I can do hard things!

I have been on the 90-day challenge for 19 days and I have lost 5 lbs. That was my first goal and it took me almost 3 weeks. I thought I would see results faster, but making a life style change is not easy. Especially this kind for me. I LOVE food. I love the taste of sweet, savory, gooey, cheesy, chocolatey etc. etc. I love the smell. Food is just so comforting all around. So, when I committed to do this challenge, I realized it wasn't going to be easy and I would have to make sacrifices in order to see the results I wanted. But to see the scale moving in the right direction, is motivation.

Daily routine:
Wake up 5:45
Head to gym: Cardio 30 min. (I'm doing the "Couch to 5K in 9 weeks" for my cardio.
                      Strength training: Arms (Mon. Wed. Fri.) Legs (Tues. Thurs.)
Make a shake, either w/ frozen fruit or chocolate Silk. Both are very tasty! Start drinking my 100 oz. of water...I'm not used to drinking that much water in a day...but I feel the benefits.
Snack: String Cheese/Yogurt/Water
Lunch: Shake/water
Snack: Bean, corn, avocado, roma tomato Dip w/ 5 tortilla chips/Water
Dinner: Salmon, Chicken Breast, veggies, salad...whatever I am making for my family, I eat, but I modify it to stay in my calories.
Water, Water, Water, Water, Water!

I'm not perfect everyday...but I am continually trying.

...Because in the end, I will feel great, look great, and finally accomplished this life long goal!

So far so good!

I started the Body By Vi Challenge on Monday and so far it is going good! I love the shakes. They are delicious. I have been exercising more and I noticed, I really do have more energy. I wanted to share a few of the shakes I have tried and I love them all...I have to admit, I don't feel like I'm dieting, because they taste so good. But, that's the point, right?

Seriously, the butterscotch & peanut butter shake taste like dessert!

My Physical Journey & Goal

Life continues to be full of ups and downs for our family. But we are remain positive and optimistic...most of the time. While continuing on this journey through life, I have fallen behind on taking care of my body. This frame that houses my Spirit. I have neglected it and I am feeling the repercussions. But I have found a Challenge beyond all Challenges. The 90-day Body By Vi Challenge is sweeping the nation and I have decided to be a part of it. I have seen the results of others and I am so excited for my own Physical Transformation to take place. Please follow me as I work hard and improve my health and my life.

Problem: Over weight, low energy, unhealthy, poor eating habits.
Solution: Eat right (W/ the shake system by ViSalus) & Exercise
Goal: Weight: 130  Size:6-7
Regain health & energy. Teach others along the way!

 http://ccordero.bodybyvi.com/

Challenge begins Aug. 6, 2012:

Size: 14     Weight: 172                                       How did I get this way? 

 

The beginning of a new era~

What an exciting weekend for the Cordero household. Thursday afternoon, Matt received a call from Aramark...the company that had just turned him down the week before. They wanted a 3rd interview with him. Of course he nailed it, but we didn't find out until 4:00 Friday afternoon that they wanted to hire him. HAPPY DANCE! This job has so much potential. Base plus commission, car allowance, insurance from day one, vacation incentives, etc. He will work Mon.-Fri. 7:30-4:30...Exactly what we wanted. And he can pursue seminary teaching. We're not out of the woods yet, though. We have 12 months to make up from lost income, food storage, and paying it forward. But we recognize this as a tremendous blessing for our family. A huge burden has been lifted. I can't even begin to express the relief I feel. Two days before Matt received the job offer, I had written in my journal that I had reached my breaking point. I really didn't know how much longer I could go on and have hope. I know that my prayers were answered at the exact moment that Heavenly Father wanted them to be. I had to learn, I had to grow over these past 2 years. And now, when I stop to think about it, I really am grateful for this trial. The lessons I learned are literally priceless. We have a road of recovery ahead of us, but now we have the means to accomplish our goals.

We are truly on a journey to have peace.

This is Our year

So...2009 & 2010 were tough years. I look back at my goals that I made in January and I don't think I was able to cross off more then one or two things on those lists. This year I have decided not to make a list. I have decided to do something totally different. I am going to choose a word and that will be my goal for this year. Strange, I know. But it doesn't seem like the lists work very well for me. I still have things I am going to work on. I'm just not going to set myself up to fail come December 31st. My word for 2011 is "Happiness"... No matter what happens, no matter what I go through, I'm going to find happiness in all that I do.
Matt is still unemployed at the moment, but I have a good feeling that's going to change soon. I feel like this is our year to apply all the things we've learned in the past 2 years.
I am happy with my life. Its through my past that I have found true happiness. I have learned that Matt and I are strong and together we can overcome trials and heartache.
Our family has been blessed beyond measure. We have so much to be happy about.
Here's to 2011.

2 Nephi 5:27 And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness.

A lesson from my Angel...

I am really not in the mood to blog tonight after a day like Today! I started another "diet"...not really a diet but a life style change. Day one is always hard. I was grumpy most of the morning because I had 2 poppy seed muffins in the pantry and a half pan of brownies on the counter. No way to start out any diet/life style change. I gave into my weakness and had a small brownie and half of one muffin. (Noah didn't build the Ark in a day, right?) Me and a group of women have started another blog just for this subject. Called: From the Inside Out 9. I am hoping with their help and encouragement, my weight loss "burden" will become a thing of the past.
Next, I have thought of my friend that is on our cruise, on and off throughout the day..."She's probably in Cabo, eating a gourmet 7 course meal while sailing on the ocean looking at a beautiful sunset right now." Why do I do this to myself? Yeah, its been one of those days!
And last, after a month and a half of waiting to hear from another company if Matt could possibly have a job...they asked us to wait until Friday...Just say it already, "You've gone with someone else!" Please stop the mind games. :)
My point is this, sometimes it takes some one younger and wiser to make us realize that this life is all about learning what it is the Lord needs us to learn. Kamri did our F.H.E lesson tonight on gratitude. She asked me what "Gratitude" means to me. I said, "it means to be grateful for what we HAVE and not what we WANT." There are days I feel totally ungrateful.
If I were a stranger walking by my house, looking through the window, I would see a Husband and a Wife that love each other unconditionally. I would see food on the table and clean clothes in the closets. I would see brother and sisters playing and laughing with each other. I would see a picture of Christ, Our Savior hanging on the wall as Guardian over this house.
The day to day trials we face may seem hard in the moment. But I know that when the Savior returns to this earth, I will look at Him and I will shout, "It was all worth it."

Being Grateful for what you have

So, tomorrow Matt and I should be leaving for California. This coming week we should be sailing to Mexico. We are in the 5th month of being unemployed. I thought by canceling our cruise that Matt would have received a job by now. It is so hard not knowing from one day to the next. That is one thing I took for granted when Matt was employed. I could plan my future. I knew what I would be doing tomorrow, next week, and next month. This trial has made me aware that you should never get to comfortable. Right now, I'm really uncomfortable.