Advice For the Newbie

One of the top resolutions people make heading into the new year is to get healthier, lose weight, start a work out routine.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/12/27/new-year-resolutions-2014-canada_n_4507431.html?utm_hp_ref=canada-business

As a former New Years resolution-er myself looking to make the change and get in shape (circa 2003) I feel I am in a position to share some advice with those looking to go the journey through joining the gym route.

I first joined the gym as 2003 rolled in.
It wasn't always an easy road. I had many ups but mostly downs at the beginning. I was also just heading into another new roll of becoming single Mom.
I did stick with it, though it wasn't easy. The gym is a very intimidating place for the new. Your not going to be met with open arms and helpful veterans of the gym. Your dedication will be tested and your passion to succeed will be pushed to its limits.

My best advice for those going in fresh is quality over quantity.
Start small, start light. Your first goal from the get go should be 21.
21 is how many days it takes to form a new habit. We are all creatures of habit. We are so stuck in our ways that committing to such a huge step that is outside of our ordinary routines will open up our vulnerability causing us to take any out or make any excuse to postpone that comes along.

Go to the gym at the time that suits you best, I'll tell you that between 5pm and 7pm is a nightmare with Monday to Wednesday being the worst.
Try to go at off times in the beginning if you can. Friday nights and Saturday and Sunday mornings are my favorites. I promise you will find more patients and less stressed out beef necks at these times.
When you first go I highly recommend asking for a tour, it's free, take a walk around with one of the staff, get to know the place before you start. This way your not wondering around like a doe in headlights.

Seriously, talk to a trainer even if its just for one session. Your goals and fitness levels are not going to be the same as your cousin Sally so don't think just 'working in' with someone will be OK. You risk getting hurt and even frustrating yourself self right out the door because you feel you can't keep up with Sally.

Get your brain programed to the fact that the changes will come in time. Not in a week or even a month. Just keep moving, no matter how small the movement, form the habit and build from there.
You have a 21 day goal. That doesn't mean go 3 times in 21 days....it means go 21 times as often as you can until you find the times and locations that work for you
 Join a beginner class of anything for just once a week. You will be surrounded by other like minded individuals where you will feed off of each others excitement for the changes your making. This will help hold you accountable.

The hardest part is getting there, just go. By the time you finish your session and walk out the door you will be so thankful you did. Trust me.
If you are looking for the energy to get to the gym you will find it surprisingly at the gym. every time you go it gets stronger.

Most of life is routine - dull and grubby, but routine is the momentum that keeps a man going. If you wait for inspiration you'll be standing on the corner after the parade is a mile down the street.
 Ben Nicholas 

And for those making a go of it at home on your own. It's the same deal. Try not to set your goals so high at first. Jillian Michael's is tough. I have heard of 5 different people starting with the 30 day Shred recently. This is hard for anyone.
I suggest using her video, or others like hers, as a part of your weekly routine. Once or twice a week would be perfect. To know your going to start making changes and thinking this is what you have to do to get there will only be setting yourself up for defeat. That type of intensity is hard to keep up for even the seasoned.
Try not to beat yourself up to much. Start in first gear, because starting in third will only cause you to stall.

You've got this right? You want it. No excuses.

Who Will Care?

I really enjoyed Blogging way back when.   I loved trying to be witty, even funny at times. I'm not so sure I always pulled it off but there was just something about writing.
  I loved the feedback and the banter some blog posts could create. So what happened? What suddenly changed?
  My job changed.... drastically changed in the last year, the last TWO years really.  It's been quite a journey I can say that for sure. I think I'm pretty settled into a job position I can handle now that challenges me physically but not as socially as I need.
 It's interesting where life's turns take us.
Our home has changed, also quite drastically and quickly, we went from a calm, beautiful stroll in Canmore one spring weekend day to selling our house in three months and finding ourselves homeless by choice. Thanks to my very patient and generous in-laws we were tucked snugly into a make shift basement suite in their home for the time it took for our new home to be built. It was quite the trying time on me with the new living situation breaking up our comfortable arrangement for the kids between our house and their Dad's. This transition was tough on us all, some more then others. We came through it all a little bit changed and a little bit wiser. Some a little more independent.

 I want to try something different now. I want to incorporate my need to blog about useless shit and my desire to take pictures of equally useless shit (unless its pictures of my kids, family or friends of course, love you :) into one tidy package.

