SUCCESSES THIS WEEK: Five days of working out Some wise choices in eating each day (a few poor ones, too) More rest at night I am exhausted. It has been a long, relational week. Coffee. Lunches. People. Pain. This time I am learning to take my stress out at the gym. Not at the fridge.

Isn't it funny how quickly I can fall away from working out, making any excuses at all to not go work out? And for three weeks?! (That was my life April 20-May 12) But after going back and working hard again this past week, I find myself addicted to the feeling after a hard workout. Yesterday was lower body/abs. Upper body always takes me longer and I tend to work harder. Today was upper body and abs, then jumped on the bike for a while afterward. Upped my weights today and took my time. I was -- am -- exhausted, but love, love, love how I feel when I walk from the gym to my car. There is something so wonderful about that feeling that I want to walk back into the gym and do more reps! Throw more weight around. Jump on the elliptical and see how long I can go. This is the feeling I need to remember always. The sensation of being addicted to exercise. That's what I need to remind myself of every single day. Especially at 5 in the morning when it's time to get up. And as I wait on the scale to move.

Great morning workout! Went early with hubby to work lower body at 10 Fitness. Then met a friend at Two Rivers Bridge to walk and talk. We walked at a fairly good pace (avg 14:40/mile). We covered 3.68 miles in 54:13. And we managed to talk, too. I didn't know if I would be able to walk fast after a lower body workout, but it actually helped me focus on my breathing. The best part was after we walked fast and hard, we enjoyed a cup of java (and tea for my friend) at Starbucks. Love their spinach, feta, organic egg white wrap. Can't wait to do it again.

I am struggling to eat well. Why can't I get back on track?! I need a total detox, but instead I keep trying to slowly step back into healthy after 2-3 weeks of eating emotionally after a tragedy within our circle of friends. Hubby is right -- we need to be at a place in our health habits that it doesn't matter what is going on. We continue in the good things that we know and have done and allow those good habits to help carry us through hard times. Now if I can just get back to the healthy eating place........