Changes In Me...

So I started noticing a change in me on Sunday, Day 2.  I was looking at one of my friend's FB status and it mentioned  the Push up Challenge and how many she had done that day.  So I went to www.hundredpushups.com.  I knew that this friend was doing the challenge.  I just wanted to find out more.  Huh?  ME???  So when I went there, I decided I would try to do a different one-200 squats (the link is on the aforementioned website).

I shoot a text to my friend, Leslie.  Leslie is simply fabulous, she's lost tons of weight and has got the smokin' guns!!  So I ask her, did she know there was a squatslogger?   So she tells me she had seen it but hadn't looked at it.  So then I tell her I'm in the process of signing up.  She says, "Sweetness! I'll do it with ya!" just like that!  How cool is that???  Can I just tell you I have some of the bestt friends-some of whom, I've never even laid eyes on in person.  Leslie is in the midwest, I'm in the midatlantic, and one of my goals is to meet her and our other friend who lives in the midwest, and go white water rafting together!  This is another reason for me to get fit:).   I really want to get in shape and travel and see so much more of this great country.

So then later on Day 2, I'm getting myself geared up for Day 3 which starts the No Sugar Experiment.  I am eating cookies like crazy so I can hopefully get it out of my system.  Then I decide, I'm going to sign up for that push ups challenge as well.  I need to start working on my upper body as well.  And both the squats and push ups are good for me to work on for the next 6 weeks.  Then I figure I will do the dips (for the triceps) the next 6 weeks.  Just gotta figure out what I'll use to do those dips!  After doing all that, I start making preparations for my meals for work the next day since I plan on bringing my lunch and snacks.  So by the end of the day, I've done 2 initial tests-1 for squats and 1 for push ups-and I'm all packed for work!

Day 3 begins and I'm wondering about these headaches everyone who's in on the experiment has mentioned.  I took some Advil but I seemed to be ok.  I actually took it because my knees were sore.  I got some turkey sausage burritos and ate my concocted tuna pasta salad for lunch along with some fresh pineapple later on.  I had a hard boiled egg as a snack.  On the way home from work, I stopped and picked up some groceries.

Ok, I was tempted by a few things but my only indulgence was Montery Jack Cheese! I bought some London broil steak, pork chops, strawberries, barley and lentils.  Big change up from my usual mac & cheese, Doritos, cheese hotdogs, lasagna...and the list could go on for hours.  So then, when I get home I ask my dear husband and daughter if they'd like to go for a walk.  They say yes and we leave shortly!

Now this walk, is fairly straight for the first 20 minutes.  Then you start going down the hill (which of course means you'll be going back up that hill:).  Here's the hill:

Sorry, they are a bit blurry.  I was walking as I took them.  Here is where the road starts to go flat for just a bit before it goes uphill...

Just ahead are lots of bushes and so I decide I'm walking on the other side.  Hubby and daughter walk on the  street.  Me?  I just want the gnats away from me! :)  So I begin my ascent up the hill (mind you, when I suggested this walk I said I would walk to the bottom but not up!)...

It was when I got right here that I was seriously huffing and puffing but was feeling determined to make the effort.  So I look across the street to my family and what do I see?

They are headed back down going back home!?!?!?!?!?!?  So I too, turn around.  My child has become tired and it's a bit of a walk back.  So I'm still trying to recover from the ascent I had started and I turn to find this...

Are they running over there??!!?!?!?!?  Well I'm so sorry but this chick is barely getting one foot in front of the other.   But I keep going.  Mainly because I know it's the only way I'll get home.  Hubby won't be going to get the car to get me unless I happen to be dead.  So I'm walking back up that hill I just descended and OH MY GOSH!!!  I can't breath, sweating like crazy and chest is POUNDING!  Can I just please please please lay down here on the side of the road for an hour or two?  But those family members across the street are still going and I trudge on.  Then at one point I just have to stop. I wait a second, look up in the sky and see...

Ok, God's trying to tell me something.  I need to keep moving.  YES, it hurts, but I WILL DO THIS...ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER...ONE STEP AT A TIME...even if I have to huff and puff home. I think of my supportive team in cyber world and know they are cheering me on!  I stop a few times.  The first time I just can't move.  Hubby & daughter cross the street to meet me.  I'm almost in tears.  They both encourage me but I just don't know if I can do it.  People are staring as I'm walking up this hill with my hands on my hips-my back is KILLING me.  I know why of course-cuz my body has SO much excess weight the pain goes right to my back when I walk a straight hill!  I get to the almost top of the hill and break down crying because I just NEED to stop.  Hubby and daughter once again to the rescue encouraging me on how well I've been doing.  We walk a bit more and I tell hubby I must sit at the bus stop for a moment.  Emma has to sit with Mommy:)  From there on it seems to get a bit easier.  I tell them I would like to take some pics.  So here a few with me and Emma....

Emma was simply awesome out there! It amazes me how much energy she has even when she starts to act sleepy:)  She stuck through it but again, unless she died, Daddy wasn't coming home to get the car to pick her up!

 Emma is my biggest why.  I want to be able to do so much more with her.  It pains me that I'm not able to run with her right now.  But that doesn't mean I won't in the future!!  Life is too precious to waste it.  I want to enjoy it!  So I'm going to get out there and DO what needs to be done!

I asked Em if she'd "take a picture of Mommy & Daddy" and she saiid "sure" ....

 So we decided maybe we needed to get down to her level:)

I was exhausted when I finished but I love the look of contentment in my face here!  I finished what I started. My only downside was that I did not have a plan for dinner.  So dinner ended up being a hard boiled egg and  a couple slices of Jack cheese.  Not the best choice but better than ice cream or some high carb item I might have chosen a few days before.  So Day 3 was a success!

Yesterday, Day 4,  I did Week 1 Day one squats and push ups.  I did my squats at work during a break.  GO ME!  I did the push ups at night. I noticed on Monday, Day 3, that my lower abs were hurting.  Well yesterday they were as well.  When I attempted to do the push ups I could feel where it was hurting my lower abs again.  So I decided for this go around, I will do the modified on my knees.  Then maybe after trying dips I will do the push ups again the way they are supposed to be done.

I told hubby about challenge and after reading about it online,  he ended up doing his initial test last night too! He did 33!!! WOOHOO:)  I'm so proud of him!  He gets to start with week 3.  Me?  Week 1.  But I'm ok with that.  I'm a work in progress:)  It feels good to be exercising with my family!  It's something I've always wanted us to do regularly but has not happened.

Today is the start of a new day and I'm hoping to get a nice walk at the track this evening(no hills for this girl-today anyway:) and we will hopefully bring Emma's bike so she practice that!  I don't know what has happened, but I'm loving the changes in me!

WHATEVER YOU DO, MAKE IT A GREAT DAY!

"I will remember the lesson of the firefly who gives of its light only when it is on the wing, only when it is in action.  I will become a firefly and even in the day my glow will be seen in spite of the sun.  Let others be as butterflies who preen their wings yet depend on the charity of a flower for life.  I will be as the firefly and my light will brighten the world."  ~from The Greatest Salesman