Everyone knows what the reward system is. We go through elementary school getting stickers and stars and in one particular case, Dalmatian spots [Mrs. Twigg's class anyone ;)] for doing well. As we grow up, we don't always get that constant recognition and reward for doing well, it is simply just expected of us. Now I know anyone who has ever tried to lose weight and get fit has seen the quote, "Don't reward yourself with food, you're a not a dog." Well besides the fact that it is true, we are not dogs, most of us anyway ;), it also points out a valid fact that many of us treat ourselves with treats. Which doesn't make any sense really because we usually busted our butt to achieve whatever goal we had set out to achieve and then we go and ruin it with food that will only make us sleepy and fat. But the fact of the matter is, we like to be rewarded! Plain and simple, anyone who says they don't like to be recognized for their achievements is pretty much a liar pants. One thing that I have realized through this lifestyle change is that there are so many OTHER ways you can reward yourself.
Perfect Fit by Tone It Up has a new app where you can upload photos of yourself to track the progress you have made over your fitness journey. Part of the app is being able to check off whether you worked out and ate well that day. This is not an online thing, no one can see the results unless you post it, but I get pretty darn excited when I get to see that little apple (for meals) and runner (for exercise) pop up on the date. And I don't cheat myself. If I have 1 cookie, then I don't get the apple, and knowing that I am not going to reward myself unless I do well prevents me from having those slip-ups. For example, yesterday was Humps Day 2-a-days. I did two toning routines 3 times through each and then I did a cardio circuit with 10 minutes of toning at the end. I ate all my meals with no cheats and then after dinner [my weakest moments] I really wanted to put some break-n-bake cookies in the oven. I even thought to myself, I worked my butt off today, I burned close to 750 calories, I can totally have a few cookies, but then I stopped and realized what a waste that would be. I am working out to look better, to become more toned, and feel comfortable when bathing suit season rolls around! This is not a maintenance plan PLUS if I eat those cookies I don't get my apple sticker! and I EARNED those stickers today. So I made myself a cup of Sleepytime tea later to hold me over for the night and I was just as proud of resisting that temptation as I was of the work I had put in earlier that day.
In past years, I have tried to get in shape and eat "healthy" in order to look good on Spring Break but now that I have graduated college I don't know if I will be going anywhere when that week in March rolls around. Which stinks because I really want to show off the hard work I have been putting in and it would be the perfect reward to transition into my maintenance phase. But since a trip is not likely, I have instead decided to reward myself with a Maaji bathing suit. They are sexy and fun and honestly run in smaller sizes which is kind of a perfect temptation for me. I know that I can't quit or slack off because if I do I won't be able to order the bathing suit I want because I won't be able to fit into it lol.
The Love Your Body challenge is all about loving your body [shocking I know] but because we all have different body types, it is ridiculous to try and compare ourselves to others, which so many people do. Instead I am going to set my goals according to what my body can achieve. And if I don't quite get to that toned size I want, I will just find another perfect bathing suit to reward myself because lets face it, girls love pretty things, they love to wear those pretty things, and they love to look pretty wearing those pretty things. Boosting my confidence is a goal that I can achieve and that will be rewarded with something besides food that will just diminish my glow of confidence.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Monday, January 14, 2013
Pushing Limits
Over the past few days I have set new personal records for myself. I have achieved goals that I thought would take me a few more weeks. I have pushed through the uncomfortable and raised the bar for myself.
Yesterday's Love Your Body challenge was Sunday Runday, complete a 5K. I first went on a hike because of the warm weather we were having and I logged 2 miles. The requirements of the TIU 5K are to get it done, anyway you can, so technically I only had to add on another mile to complete the challenge, but I wanted to do more. When we got back from hiking I knew that if I didn't go run right away I wouldn't do it! So I changed my shoes, grabbed my headphones, and headed to the gym. On Saturday I ran a mile and a half, so I told myself that I had to at least run that far, see how my body is feeling, and then push. I stretched for a minute, did a 2 and 1/2 minute walking warm-up [.15 miles] and then set my pace at a 6.0 jog. Sidenote: I have the Nike+ app which I love! One of the downfalls of treadmills is that even though it is set at a certain pace, it does not necessarily mean that is the pace of the runner. In my case, the treadmill had me at 10 minute mile when in reality I was running about a 9 minute mile. My iPhone was on shuffle and I started with "22" by Taylor Swift. I really like that song and I realized it is a good song for keeping pace so I listened to it 9 or 10 times in order to complete my run lol. I didn't want to stop and fix the playlist so every time the song was over I would open my phone and start it over =) I just kept running. I was pretty relaxed and actually enjoyed my run. My body wasn't hating me, it was just doing what it was supposed to do. Plus I had a TV on the treadmill that wasn't on and I could see my reflection which helped me keep my shoulders and head relaxed. It wasn't until I hit about 2.25 miles that I started feeling it and had to focus and motivate myself to get it done. The last 1/4 of a mile I kicked my pace up. Eventually I would like to be able to completely sprint that last part but I only sprinted the last .10 of my 3.1 miles. But I finished! No walking! It was such an empowering feeling and I was so proud of myself. I have never been able to just enjoy running and push through for that length of time.
