Monday, June 23, 2014

Hi there! :)

Hello!  LoveLaughSweatFuel here.  I am better known in my real life as Jen.  Been some time since a real blog post has been penned.  Since summer vacation is upon us and spending time with my kiddos is top of the list .. welcome back blog world!

I am a 41 yr old married mother of two.  I picked LoveLaughSweatFuel for a reason.  

1.  Love .. surround yourself with those you love and do what you love.

2.  Laugh .. daily!  A big old hearty belly laugh.

3.  Sweat .. daily!  Move.  Groove.  Live.  A body at rest stays at rest.  A body in motion stays in motion.

4.  Fuel .. who wants crappy fuel?  Eat well.  Eat healthy.   Enjoy.

 Some years back, I lost 75 lbs and have kept it off for 5 years now.  Talk about lifestyle change!

My official before!  


When my journey started it was because I felt fat and crappy.  I had two little kids.  I was tired.  I was uncomfortable.   I was absolutely positively miserable.  Irritated all the time.  Unhappy.  Just blah.  Guess what!  The adage "if momma isn't happy then no one is happy" is true.  

My kiddos and husband deserved so much more.   So I did what was needed!  I grabbed a firm hold of my "big girl gutchies" and made some changes.  Read.  Meditated.  Read more.  Changed my nutrition.   And decided that I needed to be me.  

I needed to find me again.  I had fallen into letting others bother the hell out of me to the point of frustration.  Now I am fully aware the thoughts words and actions of "others" have no bearing on my family or my life.  One of my favorite quotes is "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent" from Eleanor Roosevelt.  

I had fallen into letting some make me feel inferior.  No more!  There are many goals and aspirations on my "bucket list".  We started with a 5ks.  Felt great!  It became several.  Now throw in a couple marathons and almost a handful of halfs and all is good.  

My hubby does not share my love of "movement and nutrition."  But he fully supports all that I do and is reaping the health benefits of the nutritional changes.  My biggest and ultimate goal is for my kids.  I want to show them anything is possible.   Work for it.  It will happen.   Plus, I wanna be here for the long haul.  Healthy.  Happy. Active.  

Last year, I decided to pursue my longest held dream.  Bodybuilding.  See growing up while others had pics of "heart throbs" on their walls or in their minds .. I had bodybuilders.  






These exact pictures.   I know there names and stats.  Since the age of 14/15 this is what I have wanted to do.  Always have found it stunning beautiful and awe inspiring.  In a quick conversation with my kids at the helm .. they stated I should follow my dream.  Now with the full support of my husband and children .. I follow my dream.  

It will take years.  I have nothing but time.  My closest goal is in 4 years.  Around my 45th bday see what my progress is and possibly stand on a stage.  My son is gonna rub the fake tan on my bumm.  He promised!  :)  I know it is not for everyone and I do not care.  There are already naysayers.   Let them talk.  Just noise in the background.

So that was a long introduction and I would love to upload todays picture for comparison but it will not let me.  :(  If you are interested in following along .. check in every so often.  You will get to see my personal progress.  My family adventures.  Stories about my kids.  Along with whatever else floats my boat!  

Thanks for reading! 

JEN