Right now I’m super committed to getting and staying healthy. I’m excited about being a Beachbody® coach. I’m motivated to work out. And when working out, I feel better when I feed my body the nutritious foods it craves.

Problem is, the people around me aren‘t committed. And they are trying to pull me over to the dark side. I don’t think it’s really intentional. I definitely don’t think my friends want to see me fail at getting fit– but they just don’t get it.

I have a lot of extra time in the mornings now, so I have the luxury of spending a considerable amount of time working out. I’m also able to take my time to plan out great meals for my family. I acknowledge that time is a huge factor in all of our busy lives. Just like anything else, though, if you have a worthy goal, then it’s worth making a sacrifice.

For me, the sacrifices are all stemming around food right now. I love cream. And cheese. And salty potato chips. And wine. And fresh homemade bread. And pizza. Oh, pizza. But can I forgo that pizza today so I can have a flat belly and rocking body tomorrow? You betcha.

What’s your obstacle to fitness and a healthy lifestyle? Is it lack of culinary skill? Is it lack of motivation? Is it that you’re surrounded by people who don’t care enough about their bodies to sacrifice what’s good now for the long-term benefits of being in shape?

My advice is find an accountability partner. (Mine is my sister.) Find someone who will work out with you, cook with you, plan healthy meals with you, who will be your conscience when you are struggling the most. That partner doesn’t have to be close geographically. The Internet brings everyone together. Hop online and find someone and get started today!

Today was the first day of the rest of my life. And I’m exhausted.

To give a little background, before moving to SC, my husband and I both worked in the food service industry at dinner-only establishments. He managed a casual dining steakhouse, I served at a fine-dining steakhouse. He worked 65 hours a week and I worked… maybe 25.

Each morning one of us would drag ourselves out of bed, run our daughter, G,  to school around 8:30, and hang out at the house with our son, J. Around noon D would go to work, and I’d still be hanging around the house. At 3:00, I’d run to pick G up. We’d do homework, I’d cook dinner, and then leave for work around 5:30. I was home by 10:00 or 11:00. D would come home around 1:00 and we’d stay up til 2:00. Repeat.

Our abnormal schedule suited us, but wasn’t ideal. We didn’t really have any structure other than the parameters of school and work. I would float through the day, wander through the week, waste time… And now?

Now I get up at 6:00 every morning. Now I have two different carlines, with different drop-off and pick up times. Now I go to the gym in the morning. Now I don’t take naps. Now I have an accountability partner to make sure I stay on the straight and narrow. Now I’m starting to make changes in little, yet important ways every day.

My sis and I took a Body Flow class at the gym today. It combines Tai Chi, Yoga and Pilates. I feel like I’ve been stretched on a rack and run over by a train. Every muscle aches. I got out of breath doing Yoga. Seriously. Out. Of. Breath. Yuck. I wish I didn’t have to climb up the stairs to tuck the kids in bed. Ouch!