Defining Fabulous!

Okay, so at this stage of life I wont be finding myself posting daily.  Weekly is a smarter goal.  I don't know if you know this about me, but I am a full time college student.  This is my last semester of classes.  I will graduate with a Bachelors of Science in Helath Management-Exercise Science.  Yes, at age 36 I decided to pursue a science degree.  It is not for the timid or faint of heart, let me tell you.  I also work part time at the best place in the world.  I get to train people and teach group exercise! (I get paid to work out-top that) : )
I manage about 8-10 personal training clients (i love em all) and teach 3 choreographed exercise classes 4-5 times per week.  I always have choreography to review and/or memorize! (I must be Crazy) I am blessed to raise a couple teenagers!  Life is full and who could ask for more.  So, I have been asking myself for a good month, "How do I define 40 and fabulous?' 
     Well, when I walk in to classes and see my oldest daughters friends, I definitely don't feel fabulous.  If you are young and reading this, get a degree NOW when you are supposed to-trust me on this one, you have more energy.  When I see them wearing SENIORS 2010 shirts, I laugh out loud.  Can you  imagine if I walked in with my SENIORS 89 Tshirt.   Ha! So now I want you to close your eyes (figuratively) and picture this:  a tired, up late studying, just taught 2 group fitness classes, 30 something year old wife and mother of two loaded down with keys and cell phone in hand.  Backpack on my back, gym bag on my shoulder, shoe bag on my shoulder, sweaty laundry bag on my shoulder, tired, sweaty, hurrying from work to college, back to work , back to college, distracted about balancing the checkbook and what I will make for supper and laundry and on and on.  It doesnt feel pretty.  I realized sometime last year too, that I hadn't been looking very pretty either.   I realized this by accidentally looking in mirrors as I walked by struggling with my "stuff" I carry everyday.  (when I leave in the morning sometimes I feel like I am packing for a week) but I also realized this when I had to "intern" some hours for a class in my major at the gym I work at. I had a collegue rate me at the end of the semester.  I scored great in all areas.....but there was one category...appearance....I scored mid range in that one! hahaha, I laughed...I walk around in sweat clothes, sweaty and tired.  No wonder.  When you teach and train someitimes you don't have time for primping.  Some days you blow dry the sweat, put dry clothes on and GO!   This is my life, I chose it all!
   As I approach the big 40, I realize life is so much more than just how we "feel".  Don't let a little sweat and a lack of make-up stop your from feeling like the beautiful person that you are! As I define "40 and fabulous" self acceptance is a definite.  I am what I am. I can only "fix" so many things about myself.  I have to just accept some things and feel smoking hot anyway.  I think this is a realistic goal! Other definitions of F&F (40 & Fabulous) include deeper relationships with family and friends.  Relationships that include no red tape.  F&F= holding that college degree in my hand, living with arms wide open, dancing more, singing more, and having fun.  Why is it when we get 30 something we neglect to have as much fun.  We get lost in our lives and the fun goes.  F&F has to = more fun for me.  Finally, F&F=fit.  I strive to be fitter than ever in my 40's!  I am on my way!
   This week, I want you to practice 2 things:  self-acceptance and fun.  Change what you can, make better choices, improve what needs improving and honestly, accept some things.  Promise not to beat yourself up. NO NEGATIVE SELF TALK this week and hopefully that will blossom into a life long habit.  Life is too short to sweat the small stuff, but not too short to sweat! So go do that! Exercise and SWEAT like you never have, but also plan some fun.  I want you to laugh your head off and enjoy it.  Smile everyday, no matter what  Do it for me!
   I have 2 more stories to tell you.  One about the meniscus.  The other about all the time I spend in my car.  You will laugh, but I am saving them!

Week 1!

     Okay- I confess! I am definitely one of those poeple who operate better by dipping my toe in the water before I cannonball, especially when it comes to making life changes that stick.  So this week I have began to stick my toe in the water.  In fact, I am about knee deep and ready to press further.  It is a great time of year for a personal trainer.  The gym is full of people. They are all so excited about new goals.  Every cardio machine is full, classes are full, a "rush" is in the air.  This is how we trainers and group ex junkies feel year round.  We are this excited about fitness goals year round. Aside from the looking for a parking spot, we wish it were this way year round.
     This week, I cleaned house! I got rid of all the leftover holiday caloric "extras"! To the trash can with all of you.  WOOHOOO! It was liberating.  To my regular daily exercise routine, I added more lifting and running! I am so sore, I have been on ibuprofen most of the week.  I let Billy and Megan experience my wrath! They were sore too.  I want this "deepening" of my fitness faith to be for the whole family! I don't believe in cooking separate meals.  It's definitely tough love but I feel that evey member of the family should eat healthy and exercise.  Trust me, you will not find any more picky eaters than the other 3 members of my family.  One is a self proclaimed semi-vegetarian, and 2 are extreme carnivores. I have learned to say tough! Food isn't always about pleasure and preference, it is medicine for your body.  You are what you eat.  Choose wisely.  If it didnt have a mama and it didn't come from the earth skip it! I made a trip to my fave place to grocery shop,  Trader Joes.  I do as much organic as the budget will allow, you can go crazy if your are not careful. I try to do all dairy, meat and thin skinned fruits and vegetables organically.  I am nutritionally armed for 40 and fabulous.  It's on!
     This week, I plan to blog daily about my extra exercise.  I am gonna try my technology challenged hat at linking pics and a video here.  I want to show you some things you can do also.  It is my last week to get organized and ready before the semester starts. (things will get hilarious then) I need to share my meniscus story. That will be a good one I will save for next week.  I am still contemplating exact goals, both long and short term.  Stay tuned! Tomorrow- Cardio and Bodypump in the a.m.!
     

