HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

I have many things to be thankful for and as I reflect over the years my lists have changed so much. I have been blessed in my life with many wonderful things but its the things that have remained the same that I am most thankful for.

My husband - One of the most loyal men I have ever met in my life. Who unconditionally puts his family before himself. He is truly my best friend the one I laugh with, live for, dream with, and love with all my heart. It all starts and end because we fell in love.

My kids - Our children should not be put here with a job for us, we are here to take care of them, BUT they unconsciously saved me from myself. I never truly learned what loving someone more than yourself meant until they came along and they are the absolute JOY in my life. Everyday with them is so special. They make me laugh, they make me cry, they make me be a better person, and make me see life through their eyes all over again.

My family & Friends - Because I have always had a close supportive family I just sometimes take them for granted thinking that is what family is... that is what it does. But I have met so many that do not function like that. They can't rely on their family, they don't necessarily get along with their families and seeing these dynamics has helped me to see mine is not the norm... I do have something special. Words cannot express my gratitude towards them. To think at one time in my life some of them probably couldn't stand to be in the same room as me I was such a brat and now they are such a huge part of our lives. I wouldn't have it any other way. I am blessed to have my children grow up surrounded by love on both sides! And my friends I don't have many that I call true friends so to those I do I appreciate the fact that I have long lasting REAL friendships... everlasting friends can go long periods of time without speaking and never question their friendship. These types of friends pick up like they spoke to you just yesterday, regardless of how long it has been or how far away they live. And, they don't hold grudges. They understand that life is busy, but you will always love them.

I am thankful for my energy! Although I have learned to control it I consider it a blessing. It has propelled me into great things and hope it carries me through many more. It helped me wake up for 45 minutes of AM cardio, wash, dry, and fold three loads of laundry, cook stuffed mushrooms, shower and get my family ready all before 11:00 this morning!

I am thankful for the ability to be able to be back in college. Its one of those things I put off for so long. Whether it was lack of time, money, ambition, or confidence, there was always a reason to wait. Learning again feels great. Cannot say I wasn't intimidated to go back at first but I have been doing better than I ever thought I would after being out of school for so long and I am actually enjoying it.

I am thankful that through ALL these years, ups and downs, bad economies, ALWAYS being able to be home to raise my kids. This is something that has always been very important to me. Every family dynamic is different. I am in awe and have so much respect for full time working moms, but our dynamic works for us. I have always enjoyed being home at least part time with my children and am very thankful that I have been able to be, this is time with them I will never ever be able to get back and as they get older and older I appreciate it more as I see how quickly it goes.

I am thankful for my health... as I see so many unforeseen occurrences that may take someone's health away or sickness struck upon too many too young I FULLY appreciate my health and the health of my family.

I am thankful for my life. Plain and simple... I have been blessed! Lets look at my life “statistically” I should indeed be screwed. I’m not saying I’m perfect or have made the best choices but I have been very blessed and have so much to be thankful for.

It’s not something I talk about often or am proud of by any means, or am advocating but every once and a while when I stop to reflect I am very proud of where I stand today. Those who know me closely know my age its not something I ever willing bring up because I do believe its only a number and as someone with an old soul and who has always been 12 going on 30 its something I do not like to be judged by. But if you know my age and do the math its easy to figure out I had my daughter very young. She is one of my blessings in disguise I am so thankful for. "Statistically" Sixty percent of teenagers who become pregnant are living in poverty at the time of the birth. More than 40 percent of teenage mothers report living in poverty by age 27. Well all I can say is thank the lord I have never been below the poverty line and 10 years later never plan to be.

Lets look at statistics on marriage, we know those are not great. Almost half end in divorce. Not saying mine's guaranteed or perfect but almost 11 years strong and I am still genuinely HAPPY!!

Lets look at statistics on twins. Twins are estimated to be approximately 1.9% of the population, with male male identical being the LEAST common of all sets of twins!! Guess what we got them! Twins having twin to twin transfusion (which is the disease that made my boys sick) occurs in approximately 5.5–17.5% out of all twins we unfortunately were in this group. Now out of that small group fatality rate was extremely high and without proper treatment, most of these babies would not survive and of the survivors, most would have handicaps or birth defects. If you're still falling the odds of where we stand you will agree, we have truly been BEYOND BLESSED with AMAZINGLY HEALTHY BEAUTIFUL BABY BOYS!!! I think its totally appropriate when I call them freaks ;)

I joke and kid because I try to laugh every day, I try to have a light heart and just LIVE. IF it's true that you can lose what you are not thankful for I need to express how thankful I am for my LIFE and those in it!

