My Goals, My Dreams and My Aspirations

If I could paint the future and color each day of my life in radiance and boldness, then this is how I would predict 2011 to look for me...my goals, my dreams, and my aspirations.

First, I will have the last of my debt paid off! Causing ALL harassing debt collectors to stop waking me up at 6am!! Then I will begin to rebuild my credit.

Secondly, I will have hit my goal weight and achieved lifetime status at weight watcher! I will be in such impeccable shape because I will have had a personal trainer and will have broken all of my terrible eating habits!

Having achieved the above goal, I will then apply for AND get the job as a weight watchers leader due to not only my commitment and my positive energy, but also my ability to motivate and inspire others!!

Thirdly, not only will I be in impeccable shape because of my eating habits and the help of a personal trainer, but also because I will be training for and will complete the Chicago Marathon in October. As well as a number of other races throughout the year.

Fourthly, I will have re-enrolled in school and have started on the path to becoming a paramedic. I will have completed all requirements to be and EMT-B by the end of the year, and signed up for the EMT national exam. Also I will outline and design the next step in my schooling career, whether it be a registered dietian or a personal trainer. Or both! :)

Anyway. Those are just a few of the things I want to accomplish this year. And by the grace of God I will.

Rewind and Reflect

Its crazy to think that yet another year has come and is soon to be over! 2010 has proved itself to be quite a year! A fruitful and life changing year. Although this year came with its own challenges, overall I'm blessed and grateful for everything that took place.

I have learned more about who I am and who I am meant to be than I have at any other point in my life. I have walked through the deepest valleys and have danced on the highest of mountain tops. And through it all I have been blessed to draw closer to God than ever before.

I just want to share with you really quickly some of the highlights that I have experienced this year. These moments have been ones that have brought great pleasure and a sense of accomplishment.

• January: I began to desire change in my life
• February: I joined Weight Watchers and began my Weight Loss Journey
• April: I re-joined LA Fitness and my commitment to exercise
• May: Walked my first 5k
• June: Lost a total of 40lbs!
• August: Lost a total of 50lbs!!
• September: Ran my first 5k race
• October: Fit into a size 16 Missy pant (started in a size 22/24 women's!)
• November: Ran my second 5k race, and improved my time by 6 minutes and 5 seconds!
• December: Stared in Miracle on 34th Street as "Doris Walker" with the Oswego Playhouse.
• And as of this moment I have currently lost a total of 65 pounds this year!! :)

Those are the major events and milestones of 2010. Its so great to look back and see all that I have accomplished! It makes me so proud of me! And I cannot wait for this next year an all the things it holds for me.

Thank you again to everyone who has supported me throughout this year and this journey. It could not be possible without you and your words of encouragements. I pray that you will continue to be inspired by commitment and that you will continue to stand with me throughout 2011. Many blessings and Happy New Year!

The Turkey and All it's Friends...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Two days ago, (actually Thanksgiving) I woke up early and ran the Naperville Turkey Trot 5k! I ran it in 38 minutes and 50 seconds! Thats an improvement from my last 5k by 5 minutes and 56 seconds! And, since  I have been working and rehearsing for my upcoming play, I havent been running! I was so,so happy to have made this improvement on top of running the first mile without stoping!

It was freezing (thankfully not snowing!) but totally worth it! I knew it would be cold so I went to the Nike sotre the night before the run and bought a new hat and gloves! And my friend Kevin ran the race with me too...well he ran ahead of me, but it was nice starting the race out together!

It's so weird to look back and think that a year ago at this time I was in no condition to be running, let alone not having the will power or motivation to even attempt to. It is a huge accomplishment for me to have even participated in this race. And even more encouraging to know that I am only about 2 minutes and 40 seconds away from having a 10 minute mile (which I havent done since 2003)!

After the race I felt so energized I could have kept going! But instead I went home to make my first Thanksgiving dinner! It was great! And took most of the reciepes from the Weight Watchers website! We had everything! Although my favorite was the 3pt pumpkin pie! :)

Once we finished dinner unfortunatly I had to go to bed to get in a few zzz's before the big "Midnight Madness" Sale at the mall I work in. I took a 3 hour nap before beginning my long night 9pm - 9am. One day I will no longer have to work retail and I will never have to be an abused labour ever again (a girl can dream cant she?).  

Looking ahead to this next week, I am excited and nervous for all of the events that will be happening throughout this week. First off, I doubt if I will have any gym time this week because I have dress rehearsal for my upcoming show everyday. Secondly, Weight Watchers is changing their entire point system. And thirdly, I do have 3 shows this weekend. On top of that I have to work, and I have family coming into town. Bah, what a week. Like I said though, I am very excited, just have to take it one step at a time so I fight the nervousness.

Happy Birthday to ME!

Every year around this time I take a few moments out to reflect on the past year and to dream for the year to come. I take a day and thank the Lord for keeping me safe and for blessing me. And this year seems to have brought about the most change in quite some time!

On November18, 2009, just two days before my birthday, I was T-Boned. This seemingly freak accident began a sequence of life altering, God moments. The following month to two months brought about changes that would not only affect my immediate future, but the years to come as well.

Last December I had the opportunity to attend a conference in Kansas City. Knowing I was bound for this event in only a matter of days, I decided to talk to God. As I stood in my bathroom, I told God that He could have all of me; that He could do whatever needed to be done. That is always a dangerous prayer to pray. God always listens, and boy did He answer.

During the conference my life was changed on the inside, sparking a wave of change on the outside. January hen rolled around quickly and I started thinking that if my insides are going to change, so should my outsides. That’s when I began researching the Lap Band procedure. Thankfully my doctor suggested a different route.

So on February 9, 2010, I officially joined Weight Watchers. I also officially began my weight loss journey, as well as the journey to self discovery.

Here is a picture of my 22nd Birthday....

 Here is a picture of my 23rd Birthday....

    

What a difference just one year can make! :)

I have discovered so much about myself on this journey I have been on and I am thrilled to continue down this path I am on. There is never a dull moment and it seems the more I am challenged the more I am able to learn and grown in every aspect of life.

A few nights ago I took a poll on my Weight Watchers Bulletin Board about what type of cake I should make...and the over whelming choice was to make a cake that was home and not quite so WW friendly point wise. So I decided to make this.....

It was amazing and worth every point! And I only had one normal size piece! :) I only wish you could have seen and tasted this bad boy in person! Even better.....

Also I would just like to take a quick moment to say thank you for all of your support and encouragement throughout this journey. Without you on my support team this could be a very difficult accomplishment. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Picture This....

