Day 3

Biggest news of the day...I actually made a friend! Kenna has gymnastics class at the YMCA and has a friend Aidan whom has been in class with her for a few months. Not only does Aidan talk about Kenna all the time but it would seem I would have a lot in common with his mom and that we raise our children in similar ways. So not only would Kenna have an awesome play date, but I have the chance to be social again. So I finally worked up the courage to suggest a play date today..we are going to get together next week. This may not seem like a challenge that needed to be overcome, but for me it is. Outside of friends from work, I have not made any new friends since 2006. I know, sad right? Well what else would you expect from someone who was so obvlivious to the world around them, not to mention the depression. So for me, the first friend I have made in 3 years is a big deal!

I was able to make it to the gym twice today. I snuck in a quick session at 5:30 this morning while Kenna was still sleeping and returned for a longer more aggressive work out in the late afternoon (Kenna loves going to the drop in day care and playing with the other kids while I am working out). My morning routine was rather light (yoga, stretching, weight lifting, and riding the bike), however, it gave me a great energy for the day and allowed me to hit the gym again later and push myself harder than yesterday....again as long as I am trying harder than the day before I will get positive results. I did more cardio the second time (2 miles on treadmill, 30 minutes on elliptical, and of course another 4 miles on the bike). I was able to run 3/4 mile longer than yesterday and add another mile onto my bike routine. Defiantly on the right track.

This feels good...why did I not decide to take this seriously a long time ago....

Day 2

Today was the best day I have had for quite sometime. Just knowing that I am doing what I can to become a better person is making me incredibly happy and motivated to change. This is in turn affecting those around me and I am already sensing a positive change in my life. I know I can do it this time. I really can have a happy family.

My workout, while pretty much my normal routine, had its own energy about it. I just didn't want to stop until I couldn't push myself any further. When I woke up this morning I found myself doing yoga instead of watching adult swim...what a great way to start the morning. I was very cautious about the portions I ate during meals today. Since I make most things we eat from scratch, it is hard for me to count my calories and my servings. So I gage my portions on what I would have previously eaten and decreased it by half. This was great as it allowed me to have a few small, delicious, and healthy snacks during the day.

Eating almonds before and after my workout as well as drinking plenty of water gave me the energy I needed to push myself farther than I have before (thanks Shane).

I also can say I had the first day in a while where I know I made logical decisions, not those driven by my emotions. This will continue to progress if tomorrow I improve upon today. This is was also the part of my day today where I felt the most progress. I can sleep soundly tonight knowing my mind is opening.

You can move on from your past if you can learn from it and change your behaviours.

Good night!

Day 1-Jan. 11 2010

This is the first entry of my first blog and the first day of my new commitment to my family. How does one become a better person? You find what you want to fix and you fix it. We may all think our egos are untouchable and that we have nothing to change. I will almost guaranty you that if this is how you feel deep deep down...it is incorrect. I have had this feeling while at the same time knowing I have to improve my life. With a large part of my family (Shane) being gone for four days I had a "real" realization that while I can tell myself I want to change, I never will until I let go of the horror and ego that resides deep within me. My life over the past few years has been a journey ..graduating college and leaving all your new amazing friends, moving by yourself to an unfamiliar and large city, the birth of a beautiful daughter and the struggles we endured during this time, and the loss of my job. This has all come together to culminate in the form of laziness, lack of motivation, general disregard for any responsibility, depression, and really a lack of love for one whom I have loved so deeply in the past. I have turned from one on the path of intellectualism to your average emotional and illogical thinker. I am writing this tears are forming and I can't help but wish I could take back at least the past two years of my life.

This blog is the start of a new way of life for Lindsey Pietrzak. A journey of self improvement. This did not stem from some silly New Years resolution but from a desire to become healthier and happier for my family. I have failed and have continued to disregard many promises I have made, but I am ready for that part of my life to discontinue.

So this is Lindsey's Challenge. The largest part of this being about my journey through becoming a more healthy individual, but also how feeling better physically will affect my mental abilities as well. This blog will serve as a public journal. I will write daily about my exercise, eating habits, general feelings, any struggles during my day and how I intend to overcome them, and most importantly the improvements that have been made. I will post a weekly picture of me so you can follow right along as if you were all here with me :)

My first and most directly achievable goal is to lose 10 pounds a month. For the other aspects of my life I wish to improve upon I don't feel I can give a set timeline for a goal. You can never stop improving your mind, so to me the rest is a lifelong goal.

I invite anyone who wishes to to join my challenge.. whether you are interested in the physical aspect, logical aspect, both, or just looking for some general motivation please join me! Comment about your progress. We are all in this dump together, lets be there for each others self improvement and maybe we can make a go of staying on the earth a bit longer :) And if no one reads this then at least this serves as an outlet for me to monitor my progress. I will write back later with my day and an updated picture.

Let the challenge begin!