Day 2: The Beginning of the Beginning

Aside from completing one book, reading another one, and starting a third today (yes, it was a tough day), I did manage to do a little towards my goals:

• I wrote the check and prepared to mail our property taxes which are due January 31st. This task seems like a given when taking proper care of finances, but for me it is always very difficult to part with several thousand dollars at one time. I am fearful of a child getting sick, the car breaking down, or some other unforeseen need to have that money back. Said train of thought inevitably makes me hold the check too long, and then I look up and have to pay extra money. So, it is a small step, but I took care of our obligation in a timely manner, and small as it is, I consider it a success.

• I'm proud to say that I am headed for bed with a load of laundry drying, another washing which will be ready to dry first thing in the morning, and (best of all) a nice, clean kitchen.

• And now to the toughest part of this whole idea: working out each and every day. To begin, I did the "10 Minute Stretch" on page 192 of an amazing book my sister gave me several years ago called New York City Ballet Workout: Fifty Stretches and Exercises Anyone Can do for a Strong, Graceful, and Sculpted Body (ISBN 0-688-15202-3). If you think stretching won't make you sweat, this book will prove you wrong. And quickly. Not only does the stretching have incredible benefits for your body, but it feels really, really good. Because I had to flip back to each exercise to see how to do them, I actually spent about 25 minutes on this portion. Then I headed out to the garage to try my luck with the new-to-us BowFlex. In the equipment documentation I found a "20 Minute Better Body Workout" that hit all the major muscle groups (chest, back, shoulders, arms, legs, and trunk). Again, it took me a lot longer than 20 minutes, but I am certain that once I get better at switching cables and weights I will be much more efficient. Likely I'll be a little sore tomorrow, but as the infamous They say, "No pain, no gain."

So, after one day, I am still on track. Only 364 more to go...

PS: I weighed this morning. I have to lose 9 pounds to be comfortable again, 15 to be positively proud, and 22 to be living my body image dream. I keep telling myself, "A little at a time, each and every day."