100 Day Challenge is complete!

Posted in Challenges, Fitness Journey

Back in January, I decided to do a 100 day challenge. I just completed 100 days of exercise and there were days I thought it would never end.  Here are some thoughts about the last 100 days:

To those wondering why I did it… I don’t really know. I thought it would be a good idea at the time and then it turned into a way to count down days in this deployment. Once I got started, I became addicted to closing those stupid rings on my Apple watch! I have a competitive heart, even if I’m only competing against myself. What can I say?! My husband knows how to give gifts.

Did I enjoy it? Not every day. There were many days where I thought I was insane and wanted to quit. Then I started noticing others following along with me. I started getting messages from people asking what I was doing. It got to a point where I felt like if I quit I would be letting them down. Again…being a motivator is addicting. Not only was I making myself better, but I was inspiring other as well. It’s a great feeling.

Did I get results? YES! I’d love to show you some before and after photos but I’m working on a big surprise for my husband who is currently overseas. So photos will come after he has seen me! 😉 I have lost a significant amount of weight and I feel so much better than I did a year ago…even since Christmas.

Did I eat healthy the whole time? No. I was very strict the first 6 weeks because I was doing a ufit challenge with my gym. But after that I slacked off a little. I still did my best to pick the better choices, but this is real life and I have four kids. But I will say, if you eat well, you will see the best results. This is why my next challenge will be focusing on the food I am eating. By doing this, maybe I won’t need to almost kill myself exercising so much every day!

Yeeessssss! 🙌🏻💯 #100daysofexercise

A post shared by Jamie Stone (@jamies_psp) on

Am I going to do it again? Yes! But not until this summer. I will make sure to let everyone know so you can join in if you want.

What’s next?

Starting Monday I will be starting a food challenge. Our gym uses the zone diet and that has worked really well for me. If you aren’t familiar with it, it’s basically clean eating and portion control. You can research it and do it with me, or just do your own healthy eating challenge. I’d love for you to join me for the next 60 days and see how much better you can make yourself feel! I will post photos where you can put your food choices in the comments on my Facebook page, Following the Boots. You might be more aware of what you are putting in your mouth if you have an accountability partner.

 

Don’t be an Unmotivated Turd.

Posted in Military Life, Motivation, Surviving Deployment

Yes. If that title drew you in, then you need to hear this as much as I do. The last couple weeks have been tough. I’ve been slacking in my eating and that needs to stop now!

I only have TWO weeks left before my purple hair appointment and I have goals! Life gets crazy. I’m the queen of the hot messes and I have to tell myself often that I CAN’T DO EVERYTHING.  Yes. I can’t do it all. No matter how hard I try, there are just not enough hours in the day.

I have been so blessed to have a good business right now, but guess what? Running a business takes up a lot of time and when I put 100% in it, I have no time for me.

I have 4 kids and they are involved in a lot! It’s great for them to be involved in things, but guess what? When I run them all over the place, the time I need to cook a healthy meal goes away.

I have a wonderful husband who supports us and is amazing at his job, but guess what? The Army doesn’t always let him be here to help me out. (Unfortunately there’s not a whole lot I can fix about this one)

BUT there are ways that I can fix other stresses in my life to make sure I’m putting my priorities in order!

So here’s the first fix…I hired help.

Yes. I have cleaning ladies that come and clean my house because I’m playing the role of a working solo parent right now and housework is not a strong quality of mine or a priority.

Yes. I just hired two amazing ladies to help me out with my business. If I want my business to continue to be awesome, I need to let control of some things and let them help me. Sitting on the computer all day long is not a priority right now.

Yes. I only let my kids be involved in one big extra thing a season because running four kids to a million events is hard! Is it unfair? Maybe to them, but will they live? Absolutely! It also makes them start to think about what is priority to them! Do they want to do multiple things and only give each thing a little effort or do they want to excel and put 100% into what they want the most?

Yes. I HAVE to MAKE TIME for myself. This means I will schedule gym time into my daily calendar every morning because it’s a priority.

Yes. I may have to do grocery pick up if it means I’m not going to buy junk because I was just strolling through isles with no plans because health is a priority to me.

No, I can’t do it all but I can do what it important to me and to my family. As moms we often think that we have to do it all. That we are less of a mother or a woman if we ask for help and admit defeat, but guess what? YOU ARE NOT LESS! If you can understand when you need help, that makes you the best person that you can be.

Let’s also stop telling ourselves we just don’t have time for things. Instead, ask yourself…is it important? Is it a priority? I promise you, if you answer yes…you will MAKE TIME!

So stop being that unmotivated turd and get things done. If it’s not a priority to you, ask for help or just forget it for a while. Chances are “it” (whatever it is) will be there when your priorities change.

 

Stupid Yoga.

Posted in Fitness Journey, Workouts

Back at the beginning of the summer last year, our gym introduced the Zumba class. I really hadn’t gotten to know many of the people there yet but I decided to try it out. I really enjoy Zumba but then our instructor (who is awesome, by the way) decided to start doing half Zumba and half yoga.

Now let me tell you how I felt about yoga back in June…

I was not even close to being flexible and I’m overweight….and I’m supposed to do these bendy moves?! Um…I don’t think so. I will also say that back in the summer I was dealing with the pre-deployment stress and probably didn’t have the best attitude either. So I kind of just gave up. I made excuses because I really didn’t want to do yoga. I told myself it wasn’t what I needed and I was better off walking the treadmill at home. (Which I did not do.)

Once my husband left, I tried to make more of an effort but it was Fall season and I’m a photographer so there was that. But I did my best to start coming back on Tuesday and Thursdays. THEN January came and ufit started. I was determined to make the most out of it…that meant going Tuesday and Thursday whether I liked it or not.

Two months later and only 1 missed class….I am now thinking maybe…just maybe…it’s not so bad. We don’t always do yoga. Our instructor tries to do at least one of the days with more Zumba than stretching. But I don’t secretly say horrible words in my head during the yoga part anymore. The more weight I lose and the longer I practice, the better at the stretches I get. I really feel like it does benefit me, especially on days where the weights are heavy.

If you’re looking for a mix of Zumba and Yoga, you should come join us! We are a small group, but it’s so much fun! Go check out Pure Fitness on Facebook and see if it might be a good fit for you.

If I can learn to embrace it, you can too!

ps- it’s really not stupid 😉

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