As any Mom can contest, it's just plain HARD trying to find time for "me time" let alone exercise. I mean, let's face it, after all the running around and hard work we do tending to the needs of our bear cubs, our poppa bears and our caves and of course if you work-outside-the-home (such as myself) well, let's just say you are more than plum tuckered out, ya feel me? LOL! Just the thought of exercising is daunting. Then as much as you KNOW you HAVE to (not just for you but for your health and well-being) just trying to find the time to do it poses to be just as much as a duanting task as actually doing the exercise. Ya'll are shaking your heads in agreement and probably laughing at the truth aren't yas?  Yeah, I know you are with me on this.

With that, I admit - I have struggled. I have struggled to find balance (a continual challenge for any Mother). I have struggled to find the time for "me". I have struggled to find the time to exercise. I have my moments where "by golly, I think i've got it" and i'm doing my thing (whether it's walking at lunch, right before work or right after)..and i'm going and going and going and then about two and a half, three weeks in you get derailed.You know the drill...little cub has a doctor's appointment, is sick, work ran late, blah, blah, blah and then the next thing you know you haven't exercised in well over a month, gained at least five pounds from eatting all the junk that you were doing so well to keep away back, ya know, when you exercised. Ugh, it's a viscious cycle.

Ladies, i'm here to tell you i've done more than fall down the cliff. I've gained back quite a bit of fat. My what was once "hun, im going to need to buy new jeans soon" jeans are now starting to feel like "hun, im going to have to go up in the attic and find those fat pants". Not good. As if that wasn't enough to make ya feel like poo, well, i'm just SO WORN OUT..ALL THE TIME! I have no energy! And let me just tell you, any one of you who has a toddler/preschooler running around amuck you KNOW that is not an option. These little cubs can run laps around you in an instant. The amount of energy these cubs have you would think they ate crack for breakfast, lunch and dinner. HAAHAHA! (im only joking here folks..dont go getting your panties up in a bunch, mmkay?)

See, here's where most my problems lie.....I always tend to go back to the old days of "body builder" thinking...you know the kind..strict diet, have to have this physique, that physique....all or nothing thing. When really, it really IS as simple as "calories in versus calories out." It really IS as simple as just "healthy living". Sure, i'd LOVE to look like Monica Brant (and some day I just might)..but HERE, RIGHT NOW, all I really want to do is LOOK GOOD NEKKID!!! Ya feel me?!?!?! I want to look good nekkid and I want to HAVE ENERGY TO KEEP UP WITH LITTLE BEAR!!!  Gimme those two and i'm as happy as a peach right now. I can't even say I have one of the two things right now...talk about sad.  tisk, tisk..

I'm still working on setting my fitness goals but really, i'm just trying to stick to the basics right now and take it day by day.....You know...eat your five or six servings of fruits and veggies, get in your eight glasses of water and get in some sort of exercise daily (minimum of 30 minutes). Doesn't sound like a lot but believe you me, it's proven to be a challenge for me right now. I am not going to commit to any particular exercise program. I'd be setting myself up for failure. Heck, I cant even be honest with myself as to when the best time of day to exercise would be. Ideally, it's 4:30am but GAH! That's TOUGH! And hit or miss with me..either I need to stop being such a wimp and quitter or I need to find that motivation/determinated gal somewhere in here, dust her off and get her moving again.

I think that's why the universe showed something to me earlier this week....I stumbled up this Power of One Challenge.  The challenge is from December 29, 2010 through February 23, 2011. Eight weeks. Eight weeks of getting myself back on track. Sure, I know i'm not going to attain any crazy goals in those eight weeks but if i've managed to at least complete the above then i'll be happy. Really, I just want to re-establish healthy living...for mind and body. So, I joined. Should be fun..and yes, even if I don't stick to their daily challenges, as long as I do SOME FORM of healthy living/exercise then I have completed the challenge.

So, this is ME, proclaiming my participation in the Power of One Challenge. This is ME, re-gaining control of my life. This is ME, getting back to HEALTHY LIVING...because GIRLFRIEND, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! (Besides, some time over the next few months, well, the poppa bear and I are hoping to have some very exciting news to share with ya'll....Shhhh!)

Here's to a healthy 2011 and me LOOKING GOOD NEKKID!