1 year, 52 weeks, 365 days...

Why is this number significant? Well, there are 2 reasons.

First, I have been working out consistently for almost that long. On September 18,2011 I decided that I wanted to make myself accountable for working out. So, being the type A personality that I am, I created a spreadsheet that had 8 weeks on it.

Let me back track a minute. I have always worked out. I love doing it. But, something would always happen around that 4-8 week time period that I would stop doing it consistently or take weeks off. You know, that time right when you are about to see the results of your hard work. Anyway, I knew that if I had to cross that day off with what I did, I was more likely to keep up with it. I didn't want to be filling in the squares with "day off." So I started working out. I would track my weights, reps and any cardio that I did. I found several workouts online that I followed along to switch it up. (Right now I am 4 weeks into following tighterassetsbytk.blogspot.com. She posts a workout everyday of the week for a Monday thru Friday workout. I love it because it is plyometrics with some weight training too. Check her out. It is tough, but I set my timer and just keep chugging along and one day a week, I go back to an old workout to see if I can improve my time or reps).

Back to now. Here I am at the end of week 47 and I have only once taken 3 days off in a row and that was post Thanksgiving weekend, but I did so much shopping that I think it made up for it. I always take 1 day off as a rest day, but workout the other 6. It is now just a part of my life. I read somewhere that it takes something like 21 days for something to become a habit. And it is now for me. I just feel better when I workout and I feel tired on the days I don't. Can you say Endorphins?!?!

Here is what my first 8 week sheet looked like. I have them all saved and still use them today!

Another reason this number WILL become significant is that my doctor wants me to go gluten-free, egg-free and dairy free for a YEAR.  I think I almost passed out when he suggested it. Right now I think I am going to make short term goals for this, because it is a huge change and I don't like change. If I can do it until Christmas which is only 4 1/2 months then I will be happy. And, if I feel good after doing that, which I know that I will, I will continue on to 6 months and the ultimate goal will be 1 year. He said that after a year, our bodies are more accepting of the food allergen and I can integrate it back in my diet.It is as if my body forgets that it didn't like it. I think the only hard thing will be giving up pizza. I love love love pizza. I have researched other ways to sub out dairy and am going to try soy yogurt, because I love greek yogurt too. Let's hope that I can do it.