Positive thoughts :)

Last night as I was getting ready for bed a bit of discouragement hit me as I looked at myself and thought about how far I had to go to reach some of the goals I've placed before myself. Again, it's not so much about the goals to me as it is about feeling good about myself, and last night I just didn't feel too great. Later I saw something my aunt had posted to facebook that reminded me that I am a work in progress and that I simply need to keep going. So instead of whining about things being hard, I decided a bit of positivity and inspiration is just what i need to rejuvinate me out of the mid-week slump. And when do we ever not need a little encouragement?? So I thought I'd share. Happy Wednesday everyone!

  

Now go be awesome!

<3 K

Week 3

Well to be honest, last weeks goal was really hard to keep with things being so busy, and then being out of town for the weekend, but all in all, I did try to do my best and will have to keep working on that one as the summer continues. I did manage to continue working out sporadically throughout the week and one of my friends from ultimate commented on how fast I was running at our last game. I told her I had been trying to workout throughout the week and she said the improvement was noticeable. Not only that, but I felt great running on the fields. I wasn't as stiff as I usually am, and I could propel myself faster and longer. Theres still plenty of room for improvement but I'm so excited for the prospect of a kick butt healthy body!

This next week's goal is to read my scriptures and say my prayers daily. This is something that I have a really hard time keeping up with consistently. I'll go through spurts where I do really well and love the difference it makes, but slowly and surely I always find things that keep me from keeping up the habit. I'm super excited this week to be working on this goal as it is one of my goals that will actually be rejuvenating and instantly gratifying. Unlike a body/lifestyle transformation which takes much diligence, hard work, and time, the blessings of reading my scriptures and talking with my Heavenly Father are instant, deep, and most rewarding. 

I have been so blessed in my life, not to say that things have been easy or charmed for me by any means. I just have a strong testimony of the power of the Lord and His care for us, even at times when we feel we deserve it least. He has always been there in my life to provide whatever it is that I need. I think some people look at an imperfect world and wonder to themselves where a God could be in all this. Understanding that life is an opportunity to grow however, there is a need for an imperfect world in which we can reach out, serve, lead, comfort, and stand tall. I strongly believe we all have a purpose in this life no matter where we come from or what opinions we may have. The exciting part then for us is to discover what that purpose is, and then through the strength and guidance given us by our loving Father in heaven, pursuing the beauty awaiting us. 

That being said, I'm exciting to focus this week on getting back in a habit of feeding myself spiritually on a daily basis and reporting back the difference its made on my week. 

Hope you all have a lovely Sunday!

<3 K

Abs for Grads and other lovelies

Guys this week has been a bit crazy. even though we moved not too long ago, I always kind of keep an eye out for apartments because there are a few things I wish were different about our place and good housing is just so hard to find in Provo. I figured if we happened to find a perfect place for us at same or less cost, it would be good to move so we could settle for the next few years or so that we'll be here. Well we found one!! It has 2 bedrooms, a great kitchen w/ dishwasher AND... a washer and dryer in the unit!!! Oh yeah, and central AC. It will cost about the same bill wise but we will be saving some on laundry expenses so that's a bonus. It's also in a newer building and we like the location so we're stoked. the only downside is they're looking to fill in July 3rd which means we have to get rid of our contract and pack up our place asap. However I posted our ad yesterday and already think we found someone who is eager to take it off our hands (keep your fingers crossed for us!)

now to check in on my goals. This weeks' goal hasn't gone down so well haha. Between apartment searching, apartment cleaning/showing, and everything else we do on a regular basis, I've already eaten out twice... BUT, keeping the reasoning behind the goal in mind, I tried to go with healthier options and then got my butt out of bed this morning and worked some of those calories right back off! So I won't beat myself up too much about it. Meeting every goal isn't so important necessarily as is the growth that comes with your efforts to stretch yourself. Plus Steven and I decided to throw in some competition and see who can get to the hottest abs by graduation time next year. (cheer for me!)

I read an article this morning from KSL called "Running Hurts So Good" by Kim Cowart and I just loved some of the things the writer had to say. I'd reword it but it wouldn't do it any justice and I'd probably post more to read than was worth the point being made. Here's a bit from the article:

"I’ve stuck with running long enough to know that all bad moments come to an end. Nothing, not even pain, lasts forever. If I can just keep putting one foot in front of the other, I will eventually get to the end. And the darker the moments are, the more satisfying and rewarding the finish line becomes. Running is a physical, daily reminder to me that I am strong enough to do hard things. This reminder gives me confidence to tackle other challenges in my life that may have previously scared me off. I know if I face those obstacles that are making my life uncomfortable, I will come out the other end stronger and more self-assured."

This was exactly how I felt Saturday, and again this morning as the sweat was literally dripping down my face.

I am strong enough to do hard things

and I'm not just talking about excercise, and this isn't just for me. Life hits us upside the head sometimes but we were made to overcome and learn from our challenges. Sometimes all it takes is a little courage and confidence from within.

