Reading Challenge Update

            

Finished my first book of the year and am almost done with the second. These are re-reads for me. Nora Roberts books two and three of The Sign of Seven Trilogy. I finished The Hollow last week and will finish  The Pagan Stone tomorrow. There is something about these books that I just love. They are an easy read, great characters, good storyline and Pagans are not depicted as evil. Not bad for mainstream romance.I enjoy most books written by Nora Roberts, her stories just pull me in.

Next up will be the following:

Fairy Tale Rituals by Kenny Klein. I got this while on a business trip because it intrigued me. I am fascinated by Fairy Tale lore and this book looks interesting. I'll let you know what I think once I am done.

In addition I'll be reading The Elements of Ritual by Deborah Lipp. I have read bits and pieces of this book so now I intend to read it cover to cover.

These posts are for both the 2012 Pagan Reading Challenge (see my original post here) and the Witchy Books Reading Challenge 2012 (see my original post here). I'll be updating my original posts for these challenges with  running list of books.

Pagan Blog Project 2012

I just joined the Pagan Blog Project being hosted all year by Rowan Pendragon over at One Witch's Way.  I have always loved to write and having an active blog has been a great tool for me. This year long Blog Project is for bloggers to spend one day each week focusing specifically on Paganism. Wicca, Witchcraft... I LOVE it!

I am a week behind but I'll catch up. This year long project should be fun as well as educational! 

I hope you'll join me!

Get Off Your Broom 2012 Challenge: Week 1 Results

This week was full of successes for me.

I started a fitness class. See the post here to read about my first weight training class – OUCH!

I lost 2.4 pounds which surprised me because my legs are really sore and I figured I would be retaining lots of water while they healed.

I drank LOTS of water, every day.

I followed the Weight Watchers plan.

I got new clothes to work out in, I figure since I am going to be working out with other people, I should be dressed in something that doesn’t look like I use it to wash the car.

Over all it was a very successful week. Because of some after weight training pain I did not start the Yoga class that I wanted to start but once my legs get accustomed to working out I will add that into my schedule. Until then I will be walking on my treadmill and stretching.

The mini challenges this week were to:

1)       take a before picture – done- I will share it later, I want to wait until I have an in-progress picture and put them side by side – I think that will motivate me more.

2)      Take my measurements – I will post these later as well. I have official measurements from my weight trainer at the gym and every 6 weeks I’ll be getting them done again by her, so in 6 weeks I’ll post my first measurement updates.

3)      Make a plan. You can view my first post here for my plan.

I am pretty happy with how this week went.

One of the things my Weight Watchers leader talked about this week was to sit down and figure out why you want to lose weight. Once you write down an answer to that questions then ask yourself – “what will that do for me?”  answer that question, then ask again  “What will that do for me?” and continue that way until you get to the base of why you are doing this. Once you know why losing weight is important to you, you can think of that reason when things get tough and it will help you be inspired to continue on.

For me – If at all possible, I don’t want to be dependent on medications when I am elderly. Exercising, eating right, and losing weight will give me an edge on that front.  I want to be as strong and healthy as I can be for as long as possible, so that I can live my life on my terms. I want to enjoy my life, my family, feel good in my skin and be happy with how I look (yeah, I know, a little bit of vanity there but that is how I feel) I am OK with getting older (I’ll be 46 in April), I am even OK with the signs of aging that I am starting to see but I want to be the best person I can be regardless of my age.

Next week I am cutting my Diet Coke down to 1 per day (currently 2), then the following week I am done with it. I am already preparing for the day. I have found that if I make raspberry or peppermint tea and have those throughout the day I do not crave soda. I like water but I prefer to drink something with more flavor!

Have a great week!

Oh my...Will My Legs EVER Stop Hurting?

Thursday was my first actual session with my weight training class. I can honestly say I have never, ever,seriously ever, worked that hard before - when I was younger I ran 5 miles every morning AND I played the right wing position on my High School field hockey team and I have never worked as hard as I did on Thursday. I did squats and lunges and chest flys and more squats and more lunges and... ouch! My legs still hurt. I look like I am 105 when I am walking slowly up or down the stairs and my kids are already sick of me whining about it. Though my youngest son, he is 14, did give me a hug today. He told me I looked like I needed one - so sweet!

When I left the gym on Thursday, my first thought was to convince myself that I had to go back on Tuesday. Here is the conversation I was having with myself in the car on the way home:

Me  (AKA Pollyanna): Ok, it's only an hour workout, I only had to take a break 2 times and I didn't throw up. That's pretty good for a first time.

Me 2: You don't know those people, no one will miss you. We'll go to the gym around the corner from the house. It will be fine.

Pollyanna: No, seriously, if we stick to it we will look smokin' hot by this summer! I have 5 days to recover before we go again. By the end of January we'll be seeing results!

Me 2: You are going to hate them all in the morning.

Pollyanna: Maybe, but the pain will be worth it.

Me 2: We're going back aren't we?

Pollyanna:Yep!

Happily, while I am in serious pain from muscles that have not worked that hard - ever - I have not yet cursed the name of my friend who talked me into going or that of my instructor.