....The moment has arrived. One that I have anxtiously awaiting for months now. A day that I will remember as one of the greatest milestones in my life.

I slip out of my shoes, and step up to the scale. I jump up quickly, overwhelmed by excitment, happiness, pride, and gratefullness. This is it! I have prepared for it, I have worked hard for it, and now its time.

The receptionist reads the numbers, 1-7-4. 174. ONE SEVENTY FOUR!!

I scream with excitment, and everyone turns to look. I did it! I DID IT! I reached my goal weight! I, Heather Dabrowski, have reached my goal weight!

When I close my eyes, I can see it, I can feel it, I can almost reach out and touch it. Oh how I anticipate that day with such longing. Everything within me wants to see this dream become a reality, and I'm only 33 pounds away from holding that acomplishment in my hands!

After I step off the scale, and do my happy dance of course, I may just find a roof top to shout it from! :)

No, in all seriousness, I will be so happy I'm sure I might bust! The first thing I will do after hitting goal will more than likely be to purchase an entire new waredrobe! Then probably go back to work and continue on this healthly road I'm traveling, because it doesnt stop there.

Change

At the start of my weight loss journey I was weak, obese and held a poor, skewed vision of who I was. Now, only nine months later, I have lost 66 pounds and have gained so much more. With only a little over 30 pounds to lose, I am well on my way to achieving my weight loss goal. As well as becoming a more confident, healthier version of me.

As I retrace the steps of my weight loss journey, one major change that has occurred is my belief in myself. The belief that not only can I lose the weight that has for so long hindered me, but the belief that I am worth making the change. And once that far off dream became a reality I became a passionate fighter, determined to conquer anything that stood in the way of obtaining the ultimate goal; change.

Change that for many years had been knocking at my door, but I had shunned. Change that would make me a stronger woman. Change that would not only affect me and my own world, but a change that would inspire many in the world around me.

Joining Weight Watchers ® was not an attempt to put a band-aide over what was broken, but an opportunity to heal what had been shattered for so long. An opportunity that has led to many seemingly small changes that have led to one major difference. An opportunity to regain control of my destiny.

Content

Its been sometime since I've posted a blog about whats been going on.....

.....For like a month now I've been off track; not counting points, not making healthy choices, not getting in my exercise routine. And I cannot seem to get back on track. I've tried and been okay for a few days, making good choices and tracking....but then, I'm not sure what happens and I give up. I eat like a crazy person. Candy, pizza, McDonalds, a little of this, a little of that....I cant seem to stop!

At least this weekend I got in a little bit of exercise. Not much, but at least it was something. Ran a little Saturday and Sunday and took a walk on Saturday with my doggie. I hope that I can keep it up through out the week.

Last week I stayed on track enough to lose 3 point something pounds, but it was sheer luck. I'm hoping that this week I will be lucky enough to lose 1 pound. So much for reaching my goal of 75 pounds lost by my birthday (only 19 days away). That would mean I would have to lose 9 pounds in a little of 2 weeks! Yeah right!! I guess I shouldnt hold my breath.....

.....I dont know if its so much a lack of motivation, as a decrease in desire. Maybe I am just content with where I am, and how far I've come.

8 Ways NOT to Cheat on a Diet

Are you "cheating" on your weight loss plan? Learn some tips to help keep you on the straight and narrow.
"Stop!" screams your conscience as you swipe a handful of mini-candy bars from your co-worker's communal candy dish. If no one actually sees you take them then the calories don't really count, right? Some call it "cheating." Sneaking. Closet eating. But one of the reasons dieters "cheat" is that they're often so strict with themselves that they end up feeling deprived.

Remember that healthy eating includes lots of good choices with a few "naughty" ones as well. Devising some strategies to help you enjoy treats rather than "cheat" will help keep you on the straight and narrow. Here are some suggestions to try:

1. Plan for treats
Making sure you get to enjoy your favorite treats every once in a while will help you from feeling deprived. Pick a night each week when you can indulge in something decadent like a piece of chocolate mud cake. Give yourself permission to truly enjoy your dessert! Taking time to savor a treat is always more satisfying than gobbling it down with feelings of guilt or shame.

2. Put your pantry on a diet
If most of the foods in your house are healthy, then you're already halfway there. If you must have tempting foods around for a special occasion, store them out of sight or buy them at the last minute. On the big day, enjoy your favorite foods and send any leftovers home with your guests.

3. Choose your friends wisely
Beware of any "friend" who continually tries to coerce you into "just a cappuccino" which you know really means a cappuccino and a slice of carrot cake with frosting an inch thick. Put these friends on hold until you're feeling strong enough to say "no." Or suggest a different kind of get-together such as a walk in the park or an afternoon at the movies.

4. Count the cost as well as the calories
Allocate so many dollars per pound you plan to lose and save the money in a separate account or piggy bank. Or "pay" yourself so much every day you stick to your weight-loss plan. Then treat yourself to something fabulous like a new outfit or a day at a beauty spa.

5. Picture yourself
Find some not-so-flattering photos of yourself and place them strategically at prime temptation spots—the fridge, the cookie jar or in your desk drawer. That way you will be reminded of the positive changes you're trying to make to your life whenever you're tempted to overindulge.

6. Surround yourself with witnesses
Tell everyone you are changing your eating habits. Give them permission to remind you of your dedication to better health if they catch you transgressing. Make sure you have chosen friends who will support and encourage you. The last thing you need is someone who will try to trip you up.

7. Check up on yourself
Write down every single thing that passes your lips each day. If you often eat when you're upset or stressed, try to record this too. If you gobbled up a candy bar after arguing with your partner, you probably need to find alternative ways of coping with your moods. Next time try phoning a friend or going for a stress-relieving walk.

8. Keep a sense of proportion
We all slip up from time to time. We all forget our best resolutions and bend the rules. It's not the end of the world. The worst thing you can do is give in and say, "Well, I blew it. Let's forget it. I'm never going to succeed."

Now, that would really be cheating. Not just cheating on your diet, but cheating on yourself and your health as well.

http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=18051

St. Jude 5k Give Thanks Walk

On Saturday, November 20, I am participating in the Give thanks. Walk., benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®. As I walk, I have challenged myself to raise $1000 to support the lifesaving work done at St. Jude and I am asking for your support to help me reach my goal.