So go and be beautiful today!

<3 K

Week 2

So as you know by now I made it past week 1! This week's goal is to make everything I eat, or at least only eat things I have bought from the grocery store. so no eating out period! Today I was tempted to pick something up for lunch because Steven wasn't going to be around to do lunch with me and I didn't want to have to make something if it was just for me. That thought didn't last long though because I couldn't slip up on my first day!!! So instead I went home and had corn on the cob with a cheese pita pizza I made :) odd combo? probably, but it was fresh and made with things I already had at home so totally guilt free.

This week's goal is a three-for-one deal because it's supposed to help me eat better by eating the fresh foods in my fridge more, treat our checking account with a break because we spend too much on eating out, and practicing discipline and eliminating the "need to have now" habits I've somewhat developed. While I've had very little fast food lately, the hardest part I think will be coming up with different date ideas than our standard dinner out Steven and I enjoy. I guess that will be a good chance to be more spontaneous and creative with the time we have together, which should also be fun.

Looking back on last weeks goal I really WANTED to work out this morning, which isn't typical. at all. BUT, after a spur of the moment drive to visit my Dad in Nevada yesterday, a long, late drive home, feeling sick and being up until 4:30 in the morning... I made the decision to postpone my workout until tomorrow (or tonight if I have time after apartment browsing and FHE). Anyways I plan to up my workout limit from last week. 200 minutes maybe? Why not??

Hope you are all having as lovely a Monday as possible!

<3 K

Check!!

Nothing beats a great shower after a workout which concluded you goal of 150 minutes for the week! Guys, I feel so good today. I admit that at least half of my minutes came from our back to back frisbee games this past thursday but I knew I couldn't count that for my full week workout so this morning I hit up the gym at our complex and cranked it out for an hour. While this is normal and a happens pretty regularly for some, it's a stretch for me but I by no means went easy on myself. If sweat is fat crying, mine had a bit of a breakdown today haha. Throughout this week I really wanted to make sure I was thinking about my goals and I found that even though I was only taking one at a time, I still had other goals in the back of my head and ended up doing more than I was "supposed to". The end result is a satisfying feeling that I am on track and then some and it's great!

It's still not going to be easy working out on a regular basis, but after today I know I can handle it and I'm a lot stronger than I give myself credit for. Another thing I kept thinking about this week is that even though specific goals and numbers are good to keep in mind, they are not everything. That's not to say that I should blow them off, because they are important (and it feels so great to have reached any goal!). This week I went out and bought a couple pairs of shorts that are larger than what I ever would have wanted to buy and fit in but I had to stop myself from thinking about the negative. So for the positives: I got them on sale, they look great, they'll keep me cool and most importantly I look and feel good in them. Why should I have to torture myself trying to squeeze myself into clothes just to be in that size, when they look awful and make me feel fat?? The things us women do to ourselves haha. So here's to being healthy, working on becoming a better you, but learning to love yourself wherever you're at in life.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

<3 K

The Good Stuff

Well so far this week has been busy and I haven't hard a workout in yet but I'm guaranteed some on thursday as we have two frisbee games back to back so that should help make up for yesterday and today. Last night Steven and I went out to dinner and a movie so Steven could take a break from studying in between tests (and to celebrate his A!). Tonight we had dinner with some of my friends from freshman year who I haven't seen in quite a while. My friend Karsen got home from his mission in January and it was the first time I've gotten to see him since he got back. There were also a couple of his friends who became my friends who were there with us as well. One even spent a few days with Steven and I in St. George taking all our wedding photos and helping keep me sane while way too many last minute projects were on the table.

After dinner with them we headed over to a surprise birthday party for my sweet roommate Hillary also from freshman year. To start, Hillary is probably the absolute nicest person I know. In fact, it's more than kindness, I honestly could not find one negative thing to say about her. It was so much fun getting to spend some time catching up with her and some other old roommates at her party tonight. Steven left a bit early to go play disc golf with the frisbee team so after the party wound down a bit, I made a walmart run for the new sherlock holmes movie (LOVE) and some haagen dazs ice cream :) Life is good.

11 weeks of summer

So I realize this is two posts in one day BUT, the first post was a draft from a couple weeks ago that never got posted- oops! I really am trying to be better about posting more. As I've been reading more of other people's blogs, I like how many of them take on a focus or a goal but not wanting to just snag all the other cool ideas, I've been trying to think of cool ones on my own. I've had a few ideas but nothing I've loved yet. I probably will change from time to time to keep things interesting and not get bored of myself but I do want something. In the mean time, this morning I was looking over the calendar and realized there are 11 weeks left to summer- 11! That doesn't actually seem very long and I realized all of my lovely summer intentions/goals/plans need to get a move on if I want to be productive this summer. So. I wrote out a list of specific things I will dedicate each of my 11 weeks left of summer to, which in one way or another will help me towards my goals for the summer. While each week has a different specific thing I will do, I'm hoping 7 days will be enough to start a habit so the following week I'll shoot to keep that habit going, while adding the next week's goals to my plate. make sense? I'm posting them here so I can't flake on them. Also, it will keep me posting at least weekly and keep me focused on my goals. So here's to 11 weeks of improvement! 


