Uncategorized – Donna's Daily Grind

Week One of My Fitness Journey: Still Alive, Slightly Sore, and Surprisingly Proud

Mar 9, 2026

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Last week I announced to the world that I was starting a fitness journey. The plan? Four workouts a week. No excuses, no “maybe tomorrow,” no pretending that reorganizing my sock drawer counts as cardio. Well…I just finished week one, and I’m happy to report that I actually did all four workouts. Yes, four. No,…

Day 1: 45, 300 lbs… and finally choosing me

Mar 2, 2026

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Donna’s Daily Grind

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Well friends…here we are. Today I’m starting something I probably should’ve started 20 years ago- but better late than never, right? I’m 45 years old. I’m 5’4″. I weigh 310 pounds. There. I said it. Deep breath. For years, I’ve taken care of everyone else. I raised my kids alone (which deserves a trophy, a…

Why i’m actually trying an accupressure mat for my back pain

Feb 24, 2026

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If you’ve been following Donna’s Daily Grind, you know back pain has been a struggle for me lately. Between trying to stay motivated, keeping up with the house, getting back to the gym, and figuring out my next job move…my back has definitely been feeling it. And when your back hurts everything feels harder. Lately…

Grab Your Coffee. I’ve got a week to tell you about. Go ahead. Grab your coffee. I’ll wait. Okay. Now sit down, get comfortable, and let me tell you about the week I’ve had — because if I don’t laugh about it, I might just lie down dramatically on the floor… and with my back, that’s not a quick recovery plan. So, as you know, I lost my job. Still unemployed. Still applying. Still refreshing my email like it personally owes me something. Last week I applied to so many places I feel like I should win an award for “Most Enthusiastic Applicant Who Just Needs Somebody to Say Yes.” My fingers are tired. My brain is tired. My coffee maker is working overtime. But I’m doing the thing. I’m showing up. Even when I don’t feel motivated, I’m pushing through. And honestly? That counts. The Gym Chronicles. In the middle of all this, I decided I was going to take control of something — my health. I’ve been wanting to go to the gym five times a week. FIVE. That’s ambitious for someone whose lower back occasionally acts like it belongs to an 87-year-old retired lumberjack. This week? I made it three times. And you know what? I’m counting that as a win. I even did one solid workout at home. I was strengthening my core like I know what I’m doing. Because apparently if I build up my core muscles, my back might stop filing complaints against me. So now I’m out here doing planks and trying not to collapse while whispering, “This is for future me. Future me better appreciate this.” The goal is simple: shed some of this extra weight I’m carrying and hopefully ease up the back pain. Move better. Feel better. Be stronger. Also, I’d like to be able to stand up without making sound effects. The Snow vs. Me. And just when I was feeling slightly accomplished… I fell. It’s snowy here. Everything is buried and slippery. And while I would love to blame the weather entirely, I am also, by nature, a little clumsy. Picture this: I’m walking outside, minding my business, probably thinking about coffee or job applications… and whoosh. Down I go. Graceful? No. Dramatic? Yes. Now my left knee is hurting. So at the moment, I’ve got a bad back and a cranky knee. I’m basically one minor inconvenience away from qualifying for a Life Alert commercial. But I got up. I brushed myself off. I checked to make sure no one saw (priorities). And I kept it moving… slowly… but still moving. The In-Between Space. Here’s the thing about weeks like this. They’re not spectacular. They’re not highlight-reel material. They’re not “everything is falling into place” weeks. They’re the in-between weeks. The weeks where you apply and wait. The weeks where you try. The weeks where you don’t hit every goal but you don’t quit either. The weeks where you fall — literally — and get back up. I didn’t make it to the gym five times. I didn’t land a job yet. My back still hurts. My knee is currently filing its own protest. But I showed up. I applied. I moved my body. I kept my sense of humor. I kept my hope. And that counts. Even though this week wasn’t spectacular, I’m still in good spirits. I genuinely believe things will work out. Maybe not on my timeline. Maybe not in the way I expect. But they will. Until then, I’ll keep drinking my coffee. I’ll keep applying. I’ll keep working on my health. I’ll keep laughing at myself when I wipe out in the snow. Because if there’s one thing I know, it’s this: I might move a little slow sometimes. I might be sore. I might be unemployed for the moment. But I am not giving up. And if you’re in your own “in-between week” right now — grab your coffee, sit with me for a minute, and know you’re not alone.We’ll get through this. One application. One workout. One slightly dramatic fall at a time. ☕

