Random Thoughts Monday v16.0

We started a new year yesterday, now what are we going to do today? Are we moving forward with those goals we’ve set? Do we still need to create some goals?

I set my goals during the year last year and I’m starting this year on the same path. Full steam ahead!! I may have just over six pounds to lose to get to my goal weight, but my healthy journey wont be ending there.  My healthy journey will continue withOUT end. I’m continuing to learn my first Nia routine and promise to look for a teaching job as soon as the routine is in my body, see more info below. 2011 not only brought me weight loss, it also brought me in touch with my writing genes.  I not only started this blog last year, but I also started my first book (see my progress on the side bar). I’m sad to say that I didn’t make much progress on the book during the holidays.  I started a couple of challenges yesterday to help me with my goals and you’ll find information on all of them below…

• Life is about spending time with the people you love. That time can be spent in person, or phone or Skype or the zillion other ways we can stay connected. I think the key is to stay connected. I don’t get to see much of my family during the year due to the distance between us, but that does NOT mean I should cut off the connection. This year I’m going to work on staying more connected to the people I love.
• New Years Resolutions, goals, to do lists, wish list…It is daunting to think about changing your life.  I’ve seen many of my friends write on Facebook over the last couple of days that they would not be making any resolutions this year, because they never live up to them anyways. Interesting that once you meet one goal, the next goal seems a little more possible. Maybe we tend to reach to high when we reach out for a new goal, one of the reasons I’ve become a fan of short-term goals.
• Shrink Yo’Self in 2012– I’ve started a new challenge by the brilliant Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jean The challenge is simple and straightforward, I like simple. The assignment: What do you hope to accomplish during the next 8 weeks? Think of ways that you will make these goals reality. Easy, I want to lose the last hand full of pounds and get to my goal weight.  How will I make it a reality: follow all the goals on my Weight Loss Journey Goals page.
• A Round of Words in 80 Days– it is the writing challenge that knows you have a life.  I’ve been wanting to join this challenge for a while. When I realized my book was suffering from neglect, and I WANTED to do something about it, it was the first thing I thought about.  Most folks who participant have a nice list of goals, mine is simple.  For the next 80 days I will spend 1 hour EVERY day with my characters.  I may be writing, editing, re-plotting, developing characters, anything, as long as I spend 1 hour EVERY day doing something to push my book forward.
• Nia– this year is going to be about discipline and my Nia journey has two paths right now
  • Sanjana (the routine I’m currently learning): yesterday I finished drawing the bars and writing notes for the 5th song in the routine.  Today I will be practice teaching the first 5 songs and begin the bars for the 6th song.  There are 8 songs in the routine, I’ve past the 1/2 way point!!!
  • 52 Moves in 52 Weeks: There are 52 moves in the Nia dictionary and what a great way to better know your craft than to spend 1 week with each move!!
    • Closed Stance. Standing tall with my toes together and my heels comfortably apart, I sense my entire skeleton, my arms hang naturally, I lengthen up and sense the space above and the earth that is touching my feet.
• My Lions are headed to the playoffs!! I wont be talking about the amazing game they played yesterday and how they got cheated by a bad call or how that bad call cost them the game, oh well, that was yesterday. My Lions are in the playoffs, it has been a long time, but this year you very much deserve to be there!!  Come on Lions, march all over those Saints!!

2012 is going to be amzing, because I’m going to make it amazing!!! How are you going to make 2012 amazing?

Do you want to start or re-start your health journey? I’ve created a list of things that worked for me, see the link or the last page listed at the very top of this page and Create Your Own Healthy Journey today!

Scale Day v17.0

The past 7 days have been a trial on many levels, not just on my healthy journey, but also with work and my passion with writing.  I started several new responsibilities this week for one of my clients and it has stressed me out to say the least.  More tasks, means more billable hours, means more cash flow for the family and that is worth it in the end.  When I start something new it always stress me out, does that happen to you too?  It’s past time to take a breath and relax.  But I’m also working on a new blog to represent my writing, that part isn’t stressful, it’s the knowing I’m that much closer to my first reality check.  The more I think about it the more I am embracing it, I want my writing to get better, I want a chance to one day be published.  Until now my writing has been for me, kind of like another child and I need to let that feeling go and embrace positive progress forward.  All of these thoughts are what I need to take into this next week in my Healthy Journey.

