Getting prepared....

I've needed for so long to feel better about myself and over a year ago I figured out that a number can't define me. I am ME and no number whether it be age, weight, cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, etc. is going to define who I am. No diet is the perfect diet, it's all about what is best for ME and my body makeup. So with all of that I am diving into a whole new ME......someone that I can look at and be proud of...someone that is sexy and beautiful and just all around wonderful.

I have tried for years to fit into this idea of who I thought I should be instead of just being myself. So having taken a step back to examine ME I have come to realize that I am sexy and beautiful! I don't have to be the so called "perfect size" or whatever everyone else seems to think I should be to feel that way.

This year I accomplished completing my first 10k and the overwhelming feeling I had as I crossed the finish line was truly amazing! It was the best birthday present I could give myself. I am beginning a journey to a HALF and FULL Marathon in 2014 that are two life goals I have wanted for the past few years. And it will happen! I will cross the finish line for both races.....Even if I finish last the fact is that I WILL FINISH!!!!!!!!!!!

I've tried for years having a trainer and attending classes at the gym. It just hasn't been working for me. And I know that A LOT, who am I kidding....ALL, of that has to do with me and not the trainer or the class. I'm at a point in my life where I need to take a step away and do things in my own way.  I'm sure my former trainers will understand and respect that; and hopefully help guide me when I get stuck or need questions answered.

I have scoured the internet looking for ways to help keep me motivated to feel better about myself, physically, emotionally, and mentally. I've picked up a few things here and there; now attempting to prepare the proper workout for myself.

What is my goal? Why am I working out? What am I striving for?
My goal is to become healthy, lose weight, and be happy! I'm not looking to become a super  model who can't eat or she'll pop a button. I want to feel comfortable with myself. If that means losing 5, 10, 20, 60, 80, or 100 lbs than that's what I'll do. It is a matter of how I feel at that time; I don't even think I will look at the scale. I will know by how I feel inside and out!

How often do I want to exercise?
I love to swim and do so several times a week. I want to figure out how to get running and strength training thrown into that mix. I truly believe that if I do some form of exercise every day it is so much better for me mentally and physically.

Since I swim on Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday I think running should be on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Strength training will be a full body workout on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings before the kids get up. This doesn't give me a day off where I do absolutely nothing......hmmmmm, I may need to rethink some of this. I do think it is important for me to have one day off but I also think it is important that I swim and run three days a week. I guess I'll have to see how this goes and adjust where needed.

What exercises do I want to focus on?
Since machines scare me if I'm not with someone who truly knows what they are doing I'm going to focus specifically on free weights and my own body weight. There are a few machine exercises in my list; I've done them all before so I think I should be OK with them.

Chest/Shoulder/Back Exercises

• Push-ups
• Flat Dumbbell Flyes
• Bent Over Rows
• Standing/Seated Overhead or Dumbbell Press
• Upright Rows
• Lateral Raises
• Front Raises

Quadricep/Hamstring Exercises 

• Squats
• Lunges (standing, alternating, walking)
• Leg Press (machine)
• Leg Extension (machine) 
• Bear Crawls
• Kickbacks
• Deadlifts
• Leg Curls (machine)

Bicep/Tricep Exercises

• Standing/Seated Dumbbell Curl
• Hammer Curl
• Skull Crushers
• Tricep Extensions
• Bench Dips

Ab Exercises

• Crunches
• Situps
• Leg Raises

As you may have noticed I haven't focused on anything about my eating habits.....that is a very touchy and difficult topic with me. Having been a diabetic for a LONG time, I have learned that my body doesn't relate to dieting well. There are too many times during the day that I HAVE TO EAT, even when I really don't want to. With that being said I KNOW that I need to start eating better foods and not a lot of the junk like I have been. I'm not going to say that I won't eat junk or that I won't have fast food every now and then because I am too realistic for that. What I can say is that I am going to focus on drinking more water (no or very little soda), eating more fruit and veggies, and trying to stay away from so many carbs. I have to eat carbs or my blood sugar will go crazy, but I need to eat the right carbs. I will however still plan to participating in Rama Thai Wednesday at work. There are some things that better left to indulge than to try to ignore.

I find that when I am craving something it is better to just eat it and get it out of my system than to try to ignore it. Unfortunately what happens when I try to ignore it is I eat everything in sight until I finally eat the craving.

And YES, before you say it yourself...I'll say it...I AM CRAZY FOR STARTING ALL OF THIS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON! And that is OK, because this is about what is best for ME! =)