Some creases are good

This weekend I noticed I have creases. Good creases. Not the bad kind you get because you frown too much or squint your eyes. I noticed the good kind. The ones you get as you start to get definition in muscles you forgot that you had. I found those creases over the past several days. Actually, it started about a week ago. Mace and I were out celebrating his birthday early, when in the middle of the conversation he stops and says, "you have a crease in your arm." I didn't think too much of it as it was my forearm he was talking about. About three days later, after I had changed my profile picture on Facebook, he says, "you look a lot like you used to look in your senior picture in your new profile picture." After re-examining my new profile picture, I can say he is right. I am wearing my hair the way I used to in high school and my face is a little thinner. The big showing of the creases came this past weekend.

We got up at 5:45 am so we could be on the golf course by 6:30. We wanted to get 18 holes in before the weather got too unbearable. The temperature on Saturday was to be in the high 90s low 100s. This is the weekend my son and his girlfriend decided they were moving out of our house and into a townhouse. Jay had to work on Saturday but had Sunday off, so the plan was to move all of the big things on Sunday. Mace and I decided we wanted to get it done, so he, Lexi and I moved ALL of the furniture on Saturday. Mace stood inside the truck and Lexi and I handed things into him: dressers, couches, recliners - you name it. At the townhouse, Mace and Lexi would hand things out to me and Lexi got her exercise in by jumping on and off the lift gate of the truck. We spent 4 hours playing golf and about 4 hours moving furniture. Needless to say, we were tired and sore. That night, I noticed that I have creases in my biceps. I actually have muscles!! It has been forever since I have seen them or used them, but I worked them hard this past weekend. As I continue to workout at the YMCA each day, I work arms and legs. My goal now is to get some creases in the old triceps!

Working toward my goals

Last week I set some short term goals for me to work on this week. So far, so good....with the exception of goal 4 - to eat out once a week. Man, that is a HARD one!!! Why? Because I can't say no very well. I really need to work on that one, but sometimes it is easier to go grab food somewhere than to prep, cook and clean up at home. I know it is probably due to laziness - but it also has to do with being tired. Working all day and then hitting the gym for my workout leaves this old girl ready to collapse in a heap. Mace is busy with play practice most nights and even though he is thoughtful enough to cook something for supper before he leaves, it is easy for me to put that in the fridge for lunch the next day and head to a restaurant with the kids for food I don't really need. This is a goal I will continue to work on and struggle with, but I hope to do better in the near future. As for the other goals, if I feel myself giving in on my workout, I picture that motor-trike in my head and hit the weights for another set. Next week, I hope to start some pool workouts, but first I have to buy a new swimsuit. That will be a wonderful shopping experience I am sure!!!

Goal Setting

I haven't always been very good with setting (and keeping) goals. I get bored easily and if I don't see progress toward the goal, I give up instead of powering through. When I started my journey over a year ago, I met with a wonderful life coach who helped me set some short term goals that would help lead me to the long term goal. Now that I am "on my own", I am going to have to set my short term goals and figure out what my long term goal is. My long term goal came to me last night and this morning. I have always wanted a motorcycle. (I know if my family is reading this, the eye rolls have begun!) I don't know why, but I love the thought of having a bike and riding to different places. I have come up with many excuses as to why I have not worked on making this dream a reality, but now, I am ready to work on it. Before I will entertain having a motorcycle, I need to get this old body in shape. I know I don't have the arm strength or the core strength to ride a motorcycle. I also know I don't have the available funds to pay for one. So, what can I do to make this happen? First comes the short term goals:

1. To purchase a YMCA membership (happening tomorrow)
2. To work out 5 times a week.
3. Three workouts each week will include weight training.
4. Eat out only 1 time per week.
5. Take the money I would have spent eating out and save it.
6. Continue the above steps until strong enough to handle a motorcycle and can afford one.

The first four steps will be years in the making. I know I won't become stronger overnight nor will I strike it rich to be able to run out and buy right away. I need to keep my eye on the finished product and it looks something like this:



I know - ambitious right? If I want it, I must work hard for it. Keep sending positive thoughts my way and someday I will see you out on the open road!!!