January's thoughts/ lessons

January was a great month! Glad it's over because it means we are that much closer to Spring.  Usually in January I get the winter blues and this year it wasn't even noticeable to me.  I am pretty sure I owe it to the physical activity that kept me busy! I am also proud to say that January has 31 days and I completed 33 workouts.  That is with taking every Sunday off! Whew!

I am constantly trying to learn something new and sometimes I am learning things without trying.  So here is a list of a few things to note that I thought have had some kind of importance to me...

~ I need to use a pre-work in the mornings to get a great workout and if I don't have a lot of protein throughout the day I usually wake up with tight and achy muscles.  The mornings are so difficult for me and without drinking a pre-workout drink I have a hard time waking up enough to put my all into the workout.

~ Complex carbs vs. Simple Carbs. has been good to know and understand. Simple carbs break down faster where complex carbs take longer to burn keeping your metabolism going. At night your body goes into starvation mode so sometimes if you haven't eaten for hours before you went to bed, by the time you wake up you are starving. Eating a healthy complex carb at night such as 1/4 c.cottage cheese is good because it has lots of protein used to repair all your muscles at night and it is a complex carb which will keep your metabolism going for longer throughout the night so your body doesn't just store and grab all the sugar which eventually, if not burned, will turn to fat. Here is a good website to learn more...http://www.livestrong.com/article/281831-a-list-of-foods-with-carbohydrates-fats-complex-carbs/

~ If I keep chopped up vegetables in my fridge ready to eat, I have an easier time eating them when I feel the munchies and therefore don't eat so much junk!

~ I am not a good dancer! I really have no rhythm and I hate watching my self do Zumba in the mirrors.  I have opted out and chose to swim on the mornings the rest of my friends go to Zumba.  I have been to Zumba classes that are in the gym and I have enjoyed it so much better because there are no mirrors around so I don't have to watch how ridiculous I look!

~ Headaches arise when I don't drink enough water.  I have been trying to drink a gallon a day.  I know that sounds like a lot but in reality its only 128 ounces.  I have a water bottle with 38 oz. in it and its only 3.3 of them.  It's not too bad.  Once I drink that much water, I then reward my self with a treat or another type of drink.

~ In the book I have been reading it talks about how we discount our real abilities.  I have always said, "I am not a runner" and in reality I am a runner.  I am proud to say that now when someone asks, I can nod and say, "Yes I am a runner!"  I do believe in my self and running is not a natural talent of mine, but it is a talent I have worked hard to develop!

~ Surround my self with people who are positive, uplifting and supportive of me.  I care too much what people think and often times spend too much time wondering why certain people aren't supportive or negative about the things I am most passionate about. I really care about everyone and have a strong desire to fit in with most people, but there are some people that no matter what I do I can not please!

~ Set small goals! I am a list maker and often make a huge list of goals I want to accomplish over the next year.  I have learned that yearly goals are good but making smaller goals as well that are achievable in a small time frame has made me feel more successful and powerful! Some of these goals have been for example, resist taking seconds at a delicious meal, not giving into the donuts at the store although they smell fabulous and I swear they are calling my name, say no to having a bread stick while I am at work, run one minute longer after I feel exhausted or have completed the amount of miles for that day, sprint the last three minutes, add 5 more pounds in my hand weights for a set of reps in a one workout and etc.  These are things I can and will accomplish that make me feel proud of myself when they are done then I can move onto another set of small goals when the current list is complete.  This way I can see things marked off my list and don't feel overwhelmed with just a list of goals that will take me a long time to check off.

~ Most importantly, SLEEP is vital!! I need to sleep at least 7 hours every night. I have to make it a priority to get to bed early if I want to be a happy energetic Mom, friend and wife.

Here's to another great month!