It's that time...the Weekly and Final Check In with the Sisterhood. Wow! So how did you do? Did you shrink? Establish healthy habits? Share all....I am interested in hearing about your progress!

1. Wednesday through Tuesday I did consume my five servings of fruits and vegetables. I also logged my food every day in my "handy dandy notebook" like a good little girl. I did not exactly reach my 5 servings every single day goal but I did improve by 90%. That's progress!
2. Wednesday through Tuesday I did consume my eight glasses of water. it started to get a lot better this week actually. Coincidence maybe?
3. Wednesday through Tuesday I did get up and move!! The 5k training this week week is going really well. Ive managed to consistently workout three days a week. I need to improve this by adding three more days. However, that wasnt my goal for this challenge. It was to get up and  move and at the time, I was barely getting in one day and so I feel I improved in this area by 90%.
4. Weigh In....I lost three pounds this week. Giving me a final total pounds loss of 4 pounds. Considering I was not in the challenge for weight loss (tho it would be an added bonus) this was great! Go me!!!

Not too shabby !!  How did your challenge shape up to be? Did you complete all the goals you set out to?

It's that time again...Weekly Check In's with the Sisterhood. Wow! Has a week gone by already?! Time is moving too fast! I need to step up my game. Ha!

Here's my check in/recap for this week. Overall, it wasn't too bad.  Here's the low down.....

1. Wednesday through Tuesday I was finally overcoming my bronchitis so the meals were hit or miss with following my normal eatting at about 90%.
2. Wednesday through Tuesday I regret to inform that my hydration on water intake was pretty much out the window. I was lucky to drink 60ounces in a whole day. Blah!
3. Wednesday through Tuesday Due to the bronchitis, I rested!! I don't mess with my lungs. They need oxygen. I did restart my 5k training this week on Monday.  I did very well with no complications or signs to stop. I actually performed better than I had the week before I fallen ill. 
4. Weigh In....No Loss. No Gain. That's okay with me. 

  How did your week shape up to be?

It's that time again...Weekly Check In's with the Sisterhood. Wow! Has a week gone by already?! Time is moving too fast! I need to step up my game. Ha!

Here's my check in/recap for this week. Overall, it wasn't too bad.  Here's the low down.....

1. Wednesday through Tuesday I was hit pretty hard this week with the nasty cold leading up to bronchitis so my meals were far and few inbetween. However, when I did eat it was my normal standard healthy meals.
2. Wednesday through Tuesday Again, I was sick so even though hydrating was even more important than ever, well, I actually drank less. Oops
3. Wednesday through Tuesday I did get up and move - well, for part of the week!! The 5k training this week was going really well (with increased time and distance) but I didnt get any of  Gina's Winter Shape Up 2011 program that I'm following on the cross-training days of the 5k training. With going into bronchitis, I stopped all workouts until I get off the antibiotics. I am doing some yoga here and there tho just to stretch it out and stay somewhat active. 
4. Weigh In....No Loss. No Gain. That's okay with me. 

  How did your week shape up to be?

It's that time again...Weekly Check In's with the Sisterhood. Wow! Has a week gone by already?! Time is moving too fast! I need to step up my game. Ha!

Here's my check in/recap for this week. Overall, it wasn't too bad.  Here's the low down.....

1. Wednesday through Tuesday I did consume my five servings of fruits and vegetables. I also logged my food every day in my "handy dandy notebook" like a good little girl. I seem to be progressing well although i'm just clearning the five. i'd like to include some more veggies. we'll see what i can do about that.
2. Wednesday through Tuesday I did consume my eight glasses of water. it's starting to get a lot easier now versus having to remember and make myself drink it all.
3. Wednesday through Tuesday I did get up and move!! The 5k training this week week is going really well as is Gina's Winter Shape Up 2011 program that I'm following on the cross-training days of the 5k training.
4. Weigh In....No Loss. No Gain. That's okay with me. 

  How did your week shape up to be?

It's that time again...Weekly Check In's with the Sisterhood. Wow! Has a week gone by already?! Time is moving too fast! I need to step up my game. Ha!

Here's my check in/recap for this week. Overall, it wasn't too bad.  Here's the low down.....

