Heather Balog's Blog

I had a pivotal moment in my project to Getting Uncomfortable (Losing 23 lbs in 23 Weeks) this week. I discovered that sometimes, you need to give yourself grace.

It was a busy week…you know, one of those weeks where there truly aren’t enough hours in the day? You have a list a mile long and you cannot possibly get it all done…unless you give up sleep, that is.

While I wasn’t willing to give up sleep (it was bad enough losing an hour yesterday), I still tried my hardest to do it all. Which, was impossible. And the overwhelm of it all hit me in the solar plexus.

As a result, some things fell by the wayside this week. I gained a pound…the first time in this whole project that I gained weight. My house is currently a mess. I fell behind in my word count for my latest book. I have an overdue library book. Normally, I would beat myself up over all that. But this week I told myself “give yourself grace for not being Superwoman”.

Okay, I make it sound like it came to me instantly. In reality I nearly had a nervous breakdown in the middle of making lunch yesterday. I really needed to talk myself down off a ledge because I was becoming so irrational, my judgment clouded by the fact that I thought I was on the fast track to failing. And I cried and sobbed and made Hubby mad by pushing him away. I was NOT giving myself grace.

What Does It Mean to “Give Yourself Grace”?

In a nutshell? Giving yourself grace means:

STOP TRYING TO DO ALL THE THINGS.

STOP BEING A PERFECTIONIST.

AND STOP BEATING YOURSELF UP WHEN YOU CAN’T DO IT ALL.

Giving Yourself Grace Does NOT Mean…

Let me clarify, however, what the giving yourself grace is NOT.

*It is NOT making excuses.

You are not saying, “Oh I can never do A, B & C because X, Y & Z”. You are simply saying you cannot do A, B & C at this moment but you will do it. Eventually.

Sometimes our lives are way too busy and we are way too ambitious in our goals for a particular day or week or even month. You need to give yourself grace to do only what is most important and what is feasible.

Remember: Y ou cannot do all the things.

And you definitely cannot do all the things at once. I cannot work on my blog and edit my book and write another one and clean the house and go to work and take classes and exercise and drive my kid to bowling and make home-cooked meals and be the perfect wife without burning out. When there are way too many things on your plate, you need to prioritize and give yourself grace when you can’t do it all.

*It is NOT failing.

Life is a marathon, not a sprint (hopefully). Just because you couldn’t or didn’t accomplish all your goals this week, doesn’t mean it won’t happen. You are NOT a failure. You are a human. I needed to remind myself that this week. Many, many, many times. I spent a good ten minutes sobbing yesterday because I was just so damn burnt out and I felt like a hamster in a wheel.

It is so difficult when you have that driven and ambitious mindset of checking your goals off a list. I want to check off the list every day. I want to get closer to my goals every day. And I definitely don’t want to feel like a failure when I cannot feasibly do that.

But I also want to stay sane. I need to give myself grace when I cannot do something simply because it cannot be done. I can’t beat myself up for things I can’t control, right? Like, I can’t get mad at myself for not being taller than 5 foot. That’s stupid. And so is making myself feel like I’ve failed because I can’t do something right at this moment.

*It is NOT being lazy.

My God is it NOT being lazy.

Once again, it’s about being sane. I don’t think there is anyone on this planet who would call me lazy. And a lot of you are probably like me. You are not lazy…you are simply burnt out.

When you give yourself grace, you allow yourself to take a break from that hamster wheel that you’re on.

When you give yourself grace, you forgive yourself for not being perfect.

And when you give yourself grace, you’re so much better off…even if you didn’t accomplish your goal.

And This Week I Needed to Give Myself Grace

Like I said before, in addition to all the other things that didn’t get done, I did not lose any weight at all this week. I GAINED weight.

At first I was ready to beat myself up over it, scrutinizing all the places I went wrong:

I shouldn’t have had two glasses of wine on Friday.

Definitely should have worked out harder on Wednesday.

Ugh, it’s the ice cream that put me over the top. 

I shouldn’t have slept in on Sunday morning.

And then…I stopped. I stopped beating myself up for not being perfect. Yes, it’s true. I didn’t accomplish my goal this week. But I wasn’t lazy. I am not a failure. And I certainly wasn’t making excuses. I needed to give myself permission to be okay with it…and move on.

Next week will be better and I will be successful. You want to know how I know that? If you give yourself grace, you can step back from the situation and gain perspective on it. And my perspective is clearer right now.

I know what I want and I know how I will get there. But I’m okay with being a mess right now. I am okay with gaining a pound and nearly having a nervous breakdown in the middle of spreading peanut butter. I’m okay with not being a best-selling author right now and not having a the perfect blog that makes me money while I sleep. I will get there. Eventually.

But what I’m not okay with is beating myself up for not being there yet. I’m not okay with allowing my shortcomings to affect my perspective and my relationships and ultimately, my actual life. And that’s why I’ve giving myself grace this week…and you should, too.

