in the cold or sun...or inside on the treadmill...I do it.  It's my time for me.  When I workout at home, I get a cheering section and sometimes even company...and I LOVE that, but sometimes I need to just be on my own.

For me, running has always had a relaxing effect.  I still fall into the same breathing patterns I learned when I first made the track team in 7th grade.  An easy in through the nose out through the mouth rhythm that times out with my footfalls.  I pop in my earbuds, turn on  my audio book and just go.  It's my way of getting back on track mentally.

What I have found since completing my first 5K last year, is that the high that comes from crossing that finish line is addicting.  It keeps poking it's head up and saying "don't you think it's time to do it again?!?!"  And I do.  I really do.  And even though I make sure I make time to run every week...making time for races is a whole different thing.  Our weekends are packed generally with the girls activities and family fun and I wouldn't have it any other way...but still that pull for a medal hanging proudly on my wall is there.

I started to look into virtual races, ones where you can sign up and do your run and they mail you your medal.  I know this lacks the camaraderie of an actual race, but for me...that part isn't as important since running is a solitary thing for me.  As this idea started to take root...fate intervened.

Do you remember how when I kept hinting about a running belt for Christmas and didn't get it how I bought one, and then literally right after was approached about reviewing one?  Well maybe I need to hone this skill more on lottery numbers, but as I started looking into various runs online, I was connected with Brad at Level Up Runs.

Level Up Runs is a company "run" by runners.  They set up various virtual races so that all runners can have that medal earning opportunity.  They know how hard it is to get those races on the calendars sometimes, so they allow for you to do it on your own time!

As a lover of all things Disey, and feeling pretty Bada$$ when I complete a run, I am VERY excited about their upcoming virtual race, The Incredible Virtual Run, I mean check out this awesome medal!

The Incredible Virtual Run is open from April 15-30 for completion, all ages and levels welcome.  You can even chose your race 5K, 10K, Half-Marathon.  You can register online here.  The cost is only $25, and for you, my fine readers, they are offering a 10% off coupon code SAVE10.

I am hoping that since the hubs has started running again that he may even join me on this virtual adventure!  Have you ever done a virtual run?  What do you think of the idea?

Running Fashion + a GIVEAWAY

Have you ever wanted something but just didn't want to have to buy it for yourself?  So you drop hints for a while, even add it to your Christmas list for the old family gift exchange....but alas and alack, it never made it onto Santa's sleigh.  This was me with a running belt.   I had actually not done a LOT of research, but had seen a lot on Pinterest for the flipbelt.  So that is what I had asked for.  A nice, new, stretchy, convenient flipbelt.  I did not get one.  Sad.

So, once we got through all the holiday craziness, and I went through my stack of gift cards, I decided to bite the bullet and just buy one for myself.  I mean, I have an iPhone 6+ and it i a pain in the butt (well, hand actually) to carry while running...but it is a necessary evil if I want to track my distance and listen to some sweet tunes or an audio book while I run.

So I order myself a belt, and then LITERALLY the very next day, I get an email from Travis at slstri.com about testing a running belt out.  I mean, really?!?!  The NEXT day!!  So I think about cancelling my purchase, but then decide...hmmmmmm maybe I can keep both and see which is better.  Yes, I like this plan.  So I agree to test the new SLS3 and await both running belts in the mail.

This is the SLS3 Dual Pocket Run Belt.

When it first arrived, I was like...WHAT?!?!  How on Earth am I going to fit my ginormous phone in that tiny running belt?  But sure enough, it fit.  It is a little tight, and with my earbud cord I have to pay attention to how I put my phone in, but it does in fact fit.

So the SLS3 Dual Pocket Run Belt is pretty cool.  You can choose from a variety of fun colors (I chose black because, I always chose black for clothing type pieces...I know, not very adventurous. Looking back I kind of wish I had gone with the purple for that little punch of color, but that;s okay...maybe my next one.  I LOVE that this running belt is water proof.  I live near Cleveland and we can quite literally get all 4 seasons in one day.   People think that is an exaggeration, but I promise you it is not.  I had a run one day last spring where it was gorgeous out, then it was windy and chilly, then icy rain, then just a downpour, then y the tine I finished I was in the sunshine again.  A lot of crazy for a 3 mile run.  I also love that this belt is fully adjustable size wise.  It has been nice being able to have other members of my fam try it out too since it can be customized to each of us.  And of course the most important thing, it is washable.  I don't know about you, but I am a sweater....not the fun, snuggly winter kind, but the red faced, dripping wet kind so ALL of my gear needs to be washable.

