Monday Motivation

Why is it that the weekends always seem to go so fast?

 

Our weekend didn't go as planned

 

but we still managed to get in some fun family time

 

and a few good workouts.

 

Friday afternoon

 

Tim and I took advantage of the

 

beautiful day and got outside for a run

 

and then followed it up

 

with our "weekly challenge exercises".

 

 

 After getting our sweat on together

 

we got cleaned up

 

and headed out for a nice dinner together.

 

Saturday was all about basketball

 

and family time.

 

Isaac's team had two games

 

as part of a local tournament.

 

They didn't win either game

 

but it was fun to watch Isaac.

 

He really hustles

 

and has become very aggressive on the court.

 

He has made great improvements

 

and that is what it is all about.

 

Between games we enjoyed a family lunch

 

at one of our favorite restaurants.

 



 

After the games were over we took a little road trip

 

to Rochester so we could go to Trader Joe's

 

and stock up on some of our favorite items.

 

Before heading home

 

we also checked out a couple of other stores.

 

Isaac was the only one that wanted to check out

 

 Bed, Bath, and Beyond

 

and we had a lot of fun with him in the store.

 

We did not put him up to this!

 

Promise-

 

this was all him!

 

Does Isaac make a better Anna or Elsa?

Who knew you could have so much fun

 

in Bed, Bath, and Beyond?

 

He is so silly!

 

But that is why I love him so much!!

 

Next up was Sports Authority

 

and of course

 

everyone wanted to check out that store.

 



 

 Boys will be boys

 

and couldn't pass up

 

playing on the giant concrete balls in front of the store!

 

Sunday was supposed to bring a

 

trip to visit Grandma

 

and a girls day with my cousin.

 

We had planned to go snowshoeing

 

and I was looking forward to it

 

but the weather didn't cooperate

 

and we decided to reschedule.

 

We made the best of the change in plans

 

and got things done at home.

 

We headed to the Y to get in a workout

 

to find that Y Watch had closed an hour earlier.

 

We left the older boys there to play basketball

 

and headed home with little man

 

to do our workout in the basement.

 

We got our "weekly challenge exercises" done

 

and then I got in a good 30 minutes

 

on the trainer while watching a movie with little man.

 

I am grateful that we have options when

 

situations like that come up!

 

It wasn't the workout that I was hoping for

 

but something was better than nothing at that point!

 

Now, you are probably wondering

 

what I am talking about when I refer

 

to our "weekly challenge exercises".

 

This is something

 

that my best friend and I

 

have been doing since the first of the year

 

 as a way to

 

support each other,

 

add in strength training

 

and keep each other accountable.

 

Each week we pick certain exercises

 

that we are going to do all week (at least 5/7 days).

 

These are workouts that are short enough

 

to still do after a long 12 hour shift

 

(so I am at least doing something on the days I work)

 

but are also still challenging.

 

Last week our challenge exercises were:

 

100 crunches/sit-ups

50 squats

50/leg lunges

1 minute plank

 

Each exercise can be broken up however you need to

 

to get them done.

 

Here is what is in store for this week:

 

20 jumping jacks

20 crunches

20 squats

20 push-ups

:30 plank

Repeat x 3 for time

 

Each Monday I will try to post

 

what we have planned for the week

 

and you are welcome to join us!

 

Journaling and reflection

 

Over the past few months,

 

I found myself becoming more and more negative

 

and getting sucked into the negativity at work

 

and I didn't like it!

 

That is not who I am!

 

Because of this,

 

I have spent a lot of time researching

 

and reading about focusing on positive thoughts

 

and changing your mindset.

 

Yesterday I told you about setting daily intentions

 

and that has really helped me.

 

Something else that I have been doing

 

is journaling and ending the day

 

with some reflection.

 

 

 

I have read a lot about how these two things can

 

really help keep your thoughts positive

 

 and help you see the good.

 

It also gives you a place for the negativity to go.

