Shadows!!!!

Not to long ago I took a questionnaire on an app that I had down loaded.  In my head I already knew exactly what the answer was going to be.  Some of the questions were like this.....
Do you avoid mirrors?
Do you avoid having your picture made?
Are you comfortable in your own skin?
Do you avoid the scale?
Does the scale number determine your attitude?
Well, of course I could say yes to most of these.  I do avoid mirrors and scales and even seeing my shadow when I am outside.  You have to understand that I was "heavy and unhealthy" for so long that it more or less became a habit.  If I didn't have to look in the mirror or see a weight or heaven forbid, have my picture made, I was good. 
About a week ago, I was at the park and running.  In my zone as usual.  Doing what I do.  For whatever reason, I looked down at the ground and OH MY GOODNESS!!!!  There is was.  There is was dark, on the ground with the sun behind me.  I literally stopped in my tracks.  It was my shadow.  That thing I don't like to see and always so critical of myself and there it was for the whole world to see. (There wasn't anyone around but your get the point.) The awesome part of it was my first reaction....."I look different....I like it!"  I'm sure that I had a smile on my face the rest of the run.  I felt confident. I am sure my stride even changed. It was almost a relief of sorts. 
I know that things are changing and moving and leaving.  I pray that they continue.  I'm always busy with challenging others to do this or that.  So with my Shadow Revelation we are going to be going on vacation.  My goal is to actually allow hubby to take pictures with me in them.  Yeap, actually allow it and not avoid it.  I am sure that I will have my critical moments but none the less, pictures will be made. 
What about you?  What do you avoid because you don't like this or that?  What are you missing out on because you don't like this or that?  Feel free to share!  We can encourage one another. 

Game On,
Pam

Game On Tara!!!!!!!

Well, I have talked and talked about the plan that I wrote for my friend Tara.  Named it "Transformation From The Inside Out."  I am super excited.  She has read over the plan and likes it.  She has taken the challenge and has even agreed to blog about her adventure.  I'm overwhelmed with her excitement.  It thrills me to death to know that I can write something to help someone.  Below you will find her first entry.  I hope you will follow along with her journey.  SHE CAN SO DO THIS!!!!!  It's going to be a great!!!!!!
There are no words for me to tell her thank you enough for asking and for accepting the challenge.  I will continue with her help to tweak and change.  Who knows, the Lord may allow me to share this everyone.  Thanks again Tara!!!!!!

I am trying to figure out exactly how I got myself into this. Let me introduce myself.  I am Tara.  I am a 35 year old who has always struggled with my weight but I enjoy being healthy and working out. Eighteen months ago was the beginning of several life changing moments and I have not been able to recover my routine of cooking healthy and exercise.  I knew it was time to get back on track in this area of my life.  So,   several months ago I asked Pam if we could run together.  I was having a hard time getting motivated.  So, when our schedules allow we get together and we joke about Pam being my “Jill”.  It’s great because she pushes me, but we live in different time zones, so to speak and running together is almost impossible.  I was desperate for a running buddy.  I met a lady at a birthday party who lives 1 mile from me who “runs” and whala.  I am running 3 times a week.  Anyway, I felt like I was floundering even though I was out there I didn’t have a goal or a plan.  I need an end.  Innocently, I Facebooked Pam and said I need a plan.  I thought she would print something out of a running magazine or running for dummies but not our sweet Pam.  She was off to the races and we now have Transformation From the Inside Out(or as I call it Death by Jill) I admit not nearly as inspiring.  I digress.  That is how I arrived here on Pam’s blog.  I am not sure I like that everyone knows I have this plan to carry out but I love the plan.  It has reminded me of things I have forgotten, it has motivated me and because of all you people reading this, some I know I will see in the next month, it holds me accountable.  So I am going to take the plan as a challenge.   I am starting it on Monday with weighing, measuring and working out.  I am going to stick with it and I am going to let you know how it is going weekly.  I have a goal of 55 pounds I want to lose. I know I can do it.  I am excited.

Tara

Game On Tara!!!!!!

Pam

Quote

Of course this is from Jillian  I LOVE IT!!!!!!

Update!!!

I heard from Tara last night.  I thought I was going to bust.  She is super excited!!!!  I am just thrilled.  Of course we will continue to tweek as we go and thats all part of it.  I'm just ecstatic!!!!
She has offered to write a blog post and of course I said yes.  I can't wait to see it.  I'll get it posted as soon as possible.!!!!!!!

