1/3 less excuses

I have a confession, I partially, finally posted about Train4Change yesterday because Rachel is doing a fun little challenge - 1/3 Less Excuses.

"Each challenge will last for two weeks, and I hope in those two weeks you’ll make those little changes that motivate you in all areas of your life."

The first challenge is Fitness related and you pledge to make 1/3 Less Excuses about skipping a workout or not pushing yourself enough in a workout.

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm seeing changes in my attitudes about working out and how I feel when doing so, but I'm still struggling to get there a consistent basis. This really couldn't come at a better time.

My entry:

Last week I didn't work out because... my feet hurt, I needed more sleep and I was a crabby bitch that didn't want to deal with my problems. The week before it was because I had a headache. In the past month I've chocked my excuses up to the weather good and bad, eating to much and to little and continually absurd, cop out excuses. As you can see I have no lack of excuses...but I'm participating in a triathlon, in 47 days. It's time to get serious. I'm supposed to train five days a week, but I've only been doing three. I pledge to hold myself accountable and only miss for a truly valid reason if one arises.

 I love the idea of tweeting the workout excuse that I would use if it weren't for the challenge. @RachelGettingIt and @Kraftsingles with the hash tag #BetterForYou (+ bonus entries!)

So really, go check out the Rachel's blog and give making 1/3 Less Excuses a try!

train4change

Meet most of my Train4Change Team. 

Train4Change is a group of eleven Delta College women preparing to run a the Seahorse Sprint Triathlon in Climax, MI (between Kzoo and Battle Creek) Memorial Day weekend. It’s a .5 mi swim, 12 mi bike, and 5k run. We have the honor and pleasure of training with Carla Murphy. She is a Delta College Lifelong Wellness Professor and ran the Louisville Ironman Triathlon last August.

We’re making Our Miles Mean More We by training and collecting change for the Delta College MyAlert fund for students in crisis. People can pledge miles or give a straight donation to the Train4Change fund. Many of us were not doing any or much physical activities before training started and have now completed almost or over 100 miles and ran the Bay City St Pat’s 5k. I like to think we’re not only collecting change but changing our lives.

Activity is not my default setting (can you tell, I barely pick my feet up off the ground ;). I always knew that I would need a real motivator to get myself into a workout routine that would last for the rest of my life.  I've tried joining gyms and taking classes, but I fell short on consistency. The last time I ran was at 14 for basketball. That was 11 years ago. So when I overheard there was a group starting to train for a triathlon I knew it was time to take the opportunity right in front of me and start changing my life. Now, I've jogged/walked/meandered a 5k, and in 47 days I'll be participating in a TRIATHLON. 


The team has kept me honest about my motivation, by no means am in the gym every day yet. I am there at least three-four times a week, and I'm learning to understand my goals and motivations more. I'm also learning to appreciate my body. I got on the treadmill last week, and it seemed to know what it was supposed to do - my body, not the treadmill. It still wasn't easy, but it wasn't so hard. 

47 days from now I'll be swimming, biking and running my way through a triathlon. Wow.

reality check: budget

I overspent, not just spent, enough to buy this plane ticket in March:

$571 RT flight from Saginaw to London (MBS-LHR) 

A freaking (pissing!) flight to London from my home airport. And actually, nearly two...That's alarming.

Why is it so hard for me to stick to a budget? I cheated in February and told myself I succeeded because most of what I overspent came out of my savings. In March I put everything in the total spent column until the very end of the month. A portion of what I spent did come out of savings but not nearly that much.

One of my goals for my twenty-fifth year was not to not spend outside of my budget and I'm definitely not succeeding. NOTE: I AM NOT IN DEBT EITHER. I HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN MY SAVINGS TO SPEND AS I DO. It's frustrating when I consider myself a responsible, money conscious person and yet I overspend like this. I'm not saving like I should be considering I own a home and love to travel or that I want a comfortable retirement.