 

I found a few journal prompts that have been really helpful-

 

** Think back over the day and give one situation for each category:

High, Low, Weird

 

** Think back over the day and answer the following:

This made me SMILE today:

This made me THINK today:

This is something I wish I had DONE DIFFERENTLY today:

This is something I LEARNED today:

This is the GOOD I did today:

  

 

Over the past week I have used these prompts

 

to start conversations

 

and I have to say it was so much FUN!

 

They were very well received at work,

 

where there has been such a negative vibe lately-

 

 I plan to continue to end my shifts

 

 reflecting on my day in this way.

 

In an effort to change the negative vibe

 

I am also going to make it a practice to

 

ask these questions of my coworkers.

 

We have also been doing

 

something similar during dinner with the boys.

 

It is amazing the power that doing these things has.

 

It really does help change your mindset when you reflect on your day in this way!

 

Give it a try and let me know what you think:)

Active Living

 

Lately, I have been seeing Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest

 

posts where they set daily intentions.

 

I have also noticed a pattern

where several use hashtags of:

 

#movenourishbelieve

 

#mnbintentions

 

#dailyMNB

 

Recently,

(when I had some extra time in front of the computer

 

and was looking for things to "research")

 

I remembered these posts and "googled"

 

Move Nourish Believe.

 

I found an amazing website

 

with an even more amazing philosophy!

I highly encourage you to check it out

 

but be prepared to spend some time there-

LOTS of time!

 

Move. Nourish. Believe

Move your body. Nourish from the inside out. Believe anything is possible.

These are the three pillars-

by recognizing their importance

and focusing on them daily,

you'll start to live a more active life.

But what does that mean?

Active Living

Getting more out of life by giving more of yourself everyday.


Who wouldn't want that???

I think this is really what I have been searching for!

So many of the "articles" on the website

really got me thinking

and "hit home" for me.

This is what I am striving for-

Active Living!!!



 So, that brings me back to the whole daily intentions deal.

What is that all about?

It is a daily commitment to living your best, active life.

Start each day by asking yourself... What is my MNB intention today?

This is something that I have started doing

and have to say that I really enjoy-

I feel less overwhelmed

and more focused!

It doesn't have to be fancy-

Use a pad of post-it notes

or scraps of paper,

a simple notebook

or even a journal-

just write it down

and let it guide your day.

Just a simple composition notebook that I added some "embellishments" to.

Here is an example of mine from one day this week:

M: Complete weekly challenge exercises
N: Eat mindfully and control portions
B: I am energized!



I challenge you to give it a try!

Step out of your comort zone

 It's a happy Friday at our house for sure

 

and I hope it is for you too!

 

I am off this weekend

 

and have some fun things planned.

 

My kids are also excited that it is Friday

 

because it is an early release day

 

and they don't have school on Monday.

Yeah for long weekends!!

 

 

One thing that I am really working on

 

is challenging myself to

 step out of my comfort zone!

 

Last week I stepped out of my comfort zone

 

(with the support of a couple of my LIVESTRONG ladies)

 

and attended a group strength class at the Y.

 

One of our LIVESTRONG trainers was the instructor

 

so it shouldn't have felt like such a big step outside my comfort zone

 

but it did because I had no idea of what to expect.

 

The class was tough

 

but I loved every minute of it-

 

well maybe not while I was doing it-,

 

but it sure felt good to know that I did it once the class was over!



My Instagram from after that class:
I stepped out of my comfort zone today (with the help of some LIVESTRONG friends) and tried Stacy's group strength class. I really enjoyed it and will be going back in the future. It was so nice and sunny this afternoon that I couldn't pass up the chance to run outside.. note to self: Stacy's strength training class prior to a run will really put you out of your comfort zone on said run! Somehow I managed to get it done. I am exhausted but have a great sense of accomplishment.

 

My LIVESTRONG ladies and I

 

made plans to attend the class again this week

 

and I couldn't wait.

 

Wednesday night I got an email

 

saying that one of my friends

 

wasn't feeling well and wasn't going to make it.

 

I decided that I was going to go anyway-

 

Step out of my comfort zone

 

and go without knowing anyone!

 

I know it sounds silly

 

but I don't like attending classes

 

without knowing someone else there

 

so this really is a big step for me!

 

My Instagram photo from this week's class.