2011-woooohooo!

Reflections:
What a blessed holiday season!
I finished my finals, got through Chemistry and Exercise Physiology! Yes!
Spent a wonderful weekend with the women in my life who have influenced me- shopping, eating and laughing in St. Louis! I drove 200 miles to visit my 2 best friends! I have learned to do things like that-even if we only get to have dinner together or coffee and talks before bed-the trip is worth it! Friends are important!Next, I finished my shopping and baking and spent Christmas Eve at Billy's side of the family-GREAT times! Family is important.  Went to a beautiful 11 pm church service with my parents and Megan's boyfriend's family-investing in future relationships is important!Christmas morning at home with my family- traditions are important! A small trip for fun with just Billy, me and the girls-fun is important! I feel so blessed! It was a great holiday season! But by New Years Eve-Billy and I were sick in bed with colds!
So here it is 2011. Wow, as I typed 2011- it seems like only yesterday I was typing 2001! The lesson in that is this -time flies by us.   Sometimes the words "Someday I'll do that"  turn into never.  I find myself asking these questions, At what age do you just give up on your dreams?  Day after day, year after year, time goes by.....we think about our dreams.....at what age do we just give up on them?  I say never......
I want to get in the best shape of my life by age 40.  I want to look and feel fabulous,  But even more than that, I just want to be at peace with myself and find depth in my relationships and life in general!
Tomorrow- it is on...
1. I am cleaning out my cabinets! bye bye holidays.
2. Increasing my cardiovascular exercise-hello treadmill
3. Diet on!
In truth we all slip into bad habits at different times in our lives.  But we do not have to stay there.  It begins now.  Like it or not 40 is knock knock knocking on my door.  I want to open that door and seize 40 like a superhero!

DAY 1

Ok...so I went to bed last night fully prepared to jump out of bed like a superhero and seize the day...I just didn't know the day would begin at 1:30 am..I woke up to what I thought was the sounds of my children....but as I went to check, it was actually the cry of something on my front porch.....a very small something...a furry something..I recruited the help of my big, strong, crabby at 1:30 A.M. husband...turns out it was a VERY small dog, some kind of chihauhua...FREEZING IN THE 10 DEGREE WEATHER!!!!It had cried so long it was almost hoarse.....we opened the door and it ran in the house...when we reached for it the 5 lb monstrosity bore its teeth at us...so picture this.. me in my husbands long sleeve Illini Tshirt, him in his boxers, chasing a stray 5 lb chihauhau around our house in the middle of the night!!!!!!!!We caught it...put it in  an old kennel and went back to bed...I chuckled at the thought of the sight of all this...and so all was well for about an hour or so....at around 3:30 it began to cry and scream uncontrollably loud, my husband in the 10 degree weather and in his boxers took it outside again...it ran to the front porch again, crying, howling and what not.....It was a LONG night!  So my "big" RUN did not turn out to be all that I had planned, I was tired! (everybody shout 39) On a brighter note...the birthday cake police came to my house today and threw away the remaining birthday cake....and my husband walked in with 4 pans of home made fudge from his mom!
Setting goals at Christmas time!  YAY!
SO TODAY I HAVE LEARNED:  Things do not always go as planned, but our goals do not change (I still want to be 40 and fabulous)!!We just have to keep pushing...and as far as the fudge goes...I am gonna try something new and crazy......MODERATION!!!!!!!!!!!

The Beginning of my fabulous Journey!

Happy Monday,
     This is my first time doing a blog.  I have never read a blog, written a blog or even seen a blog that I am aware of.  The only thing I know about blogs is that Ugly Betty did one. A little bit about me:  I am a wife, mom, personal trainer, group exercise instructor (only Les Mills) and a full time college student.  If all goes as planned , in May 2011, at age uh hm...39 I will graduate with my bachelors degree in Health Management/Exercise science.  My 39th birthday was last week, so like it or not I am already on my 1 year journey to the big 4 0! I choose to like it, in fact I am gonna freakin LOVE it and set huge goals for myself.  This is the space that I will keep track of my progress and learn and laugh along the way. 
     Today is a hard day for me, a dear friend, someone who was a HUGE part of my childhood is fighting  for her life with cancer.  This breaks my heart, she is the greatest of people.  It also makes something crystal clear.  One of my goals will be to raise money for Livestrong and ride a 90 mile bike ride.  I can do it, all I have to do is train for it. 
     At different times in my own life, I have found myself stuck in a place I didn't really even want to be.  Physically, emotionally just stuck.  Also, I am a bit of a people watcher, and everywhere I go I see people's faces which mostly look so unhappy. I suppose that they are stuck too, not living life out to its fullest.  I want to live life to its fullest and not waste a single minute.  So what is the first step, remind yourself of all the things you want to do in your life.  If you don't remind yourself of all the things you want to do in your life, you will forget you want to do them.  And then years will pass by, with none of it done. So right now WRITE it down!  
     This week I will begin to make my list.  Writing down specific goals, that I am sure will evolve over the next few weeks.  How do I define 40 and fabulous?  I'm gonna have to think on that one!