This morning on my walk, I met the cutest little Lhasa-Apso out with his owner for a morning walk. It was pretty early (7:30am) and there really was no one out on the river on this blustery day. This little dog just thought he was *it*, though...and he was so cute!! We stopped, and I petted him...He continued on his way with his owner. I was listening to some new music I have recently added to my Ipod Workout Mix, and just really enjoying the fact that no one was around!!
A short while later, I came across the Lhasa-Apso and his owner again, this time sneaking some clementines (I think) from a tree on property...I pretended like I didn't see the owner covertly sliding the clementines in his pocket - Frankly, they are a favorite of mine too, and if I weren't such a chicken (OK: and if I had pockets!) I probably would have filched a few too! Again, though, what drew my notice was not the owner and his activities, but the dog and his happy grin as he waited for his owner to get a move on.
A few minutes later, the dog and his owner disappeared from sight, and I continued on my walk...The sun was starting to come out a little bit more, and the chill in the air was lifting. I rounded the corner, and suddenly, this flash of blonde dashed across my path!! I laughed, because it totally snapped me out of my own head...it was the Lhasa-Apso...I guess he figured his owner got to pick a few things he liked (clementines), so it was turn (apparently, squirrels are his delicacy of choice!)! It was delightful and inspiring to see this dog dash as he went to go chase the squirrel...complete abandon in the moment, in the joy of chasing that squirrel.
Today, my wish for everyone is that you can pursue what you like with such joyful abandon. I hope it's not squirrels, but if it is...I sure hope you catch a few!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
'Tis the Season....
Eggnog. Poundcake. Kringles. Sugaree's Coconut Cake. Latkes. My mother's "Black Beast." Sausage Balls. Seven Layer Bars. Mint Brownies. Peppermint Ice Cream Pie with Hot Fudge Sauce.
These, my friends, are just a few of the delicious goodies that usually make their way into my home during the few weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. And, usually, they are eaten in short form and with much delight by myself and the other members of my little family.
Think about it, folks...the holidays really are that time of year when you let yourself go - things that you don't normally indulge in, whether it is food treats, alcohol, shopping...we actually let in and really enjoy! Or do we? After you eat that yummy sausage ball washed down by that egg nog, how do you REALLY feel? For me, although it usually looked and smelled delicious and tasted sublime going down, it was almost always immediately followed by my fervent wish that I had had more willpower and had not eaten/drunk that...
This year, of course, things are going to be a little different. We (graciously, I hope!) let the dear family and friends that normally send the goodies to us know that we will not be partaking this year, and asked them not to send the goodies to us. As I made the request, it did cross my mind that maybe the children will be disappointed not to have Kringle on Christmas morning...and I know for a fact that my eldest daughter is a fiend for pound cake. But I have learned the hard way that these yummy morsels really do represent a "moment on the lips, forever on the hips." And, quite frankly: we have worked WAY too hard this year in changing our eating habits and lifestyle choices to be set back by indulging in some goodies that, while ephemerally yummy, will only result in us having to work that much harder to get back on track.
The truth is, this time of year is so hectic and fun-filled, I really am not sure that I would be able to resist that yummy plate of Seven Layer Bars sitting on the counter. I have found that, for me, it is too easy to allow myself to go too long between meals at this time of year, and when I do that, I find that it is very easy to reach for whatever is on the counter without thinking about it too terribly much. So I have amped up my efforts to "stock my pantry for success" (and my counter!!) and I can assure you: chocolate covered oreos are NOT part of that equation!
So, this year, my family will be gnoshing on edamame, almonds, and there will probably be plenty of dark chocolate to be found around my house, as well. We are going to put the focus on being together, on creating memories, and on celebrating the fact that we are making better, healthier, more fulfilling choices. I'm quite certain that the children will sneak a few handfuls of candy while we're making our gingerbread houses, and there is no doubt that the holiday parties at school will be highly anticipated as much for the goodies on the table as for the feelings of good cheer...
But, you know what? My bet is that in the end, long after the last sip of holiday punch is drunk and the last morsel of the holiday cupcakes are gone, the memories of family, tradition and evenings spent enjoying the glow of our Christmas tree will nourish my children for years to come in ways that holiday goodies never will.
And that, my friends, is the WHOLE point.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Thanksgiving
OK...I have something to confess...are you ready?
For weeks, I had been DREADING the Thanksgiving holiday. I'm not really sure why, because it is my most favorite holiday (hands down: I can assure you, if I did not have children, I would not even acknowledge Valentine's Day...I think it is a completely pointless holiday...and I could go on and on about it...but that is NOT my point!) Thanksgiving Day has been my favorite holiday for a long time for a lot of reasons, but in recent years, it probably has more to do with the fact that it is one of two times in the year that my entire family gets together. And for us, Thanksgiving is a major family reunion. Both of my sisters and their families come and we all gather together to have a good time and make some memories. Of course, food is and always has been a major player in this family reunion, and I knew that this year would prove no exception. We have the all-time classics that come from my mother's-mother's-mother (that my sister now makes!) and then we have the more recent additions of mint brownies that my children start talking about weeks in advance!!
For me, this year was different, because I have worked really hard in the past few months to view food merely as fuel for my body, and not really as something that you adore or think about weeks in advance (this doesn't mean I don't still have my favorites, or even things I cannot say "no" to...I imagine I always will). But, for this reason, I was probably more anxious than usual going to my parent's house for Thanksgiving, reminding myself that it is one meal on one day, and not really anything to be afraid of...still, I was stressed (and, yes, I know that "stressed" backwards is "desserts"...)
I "packed for success" for the weekend, taking raw almonds, frozen edamame, and several containers of Greek yogurt. I also had a nice stash of dark chocolate -- just in case! I knew that the key -- for me -- was in not allowing myself to feel deprived (hey, look - she's eating that entire bag of chips...mmmm, this raw almond is deee-lish!), and that meant making sure that I took in plenty of protein so I didn't get hungry. If I had gone over the three hour mark and I hadn't had protein, then those mint brownies might very well have been in big trouble (and MIA!)
The truth is, when push came to shove, being surrounded by all of those delicious options was not nearly as challenging as I thought it would be. I will say that I think that everything smelled and looked better than I ever imagined that it had before (maybe because I knew I would not be partaking?)...and I probably had a piece of two more of turkey skin (we fry our turkey) than I had planned (soooo worth it!), but in the end, it really *was* the company of my family and our friends that made the holiday.
There's no denying that every single dish presented on that table was prepared to perfection, without a doubt. (Both of my sisters, my mother and another dear friend that was present are all excellent cooks). But you know what was even more delicious? Hearing what each of my children's "best day since last Thanksgiving" had been.
The truth is this, folks: the memories of the time spent together on Thanksgiving Day will last a heck of a lot longer than any mint brownie or key lime pie ever would have, and are even more delicious to me because I actually managed to make it through the holiday still on my program (no "fudges"...even the dark chocolate was barely touched AND I have finally managed to get back on track with my cardio (more on this later...I made an important discovery -- for myelf -- that I hope may help someone else out there who is attempting to live life more healthfully...) As a matter of fact, of the three days we were out of town, I walked a minimum of 45 minutes each day!! Woo Hoo!! And today, right after we pulled into town (those bags can wait to be unpacked, right?!) I even went and continued my cardio streak by going to the gym and working out for 45 minutes there...It wasn't quite the same (something about walking outside on those cloudless, blue-skyed days really called to me), but you know what? The calorie burn WAS!!!
Ultimately, I know now that I should not have been worried about Thanksgiving. I was surrounded by people who love me and who have been so supportive on my journey to better health. With them around, how could I fail? I could not! And that, my friends, was the sweetest bit of all!!
For weeks, I had been DREADING the Thanksgiving holiday. I'm not really sure why, because it is my most favorite holiday (hands down: I can assure you, if I did not have children, I would not even acknowledge Valentine's Day...I think it is a completely pointless holiday...and I could go on and on about it...but that is NOT my point!) Thanksgiving Day has been my favorite holiday for a long time for a lot of reasons, but in recent years, it probably has more to do with the fact that it is one of two times in the year that my entire family gets together. And for us, Thanksgiving is a major family reunion. Both of my sisters and their families come and we all gather together to have a good time and make some memories. Of course, food is and always has been a major player in this family reunion, and I knew that this year would prove no exception. We have the all-time classics that come from my mother's-mother's-mother (that my sister now makes!) and then we have the more recent additions of mint brownies that my children start talking about weeks in advance!!
For me, this year was different, because I have worked really hard in the past few months to view food merely as fuel for my body, and not really as something that you adore or think about weeks in advance (this doesn't mean I don't still have my favorites, or even things I cannot say "no" to...I imagine I always will). But, for this reason, I was probably more anxious than usual going to my parent's house for Thanksgiving, reminding myself that it is one meal on one day, and not really anything to be afraid of...still, I was stressed (and, yes, I know that "stressed" backwards is "desserts"...)
I "packed for success" for the weekend, taking raw almonds, frozen edamame, and several containers of Greek yogurt. I also had a nice stash of dark chocolate -- just in case! I knew that the key -- for me -- was in not allowing myself to feel deprived (hey, look - she's eating that entire bag of chips...mmmm, this raw almond is deee-lish!), and that meant making sure that I took in plenty of protein so I didn't get hungry. If I had gone over the three hour mark and I hadn't had protein, then those mint brownies might very well have been in big trouble (and MIA!)
The truth is, when push came to shove, being surrounded by all of those delicious options was not nearly as challenging as I thought it would be. I will say that I think that everything smelled and looked better than I ever imagined that it had before (maybe because I knew I would not be partaking?)...and I probably had a piece of two more of turkey skin (we fry our turkey) than I had planned (soooo worth it!), but in the end, it really *was* the company of my family and our friends that made the holiday.
There's no denying that every single dish presented on that table was prepared to perfection, without a doubt. (Both of my sisters, my mother and another dear friend that was present are all excellent cooks). But you know what was even more delicious? Hearing what each of my children's "best day since last Thanksgiving" had been.
The truth is this, folks: the memories of the time spent together on Thanksgiving Day will last a heck of a lot longer than any mint brownie or key lime pie ever would have, and are even more delicious to me because I actually managed to make it through the holiday still on my program (no "fudges"...even the dark chocolate was barely touched AND I have finally managed to get back on track with my cardio (more on this later...I made an important discovery -- for myelf -- that I hope may help someone else out there who is attempting to live life more healthfully...) As a matter of fact, of the three days we were out of town, I walked a minimum of 45 minutes each day!! Woo Hoo!! And today, right after we pulled into town (those bags can wait to be unpacked, right?!) I even went and continued my cardio streak by going to the gym and working out for 45 minutes there...It wasn't quite the same (something about walking outside on those cloudless, blue-skyed days really called to me), but you know what? The calorie burn WAS!!!
Ultimately, I know now that I should not have been worried about Thanksgiving. I was surrounded by people who love me and who have been so supportive on my journey to better health. With them around, how could I fail? I could not! And that, my friends, was the sweetest bit of all!!
Friday, November 4, 2011
Let's Talk Turkey
Well, it's that time of year again...I can hardly believe it...Thanksgiving!! My family-at-large gathers together to celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday, and the calls back and forth to determine who will bring what (one sister in particular who is an awesome cook shoulders the majority of the cooking responsibility...this year in particular, I am more grateful for that on so many levels...Thank you, sister!) have already begun. And with all of that, of course, has come the realization that after months of existing in this lovely non-holiday time frame...well: the holidays are upon us!
Holidays are such a two-edged sword, aren't they? I don't know about you, but for me, it seems to involve a LOT of running around and then a LOT of savoring - both of the memories we're making, and, quite frankly, the food I'm eating! It all begins with the Thanksgiving weekend, thinking of the perfect gift for this or that person; going out and finding said gift (thank goodness for online shopping!) and then making sure that said gift is in the right place at the right time. When I am not running around, it used to be that I would be enjoying the various treats of the season. Beginning with the Thanksgiving holiday and key lime & pumpkin pies, mint brownies, fried turkeys, delicious stuffing and other goodies...moving into yummy goodies that dear friends and family would send us to celebrate the season, from home-made sugar cookies, gingerbread houses, to chocolate covered oreos (OK: I actually sent out the chocolate covered oreos as gifts last year, but I couldn't very well send out something as a gift that I hadn't tried myself, could I?! So I ordered some for us as well...and they were a DELICIOUS gift!)...and let's not forget the home-made egg nog!
This year, it will be different, and I don't think I had quite realized HOW different it was going to be until the other day, when talk in our family turned to who was going to be bringing what or who wanted what to eat over the upcoming holiday. It came upon me suddenly, and surprised me quite thoroughly. The day of the year that is my MOST favorite day of the year has lost a critical component for me: THE FOOD. Don't get me wrong: I fully intend on having a bite of the cornbread dressing that has been a part of our family's Thanksgiving tradition for decades; and I fully intend on having a slice or two of the fried turkey...and I will savor every single morsel!! I might even have a beautifully toasted mini-marshmellow stolen off the top of the sweet potato casserole that my sister makes. But the truth is, the food doesn't MEAN the same to me anymore. I will enjoy my Thanksgiving meal (I'm quite sure of it!), but then, I will go back to my Greek yogurt the following morning and resume my regularly scheduled program! For me, it is JUST A MEAL.
For those of you who have and have maintained healthy eating habits for all of your life, maybe this won't make sense...but it used to be that I would think about the components that make up our Thanksgiving meal for weeks ahead of time...looking forward to that delicious zing of a mint brownie, or the salty goodness that is the skin of the fried turkey! This year, the deliciousness that is Thanksgiving will be found in other places for me: a young niece that gives an unexpected hug; a nephew who pauses to show me the rock he's found; an older niece that sits to have a conversation about her life and what's going on with her; time with a sister who I don't get to see very often; sharing a private joke with another sister who I do see often; seeing my parents interact with my children and all of their grandchildren, spending time with family friends who I wish I could see more of; watching my children soak up the time with their cousins, grandparents and aunts and uncles; marveling at how much what was once a little family of five has grown; and, ultimately, basking in that glow that comes when you know you are in the right place, with the right people, and savoring every minute, because it is the ONLY Thanksgiving 2011 we shall have...there other years, other times together, other jokes...but we shall not pass this way again...
Oh, so much sweeter than any dessert could ever be!!