***Need tips to giving yourself grace? Check out this blog post by Coming Up Roses.

The post Give Yourself Grace (Week 7) appeared first on Author Heather Balog.

Help!!! I need help picking a cover for my next book! Here’s the blurb for “Best Friends & Other Liars”:

Violet and Leah have been best friends since middle school. They’ve weathered puberty, dating, marriage, and children together…and it’s been quite a storm. Despite their obvious differences…think Felix and Oscar…they’ve remained best friends for 30 years. But that might be about to change once they embark on their newest adventure together…a Divorce Cruise.

Leah wants to make her bestie’s 40th birthday memorable, so she books a cruise for the occasion. A week away from Violet’s kids and daily stress in paradise. There’s just one little problem. Violet doesn’t know the trip is a Divorce Cruise. And…she’s not divorced.

Will Leah be able to keep the nature of the cruise a secret? Or will Violet find out and flip out on her best friend of thirty years? Will the trip of a lifetime ruin the friendship of a lifetime?

I’ve gotten so many great entries in my design contest and I have narrowed it down to a half dozen. Help me pick by clicking this link and voting:

Vote Here!

The post Vote for My Next Book Cover! appeared first on Author Heather Balog.

Week 6! I’m about a quarter of the way through my Getting Uncomfortable (Losing 23 lbs in 23 Weeks) journey and man, am I learning a lot about myself. I am quite the anal- retentive, unyielding, inflexible person. Maybe a lot of you out there are just like me—unwilling to bend when you’re on a mission. But when you’re on a journey with a specific goal in mind, whether it be weight loss or starting a business or getting through college, you learn a lot about how to be flexible.

***FYI, my posts may contain affiliate links. That means that if you should click on these links and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you.

Being Flexible is NOT my Jam

I use my Law of Attraction Planner Law of Attraction Planner like it’s a bible. It helps me map out my day in a way that works for me. (I use the time blocking method.) I can plan my whole 16 hours or so of being awake and this makes me feel productive. To me, there is no flying by the seat of my pants—I am in total control. I generally stick to my schedule every day. When I am planning to have downtime…I even schedule that. Needless to say, being flexible is not the way I roll.

Eye-Opening Moment

One day a few weeks ago, in a weird moment of chilling out (chilling out is not my jam, either), I was taking a quiz online. I think it was Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies Quiz. Anyway, one of the questions asked “what would other people change about you if they could”?

I wasn’t sure how to answer that question. I don’t know what other people are thinking about me. Certain that my darling Hubby would not change a thing about me—after all, he loves me just the way I am—I asked him the question.

What he said was surprising (as it usually is when you discover what people are thinking about you). He said he wishes I would change how I react when things don’t go as planned and I would be flexible. What?!?!?

I Can’t Be Flexible! Being Rigid is What Makes Me Productive!

This is how I get things done! How else will I get things done if I don’t stick to my schedule every day? The thought made me kind of nervous. Can you guys relate?

So last Sunday I sat down with my planner—as I do on Sundays—to map out my strategy for the week. (I liken it to a general going into battle.) It was then I discovered that four nights this week, I had something to do for a majority of the evening. FOUR nights?!?!?

Need a planner to keep you on track? I LOVE my Law of Attraction Planner. Use this link to get yours today.
That’s When I Started Hyperventilating.

At the beginning of this school year, I tried something different. (The best time for me to start something new is at the beginning of the school year when I’m adjusting to going back to work.) It had been getting increasingly more difficult for me to fit in working out in the morning, so I changed it up. I now work out at night. And then I shower at night which was strange for me to adjust to. That frees up my mornings so that I can get up and ease into my day. I also plan for about 45 minutes of editing or writing every morning.

How was I going to get my workouts in if I had things to do FOUR nights this week????

The Obvious Solution Was to Work-Out in the Morning.

But I couldn’t do that, either! Even though I wake up at 5:45 every morning so I have plenty of time, I would have to get up even earlier because I would need to shower after working out. And I wouldn’t have time to edit, either…although I would probably be able to fit those 45 minutes in at the end of the day instead.

I have to admit, the idea of switching up my schedule after finally adjusting to it over the course of the school year, made me break out into hives. Inflexible old me was NOT HAPPY.

I Had to Make a Choice.

Either I suck it up and start being flexible with my workouts and wake up a few minutes earlier, or I suffer the consequences of not working out pretty much all week. Okay, I realize this is probably not what Hubby meant by being flexible—he probably meant more spontaneous or not living by my planner—but for me, this was huge. I actually debated this for the better part of Sunday.

In the End, I Changed it Up

It was difficult to get up even earlier, but I have to say, it was really nice having my workouts out of the way in the morning. Even though my evenings were busy this week, I didn’t have the whole “I have to work out when I get home” hanging over my head. Plus, I didn’t have the issue of something cropping up in the afternoon or evening to mess with my schedule of working out.

So in actuality, my being flexible meant I didn’t have to be flexible COMPLETELY. I planned my flexibleness (I don’t think that’s a word) and reduced the chance that I had to be spontaneously flexible later on in the day.

