P365 - 2014 - Day 115 - I am a MOTHER, after all

P365 - 2014 - Day 115 - I am a MOTHER, after all

It was Day 1 of my 30 day cleanse.  I woke up ready to get started - ready for a positive change.  I consider myself a fairly healthy person.  I run.  I eat pretty healthy - nothing crazy - but healthy.  I make sure the kids eat well and are active.  But that all being said, I have felt tired lately (that darn 40th birthday back in July...), I don't always pay enough attention to myself, and with my youngest turning 9 in a few days I can't really still claim to be holding "baby weight".  So, I finally decided to do something for me.  (In reality, I am still doing something for everyone else... because as they say, "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.")  Now don't get me wrong, I love taking care of my family - they are truly the most important thing to me - my kids are my three best accomplishments.  But somewhere in between laundry, cleaning, driving everyone around to sports, arranging times with friends, homework, and all of the other "administrative duties" of a mom I sometimes don't have the time, the energy, nor the inclination to worry too much about me.  Again, I am not complaining.  I signed on for this willingly and enjoy every single minute.  I just want to be able to enjoy every minute while feeling better about myself - on the inside and the outside.  When I thought long and hard about doing this cleanse I questioned whether or not I have the motivation - can I do it? Can I stick to it?  Can I handle it?  Well 12 years ago I had the motivation to take shots every day in order to give us the best chance of starting a family.  I endured those shots and the sometimes sick feelings that went along with them because it was important to me.  Then I went through first 34 weeks and then 40 weeks of two pregnancies.  I made sure I ate healthy for the babies and I took care of myself because that, too, was important to me. With that all being said, I think I'm pretty tough. ;-)  I mean, I am a MOTHER, after all.  You don't get much tougher than that.  So if this mother can do all of the things that I do for everyone else (willingly and with love) then I should be able to do this for me.  With the first day under my belt, I feel good.  I clearly wasn't deprived - that was one delicious salad that I had full of chicken and veggies, egg, and nuts... I enjoyed two shakes as well throughout the day.  I ran my usually run - went for 4 miles and felt good.  I did have a slight headache because I  had no coffee all day.  This might be my biggest challenge, but I am up for it.  I look forward to feeling even better as the days go on.  I'll keep you posted on this journey to more energy and better health and fitness.