Hard is what keeps out the Riffraff

"Hard is what keeps out the Riffraff" - that is a line from a Hallmark channel type movie that was on the TV the other night as I was cleaning up the kitchen. Not something I would normally be watching, but I loved that line. It reminded me of a chat that I had with a friend a couple of months ago. I was talking with her about something that she needed to do for herself and I said something similar. Now what I said was not as polished as that, but all in the same vein.

This idea is also what had made me so proud about the decision I had made to get myself in better shape and take control over my health. I laughed at myself for how self-righteous I sounded and admitted to those I talked to that talking about it was what helped keep me in the game.

I began by speaking with  Gina who owns her own business, Concierge For Mom. I knew that I was going to need some guidance and I also knew that with a full-time career outside of my home, a husband, four kids and three dogs, time wasn't something I had much of. I believe one of the first things I told Gina is that I will be one of the most difficult people she will work with. I've never known time as a friend. I was very clear that I wanted to make life changes that I could maintain. I did not want to feel like I was on any type of diet. I also had no intention of following a meal plan. I wanted to learn to make healthy choices everyday so that I would not get to a point when I stopped and put weight back on.

I've had some success in the last eight weeks. Here are the positive things I have done.
- I start my day on my elliptical every morning for 20-30 minutes.
- I no longer drink soda or sweet tea. I drink water instead.
- I have discovered coconut water which I love & drink daily (and it helped get rid of my headache today)
- I drink protein shakes to supplement my meals. (okay, it's usually my breakfast)

I have seen some differences in my body. My afternoon headaches are pretty much gone. I feel stronger and overall better.

I could say that I fell off the wagon this weekend at the company holiday party because I ate dessert. Or because I had Mexican for dinner last night. But what I think is worse is that I haven't worked in the time for my workouts. I feel really crappy about it. Gina checks in on me often and responds when I ask her about food choices. She's even created 10 minute workouts I can do. I have to make the decision to make time for the next step. My workouts. It's not happening and I'm disappointed. Gina checked on me today and this blog post is my answer. I know I'll hear back from her. She's very dedicated to making sure I succeed. I was too when I started. I lost some momentum. It's a hard pill for me to swallow because I know I'm not doing it because it's hard. Hard to have the energy. Hard to make the time. I remember my friend saying all the same things and I told her that she had to make up her mind to do it.

Life only moves in one direction and I need to get moving with it.

My Diary From The Boys' Locker Room

The days that's probably the best title I can come up with for this episode of my life. Every week there are multiple entries that could be made to this diary. Our three middle school boys make me laugh everyday in some way. Sometimes I just can't let them see that I'm laughing!

Last week my husband was insistent that the basement smelled "like the SPCA" as he refers to it. Now, the three dogs do stay in the basement while we are at work and they sleep down there. However, there are also three middle school age boys that live down there too. They shower every day. Well, every weekday. I find dirty clothes in their beds and who knows what else could be in there. The boys just aren't particularly big on cleanliness. Now, on the days that we clean, they do vacuum, sweep, mop, fold and put away laundry and assorted other chores. They aren't exactly detail oriented so we have to check over them often before clearing them on a task.

This brings me to the point of my post. The origin of the smell that had my husband so upset. I came home that night and had my oldest son help me start cleaning the basement. As usual, I gave him the vacuuming to do and I went for the room his younger brother usually cleans - the bathroom. Three boys, one bathroom. As I cleaned, I began to come up with nicknames for each of them based on the offense I know they commonly commit. I have one who doesn't really create a problem. The other one I decided to call flush. I figure if he hears it often enough, he may remember to do it. Then there's the worst, the one I call splash. Now the other two may be guilty of missing the giant hole they are supposed to go in from time to time, but splash doesn't even acknowledge the hole! Cleaning this room was about much more than cleaning the toilet. It was about taking down the cloth shower curtain and washing it. Cleaning off the side of the bathtub. Cleaning the floor and the baseboards.

The whole time I was cleaning, I was thinking to myself, those Brady boys must have had really good aim because as whiny as the Brady girls could be, I never heard one complain about Bobby peeing all over the toilet. They did have Alice however and I do not. The boys make things smell!