"We hate to break it to you, but your financial priorities aren’t last-minute concert tickets or weekend-long birthday celebrations. They’re a little more serious than that: your priorities are making sure that you have enough money to sustain you in an emergency situation, enough to fund your life in retirement, and enough to finance your dreams." http://www.learnvest.com/pages/article/LV-Top-5-Have-A-Savings-Plan

When I read this it makes so much sense. I know budgeting is important. So this month I'm pledging to make a budget and honestly stick to it. If it's not in the budget I WILL NOT BUY IT. This will decrease my regular spending to a third of what I have been spending. A definite adjustment.

I'm happy to say that when I told Matt about my plan he asked, "What can I do to help." I love that kid, he's such a great guy.

From my twentyfive before twentysix:

"8. make and actively stick to a budget, if it's not in the budget don't buy it, no more retrospective"

and 

9. buy toms

Seriously, that's what follows my be responsible grown up goal. follow a budget. Good, now buy something! sounds about right. so i'm actually going to use this as my goal.

If I stick to my budget, which will include the Tom's, I will purchase a pair at the beginning of May.

  

Classic Canvas

"TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what we're all about. The TOMS mission transforms our customers into benefactors, which allows us to grow a truly sustainable business rather than depending on fundraising for support." http://www.toms.com/our-movement/movement-one-for-one

I'm honestly excited to work towards this goal. Twelve days in and I am over half way to my budget. Money goes faaaast.

This is post 151, I was going to do a big hoopla but since I've been lagging in my posting I'm just saying hey, say hello if you would. I'd love to know who's reading.

omg. unbelievably cute.

http://dirtyprettything.tumblr.com/post/1487247771

"Whenever we go to bed, we hold hands. That way we talk a little, say good night and drift off holding hands. -- Yen, Front Studio and Lunch" via A Cup of Jo. I can't believe I waited this long to follow her blog.

I'm going to have to convince Matt to do this. It won't be that hard. <3

April Goals

There haven't been a lot of blog posts here, I'm missing it but... I feel out of it. I feel very unbalanced. I know that I am not actively working towards my goals for the year, month or 25before26 the way I thought I would. I knew this a month ago - a very long month - when I wrote it out as a goal. I'm frustrated. I've stopped tracking my training, my eats and it's probably why I didn't do FOUR goals for the FOURTH month yet. Gah. I don't want to whine, but I do want to get this frustration off my chest and writing it out seems like a great way.

Update: I started writing this on Friday and today, Monday, I'm feeling much more positive. It was probably the warm weekend and productivity in the yard and good times with loved ones. Whatever the reason, I'll take it. I feel refreshed and ready for this week!

But we're still going to go here... my sources of frustration:


working out sucks up my free time . I'm slow to get into the gym, slow on the treadmill, and slow to get dressed. It takes longer than it seems it should. When I work out once I get home I just want to sit and stare. So when I work 50 feet from the gym and get out of work at 4:30 it seems like I could get home by 6:30 not 7. What am I supposed to do when Green Friday's start and I don't get out until 5:30 not get home till 8?! Boo. Thank goodness for Wellness time.  I thought working out was supposed to give me more energy. I'm not there yet. I do feel the changes, and I need to focus on them.

not keeping my house tidy/lack of organization . When I get home I drop my stuff and sit instead of preparing for tomorrow. My laundry doesn't get completely finished on the weekends. I can't find my workout socks. It's not easy to step into the kitchen and cook. I worry that Matt gets frustrated by it. It's tidier than it has been, but not where I would like it to be.

cooking fewer yummy meals than I'd like. . see above, cluttered kitchen, boo. Also cooking is kind of overwhelming - picking a recipe, having all the ingredients, the time it takes and unsuccessful attempts. If I just take a breath, get the ingredients organized and read through a recipe before I start it's so satisfying!

time on my own . All the time I get to spend with my love is fantastic, don't get me wrong, but I sometimes wonder how much I'm missing the time I spend on my own. It's been about six weeks since our last day apart and I love it, I do. But I wonder if I'd feel more balanced with an evening to myself, one human heartbeat in the house. Matt and I talked about this Sunday, and I feel better getting it off my chest. I didn't want to blindside him with, well I really don't want to see you tonight, and he totally gets it. Thank goodness.

lack of balance . This all comes down to my word of the year, balance. I think I can do it all, if I balance it out - one or two recipes a week, one night alone once a week or every two weeks (or when needed), better time management of workouts and tidying the house each evening. It sounds so simple and this month I hope to consciously work towards these goals.

