So, I haven't talked about my fitness journey in a while because it's been quite a challenge here lately. And we all know how much plateaus suck, so I decided to just not write about it. Who wants to hear about how aggravated I was with working my tail off then stepping on the scales at the end of the week and seeing no weight loss, or if I'm lucky ONE pound loss. It's a tough thing for someone who was used to seeing two to four pounds shed per week. So what did I do? I took the week off. Yep. I think it was much needed, and my body appreciated it. And now I realize that I just don't have that much more to lose, so I WON'T have big loss weeks very often.

Now is the tough part. Getting back on track. You wouldn't think it would be tough, would you? I mean for months I've gotten into the routine of working out and eating right, so taking just one week off shouldn't be that big of a deal, should it? Well, it was harder than expected. It's very easy to become lazy and to just say, I'll start back tomorrow. What's just one more day, right? Well, that's what always has gotten me into trouble before. I would do SO good for a few months, then take a week off and all motivation was thrown out the window. Then before you know, I gained weight. So needless to say, I was a little nervous about taking a week off. What if it happened again? Then the end of my week off came, and it was time to start the engines again. And boy, was it tough. I found myself thinking of ways to get out of exercising. And thinking, well maybe I'll just start back tomorrow. But thanks to a motivational email and telling myself how ridiculous I was being, I didn't put off exercising. I got back into my exercise routine. However, what I did do was to be a little relaxed with my diet. I didn't go crazy, but I didn't worry about it TOO much either. That way I could concentrate on getting back into an exercise routine. Now, this week, I can concentrate back on diet. And it's GREAT to know that I can have weeks here and there when I don't have to be so strict with my diet, and it not affect my body too drastically.

I never would have thought I would have had a hard time getting re-started. But seriously, getting started is far easier than getting re-started. But, just know it CAN be done. It has to be done. And you'll thank yourself everyday when you accomplish that re-starting goal. So if you've accomplished that, good onya! If you're struggling with it, no worries....I KNOW you can do it!!

Today is my 30th birthday(what would a "My Life at Thirty blog be without a post on the actual 30th birthday, right?). Like others have said before me, I don't really feel any different. Well, I don't feel older, I guess is a better way of saying it. I do feel different. It's been a big year for me. I completely changed my life as far as health and fitness goes. I've lost 47 pounds, and so I guess physically, I feel younger than I did this time last year. I also re-connected with an old friend, and now, a year later, I'm closer with her than I am with anyone. So, when I thought about how I wanted to spend my birthday, my only answer was, I just wanted to hang out with her.

See, my birthday in years past has truly been a dreaded day for me. I just haven't enjoyed it. I have been for years one of those that say, "eh, it's just another day." But this was my 30th. A milestone, if you will. The day that I leave those awful 20's behind me and really begin a new chapter. And to start this new chapter, the only way it seemed right, was to spend it with one of my most favorite people. And that's just what I did. I cherish every time we get to hang out, and whether we are going to Beer Heaven (lol), catching a movie, messing up the same phrase exactly the same way, at the same time, or just hanging out at home, I don't really care(it's the quality of the time, not the quantity, right?). We did all of those this weekend, and it's probably the best gift anyone has ever given me, and I wouldn't change a thing. Well, there was one thing I'd change(my stupidity there), but other than that one part, it really was the best birthday I've ever had.

So, here's to the next decade...let's see where it takes us. I have a feeling it's going to be a blast! :o)

"Family and Friends are hidden treasures. Seek them and enjoy their riches." That is one of my favorite quotations, but I've learned in the past ten or so years that some friends come and go (and some we may find again. ;o) ). And as much as that stinks, it's just reality. For whatever reason, very few friends in our lives (well my life) stick. And that's fine. I realize that people grow and/or change. Or rather the focus of their lives change, and that the friendship may not be what it was. What I find sad is that some individuals (not all, but some) have to break friendships off in such a bad way that we feel like we've been thrown back into that hell that was middle school.

Now, I don't want to go into too many details, but there's this one person in particular. We were what I thought to be good friends. I could feel us growing apart, but tried with everything in me to hold the friendship together. What I didn't realize at the time is that one person can't hold a friendship together, and unfortunately things didn't end well. That said, I can't for the life of me understand why there are still hard feelings two years later. TWO YEARS. Come on. Seriously, people. Just let things be. I know the friendship is gone and will never be again. I grieved for that friendship, then I moved on with my life. To waste anymore energy being angry is just that, a waste of energy. And I don't have the time for it. It does; however, amuse me when I see that person wasting energy (yes, I do have a little evil in me). But it also makes me a little sad (just a little). If that person would spend just a little less energy being angry at the situation, and put a little more energy into her life now, she may would be happier. Just sayin'. Without getting too deep here, I do sometimes wonder, was the friendship ever really real? I see my life now and I think, probably not.

I'm lucky now to be surrounded by a group of friends that support me, lift me up, and encourage me in whatever I do (sadly, the friendship mentioned above, I didn't have all of those things). I have friends that I talk to everyday (a few, it's almost a must), and some I talk to just a few times a year. They all are important to me. I credit these people as having a big part in my weight loss success. Without them, I know I would have already failed. Some of them I KNOW I will be friends with for the rest of my life. Some I may not, and as long as we can realize that it's just a "life changes" type of thing, I'm fine with it.