“There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” ~Anais Nin

I think that every single person here on this website, has a different reason for changing things in their lives. We also probably share some similar ones as well, but if I were going to bet, I would definitely bet that we all have at least ONE good reason why we're here.

In order to even begin moving in a direction to change things in our lives, we first need a conversation with ourselves about why we desire it in the first place. For me, some of the reasons for change in my own life, have shape shifted and some have even been replaced, but I still have reasons to be here, and seek sustainable change. Here are a few of the reasons I have had as my own motivating forces either in the past or currently:

1. Pain. For me, this was one of the very first reasons I decided to seek change. I HATED the dark and foggy world I had created for myself to live in. That pain was a driving force to make steps in the direction of SOMETHING different.

2. Love. This was another of my 'first' reasons and continues to be near the top of my list. Sometimes when our way of living or our habits seem to work for us, but really don't for someone we share our lives with, we find motivation to change there as well.

3. Fear. This was my strongest 'shove' in the direction of change. I was afraid that the way I was living, was 'as good as it was going to get' and I was scared that I was always going to be disconnected from myself and those who love me. I was afraid that I was going to be alone and lonely for the rest of my life. Fear is often a big motivator for change.

What are YOUR reasons for wanting to make changes in your own life??

Did my upper body workout today. Than came down with a flu bug thats going around. So made a pot of chicken soup and tried to relax.

Jenn ~ I think your 3 reasons are also my 3 reasons, but in my own way.

I definitely don't want anymore pain [emotional], I have a lot of love to give to others and fear that I won't ever be good enough no matter what I achieve. Which is where I have fallen back again. I think it's time to stop being afraid above all else.

Anna ~ Go the soup! I made a nice big batch of chicken and vegetable soup today as well. Hope you're feeling better soon.

It's been a much better week for me but I ma waking up during the night and staying awake for 2-3 hours. I'm talking waking around midnight or 1am. Hmmmm....???? Otherwise....nutrition still going well and I have done cardio each day.

Wish I could be in on the conference call from here. Jenn....let me know what this weekend is like for you and I'll call if it suits you. I have Vegas keyed into my world clock on my phone so you name the time and I'll do the rest. I'll warm up my Aussie accent. [Hang on....what accent? You guys have the accents!]

8:30pm Wed night here. Hopefully it will be all zzzzzzzzzzzzz from me soon until sun up. [Which is getting later here.]

Son

Good morning everyone. Overslept this morning so I will have to do my workout this afternoon. My nutrition yesterday was good, stuck to my plan. Looking forward to an awesome day, so here is my plan for the day:

Nutrition:
Eggs, 2 whole grain waffles and coffee
Bananna and light baby bel cheese
Left over spinach and mushroom lasagna
R.L nutrition shake and orange
Tuna salad sandwich
R.L nutrition shake


Exercise:
25 min H.I.T cardio


Hope everyone has a great day. Artie.

Well yesterday was interesting. I did decent on my meals yesterday and even got a cardio w/o in on my new elliptical! woooohoo The one I ordered from walmart last week was a bust. They sent me the wrong one, and the one they did send was broken beyond repair. soooooo i looked on line at sears yesterday, they had 1 left of the one I wanted so I GOT IT!! took me till 12:30am to get it all together but well worth it.
So happy I have that new elliptical. Now I can do cardio before I go to work, on my lunch brk and right when I get home from work....sweet!! Now I have to clean up my mess for my daughter's b-day party this weekend. My wife, my brother & my daughter all have b-days with in 3 days of each other.

My meals today are going to be grrrrrrrrrreat!
1-myoplex lite rtd
2-zone bar
3- healthy choice micro meal
4-myoplex lite rtd
5- tbd


w/o:
going to do some cardio work when I get home, then weights later.

Gratitude:
~soo thankful for the opportunity to buy an elliptical
~to eat clean
~to have a beautiful supportive family
~to have a awesome support system in you guys that really is a life line some days
to have a job where i can take time to check in on t.com most days

ok folks...yall have a great day and i'll check back after surgery.

__________________

Hey, all!!! Today is a good day. i'm feeling pretty good (tired, but not BAD) and the weather is GORGEOUS!!! I cant wait to get off of work and spend some time outside. Wahoooo!!! I ate healthy yesterday, and am doing good so far today. I got in a 50 min workout this morning. Three days of good workouts in. I'm happy.

