Craziness!

Today I am feeling a little overwhelmed.... I keep thinking that life is going to slow down so I can focus on working out and getting in shape. Thats a laugh! :) I think the older we get, the busier we get, and we keep waiting for this or that to be finished so we have more time. But guess what, when we finish up with whatever is taking up all our time- something else takes its place! Its a never ending cycle- which is why we need to learn to fit our priorities in and stop stressing the little stuff.

I have made the decision (which is the most important part) that exercising and getting in shape is a priority! When I am tired and kicking and screaming inside- I have made the decision to put on my big girl pants and just do it no matter how much I dont want to. I do have tons of stuff to get done and working out often gets put on the back burner.... however, what I can do is either multitask while working out such as reading or planning while I am on the elliptical or I can do shorter, more intense workouts. I have found that interval training can really do alot of damage in a short amount of time. For those who arent familiar with interval training it is when you alternate between high intensity and low intensity cardio and strength building exercises. These little tricks make it so I really have no excuse to not workout because I can always fit in at least 10 minutes for a high intensity workout, whether I want to admit it or not. :)

Anyway... thats my two cents! :D

My Biggest Struggle...

I used to call myself a runner- aka one of those crazy people who get joy out of the physical pain of running for long distances at a time. However, by the time I passed adolescence, I came to my senses and began to enjoy the finer things in life such as cookies and cake! :) I used to get all excited after I got home from school and I would put on my workout clothes and shoes and fly out the door. My how things have changed!

Currently, my biggest struggle is doing just that, getting my shoes on and walking out the door. Once I do get to that point (which usually takes everything in me), I have a completely different frame of mind. I think to myself, well I made it this far and it would be pretty lame to go back inside now. Thats when I get my tush to the end of the driveway and start running. Its amazing what a couple of steps and a stern internal argument will do to get me motivated. (Whoever said you talking to yourself doesnt help anything sure was mistaken!) :)

Yesterday I was jogging along like a heard of turtles and I kept wanting to stop and give up. But as I kept trudging along, I thought of what I used to do to keep going back in the days when I could run like the wind and enjoy every minute. Then I realized that the whole time I was running I was focusing on just that, running and how much work it was. What I used to do was use my run as a time to think or pray. I would figure out problems and release stress. When I focused my mind on other things rather than the burn of my legs and lungs, I got more out of the whole experience. As soon as I made up my mind to think of anything other than actually running I was able to appreciate what I was doing and in the end I even kicked it up a notch to finish. :)

I know I have alot to work on but every little step is a little bit closer to my goal! I need to keep going, not compare myself to anyone else, and keep my tush moving and off the couch! :)

I am struggling but I will prevail! :) Good luck everybody!

The Beginning....

I am the girl sitting with friends at a restaurant that you overhear talking about fitness and exercise. As you listen you think, "This girl seems to know what she is talking about." So as you turn around and look to see where all this knowledge is coming from, you expect to see a thin, fit woman eating a salad and sipping on ice water with lemon... Instead you see a girl with a large diet coke, eating a burger and fries all while trying to hide her muffin top and flabby arms. What is wrong with this picture?!

I have always loved health, fitness, and nutrition, but yet I have no ambition to actually carry out what is necessary for a fit lifestyle. I love food and enjoy sitting on my tush doing nothing- plus I have every excuse in the book for why I dont need to work out.  I am starting this blog to help hold myself accountable and maybe help some others along the way. Growing up I have always been active playing sports or running 5k races. Towards the end of high school I started working out less and less and eating worse and worse. As I entered college my eating habits got worse and I rarely worked out at all. This summer will mark five years being out of high school and what do I have to show for it other than a flabbier tush and Buddha belly?

I am committing to work out consistently 3-5 times per week with a mixture of cardio and strength training. I will document my success and struggles and hopefully in the next couple of months I will be firm, fit, and fabulous! For now I am going to go kick my tush on the elliptical and start this week off right! :)

Happy exercising!