Struggle...Life...and such :)

Ok...well it's been awhile huh!?!?!?! :( I've been slacking at this blogging thing...and yet I STILL have people coming up and telling me..."I found your blog, it's so inspiring"...or "I love how honest you are on your blog...it motivates me"...or whatever it may be...so I guess I better NOT stop writing right!?!?! Because somewhere out there...I'm helping SOMEONE!!!!

Anyways...Life...isn't it grand!!! I've been down the last week...we did a yard sale last weekend and it really wore me out...it was good and we got rid of CRAP but I was so tired and worn out. I didn't get to do Zumba like usual...or do my morning walks...so I was REALLY moody and ornery as I would be when I miss my workouts. (Funny how they help me so much mentally) I've struggled with my thoughts...outlook on myself...my motivation...and so much more...

 I'm putting these random pictures/quotes in here...because I found them on a facebook page of a VERY successful Beachbody coach...and she looks AMAZING and has done SO good for herself health wise...I'd LOVE to reach those goals...so these things help motivate me!!! 

 The last while I've struggled with what others think...I was doing SO good at NOT caring...at NOT wanting to please everyone else...and then BAM...it just hits me again and all of a sudden that matters!?!?! I don't know what the deal is...but I need to pull my head out again. I DO matter...I DO come first...and I CAN change for the better. I always want to include everyone and not have others feel left out...and sometimes I just CAN'T...and that's ok...but I'm not realizing that as much.

Then there are other issues...family...friends...family...and more!!! I just want to help...I just want to be there...I just want to "fix" things to make them better and make them go away for others...and I CAN'T...last night I was down and upset...and Ryan asked what was the matter...I was talking to him and he looked at me and said..."Becki, is it something you have control over?"....NO DANG IT...I don't...but I wish I did...I wish I could. I wish people would just be happy...I wish people would just get along...I wish people could just get over things and move forward instead of dwelling on the past...it's so hard for me to sit back and watch...but really...I don't have any control over it...so it is what it is.

I just keep reminding myself I have an AMAZING hubby...3 healthy, BEAUTIFUL children...a roof over my head...clothes to wear...food to eat...and I should be MORE grateful for what i DO have. Not what I don't or what others have that I can't...life is hard...but it's hard for all of us...we all have our own issues and trials, and none of us really know what the other is going through. So for now...I will keep my chin up...I will continue to push through...I will be happy with what I have...and I will continue with my goals.

I LOVE this last picture...it's awesome!!! I need to get back to being so dedicated and proud of what I'm doing...I have gotten out every morning this week to walk/run my normal track...I went to Zumba last night AND did the weight room...and I RAN more this morning then I have in the last week...I am feeling GREAT today...(sore yes...but GREAT)!!! I am also teaching Zumba tonight for our Young Women at church...so that'll be fun!!! Anyways...I'm still here...I'm still pushing through...each day is a new adventure and start for me at times...but I will NOT give up...I will NOT stop...I will succeed and do what I set out to do!!!

Falling off...and getting back on...AGAIN :)

Ok friends...it's been a LONG time since I've posted...and I can feel it :( I've kinda fallen off the "ambitious" band-wagon...and gotten distracted with life, nice weather, craziness, and ok...just LIFE!!! 

This cartoon made me laugh...

 

I've been trying to figure things out in my head and life again...trying to get the motivation back...the excitement back...and the desire to KEEP GOING back. I've gotten kinda "bored" I guess with Slim in 6...and pretty much just gave up and quit. I finished my goals and program...but then I just stopped. I've been walking/jogging...doing Zumba...and going to the weight room at the Rec Center still...BUT I haven't been consistent daily...and doing what I KNOW works. :( 

I talked to some people at the Rec center and friends who work out also...and honestly got discouraged in a way when they told me again and again that weight loss is 80% DIET...and the rest is exercise and genetics or whatever...

