Year 2, Day 3: Sore Arms

My arms are aching today.

Not surprising since today I worked on my arms.

I am taking my husband's advice and focusing on different muscle groups each day. So, abs are Monday and Thursday, legs are Tuesday and Friday, arms are Wednesday and Saturday.

I know there are ways to work all your muscles in one work out and do them every day, but since I am starting from 0 - I gotta agree with Steve.

Start off slow, make sure I have technique down and when my muscles are stronger than I can try other types of work outs.

Working my arms is different than my abs and legs. I use my legs every day so the soreness from workouts is from pushing myself. My ab work outs are also from pushing myself, but I have also "played around" with ab exercises a lot more through out the years (I admit it, I want a flat tummy).

My shoulders? My arms? Well, other than using them because I have too, I don't really use them at all. I have always been weaker in my arms, but today's workout made me realize just how bad.

My left side is weaker than my right side. My left side starting hurting (pain? soreness? incorrect movements?) sooner than my right. Actually my right never started hurting...just tired from doing the exercises. My left side hurt. I stopped. Pain means "STOP" in muscle language.

I think the next time I do my arms, I will have to do even less, go even slower....if I gain nothing else from this journey, I will gain the ability to go slow and steady.

Happy Walking!

Year 2, Day 2: 5 Gratitudes for Friday, 48

1. Waking up two days in a row (on time) to get my strength training in. It is hard to wake up earlier in the morning. It is hard to exercise earlier in the morning. But it is soooo worth it. I like how my day starts, I like that I am doing something that is hard for me.

2. A quiet Thanksgiving. We spent it alone - just the 5 of us. We watched "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" - the best Thanksgiving movie. We played Uno for the family championship belt. S won for the 3rd year in a row (I have a feeling she is getting a bit of help). It was wonderful - start to finish.

3. Discovering that Deseret Book has a free bookshelf e-reader app for the computer and iPad. I downloaded and also got 8 free books! So very cool! I have started "A History of Joseph Smith, by his mother" (or something like that). A very interesting read so far.

4. That a month or so ago the DeMilles were giving away free downloads to some of their seminars & stuff. I have been listening to Oliver DeMille (author of "A Thomas Jefferson Education" and my mind is being opened to the possibilities of learning - for myself and for the children. I have read "A Thomas Jefferson Education" and perused some of his other books, but listening to him is where it all comes together.

5. K giving a part of the lesson/message the sister missionaries wanted to share with our family. K did a great job talking about the Book of Mormon, asking questions and giving some of her insights. She is an amazing young woman.

Year 2, Day 1: YES!!!!

I love the first day of a new goal - it is 100% success and 0% guilt.  It is the best day of the whole journey....it is full of hope.

I started with my abs this morning.

I forced myself to go slow, focusing on technique instead of speed. Hopefully this will pay off in the long run. Since I have a history of petering out fairly quickly...I have to think "cross country" not "sprint".

My abs are a bit sore, but I am guessing I will feel it more tomorrow (and hopefully the days and weeks to come).

Happy Thanksgiving! (And Happy Walking!)

The End of a Year

This time last year, I posted about my new blog and my new goal of walking. You can read it here.

A recent picture of myself...trying out a scarf....not sure I like it. 

I thought I should do the same for the coming year. I have been talking about my goals for the new year a lot this week, but....I still wanted something....I don't know, final?

One year ago, I weighed 145 lbs.

Today, I weigh 142 lbs.

I lost 3 pounds over a 12 months period.

I honestly do not know if I should be happy or sad; encouraged or discouraged; or any other  opposite feelings that I can not think of at the moment.

I am going with happy and encouraged.

I lost weight.

I feel lighter. I feel better. I sleep better. I have more energy. I have accomplished my goal of walking for a year (with a slight adjustment of a few dance, swim and Kung Fu days). I have found an area where I am lacking and have chosen to tackle it this next year. I am also aware that my eating habits need to change (although I have not come to the same dedication/determination to actually change). I think I am a good example to my children - we certainly have fun playing together....because lets face it, all forms of exercise is just playing to children. :)

If I lose 3 more pounds next year that will be six pounds lighter than I was at the beginning of 2013 and three pounds lighter than I am right now. Sure I want to lose around 15 lbs, but sometimes it is okay to be slow and steady....at least, I hope so in this case!

