antiquemom’s BodyBlog

It’s amazing how a little change in your life can change everything about life.  I have taken a step back from the real estate, still have my license hanging but much less time in the office watching the minute hand tick.  I was offered a position as the assistant manager for the local True Value (huge learning curve with the plumbing and electrical) needless to say, I took it. There will always be some stress, thats just life, but now its all manageable. I enjoy the new job so much, once again I am seeing all the people who were customers at our restaurant! I did not realize how much I missed seeing everybody!  The amazing part is, I am always lifting!!! Sometimes it’s just helping one person with 50 lbs of feed, other times it loading 10 bags of 80lb redi mix, 5 gallon buckets of paint or driveway seal. All of this has helped with the weight I gained while sitting in an office, and put me in the mood to get back in the swing here.

I haven’t given up!!! I am learning how to balance being a working Mom, Wife, housekeeper, cook, grounds keeper, pet groomer, ect, ect, ect, into my life.  We are so lucky our daughter is a Freshman and can manage alot of things on her own, I wish I could say that for my Husband Just starting the new career in Real Estate (bad time, but thats life) and am working 9 plus hours a day during the week, most Saturdays I am in the office for at least 5 hours and on call any other time.  It’s been crazy and alot of fun.  The tough part is finding time to exercise in the 4 hours from the time I get home till I hit the hay.  I manage about 1/2 a couple of nights a week with the weights, and try to get a 1/2 to 45 min run in a couple of mornings a week.  The last month and a half have been a little harder, some strange things are happening that the docs can’t figure out. It scared me, so I stopped the running for a while, then I figured I might as well do what I enjoy while I can! It might be nothing, hormones, stress, life, oh well.  I have missed getting to be on here reading the forums and the bodyblogs.  I have to spend sometime getting caught up!

This has been a very fast, a furious summer!  This morning I got up at 6:20 to go for a run, it was raining (no big deal) BUT it was to dark for my normal run, it looks like I will run after work today.  

I don’t  know why, just the fact that the kids are out of school and the weather should be getting warmer just lifts my spirits!!

I haven’t gotten on in a while, well I checked the forums a couple of times in the last month or so, I am rediscovering what life as a working Mom/Wife is like.  We have run our own business for the last 5 years, now I am putting in my time as a  Real Estate Agent.  I knew it was going to be hard to balance things, but not this hard.

The hardest part about working again is being away from my own kitchen.  I have been very spoiled running the Antique Store & even the Restaurant before that, I could eat when ever I needed and there was variety.  I have so much to learn about packing a lunch and snacks.  I am still able to cook good evening meals though, thank goodness.

There is some time in for exercise, mainly running, a couple of days of weights and some walking with my Husband, but nothing compared to before.  I ran my first 1/2 marathon June 8th, it was AWSOME!!! I am so hooked!! I ran it in 2 hrs 18 min. not bad for my first! I was feeling "normal" by the 4th day and ran 2 miles on day 6.  My left calf was fairly tight, I had been stretching, I didn’t start lifting again until after the first run.  The lifting really helped with my muscle recovery, the stretch I get in my calves during squats felt GREAT!  I am still working with my Husband on his weight loss adventure, he is walking and sometimes he even goes into the gym.  He was doing really well, then he hit a plateau, it shot his determination down.  He is getting focused once again, so heres hoping for some more results. 

I have been lurking the forums some, with the occasional post, life is the usual beginning of the year crazy.

For the most I have been eating healthy, keto, doing really well with it.  I am still using the exercise equipment and getting to run more, thank goodness the weather is getting warmer and the days longer.  Everything is going well with loosing the fat, the tape measure is my friend.  I’ll be posting some progress pics in a week or so.

I need to get some progress pictures up, I am seeing a change.  Today I got on that scale and it still remains my friend, down to 173.5!  I am so excited.  I also see the change in my abs, butt, arms, and my pants!!!! I have had to do a little more on the weights and ball training since the weather has been a wintery winter. 

It looks like we are heading for another one of those nasty windy, rainy, could put the power out days.  It sucks!  I can still work out if the power goes out but the weather outside keeps me from doing cardio.  I don’t mind running in the rain, but the wind that’s another story.  I’m working on a Keto diet right now.  It seems to be coming along well. I fell really good, I was very worried about that.  I’ve introduced it into some of my families meals as well, the only problem they have is staying away from the bread, and some of the fruits.  We are having veggies and salad so it’s making up a little for the lack of fruit.  My husband just told me he is willing to start walking with me in the evenings since it’s starting to stay lighter longer, there is hope for him yet.  I am over half way done with my studying for the real estate exam, I am so nervous and excited.

I did 5 miles today, I could have done more but I was getting some bad stomach feelings so I knew it was time to pack it in.  Running a 10 min mile when your just getting over a cold isn’t too bad, I need to get that back down ASAP.  I find myself getting into a groove and staying if I’m not careful.

I have not had a cold in soooo loooong.  Our daughter started Christmas Vacation with one and I didn’t make it through without getting it.  I usually do not get one when the kids come home with them, but this time it caught me.  It hit on the 30th, tired, runny nose, sneezing, coughing.  I medicated all day on the 31st, yesterday I just slept.  My goal today is to head for a trail and run and walk and run and walk.  I know my energy is down, I also know getting out there is going to help tons.  I’ve been drinking lots of water today, yesterday I only drank about 1/3 of normal but I was sleeping.  I’ll see how I feel after the trail and I might do a little ab work.  I’m taking in a little more calories today to fuel my poor body. I’ve upped my vitamins and iron, I can feel a difference in my alertness today.  Boy it sucks being sick.  Tonight my Mom is bring home an oven roasted chicken, we will have some veggies with garlic, a little salad, cottage cheese and everybody but me will eat rolls. I am so looking forward to that chicken though!

I was really worried about getting on the scale today, with Christmas and the cookies and the drinking, I was worried what it would say.  I snuck up on it this morning and was so happy, I actually got on it twice to make sure it was right.  I am down 174.5, It has been 1 1/2 years, maybe a little longer, since I have seen that on the scale.  I have been doing some weights and ball exercises, only running once a week due to crappy weather, and watching what I eat.  I have been having a little nibble here and there so i won’t go nuts with a box of cookies.  The drinking I actually kept down, only a few at the family function on Christmas Eve, and two mamosa on Christmas morning. The big splurge was at the movies Christmas Eve, my daughter and husband and I shared on LARGE popcorn, it was soooooo good and yes there was butter on it.  But I had a water with it, and made sure I drank plenty the rest of the day also.  At the moment New Years Eve we are staying home with our daughter and watching movies and all the parties on TV, playing games and just enjoying a nice quiet evening.