It's beautiful outside! Get up and get moving!

I LOVE spring time! Can anyone agree?

A couple weeks ago I planted some Tulips in our front yard with the help of my three little helpers. The last few days, I have been having them help me water them, reminding them that they were the ones that planted the flowers. They get so excited seeing something that they did turn into something so beautiful.

We are hosting the Elders tomorrow night for dinner. One of the Elders is finishing his mission here and heading back home to Hawaii in a couple weeks, so it's sort of a farewell party. Since it will be one of his last weeks here, I told him that he had to pick what we ate for dinner. He opted for steaks, I subsequently promised that we would do a BBQ if weather allowed.

According to the weather reports, it is supposed to be up to 78 degrees here today, which means we'll be doing a BBQ. That also means that we will be outside, so I guess I have to mow my lawn for the first time this year. I have been procrastinating thus far. Normally our grass struggles to grow at all, but right now it is thick and green.

Right as I remembered that I need to mow my lawn, a daily reminder notification popped up on the screen of my phone reminding me to "get up and get moving". I guess that's a sign! I think I'll find a way to make it fun with my boys. Not sure how I will do that yet, but I plan on it!

Yesterday I was brutalized by my trainer. I made the mistake of telling her about my excellent progress in the last couple weeks in my workouts at home. She put the boots to me yesterday for sure! Some may use that as an excuse to not work out, but I will use it as fuel to increase the intensity today. Each day, we should be striving to do better than the day before. Do 5 more sit-ups, 3 more push ups. Bump up the intensity on the treadmill for the last 10 minutes.

Kick it into high gear!

It's almost summer time, I plan on spending most of my time outdoors this year and I want to be comfortable doing it!

Update:

While mowing the lawn this morning I had a "moment". I remember mowing the lawn last year, I would sweat more, and I always felt like I put all of my effort into mowing the lawn. Sometimes I would mow just the front, or just the back. I wouldn't always do the whole lawn because it was seemingly too much to handle. Today, I did it all at once. I even had enough energy to clean up the yard a bit more than I usually would. After that was all done, I even cleaned out my truck. I cleaned the inside of my windows, every square inch. When I was younger, I used to clean my car inside and out twice a week. My car was my image, and I was proud of it. Since I have kids now, I have used them as an excuse to not get back into shape, among other things.

I realized once again today that I can do what I want. No matter what it is. I used to think those were only words. Like what professional trainers told to olympic athletes before a competition, I never thought it pertained to me.

No matter what obstacles may be in your way, you CAN do whatever you put your mind to it.

While this weight loss journey starts as a means to an end, a way to lose weight, you will find out for yourself that it is SO MUCH MORE! Losing the weight is only 10% of the overall journey. Don't be afraid. Take that first step and don't look back.

When I first started on this journey, I could not complete a single push up. Now, I can do 20 or more. I didn't set that as a goal, but when I did the push ups, I burst into tears. What an amazing moment for me. I have been trapped under all these layers of fat for so many years, I finally saw the old me coming back. I saw the ME that used to wash his 20 year old rusted car twice weekly because I was proud of what I was able to accomplish even through all the trials that I had to face growing up.

Most people don't know who I am. They may know that my name is Ryan, but my story is so much bigger than my name. I am not just "that fat guy". When I look in the mirror I see a fat person, but inside I feel the old me coming out. I can't wait to peel back the layers of fat and reveal the real ME that I used to be. You just wait people.

Start with "losing weight" as your goal. Before long, you will find the person inside that you have subconsciously hidden inside for so many years. You will realize how miserable of an existence you have been putting yourself through. You just accept it as it now because you don't think you can change. I am here to tell you, YOU CAN!

Change today so you can have a better tomorrow!