I know I have said this a lot lately, but I really am nervous about starting strength training. I have never been physically strong, so I think it will be extremely hard. I do have my P.E. teacher in my head - encouraging me and telling me I can do it. The only time I have ever worked hard at strength training was the year I took Mr. Winkfield's class - he had a great way of inspiring his students to do their best....even when their best was bench pressing the weighted bar.

Here is hoping I don't let him down!

Happy Walking!

Day 370: More Details

So, after a lot of pondering, I think the best course of action is for me to do strength training first thing in the morning.

I am making this decision on several things:

1 - I tend to get my work outs in when I schedule them first thing in the morning.

2 - If I get up early enough (before 6:30am), I tend to be the only one up. I can send children back to bed and I can kick the cat outside....hopefully the husband will not be waking up extra early too often.

#2 is important because I tend to be kind of shy when I first start something. I don't want my husband or children watching me while I am attempting to work out. Walking, dancing, bike riding...those kinds of things are different. Probably because I feel somewhat confident and/or enjoy those items. Strength training? not so much.

3 - I am using my very old Tony Little tapes. Yeah, he is quirky, but he works. I don't like all of the exercises, but I think that is because I don't really like strength training so I never committed myself. Regardless of liking it or not, I am doing strength training this time.

4 - I am giving myself 3 months using the Tony Little tapes. If I don't see results or really hate the exercises than I will start looking for something else. I know from the past that I do really well working out with someone or using a video.

I am sure things will change as the year progresses. Last year I was excited to start and a little hopeful of proving my doctor wrong (he said a brisk walk, 30 minutes each day is all I would need for the rest of my life...more on that tomorrow). This year, I am nervous (maybe scared?). Nervous because it is out of my comfort zone...but so needed as I learned yesterday.

Happy Walking....hmm...maybe next year will be Happy Strength Training? Hmmm...

Day 367-369: Strength Training Here I Come!

At Kung Fu tonight, I grappled against my husband. Not only is he bigger than me, but he is strong and solid. Truly a dwarf if I have ever seen one.

When Steve chose to, I could knock him off of me and roll him over. When Steve chose to, I was stuck with absolutely  nothing I could do to make him budge....in fact, the harder I tried, all I did was wear myself out.

This taught me two things:

1 - I never, ever, ever, ever want to end up on the floor when fighting someone. A quick punch to the nose, throat or groin and then running for my life is my best bet. I am not Black Widow.

2 - I really need to strength train and build my muscles....it might give me a sporting chance against someone closer to my size.

I know I said awhile back that I was thinking about doing strength training this next year. I was also thinking about flexibility or a different cardio. Yeah, tonight showed me that I absolutely need to focus on strength training.

Again, because I am starting from less than zero, I am not going to do anything fancy - no cross training, no PX90 (or whatever the heck it is called). I am also not going to a gym - I don't want to pay money and I can not afford the time it would take to drive. Strength training with the children is probably not going to happen (unless they volunteer to be my weights).

I think my best bet is to do it first thing in the morning.

I am excited, but also nervous. I have never been a very strong person. In high school, I could barely bench press the weighted bar....sad & pathetic. I have always shied away from weights because I didn't want to look bulky.

Yes, I understand that isn't really possible.

I will officially begin on Thanksgiving morning (same as my walking journey from last year). I will keep you posted!

Happy Walking!

Day 366: 5 Gratitudes for Friday, 47

1. Being able to help & serve (in a small way) to those who were affected by the tornados that hit the mid-west. One of the tornados touched down and hit a town about an hour from us. Since my children remembered how scared & worried they were during the tornado warnings; then how relieved they felt after it missed us, they really wanted to help those families who were not as a lucky (because let's face it, there is no rhyme or reason to where a tornado touches down). So, Tuesday we gathered food, non-food items, clothing and blankets for those who needed it most. I was amazed and humbled how freely my children gave of their own belongings.

