Tough day...

Originally I thought going to Colin's funeral today was about showing respect and being there for his wife, boys, and family. However, it was definitely something for me, too. I felt some guilt leaving all of our family who are in town, but ultimately I am proud of myself for making the journey solo. It was a reflective drive there and back. It is hard to say good-bye to someone you care for deeply, and thankfully today was a true celebration of Colin's life.

For me...

--Trisha
Today I decided to go and get myself new exercise clothes (a couple of tanks and shorts), and the big purchase...I bought some special socks that are made to keep blisters away! Also, bought some shirt bands that you use to make your t-shirt a tank for only a buck!!

I need new shoes, and like the shoe lady (who was QUITE knowledgeable!!!) said, since I am serious about training for a half-marathon, I need to have good shoes, and replace them probably every three months. Um...this one is new to me. I have NEVER purchased expensive shoes for myself before. The gal asked me if I have ever done so for anyone else. Well, HELLO, of course, I have. In the end, I just couldn't do it. YET. I know I need new shoes. So, I will. SIGH. Maybe it will happen this week!

Another thing that I started out doing for someone else...but, in the end realized it's taking care of me and actually making me a priority is that I am doing a mini-boot camp! OMGawsh, my butt and tummy are so dang sore today! At least I know that I am working on my problem areas, LOL! I did originally sign-up because it's a senior project for one of my favorite students. Today I could have skipped since we have our family here. HOWEVER, I decided I wanted and needed and deserved to go, so I did! YAHOO :)

And, this afternoon, I was able to sneak in 15 minutes of quiet time in the sun just lounging in my chair and while listening to my i-pod. I was waiting for a dish to finish cooking for the BBQ. It was so nice.

Response to Challenge...

Stephanie here...

OMG Trisha, this is an awesome challenge!  You are so right, we are always doing something for someone else and fail to recognize the successes of our own. This will be hard for me because of the justification clause I put on EVERYTHING!

I went and worked out on my lunch hour and I thought about your challenge and went to the health food store and I bought myself something!  I never do that!!  Even though it was a bottle of water and some edamame, it was something.  I wanted to buy chocolate or some dried fruit but I didn't want the extra sugars and junk so I passed them up.  Again, that was for me!!!  I also thought, doing something for me doesn't always have to be food...so I thought of what I am going to do for me tomorrow night!!!  :)  stay tuned!!! 

Thanks Trisha for thinking of this. 

Thursday CHALLENGE

--Trisha
Sooooooooooooooo...
I think our challenge for this upcoming week...should be:

Well, we are both caregivers by nature, in both our personal and professional lives. We both don't put ourselves first. I challenge that for this week we do something special for ourselves EVERY day and blog about it. It could be as simple as painting your toenails or taking an exercise class that you have wanted to do, getting a massage, taking 5 minutes to listen to a song while doing NOTHING else.  You get the drift. Doing something nice for ourselves because WE DESERVE IT! But, being purposeful about it and not feeling guilty.

Questions for Stephanie

--Trisha

I think the questions and answers idea is a fantabulous one, Stephanie!! So, here goes...Stephanie's answers are in blue, mine are in purple!

Well thank you!  :)


1) What is your favorite indoor and favorite outdoor form of exercise?

My favorite form of outdoor exercise is walking.  I love to have that time to think and have conversation with myself (in my head!) and figure things out!  I am hilarious in my own mind! :) Being raised the only only child, I have a great imagination.  Indoor exercise would be either walking on the treadmill or a workout DVD.

Definitely hiking, though horseback riding is a close second. I LOVE exercising outside!!! Zumba or any other dancing is my fav for inside :)

2) When is your favorite time or the best time for you to exercise?  And, why?

My best time to exercise is in the morning.  Not first thing though but after I have been up for a half hour or so and got my day figured out.  If I wait until the end of the day I won't do it.  Although I wish I could change that because I feel better at night if I can get a walk in.  If I do it in the morning, I know I am done and everything else is extra!  Right now, I walk on my breaks and lunch hour and some in the morning and a lot on the weekends!  Basically whenever I can!

I absolutely LOVE working out in the morning. My favorite by far. THOUGH if I am having a tough day, I love exercising to deal with whatever, especially in the heat of the day. And, I sleep better if I exercise in the evening :)

3) What are your triggers for bad eating/snacking,and how can/do you work through those?

With doing this challenge and doing the clean eating and no sugars, I have found that my major trigger is when I am tired and when I am not prepared with good foods.  I think that when I am tired, snacking will keep me awake! :) And with baby boy, I seem to be tired a lot so I have had lots of water and tea instead.

My triggers are stress and the crazy, chaotic schedule I often have during the school year. But, if I have a plan, I do better. It's all about being prepared for me.
4) Which do you find more difficult to incorporate into a healthy lifestyle healthy eating or consistent exercising? And, why?

