Changing my life

This term I had to take a health/PE class as part of the requirements for my degree. I was dreading this class more than any other I have taken or have yet to take. I'm almost 40 years old, why do I have to take a PE class?!?!?

Three months later and I feel like a new person, this class changed me! I have struggled with my weight all my life. I've tried fad diets, fasts, diet pills and belonged to several gyms. None of it has stuck with me or worked for very long.

That is the great thing about this class, it taught me how to change my life so that I can be successful and make a permanent life change. I learned how to have an effective work out that will maximize my weight loss and muscle gain (the more muscle you have, the more fat you burn). I learned how to eat better. I learned that it's better to make several small changes, than change everything at once. I learned that using fake sugar is actually worse than eating real sugar.

That's right, fake sugar is worse than real sugar. Fake sugar tricks your brain. When you eat something sweet, your brain thinks it's getting some carbohydrates that it can use to turn in to energy. When you eat fake sugar, your body isn't really getting those carbs and then it feels deprived and in the long run, you end up craving even more sugar. Not to mention that fake sugar is a processed, chemical sweetener, created in a lab, NOT made from anything in nature.

I am a Splenda girl. I used to use up to eight Splenda's in my coffee every day. I am PROUD to say that as of this week, I am down to using ONE Splenda in my coffee a day. ONE! That is HUGE for me. By the end of next month, I will be drinking my coffee black! 

Another thing I bet you didn't know, fat is good for you. Yep, that's right and if you think that it's OK for you to eat a diet that has NO fat in it, you are wrong. There are certain vitamins (A, D, E and K) that are fat soluble and without lipids those vitamins won't be absorbed in to your body. My favorite fact about fat and why it's healthy for you to eat things that contain fat, fat makes you feel full. As long as you eat foods that contain healthy fats, rather than foods that contain saturated and trans fats, you are doing your body good!

I am also proud to say that after 10 weeks of class, I am down 5 pounds and have lost 2% body fat and several inches off my body. I FEEL FANTASTIC!

For the first time in my life, I am making healthy, long lasting changes and I'm super excited!

Valentine's Day

Last year, I was single on Valentine's Day and going through a depression. I was curious to see what my post was for that day, thinking I would have posted something depressing, but instead, this is what I found:

Here are my 2 cents on love, this Valentine’s Day, hated by many, but not me. I have lots of reasons to be angry and bitter after so much heartbreak in my life, but I’m not. I believe in love. Love is beautiful and wonderful. It’s about honesty, mutual respect, putting others first. Love is unconditional. It’s about wanting what’s best for someone else, even if that means giving up what you want, ...even if it hurts. I would rather fall in love and have my heart broken, then to never love at all.

So, to my fellow singles, don’t hate Valentine’s Day, because you’re alone, celebrate love and all it stands for. And to those of you in relationships, cherish what you have, not just today, but everyday, because love is special, please don’t take it for granted.

 

Beautiful words from a heartbroken person. One year later and my whole life has changed. I'm no longer heartbroken or depressed, I'm happier than I've been in a long time.

 

Part of my happiness comes from being in love with a wonderful man. Mark is so good to me and for me. This is the healthiest relationship I've ever been in and WOW, it's amazing. He actually treats me the way I deserve to be treated and when I think about all my past relationships, how the men treated me, how I let them treat me, it makes me so sad that I let that go on for so long. Thankfully, that is all in the past.

I am so lucky to have Mark in my life and I'm pretty sure he feels the same way. Everything about our relationship is so easy, well, maybe except for the distance, but even that isn't too bad. He lives just over an hour away, but instead of making our relationship difficult, I think it just makes us appreciate the time we do get to spend together that much more.

 

Another reason for my happiness is that I started working out again. I used to work out at LA Fitness, but quit going when I was dating the drunk. He didn't like it that I wouldn't come straight home, but he didn't like that I was fat either, go figure. I didn't realize how much I missed working out and being active, until I got back in to a workout routine.

 

I have to work out as part of my health/pe class for school and I was really dreading it, but I love taking the class in conjunction with working out. In class, I'm learning about healthy ways to change my life and be successful. In the gym, I'm working with a trainer and doing a good work out program to mazimize the benefits of working out.

So far, I haven't really noticed any changes in my weight, it's only been four weeks, but I have noticed my body starting to change slightly, my clothes are fitting differently. I also have more energy and I FEEL GREAT!

This Valentine's Day I will take my advice from last year. I will cherish what I have. I will celebrate my love for Mark and my love for me and the positive changes I am making in my life.

I hope you can celebrate the love this Valentine's Day and pay it forward when and where you can.

 

Do one small thing for someone else

Doing one small thing for someone else, might not mean anything to us, but could mean everything to someone else.

Yesterday, I did a small thing. I gave the gas station attendant some throat lozenges. He was coming down with something and had a scratchy throat. Giving those to him, made no difference to me, but I bet they made a huge difference to him and how he felt.

The other day, my mom let an elderly woman go in front of us at the grocery store. She just had a few items, we had a cart full. The woman was go grateful and couldn't stop thanking us. It was really not a big deal and neither mom or I thought anything of doing it, but for that woman, it meant the world to her.

