It’s hard to believe that I’m 50 years old. A half century, wow! Seems like just yesterday I was dreading turning 30. In my head I’m still that 30 year old. I don’t really feel any different. Sure my body feels the years, like my knees hurting from squats and running, but overall I can’t complain. I’m able to workout right along side many young people and sometimes able to do more than them. That’s an awesome feeling. I’m slower at doing some things, but I give it my all. I feel so much more comfortable with myself than I did when I was 30. I’m also a lot healthier than I was back then. Taking care of myself is a big part of my life now. Hopefully that will give me many more years of life to enjoy!

Traci and I went to Houston and saw Pink at the Toyota Center. What a show! The singing was great and her acrobats were amazing. Our seats were in the nosebleed section, but at least they were in the center. Pink is in awesome shape and danced around in high heels most of the night. She was singing all the whole she was doing all the acrobatics and flying around the arena. Simply amazing!

We’re staying at the Inn at the Ballpark on the 12th floor. The hotel is super nice.

We started our day at the Galleria doing some shopping and lots and lots of walking. We had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory and it was delicious. We had enough leftover to have it again for dinner.

Our feet are killing us, but it has been a super day!

Just when things are going so well, a setback. Saturday morning it was freezing outside and our Ripple Effect workout was outside. It doesn’t take long to warm up once we start working out though. We were doing our exercises and on the third set we did jump squats. I wasn’t jumping because my knees are weak, so I was just pulsing the squats. We were sprinting to a cone and back between exercises and then we went into jumping jacks, if I remember correctly. On one of the jumps I heard a loud pop and a roll in my right thigh. It hurt like hell. First I thought it was going to be alright after stretching it out good, but boy was I wrong! I had to miss a good it of the rest of our workout with some of the instructors stretching it out and assessing it. They said it may have a small tear, but it probably just knotted up due to the cold and popped when I landed on it. I was able to walk on it and did finish the rest of the workout doing the best I could. I iced it when I got home and put bio freeze on it before I went to bed. When I got up that afternoon to go to work it was very sore, but not unbearable. Throughout the night at work I iced it and kept it elevated. I got a roller on my way to work and used that on my lunch hour. It felt okay rolling it. Sunday night it was hurting bad and I continued the ice therapy and elevation. I rolled it on he roller again on my lunch hour. I eventually put heat on it. Tonight it feels better, but still hurts. I don’t think I’ll be able to do the ripple workout tomorrow and it is really getting me down. I’m hoping it is better quickly. I’m really having bad withdrawals from Ripple Effect and I’ve only missed one workout, which I would’ve missed any way because of work, lol. I would quit, but I don’t know how! Can’t wait for the pain to go away and get back to Ripple! In the meantime I will continue the rest of my healthy lifestyle and do some other types of exercise that don’t effect my hamstring. I’m done ranting now.

What a wonderful year this has been so far. I have been having such an awesome time with the Ripple Effect. It is such hard work, but so rewarding at the same time. I’m doing things I never would’ve thought myself capable of. I can feel my body getting stronger every day and my clothes are starting to get very loose. We had a big Ripple Effect free Saturday workout on the 9th that was off the chain. They made lots of announcements about upcoming exciting things. They also announced the winners of the weight loss challenge for last month. Much to my surprise, I won 2nd place! I only lost 5 pounds, but I lost a total of 8 inches and over 7% body fat! The 1st place winner lost an amazing 20 pounds! We both did the Advocare 24 day challenge along with the weight loss challenge which gave us optimum results. I’m hoping that I can reach my weight loss goal by this summer. I will continue to participate in the Ripple Effect even after accomplishing that goal. I also signed up to go on the Ripple Effect mission trip to Guatemala in July. I am looking very forward to this experience.

This past Saturday was the last day of the weight loss challenge at Powerhouse Gym. We all weighed in and got measured. I lost 5 pounds, 5 inches from my waist and 2 inches from my hips! I was so excited. I knew about the 5 pounds, but the inches were a very nice surprise. Everyone lost one way or another, either weight or inches, or both. This is remarkable. Those of us using the Advocare products had greater losses than those that didn’t. I’m glad I decided to start using the products. They really make a difference and help ou feel better.
The next Ripple Effect started today. I had to miss the first day because of work, but I will definitely be there tomorrow. I’m looking very forward to it. Never thought I would be excited to workout, lol. This program is absolutely wonderful. The people involved in running it have the biggest hearts ever. I love the fact that nobody judges you for not having a perfect body and motivates you every step of the way toward healthiness.
Can’t wait for tomorrow night and the changes that will be occurring for the next 4 weeks! Getting stronger every day.

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

I worked the night of Christmas Eve and got off at 6am Christmas Day.  My best friend’s son had been taken to the hospital during the night so I stopped to see them on my way home.  After visiting for a little while I went home and put some lunch on to cook.  I took a very short nap and Traci, Pervis and the boys stopped by.  A little while later Ryan came over and we all had a wonderful visit.  Family time is what the holidays are all about.  The Saturday before Christmas I was with my family in Honey Island and had a great visit.  Finally in the holiday mood!

Ryan made me a desk for Christmas this year.  It is huge, sturdy and beautiful,  I love it!  It makes my heart fill with pride when I see what he can do.  I love getting things made by him.  It is so special.  I appreciate all the time and work that went into making it for me.  I love it and will always cherish it.