Today I am letting my legs recover because even though it was just a 5K it was a big distance for me, but I am excited for my next long run. Now only if I lived near the beach so I could run on the boardwalk with an ocean view instead of on Kennesaw sidewalks ;) My other PR that I set was a 2 minute plank on Friday. Setting new plank times is one of my goals for 2013 and honestly I haven't been working on it that much. One of my #TIUsisters Erin M. can do a 10 minute plank which is beyond amazing! Right now my goal is to get to a 5 minute one. I need to focus and get a bunch of 2 minutes under my belt, then start increasing, but I am excited to do it!
I feel so accomplished and I am really proud of everything I have achieved and everything I am setting out to achieve this year. I am no longer scared of what I cannot do, I am determined to prove to myself what I can do. I hope that next time you are thinking about quitting and slacking off, you think of how accomplished you will feel when you reach your goal! It is so worth every minute your muscles are aching and your lunges are gasping for air, because the next time it will be a little bit easier. Things only get easier because you get better!
"Change is uncomfortable" - Karena & Katrina
Thanks for reading and I hope that I sparked a fire and motivated you today! You are worth it!
Love your food, love your body, love your life!
Yesterday's Love Your Body challenge was Sunday Runday, complete a 5K. I first went on a hike because of the warm weather we were having and I logged 2 miles. The requirements of the TIU 5K are to get it done, anyway you can, so technically I only had to add on another mile to complete the challenge, but I wanted to do more. When we got back from hiking I knew that if I didn't go run right away I wouldn't do it! So I changed my shoes, grabbed my headphones, and headed to the gym. On Saturday I ran a mile and a half, so I told myself that I had to at least run that far, see how my body is feeling, and then push. I stretched for a minute, did a 2 and 1/2 minute walking warm-up [.15 miles] and then set my pace at a 6.0 jog. Sidenote: I have the Nike+ app which I love! One of the downfalls of treadmills is that even though it is set at a certain pace, it does not necessarily mean that is the pace of the runner. In my case, the treadmill had me at 10 minute mile when in reality I was running about a 9 minute mile. My iPhone was on shuffle and I started with "22" by Taylor Swift. I really like that song and I realized it is a good song for keeping pace so I listened to it 9 or 10 times in order to complete my run lol. I didn't want to stop and fix the playlist so every time the song was over I would open my phone and start it over =) I just kept running. I was pretty relaxed and actually enjoyed my run. My body wasn't hating me, it was just doing what it was supposed to do. Plus I had a TV on the treadmill that wasn't on and I could see my reflection which helped me keep my shoulders and head relaxed. It wasn't until I hit about 2.25 miles that I started feeling it and had to focus and motivate myself to get it done. The last 1/4 of a mile I kicked my pace up. Eventually I would like to be able to completely sprint that last part but I only sprinted the last .10 of my 3.1 miles. But I finished! No walking! It was such an empowering feeling and I was so proud of myself. I have never been able to just enjoy running and push through for that length of time.
Today I am letting my legs recover because even though it was just a 5K it was a big distance for me, but I am excited for my next long run. Now only if I lived near the beach so I could run on the boardwalk with an ocean view instead of on Kennesaw sidewalks ;) My other PR that I set was a 2 minute plank on Friday. Setting new plank times is one of my goals for 2013 and honestly I haven't been working on it that much. One of my #TIUsisters Erin M. can do a 10 minute plank which is beyond amazing! Right now my goal is to get to a 5 minute one. I need to focus and get a bunch of 2 minutes under my belt, then start increasing, but I am excited to do it!
I feel so accomplished and I am really proud of everything I have achieved and everything I am setting out to achieve this year. I am no longer scared of what I cannot do, I am determined to prove to myself what I can do. I hope that next time you are thinking about quitting and slacking off, you think of how accomplished you will feel when you reach your goal! It is so worth every minute your muscles are aching and your lunges are gasping for air, because the next time it will be a little bit easier. Things only get easier because you get better!
