A Week of Challenges

My before picture January 2008 and When I reached

my first goal of 30 lbs in March 2008

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

I keep these pictures in my handbag. Sometimes I need a little reminder. This has been a hard week and today is only Wednesday. My thoughts keep going to foods I really miss. Some say have a little but I know me and a little would not be enough. Living Leans meals are really great but I am not going to lie to you all. I crave mashed potatoes and warm bread and white rice with butter and lasagna with real cheese. I would love to have a crispy piece of fried chicken with mac and cheese. I am having moments of weakness and it is really hard to resist. I would love to sit down to a bowl of butter pecan ice cream. I have shared all the successes and the encouragements with you but you need to know that I am only human and the temptations are still there. I do a lot of praying and Philippians 4:13 is one verse that I depend upon!!!!

So it is an on going battle with the "old" Faith to mold and shape the "new" Faith. It is a struggle at times but I try to think of the wonderful benefits in the long run! Better health, fewer or no medications, more energy, shopping in regular stores instead of plus-size stores, breathing better, etc!!!

This healthy living is an adventure but there are the struggles and temptations some cross roads and bumps in the road. This week the lights are all on caution and I have to pay close attention to the journey. I know there will be green lights ahead. Thanks for traveling with me on this journey. Faith

Overcoming Obstacles

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13 KJB
I just thought I would share with you an obstacle that came up this week. I had a little dizziness and nausea the last couple of times I worked out every time I would bend over. I could not figure what was wrong. Of course my first thought was "Oh, I am not eating enough for breakfast before I work out!" Yeah right!! I eat just what I should! Any excuse to eat! It is unreal at how I have become dependant on food to solve things. That is going to change!! Anyway, on 4/23 I realized, after a terrible bout of nausea and dizziness, that I needed to check this out with the doctor. I did and I have a touch of vertigo. Of course, you cannot work out with vertigo of any nature! But I knew if I missed a workout it would be even easier to miss the next time I have an excuse.

I called Gloria and asked if we could do a moderate workout on Friday and told her why. She agreed and at 6:40 AM I was at the gym. I did a shorter cardio (22 minutes) and the workout was just right. I still got a good workout and cardio even though I did not feel 100%. Gloria is great!!! I felt real good about the fact that I did not let myself talk me out of going to the gym.

Thanks for joining me on my healthy living adventure. I would love to here from you.
Faith

Doctor Visits are Important

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13 KJB
One of the regular stops on this journey to healthy living is doctor appointments. If you have any health concerns at all you need to see your doctor on a regular basis. I usually go every three months because of the diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol and asthma. Most everything is taken care of by my family physician but I do have specialists. Since I take allergy shot I make a yearly trip to the Allergy Clinic. I also see a podiatrists for my feet and the eye doctor because diabetes can have bad effects on the legs, feet and eyes. But my family doctor is great and he takes cares of most everything. My blood pressure and cholesterol are great and under control as is my asthma (most of the time). Since beginning my exercise program my diabetes is so much better. Late Sept-Oct 07 I had a really bad case of bronchitis and had to take steroids. This really threw my blood sugar number all out of whack!!! In January my A1C was well over 7 and it should be below 6.5. Everything affects your blood sugars if you are diabetic. Stress, the food you eat, sickness etc. can change the blood sugar readings and sometimes drastically. Since working out with Gloria and eating Living Lean meals my before and after meals sugar readings are super!! I went to the doctor last week and my A1C was 6.1!!! I talked to the doctor and we are striving for a reduction in medication and hoping to eventually eliminate some of the meds. That is one of my major goals: to lessen or eliminate the meds!

I feel so much better and have so much more energy. I am ready for my 5 AM wake up call every morning and I get so much more done each day. I hope my "blogs" are a help to you who read them. Your comments are welcomed. Thank you for following along with me on my journey to healthy living!!

Sweet Success

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13 KJB
Well today was the day!! Yes today was weigh-in day. I was a little anxious this morning about weighing in. Celebrating my birthday this week, even though I was very careful of what I ate, was a bit of a challenge. I also remind myself that I am working toward a 25 lb goal by June 16th.

I stepped on the scales and closed my eyes. Gloria was down on her knees in order to read the scale exactly and…….310 was the announcement!!!!! I have lost 8 more pounds!!! I was in shock. It was worth every minute I spent in planning and preparing for the upcoming birthday event. I have lost a total of 41 pounds. 11 of the 25 pounds I am planning on losing before June 16th!!! Oh yes, and that positive support I mentioned, well everyone at the gym cheered! I am so blessed!

