So much excitement.... so little time!

Well, some exciting things have happened since the last post and seriously every day there's been "something" that makes me think.. "I've got to blog about that..." but like any normal human I run out of hours in the day...

Anyways, Friday was weigh-in day... I had lost 3, back down to where I had gained.... this week is set for lean diet again... and I can't wait to see the results even though this time has been harder than some of the others.  I will have to say though- I am busting it in the work outs!

Friday night I went to dinner with Allison, and I had something so delicious I could slap somebody! We went to tako sushi--- they had a quesadilla with smoked salmon, goat cheese, avocado, and portabello mushrooms.  I know there was no way to get this without the bread like you do a burger so I just dealt with it.. and I have been working my tush off since!  But it was worth EVERY SINGLE BITE.. so good!  We had fun hanging out with peeps and even ran into the Skinners! We went to Sip and hung out.. it was nice up there!  After some amazing Jena and Allison fun we went home! Adventures done! haha

 

Saturday I spent some time shopping in Kohls and Target and probably spent way too much money, but here's the problem.... when you lose so much weight ya got nothing much to wear!  So I have to buy something to replish my wardrobe! Double edged sword.....

Saturday night mom and I went to Dave's wedding where I got to see some amazing people.. see pics below!

The handsome Groom!

Miss Molly :)

My boys!

I spent Saturday night with an awesome group of people... see more pics!

 

Thank heavens these two goofy grapes are marrying each other!

 

But I do love this girl and I'm so ready for her to be a part of the fam!!


On Friday at training I did box steps and box jumps.... both were much easier than the last time I did them and I was impressed.  We use wooden boxes and I did the steps on about a 12" box with 20 lbs in each hand and the jumps on and off about an 8" box.  Aaron was super happy with the ease I was jumping.. as was I!  He challenged me to jumping on the big box and if you know me well you know two things.. 1.) I am scared of these boxes and jumping on them, and 2.) I rarely back down from a challenge.... so naturally I jumped myself up on that box and would you believe it.. first time--- > nailed it!  49 later Aaron and I were ecstatic and he told me I wasn't jumping on the small one anymore!  Sunday I managed to get in a run/walk after church and before VBS... and I ran 3 miles.. not all at once but about half and half! I had to stop at Judd's for some life saving water, because only idiots run in the blazing sun but I sure felt awsome afterwards!

Hope you're all having a great week! I am busy directing VBS and have a pretty great crew working under me!  Gotta get to bed.. due to VBS I am sad to say I won't make it to my regular GRIT class so the 2nd option-- 5:30 am AHHHH!!!!

hmmmm

In my nightly Pinterest surfing I saw this quote, "If your dreams don't scare you they aren't big enough."  How very true.....
My dream?? Losing 100 pounds and it scares the ever living day lights out of me!  So many "What if" questions.... What if no one likes me? What if I look too different? blah blah and blah but mostly-- What if I can't do it? 
There are millions of doubts in my mind about this, but honestly they just have to be pushed to the side because it's what I want to do, and I know deep down that I can and will one day achieve my goal!

Tonight was GRIT of course, it's Thursday isn't it? ha!  This week in GRIT has been phenomenal... if I may say that about a work out!  Tuesday we did PLYO and if you know me, you know I'm scared of jumping on the step we use for this.  The height makes me nervous and I'm afriad to fall.  So on Saturday I managed to jump on the box once.. ehhh good enough for that day.. but Tuesday I knew I had to do it! I didn't do it every single rep, but I sure did it more than once.  I am thankful for my team who had my back and Tracy who knew I was struggling and told me just to go for it! 
The cardio workout we did tonight was the exact same one we did my VERY first GRIT work out.  It was amazing the difference I saw tonight.  I was highly impresed with myself :)

I have learned so much about myself through all this.  I've also learned a lot about people.  I know I talk about going to the Y and my GRIT team a lot but they support me. They push me to go beyond the things I think I can do, they motivate me and one thing I know is that they genuinely care about me.  There is nothing "in it for them" when they ask about my progress or whatever it might be. 

