I have decided that intense exercise is the BEST!!! I started an exercise group in my ward in April, and it's still going strong. We decided that we needed to take it up a notch and it has been awesome! The kids play in the gym behind us while we sweat, breathe, and burn our muscles into submission in the front. I have lost 8 lbs. since we have taken it to a more intense level, and I am actually beginning to see some definition YAY!!!!! I am feeling more and more like my old self. One of the women in the group has lost 30 lbs. Can you believe that, 30LBS!!!! I could not be more proud of her. She is thrilled to be going in the right direction. There is something about working out with others that makes it so fun. Not to mention it's a great distraction for the kids. They love playing together, and for the most part, let us do our thing. I have been able to work out 6 days a week, and I am in a constant state of soreness, but I love every second of it.

I feel more energized, and happy, and strong. Who knew that working so hard could give you so much energy. I can do a pull-up again. I know it's only one but back in the day I could only do two, and now I am one pull-up away from my goal. Of course, I plan on surpassing that goal. My new goal is 5.

The best part about all of this is how amazing I feel. I didn't realize how tired and weak I had become. My mood has changed dramatically. I'm nicer and more upbeat. I feel like the person I used to be. I realize now that I had been depriving myself of my passion. I am a naturally athletic person, but after high school, sports just kind of ended for me. That was always my outlet. Anything that frustrated me during the day could be released into whatever sport I was playing at the time. When I didn't have that outlet anymore I became different, angry. I had no place to put my bad moods, well I did, and my kids got the brunt of it. Now it's not like a miracle where I am completely angelic with my kids now, believe me I still yell, but I am more composed. I get control quicker.

The point of all this is I'm HAPPY! I look in the mirror and I am proud of my accomplishments. I am scuplting and shaping myself and it's a challenge. I thrive on competition, and I am my competition now. There are others who find their joy in scrapbooking, music, drawing, writing, the list goes on. I find my joy in testing my physical limits. I love sweat dripping from my nose, the burn of lifting weights and pushing myself to do just one more rep. I love jumping higher, running faster, hitting harder. I love being so exhausted by the end of the day that just hitting the pillow makes me fall asleep in seconds. I love getting to start all over the next day to do it all over again. I love having a husband that wants to do it with me. And I love that my kids can't wait to go to exercise day! They want to do it too, and it makes me proud.