Holidays are such a two-edged sword, aren't they? I don't know about you, but for me, it seems to involve a LOT of running around and then a LOT of savoring - both of the memories we're making, and, quite frankly, the food I'm eating! It all begins with the Thanksgiving weekend, thinking of the perfect gift for this or that person; going out and finding said gift (thank goodness for online shopping!) and then making sure that said gift is in the right place at the right time. When I am not running around, it used to be that I would be enjoying the various treats of the season. Beginning with the Thanksgiving holiday and key lime & pumpkin pies, mint brownies, fried turkeys, delicious stuffing and other goodies...moving into yummy goodies that dear friends and family would send us to celebrate the season, from home-made sugar cookies, gingerbread houses, to chocolate covered oreos (OK: I actually sent out the chocolate covered oreos as gifts last year, but I couldn't very well send out something as a gift that I hadn't tried myself, could I?! So I ordered some for us as well...and they were a DELICIOUS gift!)...and let's not forget the home-made egg nog!
This year, it will be different, and I don't think I had quite realized HOW different it was going to be until the other day, when talk in our family turned to who was going to be bringing what or who wanted what to eat over the upcoming holiday. It came upon me suddenly, and surprised me quite thoroughly. The day of the year that is my MOST favorite day of the year has lost a critical component for me: THE FOOD. Don't get me wrong: I fully intend on having a bite of the cornbread dressing that has been a part of our family's Thanksgiving tradition for decades; and I fully intend on having a slice or two of the fried turkey...and I will savor every single morsel!! I might even have a beautifully toasted mini-marshmellow stolen off the top of the sweet potato casserole that my sister makes. But the truth is, the food doesn't MEAN the same to me anymore. I will enjoy my Thanksgiving meal (I'm quite sure of it!), but then, I will go back to my Greek yogurt the following morning and resume my regularly scheduled program! For me, it is JUST A MEAL.
For those of you who have and have maintained healthy eating habits for all of your life, maybe this won't make sense...but it used to be that I would think about the components that make up our Thanksgiving meal for weeks ahead of time...looking forward to that delicious zing of a mint brownie, or the salty goodness that is the skin of the fried turkey! This year, the deliciousness that is Thanksgiving will be found in other places for me: a young niece that gives an unexpected hug; a nephew who pauses to show me the rock he's found; an older niece that sits to have a conversation about her life and what's going on with her; time with a sister who I don't get to see very often; sharing a private joke with another sister who I do see often; seeing my parents interact with my children and all of their grandchildren, spending time with family friends who I wish I could see more of; watching my children soak up the time with their cousins, grandparents and aunts and uncles; marveling at how much what was once a little family of five has grown; and, ultimately, basking in that glow that comes when you know you are in the right place, with the right people, and savoring every minute, because it is the ONLY Thanksgiving 2011 we shall have...there other years, other times together, other jokes...but we shall not pass this way again...
Oh, so much sweeter than any dessert could ever be!!
Monday, October 3, 2011
Back in the Saddle...
Well, hello there!!! It has been a while since I've blogged, and I have missed you all!! Things are good around here...the same old, same old, basically. Children are all now firmly back in their school schedules (although I am still pining for the laid back days of summer, the children have adapted, and that is a good thing...I am fine pining in silence!) and we have all moved into the busier days of Fall.
For me, the crazy days present a bit of a challenge, as I find myself pulled in a variety of directions -- The roles I fill are Mother, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Assistant and Business Owner, to name but a few. Unfortunately for me -- as far as balancing roles goes -- as you know, earlier this year, I decided to add yet another role, and that was Woman Who Exercises and Eats in a Purposeful and Mindful Manner (or "Healthy Woman" (HW) as I like to call her.) Anyway, for the majority of the Spring & Summer, "HW" really ran the place. My focus was on exercise, on eating mindfully, and that worked, because the pressure of school and children's activities was a little lessened in the loose days of Summer. Of course, with the arrival of Fall comes the arrival of the more hectic days, and for the past month or so, ol' "HW" kind of took a back seat. Business Owner ruled the roost, yielding only to Mother & Wife when she had to. "HW" was nowhere to be found. Now, I will tell you: my eating habits never suffered. I am very proud of the fact that I have been able to maintain the healthy food choices that I implemented in February, and they have served me well. No, what went out the window was EXERCISE. Don't get me wrong: I don't think that I sat down for any continuous amount of time (with the exception of when I was sitting at my desk working in the office)...
And the truth is, I really thought that taking a mini-break from my exercise routine (I was working out 5 days a week...2 days with a Personal Trainer (or "Beast Master" as she likes to be called) and then 3 days Spinning) would be no big deal. I thought I could leave it for a few weeks, and then when things settled down, just waltz back in and pick up where I left off. BOY! Did I ever learn (and not the easy way....WHY can't we ever learn things the EASY way?!) that this was most certainly NOT THE CASE!!!
This morning, I decided that I had to get things back in balance. Oddly enough (and no, I never thought I'd be uttering these words, much less publishing them for the world to see), I really missed working out. So, I put on my Spinning shoes and made my way to the gym for a Spinning Class. And promptly had my butt handed to me!! I was huffing & puffing...maybe even more so than I did in my VERY FIRST Spin Class!!! I did, however, make it through the class. I must have had a surprised look on my face, though, because afterwards, as I was talking to the instructor, we talked about my performance in class. And here is a lesson I won't ever forget: when you take off 2 weeks (just 2 weeks!) from your regular exercise routine, you lose a minimum of 10% of your overall fitness level, depending on how fit you were before you took your break.
For me, since I have only been exercising regularly since July, today felt like I had never taken a Spinning class before! When I got home, I must have looked a fright, because Ron asked me how my class had gone...I mentioned to him what I had learned and that I didn't know that just by taking three weeks off you'd "fall out of shape," but his reply was, "Well, Rebecca, anytime we've taken three weeks off, we've never gone back, so how WOULD we know?!" Of course, this is NOT acceptable to me!! I am in this for the long-haul, baby! So, I have now taken steps to ensure that NO BREAKS of more than a couple of days (I am not going to turn down a weekend trip to Aspen, ya know!) will happen again. I have no desire to have to crawl back up the steep mountain...I actually had really been enjoying the view from about mid-way, with the top sort of visible in the haze...and me making my way to the tippy-top!
So, it's back in the saddle (in this case, literally!) for me... what about you? Have you been on a break recently? Is it time for you to get back in the saddle too? I am assured that it should not take as long for me to get back in the groove and have my fitness level back to where it was 3 weeks ago...but, I have to admit: patience is definitely not a virtue I'm known for...so I'm ready to go NOW!!! Wish me luck...
Oh, and if anyone has a cloning machine they'd like to lend me, give me a holler, would you??
For me, the crazy days present a bit of a challenge, as I find myself pulled in a variety of directions -- The roles I fill are Mother, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Assistant and Business Owner, to name but a few. Unfortunately for me -- as far as balancing roles goes -- as you know, earlier this year, I decided to add yet another role, and that was Woman Who Exercises and Eats in a Purposeful and Mindful Manner (or "Healthy Woman" (HW) as I like to call her.) Anyway, for the majority of the Spring & Summer, "HW" really ran the place. My focus was on exercise, on eating mindfully, and that worked, because the pressure of school and children's activities was a little lessened in the loose days of Summer. Of course, with the arrival of Fall comes the arrival of the more hectic days, and for the past month or so, ol' "HW" kind of took a back seat. Business Owner ruled the roost, yielding only to Mother & Wife when she had to. "HW" was nowhere to be found. Now, I will tell you: my eating habits never suffered. I am very proud of the fact that I have been able to maintain the healthy food choices that I implemented in February, and they have served me well. No, what went out the window was EXERCISE. Don't get me wrong: I don't think that I sat down for any continuous amount of time (with the exception of when I was sitting at my desk working in the office)...
And the truth is, I really thought that taking a mini-break from my exercise routine (I was working out 5 days a week...2 days with a Personal Trainer (or "Beast Master" as she likes to be called) and then 3 days Spinning) would be no big deal. I thought I could leave it for a few weeks, and then when things settled down, just waltz back in and pick up where I left off. BOY! Did I ever learn (and not the easy way....WHY can't we ever learn things the EASY way?!) that this was most certainly NOT THE CASE!!!
This morning, I decided that I had to get things back in balance. Oddly enough (and no, I never thought I'd be uttering these words, much less publishing them for the world to see), I really missed working out. So, I put on my Spinning shoes and made my way to the gym for a Spinning Class. And promptly had my butt handed to me!! I was huffing & puffing...maybe even more so than I did in my VERY FIRST Spin Class!!! I did, however, make it through the class. I must have had a surprised look on my face, though, because afterwards, as I was talking to the instructor, we talked about my performance in class. And here is a lesson I won't ever forget: when you take off 2 weeks (just 2 weeks!) from your regular exercise routine, you lose a minimum of 10% of your overall fitness level, depending on how fit you were before you took your break.
For me, since I have only been exercising regularly since July, today felt like I had never taken a Spinning class before! When I got home, I must have looked a fright, because Ron asked me how my class had gone...I mentioned to him what I had learned and that I didn't know that just by taking three weeks off you'd "fall out of shape," but his reply was, "Well, Rebecca, anytime we've taken three weeks off, we've never gone back, so how WOULD we know?!" Of course, this is NOT acceptable to me!! I am in this for the long-haul, baby! So, I have now taken steps to ensure that NO BREAKS of more than a couple of days (I am not going to turn down a weekend trip to Aspen, ya know!) will happen again. I have no desire to have to crawl back up the steep mountain...I actually had really been enjoying the view from about mid-way, with the top sort of visible in the haze...and me making my way to the tippy-top!
So, it's back in the saddle (in this case, literally!) for me... what about you? Have you been on a break recently? Is it time for you to get back in the saddle too? I am assured that it should not take as long for me to get back in the groove and have my fitness level back to where it was 3 weeks ago...but, I have to admit: patience is definitely not a virtue I'm known for...so I'm ready to go NOW!!! Wish me luck...
Oh, and if anyone has a cloning machine they'd like to lend me, give me a holler, would you??
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Answer the Call
You know, lately, I have been getting a lot of comments about how good I look (thank you: I FEEL even better!); how proud people are of me (thank you: I am even more proud of myself!); and that people have made changes in their lives to become more healthy because they were inspired by the journey that I have been on for the past six (can you believe it's almost seven?!) months. For the record: this is my FAVORITE comment -- the whole point of walking this walk in front of everyone has been in the hopes that I could perhaps spare someone the walk if they can make the changes NOW and not wait, like I did...
I have already written about how much it means to me to be someone's inspiration -- truly -- it is the best possible kind of cycle: I do what I do, I inspire you, and then in turn, my inspiring you inspires me...if ever I'm looking for motivation, I really don't have to look much further than that -- so, please accept my sincere THANKS!!!
Things lately have been going really well! Although I still long for the Spin classes of North Carolina (and I am already plotting my return next Spring...I will work it out! I will work it out!), I have found a lovely home here at a local gym...you know, the kind where "everybody knows your name." I can't tell you how much it means to me to walk in the front, and they know me; and walk in the back, and they know me...I have become friends with several of the instructors, and they have also been a huge motivator for me. Their belief that I will accomplish my health and fitness goals spurs me to new heights of accomplishment. I can assure you -- never in my wildest dreams did I ever think (not even as recently as 4 months ago!) that I would hop out of bed at 6:15am, strap on my heart rate monitor and head out the door to go work with a personal trainer. NOPE! I can honestly say this was not anything I EVER thought would be something I would DO...much less ENJOY!!! But it is one of the highlights of my day.
I think about this a lot, because I know now that if I had added physical activity (whether it be my beloved Spinning, Zumba or working with a trainer...or even just getting on the elliptical machine) into my regular schedule years ago, I would probably not have as tough of a path as I do right now...
And so, friends, this is the message of this blog today: GET OUT AND MOVE!!! It doesn't really matter what you do...and to be honest, at first: you may not like it...but if you still don't like it after a few times, find another activity. Trust me, you will find something that you like. I will tell you: I ADORE my personal trainer (truly, LOVE her...often, she is the reason I hop out of bed...as much as I know that dang adductor machine is my friend...I still don't LOVE it!), but the work that she makes me do -- well, friends: it ain't fun! But it is the work that I do in order to do what I DO love, and that is SPINNING (no, friends that know me and know of my obsession: I will not go into a whole thing here on how much I love spinning...I'll save that for when we're having lunch and you can't escape!). But, again: this is not anything that I ever thought (never, ever) that I would try and then fall head over heels in love with...
Frankly, I was so intimidated by all of the skinny people that Spin, that I don't think I would ever have tried it, had it not been for my dear friend Lynette!! But try it I did, and hooked I immediately was!!! To date, I actually love spinning so much that I actually feel like I am "cheating" by doing it (and, oh yeah, that is the BEST kind of exercise! The kind you love so much you actually feel "naughty" that you're doing it!)...and I have been known to work various elements of my life (work, exercise, kids) around just in order to be able to make it to a Spin class...it's that kind of love.
I wish that I had known years ago that there was an activity out there for me that would call to me the way that my Spinning does...I think that had I known this, I would have incorporated it into my life then & there...
So I urge you, friends: find what calls to you...and then, ANSWER THE CALL!!!
I have already written about how much it means to me to be someone's inspiration -- truly -- it is the best possible kind of cycle: I do what I do, I inspire you, and then in turn, my inspiring you inspires me...if ever I'm looking for motivation, I really don't have to look much further than that -- so, please accept my sincere THANKS!!!
Things lately have been going really well! Although I still long for the Spin classes of North Carolina (and I am already plotting my return next Spring...I will work it out! I will work it out!), I have found a lovely home here at a local gym...you know, the kind where "everybody knows your name." I can't tell you how much it means to me to walk in the front, and they know me; and walk in the back, and they know me...I have become friends with several of the instructors, and they have also been a huge motivator for me. Their belief that I will accomplish my health and fitness goals spurs me to new heights of accomplishment. I can assure you -- never in my wildest dreams did I ever think (not even as recently as 4 months ago!) that I would hop out of bed at 6:15am, strap on my heart rate monitor and head out the door to go work with a personal trainer. NOPE! I can honestly say this was not anything I EVER thought would be something I would DO...much less ENJOY!!! But it is one of the highlights of my day.
I think about this a lot, because I know now that if I had added physical activity (whether it be my beloved Spinning, Zumba or working with a trainer...or even just getting on the elliptical machine) into my regular schedule years ago, I would probably not have as tough of a path as I do right now...