This past week has been a very busy one for me, which was a test for me and my goals. I sort of past.  I did get just over 300 355 minutes in of exercise (just realized I short changed myself on the minutes), but I didn’t even average 7 16-oz glasses of water (my goal is 8) and I went over my calorie limit twice.  On a good note I didn’t totally go crazy on calories, just 100-200 calories over, but when you are trying to make a 3500 calorie deficit in a week that is just not OK!!  Ok, one more confession, but there is a happy side.  Last Saturday, which has become my sleep in day and workout in the afternoon, I had a breakthrough on my book.  Instead of working out I kept writing, I wrote over a 1,000 words that day and finished the scenes I’d been having troubles with.  On another good note I had my highest workout minutes the very next day, but I can only cheer so far because those extra minutes just made up for the minutes I neglected the day before.  In addition with all the busyness I didn’t get in my all of my intended minutes for the week, I had wanted 400, boo.

So ya I was looking forward to scale day, actually I really was, it’s just what I needed to kick me in the pants and start fresh on a new week.  I’m happy to report I didn’t gain this week, which the old me totally would have, I didn’t lose much, but I’ll take it, .3 pounds.  I like round numbers and who doesn’t, I have now lost a total of 19 pounds and my current goal isn’t totally out of reach.  Three weeks ago I stated I wanted to lose 5 more pounds before I started my Nia White Belt training.  I have two weeks to go and 1.8 more pounds to go.  Oh boy, these next two weeks are going to be serious business!!  I AM up to the challenge!!

What challenges have you set for yourself lately?  Are you making them work?  What could you change to help ensure you’ll meet your challenge?

Random Thoughts Monday v5.0

2nd Monday in October and I feel a lot of pressure.  Summer has ended, Fall tasks should be in full gear and the end of year is near, sorry for the rhythm, I was hoping it would cheer me up.  I’m already behind on my October to do list, but there are happy roads ahead.  For one it is the start of a new week and I WILL make progress on that to do list.  My busy busy weekend is behind me, I won an eBay auction and got my oldest his preferred costume for Halloween and I now can fully concentrate on my up coming Nia White Belt Training, now that is some good news!!!  Is something standing in your way to making your next big goal?

• How often have you heard your own generation or the generation that came before you talk about when they were young they’d run out the front door and not come home until the street lights came on?  I was at a wedding this weekend and that was a big topic at our table.  Yes they were remembering an easier time but it got me thinking a very sad thought…that first child who was hurt, those first parents that got the bad news their child was taken.  How brave those early parents were to speak out and help change the tide and those parents that learned from previous parents.  Our children now lead a much sheltered life early on, from the car seat to back yard play time.  I’m mentally thanking all those parents who have helped to make all our children safer.
• Why is popular not always better?  You’d think if something was popular it would be quality, the best and most everyone would want some.  For example: the most popular fiction is not always the best written work.  The most bought burger (McDonald’s most likely) is definitely not the best tasting.  The most popular music can be pretty awful, not only in the talent of the singer but also in the quality of the music.  My husband has told me that the majority of the most famous tunes have 3 or less cords and it’s almost always the same 3 cords in every song.  I don’t even want to get started on the most popular kids in school, we almost all know they are not always the nicest of people.  But in more ways than one the most popular can reach the masses and become their fav as well.  So that is probably all it is, being popular means more people know about it and if more people know about it more people will love it…so if more people found your most favorite thing it could potential become the next pop thing of the moment?  Oh boy, protect your favorite thing, don’t tell a soul 😉 In my book some of the most popular things are pretty great, but what is even better yet is when that popular thing leads me to not so popular things that I love even more.  I know so many folks who wont admit they like popular things.  Like admitting you love Twilight is the equivalent to bad taste in books/movies.  Will you admit to your pop favorites?  Evan Rachel Wood recently admitted to loving Justin Bieber, so come on don’t be embarrassed, tell us what you love.
• I need to find some critique partners for my book.  I’ve written close to 50,000 words and no one has read it but me, not good.  I’ve found the first writing group that I want to ask if I can join.  I’m so nervous, I had thought my first rejections would come from a publisher, but I fear I will get my first this week from my peers, double eek.  Of course I need to be brave, if this group isn’t for me I will just keep looking, there should be a group out there somewhere that is right for me and I wont find it until I start putting myself out there, goodness I sound like I’m about to join an online dating service 😉
• Today is a huge day in Michigan sports .  Tigers game 2 I hate to say but is a MUST win and Lions playing Monday night Football, oh boy oh boy!!  Say a little prayer for my boys please, pretty please

