Healthy Me

My sweet mother in law's passing last May was the wake up call I needed to get healthy. Just a few days shy of her 55th birthday she drops dead. Clogging of the arteries, most likely from years of heavy smoking. Although I'm not a smoker, it made me realize all the things I'd been doing that where unhealthy. I've always been active and in the past few years have joined a gym and taken up running! I've even run 4 half marathons! However, I wasn't eating well. After Pam died, I joined Weight Watchers. I have done the program before and I knew it worked. Since June, I've lost 40 pounds! Not only have I lost weight, I have reshaped my view on food. Now it's about feeling good and fueling my body. I have become a mostly vegetarian. I have no ethical reasons for not eating meat, but I've done lots of research on the health benefits of a plant based diet. I'm now saving meat for special occasions. For years, I've had stomach problems and cutting out all the junk as helped so much! I know want to teach others what I've learned! I want to change the way I feed my kids too. This is my next goal. No more trips to McDonalds, except maybe on their birthdays!

Been awhile

Havent blogged in awhile and trying to get back into it. Lets see, whats going on in my life. Jake is working his 13th tax season. He is at the same firm since college and is in management. Wes is in the 3rd grade and loves school. He plays ice hockey and is a little obsessed with it! He is getting into music and starting piano lessons soon. As a musician and music lover myself, this makes me very happy. Patrick is taking gymnastics and will start Kindergarten in the fall! Mom still lives here and driving me crazy. Taking care of her is very hard. I actually hate it. I am hoping to go back to work in the Fall, not sure what I'll do. Thinking something in fitness since that's what I love now. We will see.

I am doing what I can!

My mother in law dies of a heart attack at 54 years old. My own mother has a stroke that leaves his paralized at 53. In the past four years, my husband and I have had to deal with things that honestly, we are too young for. We should be dealing with these things when our parents are in their 80's, not 50's! Our children should have their grandparents at their weddings. In the past weeks since my mother in law's death, I have been thinking. I don't want my kids to have to bury me at 54 years old or be taking care of me at 53. I don't want them raising their small kids while dealing with this. I have always been pretty active and eating ok, but latley I am more determined to do what I can to make sure my kids don't have to go through all this at such a young age! I am on a personal campaign to eat better, exercise more, and do everything I can do live longer. If not for me, but for my boys. I know that stuff can still happen. I could die is a car wreck tomorrow, but I am gonna do everything I can anyway!

Live every moment, like its your last.

The sudden death of my mother in law really reminded me how short life is. Reminds me to love people more and not hold grudges over anyway cause what if they or you are gone the next day. I have some people in my family who I have been kinda "annoyed" at, but I am getting over it cause it doesn't matter. I am choosing to be more forgiving. I am also reminded at how I need to live every moment of my life for Jesus Christ and spend my days preaching his word and sharing his love with others! Sometimes we take for granted that life will be here tomorrow, but we don't have that gaurantee. I wanna tell people I love them everytime I see them, I wanna show Christ love in every thing I do and say. Not be a gossip or have hate in my heart.

Smoking sucks!

My mother in law died today. It was sudden and cause of death is a random medical situation. However, I truly believe the cause was made worse by smoking. Her lungs and heart were weak and could not withstand it.

I confess I have tried cigarettes. Living as a teen in the tobacco state(NC), the peer pressure was great. Thankfully, I never became addicted and I never got beyond that. In years since I've learned how awful smoking can be .

Bored

Don't get me wrong, I love my life, but sometimes I am so bored! Everyday is exactly the same as the day before. Nothing ever changes. So, to keep myself entertained, I'm doing a monthly bucket list. That is do something off my bucket list once a month. I started this back in Jan, but kinda forgot about it. So I'm starting now. April, I'm seeing one of my all time favorite band who haven't been together since I was 10, Van Halen!

Dreaming a little

Although there is no way I would ever wanna go back to school (just paid off my last student loan), latley I have been thinking it would be fun to do something in fitness. I would love to be a personal trainer or a workout instructor. I have really turned over a leaf in exercise in the past 4 years, even completing 3 half marathons. I so wanna help other people reach fitness goals and learn about diet and nutriton and taking care of their temples of the Holy Spirit. Praying God can use me someway in this area, even if it isn't a career change. I keep thinking of things I will do when the kiddos are both in school full time.