You can help me reach my goal by www.mygivethankswalk.org/hope4u and making an online donation. If you do not wish to make an online donation but prefer to use a check, please let me know and I can make other arrangements with you to obtain your donation.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, is one of the world's premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Children from all 50 states and from around the world have come through the doors of St. Jude for treatment, and thousands more around the world have benefited from the research conducted at St. Jude -- research that is shared freely with the global medical community. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatments that are not covered by insurance. No child is denied treatment because of a family's ability to pay. To learn more about St. Jude, visit www.stjude.org

If you cannot donate but live in, or will be in the area, I am asking you to join me in participating in the Give thanks. Walk., benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®, on Saturday, November 20 in our community. By walking in this 5K event, we can help the doctors and researchers at St. Jude find lifesaving cures for desperately ill children in communities everywhere. By walking, we can bring hope to the patients and families that walk through the doors of St. Jude everyday in search of a cure. I hope you will consider joining me in supporting St. Jude by joining my walk team or even forming your own.

Your first step is their first hope. Register today!

Please contact me with any questions or comments!
Thank you for your support!

Mini-Goal

So I have had a bit of a set back these last few weeks. And for some reason, have yet to grab a handle on things and get my head back into the game. SO! I have decided to set for myself a mini goal!

I would like to lose 3.4 pounds within the next 2 weeks (to put me under 210), and WHEN I do, I am going to purchase new around the ear headphones and an armband for my ipod! I think that it will help me also when I'm at the gym and when I'm running these 5 and 10k's this next month.

I'm know that I'm going to achieve this goal by tracking 100% this week (and in the weeks to come) and getting in as much exersice as possible.

So here's to getting my head screwed back on right! And getting my mind back into full weight-loss mode.

A little of this and a little of that...

I'm not really sure where to begin this blog. I have a lot on my mind...some good and some...well, you get the picture.

I guess there's no better place to start than at this weeks weigh-in. I gained 1.6 pounds this week! Naturally I was upset, but I think I was more disappointed than I had been with past gains. I know that I had eaten as well as I could with the circumstances the week previous had presented me, but obviously not hitting the gym or the trails was a major set back. And as hard as I have tried yesterday and today, I have gone over my points limits (and I'm sure my weekly limits).

Not to sound like a complainer, but I worked 48 hours at my regular, PART-TIME job; 12 hours at my nanny job and 7 hours of rehearsal (see below). That’s almost 70 hours of non-stop motion, does that not count as exercise? Not to mention that most of the work was unplanned, meaning unplanned lunches and dinners....so I did the best I could. Making the healthiest choices possible, from Subway to grilled chicken and veggies at the food court! (I do have to make a side-note, thanking the people I work with (you know who you are) for providing these healthy meals, seeing as I could not leave the store myself. So, THANK YOU!)

Okay! A more positive note, I ran a 5k on Sunday, September 26! And I placed 854th out of 979 people! With a completion time of 44 minutes! I ran a 14 minute mile! My personal best, I was so happy to have seen that I shaved 23 minutes off of the last 5k I did in May (1 hour and 7 minutes). I also plan on signing up and running a 5k on November 6, November 25 and a 10k on November 13!

On September 20, I auditioned for a play with the Oswego Playhouse, and I got the part! :) I am playing Doris Walker in Miracle on 34th Street. We have been rehearsing on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and it has been so much fun. I have met some great people, and hope that I will be able to continue with them!

So my train of thought has been derailed for the time being, so that's all the update I have for now. Thanks for listening to my ramblings. It's much appreciated.

Redefining Me

Who I am and who I was is not the same as who I am becoming. Because who I am is losing who I was, while still searching for who I will be. And who I will be is plain and simply, just me. And me is a woman living a healthy lifestyle. Me is a woman who runs marathons just because. Me is a woman strong, confident and proud. Me is a woman who loves the skin she's in. Me is a woman not afraid to fall but not willing to give up. Me is the woman God intended me to be. Me is a woman who loves with all she has. Me is a woman secure in the promises of God. Me is a woman who was lost but is being found now.

Sixty pounds ago I ate my feelings...I sat on my behind all day...I watched as the world passed me by...I hated myself and who I'd become...I wanted to give up and thought nothing would change...I got winded walking up one flight of stairs...I felt ugly...I fat unlovable...I wanted a way out...I could out eat anyone, anywhere...I was as big as my dad...I was very unhealthy. But, now...oh now...I find another outlet for my emotions...I get up and go to the gym...I am grabbing the world by its horns...I am learning to love myself...I want to keep going because everything’s changed...I can leap up a flight of stairs...I feel beautiful...I feel loved...I found a new opportunity...I am as small as my mom...I am healthy!

L'Shana Tova

L'Shana Tova! Happy New Year! The Jewish New Year begins this week. And to help bring in the new year I decided to make some yummy dishes!

First I made a Honey Spice Cake....and then I made Turkey and Honey Carrots. They were really yummy!!

Today I weighed in and was sooo pumped to read the numbers on the scale! (Especially after not losing anything last week!) I was down 4.2 pounds!! Bringing  my grand total of weight loss to 60 pounds!!

Starting weight: 276.4
Current weight: 216.0
Loss to date: 60.4

So excited....only 42 pounds to go!

The Fat Girl Inside

As I opened the refrigerator for the twelfth time last night and polished off a bag of chocolate covered peanuts, I thought to myself, why? Why at 2 am do I feel the need to eat chocolate covered peanuts, let alone anything for that matter? And the answer is something I have been fighting with for the past few weeks...my reflection.

Every time I look in the mirror I see the same person I used to be...fat, broken and unsatisfied. And I am still "fixing" that reflection I see the same way I did in the past.

I know that losing 56 pounds is nothing to sneeze at, but I don't feel like I look any different. My clothes size has changed and when I look at pictures I see a difference, but I feel the same! People I haven't seen tell me I look great, but why can I not come to terms that I do look good?

Simply put, its because of the fat girl inside. She wont die! And I don't know how to kill her! I try to shut her up with carrot sticks but somehow they become smothered in chocolate! And her eyes! I just want to claw them out! Her vision is causing me to lose sight of where I've come from and how well I've done.

To be honest I think I am scared to embrace the skinny girl in me. I cant even imagine myself weighing any less than I do now, and I am scared to get there and be too skinny! To be too ugly and not perfect enough. And to make things worse, when people ask me my final goal and I say another 40 pounds or so, they say; "No! That's too skinny!" What the heck!? I just don't get it! It pisses me off so bad I just don't know what to do.

Dear Fat Girl Inside of me;
You must leave. You have no choice.
I cannot live with you any longer.
You make me miserable.
You are not welcome here any more.
Pack your lies and your imperfections
and GO!