And so, friends, this is the message of this blog today: GET OUT AND MOVE!!! It doesn't really matter what you do...and to be honest, at first: you may not like it...but if you still don't like it after a few times, find another activity. Trust me, you will find something that you like. I will tell you: I ADORE my personal trainer (truly, LOVE her...often, she is the reason I hop out of bed...as much as I know that dang adductor machine is my friend...I still don't LOVE it!), but the work that she makes me do -- well, friends: it ain't fun! But it is the work that I do in order to do what I DO love, and that is SPINNING (no, friends that know me and know of my obsession: I will not go into a whole thing here on how much I love spinning...I'll save that for when we're having lunch and you can't escape!). But, again: this is not anything that I ever thought (never, ever) that I would try and then fall head over heels in love with...
Frankly, I was so intimidated by all of the skinny people that Spin, that I don't think I would ever have tried it, had it not been for my dear friend Lynette!! But try it I did, and hooked I immediately was!!! To date, I actually love spinning so much that I actually feel like I am "cheating" by doing it (and, oh yeah, that is the BEST kind of exercise! The kind you love so much you actually feel "naughty" that you're doing it!)...and I have been known to work various elements of my life (work, exercise, kids) around just in order to be able to make it to a Spin class...it's that kind of love.
I wish that I had known years ago that there was an activity out there for me that would call to me the way that my Spinning does...I think that had I known this, I would have incorporated it into my life then & there...
So I urge you, friends: find what calls to you...and then, ANSWER THE CALL!!!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
The Big Secret
I have been very blessed along this journey in that I have met quite a few people along the way who have been walking this path to wellness for much longer than I. These individuals I refer to today are not the ones who were born walking it (you know who you are...and good for you!). No, these individuals that I am speaking of today are the ones who began as I began, overweight and unsure. They had, for whatever reason, hit the proverbial "wall," and in so doing, had then decided to change their eating and physical activity levels, thus instituting "lifestyle changes," something -- as you all know -- I am striving to do on a daily basis.
The majority of these people I have met have managed to maintain their weight loss and live their new lifestyles for at least a year, most of them more... What an inspiration these people are to me!!! By and large, when I first come across a new friend who has accomplished this great feat, they wait for ME to approach them to ask "how" or "why" -- I'm not sure why, but they never do come up and start just lecturing on how to achieve this goal that I want so much.
Side note: Truly: this reservation, this waiting, is one of the things I love the best about these new friends...they have the knowledge, and are willing to share it, but they also know a few of the greatest secrets when it comes to weight loss, and one of those secrets is that an individual must come to the realization that lifestyle changes must occur ON THEIR OWN. Motivation to institute lifestyle changes to support weight loss and the goal of optimal health cannot be brought to the table by others...it must come from within oneself. Possibly one of the hardest, but one of the most important, lessons to learn on this journey. These people know this, having already learned this lesson, and knowing it is mine to learn, they hang back with the advice and the recommendations. The minute I approach them, they are ready and available. I love this about them, and thank them for their patience in letting ME come to THEM. One lesson learned!! (Yea, me!)
For me, I am constantly in search of people who have accomplished this goal of walking this path to optimal health. I love the company, I love the resources, and frankly, I love being able to ask "why this?" or "why not that?" and actually get some ANSWERS that are not based on conjecture or studies, but, rather, based on having "walked a mile in my moccasins," if you know what I mean!!
Anyway, I am sure you can imagine what the one question is that I have asked every single one of these peoople...Can you? It is, "How did you do it?" How did you lose that 100 pounds? How did you get up every single morning and make the right choices?
So, obviously, the question that I am asking is not really of much surprise to anyone -- isn't this what we ALL want to know? How DO you do this? How DOES one manage to lose and maintain a weight loss of over 100 pounds? Or 50? Or 10, for that matter?
What IS surprising is the fact that of all of these new friends -- some who have lost 100 pounds, others who have lost 20 pounds...is that they ALL (yes, every single one of them) answer EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. Are you ready for the big reveal? It's not hard to remember, and yet it is something of a challenge to do...Here is the answer we are all looking for....(drumroll, please....)
One. Day. At. A. Time.
Yep: that's the big secret. I don't know about you, but for me, this was not what I expected. I was hoping (let's be honest: who isn't?!) for some big reveal. You know -- "I eat ground up ginger in everything." (OK: going to buy ginger.) or "I make sure I do 900 squats after every workout. It really makes a difference." (OK: I think I'm up to 15 at this point, but you gotta start somewhere...900 is my new goal!)
Nope. The secret is: THERE'S NO SECRET. Bottom line is this, if you want to be successful in your weight loss and lifestyle change efforts, you just have to DO IT. Every day. This means whether or not the needle on the scale is moving. This means whether or not those jeans are fitting better every day or not. It means if you feel like it, and it means if you don't.
So....there it is, my friends..."Just Do It." Ahhhhh...don't you just love it when you realize that the answer you've been seeking has been right in front of you all the time???????
So, out we go, dear readers...time to go "Just Do It" -- are you ready? Let's GO!!!
The majority of these people I have met have managed to maintain their weight loss and live their new lifestyles for at least a year, most of them more... What an inspiration these people are to me!!! By and large, when I first come across a new friend who has accomplished this great feat, they wait for ME to approach them to ask "how" or "why" -- I'm not sure why, but they never do come up and start just lecturing on how to achieve this goal that I want so much.
Side note: Truly: this reservation, this waiting, is one of the things I love the best about these new friends...they have the knowledge, and are willing to share it, but they also know a few of the greatest secrets when it comes to weight loss, and one of those secrets is that an individual must come to the realization that lifestyle changes must occur ON THEIR OWN. Motivation to institute lifestyle changes to support weight loss and the goal of optimal health cannot be brought to the table by others...it must come from within oneself. Possibly one of the hardest, but one of the most important, lessons to learn on this journey. These people know this, having already learned this lesson, and knowing it is mine to learn, they hang back with the advice and the recommendations. The minute I approach them, they are ready and available. I love this about them, and thank them for their patience in letting ME come to THEM. One lesson learned!! (Yea, me!)
For me, I am constantly in search of people who have accomplished this goal of walking this path to optimal health. I love the company, I love the resources, and frankly, I love being able to ask "why this?" or "why not that?" and actually get some ANSWERS that are not based on conjecture or studies, but, rather, based on having "walked a mile in my moccasins," if you know what I mean!!
Anyway, I am sure you can imagine what the one question is that I have asked every single one of these peoople...Can you? It is, "How did you do it?" How did you lose that 100 pounds? How did you get up every single morning and make the right choices?
So, obviously, the question that I am asking is not really of much surprise to anyone -- isn't this what we ALL want to know? How DO you do this? How DOES one manage to lose and maintain a weight loss of over 100 pounds? Or 50? Or 10, for that matter?
What IS surprising is the fact that of all of these new friends -- some who have lost 100 pounds, others who have lost 20 pounds...is that they ALL (yes, every single one of them) answer EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. Are you ready for the big reveal? It's not hard to remember, and yet it is something of a challenge to do...Here is the answer we are all looking for....(drumroll, please....)
One. Day. At. A. Time.
Yep: that's the big secret. I don't know about you, but for me, this was not what I expected. I was hoping (let's be honest: who isn't?!) for some big reveal. You know -- "I eat ground up ginger in everything." (OK: going to buy ginger.) or "I make sure I do 900 squats after every workout. It really makes a difference." (OK: I think I'm up to 15 at this point, but you gotta start somewhere...900 is my new goal!)
Nope. The secret is: THERE'S NO SECRET. Bottom line is this, if you want to be successful in your weight loss and lifestyle change efforts, you just have to DO IT. Every day. This means whether or not the needle on the scale is moving. This means whether or not those jeans are fitting better every day or not. It means if you feel like it, and it means if you don't.
So....there it is, my friends..."Just Do It." Ahhhhh...don't you just love it when you realize that the answer you've been seeking has been right in front of you all the time???????
So, out we go, dear readers...time to go "Just Do It" -- are you ready? Let's GO!!!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Doors
This morning as I was doing my cool down on the Spinning bike after an awesome workout with my trainer, my mind started wandering...and what came to me was this: since I opened the door to wellness, so MANY other doors have opened. Truly...these days, it is almost like I am in a hallway just filled with doors waiting to be opened. And the truth is, it all started with me just opening that Very.First.Door.
In February, when I first put my hand on the doorknob of the door that would lead me on this path to wellness, it would be a complete lie if I told you I felt anything other than absolute TERROR. No kidding! Think about it: I didn't embark on this path to wellness because I had just decided that I wanted to be healthy. I was on the "Scared Straight" program!! It took me thinking that I was going to lose everything I'd ever cared about to actually make me take a look at the unhealthy choices I was making on a daily basis, and do something about it. So, yeah: there wasn't any other feeling going through that door other than sheer terror. But, I opened the door (I was quite determined to go through it), and what I found were doctors and professionals that were willing to help me educate myself so that I could make more informed choices and therefore begin to take charge of my health.
The next door that I came to was the one that I encountered in March, and that was the door that led me to Dr. Ann. This door came up rather unexpectedly, as I had been seeing a nutritionist through my doctor, and there came a point where I needed a little more "why" and a little less "just do it" so I could make this a PERMANENT LIFE CHANGE. Thank Heavens my mother had the key to this door, and with the help of some friends, I ended up meeting with Dr. Ann and learning the "Why" to all of this...Walking through this door was out of necessity, and the feeling attached here was no longer terror, but more searching...I knew I needed to make changes, but I found that I needed to know why...it wasn't enough to just walk through blindly. And in I went, and it has saved my life.
Once through the Dr. Ann door, I found myself falling into a lovely pattern -- I now knew what to eat, WHY to eat it (so important for me), and how to eat it. So I bopped along on the path for a good long while, until I came to the next door: FITNESS. Now, I'm not going to lie to you: I am the girl who HATED P.E. in school, and physical activity has never been high on my list of fun things to go do! So, this door, I walked through and then I walked back out. I walked through again...and then I found the door to "Too Busy" and stayed there for a while. Then Dr. Ann told me that I would never achieve my goals if I didn't walk through the door and keep moving. So, I did. The feeling in walking through this door would have to be...Reluctant. I knew I had to move to get the weight off. I wasn't looking forward to it (ok: I was dreading it!), but I knew it was something I HAD to do. So I turned the doorknob and walked on through...But on the other side of this door, people weren't walking, they were DANCING! I had found Zumba...and from there, I have now danced my way to my wonderful personal trainer, Ali. Man...had I only known what lay on the other side of that door, I would have walked through it so much earlier!!!! And so I danced for a while...and am still doing so...when I am not lifting weights!!
Dancing on down the path, the next door I came to was found while I was on vacation. This door, another Physical Activity door (so you know I was still feeling a bit of trepidation...I don't know if it's because I'm overweight and have been for so much of my life, or if it's something else...but I always worry that everyone is going to be staring at me and thinking, "what's that fat girl think she's doing?" when I'm working out...) was not one I planned on opening, because I'd already opened the Zumba/Ali door, and felt like that was enough on that front! However, in front of this door was a friend, so I decided to open it and see what was on the other side. SPINNING was on the other side of this door...truly: one of my greatest loves and such a wonderful gift in my life. (Yes: I know there are those of you that think I am INSANE for loving this, but LOVE it I do!!) This door opened up to a whole new world...and I am revelling in it!! Spin, spin, spin...dance...dance...dance...
So, as I said...this morning, as I was doing my cool-down from my workout with Ali on the Spin bike, I started to think about all of the doors in my life. Ones that I have walked through, and ones that have yet to be opened. The truth is, I have no idea what the next door that pops up will be, or what lies on the other side of it. In life, we seldom do. But I do know this: I will open it, and I will walk through, because if there is one thing I have learned on this journey and from walking through all of those open doors that lie behind me, it is this: I have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
My hand is on the next doorknob...are you with me?
In February, when I first put my hand on the doorknob of the door that would lead me on this path to wellness, it would be a complete lie if I told you I felt anything other than absolute TERROR. No kidding! Think about it: I didn't embark on this path to wellness because I had just decided that I wanted to be healthy. I was on the "Scared Straight" program!! It took me thinking that I was going to lose everything I'd ever cared about to actually make me take a look at the unhealthy choices I was making on a daily basis, and do something about it. So, yeah: there wasn't any other feeling going through that door other than sheer terror. But, I opened the door (I was quite determined to go through it), and what I found were doctors and professionals that were willing to help me educate myself so that I could make more informed choices and therefore begin to take charge of my health.
The next door that I came to was the one that I encountered in March, and that was the door that led me to Dr. Ann. This door came up rather unexpectedly, as I had been seeing a nutritionist through my doctor, and there came a point where I needed a little more "why" and a little less "just do it" so I could make this a PERMANENT LIFE CHANGE. Thank Heavens my mother had the key to this door, and with the help of some friends, I ended up meeting with Dr. Ann and learning the "Why" to all of this...Walking through this door was out of necessity, and the feeling attached here was no longer terror, but more searching...I knew I needed to make changes, but I found that I needed to know why...it wasn't enough to just walk through blindly. And in I went, and it has saved my life.
Once through the Dr. Ann door, I found myself falling into a lovely pattern -- I now knew what to eat, WHY to eat it (so important for me), and how to eat it. So I bopped along on the path for a good long while, until I came to the next door: FITNESS. Now, I'm not going to lie to you: I am the girl who HATED P.E. in school, and physical activity has never been high on my list of fun things to go do! So, this door, I walked through and then I walked back out. I walked through again...and then I found the door to "Too Busy" and stayed there for a while. Then Dr. Ann told me that I would never achieve my goals if I didn't walk through the door and keep moving. So, I did. The feeling in walking through this door would have to be...Reluctant. I knew I had to move to get the weight off. I wasn't looking forward to it (ok: I was dreading it!), but I knew it was something I HAD to do. So I turned the doorknob and walked on through...But on the other side of this door, people weren't walking, they were DANCING! I had found Zumba...and from there, I have now danced my way to my wonderful personal trainer, Ali. Man...had I only known what lay on the other side of that door, I would have walked through it so much earlier!!!! And so I danced for a while...and am still doing so...when I am not lifting weights!!
