Not Where I Was

With all the stress of life and school, let's face it:  As far as fitness goes, I am definitely not where I was this time last year.  I have been letting that really get me down, but have come to realize I need to just stop.  I can look back at my life the last few months and know exactly what I've been doing wrong.  Sometimes I get in this mood where I just think of how far I have to go to reach my fitness goals, that doing nothing seems like the easiest option.

It's true, doing nothing IS the easiest option, but it is definitely not the best option.  If being fit was easy, everyone would do it.  Hard work pays off - and when I think of how comfortable I was with my body this time last year, I know it will be worth the work.  I also know that change took place so quickly when I followed the guidelines Jamie laid out for me at The Dungeon.

With life being as hectic as it is, I decided to take online training with Jamie at The Dungeon.  She still does my meal plans, gives me different workouts for me to do during the week, and checks in on my progress.  Let me tell you, the online workout plan is not at all easier than the plan at home.  The only thing different is that I have to be able to push myself.  I have to make myself get out and go to the gym, watch my form, and make sure to push myself to the breaking point.  It is far from easy.

This week, one of my days included the card game workout.  This is far from a game...It keeps you moving as you flip through your deck and really showed me just how out of shape I am compared to before.  When I can hardly get through 15 burpees in a row - where I was able to get through at least 50 before needing to stop previously.

Word of advice:  Taking time off is NOT worth it!!

After my workout, I sat there, sweating, out of breath, and tired and thought to myself, "What the heck - I should be able to do all of this no problem!"  As I felt sorry for myself about how much further back I was than before, I realized ummm I am still better than I was before!  I remember the first time I did the card game, where I definitely did not finish the entire thing withing 45 minutes (recommended time).  This time was another story.  I may have taken just a few mins over the 45, but that was still about 10 minutes faster than when I was doing this last year!  Not all progress has been lost, I just have to work that much harder to be where I want to be!

Following my workout and meal plans has already given my self esteem a nice little boost!

Whenever I feel down, I remind myself to stop looking at how far I have to go or how far I am from where I was this time last year.  In reality, I have come so far from where I was when I first started and as long as I keep pushing myself, I will be even further than I could have imagined by this time next year.  Fitness is not something you do just until you reach your goal.  You have to keep working to maintain.  Don't take breaks.  Keep pushing through and you will reach your goals, set new ones, reach those goals, set more new goals, reach those, etc.

We have to choose to push on to be where we want to be.  We can't stop.

I won't stop.

In other news:  "On average, it takes about 12 weeks after beginning to exercise to see measurable changes in your body."
For more fitness fun facts, click here!

-jennilea

We don't stop living.

I would like to start off by saying "Thank you!"  Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me in the last month and been encouraging and loving.  Thank you to everyone who has shared their stories with me - even though many of you don't actually know me.  It takes a lot to be that transparent and vulnerable in such a sensitive situation and you have all overwhelmed me with your love, support, and prayers. I am so grateful for each and every one of you.  You have all helped me grow a bit stronger.

So given all of the life changes, I fell into a brief slump where I just didn't want to do literally anything.  One day I woke up and decided that, even though we all face trials, we don't stop living.  It's not an option.  In fact, during the tough times we need to get out there and live more than we did before.  I needed to do things for myself, have adventures, go to class, complete goals on my list...live.

I've done a lot of list things since I made the decision to keep moving forward:

Completed "The Time Traveler's Wife"
Started "Mortal Instruments"
Pointed to a spot on the map and went there (Half Moon Bay)
Drove through the guard shack at Yessica's house without stopping (my rebel phase)
Walked across the Golden Gate Bridge (loved doing this!)
Completed a 1000 piece puzzle:

After attempting to complete a 1000 piece puzzle at least 2 other times, I am proud to have finally finished this one.  It was definitely a lot more challenging than the others, but doing this puzzle was some great alone time.  Actually, working on this puzzle was the first time I really felt okay being alone...so that was kind of a big deal.

Music and puzzles...my escape.  :]

I have now completed 87 of 101 items with 142 days left!  EEK!  I better get to work!

Next, I'd like to address dating.  I've been having sort of a tough time with this subject lately.  One thing I promised myself was no rebounds.  Just me, Jesus, family, and friends.  I don't want to rush into anything.  So, making this clear to the world:  My life just changed in a major way.  I am not dating right now.  Stop asking. Stop assuming.

Along the subject of dating, I've began watching "Boy Meets Girl" from Louie Giglio.  The message in even the first talk was absolutely amazing!  One hour in, and I've come to an even greater sense of my worth and value.  I've learned to grow, mature, and stay in my fortress of intrinsic value before seeking out any relationship.  It is so incredibly important to know your value in God because that value is so much greater than what you will find in any other relationship.

Louie says "Brokenness gives way to restoration.  Wear newness in the midst of our brokenness and healing can come."  Run tell dat, Louie!  Lol.  I am taking those moments of brokenness and letting God change me, heal me, make me whole, and make me new.  I have to say, I am loving all of the amazing things he is doing in my life.  I really do feel value, healing, and change.  I feel happy.

Finally - school is out.  One more semester and then I am done.  Forever.  :]

In other news:  Butterflies range in size from a tiny 1/8 inch to a huge almost 12 inches.

Find more useless facts here.