EIGHTY PERCENT....80%....that is what it takes...DIET DIET DIET...EATING EATING EATING...NUTRITION NUTRITION NUTRITION...the biggest struggle I have. I have definitely done BETTER then I would in the past...BUT...I'm not doing as great as I should. 

 

I like to eat...I like my food...and I'm so into the "habits" and "normals" of what my family eats...that I can't seem to stick to something different. I'm just not being STRONG enough...because there are plenty of good options and choices to make...but I just still struggle. I got sick of making 2 meals for my family...one for Ryan/I...and one for the kids....or I got sick of the kids eating noodles or cereal or noodles or cereal EVERY NIGHT...how healthy is that for them!?!?!? So I gave up...I quit AGAIN. :(

Now I've kinda changed my mind set...my sister told me about how a website she found told her that she could lose 70 lbs in a year by just cutting back on her caloric intake...she works a desk job and would do very little exercise...but JUST her diet and eating could help her drop those pounds...

SO...I've got this plan...my body is SORE and TIRED...muscles are screaming at me at times...I like that soreness at times...but it's still hard and hurts...SO...I'm not going to be SO gung-ho and crazy on exercise...but I'm really going to focus on FOOD and my nutrition...I NEED to get that under control. I get bored with blah, bland choices...so any suggestions or recipes would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!

Here we go....AGAIN!!!

Missed workout blues...

Yesterday was a CRAPPY day...woke up grumpy...kids weren't listening...didn't want to go on a walk with me...whining, arguing, bouncing around the house...I was a bit of a BEAST!!! 
I had been sending Ryan some texts and telling him his kids may not make it til the end of the day...and maybe he should consider taking a half day...not thinking he would actually do it...he sent me one back saying..."I'm getting off at 1...be ready to go run or workout or whatever"...Not believing him...or thinking he'd only be home for lunch...I didn't think much of it. 
THEN...he did come home...and for the DAY!!! He sent me on my way to workout and exercise so that I could "CHEER UP" and "GET HAPPY"...he knows that when I miss my workouts or don't get them in...that it takes a toll on my body, mind, and happiness!!!
So I headed over to the hospital track for my walk/jog...yeah right just my WALK...it was sunny and 80 degrees out...I knew I didn't want to be inside...so I started my fast walk...I had my music going...my mind was emptying out the stress and thoughts...and I just had ME time...it was great!!!
I got about half-way around this track (which is 1.5 miles) and decided I'd try running...so I started...giving myself little goals in my head to make it to...first the corner...then the stop light...then the end of the road...then the van...then the corner of the fence...then the end of the soccer fields...then just past the old couple walking together...then to catch up to the other elderly man...by that point I was almost to where I started running...and I just told myself..."there's no point in stopping now...just make it a whole lap"...so I did!!! I, Becki Jones, ran a WHOLE lap around the hospital...yes...1.5 miles...I DID IT!!! ME...who knew!?!?! I finished walking the remainder of it to the van to cool down...but in all...I walked a whole lap AND ran a whole lap...it was AWESOME!!!!!

I CAN do it...I AM worth it...and I WILL push through to succeed!!! I was rejuvenated...happier...stronger...and more grateful for all that I have in my life...an amazing husband...3 healthy, happy, beautiful, not-always-listening-kids...all those who LOVE me and ACCEPT me for who I am...and nothing more!!! I am truly blessed...and truly grateful!!!

When you're feeling down...feeling in the dumps...GET UP...GET OUT...and MOVE...it seriously helps...I know from experience!!!

New shirt...

