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........

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!

Hubby and I joined a gym a week ago. I lost 4.6 pounds this week alone. My muscles have been so very sore, but it's been a great kind of sore. My seized-up calf muscles made me walk like an old woman for 4 days! Today my chest and tricips are sore.

But I love it!

Little man has been sick this week, so I have not been to the gym since Monday. I hate that, but I am so on a roll, I have worked out everyday here at home. I am loving how I feel, sleeping great, and eating better.

And I love working out with my own personal trainer -- hubby.

My favorite workout partner!

This week has been great getting through "detox" (used loosely) from the holidays. No sugar. No white - bread, pasta, rice, etc. No junk. No beef. Raw slightly cooked veggies. Salmon. Venison. Fruit (a little). Lots and lots of water.

And exercise.

And I already feel so much better! I am totally amazed at how quickly eating great works for me.

One more thing: today my big "why" was solidified for me. I have been thinking a lot lately about NOT putting my kids through caring for me or having to make decisions about my health for me that I can't make. I want to enjoy them and them enjoy me (Lord willing!). So I need to be healthy.

Today I sat in the hospital as my dad had 2 stints put into the front artery of his heart. He has not felt well for a year, but began to be "out of breath" while lying in bed reading. Not good.

So this week he finally went to the doctor. He had cut two loads of wood and could't do very much. He felt it was time to get help.

We were so very thankful that the blockages were in the front where they could stint them. He still has 40% blockage in the artery behind his heart, but they don't do anything until it is 60% blocked.

My mom had 2 stints put in for 3 blockages this past year, as well.

My "family history" doesn't look good, does it?

But I know there is a way to change the direction of my health. I have the knowledge, now I just need to put it into action and be committed to health.

It began this week. It went well. I feel great! Lord, give me strength to continue to make differences in our family lifestyle so that we continue to get healthy. We have made slow changes, but after today, I am strongly encouraged to move a little faster toward the best health possible for me and mine.