Let's Get Physical: A Challenge for YOU!

Guess what!!

Chicken butt!

Bahahahahaha!!!!

Just kidding. Sorry...I really needed to get that out of my system.

I'm done now. We can move on now.

But seriously...guess what!

I joined a gym this weekend!

I'm super excited about it.

Now, I have been a member of a couple different gyms in the past and I never used them. However, I know I like this particular corporation and I've been happy in the past with them at different locations. Even going into this gym, I feel absolutely comfortable and welcome. Everyone was super nice and I'm really excited to get started.

I bought 3 personal training sessions with my sign up bonus. I really wanted to buy 36 but I think The Hubble would kill me if I spent $2,000 on personal training.

Anyway. When I lost weight after Little Butt I tried many different techniques to keep me motivated.

One of those techniques was to make a vision board.

What is a vision board you ask...well let me show you mine from before:

Basically, you grab some poster board, a bunch of magazines, some scissors, and some glue. You find pictures or words that speak to you and really resonate with what you want to accomplish. Then you cut them out and glue them on your board. Post to board somewhere where you will see it every day so you can easily visualize your future.

Now, when I first read about this I thought it was the cheesiest load of crap ever. BUT I was the team leader of a challenge group on jillianmichaels.com so I had to do it. After I finished, I ended up carrying this thing with me through several different states. I loved it! I was so proud of it and inspired by it. It helped me remember my goals and it focused me. It gave me a visual reminder of my vision for myself.

So, now that I have joined the gym and am ready to get started, I think it's time for you to get started too.

So here is your challenge:

I want you to make a vision board. Gather your materials and have fun with it! Think about where you are going to place your vision board so you will see it every day.

Then, I want you to write a blog post about it and post that on December 1st. Come back here and link up to the linky I will have available on December 1st. That way, we can each jump around and help motivate one another. It will be like a virtual work out group.

We can even come up with weekly challenges if you all want.

So who is with me???

If you are feeling a little unsure, just go read THIS POST and get inspired and motivated!

I can't wait to see what you all come up with.

Let's get the word out about this! Tell your friends, blog about it, whatever you have to do to get people on board.

If we have a good turn out for the December 1st vision board linky, I'll throw in a prize for best vision board!!

So get after it!

PS: The vision board does NOT have to be strictly fitness related. Whatever your vision or goals are, those are what you should incorporate into your vision board. Let me know if you have any questions.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

 The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

I finished reading The Happiness Project. At first I thought it was okay but the more distance I get from it the more I think I really liked it. It was interesting and I think about it A LOT. It is basically about a woman who decided one day that she wasn't as happy as she could be. She didn't want to change her life because she was happy but she felt like she could be happier and appreciate her life more than she was. So, each month for an entire year she focused on a different aspect of her life that she could improve. These included her vitality, marriage, children, relationships with friends, work, money, etc. The book is full of reference gems and many are on my "to read" list now. It has made me think a lot about my situation and the things I can do to improve my outlook on different aspects of my life. I'm very happy I read it.

Co-dependent No More by Melody Beattie

Co-dependent No More by Melody Beattie

This is the book that started it all. I know it is cliché but, this book has changed my life and my thinking…

I was talking to my father on the phone one day and I was explaining to him how I have no problem exercising and eating right when Otty is gone but I can’t seem to keep it up when he is home. My father then asked me if I wanted to know what that was called…he told me it was called co-dependence and that I should start learning about this by reading a book called Co-dependent No More. I pretty much ran out right away and purchased the book.

Now, I have never been a big advocate for self-improvement books, but I have to say that this book was very enlightening. Co-dependency has a different definition for everyone. This book made me delve into my own retched thoughts and confront them head on.

This book made me realize that I have a voice and an opinion and both matter just as much as the next person. I realized that I can make decisions and not have to worry if my opinion is what other people may think or want. My opinion is exactly that…my opinion. It is okay to have an opinion that is different than someone else’s.

I also learned that I need to detach myself from the people in my life that cause me harm…emotionally, physically, doesn’t matter…

Though I may not struggle with an abusive alcoholic, I still struggle with the internal doubts and feelings of self worthlessness. I have learned that I do not need to immerse myself so deeply in someone else’s life that I lose myself. I can keep my individuality while sharing my life with another. If we have conflicting views…that’s alright.

When I first read this book, I figure that I would not post my feelings about it because they were too personal. However, now having some distance from the book and being able to employ the lessons I have learned, I am able to share myself with others.

I am not perfect and it is absolutely acceptable for me to let other people know this. Maybe, by sharing these thoughts, someone else might be inspired to read this book and better themselves as well.