Heading to a Healthier Me

When the doctor can't tell you why you feel so tired all the time, you start to wonder what's wrong with you.  I've dreamed up all sorts of possibilities - diabetes, hormone imbalance, mono, vitamin deficiencies, etc.  Then, when she asks you if you've gained any significant weight in the past 5 years, you think "Eh, some, but not much."  I felt pretty certain about that.  That was until she pulled my charts from 3 years ago...

Talk about discouraging. 

I could make excuses all day as to why and how I've gained 21 pounds in 3 years - but that's all they are.  Excuses as to why I'm not taking care of the only body I've been given.   

"I got married."  Bullshit - should that not be more of a reason to stay fit and healthy?  For my husband. 

"I started a desk job."  Too bad.  Yet another excuse. 

"I'm a busy mom.  Who has the time to work out?"  Once again, that is a perfectly good reason to be even healthier - to show my daughter that it isn't about being skinny or the number on the scale, but it's about being healthy.

I could go on, but I think you get the point.  This is my journey and I'm going to be completely transparent about it because maybe someone out there struggles with it like I do.  I'm going to post motivation and struggles and yummy, healthy recipes. 

I have a goal of how much weight I want to lose, but honestly, I just want to feel better.  I want to not be exhausted at 8:00 p.m. (unless it has just been a hellacious day).  I want less headaches.  I want to be a more powerful, confidant, healthier me.  I want to be an example to my family.  I want to know I can do it because I put my mind to it.

I refuse to diet.  I refuse to starve myself.

This journey is about making a lifestyle change.  Becoming more aware of what I put into my body.  Learning to enjoy what my body can do.  

It's all about baby steps and taking it one day at a time.  

One day.  Today.

And then tomorrow.

Then the next day.

But today first.

Until next time,
Keep Reflecting :) 

Journeys of a Woman-Child Stepmom: Vol. 6

Things I've learned recently (or more accurately, things I just want to tell you about):

1. People are crazy nosey.  I just wanted to share that with you.  Don't misread this because I am just as guilty as the next person about putting my nose where it doesn't belong.  However, I think asking someone when they are going to have children is a COMPLETELY inappropriate question and if you're not part of the team producing said child, you need to keep your nose in your own business.  Granted, I have asked my friend once if she was pregnant but that was because I had reason to think she might be.  However, asking someone WHEN they're going to have a baby is completely unacceptable.  Yes, this goes for well-meaning parents and concerned family members.  My fertility and reproduction is none - I repeat NONE - of your business.  Now, when I announce to you that I am pregnant (which I'm not), then it becomes your business.  But until that moment, it is not.  Also, I would like to add to those well-meaning family members this little tidbit:  If you are asked when I am having a child, please shrug your shoulders and just say you're not sure.  It's not your place to tell them how long I plan to wait, or if I plan to wait, or if I plan to have children at all.  Let me repeat one more time in case anyone misunderstood me - my reproduction is NO ONE'S business but mine and my sweet husband's.  If you do not fall into one of those two categories, mind your own business.  Since I want people to mind their own business, I will no longer be talking about this subject to anyone but my husband.  I'm not going to talk about if, when, or how I would like to have children.  That way, people have nothing to go on when they want to question my reproduction, or lack thereof.  Thank you and have a nice day. 
2. A wedding is one day out of a lifetime spent with one person.  A beautiful, perfect wedding does not make a marriage - two imperfect people who have God, determination, and a beautiful love for each other do, though.  Neither myself nor my husband are perfect.  We don't always agree on everything.  We have arguments, naturally.  But beneath anything the world can throw at us, we have each other.  We have God and a crazy determination to make this work.  He is my best friend, my confidante, my soul mate.  He is the man I can't imagine spending one day without.  We are not perfect, but perfection doesn't make a marriage.  Hard work, true love and crazy determination do.
3. Be thankful.  That is all.  Just be thankful.
4. I have this theory that movie/book endings should either be completely tragic or completely beautiful (which can be either a happy ending or a poetic one).  I recently saw a movie (I won't name names *cough cough* Oblivion) that was a really decent movie.  I enjoyed the characters, the plot, the special effects.  However, the ending was mediocre.  At first, you thought it was going to be a magically tragic ending - and I was so excited because it was a beautiful tragedy.  Then, they somehow decided to try to save it and make it a happy ending.  The result?  A mediocre ending - not even poetic.  While, yes, it was technically a happy ending - it wasn't really.  It was a second-best happy ending.  It would have been so much better just sticking with the tragic ending. 
5. Be nice to people who do you a service - janitors, cleaners, construction crews, waiters/waitresses, etc.  Go out of your way to do something nice for them because they are doing you a service.  We're having some renovation work done at our new office and my boss called the restaurant where they were having lunch and picked up the tab for them.  My hubby and I cleaned the carpet a little while ago and the people gave us a $20 tip.  The old man told us to "use it for dinner since we were there so late."  You can be a blessing to someone.  Offer them a drink.  Take them a snack.  Give them a extra tip.  Smile and say thank you. 
6. I watched the video of the SUV driver-motorcycle incident.  I've read the articles.  All I can say about the situation is much worse would have happened had it been my family in the vehicle.  Because overall, if it comes down to hurting someone else in order to protect my family, I won't think twice about it.  I applaud the man in the SUV for doing what he had to do to keep his family safe.  If you don't like my opinion, don't read my blog.  
7. There comes a time when you stop and finally say enough.  For me, that time is now.  I'm not going to elaborate further at this point.  Just know, that when something starts affecting your life and your family, it's time to do something about it.

Until next time,
Keep Reflecting :)