Yep, resolution time!!

Why do we set new resolutions?  I pretend I don't but I actually have a mental running list that evolves along the way but remains pretty solid year to year.  Lose weight (no matter size small or size large), exercise (wish I could get over my lack of enthusiasm) and eat healthy (love veggies but love sugar more)!! Never veers far from this list.

Add to this year's list...meet an interesting man! Plan my 50th birthday party (yes, I am throwing myself a party...maybe small but I am having one!). Do more charitable good (actually charity is almost always on the list but it goes without saying, if I can I donate...this year I want to actually do charitable deeds).

Although I do want to focus on growing my business, the resolution is to balance my personal and professional life.  The past few months have not been balanced and I do feel my healthy life-style has suffered a bit (not happy with my food choices or lack of exercise) but I am focused....re-focused, renewed, re-energized!

Hope you all find a surge for 2012 that will help you stay on track with your personal goals.  Wishing everyone a blessed New Year.  Not my best pic....but I am going to post one every month for motivation!

Ooops!!

Well, It has been a while since last post...oops!!  Not trying to hide but work has been all consuming and I am just taking a little break before going back to work...yep....on a Sunday night.  We have a HUGE presentation on Tuesday, then head right into Christmas!!  Where has this year gone?

To catch up, I have not been doing well with food or consistency.  I feel like I have been working round the clock and ignoring all my personal priorities....eating well, exercising, staying on track with personal commitments.  Ugh....really hate that my work once again is consuming me.

So a week before Christmas!  My gift to myself this year is a renewal of focus and commitment.  I need to get through this week, then hopefully things will settle down and I can get this show on the road.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and I will see you in the New Year!!

Great start...I think?

I started this week with an AM walk with the pup, then cardio-blast, fruit smoothie for breakfast, soup at lunch and tuna salad for dinner finished off with my PM walk!  So that is a great start....then I had the beer and chips!! Crap!!! 85% is better than nothing but I want a week of no bad choices! So my goals this week are each day to improve the "good" percentage!!

I have decided to approach exercise as a ritual....like brushing my teeth or washing my face...every day no excuse because who walks around with dirty teeth and face! Same logic applies to exercise and making the right choices for food.  This might be the key for me.....maybe?

33 days and counting until the New Year.  I am using the next 33 days to set a great platform for 2012.  No excuses will be allowed after 2012 starts....even if that means a daily blog log of my activities and every little thing that goes into my mouth.....EVERYTHING!!

I know this is achievable!  I just need to keep setting the small goals for myself until I reach the big one!

Thanksgiving all year long!!

So I decided to stay in Virginia this year during Thanksgiving for a multitude of reasons but money and work being primary.  I am sad that I will not see all my kids at once which brings me such a great sense of "family" and unconditional love as I have ever experienced.  In that context, there is not amount of money I wouldn't pay to have one hour with them.  Heavy heart...and the hope of seeing them soon.

I have managed in spite of my stressed work schedule and erratic eating to lose weight.  I honestly can't figure it out.  When I try the hardest, it sticks like glue and when I throw it all to the wind, I lose! Stupid!

Regardless, I have come to the realization that I like feeling better about the way I eat when doing it "right" and my meager attempts at physical activities.  Walking my dog still seems to be my favorite form and one I can not deny especially when little brown eyes are staring me down.  Smartest decision I ever made.

I hope to walk 5 miles in the AM with my "Ladies of Fairfax" group then maybe a special breakfast at Bob Evans then a movie with popcorn with a dear friend later.  I am sure I will speak to family and friends throughout the day but nothing will ease the pain of being alone during the holidays.  Big girl made a bad decision!!  Next year I am planning to be in Alabama come hell or high water....now who's with me....Bev??

Okay, enough for the pity party.  I truly wish everyone the best for this Thanksgiving and the rest of the year until we find ourselves here again.  It has been a great year, new beginnings, and positive outlook ahead.  I am blessed, happy, and enjoying this last year of my forties.