I have been hobbling around, going up and down the stairs as often as possible and taking lots of warm baths to sooth those aching muscles. Today is better than yesterday and tomorrow will be better than today.  I just hope I can do a lunge by Tuesday!!

On the plus side I went out and got a new work out shirt to wear on Tuesday - thus reaffirming my commitment to getting my body into shape. Hot Pink baby! I really am tired of reaching for black all the time. It is time to get that color back into my wardrobe.

I couldn't start the Yoga today because I would have been sobbing every time I moved! I will be walking on the treadmill tomorrow to try and loosen my legs up so they are ready for another grueling workout come Tuesday.

Wish me luck!

Lifestyle Change - Weight Training – the First Class

If you have ever read Nora Roberts The Signs of Seven trilogy, you may be familiar with the first book’s heroine Quinn.  She eats healthy and works out, not because she wants to but because she has to or she’ll forever be dieting. I love that attitude. She looks longingly at French fries then eats an apple, all the while repeating “lifestyle change”.  

This is a lifestyle change and while I may have a treat or two I am going to make sure that the bulk of what I eat is great tasting and healthy fuel for me. I want to be healthy and fit and if I can help it, I do not want to be dependent on medications when I get older! I know that eating right, exercising and reducing stress will help me live a better, happier and more productive life.

So today was my first day of the weight training class. We met our instructor -who I really like. She told us she would probably get on our nerves because she will be making sure we use proper form and do the exercises correctly, she isn’t going to be nice and let us be slackers. Does that bother me, not yet, give me a couple of weeks and she may get on my nerves but I am OK with that because she will also help me get the results that I want.

She took our measurements, did our body fat analysis using a computerized caliper (ouch – no it didn’t hurt, at least not until I saw my results) and she discussed with each of us what we wanted to get out of the class. Overall I was impressed with the instructor, the facility and the class size. The cool thing is that since I was referred to the weight lifting class by a friend I am able to take the beginner Yoga class this Saturday for free to see if I like it. Yeah, I love it when things like that happen.

I want to take a couple of Yoga classes before I use the DVD’s I own. I’ve done them before but seriously, having never studied Yoga, I have no clue if my form is even close to being correct so I want to work with an instructor for a while.

I feel good, even though my jeans are still a bit tight right now, I am already starting to feel the results of eating a healthy diet again. I normally eat lots of fruits and veggies, drink lots of water and avoid junk and fast food, the past 6 weeks it seemed like I ate mostly fast food and junk and I felt it. My back and knees hurt, I felt tired and just all around icky.  I know how that happens, I think I need to keep saying it so I don't forget how goodI feel when I eat right!

I have official measurements now and in 6 weeks I’ll see how I did after incorporating both Weight Watchers and a weight training program.  I have great expectations. We’ll see how I feel on Friday morning after my first workout with the weights!

Have a great week! I’ll check in with you on Sunday!

Get off your Broom: A New Year's Witchy Fitness Challenge Kick Off

Happy New Year! I don't know about you  but I was a total slacker the last 6weeks of 2011 and it shows. I finished out 2011 with a gain of 5 pounds...ouch! I am motivated as well as ready to succeed in getting healthy and fit in 2012.

There are three mini challenges for this week. I  have already taken my measurements and a before picture which I'll post once I have a progress picture that I like - baby steps, anyway that takes care of the first two mini challenges, for the third I need to make a plan so here is mine:

I am committing to not only go to my Weight Watcher's meetings I am going to actually follow the plan! I am a huge fan of Weight Watchers because they are not a fad diet, heck, they aren't really a diet they are more of a lifestyle change and baby my lifestyle needs to change! So I'll be making sure I eat my veggies, take my vitamin, drink lots of water and really follow the health eating style that Weight Watchers suggests.

Additionally, a coworker and I signed up to do a weight training class 2 days a week with a former Miss Nevada Body Building champion. My co-worker has been working with this lady for 6 months and loves her, I start on Tuesday! In addition to the weight training I will be alternating between cardio on my treadmill and a flexibility workout with a Yoga DVD at least 3 days per week for a total of 5 days of formal movement per week. I'll also be taking the dogs for walks a few days per week as weather permits.

So that is my plan. I hope you will join me and my fellow Get Off Your Broom challenge members as we get healthy and fit in 2012!

Happy New Year!

Happy 2012

 

I hope you had a memorable and prosperous 2011 and that the upcoming year is even better! As I have been pondering the new year one word has been uppermost in my mind - Transformation. 2012 is going to be a transformative year. I can feel it!

While thinking about the upcoming year and what my thoughts might mean I found that 2012 is the Year of the Dragon. The Dragon is a symbol of success and happiness so that falls in line with the images and thoughts that I have had regarding the new year.

My New Year's Wish for you...

May your life be better this year than it was the last,

May the joy you send out be received with open arms and

May your love be returned to you ten fold,

May your trials be few and your successes many

May you know that you are loved and

May love find you, always.

Keep your heart open and if necessary your mouth closed,

Know that you will always have a friend right here

With a sympathetic ear and a strong shoulder, should you need either

These are my wishes for you, my friend

Blessings to you and yours on this lovely New Year's first day!

Autumnwind