Been thinking a lot lately. I have been so wrapped up in the thought of losing weight that I forget important things sometimes. I found myself chewing myself out. "Why was it so easy last time?" Well, duh, I was simply losing pregnancy pounds, it came off in 3 months once I decided to work on it. Started when baby was 9 months old, by she was 1 year old I was 5 sizes smaller!

This time around, I have a lot of health to rebuild. I need to remember that. A lot of, if not most of, this weight has nothing to do with pregnancy even though there were two pregnancies in the time frame. I need to focus on rebuilding my health much more and not simply getting smaller.

Silly me, I knew that but sometimes we get wrapped up in an idea don't we? Maybe we feel pressure to get there already, I know I have. Just too busy with everything else to sort out my own thoughts and emotions at times. But I have been reading a lot again lately and it is all very encouraging books. That is the type of thing I need to be feeding my brain, good words, good thoughts, healthy movement and good food. The rest will follow.

I have to take the time to make the time for myself to get healthy and then I will be better focused in every thing.

Jack LaLanne

A true icon in the fitness world, a pioneer of fitness for athletes and women, one of the most lively energetic people probably in the whole world; Mr. Jack Lalanne died this past Sunday. I just found out today and I must admit, I cried. I found Mr. LaLanne's videos of his 30 year running fitness show on youtube early in 2010. I was immediately hooked on it. He was a firecracker right up till the end. Such energy and vitality, truly practicing what he preached when it came to health and fitness. He inspired many and will continue to do so including me and my family.

I can hardly write anything, I am so in shock and very sad that this man is gone. I pray he rests in peace. I cannot write anything worthy, I cannot get my brain around it that it is real. I know he was 96, I know for most people waking in the AM may be a surprise at that age but I fully expected him to live to well over a hundred.

My heart goes out to his lovely wife, his children and to everyone who, like me, looks up to him so. I'll keep watching his old TV show online and I hope you check it out too, especially if you never have. His energy is contagious and I want you to catch it.

We should all go do as many jumping jacks as we can muster in his honor. Rest in peace Jack, you will be sorely missed.

http://www.jacklalanne.com/

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70N0JQ20110124

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hJDMA_e-Cn_u5dKfcR6F8rZZpoNw?docId=6d9191a19531432382ce0aa42604acdb

A new year.......just thoughts and feelings. nothing specific.

I was looking back on 2010, realizing....hey it is 2011! It always seems to take me most of January before the reality of a new year really hits me. Maybe it is a side effect of being a mommy to two very busy, active toddlers but the years really just come and go so fast that I can miss it if I blink.

I felt like I just blinked and now it is 2010....oops, I really did type 2010 on accident, funny no? I mean, I felt like I just blinked and now it is 2011

My children will get another year older, one of them quite soon. My oldest has a birthday in April. She will be 4! My youngest, he will turn 3 in November! A year means so much in the development of a small child. That really hits you and you are just running to keep up with them, teach them what they need to know, and have lots of fun with them trying to treasure each little tiny moment. Before I know it another year is gone and the kids have changed so much but many times when a new year rolls around I realize, I have not met all my goals, I have not changed in that area, my body is still the same, how did this happen?

Wow, another year just gets away from me and I didn't even realize it. I spend all my time taking care of the kids, the house, the husband and at the end of the day am like, where did it go? What just happened? Oh, it is time for bed? WOW Oh look, another year and is it my birthday again already? I will be 29 this year. That sounds so much older to me than 28 for some reason, maybe because it is only a year away from the big 30. I know, that is still rather young, I'm not old. But sometimes I feel old in my spirit, I have been through a lot, a lot more than I wanted to be through. Seems tragedy ages a person's soul and I have to just grow and change and learn with it. Wisdom is great but it can bring or be brought about by sorrow. Not that I am wise, probably not very, but I know things now I never did before that is for sure! The learning never ends.

I have learned a lot from many people this past year. I have such great friends in real life and on the internet that have been there for me through the years. It is amazing to me to talk to someone online and have them tell me, "Oh hey I remember you, I prayed for you and your family!". WOW, how humbling. There are a lot of wonderful people in the world you just have to keep your heart open and God sends them your way.

Some people may not ever even know how they touched my life, they may just send me a nice note one day then forget about it later. But, it matters. Every little moment matters, every giggle from my kids, every new word they learn, every time they count a little higher and run a little faster it is like watching a miracle. My little blessings, my heart running around outside my body in the form of two squealing toddlers. Even they teach me a lot, I don't think I knew what real patience was until I had children, or true, pure joy, thankfulness, awe.....the list goes on. My kids have taught me a lot and they don't even know it, they can't even ride a bike yet but they teach me daily.

