August Goals

So here it is, the beginning of a new month already. It seems like time flies by so quickly and there is always a new and exciting adventure waiting right around the corner. Every time I cross another goal off my list for the previous month, I begin to think about what new goals can I set for myself? What new heights can I take my personal growth both physically and mentally? Is there something I told myself I could never be able to do because of restrictions from my physical self? These questions are constantly churning in my brain. How can I do better, be better than the person I was the day before. There is a careful balance that I need to make sure I have between my accomplishments and new goals.

I believe it is important to savor the feeling of "I just proved I can do this" and taking a moment to take in the moment and realize all the work you, yourself put into it and the effort it took. On any weight loss journey, it can be difficult to set goals and believe so much in yourself that you can actually achieve them. Yet, when one does it is almost like it was magical, you are overwhelmed with the feeling of personal satisfaction you receive. 

My feeling is that once those feelings have begun to dissipate it is time to look on to the future and set harder and higher goals for yourself. What goals can you set that give you the similar satisfaction as accomplishing your past goal? This is why I am really embracing the goals I set out on my blog. It is a chance for me to put out some goals to work towards within the month and it holds me accountable since anyone can see my list. I have also found it is helpful in seeing what things I am still lacking on and need improvement. Then there are other goals like my trying new foods, that never ceases to astonish me. By the middle of the month I had already tried 7 new foods. That is mind blowing! A year ago, that would not have even been thought of yet here I am doing it.

Recap of July goals

1. Come up with two non scale victories. 1. Ran 1 mile in 12:14 minutes
2. Incorporate more spinning classes. Did not happen. I got wrapped up in my walking challenge
3. Go swimming at least once during the month. Done multiple times at a friends pool.
4. Stick to my food menu while in Cape May. With all the craziness of the week, I accomplished it!
5. Continue my soda challenge/Work on my 60 miles in 60 days challenge. Keep the Hershey's Kisses coming!!/ 72.41 miles completed
6. xercise at least 4 days a week. Done pretty well
7. Try 2 new foods throughout the month. Sauerkraut, jicama, fresh basil, sweet relish, beets, crab salad (EWW), salmon cakes, Wasabi Peas (EWW)
8. Lose 10 pounds in 2 months. I am already down 5 lbs in a month. So looks like I will be on track.

August Goals

1. Continue my running/walking
2. Eat more fruits/vegetables
3. New recipe each week
4. Find healthier alternatives for lunches
5. Create more "me" time
6. Pit buddy 
7. Posting on Loseit forum
8. No eating after 8pm

Here I go, hitting the ground running! What are your goals for August?

☺Ashley☺

The Dreaded Scale

I am so annoyed at this moment in time. This month has been a great month with getting additional exercise in and eating better than I have over the past few months. I have been feeling over the moon with the way things have been progressing and so I expected to see it on the scales.

Here is my problem. On Mondays I have been weighing in at my house like I have been doing over the past year. My weight has stayed the same every time I jump on the scale. Fast forward to Thursdays and I decided to weigh in at my friends house. Her scale says that I am lighter than my scale says. So, I have been using her scale since it shows my weight is continuing to drop.

I realize I should take the number at face value since I feel amazing and that is what it is all about. However, I just get frustrated with the fact that the scale does not show how amazing I feel. Plus, the scale at my friends house is getting me closer to a marker that I have been looking forward to. Being in the overweight category of the BMI scale! That is such a huge accomplishment and I want to get there so badly and soon. I have decided to really examine my eating style and try to clamp it so the scale at my house continues to move down like my friends.

I am feeling excited that weigh ins for August are on Thursdays this month. The scale seems to be very nice on those days. 

☺Ashley☺

On the Way to Cape May

There is something about me and Cape May, NJ. I do not know what it is but when I go to the Marianist Retreat Center, there is just something special about the place and being there. It is like the rest of the world does not exist, my worries are pushed a side and I can focus on the people I am surrounded with and my own faith journey. At any given time I am there, I can meet at least 10 new people and share my life with them and visa versa. There are so many different walks of life that pass through the doors, which makes this place unique in my opinion. 

A little history on how I got involved with the Retreat Center. Not many people know but I was not raised Catholic. My immediate family is Protestant but no longer attends church. There is the usual dinner grace but that is about the amount of faith that circulates. The only reason they go to church is for weddings or funerals. It is the way they choose to live out their faith and that is fine for them, but not for me. 

Rollie, Me, Brother Tom, Toni, David

Leaving the long story for a different post, short story is I became a Catholic at the Easter Vigil in 2010. When I went to college at Rider University, I met a friend named Rollie. Right before winter break of 2011-2012, he invited the organization to attend this College Aged Retreat at Cape May. Four of us including Rollie headed down there. When I first walked in, I noticed that everyone was hugging each other as if they knew each other. It was a bit intimidating at first but within the first hour, I felt as if I was home with people that I had known for years. During the weekend, we talked, laughed, and cried. There was a bond, a connection that was different than any other I had been involved with. At one point during the weekend, I was asked to tell my story, and so I told it in front of the 40 ish college age students that were there. It was a great experience, and I felt comfortable being up in front sharing my story, it inspired people and I was even given great feed back.

By the end of that retreat, I had told the Program Director, Jessica that I would love to volunteer any time they needed help. This conversation occurred in January of 2012. By the end of this summer, I will have volunteered with 14 retreats.  If nothing else tells you how special I think the retreat house is, hopefully the number of times I have been there speaks volumes. Most of those retreats are also week long. Another special thing about the Retreat Center is that even though it is a predominately Catholic organization, it is open to all walks of faith. We have opened the doors to those who are Christian but not Catholic, I have even been on retreat with a Jehovah's Witness. Everyone is welcome to come no matter their faith, no matter where they live.

That is another thing that I enjoy. People come from all over to attend the retreats. We have regulars that come from the tri-state area but also there are those from Ohio, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island, England, even Switzerland. There are those who have moved away but continue to make the trek to the retreat house for that special quality it has. 

The last feature that I enjoy is that the Retreat House is located 1 block from the beach. The ocean is literally a stone's throw away. What more could you want, to be able to go on retreat and get the beautiful views from the ocean and swim while there.

So that is my plug for the retreat house, but I also wanted to share that since I will be going to Cape May, one thing I have to deal with is meal planning. The Retreat Center provides all the meals for the days but for my own personal lifestyle, while everything they make is amazing, calorie wise I cannot take a chance. So, I have to spend time coming up with a menu for the week that is similar to what they are eating but on a healthier scale (that I can count for LoseIt!). For the last two weeks I have been creating my menu and after having some monkey wrenches thrown into my week at the Cape, I finally have my menu printed and finalized. Now it is a matter of either cooking the food or getting the dry food together. That is what I will be doing the rest of the night, and that is fine. Thanks to the cook, Andrea who gives me the list of meals ahead of time, I will be prepared to dine with everyone else and not be obsessing about not knowing calories or feeling singled out.

☺Ashley☺