Take your fear and brokenness too.

And don't forget that image
of the past.
Take your things and leave the keys.
My heart belongs to me and my
new friend just arrived.

Skinny girl welcome to my heart.
Treat it with respect so we'll never
have to part.
Hang your truths in my closet

and post your positive self image

on the shelf.
Dust the cob webs from my
happy thoughts.
Dear Skinny Girl Inside of me.
We will be close friends.
Just leave the chocolate at the door.

A Weekly Dose of Weight Watchers

"I can eat this thank you very much!" It is a statement that I find myself making more often then not. Expecially when I am around people who know that I am on Weight Watchers, but yet do not fully understand the concept behind the program.

This weeks meeting was about eating foods you love and not depriving yourself. I do not have a problem with that! What I do have a problem with is calculating the points into the day without going over my limit. Which is something I can strive to achieve this week and in the weeks to come.

At weigh-in today I was down 2.2lbs! I was excited. I have only 3.8lbs until I reach my next goal of 60lbs lost. I cannot wait! I am excited for my new pair of running shoes (which I still need to research!).

Here are my updated stats for the week....

Starting weight: 276.4
Current weight: 220.2
Loss to date: 56.2

In our weekly WW booklet they had a recipe for "Oven-fried Paprika Chicken Cutlets", and I made them tonight. They turned out great, and were rather enjoyable!

1/2 cup plain fat-free yogurt

1 tbsp sweet paprika, divided

15 saltine crackers (I used a little more)

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1 lb uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast (four 4oz thin pieces)

1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

1/2 medium lemon, cut into 4 wedges

Preheat broiler and coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Place yogurt and 1 teaspoon of paprika in a small shallow bowl; mix to combine. Combine cracker crumbs, salt, pepper and remaining 2 teaspoons of paprika on a large shallow pie plate; stir to combine. Place each chicken cutlet in yogurt mixture and turn to coat. Next, place chicken in crumb mixture, turning to coat both sides and pressing lightly to make crumbs stick.

Place coated chicken on prepared baking sheet and lightly spray with cooking spray. Broil 3 to 4 inches from heat source until golden brown and cooked through, flipping once, about 4 to 5 minutes per side. To serve, sprinkle with parsley and garnish with lemon wedges.

New Goals for me to obtain!!

I have a two new goals that I have set for myself, and I have set dates that I would like to achieve them by as well as rewards for when I do reach them!

My first goal is to be under 200 pounds before my 23rd birthday (November 20, 2010). I have 13 weeks (91 days or 3 months) to achieve this goal. Which is about 1.8 pounds a week to lose.

If I stay on plan by continuing to count my points and making smarter choices I will continue to see losses each week at the scale.

Not only by this date will I be under 200 pounds, but I will have lost 75 pounds since the beginning of my weight loss journey! This will be a huge milestone in my life in so many ways. So I must keep my head held high and my points down low, and I will accomplish this goal!

Secondly my next goal is to run the Oswego Hobbler Gobbler on November 13th. It is a 10k marathon (or 6.2 miles). It is 12 weeks away and my goal is to complete it in under an hour and a half.

If I add a 1/2 mile each week to my three times a week run, I should be able to run seven miles by that date. Also, I would like to add cross training once or twice a week by swimming or joining a dance class.

I have also set up some rewards for myself along the way, just to keep me motivated. I have ;6 poundsd before I reach my next goal of 60 pounds. And when I reach that goal, I plan non purchasing a fantasic pair of running shoes and support souls (to help me train of course).

When I reach my goal of 75 pounds lost (only 21 pounds away), because it's around my birthday and because I will be under 200 pounds, I am going to have a spa day. Including a message, pedicure and manicure. Maybe I can find a day spa and spend the whole day there!! :)

I have not really figured out a reward for finishing the 10k in under 1 & 1/2 hours. I think maybe it's a reward in and of itself...what do you think?

You Are Beautiful!

Just felt like we could all use a little reminder that we are beautiful!

Beautiful Woman

Beautiful woman,

come out and play,
reveal your inner treasures.

The sparkle in your eyes,
the natural swing in your walk,
you radiate excitement and enthusiasm.

You need no latest fashion,
No expensive hair cuts,
No blinding big accessories.

You glow in your passions,
passionate in your pursuits,
you know what you are made of.

You are not easily bothered,
by the mindless opinions of others,
you know very well where you want to go.

you are a joy to watch,
an inspiration to others,
your pure soul an endless marvel.

Beautiful woman,
let your brilliance shine through,
your eyes speak of true inner beauty.
Copyright © 2007 Fion Lim. All rights reserved.

When you feel ugly, remember...


Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I've never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful. ~Author Unknown

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart. ~Kahlil Gibran

That which is striking and beautiful is not always good, but that which is good is always beautiful. ~Ninon de L'Enclos

Beauty comes as much from the mind as from the eye. ~Grey Livingston

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it. ~Confucius

A woman who cannot be ugly is not beautiful. ~Karl Kraus

You don't love a woman because she is beautiful, she is beautiful because you love her. ~Author Unknown

You can take no credit for beauty at sixteen. But if you are beautiful at sixty, it will be your soul's own doing. ~Marie Stopes

Beauty?... To me it is a word without sense because I do not know where its meaning comes from nor where it leads to. ~Pablo Picasso

Taking joy in living is a woman's best cosmetic. ~Rosalind Russell

These video's are worthing looking at!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei6JvK0W60I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ytjTNX9cg0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fULtU2NfPQA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9oT5AuAP2I

Aunt Flo

****PLEASE NOTE THIS IS PROBABLY ONLY GOOD TO READ IF YOU'RE A GIRL!*****


This week Aunt Flo decided to pop in for a surprise visit! (And when I say surprise, I mean shouldnt have been here for another 3 weeks at least!) Why is that when you start to lose weight or workout everything in your body starts to change?!!! Please tell me, because I have been regularly irregular for my entire "life".

I mean my cramps are worse then they have ever been (and I have been layed up in bed and vomiting before) and I have been heavier then normal (I'm talking Niagra Falls). Does any of this make sense?!

So tonight I went to the movies and I had a terrible craving....I'm talking large popcorn, a box of goobers, a box of snow caps, sweet tarts and a carmello candy bar! And I feel so icky now that its terrible!

Anyone know of a rhyme or reason behind this all!?!

PLEASE HELP!

5k and 10k Race Days!

Okay...I do not normally run. But I have been running a mile at the gym on a pretty regular basis. And I have recently had the bright idea to sign up for a 5k AND a 10k race in November!!

