Waterton Lakes National Park Canada

I was a little unsure this week about taking my 6 month old on a hike, especially because I would be the one to carry her, but I did it.

I climbed up Bear's Hump in Waterton Canada. I know that it's not an extremely long distance, but it's almost directly uphill. I thought my legs were going to fall off. But it was so worth it.


I know I can take her now. Really she slept the whole way up, so she felt a lot like dead weight. I never thought that a little 16 pounder would feel so heavy when she went limp.

I was just so excited. Thought I would let ya'll know.

WOW!!

I've posted a lot on this blog regarding the Healthy Wife Happy Life Challenge. I joined there group the end of March and have been inspired and uplifted every day. These women are amazing. That is absolutely an understatement. There are no words to describe these women. If you haven't read my past posts, then check out there blog. http://ahealthywifeequalshappylife.blogspot.com/

The blog is designed as a challenge. Each day you get certain points based on the healthy choices you've made. At the end of the two-three week challenge, we report our numbers. The winner is recognized with a picture on the blog and a post.

So last night, we finally got to meet. A few of the women were in town and those who lived around the area got together for dinner. We were so sad not everyone was able to make it, but hopefully we'll all be able to meet in the near future. (Maybe we'll have to plan the next meeting in Wyoming:)

Here's my take on the evening. I had very mixed emotions about finally meeting everyone. For, one, we were physically complete strangers, but I also knew that these women had been a huge support to me. They knew my struggles. They new my strengths. They knew me. I was excited to put a face to a name. I was also a little nervous. See in a blog world, especially this blog, it is a very safe zone. Deep thoughts are shared by all. I was afraid, if we met, and we didn't get along, that safe zone would no longer exist.

I have to say that last night exceeded my expectations. More than I could have even imagined. These women are incredible. They were incredible to me in the blogging world, and they are even more incredible in person. This blog is exactly what I needed at the exact right moment in my life. We laughed, we cried, we shared deep thoughts which I am so grateful for. So, in the end, to all you Healthy Wives out there, thank you for an incredible evening. This blog has so much more meaning meeting you all in person. Hopefully I will get pictures soon to share with you.

And the best part is, the next challenge starts on Monday. We are open to any and all who want to join. Unfortunately, I will be out of the "challenge" until school starts. To many fun plans with the family in the works, but I will continue to check the blog and support each of you in any way possible.

And, Mama Nut, if you're reading this. We missed you, (hope to recruit you, oops did I say that out loud:) and hope you can join us at our next gathering. Maybe we'll have to plan it in your neck of the woods so you can join us!

I read this on a blog this morning and absolutely loved the writing and meaning behind it. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did:

I see it now, you surrendered to food. I don't mean you gave up and relinquished your power to it in the conventional definition of "surrender".... no, you took a big sigh and made the decision to stop fighting against it. To accept that food was there to stay, and like any other reality, it had to be accepted, and dealt with, collaboratively. If you couldn't beat it (and yourself) into submission, conquer it, than you had to find a way to co-exist with it, in a way that allowed you both to flourish. That way, you're still you, in charge of you, enjoying and living with food which is free to be whatever it is.

AWESOME!

Calling All Utah Women

October 9, 2010

Where: Thanksgiving Point

Start Time: 10 K Run starts at 8:30

5K Run/Walk starts at 8:35

Register: Open Now! $25 (10K) $20 (5K)

www.WasatchWoman.com

www.active.com

http://www.active.com/running/lehi-ut/wasatch-woman-love-your-body-5k10k-2010

(keyword: wasatch woman)

*Run is 3.72 miles (6K) to include Thanksgiving Point Gardens

I'm signed up! I'll be taking the kids so we will most likely be doing the 5K walk. No men allowed! My mom did this run last year. The t-shirts were incredible. Cute design and my favorite, dri fit! The registration to pick up the t-shirts was a bit disorganized last year, but they said there are five places to pick up your t shirt this year. Anyone interested? What a perfect time of year for a race!

Summer Camping With a Baby

Anyone have any advice for Camping with a child under 1 year old?

Anything I should make sure I don't forget?

Reverse Thoughts Are In Order

I read this and thought it was so neat:

I will always be fat
and I refuse to believe that
I can loose this weight
I do
realize that isn't the way most people think but
"Eating to live instead of living to eat"
That's just not working out, and I truly believe
Eating what I want will make me happier in the end
It's just a big fat lie, thinking
Being fit is the most important thing in my life.
Now I understand that
Making myself happy with food
Is more important than
Making myself healthy with food
And this much is true:
People are succeeding at loosing weight every day
But I know in my heart this will not be the case for me
This could wind up killing me
Doctors tell me
I will shorten my life and steal time away from my family
Right now it doesn't seem possible that
I can change my ways and be fit for the rest of my life
This is what I believe:
This journey is just to tough for me
I don't even want to consider the fact that
I can control the cause of my shortcomings and my failings
It's just a fact of life that
People like me are weak willed and lazy
And it's ridiculous to believe that
I will loose weight and be healthy

Now read it backwards

Amazing? Not only are we changing our eating habits, but our mental habits too!

The Choices We Make...

Have you ever noticed that this weight loss journey can be a two step forward, and a one step back kind of deal? You'll score a good week, feel like you are doing great, and then comes a little slip up. A night out. A lunchtime celebration. A slice of pizza that turns into a half a pie. Sometimes I go through days where I feel like a rock star, and other times, I feel like this weight is never going to come off.

But there is something we all need to understand: FALLING IS NOT FAILING!

GIVING IN IS NOT GIVING UP!

It is such a hard game. One minute you feel like you've got a handle on things. You might even feel like it is so easy. The next minute you find yourself struggling, hungry for something you know won't fill you up, won't make you happy.

This is a game of chance, not a game of luck. The setbacks are just us, doing in our hearts what we know is not right. We can make excuses. I used to see skinny people and think how lucky they were to not struggle with their weight. But, it's the choices they make verses the choices I make.

We either choose to do it, or not. Even though it sometimes doesn't feel like a choice, it most definitely is. The rules are so simple: get the eating under control, and work a little exercise into your day. Make good choices most days, and the best ones available to you on the other days.

It's not easy, and it's not a game. It's your life and a roll of the dice isn't what gets you moving. It's just you!

BTW, a new challenge on Healthy Wife Happy Life starts Monday. I highly recommend it to all those looking for a strong support group. I have to tell you, I am so excited to meet some of these fantastic women. A few of them are coming into town in a couple weeks, and we are all getting together. These women have changed my life in more ways than I can even express in writing. If you are interested in joining this fantastic group, check this blog out:

http://ahealthywifeequalshappylife.blogspot.com/