New Years Resolutions???

I really am sharing this photo.
I really am.
This is a photo that was taken on December 5, 2013. Why you might ask was I trying to sausage myself into my wedding dress this past Christmas season?
The answer, it was for the 3rd annual ladies Christmas party where of course there is always a theme! We partied like it was 1980 at the first one. At the second we wore our pajamas( by far the most favorite by all ), and at the 3rd we were to wear wedding attire.
I got a little cocky when I waited until the night before the shindig to try on my dress. I thought to myself sure it won't look as good as my wedding day and sure I'll probably have boobie and armpit muffin top, but I'm sure it will fit.
Darling husband tried his darnedest but she just wain't ( a combo word between "wasn't" and "ain't") gonna zip up no matter how hard he tried.

 Now at this point I was beginning my journey to better health and wellness...in my head that is. With the Christmas season in front of me and copious amounts of red wine and baking to devour, I wasn't about the trick myself into starting my new years resolution early.
Just kidding.
I actually did attempt and fail not once, not twice, not even thrice...but 5 times in fact. 5 attempted life changes and 5 failed attempts.
Alas, here I am.
On New Years eve I got my butt in gear and prepared myself. Gave myself a mental pep talk. Made some solid plans. I even picked my program.
http://www.amazon.com/28-Day-Body-Shapeover-Brad-Schoenfeld/dp/0736060456

I've had this book sitting around for some time.
I actually did it once before my little beauties came along. When I opened it up this time and re-read  my notes they read 2009. That was the last time I did the program. Makes sense. That was the last year I was in shape. I incubated my sweet Elliott in 2010, got hit by a truck in 2011 and then incubated Emmi in 2012 and pretty much took 2013 to have surgery and let my poor body heal up a bit.
I think the timing is perfect. Since April 2013's surgery on my knee I am feeling so so so much better. I am feeling physically and mentally ready to take on a fitness challenge.
I want to feel strong again. I want to feel healthy. I want to be physically whole.

Preparation has been key in all of this. Not just in the mental preparation to get me to the starting point, but also the physical prep. Packing a lunch isn't just helpful, it is a must to eat every 2-3 hours. 3 being the maximum amount of time I can go between meals. I have learned through much painful trial and error that if I don't keep this schedule, I will binge.
It is as simple as that. And when I binge...I BINGE!

She is beautiful tho right? 2 cups of pure fat sour cream went into the making. Not to mention all the crushed candy canes and cream cheese that went into the butter cream icing!

Making better choices to do this...

...and this have also been important steps on this journey.

Look at those healthy healed up legs!

I am 10 days into 2014 and I have worked out 8 of them.
I have also ate clean and sensible for 9 of them. I am feeling so much better just in 10 days. I am so excited to see what I feel like after 28...and then 56...
But then that is getting ahead of myself. If there is one thing I have learned and continue to learn on a daily sometimes hourly basis is that, I have to take one day at a time. I've heard that age old advice before but it wasn't until I actually let it sink into my heart that I've been able to give myself the grace to practice it. And succeed at it.

Found this on Pinterest. ( how I love you Pinterest!)
I am going to print it off and put it by my mirror so that I see it every morning. It always hurts to start but 10 minutes in I feel awesome and am always always ALWAYS glad I started.
I'm not going to be uncomfortable my whole life. I am however going to be happy healthy and blessed.