Thanks to everyone for the prayers, encouragement and good wishes. I hope that I don't "dump" on you all, but it's hard for me to talk about this with my friends and family. I mean, I do... but sometimes I don't want to give them ALL the details. I don't know... maybe it's the protector in me. I don't want them to be overly worried, so I play it down. Probably not good... I'm telling them the truth, not holding back details, more that I'm leaving out my true worries and fears.

Conference call - Just in my state of tiredness, I know that the conference call time is not going to work for me. I've been crashing around 9:30 If I DO make it, I'll probably only stay on the line for 15 minutes or so.

Jenn - wow!! You did have a busy day!! I'm with ya... I found out long ago that working out 5 days a week just is more reasonable for me. Sometimes, on the weekend, I hike or play hockey with the kids, but that is just a "bonus"!

Tripp - YAY!!!! So glad you got your elliptical!!! ENJOY!!!

Happy Wednesday, all!!

Just a quick fly by from work for me!! Didn't get up to do my usual am workout, but have time this evening. I may even start it during the call!! Speaking of...how many of you WILL be on the call for sure?? If it won't work for anyone, my feelings won't be hurt at ALL!!! I just don't want to get on and have No one able to make it!! Let me know, pretty please!!

Good day so far for me!! Looking forward to the end of the day, though!! I'll pop back in later!! Have a FABULOUS Wednesday, troops!!

-Jenn

Jenn ~ I must have missed the date/time of call and how to do it. Do we log on something or just call from landline? Once I know those things I'll be able to tell you if I can do it. Regarding my reasons for CHANGE: Well, I would say as Sonya did...the same as the reasons you give. Each day, though, I find a specific reason for continuing for that one day because it gives me motivation to make it each step of the way...like today, my reason was "to stay sane"!

Sonya ~ Loved seeing your post on my blog...thank you for the motivation Have you discovered why you're losing so much sleep? I feeeeeel for you...it is so difficult and I know that Jenn and I can really understand sleep deprivation.

Artie ~ You seem to really have a great groove going on there! I love to see you here and you help motivate me to keep the daily routine going.

Tripp ~ Seems like everything I get at Walmart ends up being returned! I keep ALL my Walmart receipts cuz I just know it'll be another trip back to customer service...ugh! You really got it goin' on with your routine, too. Wow!

Terri ~ We all need to vent sometimes. What would it be like here if we all presented ourselves as if this were so easy every day? I think so many people would question themselves and think that either: 1. we're all phony 2. they can't overcome obstacles 3. etc. etc. etc. I know that when I learn of anyone's difficulty and witness how they handle it, I say to myself, "I can't make excuses either."

Anna ~ Take care of yourself and enjoy the soup...once you're feeling better you'll be feeling strong and moving right along again

MEAL/EXERCISE BLOG

Happy Pi Day everyone (3.14)....oh-oh now everyone is thinking of PIE.
Reasons for my changes.....pain. ...I want to be able to move around without hurting. In 2009, I was planning events on how far I would have to work (NOT GOOD)! Reason 2: Fear - I don't want to get all of the diseases that can attack me based on family history. Reason 3: Vanity - it is nice to look in a mirror and like what you see.
Day 3 of the spring challenge - and so far I have flubbed something everyday and did some good things everyday.
Bea

Hi all!

I plan to make the call tonight. it'll be 9:45pm (EST) for me but I'll definitely still be up!

Ri - Jenn said the call will be at 6:45 PST. Call this number: 530-881-1000 and then the access code is 128153

I look forward to hearing your voices!

Today I played doubles tennis indoors. A friend asked me to sub in her group. We played 1 1/2 hours. Funny thing is I'm a lefty and two of the other women were also lefties! How often does that happen where 3 are lefties and one is a righty?!

It's been unseasonably warm here lately - like in the upper 60s. Everything has started to bloom. I think it's a little to early for everything to be blooming here, but I'm not complaining. I'm just sad that we had such a lousy winter = no snow, unless you count the freak snow storm we had on Halloween weekend where folks lost power, trees were downed and it was a big mess.

This weather is spoiling me. I'm headed to Seattle Friday and it's supposed to be only in the 40s and rainy (I guess spring in Seattle = rain!). I'm going w/my husband and daughter for a bat mitzvah of very good friends of ours. I plan to meet up with Mary (seattlered) while there, too! Laura - aren't you in the Seattle area, too? Let me know - maybe we could meet up, too, with Mary!

