We've Moved.  Please join us at: Inperspire .

Day 112 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

We're Moving House

Well, really, we're moving from Blogger to Wordpress.com.

Yep, we are taking the plunge.

I'm scared.

It's scary moving, but I think it will help in the long run.

I will keep our blogspot up and running for the next week or so in case you forget (also as a way to hedge my bets because moving is HARD :)

Hopefully the move will make our blog faster so it will be more convenient for you & me.

Our new address is: http://inperspire.wordpress.com/ .

The new blog is not complete yet - what or who is - but I hope to have our mascot of the month and all the important things, e.g., gold stars of the month up and running by the end of the day. 

Please let me know if you have any difficulties.  I can always change back.

As a person who avoids change it is a relief to know I can "change back".

I am, however, optimistic that this will be a good move.

All that being said...whew!

Hope you have a great Sunday! 

 It's Zumba day today!  Yay!

This is where I tell myself, take a deep breath everything will be okay.

Lotsa,

Day 111 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

Hey, look what I got!

No, not a new pair of shoes, but a Stiletto Award!

I am so excited...and I just can't hide it...I'm about to lose control

and I think I like it (okay, enough of the Pointer Sisters)!

This is my first award and it was given to me by

Cynthia O'H from Balls in in Air.

Cynthia received the award and then passed it on to five bloggers who motivate her.

The thing that I love most about blogging is how all of us lead very busy lives and yet we manage to find time to exercise (even if we aren't always consistent, we know what we need to do) and to give each other motivation by writing our "stories" in our blogs and comments. 

Thanks, Cynthia O'H, for such a kind and motivational gesture.

Now I get to pass the award on to five bloggers who inspire and motivate me...this is SO much fun!

The Stiletto Award goes to (in no particular order):

Fashion Meets Food

Girl Get Strong (Sian)

I Run Because I Can

And Her Little Dog Too

Truth2Being Fit

I have learned so much from these "girls" and they definitely deserve an award.

Have a Super Saturday!

Happy Sweating :)

Day 110 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

It's Friday!

Time to get our booty in shape for the weekend!

I thought you might like this video, especially when they get to squeezing right then left.

Try it in your chair at work, in the car, when you are standing, wherever.

I am going to try it all day long today.  I need a little lift in my life :)

Have a Fabulous Friday...tight tushes to all!

Day 109 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

Diane Murphey - Lose A Ton Challenge - The Final 3! 

 Diane's hardwork and dedication has paid off.  She made it to the Final 3 in St. Louis' Lose A Ton Challenge.  At her weigh-in this week she totally rocked the scale.  At the last weigh-in she was 192 lbs - this week 186 lbs!  She lost a total of 3.12% of her body weight.  Can you say proud - yes we are.  I am also in awe because Diane has made big changes in the midst of living a busy life, working long hours, and working late a night.  I think you said it best, Diane, and I believe this may be your new mantra:

Bring It On!

Here is a video of yesterday's weigh-in  Booyah!

Lose A Ton Challenge

Day 108 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

It's Wednesday, also known in my house as the day after the Biggest Loser day.  Love that show.  My favorite quote from last night's episode was:

"Our contestants have to leave their unhealthy pasts behind."

I think it was Bob who said this when talking about what the contestants needed to do in order to move forward in and toward their new lives.  I especially liked this quote because it brought up the PAST (the archaeologist in me loves the past) and it reminded me of a quote I use in archaeology class:

"The Past is Never Dead.  It's Not Even Past."  ~William Faulkner

Yes, Bob is right, we must leave our unhealthy habits and ways of thinking behind in order to move forward.  However, while we may be able to put the past behind us, we must also remember that our pasts will always be with us - the past is never dead - it's not even past.  No matter where we are or what we do or how much weight we lose our pasts remain with us.  They are a part of us.  To forget our pasts is to make possible the same mistakes.  This doesn't mean we can't rise above our pasts - all of you are a testament to rising above past habits and past thoughts - rather than forget - we must let our pasts be the motivation for our future.

P.S.  The pioneer women in the picture seem so different from us but their struggles are a part of who we have become (with the exception of Jimmy and Greg, our two male contributors - heehee).

Day 107 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

'Nuff Said.

Happy Tuesday.  Workout Hard.  Be Fierce.  Believe.

Day 106 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

Today's post begins with a riddle.

How do you eat an elephant?

Answer:  One Bite At A Time.

You Must Eat An Elephant One Bite At A Time. ~Twi proverb

The meaning behind this proverb is a powerful one.  A big goal can be reached through a series of small "bites".  It's like Haba na Haba Hujaza Kibaba (little by little fills the cup).  When the distance between where I am now and where I want to be gets a bit overwhelming, I just say to myself, little by little fills the cup...or...one bite at a time.  Reminding myself that it's the little steps that will take me there - really helps put whatever I am doing at that moment (struggling on the treadmill, trying to run an entire 5k, trying to run up a big hill, or getting through a weight workout) into perspective. 

Many of us have set some lofty and wonderful goals for oursevles: eating healthier, working out more, working out more consistently, incorporating weights, running, running faster, running longer, running a 5k, losing weight, toning up...our list is long and honorable :)  In the midst of all this goal setting and pushing through, it is easy to lose track of the beauty and wonder of the small goals we reach in our climb to the top.  You may not have reached your goal yet, you may still have a way to go, but don't forget to enjoy the trip.

Happy Monday!  Happy Sweating!

Day 105 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

And on Day 105 he built...

It feels good to make or create things with your own hands - as you can tell from the picture of Greg here.  We are getting ready for the IDEA Conference in Chicago (4/22-25) and Greg built a display for our towels to hang off the backdrop behind our booth.  Greg, you get three thousand thumbs!

Does this really work?  It does!  Yay!

 

IDEA has a 28-year long history of providing fitness education and bringing the newest fitness programs and trends to all of us through fitness conventions and events.  We are excited to be exhibiting at this year's IDEA Conference. 

Okay, I'm off to ZUMBA.  Have a fabulously fit and fun-filled day.  And, while you're at, why don't you make something :)

Day 104 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

Today is a day for boot camp and crochet!  It's gonna' be a lovely day.  If you missed the post last week about Handmade Especially For You, an organization dedicated to making scarves for women in need, you can check it out here.  If you like to crochet or knit, and have the time to help make scarves, you are welcome to join us.  There is no rush in making the scarves, whenever we get 10 or 20 done I will send them to Handmade.  I started to crochet my first scarf last week, but unfortunately I did not put my work away when I finished and my kittens had their way with my yarn.  Sad, but not to worry.  I will start again today!  Carolyn D said she has about 3-4 scarves started.  She's fast!


The cartoon is from Natalie Dee.  I added the crochet:  http://www.nataliedee.com/

In case you didn't catch yesterday's post I mentioned that we had a new mascot for the month of April.  Leslie of And Her Little Dog Too fame did a photo shoot with an Inperspire towel and her dog Jackson.  Here is the official mascot picture.

This should definitely make the cover of Vogue!  Thanks Jackson and Leslie.