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Introduction Text ***UPDATE 9/29/2009*** If you read my update below from 11/15/2008 you will see that in 8 months I had lost 60 lbs. Less than a year later, I have put back on 60 lbs. I have allowed stress and depression to overtake my positive lifestyle choices and I slid back in to my old way of eating and behaving and not exercising. I told myself when I first started on my lifestyle change that this was it, this was the last time I was going to lose the weight because this time I was going to keep it off - but here I am again, 5'3" and 196 lbs. Today I am here to remind myself that the changes that I make to lose the weight must be changes that I on to for the rest of my life, otherwise I will be here again. I am going to make the effort that instead of focusing on "I have gained the weight again" I will focus on "I will do what it takes, I will lose this weight, this time is the last time" ***UPDATED 11/15/2008*** Since Feb 20, 2008 I have lost over 60 lbs. I have not done it alone. I have done it with the help of God, His Strength and His Guidance, I have done it with the support of my family, I have done it with the help of SparkPeople - the people here who talk about their struggles, their journey, their triumphs. It has helped me so much as I have struggled and triumphed to know that I am not alone, I am not the only person with the feelings and experiences I have, there are many of us and we are not alone. I am proud of what I have accomplished and excited about what my goals are for what I will continue to accomplish. I am thankful to the Lord for helping me through, keeping me going and guiding me on my way to Live into His Will. I must continue to remind myself though - This IS for Life - I cannot be complacent, I must continue to move forward, if I am not moving forward, time will pass me by and I will end up moving backward. I must press on, I must continue, I will not stop, I will not give up. ********************************** (Original introduction) I keep reminding myself, this is not going to happen overnight, this is a process, but most importantly this is not a part time or temporary thing, these are permnant changes, this is my life... I have been thin and healthy. Ten years ago in my 20s I taught aerobics classes and lifted weights regularly and I was in great shape - I just didn't have the positive encouragement I needed in my life and I was making some unhealthy choices self medicating with drugs and alcohol. Now, I am overweight, not in good shape, but I have the most wonderful positive people in my life and I have been clean and sober for almost 9 years and it is time that I approach the rest of my life with the help of God the way I let him help me get sober. What a wonderful journey this will be - and it is not something that I can do now and then go back to my old habits, the habits that I am learning and adapting now are what must make my life from now on. With the help of God and the people He puts in my life for support, I know all things are possible! ********************************** "Sometimes getting in shape is like watching the grass grow - it really tests your patience. Don't EVER allow that to discourage you! Keep advancing confidently in the direction of your goals." -Tom Venuto ********************************** from www.phit-n-phat.com: "Stop waking up each morning thinking you are tired. Go to bed with purpose each night and wake up with desire to get things done. Don't lay there and mentally whine about your exhaustion. Honey, don't fool yourself. Every person who drags their tail out of bed to exercise is tired. The difference is they wake up focused on what they have to do and not focused on what they don't want to do." "Most people who have a tough time losing fat are the people who lose their calories in the details. They workout hard, make good choices most of the time, and still can't get the scale to budge. If this stuff rings true, think honestly about what success really is. It only takes a mere 200 calories a day of unplanned bites or oops moments to throw you into maintenance living." *********************************** from www.bodybuilding.com Author, Lisa Sutton "I wish I had a magic wand to get people in shape. It's not magic however, it's hard work on a consistent basis and time. Give yourself six months to one year to get some good and lasting results. You simply can't get in shape and then stop. This is a lifestyle, not a quick fix. Be patient. Life is going to pass you by whether or not you decide to exercise. Where do you want to be in six months? You can either get yourself started or continue to decline in your health and fitness. The choice is yours. Move it or lose it. " ********************************** “Consistent action, backed by a positive attitude and personal motivation, creates momentum that can’t be stopped.” I came across this sentence in an article I was reading and wanted to pass it along. I broke it down in my head and it goes with what I am trying to concentrate on personally so I thought it might be helpful for you too. “Consistent Action” – it is going to be daily and it won’t be overnight success, but if I can be consistent the results will come. “Positive attitude” – knowing that it may take awhile, but I will get there if I keep going, I believe in us! “Personal Motivation” – reading articles that encourage me, keeping myself positive and knowing that the changes I am making will create wonderful results, that’s helping my motivation. I want that “momentum that can’t be stopped” and I know you do too! One day at a time - making good choices every day, throughout the day, one day at a time, and holding myself accountable by writing down everything I eat and drink, and making sure that I do something daily that is physical that I haven’t been doing, I know that I can achieve my goals. Every time I have failed in the past has to just be a stepping stone for the success that is coming. ********************************** from www.bodybuilding.com Motivation is the most important part of any program. It's 90% mental and 10% physical. Your body doesn't decide to get off the couch and do your cardio, your brain does. ********************************** Continuous effort, not superior strength or intelligence, is the key to unlocking our true potential. ~Winston Churchill ********************************* From Oprah.com The Age of Miracles: The New Midlife Nancy; From The Oprah Winfrey Show "The Age of Miracles: The New Midlife" Nancy, a 66-year-old mother of five and grandmother of 13, rules the courts as a trial lawyer. When court is not in session, Nancy hones her martial arts skills as a fourth-degree black belt! She began her martial arts training in 1994, when she was 53 years old. "I feel better physically, mentally and surely spiritually than I did when I was 30 or 40," she says. After almost 14 years in martial arts, Nancy is living proof that it is never too late to reinvent your life. "Eventually, I will retire from law, but I won't retire from life," she says. *********************************

Daily Goals **I am so proud of staying on track nutritionally! **I love making A+ food choices all day long **I enjoy tracking everything I eat, everyday and eating within my specified nutrients. **I love getting a fantastic cardio session in first thing to start my day. **I love lifting weights to increase my strength and build my muscles **It feels so good to go to bed every night before 9pm so that I am rested, my muscles can repair, build and grow and I wake up the next morning ready to get up and do it again

**Nutrition - eat between 1200-1500 calories daily **Cardio - 3-5 days per week **Weights - 2-4 times per week Sunday is my day of rest

I am 34 years old. Married to my Best Friend thanks to the Lord for putting us together. We have two children, a 17 year old daughter and a 15 year old son. We live in Oklahoma and love it here, mostly because we love being close to our families. I work a full time job outside of the home as well as being a full time wife, full time mom. I am 5' 3.5"

~~I am thankful to God for the life he has given me, the children he has entrusted to me, the man he has made my mate. All Glory is His, and even in my darkest moments, I must give the Lord my praise~~

Add a Link **The best inspiration is not to outdo others, but to outdo ourselves -Anonymous** **Continuous effort, not superior strength or intelligence, is the key to unlocking our true potential. ~Winston Churchill **
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