Happy Place

Has it already been nearly 2 weeks since my last post? I have written so many posts in my head over the past couple of weeks that I can't believe that it has already been that long. The problem is that all of those posts never actually made it to the blog! I am nearing the end of my "glory week" so I really don't even have any good reasons why they haven't made it... they just haven't.

 

A while back my Scentsy Director posted this on our team Facebook page:

 

"Where is your happy place?"

 

 

 

My original answer at the time of the Facebook post was "working out... outside or at the gym." I have spent a lot of time thinking about this since it was posted!  Over the past several weeks I have had numerous people comment to me about how great I am doing with my workouts because they have seen my posts on social media. My response to them was "it's my happy place".  It feels so good to push myself to see what my body can do. Does it actually feel good while I am doing it? Not always! But it sure feels great when I am done and I can look back to see what I have accomplished! Working out (in whatever way it may be) makes me feel happy!

 

Here are a few pictures of me in that happy place from the past couple of weeks:

 

Getting outside for a run with my little man on his bike (4 miles)

My Piyo time with my hubby

Another great run outside with my hubby and little man- enjoying the beautiful spring weather

 

trying new workouts together

 

 

Being silly after a workout

Solo run outside

making progress together

As I have continued to think about this question over the past several weeks I have also come to realize that while this answer is very much the truth, it is only part of it. Working out makes me happy but it is not the only thing that makes me happy. It isn't the only thing that can take me to my "HAPPY PLACE"- that place where you have an overwhelming sense of happiness inside. My happy place is when I am doing what I enjoy and when I am with people that are important to me. My happy place is living in the moment and being connected to whoever I am with at the time. It may be with someone who helps to make me feel better about myself or maybe I am able to help them in some way. My happy place is making the most of every moment that I am given!

 

Here are a few more examples from the past couple of weeks:



Ladies Day- spent with family (Mom, Grandma, Aunts, and Cousins)

This is an old picture but represents any time spent with these three crazies!

Quiet time alone- snuggled up with the dogs and a good book

Just about anything I do with this man by my side

 

Where is your "HAPPY PLACE"?

 



Fitness Friday

I need to start out by letting you all know just how PROUD I am of this kid!

 

Riley- age 12

When he made the decision to not go out for basketball this year we told him that it was fine but, since he wasn't doing a winter sport, he would need to workout with us- running, lifting, etc. and not just sitting at home playing games. The month of December we didn't push it but once January came along we told him it was time to hit it hard and I have to say that he did. 

Then we challenged him to participate with us in the Indoor Ironman Challenge at our local YMCA (swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and run 26.2 miles during the month of February) and he took it on and totally rocked it. He finished last night with a 3 mile run and a 1/4 mile swim and a couple of days to spare. It was so much fun to have him working out with us and to be able to spend that time with him. He wasn't always thrilled to be going and doing it but, once we would get started, he always made the most of it and had fun.

Now that indoor batting practice has started he is even starting to see the benefits and is understanding why we made this "deal" with him. It really wasn't to torture him with spending time with us! It was to help him stay in shape and get stronger for track and baseball. After the first session of batting he really noticed a difference and said that it felt good and his swing felt so much stronger. I will definitely count that as a win for us!

NOTE: I should add that my wonderful husband also finished his last lap of swimming last night to also finish his Indoor Ironman Challenge.

This is my weekend to work so I have been off all week which means this has been a GREAT week of workouts! We all finished our Indoor Ironman Challenge this week and Tim and I also started a new challenge that I think we are both really enjoying- a 60 day Piyo challenge.

I can't speak for Tim but I am loving this time together each night.

Here is how my week looked:

Monday: 5k run (treadmill) and biked 14 miles (upright bike) at the Y, Piyo- Align

Tuesday: 2 mile run (treadmill) and biked 6 miles (upright bike) at the Y, Yoga class, Piyo- Lower body

Wednesday: 4 mile run (treadmill) and 1/2 mile swim at the Y, Piyo- Upper body

Thursday: Group Strength Training Class (full body workout), Piyo- Sweat

All of the "tools" used in yesterday's group strength class

After all of that I am feeling it today! It is a good sore though because I can feel that I have been doing something and am working to improve myself and my body. I am thinking that a nice easy run yet today would feel good to help loosen up my tight legs.



 Gratitude Challenge- Days 23-27

Day 23-

Some of us struggle with health and wellness issues. Really take a few moments and think about your body and what you are grateful for in regards to your own health and wellness.

 

Being diagnosed with melanoma and having part of my ear removed really sucked but when I really stop and think about it I am grateful that we caught it when we did. It could have been so much worse and I am incredibly grateful that it wasn't!