I'm pretty excited, but a little nervous because I have no idea how to train for these events! They are not until November so I have some time to prepare, but I would love some feedback on how to train!

The first race is the 10k Hobbler Gobbler on November 13 in Oswego, IL. And the second race is the 5k Turkey Trot on November 25 in Naperville, IL.

Let me know what ya'll do to prepare!

Instant Gratification?

We live in a world full of the here and now; a world of instant gratification.We have instant oatmeal made in our instant microwaves. We have 24 hour drive-through fast food chains, drive-through coffee, and even drive-through dry cleaners! If we cannot have it "right now" we are not satisfied. We have even come so far as to want instant relationships, whether it be a friend or a significant other. But unfortunately that is not the reality of things. It takes work, everything takes work. And in my opinion the more work it takes, the more gratifying the out come.

Now here comes the part we all do not want to hear....weight-loss is NOT an instant, over-night thing! Weight-loss takes WORK and DEDICATION! We did not gain our unwanted pounds over-night. So therefore we cannot expect to LOSE those unwanted pounds over-night.

Unfortunately our views are tainted by the world we live in, and we honestly expect instant results; whether it be from a pill, a diet or a surgery. I will be the first to admit that I have been there too. I have expected to wake up one morning and be thin. I have even gone as far as praying that God would instantly make me drop 50 pounds! It just does not work that way.

Just like with learning a new language or mastering a skill, weight-loss takes work, dedication and PRACTICE! We cannot expect to be perfect right away at controlling our eating binges when it's something we have struggled with our whole lives. We cannot expect to have a grip on our trigger foods right away when we have tripped over them a thousand and one times. No, we have to get back up, dust ourselves off, and move on.

A very dear friend and mentor always says, "Hit the delete button and move on". It's true, erase it and get past it. If we continue to hold on to our mistakes, we will continue to fail. But because we expect to fail, not because we are destined to fail. We have become so consumed in the here and now that we cannot look past our mistakes, we cannot learn from our mess-up's. But its when we do, and only then, can we finally achieve our ultimate goals, no matter what they be.

So stop looking at each mistake as a failure, but look at it as an opportunity to grow. As something to help you along the journey you are on. Because whether it's negative or positive, how you react determines the ultimate outcome.

Half Way There!

Its hard to believe some days that it has been 6 months since I started my weight loss journey, but other days it feels like it just drags on and on! :) But all in all it has been an awesome experience, and I am so thrilled about how far I have come!

I am seriously so excited that in 6 months time I have been able to commit to this journey and lose this much weight! I feel like it just fell off! I hope that in the next 6 months as I continue down this path that losing the other half of my goal will feel this easy!

I am so proud of myself too. And I should be! I have done so much and it has made a huge difference in my life. Not only to I look healthier, but I feel healthier too. I have participated in a 5k marathon for the first time. I have joined a gym and can run a mile without stopping. And I have gained confidence in myself! Hot-dang, I'm doing GREAT!!!

Today at weigh-in I stepped on the scale a little nervous. I had not done so well over the weekend, because I chose not to do well. I had pizza (many slices) and a huge banana split on Saturday, and a whole pound of turkey sloppy joes and smores on Sunday!! So by Sunday night I felt so disgusting and bloated it wasnt funny, that Monday I decided to take an exlax, but nothing happened! :/

Well the scale read: 224.2!
Mean that I was down 2.8 pounds from last week!
I was soooo happy that I could have screamed and jumped out of my skin. But, I have come so far and I feel great. I am excited for the next few months. :)

Week 1 - 276.4lbs

Week 26 - 224.2lbs

Weigh-in in DC

This week I was in Washington DC. And I found a place to go weigh-in!!

I was really hoping to have lost 1.8 pounds to reach the loss of 50 pounds. But a loss is a loss and not a gain. haha :)

I only lost .4 of a pound this week. Which is okay. And in a way I am kind of glad, because then I can celebrate that accomplishment with my group and my leader back home, rather than with some strangers.

So hopefully this week at weigh-in I will be able to have that celebration and that milestone.

My New Outfit!

The other day I was going through my clothes, and trying to find outfits for my trip to Washington DC. And I relized I did not have anything that fit me properly!

It was actually kind of exciting!

When I started Weight Watchers back in Febuary I was wearing a size 22 pants (on the brink of a size 24) and now 5 months later I am wearing a size 16! :) I havent been able to wear a 16 in at least 3 years.

I am so excited to be able to shop at a normal store. I know that seems silly, but skinny people clothes are MUCH cheaper than going to a specialty store. Lol.

Starting weight: 276.4
Current weight: 228.2
Loss to date: 48.2

Goal weight: 174
Pounds to go: 54

46.6 pounds and still going strong!

I had a little party the other day when I had found out I have almost lost 50 pounds!

I have never been more excited and more confident than I am now! Its amazing and I words cannot even begin to discribe how I feel!

I feel like I am becoming who I am supposed to be not only physically, but also emotionally. I am learning to control my eating and the reasons I am eating. Which has always been a struggle for me in the past.

A quote that I really like is, "If hunger isnt the problem, then eating isnt the solution." I'm not sure who said it, but they are words to live by.

Here is a picture of the weight loss graph from my weight watchers tool online! Its so great to see how far I've come!

I cannot wait to see what will happen as I continue down this path that I am on! I know that whatever it is, its going to be the best thing that has ever happened to me in quite sometime! :D

Seeing is Believing

This week I lost another 2.4lbs! :) 

Starting weight: 276.4
Current weight: 236.6
Total lost to date: 39.8

What an amazing difference in my weight! I look and feel better!
Here are a few pictures to show the difference.

The first one is from Christmas 2009 and
the second picture is from Father's Day 2010!

Compliments are AMAZING!

I went to a friends wedding a few nights ago, and when I walked through the door a few of my guy friends that I had not seen in a few weeks came up to me and told me how good I looked! :) That there was a "night and day difference". And the guy with the camera said, "Hey sexy." Haha!!

I was beside myself all night! Those compliments were the boost I needed to get back on track and to stay motivated.

At one point, one of my friends even said, "dont eat that! You're doing good." It really was too sweet!

I cannot wait until I lose ALL the weight! I wonder what will be said then?!

YAY ME! :D

Three 10lb bags of potatoes and One 5lb bag of flour

As of today I have lost three 10lb bags of potatoes and one 5lb bag of flour! Yes thats right, 35lbs GONE!

I am loving it!!

Debt

On the road to healing, not only am I trying to get physically healthy, but also in EVERY area of my life. And one of those areas is my finances.

