I Don't Know What to Call This One.. SQUIRREL! lol

I can't even lie, I am the QUEEN of starting workout programs & not finishing them! I have this problem you see, I want to see results.. FAST and I seem to get bored.. FAST! I know I am not alone…

There are so many programs out there that have catchy titles that include words such as: "5 Minute Abs" or "Melt Your Muffin Top in 7 Days" or "Build a Booty" with a list of 5 exercises and a picture of a girl who has probably worked years to get her booty or she was blessed with a butt! You see, none of these programs actually work in 5 minutes or 7 days.. it takes time!! More than 5 minutes unfortunately! I am not saying these programs don't help your results BUT it takes more than exercise to melt a muffin top & it takes more than 5 exercises to build a booty…

I often find programs that would actually work if I dedicated myself to the 3 month time span. At first I'm gung-ho and ready to do work! Then, slowly the motivation for the program fades and I get bored usually at the one month mark. I don't stop working out but I always vier off the plan for about 1-2 weeks then I'm like "Oh man, I should get back to that!" My problem is I start over.. all the way from the beginning because I feel like I have to, so it turns into a vicious circle! 

Here's my question: How do I get over the hump & just stick with it?! I know, I know most of you are thinking "Duh, just keep going with the plan!!" I know that.. I'm talking about my motivation for the plan.. where do I find that at the 4 week mark?! 

I know many people that have their certain body parts that they work out on the same day every week. I can't do that, I constantly need change in the gym!! I need new exercises, new routines, new classes.. unfortunately this is not working and I think I know why… MY DIET! (insert dramatic gasp here) 

People think working out is the hard part, FALSE! Meal prep & what you eat is the hard part! I watch my husband meal prep almost on a daily basis.. Man, he's got the motivation of a beast let me tell ya! I know what needs to be done, I just don't have the self discipline to do it.  


Now for the real test: Can I stick to an 80/20 meal plan?! You will find out! I will be posting my "before" pictures in my next blog to help keep me accountable & in 1 month of "clean" eating I will post my "after" pictures.. The struggle is real people, stay tuned to see if I make it!!  

My, How Goals Change!

While drinking my coffee this morning I was just looking over the goals I have set for myself for 2015. Being almost a month into the new year, I wanted to track my progress so far. Then, I came onto my blog and looked at one of the very first blogs I had wrote about my goals in 2012! My how they have changed!! Some of them I am still working on and some of them I never met. One example: Become a CrossFit Girl. When I lived in Colorado, that's all I wanted!! I thought (and still think) that CrossFit Girls are amazing! 

Over the last three years things have changed including myself! We got out of the Army, moved home to Wisconsin, I went from a Stay At Home Mom to a Working Mom (Yes, I capitalized both of those titles because they are both amazing and difficult jobs!), trying to balance my new routines with the kids schedules and the hubby's schedule, house chores, and just life! lol Needless to say, while trying to get used to our new life the gym got put on the back burner for almost a year! My main job & highest priority in life is being a great Mother and a Wife. I've always felt that way, but after really realizing it my goals changed and my outlook on somethings changed also.

Here are my goals from 2012 goals in Blue how I feel now in Pink:

Short Term Goals

1.   Eat Clean! I’m good with this one 3 out of 4 weeks in the month! The 4^th week all I want is chocolate! lol (still a work in progress! Eating clean is one of my biggest challenges!)

2.   Continue to do my weekly routine at the Gym. (check!)

3.   To up my weights every week. (important but again, not a priority)

4.   Push myself daily to get the most out of my workouts. (still doing this)

5.   Instead of weighing myself, look in the mirror and see the progress I’ve made & be happy with myself & what I’m doing! (I have a serious problem with the scale, I wish we would've never bought one! It's an evil little thing that doesn't measure success but leaves you disappointed & down usually!) 

Long Term Goals

1.   I want to be a Runner! I want to be able to run at least a 5k without stopping! (I have now realized that you can be a runner no matter how fast or slow you're going, if you're running.. YOU'RE A RUNNER! Check!)

