Post Wedding

"I lift my eyes unto the hills, from where does my help come from?" and this leads us to our only hope. This hope is life in Jesus Christ. "He will make everything beautiful in His time." Ecclesiastes 3:11

I read this quote today and after many days of wanting to blog it really helped me begin getting my thoughts out. Since our wedding in early June I have gone through some ups and downs with my fitness goals and nutrition. When I started dieting and exercising I found myself embarking on a  new way of life. Seeing the weight come off week after week was exhilarating to say the least. Having a big of a hiccup as surgery two weeks before our big day was nerve wracking to say the least! I worked from November to May almost everyday and the fear of not reaching my goal and how I would look was really rough! I was so close and to be told I could not work out was so difficult! That is all I wanted to do. But the wedding day came, and it was unbelievable. The night before was some what nerve wracking figuring out last minute arrangements and small things going wrong. I was so worried! But when I woke up I had a sense of calm in my heart I told my sister and mom about. The day seems like a blur, and it has only been a little over four months! But there are moments I will never forget. I will never forget when I answered the door and one of my best friends Jenna arrived at my Mom's house. All my bridesmaids were here I thought! It's time to go! This is really happening! Another moment was when my sister,mom, bridesmaids and I drove to the church on my wedding day. Everyone told me stories of memories we shared. It was incredible. Like a dream. When we arrived at the church just moments before two, walking into the church and seeing my Dad's reaction was priceless. As we walked down the aisle I couldn't help but smile I was so filled with happiness and excited to see Dave! I couldn't actually see him when I first tried just because of how the church was set but as soon as I did I felt a pounding in my heart. Our day had finally arrived! It all went by so fast! I will never forget him leaning over to me and saying "You look incredible" it meant the world to me! I had worked so hard.

Before I gush on more details of our wedding day, I wanted to write this entry more in reference to my post wedding ups and downs. At first I was headstrong on wanted to compete. Then cheat meals turned into days and before I knew it I started really noticing a difference in my physique. AHHH. Who is this person I thought. I want the old me back!! When we set a time lined goal we think the battle is won so to speak. 

When it comes to fitness and nutrition this is NOT the case! This is a journey. A marathon. NOT A SPRINT! We must overcome that mentality! 

At first, about a week ago my trainer and I decided to just try and maintain where I am. But maintain just does not feel like a realistic option for me. I thought about  how far I had come over the past year. I could never feel fully satisfied with having gained weight and maintaining this weight. Although my journey has NEVER been a straight lined shot, I am so happy to feel excited and have learned in God's time how important taking control of my health is and how this marathon and life long journey I am on is never ending. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure at some point I will be able to maintain where I am, but not before I hit my goal of competing and reaching my goal weight. I am more excited then ever the past few days and am excited about getting back to where I was. I may be up ten pounds but I am also up in my confidence and commitment. Sometimes it takes mistakes to realize just how important a dream is. My dreams are to reach the best shape of my life, succeeded my wedding day, and to develop a competition body year round I can feel happy and proud of. To many this may sound silly, but for me I want to have a lifestyle and a lifetime of happiness. I know we all fall, but I choose to live a healthy lifestyle, and active lifestyle, over any other. I know none of my struggles have been easy but every single one of them has been worth it because God has his own time of teaching us powerful lesson's often beyond our own understanding. Our God really is an awesome God who is so loving and compassionate. I am so thankful for today and for every gift I have been given in life. 

I will end with this quote which reminds me of how happy I am for where I have come from and most importantly where I am going: 

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me.-- Erma Bombeck

“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.”
-Arnold Schwarzenegger

Each workout

Each workout is like a brick in a building, and every time you go in there and do a half-ass workout and you do not lay a brick down. Somebody else is.

16 weeks

I've got my eye on the prize. I am setting a new goal. The 16 week nutritional consistency challenge. From now until October 31st roughly 16 weeks away I am committing myself to eating clean 100%. NO EXCEPTIONS. NO CHEATS. 



What I want: To compete in my first competition.
What I need to do to prepare for this:Work really, really hard. Walk the walk.
Why I am doing this: To prove to myself that I can, to achieve something I never have before. 

If you want something you have never had, you have to do something you have never done

I know this will be hard at weddings, weekends, with friends, family, and other situations. But I will not give up. No matter what. No excuses this time! NONE.

When I go out to dinner which is something I will still allow myself to do I will order a lean protein (chicken or fish) and vegetables. I will order all seasoning on the side and no dressing on my salad besides Balsamic Ving. :)

I want to be changed in 16 weeks. I want to not be embarrassed of how my stomach looks. I want to be 115 pounds and transformed. I have come a long way. To far to give up now. I can feel my goal. I can feel the new me. Now it's time to give it all I've got. I want to show myself that I can set my mind to being accountable and consistent. That is what it takes to fulfill my dreams. Instead of counting down the days til my 16 weeks are done(which once I reach, I will  go out for a cheat meal. Whatever I want. Most likely I will have a drink :) ) I am counting down the days I have stayed strong and followed my goal. Every day I commit I will remind myself of how far I have come. So far I have stayed 100% since Sunday.

3 days strong. No turning back. New me, here I come!