I’m Advocating For Planning To Be Flexible…

Some of you out there are rolling your eyes. To you, being flexible is no big deal. It’s the way you do things. You’re adaptable to changes in plans at a moment’s notice. And that’s the way you get things done (or maybe not). Hey, everyone’s different. Hubby is like this.

But I know a lot of you may be like me…reluctant to stray from your schedule. But sometimes in a journey you need to adapt to what’s thrown at you. It’s so much easier to just say “well I can’t do this because I can’t fit it into my schedule”. That’s when people end up going off the path. That’s when the Messy Middle leads to us giving up. When we refuse to be flexible because we are set in what has worked for us all along.

It’s About Getting Uncomfortable After All…

That’s what this journey has been for me. Me getting uncomfortable to achieve my goal. And being flexible for me was uncomfortable. But that’s what we need to do to accomplish things that are hard…go out of your comfort zone.

And For Me, It Worked Out This Week.

I was delighted to see this on the scale:

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Yes, my socks don’t match, but with my busy week, I never fit that pedicure in…

I’m down over 11 lbs. I am delighted that I was able to get through this week, changing things up so that I could accomplish that. And my Law of Attraction planner allowed me to still feel like I was in control.

Now I know there will be a time when I can’t schedule being flexible, and I’m going to have to adapt on the fly. But right now, this is a step in the right direction. I just hope I don’t panic when the time comes…

The post Be Flexible (Week 6 of Getting Uncomfortable) appeared first on Author Heather Balog.

This is IT!!!! Washington is the LAST state on our State Food Tour! I can’t believe it…at some points it never seemed like we’d get to the end…especially when we were getting to the end and we had used up many of the foods for other states. One of those states that was so difficult to choose was Washington. Ultimately, we decided on Salmon Sandwiches.

Salmon Sandwiches???

Yeah, I know—I was a little taken aback, too. I had never heard of, or even considered putting salmon on a sandwiches. I mean, salmon is delicious. It goes on a bed of rice. That’s the only way I’ve ever eaten it. But salmon sandwiches????

There Was Nothing Else But Salmon Sandwiches…

So like I said, Washington is the last state and by the time we got to the last state, we had ended up having A LOT of Washington’s cuisine from other states. We had Dungeness Crabs

Well it’s Week 5 of my Getting Uncomfortable (Losing 23 lbs in 23 Weeks) Project. Last week I talked about Pushing Through   that middle part of your journey. This week, it’s time to talk about what keeps you going—Rewarding Yourself.

Rewarding Yourself? What’s THAT About?

Rewards are what keeps us on track. They’re what keeps us going when we have a big goal to accomplish—a big goal that may seem far away.

I’m not talking about a pat on the back every time you work out. I’m not talking about scarfing down a bag of potato chips for every day you don’t order fries at lunch. And I’m definitely not talking about giving yourself a cookie every time you run a mile. (That sounds kind of counter productive, no?)

To reward yourself, you need to break down your goals and set a reward for completing those goal, a little bit at a time.

***FYI: My posts may contain affiliate links which means, if you click on those links and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission, at no cost to you.

Big Goal Accomplishment=Rewarding Yourself

I have this AWESOME planner that I got at the beginning of the school year, and it’s really been helping me set and stick to big goals.

I have used planners in the past and I’ve rarely been able to stick with them. After a while, I have usually resorted to sticky notes that end up all over the house with absolutely no rhyme or reason to them. I’ve found countless sticky notes at the bottom of my purse—months after the things on the list needed to be done.

The Law of Attraction Planner has been a game changer.

The planner breaks down goals into monthly, weekly, and daily, allowing you to set rewards for yourself once you hit the goal. I personally don’t reward myself for the daily goals, but I allow myself a reward for “getting through the week”. Basically, Friday is the day I let myself relax and not worry about accomplishing much. I don’t work out and I let myself have a drink with dinner. That may not seem like much of a reward, but I need it soooo much by the end of the week.

The reason I don’t think rewarding yourself daily is a good strategy—at least not for me: It would probably end up being counterproductive—like those cookies I was talking about. I run an extra mile, I let myself have a cookie? Probably not a good idea.

Plus, I would probably spend soooo much time each day trying to figure out what to reward myself with that I wouldn’t have time to actually perform the task I need to do.

My monthly goals are, in my opinion, reward worthy. Like a tangible reward. This way, each week (and subsequently each DAY) I’m making strides with that monthly goal in mind.

Okay, So How Do You Plan?

I sit down at the beginning of every week and map out my goals and tasks for the week, based on what is a priority. This was difficult for me to do at first, but after listening to a few of Ruth Soukup’s “Do It Scared” podcasts, I got a lot of great ideas about how to prioritize my goals.

For example, I list all my week goals and label them: A, B and C. The A goals are imperative to do FIRST. Then my B goals, then, if there is time (which there usually isn’t), my C goals.

I LOVE checking things off a To-Do list, so I absolutely adore this planning style. And I know a lot of people who get a kick out of this as well.

