Sometimes People Reach out for Help When WE Need it the Most

Although our summer was amazing and filled with lots of outdoor active fun, I did not keep up with my gym workouts and I lost track of eating right, most of the time.  However, I would not change a thing!! This summer was one for the book of our best family summers.  But as fall started and we got closer to the cold and dark months of the year I needed the routine.

I tried a few different things, like running with Cate, getting both kids out with me to walk, eating more at home, but it just wasn't all falling back into place.  I was searching for that one thing that would get me back to that sweet spot, but it was eluding me.

Then a friend reached out to me for encouragement and support.  It is a wonderful honor to have gained the reputation of someone who others reach out to for help getting back on track, even though I can often be found out there trying to find my own way back.  I have even been told that friends think of me when they are exposed to burpees.  I am honored that my hard work over the years, even if I falter at times, has made me known as this type of person.

As I was saying, a friend reached out for support and I was honored and jumped into action.  I must admit I was not at all excited that this meant I should be more accountable for my own decisions.  I mean isn't it a bit hypocritical to tell someone else all the things they should be doing when you aren't doing them.  So I started doing a little more here and there.  I started back to my running routine, pulled out my weight lifting program and started it back with normalcy, and began tracking my food. And....

Man, I gotta say I feel great!!  It is amazing that when I lose this routine I don't just crave it to an extreme because of how awesome it feels, but I guess the yumminess of the ice cream, pizza and cereal hides it.  I am such an emotional eater too.  I will get upset and instantly start craving foods that comfort me and make me feel better.  I will always fight that, but for now I am winning again.  And it feels amazing!

So to my friend that needed help and reached out to me, THANK YOU!!!  A hundred times THANK YOU!  I am honored you thought of me when you needed help and so grateful you reached out.  I hope to keep working together to get us further down the road toward our goals.  As I have always said... It won't be easy, but man it is worth it!!!

Focus and creating change

This winter had me in a bit of a funk. If it wasn't for my workout regimen, I might have slipped into a bit of depression.  But I feel it is all starting to turn around. As the days lengthen, the warmer days begin and green reappears my mood has begin to lighten.  With this comes new energy and focus.

I continue on my weight lifting journey. I am working hard and focusing on creating a body that works the best for me for as long as possible.  I am even struggling with an injury but it does not stop me from showing up and giving it my all each and every day.

I feel a sense of peace and gratitude when I think of my current weight lifting journey. I began it again in the fall of last year and it is such a beautiful part of my life.  It makes me feel strong, beautiful and a total bad ass.

The interesting part of this journey is that the results aren't quick.  I can't step on a scale and see a difference each week.  My progress is measured through pictures and videos that show small improvements.  I have learned to celebrate things that to others might seem insignificant.

Sure, the progress is slow but I have fallen in love with the way it makes me feel.  There is something very therapeutic about lifting weights. I call it my therapy, but in all honesty it feels better for me mentally than any counseling I have ever done.


I realize my body transformation isn't going to happen quickly, but I
feel like I am on the right path. So I will keep showing up and putting in the work. I give my all in these workouts and it will all pay off.  It might not be visible tomorrow, but this is not a sprint or even a marathon.  This is a lifestyle where there is not a defined finish line.  Instead my aspiration is to enjoy a lifetime of being active and doing all I can to strength and support this beautiful body in every way I can.

We have but one body so take care of it.  After all it is the only place we have to live.  

That was good for my soul

I had not realized how much we needed to reconnect until it happened today.  We have spent the last few weekends home with barely any plans. You would believe this to mean relaxation, rejuvenation and connection with each other. However, I think it was just doing our own things in the same space.

The thought to get out of town and explore someplace new was a selfish desire. However, I believe everyone benefited greatly from it.

It was an afternoon filled with chatter, jokes, sharing thoughts and ideas. The kids acted like small children. They played, explored and imagined. It was good for my soul and likely theirs as well.

Time in nature provides something to my body that is very similar to a drug.  It lightens my mood, changes my perspective, brings positivity, and everything I do after it is enhanced greatly because of what I experience out there. It provides clarity and so much joy.

I am truly left with a high after our day.  From the drive over to the Chesapeake. Then the two and half hours of hiking, exploring and beach walking. Followed up with trying a local diner and sharing our food because we  loved it so much. All topped off with the drive home listening to our favorite podcasts while the kids slept. Yep this day was good for my soul.

They won't all be like this but I want to hold onto this high for just a while longer. I know someday these kids won't be so little anymore, but one thing is for sure these are the days I cherish the most.