I Did It!!!! Reaching My First Mini Goal :)

Today I did it! I reached my first 'mini goal' for exercise :) I went the full 2 miles I have been striving for this morning, full out and all of my steps aerobic according to my handy dandy pedometer! I know 2 miles may not seem huge to many of you, but for me this was so very exciting! I think the most exciting part wasnt walking the 2 miles, it was reaching the goal :)

Our dirt road is a long and hilly winding one and just within the mile (1 mile there, 1 mile back) there are not one or two but FOUR hills. This doesn't include the giant hill my house sits on that I have to hoof it back up once I reach my driveway. Those hills really kick my booty being as big as I am. Just as you get to the bottom of one another begins to spring up. Its a nice work out and my calves are feeling it :)

The picture to the right is prolly the closest thing to a full body shot any one any where will ever capture of me. I am more elusive than big foot when it comes to photographic evidence of my actual existence. I took it this morning because it dawned on me as I started out of my driveway, that its almost like i am walking with myself each morning... the sun is at my back and its me and my shadow, alone breathing heavy coaxing myself along with only the sounds of the occasional drumming grouse or Blue Jay squawking.

When I get to my destination, at the end of my long walk I turn with sun now in my face I begin again home and I feel good... its like I'm leaving my fat self right there. I'm doin' this, I'm really doin' this....

It's Not So Bad...

So confession time; 3 sugar cookies, 1/2 bowl of chocolate pudding (made with real heavy whipping cream) and some homemade Heath candy bar ice cream. Yes, I snapped out of my PMS induced delirium this morning. Ohhhh not because I wanted to but because I had to. Tuesday is coming and that's weigh in day for me. I WAS NOT going to have a gain on that scale!

I thought about it and thought about it finally coming in the end to this single conclusion. Satisfying my 'craving' just isn't worth how I would feel about myself if I saw an actual gain on the scale. This morning I got up, got dressed, went outside and began to walk. I walked past my usual turn around spot and when I had returned home I found that I had done it in TWO less minutes! I still am on a high! It felt way better than the chocolate pudding. It was a much sweeter reward than the sugar cookies. Much cooler than the homemade Heath ice cream.

So now I'm gonna go rock my Belly dance video. I'm not scared of weigh in tomorrow, I am doing my best today :)

Toes Tor Two

I adore those lil toes. All 20 of em. They are the feet of my two youngest daughters after Sunday service this afternoon. There lil piggy's finally free after being in ohhh so pretty but very impractical buckle up in white patent leather shoes.

Little moments like these, just little snippets of time are, at least I think, what every mother lives for. Oh sure we love an honor roll moment, we love a prom moment or a nerve racking drivers license moment but these seemingly small almost forgettable ones we will cherish most. The way they sounded at a year padding across the floor, how their innocent eyes light up the first time they see a fire fly or the way their tiny hands clasp around a favorite toy. Ive been blessed recently with more of just these sorts of memories that are so very precious to me, an unexpected plus with my healthier choices.

I started walking outside on our dirt road with my baby daughter (I have four daughters and three sons) in her stroller and my oldest daughter along side. It was wonderful having those quiet moments to connect with her, girl to girl as it were. We dont, as you can imagine, have much alone time. I don't remember the last time I went on 'just a walk' with my daughter and that makes me sad. If I cant remember neither can she :(

So now is a new day, and now is the time for new memories and as I watched her bare feet walk along on our dirt road I smiled at her freedom. She ran ahead, came back to be by me... we talked and she'd dart out into the woods and return again. I have all of those moments locked away safe in my minds eye and I know when she is older and busier and there's less time for walks together and shes much less inclined to play peek-a-boo in the trees I can savor the afternoons we spent on our dusty gravel road.

Just another bonus of a better choice....

1.38 miles = better health
27 minutes spent alone with my daughter = priceless