2. Dinner with good friends - I mentioned this last night, but it is still worth mentioning again. I will miss my friends when they move, but I am glad for the last couple of years with them. And I am especially glad we could hang out last night.

3. Reconnecting with a dear friend from high school. I got an email from her earlier this week....and it came at the perfect time. Such a pick-me-up. Oh, how I wish to see her again someday.

4. Steve coming in to save my daughter's day. The friends I mentioned moving? Well, one of them has a daughter that is the same age as my daughter. My daughter wanted to make matching necklaces for her friend as a going away present. K is very talented. She makes beautiful necklaces, but....this particular necklace just wasn't working. Not sure why, but K had a lot of technical difficulties. We got one of the necklaces done, but not the other one. Last Saturday was a going away party and K was devastated that she didn't have this gift done in time. Steve, the knight in shining armor, the super hero, took K to the store to buy matching bracelets (charm bracelets). Sometimes it is a good thing to have a dad that spoils.

5. Z reading. I am so excited that he is reading. He is reading without fighting me. He is reading almost 30 minutes a day (or a little more). He, once a week, goes to the library to read to a dog. Such a great program! Z is reading. Love it!!!!

Happy Walking!

Day 365: Saying Goodbye

No, I am not saying goodbye to you.

I had to say goodbye to some really good friends. Tonight, we had dinner with two other couples whom are being transferred by work. We laughed, we cried, we ate, we talked, and laughed some more. Goodbyes are like that.

We will miss them, our children will miss their children.

It is hard saying goodbye....unless you are saying goodbye to bad habits, to unwanted weight, to clutter, to a bad relationship, a bad haircut, an ugly dress....well, you get my drift - some goodbyes are good.

I am currently decluttering the house. This is a good goodbye for me. Not so good for my children.

I am finally saying goodbye to clothes that I could wear when my youngest was born (she is a teenager so I am pretty sure the clothes are out of date anyway....).

I hope to be that size again someday, but I think it is important to let go of that past. I am not the person I was back then. I am older, wiser and have a little more gray in my hair.

I am going to say goodbye to those clothes and continue to say goodbye to bad habits. That I can live with.

Happy Walking!

Day 364: Near the end

I am quickly nearing the end of year long journey of walking and blogging.

I have loved this past year.

I have loved walking, I have loved blogging, I have loved finding connections in my life, I have loved having my children be apart of my journey, I have loved having friends join me along the way and at different times, and I have loved becoming a person who wants to walk.

I really do.

I want to walk. I want to move. I want to be healthy - no where close to where I want to be or should be, but I want to keep this journey going so that I can become that person.

Happy Walking!

Day 359-363: Internet problems

Gotta love modern technology!

Quick story: we use a wireless router and for some reason the router always kicks my computer (and the printer) off the router. I didn't realize this until late last night when I finally broke down and asked my husband to fix my computer.

Now I know the secret of getting my Internet connection to work again...so hopefully this won't happen anymore!

In other updates...my children have learned a new way to torture, er, help me. In Kung Fu we did some sparring that included fighting on the ground. We learned how to flip an attacker off of us if we were being held down. The children loved this because the technique requires you to hook your leg around the attackers leg and then force them to go where ever you move your leg...well, when you are 5'1" and your children are no where close to that height...guess what? You can't hook your leg onto their leg! There is not enough leg to hook!!!

So my children had my arms pinned, I couldn't hook their legs and I was forced to sit up to get away from them...I have a hard time doing a sit up with my own weight without their extra weight!

The children thought it was great they could "pin" me down.

On the plus side it was actually a really good ab work out so I may have to do it again...

Happy Walking!

Day 357 & Day 358 - Keeping On

Sorry about missing yesterday's post, but I completely forgot because of a break through reading session for my son. He doesn't like to read. Our library has a "read to a dog" program. It is for struggling readers. My son loved it - was able to have 3 read sessions with the same dog, Bear, and asked to go back next week. I am ecstatic!

But on to the purpose of this blog!

