Today, my 6 and 7 year old headed off to 1st and 2nd grade.  I was ready for it.  They were ready too.  I gave them a kiss, and my husband drove them to school.  I’m not worried a bit.  I LOVE you Ethan and Cecelia.  You are so very fun!  I’m glad to share you with the world.

I, also, dropped my 9th grader off for his 2nd day of high school.  If you live in and around St. Louis, you know high school is a really big deal.  Bigger than perhaps any other city.  He was tired from the homework, football practice, and waking up early each day.  I was ready for this too!  I was surprised by how ready I was.  I LOVE you Jacob.  What a fine young man you are growing up to be. 

My husband is taking his Lieutenant’s test as well.  Good luck baby!

As if that wasn’t enough, today is the last day of AMP’D in St. Louis!  I LOVE my AMP’D cadets.  I LOVE you guys.  You are amazing.  You really are.  It is my pleasure to work with you, know you, and watch you achieve your goals.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  TRUELY! 

As school begins and Cadets graduate, I find myself uncharacteristically numb to the emotional opportunities all around me.  So, I decided it was the perfect day to watch “The Boys of Fall” video by Kenny Chesney.  Football moms have been telling me for weeks to watch it.  My son kept telling me to watch it.  His friends kept telling me to watch it.   Every conversation has gone like this, “You have got to watch it. You’ll cry.” 

My response has been “why would I want to watch it then?”  I don’t like romantic movies.  I don’t like to cry. I don’t like to appear weak.  (Don’t even say it.  I know!)

Anyway feeling numb today, I thought I would watch this so-called tear jerk-er.  WOW!  You can better believe I will be giving a speech inspired by this one when AMP’D begins again on September 13!

When it comes to love….what’s enough? 

Thanks everyone!  It has been a great summer and the future is so bright. 

Watch the video yourself! (more…)

Wow!

Mel began at Ellipse more than a year ago.  Her courage led her to our AMP’D boot camp.  She quickly convinced her husband to join in the fun.  As you can see, it was worth the time and effort. 

Congratulations to Ellipse Members Tony and Mel.  Training you continues to be a pleasure as we watch you lead your family and community towards health and wellness.  Thank you for your example of dedication and perseverance.  

“It is not the mountain that makes you stumble.  It is the pebble.”  It’s all about the first couple of steps.  Be brave.  YOU can do it.

My ten year old fell off a horse yesterday.  TWICE!  She’s not a”horse person” she’s a girl who likes horses and is indulging in learning more about them with a riding lesson 1-2x a week this summer.  She did this last summer, too.  But, to date, hasn’t fallen off.  Well, yesterday she did. TWICE! Ya know what?  She got back back on.  At first, she thought about it.  But then, she dusted herself off and without a lot of hesitation, she put her foot in the stirrup, swallowed a few tears and got back on the darn horse.

Would you?

Do you?

When you fall off the weight loss/exercise wagon–do you get back on?

With very few exceptions no one eats and exercises perfectly every day, day in and day out, FOREVER.  We fall off.  We eat pizza.  We have birthday cake.  Whatever….how you deal with that will determine if you’re on a diet or you’re adapting a lifestyle.  If you’re on a diet, the chances are high you’ll go “off it” and have a hard time getting back “on it”.  SO, let’s consider a lifestyle change.  Let’s decide to change our life and get back on the wagon the second we fall off.

Are you doing  AMP’D?  If you are –we’re on a 14 day cleanse diet.  YEP, it’s a real diet.  It’s a short term kick in our butt, to help us focus on the task at end.  It has an end and a beginning.  After it, we move into lifestyle changes that CHANGE LIFESTYLES! 

I love new AMP’D sessions!  Everyone is full of hope and energy and fear and we have similar mind sets.  I hope yours is, that no matter what–no matter what weird exercise or no matter what personal challenge is presented you during this summer, that you’ll give it your best.  Swallow your tears, or maybe your fears, and you’ll give it your all!  Get back on the healthy wagon and change your life!