End of the Season & A New Me!

The last couple of months have been quite busy with Nikki's softball games and summer activities. Softball ended last weekend and, as busy as we were every weekend, I can honestly say that I will miss the games and the team very much. This was a great group of girls and parents, we all got along well and had fun supporting the team.

There is something else that I've been doing in my personal life and now I feel is the time to mention it. I've been working hard to improve my health with diet and exercise and have managed to lose 38 pounds in the process! I've had a life-long battle with weight and even managed to overcome it for about 10 years of my life. But as I began to age, the pounds began cementing themselves to my body and the result was a much larger me. I finally got to a place where I couldn't stand myself anymore and was so unhappy I decided to just do it. So I embarked on my diet plan and have stayed with it for the last few months. I guess the thing that makes it work for me is that I set a simple goal for myself (i.e. lose 5 pounds), then when I reach it I feel the accomplishment and get refocused on the next goal. Trust me, it's a lot easier to lose 5 pounds than it is to lose 20! I have also become very aware of the number of calories I consume in a day and the number of calories I can eat to lose or maintain my weight. It's been a real learning experience but it's definitely becoming a way of life for me.

Now that softball is over for the time being, I also plan to go to the gym on a regular basis. A few years ago I went 5 days a week and still have the muscle tone in my legs to prove it. I can't wait to begin building the muscles in my body again. It's very hard to describe the feeling I get from cardio and lifting weights but I can compare it to being elevated above all the problems in my life. If anyone knows what I mean and has a better description or explanation, please feel free to let me know.

Please pray for our troops, they really need our support now that the desert heat is upon them. God bless everyone!

P.S. Now that softball is over, I'll have more time for my blog. Be sure and tell your friends to check me out sometime!