Reality check

I had this idea.
A bucket list.
30 by 30?
Seems like a fun idea to me!

Day 1.
Made great choices all day.
No soda, healthy salad for dinner.
Kickboxing class for the first time.
Ever.
I was athletic.
How hard can it be?

Tour begins.
People stroll in.
Shoes come off.
We patiently wait for the advanced class to end.
I nervously look around to see who else is ready to look like a fool.
Oh good, I'm not alone.

Instructor: Ok let's warm up.
My head: Perfect, I could use a little stretch...
Instructor: Start running around the gym.
My head: EXCUSE ME? YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAT?!?!?
Do you know how long it's been since this ass moved for anything more than another handful of chips?
Crap.
What have I gotten myself into?

Side steps.
Weaving in and out of the bags.
Trying not to play bumper bellies as we dodge each other.
Narrowly avoiding disaster.
Leg lifts.
1 armed side pushups.
This is just the warm up?
Crap.
I'm gonna die.

JRae, meet bag.
Bag, meet JRae.
Sparring commences.
Instructor: You have nice form.
You're not exactly petite, am I right?
Me: I most certainly am not!
Instructor: Well you don't carry yourself like a bigger person.
Me: Um. Thanks.
I think?

Grabbed a spot in the back.
Ledge keeps me upright at times.
Haven't relied upon something that much since I was in the wheelchair.
Wheelchair.
How could I forget?
That's why I'm doing this.

Reality check.
This is gonna suck.
I'm going to hurt.
I let myself get to this point.
Question is: how do I get myself out?

1 jab at a time.
1 less soda.
1 healthy choice at a time.
1 less sweet treat.
1 step at a time.

Reality check.
Bob.
Gulp.
This was supposed to be a walk in the park compared to The Ranch.
2 minutes in and I am sweating like a cold drink on a hot summer day.
What am I getting myself into?

Don't know...but I sure want to find out.

Bring.
It.
On.

30 by 30

Bring it on 30. With 6 months until my 30th birthday, I thought it was time to debut my "30 by 30" challenge. I've been toying with and working on this idea for months now, so it's time to put it out there for accountability's sake! I'm hoping to update with new blogs as I make progress so I hope you'll join me on this journey! What's on your bucket list?!?

1. See someone new in concert.
2. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.
3. Go on a picnic.
4. Make something creative using only the supplies I have on hand. Give as a gift.
5. Spend a day with Grammy and have patience with her.
6. Plan out a week of healthy meals with a new recipe each day.
7. Buy a stranger’s meal, groceries, gas, etc.
8. Give up soda for a week.
9. Go to a movie by myself.
10. Do something I really don't want to do.
11. Hand write a letter to 1 person each month.
12. Go back to school. Get a 4.0.
13. Send a compliment or thank you to someone at work at least once a week.
14. Surprise a friend.
15. Try out for the Biggest Loser and if I don’t make it on, don’t let that stop me from changing my life. Shed 30 pounds (to begin).
16. Go to a Farmer’s Market and make a meal entirely out of what I purchase there.
17. Re-connect with an old friend.
18. Read 1 book each month.
19. Volunteer my time for a charity.
20. Visit Sharon’s grave.
21. Forgive someone. Apologize if I was in the wrong.
22. Make monthly donations to Goodwill in an effort to downsize.
23. Have lunch with 10 new people.
24. Try a one week cleanse.
25. Find a new church.
26. Get my teeth whitened.
27. Go on a date with someone new. Ask him out if I’m feeling brave!
28. Host a tasting party.
29. Get a massage and facial.
30. Don’t run from love or friendship.

Here I go again...