Come back on Wednesday when I find out if my weekend away killed my weight loss goal for the week or not, triple eek, no, I’m not nervous 😉

Random thoughts Monday

In an attempt to clear my head for a new week I’m going to try out a new weekly posting, called “Random thoughts Monday.”  We’ll see how it goes.

• A normal Gambling man: in talking with one of my husband’s clients yesterday, who had just gotten back from winning over $100 at a poker tournament, I got to thinking.  Are there men out there who go to poker tournaments 5-days a week?  Men who consistently make $100 or more a day and bring it all home to a family?  I know my husband, who is a musician, makes almost all his money playing gigs.  Gigs where he rarely drinks, doesn’t do drugs and his paycheck is automatically deposited.  He’s such a normal guy, but most would never guess that (unless they had met him once) and would assume he’s the stereo-type for a rock-n-roll musician.  So are there family men out there who actually support their family via poker?
• Organization Intervention: how did I ever get anything done when I worked 50-60 hours a week in an office.  Some how I did, but not now.  Sure I still work part-time (all these hours are at home, telecommuting is the best invention!!) and I’m taking care of two kids, but it’s so hard for me to keep the house clean, get the laundry done, food on the table/keep food in the house and the zillion of other things you do each week to keep a house moving.  But I have a to do list that grows and never lengthens.  I’m a certified project manager (PMP) and proud of it, you’d think I’d be able to use some of my skills and get moving on my list.  But no, it never happens.  Well PMP, it’s time to get to work.  First things first, lets get all the special to-dos (i.e. things that are not normally done daily/weekly) onto one list.  That’s it, just make a list…see you next week.
• When’s the book going to be done?: hmmm, I remember my original plan which had my books first draft getting finished in June 2011.  Well I’m sure fitting into the stereo-typical author profile, I barely wrote this summer.  Maybe 2,000 words all summer.  I’m happy to report I got over 1,000 words down today and tomorrow I’m going to write some more.  I need to get back into the habbit of working on my book and come up with a daily or weekly goal that puts me on the right path to getting all my first thoughts down.  I need them out of head!!!  Do you have a side goal or hobby that you have not worked on lately?
• Remembering 9/11: it’s always hard to think of all those that were lost ten years ago, but yesterday’s memorials were especially moving.  It is comforting to know they will never be forgotten and we will always come together to remember them.  Did you think yesterday where you were ten years ago?  I was at the dentist.  Having no cavities would have filled my day with joy, but that was forgotten, as my heart cried for all those living in H E double hockey sticks.  I thought of you yesterday and today and in all my years to come.

July 3, 2011

I hope everyone is having a wonderful 4th of July weekend!!  My oldest has been at my in-laws for the past two nights and I miss him so very much.  I get to go pick him up in a few hours, I can’t wait.

I learned how old I was the other day, through a grammar lesson of all things.  I learned how to type long before the internet was around, long before Windows 95.  I learned how to type on a type writer, which had uniform character spacing, i.e. the i takes as much space as the a.  To help make the period at the end of a sentence visible, we’d put two spaces after the period.  Now a days we have varied character spacing, which means skinny characters like the i takes up only the space it needs and the two spaces are no longer needed, I didn’t know this.  As you can see the double space will be a hard break for me.  I need to learn it though, as I also learned that publishers take the extra space out, so they like receiving manuscripts with only one space after the period.  I guess I’m glad I learned this little fact now, when I’m only 75% done with my first novel and not after it was finished.  First I need to learn to stop double spacing. Gosh that feels strange. 🙂

