It's Gonna Be Flabulous!

I just had an old friend visit from out of town. Do you ever start to feel much more aware of yourself when you see someone that you haven't seen in awhile? I find that I start to become much more aware of myself, and my appearance. I think that comes from stopping and trying to figure out how I've changed since I last saw this person. Do I look better or worse? Is it noticeable? Thanks to the PCP, I know that I look better. But I still felt this big shift in my self-awareness, and to some extent, my self-criticism.

I really want to keep improving my health, my level of fitness, my energy. And I want others to see and notice that in me. But sometimes it is easy to get lost in my regular schedule, and those things may slip out of focus. When someone new comes into my life, or reenters my life, if even for a day, I snap out of it. Although I don't really want to become so self-conscious, it can be a timely reality check and help me to refocus my sense of motivation. I seem to have found more time this week to slip in 15 minutes of jumps, a workout, and even some 8-minutes abs. That makes me happy.

I had Adrian take a picture of me this morning in a new PCC pose, but the camera battery died before I could upload it. I will edit in the picture to this post once I can figure out where the heck we put the battery charger. I can't wait to get this picture pool started!

So if you can, snap a picture of yourself for your next post. Don't worry, I'm flabbier than I would like to admit, too. But that's what starting the picture pool is all about! Like Kazue (of PCPJapan) said, "I always tell people the worse your Day 1 photo is, the better. Nothing motivates more than being sick of how you look and seeing the changes happen in front of your eyes." Let's do this thang!


Until my flabulous edit-in,
Emiko

Constantly Conscious

What a week. Like Nate, I've had a rough week as well. I wrecked my motorcycle last week, but walked away with a bum knee due to road rash. This has set me back on the workouts, but my knee should be fine by the end of the week; thus I hope to fully resume the workouts then.

Unfortunately I've allowed myself to slip on the diets as well. It's amazing how the mind looks for any excuse it can to resort to its slothful state. I have to consciously and constantly remind myself to make better decisions. I was talking to a friend of mine who is being tutored by a wealthy individual in regards to saving money. He said that the primary concept it to be extremely tight with your money. It's a constant, conscious awareness and decision.

This relates to the PCP as last week I asked for advice on how to save money (much thanks to all of you for your advice and contributions, by the way). What I have noticed lately is how much more satisfying food is when you work for it -- when you take the time to prepare it and sit down to enjoy it. Fast food is convenient, but there's always something to regret about it whether it's due to cost or health.

My encouragement to you and myself is to take a moment this week to think about how you can be more conscious of something. Whether it's the food you eat, the way you spend your money, your posture, anything. The more aware of it you are, the more active you can be in pursuing change.

Take care, my friends.