I can’t believe I have been recording my workouts for a year! (Never mind that I forgot to post last week because of Christmas. It was the only week I missed though!)

When I started this fitness journey, it was an attempt to make my body feel like mine again. After giving birth, I felt like I had lost control of my own health while focusing on George. By logging my workouts, I really wanted to make sure that I was making my fitness a priority again.

So what did I learn over the last 52 weeks?

• I need to be training for something to really kick my butt into gear. I don’t do well without a plan. I definitely worked out more when I knew I needed to get so many runs in a week. This past month I started training for a race with no race actually in mind, and it makes such a difference with my progress.
• I don’t have to have a gym to be successful. I loved our gym in Iowa, and it made me think that I had to have a gym for consistency. I have struggled with working out over the last 2 years partially because of it. Unfortunately, when we moved into our house here the gym was not a good investment since it was a half hour away. I have been able to actually keep up with workouts just as much if not more since cutting the cord with our membership.
• On the same note, sometimes I have to get creative to make a workout happen. I did workouts while wearing George in a baby carrier, and there were a couple times that I ran in circles in my kitchen and living room. You have to make it work. Also the internet is an amazing thing, and there are so many videos and apps now that you can use. I highly recommend SWORKIT if you have an Android.

• I fall off the wagon right after a race and when I am sick. So I just need to be cognizant of those times and find some motivation besides feeling sluggish to get back out there. I also don’t work out when I travel. I always have the best intentions and pack workout stuff, but my schedule when traveling never seems to allow it. So I need to remember little things that I can do like squats and lunges.
• Your happiness is not related to a number on a scale or tape measure. I was keeping track of my weight and measurements the first couple months, and it was miserable. I was miserable. I don’t do well with that type of motivation. I have never been someone to watch the numbers on the scale, and this was the first time that I really felt awful about the way that my body looked and felt so having that there was very harmful. I decided t0 focus on how I felt in my clothes and energy levels as my motivation instead of trying to be a certain number and hating myself because I wasn’t. I find this makes me a lot happier when I focus on my health instead of my weight.
• I have to make working out a priority. No one else will make it one if I don’t. I had to take charge and demand this time for myself. Some would say it was selfish to pick George up a little later a couple days a week or to insist that I worked out while George napped instead of doing the laundry or dishes that have inevitably backed up. It was something I needed to do though. Having that me time to better myself, I think makes me a better mom, wife, person in general. I am a person that needs time to recharge, and working out has those elements for me. Plus if I am sick all the time from not taking care of my health, how am I supposed to take care of anyone? I had to be ok to ask others for help so I can take 30 minutes here and there. Luckily Tom is on board with the fitness train, so having him help me do this was a no brainer for him.
• Every workout doesn’t have to be perfect or an hour long. Most of my workouts are only a half hour, and that is ok. I am still making things happen in that amount of time. There were also many workouts where George came along or climbed over me as I attempted a yoga pose. Again, the workout still happened even if I didn’t meet a PR. I showed up and that is what matters.
• These pants are motivating. There is something about crazy neon patterns that makes me want to work out when I put them on.

• All in all, my body is amazing. There were some down moments the past year where I thought my body failed me. However doing this challenge kept me pushing through each week and helped me focus on the positives. I am a lot stronger than I thought, and I did things like PR on a 10K as a thirty-year-old mom. I carry a 25 pound kid around and do things one handed all day every day. I just needed to give myself some grace and know that my body will do what God has willed it to do.

I am really glad that I did this. It pushed me out of my comfort zone to think about things differently with my fitness. It also brought me back to workouts a lot quicker than I would have had I not been logging it publicly. I won’t be doing this again on the blog just because it was a lot to keep up with each week. However, I am going to do a monthly thing though because I do like the accountability. It is going to take on a different form, but logging it does help.

My fitness goals for 2016 are:

• Work out at least twice a week with the aim of getting in three workouts.
• Run at least two races, with one being a 10K.
• Get a bike to obviously ride it. We have some great trails near us, and a bike would be great to change up my workouts.
• Keep creating an active lifestyle with my family. Now that we don’t have a move looming over our heads, I am hoping to do some more active things in the upcoming year. Like playing ball/chase in our yard, going on hikes, taking George to swim lessons and more.

What are your fitness goals for 2016? Have you ever logged your workouts?

This weekend is Tom’s 31st birthday, and I normally have a post devoted to him because that’s what every man in his 30s wants right?

Anyway, I thought I would do something a little different this year. I am going to turn the tables and have the post write itself, but I need your help.

So here is an open invitation to ask Tom any question that you would like. A raw version of Talks with Tom.

You can ask about parenthood, his job as a police officer, our dogs, working out, his handyman skills, really anything.

Maybe you will get some responses like this line from my about to be 31 year old husband.

“George is completely homemade. We just used juices and eggs we had around the house.”

So what do you want to know about Tom or want to hear from his perspective?

With all the pictures, movies, Pinterest pins, it is really easy to feel like you aren’t doing enough this time of year. It’s easy to feel like you are doing Christmas wrong if you don’t have the perfect tree with all the handmade ornaments or desserts in the shape of Santa hats.

Yes I want the holidays to be magical for George, but I also think that we need to have a balance…or some sleep.

I have to accept that our Christmas will be perfect even if it isn’t what everyone else is doing. I don’t have to be “that” parent that does it all.

I think we all have an opportunity to make our own perfect Christmases, whatever traditions that may mean for you. In my opinion, none of them are wrong as long as we are choosing joy in those moments.

So here are a few Christmas traditions we won’t be doing because they will drain my joy.