For me that is the only way to overcome the temptations. Yes I am still tempted. Mention getting together with friends and my first thought is the food that will be in my reach. I am serious. When you eat without a thought to what you are eating for so many years or diet in deprivation for so many years—an opportunity to eat sets off bells of joy. BUT!!! Now I take a step back think of where we are planning to eat or what food will be there and set to making a plan of my own. If I can I take my Living Lean meal with me (such as at a church fellowship) or I get a menu ahead of time and plan what I will order. If I order an entrée I plan to take ½ of it home. I never eat everything on the plate. It was suggested to me to order an appetizer for my meal which is a really good idea if a healthy one is available. Once my plan is in place I switch my thoughts from the food to the fellowship with family and/or friends. I am trying to change my mindset that gatherings, however large or small, are about the people I will be with and not the food we are going to eat!!!

The challenges are not over. My husband wanted to take me out to eat for my birthday this week. We decided to wait until after I weighed in today. He wants to go to Olive Garden. Not to celebrate my weight loss with a meal--heaven forbid!! Olive Garden has a great soup and salad menu and I will not eat the breadsticks!! In the coming months I will be taking my mother on a shopping trip and lunch for her birthday with my sister, I have birthday celebrations and cookouts at work and with family, Anniversary Sunday at church (and we all know what good cooks there are at church), my husband's birthday, etc. So you cannot stop living and enjoying friends and family you just need to plan and live healthy!!!

Thanks for “tuning in” to my adventure in healthy living!!!

Faith

Surround Yourself with Positive Supporters

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13 KJB
Have you even made a decision to eat healthy and it seems that everyone around you offers you food or wants to go out to eat? Few people are as blessed as I am to have a great support system around them. My husband, Don, is the best!! He supports me in whatever I endeavor to do. In our 36 years of marriage he has been there for me through every diet possible. He is always encouraging. He has watched me struggle to lose weight and then he watched me put it right back on. But never has he once criticized me. God really blessed me with a husband who loves and supports me. Whenever I would go on a “diet” he ate whatever I ate (just more of it). He never complained. Now he realizes that what I am doing is not a “diet.” It is a life style change. He always has encouraging words for me and is there for me 100%.

Now most of us spend one third of our day at work. If you eat three small meals and three snacks a day as I do, two snacks and a meal are eaten at work. Where I work this is no problem. I usually have yogurt with ½ cup of low fat cottage cheese in it for my 10 AM snack or a Living Lean protein pudding. I have a Living Lean meal at lunch and then about 3 PM I have some fruit or nuts (almonds) or protein pudding. Everyone, including the CEO, President, Agents and staff knows that I have joined the gym and that I am trying to achieve a healthy life style. Everyone has been supportive and encouraging. My "work family" is very important in my life!

One other source of encouragement and prayer, other than my husband and co-workers, is my church family. Not everyone knows what changes I have made but many have had words of support and encouragement when they notice my weight lose. I know that I could never do this without the Lord’s help and the prayers and encouragement of those around me.

Surrounding yourself with encouraging and supportive people is not always easy and many times we have to contend with those who are negative and discouraging. That is why it is so important to begin any healthy living program with the determination that you are doing this for yourself. Sometimes it is hard and this may be a time when you discover who your real friends are and who it is that really cares for you!! If you have started a healthy living program I would love to hear from you. Share your hurdles and struggles with me. Believe me there is nothing concerning weight lose that I have not been through and will not understand.


Thanks for “tuning in” to my healthy living adventure,
Faith

Surviving a Birthday

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13
April 14th was my birthday and of course birthdays are to be celebrated. However I wanted to stay on the right track. My co-workers ordered a Ham, Cheese and Egg Casserole from Living Lean Meals (I have this for breakfast every morning) and brought fruit, veggies and low fat dip and cheese and crackers to celebrate at the office. I was taken to lunch, my choice, and we went to Ruby Tuesdays. They have the best salad bar and I ordered mini burgers. Of course the burgers come with fries but I leave the fries and one mini burger to take home to my husband. One mini burger and a salad is plenty for lunch. My husband has postponed our celebration until after my weight-in and measuring on Friday April 18th. SO all in all I think I survived really well. Planning is the key to any hurdle when trying to eat healthy and live a healthy life style. In May my church has its annual Anniversary Sunday. Food is spread across table as far as you can see. That will be my next food challenge. I will let you know how I do of course!!!

Another important part of making life changes is to remember that you are doing this for you!! No one else is going to workout for you or eat the right foods for you or do your cardio. You have to take care of you!!! A real blessing is good supporters and I truly have that. This is the topic of my next blog.

Thanks for "tuning in" to my adventure in healthy living!!
Faith

Setting Goals

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13 KJB
I am a firm believer in setting goals. With so much weight to loose I set smaller goals. As you know my first was 30 pounds by April 14, 2008. My next goal is to get my weight below 300 pounds. So with the help of Gloria and some fellow gymsters I set my next goal for 25 pounds by June 16th. 25 - 30 pounds at a time is a reasonable goal. I do not want to set the goal so high that it is not achievable.