Not only do we get to check things off a list, but we accomplish the goals in the process. Plus, by factoring in a “reward” at the end we are even more motivated to accomplish our goals.

It’s a total win win win situation. For me at least. Everyone has a different style, but if you’re like me and like to visually plan out your day with a clear expectation…this strategy may work well for you.

I Have Tried to Get Healthier in the Past…

Many, many times I’ve tried to set a goal to “get healthier”. I’ve set goals like to eat better, cut out snacks, work out more, drink more water, etc. etc…

Ninety-nine percent of the time I give up after two weeks. Usually it’s because I normally take an “all or nothing” approach to my goals of getting healthier. I  remain so focused on the goal, that when the goal is nowhere in sight. After a few weeks, it still seems so far away, and I give up.  Just like A LOT of people do. I bet many of you have done just the same.

That’s why I’ve found this planning approach, being able to visualize goals in a step-by-step manner (with rewards!) has been working for me. At no point in time do I truly feel deprived.

And if I am completely honest, nothing I am doing with this “lifestyle change” is all that crazy. There’s nothing I say “I can’t have that” about. Maybe, “I shouldn’t have that today“, but nothing is completely off limits.

This is so much easier for me than it has ever been in the past.

It would work for a lot of people—people who have failed before. Rewarding yourself is the key to accomplishing your goals. Because not only are you striving to reach your goals (that may seem far away), but you’re striving to reach your reward as well. And the reward is a heck of a lot closer than your long term goal.

This Could Work with Different Goals, Too.

This approach doesn’t need to be exclusive to weight loss or trying to get healthy. It would work for any big goal you have—getting organized, writing a book, starting a business. If you break your big goals into smaller, more manageable pieces, you feel like you’re accomplishing something. AND you get to reward yourself for getting there.

So Where Has the Rewarding Yourself Approach Gotten Me?

Well, I am 5 weeks into Getting Uncomfortable and I have hit a reward milestone. At the beginning of February, I set a goal to be down 10 lbs from my original weight of 147.4 lbs.

This is what I saw on the scale today:

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Yes, I am off by 0.2 lb and yes, I still desperately need a pedicure (maybe I should put that in my planner for this week…), but for all intents and purposes…

I NAILED THAT GOAL!

I am SO rewarding myself for this one. And my reward? Well, it’s shopping, but not just any shopping. You see, when I gained weight, the first thing that got tight? MY UNDERWEAR. Yup. I was so uncomfortable that I went out and got the next size up. And guess what? That stretched out, too. So for my reward…underwear that fits. Hey, it’s the little things!

And maybe a pedicure, too. After all, you guys don’t want to see my peeling nail polish a THIRD week in a row do you?

So start rewarding yourself for reaching your goals. I bet it’ll make things a lot easier!

The post Rewarding Yourself (Week 5 of Getting Uncomfortable) appeared first on Author Heather Balog.

March is here! Which means spring is around the corner and this dreary winter is behind us…almost. Except for this darn storm that’s coming tonight. Speaking of storms, my list of books to read in March came about in a bit of an odd way…

I was in the grocery store during our only Snow Day from school. The place was practically empty, so I was able to finally browse the table of discounted books that’s usually right in the middle of everyone’s way. (I hate blocking up cart traffic in the store, so I don’t usually stop to look.)

The books are mostly unknown authors (with an occasional bestseller thrown in), so I really was hoping to find a book by an unknown in hopes to discover a new author I like…

Well, I Was in Luck…(It Must Be That Irish Luck)

I found not one, not two, not three, but FIVE books I was interested in reading. And at a price tag of $3.99 a piece, who could beat that? I now have a whole month’s worth of books to read for $20. The theme of my books to read in March shall be…Grocery Store Bargain Books.

It’s a good thing, too because the weather is getting crappy here again. A storm is a brewin’. It’s a perfect time to curl up with a book and a cup of tea. Oh, and if the power goes out, I’ll have my favorite book light to read by. And even if the lights don’t go out, I need this book light…seriously even Hubby just ordered one. (It was either that or reading glasses.) And at under $10, we could have one in every room of the house.

The Heirs by Susan Rieger

 

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English-born lawyer Rupert Falkes dies and his wife and five sons are understandably upset. They’re in the midst of their grieving process when a woman shows up—unknown to them—and claims that Rupert was the father of her two sons as well. The Falkes are shocked, left to wrestle with the implications of this discovery.

Love this age-old concept—mystery woman who claims to have given birth to the dead man’s sons (and I assume stands to inherit money). Who can refute this? The guy is dead! Well, they do have those pesky DNA tests nowadays…

I’m hoping this will be my favorite of my books to read in March. It promises to be witty, yet emotionally charged, with suspense wrapped on top like a bow.

Woman Enters Left by Jessica Brockmole

 

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In the 1950’s movie star Louise Wilde has an unfulfilling career and a marriage on the rocks. One day she receives a phone call—she has inherited the estate of a Hollywood screenwriter, “Florrie” Daniels, whom she doesn’t even remember. When she goes to the estate, she discovers that among the screenwriter’s possessions are old pictures of her mother. On a whim, Louise embarks on a journey to the East Coast to visit her father and hopefully shed some light on the mystery of the inheritance.

