Today is a New Day

Every day is a new beginning. Every day when I wake up I have to make choices based on what I want in life. I snuggle up to my husband and tell him I love him. Or sometimes he thinks he can snuggle up with me BEFORE MY ALARM GOES OFF and I lovingly tell him I'm going back to sleep. I eventually choose to get up, shower, pack backpacks and lunches, check homework, unload the dishwasher, make breakfast, and drive kids to school. This usually involves firing up my Keurig first thing when I walk into the kitchen and consuming 24 ounces of coffee in the first 2 hours I'm awake. Those all seem like things that HAVE to get done, but in reality it's a choice I make every day. I choose to do these things so that our household functions in an efficient way (sort of... there's still that matter of my daughter screaming about having to be a child who is fortunate enough to have nice clothes and shoes, a full lunch box, and an excellent school to attend) in the mornings. It's not always what I want to do and there are many mornings I would rather just lay around in bed until noon watching talk shows in my pajamas. Alas, that isn't my reality. I make the right choice and do what needs to be done.

The same applies to losing weight. Every day I make the choice of whether or not to workout. I choose what foods I put in my body. I choose what my priorities will be for the day. This requires a lot of accountability and good choices in order to see that number on the scale go down. I am the only one in control of what I do with my body. I am accountable for everything I put in my mouth and every step I do or don't take. I will own up to this and know I've made some poor choices over the last 6 months or so. But here I am. I'm taking responsibility and trying to make good choices.

The other thing I've put a lot of thought into lately is that losing weight sometimes costs money. Yes, I know I can run outside, lift weights at home, and track my calories on a notepad. This doesn't work well for me though. I need accountability and classes. I need to have a workout I love. I like to run when I'm in the mood for it, but what I really love is kickboxing. I know where my son gets it from because there's nothing I like better than hitting or kicking a punching bag. These classes aren't cheap. Gym memberships are not cheap either. There's also a weight loss group that I want to join that starts November 7th to gain friendships and have the added support. Again, these things all cost money. When I first added it up I was thinking there was no way I could afford to do these things that I want to do. Then I realized that I have spent way more than that in furnishing this apartment and buying things to make it our home. These are not things I need to survive. Having a place that feels like home certainly makes me more productive in my school work and it makes our family function in a more productive way somehow, but they aren't necessary. So am I really going to complain about spending money on a gym membership and fitness classes that will help me get where I want to be? Nope. I made sure I had enough student loan money set aside so that I could take on the burden of this expense myself so that I have no excuse. My intention is to sign up for the gym membership in the next few days (have to find proof of residence first...) and enroll for those classes starting in November. Today is a new day in which God has given me the ability to make good choices. I will take this opportunity and live my life the best way in which I know how and take the steps needed to reach my goals.