"Change is uncomfortable" - Karena & Katrina
Thanks for reading and I hope that I sparked a fire and motivated you today! You are worth it!
Love your food, love your body, love your life!
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Be a Loser! Love Your Body!
The Biggest Loser Season 14 premiered this week and while I have never really watched this show before I am currently addicted to it, which means going back and watching old seasons. I know so many people watch it and wish it could be them! The contestants work with some of the best trainers and nutritionists out there to achieve their goals of shedding so much weight in so little time. There are no secret pills or crash diets, they work hard to burn calories and learn how to make healthy choices. The amount of weight they lose is amazing however not realistic for Joe Smoe sitting on the couching wishing that was him. These people spend HOURS and HOURS just working out when in reality the average person does not have the entire day to spend in a gym. So far I have only watched almost halfway through season 13 and the 2 newest episodes of season 14. I really like how in last season, each week is given an "excuse" for why people don't lose weight; I don't have a gym membership, I don't have time, etc. By creating challenges geared to those excuses the people at home can hopefully retain the fact that even though they can't afford to go to a gym they can still make things happen at home. This season they brought in 3 kids to try and make an impact on childhood obesity. I think this is great! In fact, part of the reason I am going back to grad school is so that I can create a program to implement into middle and high schools [long-term goal for me], teaching kids how to make the right choices so that when they are sent out on their own they can hopefully continue/create a healthy routine in order to have a healthy lifestyle. One of the biggest problems is that obesity is a vicious cycle. The parents are in charge of the kids' food, so if they are eating poorly then the children will grow up with those bad habits and not knowing how to stop it continue to teach it to each generation. I really wish I could stress to every single person eating poorly, even the skinny ones [because their is a difference between being fit/healthy and skinny/fat] how important it is to feed your body good foods and to use it and exercise and burn calories. You don't have to run marathons you just have to MOVE! Knowledge is power!
At one point in my life I weighed close to 180 lbs and now I weigh 146 [but that story is for another day]. What I am trying to say is I have never been as overweight as all of these contestants but I have been overweight and had to fight my way back to get to where I want to be; I am still fighting. The most important thing that I have learned is that you have to commit to a different lifestyle not just a quick fix.
Okay so I am done with my little rant for now =) Refocusing.....
Today is day 8 of the Tone It Up! Love Your Body challenge and yesterday they challenged us to complete a cardio work-out. When I saw the workout, I was legitimately terrified of doing it which is ridiculous because there was no one there watching me, I could push myself at whatever pace I felt was challenging, and it was just a workout. When I finally convinced myself that I needed to do it I only got halfway through before I had to go attend to my nanny duties. Now the old me would have said, you did 30 minutes it was pretty intense, you don't have to do the rest, but I wanted to! After I got over the fear of doing it and actually started, I wanted to complete it so badly! I didn't care about my mileage or speed, I just wanted to be able to say I finished it. No cheats. No excuses. And I did. It took an hour and I logged 5.5 miles doing it but I felt so accomplished and confident and proud to be able to say that I completed it!
I have talked about this before, but every week I have to plan out my meals to keep me accountable and simply to just make it easier when it comes to getting my food together. Now my plan is really more like a guideline but here is what I have put together for this week, for those who are curious.
Monday
M1: coffee & Larabar
M2: BC Buzz [smoothie]
W/O: Crush Cardio
M3: Chicken wrap
M4: broccoli & hummus
M5: pizza [cheat meal]
PM W/O: Long&Lean
Tuesday
M1: coffee, banana & Luna protein bar
Bombshell spell
M2: Green Tea Kombucha with veggies & hummus
M3: Gardein Chick on romain lettuce, cheese, and boiled egg
Hot Raspberry Tea
M4: BC Buzz
PM W/O: Love Your Body & Surfer Girl
M5: Spicy Chili
Wednesday [Humps Day]
M1: BC Buzz
W/O: Secret Admirer
M2: Bombshell Spell, Grapefruit, & 1 slice Whole Wheat PB toast
M3: Boca Burger Spicy Chicken w/ lettuce, tomato avocado [no bun]
W/O: Malibooty
M4: hummus & veggies
M5: Mahi Mahi, Aspargus, lentils
Thursday [arms]
M1: oatmeal cookie smoothie
M2: apple w/ PB
M3: quinoa & chicken wrap
Hot Raspberry Tea
PM W/O: Bikini Strap & Summer Arms
M4: Larabar & Green Tea Kombucha
M5: Chicken, veggies, quinoa
Friday [abs]
M1: Luna Protein bar
W/O: Cupids Cardio
M2: Bombshell Spell, Banana Protein Pancake
M3: PBJ wrap
PM W/O: Sunkissed Abs, Bikini Abs
M4: Smoothie
M5: Chicken & Hearty Medley
Being healthy is about what you put in your body and how you use your body! Plan for success! Thanks for reading! Hope I inspired you even just a little bit!