In a parallel tale, it is thirty years earlier and Florrie and Ethel, Louise’s mother, are embarking on their own journey—from New Jersey to Nevada. Ethel is on a journey to reconcile with her husband and daughter before her marriage ends. Florrie may not wish for that to happen—her own journal holding onto secrets she doesn’t want discovered.

Hmmm…I wonder what those secrets could be? I have some ideas, but of course, I haven’t read the book yet and I could be wrong. In fact, I hope I’m wrong. I love a mystery that is too tricky for me to solve and I get an OMG moment at the end.

I love historical fiction—maybe this is in the too distant past, but the fifties are always great fun to read about. Racing cars and sock hops and poodle skirts. And if the parallel story is told thirty years earlier, we’re talking about the twenties, too. That’s one of my other favorite time periods to read about—I think I got addicted after reading Zelda and The Great Gatsby. This sounds like it’s going to be a really interesting book.

Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham

 

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Franny Banks has six months left to fulfill her three year deadline that she committed herself to when arriving in New York. She had dreams of doing “important” work and having her name in lights on Broadway, yet none of that has panned out for her. But now she has a chance to perform for people that might actually hire her—if she wasn’t so distracted by that hot flirt in her acting class. Her bank account is dwindling, her father wants her to come home, and her agent isn’t returning her calls. Will Franny get what she came for?

Lauren Graham charmed her way into my heart as Lorelei Gilmore in Gilmore Girls. Last year I read her autobiography, I’m Talking as Fast as I Can and it was one of the most amusing non-fiction books I have ever read. In fact, it’s what got me on my non-fiction reading kick for a little bit.

Anyway, Lauren Graham personality is exactly what I would expect from the woman who played one of my favorite TV characters ever—I’m hoping her debut novel is just as comical and refreshing as she is.

All the Single Ladies by Dorothea Benton Frank

 

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Lisa St. Clair is a nurse who single-handedly raised her daughter when her husband left them twenty-four years earlier (only sending a yearly lottery ticket as child support). He reappears one day and their daughter Marianne is taken by his promise of a lucrative venture in Colorado. Lisa and Marianne are no longer speaking.

Then Lisa loses her favorite patient Kathy to cancer. She seeks solace in her devoted friends, Carrie and Suzanne who are going through their own turmoil. They share their own lives and advice, but all of their conversations seem to return to Kathy—who was she? And what did her life mean?

I have to confess, I picked this one up because I read the title and then I couldn’t get the Beyonce song out of my head. So I bought the book. Quite honestly…I’m not usually into these “Women searching their souls together and ending up in a better place” books this time of year. I usually reserve those books for my beach reading when I have time to aimlessly flip through pages.

However, in keeping with my theme of “Grocery Store Bargain Books to read in March”, I am willing to give this one a try. Despite not being incredibly enthused about it. (I really hope it’s not a tear-jerker—I’m such an ugly crier.)

Billy Joel by Fred Schruers

 

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Fred Schruers is a critically acclaimed music journalist, whose more than one hundred hours of exclusive interviews with Billy Joel are the basis of this biography on one of the most beloved musicians of our times. Schruers chronicles Billy Joel’s rise to the top of the charts despite his working class origins while revealing all the stories behind the music. The book is based on Joel’s memories and reflections, as well as those who have been in his life over the years.

Ah Billy Joel. one of my most favorite musicians ever. His songs are so timeless—they transcend the ages. I remember loving his songs just as much at ten years old as I do now.

Going to a Billy Joel concert had been on my bucket list for a few years before Hubby got me tickets for my 40th birthday a few years ago. Madison Square Garden was rocking that night—it was an amazing experience, one of the best nights of my life. (Hubby even enjoyed it and he’s not a fan.)

Apparently I’m not the only one with Billy on my bucket list, because our friend also wanted to see him as well. Guess who’s going to see Billy Joel again this summer? I am one lucky girl. At any rate, I’m really looking forward to reading his biography and getting some insight on his songs.

And That Wraps Up Grocery Store Bargain Books to Read in March…

I’ll let you know if I find any five star books among my books to read in March. Or, you can follow me on Goodreads and you’ll know right away what I think of these books. I always post reviews—authors LIVE for reviews! It gets the word out about their novels and it also helps make them better writers. Make sure you post reviews for the books you read and help an author out!

The post Books to Read in March appeared first on Author Heather Balog.

Well it’s been nearly a month of Getting Uncomfortable and as you can imagine, it’s been a bit of a roller coaster ride thus far. At this point in time, I’m smack dab in that part of any journey where things can go either way. At any point in time, you can give up because it’s getting too hard and results aren’t coming as fast or as steadily as you want. It’s really, really hard to find a reason to go on. Pushing through the messy middle is PAINFUL.

