get in shape girl!

So it's Spring. I know it's been Spring for a few weeks and it's only 45 degrees out, but it's April and we are forecasted to have three days in a row when the temps break into the 60's - so there's no more denying it.

I love Spring, I really do. I love being outside again and actually feeling warm when the sun is out (For the last month, anytime Ella sees it's sunny out she gets all excited, thinking that summer is here!). But along with warmth and outside play and planting flowers and vegetables comes the nagging thought that won't go away... "I'm going to have to wear shorts soon. And not too long after that I'm going to have to wear a bathing suit."

My exercise regime hit a low over the past few months. Shorts wearing weather just seemed so far away and I figured that by not running I would avoid any possibility of those pesky migraines. I honestly can't remember the last time I ran - perhaps a mile or so in February? So I've decided to double my weekly workouts! I've been doing a step workout once a week, so that means I only have to do something one more and I'm good to go.

Actually I do want to start getting back in shape. I liked how I felt when I was running - I liked that I was pushing myself and getting my heartrate up. I don't know if I'll be getting to the place that I was but I have started walking again and doing yoga and yesterday I did Billy Blanks Bootcamp for the first time in 2008. Today I'm having a hard time standing and sitting. Other than that I'm fine.

When I'm having a hard time motivating myself I just picture myself in a bathing suit (I actually tortured myself a bit too much and I actually tried one on. It was too much to take in and I don't plan on putting myself through that again for at least another month or two.) I am also considering ordering an incentive suit - one that will encourage me to firm up and lose a few pounds. When I told Matt that he wondered if perhaps I wouldn't fit into the new suit after I lost weight, i.e., it would be too big! I loved him for that because it helped me realize that the likeliness of me buying a bikini that become too big for me is probably as likely as me permanently losing the five pounds that I've been complaining about for two years. Hey, I'm trying to be realistic here. Shouldn't stop me from wanting to get in shape, just maybe will stop me from heading over to jcrew.

I'm also trying to figure out how to eat healthier. I really don't want to diet, but I do know that my body frame probably could stand to lose a little weight and that won't happen by just exercise. Lately I've been feeling yucky if I eat late at night so I've decided that my goal will be to be done eating at dinner and avoid those late nights splurges. I love food and I love sweets and I'm prone to just snacky because something is in front of me - eating right is much more of a challenge for me than exercising.

Finally I've got to start becoming comfortable in my own skin. I have never been comfortable with my body and how it looks. I never felt skinny in college, but I look back at pictures (bathing suit ones even) and wish I could have appreciated it and realized that I looked good. Man, it is hard to even type that because I never let myself believe it. If it was a challenge accepting myself then I can't even begin to describe the challenge it is for me now. But I do know that it's got to be part of the exercising and eating right package.

How are you all feeling as Spring is starting to draw us outdoors? Anyone else nervous about bathing suit season? If you're not, please tell me your secret - I've got two months to learn!

PS - Anyone else have the Get in Shape Girl equipment as a youngster? I believe my set had ribbons!