2.   I want to have lean, sexy muscles! (Still working on it! Some areas are better than others!)

3.  I want to be a fitness role model for other women! (maybe I am?! I don't know)

4.  I want to be fit & healthy! (again, it's a never ending process)

5.  I want to finish all 3 phases (currently on phase 1 week 3) of Jamie Eason’s LiveFit Program! (never finished!! My biggest problem, I start a program, get bored and never finish!)

6.  To be a CrossFit Girl! (Not a priority anymore, I still admire the crap outta them though!)           

     Now onto my 2015 Fitness/Health goals, when I wrote these, I didn't even think of my previous goals. Like I mentioned before, my outlook on somethings have changed and you will be able to tell by my goals. Here they are: 

•     Clean up my eating 80/20.. I have 3 kids, a husband on Competition prep. You'd think this would be easy! It's not! 
•     Workout at least 3 times per week. So far been good with this one! 
•     Be bikini ready by June 1st!! I guess we'll see June 1st! ;)
•     Try new things at the gym! This is a HUGE one for me, I'm so worried about what people are thinking.. who gives a crap! 
•     Realize that this is a day at a time process, it is going to take time, dedication, hard days, easy days but I WILL get there!! One day at a time! 

These are all a work in progress, that's why they are called goals! People have said by making your goals public it keeps you accountable.. I am hoping that this works for me! 

My New Favorite Show: Dogs of War!

My new favorite show: Dogs of War!

A couple weeks ago, I had posted a picture on Instagram and Facebook of my dog Rocky and I while we were watching our show Pit Bulls & Parolees. A couple of people told me that I should start watching Dogs of War. Sounds like something I would like to watch, so I set my DVR.

 This is my Rocky. He's a "LabMix" rescue dog.

Yesterday, I actually had time to sit down and watch some of my recorded shows. I saw that I had a couple episodes of Dogs of War, so I turned it on. Within the first 15 minutes of the first episode I was in tears. Not because I was sad but because of what this Veteran (who also suffers from PTSD), his wife, and their crew are doing for the men and women coming home with such an unbearable weight of what they have witnessed while they were at war. The things that these men and women see and/or have to do, is unthinkable to most of us.

While I watch the show, I also count my blessings. My husband was deployed 3 times while his 9 years of being active duty Army. During every deployment there would be times when I’d sit and wonder, “are the kids and I going to get him back?” I am thankful to say that we got him back, every single time, with little change. Of course it takes time to get back into a routine with the family. It’s a hard adjustment after being away for so long, for both parties.

I give HUGE credit to Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, & Sailors that can admit that they have something going on and need help. With the training that Military members go through, they can have no flaws; they have to be 100% at all times. So admitting that they need help is being strong beyond their training!

The dogs on the show get chosen from animal shelters. So not only are these people helping Veterans live life they are also giving the dogs a purpose and a second chance at life! If you ever get to watch this show, you should! It is on Sunday nights on A&E, set your DVR people!! What these people are doing is SO amazing to me!

This is my ultimate dream; to find dogs from shelters, train them to be therapy dogs for Soldiers and Veterans with PTSD. Take dogs to visit Veterans at the Veteran Hospitals and give them hope! Time for me to work on my dream!

Who Are You Inspiring?

Who are you inspiring? 

The above picture was drawn for me by my 9 year old niece. I had taken some time off from the gym (like a year, I don't recommend it) & was just starting to get back into it when I walked passed the table & saw this masterpiece! I asked her "Who is that?!" she looked at me with an are you serious?! look on her face and said "It's YOU!"..  In that moment my heart smiled & every time I look at this picture I get motivated! I bet when she was drawing this, she didn't think about the motivating impact it would have on me (Thanks Deezy! :))! It also dawned on me that she's watching me & paying attention to what I'm doing...

People pay attention (kids & adults).. they may not tell you, but they're watching you! Inspire them, Motivate them, & Encourage them.. especially the young ones! This goes for anything in life not just fitness.. share your passions with your kids, they'll appreciate it! We have a 13 year old son and when I hear the weights banging downstairs I just stand at the top of the steps and smile because I know my Husband & I inspired him to pick the weights up and lift them. Or when he says "I'm gonna run the Franklin Mile" & heads out to the front yard to stretch.. I can't even put into words how much I love that!