I need to give you all an update on my weight loss journey. I started the week pretty sadly. I completed my Monday and Tuesday workouts in the afternoon and Monday’s was only 20 minutes. Wednesday I got back on track with a new hard workout. I was sore on Thursday, but I still fit in a workout. Friday I did the new hard workout again and it was awesome, yesterday I wasn’t as sore, proving I can push myself ever more next time. I did take yesterday and today off, not good, since yesterday I feel off the food wagon. Did I give in to my indulgences because I was a 5 on the hunger scale, that would be a big fat NO. I was hungry, but I could have made a better, more appropriately sized choice. I was eating emotionally. My husband and oldest son were gone, I was lonely and gave in. I felt terrible afterwards, I actually felt terrible during. I knew what I was doing and it did not give me the usual warm and fuzzy feeling, so not worth it!!! I big lesson for me and something I’m going to spend some time thinking about.

I just had to go back and take out the extra space after the periods, I didn’t even make it 50/50. The change is going to be tough on me 🙂

I finished the latest Stephanie Plum yesterday and of course I enjoyed it. The book had every thing I’ve loved, Joe, Ranger and lots of funny. It felt like a book I read before, nothing really new, I didn’t learn anything new about Stephanie. I actually felt that Stephanie was hiding from her feelings and not sharing them with all of us. Is it just mean, am I the only one who actually wants to see Stephanie take the next step in her life. I love Ranger, but come on, pick Joe, marry him and have some babies. I want to read how Stephanie handles all of those things, I know there would be a ton of funny there. Yes that would change the series and make it into something it’s not, but I can dream. The good news is that we don’t have to wait a whole year for #18, which is coming out in November. Although I was a little disappointed with this one, and the last few actually, I’ll still always read them the week they come out.

ok, that paragraph I actually did worse, there was only one sentence that I didn’t have to correct.

Happy 4th everyone!!

June 20, 2011

Below I have a few books to mention, status on my writing and my fitness adventures.

First I need to take a moment and remember my Uncle Hank, who passed away last Wednesday.  I spent the end of the week with family remembering my Uncle Hank at the funeral home, resurrection services at his church, procession to the cemetery (where I got to run 4 red lights, thanks Uncle Hank) and a luncheon.  My Uncle Hank was 88 years old, he was married to my Aunt for 60 years when she passed 4 years ago and they had one daughter.  My Uncle and Aunt had one of those marriages that leaves the surviving spouse broken-hearted.  I think he only survived these last 4 years because of his sweetheart of a daughter.  My Uncle Hank was one of those great men, one who could tell a story amazingly well, I’m going to miss my Uncle Hank!!!

I recently finished the 3rd book in the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning, I love this series.

Mac is a typical southern girl, or so she thinks.  When her  sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her  death–a cryptic  message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in  search of  answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a  shadowy  realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same   treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater  challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she  had no idea she  possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the  world of man, into the dangerous  realm of the Fae…

Fae Fever (the 3rd book) ends in a very unexpected way and I have no idea where book 4 will go.  I’m going to find out soon, because I started it yesterday.  Luckily for me the 5th book in the series came out in January, which I’m betting I’ll gobble up when I’m done with book 4.  Love it when an author writes a seriously challenging situation and the heroine finds strength she didn’t even know she had, not to mention the very serious sexual tension.  Good stuff here, be sure to check it out!!!

I have another series to mention.  I actually got my husband to read Hunger Games and he loved it of course.  Now I’m hoping he’ll move onto Catching Fire and MockingJay, seriously good reads!!

As for my writing, I’d actually hoped to be done with my current book at this point in June.  Well so much for wishful thinking!!  I have not written in over a month.  This week that will change, I need it to change, I need this book on the page and out of my head.