Well I got this new shirt...and when I filled out the stuff to enter the contest on the Team Beachbody website...(I shared my story and success...trying to win...but I didn't...at least I haven't heard anything back?!?!?!)...I put in that my shirt size was L because I'm getting smaller!!!
Well then this package came and it was my new shirt....yes...a "Slim in 6" shirt!!! Cool huh!!! Except I opened it and it was looking AWFULLY SMALL :( So I just threw it in the pile and thought I'd have to work harder to fit into it still...(must be juniors L????) 
Then Saturday came and I saw it sitting there...I thought...NO I am going to put this on...I'm going to brag about how "SLIM" I've gotten and I'm going to wear it with pride!!! So I did!!! For some of the morning I had a zip-up hoodie on cuz it was cold out...but then I got hot, so I had to take it off...still hesitant and nervous...I debated...but then I just wore my t-shirt...with pride!!!
Here it is...I had to brag and post, because I was proud of myself...

I couldn't have worn this shirt in December...or January...or even February...BUT I'm ok with wearing it now!!! Yes my chest is still on the "large" side...but those are shrinking as well...and I'm able to wear clothes I never thought I would....

So there you go...if I can do it...so can YOU!!! Check out Slim in 6 and get to it!!! It's a GREAT program...GREAT workout...and you LOSE the inches you want while getting slim and trim!!! 
 

And now I have something to show off and "advertise" for Beachbody...and Eric!!!! Cool huh!!!!

Recommit...or uhhhh....I WILL CONTINUE...

So uhhhh...it's been a couple week...and I've been a SLACKER. I mean not completely...BUT...I haven't done as good as I KNOW I should. It's been SO SO SO nice out a lot lately...so I just tell myself..."ok so the walks I did this morning....the gardening I'm doing...the playing with my kids...ALL that will make up for NOT doing my Slim in 6"....SO SO SO NOT the case :( 

I have been going to Zumba Tuesday/Thursday nights...even a couple early mornings in there too...and then after Zumba...a few of us go to the weight room and lift for 30-45 minutes...BUT...I have NOT been keeping up on my Slim in 6 like I wanted to...or like I SHOULD be. :( 

Also...I had my birthday last weekend...and family was in town the week before...and let's just be honest...my eating has REALLY REALLY REALLY slacked...I haven't been doing what I KNOW I should be...and I've been making excuses...

It's terrible, because I see my "old" self in there...and I DON'T like it...I do NOT want to go back to that...and even though Ryan and I talk about it...it's still not changing completely. I'm doing great with my portion sizes...my meal times...but not always so great with my meal CHOICES...or my "GOOD" calories. So...there...I said it...I posted it...I explained it. 

My clothes still fit ok...I can tell I'm not doing TERRIBLE...but yet I'm letting myself down. Regardless of what the excuses...(family, stress, kids, no money, time, WHATEVER...) it doesn't matter...the point is I'm just NOT making it a priority like I did for so many weeks a couple months ago.

Time to hunker down and GET BACK TO IT!!!! I went and spent my birthday money on two CUTE dresses...long, flow-y, somewhat form fitting dresses...ones I could NEVER do or pull off before because I was self-conscious about the "extra rolls" or "muffin tops"...BUT now I feel confident...I feel ok with myself...and although I don't like it COMPLETELY yet...I'm content with it and KNOW I'm working on it and making the changes to reach my goals!!!!

Kinda-sorta like these dresses...but not really...but you get the point!!! They are this style...but not these patterns....

SOOOOOO....now that I have these dresses...they will NOT be ones that I just put on the hanger and leave in the closet...they are MY dresses...MY prizes...MY birthday money well spent...I WILL fit in them good...and I will wear them proudly!!!! You just wait!!! :) :) :) :)

AND....my amazing hubby got me a FABULOUS birthday present and I feel healthy, full and HAPPY having it in my diet again!!!! :) I WILL do this!!!

People....Good, Bad, AND the Ugly...

There are SO many different people in our lives aren't there...this week for me has been FILLED with quite the array of people...the happy, the sad, the good, the kind, the rude, the selfish, the "I'm better then everyone", the angry, the inconsiderate, the ones who continue to bless your life, the "I'll help in ANY way I can", and on and on and on....there are LOTS of people out there...


