First you see them over THERE.... now you'll see them over HERE

So, I saw this type of thing before and thought it was a great idea.... I wasn't yet in to this big health / weight loss thing, so I kind of just let the idea slip my mind.  Then I saw it last night on the Calorie Count facebook page and my creative side really wanted to have a set of these!

They are tracking jars!  I went out last night (it was cold, windy, rainy, but the idea was already in my head and I wasn't going to be happy until I accomplished it).... I picked up 89 "pretty" rocks and pieces of beach glass to represent the 89lbs I want to lose.  Then I decided to keep it simple and use up some alpha stickers that I had in my craft supplies that I will never use on my scrapbook pages anymore instead of cutting something from vinyl. So that easily and that quickly I had the idea in my head, got the supplies I needed to make it happen and had them made and ready to help me track my progress.

I think rather than giving you weekly photo updates when I weigh in, I will do photo updates once a month, this way you will see more of a change between pictures. So, every month, I look forward to sharing my progress, with this tracking device, my monthly measurements, and MAYBE, POSSIBLY, a monthly photo of me to see the progress being made.  We'll see, either way I will take the photo for myself for my own records, we'll just have to see how brave I am at sharing with the rest of the world. :)

Hope you are all finding what works for you and getting to where you want to be, or at the very least are learning what things are right for you.

Until next time, keep smiling :)
~Jenn

Let's Rock

I know I have had enough with feeling the way I do about my appearance and I think this past week my body has finally caught up to my brain and is ready to take on this challenge.

I have had the WORST week ever as far as body image is concerned. Like I said before, my body has finally caught up to my brain so I decided to spend some time researching and trying to see if I could put together a program that I could follow with things that I would enjoy doing that hit all the target areas I have issues with.  Personally I look for things done by real people..... I don't want to see the uber skinny population using their workout as an excuse to prance around in their workout clothes that barely quality to be undergarments.... I  want to workout, to feel better about myself, not have that in front of my eyes bringing me down as I am reminded about what society has come to.  Not to mention I know these girls can do this stuff..... they don't inspire me. Now take someone just like me, working hard and actually doing it....... that inspires me. If they can do it, so can I! 

After going through a million posts of people saying their inspiration was to be uber thin (like beyond what I would ever want or need), it really made me feel that even when I reach my personal goal, I am still going to be "fat" in the eyes of society.  Needless to say my confidence and will power were shattered. Took a pitty week-end, and have turned that pitty in to the drive I need to succeed.

So here's how I broke things down and  how I am starting to form my "routine". First, what do I know about my own habits? Well, I know I don't eat a whole heck of a lot, but what I do eat is shit food, and that's how I've got to be where I am now. I also know that when I make changes in the types of foods I eat, and keep track I lose weight easily.  This is good! This is a great start!  What's the problem then? I DON'T MOVE! I can eat right, and I do feel the difference when I do, with breathing, energy, headaches.... but the "blobbiness" just isn't going to go anywhere without the exercise too.  The good news is I seem to have a TON of energy this week and I plan to use that to my advantage.

First things first, I am a homebody, I am home a lot and thus and stuck with the household chores that never end.  Never ending can be frustrating, but again if it has me off my ass I'm ok with it.  One thing I've noticed is that I seem to get more done and it doesn't nearly seem to suck as bad when the music is playing.... so there's the first step, ALWAYS have music with me to keep my body wanting to move.  I have 2 mp3 Players set up, 1 is my "Cleaning Music".... good beats, fast paced dance music.... this encourages me to move more than just walking from the sink to the cupboard to put away the dishes, this inspires me to dance around while I work, keeping my feet and legs moving, reaching, shaking that booty...... ya know the drill.  Rule for this "Dance Like No One is Watching!!!!!" Luckily most times there is no one here all day, but I'll continue to do it once the boys are home from school and they don't seem to mind. LOL  The second list is of my favorite tunes to sing a long to, slightly fast paced but not too much, and nothing that makes me want to shake it up..... this is my "Walking Stick".... this mp3 player goes with me when I'm ready to go for a walk.  Singing along in my head, the minutes fly by with the songs and I'm not even thinking about the distance or the burn of all the frigin hills around here haha. So that's where I'm stating.... moving as much as possible during the simple things.

I have 2 more things I would like to get in to.  One is the Zumba Fitness Rush for Kinect.  I have watched so many youtube videos of people trying it out and using it in their weight loss and it looks like a ton of fun...... work but fun. I'd like to be able to switch it up with my Sweatin' to the Oldies videos....go ahead, laugh, say what you want, but that lil man is inspiring to me AND it has the REAL people I need to inspire me! I'm still hunting for a VCR to use with those though.... those things aren't easy to find these days!  The other thing is I'd really love to get my Curves Membership back.  I loved going to Curves so much.... so that's my big goal, as soon as I can afford to pay for it again.

So, with that said I have sat here long enough, I need to get up and get moving again. Look for more posts as I feel while I'm on this energy high I am going to be excited to share some stuff with you and be here often. 

~Jenn