Overall, I give the SLS3 Dual Pocket Run Belt a big, fat A+!  And now, thanks to the generosity of SLStri.com, you can enter for a chance to win one of your very own!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*I was asked to review this running belt by SRSTRI.com, but the opinions expressed are all my own

Weight Off my Mind

Remember this guy...the one that had my heart breaking when he went missing and then 6 weeks later came home again!?!?  This cute little fur ball that I love so much?!?  Well, as of late this guy has been a bit of a stinker.  He LOVES to help Mommy get ready in the morning, so much so that he will stand out side of the bathroom door while I shower and call for me until I let him in.  He then proceeds to chatter away while I dress and get ready (as quickly as  I can due to his loudness).  All seems pretty cute and sweet right?  I mean, I think so, but the hubs...not so much.  After all, I get up at 530am and all this chit chat happens in our bathroom.  when hubs doesn't have to be up until 730....it's a touchy subject.  So I have had to rethink my morning routine some, and I have to say...I LOVE what I came up with, let me share.

I have this goal in my head for 2016...this is my year our year, for better health, smarter choices all around.  We are making changes everyday and I am seeing the benefits start to kick in, for example the chatty cat problem has actually been a win win overall.  I have been doing my best to get in at LEAST 30 minutes of cardio everyday.  Yep, that's right, I said EVERY day and it has been working.  I am running 3-4 days a week and have crossed over the 4 mile mark/run.  My distance has increased and I have cut 1 minute off my mile in three weeks.  Woo hoo!  I am also doing the Piyo by Beachbody 5-6 days a week. 

As someone who loves both yoga and Pilates, this workout is PERFECTION! It challenges me, gets a good amount of strength training in, and has enough variety that I can use it as cardio on off days with one of the longer workouts...or like last night do a shorter workout (lower body in 20 minutes, yes please) after a run and it REALLY helps to relax and stretch those tight running muscles. 

Ok, so the morning situation.  Since I get up at 530 NOT to workout but because that's what time I HAVE to get up to get my big girl up and off to school by 7, my workouts happen AFTER work.  Well, if I workout AFTER work, I need to shower after work...so that is what I have been doing.  If I know I have to shower at night, it makes me more apt to do that workout...and if I shower at night, there is no chatty kitty to wake the hubs in the morning.  I lay my clothes out in Mini Me's room the night before (as she snuggles with Dadoo once I am out of bed), and my makeup and hair stuff are all in the downstairs half bath now.  It actually allows me a little more time in the mornings too so I am not as rushed packing lunches and making breakfast. 

The other win out of this is that I have stopped obsessing about the numbers on the scale.  Our scale is in the master bathroom.  I had a habit of getting on it everyday....EVERY day, so each little fluctuation made me crazy.   So with this new routine, I am not near the scale so my on;y weigh in options are the weekends, I am relying on how my clothes fit ans how I feel the rest of the week. This has proven to be a good great thing too as I had been plateaued out for a while, and now with a few new changes (more workouts, so more carbs added back into my eating plan), I broke through and dropped another pound.  What a weight off my mind (and body).

I have also been back to my oil pulling 5 sometimes 6 days a week and I have to say...my teeth are whiter and my skin has a but more glow to it...it's probably a combination of everything, and I love it...so I know this is a plan we can stuck with for a while.

I HAVE added more carbs into my eating, but am making sure I am choosing healthy ones...more nuts and fruit...still avoiding pasta and breads and rices etc. 

So that is where I am right now.  Starting month 2 of 2016 strong and with a plan feels great!!!  Oh and in case you are wondering, this month's challenge is the wall sit challenge.  February is also going to have a GIVEAWAY so make sure you check back!

Holidaze

Oh those crazy holidays.  I tell ya what, they get ya don't they.  Well, at least it feels like they do some what...but looking back on it, I actually wasn't too bad.  I mean, we ate some carbs...like, didn't even count net carbs, just chilled and enjoyed food...but when I took inventory I didn't do NEARLY as bad as I thought I did.  PLUS I may not of been hitting the gym or working out with a DVD the way I had been, but I was still getting my steps in.  So, bonus.