Today's 4 x workout has kicked my booty!  Almost time to head to bed and do most of it again tomorrow....

Thanks for reading!

Love ya'll!

Life is tough, but you are tougher!

One of my major supporters- Marie posted the title of this post and tagged me in it and especially today I've felt the pull of such a message!

I wanted to spend some time tonight to update and really think about some imporant weight loss things going on.  Over the last month I'd said I've been a little inconsistant with the weigh ins... there was a gain, loss, and gain again.. This past Friday when I went I had gained... granted I had spent the last 3 days away from home, in a dorm room, where I had no access to a refrigerator or much food choices that were diet friendly so.. in the words of Aaron, "If you gained for the Lord, it's ok.. but get it off this week!"

This past weekend came and went and I'd be lying if I told you that I was on my best behavior.  Two of my friends, Mary and Andy got married on Saturday.  It was so evident exactly how in love these two are.  I hope one day I can send that same message as well.  I will say this, the reception was a blast and I had so much fun!  Fun is good!  Sunday we had Father's Day lunch.. and that dang Oreo dessert got me... AGAIN!  I swear sometimes the weaknesses overcome me! 

This morning I woke up feeling pretty crappy about some of the last choices I had been making in the food department and was DETERMINED to make the rest of the week the BEST of the week.  I ate all my meals like I was supposed to, walked this morning with Becca, did my weight training and taught zumba.  I was feeling pretty rock star and went on to Ingles were I made a rule to buy NOTHING that wasn't allowed on the diet because honestly if it's around.. I'm gonna eat it!
I cooked a yummy meal of grilled ahi tuna, grilled zuchinnin and mushrooms and onions.  It was delicious.  I was so sluggish all day and honestly I think it was just my body missing all that GOOD STUFF it's used to.

I want to leave you with some words of wisdom if you are starting on a weight loss journey, ending one, in the middle or just struggling with something.
It's hard... but who ever got to anything they really wanted without a lot of work and struggle.  Every day it's a battle against my mind and my body. One wants one thing, and the other the exact opposite.  One thing I know for sure is this: find yourself a support system. I don't care who it is... your mom, dad, grandparents, best friend, boyfriend/girlfriend, spouse or a random friend at the Y but get them on your side! It makes MORE than a world of difference. 
It's human to struggle and have hard times.. Life is tough but I promise that in the last especially 3 years I have learned that I am tougher. 

Have a great week ya'll! I will make mine awesome!

Love to all!

You are my Sunshine ......

All my childhood life my daddy took me to school in his Chevy pick-up truck.  While I was too small to see out the front windows I would sit on his briefcase so I could see out.  One of his good friends told him one day that we must talk the whole way to school because anytime he saw us in the road we were talking.... my daddy quickly corrected him saying, "No, we're singing."  Hence comes the title of my post... We always sang this song together while on the way to school.  I loved it! And it's probably one of my favorite things that I share with my daddy. 

Since it's Father's Day I wanted to do something different rather than focus on my weight loss. Which I promise to get back to tomorrow. :)

Fathers, dad, daddy, pops, papa, Father figures.. however you look at them are very important people and I think that sometimes they get looked over or pushed to the side for those crazy over bearing moms! Just kidding.

I am very lucky to have such an amazing daddy in my life.  I'm not saying he's perfect, because we all know that no one is.  However, he's been such an important part of my life for 25 years I can't imagine my life without him.  He was always around when I needed him and supported everything I've done.  I can't remember a time in my life where I didn't know that my dad loved me with all his heart.  A few important people in my life didn't have the chance to have active father figures in their lives and my dad was always sure to make sure they knew how important they were to him too and to provide that role for them at times.  If and when I ever get married, I sure hope they can measure up to my amazing daddy!