Feb 22, 2026

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Favorite drink

Feb 21, 2026

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What is your favorite drink? My favorite drink is coffee — aka my motivation in a cup. It’s the fuel that powers my busy days and helps me get shit done without turning into a dramatic nap-seeking gremlin. Honestly, most of my personality before 9 a.m. is just “needs coffee.”

My favorite people

Feb 20, 2026

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Who are your favorite people to be around? If you ask me who my favorite people to be around are, the answer is easy: my kids… and especially my granddaughter.My granddaughter is six months old and already runs the show. She’s the happiest, cutest little human I’ve ever seen (and yes, I may be slightly…

The Real MVP: Coffee Let’s stop pretending. None of this happens without coffee. Not the job applications. Not the gym visits. Definitely not the cleaning. Coffee is the bridge between “I don’t want to” and “Fine. I guess I will.” It’s not motivation. It’s not discipline. It’s more like the neutral third party in the negotiation between you and your responsibilities. You: “I don’t feel like it.”Life: “That’s adorable.”Coffee: “Everyone calm down. Sip this.” This week, coffee was less of a beverage and more of a project manager. Every morning started the same way. I’d sit there, slightly unemployed, slightly sore, staring into the abyss (also known as my email inbox). And instead of spiraling, I brewed a cup. That first sip doesn’t magically fix your résumé. It doesn’t stretch your hamstrings. It doesn’t scrub your bathtub. But it does something powerful. It creates a pause. And in that pause, you decide. Coffee turns chaos into a ritual. Grind the beans. Heat the water. Pour. Wait. Breathe. It’s five minutes of control before the rest of the world asks you to prove your “leadership skills” on a job application. And here’s the funny part: I didn’t feel motivated after drinking it. I just felt… functional. Like, “Okay. I can send three applications.” “Okay. I can go lift something heavier than my excuses.” “Okay. I can clean one room and not narrate my suffering.” Coffee doesn’t hype you up like a motivational speaker. It doesn’t scream, “YOU’VE GOT THIS!” It quietly says, “You’re tired. I know. But let’s try anyway.” It’s not dramatic. It’s dependable. And maybe that’s the lesson. Motivation is flashy. It shows up with fireworks and inspirational quotes. Coffee shows up every morning. No speech. No fanfare. Just consistency. Which, if you think about it, makes it the perfect partner to discipline. Because discipline says, “Do the thing.” And coffee says, “Here’s the energy to stop whining about it. ”This week, coffee wasn’t just a drink. It was the warm mug in my hand while I updated my résumé. It was the pre-gym pep talk. It was the reward after cleaning a kitchen I definitely resented. It was the tiny ceremony before doing hard things. And sometimes that’s all you need. Not motivation. Not a breakthrough. Just a hot cup, a deep breath, and the decision to move anyway. Now excuse me while I go refill mine.

Feb 15, 2026

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Coffee first. Motivation second. Donna

Biography

Feb 14, 2026

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If there were a biography about you, what would the title be? If there was a biography about me, it would probably be called “Unmotivated and Caffeinated ” because I never have motivation, but I drink my coffee and get shit done anyway.

My dream home

Feb 11, 2026

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Write about your dream home. My dream home isn’t just a house — it’s a built-in village for the people I love most. I picture a beautiful duplex with two spacious three-bedroom homes connected by a breezeway porch. One side is for me and my son; the other is for my daughter and granddaughter. Close…

Hobby fade

Feb 9, 2026

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Are there any activities or hobbies you’ve outgrown or lost interest in over time? As a teen, I was learning how to play the guitar. I love music and come from a family of musicians. I was actually starting to do pretty good at it, too. As soon as I turned 18, I started working…

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