You Guys Know How This Goes…

You start off with a new project—it doesn’t even have to be weight loss. It can be anything that you need to be in for the long haul, training for a race, going for a degree, raising a toddler (or a teen)…

You start off all gung ho. First you do your research and you find out everything you need to know about this task you’re setting yourself upon. Then, you get excited. This is going to be more AWESOME than a Lego movie! You are going to ROCK THIS! You are going to be the best person who has ever (INSERT PROJECT HERE)! There is nothing that’s going to stand in your way!

And for the first week or so, it is awesome. You are rocking it! Even when it seems hard, you remind yourself of what you signed up for and you give yourself a little pep talk. And you make it through that first week.

You even might make it through the second and third and fourth and fifth weeks. But somewhere along the way…

Things Get Rough

Some days you feel invincible and like nothing will stand in the way of your success. Other days, you feel like you’re a fool for even thinking you can do this. It feels easier to just give up. And that’s what most people actually do instead of pushing through this part. They give up.

I wanted to do just that a couple of times this week. Not that I wanted to faceplant into a plate of loaded nachos or anything (YUM), but I did find myself…well, bargaining with myself to stay in this “game”. I needed to find some way to start pushing through.

Wait…What Exactly Is the Messy Middle?

I know, I had never heard of this concept either, even though I’ve probably experienced it dozens of times in my lifetime. However, I was listening to my favorite blog podcast the other day (yes, I am a total nerd, I know) and I was confronted with exactly what I was going through.

Ruth Soukup is not only an amazing blogger who has literally built a blogging empire from nothing, she has a fantastic podcast called “Do it Scared” . This podcast is primarily for people starting business or blogging, but it is absolutely relevant to so many of us who aren’t, as well. Her guests and the stories she shares are so inspirational—and exactly what is helping me push through the messy middle.

The Messy Middle, according to Ruth (and I believe she coined this phrase from Scott Belsky, author of The Messy Middle: Finding Your Way Through the Hardest and Most Crucial Part of Any Venture) is that part in the middle of your journey where you aren’t excited anymore. You aren’t seeing these results you want, and the finish line is sooooo very far away. Sort of like Mile 6 of a half marathon.

This is Exactly Where I Found Myself This Week

I wan’t exactly thrilled with my progress so far, and the finish line to this project definitely seemed really far off. I started to doubt the whole weight loss thing…

Like did I really need to lose 23 lbs? Couldn’t I just be happy with myself the way I was? It was really hard to see the forest for the trees at this point.

Related Posts:  Skinny Mom in a Not-So-Skinny Mom’s Body Speaks Out

So in the messy middle, you have two choices basically. Giving up…or pushing through. Obviously if you’ve made a commitment to…well, committing to something, the best choice would be to push through. But how does one do that exactly?

Pushing Through the Messy Middle

Well, first off, remember way back in the beginning when I made a promise to you guys that I would see this through? Since I hate to break promises if I can help it, quite honestly, it was enough to inspire me to push through. Being accountable to someone—anyone—can be enough to prevent you from giving up when the going gets rough.

But obviously, that might not be enough for someone else to crawl out of the dreary messy middle pile that drags us down when the going gets rough.

What Works for Pushing Through?

*Revisiting your goals could be instrumental to pushing through the messy middle. Seeing them written down can remind you of why you wanted to accomplish them in the first place.

*Or maybe picturing yourself actually accomplishing your goals and what that would feel like. This can be inspiring—imagine yourself finishing a 5K or getting the keys to your very own house. What does it feel like? Do you want to have that feeling in real life?

*Listening to an inspirational podcast like Ruth Soukup’s that can really help get you in the right frame of mind to push through that messy middle. Here is the link if you’d like to check it out.

*Sometimes just allowing yourself a day off from your goals is good. Be okay with not staying on track for a day or two (like a cheat day) and get back in the swing of things the next day. Don’t wallow in the fact you had thoughts of giving up—just don’t give up!

You Know What Else Works?

Getting closer to your goal. Yeah. I got on the scale and lo and behold…I saw this:

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(Please ignore my toes, which are in desperate need of a pedicure—it IS winter after all.)

That’s a loss of 3.2 lbs for those of you keeping track…a total of 8.8 lbs since I started my whole Getting Uncomfortable project in efforts to lose weight. It was definitely the much needed win today.

At any rate, it’s enough to help me push through another week of the messy middle. Because I know there’s going to be many more weeks like this. I’m not near the finish line by any stretch of the imagination.

But I’m going to keep pushing through until I get to my goal…and so should you.

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The post Pushing Through (Week 4 of Getting Uncomfortable) appeared first on Author Heather Balog.

Oh my, we are getting down to the last two states! Idaho and Washington. Idaho happened to coincide with a snow day from school—freezing rain and hail pelted us all day making it a perfect day for Idaho potato and sausage soup in the slow cooker. (And what else would you make for Idaho but potatoes?)