God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving!!

New York has come and gone....

Lot's of fun in the Big Apple, made great connections that may lead to new projects, saw friends in the design industry, cool new product and one fabulous Todd English restaurant.  May have to incorporate some of the ideas into a future project.

Best part of the trip was seeing my friend Ginger and her babies.  Miss Casey is 16 months old and a complete baby-doll!! I love any little girl that wears pink and looks so cute in mommy's glasses!  Big brother Aaron loves his little sis too!  Too little time!

Big confession....no surprise....I went off the rails on food and drink while in NYC! Refuse to step on the scales until this time next week!! By then I will have gotten back on my narrow track and back into my exercise routine and hopefully have leveled out some so my over-indulgences aren't so devastating. 

Okay, two steps forward, one back, keep trying, one foot after the other! I will get there....one step at a time.    Next milestone is getting through the holidays (Thanksgiving-New Year) without gaining weight....and hopefully losing some.  High priority is getting Cardio Blast into a 3x week program.

So with cold weather on the way, black bean soup is in order!  May need to make a big batch this weekend to last through the week.  Yummy!

Cardio Blast!

Well, I started with Cardio Blast yesterday! So far no sore muscles....which for someone who does not lift anything heavier than a fork...that's saying a lot.  I may need to increase the weights to actually feel pain but right now I am concentrating on balance and fluidity!  The biggest obstacle being my "work-out" space which is in the bedroom.  To further challenge myself, the bed is blocking the TV when I am doing anything "low" but I will hopefully learn the routine soon enough to not need the video as much.  Below is a link if you are interested in seeing what I am up to these days.

Halloween wasn't as bad as it could have been.  Thankfully I did not have candy in my house and other than my dipping into the stash Monday night and two reeses cups at lunch Tuesday, no sugar since.  I think I dodge a bullet this time.  Now if I could just get through the holidays without indulging in my sweet obsessions!

Started doing a fruit smoothie with Almond milk for breakfast this week.  Can't figure the right ratio of fruit to milk yet but it's getting there.  Not bad, but I want it to be a little "smoother" than it has been.  Any good recipes out there send them my way.  Prefer to stay with almond milk rather than soy or rice.....but otherwise open to ideas.

Added MorningStar Farms® Meal Starters® Grillers® Recipe Crumbles to my favorite black bean soup recipe and was not overly impressed with the outcome.  It was not bad but it changed the taste enough that it wasn't worth the effort.  I might try them again with my chili recipe.  I had a really good lemon chicken Greek soup Wednesday I wish I knew how to make.  Any recipes send them my way.  If nothing, then I will continue to stop in for this little treat at my neighborhood Greek restaurant.

So far a good week for both exercise and food.  Still holding steady but maybe with the weekend activities (extra long walk Sunday AM planned and a Ghost Tour in the evening) I will be able to see some movement on the scale.

Next weekend is NYC and I know that there will be some indulgences...moderation is key!! But I am going to enjoy my time there!! Yeehaw!

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Halloween and Candy

Well here we are on one of the toughest days for a candy junkie like me.  Seriously!  And like any good addict...I agreed to pass out candy for friends while they walked around with their boys.  So far 6 fun bite sizes....and I think I am done....I hope!!  I avoid buying candy for my house because I know who will be eating most of it....yep....ME! Even if I buy stuff I don't like....I eat it!

My goals this week are to eat clean and lean.  I made vegetarian soup this weekend and plan to eat soup, salads and fruits for the next two weeks in an effort to shed the last four lbs before my NYC trip.  I know I can do this and feel confident that I will reach my goal.  When I return from NYC, my next milestone will be set.

I am also going to incorporate a Step Class into my work out routine starting tomorrow.  This class focuses on toning muscle and something I desperately need.  Primary focus being my large rear-end, flabby arms and middle section.  I really don't think I can do much with the boobs except a new bra!!

So no major set-back last week, no highlights either.  Sometimes holding steady is an accomplishment too!!