12 Weeks In....Keeping On!!

Added red mulch to the side of our house...and some in the front as well.

Wow....hard to believe that for three months now I have been on this healthy journey!!  Let me just say that my body and my spirit both feel SO much better....even if the outside hasn't made a drastic and noticeable change.  I know that I have toned areas and that I feel better!  

Here we go again.....donating blood.

I did my civic duty and gave blood AGAIN.  Every six weeks you are allowed to donate again.  My biggest issue is usually the iron level in my blood being too low, so I do take a supplement for that. I have been donating since I was a freshman in college.  Although I don't like needles per se---I do not mind giving blood....I know it doesn't make sense.

This is the workout that I have been doing for over 30 days now.

This is the workout that have I used for the past 30+ days.  I started it over because I felt like it was giving me good results in my stomach area.  I did alter it some.....because I am not a Burpee lover (not sure if anyone is), and they really bother my knees.  After about three Burpees I am thinking I am going to "puke-ee"!!!  When your body is protesting that much then you need to listen to it.  I replaced the Burpees with Planks.  

This made me laugh...hope you enjoy!!

This made me laugh....so thought it would make some of you all laugh as well!!!  Why is it that the food that tastes the best always has the most calories??  Why can't celery taste better and still only have six calories per stalk??  Seriously!!  And pie or cookies or cinnamon rolls should only have about six calories per piece as well!!  Who is with me on this???  

A couple of the many bags of leaves and debris I have bagged from our yard!

A big part of my workout for the past three weeks has been the yard work I have been doing to tame the jungle that is our back yard!  Each week the trash men carry away about eight bags of leaves and debris!  If you think that isn't work....come over and join me for a day!  What this reminded me of is that I can make my every day activities into a good workout.  For example, when I went to Lowe's and picked up 22 bags of mulch....I didn't used the wheelbarrow to haul them to the back, I took each bag separately to give myself more of a challenge.  

More pictures of my yard work....

Well last week we went to Lowe's and brought home 25 bags of mulch, and this week we purchased another 30 bags since they were on sale!  The top picture shows one area of our house I worked on.  I have been averaging about 15-16,000 steps a day thanks to the yard work I have been doing!  

You should see  my dogs watch me while I attempt to Hula....haha!

Okay....so I just read an article this week about how you need to focus on the "problem areas" on your body....well that's not really a new revelation to any of us out there!  Can we all say DUH?? However, it did remind me that my biggest target areas need to be my stomach, hips and thighs (as well as many other women out there!!).  So what I plan to do is make up my own "personalized" 30 Day workout plan with exercise that will target those areas.  I also want to incorporate some "old school" exercises....such as the good ole Hula Hoop!!  I also remember doing exercises when I was younger that always seemed to bring results. Next time I will tell you what the exercises I have chosen are!

Still working on this yoga deal....I do like the pants!!

This is just for a good laugh....and no, I'm not making fun of people who actually do yoga!  I really wish that I could get into yoga...and I'm still going to try it before this journey is over in July!  I watched a video by a gal named Tara Stiles doing Slim Waist Yoga.  I saved it and will go back to it....while wearing my yoga pants...maybe with wine.  I'll keep you posted!!

Thank you, Jesus!

Had to include a picture that honors the spiritual side of my journey.  We attend the Life.Church in Stillwater and always enjoy the worship and messages by Pastor Craig.  I am a believer in the blood shed by Jesus Christ.  I am a sinner that needs Him as my Savior.  

Yes...we must remember to live and stay balanced!

This is just my final reminder to us all....it's all about balance in everything.  I'm not trying to be morbid...but it is a reminder that we do need to enjoy life and not take the healthy lifestyle to the extreme so much that we don't let ourselves have cheat days once in awhile, or stop to smell the flowers, or notice the little things in life...such as this....

Swallowtail Butterfly....so gorgeous!

Butterflies represent transformation.  This is what I am aiming for!!  OH YEAH....I did not lose pounds but I did lose another half an inch in my measurements!! Until next time.....keep smiling and working out everyone!!!