An Experiment in Personal Growth

As proud as I was to lose my twins baby weight, I must admit I have put 10 pounds back on this year.  Add to that, my stomach  muscles are in rare form (diastasis recti) and there are other areas of my body needing a lift, tuck, and tone!  A cheap and accessible fix is running and I've lost weight before running.  Its a great idea, except I HATE to run... or exercise.... or sweat.  I decided I was going to do it anyways.  Will power in many areas isn't my strength so this was going to be an all around experiment in personal growth!

A failed start about two months ago due to some foot issues brought me back to a point of decision to begin again the last week of September.  I searched for some new runner tips online about breathing, body positioning, and how to start a running program.  For someone like me who is out of shape and doesn't like to run, I found a program that has been very doable.  I am currently in week three of the training program and am proud of what I've accomplished and the dedication I've had to my new project.

Most days I'm pushing my two year old twin boys in a stroller but really enjoy time to myself on the off day. Here is the training schedule I'm using and run at least 5 days a week.  (I can't remember where I found the information, nor can I find it again.)  I use my cell phone to time the intervals.

Walk 5 minutes to warm up.
Week 1:  Run 1 minute, walk 5 minutes, 5 times for a total of 30 minutes
Week 2:  Run 2 minute, walk 4 minutes, 5 times for a total of 30 minutes
Week 3:  Run 3 minute, walk 3 minutes, 5 times for a total of 30 minutes
Week 4:  Run 4 minute, walk 2 minutes, 5 times for a total of 30 minutes
Week 5:  Run 5 minute, walk 1 minutes, 5 times for a total of 30 minutes
Week 6:  Run for 30 minutes

There were many reasons I hated running, even as a kid.  I was so out of shape that it was uncomfortable, shortness of breath due to being out of shape, asthma, side stitches, muscle cramping, etc....  I looked up information on breathing techniques to help with the shortness of breath.  Proper hydration and stretching can help prevent muscle cramping along with not running on a full stomach.  You can find a lot of great tips in this article plus more on their website.

Women's Health Magazine web article  "101 Greatest Running Tips"

In my first three weeks of running I lost 5 pounds on the scale and my clothes are fitting better, I'm gaining muscle, and I can physically see the toning results.  As great as those are, I must say there are several more affecting other areas of my life.  I normally run in the morning shortly after breakfast and find that is a great way to start my day.  The physical activity and fresh air get me moving and working right away and I find myself getting more accomplished each day.  Running has been a great stress reliever and also gets my children out for some fresh air too.

Even in these early stages, I'm already learning to enjoy running even though it is challenging and pushing me past my exercise comfort zone.  Seeing myself attain each small goal towards my ultimate goal is encouraging and rewarding.  I never thought I'd see myself as a runner and now once I reach my running 30 minute straight goal, I'll set a new one- like a 5k!  These achievements, in an area that previously seemed impossible, are raising my confidence.  Now I'm striving for goals in other areas of my life that always seemed too lofty- like in business.  Crazy how one small change can be a catalyst towards improving my whole day, my outlook, and other personal goals.

If I can do it, so can you!

-Melissa

Making Mistakes

The fact that I continually make the same mistakes has been really frustrating me.  Last week I posted "A New Day," where I listed some great quotes about failing and not focusing on those failures from Gary Chapman's book The 5 Love Languages.  Wow!  I needed to "hear" that!  While I shouldn't dwell on past mistakes, I do think they can be the catalyst for change!

I've been reading more books to grow professionally and personally.  I ordered several new ones and am anxiously awaiting my Amazon order.  Meanwhile, John Maxwell's book Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success has been sitting collecting dust, unopened.  So, today I decided this will be my next read.  I've been so aggravated with myself regarding some customer service situations, procrastinating on business to dos, and not keeping myself as organized as I'd like.  Often, I seem to be making the same mistakes over and over.  Alas, I am human; therefore, I must remember I am not perfect.  But I still need to learn from my mistakes and make the necessary changes to improve.

Some people may resolve to think flaws are their inherent nature and give up.  I have decided, and keep deciding to decide, that I want to improve and work to change some of my "problem areas". 

I've never claimed to be perfect- ok, maybe jokingly to a select few!  With my blog, I strive to impart information to help others find success but I'm walking the same journey.  (See my "Who Am I" page.)  You must admit, there is a sense of relief knowing we are not alone in our struggles.  This is why I feel a support system is so critical!  Learning how others solve our same issues, finding tips for success, and sharing strategies will help us keep our motivation!

What are some areas in your personal and professional life that you would like to work on?  I'd like to hear from you, please leave a comment.
-Melissa


(So as I work on editing this before posting, I receive a relevant devotion in my email.  Click here for the link to view this Purpose Driven Connection Daily Hope.)

Do-It-Yourself Photo, Website & Blog Resources

When starting this blog, my expense budget was $0!!!  I wanted it to look clean and professional but with no experience and only basic computer skills, I needed some help to figure things out.  Trial and error definitely is a learning strategy but I didn't want to spend a ton of time making mistakes.  A blog I follow had a New Years post about creating a new look for her blog. By following her tips, tutorials, and using links from this post, I edited the photos and made the header on this page.  I created a "button" and am working on building a code that people can use to add my button to their page.  You will find her posts and links helpful to:

• Edit personal photos to make them look more professional.
• Update your blog by changing the look or adding new features.
• Update your website using ideas from these sites.  Create a "button" or ad that people can add to their page to link their readers directly to yours.

Here is the link for the Samster Mommy blog I'm referring to.  Natasha's post was amazingly helpful and gives you a list of resources she used!
http://samstermommy.blogspot.com/2011/01/happy-new-blog.html


Two of the best blogs Natasha refers to are Sneaky Momma Blog Design  and Beautiful Blog Designs.  Sneaky Momma has a list of her tutorials on the right sidebar.  Click on Beautiful Blog Designs and you are taken directly to a list of her tutorials.  I refer to these sites often when updating my blog or looking for a new feature!
Picnik is a fabulous site that I discovered last fall.  I LOVE this site! You can upload and edit photos for free.  The Samster Mommy blog has a link for a tutorial on how to use some of the free and advanced editing options on the Picnik site.  I was really excited when I saw information on Picnik in this blog!

Give your blogs and websites more pizazz for free!  If you don't have one, maybe now that you know how easy it is, you can start one!  Enjoy!

-Melissa