I Think I am Supposed to Hate My Body…

…but I don’t.

Am I currently in the best shape? Absolutely not. Do I weigh more then usual? I absolutely do. So I am expected to hate my current body because it isn’t perfect – but I just don’t. Am I trying to eat better? Yes, I am. Am I trying to get my weight down? Yes, I am. Am I preoccupied about it? No, I am not. Am I hating on my body? No, I refuse to. Did I eat a burger and fries for lunch because I didn’t have time for breakfast and was really hungry and it sounded good? Yes, I did. Will I eat healthier through the day to find a balance? Yes I will. Am I taking a natural appetite suppressant that I thoroughly researched? Yes, I am. It helps me feel less ravenous – I am still eating. Do I expect miracles from it? No. Is it my only tool? No. But I am using it as a tool.

I am trying to be smart about losing a few pounds but I am not obsessing (for the most part – we all have our moments). My body is still great a little bigger. I am still attractive and my body still does all of the amazing things it’s supposed to. So, I will not hate on my body even though it’s been thinner and more toned. I will get there again – but I wont hate on my body or myself in the process of getting it back. I still love me 🙂

Every Time I Try to Get Back on Track with…

…fitness something happens.

I love my RIPPED class. We’ve talked about it before so I wont reiterate that part. BUT back in September a series of unfortunate events lead me to only be able to attend sporadically. The first hurdle was financial. I simply couldn’t afford the membership at the time. Many people came together to ensure that I could continue on my fitness journey – but not till October. So I start attending again in October when I twist my ankle and suddenly I am out for another 2.5 weeks. I get back for two classes and I get 10 day viral plague which knocks me out of another two weeks of classes. I recover and head back to RIPPED and bam another foot injury. That heals about 3 weeks later and I am back at class once again. I think yeah…this is where I get back in the groove and 2 weeks later and PANDEMIC hits and shuts down all classes. I feel like I may never get back into my workout routine. I did the eliptical and tread mill and rowing machine which helped but not quite the same love or workout high as RIPPED. With gyms now shut down I am back to walking. I enjoy walking and feel better about doing something, anything but it isn’t the workout I want to be doing. This is not only for physical health (and feeling better about my appearance) but about my mental health. RIPPED is a release and helps me manage my anxiety. I don’t think I quite realized how much it helps until these past few months.

For now I suppose my walks will have to do. I hope we can get back to the little things that keep us sane soon.

ALSO – since writing this they are offering streaming classes a couple of times a day which is awesome for free. It helps a lot. Another way to be #alonetogether

What Energizes Me…

…to keep setting my own p(e)ace.

Life wears everyone down a bit sometimes so I go to thinking about what recharges my batteries on life. When I started really thinking about it I realized it’s pretty small things.

Wine – I am serious. A really good glass of wine can make my whole day better. I am not talking about getting drunker here, I am talking about unwinding with a tasty glass of wine and letting a little warmth wash over you. Most winemakers put a lot of work and care into what they do and I think that makes a difference.
Exercise – to forget your troubles. My brain moves into a different and less busy space when I workout it. Everything else fades away and shuts off. I have never found anything that does this quite as well as exercise.
People- yep ya read that right. People can one of the big things that drains me in a customer service industry but they also restore you. Friends, family, and interesting strangers all offer new and different motivation everyday.
Goals – little ones. Reaching small goals I have set for myself – like paying off my car or saving for a Christmas present or any small goal really. Reaching a small goal fuels me to the next. Drops in the goal bucket add up quick.
Positive Action- help others. Almost nothing makes me feel quite as good as doing something nice for someone. Could be anyone. I donate blood if I am feeling like I need to contribute something good for the universe. I enjoy getting people little presents or doing surprise favors. Just gives me new life.

What energizes you?

It is week number one of me sharing my Ten Tips for Thriving Not Just Surviving When You're Single Longer Than Expected. And this weeks tip is "Find What Energizes You and Pursue it PASSIONATELY"! • One of the greatest challenges I’ve found in my singleness, is to find what I’m passionate about, other than getting married. I played sports when I was younger, and was involved in different clubs and groups, but I can’t say that any of them were the reason I got out of bed in the morning. • As a