Take a Break

It's been quite a while since I posted.  Life got busy or I forgot about this...I have no idea why I didn't post.  Whatever the reason, I took a break, but now I'm back!

Today I took a different type of break.  I took a break from grading periodically to get in a mini workout.  End of the year grading is brutal!  I'm tired, it's warm outside, summer is on the brain, and reading 100+ essays sounds miserable.  I promised myself today that I would finish grading the tests my kids took last week because they had their final essays due today.  However, after lots of grading I found myself bored out of my mind and dozing off.  Naturally, I took a break by checking Instagram.  I found a quickee workout from someone I follow.  My goal wasn't to find a workout, but that's what happened.

I decided to use the workout as a break from grading.  Everytime I found myself dozing off, I started another round.  Some of the exercises were interesting to do in a dress, but I was alone with the door closed to my classroom so no one saw my doing bicycle crunches in a dress.

Quick workout as a break from ENDLESS grading.

A mini workout was JUST what I needed to wake up and get some more energy.  I'm going to keep this one close to my desk for a between class workout or a break from grading.  My normal Instagram/Facebook/Twitter break gives my mind a rest, but it doesn't give me any boost.  This little workout was just the mind break and energizer that I needed.

You are not fat. You have fat.

I came across a saying the other day that really touched me.  It goes like this:

What a great way to look at things!  And how obviously true is this.  We put so much worth into the amount of fat on our bodies, but we don't pay nearly as much attention to the other parts.  How many eyelashes do you have?  I bet there are people out there who have far more or fewer than you.  Have you ever taken the time to look at someone and say, "I wish I had as few eyelashes as that person!"?   Of course you haven't!  That's silly.  

However, day after day, we compare our fat to other people's fat.  We look in the mirror and see fat.  We put on clothes and feel fat.  We leave the house and wish we weren't fat.  And that's the thing.  We aren't fat.  

In fact, if your worth is found in the amount of fat on your body, then your mindset could use some serious readjusting.  Adjusting is what many of us need to do.  We need to make a change to our perspective.  I'm not sure where along the line such a huge emphasis got put on our fluffly parts.  I remember being in 5th grade the first time I felt "fat", however I don't have any recollection of who made me feel fat.  When did I get that idea that I should feel fat?

How do we change our thinking from fat vs. skinny to healthy vs. unhealthy?

Maybe our generation will be good for something.  Maybe that is our purpose.  Our job might just be to prove to those younger than us that skinny isn't something you want to be. Heck, a size 2 is great, if you are healthy.  In fact, a size 14 is great, if you're healthy.  Take care of yourself!

You can't help the value you were taught. You can't help the foods your parents fed you.  You can make yourself the best you possible.  You can make yourself better.  That better could be smatter, funnier, stronger, happier, or more loving.  Being skinnier will not make you better.

Your worth is not found in your fat.  You aren't fat, you have fat.  You also have fingernails, does that make you fingernails?

Check Out My Workout!

Today I did a 45 minute HIIT Tabata Workout.  Lucy napped FOREVER today and I could have run a 1/2 marathon, if only she had told me she was going to sleep so long.  I recorded bits of my workout so you can see it in action.

The link to the video I followed is posted under the "Workouts" tab, but I will give you the gist of it.

• 6 minute warm up
• 20 second exercise, 10 second rest x8 (34 minutes)
• 4 minute cool down stretch

Measuring Progress

The scale is easy.  It's tempting.  It's a liar (somedays).

It is way too easy for me to jump on the scale every morning before I get in the shower.  But when I jump on the scale first thing in the morning, the tone for my day is set.  Even though I know weight can fluctuate greatly due to a variety of circumstances, the scale can still make or break my day.

The scale is tempting.  It doesn't take a whole lot of effort to jump on the scale.  I'm already taking off all my clothes to shower.  I might as well jump on the scale, right?  WRONG!  See previous paragraph for why it's a bad idea, when done daily.  It takes no effort though.

The scale is sort of like keeping your regular life style.  It's easy.  It takes no work.  That's why I'm taking measurements as well.  I don't really know why I didn't think about it before.  At my tiniest adult size, I took measurements regularly.  In fact, I was obsessed if a body part got 1/4" bigger.

The great things about measurements is they are reliable and don't lie.  So I started taking measurements  as shrinking person guideline.  I still weigh myself every now and again, but I mentally prepare myself. Before stepping on the scale I think of the last number that I saw, and I add about 5 to that number.  I tell myself that I could see up to that number and it will be okay.

