The Truth about Honesty

Under the thumbnail of my picture for this blog I have a quote:

"Even if you sugarcoat shit... it's still shit"

I believe that; with every ounce of my being. 

By nature I'm a truth seeker. I don't believe the paint is wet, I don't believe shit stinks, I don't believe it's raining... these are things I have to find out for myself. Plus a multitude of other less trivial things that occur in my life. 

It's not that I don't trust people - I just need to know I've gotten the full truth so I can validate the statement. I could save myself some time if I believed people at their word.

It's a Lifestyle: 60 Day Check-In

What's up Party People??

J/K! I am just so amped about how great I feel. Plus, I did my measurements this morning and it's all good in the 'hood! 

Woop! Woop!

If you've been following along with my dysfunctional life - you know that I made a few New Year's commitments. Part of the New Year, New Me determination was to lose #50poundsBy50years and I am happy to report that it is March and I am on a great path to achieve that goal.

On January 7th, I began that journey doing the Advocare 24 Day Challenge. I lost 11 pounds in 24 days. Well, today is day 60. I continued to use the Advocare products and I'm happy to report my total weight loss to date is 17 pounds.

Now, that number may not sound like much - so let me explain why.

As part of the New Year, New Me initiative, I also joined a gym. I have yo-yo dieted most of my life and over the years have not just lost weight but a lot of muscle mass as I put my body through different starvation methods to drop some pounds.

So, 17 pounds lost would probably equate to 30 pounds lost if I wasn't building all this lean muscle.

The truth is in the measuring tape. I have lost 33 inches off my body. Notably 6.5" off my waist and 4.25" off my chest. My thighs are losing their saddlebags, sag and old lady dents.

I think what is the most phenomenal change... and I'll have to give you some history before I disclose what I am witnessing...

As yous know, I claim Caucasian on the "what race do you identify with" surveys. I have been afflicted by a genetic deficiency... most specific to white women (although I have seen other races / ethnicities that suffer as well)... 

It is called "NoAssAtAll"....

Yup! I admit it - I have a pretty extensive "back".

No ass; just back.

The conversation generally goes like this:

Me: "Aboy - how does my ass look in these jeans?"
Aboy: "You mean your back?"


Yeah. Like that.

Well, guess what Exercise + Advocare = ???

ASS!!!

I texted this pic to my Cousin Kathy the other day. She didn't believe it was my ass! I had to send her the full picture for her to believe me! Even then - she thought it was a butt pad! 

This is 100+ squats a week. I started off slow, but hard work is paying off! I am lifting and separating - all over my body!

So - now you know why I've only lost 17 pounds! I'm building muscles YO!!

I am not prepared to show you my total before and after pics. I want to get a little closer to my weight loss goal before I do that. 

I have another blog post to follow on how I stay on my meal plan and motivation to work out.

In saying that, I have to wrap up this post because my Line Dancing Class & Zumba Class are starting shortly and I don't want to miss it!

Make it a great one!

New Year, New Me...

2014 will go down as a "ehh" type of year. I had many accomplishments, but there were also some disappointments that I should have had better control of.

2015 is going to be different, by design.

I think it's safe to say through adulthood, I've approached life as a journey. I hold on to lessons and try to get better. I really, truly aspire to be a better person today than I was yesterday - everyday of my life.

I also try to lead by example... I'm not really (and never really have been) a person that preaches "Do as I say, not as I do". It was a lesson I learned from childhood from simple displays of behavior from my parents. They would tell me not to do one thing, but were doing the exact things they instructed me not to do. It sends the wrong message and develops into trust issues and lack of respect.  Trust and respect are very important to me.

So, in saying all that - I am going to embrace 2015.

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It's actually taken me a long time to put my thoughts into this and to get it "on paper"... I've been all over the place in setting my "goals" (not resolutions) for this year. I started thinking about what I wanted for 2015 in November of 2014. I didn't make frivolous or impulsive decisions about what I wanted to happen this year.

I have some standing goals, that most of the time I do achieve. I renew them from year to year.

• Be more mindful of my words and actions
• Read at least 10 books this year (5 personal interest, 5 self-improvement)
• Learn a new skill
• Show appreciation professionally and personally
• Help others (write resumes for unemployed friends and family, donate time, share knowledge, etc...)

These are usually easy to keep, because they are who I am and what makes me get better as a human.

Then I have my variable goals that change from year to year (some samples would be):

• Say no to things I don't want to do (sometimes I really struggle with saying no to people)
• Straighten out some accumulated debt
• Lose weight
• Make healthier food choices

These are usually a little harder to achieve because:
1. They take you out of your comfort zone
2. Circumstances may not always be ideal to achieve them
3. Life happens

For 2015, along with my year to year standing "goals"... this year I've got a lengthy list of little goals that interlock with each other.

