Out with old and in with the new

Dear 2015,

You were not my year.  You did teach me some lessons though, and for that I thank you.  I spent much too much of this year in tears, too much time was wasted on frustration/anger and the sadness that accompanies those feelings.  There were good times too and in the years to come I'll just try to remember those. 

Sincerely...good bye and good riddance.

Dear 2016, 

Be kind to me.  Please help me to find work that is worthwhile and that I feel good about at the end of the day.  Help me to keep in mind that my health should be a priority as I tend to forget when I pass sugary temptations...and can become much too comfy on the couch when I know I should be doing something (anything really).  Find ways for me to be comfortable in my own skin, allow me to be happy with who I am without comparing myself to others (but a good version of myself...the healthy, go getter version if you please).  Lastly (for now) make sure that I take plenty of time for those that I care about so that there is never any doubt about much I love them.  

Thanks in advance!

Cheers to 2016, ready set go. 

& You my dear readers? Anything you'd like to put out here in our little universe?

Becoming an early morning exerciser...step one

I got on a Pinterest kick the other night and took multiple clicks all over the Internet world reading all about how to be motivated to get up early and workout.  Tips and tricks abounded to get up and about first thing in the AM.  

I went ahead and grabbed my gym bag...threw a towel in, considered what else to put in but planned on coming home to take a shower after so nothing else seemed essential. Tossed a gym outfit on top of it and got my shoes laid out.  Next up: alarm.  Set my alarm for 6 am and put it on top of the gym clothes so that I would need to physically get up to turn off the alarm.  I even added a note to the alarm of "Turn on a light" because some articles said that it would wake me up more.  

I went to bed all prepped for my morning workout.  When I woke up it was closer to 9 am...I hadn't actually turned on the alarm.  This was right before Christmas and I had wanted to get the last minute stuff done, so I just up and showered and got on with the day.  My stuff is still sitting there waiting to go.  

I'm going to start my week off fresh tomorrow.  So tomorrow begins my step two: actually going to the gym (early...aiming for 6:15ish).  I felt like maybe I should blog it out, just so I can be accountable.  Wish me luck!   

Step one in review: 

1. Prep your gym stuff the night before (clothes, sports bra, socks, shoes, towel, and anything else you may need)
2. Set your alarm (and turn it ON)
3. Turn on a light when you first get up (supposed to help with like circadian rhythm or some such thing)

just dance

I did not work out in January.  Like, not even a little bit...but that's okay.  I read somewhere that February 7 is the day that the gyms clear out across the country as people give up on their new year resolutions.  So, with that in mind I began my exercising for the year on February 1.  

Now as all those other people are giving up and sliding back in to their sedentary lives, I strike! I started by attending a dance class last Saturday.  I am not by any means coordinated. I sometimes have to pause and think about which is right and which is left (sometimes I feel that it's an embarrassingly long time...but it's probably not...probably).  Anyway, I danced...and it didn't matter if I went left right left or right left right.  It was fun...some ladies worried a little more about whether or not they were getting it right.  The way I see it, if I was going to be a professional dancer (ballet, exotic, what have you) I would have started practicing a while ago.  

Getting out there and moving really did make me feel better though.  I was happier, and it lasted into the next day.  When I woke up a little sore the next day...that felt good too.  It had been so long since I'd done something good for myself like that I'd forgotten what it felt like.  Which is a little sad, but it's okay because it's February and a whole new time to start fresh. 

(Also, if you're in the LA area and want to take some awesome dancey classes may I suggest the Heartbeat House.  I like the Yoga Booty Ballet classes, but they have a lot of variety)

Cheers!