So here today I am starting a photo blog. Sometimes it will have words included, thoughts of my daily adventures and misadventures. Mostly just pictures and most likely pictures just from my iPhone because I know me pretty well and I know how I dislike wasting time in front of a computer.

The title of this blog post is 'who will care'. I titled this post as such because these are the words that popped directly into my head when I decided to blog again and post pictures of my daily happenings. The answer is, I will care. I want this.

I predict you will be seeing a lot of pictures from work. I am the shipper/receiver at a heavy duty industrial shop. I deal mostly with engine parts and oil and gas industrial items. It's dirty and physical and I love it....my other job is associate photographer and support to Michel over at Ampersand Grey. http://www.ampersandgrey.com   That's a super fun job, between the two jobs sometimes during peek wedding season I am quite busy and on the go. I am hoping this summer I can slow down a bit and get some hiking in. Shipping/receiving will take the hit.

Also in this coming 2014 year we are focusing on moving into this house of ours. I mean REALLY moving in. Hang some pictures on the walls, put up some selves, cozy it up a notch. We were so excited just to get back into our own space and get our little family back together that we just plopped down some furniture and that was it. Now we make this house our home. Our biggest project coming up this year will be creating a back yard out of a postage stamp and a pile of dirt. Thank God for my talented husband and his visions. I truly believe I was put on this earth as a support system. That is my lot in this life. Support the talent and help them grow.

My picture for Jan 1st 2014....a stack of pallets from work.  :)  I am looking forward to this!

                            

Happy 2014 Everyone!

I miss blogging

It's coming back...that old blogging feeling...if only I could figure out why my laptop is not letting me post pictures here it would make life soooo much easier.

Life has been, busy, for lack of a more descriptive term. Its too overwhelming to do a catch up so instead I will look forward and do a ~whats happening now~.....NOW.

Well, right now I am off to do what I have been doing most these evenings, a kid pick up, drop off, transfer. It's good they are so involved and busy right? just say right and make me feel better for 5 minutes. Its good to give your kids opportunity to do and be involved, but some times...sometimes there is something to be said for being bored.

Until next time (soon-ish)

D

The Wedding

One week ago yesterday we had the pleasure and the honor to be in Winnipeg to see my beautiful cousin get married.

Becky & Tom are high school sweethearts and July 2nd 2011 they sealed the deal.
And what a wedding it was! Candy and dancing, wine and great food. Lights, decorations, family, friends and perfect weather. It was a perfect wedding.
Look how happy they are......awe....so sweet.

Did I mention there were bubbles?!

The signage was amazing. The handmade flower decorations and streamers were obviously made with a lot of love, care and attention.
Check out these photos of the bride and groom. There were photos of the two of them together throughout their early relationship as well as individuals of each of them as children....Loved this!My favorite photo was of Becky & Tom (to the right of the photo) and Kim & Nick (to the left) at Kim & Nick's wedding three years earlier who also happen to be the brother AND the sister of the bride and groom of the day....awesome.

Bravo to the main brains and creative of the whole affair for a job well done. Becky and Tom are truly blessed.

Congratulations Becky & Tom. Wishing you a world of happiness.

A special Thank You to my super talented friend Michel over at the new and fabulous Ampersandgrey.com for helping take some of my simple photos and making them look damn good.

Mambo #5, the way is was meant to be interpreted

Who is this darn cute little tap dancer making his on stage debut? Why it's Nathan Morris of course. Be watching for him on any dance show in the future... :)

i hope you can see it



*proud* Mommy moment.

ouch!

Tayler went and got herself some face jewelry.


I hear it's called a Monroe.

She had our permission, she didn't sneak. Her lip is a bit swollen today but she seems proud as punch with it. Where did that saying come from? proud as punch. funny.

riding my bike

This is day two of riding my bike to my new job.

What a feeling of freedom, happiness and independence.

I realized yesterday thou that I had better hone up on my hand signals. I couldn't remember how to signal left so instead I pulled off to the side and got off my bike to cross the busy street. Silly.

And really, I think it may even be faster for me to get to work on my bicycle than by car with all the waiting on lights and school zones and such in the vehicle, I really don't have any of that on my biking way there. Bonus.

I like this.