Project 10: Real Women, Real Fitness Goals

I've found myself complaining a lot more about how I need to lose weight, but not actually doing anything about it. I've had many rackets along my road to try and live a healthier life, but not much motivation.

You'd think starting a new job, with a lot of new people to impress would be motivation. Nope. 
You'd think summer coming would be motivation. Nope. 
You'd think my clothes not fitting would be motivation. Nope.
You'd think wanting to physically and mentally feel better would be motivation. Nope.
You'd think a lot of things should be motivators, but for some reason nothing has really driven me.

Over the past several months my weight has become more than an issue of vanity, it's really started to impact my health as well.

My asthma is worse than ever and my Dr said it's not only exercise or cold air induced, but also being triggered by heartburn. We believe the cause of my of heartburn is primarily stress, however my weight has been brought up as a possible reason as well. In fact, one of my specialists even suggested having a breast reduction to try and reduce the pressure. Yikes. No thank you. You'd think the day I heard that I'd be on my way to a healthier me. Nope.

My back has been acting up again lately. While there are some structural issues going on there, I also have horrible posture, spend a lot of time sitting (at work, in the car), and am carrying around a lot of unnecessary weight.  You'd think wanting to be in less pain (by both strengthening my core and losing weight) would make me jump (or do some form of exercise!), but nothing.

The one that actually scared a little bit of sense in me was at my last physical. For the first time, in my life, my blood pressure was borderline "high" - I have ALWAYS had low blood pressure. For years it wasn't uncommon for me to be 80/60 - maybe a bit too low. It's something my Dr. wants to watch, especially since heart disease runs rampant in my family. While he also feels this is stress-related, losing some weight certainly won't hurt. 

I've realized I'm not the type of person who is going to lose weight for a specific event, or because someone says I should, or even because the bottom line is I NEED to. I've realized I also need to to be in the right frame of mind mentally and ready to want to do it on my own.

Enter Project 10

Project 10 is a group of real women bloggers from the Rhode Island area, with real fitness goals. We all want to lose (at least) 10 pounds over the next 10 weeks and have committed to help each other with motivation, support, tips, recipes, being work-out buddies, you name it! Our path's aren't going to be cookie cutter - our lives are all different. Some of us work full time out of the home, some work full time at home as stay at home mothers. Some of us have a lot to lose, others have a little. Some of us don't want to follow a "diet", while others do because that is what works for them.

The group was put together by my friend Stephanie from Stephanie's Mommy Brain. She's even enlisted the help of a certified personal trainer, Samantha from Running and Cupcakes, to help us with motivation, advice and some personal training sessions! How awesome is that?

I've picked 10 things to focus on over the next 10 weeks

• Get back to juicing more
• Drink more water, drink less everything else
• Plan meals better, so I eat out less (especially at lunch!)
• Incorporate more organic foods into our diet
• Get more sleep
• Stretch more - especially my back and legs
• Come up with some sort of core exercise that works for me
• Walk more, maybe follow a 'Couch to 5k' program (if my asthma allows)
• Focus on mental, as well as physical health. That means less stress
• Lose 10 or more pounds

While they don't seem like much, if I am able to accomplish even a handful of these things I know I will be on my way to a healthier lifestyle. I plan to track my progress each week. 

Our journey starts today and I'm excited to document it here and follow the successes of each woman who has decided to participate. Take some time to check them out, you won't be sorry! I can promise you that while we all have a common goal, we're all attacking this challenge in our own way. Maybe one of us will be able to help motivate you to a healthier way of living.

• Stephanie from Stephanie's Mommy Brain (Host of Project 10)
• Megan from A Baby Makes Four
• Jodi from Blush Mamas 
• Melissa from Filling Our Bucket
• Liz from Learning to Juggle 
• Kristin from Mama Luvs Books 
• Kameron from My Wrinkle in Time
• Sarah from Sweet Lil' You 
• Candice from The New Modern Mama 

If you want to join us for Project 10, grab the button, leave a comment so I can follow you and be sure to link up here.