I didn’t realize I hadn’t written in so long. Already 2012, the dreaded year for some lol.. Many events have happened since my last update.. Nearly a year’s worth! So that’s a little too much for today’s entry. But I would like to start updating my blog a little more frequently. It would be good for me. I go through phases when it comes to my writing. Mainly because it’s not my strong point. Though I suppose with everything, practice makes perfect. Or close to it.
This is going to be my year. I can feel it. I have a lot of good things planned for myself including finally paying off debt, going on a couple trips and eventually getting my license so that next year, I can save for a car and eventually begin saving for a house. Life is good.
On my debt - the recession and a career change at the wrong time screwed me over. I lost years’ worth of savings in 6mths trying to keep my head above water. I did okay, but only because I began living off of credit cards. Not a good idea, but I had no choice. I was $100 away from bankruptcy at one point. No one likes that feeling. So, 3 years later, it’s nice to finally be pulling my butt out of that rut and planning for my future. I’ve worked hard to get to where I am today and I’m damn proud of myself.
On my trips - a friend invited me to Hawaii with a bunch of people this May/June. I’m so excited! I’ll get to swim with the dolphins and hike on a volcano and go parasailing and horseback riding and and.. a bunch of other stuff!! Depending on how much each of these great adventures cost.. lol. I’m also looking into an Eastern Canada tour with a friend to visit my grandparents, Niagra Falls, maybe New York on the way back.. we haven’t finalized the details yet, but it’s in the works! And then finally, later this year, Nov/Dec, I’m looking at another trip, destination unknown. Maybe head back to see the Reef since last year I was screwed over by cyclone’s. If I do that, though, I’d like to also hit up New Zealand. So we’ll see.. maybe it’ll turn into a Europe trip. Never know! Too many choices.. But what’s a better way to celebrate getting out of debt than by going on expensive trips? Haha.. Why not, I figure. If I plan on saving for a house and a car, might as well enjoy this year to the fullest. And hey, if the world does end, then I won’t need to worry about money or a car or a house lol..
I’m also not a supporter of New Year’s resolutions. I think it’s lame. I think it’s an excuse created by procrastinators. Usually ones who don’t have the will power to do something on their own and need to be on the bandwagon with a bunch of other people. Why wait to start working on a goal for the first of the year? Why not right now? Tomorrow? Monday? I just don’t get it. I have given myself x number of years to save for a house before I start looking and my birthday just so happens to fall right before the end of the year, so I don’t consider that a NYR. The biggest one as we all know is in regards to health. Whether it’s to lose weight or “get in better shape” or bulk up, etc. This year was the first year I’d heard a really admirable, legit NYR. Her goal was to be thankful for one thing per day. And every day on her fb, she posts what she is grateful for that day. Whether it be her friends or her health or the opportunities that are in front of her, she is really trying to make a positive change in her life. And really, it betters those around her too. Energy is infectious - whether positive or negative. I have friends who are on the weight-loss bandwagon and it’s not that I don’t support them, I just don’t understand the significance of the first of a new year. I’ve always asked, ‘at what point is big, too big?’ If you find yourself out of breath after a flight of stairs or running a block for the bus or constantly tired, sick or lethargic, then that’s when you make a change.
One of my friends, my ex, actually, has a pudgy friend. Years ago when we were dating, we helped said friend lose 50-60lbs in a few months just by adjusting his diet. Guess what happened? He gained it all back because he is lazy, hates to cook and loves pizza and alcohol. You get the idea. So my ex kept calling him fat and nagging on him to go to the gym, make a change, etc, etc, etc. Then he heard about this challenge on the radio for what? You guessed it. A challenge to lose weight at the beginning of January. Now, my ex, being the competitive type that he is, asked if I wanted to do this challenge. For those of you who don’t know me, neither of us are obese. We are on the athletic side of things. So we’re fit or “thin”. Not to be confused with “skinny” aka, boney. So, naturally my first reaction was, ‘what’s the point? Neither of us have much body fat to lose.’ The trip for two to Jamaica goes to those who lose the most body fat. Not to mention that if his friend goes, he’ll take my ex - not me. Lol.. Needless to say, I joined in because.. why not? Gives me an opportunity to reach my goal of finally showing off my six pack. I’ve got lots of muscle, but for women it’s nearly impossible to always have abs showing. I used to be a trainer and now my current PT is my old boss. She has been in competitions and all the rest, so when she told me this, I believed her. This woman has had a kid and appears to have zero body fat on her. If you compare the two of us, even though she’s taller than me, I have more muscle. Even her abs don’t show all the time. But I always joked that I never wanted kids until I’d gone to Australia and at least had a six pack once. Not that I’m in ANY WAY saying I want a kid. But. Yeah. For women to have a six pack all the time is almost unhealthy. We need to have a certain percentage of body fat on us at all times. Otherwise, other things start happening in our body and it’s not super awesome. So I figure, I’ll get the six pack, do a photo shoot or something to commemorate my milestone, then allow my body some breathe time.
So, we’re all on this 12wk challenge. So far, in the three weeks, I’ve seen more improvement in myself than my ex - which is rare. You’re usually the last to notice changes in yourself because you see yourself every day. So I believe that that’s saying something. What’s fantastic about that is I haven’t really adjusted my schedule or diet much at all. That makes it that much easier for me. And mentally, I’m in a good place. I have next to zero stress in my life at the moment and am simply happy. I’ve gotten good at managing my stress over the years.. I had to. My life was teaching me a very hard lesson. I learned that I was very capable of being flexible and adaptable.
I should really change the title of this blog to ‘Ramblings of a Woman with ADD’.. =P
I also, in the last couple years, really came to love yoga. It was exactly what I needed. Though expensive, you can find deals here and there and try out studio’s until you find one that is perfect for you. And last August, while dealing with all of my vertigo and inability to workout, etc, I found my studio and passion for the practice. I found myself on my mat, as it were. Which brings us to this past Monday when they began their 35 day challenge, I signed up. I figured, why not? I’m here every day anyways. Although, the rules state I’m allowed one day off per week. And if I miss one, once per week I can double up on classes. So for those paying attention, that’s right, I’m in the middle of completing TWO challenges. But neither are a NYR. Lolz.
Like I said. Life is good and this is my year!