Love your food, love your body, love your life!
At one point in my life I weighed close to 180 lbs and now I weigh 146 [but that story is for another day]. What I am trying to say is I have never been as overweight as all of these contestants but I have been overweight and had to fight my way back to get to where I want to be; I am still fighting. The most important thing that I have learned is that you have to commit to a different lifestyle not just a quick fix.
Okay so I am done with my little rant for now =) Refocusing.....
Today is day 8 of the Tone It Up! Love Your Body challenge and yesterday they challenged us to complete a cardio work-out. When I saw the workout, I was legitimately terrified of doing it which is ridiculous because there was no one there watching me, I could push myself at whatever pace I felt was challenging, and it was just a workout. When I finally convinced myself that I needed to do it I only got halfway through before I had to go attend to my nanny duties. Now the old me would have said, you did 30 minutes it was pretty intense, you don't have to do the rest, but I wanted to! After I got over the fear of doing it and actually started, I wanted to complete it so badly! I didn't care about my mileage or speed, I just wanted to be able to say I finished it. No cheats. No excuses. And I did. It took an hour and I logged 5.5 miles doing it but I felt so accomplished and confident and proud to be able to say that I completed it!
I have talked about this before, but every week I have to plan out my meals to keep me accountable and simply to just make it easier when it comes to getting my food together. Now my plan is really more like a guideline but here is what I have put together for this week, for those who are curious.
Monday
M1: coffee & Larabar
M2: BC Buzz [smoothie]
W/O: Crush Cardio
M3: Chicken wrap
M4: broccoli & hummus
M5: pizza [cheat meal]
PM W/O: Long&Lean
Tuesday
M1: coffee, banana & Luna protein bar
Bombshell spell
M2: Green Tea Kombucha with veggies & hummus
M3: Gardein Chick on romain lettuce, cheese, and boiled egg
Hot Raspberry Tea
M4: BC Buzz
PM W/O: Love Your Body & Surfer Girl
M5: Spicy Chili
Wednesday [Humps Day]
M1: BC Buzz
W/O: Secret Admirer
M2: Bombshell Spell, Grapefruit, & 1 slice Whole Wheat PB toast
M3: Boca Burger Spicy Chicken w/ lettuce, tomato avocado [no bun]
W/O: Malibooty
M4: hummus & veggies
M5: Mahi Mahi, Aspargus, lentils
Thursday [arms]
M1: oatmeal cookie smoothie
M2: apple w/ PB
M3: quinoa & chicken wrap
Hot Raspberry Tea
PM W/O: Bikini Strap & Summer Arms
M4: Larabar & Green Tea Kombucha
M5: Chicken, veggies, quinoa
Friday [abs]
M1: Luna Protein bar
W/O: Cupids Cardio
M2: Bombshell Spell, Banana Protein Pancake
M3: PBJ wrap
PM W/O: Sunkissed Abs, Bikini Abs
M4: Smoothie
M5: Chicken & Hearty Medley
Being healthy is about what you put in your body and how you use your body! Plan for success! Thanks for reading! Hope I inspired you even just a little bit!
Love your food, love your body, love your life!
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Love Your Body
First off, if you haven't heard me talk about TIU yet, you must not be paying attention ;) but if you have and are wondering what the heck, then here is a quick little infomercial! Tone It Up! was created by Karena & Katrina who are certified and stunning! Their program is a 2-part program that combines eating lean, clean, & green with cardio & toning moves. TIU is not a quick fix diet scheme, it is a lifestyle change. Check out their website www.toneitup.com to learn more about their nutrition plan, fitness routines, the community, and more.
Today is Day 3 of the Tone It Up Love Your Body challenge! I have been anxiously awaiting this challenge for weeks now. Love Your Body is a 6-week challenge from 01/01 to 02/14. I am also starting the new year off with the 5-day Slim Down [all part of TIU]. Today is the first day that I feel fully committed and re-energized. Tuesday I got my workout in & part of my 5DSD but then I got sick so my eating was off and then yesterday my stomach was still being weird; I stayed on track with my meals but not exercise. Today however I set my alarm and got up early before work to do my cardio. I usually like to do my toning and cardio together but ran out of time [I am super slow moving in the AM]. I feel good though knowing that part of my workout is already done!
