This is my dad and his sister Magnhild.  Two peas in a pod they were.  Today I got to talk about my dad a lot and hear lots of fun memories and little anecdotes from his best friends, Kate & Ted.  Since I’m back on the east coast I wanted to take some time to come down to North Carolina to see them.  So, I’m typing this from their house, sitting on the bed my dad slept in when he would visit them.  Being around them is awesome because I absolutely feel like a piece of my dad is with them.  Kate and my dad were both born/raised on the same island off the northern coast of Norway.  Not only were they great friends – but the heritage and cultural similarities make me feel closer to him.  It’s hard to believe he’s been gone since 1997.  I miss him.  So much.

I am so thankful I am here in NC with Kate and Ted and am looking forward to more sharing and smiling tomorrow.  At this moment though…my eyes are filled with tears remembering him and wishing to hear his voice and feel myself wrapped in a bear hug.

I hope you all had a wonderful Super Bowl Sunday and that you spent it with family and friends.  Cherish them and the memories you created.

Hello everyone!  I know.  I’ve not lived up to my part of the bargain when it comes to writing posts!  I have been beyond busy with the business I’ve started, a full time job and life.  Not really an excuse though, because this blog…and you…are a critical part of my support system, keeping me accountable and requiring me to “check-in” on a daily basis.  I’m on the road right now for work, vacation and a conference – on of my goals on this trip is to get back in the swing of things when it comes to my writing!  So…that being said…keep me accountable!

I was back to a great start at the beginning of the year with no sugar, no gluten – I was taking my new supplements for the TLS weight loss plan – but then I started having an allergic reaction to a drug my doctor put me on.  That ended up driving me bonkers with itching and mouth hives ( I know – not fun).  So – they took me off of everything I’d been taking.  That means right now, no supplements either.    I wasn’t doing so good on no carbs though.  Then right at the end of the month – I had a little gluten and sugar.  Yuck.  Could I feel it!  Not worth it.

Now…I just found out this week that a friend of mine is taking me on a cruise she won!  How exciting.  And scary.  That means a swimsuit in one month!  I have got to crack down and exercise up a storm in the next 30 days.   Another reason for me to be back to communicating with all of you.

I hope you are all well and I think you for your patience with me!

Seriously? 

I got so off track!  I had such an amazing first 365 day journey – no cheating on my no sugar, gluten or cheese.  When I started my second round – I got off track.  Part of it for me was choosing the 4HB plan.  Don’t get me wrong – it’s a great plan.  Just not for me.  Having a cheat day once a week was not good for me.  After awhile – I tried to change it up and do Primal…but at that point – I was already “off”.  I was eating some gluten and sugar.  I also looked at what else was missing.  Accountability.  That worked really well for me the first time.  So – I’m bringing it back.

I decided the best thing for me to do was begin a NEW 365 journey effective 12/8/11.  I am 7 days in to that and doing great!  The deal for this 365 – NO GLUTEN, NO REFINED SUGAR and I’m doing the Transitions Lifestyle Weight Loss Program with my coach Jorji Jett.  The plan is low glycemic and incredibly close to the Primal/Paleo lifestyles.  Having a coach gives me an extra accountability and she is being tough!

I’m starting back up with my personal trainer, Shannon Miller.  She’s going to kick my booty.  Which I desperately need!

I just turned 40 and so far it’s  been awesome.  I’m looking forward to my 40′s – they will be my best decade yet.  Best part – I’ll be healthy to enjoy it. 

Ok….I’ve made a promise to be blogging regularly again – so here goes.  It’ll be short, but I’m here.

Good day. Productive day.  Long day.  Plethora of meetings.

Too much work…not enough play.

Ate ok today.  Not great – but ok.  Incorporated a protein shake this morning and that was nice.  Tomorrow it’s off to ClubSport for me for a 5pm TRX session.  Shannon is going to kick my butt!

Hope you are all well, safe and may you have a wonderful week!

Yep.  That’s me.  I’ve been missing.  Missing from the blog.  Missing some of my exercising and healthy eating…but mostly missing from the blog..ok, and Facebook…and Twitter.  I’m sorry.  I know some of you out there find this blog such an inspiration and others read it just to root me on in my endeavor towards health.  I’ve let you down…but on another level I’ve let myself down.  By not blogging – I have negated some of my healthy habits since there hasn’t been as much accountability with you all.  It’s time to reset things.  Feel free in the future if I go missing again – to ask where I am…what’s up…why I’m not posting.

Overall – even though I haven’t been blogging, I’ve still been eating well most of the time.  I had 2 off weeks in there where I made some unhealthy choices – but I paid the price.  With headaches, lethargy and joint pain.  Just a reminder of why I prefer eating healthier.  It’s like fuel in your car – it functions better when you put in the better gasoline, when you don’t clog the lines.  When you feed your body unhealthy stuff – it shows in performance ability.  I LOVE it when I’m consistently eating well – then I have more energy to exercise – which in turn makes me feel even better.

Exercise…ok…there’s another issue.  I have been in the gym much more – but it goes in spurts.  Why?  Because I am not making it a priority, an unconditional part of my week.  I have been so busy with other things – my job, the new company I’ve started, my volunteering, life -  I’ve scheduled my workouts around those things.  When in reality what I need to do is scheduled SET times for getting to the gym and schedule everything else around that.  Not only will it help me with the health goals, but it will help me keep my sanity amongst a busy schedule.   I KNOW this.

I’ve set my schedule on my calendar now.  Tuesday and Thursday at 5PM – I will be taking TRX with Shannon  – my trainer at ClubSport.  It’s an awesome hardcore class that’s just 30 minutes.  Those two will be the un-moveable workouts.  I will also do 2 other workouts during the week – but those I will assess each week with regards to scheduled events/work.

I’ll stay consistent blog friends!  Just had to hit the reset button.

“Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person’s physical, emotional, and mental states.” ~ Carol Welch

My one word.  At the beginning of this year I joined thousands of others who chose “one word” to represent this year.  I chose “MOVE”.  I feel this word applies for me across the board.

For the weight loss – MOVE:  exercise, be active
For my writing – MOVE: my fingers – get typing!
For my life – MOVE: propel forward, act, be proactive in all

Definitions for “move”

to advance or progress

to change from one place or position to another.
to set or keep in motion
to prompt, actuate, or impel to some action

an action toward an objective or goal;