Discipline Over Motivation

I've been on this journey now for 72 days.  Guys, I've worked out for 72 days straight!  It certainly hasn't been easy and yesterday I hit a wall.  I'm seeing progress, but for some reason I was completely lacking any sort of real motivation.  I didn't know what it was that put me in such a broken state, but it sure had an impact on my attitude as I pushed through 300 reps for the night. 

It all got a little more clear today though, when I was able to rest up and step away from how I felt last night.  I'm exhausted in life.  Work is really busy, wedding planning has become slightly more stressful as choices are getting harder to make, I miss my friends and family - those relationships that I've worked so hard to build but hardly get to enjoy these days, and I'm working out for 100 freaking days straight!  These are certainly smaller problems to what I've faced in the past, but I'm just tired.

That's where discipline comes in though.  Why did I start this journey?  Because I wasn't happy with where I was.  I wanted change.  I wanted to create a new habit. I wanted to better myself.  So that means that several things in life are going to change in order to make this fit into any and all areas of my life.  If I want to see change happen, I have to stay disciplined even when I can't see exactly what motivated me to start.

If I've got work or plans to hang out with my people, that means I'm waking up early or shutting the gym down.  I'm wrapping it around my life and forcing it to fit in because I know that once I hit my goals, it will be worth it. I know that even going in there for at least 30 minutes of my day is going to make me feel better. 

I'm tired right now and life is busy, but it's worth it. I just have to stay consistent.

"Discipline always has victory over motivation.  We aren't always motivated, 

but discipline always wins." 

                                                - Jamie Gomez.

Discipline tells me that I am going to keep going even when I feel exhausted and can't see where I'm headed.  The minute I step away from the consistency I've worked so hard to build is the minute I break and return to old habits.  It's not easy to change your body.  It feels foreign and challenges you in some pretty major ways - but it's possible.  You have to want it.  You have to give up excuses and chase after it with everything you've got in you.

I'm not giving up.  When I'm tired, I'm going to push even harder.  There are 28 days left in this challenge, but I know it won't stop then.  This is my passion.  I'm making changes and going places.

-jennilea

6 Months Until We Get Married

Where has the time gone?  It feels like only yesterday we were announcing that we got engaged - but at the same time it feels like forever (however that works out - lol).

We've sent out our save the dates, finished basically all the major details, and have paid all of our deposits!  The awesome thing is that the wedding is nearly paid off already thanks to my fiancé's fabulous ability to work hard, make the dollars, and save.

As we approach May, it's time to research Wedding Insurance (yeah that's a thing), finalize our event rentals, and my lovely bridesmaids will be ordering their dresses. 

182 days to go until I marry my best friend!!

-jennilea

Unconditional Love

So we bombed Afghanistan.  I'm sure I can't even begin to understand the complexity of that decision, but what I do know is that the death of others isn't something to celebrate.

When I opened my Facebook App on the morning of April 13th, I was completely disgusted to see a status posted by someone who has been such a major influence in my younger years where he was celebrating how hardcore America is and essentially the deaths that the bombing caused.  This broke my spirit, and actually impacted a large chunk of my day.

In my sadness, I was reminded of one thing:  No matter how ugly people can get, God loves each and every person just as much as he loves me.  That is unconditional love; the king of love that the God I serve extends to everyone.  Seeing bad things happen doesn't please God, and we shouldn't be celebrating it either.  Instead, we should be in prayer for peace and restoration.  We should be praying for these countries as well as our own.

Without prayer, without God - we fall apart.

-jennilea

100 Days of Fitness: Part 2

58 days later...
Brian and I are still going strong on our workouts!  Unfortunately, it hasn't always been on the same schedule though as our work hours are wild, but we're both still putting the work in!

Noticeable changes:
>>I'm down 14 lbs.  Brian is down 22 lbs!
>>I feel more energy.  As soon as my alarm clock goes off, I don't hit snooze anymore!  I'm up and ready to go.  Although I'm sure part of that is the simple fact that I've also been focusing more on getting some good rest in.
>>I suddenly have the best immune system ever.  Seriously, everyone around me has been hit with the plague and I've somehow managed to avoid it.  My trainer Jamie hasn't been sick in years, and she credits it to taking her vitamins and maintaining a healthy level of activity.  I guess she was right!

Overall, I'm feeling 100% better during the day - and whenever I walk by a mirror.

Most of my workouts are done at The Dungeon, and when I can't make it in there for the night Jamie will send me stuff to do at home.  From time to time, I'll also take part in workouts from Kaelin Tuell.

I've been able to step into a few new classes during these weeks too:
>>Water Aerobics: My cousin Bri and I decided we would swim laps one day - and ended up walking in on a water aerobics.  Naturally we just jumped right in and decided to take the class.  It was harder than I thought it would be, but didn't feel nearly as tough as what I normally do.  Nice little break though - and I had a blast.
>>Boxing:  Boxing is on Thursdays, and it has to be my absolute favorite class.  Jamie's husband Josh teaches it and he kicks my butt every time!  I'm noticing that I'm getting stronger, faster, and my stamina is holding up much better from when I first started this class.  Each week, we only get better!

Some things I've loved most during this challenge include trying new things, feeling awesome, and hearing from you guys!  I've had a few friends reach out and say they are taking the 100 Days of Fitness challenge now too which only encourages me to keep pushing!  Congrats on the start of all of your journeys.  I'm really excited to follow your progress and to see how you get creative with your 100 days.

42 days left in this challenge.  I can't wait to see where we are at the end of it!
If you want to follow along in our journey, add me on Facebook or Instagram @JennileaChristine, or follow me on Snapchat @JennileaL.

-jennilea