FOUR GOALS FOR THE FOURTH MONTH

ONE. Actively work to feel more balance, make a daily list of goals and must do's when needed.
TWO. Bringing this forward from March: KEEP IT TIDY/FINISH ORGANIZING/Get my home ready for Matt to move in!
THREE. Make and stick to an official budget.
FOUR. When there's sun, get some freakin' sun!/Get outside when it's over 50. 45? 


And how did I do in March? ONE. KEEP IT TIDY/FINISH ORGANIZING. Mediocre. TWO. MORE SPECIAL DATE NIGHTS. I'd like to think so. THREE. WORK ON/REEVALUATE/PRIORITIZE MY LISTS Not so good, will work on it more this month.


Check out: Elsie's post on finding time to have a life. 

Well this sure is a lot of words for a Monday... so here's a nice reminder.

 

cosmic

I love me some blanks

It feels like it's been weird week and needless to say I'm happy it's the weekend. I need to work on finding some balance...more on that in a later post. Whether we stay home and garden/clean/organize/veg and dance awfully with my family or head to GR and hang with my bestie and her hubs, this weekend is going to be great. And without further ado...

1.   Something that makes me a great friend is, I'll always be there for your and will always try to make you laugh.

2.  I am hungry and excited to eat the leftover curry in the fridge! Oh, and absurdly excited for 70 degree weather on Sunday but so afraid it's going to get away. 

3.  I am not good at staying on task unless it's something meaningless like vegging in front of the tv or filling out these blanks every week.

4.  If I had to describe myself in 3 words, they would be  loving, kind and funny.

5.  Something I'm really cheap about well, Redwood Creek Cab is $9 at Rite Aid I don't spend more than that unless I'm not paying. ;) And I know I love it. I did spend more than that when I bought a wine.com Groupon and I'm so afraid that I won't like them I won't try any of them.

6.  Something I'm willing to splurge on is food, I probably spend the most every month on food.

7.  I would trade my new shoes I've never worn and won't wear until next fall for an actual spring in a heartbeat.

now you.

A day without laughter is a day wasted.

1.   The best prank I ever pulled was well, I'm not a prank puller. I find most pranks obnoxious. I like reading the google April Fool's but that's about the extent of it.

2.  The best prank ever pulled on me was well, I have this memory of my Grandpa Rees playing a prank, but I don't remember what it was. 

3.  A day without  laughter is a day wasted.

4.  The most important things in life are the people you love, no doubt. Oh, and good food.

5.  I dream of owning a B & B/small shop/coffeeshop/wine/martini/beer/whisky bar, loving and laughing every day, having my own little family, and beautiful craftsman house and living life to the fullest.

6.  I dread failing, being lonely, losing, awkward conversations, the smell of diesel exhaust and other awful smells in general.

7.  A discovery I made this week was my body is learning how to run, it's adapting to what I'm doing and it's gotten easier. It's still hard, but it's miserable (sometimes).

now you. 

I'm soooo looking forward to this weekend, lots of fun plans ahead! The Pioneer Woman is doing an AMAZING giveaway and I got to list my plans. I'll share them here too:

tonight is a girl’s night with some friends; there’s garlic mayo and some bad (or fantastic) action movie in my future, then sleeping in (of course), breakfast with my love, mani-pedi for myself, ? shopping with my love to finish his anniversary present (??? hidden in case Matt reads), maybe a trip to visit my friends new addition to her fam, 10 day old Gavin (and her of course!), definitely a sushi date and source code or sucker punch, more sleeping/breakfast/lazin/snugglin/cooking, moving a absurdly heavy bar from my mom’s to my house for the basement, maybe one or two house projects, and all with lots of love and stolen kisses because we’re celebrating our 6month anniversary. such a good weekend ahead. 

Oh, and welcome to APRIL!