94. Make a travel map

Remember waaaaay back when I put up my list of 101 things to do?  Well we haven't forgotten about it, but we definitely are behind schedule!

However, one thing I wanted to post about was making our travel map.

I've been wanting to make one for years since I saw this post.  However, that map just isn't my style so I kind of put it off.  Until I saw this post.  Pretty much perfect and (I have to admit) I totally copied it.

Without further adieu, here is our map.  We clearly need to travel a little more!

We're only putting pins for trips that we've taken together, so business trips etc won't clutter up the map.  Also, once we have kids we plan on using a different color pin for trips we'll take with the kiddos.

It was a really fun project and I love having it finished and on the wall (finally).  Anyone else made a travel map?

Boston Getaway

I've disappeared again!

Just when life seems mundane and normal, it gets fun!

This weekend was all about fun.  I've mentioned my 'message board friends' on the blog before.  They are a bunch of fabulous ladies that I met while planning our wedding.  There are a lot that I've been fortunate enough to meet and we live close enough to get together every now and then.  But this weekend I was lucky to meet two more awesome friends from Wisconsin and Maryland.

We did a ton of walking, so that was good.  But, we also didn't eat that great.  All in all, the scale wasn't too mean when I got on it so I'm confident I can get back to my schedule soon.

Tonight I'll be doing my exercising as it was impossible to wake up this morning.  After not having to get up early for five days the 6am alarm was just too much.  Luckily, I know I have plenty of time this evening to get a walk in.

The other big thing that's going on is it's Halloween season.  If you know me and my family, you know that's the most important holiday!  My parents go a little crazy with decorating and entertaining, but we really enjoy it.  I'm in the process of working out a costume right now, time is running short!

Anyway, hopefully soon I'll be back to regular blogging!

Where have I been?

Seems I took a little break from blogging.

As a follow up, I did get on the treadmill last Thursday night.  Since then I'm back on my morning routine and things are going great.

In fun news, I've got a girls weekend in Boston coming up this weekend that I'm very excited for.

In the meantime, here's a little something to keep you focused!

Nobody's perfect...

Nobody's perfect, and if they are?  I don't want to meet them.

This morning I was awake from about 3:30-6:00am.  Right around the time I normally get on the treadmill I fell into a deep sleep.  I reset my alarm for 6:30.  But I was still sleeping so amazingly I didn't want to get up.  So I didn't.  I knew that in order to get through the workday today (which is proving to be a struggle) I needed that extra sleep.

I know that one day does not make or break your fitness routine.  But I'm going to get on the treadmill when I get home tonight.  There's nothing stopping me from exercising tonight, so mentally I feel like I need to do it.

This picture reminds me of my economics classes...

So true.  The greater the effort, the greater the results.  I like the visual.

Even when you don't want to...

I won't lie.  I was not planning on working out this morning.

I had a rough night of sleep and at 2am when I was laying in bed awake with sore feet, I convinced myself that I'd just turn off my alarm at 6am and enjoy an extra hour of sleep.

Well, 6am rolled around and I picked up my phone to shut off my alarm.  I got out of bed and was already dressed in exercise clothes before I remembered what I told myself in the middle of the night.

I was thiiiiiis close to getting back in bed, but I didn't.  I figured I'd start walking and see how I felt.  Honestly?  I felt fine.  I wasn't as tired as I thought I would be in the middle of the night.  My feet didn't hurt.  I was fine.  I walked for 30 minutes and was pretty proud of myself for getting up, even when I really didn't want to.

I think that's the biggest factor.  Doing what you know you need to, even when you don't want to.

Lifestyle Change

I'm finding a lot of inspirational quotes on Pinterest that definitely apply to me.  I want to share them to remind myself and to also possibly help and inspire someone else.

Anyone that has ever lost weight on a diet and then gained it back knows that this is true.

In 2004 I lost almost 40 pounds on Weight Watchers.  Sadly, I didn't treat it as a lifestyle change, but a diet.  Once I was happy with my weight, I gained it all (and more) back.

Why did the program stop working for me?  Let me correct that question.  Why did I stop working the program?

I believe that for a lot of people Weight Watchers can be a sustainable lifestyle.  You eat 'real' food as opposed to 'plan' food.  The program teaches healthy living tips and tools.  What you can't do is go back to how you were eating before once you're at a happy weight.

That was my mistake...I went back to my prior ways that made me overweight in the first place.  This is not to say that you can never have that treat again, you can.  In fact, you should...in moderation.

I feel like this time around I'm making the changes that will be sustainable life changes.  I'm not looking for the 'get thin quick' plan.  I know this isn't going to be quick or easy, but with the proper tools and planning it can be forever.

Making motivation be a habit

I really like this saying.  This is what I'm trying to achieve.  Right now I'm operating on motivation.  Motivation to look better.  Motivation to feel better.  Motivation to be stronger.  Motivation to lose weight.  Motivation to wear those smaller jeans taunting me in my closet.

I need this motivation to become a habit.  I'm working on it!