I have struggled for year with money. I can never seem to have enough, and when I get a little bit ahead, something happens and I end up right where I started. Over the last few months I have been getting into some pretty bad debt. And instead of handling it, I have been sweeping the problem under the rug.

So today I decided to doing something. I can no long sit on the sidelines and watch as I am overcome by this situation.

It will be a work in progress, but I will be getting help, and I will set my priorities in order!

Shocking Photo's

Week One: 276.4 lbs

Week 17: 243.4 lbs

I have lost a total of 33 pounds since I began Weight Watchers on Febuary 9th of this year.

As you can tell from the pictures, not only am I losing weight, but I am a lot happier!

Week 16 and going strong!

Okay, sorry this is so late. I am currently on week 17 (or 18, not really sure). But I wanted to post this anyways!

May 26, 2010

I just weighed in today, finishing up week 16 of my weightloss journey. Stepping on the scale I did not really have any expectations. Nor did I feel like I had accomplished much through out the week. But the scale read 243.0! Bringing me to another 6.6 pounds lost!!!! In a 16 week period I lost 33.4 pounds of fat!!!!

In four months I have worked my butt off and I have lost 33.4lbs! :) Thats 8.35lbs a month!

Going into this journey I knew I wanted to accomplish this goal and deal with my weight loss issue once and for all, and I am doing it.

I AM DOING IT!!

10% of starting weight GONE!

Alright. So this past Tuesday at weigh in I hit a little more than 10% of weight loss of my starting weight (27lbs)! I was so excited!

This is what it looks like so far:

Starting weight: 276.4
Current weight: 247.4
Total lost: 29.0

Goal: 175.0 (A loss of 101 pounds!)
Remaining to lose: 72 pounds

Starting pants size: 22
Current Pants size: 18

Starting shirt size: 18/20
Current shirt size: 14/16

I am on such a weight-loss high. I have more energy, I like myself more, and I just want to keep going! I feel like there is nothing that can stand in my way!!!

I have lost 25 pounds!!!!

Dang straight! You read that right!!! I have lost 25 pounds!!!! 25!!!

I am so stinking excited to say that! I am 25% of the way to my goal.

I steped on the scale and I had lost another 2.4 pounds, and about wet myself I was so excited!! :D

I've gotta keep going though. Not quite where I wanna be.

Stress + Grief = Emotional Eating

On April 23, I lost a very close family friend. And I went to Michigan to be with family and friends.

Because I was in MI, staying at different peoples homes, I did not have time to shop. So I choose to eat like I had eatten prior to starting my weight loss journey. I ate all day, every day. And I ate things that were not even close to being a wise choice.

I knew that I was eating like crap and I knew why I was eating, but still I did not do anything to change it. I think that I still need to conquer that emotional eating demon, because obviously it still controls me.

I have weigh-in on Tuesday and I am just hoping that I have lost something. Even if it is a few ounces! I am going to hit the gym hard tomorrow, not only to try to counter act what bad decisions I have made, but also to get out some anger and frustration.

We'll see how it goes on Tuesday.

Only 1.6 pounds away from 20!

OMG! I have lost 18.4 pounds since I started weight watchers in febuary!!

I cannot wait to find out what I lost on Tuesday!!!!

My first GAIN!

Yup. A gain of 1.2 pounds this week.

But I know what I did wrong and I know that it was my choice!

Saturday some friends and i got together and I had pizza, garlic bread and chicken wings!! And then we had banana splits to boot!

Sunday I had a very yummy Easter dinner! Ham, half a pan of green bean casarole and mashed potatoes.

But considering all I had, 1.2 pounds is not that bad.

So today I hit the gym extra hard and I am hoping to hit it up again at least twice this week. Wish me luck!

First Workout

Today was a succesful day at the gym. I played racquetball, then did the eliptical and then swam!

On Monday I think I'm going to start strength training. And then Tuesday is weigh-in time! I know I say this all the stinking time, but I dont feel like I'm losing anything. Maybe thats the best way though to succesfully lose the weight for good?

Last Tuesday's weigh-in went well and I lost 5.8 pounds (I think. lol) So we shall see what this week brings!

Maybe I should do a last chance workout like on Biggest Loser! lol

Joined the Gym

Yup I did it. I joined the gym again.

Here's to getting in shape!

Maybe one day I can afford a personal trainer. But for now I shall kick my own butt as hard as I know how.

Week 8 Weigh-in

Today was my 8 week weigh-in. Its hard to believe that it has been two months all ready since I've started on my way to a happier healthier me.

This morning I had to work, but decided that I would attend the early meeting to get my weigh-in over with. I showed up at 10:30. The meeting was over (it had actually started at 9:30). But they still had the scales up and weighed me in!

From day one till now I have lost 16.2 pounds!!!! My current weight is 260.2 and I started at 276.4.

I am so excited that I decided to start Weight Watchers and really take care of myself. It has made all the difference.

Gym Membership

Okay, so the other day I was thinking that I should join the gym again and start trying to work out.

I used to go to LA Fitness because my sister worked there and I got a discount.

Back in August I stopped going and thought I had canceled my account. Come to find out when I went in, I never did! So I was up to almost $300 in back fees!!! Well the lady at the front desk tells me that LA Fitness has decided to wipe everyones past due fees clean AND renstate them at their original price!

So I'm looking at $50 up front (first and last month fees) and then being billed $25 each month!!! What a deal. I'm so excited to go next month and sign up again! I cannot wait to start moving. I love how I feel after a long work out.

And I'm extra thrilled about being able to play raquetball again!!!!

Behind on my posts...

Okay so I've not been so good with posting weekly updates, but I'm going to try to get you up to speed.

I have not been good all together with the Weight Watchers program these last few weeks. :/ About 2 weeks ago I went to weight in and didnt lose anything. But I was okay with that because I didnt gain anything. Then last week I didnt go to weigh in because I thought I had gained a few pounds and I didnt want to see that and cry!

But I will be going to weigh in sometime this week. I just have to figure out when because I've been working so much. So my normal Tuesday nights I cannot attend. So maybe Wednesdays before I head in to work. But the meetings are at 10am and am usually scheduled at 9:25am. Although this week I dont go in till 11am. And there are meetings on Saturday at 10am too, but again just depends on if I work or not.

Anywho, I weighed myself on my scale and depending on if it tells me the same weight at when I weight in at Weight Watchers, I could have lost some where between 16 and 20 pounds!!!

I know I've been rambling but its been a while since my last post.