That keeps me realistic and doesn't set me up for disappointment.  So far it has worked out well for me. Inch-wise I'm down 3 inches overall.  Weight-wise, I've been consistently in the 130s again.

Seeing progress is important.  What do you do to measure your weight loss/shrinking progress?

If You Want to be Happy, Be

How do you not fret about the number on the tag, but still strive to be smaller? I want so badly to be smaller. I find myself daily wishing I fit into my size 4 closet, but I'm struggling. Do I just buy more clothes that fit and celebrate the body that has endured miles of running and months of carrying a child regardless of the size pants? Or do I stick to my three pairs of pants that fit and keep working until my fun closet of pants fit again?

I know the simple answer is something to the tune of, be happy with the body you have, but keep working for the body you dream of. But you see, it's not that easy. What do I do with all my too small pants now? Pack another box? Donate them? And they're my daily motivation. Only having a few pairs of pants to pick from is boring. Every morning when I see the clothes I want to wear, I feel motivated to keep working toward my goal. Every time a pair of pants is a little tight, it is a constant reminder to stay on track.  It's also a constant reminder that my body is not what I want it to be.

Being happy with my body while continually striving to improve it is proving to be difficult.  I read a line today that said, "If you want to be happy, be." Thank you Tolstoy Leo. I do want to be happy. I don't know the answer to the pants question, but I know that obsessing over it is neither helping me lose weight, nor making me happier.

Tonight I pledge to be happy, but not complacent.  I'm making progress daily, and that's something to be happy about.

I wrote this post a few days ago, but couldn't convince myself to publish it, and I wasn't sure why.  Today I learned why it wasn't quite ready.  I went to mass this morning by myself.  It was kind of glorious to be able to pay attention without a baby gnawing on my shoulder.  The priest reading the gospel today is from India and my inability to understand him due to his strong accent is generally frustrating.  However, today I tuned him out and read the gospel at my own pace and oh boy was it written just for me!

Matthew 6:24-34

Jesus said to his disciples:
“No one can serve two masters.
He will either hate one and love the other,
or be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink,
or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds in the sky;
they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns,
yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are not you more important than they?
Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?
Why are you anxious about clothes?
Learn from the way the wild flowers grow.
They do not work or spin.
But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor
was clothed like one of them.
If God so clothes the grass of the field,
which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow,
will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’
or ‘What are we to drink?’or ‘What are we to wear?’
All these things the pagans seek.
Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given you besides.
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.
Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”

I've bolded the lines that really spoke to me.  I am a chronic worrier.  I over-analyze, plan, pray, and think far too much about things that are completely out of my control.  The line "Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?" is exactly what I needed to hear.  No, it can't.

Worrying about how soon I will fit into my pre-baby clothes again doesn't help me lose weight.  Squeezing into too small pants doesn't help me lose weight.  Being unhappy with my current size doesn't help me lose weight.  I need to follow God's words and, "Not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself."  Take on today.  What will I do today to get closer to my goal?  What will I do to make myself ultimately happy, not just happy in the moment?

Family Style Workouts

This weekend I went to Michigan to see my sister & her family.  I rode up with my mom, dad, and nephew.  We had oh so much fun!  There was plenty of junk included in the weekend (gummy bears, beer, donuts, wine, cupcakes, Tanqueray, cake balls, whiskey, pizza).  As tasty as all the bad for me stuff was, it wasn't the best part of the weekend.

I absolutely LOVED working out with my family.  My sister has a make-shift gym in her basement.  They have an elliptical, a handful of assorted weights, and a couple of ab wheels.  Saturday afternoon my sister, 2 nephews (2 & 7 years old) went downstairs to workout.  My 7-year-old nephew tried out the elliptical to start.  He loved it & was sweating in his pajamas....yes we were all still in pajamas into the afternoon :).

Testing out the elliptical

After my sister's workout she did abs using the ab wheel.  It was adorable to watch her 2-year-old son workout with her.  He was checking out how his mama did it and trying to copy her every move.

Monkey see...

Monkey do :)

Having a family with similar health and fitness goals is encouraging.  Surround yourself with people who have a like mindset and you will succeed.

TG(tomorrow)IF

Today's been a rough day.  My kiddos at school drove me to my wits end!  TG(tomorrow)IF!!!!

My weekend includes plans for visiting with family members, cuddling babies, reading stories, probably a glass or two of wine, and a few good workouts with my sister.  I think the combo of relaxation & a change in my workout partner will be just what the doctor ordered.  Happy Friday!  Have a great weekend.