If someone asks for your advice or how you got to where you are, give them a genuine answer.. THEY ARE INSPIRED BY YOU! Lift them up, encourage and support them!  

My whole point of this Blog Post is that while we're busy on our journey, take a minute look around find your inspiration & don't forget someone's watching you and is being inspired! 

The greatest inspiration, comes from inspiring others!

Motivation, Dedication, & Work!

Motivation comes in all different shapes and sizes, just like us. But where does it come from?! 

Everyone has different things that motivate them.. For some they look at pictures of themselves and decide "That's it! I'm going to change!", some listen to music, some look up motivational quotes, some look at pictures of others that motivate them, some workout with others to keep them accountable, and some motivate others and in turn it helps keep themselves going. Whatever works for you, USE IT! Motivation comes and goes, some days are harder then others..  

Everyone has lazy days! There are going to be the days when you don't feel like getting ready and driving to the gym. Those are the days that are the most important that you get yourself there! I promise, you will walk out thanking yourself and feeling proud because you did it! 

It's easy to get discouraged especially when you are a visual person like me. I want to SEE results ASAP, when I don't see results when I think I should I get disappointed & discouraged.. I have a bad relationship with a little thing called the scale! About a month after I started my "transformation" I figured hey I'll jump on the scale and see progress.. I was sadly disappointed, I only lost a pound. I was so bummed out, I vented to my husband and he said "Babe, it's only been a month.. You need to give yourself more time and STOP weighing yourself!" 

After seeing that ^ picture, I thought you know what.. yeah it was only 1 pound but its GONE! I decided to be happy with it, after all I did make some progress toward my goal! 

I have been serious about my transformation for about four months now.. all together I've lost 13 pounds and 10ish inches from all over my body. I'm have not reached my goal yet, but I am determined to get there so I can say I DID IT!! 

NEVER EVER give up on yourself! You deserve nothing but the best and you can achieve your goals! Yes, it takes time. You didn't put the weight on overnight so why would it come off overnight? (It'd be nice if it would! lol) Anything worth having takes motivation, dedication, and work!  

Only 4 Months Left... YIKES!!

I can't believe it, our life as we know it is about to change drastically! I am scared shitless to say the least.. Excited, but scared! Our Army Life (I say "Our" because everyone's experience in the Military is different) has lasted 8ish years & for the most part it has treated us pretty good! I will hold every memory very close to my heart.. even the ones that have threatened to break it. 

I have mixed feelings about moving on, I can't imagine myself not being an Army Wife.. It's all I know really. I've been an Army Wife since I was 20, I grew up with the title and it's crazy to think I won't be one anymore. The last 8 years has changed me & molded me into the person I am today. It has made me stronger & wiser. If you would've asked me 10 years ago if I'd be able to handle multiple deployments, move all over the country with 3 kids & take on all the curve balls that life throws at me along the way... I would've said Hell NO! There's a saying "It always seems impossible until it's done!" And that's exactly how I would describe my life and the many things that I have dealt with as an Army Wife!

I've done SO many things in the last 8 years that I never thought I'd do in my life! lol 

- Put up Mini-Blinds.. By Myself! (that's hard! lol)

- Moved My Family During Each Deployment (3 times without my Husband).

- Cleared Multiple Houses.

- Changed out the cord on the back of my dryer.. Twice. (Thanks Dad for helping me over the phone!)

- Ran all over Post to do JPPSO Paperwork & Finance Paperwork.

- Took care of the Kids by myself for a year (sometimes longer) at a time (Shout out to all the single parents! My hat goes off to you!!).

There's more, I know there is but this is what I could think of off the top of my head.. Oh yeah one more thing.. If you hear a baby crying in a store, instead of judging the parent & saying "ugh, I wish they would shut their kid up" or "if that was my child I would beat him" (the second thing has been said about my child by a stranger in front of me.. shit didn't go well!) put yourself in their shoes for just ONE second! Maybe they have no one to help them with their kids and they just need to get a few things from the store.. People need things even if their kid is screaming! And it's not like they left the house thinking "Ahh, I have a great idea! I'm gonna take the kids to the store and have them scream the whole time I'm trying to shop!" 