 

WOW-

 

What a class!

 

I thought last week's class was a challenge-

 

that felt like the beginner edition

 

compared to this week!

 

The "warm-up" itself had me dripping with sweat.

 

It was definitely a challenge-

 

call me CRAZY but I LOVED it!

 

We made "field trips" from the studio to the gym

 

and those were probably my favorite parts of the class-

 

muscle ropes, medicine balls, glider pads, and weights (not pictured above)

 

 were used during the "field trips".

 

I even chatted with a few other people in the class

 

and got to know them a bit-

 

this is another big step for me

 

and one that really, really

 

pushes me out of that comfort zone.

 

 

Today I have some sore muscles

 

but it is definitely "happy pain"

 

and not nearly as bad

 

as I thought it might be!

 

That class really challenges me

 

and I am excited to go back.

 

I have already checked my schedule

 

and was very sad that I have to work next Thursday

 

so it will be a couple of weeks before I get back.

 

 



Do you attend fitness/workout classes? What are they? What's your favorite?

 

Is there anyone else out there that hates to attend classes without the support of a friend going?

 

Are you someone who finds it easy to talk to others around you or are you a "keep to yourself" person?

 

What did you do this week to step out of your comfort zone?

 

 

 

PLEASE SHARE your answers to the above questions by using the comment button below :)

 

If there have been no comments yet- click on "No Comments"



Square One

I often feel like I am starting over

 

and am back at square one.

 

Just when I am getting into a good routine

 

something always seems to happen-

 

it's called LIFE!

 

Recently, I came across this graphic

 

and it has really helped me re-frame my way of thinking-

 

 

Over the holidays I got a bit off track-

 

I was working out some and was trying to eat right!

 

With the start of the new year

 

I (once again) felt like I was starting over at square one.

 

But after seeing this quote

 

I am changing my thoughts on it-

 

LIFE happened-

 

I am not starting over-

 

it's all part of the journey!

 

Instead, I am looking back over my journey

 

 and I am realizing just how much more

 

knowledge, strength and power I have now

 

than when I was at square one.

 

Square one was when I couldn't even run a mile

 

(heck- I couldn't run a quarter of a mile).

 

Square one was when I wasn't strength training at all

 

(and didn't know anything about how to use the weights).

 

Square one was when I didn't pay ANY attention to what I ate.

 

I am most definitely not back there!

 

 

My last post- Forget perfect. Honor progress

 

talked about how I am going to "forget perfect"

 

but it didn't talk much about the "honor progress" part.

 

I think that is another key piece of the puzzle for me!

 

I need to take time to reflect on my journey.

 

I am always challenging myself to be "better"

 

(to be perfect in my own eyes- but what that means I don't really know).

 

Sometimes you have to give yourself credit for how far you have come

 

to realize that you are "better".

 

That will help me keep in mind that I am not starting over-

 

I am just continuing on my journey.

 

LIFE (all of those things that seem to get in the way)

 

 is not a setback- IT IS THE JOURNEY

 

and we need to take time to embrace it!

Forget perfect. Honor progress.

Since writing my last post

 

I have really been thinking

 

 about my goals/area of focus for January

 

and I have to admit that

 

I am feeling incredibly overwhelmed!

 

I have so many things

 

that I would like to work on

 

and improve- in all aspects of my life.

 

I want to challenge myself in new ways this year!

 

The list of things that I would like

 

to accomplish this year is so long

 

that I am struggling to focus!

 

There are so many wheels turning

 

in my head and it is filled

 

with information and ideas

 

to the point where

 

I am feeling a bit paralyzed.

 

Honestly I don't even know where to begin

 

with this whole process.

 

I have so many wheels turning in my head!

 

I think each new year

 

brings with it the feeling of a fresh start-

 

a chance to wipe the slate clean and start again

 

on reaching our goals.

 

For some reason

 

this year I feel like

 

I have been putting pressure on myself

 

to figure out a plan for the whole year right now!

 

I was getting frustrated

 

with myself and couldn't figure

 

out what the problem was

 

and then I came across this:

 

 

WOW!

 

What an eye-opener!