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I LOVE Anything That Can Get Tossed in the Slow Cooker

It’s so much simpler, don’t you think? And much less chance of me screwing it up. If you don’t have a slow cooker or crock pot, you seriously need to get one. Here’s ours:

I have tried a few different slow cookers and this has been my absolute favorite. Some of the slow cookers cook too fast—in my experience. This one is perfect. You can set it for 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 hours on high or low. Once it reaches the time limit, it will keep it on warm, so you don’t have to worry about your meal getting cold if you can’t get to it in time.

And You Can Combine Soooooo Many Ingredients in the Slow Cooker

This potato and sausage soup recipe had A LOT of ingredients:

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But you can’t beat just tossing those ingredients in the slow cooker without having to pan sear them or braise them or whatever. I do have one complaint. The original recipe for this potato and sausage soup (which I tweaked for my family’s preferences) stated that prep time was 10 minutes. That was a total lie. Or maybe that was the prep time for a professional chef. Just peeling and dicing the potatoes alone took me 15 minutes. I never know exactly how to dice an oval object. If anyone has some potato dicing trick to get perfect cube sized potatoes, PLEASE let me know.

And in addition to dicing potatoes, I had to chop the onions and the peppers, too. Thank Goodness for my Pampered Chef chopper—I never have to actually touch the dreaded onions. You don’t have one? This is another kitchen MUST HAVE—and this is coming from the ultimate anti-cook.

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The Rest of the Potato and Sausage Soup was EASY PEASY

Chopping the veggies was seriously the hardest part of this recipe. For me, at least. The chopped veggies line the bottom of the slow cooker, potatoes first. Then you add the onions, red peppers, and garlic. After that, cut the sausage into thin slices and layer on top. I used smoked sausage, but I would think you could use any sausage that you prefer.

Once that’s done, you mix the heavy cream with the chicken stock and cornstarch. Then add all of the spices and whisk together. You then pour that over the mixture already in the slow cooker. Plug it in and let it cook for 6 hours on low or 4 hours on high.

Once it has cooked, add the cheese to the top, stir in, and cook for another minute or two to melt the cheese. OMG…look how yummy!

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This Was a Perfect Night for Soup

I was so chilled to the bone the night we had this potato and sausage soup, despite being in the house all day. I just could not get warm, no matter what I did. It was just so RAW out. After copious cups of tea and standing in front of the heat vent for a good 15 minutes, this soup did the trick. It warmed me from the inside out.

In fact, the whole family agreed this was the ideal hearty meal for such a cold winter night. We didn’t even need bread or anything on the side because it was so filling. And with all the spices in it, it wasn’t bland at all. It had just the right amount of kick. Try it yourself the next time the weather is raw and miserable—it’ll warm you right up.

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Print Yum

Idaho Potato and Sausage Soup

Ingredients

1 ring of sausage (I used spicy)
5 Idaho potatoes
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 yellow onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 c. heavy cream
2 c. chicken broth
2 TBSP cornstarch
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
1 tsp. black pepper
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese0.1https://thebadmommydiaries.com/idaho-potato-and-sausage-soup/[image error]

The post Idaho Potato and Sausage Soup appeared first on Author Heather Balog.

Week 3. I’ve made it 21 days so far. They say it takes 21 days to form a habit. Not sure who “they” are, but according to the internet, this is true. And like that commercial said a few years back, if it’s on the internet, it must be true. (Science may not agree with me here.)  Either way, after 21 days I’ve formed some great habits. Getting up earlier so I’m not rushed and watching my food consumption. I’ve been refraining from alcohol and desserts (for the most part) and kicking ass in the gym. I’ve been eating more protein, more fruits and veggies, and cutting back on the carbs. I feel much better and much healthier. Still, that didn’t prepare me for the disappointment this week.

The Good, the Bad, and the UGLY

This week was not just about disappointment. Actually, this week was pretty multifaceted. I had some really great accomplishments…and some not so great accomplishments.

The GOOD

My brother and I are very competitive. With running, at least. He’s the one who challenged me to run a 5K, 10K, and then half marathon—after years of not running at all. At first I had made excuses. My foot hurt and I didn’t want to risk re-injuring it. But later I thought about it. The really reason I didn’t want to run is because I knew I was out of shape and he might be able to beat me for the first time in his life. What better motivation to get myself back in shape, right?

So the first race is in a little under 2 months from now. My goal is to run it in 26 minutes. Now, that’s not my best 5K time, but considering the first time I attempted a 5K after 18 months of not running, I could barely run for 5 minutes straight, I think 26 minutes is going to be difficult enough. I’ve since been able to run it continuously. And this week, I broke through the 30 minute mark:

I still have a ton of work to do, but I’m definitely on the right track to get back in shape. Which is ultimately why I’m doing this. My goal isn’t really that number on the scale. It’s to feel better about myself and to be in better shape. I want to be the best, healthiest version of me.

Now For the BAD

I may not have been on my best behavior food-wise:

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I actually did NOT eat these cookies that were in the copy room at work. And I really didn’t go nuts with portion sizes or anything like that. I resisted the bread basket at dinner. In fact, I didn’t really even eat many carbs this week, either. But I did make some bad choices.

