Still going to the gym 4-5 times a week with hubby. I did miss two whole weeks due to some sickness in early March. Rough to get back in after that. But we are back in the normal routine.

Last week I met with a personal trainer. I can't afford to have a personal trainer on a regular basis, but I took good notes from what he shared and have been working that plan since last Tuesday. I am wearing my muscles out! Upper body 2x/week. Lower body 2x/week. If I go a fifth time in the week, I am doing a full body workout. We do cardio and abs every time we go.

Vince, the personal trainer I met with, shared with me that the paramid to accomplish my health goals goes like this: 10% cardio, 40% strength training, 50% nutrition. We had been going in and focusing on doing an hour of cardio and just sometimes doing weights.

Now we go in and warm up, then do strength training. Then we go back and do some cardio, but for less time. I am seeing some changes in how my clothes fit and I am losing some weight, but it is slow. My muscles ache, but then feel much better when I go back and workout again.

While talking to Wade last week, he told me about Forks Over Knives. So I watched it last week. I was so surprised that Wade was considering a vegan diet! He is a meat and potatoes guy! We are still doing research, but we are trying to make sure half of what is on our plate is fruit/veggies in their most natural state, little meat, whole grain rice (only 2 times a week), lots of water, no sugar.

Let me say that Wade is way more disciplined than I am. We've done well over the past week. This past weekend I was on a youth retreat and because of what was served found myself eating salad three times in a row, but that was okay. I was pleased that I could deny myself. It is the very first youth retreat that I didn't have any junk food - especially chocolate. YEAH! I can't believe it, but I even took chocolate for others and ate NONE!

Tonight we ate at my MIL's house. She makes THE best garlic butter yeast rolls. I would have caved and eaten some except that Wade was beside me and said he wasn't having even a little. He told me the main dish had enough "junk" in it and that we didn't need to eat the bread. So I didn't. I followed his lead. We took only a small bit of the main dish, a large portion of spinach, tomatoes, avocados for salad; and then a veggie salsa made of black beans, onions, corn, peppers, garlic, cilantro. Even though I don't care to ever have corn, it was really yummy! I plan on making this again and again for us. Wade loved it and could take it to work with him.

So the journey continues and I am pleased with what we are doing. I am getting stronger with every new week.

There are so many benefits to what we are doing together - greater health, weight loss, body strength, discipline, etc.

But the greatest benefit of all is building my friendship even more with Wade. He has always been my best friend, but going through the financial struggles and now the health journey has taken us to the next level.

And I am learning that when I get disciplined in one area, it helps me be disciplined in another.

I love that!