Hey All,

I’m a mom, teacher, podcaster, avid reader, student, and overall busy person!  I’ve always been a fitness lover and actually enjoy working out and look forward the the physical and emotional benefits of doing so.  Since I’m home during the summer, it’s always my fittest time of the year then when school starts it takes me about a month or so to get back into the groove of hitting the gym at 5:00AM.  This year however, it’s been very stressful and crazy at work and it’s taken me until now to get back to working out… Unfortunately, I need my sleep and it’s hard to get up that early anymore. I’m out of the habit and going out into a New England winter in the dark at 4:45AM is not something that is easy to do.. That alarm goes off and it’s time roll over!  I’ve decided to try to make time at other times of the day in order to get it done.  Just because I’m not there at the crack of dawn doesn’t mean that I have permission to blow it off entirely!

Not surprisingly, I’m at my highest weight ever and feeling pretty crappy about it.  My diet is usually pretty good (lots of whole foods, little processed junk and about a gallon of water a day) but without the exercise, at 42, the scale has not been my friend.  I’m still more active than a lot of people but for me, it’s not enough.  So, between home, school, classes and my web stuff, I’m determined to carve out some time to lift at least 3 times a week and do some daily cardio (which I can do on my free period at work… running up and down 3 flights of stairs for 20 minutes is quite a workout!) I also love Yoga and will get back to that. 

Since I’m on vacation this week, I’ve already written down my gym workouts and classes in my calendar and plan on sticking to them.  Wish me luck!!

btw… I’ve been a listener since Day 1 and love the show.

Hey Karen - Thanks for dropping by and letting us all get to know you a bit.

It’s cool you’ve been listening since day 1 and I haven’t run you off yet!  I take that as a great compliment.

This community is really becoming something special and I’m glad that you have decided to be part of it.

You certainly haven’t run me off...after all you’re talking directly to me every week, right ?  Btw...just listened to your interview on Adam’s Burning 20 and when he asked you about your rewards I thought for sure you were going to say Frisky Treats!

I’m pretty sore right now because it was a leg day, so I’m heading out to the hot tub even though it’s in the single digits here.  It will still feel pretty good on those muscles.  I’m not complaining though, because that feeling means that I’m starting over and getting back on track. 

Gentle Yoga tomorrow to stretch it all out…

Hey Karen,

Welcome to the forum.  You certainly are an inspriation to all of us.  It really is amazing the effect of being an active member in this forum has on you.  I look forward to learning from you.  It is really great that you have made it a priority to fit in doing some form of exercise each day.

All the best,
Stu

Hi Karen -

I can really relate to the summer v winter thing. While I don’t have summers off, it is light enough here in the summer to get in a couple hours of outside play time after work.  But in the winter not so much.  And I totally have trouble with getting up in the morning, which is only compounded by the dark and cold.

Enjoy your week off and the extra workout time. Tomorrow is a holiday for me, and while I do have to go in to work for part of the day, I’m looking forward to the extra hiking time later if the weather is good.