We have found the perfect time to practice Kung Fu - right before snack. We work up quite an appetite (and sweat), then gratefully sink into a chair for some water & sustenance. It is divine.

Arms are still incredibly sore - either I am doing my punches and other hand work incorrectly or I am using muscles that I never use. (hoping for the latter). I love the kicks...I really feel like I am stretching and gaining some of my old flexibility; not to mention gaining better balance and strength. Still dislike the "fall down & pop right up again" thing we have to practice. Each and every time I feel old, fat, and completely out of shape....hehehehe, I guess I know what I need to work on!

All in all, loving the Kung Fu!

Happy Walking!

Day 356: Loving the current schedule

I am really loving the current schedule the children and I have come up with for school, keeping the house straight and practicing Kung Fu.

I miss walking, but we have added a good chunk of time back into our day by not driving to the mall.

I have a friend who still wants to mall walk - so we can chat. We have decided that Fridays are good day for this since we don't do a lot of school on Fridays (I never liked going to school on Friday....)

K is really blossoming with all the extra Kung Fu practice. I probably am too, but all I seem to notice is the pain!  :)

But I am sure that will go away in time....

Happy Walking!

Day 355: Snow???

I know I am really suppose to talk about exercise and stuff, but really....snow in November? Ugh!

I am such a wuss when it comes to cold weather....

Okay, onto the actual topic.

Tonight in Kung Fu class we were learning how to defend against kicks. The defense requires us to use our legs in the same way we use our arms against a punch....meaning we block it!

So, at one point Steve and I were practicing - he kicked and I defended. Steve was wearing pads; not to painful. Then we switched. Steve was wearing pads, but for some reason when I kicked and he defended the pads did not cover the area of the leg we were hitting.

It hurt so bad.

I am striving to not shout out in pain every time I get hurt. Trying to set a good example for my children. In the process of trying to suppress the urge to shout out in pain, I also had to suppress the urge to ask Steve to stop defending so well.

This caused a giggling fit. I had this image of a bad guy asking the victim to play a little nicer because the victims defense was hurting them.

Getting the giggles was actually a good thing....I managed to get through my required number round of sparring with Steve. Still, I will probably have some good bruises tomorrow.

Happy Walking!

Day 354: The day after

I am pretty sure it is normal to be more sore the day after an intense activity, but it always surprises me which muscles are sore.

My legs are not nearly as sore as my shoulders....I never realized you use your shoulders/arms while riding a bike.

My bottom is very sore....the seat was very hard & uncomfortable...I think I am going to buy a deluxe, super soft seat when I get a bike.....well, maybe once I am riding all the time it won't bother me anymore. :)

Hopefully tomorrow I will be back to a 100%.

Happy Walking!

Day 353: Bike ride

We were blessed today with sunny weather - topping at a balmy 59 degrees.

K and I hopped on bikes and started riding.

K's desire is to ride all of the bike trail in our town. Since the trail covers approximately 45 miles in all sorts of directions, it is a goal that we will slowly have to work towards.

However, I did promise my daughter that one day we would ride and ride and ride and ride until we were exhausted. Which is what we did today. (Steve came and picked us up & took us home.)

I don't know the actual distance we went, but what I can tell you is that we were gone for an hour. We did make a couple of stops along the way (for me, I needed the breaks), but really, that is a lot of bike riding!

I know this will be the last time we can bike ride this year, I am hoping to get my own bike so we can ride a lot next year.

Yeah, I rode my daughter's bike and she rode her brother's bike...not the most ideal situation, but it worked.

I am exhausted, but so happy that we could partially fulfill one of K's dreams.

K, of course, was only temporarily exhausted - she is now on a date with her dad.

Happy Walking!

Day 352: 5 Gratitudes for Friday, 46

1. Quiet early mornings with my oldest daughter. She curls up on the couch (half-asleep) and I read to her. Currently we are reading, "No Doubt About It" by Sheri Dew. We are thinking about learning more about women in the scriptures because of Ms. Dew's book. But regardless of what we do, having that time - just my daughter and I - has been tremendous. I have seen a real positive change in our relationship (and in my daughter's attitude).