Dancing on down the path, the next door I came to was found while I was on vacation. This door, another Physical Activity door (so you know I was still feeling a bit of trepidation...I don't know if it's because I'm overweight and have been for so much of my life, or if it's something else...but I always worry that everyone is going to be staring at me and thinking, "what's that fat girl think she's doing?" when I'm working out...) was not one I planned on opening, because I'd already opened the Zumba/Ali door, and felt like that was enough on that front! However, in front of this door was a friend, so I decided to open it and see what was on the other side. SPINNING was on the other side of this door...truly: one of my greatest loves and such a wonderful gift in my life. (Yes: I know there are those of you that think I am INSANE for loving this, but LOVE it I do!!) This door opened up to a whole new world...and I am revelling in it!! Spin, spin, spin...dance...dance...dance...
So, as I said...this morning, as I was doing my cool-down from my workout with Ali on the Spin bike, I started to think about all of the doors in my life. Ones that I have walked through, and ones that have yet to be opened. The truth is, I have no idea what the next door that pops up will be, or what lies on the other side of it. In life, we seldom do. But I do know this: I will open it, and I will walk through, because if there is one thing I have learned on this journey and from walking through all of those open doors that lie behind me, it is this: I have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
My hand is on the next doorknob...are you with me?
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Sweet Inspiration
Lately, I've been thinking a lot about Inspiration. Where it comes from, the impact that it has on our lives, how it guides us to where we need to be. How it can propel us to great heights even when we don't want to -- or even think we can -- climb even the smallest of hills.
These thoughts have then led to where Inspiration comes from...where do you get it? What inspires you? And, once inspired, how do you then take that spark and inspire others?
I thought that I would start off the blog today with a quotation, but the truth is, there are way too many quotes to even begin to search through them...and frankly, nothing inspired me!! So, I decided to Google "Inspiration", and this is the first thing that came up:
Inspiration refers to an unconscious burst of creativity in a literary, musical, or other artistic endeavour. Literally, the word means "breathed upon," and it has its origins in both Hellenism and Hebraism. The Greeks believed that inspiration came from the muses, as well as the gods Apollo and Dionysus. Similarly, in the Ancient Norse religions, inspiration derives from the gods, such as Odin. Inspiration is also a divine matter in Hebrew poetics. In the Book of Amos the prophet speaks of being overwhelmed by God's voice and compelled to speak. In Christianity, inspiration is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
(taken from Wikipedia, under "Artistic Inspiration")
I love the idea that one is "breathed upon"... that is, for me, how it feels when I am inspired. Inspiration plays a huge part in my life...I am inspired when I go into my ribbon room at home and make headbands; I am inspired when I see my oldest daughter take a smaller child under her wing to teach her something. I am inspired when I see my son take on a new task and master it; and when my middle daughter shows unexpected kindness or grace. I am inspired when I walk into the gym and I see a new friend working out, doing something that I have been raving about and she has decided to try it...I am inspired by bursts of color, and I am continually inspired by the beauty of the human spirit. All of things inspire me to be a better human being, to try harder, to be MORE.
Since I started this blog a few months ago, I have been blessed enough to be told that I have inspired YOU. As many of you know, that was one of my key factors in starting the blog - to inspire MYSELF to do better, to make better choices; and hopefully, in doing so, to reach out and inspire others. To know that I am accomplishing this means so much to me! I also take it as a very serious responsibility...it is not something I take lightly, and I do think about it a lot...it is helping me to make the right choices and to do what I know to be the "right thing."
Weight loss and this journey towards better health is such a tricky, twisty path. When one first steps foot on this path, it is usually with a fair amount of trepidation and uncertainty...what lies ahead? Can I do it? And if I do do it, then what happens next? For me, I turned to others who had walked this path before me...I am lucky: I have several friends and loved ones that have walked the path towards better health and have actually made it to "home plate," if you will...they are living and maintaining healthy, happy lives. This is my goal. My inspiration, you might say. Now that I have been walking this path for the past five months, I am learning that inspiration is not static - it is not one thing, one point on a map. It is continually moving forward, learning, taking in...and adjusting. It is about the constant search for inspiration -- and then, once inspiration is found, taking it in to create MORE inspiration!
For me, it is inspiring that I inspire you. To know that someone who reads this blog can then make even the smallest of healthy changes in their lives...to have made the world a little better, a life a little healthier...well, that is sustainable inspiration. Kind of like the most wonderful of cycles...you inspire me, so I inspire you, so you inspire me, and so on, and so on...
It makes you think, doesn't it? For me, knowing that I've inspired someone to make positive changes in their lives -- well, it just lifts me right up. And makes me even more determined to make choices and to move forward in a way that will continue to inspire others...including myself!
So, my charge for today is this: get out there! Find your inspiration, and then, make a little more...and then, give it away. I can assure you, as a friend once told me a very long time ago: giving IS receiving. It is the very same thing.
These thoughts have then led to where Inspiration comes from...where do you get it? What inspires you? And, once inspired, how do you then take that spark and inspire others?
I thought that I would start off the blog today with a quotation, but the truth is, there are way too many quotes to even begin to search through them...and frankly, nothing inspired me!! So, I decided to Google "Inspiration", and this is the first thing that came up:
Inspiration refers to an unconscious burst of creativity in a literary, musical, or other artistic endeavour. Literally, the word means "breathed upon," and it has its origins in both Hellenism and Hebraism. The Greeks believed that inspiration came from the muses, as well as the gods Apollo and Dionysus. Similarly, in the Ancient Norse religions, inspiration derives from the gods, such as Odin. Inspiration is also a divine matter in Hebrew poetics. In the Book of Amos the prophet speaks of being overwhelmed by God's voice and compelled to speak. In Christianity, inspiration is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
(taken from Wikipedia, under "Artistic Inspiration")
I love the idea that one is "breathed upon"... that is, for me, how it feels when I am inspired. Inspiration plays a huge part in my life...I am inspired when I go into my ribbon room at home and make headbands; I am inspired when I see my oldest daughter take a smaller child under her wing to teach her something. I am inspired when I see my son take on a new task and master it; and when my middle daughter shows unexpected kindness or grace. I am inspired when I walk into the gym and I see a new friend working out, doing something that I have been raving about and she has decided to try it...I am inspired by bursts of color, and I am continually inspired by the beauty of the human spirit. All of things inspire me to be a better human being, to try harder, to be MORE.
Since I started this blog a few months ago, I have been blessed enough to be told that I have inspired YOU. As many of you know, that was one of my key factors in starting the blog - to inspire MYSELF to do better, to make better choices; and hopefully, in doing so, to reach out and inspire others. To know that I am accomplishing this means so much to me! I also take it as a very serious responsibility...it is not something I take lightly, and I do think about it a lot...it is helping me to make the right choices and to do what I know to be the "right thing."
Weight loss and this journey towards better health is such a tricky, twisty path. When one first steps foot on this path, it is usually with a fair amount of trepidation and uncertainty...what lies ahead? Can I do it? And if I do do it, then what happens next? For me, I turned to others who had walked this path before me...I am lucky: I have several friends and loved ones that have walked the path towards better health and have actually made it to "home plate," if you will...they are living and maintaining healthy, happy lives. This is my goal. My inspiration, you might say. Now that I have been walking this path for the past five months, I am learning that inspiration is not static - it is not one thing, one point on a map. It is continually moving forward, learning, taking in...and adjusting. It is about the constant search for inspiration -- and then, once inspiration is found, taking it in to create MORE inspiration!
For me, it is inspiring that I inspire you. To know that someone who reads this blog can then make even the smallest of healthy changes in their lives...to have made the world a little better, a life a little healthier...well, that is sustainable inspiration. Kind of like the most wonderful of cycles...you inspire me, so I inspire you, so you inspire me, and so on, and so on...
It makes you think, doesn't it? For me, knowing that I've inspired someone to make positive changes in their lives -- well, it just lifts me right up. And makes me even more determined to make choices and to move forward in a way that will continue to inspire others...including myself!
So, my charge for today is this: get out there! Find your inspiration, and then, make a little more...and then, give it away. I can assure you, as a friend once told me a very long time ago: giving IS receiving. It is the very same thing.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Amazing Grace
Helloooooo...I'm baaacckkk!!
This time the reason for the brief sabbatical was not that I couldn't find the time to write, but rather that my family decided to take some time "off" and go up to the mountains of North Carolina to spend some good, quiet, quality family time. As of today, it is "back to reality," but not without some major reminders of time well spent in North Carolina.
For me, I had a moment in North Carolina that I wanted to share with everyone. It is my hope that you'll read it and say, "Oh, I have moments like this!" or maybe it will inspire you to go out and FIND your moment like this one. For me, the moment I will share (and it was just a very brief moment...but it was more than enough) came unexpectedly...but it is more than appreciated. I have no doubt that in the weeks and months to follow, as I continue to work my way towards my goal of "optimal health," I will call on it in both good times and bad.
Enough of the lead in! Now, time for my story!!
While up in North Carolina, I had determined that I was going to stay on my "program" that had recently added physical activity (starting with working with a trainer, and recently having added up to 3 days additional of cardio). With that in mind, I made my way over to the gym on property where we stay up in North Carolina. I worked my hiney off on the elliptical machine, finishing up with a quick walk/run on the treadmill. After I finished, I polished that off with a quick run-through on some weight machines with the resident trainer. As I finished up my last rep, a dear friend of mine popped over and told me she was teaching the Spinning class at the gym. I was thrilled - I used to bicycle a long, long time ago, but haven't done any cycling in years. I used to do up to 15-20 miles a day on my bike, though. So Spinning really has been on my list of things to try out and see if it would work to add it to my exercise regimen (ideally, I'm looking for variety, as I'm quite terrified of becoming bored & not wanting to do it!). I agreed to go and take her Spinning class on the following Monday.
Of course, then the doubts set in : what if I'm too fat? What if I don't know how to do it? What if I am so out of shape and overweight that I CAN'T do it...and everyone is looking at me, the fat chick in the corner who is turning purple??
However, this journey has had more than its share of doubts, so I powered through, and come Monday morning, I got my fanny on a Spinning bike (and no: for those of you who have done Spinning, my fanny has not yet forgiven me!). AND I FELL IN LOVE!!
No kidding! No sooner was I 20-30 minutes into the 60 minute class than I knew that I had re-discovered an activity that I adored. Although I could barely walk, I made plans to attend the Wednesday class...and the Friday class...and the Sunday class!! Now that I am home, I have made plans to attend my first Spinning class tomorrow morning (so, so, so excited!) in Jacksonville to continue the trend!
But it is not the discovery of this new love that I want to share with you now, but instead, what happened in my Wednesday morning Spin class last week...
Music is an important part of any class, but Spin in particular because it helps to keep you motivated. We had 5 people in our class on Wednesday - Bridget, who likes to sing (and I loved having her behind me), Mike, Molly, myself & the instructor. We were at the top of a mountain and a beautiful rendition of "Amazing Grace" came on. From behind me, I heard Bridget start to sing. Then, to my right, Mike started to sing...very low...you really had to strain to hear both of them. Within a moment, Molly had also joined in...and of course, I had been singing from the start (I couldn't let Bridget sing alone, now, could I?)...All of us, riding our bikes at top speed, raising our voices in praise.
Yep, you got it: I had a God moment.
No question about it. And of course, me being me, when I realized that I was having this beautiful, exquisite moment of clarity - One of those where you are where you're supposed to be, doing what you're supposed to be doing, with the people whom you are supposed to be doing it with...- what did I do? I almost burst into tears!!
For here I am, on a Spinning cycle, where I never thought that I would be; pedaling at top speeds, feeling fantastic, and singing "Amazing Grace." Ahhhh...God moments! You gotta love 'em!! At that moment, I stopped and thanked God for giving me this second chance -- this chance not only to improve my health, but to have such God moments.
And that, my friends, IS Amazing Grace.
This time the reason for the brief sabbatical was not that I couldn't find the time to write, but rather that my family decided to take some time "off" and go up to the mountains of North Carolina to spend some good, quiet, quality family time. As of today, it is "back to reality," but not without some major reminders of time well spent in North Carolina.
For me, I had a moment in North Carolina that I wanted to share with everyone. It is my hope that you'll read it and say, "Oh, I have moments like this!" or maybe it will inspire you to go out and FIND your moment like this one. For me, the moment I will share (and it was just a very brief moment...but it was more than enough) came unexpectedly...but it is more than appreciated. I have no doubt that in the weeks and months to follow, as I continue to work my way towards my goal of "optimal health," I will call on it in both good times and bad.
Enough of the lead in! Now, time for my story!!
While up in North Carolina, I had determined that I was going to stay on my "program" that had recently added physical activity (starting with working with a trainer, and recently having added up to 3 days additional of cardio). With that in mind, I made my way over to the gym on property where we stay up in North Carolina. I worked my hiney off on the elliptical machine, finishing up with a quick walk/run on the treadmill. After I finished, I polished that off with a quick run-through on some weight machines with the resident trainer. As I finished up my last rep, a dear friend of mine popped over and told me she was teaching the Spinning class at the gym. I was thrilled - I used to bicycle a long, long time ago, but haven't done any cycling in years. I used to do up to 15-20 miles a day on my bike, though. So Spinning really has been on my list of things to try out and see if it would work to add it to my exercise regimen (ideally, I'm looking for variety, as I'm quite terrified of becoming bored & not wanting to do it!). I agreed to go and take her Spinning class on the following Monday.
Of course, then the doubts set in : what if I'm too fat? What if I don't know how to do it? What if I am so out of shape and overweight that I CAN'T do it...and everyone is looking at me, the fat chick in the corner who is turning purple??
However, this journey has had more than its share of doubts, so I powered through, and come Monday morning, I got my fanny on a Spinning bike (and no: for those of you who have done Spinning, my fanny has not yet forgiven me!). AND I FELL IN LOVE!!
No kidding! No sooner was I 20-30 minutes into the 60 minute class than I knew that I had re-discovered an activity that I adored. Although I could barely walk, I made plans to attend the Wednesday class...and the Friday class...and the Sunday class!! Now that I am home, I have made plans to attend my first Spinning class tomorrow morning (so, so, so excited!) in Jacksonville to continue the trend!
But it is not the discovery of this new love that I want to share with you now, but instead, what happened in my Wednesday morning Spin class last week...
