Slow Going

Today being Saturday, I decided to weigh in this morning. Since I normally allow myself a little "cheat" day on Satudays, I figured it might be best to do it this morning instead of waiting until Monday. While doing lots of research, I have found that it is a necessity to have a cheat day... not really to feed my hormones with chocolate and fattening things, but so my body doesn't just shut down. I chose Saturdays to be my cheat days, but I'm sure this will change occasionally with the holidays coming in a few months. These days don't include binge eating, but I do treat myself to a little more than usual and give myself a little break of not being so hard on myself! That was a mouthful. Anyway, back to my weigh in.

I was sooo discouraged when I found my weight hadn't moved ONE BIT since Monday. I was like, how on earth could that be since I worked out almost all 5 days this week and ate so well?!?! I was about to get discouraged about it, when I decided to measure myself based on some measurements I took at the beginning of this whole thing. It boosted my spirits a little to find that I had lost 1/2inch in three different places and more than one inch in another!

It's a slow process, but slow and steady wins the race. I hope that by next weekend I can drop some weight, but we will see.

That's all for now. Hopefully more good news soon!

Success is Sweet

To continue off of my last post, I am going to just share how my first week (last week) went with my new health and fitness challenge. If I wait for a time to go somewhere where there is internet so I can use my laptop to post, it won't happen for a while. It's true. It won't! So please excuse any spelling errors that my phone thinks is correct that really is not... That I don't catch. :)
My first week in the challenge, I found a really awesome app on my phone called: myfitnesspal. It has a database with millions of different foods that you can search so you can find out how many calories is in that particular food. You can also scan barcodes on products! Way cool. I set up my weight and my goal and it gave me a calorie intake plan based on that. You can also add exercise to your "diary" so it adds more calories when that is necessary. It seems awful low, but it has me at 1,200 calories a day. I have even been under that amount, but believe me, I am eating and not starving! Proteins have been essential to keep me fueled, and a good higher calorie breakfast is really important!
I actually feel the best I have in a really long time. Part of that I know is because I am more focused and am seeing results. If you actually counted how many calories you ate before calorie counting, you would be totally shocked. I am completely full from what I am eating now, yet to imagine all the unnecessary calories I was eating before that I really didn't need... It's amazing. And not in a good way!
I'm also exercising. Kick butt exercising. Really. I want so bad to be slim and healthy again that when my legs burn or my lungs hurt, I keep pushing because I want to be better. And when I push myself, the burning stops soon after and I can walk away from that elliptical with a smile on my face! The gym is amazing. I love going with my husband and working beside him when he isn't weight lifting. A little of the stair stepper, a little of the bike, some elliptical, and I am drenched it sweat. It feels good! Mentally it is nice at the end of the day to say I have gotten good exercise. It does wonders for stress and improves your mood if you are having a hard day. Better than taking your stress out on someone you love!
So my first week wasn't drastic, but I dropped 3 pounds! This week I am working out more, so I hope to see more off when I weigh in on Monday. I love having this goal, and I am really driven this time to not quit after two weeks. My family is astounded and my husband is always encouraging.
I would recommend to anyone to start eating better. Whether for weight loss or not, you will feel soo much better. And exercise- I believe that is a huge reason why  I always felt so sluggish all the time.
So, just wanted to share a bit of success and glimmer of hope for a better lifestyle all around! More later. I hope to post some ideas that have been working for me later on once I get a good grasp on this. Goodnight, guys. :)

Beginning A New Challenge

With a lot going on in life, sometimes we just need something else to focus on to take our mind off of things. I am in that boat right now. For a while now I have wanted to get more fit and lose weight, but I have found it hard to do so at home. I think a lot of people feel the same way...
Kyle recently bought a gym membership where I can go with him, so I have decided to really take time to focus on it for the next few months. So many times we have these days where we feel motivated to get in shape, but then it never lasts until we are serious about it. I'm right there and I am ready to go. We already eat pretty healthy - mostly home-cooked meals, fruits, veggies, nothing processed, etc. I am going to try to work really super hard at cutting out all sugars.

My goal is just to keep faithful with going to the gym and getting exercise. I know how much weight I want to lose, but I don't want to set a huge goal and get discouraged that I don't make it.

The most important thing is that I am healthy. I'm excited to see where I can get, and it's also encouraging to be able to go to the gym with my husband. It makes me feel more comfortable and is also like a little date for us! Goals made with someone else is more motivating too.

So why am I blogging this? Well, I want to make sure I don't give up. :) I'm looking forward to being a happier, healthier, more beautiful person.