1. Wednesday through Tuesday I did consume my five servings of fruits and vegetables. I also logged my food every day in my "handy dandy notebook" like a good little girl. I seem to be progressing well although i'm just clearning the five. i'd like to include some more veggies. we'll see what i can do about that.
2. Wednesday through Tuesday I did consume my eight glasses of water. it's starting to get a lot easier now versus having to remember and make myself drink it all.
3. Wednesday through Tuesday I did get up and move!! The 5k training this week week is going really well as is Gina's Winter Shape Up 2011 program that I'm following on the cross-training days of the 5k training.
4. Weigh In....I lost one pound this week. Go me!!!

Not too shabby !!  How did your week shape up to be?

It's that time again...Weekly Check In's with the Sisterhood. Wow! Has a week gone by already?! Time is moving too fast! I need to step up my game. Ha!

Here's my check in/recap for this week. Overall, it wasn't too bad.  Here's the low down.....

1. Wednesday through Tuesday I did consume my five servings of fruits and vegetables. I also logged my food every day in my "handy dandy notebook" like a good little girl. I seem to be progressing well although i'm just clearning the five. i'd like to include some more veggies. we'll see what i can do about that.
2. Wednesday through Tuesday I did consume my eight glasses of water. it's starting to get a lot easier now versus having to remember and make myself drink it all.
3. Wednesday through Tuesday I did get up and move!! It might not have been a standard exercise program every day - but running around with a toddler does count, right? I also started my 5k training this week. I am getting there..slowly but surely. Taking it day by day.
4. Weigh In....I lost three pounds this week. I don't know how I did it but I did. Go me!!!

Not too shabby for just starting out but certainly room for improvement...I give this week's grade a B.
How did your week shape up to be?

It's that time again...Weekly Check In's with the Sisterhood. Wow! Has a week gone by already?! Time is moving too fast! I need to step up my game. Ha!
Here's my check in/recap for this week. Overall, it wasn't too bad.  Here's the low down.....

1. Wednesday through Tuesday I did consume my five servings of fruits and vegetables. I also logged my food every day in my "handy dandy notebook" like a good little girl. I seem to be progressing well although i'm just clearning the five. i'd like to include some more veggies. we'll see what i can do about that.
2. Wednesday through Tuesday I did consume my eight glasses of water. it's starting to get a lot easier now versus having to remember and make myself drink it all.
3. Wednesday through Tuesday I did not get-up-and-move (ie exercise) everu day for the minimum 30 minutes. I did, however, make sure to get up every two hours at the office to walk around for a minute (back health)...also when doing certain tasks like phone calls and scanning, I do some squats, lunges, pushups (on the wall). This is an improvement from last week so i'm moving upward. I am still having difficulty finding motivation to exercise at home tho..

Weigh In....Well, I'm holding steady and maintaining my weight from my beginning weight. That's to be expected since i'm not exercising much. I know that once I start moving, since my diet is pretty much in check, it'll start to fall right off. But again, i'm not in this challenge to loose...i'm in it for reestablishing healthy habits for healthy living. Loosing weight would just be an added bonus.

Okay, so overall, I am two for three. Not too shabby for just starting out but certainly room for improvement...mostly in the movement area. And let's face it, the movement area is one of the most important ones.   I give this week's grade a B-.

How did your week shape up to be?

We all know I was a litle late in the game starting the challenge..oh, by four days or so. That's okay because starting it at any time is better than not starting it at all, right?  The Sisterhood did their check-in on Wednesday and well, since I didnt start til Monday, well, you know....

I would not really consider this a check-in but more of a follow-up at the end of the week for how I did on my formentioned fitness goals. Overall, it wasn't too bad.  Here's the low down.....

1. Monday through Friday (Yes, Im including today because I planned my meals and plan to stick to it. If it changes, I will revise this post tonight before bed) I did consume my five servings of fruits and vegetables. I also logged my food every day in my "handy dandy notebook" like a good little girl.
2. Monday through Friday (same applies here for revisions) I did consume my eight glasses of water.
3. Monday through Friday (same applies here for revisions as the day isnt over yet and I could get it in still) I did not get-up-and-move (ie exercise).

Okay, so overall, I am two for three. Not too shabby for just starting out but certainly room for improvement...mostly in the movement area. And let's face it, the movement area is one of the most important ones.   I give this week's grade a C.

How did your week shape up to be?

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!