Really, YOU CAN!

Happy New Year - hope your celebration was fun/peaceful and safe. I am excited for a new year and new start. As customary, I am going to set some goals for myself for 2018 - because Really you can achieve whatever you set your head! - You just have to set your head....focus....and.....go.... I am going to really focus on these goals this  year..... Personal Goals 1)  Run/Walk with strength training  Running is my new addiction and I say running loosely, I'm more a jogger, but hey who would have thought I would become a runner at almost 47 years of age.  Mind over matter :) I would like to become a little faster, I'm currently doing 12/13 minute miles and I still do some walking - mainly uphill.  I seem to injure myself when I try running uphill. I have been running on the treadmill because of the cold and can't seem to run the entire 30 minutes without at least a minute walk during -  but I have gained some weight and haven't been working as h...

Let's take a look at how did on my goals that set for myself for 2017: Personal Goals 1)  Run/Walk 1,000 miles this year   Running is my new addiction and I say running loosely, I'm more a jogger, but hey who would have thought I would become a runner at almost 46 years of age.  Mind over matter :) I really prefer to be outside but I am a true southern girl and my bones cannot take the cold. So if the temp is below 50 I will either do my elliptical at home or the treadmill at the gym. I am starting to acquire some cute running clothes now that I am starting to see results. Along with the running I am hoping to lose 30 more pounds this year. I think I did pretty good on my mileage - I did maintain a pretty consistent work out schedule - even with developing runners trots, hip injury, plantar facis, and burn out. I did manage to lose 20 lbs but gained it back when I changed from 2 hr daily work outs to 1 hour and still kept eating like a horse. I also have discove...

I told you, I am all into the spirit this year. It's funny that all of my financial issues have taught me to enjoy the meaning of Christmas - we still didn't spend a whole lot of money but I was happy to look at my decorations and I thoroughly enjoyed my Christmas tree. I managed to rearrange my living room in a manner that Mr Man said couldn't be done. I am pleased with how it turned out - even removing the tree the house feels so good to me. These pics were taken while I was moving it around (you can still see the vac, broom, and dusting material) :) I moved my TV to the wall by the door - the issue is that there is not a plug and it has that built in book shelf - I had Mr Man drill a small hole at the bottom and have run the power cords into the office and using a plug in there - Voila - but it makes my living room so much more roomy - I removed the rocker recliner and put my tree in front of the window and have left this space open after removing the tree. It seems so ...

I must say I have really been into the spirit this year. Not that I have more money to spend or even  that life is going that great. I feel an inner joy and peace - of course, I do have what my family calls "ostrich" I can hide my head in the sand and pretend things do not exist..but - shrug shoulders - the holidays make me happy. Thanksgiving went off well - we celebrated on Friday instead of Thursday which I kinda liked because it gave me an extra day of cooking and I felt more relaxed. Only bad thing was that I stood on my feet for two days barefooted and gave myself a case of plantar fasciitis which is not helping my running (that is another post). My menu consisted of Turkey, ham, broccoli and cheese casserole, homemade green been casserole (never made it to the table, I dropped it taking it out of oven - it was tasty the day before), mashed potatoes, roasted broccoli and grapes (we did not like), cornbread stuffing, gravy from a can (not bad), corn for the grandso...

I always try to live my life in a way that I treat people well and I especially do not like drama. Lately, it seems the universe is against me - I seem to be surrounded by people that smile in my face and then talk about me or repeat things I have said to others. Of course, my bad for talking about others, so that is a take away for me. Another take away is to not be so free with information about myself, thoughts, or personal life. I seem have to drama with co-workers, family, finances, and the list keeps growing. I could feel myself retreating inside and simmering, almost to an explosion. This explosion would most likely happen over something trivial which would confuse everyone around me. I felt like I was being tested, but what for, to not act like a maniac? So I kept praying, of course, my case to God always presented myself as the blameless victim but then I read Isaiah 26:3 during my morning devotional "Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace - in peace because they ...

I have read several blogs where runners absolutely love running in the rain. I recently had an opportunity or should I say I really just got caught out in it and I found the experience.... well, they say a picture is worth a thousand words..... Excuse the bathroom post - So this particular Sunday - I had to do my 3 mile walk/3 mile jog in the afternoon - I overslept to make the Greenway and to church and my stomach was a little upset and with my experience lately with the runner trots - I was a little gun shy...I am really, really tired of the runner trots crap (no pun intended). So I'm out 2.5 miles and I hear a little thunder - no big deal - it's starting to get a little cooler with a big wind - I'm thinking this is great Then the sprinkles...no biggie...a little rain never hurt anyone THEN...... a freaking monsoon - with thunder and lightening (that part scared me the most)  and there wasn't anything I could do but suck it up and run through it. It was ...

Really you can do what you set your head BUT sometimes there are detractors and I sometimes struggle with those. For instance, my latest passion of becoming a runner - I have enjoyed the results for the past year but have hit a slump. There are three things lately that made me have to talk myself out of quitting, one of which is a little embarrassing so I will begin with that one. Embarrassing Detractor #1 Runners Trots After I started experiencing this issue, mind you a year into jogging, I researched why it was happening and learned that it is called "Runners Trots". I was getting really upset about having these issues where my bowels just to empty without little warning, well, okay it gave me warning but I thought I WAS in control. Turns out my body has decided to let me know under no certain terms IT is control and gives a whole new meaning to me of the saying, "Listen to your body". I was both horrified and relieved to see that there is a term for it and ...