Oh Yeah!

I had a great workout today! Yesterday I walked with the kids and dogs with James in the carrier and I thought that was good. Today I rocked the treadmill using some methods I learned from a trainer a little over a year ago. It felt great! I am hoping I didn't overdo it...I don't mind being sore from a good workout, but I have to be able to get back on the 'mill tomorrow and do it again.
Jim and I have been talking a lot about joining the Y later this summer, and the old arguments are coming back before we even join. Wanting to work out together, but me also wanting to go in the morning being the main one. Part of me wants to just say "screw it" and not bother with it. But then out of nowhere Paige will ask about her friends at the Y and swimming class and get sad. That seals the deal. I have been a member at a few different gyms over the years and the Y is the only one I've been at where family is so important. They really go out of their way to know everyone by name, and provide affordable classes for the kiddos as well as great group classes for the parents. No...this is not intended to be an ad for the Y!!!
Anyway, as I've mentioned before, a block for me tends to be "but if only I could go to the gym, everything would be better" when in reality, I have the tools to do it right here. I can push myself and kick my butt on the treadmill. I can walk outside with the dogs. I can wear my shape up (well, my Target knock offs) shoes around the house. I can bench James while we're playing on the floor (he loves this game!). There are so many things that I can, and have been doing lately that may seem small but make a huge difference at the end of the day.
The biggest hurdle for me aside from exercise is diet. I am a grazer, and I have to train myself TRAIN myself to stop doing that! I am counting calories, but at this point am not being super strict. 1500-1600 a day is still a lot less than what I was taking in. The key for me is being aware of what I am eating and when. I set myself up on a meal/snack schedule and am working on drinking more water throughout the day. I started at 223 on Wednesday morning, and am now at 218 after only a couple of days. When the weight loss starts to plateau I will cut my calories back, and as I get stronger I will up my exercise routine.
I admitt I am a little bummed that I will not be at my goal weight for summer, but I look forward to shrinking in the heat! It would have been nice, but I'm not going to beat myself up over it. There will be plenty of summers for me to look good, this will just be the one where I got there. :)