Getting in your own way

I have tons of housecleaning and laundry that needs to be done today but I really want to get on here to discuss something that has been bothering me all last night and today.

Excuses! As I said in my blog last night, I didn't get all my exercise in because I had some unexpected personal things come up. I felt really guilty last night as I always do when I don't do what I know I should be doing. I was getting upset, mad that other things had the nerve to keep me from doing what I should be! I didn't sleep very well last night and by the times I even laid down to sleep it was around 11:30 and I got a text from my mom that said "One thing I want you to do for me, and more importantly yourself is tomorrow when you get up it is a new day and you need to be completely and 150% focused on you and your wonderful family.You have given enough of yourself, your time, and your energy to other things." It was so nice to hear that, and I realized that the only person getting in the way of my exercise or my feelings or anything else is me! Life WILL continue to happen all around us, it's not always perfect, it's rarely EVER easy, you have to work at everything you do including taking care of yourself, maintaining relationships, being the kind of person you can be proud of. It's work, and it's worth it, but there truly is no time for excuses. This morning I was still feeling a little off about everything and then I remembered my mom's text, and I thought, "No excuses!" Sometimes we don't feel like working out, or we may feel like eating an entire bag of cookies because something unpleasant has happened, and it is absolutely 100% normal and even ok to screw up now and then, but I know from experience I ALWAYS feel better once I do it. I didn't want to get on the treadmill and jog, but I pushed myself to do it, and once I started I felt a little empowered, and I was so proud that I didn't want to and I did it anyways, that I pushed myself and ended up cranking the speed up one point (Hey it's not a lot but every little bit is more). And I even jogged for 20 minutes rather than 15, and when I was done I felt AMAZING! My mood was lifted, I was so proud, so ready to take on the rest of my day.

 It's the same thing when we get busy and feel like we can't squeeze and hour in our day to work out, or take a walk, or a jog, or go to the gym. Life is always busy, there is always something to be done, but we have to remember that taking a time out for ourselves to squeeze our workout in is just as important, just as much a priority, and remember the way it makes you feel because the endorphin's you get from a good workout are the kind that keeps you going :) Or it does me anyways. And you will be a happier, healthier person for it, a better person for those around you. It's not selfish, it's necessity!

Another reason I have found as a definite downhill slide for myself is feeling like you have failed. I tried on a pair of jeans last night that I REALLY wanted to fit in, I knew it was a long shot from the start, but I figured what the heck, I have been busting my butt every day....just maybe. They didn't fit, in fact I think I have a ways to go before that happens and it was discouraging. We tend to forget that we didn't gain 10 or 30 or 100 pounds in 3 weeks, it happened over time. Letting ourselves go, letting convenience and life get in the way, months and years of not treating our bodies the way they were meant to be treated. I myself can be very impatient...." Excuse me! But I have been busting butt for 2 1/2 weeks, working out, following a diet perfectly, pushing my body to limits it hasn't seen in years.....now why in the heck have I not gone down 3 pant sizes in less than a month!!" lol. It's not realistic! True, healthy, maintainable weight loss takes time. I know it's hard to be patient and it's easy to want to give up and throw the towel in when we don't see the results we want right away, but if you stay strong and keep moving forward...IT WILL HAPPEN!!!! Setting reasonable goals, and celebrating small victories just as much as the big ones will keep you going while your on the way to a healthier, sexier you!

So....stop getting in your own way!! Don't make excuses, just do it. Don't beat yourself up over small mistakes, just keep working towards your goal. Everytime I get discouraged my husband always tells me "If it were easy, everyone would be skinny!" and he is right. Yet another reminder that we are not in this alone. We are in it together!!! Nobody can stop you from achieving success but you! So today when I finished my jog I sat out in the wind and I thought to myself " I am gaining endurance, my body is getting stronger!" and I realized this journey is not only making my body stronger but it's making me as a person stronger...inside and out!