And that’s ok.

• Elf On The Shelf-I just honestly can’t get behind this. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy everyone else’s creativity. I am amused daily at what people come up with. I, however, won’t be taking the time to be the mastermind behind hiding a plastic doll every night.
• Santa magic-George is really too young for this anyway, but we won’t be making fake footprints, putting out milk, or etc. I don’t mind Santa-I have dozens of Santa figurines around our house. However, I want George to be mindful of the spirit of Christmas and not be wrapped up in the hype and commercialism that Santa brings. Also I am not good at storytelling so keeping up with this charade would be EXHAUSTING. I am impressed with people who have elaborate stories and gimmicks with their kids. I just wouldn’t be able to keep up. We also didn’t see Santa this year…While it is cute to have pictures of George with Santa, here are my thoughts-a) when you think about putting your kid in the lap of a stranger that is weird, b) I have no desire to stand in line with a toddler, and c) we didn’t plan ahead, plain and simple. Anyway, I didn’t grow up believing in Santa, and I still love the holiday season just fine. I know I am a Grinch.
• Handmade ornaments of any sort. You would think with my crafty spirit, I would be all about homemade stuff. But, we won’t be having any footprint salt-dough or Popsicle things in our house. I will be honest; I do not have time for it. Last year I thought about it on Christmas day but didn’t have enough energy in me to do something about it. And that is my sentiment this year as well. I only get a few days off, and I don’t want to spend it forcing everyone to do crafts. I am not against doing them, just against organizing them. So unless someone else initiates getting the supplies and carves out a time to do it, these types of holiday things are not happening in our house. Sorry grandparents for not getting you George’s hand-print.
• Gingerbread Houses. I have never ever gotten these…Why are we wasting so much candy? If George wants to do that, he can do that on someone else’s dime. We eat candy in our house.

George still is too young to really get what is going on, so we haven’t really started any “traditions” yet. The only thing I have started is reading about the Nativity. We have a great pop up book that he loves interacting with as I tell him about Jesus. Next year when George is two and a half, we will be ready to really start some traditions like cookie decorating, matching pajamas, and driving around to see lights.

This is the first time we haven’t been traveling all over the place for the holidays. I will actually wake up in my OWN bed on Christmas day, which is definitely a Christmas miracle considering all the traveling we have done over the years. We also have a tree of our own for the first time ever which is a big step in the holiday magic in my opinion. We are just trying to enjoy the little things and not make a production out of every moment which I feel is what is expected of us as parents.

I don’t need that stress. George doesn’t need us that stressed to be perfect. We each just need to find those things that bring us joy, not the internet joy. The first Christmas happened in a dirty stable, so I feel ok that we don’t have lights outside of our house. I am choosing joy because this is my best. And I think the best thing we can teach George is how to be joyful.

So we are going to do us, and we will celebrate you doing you with your creativity over there without being jealous of each other. There are many ways to make this season Merry and Bright, so let’s not put pressure on each other to measure up to a Pinterest perfect Christmas.

The only thing I can guarantee is that there will always be lots of pictures. Because I am totally “THAT” mom.

And that’s ok.

What are traditions that you love this time of year? Are there any that you are a Grinch about too and won’t do?

Not to sound pompous but I work to be a perfectly flawless person. Clearly, I know this is not reality, but I strive for perfection, and will over-think things at length when they aren’t. Perfectionism is not one of my proudest attributes of all time.

It is important for me to remember that every moment isn’t going to be perfect, and there is some beauty in that.

Or humor.

So here I am opening up about some of my imperfections for everyone’s enjoyment today. Get excited.

• Earlier this week, I must have gotten distracted while putting on my make-up because I forgot to put mascara on one of my eyes. I didn’t realize it until my morning bathroom run that my face looked uneven. I almost went to the store over my lunch break to fix my naked eye, but I just went with it. Nobody gave me weird stares or said anything, so either they are all way to kind, or my five minute make-up routine makes absolutely no difference in what people think.
• I am a scenery driver, meaning that I look for landmarks to know where to turn. We live outside of city limits and the highway has no lights whatsoever. Before it got dark, I was using this electricity pole to mark where I need to start slowing down where I turn to get to our house because the street just kind of jumps out at you. But now that it is dark at a ridiculously early hour, I can’t see that light post. Which means, I miss our street at least 2 or 3 times a week. I get lost going to our house 50% of the week.
• I had a doctor’s appointment the other day where I had to disrobe for a physical. I remembered 5 minutes before I left the house that I didn’t shave my legs. Folks, I don’t even know when the last time I shaved them was. Toddlers don’t allow for that kind of time. Anyway, to not be utterly mortified at the doctor’s office I put on my knee-high dress socks and kept them on during the appointment so they couldn’t see how I had let myself go. #momhack
• I haven’t stopped wearing maternity tank tops. Honestly I will probably wear them forever because they are made much longer and they are just more comfortable than regular camis. You should check them out. You are welcome.
• I really hate being late. It is one of my biggest pet peeves, and I schedule myself extra time to ensure I am not late. Except Mondays. For some reason, Mondays win the war. I cannot for the life of me get George and I to where we need to be on time. Every.Single.Week. The other four days I am always on time if not early, but not Mondays.
• Monday night I actually did an ab workout. Then I ate several handfuls of gummy bears and a bowl of ice cream when I was done. Those abs are mine!
• I would really love to have a picture of the dogs and George but this is what I can manage to get. Taking pictures is sometimes really hard.

 Do you have any funny things to share? Are you able to get your kids and pets to sit nicely-together-in one spot-for several minutes-in a row? What is your secret?