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into
enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order,
confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a
home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past,
brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."

And on that note before I get toooooo soppy and lovey dovey lol I Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving... as far as your fitness goals... Hope everyone enjoyed their meals guilt free. However there's no need to make it a sloppy weekend. Up your activity level, drink a lot of water, get rid of the bloat and get back on track immediately. None of this wait till Monday stuff - THAT IS precisely how you can gain over the holidays. Take everyday at a time. Once today is gone remember your goals! Write them down, put them up on the wall, set a reward do whatever you have to do to stay focused. I am on TRACK and it feels good to not think or obsess about whether or not I am "going to be good this weekend". I am not on a "diet" I am just moving and groovin living a healthy lifestyle and its sooooo much easier that way!!

First Santa Parade?? Is that right?

Went to my very first Santa Parade Today! Yes... like EVER lol I know sounds so strange but its true. Maybe its not that strange to some, but where I grew up the Santa parade is as tradition as going out to drink the night before Thanksgiving. It's just something you do. Well it is of course unless you are a Jehovah's Witness. Something many may not know about me I grew up raised as a Jehovah Witness, practiced until I was about 14. So I grew up not celebrating holidays. Not a one. No Christmas, birthdays, Easter, valentine's, anything. Surprisingly although I don't practice anymore and don't raise my children in the faith I never really felt like I was missing anything. I don't want to make this about religion really, but because it was such a large part of my life it did have a lot to do with my shaping as a child and adolescent years. Has a lot to do with why I am so overtly stubborn about organized religion, but also has a lot to do with my core vales, beliefs, and need to be family oriented. I like to believe I kept all the good I learned and moved on from anything I deemed negative. Again I don't want to go too far off track because I could talk religion for days, but that's not the point.

My point was I grew up not celebrating holidays. I didn't start celebrating them until I got married and had children, so they have become extra special times of the year for me. Times I have started our own family traditions from scratch. Special times we have shared with family, and events that I have never done before. Special pictures and memories that mean more to me because I am creating such a different childhood for my children. I think I need to emphasize here that I had a great childhood with many special moments, this is just a different experience for me.

So take today for instance I went to my FIRST Santa Parade today! Not only did I go to my first Santa parade but my husbands uncle who is a Lieutenant on the fire department asked us to join him with our boys and ride on the truck with him through the parade! There we were... buckled in the truck, windows down,sirens on, horn beeping, smiling and waving away. It was a great day! My boys were in awe of the truck and how everyone was waving. And I felt like a little kid experiencing something for the first time! Going up and down the streets of where I grew up, seeing people from middle school, seeing my old dance school. It was just one of those moments that made me feel warm inside (despite the fact that it was 38 degrees out). And also one of those moments that made me feel old (but in a great way). As I've grown up I appreciate the littlest things in life... its not that I have become simple minded as I still have more goals, dreams, and ideas than one human being should have lol But the littlest pleasures in life with my family can absolutely make me feel complete <3

So in true wrap it up Sunday, back to the Grind Monday motion a quick recap of my week in the training and nutrition department. FINALLY BACK AT AM CARDIO!!!! I've been wanting to for a while but not having a show to "make my mind switch on completely" I couldn't fully motivate myself to get up early consistently. Well now I have switched. It is for me a great way to start my day. I'm completely not a morning person. I am grumpy when I wake up and never ever enjoy it. But for some reason to roll out of bed wash my face, brush my teeth and go do cardio I CAN BE A BEAST... I start to feel better while I'm there. I start to reflect, plan, and set my mindset for the day and I start my energy off right. It still may take my body a bit to get use to it because when I say I hate mornings I really hate mornings. But after a bout a week I start thinking why don't I do morning cardio all the time?!?! I am there, week down and I'm loving it again! Only doing 3-4 days a week for now so its even less pressure and its fitting well. Weights have been great as well, been really mixing it up which has been great for my body. And last but not least nutrition... ehhhh hardest for me is when the busy gets busier the food gets LESS not more. Its less food but its wrong food... I need more food and right food. I know same story different day. Mistake number one putting off getting my protein shakes... CANNOT live without them when I'm super busy. So now that I have them that should help right off the bat! Well I promised myself I'd keep these posts shorter and I once again have rambled and still have so much more I want to say but MUST GO TO BED :( I want to update about school! About clients! About goals! But hopefully leaving it like this will force me to come back more often. Till then Hope everyone has a wonderful productive week. And a blessed and beautiful Thanksgiving. However you may spending it remember to appreciate the little thing!