Healthier me... take 100

It's like a vicious cycle... eat better, move more, lose weight... then give up.  It's happened more times then I care to think about.  That being said, I've started back at the gym!  I refuse to say I'm dieting.  I think that is just an invitation for me to fail.  I'm exercising more, being a little more careful about what I put in my mouth, and actually enjoying myself doing it!  Maybe that's the key to making this work this time around... HMMM

I suckered (I mean convinced) two friends to join the gym with me.  Misery loves company and all that.... We're having fun, pushing each other to keep going, laughing at our own craziness, and supporting each other if one wants to give up.

We've started going to a Zumba class.. now that was FUN!  I couldn't keep up with the instructor, but we spent so much of the class laughing and dancing that it was so worth it.  If you haven't ever tried it, go find a class NOW!  It is an hour of non-stop jumping, dancing, hip-swaying and sweating!

This most recent journey has only just begun, but maybe I'll start tracking my progress on here... hopefully, I'll have good progress to track!  I'm enjoying life right now... and it just took a little soul searching and being real with myself to get me here!

Til next time...

Help me Save Becka

Hello Fellow Bloggers!

I could use your help! Well, actually, my friend Becka could use your help!  Becka and I went to high school together more years ago then I care to admit... and she's in the fight of her life, literally!

You see, Becka suffers from a rare disease called Devic's Disease.  It is so rare that any treatments available to her are considered experimental, since there aren't enough patients out there for clinical trials.  The problem is that the common practice of medical insurance companies is automatic denial for any experimental procedure or medications.  Becka's treatments run about $10,000 monthly and she's been fighting to get insurance companies to change their policies.  She's been to our State House and presented the bill there... but she doesn't want to stop at the state level... Those living with rare diseases are all over the country, not just our little state.  She's created a petition to bring this to light on a National level.

This petition is listed on the White House website and if we're able to get 5,000 signatures by October 27th, it will be officially reviewed by the powers that be!  That is the goal and is still within reach, with your help!

www.wh.gov/4n0

Please consider going to this site and signing her petition... the only requirements are that you be a US Citizen and at least 13 years of age... so tell your kids, your family, your friends... Feel free to share this info on your spots or any other social media you use.  You have to create an account, which really only takes a few minutes.. but this law (if passed) would help so many across our country.  Who knows, maybe it'll even save the life of yourself or someone you love one day.  Please help!

You can also read her story and follow her progress at www.facebook.com/savebecka

I Promise To Try Harder

A professional blogger, I am not!  I've been pretty bad at it since I started.  Things have been a little crazy and this took a bit of a backseat... not that it was ever actually in the front seat.  The last few months have been riddled with ups and downs... I got sick and tired of the downs, so I decided to suck it up and make things happen.

Trust me, there are still those downers sitting in the corner, just waiting for the perfect moment to trip me as I walk by... but I'm gonna do all I can to make sure they never find that moment!

Let's see... what have I been doing since the last blog...

• Well, I decided that a second job isn't the answer.  I just needed to learn to budget what I have better. This means that I had to find more quick and easy dinner ideas to make at home after working all day, rather than picking something up on the way.  Not hard to do, just had to get it done.
• I've learned that as much as my kids hate me when I say no (which happens more and more often as they get older), they always come back around.
•   Rather than waste away my time sitting around feeling sorry for myself, I've found constructive things to do with that time.  
• I've started speaking my mind more often, rather than biting my tongue, regardless of what others may think. This is huge for me, cuz I've always been one to avoid conflict.
• My whole 'out with the old, in with the new' mindset has extended to my home.  I've been able to declutter more in the last few months then I every thought possible!  It wasn't messy.  I just held onto things that really had no business being held onto.
• I finally, after a couple of years, started back at the gym.  I think this is helping my overall outlook on life more than everything else combined.

So those are my last few months in a nutshell!  Now, if I can only update regularly, we can avoid the cliffs notes version of my life!  LOL

Til next time!