2. My inspired plan to give my oldest daughter "life classes" along with her regular studies. She is currently in charge of making either lunch or dinner each day. She craves to be seen as older (not a little kid like her siblings). Having her take on some of the adult responsibilities in the home has really bolstered her sense of "self-reliance" and independence.

3. My stolen minutes each day to listen some audios by Oliver DeMille (author of The Thomas Jefferson Education). I have read the book, but these audios give so  much more. I am really understanding my role as a mother/mentor/home schooler so much better. I am thankful that I have found a way to spend a few minutes each day furthering my own education/understanding.

4. Our daily Kung Fu work outs.... wow! It is hard. We don't always want to do it, yet I know I am working my muscles, plus learning these skills better. Again, I think  my oldest daughter really needed it. She takes her practice very seriously...she even gets to help me remember some of the sequences that I tend to do out of order.

5. Our families D&D game. Steve loves D&D (Dungeons & Dragons, a role-playing game). I enjoy D&D. The children enjoy it because it is just like a round-robin story, but with dice. We have all created characters and Steve is the GM (game master) so he runs the game (or gives the framework to the story). We have decided to do this at least once a week. Our current game has 3 possible mysteries to solve. It is a lot of fun - filled with a lot of laughter.

Happy Walking!

Day 351: Amazing

All that is worth doing is hard....it takes dedication, it takes mindfulness, it takes endurance, it takes failing and standing back up again, it takes humility...it takes all that we have to offer.

Yet, it is always worth doing because it brings out the best in us and helps us grow and become who we were always meant to be.

Hehehehe, at least that is how I feel today.

Being healthy, being a good mom, being a good wife, becoming a better me...all so hard, but worth the hard work. I can see how the lessons learned in one works for the others. I can see how principles applied to one works for the others.

Who knew the same effort to losing weight and being healthy would be the same to reaching and teaching my children? or meeting my husbands needs? or bettering myself?

Amazing how it all works together.

Happy Walking!

Day 350: Must be on the right track...

I can always tell when I am on the right track when it comes to exercise - I am exhausted the first few weeks. :)

This is the 3rd day that I practiced Kung Fu for 30 minutes. I am exhausted. On top of that every part of my body is sore (especially my arms).

This is a good thing. This is something I should have been doing from the beginning of my Kung Fu class.

I guess, in this case, better late than never.

Happy Walking!

Day 349: Adjustments

If life were a destination than it would be easy to get from point A to point B....I am guessing point A is birth and point B is death? Hmmm....no wonder the saying is "life is not a destination, but a journey."

Since life is a journey, point A is not birth but the pre-existence and point B is not death, but the hereafter (or heaven).

Realizing that life is journey that encompasses everything from conception to death than it would make sense that adjustments must be made (we usually use the dreaded word "change").

Before I started my year of walking (and blogging), I had the (wrong) notion that if I started a project or had a goal that it must be done correctly, perfectly and seen through to the end (sometimes bitter end).

Now, I have a better sense that when we start a project or have a goal, it is merely a pointer...a type of direction marker. I want to lose weight. That is a worthy goal, but that is merely a direction marker to something much bigger in my life: good health, longevity, better posture, restful nights, etc....

My life, as a journey, picks up those destination stickers you see on suitcases (Paris, London, New York, etc..). My current life has the sticker of "walker", "Kung Fu student", dancer (so long ago....), volleyball player (another old one), etc...

And sometimes, just like a journey, adjustments must be made as you head toward the final destination (since Heaven is the final destination in this analogy, my adjustment is more to help get me closer to the "big" direction marker: good health).

My current adjustment is that I will not be walking every day the last few weeks of my journey. I have strived to do it every day since starting school - it was easier when the weather was nice and the children rode their bikes, but now....driving to the mall is taking up to much time. I need to focus on other important goals: my son's reading skills, my daughter's spelling skills,  my other daughter's math skills. We need to focus on the house getting cleaned and decluttered (we are in limbo once again with my husband's job). I need to focus on helping my son achieve his goal of earning his Arrow of Light and my daughter working on Personal Progress.

All of these things are worth my time and attention...and there are only so many hours in a day.