22 to 18

No you did not read the title wrong. And no I did not figure out the secret to regaining my youth. But YES I did figure out how to shrink pants sizes!!!

Last week I put on a pair of pants I havent worn in 2 years!! And they are 2 sizes smaller than when I started Weight Watchers!!!!! I was so pumped!!!

10.4 pounds going, going, GONE!

Today was my 4th weigh-in. I am so excited with my progress.

Starting weight: 276.4
Loss to date: 10.4
Current weight: 266.0

Goal: 165.0

This has been great! I cannot wait for the days to come!

How do you save when spending so much $$?

I have been spending $150+ each week on food!

I feel like I'm working just so I can eat.

Are there any suggestions? (ie coupons, different foods or brands? or stores?)

HELP!

A detrimental weekend binge

This weekend was a disaster! My first 2 days not following plan in 4 weeks!

Friday started off great! I went with a friend out to eat, and I got to pick. So we went to applebees and I ate off the WW menu!! But then my sister and I went to the Melting Pot afterwards. We had cheese fondue and chocolate fondue! It was soo good, but I'm sure I was WAY over points for the day and the week.

Saturday was Girls Night Out with some friends. Well, there was cookies, chocolate eggs, chips, pizza, and crazy bread. Oh and of course alcohol! But then we went to a club, and I'm now wondering if I can count my dancing toward activity points!?

So needless to say this weekend ruined my entire week and I will doubt that this weeks weigh-in will bring about anything good.

So I am hitting the DELETE button and starting over today, even though I want to snack like a crazy woman during the Oscars. :)

-5 + -3 = -8

Yay! I thought this weeks weight in was going to be a disaster!

But I lost 3lbs!!!!!!

Start: 276
To Date: 268
Total Loss: 8lbs!!!!

Cookbook Disaster

Today I purchased a WeightWatchers Cook book at Meijer. As I was flipping through it tonight, I found a few recipes that only required things that I already had laying around the house. I decided to try them!

First I cooked a sausage dish. It was so simple! Turkey sausage, red pepers, green peppers, yellow peppers (which meijer was out of!), and onions. A little chicken broth, and organo. It was SOOO good!!

Second I baked the Chocolate Muffins and then some flat bread from India. Well the Chocolate Muffins were TERRIBLE! :( It was like sinking my teeth into a cardboard box lightly dusted with confectioners sugar!!!

The flat bread is still in dough form however. And I have another 2 hours before it rises and I can bake it. Hopefully it will turn out much better than those cardboard muffins.

Night-time Binge

Ok...its almost 3am and I am still WIDE awake!

I am getting hungry. At least I think I am. I could totally just be bored. But I think that I've already eaten close to ALL my weekly points, if not more.

And I have weigh-in on Tuesday and well I sorta cheated today and weighed myself. I havent lost anything. But I havent gained either. So I guess thats good!

Tuesday is weigh-in and I'm trying to get a friend from work to come with me! I need a weight loss buddy bad!!!

So instead of eating I figured I would write on my blog to try and keep my mind off things. But that doesnt seem to be helping especially because I keep talking about. And besides theirs no food in my house anyway because people keep eating ALL my food. My sister ate a whole pound of turkey meat and my dad ate all my skinny cows!! It like I buy food but it keeps disappering! AGH!!!

Mother Nature

Mother nature is very crule! I am trying to eat right and keep up on my points. BUT! I am craving food! All types of food. Salty food, sweet food, hot and cold food!!

AHHHH! I think that this week if I dont lose anything I will most deff gain a pound or two!

Turkey Chili

Yum!!

Sooo good! But I am so stinking full!!!

Down 5lbs!

YES! I have have lost a total of 5.6 pounds!!!

Starting weight: 276.4
Last week: 272.6
This week: 271

Yay! So excited!!

Day 14

Tomorrow is weigh-in. And today I did not track my points. (Although I did have about 20ish weekly points left.) I think that I may have eaten one to many today, expecially the day before weigh-in!

On the menu today I had lots of fruit (watermelon and strawberries...YUM), turkey tacos, diet soda cake, and so many other things! :/

Well I just had to vent that I did not to to well today, and that I will hope that it wont kill me on the scale tomorrow.....wish me luck.

Diet Soda Cake!!

Alright - I know this sounds crazy, but its a must try!

What you need:
- One box of chocolate cake
- One can of diet pepsi (diet coke doesnt taste as good)

What to do:
- Mix cake and Diet Pepsi together!
- Bake at 350 for about 25 minute (or until done)

Serve:
- Warm (not too hot or too cold)
- Add cool whip or redi-whip on top
- Cut up strawberries

ITS AWESOME! And low calories but hits the sweet spot!

Day 13

Wow. Hard to believe that it has been almost 2 weeks so far!

This week was a hard one. I think that I only tracked like 3 of my days! Which is not good! If you dont get all of your points in or you eat to many points you could gain weight!!! So I hope that this Tuesday on the scale I will have lost more weight.

We shall see.....which me luck!

Day 8: First Weigh-In

Alright! I did it! The first week is behind me. But I only see things getting more difficult from here! Tonight I finished all my daily points by 9pm! And by 11pm I had the munchies!!!

But lets get back to the good news! I stepped on the scale and saw that I was 3.6 pounds lighter!!! YAY!!

Start weight: 276.4
Current weight: 272.8
Goal weight: 165

Emotional Eating

For many years, as you know, I have struggled with my weight. But this year 2010, I plan on taking control of this issue once and for all. And one way I plan on doing that is discovering different things about myself and changing the way I look at things.

I saw a commercial today and it said " You eat when you're happy. You eat when you're sad. You eat when you're bored.....". I felt like they were specifically talking to me! But I would continue to add that I eat when I'm angry, I eat when I'm frustrated. I eat when my heart is broken.

I think that I have been "eating" my problems aways since I was young! Food was my comfort, my best and only friend. I turned to it whenever life let me down, whenever I felt alone.

I relize as I look back that I would eat in secret. I felt ashamed of my eating habits and of how much I would eat. I felt like I was too fat and that I didnt deserve to eat, so I would hide food and eating. I would sneak out to the fridge or hide food in my drawers. Whatever it was it was mine, and it could make me feel better.

This week I did not emotionally eat. However, I'm not sure if I was really presented with the opportunity to emotionally eat. I think that I was on an adrenaline high from starting with weight watchers.

But emotional eating and comfort food is most deffinatly what got me to where I am in the first place. Now I have to learn to control my habits and my emotions so that I can get out of this obese state of being that I have been stuck in for so long.