Healthy eating by far.  It is easy to grab something quick like cheese crackers or lunch meat or even a "energy" bar when I busy or when I am too lazy to peel an orange! :)  But when I take the time, I feel much better.  Also, my husband can eat and eat and eat and not change in weight because he burns a kazillion calories a day at his job and he eats a lot of processed foods.  So it is in the house.  I have kept away from it and saw what can happen if I don't eat it and I am loving the results!!!  Exercise is easy for me.  I always have something to do and somewhere to go!

Healthy eating for me, too! I do like healthy food, and I have never really been a fan of fast food. I run into the same issue of having a hubby who can eat whatever and burns everything off at his job, but he does enjoy eating clean, so thankfully I can have most all of the processed foods out of the house entirely! So, for me it's just when I get too busy, and I want to do quick and easy...then I might throw something in the oven that is processed and frozen  :( I just know that I have to plan out my meals for the week once school gets going.  Then I am good to go!
5) What are some of your favorite exercise/nutrition resources (tv shows, magazines, websites, books, etc.)?

ohhh my favs are blogs!  Endurance Isn't Only Physical, Prior Fat Girl (s), Real Fat, these girls keep me motivated and have lots of good ideas and information.  I used to buy fitness magazines, but I didn't learn a whole lot from them.  I like to see what real people are doing and what they go through so I know I am not alone. 

I love to read the following magazines both hard copy and online: Women's Health, Weight Watchers, and  Shape. I find shows like Biggest Loser and Extreme Makeover Weight Loss edition to be quite inspiring!! Websites...now this could be a big list: Hungry Girl, Snack Girl, Fitness Republic, Runners World, and Eat This, Not That! I could have listed MANY more :) I didn't even start with the blogs that I love to read!!

I also think that next week, we should answer our own questions!!

Good idea!!! 

Keep it up!

I wanted to leave this comment on Stephanie's blog today, but it just wouldn't let me :( So, here it is RIGHT here instead!!

OMGawsh! This is just like the blog I wrote regarding my weekend walks...PURGING that toxic emotion in your body! I am so proud of you for turning to something positive to deal with all of that! And, what a good girl for not letting the fact that you didn't have your walking clothes weigh in as an excuse!

Answers to my questions for Trisha...

 

So I wanted Trisha and I to get to know each other a bit better.  Lay a little ground work to this challenge.  So we have come up with a question and answer post.  We will each ask 5 questions regarding our health and lifestyle changes. 

We decided that we would answer our own questions as well! Trisha's answers in purple and Stephanie's in Red.

So here are my questions for you Trisha:

1.  What is the hardest healthy lifestyle change that you try and try to change over the years?

I would have to say the healthy CLEAN eating. I love eating clean, and we will do really well at it for months at a time, but then life will get busy, and I won't have the time to plan, and we will sink back into old habits of eating processed food. We are NOT big fast food people, and really have never been, thank goodness (in fact, one year we didn't eat fast food once), but it's just losing that motivation to keep it clean.

Staying on track and continuing my hard work.  I have a tendency to "fall off the wagon" or not follow through with my changes.  The habits just haven't be instilled in my brain yet, I guess!

2.  What is the one thing you are most excited about when it comes to losing weight?

Being able to shop for clothes ANYWHERE I want! And, it will be so nice that exercise won't be as hard. I am a very athletic person, and I love moving. It will be nice when I can shed the 85 pound hiking bag PERMANENTLY.

Wearing cute dresses and jeans that fit right and not looking at my clothes when I fold them thinking that two people could fit in those!
3.  What was the one thing that triggered your need to want a healthy lifestyle?

I can't really choose one thing. I am just tired of not being the best me I can be. I have done some major things in my life, and I have never been a quitter. I know that I can make this happen, and more importantly I know I deserve to take care of myself!

I just want to feel good about myself and weight has been the main obstacle my whole life.  I got a grip on the other stuff that goes along with self esteem...weight is the last thing.  I need to feel good!  I deserve to feel good!

4.  Are you finding life to be different with the loss you have had so far?

I haven't had enough of a loss to feel that life is different because of it. I usually start to see a big difference at about 20 pounds down. For now, I feel more stamina and stronger in my exercising, and I definitely have more energy!

I am the same, life isn't too different.  Although I do have more motivation!!! :)


5.  Do you think it will be hard to maintain when you reach your goal?

I don't know. I have NEVER reached my goal of losing all the weight. I am a fighter, and I can feel right now inside of me that when I reach my goal, I am NOT willing to give it back. I am also at a different place in my life now, with having both boys gone, and just the little one left, that life isn't as chaotic, and that I can focus more on me. I know it will be something that I CONSTANTLY have to focus on, but I personally think it will be harder to get their. Will see...

This is a battle I am ready to win!  I just need to remember to take care of me!  I know that I will have Trisha to help remind me how far I have come!!!