Besides my dad I've been fortunate to share in the love of two amazing grand fathers who always took care of our familes.  As young kids, I can remember Pappy taking me, Curry and Cody to the cow barn almost every Wednesday... the day of the sale.  While we were here we would have a lemonade (which I always hated) and look at all the animals that were being sold.  We had cows, a pig and a goat at different times.  My Grandaddy was always know for his cooking and we spent many a Friday night enjoying fish he had cooked or some tasty treat.  My uncle always spent time cooking for our family too and treating us to random dishes that were sometimes of unknown substances! haha!

I could go on and on about the amazing men and father figures in my life.  They stretch as far as my family does.  My uncle Hoyt always said, "Nothing good happens after midnight."  He is one of the wisest men that I know and is looked up to by many people.  My Compton uncles always played an important role in my life as well.  It's for sure that one that I've always be sure of is that family matters!  Family is there through thick and thin and they have your back even in those times when you think no one else does.  We've been through some awesomely happy times, but also some incredibly sad ones as well.  I believe that it's through all these experiences that familys learn to take care of each other and be what the others need.

I am forutnate for my family, those who are and aren't blood related to me.  I surely can't forget the father's of my friends along the way who also treated me like their own daughther... I mean we all know I'm the favorite Bracken daughter anyways! haha!  I hope you've enjoyed reading a little about my family. 
After some busy weeks I hope to update you on the weight loss tomorrow!

I get by with a little help from my friends

Apparently, yesterday was National Best Friend day or something like that... I woke up to a million pics and collages on Instagram with that # (pound sign) as Mama Laughlin says... who I love haha!

Anyways, I started thinking about this and I am seriously amazingly blessed with some of the best people in my life. Some of them are friends, some are family, but they all matter to me and help me more than they will know.  I have handful of VERY best friends and we all have that ONE or maybe more who knows us inside and out, but I believe that each and every person in our lives helps to shape us to the person God has us to become.  They play a role that sometimes we don't understand until their time in our life is over.

You're going to learn about some important peeps in my life today...

There are just some things in life you don't forget and the day Heather and I met is one of them.  We were in college and I remember walking into class and seeing that some heifer had taken my seat.... I'm a creature of habit so this highly disturbed me!  There was an open seat beside Heather, which I ended up sitting in.  I guess from there we have to say the rest was history.. because lots of our memories will need to stay there haha!  We met our freshman year of college and I am sure I never knew what an important role she would play in my life.  Through good times and even a few bad we are still the very best of friends.  Her family is my family, actually I'm their favorite daughter! haha It started in college, but more and more in our lives people ask us if we are sisiters.. apparently we look alike, and we've even gotten the twins comment before.. I apologize to all the people I've laughed at who asked this, but it's seriously funny to me.  This is a girl I can share anything with from good, funny times and even sad ones when I need a friend, she shows up without a thought.  I couldn't be more thankful that someone stole my seat that day...

We all have that lifetime best friend and with the exception of family good ol' Meagan would have to be that girl.  We pretty much grew up together playing barbies, babies, school, drinking Dr. pepper (well she spilled it more than drank it) and eating popcorn.  She grew up down the road from my grandparents where I spent every Friday afternoon.  We had our fill of fish growing up, that's for sure... I hope we didn't have an over exposure to mercury as young children! haha  We don't talk every day and life has taken us a little further apart (distance wise) over the years, but she's one of those people that I can call and talk about pretty much anything and who understands.  I love this girl to pieces.. and the whole Tram fam... I might be their favorite daughter too!

And I want you to know about my family.  My family is large and small all at the same time.  There were many more family functions when all of us "great grands" were younger.  My family has been through some hard times, as well as some of the happiest times!  They are stronger than I could ever imagine and when things seem to be going wrong we manage to make it work.  I couldn't be more thankful for my amazing parents.  They have this way of driving me bonkers (sorry ma and pa!) but I know without a shadow of a doubt that they always have my best interest at heart.  My mom is by far the best woman on this Earth, I am certain!  She puts up with more than I know I could ever deal with and she takes care of pretty much any one she can.  I claim all the time that I am too much Jim and not enough Susan.. which is probably true.  I hope that I can be like 1/4 of the woman she is some day. 

