Right around my birthday last month, I was the designated child watcher so my husband could go to a dear friend's 40th birthday party celebration. I stayed home, watched a movie, and then got sucked into an infomercial. I think this infomercial is going to change my life - and I am already feeling the results.
I bought Jillian Michaels' Body Revolution. How could I not after seeing so many convincing before and after pictures?! These included real people I could identify with, people who had bellies or love handles, but weren't hundreds of pounds overweight. I probably have about 15 pounds to lose. I have 30 minutes a day to exercise. So I bought it, and Jillian is kicking my ass. Daily.
I've been fit before, especially when I was training for the marathon in 2005. After my second son was born in 2011, I was walking 5-6 miles per day. I shed all of my baby weight, but my belly has just not been anywhere close to firm. I also had c-sections for both of my boys, and thought I would never be able to have a flat stomach (and the last time I had one was in high school).
I was able to stay home with my youngest for the first 13 months of his life. I walked him around a lot. Then he went to daycare and I started a job within 2 months. That was the last time I exercised on a consistent basis. Now, fast forward, 8 months, I am searching for a new job and have time to workout, and finally make the change I need to for a healthy body.
I'm proud of myself for taking action, following through, and keeping the end goal in mind: healthy body and longer life. I'm on week 3 of the program, and I have already seen my sleep improve dramatically, my energy level is up, my mood is much better, my period was even cramp-free. But today, I am feeling my mid-back muscles, due to several moves from her "workout 4" DVD...I'm just reminding myself that this pain is good, my core will be strong, and those big muscles will burn more calories.
Luckily, I don't have to workout those muscles for another two days, but I do have to complete the Cardio DVD today. I'm looking forward to loosening up my muscles, get the blood flowing, burning more calories, and trying to keep up with her! Showing up is half the battle, pushing yourself to your max is the other challenge.
I can't wait to see what my body will look like at the end of the 90-day program. It will be just in time for my youngest's 2nd birthday, and with summer just around the corner, I know I'll be thrilled with my toned, strong, and lean body. Sexy, right?
I've been cooking her recipes as well, and I am pleasantly surprised at how tasty they are, as well as satisfying. I'll admit, I'm not down to 1200 calories a day as she suggests, however, I am eating better (less cheats) and I'm trying to eat less.
Anyone else survive a Jillian Michaels program? I've heard from friends that it's the only program that actually works. What else do you do to stay healthy?
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Do what you love; love what you do
It's something I've heard throughout my life, and I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one. Yet, how many of us know someone who is not happy in their job. Sometimes the source of unhappiness is the company, the people you interact with, or even the role itself. But sometimes, it's more than that.
As a marketer, I am expected to be passionate about the product or service I am marketing. There were some roles in the past where I had to convince myself that it was okay to be passionate about the how of marketing, not what I was marketing. I didn't always have a choice of what I worked on, but I did get a lot of great experience from those products/services I was marketing.
I'm at a point in my career, and my life, where I want to connect with the product, and how I market it to consumers. I am proud that I am staying true to the title of this post and my current search has me focused on things I love, which lucky for me, I love many things, including: food, chocolate (yes, a separate category because I love chocolate that much!), cooking/baking (anything about a kitchen), family, exercise, outdoors, culture, travel, friends, learning, organizing, house hunting and the list could go on and on.
I am also at a point in my life where I'd like a little more stability. Stability doesn't mean lack of change, rather, opportunity for continued growth, a solid foundation. I would like us to buy a home close to my future employer as my oldest is about to enter Kindergarten in the fall. I'd like to know that the school he goes to is where he'll be for all of his elementary school years. He's already lived in two cities and a total of four homes, I feel a little guilt about his lack of stability since we became renters again when we returned to Chicago a few years ago. I'm also getting tired of packing and moving, although I am quite good at it!
I do get very excited when an offer is extended; it's a critical decision, a crossroad of life where you know if you say "yes!" your life will forever change. Except now, it's not just my life, it's my husband's life and my boys' lives that will also be impacted. Hopefully in a good way, but nevertheless affected. That is why it's so critical to do what you love and love what you do. Your job/career takes up a lot of time and if you are happy and love what you do, your "free" time will be a lot more fun, because you'll be happy. The people in your life will notice and they will be thankful too.
Have I oversimplified things? Yes, perhaps a bit, but I believe it really does come down to the ultimate goal of fulfilling yourself and doing the best you can for you, and those around you. What's your experience with jobs? Have you always loved your work, or do you believe in more of a punch-card mentality to show up, do the job, and live your life completely separate from work?
As a marketer, I am expected to be passionate about the product or service I am marketing. There were some roles in the past where I had to convince myself that it was okay to be passionate about the how of marketing, not what I was marketing. I didn't always have a choice of what I worked on, but I did get a lot of great experience from those products/services I was marketing.
I'm at a point in my career, and my life, where I want to connect with the product, and how I market it to consumers. I am proud that I am staying true to the title of this post and my current search has me focused on things I love, which lucky for me, I love many things, including: food, chocolate (yes, a separate category because I love chocolate that much!), cooking/baking (anything about a kitchen), family, exercise, outdoors, culture, travel, friends, learning, organizing, house hunting and the list could go on and on.
I am also at a point in my life where I'd like a little more stability. Stability doesn't mean lack of change, rather, opportunity for continued growth, a solid foundation. I would like us to buy a home close to my future employer as my oldest is about to enter Kindergarten in the fall. I'd like to know that the school he goes to is where he'll be for all of his elementary school years. He's already lived in two cities and a total of four homes, I feel a little guilt about his lack of stability since we became renters again when we returned to Chicago a few years ago. I'm also getting tired of packing and moving, although I am quite good at it!
I do get very excited when an offer is extended; it's a critical decision, a crossroad of life where you know if you say "yes!" your life will forever change. Except now, it's not just my life, it's my husband's life and my boys' lives that will also be impacted. Hopefully in a good way, but nevertheless affected. That is why it's so critical to do what you love and love what you do. Your job/career takes up a lot of time and if you are happy and love what you do, your "free" time will be a lot more fun, because you'll be happy. The people in your life will notice and they will be thankful too.
Have I oversimplified things? Yes, perhaps a bit, but I believe it really does come down to the ultimate goal of fulfilling yourself and doing the best you can for you, and those around you. What's your experience with jobs? Have you always loved your work, or do you believe in more of a punch-card mentality to show up, do the job, and live your life completely separate from work?
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