Well, gotta go now. Hope to "see" you on the call tonight!

Real quick... I can be on tonight. Our last patient is at 630 so i may be late. But I will make it

Ah, Bea! Pi day! I'd never heard of that before until this year! All our schools are doing it! But with real pies! oh, well!

So, reasons for change - fear is a good one for me, too. Fear of 'does it get any better than this' or is this it? DOes it go downhill from here? Fear of not being able to fit into my current clothes or outgrowing them and having to buy bigger clothes. Fear of not feeling comfortable in my own skin (ex. in a bathing suit! lol!) Fear of not being the healthy example for my kids.

Hi, everyone! I didn't think I was MIA for as long as I was. I think I pop in and read everyone's posts, but don't post anything myself, and then before I know it three days have passed!

I will try to make the con call...would love to join...but all I have is a cell phone, and it's been acting up and dropping calls, or just not connecting period. Grrr at that TMobile!!

My reason's for change:

1. Want to keep moving forward - I was in a rut for so long, I think I was actually becoming a hermit. I didn't want to go out because I felt so crappy about myself. But after Denver 2009, I broke out of this self imposed prison, and was exposed to so many wonderful people, great opportunity to help others, and just do something I never would have dreamed of! Pish...just try to get me back in that cell! I want to continue to experience life...not watch it on tv or from my front window!

2. Helping others. I have always wanted to help others in anyway I can. But I always thought that I had to have money to do so. I've learned that by being healthy, and fit I can raise money for any charity, any cause just by running in races and asking for pledges.

3. I'm just tired...tired of having achy knees, hips and ankles from carrying this extra weight around.

I still have to make it to the grocery store. But I did order my RL shakes today!!! SOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!! And I went running today! Actually it was a run/walk, but I completed 3.1 miles, and I am sore!! It was mid 70's today, and sunny and bright! It felt wonderful just to get outside and run. Took me about 44 minutes...but hey, my booty was moving!

Hope ya'll have a great night! I'll try to make the call tonight!!

Pooh! I was only JUST able to log back on and see the group call time. I'm so disappointed

Hi, Maria!

Holy crap! I missed the call, I really really wanted to talk w/ you guys

LOVED reading everyone's posts today!! I think that finding the reasons that drive us to push forward when maybe we would have otherwise given up, is KEY to making sustainable change. At least I know that to be true for me!! Some GREAT reading here today, group!!

For those of you who weren't able to make the conference call, we talked about where we are right now, and what (if anything) we think we're missing to really make the commitment to keep moving forward. It was FUN to catch up and hear each other's voices FOR SURE!! I know that I feel like I'm recommitted to seeing this challenge through to the end and making some BIG changes for myself!! YAY!!! No worries if you missed it, we'll do another one next week. I also think it may be fun to hop in the chat rooms here on tcom sometime over the weekend, if that works for anyone else??!! Let me know.

I'm wiped out. This was a day off for workouts for me, but it was a BUSY day at work. So I sort of feel like I got one anyhow!! I'm ready for bed, thats for sure. Still haven't seen much of my hubby, save for about 15 minutes last night when he pretty much fell into bed. He was already out the door when I got up at 6:15 this morning. WOW. Not sure how he does it, but grateful he does. March is always crazy in the Rile household!!

Ok...I'm off to drop off a thread for tomorrow and then its time for some eyelid videos for me!! Early am workout planned and I'm ready to do it. Sleep is necessary!! See you all tomorrow!

~Jenn

Hey all! Short check in again for me... Decent day for me again today... I drug my hind parts to the gym despite not wanting to. I did though! My legs are still so incredibly sore, it's unbelievable!! Our massage practitioner at work asked if I was ok, I told her I sure was. Just made sure I remembered how much I could work my legs! Meals today went as such:
M1 home made protein bar
M2 home made protein bar
M3 rl
M4 efl sloppy joes on udi's whole grain gluten free buns (yay)
M5 hOme made protein bar ( yes, they are that good!! And it did follow a little to close to m4)
Also I did have 1 piece of chocolate! I am a chocoholic, THE reason there is usually no chocolate kept at work, my lack of will power! Just 1? Yay!!!