1. Manage my time & schedule more effectively. My career is very demanding and at times stressful. Although I work from home - I found in this past year, I was becoming a slave to my desk. I really had very little time or energy to do things for myself that I needed or just enjoyed doing. That will not happen in 2015.

2. Make time for me. This falls right into my first goal. I have committed to not working more than 10 hours in a day. I know there will be exceptions to my 10 hour rule... but for 2015 they will be exception, unlike 2014 where it was the rule.

• I signed up at the YMCA.
• Aboy bought me knitting needles, yarn and a sewing machine for Christmas - I am going to use them.
• I am going to have a bigger garden this year.
• I will be getting chickens.
• I am going to coupon at least once a week.

These things take time and a mental focus. Lucky for me (as yous know) - everything I do is with a passionate motivation... now I will have the time to achieve what I want to do.

3. 50 pounds by 50 years. I have been working on this since I was 47 and next year I will be 50. I have lost a few pounds over the past few years - but my weight has fluctuated up 10 and down 10 since I started that journey. I have come to the realization that I am venturing into middle age. I want to watch my grandkids have grandkids. This year I'm fully committed to losing it.

4. Build physical strength. This fits into #2 and #3 because 3 of the 5 things I have listed in #2 require a level of physical strength to perform the requirements of the tasks. As for the #3 part of it - why would I lose the weight and have flabby skin from the weight loss? It just makes sense to commit to this.

5. Take better care of my husband. So, these are not in any particular order because this would really be #1 on my list, but without achieving #1 through #4, I could not be any good at completing #5. Everyone knows how much we care for each other. As we enjoy the empty nest, I want to make sure as we journey through our golden years together - I make it as memorable and enjoyable as possible.

6. Cook and eat healthier. I am going to expand on my experimental recipes and try to eat a predominately plant-based diet. I love making my own breads and I am determined to accomplish consistent successful brown rice on the stove!

7. Eat out less. Last year I made a commitment that if I were to eat out - that I would eat at family owned establishments more often than corporate driven restaurants. I want to support our local economy and although I may pay a little extra to do so, it's worth it. I believe corporations are vital to our economy because they do provide jobs for many (me included) - but, living and buying local is helping someone that chose to live outside of that box. Most local businesses offer much healthier choices, anyway. It's something I enjoyed and I am going to continue for 2015.

8. Be more social. I work from home. Facebook is my social life. I am a social person. I need to get out more. Right now, the Y has become that outlet. I plan to build on that as I start to accumulate local friendships.

9. Blog more. Everyone has a story. I want to document mine. I am committing to at least 2 blog posts per month (this makes 1!!).

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I've got some other personal goals that I am working on (not for public discussion)... they also fall within and interlock with what I have listed.

2015 is my year; because I said so.

What comes natural

Writing has always been fun for me. Because I enjoy doing it, I’ve earned money, released stress and with a few letter writing campaigns, actually got the attention of a few political leaders and agencies.  So, I guess it’s a gift. Putting words to paper and conveying a point. Not everyone can do it. Some people do better with verbal communication… I prefer to write because I can convey my point concisely and really paint a picture of what I want you to understand. Plus, my verbal communication is often interpreted as blunt. Not that blunt is bad – it’s just some people don’t handle blunt well. So, I write.

Like many of you, my entire life can be broken into 500 word essays and separated into chapters. With my inaugural blog, Trucker in Training I got some great feedback. I think it went over well and I really enjoyed telling my tale as a trucker in training. Since I’ve had to put that chapter of my life on hold (to read the details, go HERE), I didn't want to stop writing - I’ve still got some stories to tell.

I will apologize in advance… because as I tell my story – just like Trucker in Training, I will have to go back and set the table so you can understand what is going on now. I am a complete product of my environment and every event in my life in some way correlates back to something that has previously happened. I promise - most of it is amusing. I can’t make this stuff up! I also want to warn you (again), that I curse a lot and I make up my own words. I use words to describe my thoughts and sometimes you just have to add fuck or shit in with what you’re saying to get the true point across. Fuck it, it is what it is.

You’ll want to subscribe because I could get a motivating period where I post 3 blogs in one day – and then I can sit idle for a bit before I post again. I can write on command (I’ve authored over 50 technical manuals) – but it’s much better when the spirit moves me. I look forward to your feedback as well!

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The name of my blog is (GTF outta) My Way! – life in my nutshell. Credit goes to Donna & Anne J