I should be reading for my classes. Instead I am playing on the internet hoping the Mr gets online before 2300. So I figured we would talk about me! Around Halloween I really started having a hard time sleeping. I either couldn't fall asleep or I couldn't stay asleep. I was absolutely exhausted. So I made an appointment to have a physical. I got on the scale and it said, in bright red letters, 160! WHAT?!?! Who let the fat girl get on the scale?? No really, who?? I hadn't weighed that much since I was a Private stationed in Korea, throwing back Miller Genuine Draft like it was my job!!! WOW!
That is when I decided that I needed to get back in the gym. I put my Y membership to good use. I started slow, one day a week cardio and one day a week for push ups and sit ups. After about a month I increased it to 2 days for cardio one day for push ups and sit ups. When the husband was home for R&R I took it a little easier. When his leave was over, I decided to try the "girl" workout classes. By girl, I mean the step aerobics and cardio boot camp! Well, I was in for a surprise...
Those "girl" classes kick my butt six ways from Sunday!! and they WORK!!! I have lost 15 lbs. and about 3-4 inches. I can see the difference in some aspects. My muscles are bigger and I can run again!!! At 160 lbs I was by no means large, but I was uncomfortable. I was not happy with the image I saw in the mirror. At 150 I couldn't keep up with the kids either. The benefits of being in the gym 3 days a week for 2 hours are exponential; I am sleeping without medication, I am making better food choices, I don't CRAVE the caffeine and I feel amazing!!! Not to mention that I am starting to get the nice toned muscles that I had pre children, back!!!
In an attempt to have those rocking six pack abs that I really want, I am really watching what I eat. I downloaded an app called "lose it," I know it is not 100% accurate but it makes you really consider the food that you put on your plate. I never thought I would drink as much water as I do. I fill my 32 oz bottle at least 3 times a day! Which means I have very little room for sodas. I love Dr Pepper and Mt Dew, but I would rather eat a steak and a baked potato than drink my calories. So water is my choice of beverage.
When I started this workout regime, I didn't really have any goals, other than to keep up with the kids. Now that I see what I can accomplish, I have set some goals...
to run 6 miles non stop
to run a 7 min mile (again)
to have muscle tone and definition
to lose at least 3 more inches!
to jump on the trampoline without a cause and effect, effect! LOL
Until next time.......
While not lofty goals, I know that it will take hard work and lots of sweat to achieve them.
Daisypath Friendship tickers
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
This is what it comes down to....
16 Afghans dead at the hands of an American Soldier...Who do we blame? Do we cast the blame solely on the Soldier? Or maybe on the circumstances? Do we even have a clear view on what the circumstances were? Troubles at home? Troubles within the unit? Who knows!
What I do know is that the mental health of United States service members should be at the top of every one's list of concerns. There is so much information about mental health, yet no one is really doing anything about it. Check the block actions are not going to cut it. These men and women are coming home to the everyday stresses of life. They are coming home to husbands and wives that have discovered an independence. They are coming home to children that barely know them. Yet, the block gets checked. Soldiers deploy over and over. Back to back tours. Still the block gets checked. There is no real counseling, there is no real mental health check up.
It is not hard to see how a Soldier can completely get lost in a place like Afghanistan. There is no telling what kind of "outside" of the job stressors were in his life. Personally I am not surprised that something like this hasn't happened sooner.
Nothing will change. The Soldiers will return home, the block will be checked and mental issues will be left untreated. Family and friends will have to watch as a Soldier deteriorates or creates more problems for themselves and their families.
Why is the divorce rate so high? Can't imagine...19 years old marrying the first thing that pays them any sort of attention. Allowed to do it, because no one wants to sit a 19 year old kid down and tell them that they might be making a bad decision. Soldiers in financial straights...well I can't imagine that either! Let's throw all kinds of money at these kids and they will know what to do with it.
How about we solve the problems before they can happen? Let's require that service members attend group counseling sessions. No rank, no uniforms, just a group of men and women that have been through the same type of things. Let's require family counseling. It isn't easy raising a family when one parent is consistently gone. Instead of throwing money at Soldiers, let's teach Soldiers and their families how to manage their money better. Require that Soldiers attend a financial management class with every pcs.
A class that actually teaches, not a check the block. Checking the block is doing nothing for Soldiers and their families.
Let's solve a few of the divorce rate problems. Require that service members be a certain rank before being allowed to marry. Require that all service members and their soon to be spouse attend counseling before getting married.
What I do know is that the mental health of United States service members should be at the top of every one's list of concerns. There is so much information about mental health, yet no one is really doing anything about it. Check the block actions are not going to cut it. These men and women are coming home to the everyday stresses of life. They are coming home to husbands and wives that have discovered an independence. They are coming home to children that barely know them. Yet, the block gets checked. Soldiers deploy over and over. Back to back tours. Still the block gets checked. There is no real counseling, there is no real mental health check up.
It is not hard to see how a Soldier can completely get lost in a place like Afghanistan. There is no telling what kind of "outside" of the job stressors were in his life. Personally I am not surprised that something like this hasn't happened sooner.
Nothing will change. The Soldiers will return home, the block will be checked and mental issues will be left untreated. Family and friends will have to watch as a Soldier deteriorates or creates more problems for themselves and their families.
Why is the divorce rate so high? Can't imagine...19 years old marrying the first thing that pays them any sort of attention. Allowed to do it, because no one wants to sit a 19 year old kid down and tell them that they might be making a bad decision. Soldiers in financial straights...well I can't imagine that either! Let's throw all kinds of money at these kids and they will know what to do with it.
How about we solve the problems before they can happen? Let's require that service members attend group counseling sessions. No rank, no uniforms, just a group of men and women that have been through the same type of things. Let's require family counseling. It isn't easy raising a family when one parent is consistently gone. Instead of throwing money at Soldiers, let's teach Soldiers and their families how to manage their money better. Require that Soldiers attend a financial management class with every pcs.
A class that actually teaches, not a check the block. Checking the block is doing nothing for Soldiers and their families.
Let's solve a few of the divorce rate problems. Require that service members be a certain rank before being allowed to marry. Require that all service members and their soon to be spouse attend counseling before getting married.
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