ENOUGH With the Excuses! *Updated*

Last winter I started working out with Jillian's 30 Day Shred. This is a great DVD and I was pretty successful while I was using it, spending Iz's nap time to do the 20 minute Jillian workout and then ride my stationary bike for another 20 minutes or so.

Then Iz and I got sick (Remember?) and she stopped napping and I stopped working out because she wasn't napping and then I wanted to start again and here we are almost a year later and I'm not working out AT ALL!

Why?

Well, because I've been telling myself that the 20 minute workout on Jillian's DVD isn't enough. That if I can't get a full 45 minutes to an hour than why bother?

Ridiculous, really, that I have been justifying it in my head that not working out at all is better than working out for 20 minutes. It's not an easy 20 minutes either...it's 20 minutes designed to be the only workout you do. It's 20 minutes that will kick my butt today :)

So, enough is enough. I was reading Laurie's blog the other day and she's started back up with the 30 Day Shred and I'm grabbing her coattails and starting back up too*! No excuses! There is ZERO reason why I can't take 20 minutes a day and work out. Iz is perfectly content to play in her room or on the computer for AT LEAST 20 minutes and Hubby is easy enough to shoo downstairs or to the spare room if I need 20 minutes alone :)

No more excuses. I'm getting SHREDDED!



*It's 1:12 pm...just finished my workout :) Probably won't be able to MOVE tomorrow!!!

I'm Doomed...

Well, it's been a week since several inches of cold, white stuff fell from the sky forcing Hubby to stay home from work and throw off my groove. I DID get it back, though. I watched my eating a little better last week and had the *pleasure* of Jillian kicking my butt a couple times with her 30 Day Shred (LOVE it! But it's a rough 20 minutes!). I also plan on getting "shredded" today and tomorrow before Iz and I head UPTA CAMP with Auntie D for a couple days.
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However, all the shredding in the world will not help me now. While out getting new tires on the van I made a quick stop to get Thank You notes for Iz to send out for her birthday gifts and THIS is what was calling my name on the counter at CVS.
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Cadbury Mini Eggs. They're dangerous. Seriously. I WAS able to resist the big bag and just get a tiny one for 75 cents, which I split (almost evenly) with Iz on the way home. They were good. TOO good. The crunchy candy coating. The chocolaty inside. I'm in trouble. Why? Well, not to go into too much detail, but I have a certain "monthly visitor" arriving soon (you know what I mean, right girls?) and, due to my extreme chocolate craving during that time (and, let's be honest, the rest of the month too!) I see a whole heaping mess of Mini Eggs coming into this house and going straight into my mouth (and henceforth straight to my BUTT!).
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I'm doomed.
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* image credit

Updates..

First of all, I can't believe I forgot to include this picture from Sunday of a HUGE bunny made out of bales of hay! Loved it!


Secondly, a few weeks back (when Iz & I were sick) I mentioned a basket making class. I know you've just been hanging on the edge of your seat wondering whether I went or not and what I made if I DID go.

Well, I did go and here it is:

Solid-Bottom Leather-Handled Tote Basket

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...which has pretty much replaced any sort of purse or bag I was carrying before....it's just big enough to carry a wallet, a bottle of water, snacks a drink for Iz, my cell phone, my camera (when I remember it!) and a small notebook and pen...but it's not so big that it's a nuisance.

Thirdly, I ordered a bunch of yarn last week from Knitpicks which I am very excited to receive. Six hanks of sock yarn! and two hanks of 100% baby alpaca which I intend to use to knit a sweater and booties for my grand niece or nephew joining the family in a few months. My nephew, S, is obsessed with alpaca socks so what could be better for his little babe? Will definately post pictures of those when they are complete.

Last, but not least, I think I am back on track. Worked out Monday and yesterday and feel great! Sore, but in a good way :) I'm going to keep it up and hopefully see some progress when I weigh in on Friday (for the first time in WEEKS!)

By Gosh! I Think I've Done It!

