If you want to follow along, please subscribe! & if you have any weight loss tips or success stories, I’d love to hear them.
Author: macquelanderson
30 Days of Fitness
On January 10th, I unknowingly began a challenge with myself.
The previous week was REALLY rough for me. I was depressed & feeling so unmotivated to do anything. Even a simple task like doing the dishes or folding laundry seemed out of reach & daunting. I couldn’t face it. The week started coming to a close & I was able to enjoy some one-on-one time with my honey, who has been working such hard, long hours these days. I talked to him about how much I missed the gym & how I ached to feel healthy again.
On Tuesday the 10th, I cleaned in the morning, entertained & chased Hayes, ate lunch & finally got him down for his nap. This is when I get my workouts in when I’m feeling up to it. Before Hayes was even asleep, I put on my workout clothes so I would HAVE to work out. I’ve been on a serious Fitness Marshall kick lately. It’s a fitness Youtube channel that has dance routines to new hits. I made a playlist & as soon as Hayes zonked out, I danced it out! I even recorded myself dancing for one song, because I want to compare it down the road.
On Wednesday, I did the same thing. Cleaned the house, played with Hayes, ate lunch & put Hayes down for his nap. I turned on my playlist & danced my heart out.
On Thursday, I held strong & kept up the routine! Except this time, I used a Pinterest board for inspiration & found an arm & shoulders hand weight work out to do before my normal dance routine.
& so, the challenge begins! For the next 30 days, or 27 now, I will be working out for at least 30 minutes per day. My 26th birthday is on Valentine’s Day & I want to end my 25th year on a high note!
Tomorrow’s workout: Lower Body/Cardio aka lots of squats & LOTS of sweat
Let’s do this!
2017 | The Resolutions
The past few months, I’ve thought endlessly about the upcoming year. I hope it’s a year full of growth & learning, but in a much different way than 2016. This past year, I’ve learned a lot about how I cope with my own insecurities, anxieties & depression. I’ve made a lot of changes to deal with these in a healthy way & I want so badly to continue & maintain these habits.
And so, my resolutions will encourage & help me do just that. They all contribute to my mental health & sanity. Things that I know that I need. Things that I have already learned in the past, but have since forgotten.
fitness
The main reason why people fail to reach their fitness goals is because they don’t create REALISTIC, short-term goals.
We can all say, “I want to lose 2o…or 40…or 75 lbs,” which is all fine & wonderful, BUT those are not short term. A weekly or monthly short term goal helps us stay accountable & real with ourselves.
Here are a couple tips (from someone who has lost 70 lbs in the past) for setting these short term goals:
- Focus on lifestyle changes. For example, drink 60 oz of water every day this week, only one diet soda, eat 4 servings of vegetables every day, walk 10,000 steps, stay within my calories/macros, etc.)
- Create a realistic weekly goal. If your goal is to lose weight, it should not be more than 1-2 lbs per week. If your goal is to make it to the gym or workout a certain amount of days, assess your schedule. Even if your goal is just 2 days at the gym for 30 minutes to an hour, that is better than nothing! For me, it’s not realistic to want to hit the gym 5 days a week. I know for a fact that I wouldn’t be able to reach that goal. At least right now.
- Keep a food journal. Whether it’s a notebook or through an app like MyFitnessPal or Weight Watchers (I just joined a month ago & LOVE it), keep tabs on EVERYTHING you eat.
- Keep a list of your “WHY’s”. Why do you want to make these changes? Why is this so important to you? Is it for health? For your children?
- Come up with short term goal rewards! Each milestone you reach should be worth celebrating. They can be after every 5 or 10 lbs lost, if you got to the gym or completed your weekly workout goals, or simply when you feel like you need it! On my list are opportunities for pampering, so pedicures, or facials, a fancier date night, a new necklace I’ve been wanting, a new outfit.
- Don’t obsess with the scale! Weighing yourself every day at different times of the day isn’t accurate. I totally have this problem, & it’s bad enough that I have to have my husband hide it from me, until my weekly weigh-in day.
- Stick with your goals for AT LEAST 4 weeks. It’s only common to get discouraged when you don’t see physical changes after all your hard work. I feel like I’ve seen this graphic a million times, but it’s such a good reminder that your results aren’t going to be immediate, but it will be worth it!
travel
I LOVE to travel. From road trips to see family, to going to Harry Potter World, to a nice week on the beach. But because we’ve been a little tight the past couple years, we haven’t been able to travel much. This year, I want to make it happen. At least one trip. Travel is good for you soul, ya know?
My goal is to open a travel savings account & create a savings plan.
We’ve wanted to go back to Universal Studios every since we went a couple years ago. It’s also been a hot minute since either of us have been to Disneyland… & by a “hot minute”, I mean, 20 years! So…it’s time!
organize
This applies to every aspect of my life, which makes the list quite long, but to name a few:
- Create a budget
- Make a weekly/daily chore list
- Master bedroom closet storage
- Downstairs hallway closet
- Kitchen pantry & shelves
- Mail sorting bin
A new year, means new goals & new beginnings. We can each begin 2017 with a clean slate & a renewed motivation. Find your WHY & do it!
here’s to love, success & happiness in 2017
Wheeler Farm
It’s been years since I’ve gone to Wheeler Farm without shooting a wedding or portrait session. It was fun to just go explore with the kiddos.
The babies giggled as they watch Kate chase the “swans”. We corrected her & told her that they were geese, but she insisted that they were swans.
They always tell you to write down the simple, cute things that kids do:
- Kate found a pretty feather & walked around asking each duck or goose if the feather was theirs.
- When asked what her favorite part of the trip was, she said it was the horses.
- The second I put Hayes in his stroller he started belly laughing. Jess & I couldn’t figure out why. We, including May, were giggly at his giggling. Kate walked past him & his laughing started up again & again with each pass. It was the most adorable thing. Hayes has always loved other little humans.
Oquirrh Lake
We took one last jaunt around Oquirrh Lake before the snow decided to make a late appearance. I had to take off my coat because it was so warm. Welcome to Utah. You never know what to expect in November, or April, or well.. Any month. Because it could snow sideways in May.
Also, this new lens is going to take some getting used to, but I’m loving it already.
Trick or Treat!
Our Little Family 2016
Hayes’ First Pumpkin
More like the day Hayes ATE his first pumpkin.
Super Awesome Day
Hayes has the squarest, chunkiest feet in the land & it has been quite the challenge trying to find shoes that fit him just right. I bought these shoes last year before Hayes was even born. They were on sale up at the Nike outlet in Park City & I just couldn’t resist.
They finally fit him & they are (so far) the only shoes that he’ll keep on!
Silver Lake
Utah in the fall is EVERYTHING.
We didn’t have much time to explore because I was meeting some clients & we only had a few extra minutes. I love having a job that makes me spend time in these beautiful canyons.
beautifulthingsawaityou.com 