Music is an important part of any class, but Spin in particular because it helps to keep you motivated. We had 5 people in our class on Wednesday - Bridget, who likes to sing (and I loved having her behind me), Mike, Molly, myself & the instructor. We were at the top of a mountain and a beautiful rendition of "Amazing Grace" came on. From behind me, I heard Bridget start to sing. Then, to my right, Mike started to sing...very low...you really had to strain to hear both of them. Within a moment, Molly had also joined in...and of course, I had been singing from the start (I couldn't let Bridget sing alone, now, could I?)...All of us, riding our bikes at top speed, raising our voices in praise.
Yep, you got it: I had a God moment.
No question about it. And of course, me being me, when I realized that I was having this beautiful, exquisite moment of clarity - One of those where you are where you're supposed to be, doing what you're supposed to be doing, with the people whom you are supposed to be doing it with...- what did I do? I almost burst into tears!!
For here I am, on a Spinning cycle, where I never thought that I would be; pedaling at top speeds, feeling fantastic, and singing "Amazing Grace." Ahhhh...God moments! You gotta love 'em!! At that moment, I stopped and thanked God for giving me this second chance -- this chance not only to improve my health, but to have such God moments.
And that, my friends, IS Amazing Grace.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Dear Young Rebecca...
A friend posted a PSA on her Facebook wall the other day titled, "Dear 16-year-old Me." It focused on individuals who had messages for their younger selves, ultimately bringing to light the tragedy of skin cancer (melanoma). I, in turn, posted it on my Facebook "wall" because I was so moved by the piece. Plus, my thinking was (is), that if it made one person pay closer attention to something that wasn't quite feeling "right," -- whether it is something "off" in your skin, or "off" in your general well being -- then it was well worth the post.
I haven't been able to get the PSA out of my mind...mostly because a few days later, during a conversation with my sister, we were talking about what we would tell ourselves if our 40-something selves (present-day self) could travel back in time and chat with our younger (20-something) selves. That particular conversation focused a lot on telling myself to save my money and not buy that ridiculous pair of parachute pants at The Limited...but that is another story (perhaps for another blog!) But it did get me to thinking in regards to my recent weight loss and walking this current path I am on...is there anything that I would like to go back in time and tell my 16-year-old self?
During a family dinner a few weeks ago, Libby asked me if there were anything I regretted, anything that I would go back in time and correct in my life if I could. The truth is, I have made so many mistakes on this life journey that I don't even count anymore...but my belief is that regrets are lessons not learned (ok: so I also read that somewhere..but it resonated!)...so I really don't have any regrets, and I can honestly say I don't believe in regrets.
What I do believe is that all of those mistakes that we make along the way are what help to build the foundation -- along with the right choices too, of course! -- for who and what I am today. And I believe that those "mistakes" can actually be drawn upon now (or maybe later) to possibly help someone else who may need some guidance. If I'm lucky, maybe I've been in a similar situation, and maybe I can shed some light on the "right" direction to go...So, ultimately, no, I wouldn't go back and change anything, even if I were given that magical opportunity.
However, with all of this said, there are a few things I would like to go back and let my 16-year-old self know. Just to let them sit and simmer in her consciousness, or perhaps tap into them when she needs them. So, here goes:
Dear 16-year-old Me:
First, I want you to know that you are beautiful. I know you don't always feel it, but the truth is, you are truly an extraordinary human being. I know that there are things that you would change about your physical appearance (no, your hair is never going to be Casey's color...and no, it's not ever going to be straight...no matter what you do to it!), but you are beautiful.
Second, I want you to know that you are really smart. I will grant you that you are probably *not* ever going to be a math genius, but you are a really good writer, and you have a true talent for helping people to see things in a way they haven't even thought of looking at things yet.
I would also like for you to know that although exercise is a giant pain in your butt, and you think there are tons of other, more fun things to do...go ahead and get on that treadmill/bike/mini-trampoline (heck! do Mom's Jane Fonda workout tapes!), and work up a sweat. Do this every day. Do not miss a day. Trust me when I tell you, you will thank me later!
Remember that eating is to be enjoyed. If you have a bite of chocolate souffle, savor it. Good food actually does not come along as often as you'd think...there are a lot of "meh" foods out there...but truly delicious, home-made, savor-worthy food...it really doesn't come around often. And I happen to know that that chocolate souffle is worth every single delicious bite.
And, 16-year-old Me? Do me a favor, would you? If you are happy, just go ahead and be happy. If you are sad, go ahead and be sad. Do not use that "meh" food to make the happy or the sad any less than it is. Feel it, experience it, and then LET IT GO. Don't keep it. Feel it, and then let it go. It's okay...I can assure you: there are more happy and sad things coming, and some of them will make you happier and more sad than you can even imagine right now.
Lastly, Me, go ahead and BE YOURSELF. Whoever you are, whatever you are...just BE. Because you know what?
You are amazing.
I haven't been able to get the PSA out of my mind...mostly because a few days later, during a conversation with my sister, we were talking about what we would tell ourselves if our 40-something selves (present-day self) could travel back in time and chat with our younger (20-something) selves. That particular conversation focused a lot on telling myself to save my money and not buy that ridiculous pair of parachute pants at The Limited...but that is another story (perhaps for another blog!) But it did get me to thinking in regards to my recent weight loss and walking this current path I am on...is there anything that I would like to go back in time and tell my 16-year-old self?
During a family dinner a few weeks ago, Libby asked me if there were anything I regretted, anything that I would go back in time and correct in my life if I could. The truth is, I have made so many mistakes on this life journey that I don't even count anymore...but my belief is that regrets are lessons not learned (ok: so I also read that somewhere..but it resonated!)...so I really don't have any regrets, and I can honestly say I don't believe in regrets.
What I do believe is that all of those mistakes that we make along the way are what help to build the foundation -- along with the right choices too, of course! -- for who and what I am today. And I believe that those "mistakes" can actually be drawn upon now (or maybe later) to possibly help someone else who may need some guidance. If I'm lucky, maybe I've been in a similar situation, and maybe I can shed some light on the "right" direction to go...So, ultimately, no, I wouldn't go back and change anything, even if I were given that magical opportunity.
However, with all of this said, there are a few things I would like to go back and let my 16-year-old self know. Just to let them sit and simmer in her consciousness, or perhaps tap into them when she needs them. So, here goes:
Dear 16-year-old Me:
First, I want you to know that you are beautiful. I know you don't always feel it, but the truth is, you are truly an extraordinary human being. I know that there are things that you would change about your physical appearance (no, your hair is never going to be Casey's color...and no, it's not ever going to be straight...no matter what you do to it!), but you are beautiful.
Second, I want you to know that you are really smart. I will grant you that you are probably *not* ever going to be a math genius, but you are a really good writer, and you have a true talent for helping people to see things in a way they haven't even thought of looking at things yet.
I would also like for you to know that although exercise is a giant pain in your butt, and you think there are tons of other, more fun things to do...go ahead and get on that treadmill/bike/mini-trampoline (heck! do Mom's Jane Fonda workout tapes!), and work up a sweat. Do this every day. Do not miss a day. Trust me when I tell you, you will thank me later!
Remember that eating is to be enjoyed. If you have a bite of chocolate souffle, savor it. Good food actually does not come along as often as you'd think...there are a lot of "meh" foods out there...but truly delicious, home-made, savor-worthy food...it really doesn't come around often. And I happen to know that that chocolate souffle is worth every single delicious bite.
And, 16-year-old Me? Do me a favor, would you? If you are happy, just go ahead and be happy. If you are sad, go ahead and be sad. Do not use that "meh" food to make the happy or the sad any less than it is. Feel it, experience it, and then LET IT GO. Don't keep it. Feel it, and then let it go. It's okay...I can assure you: there are more happy and sad things coming, and some of them will make you happier and more sad than you can even imagine right now.
Lastly, Me, go ahead and BE YOURSELF. Whoever you are, whatever you are...just BE. Because you know what?
You are amazing.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Finding the Why
....and no, I'm not talking about your local YMCA, although that may be something that helps you once you "find your why!"
This past weekend, I stumbled across several health specials on the OWN (Oprah's) network. It used to be that when I would stumble across such programming, I would stumble right on along. I mean, I know that I have health issues - do you really know anyone who's over 50 pounds overweight (and I'm more than that, but working on it!) that DOESN'T have health issues? Obesity is pervasive...it's not just that you can't fit into your favorite pair of jeans: it's that you can't walk up two flights of stairs without huffing and puffing. Anyway, of course, this time: I was absolutely glued to these Bob Greene (love him!) and Dr. Oz specials on obesity and weight loss. What was the most interesting to me was not the methods employed by the specialists, but instead, WHY. Something about the connection between doing something and why you do that something clicks for me.
When I first met with Dr. Ann (the nutritional specialist in Charleston I'm working with), the whole reason I went up there was because I'd been meeting with nutritionists here locally, and because I have been dieting for the majority of my life, I already knew the information that they were trying to impart. Not only knew it, but could probably have taught them a thing or two! When I realized this, I panicked (complete meltdown)! How on earth was I even going to begin to accomplish the goal of finally releasing all of this extra weight (and I knew then as I know now, this is my time) if I didn't have someone who could guide me on this path...who could tell me WHY I needed to exercise; WHY I needed to eat protein instead of that bagel...So I spoke with my most trusted advisor (my mother, of course!!) who steered me in the direction of Dr. Ann. I knew that Dr. Ann would be able to direct me - what I didn't expect was that she would not only direct me and educate me, but that she would show me the WHY behind every directive. There are actual chemical and complicated physiological reasons to eat this and that in combination (I shall leave it to Dr. Ann to explain this to you too - she has a great website: http://www.drannwellness.com/ that is incredibly informative and helpful). Ah, at last...the WHY.
However, that is not the only WHY that one needs to find when finally deciding to release pounds. And I'll tell you, I have found this to be true when talking to men and women who have successfully dropped a hundred or more pounds, and I have found it to be true with those men and women who have successfully rid themselves of that annoying ten pounds as well...you must find the WHY that the weight got there in the first place. Find that WHY and discover WHY you are finally ready to release the extra weight, and you will find success.
For me, I'm still working on finding my WHY...
Good news: I do have my WHY as to why I am finally ready to release this weight. I actually, through my health scare earlier this year, was forced to realize and recognize something that actually tasted better than all the sugary s&^t I was putting in my mouth -- tasting and savoring each moment that I have with my three children and my husband whom I adore. Thinking that I was going to lose them, these people who I dreamt of for so long -- who I wanted to be a part of my life from the time that I was a little girl and could dream of being a "Mommy" and a "Wife" -- thinking that I would risk losing them and my time with them because of what I was putting in my mouth...well, there's my WHY. Even typing it now it sounds so ridiculous that one would even remotely put something so precious in danger like that!! Ridiculous that I had to have my "cage rattled" to such an extent as to risk losing my time with them forever...Yeah. Non-negotiable. I plan on savoring every moment I have with each of them, and on savoring moments with future grand-babies, and God willing, great-grand-babies.
As for the "why" that I actually put on all the weight in the first place, well, that is an on-going search for truth. But it becomes more clear to me every day that I choose to walk on this healthier path, and I have no doubt that as I continue to peel away the pounds, I will find more answers to this particular question.
For now, I am happy to walk this path, adding new friends, coaches and supporters along the way.
This past weekend, I stumbled across several health specials on the OWN (Oprah's) network. It used to be that when I would stumble across such programming, I would stumble right on along. I mean, I know that I have health issues - do you really know anyone who's over 50 pounds overweight (and I'm more than that, but working on it!) that DOESN'T have health issues? Obesity is pervasive...it's not just that you can't fit into your favorite pair of jeans: it's that you can't walk up two flights of stairs without huffing and puffing. Anyway, of course, this time: I was absolutely glued to these Bob Greene (love him!) and Dr. Oz specials on obesity and weight loss. What was the most interesting to me was not the methods employed by the specialists, but instead, WHY. Something about the connection between doing something and why you do that something clicks for me.
When I first met with Dr. Ann (the nutritional specialist in Charleston I'm working with), the whole reason I went up there was because I'd been meeting with nutritionists here locally, and because I have been dieting for the majority of my life, I already knew the information that they were trying to impart. Not only knew it, but could probably have taught them a thing or two! When I realized this, I panicked (complete meltdown)! How on earth was I even going to begin to accomplish the goal of finally releasing all of this extra weight (and I knew then as I know now, this is my time) if I didn't have someone who could guide me on this path...who could tell me WHY I needed to exercise; WHY I needed to eat protein instead of that bagel...So I spoke with my most trusted advisor (my mother, of course!!) who steered me in the direction of Dr. Ann. I knew that Dr. Ann would be able to direct me - what I didn't expect was that she would not only direct me and educate me, but that she would show me the WHY behind every directive. There are actual chemical and complicated physiological reasons to eat this and that in combination (I shall leave it to Dr. Ann to explain this to you too - she has a great website: http://www.drannwellness.com/ that is incredibly informative and helpful). Ah, at last...the WHY.
However, that is not the only WHY that one needs to find when finally deciding to release pounds. And I'll tell you, I have found this to be true when talking to men and women who have successfully dropped a hundred or more pounds, and I have found it to be true with those men and women who have successfully rid themselves of that annoying ten pounds as well...you must find the WHY that the weight got there in the first place. Find that WHY and discover WHY you are finally ready to release the extra weight, and you will find success.
For me, I'm still working on finding my WHY...
Good news: I do have my WHY as to why I am finally ready to release this weight. I actually, through my health scare earlier this year, was forced to realize and recognize something that actually tasted better than all the sugary s&^t I was putting in my mouth -- tasting and savoring each moment that I have with my three children and my husband whom I adore. Thinking that I was going to lose them, these people who I dreamt of for so long -- who I wanted to be a part of my life from the time that I was a little girl and could dream of being a "Mommy" and a "Wife" -- thinking that I would risk losing them and my time with them because of what I was putting in my mouth...well, there's my WHY. Even typing it now it sounds so ridiculous that one would even remotely put something so precious in danger like that!! Ridiculous that I had to have my "cage rattled" to such an extent as to risk losing my time with them forever...Yeah. Non-negotiable. I plan on savoring every moment I have with each of them, and on savoring moments with future grand-babies, and God willing, great-grand-babies.
As for the "why" that I actually put on all the weight in the first place, well, that is an on-going search for truth. But it becomes more clear to me every day that I choose to walk on this healthier path, and I have no doubt that as I continue to peel away the pounds, I will find more answers to this particular question.
For now, I am happy to walk this path, adding new friends, coaches and supporters along the way.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Lovin 'Em and Leavin 'Em...