<3

Busy Bees!

Life has just been rushing right by for Kyle and me. Seems like just recently we were celebrating our anniversary... now it is the middle of July, and summer is halfway over. We have had a lot happening lately, between family, church, and the police hiring process. A lot of times these things happen all at once!

We are always staying busy and finding little time to spend with each other. Kyle is always so busy working double shifts five days a week... last week we hardly saw each other at all. As I said before, everything always seems to happen at once! I was teaching the 1st-3rd graders in VBS and had my hands full with 18-19 kids a day! During that week, Kyle had 2 different tests and meetings in Maine over three different days. Both of which I was not able to go with him to. He also had to pick up extra work for the time he took off, so that not only made for a long week, but a long weekend as well!

But, we managed to survive as always. The weekend before VBS, I found out I had cellulitis. It happened from a bee sting and managed to put me off my feet for quite a while. I was put on antibiotic for ten days and was told to elevate it. Of course that was almost impossible with VBS that very week, but by then the swelling had gone down immensely and I was able to get through the week! I am sooo thankful for that. :)

Good news is: Kyle has passed just about every step for the state police hiring process. Just about. He still is working toward the PT. That is the final step. If he can pass, he will get a call saying whether he has made it or not. And that's it!! He has come a very long way - some people only make it so far, some don't even make it to a meeting with the colonel... I'm so proud of him. He has always said this is his passion and what he wants to do with his life. Ever since I met him, I knew what he wanted to be. I think God will give him the desires of his heart... if not this time, maybe later on. But this time would be NICE. ;)

I am at the point right now where I really want to start packing the house, but I can't until I get the green light! It's a hard position to be in, especially since we can't make plans ahead of time with this process. The academy starts August 13th. Time crunch? I think maybe.

If this all goes through, there will be a lot of change in the Kyle Hansen household, that's for sure...

That's about all the stuff I can think of for now, besides the fact that it is extremely humid and hot right now. Lol! When and if we move to Maine within the next few weeks, we plan to get hooked up with internet FINALLY so I can blog and keep up with people. And post pictures of projects I have been wanting to do for so long!

Until I have more big news,

Polygraph

I forgot to mention that Kyle has a polygraph test scheduled next Wednesday as part of the state police hiring process. Please pray that all goes well as this is probably the least fun part out of it all! We are excited the process is still moving quickly...

Gettin' Outta Town!

We are headed on a trip tomorrow to celebrate our 1 year anniversary ! I have been looking forward to this for quite some time, and it is finally here. Thank goodness for things like Groupon, else we might not have been able to afford something this nice.

In preparation for our time away, I went to get a manicure and a pedicure today from my favorite nail lady, as I call her. :) It was a special treat to myself and really got me relaxed and feeling like I was on vacation already!

Tonight I have packed all our clothes, and tomorrow I will just have a few things left to throw in. Tomorrow morning is sure to be torture since I know I will have a hard time waiting until Kyle is done working. Hehe. I feel like a little kid again. I am beyond excited to get out of town for a couple nights and just have FUN with my husband... No work, no time crunches, no responsibility... Well, you know. It'll be great!

I am planning to post photos of our trip away, so be sure to check back here in a little while! I'll let you know how we liked West Dover, Vermont in my next post. ;)

Until then.

May is almost here! A year ago I was very busy in the preparation for our wedding... it was an exciting time and so very hectic... but I kind of miss it. I have something fun to look forward to in a couple weeks though! I recently purchased a Groupon getaway deal for our 1 year anniversary. I knew it would be important to get away and have some time away from our busy life. Kyle always is working and we hardly have much time to just relax together and have fun. So I have two nights booked at an adorable inn in Southern Vermont. It's not too far away, yet far enough for us to feel like we are "getting away". I'm really excited and can't wait! We'll be going to 11th-13th of May, so I think it will be perfect before all of the summer rush begins.

On top of that, Kyle has been moving right along in the hiring process for the Maine State Police. He has passed the Oral Board, gotten through the background interview, and now is waiting to hear back to see if he passed that. We should hear within the next two weeks, I'm assuming. There are still a few more steps. If he can pass everything, he will most likely be in the police academy by fall... but that is only if it continues to go at a good pace and he can pass everything else. We are praying that this might be "the year" that we have been waiting for. I know that it would be a long and hard year, but it will be good to finally be to the place we have been talking about for years.

 Thanks for reading and keeping up with my blog even though I am not always able to post! Have a lovely day. :)