 

 I have had my struggles with health and wellness but I am grateful for where I am now. I am not exactly where I want to be but I am on the journey to improving my health and wellness. The journey isn't always easy but I am learning so much about myself and have met so many amazing people along the way.

 

Day 24-

Name a deceased person you are grateful for and why.

 

I have two that I have talked about in previous responses- Grandpa Everett and Tim's Dad (Papa D). They were both very loving, caring and strong men. They both worked hard and were not afraid to push the limits and try new things. They were great examples for how to make the most of your life!

 

Day 25-

Write a thank you to a child you are grateful for and tell them why you are grateful for them. In your gratitude journal, write about the child and your gratefulness towards them.

 

I am incredibly grateful for each of my three boys! They have ALL brought so much joy to my life and in each of their own ways!

 

 

Riley- he was the first to make me a mom and I have learned so much from him. He is very independent and always has been. He has been a 'natural' at so many things that he has helped me learn how to challenge him and push him to try harder and try things that don't come easy to him. From the time he was very young he had a drive for learning and that has helped me to also want to learn new things. He is growing into an amazing, responsible young man and it is so much fun to watch as he grows and changes.

 

Isaac- he has a special way of challenging me but I am grateful for the ways that he makes me a better mom. He is helping me learn to have patience. He also helps me see that sometimes you have to take a different approach to get the end result you are seeking- just because it worked with one kid doesn't mean it will work with the next.  He works hard at all that he does because things don't come easy for him and I admire his determination to figure things out. He is my silly, free-spirited child and I love that about him. He is helping me realize that sometimes I need to be more like that. He is such a sweet, caring boy and I can't wait to see where his future takes him!

 

Aidan- my little man! He is my little sweetie. He is so caring and loves to snuggle. He loves to play, play, play! He has always been "mommy's boy" and I am totally ok with that! He is the child that has helped me slow down and be more in the moment. He has helped me cherish the small, everyday moments because they are what's really important.

 

Day 26-

What happened to you today that you are most grateful for?

 

I am grateful to finally be able to get back to the group strength training class at the Y. After working the past few Thursdays it felt great to get back. Stacy really kicked my butt which was just what I needed!

 

I also had a moment that was very brief but I was go grateful that I was living in the moment and was able to catch it and take it in. While walking through Wal-Mart Aidan said to me, "Mommy, I really enjoy being your son." Sometimes it can be the smallest things that can totally make your day!

 

 

Day 27-

What is one activity that you are grateful you are able to do each day? Why?

 

Dang this is hard! My first reaction was that I am grateful that I can 'move'- in whatever way it might mean for that day. Then I thought about it more and decided that maybe it should be that I am grateful that I can breathe- without breathing nothing else would be possible! I guess that is the very literal side of me talking with those answers.

 

I am also very grateful that I get to be with my family in some capacity each day. I get to see my boys grow and change. I am grateful to be home to eat dinner with my family most nights. I am grateful to be able to tell my boys good night and tuck my little man in.

 

 

I would love to hear from you:

How was your week as far as fitness goes?

What happened to you this week that you are most grateful for? Why?

 

Please comment to share your thoughts:)

It's "D" day for me

Maybe I should say double d day-

 

Dermatology & Dentist that is.

 

 

I started my day with my dreaded

 

6 month Dermatology follow up

 

which means a full body skin check.

 

UGH!!

 

I hate being examined from head to toe

 

under the special magnifying glass/light.

 

I know that it is a necessary evil

 

but it really doesn't make it any easier.

 

The only thing that made it better was

 

hearing that everything looks good.

 

It does feel good to have the reassurance

 

that all of the freckles and moles

 

that I am constantly analyzing

 

are completely normal

 

and hopefully they stay that way!

 

Back again in another 6 months

 

to continue to keep an eye on everything.

 

 

 

From the clinic it was back home

 

to pick up the boys (no school day)

 

and head to the Dentist-

 

another place that I hate to go!

 

News wasn't as good there-

 

I get to go back to have some old cavities replaced,

 

Aidan has a couple of cavities to take care of,

 

and Isaac and Riley both need an Orthodontist consult.

 

UGH!!

 

I am going to need a second job

 

to take care of everyone's teeth!

 

 

After all of that "fun" I needed a workout!

 

It was getting close to lunch time

 

but Riley and I managed to get in a quick

 

swim despite the pool being pretty crazy

 

and being limited on time.

 

We made more progress

 

on our Indoor Ironman Challenge

 

and it was a great way to spend

 

some one-on-one time with Riley!