Greetings!! It has been a while since I have written, and I have missed you all!! May is always a crazy time in our family…wrapping up things at school, preparing the children to go to summer camp, and all of that on top of life as we know it. But, I’m back, and I’ve been thinking of a few things I’d like to say, so I hope to have some more frequent blog entries in the upcoming few weeks.
For now, I really wanted to focus on one of my most favorite (and, to me, one of the most important) things that I have learned so far in this journey, and that is how to “love ‘em and leave ‘em” – and no, I am not talking about people! -- I am talking about those foods or dishes, or your Aunt Hattie’s homemade chocolate soufflé…those things that truly are a once-in-a-blue-moon special treats. Whether it’s that you only see Aunt Hattie once a year and you truly look forward to eating that soufflé, or whether it is that you are in a place on a vacation or trip and you want to truly experience the culture there (or, as in my case, you really, really want to go to the restaurant that someone recommended and when you get there, the menu is so delicious you just want to run in the other direction instead of having to actually look at it and make good choices.) Please note: I stayed, I made awesome choices and I enjoyed the *heck* out of that meal!!
As you all know, I have changed my lifestyle and eating habits dramatically in the past four months. This means that I traded my cupcakes for kale; my candy bars for 85% dark chocolate, my coffee for green tea, and so on and so forth! And here’s the bottom line, folks: this is not something you can do half-way. You’re either in or you’re out. You can’t do it some times. You have to do it all the time. Yes, that’s right: EVERY SINGLE DAY, and, quite frankly, every single meal. And that’s just it, bottom line, in a nut shell – otherwise, there is no way to truly achieve optimal health
Now, please note -- this does NOT mean that you will never ever have that cupcake (cookie, chocolate truffle, etc , etc) again. There is no way that I could have made the major changes that I have made in my diet, nor make the choices that I make on a daily basis in regard to food (and for those of you who know me, you know that the eating part of this is not what has been the hard part for me – the exercise IS an ongoing issue for me…but one I am working on on a daily basis!) and think that I would never have another cupcake (my vice of choice…we all have one).
Here’s the deal: iIf I really, really, want a cupcake, then I actually do have a bite (I usually take the whole thing & cut it into quarters – then I have a quarter and decide if I want another; usually (much to my surprise – lately, every time), the answer is no. Then I go on my merry way, eat my kale with my dinner, drink my water and get back on track – by doing all of this, the treat becomes a momentary enjoyment, something that has a “been there, done that” kind of feel. By doing this, I am enjoying myself, (side note: a recent trip to Charleston brought a few opportunities to indulge – while I did have a wonderful bite of a home-made lemon crème pie, the truth is, after I had it, I forgot about it…) but in still staying with my “program” (diet, whatever you want to call it…I call it my life!), it becomes something that makes me even stronger the next time I happen to be in a situation where temptations are present.
This love ‘em and leave ‘em approach to dessert (for me, this is my touchy point…for you, it may be french fries or something of that ilk) is something that is brand new for me.
Five months ago, here’s how the scene in the restaurant would have gone: I probably would NOT have had that bite of the lemon crème pie, but instead would have said, “No thank you,” gone back to the hotel and eaten numerous cookies or what have you in an attempt to quell the memory or desire for dessert. And then I would have carried that idea of that dang lemon crème pie (and I’m not much of a fruit-dessert lover, so it’s not even anything I would really have wanted in the first place, but by turning it down, I would make it an object of desire) with me for the next two or three weeks, eating everything else in the meantime.
Instead, I have now learned to decide if I really want something, then I have a bite, savor the treat, and then, blessedly! , I am able to LEAVE IT THERE. I no longer carry the desserts or foods that I don’t eat home with me! I cannot begin to tell you the amount of freedom I feel by not doing this any longer. It truly is one of the best things I have learned so far in this journey! And, believe me: I have learned soooo much!
But, I will tell you: of all the lessons I’ve learned (and I hope to pass even a few of them on), it is truly awesome to know that there is no dessert going home with me in any shape or form whatsoever anymore: not in a “doggie bag,” not in my purse, and most definitely, not in my mind!!
And that, my friends, well, that is a true move forward.
“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”
~Lao Tzu, Founder of Taoism
Monday, May 16, 2011
Fancy Pants
Well, it has finally happened.
My body has finally gotten the message and has finally begun to shed this excess weight in earnest...I won't lie: it is very nice getting on the scale and having it register less and less each week.
However, there are some things that I am losing that I am a little less than thrilled about...
I am losing my Fancy Pants.
Call them what you will, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Come on, you know the ones...maybe they're your favorite sweat pants, favorite pajama bottoms...or, like me, your favorite "dress up" pants. They are the pants that are your "go-to" pants...the ones that you can dress up and go to formal evening out, or pair them with the perfect top and you've got a great go-to-school-event pair of pants. These are the pants that I wear when I know I'm going to see my mother (and I want to look really put together), and they are the pants that I put on when I'm going out to an evening charity event. They're the pants I can put a twin-set on with, throw on some pearls, and I have the perfect "Ladies Who Lunch" outfit. I know how they fit, I know they look good, and frankly, I know that they hide what they are supposed to!
(Sigh)
They are, as Sarah Kate put it, my "Fancy Pants." (As in, "Don't worry Mommy. I know exactly what you mean. You're going to just have to go find some new Fancy Pants.") This conversation took place when I put my pants on yesterday to go to brunch and the theater (for my birthday Ron took me, Libby, Sam and Libby's friend to see Shrek: The Musical) and I realized: my pants are getting big. Like, really big. Like, you could probably have fit a few programs, a lipstick and my mid-afternoon snack in my pants with me.
The good news is, I probably have a week or so left in my Fancy Pants. The bad news is: my niece's graduation from high school is in two weeks, and I am going to have to get a new pair of pants. (Or, --gasp!-- a dress or maybe even a skirt...) For those of you who have never struggled with your weight, I am sure that at this point you're thinking, "....aaaannndd?" But for me, this is a big deal. First, shopping for clothing (especially for pants!!) is NOT my favorite thing to do (oh, all right: shopping for anything to cover my hindquarters has rarely been anything other than a chore). It usually consists of me pulling two sizes of pants in the dressing room, and ending up buying the larger size. That is not fun, nor does it make me want to run out and go shopping.
But, there's just no getting around it this time. My niece's graduation is nigh...and not only is it a major occasion for my family (one reason to pull out the Fancy Pants) but my parents will also be there...and I don't think that they've seen me in anything BUT my Fancy Pants for formal occasions in...well, probably a few years...So it is going to be important to look good. I am of the school of thought, however, that one looks one's best when one feels good/confident...and I'm worried I'm really going to miss my Fancy Pants!
Let's be real here for a moment, though - I knew when I began this journey that eventually I would have to say goodbye to my beloved Fancy Pants...If I started making healthy choices and exercising and just doing the "right thing", then losing inches and pounds would be one of the better perks of this new lifestyle. I just don't think I realized how attached I'd become to my Fancy Pants...or how hard it would be to say goodbye. But this journey is all about goodbyes...and hellos! And that's how it goes, folks...out with the old, in with the new. New habits, new foods...new Fancy Pants.
And that, my friends, is a good thing. A very good thing.
My body has finally gotten the message and has finally begun to shed this excess weight in earnest...I won't lie: it is very nice getting on the scale and having it register less and less each week.
However, there are some things that I am losing that I am a little less than thrilled about...
I am losing my Fancy Pants.
Call them what you will, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Come on, you know the ones...maybe they're your favorite sweat pants, favorite pajama bottoms...or, like me, your favorite "dress up" pants. They are the pants that are your "go-to" pants...the ones that you can dress up and go to formal evening out, or pair them with the perfect top and you've got a great go-to-school-event pair of pants. These are the pants that I wear when I know I'm going to see my mother (and I want to look really put together), and they are the pants that I put on when I'm going out to an evening charity event. They're the pants I can put a twin-set on with, throw on some pearls, and I have the perfect "Ladies Who Lunch" outfit. I know how they fit, I know they look good, and frankly, I know that they hide what they are supposed to!
(Sigh)
They are, as Sarah Kate put it, my "Fancy Pants." (As in, "Don't worry Mommy. I know exactly what you mean. You're going to just have to go find some new Fancy Pants.") This conversation took place when I put my pants on yesterday to go to brunch and the theater (for my birthday Ron took me, Libby, Sam and Libby's friend to see Shrek: The Musical) and I realized: my pants are getting big. Like, really big. Like, you could probably have fit a few programs, a lipstick and my mid-afternoon snack in my pants with me.
The good news is, I probably have a week or so left in my Fancy Pants. The bad news is: my niece's graduation from high school is in two weeks, and I am going to have to get a new pair of pants. (Or, --gasp!-- a dress or maybe even a skirt...) For those of you who have never struggled with your weight, I am sure that at this point you're thinking, "....aaaannndd?" But for me, this is a big deal. First, shopping for clothing (especially for pants!!) is NOT my favorite thing to do (oh, all right: shopping for anything to cover my hindquarters has rarely been anything other than a chore). It usually consists of me pulling two sizes of pants in the dressing room, and ending up buying the larger size. That is not fun, nor does it make me want to run out and go shopping.
But, there's just no getting around it this time. My niece's graduation is nigh...and not only is it a major occasion for my family (one reason to pull out the Fancy Pants) but my parents will also be there...and I don't think that they've seen me in anything BUT my Fancy Pants for formal occasions in...well, probably a few years...So it is going to be important to look good. I am of the school of thought, however, that one looks one's best when one feels good/confident...and I'm worried I'm really going to miss my Fancy Pants!
Let's be real here for a moment, though - I knew when I began this journey that eventually I would have to say goodbye to my beloved Fancy Pants...If I started making healthy choices and exercising and just doing the "right thing", then losing inches and pounds would be one of the better perks of this new lifestyle. I just don't think I realized how attached I'd become to my Fancy Pants...or how hard it would be to say goodbye. But this journey is all about goodbyes...and hellos! And that's how it goes, folks...out with the old, in with the new. New habits, new foods...new Fancy Pants.
And that, my friends, is a good thing. A very good thing.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Shake Your Booty...
As many of you know, I have been working closely with Dr. Ann Kulze in Charleston, South Carolina. "Dr. Ann" and I devised a plan to help me stay on track and to (finally!) shed these extra pounds (sometimes it feels like tons, I can't lie...) that I've been carrying around for the past 20+ years. I met with "Dr. Ann" for the first time back at the end of March, and since then, I have been emailing her my daily food journals that I keep every few weeks or so. She reviews them, and then she will call me and let me know areas where I can improve. So far, so good, I am happy to report. With the exception of a few tweaks here and there (add more protein, watch out for sushi rice), I have earned an "A+" with Dr. Ann.
In a recent conversation, Dr. Ann mentioned that she was particularly concerned that I might be over-exercising. After I stopped laughing and told her, "Dr. Ann, I don't think that OVER-exercising is EVER going to be a problem we have to worry about for me..." we did talk about how the only way that I am going to actually be able to finally shed this extra weight and move on to a happier, healthier me is through exercise. And that's just the bottom line, folks. I can eat all the right things, "do" all the right things, take all the right supplements and refuse to let any sweets into my house...but the fact of the matter is that unless I exercise every single day, then I will NEVER achieve the optimal health that I so long for. The good news is, that that information actually GOT IN. And it's not something that I didn't know, or even that I wasn't sure about. I have known for YEARS that the only way to truly achieve optimal health is through daily exercise. Of course, KNOWING that and DOING that are two entirely different things.
The funny thing is: I feel FANTASTIC after a workout -- truly! Not only am I so excited that I actually "did the right thing," but I am thrilled that it is one thing I can check off my "to-do" list for the day. (Oh, how I love, love, love that feeling!) It is not even that I don't enjoy working out...I actually do. What my problem usually is, is the GETTING TO THE GYM. I'm sure many of you can relate - I know that I need to go to the gym, but there is laundry/work/cleaning to attend to. And lately, the laundry/work/cleaning has been winning.
But not today!! Today I went and did my thing as "Box Tops Queen" (if you don't know what this is, believe me: you probably don't want to...for those of you that do, then you know I truly love it) at the children's school, and then I went home, changed my clothes and made it just in time for my Zumba class. And once I was there, guess what? I LOVED IT. Losing myself in the music, shaking my booty...truth be told: I'm pretty sure that for that hour, the rest of the world outside that room just melted away. And when the hour had passed (and I had burned 800 calories, thank-you-very-much), and it was time to return to the "real world," I actually felt like I was better prepared to deal with it.
All of this to say, I am going to make a point to remember tomorrow, when I have to get up and go do my exercise-thing, how great I felt right after class...heck: how great I feel right now! And then, my friends, I am going to go and shake my booty!!! And who knows? Maybe "Dr. Ann" will have to be concerned about my excessive Zumba-booty-shaking!!! You just never know...
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Do the Right Thing
Well, here I am, just sailing past the three month mark on this fantastic voyage toward better health that I've embarked on. Three months...wow! I have to tell you, I believe that I am still in the "honeymoon period," as I really have not struggled (yet!) with making healthier or better choices. It has been three months since I have had a diet soda, three months since I've had a (whole) cupcake...Dang! I am proud of myself (pats self on back)!
Now, with all of that said, I also feel like it wouldn't be correct to lead you to believe that there have not been Temptations along the way. There have, and sometimes they occur on a daily basis! The good news is, the way I feel right now and the way it feels to have a pair of pants actually slide up my legs without pausing feels way too good to even THINK about trading it in for a slice of that divine looking key lime pie that I saw the other day when I was out to lunch with Libby (yes, I know that's a run-on sentence, but trust me: that pie WAS divine looking, and enough to justify that run-on sentence!)
As we all know, sweets (cupcakes, cake, cookies, pie...pretty much anything you can BAKE) used to be my weakness. Ah, the smell of a bakery can make my toes curl even now!! Mmm mmm mm! But the simple fact is that I much prefer the way that I feel right now. It's true: edamame thrills me...kale calls me...no kidding! Bottom line is that I can't think of a single thing (truly) that I could put in my mouth that would even come close to making me feel as good as eating the right things do...I love that I wake up each morning feeling healthy and full of energy (man...that was a long time coming! I'm not giving that up without a fight, you can be sure!). It is a great feeling to know that for these past three months, I have (and am) doing the right thing.