I shared a bottle of wine with Hubby at dinner Friday night. And while wine is not off limits, the wine lead to my guard being down when the dessert tray was presented to me. How could I resist a dessert called “The Chocolate Peanut Butter Bomb”? Like seriously???

And then I allowed myself ice cream on Saturday night while vegging in front of a movie. Ugh! I’m not saying I’m never supposed to have dessert or ice cream again, but definitely NOT 2 days in a row. Especially in the beginning of this—and when I’ve been doing so well.

And the UGLY…

Which is why I shouldn’t have been surprised to see THIS disappointment on the scale this morning:

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Down only 0.2 lb since last week. That. Is. So. Depressing. Besides my 2 dessert slip ups, I’ve really been Resisting Temptation really well. I was thrilled that my new habits were starting to take and I really thought this was going to be a piece of cake. Well, I guess a piece of cake is exactly where I went wrong.

Putting the Disappointment Behind Me

On the positive side? I still lost 0.2 lbs. (Does that even get an “s”? It’s nowhere near multiple pounds…) AND I’m down almost 6 lbs, which still puts me 3 lbs ahead of schedule to Losing 23 lbs in 23 Weeks. So there’s that. I’m just going to have to buckle down this week and put the disappointment behind me. It’s over and done with. I’m moving forward—getting super uncomfortable. And hopefully no more disappointment. See you next week!

The post The Disappointment (Week 3 of Getting Uncomfortable) appeared first on Author Heather Balog.

Week 3. I’ve made it 21 days so far. They say it takes 21 days to form a habit. Not sure who “they” are, but according to the internet, this is true. And like that commercial said a few years back, if it’s on the internet, it must be true. (Science may not agree with me here.)  Either way, after 21 days I’ve formed some great habits. Getting up earlier so I’m not rushed and watching my food consumption. I’ve been refraining from alcohol and desserts (for the most part) and kicking ass in the gym. I’ve been eating more protein, more fruits and veggies, and cutting back on the carbs. I feel much better and much healthier. Still, that didn’t prepare me for the disappointment this week.

The Good, the Bad, and the UGLY

This week was not just about disappointment. Actually, this week was pretty multifaceted. I had some really great accomplishments…and some not so great accomplishments.

The GOOD

My brother and I are very competitive. With running, at least. He’s the one who challenged me to run a 5K, 10K, and then half marathon—after years of not running at all. At first I had made excuses. My foot hurt and I didn’t want to risk re-injuring it. But later I thought about it. The really reason I didn’t want to run is because I knew I was out of shape and he might be able to beat me for the first time in his life. What better motivation to get myself back in shape, right?

So the first race is in a little under 2 months from now. My goal is to run it in 26 minutes. Now, that’s not my best 5K time, but considering the first time I attempted a 5K after 18 months of not running, I could barely run for 5 minutes straight, I think 26 minutes is going to be difficult enough. I’ve since been able to run it continuously. And this week, I broke through the 30 minute mark:

 

 

I still have a ton of work to do, but I’m definitely on the right track to get back in shape. Which is ultimately why I’m doing this. My goal isn’t really that number on the scale. It’s to feel better about myself and to be in better shape. I want to be the best, healthiest version of me.

Now For the BAD

I may not have been on my best behavior food-wise:

[image error]

I actually did NOT eat these cookies that were in the copy room at work. And I really didn’t go nuts with portion sizes or anything like that. I resisted the bread basket at dinner. In fact, I didn’t really even eat many carbs this week, either. But I did make some bad choices.

I shared a bottle of wine with Hubby at dinner Friday night. And while wine is not off limits, the wine lead to my guard being down when the dessert tray was presented to me. How could I resist a dessert called “The Chocolate Peanut Butter Bomb”? Like seriously???

And then I allowed myself ice cream on Saturday night while vegging in front of a movie. Ugh! I’m not saying I’m never supposed to have dessert or ice cream again, but definitely NOT 2 days in a row. Especially in the beginning of this—and when I’ve been doing so well.

And the UGLY…

Which is why I shouldn’t have been surprised to see THIS disappointment on the scale this morning:

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Down only 0.2 lb since last week. That. Is. So. Depressing. Besides my 2 dessert slip ups, I’ve really been Resisting Temptation really well. I was thrilled that my new habits were starting to take and I really thought this was going to be a piece of cake. Well, I guess a piece of cake is exactly where I went wrong.

Putting the Disappointment Behind Me

On the positive side? I still lost 0.2 lbs. (Does that even get an “s”? It’s nowhere near multiple pounds…) AND I’m down almost 6 lbs, which still puts me 3 lbs ahead of schedule to Losing 23 lbs in 23 Weeks. So there’s that. I’m just going to have to buckle down this week and put the disappointment behind me. It’s over and done with. I’m moving forward—getting super uncomfortable. And hopefully no more disappointment. See you next week!

The post The Disappointment—Week 3 appeared first on Author Heather Balog.