A Calm Walk

This morning, I woke up later that I anticipated. I rushed to put on my Race for the Cure t-shirt t I rhat I picked up yesterday in the rain. I skipped breakfast because I definitely wanted to be on the interstate at 7:30am. When I got on the interstate,there was a wreck that held up traffic. So I took an alternate route. I got there!!! Yeah, but I was so far in the back that I didn't know when the race had started. I decided to walk the race. I decided at the starting line that I would walk it since I will be starting my marathon training next week. I really just wanted to enjoy the walk and watch the people bonding together to find a cure for breast cancer. Because today is Halloween, a lot of walker and runners had on costumes. I enjoyed the scenery of Germantown, TN. This was a great 3.1 mile walk and I look forward to participating next year.

Race for the Cure and other stuff

I had a few things on my mind today. The race for the cure is here. Saturday, I will complete my second 5k since the beginning of my journey..... The race for the cure. I feel a little unprepared since I had to take so much time off because of my ankle. I feel like I will be able to complete this race since I have been exercising everyday.  I also had my son on my mind .Today is my son's second birthday. We had a party for him on Saturday, he took cookies to his classmates today and we ate a IHOP to celebrate. What a lucky little boy. I was lucky to get a cake on my birthday when I was coming up.

The one thing I didn't have on my mind was the anxiety from the scale as I weighed in today at my weight management meeting. I lost the 2lbs that I gained last week. I was very happy about that. Now I can see my goal weight. I am so close---I can almost taste it. It seems as though the closer I get the harder it is to stay on track. I have started to find ways to cheat and sneak. But I know that this is a spiritual war that manifests in the physical as do all spiritual things.  I have to keep making my Spirit man stronger so that I'll be able to keep going forever.

A Birthday Party for Buggie

Yesterday was great! Our family celebrated my son's second birthday at the Children's Museum of Memphis. We had a Thomas & Friends theme. He loved everything. He also enjoyed the exhibits at the museum.
I also had my own eye opening experience at the birthday party. Weight loss compliments. It felt so good to hear the compliments of my family members. "You look great","Wow, you've lost a lot of weight". My sister said that I even looked younger. My brother said that I look like I did in high school. Just when I was feeling a little down about my setbacks, these compliments lifted my spirits and opened my eyes to my success. Well, I am off to get ready for church. I will write later.

Team in Training for Leukemia and Lymphoma

Thursday night, I went to an information meeting for the LLS Team in Training program. This program is designed to train individuals or groups of individuals to walk/run/bike marathons, 1/2 marathons and triatholons. Participants are required to raise $2,000 to full participate in the program. I am very excited about the training, but a little nervous about asking people for money. I think that people will support this cause.
We also get to run in someones honor. I have been thinking about it for a couple days. When I go back to work on monday, I will fax the entry form to the director. Soooo, don't be alarmed when I ask you to donate.

Recommittment

This week was great. I had a few set backs in my eating due to family outings. I will just jump back on the horse like I always do. I can never give up.

I had to go to my weight management meeting at a different time because my son got sick at my normal time. The other meeting was good, but I can't commit to that time because of my desire to be with my son in the evenings. The instructor talked about recommitment. She stated that weight loss is "recommitting"every day. That's what you have to do. Recommit to being the best you can be. She also talked about wanting a healthy life so bad that you are willing to change....... even when it is hard to make changes.... even when it is uncomfortable to say...NO.

What a great refresher! I know all of these things. I have heard them. I've said them. But at this point in my healthy life, it was great to hear these things again.

Today, at the half

Everyday is  a new day. A new day! A new day! The past doe not matter. Tomorrow is too far away, but today is easy to manage. I can see it. I can touch it. Today is here. One second-one minute-one hour at a time. This realization is what has given me the keys to be successful at changing my whole life. Every challenge can be overcome by taking it one second at a time, one minute at a time, one hour at a time, one day at a time, one week at a time knowing that God is by your side. Faithfulness, Self-Control and endurance is inside me. It has always been there.

Today, I weighed in with a 3 pound loss. I am at the halfway mark to my goal weight. At the half way mark, I am no longer overly concerned with how to keep the weight off. I am no longer afraid of gaining it back. I am in this to win. My days of  "trying" to lose weight and keep it off are over. I have reach the point of no return. It feels too good to be free. It feels too good to fill the voids of my life with God's love. That's all I was longing for-His love. I tried to replace His love with people pleasing, and sweet snacks, but God is what I was starving for.

Spill Over into Everything

I have noticed that since my transformation, spill over has occurred. My eyes have been open to the inconsistency in other areas in my life. (Since my focus has not been on finding the next sweet snack) I have become much more organized everyday. I procrastinate a lot less and everyday I get better at being more disciplined in not only my eating and working out, but my life in general. I have begun to attend church regularly. No longer is church an option, but a must. These are some of the new principals that I will begin applying in my life:

1. Devotional time with God daily (prayer and bible readings)
2. Exercise 5 consecutive mornings a week(cardio/strength training)
3. Do something outside myself (help others)
4. Plan everything that I do
5. Everything in its place.
6. DO IT NOW!!!
7. Spend specific time with myself, my husband, son, and our family as a whole.
8. Recite my positive quote and scripture daily.
9. Strive for Excellence, not perfection. Forgive myself and others
10. Be the best I can be at everything I do. Give 100%.

I have realized that inconsistency was probably a bigger problem for me than my eating habits. So I have been working on planning everything I do. I have used this principle to be successful in weight loss by planning every meal and every work out session. Now, I will plan every activity in my day for home and office and social events. This will help me to increase my consistency. I know this will help me. I have seen it work in my weight loss. Let's see it spill over........

Good News: My sister is now a license practical nurse (LPN). She is so excited. I am happy for her. She has a new energy and is excited about entering the work force.

Tuesday 10/06/2009

I completed the 24 hour cleanse. Not only was I able give my digestive system a rest, I also was able to think a little more clearly during those 24 hours. My husband, Fred, also completed the fast. I love when we do things to better ourselves together. I think he is just about to join me on this journey. Sometimes just being an example motivates people.

I had a 4 pound loss this week. Now, I am back on track for my goal for this month. This week in our weight management meeting we are to keep find ways to keep variety in our meals. I have been attempting to do this, but often I like to stay on the safe side. I enjoy not having to think too hard about what I am going to eat. I will try a new receipe this week. I am pretty good about including a new receipe every couple of weeks.

Last week, my exercise routine included the stationary bike and strength training. I was still able to lose weight with the changes. My ankle/achilles has experienced lots of relief.  Yesterday and today, I used the elliptical machine and strength training. Today, I even jogged for 2 minutes on the treadmill. I am slowly on my way back to jogging.

24 Hour Master Cleanse

I ate well today. Tomorrow, I will be completing a 24 hour master cleanse. I have been preparing my mind to do this. Completing this 24 hour cleanse will give my digestive system a rest and allow my organs to rid itself of toxins. For the next 24 hours. I will consume 10 to 12 10oz glasses of spring water mixed with the following ingredients: cayanne  pepper,  freshly squeezed lemon juice, Grade B maple syrup (found in an organic food store). At the end the day, I am to drink herbal cleansing tea. Wish me luck. I haven't been on a fast for over two years. I am also completing my schedules for next week for work outs and meals. I'll let you know how tomorrow goes.