Today is day 15 of my 24 day Advocare Challenge.  I’ve lost 6 pounds so far and don’t plan on quitting.  I feel great.  Surprisingly I’ve managed to give up my coffee habit of almost a pot a day.  I’m eating more healthy than I have in quite some time and it feels good.  No more bloating, lol.  I even enjoy the taste of brown rice now. This is also the beginning of week 3 of my second Ripple Effect. The workouts are getting tougher, but I’m hanging in there. I can feel a difference in my muscle tone and strength. Powerhouse gym in Port Neches has got to be he most fabulous gym I’ve ever gone to. They make you feel so welcome and there is never any judging you for your appearance. They truly want to help people improve their health. I’m so grateful to be a part of such an awesome community. I feel like I have a real chance of meeting my goals now and that’s a great feeling!

Went to my first cycling class this morning. Boy, was that fun, lol.  It actually was a lot of fun.  It was also very challenging.  Great way to start the day.  I wish my schedule was such that I could make it to more of the classes at the gym, but that’ll be a long time before that happens.  I will continue to the Ripple Effect and Can You 24 DVD and work in a class or two when I can.  I feel so much better when I’m able to get some exercise in.  Thirty years ago I would’ve never said that, lol.  I tried to stay away from exercise as much as possible.  Glad I changed my mind.  Hopefully I’ll start seeing some results soon.  Even if I don’t lose weight, I know I’m doing my body good, as well as my mind.  Hope everyone has an awesome day.  Remember that through Christ we can do all things!

Today is my fifth day of the Advocare 24 day Challenge and the seventh day of Ripple Effect 2.  Things are going great.  I’m trying to follow the 24 day challenge as close as possible, although with my schedule it gets challenging sometime.  I’m not getting hungry at all and most of the time I’m so full I can’t get enough calories in for the day.  I also got the Can You 24 Workout DVD.

Ripple Effect is going extremely well. Every class is challenging, but so worth the pain.  Saturday one of our instructors had his mentor come and lead class.  It was so awesome.  He has no legs and has no excuses.  The workout was simply amazing.  We had so much fun and pushed ourselves to the limit.

The Can You 24 DVD is the same kind of workout that we do in the Ripple Effect.  I’ve only done one day of that so far and I really liked it.  I hope to do that on the days I work.  That should make up for the few days of Ripple that I’m unable to go to because of my work schedule.

Hopefully with all of these positive changes I’ll start to see some results on the scale and my clothes.  I’ll also be feeling better and stronger.

Happy New Year everyone!  Hoping this year is blessed beyond your imagination.

I’m working some overtime this morning from 0600-1000 and the going home to nap before coming back to work 1800-0600.  I had to do all my cooking yesterday afternoon.  I made meatballs, fried cabbage, black eye peas, and stuffed green peppers.  I’ll make some cornbread when I get home.  I’m already getting hungry, lol.

Here is a prayer I’d like to share for the new year:

Grant me the strength from day to day to bear what burdens come my way.

Grant me throughout this bright New Year more to endure and less to fear.

Help me live that I may be, from spite and petty malice, free.

Let me not bitterly complain when cherished hopes of mine prove vain,

Or spoil with deeds of hate and rage some fair tomorrow’s spotless page.

Lord, as the days shall come and go in courage let me stronger grow.

Lord, as the New Year dawns today help me to put my faults away.

Let me be big in little things; Grant me the joy which friendship brings.

Keep me from selfishness and spite; Let me be wise in what is right.

A Happy New Year! Grant that I may bring no tear to any eye.

When this New Year in time shall end let it be said I’ve played the friend,

Have lived and loved and labored here, and made of it a happy year.

–Edgar A. Guest