#Reverb11: One Word

"Encapsulate the year 2011 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2012 for you?" 

In the spirit of the movement, I am using last years Day 1 prompt from Gwen Bell for this year as well! As stated in my post yesterday, I have signed up for a handful of email opt-ins and am following a few bloggers who are doing a #Reverb project of their own. I will be picking and choosing the prompts that I feel best capture me, the place I currently am in life, and where I would like to progress towards. I feel my selection for today's prompt is the most appropriate.

Last year, while working on #Reverb10, I chose Adventurous as the word I wanted to capture 2011. I told myself that I would go places I'd never been, see things I'd never seen before, and accomplish tasks I would not normally have ever aspired to. Boy did I fall short!!! I still enjoyed the days, cherished the nights, and constantly relived the adventure that was in every day, but it was lackluster, unpleasant, and down right difficult! This whole year, I felt like every time I got a step up, I would fall three steps back. It was a year filled with great triumph, but also great failure. It was a year of struggling through obstacles I thought I had already overcome. So if I really had to pick a word that encapsulated 2011, it would have to be Challenging.

chal·leng·ing
(adjective)
1. offering a challenge; testing one's ability, endurance, etc
2. stimulating, interesting, and thought-provoking
3. provocative; intriguing

2011 was one of the most difficult, yet rewarding, years I've ever experienced. Throughout the year, Josh and I struggled with his job situation, due to the current economy. We struggled with multiple car issues (we are on Car #3 for the year!). At the end of October, Josh finally got the job that he needed all year. A Full-time, Monday-Friday, daytime, great paying job. However, that was short lived, and after 3 short weeks, they let him go. Financially, that was the last straw. The next day, I met with a lawyer and am currently in the process of completing a bankruptcy. It is not my finest moment, and it is something I am extremely embarrassed and ashamed to admit. But I know that I have tried everything in my power, for 8 plus years, to not fall into this situation, and that is what counts to me. All of this has brought about a lot of anger, frustration, and disappointment. But I'm still here! I'm still forging through with my life.

The good that happened this year came from my job. This year, I celebrated my first full year with my employer. It has been an amazing experience and as a bonus, I received an amazing raise from my employer this year (2 of them actually), that not only more than compensated for all the hard work I put in at my job, but also made me thankful for my job, and my bosses. My work is amazing and I love it every day!

As we finish up 2011, and as I start thinking ahead to 2012, its hard to narrow down the things I would like to achieve and where I would like to be at the end of next year. I find that when I try to make plans, I tend to either not follow through or just fail miserably. I'm trying to think of a word that could best capture how I would like to look back at 2012. The only word that keeps coming to me is Growth.

growth(noun)
1. a stage of development
2. an increase is size, number, significance, etc. 

I want to grow in 2012! Personally, emotionally, financially! I want my career to advance and to learn more skills to help grow within my company. I want to reflect on my own emotions and my feelings and work on the parts inside of me that are holding me back. I want to grow my relationship with my amazing boyfriend Josh and better prepare ourselves for an amazing future together. I hope at the end of next year, I can say that I have GROWN more than years prior!

Continue with me on this journey!! Check out my previous post with links to other #Reverb/#WEverb projects, and join the adventure!

Peace and Good JuJu to you,
Holly

#Reverb11 is HERE!!

Tomorrow, December 1st, begins another year of #Reverb. Last year I participated in #Reverb10 and loved it. It gave me a chance to really focus on writing and reflecting on the previous year. I had every intention of continuing that momentum into 2011, however things the got away from me.

As we got closer to December, I waited anxiously for news about the new round for #Reverb. And then it came. Yesterday I received an email from creator of #Reverb, Gwen Bell, stating that she would not be hosting #Reverb this year. After providing a brief history about the beginnings of #Reverb, and an update on where she is at currently, she provided the base for people to create/host their own #Reverb.

How to Host Your Own Reverb
1. Write 31 prompts for the month of December
2. Post those prompts to your blog starting December 1
3. Invite other people to join you
4. Let other members of the project see/friend/read one another
5. Publish on the topic each day. Post the link and use a hash tag to group them all
6. Support one another through sharing, and commenting on, one another’s writing.

While it was awesome to receive the steps to create my own #Reverb, I'm just not that creative in making my own writing prompts, especially on super short notice. I do much better at responding to other peoples prompts!! I wasn't the only one upset about the change up for this year either. The internet today was buzzing about the change up!! After much searching and investigating, I'm happy to announce that I've already found numerous people holding their own #Reverbs this year! Below are just a small handful of the sites I found:

Kaileen Elise (Co-Creator of #Reverb10) - Let's Reverb 2011
Kimberly Michelle (with a new spin on #Reverb10) - #WEverb11
Megan (From Everlasting Present) - #Reverb11 | Making It Happen
Geekin' Hard (for a list of #Reverb sites and email Opt-ins) - A list of lists!

While at first I was bummed out, now I'm excited to #Reverb! I've gone ahead and subscribed to multiple mailing lists! I'm interested in seeing what various prompts people have come up with for this year and will be mixing up which prompts I will use from day to day! It is going to be an exciting adventure for the next month, and I hope to continue the amazing right into the New Year!