Such a simple thought, when you think about it. Doing the right thing makes me feel good. And when you think about it, that really applies not only to doing the right thing when it comes to properly fueling my body so it can run at its best, but doing the right thing in general. Being kind, sharing, being thoughtful...all of these things are, when you get down to the nitty-gritty, really just doing the right thing. And I feel good when I do them, and when I behave in this way. And doing the right thing can be expressed in so many aspects of my life -- from extending a hand to someone who is not particularly outgoing, inviting her to be a part of whatever group it is that I am currently enjoying - be it at a cocktail party, a school event, or a ladies' lunch. It can also be taking a small gift over to someone who's having a bad day and making her laugh. It can even be making a batch of mint brownies for a dear friend who is sad, even when I have vowed never to make the dang things again... Here's the bottom line, folks: the truth is that when we do the right thing, we feel good, and when we feel good, it makes us want to do the right thing. Ah, what a lovely cycle!!!
So....what about you? Have you been doing the right thing lately? It's not really hard to do...and I can guarantee you, it'll make you feel better...it always does!
Now, with all of that said, I also feel like it wouldn't be correct to lead you to believe that there have not been Temptations along the way. There have, and sometimes they occur on a daily basis! The good news is, the way I feel right now and the way it feels to have a pair of pants actually slide up my legs without pausing feels way too good to even THINK about trading it in for a slice of that divine looking key lime pie that I saw the other day when I was out to lunch with Libby (yes, I know that's a run-on sentence, but trust me: that pie WAS divine looking, and enough to justify that run-on sentence!)
As we all know, sweets (cupcakes, cake, cookies, pie...pretty much anything you can BAKE) used to be my weakness. Ah, the smell of a bakery can make my toes curl even now!! Mmm mmm mm! But the simple fact is that I much prefer the way that I feel right now. It's true: edamame thrills me...kale calls me...no kidding! Bottom line is that I can't think of a single thing (truly) that I could put in my mouth that would even come close to making me feel as good as eating the right things do...I love that I wake up each morning feeling healthy and full of energy (man...that was a long time coming! I'm not giving that up without a fight, you can be sure!). It is a great feeling to know that for these past three months, I have (and am) doing the right thing.
Such a simple thought, when you think about it. Doing the right thing makes me feel good. And when you think about it, that really applies not only to doing the right thing when it comes to properly fueling my body so it can run at its best, but doing the right thing in general. Being kind, sharing, being thoughtful...all of these things are, when you get down to the nitty-gritty, really just doing the right thing. And I feel good when I do them, and when I behave in this way. And doing the right thing can be expressed in so many aspects of my life -- from extending a hand to someone who is not particularly outgoing, inviting her to be a part of whatever group it is that I am currently enjoying - be it at a cocktail party, a school event, or a ladies' lunch. It can also be taking a small gift over to someone who's having a bad day and making her laugh. It can even be making a batch of mint brownies for a dear friend who is sad, even when I have vowed never to make the dang things again... Here's the bottom line, folks: the truth is that when we do the right thing, we feel good, and when we feel good, it makes us want to do the right thing. Ah, what a lovely cycle!!!
So....what about you? Have you been doing the right thing lately? It's not really hard to do...and I can guarantee you, it'll make you feel better...it always does!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Waxing Poetic on a Salad...
For Easter this year, Ron, the children and I ventured up to the North Carolina mountains to spend the long weekend. To be completely honest, ever since I started this journey towards better health, I really don't like traveling. Whether it is because I am leaving my "comfort zone" of my own kitchen, where I know how and with what I am cooking things; or whether it is because I am faced with temptations on a daily basis when I am not in my "comfort zone," travelling has just not been as enjoyable as it used to be. (And don't even get me *started* on road trips...ugh!)
So it was with great delight that I found the PERFECT SALAD on Saturday afternoon. It was so perfect, I even had Ron take a picture of it! (See below) And yes, if you're wondering: our fellow diners DID look at me funny - but then again, it may just have been that they were wondering what I had ordered!
So it was with great delight that I found the PERFECT SALAD on Saturday afternoon. It was so perfect, I even had Ron take a picture of it! (See below) And yes, if you're wondering: our fellow diners DID look at me funny - but then again, it may just have been that they were wondering what I had ordered!
Just so we can give credit where credit is due, this is the "Chicken Mandarin Spinach Salad" from Cornucopia in Cashiers, NC...with the addition of avacado, which I requested that they add (shout out to "Dr. Ann," who has encouraged me to add avacado here and there & I finally did!)
I kid you not: from the perfectly seasoned (not salty!) grilled chicken breast to the succulent mandarin oranges...this salad was divine. And it was super healthy to boot! I'm not sure what made me happier: that I was enjoying a perfectly prepared salad, that I knew that it was spectacularly healthy for me, or that I was enjoying it on the porch of one of my favorite restaurants on a perfectly cloudless day with my loved ones...or all three! Really, what was not to love?
It has definitely been something of an awakening for me, in these past few months (yes: it has been a "few" months...crazy, eh?), to find out that things that I previously would not have touched with a ten-foot-pole (avacado! kale!), are actually some of the things that I enjoy the most. Case in point: last night, after we had returned home from our North Carolina adventure, I decided to bake some kale. I did it mostly for me, so I could definitively mark that I had returned home (kale, as we all know, is now a staple of my diet), and signal to my brain and taste buds that we were indeed back on home turf. So, I prepared two pans, and set them out to go in the oven. Suddenly, from the kitchen, I hear intense squabbling. Let's be honest here: I have three children in the 9 to 13 range, so squabbling is not unheard of around here. What WAS odd and noteworthy is this: what the children were squabbling about was who got to eat the last bit of kale!! My children were actually fighting over kale!! Ah...that really cracked me up! You know that you're doing at least one thing right with your children if they're fighting over who gets to eat the last bit of kale!!
It has been fascinating to me to see the gradual change of what I will choose to eat for enjoyment. Whereas I used to really enjoy eating a cookie or a cupcake, now I find myself looking forward to eating kale, or trying out a new recipe for asparagus...I have had doctors tell me in the past that if you "eat the right things, then you'll stop craving the wrong things," but I have never actually experienced it. I can tell you for a fact that if you had told me six months ago that I would be eating over 5 servings of fruits & vegetables a day with no difficulties on picking vegetables or worrying about how to fit them in my day, I would have laughed you out of the room! And yet here I sit, waxing poetic on the perfect salad... Who knew?!
But what these past three months have taught me, more than anything, is that it really is NOT about what you are eating, friends...it is not about finding the perfect salad (no matter how divine), or even about having the willpower to say no to that piece of perfectly fried chicken...what this journey IS about is this: being in the moment, enjoying the time with the ones you love and savoring those ordinary moments that in the big scheme of things, are quite extraordinary.
And that, my friends, is the sweetest, most perfect thing of all!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Invisible
As I continue to walk this path towards good health, sometimes I am surprised at the little things I learn along the way. Today was one such example...I was on the hunt for a new pair of pants. As things are, I have now lost enough inches that a new pair of pants is a must. (An aside: if you must know, if I had my way, I wouldn't buy a single new thing until I have reached my goal weight, but there was no way that I can wear my current (too big) pants out of town this weekend. So I went in search of a pair of pants!) I went into three separate shops, and in all three shops, I was consummately ignored. Truly - completely looked THROUGH. Like I was invisible. It irritated me, and here I sit at home, blogging about it...pantless! (Well, not quite...but more on that in a minute)...
What I thought was interesting, though, was that today, I wanted to be seen. It is rather similar to when I was first engaged to Ron, and I felt like EVERYONE must know...surely, they must see my ring, must see that I am glowing...surely they KNOW my good news! Or, even when I was pregnant (with all three, but I felt this most keenly with Libby, my first)...surely EVERYONE must know that I'm going to have a BABY! I am surely glowing...granted, my baby is approximately the size of a punctuation point, but surely everyone KNOWS! Today, I felt as though everyone should be able to tell that I have lost inches off my waist, inches off my tush...couldn't they TELL?!? Surely, it must SHOW!! Apparently...NOT!
And then I reflected back to those times, in the not-so-distant past, where I was hoping to be invisible. Hoping that I could just blend in....that no one would see me, no one would notice how big I had gotten. Maybe if I wore black, or if I wore a deeper hue, maybe if my accessories were *just right*...maybe people wouldn't notice that I was the biggest size I had ever been. I knew...but maybe no one else would notice. But people knew...most were too kind to say anything; or were so worried that they wanted to say something, to help in some way, but didn't know the "right way" to say something that would serve to help, to encourage, to motivate, without hurting my feelings... Although I may have wished it, I was never invisible.
In the movie Avatar, one of the main phrases in the Na'vi language is "I see you." It means not just, "I see you," but, "I see into you...I see who you ARE at your very core." I remember watching this movie with the children and Ron, and when the Na'Vi greeted each other in this way, my eyes filled with tears. It is such an expression of love. I see you, your whole self, and I love all of it....every single bit. As I was looking up what the proper phrasing was from Avatar, I came across an article that mentioned that the Indian greeting Namaste or Namaskar is of similar meaning. Ultimately, what it means to exchange this greeting is the acknowledgement of the Spark of the Divine in the other person. I tear up even as I type it now, because we, as humans, have such an organic longing --need-- to be seen, to be LOVED. And I am so very blessed to be seen...and to see.
So, to the sales ladies in the stores today who chose not to wait on me: That's okay...I came home and pulled out some pants that I have never worn (until today!) because I had bought them a while ago...Four years ago, to be exact! Ever hopeful that I would "soon" fit into them...well, I do today!! And the truth is, I don't need for those sales ladies to see me, because I am seen by those who matter...most importantly, by myself!!
And you know what? I see YOU too...
What I thought was interesting, though, was that today, I wanted to be seen. It is rather similar to when I was first engaged to Ron, and I felt like EVERYONE must know...surely, they must see my ring, must see that I am glowing...surely they KNOW my good news! Or, even when I was pregnant (with all three, but I felt this most keenly with Libby, my first)...surely EVERYONE must know that I'm going to have a BABY! I am surely glowing...granted, my baby is approximately the size of a punctuation point, but surely everyone KNOWS! Today, I felt as though everyone should be able to tell that I have lost inches off my waist, inches off my tush...couldn't they TELL?!? Surely, it must SHOW!! Apparently...NOT!
And then I reflected back to those times, in the not-so-distant past, where I was hoping to be invisible. Hoping that I could just blend in....that no one would see me, no one would notice how big I had gotten. Maybe if I wore black, or if I wore a deeper hue, maybe if my accessories were *just right*...maybe people wouldn't notice that I was the biggest size I had ever been. I knew...but maybe no one else would notice. But people knew...most were too kind to say anything; or were so worried that they wanted to say something, to help in some way, but didn't know the "right way" to say something that would serve to help, to encourage, to motivate, without hurting my feelings... Although I may have wished it, I was never invisible.
In the movie Avatar, one of the main phrases in the Na'vi language is "I see you." It means not just, "I see you," but, "I see into you...I see who you ARE at your very core." I remember watching this movie with the children and Ron, and when the Na'Vi greeted each other in this way, my eyes filled with tears. It is such an expression of love. I see you, your whole self, and I love all of it....every single bit. As I was looking up what the proper phrasing was from Avatar, I came across an article that mentioned that the Indian greeting Namaste or Namaskar is of similar meaning. Ultimately, what it means to exchange this greeting is the acknowledgement of the Spark of the Divine in the other person. I tear up even as I type it now, because we, as humans, have such an organic longing --need-- to be seen, to be LOVED. And I am so very blessed to be seen...and to see.
So, to the sales ladies in the stores today who chose not to wait on me: That's okay...I came home and pulled out some pants that I have never worn (until today!) because I had bought them a while ago...Four years ago, to be exact! Ever hopeful that I would "soon" fit into them...well, I do today!! And the truth is, I don't need for those sales ladies to see me, because I am seen by those who matter...most importantly, by myself!!
And you know what? I see YOU too...
Friday, April 15, 2011
Bothered, Bewildered & Bereft
The definition of the word "bereft" as found in the dictionary is the following:
be·reft/biˈreft/Adjective
be·reft/biˈreft/Adjective
1. Deprived of or lacking something, esp. a nonmaterial asset: "her room was stark and bereft of color".
2. (of a person) Lonely and abandoned, esp. through someone's death or departure
I know this because on Tuesday, I felt bereft all day long! I physically ached because I had received some bad news*, and my usual response to something such as this bad news is to go and immediately head out for something sweet. However, this time: due to the changes that I have chosen to implement into my lifestyle, I could not head out to my favorite cupcake shop and go pick up several goodies that would comfort me.
Of course, as we all know - I would not, in fact, be comforted by said goodies, no matter how pretty or perfectly iced the cupcakes were (and yes, cupcakes was my go-to I'm-so-bummed food), I would no sooner eat a bite than feel terrible for "failing" and comforting myself with food. But we're talking 25 or so years of comforting myself with food...it's not like a whole lot of thought was going into the process much anymore. It would kind of go like this:
Sad/mad/angry/ticked off = go to bakery + see pretty baked goods then I would bring them home and it was really more that I had them in the house than it was actually eating them.
Anyway, on Tuesday, all I wanted to do all day long was head out to my favorite bakery. It took every single molecule in my body to not follow that normal route. However, I did not. I have absolutely no desire to let one little bit of possible bad news ruin everything that I have worked so hard to achieve for the past 9+ (almost 10!) weeks. So I walked around all day long...bereft.
Bereft because I had eliminated my comfort; my go-to, make-me-feel-better-for-a-minute comfort. The good news is, I have lots of lovely, dear friends (some of them are even family) to support me and remind me that I really DIDN'T want that cupcake/cookie/piece of cake...and they were very patient and supportive all day in reminding me of my goals. (By the way: THANK YOU!)
Now, the next time I receive some disappointing or unpleasant news, I know that it will be easier to process the information in a positive way. And I hope, I surely do hope - that I won't feel bereft, because my cookies have "left the building."
What about you? Are you an "emotional eater"? What do you do when you are feeling blue? How do you cheer yourself up or comfort yourself?
*note: I am fortunate - my "bad news" was more unexpected than it was bad...everyone is okay and the moment has passed...everyone is fine & we are all good...no one worry...in my world "bad news" -- that which sends me running for the cakestand --could be that my favorite pair of shorts is in the laundry...
