It has been a while since I have posted. I admit that the stress from the fire in our area has been a stumbling block for me. I really need a way to manage stressful situations. The problem isn't all food. A lot of it is just exhaustion from not sleeping well and so, even though I exercise, it isn't enthusiastic and isn't doing much for me (other than keeping me in the habit). I have been exercising every day, and I am back to doing it more 'enthusiastically'!! It feels good to be back on track.

IT has been raining, so I haven't been running too much outside but I have been doing my exercise classes. They have been good. I did my first weight class for my upper body today and it was tough but good. Usually I just do it myself, but it is always better with an instructor.

I have been running a little while I am out with the kids playing (on non-rainy days) and that has been good. I have taken to pulling the kids around in a stroller. There is a play area outside for the kids to ride bikes and such and I just run around it and up the driveway that is a good incline. It might not be a great workout, but it is a good one. And I always run, not speed walk, which is a challenge for me. I am starting to appreciate running a little more, although it still isn't my favorite thing and I don't think I will ever be fast at it. LOL.

I am also meeting with a friend 3 days a week, on non-rainy days to walk. We will probably do an average of 3 miles but none of it is incline. It is a good workout though and it is ALWAYS easier with a friend to distract you. :)

I did my measurements on Friday. They haven't improved at all, but they didn't get any worse either, so I feel good about that. Thank goodness. I don't think I can handle going backwards, even if I didn't work hard this last week.

This week has been good and I have been working hard. It always feels good and I always feel better after a good workout. YAY!

Here I am again! Ready to go. The exercising is going well. It is still a struggle, every day, to find the energy to exercise but I put on my exercise clothes in the morning and I don't get to take them off until I exercise. That seems to help remind me. :) Does it get any easier Dad?

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Any ways, I didn't measure last week because it was "that time of the month" and I didn't want to know but I did measure this week.

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same on the bust, waist butt, legs and neck and down 1/2 inch on hips and arms.

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Not much of a difference but considering my week, I will take it. I fear that I am suffering a little bit of anxiety or depression. Can a person suffer from it a little? I have no desire to do anything and I don't want to be around anyone, even friends and family. I don't find joy from things that I usually find joy in and I just want to sleep all the time. I type this now, as I am starting to feel a little better. I don't feel as "down in the dumps" as I did a few weeks ago. I think I am crawling my way out but it is a slow process. Any ways, I feel like exercising, even when I don't want to do it, is at least giving me a little "get up and go" energy to make it through the day. Thank goodness I had already decided to make good exercising habits a part of my daily routine. :)

I didn't forget but it has been a crazy busy weekend. 

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I did all my exercising this week. Monday and Wednesday I did 30 min cardio/20 min core. Tuesday and Thursday I did 30 minutes Yoga/20 min core. Friday I did a mile walk, with the incline run, pushing 70-80 pounds worth of stroller and kids. :) Yay! My legs are still a little sore. I definitely need to make that part of my regular workout. Plus, the kids love it!

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Still working on the sugar thing. I joined a "support group" through a friend on FB. It is just a Facebook page where we can put up how we are doing and encourage each other. I haven't measured myself since I was sick. I was sick for about 3 weeks and then it took me a week to start getting back in the habit. This was really my first full week back to being committed, although I exercised as much as my breathing would allow all through the sickness and only missed a couple of days after that. This was the first week I really felt like I was back.

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Any ways, I did my measurements on Friday, because that is when the FB group does their weigh in. I was actually okay with how it went, considering how it was this last month. I gained a little in my waist (less than 2 inches) and lost a pound in my bust (seriously, why are the boobs always the first thing to go?) but everything else measured the same. I will happily take it. It felt good to know I hadn't gained back all the weight I worked so hard to lose. A few people are even starting to notice now. :) I know I have a long way to go, and it isn't all about losing the weight, as much as getting healthy, but boy does it feel good too. It is helping me to not snack or eat yucky foods. The idea is to concur  the instant gratification for the longer lasting gratification of getting healthier and thinner. I am winning right now. Woo Hoo!! :)

So I knew that eventually this blog would slow down. My goal is to record things at least once a week, so I am still accountable. I exercised all last week. I even tried a yoga/palliates class. I was it was hard and my legs were sore when I was done. :) I am thinking of doing cardio on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and then yoga or something different on Tuesday's and Thursday's, just to mix things up a little. 

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So, it is amazing the addictiveness of sugar. I just had ice cream one night. The next thing I know, I am back where I started and I can't get enough sugar. Because I don't really keep any in the house any more I am actually looking for it, like getting a small baggie of chocolate chips and just eating them plain. I would never do that before. So today I am recommitting myself to not having sugar in the house (other than what is normal food. I have too many kids and too small a budget to regulate that right now) and only having sugar as a special treat if we are not at home.

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I feel like an addict when I crave sugar. My mind is not in control and I am going purely on instinct, the instinct for more sugar. I do't like that loss of control and loss of self.

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Today I will be doing my dance class and my core class and my weights. Wish me luck. :)

Tuesday:

Exercise 30 minutes, Core 20 minutes!

Wednesday:

Exercise 30 minutes, Core 20 minutes and arm weights!

Thursday:

Dance exercise 30 minutes, core 20 minutes!

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There isn't much to chat about. Life is super stressful this week but we are making it work. I have eaten more sugar than usual, we have had birthday's and so the sugar is in the home. Usually I don't have sugar in the home because I know I can't resist a sugar temptation. The sugar is almost gone though so I should be back to normal soon.

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I do think I might be allergic to milk. Not severely or anything but I will be testing it further to see. I don't eat/drink much dairy in general, so I am not too worried but it would be good to know.

So....I am back, at least I hope so this time. :) I am feeling much better this week and I think I might be over the worst of it, thank goodness. It was a rough cold.

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Today I did 30 minutes of dance cardio and 20 minute core. I also did weights for my arms and back. It is still hot here and I am sweaty and yucky but I feel good. That is what matters, right! :)

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See you tomorrow for my next update!! (oh, and I am not measuring myself this week because I don't want to know how much I backslid while I was sick. I do know my pants are still really loose, so I am at least okay!)

For anyone who checks, you are probably wondering where I have been....well.....I got over my cold and then promptly got a second one. For a little while we thought it was bronchitis. I couldn't breath, was coughing a lot and had yellow mucus. I know, too much information. No exercise for me, as breathing tends to be an important part. Ugh. I hated it.  I didn't want to lose my momentum and was very afraid that I would slide back into old habits and not exercise again.

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Tuesday of this week I finally figured out it was a sinus infection. I haven't had either thing before and didn't know. I now have some medicine to help me breath and I am doing much better and I am much happier. The headaches were so bad I just wanted to cry and lay in bed in the dark, but now I am functioning again. :)

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Wednesday I spent all day at an amusement park, so while I didn't officially start exercising again, I did get a good workout by walking around all day pushing a stroller. :)

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Thursday I took a day to recuperate from Wednesday. The truth is, I slept in with all the kids (we didn't get home until late) and my day was busy and it just didn't happen. Remember my fear of getting out of the habit? It hit yesterday.

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Today I re committed. I don't want to get out of the habit. I want this to be permanent! I did a 30 minute dance workout with Abby and did weights. I don't want to do too much to start because I am still sick but I am getting back in the habit and feeling good. I am always better equipped for my day when I exercise in the morning. :) Feeling good and ready to go!