Well, here it is....the post I started trying to write 5 days ago! It probably won't live up to any one's expectations but it's taken days and days and days to write so humor me and tell me that it's deep and moving and inspirational and blah, blah, blah :)

Issue #1...Exercise.

I was doing great! Working out almost every day, replacing my normal grazing in the afternoons with a salad and a yogurt, limiting my portions at dinnertime and being very careful about my snacking at night; the result...I lost 10 pounds, had a TON of energy, was sleeping well, and feeling really good in my body AND in my head. Then, the ball dropped... Iz and I were sick for almost 2 weeks. I could barely make a piece of toast, never mind getting on my bike or getting "shredded" with Jillian. Now it's been 2 weeks that we've been healthy and I have worked out exactly ZERO times....zilch, nada, none. Every day I think to myself, "This is the day I get back on track. This is the day I take back control. This is the day I start again...new, fresh and ready to conquer all the issues I have, inside and out." and every day I find myself exhausted, making excuses and ending the day having not accomplished a single thing. So here we are, Sunday afternoon and looking over the edge into a new week. Will this be it? Will this be the week that I succeed? Will tomorrow be the day that I break the cycle? ....I hope so...I really do.

Issue #2 N/A

I know that the other day I had 2 life-altering issues...well, #2 resolved itself and will not be discussed today or any other day....my lips are sealed...sorry :(

A Blog Fetish

I'll admit it....I have a Blog fetish. In fact, pretty soon I may have to seek out a 12-step program! I read 6-7 different blogs on pretty much a daily basis (only one belonging to someone I actually know). They are blogs about life in general, health, kids, family, tv and knitting.Now, I'm starting my own blog....why? Do I lead an exciting life? No. Am I funny, witty or exceptionally interesting? No. Am I starting a blog just for one more thing to add to my already long daily to-do list? You bet!

As a SAHM to a 3-year-old my days are already filled with essential tasks; making meals, cleaning house, playing Candyland, watching Imagination Movers & doing a certain little girl's hair to look as cute as can be! Well, hell! let's add blogging to that....or try at least :)

As a quick intro here's a basic run down: I'm in my early 30's, grew up and still live in Southern Maine, married to a WONDERFUL man, Hubby, for almost 4 years who takes care of me and our daughter and is completely supportive of everything we do or try and keeps a smile on my face and my heart so full of love that it almost bursts on a daily basis...and also manages to drive me crazy, like all men do :) Then there's IzzyB (Iz) who turned 3 in January and who, single-handedly, keeps things interesting, funny, challenging and rewarding every second of every day. My world revolves around these 2 and I love it!

Anyone who knows me will think this is an obvious fact, but I have struggled with my weight my entire adult life. Part of the reason I want to blog is to get it out there that this is MY year...the year I turn things around and get healthy for me, my daughter, my husband and for our future. I bought an exercise bike, an elliptical machine and a couple videos and have been working out religiously for about 4 weeks - the result? Down 8 pounds and counting! Would probably lose more but I LOVE LOVE LOVE food and there are certain things I just can't give up (like chocolate, coffee and ice cream and, did I mention CHOCOLATE!) so right now I'm making small, bearable changes to my diet and exercising like crazy to get the weight off. My goal? Not ready to share that yet....but I'm taking it one day, one pound, one challenge at a time. Trying to focus on what I can do right now and, in the back of my mind, thinking about where I want to be months from now. I have a goal date though, Labor Day weekend...why this date? Why not?!?

I also have a bit of an obsession with a couple tv shows which I will probably mention once or twice on here :) The Biggest Loser, American Idol, Grey's Anatomy, Survivor, Private Practice and Life. Whew! Now, don't get the wrong idea, I do not sit around watching tv all day....I record everything and fit it in when I can. If I'm just sitting around I'm on the computer (big surprise, I know!) or I am knitting, a passion of mine that relaxes me and keeps me sane....and also provide some awful cute stuff like socks and sweaters! So, yes, I have a blog fetish and am proud to admit it!