Wednesday, December 12, 2012

This is war - Christmas goodies!

Yes, I've declared war on Christmas treats! I told you guys before that I was planning to be clean, clean clean! Well, I failed. When I tried before during this summer, I failed too! I know though, that when you REALLY put your mind to something, you CAN do it! I just needed a good kick in the rear!

Well, that is where this thing called a scale recently came into play. I haven't weighed myself since the summer. I've truly been avoiding the scale - avoiding what I know will not be good news. Finally, I had to face the music. While I've said it before, and I still do think this - that numbers aren't everything - it is a good indication to some degree of how you are doing. When you know you haven't been eating clean, you can expect those numbers to go up. 



I finally stepped on the scale and I was really disappointed in myself. Back to 153 lbs. I didn't need the SCALE to tell me that I've gained weight or that I've not been doing my best but sometimes a number can really help to get you back into gear! So, I've been eating extremely clean for a week and a half! I'm super proud of myself! I weighed myself yesterday and I'm back down to 148 lbs! But it's not just the NUMBERS, it's that I feel so much more healthy when I eat clean too! I don't feel addicted, my energy comes back - it's a win win!

I decided to make a holiday pact with myself. No Christmas or holiday treats (non-clean ones  - and only a weekly CLEAN treat) till Christmas! On Christmas Day, I'll allow myself a little break and have a little bit of the things I've missed and then back to clean! Let's see how I can lean out till Christmas Day! This is really tough because I run a holiday program at work and I'm SURROUNDED by holiday treats all day! But I know that I can do it and I really want to get back to a leaner me!

None of these till Christmas! 


I've been taking my daily photos too and I'll be doing a two week photo post! :) Can't wait to share them! 

I hope you will all join me in keeping clean for the holidays! Still, we don't have to avoid the holiday gain - we'll gain a lot - our health, feeling vibrant on NYE and a healthy figure to match our confidence! 

What is your tactic for eating clean during the holidays? 

Sunday, December 02, 2012

Difference Making

When I started my business, I had made a post on one of the driving factors for me in making a business is that one day, I hope to be able to make more financial contributions to organizations or causes that are important to me. This year, for my business, I created an event where I thought I could do just that. This year I created a Thanksgiving ride for charity. Half the proceeds were to go to a local non-profit organization called the House of Charity. The House of Charity feeds up to 350 men and women every day. They also have meals 365 days per year! It's such a great organization and I even mention it on my tours as we pass by their location.



I was really pumped as just a couple of days before the ride, a group of 7 people joined! I was super excited I would be able to contribute a small amount to this organization! I spent all night the evening before preparing a new route (I was going to make it a bit shorter so people could get to their Thanksgiving festivities). I was super pumped even though I new I wouldn't be getting lots of sleep. Unfortunately, when I woke up on Thanksgiving morning, I opened my email to see that the group wouldn't be joining me as they didn't think they could do this and their festivities. I understood because Thanksgiving can be a chaotic day, so no hard feelings. However, I was bummed I wouldn't be able to contribute to a wonderful charity off of the event. 

Although I was disappointed, I began to think about all of the events that I WAS able to help with this year and the difference I HAVE made.

  1. For the second year in a row, I provided a certificate for free tours for the silent auction for my day job at Neighbors, Inc.
  2. I also provided 2 other certificates for raffles for an organization raising funds to make a film about Minnesota athletes as well as a raffle for a young lady who was recently diagnosed with leukemia. 
  3. I gave a free tour to church members of Zion Lutheran Church.

I don't think these have made huge differences, however I was really glad I was able to contribute - even a little - to some causes. I hope that I can continue to grow this aspect of my business in the future.



Thanksgiving was officially my last day of business for the biking season. Off of weekends until next spring! :) I will still be busy doing other business activities, however. Making new tour routes, creating new types of tours with local businesses, etc. I recently made ornaments out of old bike chains to sell with gift certificates during the holidays! :)


That was it! Just made my two posts for the week! Ready for more this week! Lots of fun stuff happening in life now! :)