This year, we all had two weeks off together.  Two weeks of sleeping in, family game nights, little excursions, holiday parties, and just spending days on end in jammies.  I had big plans to blog, but then decided to even break some from technology.  I mean, I updated my facebook page some, but never sat down more than 3-5 minutes at a time...and lets be honest, that is NOT enough time to write a legit blog post. 

So the holidays, in a nutshell, were awesome!  Santa spoiled the girls rotten (as did the parents, grandparents, uncle, and cousins).  We got to see friends fro out of town, friends from years back, spend lots of together time...it was EXACTLY what a break should be.  Family!

We set some goals for the new year together and have already started working towards them.  I am going to aim for a 10K this year, my big girl really wants to improve her fitness score at soccer, so I am working on her to do a 5K with me early in the summer (it has a Princess Dash for Mini Me so should be perfect for all the girls in our house-oh, hubs isn't invited except to cheer because its an all female race), Mini Me is attempting swim lessons again, hubs has agreed to go to the gym with us on Saturday...baby steps.  I will take them.  I am also working diligently on getting in AT LEAST 3 workouts a week.  With my eating back on track, I want to see some REAL results.  We are going back t the beach this summer...I want to feel comfortable enough with my body to buy a bathing suit that does NOT have a skirted bottom. 

I have also started a 30 day Thigh Slimming Challenge, I found on Pinterest.

I KNOW my girl Jessica over at The Journey, is not a fan of some of the challenges....but I am hoping to get her blessing on these.  I want to try one each month that is fitness related, and I have found a few non-fitness ones that I am going to throw in there too. 

I am also participating this month in a yoga pose of the day challenge with my friends at Fit Approach.  I am SO happy and blessed to be able to be a #sweatpink ambassador and work with such an amazing group!  So far we have hit tree pose and wheel.  Check my facebook page, instagram page or twitter for updates on THAT fun! 

Oh and in the next few weeks...keep coming back to check in on a giveaway! 

Meal Enders Review and Giveaway!!

OK friends, have I got something fun to share today.  I have been enjoying Meal Enders lozenges for the past few weeks now, and I have to share.  As a perk to being a Sweat Pink Ambassador, I get to try out all sorts of cool things, and YOU as a reader could win the same perk!

So Meal Enders, they are a stimulant free way to let your body and mind know that you are done eating.  It takes your body up to 20 minutes to realize that you are full, did you know that?  So, when you feel as though you have eaten enough (portion wise...this is where you need to be s,mart), pop one of these babies in as a dessert sub and let them work their magic.

They come in 4 flavors, cinnamon, citrus, chocolate mint and mocha.  The chocolate mint is my personal fav, with cinnamon as a close second.  They are a 2 part treat, as you can let the hard outer coating melt away in your mouth, and then enjoy the chewy center. 

I gave each of my turkey day guests one of these after dinner to allow time for their food to settle in, and we were able to enjoy some conversation before diving into dessert later.  They are a neat and convenient way to help teach yourself your "cut off" point., and now YOU can win a chance to try them for FREE!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Post Holiday Follow Up

Wow is all I can say.  The hubs and I decided that we would take Thanksgiving Day, and only Thanksgiving Day off from our low carb ways and thank goodness we stuck to it!  I loaded my plate with sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, dressing, a roll and maybe 3 small pieces of turkey.  Later that evening and for the next few days I felt like that busted can of biscuits, but for about 2 hours after eating....I felt like that biscuit dough waiting for the can to bust.  Mini Me teased me about the "food baby" I had in my belly because I was so bloated and distended after eating.  It was painful and gross.  Talk about your instant regrets.

We are not a Black Friday kind of family.  I hate the idea of rushing out to beat the crowds...but this year my 14 year old went at 2am with her BFF to see what kind of deals they could find.  She bought breakfast.  Only my kid, after years of having my anti-early shopping mentality ingrained into her could go with another teenage girl to the mall on what promises to be the best shopping day of the year and only buy breakfast. 