 

I quite possibly stumbled upon

 

my main goal for the year!

 

I think my problem

 

is that I am too busy

 

being a perfectionist-

 

trying to make everything in my life perfect-

 

that I am not allowing myself

 

to really figure out who I am

 

and/or what I want

 

or to celebrate the progress

 

that I have made over the past few years!

 

The more I think about it,

 

I think I feel the need to be perfect because

 

I am always worried about

 

how someone else might see me.

 

Why?

 

I have no idea, but it is crazy!

 

 

I am ready to stop feeling this way

 

and to be PROUD

 

because the truth is...

 

 

... I am a beautiful disaster!

 

As you could probably tell by this crazy, rambling post!

 

This year I am ready to

 

"Forget perfect and honor progress"

 

as the caption said!

 

 

 

While I spend some time

 

processing this bigger goal

 

I am going to take things day-by-day!

 

I am not sure why we always

 

feel the need to wait for a new year

 

(OH HECK- a new MONTH

 

or even a new WEEK sometimes).

 

Each new day is the chance to start fresh! 

 

For the rest of January,

 

I am just going to focus

 

on starting fresh each day

 

with smaller goals

 

to help me reach this bigger goal!

 

 

 

Ironically, I saw this post on Instagram today

 

and it was a great

 

reminder of my word of the year-

 

I think I have succeeded for today!

 

I really challenged myself

 

to take a deeper look

 

at myself

 

and to process my recent

 

sense of feeling overwhelmed and frustrated!

 

Now that I have started to figure it out

 

(and I have to admit that ALL of that happened through the process of the writing of this blog post)

 

it is time to develop a plan

 

and ATTACK it!

 

 I would also like to leave you with proof

 

that I am still working out!

 

AM workout- 30 min on bike in trainer followed by a chilly 3 mile walk

 



It's that time of year...

 

Let me start out by saying-

 

 

I hope you had an

 

amazing and blessed

 

holiday season-

 

I know we did!

 

 

 

I loved seeing the boys excitement

 

and sharing traditions with them.

 

It was also wonderful to

 

spend time with

 

family and friends.

 

That is what the holiday season is all about-

 

family, traditions, and some fun!

 

Time with friends enjoying Rotary Lights

 

Tim and I even got to get

 

dressed up to enjoy

 

a "night of elegance"

 

for his work Christmas party.

 

 

 

I also got to mark off an item on my bucket list-

 

a horse drawn carriage ride

 

through Rotary Lights!

 

 

 

 We wrapped up our celebrations

 

with a trip to Missouri

 

to visit Papa and GJ.

 

While we were there

 

we all attended a

 

Mizzou Men's Basketball Game.

 

Pre-Game

Aidan and his Scensty Buddy- Tucker Truman
(middle name after the Mizzou mascot)

 

 

Mizzou won

 

and we all had a great time!

 

Post-Game

 

All of our celebrations are over.

 

The tree and decorations have all been put away.

 

The boys are back to school.

 

It always comes and goes too fast!

 

 

 

With all of that behind us

 

we now have a new year

 

to look forward to and plan for.

 

I know we are already a week into it :)

 

We have all seen the posts and

 

articles about resolutions.

 

Like so many,

 

I have made resolutions

 

in the past but a few months in

 

start to forget about it

 

and fall off track.

 

Recently I read about some new ideas

 

that I thought were very interesting

 

and that I am going to try this year.

 

The first was picking one word

 

for the year and focusing on that one word-

 

think of it as a theme for the year.

 

The second is to make

 

"mini" resolutions (or goals)

 

each month-

 

these focus on your word

 

but in different aspects of your life

 

and you add to them with each new month.

 

Does all of that make sense?

 

Think long and hard and choose a word

 

to help inspire and shape you throughout this year.

 

Keep this word in mind when setting your monthly goals.

 

My word/theme for 2015 is going to be:

 

CHALLENGE!

 

 

 

 

I am ready to challenge my limits

 

and to make some changes!

 

How about you?

 

What is your word for 2015?

 

Think about it and join me on this journey:)

 

Here are a few of the goals

 

that I would like to incorporate

 

into this year.