Fresh year, fresh outlook!

So, yeah. I had somewhat of a rough 2012. There were times I felt overwhelmed, down, and stressed to the max. I felt like there was so much to do both at home and at work and I felt I couldn't handle it. Not that I couldn't handle it like, "omigod, I'm going to kill myself or run away" because I don't think like that at all and have three beautiful children who are my everything, whom I live for, but something eventually had to happen. I took the counseling route and went roughly 10 times, and it really did help me out. I'm not just saying that . . . it was just good to talk to someone who cared and focused on what I had to say, and never did I feel I was being self-centered because I was focusing on my needs only at those sessions, but I guess that's the point of counseling. Shortly after finishing my counseling, I decided I wanted to join the Y. So that was mid-September and I've been going ever since.

And guess what, I feel amazing! At first I was a little intimidated because I tend to get "system overload" when I am at new places, particularly the Y where I didn't even know where to go (remember, my directionally challenged self has issues with this), so I asked for directions and had them explain where everything was, so at least I had that going for me. I started off swimming laps and did that 3 times a week for a month, and then I thought more and more about trying out an elliptical machine, you know, those intimidating contraptions I saw in college when I used to walk the track. Back then, I told myself that I'd never have the strength to use one of those and I'd end up looking like a fool.

So I ventured upstairs at the Y sometime in October and looked at the machines and hopped on and realized it wasn't bad at all. Amazingly, 10 minutes felt like an eternity! I then thought about doing weights, at the advice of some fellow workout girls, so I asked the Y worker to show me how to use the machines. I didn't really have a desire to bench press, so he showed me the Cybex machines. I started off light and slowly increased the weight amounts on the different machines to suit whatever I can handle.

About three months in here, and I am now doing 30 minutes on the elliptical and I feel so amazing. Last night, I had the best workout I had ever had, and felt as though I were on top of the world. I finish up with 15 minutes of weight training. (P.S., having an mp3 player helps to not focus on the time! Plus when I hear a good song, I want to keep listening and exercising.)

It's all crystal clear now: my house is clean and I'm keeping up with it so that stress isn't there, although I am busy at work, I am tackling things top-priority down, and working out has given me such a great positivity, more than I ever could have imagined it would. I'm even reading again! I had read a bunch of novels when I had Jameson 16 months ago and was on maternity leave, but hadn't done any reading since. More reading, less Facebook is part of my New Year's resolution.

I am thinking 2013 is going to be a great year for me. With a positive outlook and reflection on how far I've come (mentally and physically), it's motivation enough for me to keep a smile on my face. I can handle anything.


Not the best picture of me, but I'm smiling and took it just for this blog post. :) So there.


Do I still have readers?