Day 7

Well I have almost completed my first week on Weight Watchers!! :)

Tomorrow is my first weigh-in! To be honest I am really nervous to see how much (if any) weight that I lost! :)

I think that this week I am going to make it my goal to work out at least 4 times. I've been doing well tracking my points now I think that I need to get my body moving. Even if its just walking on the treadmill for  30 mins.

Wish me luck!

Day 5

Today I at out with a friend. But! I stayed within my point limits AND still had enough left for dessert when I got home!! :)

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day....and I have to work all night. But thats okay it will keep me from eating a bunch of chocolate while trying to drown my sorrows!!

Its day 5 and I think that I am doing well. I am still motivated and really excited to be losing weight! Plus, a few people have already said that they thought I looked like I was losing weight!!! YAY! But I cant tell, nor will I know until Tuesday when I have weigh-in. I guess we will have to wait and see.

Day 4

Today was a good day. I work all day and now my feet hurt!! But I stuck to my points and still have 4 left for the day! But I know I will finish those before the day is out.

Only 3 more days until weigh-in! I am very anxious to see how much I have lost already. I'm not sure if it will be a high or low number, because I dont feel like I lost anything at this point. But I guess thats normal.

We shall see what tomorrow brings.

Day 3

Today: I met yesterday's goal and I ate ALL my points!! :)

Exercise: I did 35 minutes of dance/cardio workout today!

I feel: Like I am doing good. But have a headache.

Tomorrow: I work all day! I have to figure out how I am going to eat all my points and not go over them at the same time!

Day 2

Today: Was an interesting day....On a daily basis I have to consume 34pts worth of food. I have not been able to eat all of my points either day! And you have to eat all of them in order to lose weight! UGH!

Other than that to day went well. I went to work and did not eat any breadsticks or mints!! Yay!

Exercise: I did not get to the gym today. :(

I feel: I feel full.

Goal for Tomorrow: Eat all 34pts!

Day 1

Today: My first official day of WeightWatchers!!

I weighed in at: 276
My goal weight is: 165
Pounds to lose: 110

At the meeting: I weighed in and learned how the program works.

During the day: I kept track of all of the food I ate, and tried to determine when I was hungry and when I was bored.

Exercise: I stayed home today and used my Wii Fit board and game. I got in 30 minutes of aerobics and did some boxing and yoga for fun.

I feel: I feel accomplished today. I am excited to be taking this giant leap into a new, healthier me!

Goal for Tomorrow: I will go to work and NOT eat breadsticks or mints!

Stretched to the Max

We all have days when we look in the mirror and ask, "What happened to me?". And other days we see nothing but beauty and the person whom God created us to be. Today, for me, was a mind blowing, life changing, "What happened to me" moment.

I had an itch on the back of my leg. Thinking nothing of it, I rolled back my pant leg, and there it was. Proof that I was to big for the skin I am in! I did not even know that you could get stretch marks in some of the places that mine have been showing up.

This was my "ah-ha" moment. The time in which I almost (for a lack of a better term) burst out of my skin! What is happening to me? What have I allowed my self to become?

Spiritual Healing = Physical Freedom

(1). First, repent for yielding to the temptation of lust for food. (Phil 3:19, "Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things".)

(2). Then, submit to God and ask Him for the power to overcome gluttony through His Holy Spirit and resist the devil through prayer and obedience to God. (James 4:7, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you".)

(3.) Next, ask for God's plan for your weight loss. Allow Him to lead you as to what He wants you to do. He knows your body and He will direct you as to how you are to eat. Ask for a desire for healthy foods and ask Him to remove your cravings for unhealthy foods. (1 John 5:14-15, "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him".)

(4.) Daily, thank God for setting you free and do not allow the devil to discourage you by his condemning whispers to your mind. Sometimes the Lord does a quick work at other times it may be slower. Don't be discouraged even if at times it seems slow or you fail occasionally.. Remember, this came "little by little" and it is sometimes more healthy to lose it "little by little" (Losing as little as 2 lbs. a month amounts to 24 lbs. in a year). In the process you will be developing new habits and disciplines that will eventually become established eating patterns. (Romans 8:1-4, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit".)

(5.) Add fasting periodically as the Lord leads. Even fasting one meal or one day a week will help in disciplining your body to be subject to your spirit man. (Matthew 6:17-18, "But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly".)
(http://bible.com/bibleanswers_result.php?id=164)

1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's".

My Body Is a Temple

"All things are possible to me. I am a believer. I can do all things through the anointing, the burden removing, yoke destroying power of God. I am transformed by the Word of God. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit Who lives in me. I was bought by the blood and death of Jesus on the Cross. I honor God and bring glory to God through my body. Like a boxer I handle my body roughly and with discipline. I will not be mastered by my body, but rather I master my body to bring glory to God. The Spirit of the Lord is in me and brings me liberty. I am free from the bondage of fleshly desires. I present my body as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable, pleasing to God. This is my reasonable service and worship to God. I prove and demonstrate God's will by managing my body correctly. Patience is completing and perfecting me so that I lack nothing. My God is not my stomach. My mind is not on earthly things. I glorify God in my eating and drinking. God is for me and He is freely giving me every good thing. I love God with all of my heart, mind, and strength. I overwhelmingly conqueror through Jesus." (http://freebibleemail.com/the_word/weight_loss_and_self_control)

For many years I have struggled with self-esteem and weight-loss issues. Even now, I continue on a daily basis to struggle with insecurities of who I am and what I look like. I have tried many, many fad diets, made numerous New Year's resolutions and have failed. I have watched others succeed as I look in the mirror and am disgusted by the person I see. But, all that is about to change!

I have decided that I am going to take a different approach to shedding these needless and unwanted pounds. The first change that I am making is this blog. I have decided not to go on this journey alone. I am making a commitment to being open and honest each week about the journey that I am walking no matter what it looks like.

The second thing that I am doing differently than the other attempts is prayer; lots and lots of prayer. The bible says that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit, so why not take care of it? I know that this will not be easy but I trust my God to help lighten the load and ease the cravings.

Thirdly, I am joining WeightWatchers. This program is not a quick fix, or a program of frozen meals. WeightWatchers is designed to teach and equip you to change your lifestyle. WeightWatchers holds a meeting once a week. In these meetings you weigh-in, and discuss ways to stay on track. In additions to weekly meetings there is an online tool to help track your daily food in-take, recipes and exercise tools.

Next week I will post my first blog after joining WeightWatchers. Please keep checking back to see my progress. I will need your support and your prayers!