We have traditionally gotten out our tree and started decorating the house the day after Thanksgiving.  At ;least, that is the tradition the Hubs and I started when we bought our house 10 years ago.  This year was no different except that I usually get tree up and done and then over the course of the next week get the rest of the house done.  We have bins of Christmas stuff which is separate from my bins of winter stuff.  Usually all the Christmas stuff comes out first then after Santa has visited, we swap out the Claus decor and add in more fat, chubby snowmen (my fav) as well as more snowflakes, etc. 

This year upon waking, I felt so gross I wasn't sure that the tree would even get brought up fro the basement.  It was like a hangover...a food hangover from all the crab loaded dishes eaten the night before.  Now, I will say that of the food we ate, only the couple little dessert things were really all that bad for us.  I mean sweet potatoes=good, green beans=good, but the blueberry cheesecake cupcakes...well, they TASTED very good.  I felt slow and bloated and gross and seriously the only way to describe it was as a food hangover. 

I am embarrassed to admit that due to the grossness I felt for basically the whole weekend, I didn't get in any workouts....but I did average between 14-15K steps everyday, which the Hubs reminded me counts as something.  I mean at least I didn't just veg out after feeling to gross.  So how did I score all the steps?  Multiple trips up and down stairs from the basement to the main floor the the second floor and back.  Mini Me is 6 years old now, and she was excited, well, that isn't even a strong enough word to describe it she was over the moon ecstatic at the idea of decorating.  Over the 3 days remaining in the weekend we got the tree up and fully decorated (all on Friday) and got out ALL of the bins, not just Christmas, but all 6 of the large storage bins and emptied them through the house.  We are one wintry Santa loving house right now, and I must say it has brought my attitude back into a good spot.

I think having her holiday cheer while feeling so out of sorts is what got me back on track and moving back towards my goals.  I am happy to say too that the numbers on the scale didn't go up NEARLY as much as I had thought, they did creep up a bit, but not too bad.  And something the long weekend made me more aware of is how little water I drink when I am at home.  I am GREAT about it at work, but not so much at home which explains the grossness too.  So I got an app for my phone called Daily Water, set some alarms on it, and am working toward a minimum of 80 ounces a day EVERY day.   I am getting my workouts back on schedule now that I am feeling better physically and plan to take Christmas by storm.

The best part of our "day off" is it reinforced how much I don't actually miss eating all those carbs.  I feel better, sleep better, look better without all that added sugar and starch i my diet.  I actually don't have any plans of taking another "day off" for a long time.

How are you doing, post holiday?

My Boast Post

Do you remember when Brokeback Mountain came out?  Yeah, I didn't really either and had to look up the date.  It was WAY back in 2005.  I ask because that is the last time I can remember really feeling the way I did this morning.  This whole week actually.  My then boyfriend (now hubby) and I had a date night planned to go see the movie with a couple that we are great friends with and I had bought this pair of jeans from NY&Co (I think they were still Lerner New York then-ha) and I loved them.  I loved them partially because of the super small number in the waistband, and partially because of how good I felt in them.  I felt skinny and sexy and like I was wowing my fella.  I wish I had those jeans still today because I feel like I could maybe get them back on and razzle dazzle again.

Is this too much?  I mean, I feel like when you have these moments where you feel this good about how things are going you should be able to tout off a bit, right?  If you are offended, I'm sorry...but I am feeling pretty good and want to shout it from the rooftops. 

Even on my wedding day, when I had been diligent about my eating and my workouts, and was VERY happy with how I looked in my nice mermaid fit dress, I don't think I felt as happy about how I am looking as I do today.  What makes it so funny is that the number on the scale is higher today then it was on my wedding day, but that has kind of started to lose it's importance.  BREAKTHROUGH, am I right?!?!?!

the happy couple SO many years ago :)

Maybe it's the "gift of age", maybe I really am getting wiser as I get older....I mean I know I am getting grayer hahaha.  Maybe its reaching a point and a maturity where you have a greater acceptance of yourself and your accomplishments, I'm not sure, but whatever it is, I don't want to lose it.  How I am feeling now, is what I want my daughters to see and feel for themselves! 

Is this what a turning point feels like?  I hope so, because this is the "a-ha" moment I have needed, this is the "sign" that what I am doing for myself is what I SHOULD be doing.  I have found myself making sure I make time for me.  I have made my workouts a priority.  I have come to a "happy place" with my eating habits and have grown accustomed to the changes we have made, I even find myself pampering myself a little more.  Here's to keeping the momentum going!

Happy Friday!!