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Red Light Foods
Many moons ago, when I went to Weight Watchers meetings in Tallahassee (I think it was 1993...), our Leader talked about "Red Light Foods." These are those foods which, no matter what, you absolutely cannot resist. For the Leader, his "RLF" was Peanut Buster Parfaits from Dairy Queen. What makes me really remember this is that the Leader had lost over 150 pounds and had maintained it for YEARS; and yet, he still could not be anywhere in the vicinity of a Peanut Buster Parfait, or he would completely cave in and eat not just one, but three!! And yes, if you're wondering, it made me wonder what a Peanut Buster Parfait tasted like (I have still not had one to this day), but at the same time, I knew that wasn't something I'd ever try, because if this guy who I admired so much, couldn't resist...then I felt quite certain that I would probably crave a Peanut Buster Parfait every single day for the rest of my life, and really - I have enough temptations in my life as it is!!
Last Saturday, Ron and I took the three kids and we went and worked out at our local club. Afterwards, the girls and I went grocery shopping for the week. As we walked past the deli section of our grocery store, they had just put out new fried chicken. The smell was intoxicating! Both girls asked if they could get some & have it for lunch, and since I try to be a little more lenient with them on the weekends (I don't want to promote an environment of deprivation), I said "yes," they grabbed a container and we went to check out. When we got in the car, I made them put the fried chicken in the "far back" of the car - the smell was overwhelming...and I realized that fried chicken is apparently one of my "Red Light Foods," which surprised me, because I'm much more of a sweets-girl than a savory-girl...however, smelling and seeing that chicken made it quite clear: I could not (nor did I want to) be around fried chicken...Once we were home, I made the girls go to the far side of the house to sit and have their chicken...I didn't want it anywhere around me! I went on to have my regular lunch (I will not bore you with the details...) and was fine. But it really did serve as a great reminder that although you might be the most disciplined Queen of Willpower that ever existed, you are still going to have "Red Light Foods," and you never know what they might be!
What about you? Do you have anything that you absolutely cannot have in the house, or around you or else you'll just eat it?
Last Saturday, Ron and I took the three kids and we went and worked out at our local club. Afterwards, the girls and I went grocery shopping for the week. As we walked past the deli section of our grocery store, they had just put out new fried chicken. The smell was intoxicating! Both girls asked if they could get some & have it for lunch, and since I try to be a little more lenient with them on the weekends (I don't want to promote an environment of deprivation), I said "yes," they grabbed a container and we went to check out. When we got in the car, I made them put the fried chicken in the "far back" of the car - the smell was overwhelming...and I realized that fried chicken is apparently one of my "Red Light Foods," which surprised me, because I'm much more of a sweets-girl than a savory-girl...however, smelling and seeing that chicken made it quite clear: I could not (nor did I want to) be around fried chicken...Once we were home, I made the girls go to the far side of the house to sit and have their chicken...I didn't want it anywhere around me! I went on to have my regular lunch (I will not bore you with the details...) and was fine. But it really did serve as a great reminder that although you might be the most disciplined Queen of Willpower that ever existed, you are still going to have "Red Light Foods," and you never know what they might be!
What about you? Do you have anything that you absolutely cannot have in the house, or around you or else you'll just eat it?
Monday, April 11, 2011
Send Out the "Pod Patrol"
When I was a little girl, I used to watch a show called "The Creature Feature" with my Daddy. Oh, I loved those scary movies! And to this day, I still will stop whenever I hear Vincent Price's voice as a shiver runs down my spine (has anyone EVER had a more chilling voice?!) One of the movies that I loved the most was "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." You know, where the pods from outer space came in and were duplicating humans...of course, you didn't know if it was a "pod person" or the real person until it really mattered...and that was what was so scary about it! Now, in my little family, when someone is doing something that is completely out of character for them, I'll say to Ron, "Time to call out the "Pod Patrol"..." (get it?!) I had one such incident the other day, but the person we were calling the "Pod Patrol" out for was... ME!!!!
It was last Monday, and it was around 3:15pm. The kids weren't home from school yet, and we actually even had a few minutes before it was time to leave to go and pick them up. Ron was out & about, and I was enjoying the quiet of the house. Until...I called Ron and told him, "Well, so you don't send out the 'Pod Patrol' for me, I thought I'd call you & tell you what I'm about to do...I'm going to the GYM." This is important because I haven't EVER (nope: NEVER) been to the gym past 11am in the morning; and although there has been the odd foray (key word here being "odd") to the gym at night, that doesn't really work well with my schedule (trust me: I tried it a couple of weeks ago for a 6pm Zumba class...the next thing I knew: I was cleaning out the kitchen at 3am...I was just a little bit wired!). So the fact that I was heading out to the gym at 3pm was flat-out not normal behavior for me. But here's the truth: I really enjoy working out these days. Honest to goodness...no kidding.
Now, I know you're either (a) about to call the "Pod Patrol" on me if you're one of those friends that have known me a long time; or (b) thinking I'm pulling your leg...really: how does a person go from never going to the gym or even wanting to THINK about exercise to going to the gym and working out 5 days a week? Well, here's the truth: I AM going to achieve this goal, and shed this excess weight I've been carrying around with me for the last 25 years...and the ONLY way I'm going to do this is through exercise and eating right. So, I go. And when I go, I really enjoy it - because then, 45 minutes later, I'm DONE...finished with exercise for the day! And I know that I have done something that is really healthy for me and something that is going to help me to achieve my goal... so, really, no need to send the Patrol out...I'm good!
What about y'all? What changes have YOU made lately that might make your family want to send out the "Pod Patrol" for you?
It was last Monday, and it was around 3:15pm. The kids weren't home from school yet, and we actually even had a few minutes before it was time to leave to go and pick them up. Ron was out & about, and I was enjoying the quiet of the house. Until...I called Ron and told him, "Well, so you don't send out the 'Pod Patrol' for me, I thought I'd call you & tell you what I'm about to do...I'm going to the GYM." This is important because I haven't EVER (nope: NEVER) been to the gym past 11am in the morning; and although there has been the odd foray (key word here being "odd") to the gym at night, that doesn't really work well with my schedule (trust me: I tried it a couple of weeks ago for a 6pm Zumba class...the next thing I knew: I was cleaning out the kitchen at 3am...I was just a little bit wired!). So the fact that I was heading out to the gym at 3pm was flat-out not normal behavior for me. But here's the truth: I really enjoy working out these days. Honest to goodness...no kidding.
Now, I know you're either (a) about to call the "Pod Patrol" on me if you're one of those friends that have known me a long time; or (b) thinking I'm pulling your leg...really: how does a person go from never going to the gym or even wanting to THINK about exercise to going to the gym and working out 5 days a week? Well, here's the truth: I AM going to achieve this goal, and shed this excess weight I've been carrying around with me for the last 25 years...and the ONLY way I'm going to do this is through exercise and eating right. So, I go. And when I go, I really enjoy it - because then, 45 minutes later, I'm DONE...finished with exercise for the day! And I know that I have done something that is really healthy for me and something that is going to help me to achieve my goal... so, really, no need to send the Patrol out...I'm good!
What about y'all? What changes have YOU made lately that might make your family want to send out the "Pod Patrol" for you?
Savor It!
Every morning, when my son and his fellow 3rd grade classmates enter their classrooms, their teachers greet them at the door to their classroom with this sentiment, "Make the most of today, because today is the ONLY Monday (or Tuesday or Wednesday...you get it...), April 11th, 2011 that you will EVER have." It is meant to inspire the children to do their best, to put out their best work and to go ahead and raise that hand and offer that answer...because we shall not pass this way again.
I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Savoring the day. Savoring the moment. Mostly because I have determined with the changes that I've made in my life lately, I shall NOT pass this way again. Never again will I be a size -- (nope: not ready to be THAT open here!)...never again will I weigh in the 200's again...I have determined that I am going to "leave this place" where I currently am today...(sidebar: right now that scale is moving down on a daily basis...I do actually realize that this will not happen every day; and I do realize that I shall have to deal with that when it does happen...for now, I'm savoring every bit of this "honeymoon" period!) and I shall not return here. I believe that through changing my eating habits -- it's called "eating clean" -- and increasing my activity level, I will be able to finally shed this excess weight, and leave it behind me. I also believe that I will be able to maintain my weight loss once I achieve it. I do not expect that it will be easy, mind you - I actually keep waiting for it to get hard or difficult...it has not...yet...
So, I leave you with this...make the most of today, my friends...because today IS the ONLY Monday, April 11th, 2011 that we will ever have. Ever. So go out and make it a great one!!!
P.S. This particular April 11th is very special for me, by the way, as my beautiful niece turns 18 years old today...although I can't quite figure out how SHE is 18 years old when I feel like I still am!! Happy birthday to my niece!!!
I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Savoring the day. Savoring the moment. Mostly because I have determined with the changes that I've made in my life lately, I shall NOT pass this way again. Never again will I be a size -- (nope: not ready to be THAT open here!)...never again will I weigh in the 200's again...I have determined that I am going to "leave this place" where I currently am today...(sidebar: right now that scale is moving down on a daily basis...I do actually realize that this will not happen every day; and I do realize that I shall have to deal with that when it does happen...for now, I'm savoring every bit of this "honeymoon" period!) and I shall not return here. I believe that through changing my eating habits -- it's called "eating clean" -- and increasing my activity level, I will be able to finally shed this excess weight, and leave it behind me. I also believe that I will be able to maintain my weight loss once I achieve it. I do not expect that it will be easy, mind you - I actually keep waiting for it to get hard or difficult...it has not...yet...
So, I leave you with this...make the most of today, my friends...because today IS the ONLY Monday, April 11th, 2011 that we will ever have. Ever. So go out and make it a great one!!!
P.S. This particular April 11th is very special for me, by the way, as my beautiful niece turns 18 years old today...although I can't quite figure out how SHE is 18 years old when I feel like I still am!! Happy birthday to my niece!!!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
The Sweet Life
So, as mentioned, a couple of months ago, I had a health scare. Not to bore anyone with the details, but bottom line is that it actually ended with me in the ER, having a full-on panic attack which caused my blood pressure to sky-rocket.
Now, with a couple of months' perspective on the incident, I realize that I probably brought the panic attack onto myself because I knew that my eating habits and lack of physical activity were not healthy. I can also tell you now that although I knew I was not making healthy choices, I also don't think I really knew how to stop making the poor choices and begin making good choices. I, as so many of us have, have gained and lost hundreds of pounds over the course of my lifetime...and I have to say, I do think it is a shame that it took such a major incident in my life to make me change paths...however, I am so thankful that it did! Because no sooner had I been released from the hospital (they kept me overnight) than I immediately began making healthier choices and I began walking this path to a healthier me. I am so fortunate to find myself surrounded with wonderful friends and family who shared their knowledge with me on making better choices on food and physical activity...and as the time has progressed, I have very consciously and deliberately continued to build a community of individuals who can support & guide me on this path to optimal health...and who will hopefully stick with me so that I can then maintain said health!
However, here's what I really want to share: as I was laying there, in that ER, I really thought that something was terribly wrong with me...and I couldn't get past the thought that I might not see my precious babies or Ron ever again...and here's what got me (note: this is my "a-ha moment" in a nutshell)... The only reason that I was laying in that Emergency Room was because of what I had put in my mouth for the past 20+ years...Seriously?! Seriously! And, really: what on earth could or would taste as good as me seeing my precious children grow up and raise families of their own...what on earth could taste as good as me being allowed the privilege of growing old with Ron? And the resounding, undeniable answer: NOTHING. Not a darn thing. And that was it - It was almost like an audible click. From that minute on, I truly have not had any desire to eat or put anything in my body that is not healthy. There is no trick to it...and I'm certainly not the Queen of Willpower...far from it! It was just that, for me, in that moment, I had finally found something that mattered more to me than that delicious first bite of a warm, homemade chocolate chip cookie fresh from the oven: MY FAMILY.
But, with all that said, I also want to clarify: for the first time in my life, I am NOT losing this weight for my family. Not for my children, my husband or my other family. I am losing this weight for ME. For ME, because I want to see my three children grow into the fine, upstanding individuals that I know I am raising. I want to meet those sweet grand-babies that I just know I'm meant to meet one day...and I want to enjoy this beautiful, sweet life that I have been so blessed with.
So, here's to the sweet life...and to the things in this life that make it so.
What about you...what are the sweet things in YOUR life?
Now, with a couple of months' perspective on the incident, I realize that I probably brought the panic attack onto myself because I knew that my eating habits and lack of physical activity were not healthy. I can also tell you now that although I knew I was not making healthy choices, I also don't think I really knew how to stop making the poor choices and begin making good choices. I, as so many of us have, have gained and lost hundreds of pounds over the course of my lifetime...and I have to say, I do think it is a shame that it took such a major incident in my life to make me change paths...however, I am so thankful that it did! Because no sooner had I been released from the hospital (they kept me overnight) than I immediately began making healthier choices and I began walking this path to a healthier me. I am so fortunate to find myself surrounded with wonderful friends and family who shared their knowledge with me on making better choices on food and physical activity...and as the time has progressed, I have very consciously and deliberately continued to build a community of individuals who can support & guide me on this path to optimal health...and who will hopefully stick with me so that I can then maintain said health!
However, here's what I really want to share: as I was laying there, in that ER, I really thought that something was terribly wrong with me...and I couldn't get past the thought that I might not see my precious babies or Ron ever again...and here's what got me (note: this is my "a-ha moment" in a nutshell)... The only reason that I was laying in that Emergency Room was because of what I had put in my mouth for the past 20+ years...Seriously?! Seriously! And, really: what on earth could or would taste as good as me seeing my precious children grow up and raise families of their own...what on earth could taste as good as me being allowed the privilege of growing old with Ron? And the resounding, undeniable answer: NOTHING. Not a darn thing. And that was it - It was almost like an audible click. From that minute on, I truly have not had any desire to eat or put anything in my body that is not healthy. There is no trick to it...and I'm certainly not the Queen of Willpower...far from it! It was just that, for me, in that moment, I had finally found something that mattered more to me than that delicious first bite of a warm, homemade chocolate chip cookie fresh from the oven: MY FAMILY.
But, with all that said, I also want to clarify: for the first time in my life, I am NOT losing this weight for my family. Not for my children, my husband or my other family. I am losing this weight for ME. For ME, because I want to see my three children grow into the fine, upstanding individuals that I know I am raising. I want to meet those sweet grand-babies that I just know I'm meant to meet one day...and I want to enjoy this beautiful, sweet life that I have been so blessed with.
So, here's to the sweet life...and to the things in this life that make it so.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)