No I don't know where I'm going,
But I know where I've been
Hanging on the promises
In songs of yesterday
An' I've made up my mind
I ain't wasting no more time
Here I go again
Here I go again

Tho' I keep searching for an answer
I never seem to find what I'm looking for
Oh Lord, I pray
You give me strength to carry on
'Cos I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams

An' here I go again on my own
Walking down the only road I've ever known
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone
An' I've made up my mind
I ain't wasting no more time

I'm just another heart in need of rescue
Waiting on love's sweet charity
An' I'm gonna hold on
For the rest of my days
'Cos I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams

'An here I go again on my own
Walking down the only road I've ever known
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone
An' I've made up my mind
I ain't wasting no more time

But here I go again
Here I go again
Here I go again

Here I go.

Oh what a night!

Oh, what a night, late September back in '63 (plus a few years)
What a very special time for me
As I remember what a night!

Ah yes, these lyrics sum up my weekend. How much we remember might be questionable at best, but there is no doubt that this weekend was ama-za-zing! To sum it up, Friday night E and I rocked out to Sugarland and they were simply incredible. I haven't been that amped during a show in ages!!! And for our first time sitting together, E and I had a blast and I hope to do it again soon! The Safe House bar followed by late night trip to IHOCS (International House of Chicken Strips), little sleep, and lots of laughs!

Saturday brought an adventure to Miller Park and a few firsts....first tailgates, first ballgames, first time having peanuts dumped on someone's head. Our gracious tailgate hostesses with the mostest (Evan, Jenny, and Michelle) did an incredible job! We braved our way through the cemetary, complete with guilt trips for E, and partied with the masses before one of the few Brewer home games left. The afternoon was hysterical and the fun spilled into the game as well. We saw hot guys, fist fights, a random guy tackled on the field, a new record for Prince, a food fight involving peanuts and nachos, fireworks, and more! Most of the time I had to remind myself that there was actually a game on since I was playing TMZ again with Michelle and Lisa's cameras. Yep, nearly 300 photos later, I'm pretty sure it's safe to say that EVERY single moment was documented. After the game we closed out the parking lot and headed back to my place. My stomach hurts from laughing so much, but I wouldn't have it any other way! Thank you, friends, for one of the best weekends yet! Can't wait for the Midwest Mafia reunion next month! Love you all!!!

Surreal.

Sometimes I step on that scale and think "no way." When I heard my 12 week total today, it seemed so surreal. Yes I know that I'm losing weight. I'm fully aware that I've changed my eating and exercising habits. Sure my clothes are fitting better and I'm buying smaller sizes. But 26 pounds? Seriously!?!

Wow. I'm still not convinced that it's all sunk in yet. And yet week after week I keep losing and that total keeps growing. To think that I'm a third of the way to a weight I'd be happy with, a quarter of the way to what I'd really eventually like to lose, it all just blows my mind. I'm doing it for real this time.

No more excuses. No more empty promises of tomorrow. Here and now. One meal at a time. Today. Forever. It's always going to be a battle, but I can walk away victorious this time. I know I can do it. I have to. I want to. I am.

In celebrating such a righteous victory, I was inspired to take part in the Lose for Good campaign that Weight Watchers is sponsoring. They will donate up to a million dollars to food shelters, pantries, etc. for every pound that WW members lose between now and October 17th. They also encourage people to donate to local food pantries or programs, so I have decided this:

For every pound I have lost by October 17th, I will donate a pound of food to the Hunger Task Force here in Milwaukee. As it stands, they will receive at least 26 pounds of food, and that number is only bound to increase!

My goal: donate 40 pounds of food at the end of this challenge!

You can take part in this challenge too, and it would be a great honor if you would do so with me! Either set a goal for yourself or make the promise to donate some food to your local shelter on my behalf. It doesn't have to be 40 pounds, but whatever you can spare. I'd be honored if you would help me give back. For all the support that I've received, it's time to give some of that back to people who need it. Ponder this: over 900 MILLION people go hungry every year, yet over 1.5 BILLION people are obese. Let's work to correct that imbalance...together!!!

We Came. We Saw. We Conquered. And scared a whole hell of a lot of people in the process.

Thank you DeMo.

Beware! Coming to a Des Moines near you...

Be afraid, be very afraid...