Playing Catch-up!

It's been entirely too long since I've posted! So much has happened and changed in the last couple of months!

For starters, I broke the halfway point of getting to my goal! 125lbs are now GONE! How did that happen so quickly?!

I also made it through my first holiday season as 'New Me' and -- I'm so proud of myself! I was able to maintain portion control and keep myself from going crazy with food. One plate at each holiday and I didn't overfill the plate, like I always have. There were tempting moments, but I managed to hold strong. *fist bump* to me!

I even made it through our cookie baking session with Jean without eating too many cookies. The temptation of four-bazillion cookies on the counter the next day got to me and I indulged in 5 -- yes, FIVE! -- but I logged them, owned them, counter-balance the rest of my day around them and moved on!

During the six week holiday season, I actually managed to lose 13lbs! So awesome! I think this really proves out my commitment to my new lifestyle and that it truly is a new lifestyle, not a diet!

The other way I've grown by leaps and bounds in the last few months is activity and exercise. I really struggled from the beginning with being active. I had finally gotten my groove and was starting to get in a rhythm when I got sick back in May/June/July. The 30 days of not being able to exercise really killed my motivation.

Once I was better, I struggled with getting my motivation back. I kept trying and wasn't getting far. I'd manage a day or two, then I'd slump it out. I didn't know how I was going to get there, but I was going to keep trying.

One day, I joined the Facebook Spark People group. When I did, I met some INCREDIBLE people! There was an exercise challenge being started and I figured that was just the push and drive I needed so, I jumped right in! It's been wonderful to have motivation and accountability!

I'm back to going to the gym 4-5 days a week and sweating my butt off! The best part is that I'm starting to find new muscle! I flexed my arm the other day and deep down under the fluffy layer was a nice little -- and I do mean little -- mound of muscle! There was also a little bump on my forearm! WHOOHOO! It's taking time, but it's paying off!

Some days, I can hardly believe my progress. I don't know who this girl is, but I like her! I'm really starting to learn to love myself -- something I often struggled with. I've been making conscious efforts to not be self-deprecating. Talk about a struggle! So many years of negative voices in my head and negative thoughts about myself is a difficult habit to break -- perhaps the most difficult I've faced thus far. I've even asked Tiffany to start calling me out, if I do it. I even promised her $5 each time, but I haven't paid out yet. haha I'm down to a few times a week, rather than multiple times a day -- progress!

I could literally go on and on to catch up what's happened in the last few months! I guess that's what I get for slacking for so long!

With the new year, I've committed myself to working on my mental well-being, as well as my physical well-being. I tackled my physical well-being in 2016; 2017 is the year of mental well-being, along with the continued improvement of my physical well-being.

... that's a wrap!

New Chapters Call for New... Blogs!

It's a bit cliche, but a new life chapter calls for something new, right? So... why not make it a blog!

It's very surreal for me to come to the realization that motherhood -- as I've known it for 24 years -- has drawn to a close. My kids are grown. My child-raising days are done.

For the first time in my 40-something years, I live alone. No mother. No siblings. No roommates. No kids. No pets. Just... me.

My son's been on his own for about 5 years and now, my baby girl is all grown up and, essentially, not living at home anymore either. Well, yes, most of her stuff is still here so I guess it's not 'official' official, but it's headed that way. She hasn't spent a night at home in nearly a week. She's been independent and doing her own thing for almost a year, now; I've just been lucky enough to still be part of her day-to-day events.

Motherhood: what an bittersweet endeavor! This amazing little human comes into your life. Innocent. Unadulterated. Pure. Malleable. Trusting. And you get to do with it whatever you want. You get to guide and form this little person into who they will be for the rest of their lives. Such a powerful responsibility!

So, you spend nearly 20 years guiding, teaching, influencing this little person who becomes an adult. If you've done a good job -- as I think I have -- you're blessed to find you have raised two of the most wonderful people you could ask for. They're kind. They're loving. They're self-sufficient. They're productive members of society. They make (mostly) good choices.

Then, suddenly -- almost as if flipping a switch -- you're done. It's over. Yesterday, you were a mom making sure they had meals, clean clothes, all their needs met and today you only have to worry about yourself. Nobody needs you to plan or make dinner. Nobody needs you to go to the grocery store. Nobody needs you to make sure they're home safe. Nobody needs you. It's very surreal.

Now, it's time to move on to the next phase in life: Getting to know myself better. Instead of being handed a tiny human who's innocent, pure, and trusting, I get to learn about a big human who's fairly jaded and cynical. Oh, lawd! This may prove to be more difficult than motherhood! haha!

Here's to a new chapter. A new adventure. And the best part is that, even though my kids don't need me, they still want me in their lives. That's the best gift a mother could ever hope for.

Onward and upward...