Time for an update! 

Well, I have to say that 21 Day Fix has been a resounding success.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m still fat, but I’m less fat than I was and that makes me feel great - and I’m getting stronger as well as eating better which are also really good things. 

I didn’t have the mondo success that some people have on the 21 Day Fix “15 lbs. in 21 days” etc. though I do know some folks who have had that level of success. For me it has been gradual. First round was 8 lbs., second round was 6 lbs. (after gaining 4 back over Christmas/New Years) so after 2 rounds – as of January 25 I was down a total of 10 lbs.  I’m in the middle of round 3 right now and I’m down another 2 since the start which takes me to 12 lbs. lost since December 1^st so its darn close to the ‘recommended 2 lbs. a week for healthy weight loss’ pace.  Not too shabby!  Best part is about a week and half ago I couldn’t put it off any longer – I had to go out and buy new jeans because my old ones were falling off of me.  Literally – I was walking down the hallway at work with something in each of my hands and had to try to ‘stick out my belly’ in order to prevent my jeans from falling down.  Suck in my belly I’m familiar with – stick it out – not so much.  So off to WallyWorld for a cheap pair of new jeans – 2 SIZES smaller than the ones doing the London Bridge impression.  Woo hoo.  Looking forward to them ending up on the ‘pants were falling down’ heap as well.

Now I’m at the ‘do I keep doing this 21 Day Fix over and over ad infinitum’ question and I decided that while I enjoy the workouts and the food plan is easy to follow I need a bit of a change.  So off to the Beachbody website to order the PiYo Challenge Pack.  Eight weeks of Pilates/Yoga hybrid and I’m looking forward to trying it out.  Now that I’m in the habit of exercising thanks to 21 Day Fix I’m ready to take on more. 

Plus, I also signed up to be a Beachbody Coach – (What? you ask. But you are still considerably overweight? Who would want you to be their coach?) – Yes, I know I am, but I’m really interested in helping others like me tackle the same issues and programs that I’m working on. It’s a lot of fun to work out with others and I love the idea of doing that – but in the privacy of our own homes – even our own states.  

So that’s where I am right now, still on track (unbelievable) and heading for more. If you’d like more information or would like to join me in a 21 Day Fix Challenge Group or learn more about the Beachbody programs or Shakeology please check out my website for more info: -http://www.beachbodycoach.com/Ronile999

The Kindergarten Chronicles

My youngest child is about to start Kindergarten in 13 days. She is incredibly excited about going to school, meeting new friends, riding a bus and all of the adventure that school brings.

She feels that way because that is how we have approached the advent of her elementary school years.

The start of a Great Learning Adventure!

It is also how we approached the start of school 8 years ago for her 12 year old sister and her 6 year old sister last year when they were facing walking into a classroom by themselves for the first time. We tell them it is/was okay to be nervous about school, even a little bit apprehensive but there is no reason to be scared of going to school.

I believe that as a parent it is my job to make sure my kids are prepared for school and that they are looking forward to it. I think I’ve done that because when I asked her if she was even a “little bit worried” about going to school she looked at me like I was crazy and said “Noooo” in the way only a 5 year old can.

I know that there are a lot of people getting ready to send their 5 year olds out the door to embark on this Great Adventure and they are terrified, and sadly many are passing that fear and terror along to the new grade schooler. It’s the first time in their lives that we really send them off to do something ON THEIR OWN. Even if “going off to school” is nothing new to them, like in two working parent families where the kids have been in day care and pre-school since they were in diapers. This is different, no doubt about it. For the first time in their lives we are not signing them in and signing them out or taking them to a friend or relatives house. We are putting them on busses, dropping them off at the door, letting them walk to their classroom “by themselves” (don’t worry the people at the school will help if they get lost), having them remember their lunch, buying their own milk, making friends, HOMEWORK (yep, homework is a regular part of kindergarten these days), being graded on things. Big Kid Stuff.

We are letting them go. Just a little bit though.

I know a number of parents who are very nervous about this new stage in their child’s life. They are afraid their baby is growing up too fast, afraid that they won’t fit in, afraid that they will get lost, afraid that they won’t make friends and have someone to eat lunch with, afraid that their feelings will get hurt, afraid that they are “already behind”, afraid that something will go “wrong”.

Here’s my take on that. Your baby is not growing up to fast – they are growing up at exactly the right pace and are exactly where they should be. Sometimes they won’t fit in, other times they will fit in perfectly. They’re bound to get lost in school at least once, but someone nice will help them, and someday they’ll help another child. They will make friends, but not with everyone. They will eat lunch with friends some days, and they may eat lunch alone at other times. Sometimes they will cry when their feelings get hurt but mostly they will smile. No one is already behind – it is kindergarten. Things will go wrong and things will go right. Then they’ll come home and tell you all about it, so remember, the bad will be HORRIBLE, the good will be GREAT, and the reality will be somewhere in between.

Just like the adventure that is life.