Over the last few months I have really seen who my true friends, believers and supporters are.  It's been amazing how many people do care and that notice small things. Someone even said to me, "I'm loving seeing all these pictures of you and you just look so happy."  Truth is I really am.  I am happier than I've probably ever been.  I remember days when I thought I wouldn't ever be this happy.  Troubles abound when we least expect them and sometimes drag us down to places we didn't know exist but I am thankful for everyone of those people who has brought me to this place even through those hard times when I know I'm not easy to deal with.

My final shout out goes to some awesome people who have supported me through this amazing journey of weight loss.  Other than the above I have to say how much I appreciate the kind words, motivation and company of J Biggy who even exercised with me in our classrooms... that's love! I am also thankful for Samantha who joined me on this journey and is pretty freaking rock star! She pumps out some push ups like I've never seen... and every time I think about how I want to keep up with her! And I couldn't have ever started this journey without some encouraging words and a push from Leann who helped me "JUST DO IT!"  Aaron keeps me going and knows how to push and pull on my heart to keep me in the game!

Last and ABSOLUTELY not least is my amazing team of supporters from GRIT and from the Laurens Y where I am blessed to also teach ZUMBA!  Two amazing instructors, Brie and Annette have no idea how much they push me!  I love the yelling, sweat, and enthusiasm they put into GRIT! Marie and Libba and Andrea convinced me to try it and little did I know how much I'd love it and find something so exciting!  I am thankful for the GRUNTS Libba pushes out! She and Marie are freaking awesome!  Andrea, Lauren, Samantha, Stephanie, John and Tracy are awesome team members.  We by far have the BEST GRIT TEAM EVER!  Each and everyone of you have helped me, given words of wisdom, pushed me or yelled at me to keep going.  I would not be as motivated as I am without you ALL! You will never EVER understand how your support has changed my life!

I hope you've enjoyed reading about some of the amazing people in my life.  Have a wonderful weekend..... today is weigh in day! There will be an update soon!  Keep moving, YOU CAN DO IT!

Love to you all!

Jena

let the good times roll!

I can't even believe how busy life has been lately.  It's because of all this crazy and business that I haven't posted in almost a month... PLEASE accept my sincere apologies!

Lots has happened everything from field trips, field day at school, bridging of my 3rd graders, beach trips for Memorial Day, etc. etc.  And I'd be lying if I didn't say I have enjoyed every minute of it! Some more than others of course.

Of course there have been some weigh-ins through all this.. I lost and even gained one week-- talk about WAK UP CALL!  I won't even go through all that, because it's in the past.  I will say it made me realize a few things and make some changes.  I'm also pretty lucky to have some amazing friends to bring me through those amazingly TOUGH times!

I went down to the beach for Memorial Day weekend, and I was very pleased with myself.  The nights we ate out I made good choices, and managed to lose lots of weight that week!

As of last Friday I had lost a grand total of 57 pounds.  I set out to lose 80 lbs at the start of this, and thought that making it to 50 would be a feat and then I would hopefully make it to 80.  Secretly, (I know it's not a secret anymore) I want to lose 100 lbs.  I can do it, I know I can! 

I had an amazing weekend last weekend with some of my most favorite people.  This week has been overwhelming at best.  School is over for summer time, not that I don't have a training to attend Monday and Tuesday haha!

I promise to focuse more on the next post, but today I'm just sending some updates and randomness.  I am happier today than I was last time I posted and I couldn't be more thrilled with what I see when I look in the mirror, or how I feel when I buy a MEDIUM dress for the first time in my life or resist the fried chicken at a school luncheon.  I am amazed by myself. I don't do it all exactly right every single time.  What would be the fun in that?!?!  I have my fun and I have my ass busting times too!

PS tonight in GRIT I felt freaking amazing when Brie yelled, "Jena's gonna kick your ass!" While we were doing mountain climbers.... so yeah maybe I did kick some ass tonight!

Hang around, I promise to update more often soon!

LOVE YOU ALL!