With all I've opened myself up to...with all I've put out on the line (or online)...with as honest and open as I've been...I'm REALLY surprised with how people are and how they act. I don't know what it is...but I've gotten a whole lot of reactions or responses or comments or whatever. Some of them I have to choose to ignore and move on...and others I just relish and read over and over again to realize that there REALLY are genuinely KIND people out there!!! 


It's hard to find in this world isn't it...people who only want to help...only want to say positive things...only want to lift people up. Instead we find...(and I'm just as guilty of it)...people who are constantly negative...criticizing themselves and others...complaining about anything and everything...trying to make others look worse to lift themselves maybe!?!?!?! I don't know...but I've been thinking about it a lot the last few days...just about the people I have around me. 

And I'm FINALLY starting to realize that I need to be done with some and move on. I need to surround myself with people who lift me up...who are really there to help...who genuinely CARE about me and how I'm doing. 

I don't need the ones who make smart @$$ comments about me or my family or what I may or may not be doing.
I don't need the ones who just by their looks or expressions can show that they really don't care and don't want to hear anything about how I'm REALLY doing.
I don't need the ones who aren't honest with me, or themselves for that matter, because what good does lying do??


I NEED to surround myself with happy, positive, GOOD people who will lift my spirits when I'm having a bad day...who will make me smile when I don't feel like doing it on my own. I need people who love me for who I am and nothing more. 

People who I know I can count on even when I can't see them...like that saying says...friends and people who will talk or help whenever I need it!!!


I just need to think a little more...I am VERY much a people person...but when the people I am around make me angry or bring me down...that's not a good quality to have...I need to surround myself with people who make me the HAPPY BECKI!!!! Is that too much to ask!?!?!

I am honestly SO SO SO incredibly grateful for all the amazing comments that were left on my last post...not all of them were on this blog...but rather on the link I put on facebook...BUT if I could share them all on here I would...they seriously made me cry to realize how much people really DO care about me. THOSE are the people I need to keep around me...THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for all of you...and to the others...buh-bye ;)

Results....but NOT stopping... :)

Well...I haven't blogged in a LONG time :( Things have gotten crazy at home...family was sick for a week...and I've been slacking on this whole diet thing. I do GREAT on the workouts...and always get those in...(at least try)...but the eating part has been REAL hard, because of all that's been going on. I just haven't made it a priority...and I'm paying for it :(

Anyways...I've REALLY debated about posting these pictures, because let's be honest...the starting ones are DISGUSTING...makes me sick really to look at them!!! But for the first time yesterday I put the "before" picture and the "NOW" picture side by side...and I FINALLY realized how much this really HAS worked!!! I knew my clothes were fitting better...and that I had to get new jeans to FIT!!! I knew I was happier and feeling better...but honestly...I wasn't noticing a lot of changes in myself...well my body. I still have my gut that I HATE...and I still have things to work on...BUT this showed me that it IS working!!! I've toned...I've gotten happier...I've started a journey...and I WILL NOT STOP. 

SOOOO....here goes nothing...take a look at how far I've come...people would comment and tell me I look "GREAT"..."You're really getting skinny"...and on and on...but I didn't believe them...I brushed it off...but WOW!!! I really am...so THANK YOU for all those sweet comments...THANK YOU for pushing me and complimenting me!!! 

 

Look how UNHAPPY I look on Jan. 12, 2012...and then how PROUD and HAPPY I am on Mar. 12, 2012!!!! I like the new Becki!!! :) :) :)

So the results and where I'm at now...

Weight starting...196.7

Weight NOW...187.3

Down 9.4 lbs AND 16 3/4 inches!!!! 

I've lost 4 1/2 in. on my waist and 4 1/4 in. on my chest...how can I NOT be proud of that!?!?! Plus more throughout my body... 

Anyways...it CAN be done...I DID it...and I WILL keep going!!! Gotta get my eating/nutrition in order...and I'll be headed down the right road AGAIN!!!!