Time to Graduate!

I've been pretty busy lately. Went to Ohio for my cousin Abbey's graduation over Memorial Day weekend. My cousin Connor graduates tomorrow. Still working two jobs - you know the normal busy. OK - back to my trip to Ohio though first...While I was there my lovely Aunts thought it best that I go to the gym with them. Seeing as I have been a bit lazy (ok, understatement - wicked lazy and gained about 15lbs in the last 4 months) - I said "Sure!"

Now, let me start by saying my Aunt Lori is a fitness goddess. She's this cute little thing (looks so sweet and harmless) -- though I know in a street fight she'd kick everyone's ass. My Auntie (Darlene) is built more like me -- but definitely more fit than I am.. Day 1 - Lori suggests Abs & Cardio -- great, area of most needed improvement. HA! This cute little thing had me healed over by the end of the session. THEN - I decided to go to the Zoo and walk around for 3+ hours. Needless to say, by bed time I couldn't walk, and when I got up in the morning, I couldn't feel my lower abs. Now, as if this wasn't enough, that next morning we decided to do Pilates -- ps: I have NEVER done Pilates before and had I know exactly what it was -- may have changed my mind!

However, after recovering (3 days later - no really - it wasn't until I got up on Wednesday after I got home that I could finally walk normal and didn't want to cry), I realized that not only are my cousins graduating, but I need to graduate. From what you might ask? My half ass exercise routines and eating habits. While I do not think I need to be at the level my Aunt Lori so kindly thinks my body can handle, I can step up what I'm doing and how I am doing it. As far as eating habits, wait what, eating habits -- yea, exactly my point.

To help with my graduating to better exercise and eating habits - I have started putting together menu's for each week. Before I would wing it - which would normally mean, let's go out to eat. Now we are trying to stick to a plan, and a healthy one; lots of veggies, protein, and less carbs. As for exercising, I'm probably going to have to take summer classes to graduate. My plan is to start doing things at home (there are so many free online regiments I can start with)...and then get back into a routine of going to the gym. This will be much easier when I am not working two jobs (as right now Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays are completely useless days).

As I graduate from exercising and eating - I am also going to graduate from stress. A major reason I have gained all this weight back is because I have been stressed with life, work, money, and my weight (funny right).  No more...I am finally in a happy place, at least more so than I have been in the last two years. I just got my fishing license and am picking up some poles this week (biggest stress reliever ever is fishing) -- I have these two great kids I can go and do this with now (mini golf, sports, trips to the beach) -- and an amazing man to keep me sane (how he does it I don't know, but I love him more and more each day for it).

All that being said -- please ask me how I'm doing. Pop me an email, comment on my blogs, facebook, text, snap chat -- keep me in line. I need your help! After all...Summer is coming!

Today the sun is shining and when I leave work I will be making stuffed peppers, putting a budget together, and cleaning the stress from my life.

Happy Tuesday everyone!



~ Melissa
Current: who knows
Goal: 150-155lbs
Mood: Happy, Determined