Week 1: 150 minutes of working out

2 years ago, I was fresh out of my first year of college. Everyone I knew was home for the summer and I was living back at home. I decided to fill my time with two part time jobs which kept me on my feet and busy all day most days. I ate less because I was busy but I never ate too little- I just realized when I am not so busy, I tend to spend more time thinking about what i need from the grocery store, what new recipe to try, what I'm making for dinner/lunch, etc. A couple months into summer, I found a good deal on a bike from Craigslist and started going on long bike rides, especially at night after work. It was a nice way to unwind and deal with any stress I had on my back. By the time I was ready for school again in the fall, I had lost probably 10 pounds and was down to a healthy 125 and was feeling great.
    Shortly after the semester started I began dating Steven who is very athletic but also eats terribly! He was used to eating out probably on a daily basis and loves getting treats and dessert. I started gaining some weight eating out so much with him (and not getting the kind of exercise he was) and was up to about 135-140 when we got married last august. Part of that was birth control and stress but I still wasn't eating much healthier or working out like I should. When school started up again, I would do class from 8-12, work from 1-6, and get home exhausted and very stressed with homework, errands, dinner, housework, and my new husbands needs to all take care of. From that point up until a couple months ago, I gained another 20 ish pounds!!! (YIKES) The day I stepped on the scale to read 160 pounds, I knew something had to change. My 5'2 frame is not meant for so much weight and I couldn't feel good about how I looked or how I felt internally.
   Since then, I've been playing frisbee and getting more active but I still have a long way to go to get back to where I was. While I have been slowly losing weight since the 160, I still have a ways to go before I'm back to that 125-130 range. More importantly though than the numbers, I want to just get fit and healthy because that is what really matters.
   With this novel out of the way, comes the reason behind my first goal. By not restricting myself to days of the week (easier to mess up and get discouraged), I'm going with minutes of working out which will give the same results but will allow for some flexibility when I have busy days. I also realize that 150 is not where I'd like to be at the end of the summer, but when 150 becomes regular I'll hope to increase it as I go and see just how far i end up!

This is scary for me to make this goal public because I have such a hard time sticking with a workout plan! I really want to have a healthier lifestyle though so I'm determined to make it work this time.

What goals do you always find yourself falling back on?

<3 K

I cannot stress enough how much I LOVE not juggling work and school. while I am working full time again selling da insurance (not the most exciting job) it has been nice being able to focus fully on my work again and really put the extra effort into my work. benefitting from more bonuses doesn't hurt too much either though :) since the end of winter semester, we almost went to Florida, stayed up too late on many occasions, played frisbee till my body personally wants to give up all hopes of becoming athletic, and enjoyed some extra time with the fam.
To explain our almost vacay to Florida, we tried the whole standby deal and were only stood up. Our tickets are good for a year so maybe we'll go to celebrate graduation next year, who knows! as we waited to collect our luggage, we plotted last minute options to make a staycation out of the time we had as I already had work off. So we pulled into an adorable bed and breakfast near SLC to stay the night while we decided what to do. Our room was amazing and the breakfast was absolutely delicious. Here are some pics from the themed room we crashed in for the night.

The view first walking into the room. It was supposed to be reminiscent of the Titanic, hence the grand old fashioned decor, color scheme, and hints of boats and such throughout the room

I think sleeping in the round bed was my favorite part!

Steven insisted we find a place with a jet tub :) check!

We ended up deciding that gong to a resort nearby for the weekend, while fun and relaxing, would be frivolous and we'd rather save the money for when we DO end up going to Florida. However having a night away in a fun suite wasn't bad at all.

As far as becoming more athletic is concerned- it's a work in progress! I have spent at least the last two weeks with my shins wrapped and compressed, popping ibuprofen like breath mints, and walking like a gimp as my body rejects all the sudden running, cutting, and flailing of defensive arms. I understand the game much better than when I started last season but it's been frustrating being held back by my body. Last year I was slow running out of breath and such but I am more frequently getting a cardiovasular workout in. The only problem is my joints and muscles haven't quite been ready for all the stress. I think I've hit the recovery stage however which is exciting cause I'm ready to really kick some butt! My little brothers have even come out to a couple of our games and I believe have officially converted to the ultimate ways.

Speaking of family, they moved back! The boys just absolutely love Steven (aka Fred) and it's been so fun having them all around again. Plus before we know it, Josh will be home from his 2 year mission in Ohio and we are all so excited to see him again!

Elder Wilson on the left with an old companion. This picture was taken a while ago, but I just think it's funny :)

Any one else loving summer as much as I am??

<3 K