What small thing can you do to make someone's day better?

Pay it Forward

My mission in life, my advice to everyone, pay it forward. It's not hard, anyone can do it. Even the simplest task, like letting someone go in front of you at the grocery store, showing common courtesy, or giving a nickel to someone to cover their coffee or groceries, can make a HUGE difference in the lives of those people.

We're all busy, we all have things to do, places to be, but even a split second choice or decision can change someone's life. Think about your actions and how they affect those around you, whether they be family, friends, loved ones or complete strangers.

We CAN change the world. One random act of kindness at a time.

True story. Several years ago, I was at a gas station. The attendant was young, early 20's. He came to my window, I gave him my card and said, "Fill with regular, please." Then he returned my card and I said, "Thank you." The look on his face was priceless, he said "Wow, you just made my day. Nobody ever says "Please" or "Thank you" to me. Ever.". I was shocked at how happy that made him, because to me, that's just what you do, but think about if. If you're doing a service for someone and no one ever says please, thank you or even shows you any courtesy, over time, that could completely break you down.

I have never forgot that attendant or his reaction to my simple words of please and thank you and I share that story often. I also say please and thank you to anyone and everyone, no matter who they are. It doesn't cost me anything and in some cases, it might just mean everything to the person I've said it to.

Here are my favorite inspirational pay it forward stories:

http://mixmingleglow.com/blog/?p=1358 - Robyn performed 38 random acts of kindness on her 38th birthday! She has since started a website called The Birthday Project www.thebdayproject.com , please check it out!

Happy New Year!

What a year 2012 was, there were some downs, but the ups more than made up for the bad parts of the year. I went back to school after a twenty year break and got straight A's in all my classes. Several friends and family members had happy healthy babies this year. I adopted a new dog, Gavin, who I absolutely adore. I took a couple of good, low key vacations, the best kind for relaxing. The best part of 2012 though, I met the most wonderful man, who I am crazy about.

I am so excited for 2013. I've got two big trips planned and a couple small ones. I'm turning the big 4-0 this year. I'm a little nervous about that, but not going to let it get me down. It's going to be a good year. Sending happy, healthy wishes to all. Think positive and make your dreams come true!

Found some sunshine

This term has been extremely difficult and stressful, but recently, I found a little bit of sunshine to help get me through. That ray of sunshine is in the form of a wonderful man. I hate talking about the guys I date for fear of jinxing things. Yes, I am superstitious :) However, I am so happy, I just want to sing from the rooftops!

Mark and I have been dating for just a couple of months, but it feels like we've known each other forever. We talked for a really long time through emails and on the phone, before we ever met. When we did finally meet in person, it was so comfortable and felt so right. Our first date lasted four hours and all we did was talk.

All of our dates since then have been filled with lots of talking and laughter. He and I have a lot in common. We like a lot of the same books, movies and most importantly, we're both hockey fans!

We do have our differences. I am very outgoing, outspoken and can be quite the social butterfly. While, Mark, on the other hand, is very quiet, soft spoken and introverted. With me though, he talks a lot, just not in group situations, I think I can live with that.

There is so much that I like about him and there are ZERO red flags! That I think is the best part! He has friends that he's not afraid to introduce me to, he owns his own home and car. But the best part is that I have never have dated anyone so open or honest. It is very refreshing and one of the things I admire about him the most.

I am so comfortable with Mark, that I can tell him anything and I think he feels the same way. We've been very fortunate and haven't had any super awkward, newly dating moments. Everything just feels right. I like it and I can't help sharing my happiness with everyone :D

Overwhelmed

This term I decided to take 11 credits, I have done so great in school up until now, I thought I could handle it. Plus, once this term is over, I'll be a third of the way through school, how could I resist? I should have resisted.

I didn't really think about what 11 credits would mean. It seemed so easy. Writing 121 for four hours on Monday, Leadership for an hour and 20 minutes on Tuesday and Thursday, Personal Finance as a hybrid with just two hours of class time on Tuesday, Quickbooks for four hours on Thursday. I gave myself Wednesdays, Fridays and the weekends off. That would be enough time for homework, right? Sure, as long as I wasn't planning on having any kind of social life.

When you start school they tell you to expect to have two to three hours of homework for every credit hour. So, for 11 credit hours that means I can count on 22 to 33 hours of homework EACH week.

Between working 43 to 45 hours a week, around 16 hours on campus each week and all the homework, I'm feeling really overwhelmed. I'm not behind and I'm doing well in all my classes, but pretty much everyday, I want to cry. I just don't have enough down time to decompress, I feel so tired everyday and it's really getting to me.

Ok, really, enough whining, I have so much to be thankful for. I have a great job, that allows me to go to school and pays for any business related class that I get an A in. Not only that, but they're letting me have a flexible schedule so I can attend some classes during the day. I have wonderful friends and family who are very supportive, I couldn't do this without them. And the icing on the cake is that I met someone who is pretty fantastic :)

See, I have no reason to whine. This term won't last forever, as a matter of fact, it's almost half way through. This isn't going to break me, I can do this and I will succeed!