Blog-O-Versary -- Oct. 23

Where have I been?

My parents bought a 55 y.o. fixer-upper around the corner from us here in Utah. I told them I would repair and paint the living room and bedrooms before they moved their stuff in (I love doing that kind of work). I figured I had 6 months to a year before they sold their home in Arizona. They sold it within 3 weeks!!!! Who would have thought that possible in this market? I barely finished before they moved their belongings in last Thursday. My blogoversary occurred during the break, but in honor of it, here's a review of the year:

THIS TIME LAST YEAR

I was fairly new to our neighborhood/town/state, discouraged and lonely. I was new to blogging. Before that, I had hardly surfed the web or anything. Fitness blogging seemed to be a great community for learning and support. I nervously began my own blog to hear myself think, so to speak. What did I think? I was so out of practice -- out of touch with me. I was out of touch with feeling anything and using binge eating as a coping mechanism. But, I gave blogging a shot.

BLOGGING HABITS - Morphed

My blog began as a place for me to be accountable and to explore my feelings about my fitness journey. As people began to comment, I began spending hours surfing blogs. Blogging was becoming another form of addiction for me rather than a tool. I liked networking and gaining more followers, but I think I lost my original focus. Now, I want to blog to give words of encouragement and hope to meet with those who feel connected to me, too, and offer me support when I'm down.

FIRST FITNESS BLOG I EVER READ

Crabby McSlacker's Cranky Fitness

FIRST PERSON TO COMMENT ON MY BLOG

KatieO of Boppa Ding Ding

FIRST PERSON TO FOLLOW MY BLOG

Larkspur of Am I Really That Fat?

WHAT AM I LEARNING?

Fitness is such a work in progress, old habits are hard to break, and it isn't going to happen over night. I'm learning it's not about the weight entirely or working out to get someone else's body. It's about feeling better and stronger in my body. I go for that walk (short or long) not because I want to get a certain image anymore; it's because I feel better when I do. I'm happier, nicer, and feel better in my skin.

GOALS I'VE ADOPTED

Back to Basics - with the exception of the not-eating-b4-bed part, I'm rethinking that one and desiring to apply intuitive eating instead of some rule.

Wake-up walks with my family

Thankful journal

Recording what I eat -- I haven't blogged about this, yet. I don't measure or count calories, but I do write what I ate for the day. This helps my awareness. This also helps if I have some sort of physical reaction to what I've ingested.

Eating more nutrient-filled foods, more veggies -- Veggie Quest Blog

Controlling binge habit (progress)

HABITS THAT NEED WORK

Resistance training

Routine workouts

Hydrate

Prayer -- why am I always trying to do this (face struggles) on my own?

IT SOUNDED GOOD AT THE TIME

Jumping Rope -- I did not wear proper shoes. Between jumping rope and jogging, I developed plantar fasciitis. I gave the rope up.

Scales -- I've stopped weighing myself. I'll discuss that more later while I do my "homework" for a class I am taking, "Food for the Soul."

INJURIES AND ILLNESSES

Swine Flu

Plantar Fasciitis

Fell on knee -- It didn't keep me from exercising, but it was bruised for several months and at least 6 months before being able to "get" on that knee.

Cellulitis

PF revisited.

Twisted ankle.

CONTROVERSIAL POSTS

When A Spouse Calls You Fat -- Reposted here: Am I Really That Fat?

"Torrid Affair" reposted here: Am I Really That Fat?

THINGS I BEGAN BUT PUT ON HOLD

Roth - Women, Food, and God (labeled "Roth WFG) -- I read through the book once and then wanted to read it again and blog about my ponderings and ah-hah moments over it. I still want to do that, but other things became a priority.

Yoga video - A good habit that is hard to start. My lame excuses: time, tired, and too many toys on the floor.

Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred -- (see Yoga) This was going to alternate with the yoga videos. I like it for the exercises and how I feel afterwards (not during).

LIFE EVENTS

Sunday School Teacher - mixed emotions

New addition to family - German Shepherd puppy

Saying good-bye to Daisy

hubby transferred

youngest begins K

parents moving here

CHALLENGES

Primal Stride -- It went very well and then the initiator of the challenge stopped it.

C25K -- Did it!!

Race to 10 -- I was doing well then hit a depression (about the plantar fasciitis) and a binge-fest for a couple of months. The race is done.

6K -- I did it, sort of. My goal was to run the 6K. Plantar fasciitis came back and then I twisted my ankle at the bottom of our stairs. I slowly walked the 6K while pushing my son in the stroller.

AWARDS

Happy 101

Versatile Blogger and here for lie results

"A Blog With Substance" (Oct.) from Michele of Ruminations and Uncovering: Toward a New Me!! -- Thank you, Michele! I will honor that award with it's own post soon.