Hope you all are doing well.  Did you choose a June Challenge to jump in on?  Please share!!!!!!!!

Talk to soon,
Pam

June Challenge from Team Genetics

My friends over at Team Genetics have posted a challenge.  If you know me well, I am always one that is up for a challenge and I don't back down from one.  This is very easy and very basic.  That is the best part.  All you have to do is go in on your Facebook page and search for Team Genetics and jump in on the June Challenge. 

 Adam and Danielle are AWESOME encouragement.  They post all kinds of things about nutrition and fitness.  Danielle can prepare some of the BEST-GOOD FOR YOU things to eat!!!!!  I had cheesecake last night!!!!  OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!  It was actually good for you!!!!!

 

June Challenge!!!!!

The pools are open and swimsuits are out! Were you prepared?? If not, no worries! Whether your goal is weight loss or just a healthier lifestyle, these are changes that do not happen overnight. With a solid plan in mind your small changes will result in big changes down the road. That's what the June Challenge is all about....small changes. We want you to make one small change, in either your diet or your exercise, and tell us about it! Post your changes .weekly on oue Facebook page, post more if you like:)

Want to eat cleaner?? Trying a new supplement?? New exercise routine???  They WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT!!! 

 

OK, I hope that you will jump in and join in.  Feel free to share here if you don't have Facebook.  It's exciting!!!!!!!!!

 

Pam

PS- I sent "Transformation" to Tara- she was under the weather so I am waiting to hear what she thought......the suspense is KILLING ME!!!!!!!

Its Finally Out!!!!!!!

Transformation

From the Inside Out

This is the cover.....what do you think???

GUEST BLOGGER!!!!!!

Guest Blogger!!!!!!!!  SO EXCITED!!!!!!  Danielle is an awesome nurse that I have met during my time at Cone Health.  She is so much fun and such an inspiration to me.  She balances working full time, going to the gym, and keeping up with 3 beautiful children and her wonderful husband, Adam.  I asked Danielle if she would be willing to share about managing life, career and fitness.  She graciously agreed and I am so glad she did.  Her husband is also going to have a post as well.  He is now working with his own buisiness called Team Genetics.  There is a link to his site on the side bar.  PLEASE check them out and look for them on Facebook.  They share some great information!!!!!!!

My start in fitness spawned from being frustrated with the yo-yo
weight fluctuations of pregnancy vs pre-pregnancy. While I was
pregnant, I'd throw all semblance of diet and exercise right out of
the window vowing that I would pick it up again after the baby came.
After having three kids, I was able to get back to my pre-pregnancy
weight, but it was a different body; a "mom bod" as I like to refer to
it.

I originally started my weight loss journey with Weight Watchers.
Weight Watchers helped be build a solid foundation on the nutritional
side of being fit. I really had to consider everything I was eating
and how that would effect my efforts in the gym. I tracked the
nutritional information on anything and everything that went into my
mouth. "If you bite it, you write" became my mantra! As my knowledge
of nutrition expanded, I learned more and more about how to use the
food to fuel my body and see better gains in muscle definition at the
gym.

On the career side of things, I've been a cardiac nurse since 2007 and
I see everyday what can happen when you don't take care of your body.
This motivated me even more to do all that I can to take care of
myself. As a nurse, it's important for me to set an example for my
patients. I doubt my patients would take me very seriously, or the
education I'm trying to impart on them, when discussing the importance
of following a heart healthy diet and maintaining an exercise regimen
if it were obvious that I didn't follow those same guidelines.

My husband is my biggest fitness supporter and "partner in crime". He
places a high priority on his own physical fitness and we help to keep
each other motivated. I'm often asking him for training advice. We
want to be the example for our kids and show them all the benefits of
maintaining a healthy lifestyle through proper diet and physical
exercise. Although, this is sometimes difficult as they are still
young and tend to be quite picky at times.

For me as a mom, my one hour workouts at the gym have become my little
"get away" of sorts. With three busy kids, it's hard to find a lot of
time to focus on myself. Exercise re-charges my body and my mind and
it's a healthy outlet for stress relief. I sleep better at night and
have more energy overall. I feel better in my body and about my body
now at the age of 32 than I did when I was 22.

Thank you so much Danielle!!!!!  I really appreciated it!!!!!

Pam