4x the Weight

I am feeling great. I rocked at the gym today doing 4x the weight I thought I could do! I really realized how much I have changed as a person in the last year.

I have always been determined. I want to do things my own way and as many people could tell you, I stood my ground on the things I wanted, believed or thought. I haven't changed that determination just refocused it. I am determined to push myself to the limits. If it means adding weight or doing more reps, I'll push until I can't.

I can not take all the credit for my success. I owe it to a few other people as well.

My trainer, you have heard me mention him a few times, is amazing. He took me from doing a few lunges, fake sit-ups, barely push-ups to 100's of lunges, 100's of hollow rocks (harder than sit-ups!) and more push-ups than I like to think about. He never stopped pushing me to do more, encouraging me when I felt weak and not wanting to try anymore and amazed at how great I am today. He helped me set up regular workout routines, diet helps and a shoulder to complain to about my diet, workout and stress in relation to the whole thing. I am happy to have Zack as my trainer.

My friend Carrie offered initial diet tips and snack ideas when I was at a loss.

My friend Chantal for believing in me and what I could do it.

While my physical appearance has changed a lot and that is what many people see, it is really more of a change on the inside. Knowing I can do, want to do and have the ability to know that the only person that really matters in all of this, is me.

Turkey Run

I started my Thanksgiving off with a Turkey Run. I ran most of the three mile course I did (could do up to five, but I pushed too hard training last Saturday and my old fracture is giving me some pain) and it was wonderful. It was so beautiful this morning and it makes it hard not to be thankful for the amazing blessings in my life!

Blessing number 1, living in beautiful Utah. This was at the end of the run and I just struck me how lucky I was to be so blessed to be surrounded by such beautiful scenery all the time. I love seeing the mountains in the background of everything and I love crisp cool air in the mornings.

I am so blessed to be blessed with amazing friends who have become my family. Being so far from my own family I have been so blessed to have amazing people come into my life. In no particular order the ones I feel most grateful for this year are: Logan, Chantal, Melinda, Tricia, Kari and Peter. There are so many more but it is this small set who have truly been such blessings to me this year by being listening ears, shoulders to cry on, late night texts about Taylor Lautner or Hugh Jackman, temple buddies, encouraging messages or telling me that no matter what others say or act like, that I am a beautiful and sweet person.

I am grateful for the gym and my trainer. You have to bored of this by now but the changes in my life have been staggering and a whole new world has opened up to me because of it. 6 days a week I am at the gym working out and I love the person I have become because of that one little fact.

I am so blessed, to know of my worth. I can move mountains, soothe troubled souls, lend a shoulder when needed and I can build and strengthen those around me. How blessed I am!

I am most grateful for the love of my Heavenly Father who has taught me that as long as I do what I know to be right, things will work out. Every time. It may not be in a week, a month or even a year, but in the end it will.

Those are just a few of the things I am thankful for today. Now that that is out of the way, on the the last bit of Black Friday planning...

Shoe Party!

Last night I had a shoe party. What is a shoe party you ask...well let me tell you. Tons of shoes and tons of friends and you just try them on and enjoy shoe shopping at home with friends! I loved it. It was a lot of fun for me and I got a few new pairs of shoes...only a few though.

Just a few pictures of the shoes that were hanging out to try on.

Some great friends and some of the girls from work, from left to right: Nicole (yeah, she spells it wrong), Micquellyn and Chantal. These girls are so much fun and I was so happy that they got to come.

I had a lot of people come and I forgot to take pictures until people had already left, which made me sad.

I was so happy my friend Liv got to come. She even found some cute shoes to go in her super wonderful new closet her husband just built her. I even copied her great taste with these great yellow shoes...yeah, you heard me right, yellow.

All in all it was a great night. I had a lot of fun with a lot of great friends and it was exactly what I needed. I'll post pictures of the shoes when I get them.