I can't wait to get started in the morning!

Peace and Good JuJu to You,
Holly

1 more month!

so, I started my 100 day Challenge in September and had HUGE goals in mind. I quickly learned I had definitely set some unrealistic goals for myself! while my overall goal is great, my individual goals were way off base. I wanted to be under 200 lbs by new years! NOT HAPPENING!! and not because I haven't tried. Mainly because for a healthy weight loss, and to keep it off, I had to set smaller goals for myself. I would still like to be under 200 lbs, but not until my 28th birthday in March. I've set myself with goals much smaller than 15-20 a month, and more on 10 a month.

Since August 1st, i'm down 21 lbs. there were a few weeks of no weight loss at all, and i'm hoping to ramp up some cardio workouts in the next month to make sure I am under 250 by thanksgiving and under 240 by christmas. those two goals will keep me right on track to be under 200 by my birthday, and still reach my ultimate goal of 150 by the end of August 2012 for my 10 year reunion.

It's been an amazing adventure. every week I learn more about myself and more about what does and does not work for me. It has definitely been tough. and many time I've wanted to just scream and sit down with a carton of chocolate ice cream and not move.... but I don't! I keep chugging along! This is my lifestyle change, and no matter the struggle, I will succeed! THIS IS MY LIFE!!!

Peace and Good JuJu to you,
Holly

Still chugging away!

So, my scale and I have not gotten along lately, at all. In fact, I'm losing so incredibly slowly. I know i set some agressive weight loss goals to reach before the end of the year, but holy moly, this is snail pace! I'm still working hard and not giving up! This week I saw the first loss on the scale in almost a month! I've been dealing with some "female" issues that have made things rather difficult and think I finally have control of everything. On the plus side, I finally reached a mini goal!! Finally lost 20 lbs! took 2 months! but it was so awesome!
my first major goal was 200 by New Years! That would have made a great achievement. I think that it was an aggressive goal, and something that could have been attainable, but not now. I'm aiming for 220 by new years. That would make me so happy! that still leaves time to be under 200 by my birthday, and at my ultimate goal of 150 by my 10 year reunion next August!
I will admit that last month was a CRAP month. I slacked on exercise, i didn't always eat healthy, and i had a gloomy mood most the month. but October has already improved and i'm already on track to have a successful month! i'm thinking positive, I have a great group of people supporting me, and i'm finally seeing the results i've wanted to see for a while.

The best part: Josh. for years, I haven't had the support at home that I needed to continue successfully. My home atmosphere always drove me to more unhealthy habits and sabotaged my efforts. but with Josh, he's the best! he's always willing to try new foods that I cook, doesn't complain when i'm home late from going to the gym, and compliments my new "look" all the time. apparently, I have a firmer butt!! haha.

I'm just gonna keep chugging away, and I know now that I have the strength and will power to keep going!!

Peave and Good JuJu...

Holly

100 days

So, there is this show that used to be on MTV called "I Used To Be Fat". It's about high school kids who are overweight and spend the 80-100 days during the summer to lose a ton of weight before going to college, or wherever they are going in the fall. Its a pretty awesome show, and these kids accomplish alot. in watching the reunion episode, many of them kept off the weight too. they look fantastic.

One of the aspects of the show is this GIANT paper pad that gets nailed to their wall. and on each piece of paper is a number, a countdown of how many days they have to lose their goal weight. i decided to incorporate this idea into my already existing weight loss goals.

With the help of MyFitnessPal.com, i've managed to lose 14lbs. I've had a couple stalled weeks, but chock that up to a change in Birth control and building muscle (my arms are getting strong!). I have not only joined a monthly weightloss challenge, but I am the captain of 9 other awesome ladies who are all doing this for the same reasons.

I've made some great strides lately in my life, to release stress and get things on the right track! I've tried new things and mixed things up to make life more interesting! I now do Zumba on saturday mornings with one of my best friends, Myranda, and starting today I am trying Hot Yoga! With these new activites, and my already existing exercise plan, I know i can accomplish all of my goals!!

I would like to be under 200, that is my first MAJOR goal. and i would love it if I could be there by new years, although i know it would be nearly impossible. needless to say, starting Saturday September 10th, i started my own 100 day challenge! I have a much smaller pad of paper, but have it nailed to my wall in my bedroom as a daily reminder! I took a pic of me in a pair of shorts and sports bra with my day 100 piece of paper and plan to do so every 10 days. I am going to be diligent about making it to my gym and get all my workouts in, regardless if I want to or not.

100 days from September 10th is the 19th of December! Just in time to buy a new outfit for mine and Josh's annual Xmas Eve party!! I can't wait to be able to buy a cute new dress, in a much smaller size!!! i'm going to work hard and make it to my goal!!! feel free to leave me some words of encouragement... i'm sure i'll need them!!! its gonna be a long tough journey to make it to the very end goal!! :)

Peace and Good JuJu,
Holly