Take Time For You

YOU GUYS! I was so busy on Saturday I didn't post last week's workout routine. Blergh. Bad Chelsea. Oh well. It's never too late, right? Here you have it! I can now squat 125 lbs for 30 reps and run a 7:13 mile. (: Just one minute and four seconds from breaking my record. It feels so good getting my confidence back. Taking time out of the day solely for me and my body has been therapeutic and enlightening. These pictures are from this morning (bad Chelsea) and I'm slowly getting my body back. Woot! (:

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
W E I G H T S	½ Mile Warm Up Squats (125) Rows (50) Shoulder Press (30) Inner Thigh (60) Outer Thigh (90) Abs (30 reps) ½ Mile Cool Down	X	½ Mile Warm Up Squats (125) Deadlifts (80) Bench Press (55) Inner Thigh (60) Outer Thigh (90) Abs (30 reps) ½ Mile Cool Down	X	½ Mile Warm Up Squats (125) Rows (50) Shoulder Press () Inner Thigh (60) Outer Thigh (90) Abs (30 reps) ½ Mile Cool Down
C A R D I O	X	½ Mile Warm Up 7:13 Mile ½ Mile Cool Down	X	½ Mile Warm Up 45:09 11 Miles (Bike) ½ Mile Cool Down	X
M E A L S	Breakfast: Skipped Lunch: Cereal Dinner: Cup of Tomato Soup	Breakfast: Cereal Lunch: Fries Dinner: Wendy’s	Breakfast: Skipped Lunch: Cake Dinner: Lemon Garlic Chicken w/ Rice	Breakfast: Skipped Lunch: Skipped Dinner: Spaghetti w/ Meatballs	Breakfast: --- Lunch:--- Dinner:---

First Week Workout (:

My first week of going to the gym everyday for 2014 is complete! I am more than pumped to share with you my workout routine and eating habits for this week. As you'll see, I need to stop skipping breakfast...and having more substantial lunches than just cereal. haha I will get better! I reached a HUGE goal yesterday!

I can squat my body weight for 30 reps. (:

Unless stated otherwise, I repeat each exercise for 30 reps at the weight indicated. (: I'm so excited for next week!

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
W E I G H T S	Squats (100) Deadlifts (70) Benchpress (50) Abs (20 reps)	X	Squats (105) Rows (60) Shoulder Press (30) Abs (20 reps)	X	Squats (110) Deadlifts (80) Benchpress (55) Abs (20 reps)
C A R D I O	X	5 mile Fartlek (45:59)	X	7:38 Mile	X
M E A L S	Breakfast: Skipped Lunch: Cereal Dinner: Cup of Tomato Soup	Breakfast: Granola Bar Lunch: Cup of Beef Stew Dinner: Chicken Parmesan w/ Pasta	Breakfast: Skipped Lunch: Cereal Dinner: Leftover Pasta	Breakfast: Skipped Lunch: Cereal Dinner: JCW’s	Breakfast: Denny’s Grandslam Lunch: Skipped Dinner: Cheesecake Factory

Without Doubt

One of my goals for 2014:

"Contemplate finding what my womanhood means as a Latter-day Saint--Contemplate, research, write, and discuss."

Let's get the discussion going. (:

As a woman, I've longed for understanding my entire life. I've ached for the outside societal voices to hush, the religious cultural whispers to cease, the self blame and doubt to melt away. Throughout my childhood and adolescence, it was easy defining myself based on certain men's choices. It was easy placing blame on myself. It was easy looking at other women and comparing myself.

I still have hope that can stop. I have faith it can be done, for myself and other women, both Latter-day Saints, and not. It is imperative I find and grab hold of my divine worth as a woman.

My mother sat across from me on her bed just a few weeks ago. She said, "You're a feminist." Her eyebrows were raised and I blushed. Someday I'd love to be a Young Women's leader. I'd love to help girls think about the temple in regards to a relationship with God, rather than being worthy solely for a man. I wish I could have a re-do with some bishops as a teenager, who left a bad taste in my mouth toward patriarchy for years. But repentance and sincere humility does things--it changes your heart.

I'd love to apply the Atonement to my life in searching for my identity as a woman.The areas I'd like to focus my thoughts on throughout the year:

• Mother Eve
• The Historiography of Relief Society's Past and Present
• Changing Your Heart
• Temple Worthiness For You First
• A Woman's Testimony
• Loving Your Spirit and Your Body
• Career and Marriage

...and whatever else comes to mind. (:

I hope you'll join me on my journey this year. This itch won't go away. I'd love for your thoughts, ponderings, opinions, and experiences. I love you.

"I desire the Spirit of God to know and understand myself, that I might be able to overcome whatever tradition or nature that would not tend to my exaltation in the eternal worlds. I desire a fruitful, active mind, that I may be able to comprehend the designs of God, when revealed through His servants without doubting."

-Emma Smith, First President of the Relief Society

I'M A STRONG WOMAN

Beyonce's new album, guys. Beyonce's. New. Album. I can't stop listening to it. It's like an addiction. It's like I'm coming to realize something very important about me, my femininity, and my worth. Each listen gets more and more intense and heartfelt. The best time to listen and nod to Beyonce? While I'm running. 

Today, I ran 4.85 miles in 45:07. GUYS. Let me repeat: 4.85 miles in 45:07. Almost 5 miles in 45 minutes. Almost my best distance pace in high school. As I walked home from the gym, all I could feel was pride and love for my body. 

Beyonce would be proud.

RESET

I thought I'd share with you a few of my 2014 goals. This blog will blossom throughout the year, as I come to find answers for my questions. I want this to be a discussion, a thoughtful place, a haven for open-mindedness. On with a selection of my aspirations... (:

Church

Keep a physical journal.
Continue finding what my womanhood means as a Latter-day Saint—Contemplate, research, write, and discuss.

Marriage

Listen and write down one question Zac asks each day.
Plan an awesome 3 year anniversary.

Writing

Ponder, question, and structure out my YA book.
Realize Bring Her Back's full potential
Study for the GRE. Take the GRE. Finalize grad school applications and make it tangible.
Read one book per month.

Health

Get healthy—Mind, body, and spirit—Exercise, eat more veggies and fruit, get good sleep—Do not shame my body with bad self-image—If I am not happy with my body’s appearance, make a difference.

Take better care of my skin.