 

 

For a kid that has never really swam laps

 

he killed it and did a pretty good job

 

keeping up with me.

 

It wasn't a long workout

 

but it was just what we needed!

 

 

Gratitude Challenge- Day 16

 

"What invention are you most grateful for and why?"

 

I asked Riley this question on our way back from swimming today and his answer impressed me. He said he was grateful for the invention of immunizations because without them we could get very sick and/or die. Wow! For a kid that loves technology (iPod, Xbox, computer, etc) that answer really surprised me and made me realize that maybe he is paying more attention to the news and media around him than I thought. I have to admit that my answer when I first thought about his question wasn't nearly as impressive- I am grateful for the heated seats in my van! With our Wisconsin winters the past few years they have been wonderful! More seriously though there are so many inventions that I am grateful for. I am grateful for all of the inventions in regards to medicine- detection, treatment, and prevention of cancers.

 

 



Three Things Thursday

Happy Thursday everyone!

 

 

 

Today is my "Sunday" as I work

 

the next three days (12 hr. shifts).

 

For today's post I am going to do "Three Things Thursday".

 

1) Workouts-

 

I am feeling really good about my workouts this week!!

 

Last night I got in another great workout

 

and got in way more than I had planned.

 

Having run in the morning

 

I told the boys that they could run

 

and I would take it easy on the recumbent bike

 

and read my book.

 

I don't normally read while I work out

 

but I wasn't going to push it on this workout

 

and just wanted to get some bike miles in for the Indoor Ironman.

 

I had about 6 miles in when

 

Tim and Ry were done running

 

but the weight area was packed

 

so they got on the bikes next to me

 

until the weight area opened up a bit.

 

Another 6 miles later it looked good.

 

That made 12 miles on the bike for me!!

 

Riley was hesitant about a workout

 

so I promised him a "fun" workout

 

and that meant...

 

medicine balls!

 

We set up a couple of different circuits

 

that I had a ton of fun with

 

but I am not sure that Tim and Ry

 

would agree with me.

 

Things were starting to get busy again

 

so we headed home to do our challenge workout.

 

Riley killed it again with a time of 5:12!

 

I don't know how he does it

 

but I know I won't get close.

 

I did PR again

 

but at the cost of losing my form!

 

Instagram from last night's workout.

 

Being that today is Thursday

 

that meant Group Strength Class at the Y.

 

Today was another challenging workout

 

but it felt amazing to get through it.

 

We took another field trip to the gym

 

for our warm up.

 

This is a whole workout in itself!

 

Weighted step-ups on the bleachers,

 

medicine ball wall slams

 

and pushing 25 lb plates across the gym

 

all times two.

 

I was definitely "warmed up"!

 

 

Then it was back to the studio

 

for the "real workout".

 

Last week I took a friend to the class

 

and she joined me again this week.

 

It was nice to have a friend there next to me.

 

She was a ROCKSTAR!

 

 

2) Latest read

 

Above I mentioned reading while I biked last night.

 

A few weeks ago I started this book:

 

 

After reading at the Y last night I got sucked in

 

and couldn't put it down!

 

I read while we watched TV

 

and then I even read for a while before bed

 

because I had to finish it.

 

What a great book!

 

It was interesting to read about Chrissie's life

 

and her triathlon and Ironman experiences

 

but it was also very inspiring.

 

It definitely made me think about pushing the limits

 

and what that means in my life.

 

I would definitely recommend this book!

 

 

3) Gratitude Challenge, Day 5

 

"Today we are going to write about nutrition and food. I want you to write about 3 foods or nutritional type things that you are grateful for and why you are grateful for them.

 

 

1) I am grateful for Oatmeal- I love to start my day off with a bowl of oatmeal (especially these cold winter days in Wisconsin).  There are so many ways that you can change things up and make it different each day. It is also very filling and holds me over till lunch. Oatmeal is one thing that I can eat for breakfast and then run shortly after eating it. It is always my breakfast before a race! 

 

2) I am grateful for fruit- It is an easy snack or addition to a meal. Unlike veggies, it is easy to get my whole family to eat fruit! I love to make fruit smoothies after a tough workout or run!

 

3) I am also grateful for dark chocolate, specifically this chocolate!

I love to keep these in the house for that sweet treat once in a while after supper. I tend to have a sweet tooth and one square totally satisfies that craving without over doing it. YUM!! 

 

 

 

Now it's your turn...

 

What 3 foods or nutritional type things are you grateful for and why?

 

Do you ever read when you workout?

 

What book would you recommend?

 

Please comment below to share!!