There have been many times that we've talked about getting out and moving home.. All of those times we've reenlisted and stayed in the Army. This time is very different from the last couple times. The first reenlistment it was that bonus that got us.. always remember, THE MONEY ISNT WORTH IT! LoL The second reenlistment Fort Carson was FINALLY open so we jumped on that like the bandwagon was going to leave us if we didn't! Don't get me wrong, I am SO happy we jumped on the bandwagon.. I LOVE COLORADO!! The sign coming into Fort Carson says "Best HomeTown in the Army" & that is not a lie folks! ;) This time, I believe we're finally ready to step away.. We are ready for the next chapter in our lives!

I believe we didn't get out any of those times because we weren't ready, we still had growing up to do and lesson's to learn. I always knew that my husband was my best friend, but being away from home and only having each other made our bond even stronger.. & I love him to death! Over the years I've learned many things, seen many places (that I wouldn't have seen if it wasn't for the Army), & met so many great people! I've met some of my best friends being an Army Wife & the bond that we have will never and could never be broken!

Getting out of the Army is a lot like going into the Army.. You don't really know what to expect, you don't know how things are going to be or how they're going to turn out.. You just know that God has a plan. With that being said... Bring on the Next Chapter, Here We Come Wisconsin! :)

Setting Goals..

"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life." -Muhammad Ali 

Goal setting is an important thing in life, and it’s also something I’m not very good at doing. Well, I should say I'm good at setting goals, but I often give up before I reach them. I’m the type of person that is pretty quick to give up if I’m not good at something or if I think it’s going to be “too hard” for me I’m over it really quick! This is one of my downfalls as a person. I wish I wasn’t like that, I often need to get pushed & encouraged but if I get pushed too hard then I think “hmm, yeah no I’m not doing that because you’re getting on my nerves”.. I’m stubborn, to say the least!

Through the years, I’ve looked at other women and thought “oh my gosh, she’s hot.. I wish I looked like her!” or “wow, look at her body.. I wish I looked like her!” You know how girls are, they’re always comparing themselves to others that in their eyes are "better" then them & it often results in feeling bad about yourself. This is one thing that me as a person is trying to overcome for me.. I’m sick of comparing, I’m tired of making myself feel like I’m not pretty enough, I just want to love what I see in the mirror.. That’s it! The only person that can help me, is me! I don’t want to be Skinny.. I want to be Fit & Healthy!

One thing I’ve learned is that if you make your goals public, you feel more accountable.. So in this blog that’s exactly what I am doing! I’m sharing my goals with you to make me accountable for me! One of my goals that I have made within the last year that I actually have met is making it to the top of the Manitou Incline! This one was a huge one for me, I actually went for the third time this weekend & beat my time from last weekend! Woot Woot! J

Alrighty, onto My Fitness Goals!

Short Term Goals

1.   Eat Clean! I’m good with this one 3 out of 4 weeks in the month! The 4^th week all I want is chocolate! lol

2.   Continue to do my weekly routine at the Gym.

3.   To up my weights every week.

4.   Push myself daily to get the most out of my workouts.

5.   Instead of weighing myself, look in the mirror and see the progress I’ve made & be happy with myself & what I’m doing!

Long Term Goals

1.   I want to be a Runner! I want to be able to run at least a 5k without stopping!

2.   I want to have lean, sexy muscles!

3.  I want to be a fitness role model for other women!

4.  I want to be fit & healthy!

5.  I want to finish all 3 phases (currently on phase 1 week 3) of Jamie Eason’s LiveFit Program!

6.  To be a CrossFit Girl!

Everyone sees beauty in a different way, as long as you see yourself as beautiful and are comfortable in your own skin I believe you hold your head a little higher and strut a little sexier! Be the best You that You can be! Set goals no matter how small & go for them! XoXo