Today is the last day of 2013 and I'm so excited for the new year to be here! It's not been a bad year or anything. A little rough at times, but relatively uneventful. I've not kept up with my diet as well as I would have liked and I've had a hard time keeping my motivation going. I'm treating the end of the year differently and coming into the new year strong and beyond motivated! I have been tired and feeling a tiny bit under the weather since yesterday but I've still done two great workouts yesterday and today. I did my weights this morning and this afternoon I will do some cardio too. I ordered some new Nike shoes and they should be arriving today. I'm hoping they will in time to break them in with my afternoon workout. I also finally ordered some protein powder to add to my shakes for a little boost after my workouts. My arm muscles are really starting to build nicely and I'm able to see some real definition in my arms, shoulders, and back and it's so exciting! I'm hoping this protein powder will help that process along. I'm so excited for 2014 and all the possibilities is going to bring! I can't wait for Spring and warmer weather, and to be able to get outside again and get some real exercise. I feel like this is going to be my year! That may sound hokey, but it's true! I refuse to fall off again and hold myself back another year! 2014 HERE I COME!
Some people hate the term "New Year's Resolutions" and some people love to make new ones with each year that passes. A lot of people will tell you that you shouldn't rely on the new year coming to make a resolution to get fit and healthy. I think that any time you take a moment to look at your life and you decide to make better choices for you and your health is a good one and should be embraced. Each day is a new chance to wake up and want to make better choices. This year I am determined to stay focused and to keep moving forward in my journey to better health, but even I have days where the motivation is nowhere to be found. I really do love the feeling of a new year! It's full of new opportunities and new chances, and so many people feeling positive and optimistic about things. Many people get depressed and sad around the holidays, and the beginning of the year is that perfect time when all that holiday stress is behind us and people are looking forward to Spring and warmer weather. I created this fun numbered workout to help ring in the new year and I've been waking up and doing it first thing each day, and I'll keep doing it a few days into the new year as celebration! You repeat it 5X. It's an intense workout that will help you bring in the new year right! Enjoy!
This Christmas has been a total success for me and I'm very proud of myself. Not just a success because I managed to go the whole season without getting really stressed out with everything and without over indulging as well!
The kids got everything they wanted and we didn't go crazy and broke doing so. My husband got me some really wonderful and thoughtful gifts, and he really got a kick out of what I got for him. He hasn't been able to put the book I got him down since he opened it this morning. An autobiography of Mike Tyson.... go figure! He likes odd biographies of strange famous people so I thought I'd be perfect! The food was great too! I always make a nice big Christmas morning breakfast and it's one of the meals I typically overdue every time. This time I kept it nice and simple. Pancakes, eggs and some maple sausage links. I opted out of the pancakes and added a bowl of apple sauce to my breakfast. When it came to the main meal I focused on making the ham as delicious as possible and kept the side dishes simple. Mashed organic yukon gold potatoes, fresh green beans and asparagus sauteed in coconut oil with tons of garlic, and organic jellied cranberry sauce ( my favorite! ) Also our desert was a whipped sweet potato dish with some marshmallows on top instead of the pies I normally make. It's wonderful to have a great day with the ones you love and not have that overfull bloated food baby feeling that practically puts you in a coma! I even had a great workout afterwards! I did a bunch of weights like I've been doing each day this past week and added a bunch of cardio in too. If I can be this motivated and productive and in control of my eating on Christmas Day of all days of the year than I have this down pat!! I really feel like I'm finally getting my determination and motivation back like the old days. I still don't have a gym membership which I know would make a big difference, but there is nothing I can do about it quite yet so I have to get things moving without that to rely on. It was the whole point of getting rid of the gym membership in the first place. I have been doing some "networking" on Instagram and a bit more on Facebook these days and it's helping keep me accountable. Seeing all these other strong women doing what they do and making a decent life out of it give me hope for myself and my dreams! There is so much strength in so many of these women and it makes me want to see my body like that! I know it's possible if I just stay focused. Right now it's about nothing more than watching what I eat, burning calories, and lifting as much as possible!!! I love the weight lifting too. I really enjoy how it makes me feel and how confident it makes me, but I have to keep on top of the burning calories and working up a sweat. I still carry a lot of fat in many places and I need to remember to get that heart rate up in my workouts and sweat to burn off that fat! Watching what I eat will just keep me from piling on more fat too. I can't wait to be able to go back to the gym! I miss that treadmill :( I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Merry Christmas! This is just a little bit of my workout from this evening :) |