Today was a weigh-in day. I was a little anxious after going on a short vacation last weekend. On my trip to Oak Island I was very conscious of how much I ate. I was somewhat cautious of what I ate but more importantly the amountof food I ate. Food portioning is my main problem. I know what to eat, the healthy and unhealthy, but portion size is another story. Believe me when you do 30 minutes cardio at the gym and only use up 150-200 calories you become aware of every mouthful. Before Living Lean Meals I wrote down everything I ate but with Living Lean that is not necessary. Oh yes!! my weigh-in--I lost three more pounds!!!!!

Next week my challenge is MY BIRTHDAY!!!

Overcoming Challenges

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13 KJB
After my weight gain I really had to concentrate on not having a pity party and to just move on. Gloria decided to weigh again the next Friday. I stayed on my eating program and worked out with her and went in on Friday March 7th scared to death to step on those scales!! I did and waited for the verdict. You see I cannot see the scales standing straight. I stood there and it seemed forever before Gloria anounced that I had lost 7 pounds!!!!!! Oh yes I now weighed 322!! Just one pound from my goal!! I was so excited I could not contain myself and had to do a little victory dance!!

Just one more pound and it was only March 7th over a month from the date I set of April 14th. I wanted so much to reach that goal before the 14th of April. AND I DID!!! On March 21st I weighed in at 321!! I have also lost a total of 23 inches!! I feel so much better!! I get out of the bed in the mornings ready for the day. It is amazing how the extra pounds hinder so many activities!! My blood sugars are great--down 30-40 points! My asthma is better, my blood pressures are better, my back no longer hurts and my feet and legs do not hurt.

So now you are up to date with my progress.

A Bump in the Road

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13 KJB
As I continue on this road to healthy living all is going great. I enjoy the Living Lean Meals and the variety of dishes from week to week is wonderful. I have a delicious Ham, Cheese and Egg casserole for breakfast every morning because that is my favorite breakfast but there is also several kinds of quiche and blueberry pancakes and turkey bacon and so on. Living Lean offers BBQ chicken, enchiladas, wraps and chicken salad and Tilapia; I could go on and on. The servings size of the weight loss meals is just right. My favorite is Protein Puddings. These are for snacks and the butterscotch is delicious. So the food part of my program is well taken care of.

I do not have to talk myself into going to the gym; I actually look forward to going now!! Gloria is the best trainer and she knows exactly what I need! The workouts are always different, rather we do legs or arms, I like the variety. I also do 30 minutes of cardio before I workout to get that heart rate up. So now the gym is a part of my weekly routine, three days a week! I also have a elliptical bike at home for days I do not go to the gym.

Oh yes, the bump in the road. Well I weighed-in on February 29 and to my surprise I gained!!! a pound. I will not lie, I was crushed!! I was almost in tears but Gloria came to the rescue and told me not to dwell on the gain but to start each day anew. I really was disappointed and had to talk myself into not getting down over this gain. The first thing I thought was to go out for lunch and eat whatever I wanted. I really prayed for the Lord to help me over this bump.

First Crossroads

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13 KJB
My first weigh-in was on January 18th and boy was it an awakening. I had no idea I weighed so much. I weighed-in at 351 pounds. This is not an easy thing for me to share with all of you but this is where I started!! Gloria also measured me and had a hard time reaching around the bulk of my body!! I was so embarrassed and her encouraging words were a comfort! It took me a long time to get up the courage to tell all of your the following little tidbit of info---the measuring tape would not go around my hips!! Well, I knew that I was in the right place to make some much needed changes in my life. I set a goal of 30 pounds by my birthday on April 14th.

My next weigh-in was on February 1st. In 2 weeks I had lost 15 pounds. My weight was 336. Now I know that you lose "water weight" at first but I did not care!! I lost 15 pounds!!!!! I was halfway to my goal!! I could not wait to weigh-in again. On February 15th I weighed again and lost 8 more pounds. I had been going to the gym for one month. It was hard work and I was sore all the time but it was worth it. The Living Lean meals were really delicious and so convenient. I now weighed 23 pounds less and had only 7 pounds until I reached my first goal!!!

Mile two!

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" Philippians 4:13 KJB
As I began my journey to a healthier life, obviously, I was really out of shape. I never squatted to do anything much less sat in the floor because it was too hard to get up. Well, not only did Gloria have me sitting in the floor but she also had me sitting in the floor in front of exercise equipment I just knew I could not use, and using it. My first really scary moment was when she asked me to sit on a large exercise ball. I just knew the ball would burst under my body weight. I managed to sit on the ball then she asked me to roll the ball up my back until I was laying on the ball. I thought this women is crazy!!! But I did it and now that is my favorite way to do crunches.

Soon after joining the gym Gloria introduced me to Living Lean Meals. These are great. "Formulated" with the right combination of protein, complex carbs and veggies!! They are so convenient and really promote portion control which has always been my biggest problem next to not exercising. I eat Living Lean weight loss portioned meals three times a day. Gloria and Body Dimensions along with L & L Catering's Living Lean Meals have me on the right track. An exercise program and a healthy eating plan go hand in hand and are the answer to being healthy and fit.