So, from here until Thanksgiving day, I will be walking 2 days a week and practicing Kung Fu 4 days a week. My oldest daughter wants to be better at Kung Fu and she struggles to find time to practice on her own. Since walking counts as PE, I decided that Kung Fu will count as well.

I feel conflicted with my decision. A part of me feels that I am quitting close to the finish line. Another part of me feels that I am merely "tweaking" and there for am still meeting my goal. However anyone sees it, the bottom line is that walking did a lot to help improve my health and weight, but did not achieve all the goals (I didn't lose a ton of weight, nor did I lose a lot of inches). I am pretty sure that truly being a well -rounded healthy person takes small portions, eating slowing, eating healthy foods 80% of the time, being well rested, cardio, strength training, and improving flexibility.

That is why next year I am adding in strength training. One reason why I see Kung Fu as part of the bigger picture/plan/goal.

Hopefully no one will think less of me as I continue with this adjustment. I plan on writing each day.

Happy Walking!

Day 348: The Halloween solution

We have a ton of candy left over....a ton.

We didn't get any trick or treaters this year so not only do the children each have too many pounds of candy to count, but our very large silver bowl of give away candy is still completely full.

What is a girl to do?

I could throw the candy away....but that seems wrong.

I could sit down and gorge on candy a few nights in a row and be done with it all....but that also seems wrong (and a little gross).

Or I could learn self control like my children.

Since my children were little, their Halloween candy has been put into a cupboard and doled out a little each day (usually a piece a day). Amazingly my children have never tried to grab some behind my back or negotiate for more candy. Never. Weird right?

They are totally unlike me...I have no self control when it comes to candy. If I have one piece or one small bag or one bite...than I always....always crave more.

I have decided that it is high time I learn the same self control as my children.

My children came up with the following rule for this year (simply because we have so much candy):

One piece of candy after every  meal (except breakfast), every day.

We have been doing this since Friday.

It was really, really, really, hard the first couple of days - I sooooo wanted more chocolate.

Thankfully, I told myself that I could wait for the next piece after snack (or dinner or lunch the next day). I then did something that kept me out of the kitchen (we have too much candy to hide in the cupboard so it is either on the counter or in the fridge [we like chocolate in the fridge]).

I am no longer craving more candy after I have my one piece. I am no longer having to avoid the kitchen. In fact, I am not even thinking about the candy at all. When I have a meal, I grab a piece of candy. It has become a kind of "no big" deal thing. This is pretty cool.

Maybe over time I can wean myself down to one piece of candy a day and then one every other day and then one a week....ooh, the possibilities!

But I am getting ahead of myself - for now, I am happy that I can have my candy and not have the cravings!

Happy Walking!

Day 347: Daylight Savings Woe....

I was so proud of myself - I got up with my alarm clock.

Yeah....forgot to reset my alarm clock when I went to bed so I didn't get up at 5am....yep, got up at 4am.

On the plus side I wasn't late to church!

Happy Walking!

Day 346: Take on the world

I love it when I wake up in the morning full of energy. Those mornings when I feel like I could take on the world.

Well, I didn't take on the world, but I did have a great day - starting with a walk.

And maybe that is enough.

Happy Walking!

Day 345: 5 Gratitudes for Friday, 45

1. The joys of dressing up, being silly, getting lots of candy and staying up late. This year was extra special because we went trick or treating with friends on Halloween night. Despite the rain, everyone had a great time - I loved seeing my children enjoying themselves with friends (who sadly will be moving soon).
2. The opportunity to do better and be better. I fall short in lots of different areas, but everyday I get the opportunity to do better. I like that. It brings me hope.
3. Our Pikmin costumes recognized by others! We tend to pick group costumes based on books, movies, or video games that we enjoy. This year, we chose Pikmins (Nintendo game). I was nervous no one would know who we were....but thankfully we were recognized and complimented on the outfits!
4. Warm beds on cold nights, hot chocolate, fun (and uplifting) Halloween movie - we love the Good Witch movies shown on the Hallmark channel.
5. Still being able to snuggle with my children.