Here is a little break-down of my morning so far and how the rest of the day will unfold. Got out of bed at 7:30, brushed my teeth & made a slice of PB toast. I only ate half so I would have a little something on my stomach and then headed to the gym at my apt complex. I knocked out 16 minutes on the treadmill & then 16 minutes on the elliptical as part of the Secret Admirer cardio. Went back to my apt hopped in the shower [one day I will have enough time to shave my legs -___- #wintergirlproblems] got dressed ate the rest of my toast & made a protein shake with Perfect Fit protein, water, & chocolate almond milk. Drove to work =) I have to plan out my meals for the week in order to help me stay on track plus it makes it easier so I don't have to think about what I have to make. I always vary from what I wrote down but I like having a guideline everyday. So the plan for today is...
M1: toast w/ PB & protein shake
M2: Larabar & orange
Tankini: fresh lemon/lime water
M3: Chicken wrap w/ wasabi & romaine lettuce
Tankini: fresh lemon/lime water
M4: Green Smoothie
M5: Quinoa, mushroom, & turkey stuffed peppers
Sleepytime Green Tea before bed
I just filmed my first check-in video and it is up on YouTube. Check it out HERE! Trying to stay accountable in every way possible! If you would like to follow me:
Instagram: ashleynicole08
Twitter: ashley34_TIU [for TIU purposes only]
TIU Community: Ashley Lamb
Blog: www.ashleynicolelife.blogspot.com
YouTube
Thanks for reading! Talk to you soon!
Love your food, love your body, love your life!
Today is Day 3 of the Tone It Up Love Your Body challenge! I have been anxiously awaiting this challenge for weeks now. Love Your Body is a 6-week challenge from 01/01 to 02/14. I am also starting the new year off with the 5-day Slim Down [all part of TIU]. Today is the first day that I feel fully committed and re-energized. Tuesday I got my workout in & part of my 5DSD but then I got sick so my eating was off and then yesterday my stomach was still being weird; I stayed on track with my meals but not exercise. Today however I set my alarm and got up early before work to do my cardio. I usually like to do my toning and cardio together but ran out of time [I am super slow moving in the AM]. I feel good though knowing that part of my workout is already done!
Here is a little break-down of my morning so far and how the rest of the day will unfold. Got out of bed at 7:30, brushed my teeth & made a slice of PB toast. I only ate half so I would have a little something on my stomach and then headed to the gym at my apt complex. I knocked out 16 minutes on the treadmill & then 16 minutes on the elliptical as part of the Secret Admirer cardio. Went back to my apt hopped in the shower [one day I will have enough time to shave my legs -___- #wintergirlproblems] got dressed ate the rest of my toast & made a protein shake with Perfect Fit protein, water, & chocolate almond milk. Drove to work =) I have to plan out my meals for the week in order to help me stay on track plus it makes it easier so I don't have to think about what I have to make. I always vary from what I wrote down but I like having a guideline everyday. So the plan for today is...
M1: toast w/ PB & protein shake
M2: Larabar & orange
Tankini: fresh lemon/lime water
M3: Chicken wrap w/ wasabi & romaine lettuce
Tankini: fresh lemon/lime water
M4: Green Smoothie
M5: Quinoa, mushroom, & turkey stuffed peppers
Sleepytime Green Tea before bed
I just filmed my first check-in video and it is up on YouTube. Check it out HERE! Trying to stay accountable in every way possible! If you would like to follow me:
Instagram: ashleynicole08
Twitter: ashley34_TIU [for TIU purposes only]
TIU Community: Ashley Lamb
Blog: www.ashleynicolelife.blogspot.com
YouTube
Thanks for reading! Talk to you soon!
Love your food, love your body, love your life!
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Welcoming the New Year
Every year on December 31st, we all gather together with friends or family to celebrate the coming of a new year. There are drinks and snacks and games and hats. We all make our annual resolutions to be a better person, a healthier person, a more accomplished person. Every year we get the chance to start new. The irony, for lack of a better word, is that it really is just another day. Yes we now have to write 2013 instead of 2012 and we have to wait a whole year for Christmas to come again, but really it is no different than the 3rd turning into the 4th or August turning into September. And even though it is just another day, it is a new start for so many of us. The idea that we get a clean slate, a brand new year, to make the best of, is very liberating; it is as if what we did last year no longer matters. However last year brought us to the place we are now, whether good or bad, it led us to this moment where we make our resolutions based on what 2012 gave us, it is now our benchmark for improvement or achievement.