Anyway, this post was supposed to be about my fitness goals, how I don't want to let another year fly by without taking the time to be consistent and get fit so I can feel great and catch up with those super fast toddlers.....maybe there is a reason God made them so fast...hm. They sure do keep me from being stagnant and just sitting around all day! Just like life this post didn't go as planned. Plans can change. It is the day to day choices that will inevitably add up and I need to keep that in mind as I think "laundry? or workout". The laundry will still be there right? Sure, it will....

So, maybe I will save the lecturing myself about fitness for another day. Right now I get to go out with my wonderful husband. Thank God for my wonderful family! Cheers!

Still here!

I know I have been out of touch, my computer even went out on me for a short time. It has been kinda nuts around here but:

Overall eating less and moving more. Things are getting better and better. Changing lifestyle is much better than trying to diet and be perfect. Slowly getting back to the lifestyle I had years ago, a bumpy road but a good one. ;)

One thing you know for sure, if I am not on here much, I am getting more movement in my life overall and cooking a lot more homemade stuff. So, that means much less computer time! MUCH less. But I will still be here, and keep you posted. Thank you for joining me. :D

Staying at home.

I recently read that it is harder for women who stay home to lose weight than those who have a job...no kidding. I could have told you that.

Just this past Christmas I experienced the ease at which I avoided bad food and overeating all due to the fact that I was around people. I wasn't lonely, bored with day to day housework, I was having fun and I had people to talk to. I had something other to do than clean the toilet and wipes up kid messes. I love my kids and I would not dream of doing anything else but it has come to a point where I need to get out more and I'm sure the kids would enjoy it too! I mean, I have more than enough to do, don't get me wrong. Being a mom is the hardest thing ever but part of that hardship, for me, comes from loneliness especially in a one car household. Daddy has the car at work, we are stuck here, daddy works at a prison so we cannot even call to say hi during the day.

We don't live in a place where I have a ton of other stay at home moms living close by, there is no walking to the store or friends houses. There is not a place or thing for me to do for all of the workdays other than be here alone, working and caring for children. I end up feeling sad, and thus thinking about food a lot. I think this must happen to a lot of women who are stuck like this. We didn't plan on being a one car family for this long, but it has been over 2 years already! WOW, no wonder I get a little lonely.

I'm not trying to say all is lost but, it is just hard. Over the holidays it was so GREAT to get out and see people. I actually didn't eat junk and I came home hungry! I also felt, happy. That is a big deal to just feel happy and content. I tell ya, being at home, I have way too much time to think. My kids are still toddlers so the conversations aren't exactly adult like at all. They are fun and wonderful but they cannot give mommy everything she needs.

Another thing that comes from being away from the house is a great appreciation for home once you get back to it.

I do not know what the solution is yet but I need something, I need to figure it out.

Facebook

Just wanted to mention I do have a facebook page and would like to invite you to join me there if you wish. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Saras-Slim-Down/146227608735243

I usually let people know there when I have a new blog post and there are many days where I do not blog but simply post a little update there about how my day went with eating and exercising. :) Thanks so much for being here for me!

Okay, bad day came and went and I'm still here and happy. :)

So, I had a bad day as you saw by my last post. That is OK. I knew it would happen, it invariably does every time I start to get consistent with workouts. This time it took longer to happen, that is a good sign. Also, I managed to pick myself up the next day and keep on going. I got through the bad day and the feelings of hopelessness that came with it.

I'm sure I will still get sad sometimes about my size, I do have a long way to go after all. It isn't like one month is going to have me back in a normal, non obese size waistband. This is going to take a good long time of working hard. I'm up for it now though! I really am.

I have many things I am thankful for. My legs and arms are not that far gone and pretty darn muscular. That is really great and I am happy about it. They have a tad of fat to shed but it isn't too bad. I'm happy with them for now.

Now that I seem to have really found my "answer" to consistent workouts I want to address my eating even further than I have already. I must guard greatly for awhile against going back to old ways.

I want to drink only water during the day. I love to have stevia sweetened tea, while it has zero calories it keeps me from drinking adequate water and the caffeine leaves me dehydrated. So, only water. Maybe tea with supper.

I would like to start drinking green tea at night when I am watching TV with my husband instead of chowing on his yummy homemade tortilla chips.

I will add in one serving extra of veggie or fruit per day until it is to where I think I should be.

I have more things I want to try but I don't want to overload my brain. I will write those down later. :D