My week ended with all workouts intact, I completed my Sunday Pilates and all 5 40-minute workouts.  I didn’t get in my Pilates yesterday (I’m going to try for that some afternoon this week, yesterday I was emotionally spent and needed a day to chill out) and I got in another 40-minute workout in this am.  I did a lot better with my food decisions, except for the pan-fried chicken fillet and seriously butter filled rice that I ate at the luncheon.  Yes I cracked after a pain filled couple of days.  Today I am back on the wagon.

Versatile Blogger Award

Yesterday my blog got recognized, with The Versatile Blogger award, by one of my very favorite bloggers (isn’t that icing on the cake!!).  Thank you Dacia for all your inspiration and encouragement!!!

 

The Versatile Blogger Award is passed from blogger to blogger.  It’s a wonderful way to recognize the blogs you enjoy and to find new blogs to love.

Here’s the 4 rules:

1) Link back to the blogger that gave me the award . – done, see above, thanks again Dacia!!
2) Tell 7 random things about myself. – see below
3) Choose 7 other blogs to pass the award to. – see below
4) Inform the other bloggers that I’m passing the award to them. – done

7 random things about myself, things I have not blogged about, hmmmm…

1. I’ve studied dance all my life, contemporary and ballet mostly.  Back in the day I won a state title and got in the top ten at nationals.  If SYTYCD was on back then I so would have tried out!!!  Yes, I still have my crown and sash 🙂
2. My dad’s an alcoholic, I love him and hate him at times
3. I love books as you probably know, especially paranormal romance, but you can add young adult to that list as well, love me some twilight and don’t get me started on Harry Potter, love it!!!
4. I’m a Star Wars fanatic.  In fact my oldest son is named after one of the characters.  Yes, I have all 6 films on DVD and yes, I went to midnight shows of episodes 1, 2 and 3 and I still play with my light saber 🙂
5. One of my favorite movies is Just the Way You Are with Kristy McNichol.  I watch it every few years, not sure what it is about this movie, I just love it
6. I have 9 piercings, all in my ears, 3 in the right ear and 6 in the left.  Got them all before I turned 20 and I think I’ll always have them.  No tattoos currently, but my husband and I have talked about getting one when we turn 50.
7. I looooove to downhill ski

I can feel the love and now I get to share the love.  I’ve done a lot of blog surfing in my few months in the blogosphere, love how you can get lost jumping from one blog to another.  I’ve found a lot of blogs along the way and below are 7 that I really enjoy visiting.  I’m learning different things from these blogs and I hope you will too.

Five things at once

I Run Slow

Fat Girl Dives In

Escape from Obesity

Working on the Mind Body and Spirit

Take a Happy Break

Kait Nolan

May 9, 2011

Why does it take me 20 minutes to get out of bed?  For some reason I must push snooze twice.  I think I’m going to move up my alarm or I may never get in a 40-minute workout, urrrgggg.  I am pleased that after skipping my workout last Thursday and taking a break for the weekend, I got right back to it on Friday and again Today!!!  I feel the habit-forming and I am so pleased and proud too.

I finished weeding/mulching a large bed yesterday.  I still have a few beds to go, but I am so ahead of the game.  I have to think that getting up in the am to workout puts me in the frame of mind to stay active the rest of the day.  Although I would still love to sit and read the day away, I have not in some time.  Unfortunately I don’t read as much, but I’m getting others things done, which is a plus.

My writing has hit a rough patch.  I’ve started the section where everything is going really well, which you’d think would be a joy to write.  I know the down fall is coming and it is making the happy parts hard to write.  I’m actually feeling anxiety over my characters coming heartache.  I’m tempted to skip forward to write the ugly part.  Do you ever write out-of-order or do you always write from the beginning to the end?

May 3, 2011

I got up this am, a little easier then yesterday, big plus!!  I worked out for 30 minutes, not 40, but more than 20…oh well, I’m still proud.

I finished a read through of my first book yesterday.  I’ve been writing for a few months and it’s still only 75% done, but I have to say I’m very pleased so far.  Over the past few months I’ve read/edited certain parts, but this was the first full read through.  I also wrote about  6 pages yesterday.  I need to keep the pace going.  I have the last few chapters in my head and they are aching to get out!!!  I’m still hoping to have the first draft fully written in the next 4 weeks, oh boy, lots to do