This upcoming year will probably be the hardest, most terrifying, most exciting, most everything year for me. This spring I will find out whether or not I am accepted into the University of Georgia or the University of North Carolina so I can pursue my masters degree in Public Health. If I get into at least one school that means I am moving there over the summer. Moving by myself to a brand new place after I have spent the last 5 years in Kennesaw with school, friends, jobs, and my boyfriend. Sam and I will have lived together for close to 2 years and we were only 30 minutes away before that. I could be moving anywhere from an hour and a half to 6 hours away from him. And on top of that, he does not know where he will be next fall either so it could be even farther. I am excited to take the next steps in my career, but it is incredibly terrifying knowing that I will not have my best friend to come home to every night. Long distance relationships suck, for me at least, but I know that God would not challenge me with anything I could not handle.
With that being said, one of my New Year's Resolutions, really an every day resolution but for the purpose of this story, I want to continue to grow my relationship with Jesus Christ my Savior. It is really hard for me to rely on anyone because I am so independent so this is especially hard for me to completely let go and not be in control. I know that if I don't work extra hard on that this year however, it will be an incredible struggle for me to survive it.
Another goal of mine is to be healthy and tone up my body. With the help of Tone It Up and their community, I have already made progress eating better and losing some extra fat on my body, but I don't want to just be skinny I want to look good naked!! Today I am starting their Love Your Body series and since it is a new year, I took pictures and measurements to track my progress. After the series is over, I will post my before and after pictures and measurements to hold myself accountable and so I can see how much I have improved.
My final goal, for now, is to blog at least once a week. I want to post my Love Your Body progress along with meals I have been making and projects I have been working on. I am really bad at remembering to write everything down, but I want to make sure I am held accountable. I also want to be able to look back, remember, and enjoy this year. Pictures and words will always last!
I have learned so much in this past year. There have been MANY ups and downs but just like any year it only lasts for 365 days and then we get a new one to completely mess up all over again. I know there is a lot of babble in this post but I just felt like talking. Wishing you and your loved ones a safe and happy new year!
Love your food, love your body, love your life!
Ashley
This upcoming year will probably be the hardest, most terrifying, most exciting, most everything year for me. This spring I will find out whether or not I am accepted into the University of Georgia or the University of North Carolina so I can pursue my masters degree in Public Health. If I get into at least one school that means I am moving there over the summer. Moving by myself to a brand new place after I have spent the last 5 years in Kennesaw with school, friends, jobs, and my boyfriend. Sam and I will have lived together for close to 2 years and we were only 30 minutes away before that. I could be moving anywhere from an hour and a half to 6 hours away from him. And on top of that, he does not know where he will be next fall either so it could be even farther. I am excited to take the next steps in my career, but it is incredibly terrifying knowing that I will not have my best friend to come home to every night. Long distance relationships suck, for me at least, but I know that God would not challenge me with anything I could not handle.
With that being said, one of my New Year's Resolutions, really an every day resolution but for the purpose of this story, I want to continue to grow my relationship with Jesus Christ my Savior. It is really hard for me to rely on anyone because I am so independent so this is especially hard for me to completely let go and not be in control. I know that if I don't work extra hard on that this year however, it will be an incredible struggle for me to survive it.
Another goal of mine is to be healthy and tone up my body. With the help of Tone It Up and their community, I have already made progress eating better and losing some extra fat on my body, but I don't want to just be skinny I want to look good naked!! Today I am starting their Love Your Body series and since it is a new year, I took pictures and measurements to track my progress. After the series is over, I will post my before and after pictures and measurements to hold myself accountable and so I can see how much I have improved.
My final goal, for now, is to blog at least once a week. I want to post my Love Your Body progress along with meals I have been making and projects I have been working on. I am really bad at remembering to write everything down, but I want to make sure I am held accountable. I also want to be able to look back, remember, and enjoy this year. Pictures and words will always last!
I have learned so much in this past year. There have been MANY ups and downs but just like any year it only lasts for 365 days and then we get a new one to completely mess up all over again. I know there is a lot of babble in this post but I just felt like talking. Wishing you and your loved ones a safe and happy new year!
Love your food, love your body, love your life!
Ashley
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