Believe, Don't Just Expect!

I found myself reflecting in the past few days on my journey and what has gotten me where I am today. I have to say that I wasn't very good at what I'm about to talk about for quite some time, but the reality is in order to get to your goal and be the person you want to be, you must first BELIEVE!

Like I said, I was very bad at this for months. In fact, if a grade were to have been given like in school, I can assure you it would have been an F, along with a letter wanting to meet with the parents. In other words, for months I was just going through the motions. I was eating well. I was going to the gym. I was drinking water and even losing weight. It's what I expected. Who wouldn't expect that after making those changes? And to some they may have even felt like sacrifices. I mean if I were going to school each day, somewhat trying, and getting my work in, you'd think I'd at least be passing the class right? Wrong! We cannot just expect...we must work at it.

For many months I didn't believe in myself. I didn't believe I could do it. I had so much weight to lose that it often times scared me. I was overwhelmed. I'd even find myself in tears about it.  I'd never be tiny, but I at least wanted to be smaller than I was at that moment. I didn't know how to even picture what that would look like. I didn't know if I was capable. Bottom line was, I didn't believe in myself!  All I knew was that I was going through the motions in hopes that I would see results. 

Results came but I learned quickly that unless I started believing I could do anything I put my mind to and keep on a path of a healthy lifestyle, like FOREVER, I would just be back at square one. Gain back the weight and feel even more like a failure because I wasn't able to do it the first time (or second or third). I learned that I couldn't do any of this until I believed in myself. I know I already blogged about the mind last week, but it really is key. It has the power to make or break you in all of this. We honestly cannot do all of this and just expect to change or expect results. We need to believe.  

I know it may sound a bit awkward that I believe in those of you who struggle with weight loss issues even though I've never even met you, but I do. I really do. If I can come from a place where I was and accomplish what I have, so can you. I honestly believe this. I know I don't know your personal situation and/or the things you are dealing with on your plate of life at this time, but I believe you can be the YOU you want to become. I believe you can make good choices. I believe you can listen to your heart. (I know it wants to be healthy and craves nothing but for you to be happy.) I believe you can honestly do anything you put your mind to. No, it's not easy but I believe you can do it. God believes in you. I believe in you.  Do you believe in you?

Wanting a New Body Means a New Brain!

I think often times we are all caught in the trap of wanting our bodies to be or look a certain way. We either see someone and we think, " I would love to be that small" or we think just the opposite, "I will never be someone like that so why bother even trying." Anyone ever feel like this or caught themselves saying this to the person in the mirror? I know I have. There was a point when I was at my heaviest (278 pounds) that I actually would feel embarrassed or uncomfortable around active, fit people. It was as if I was almost from a different country or didn't belong. I know that was not the case. It was just how I felt.

I have learned while being on my own weight loss journey that I can eat as healthy as I want, I can exercise and even lose large amounts of weight, but until I learned how to train my brain just like I had to train my body, I was not successful. The body and the brain MUST be yolked together on this journey or you will end up failing. Just like in a marriage, if you are not yolked together it is inevitable that down the road things will not work out because you see and do things so opposite. Your body and mind are no different. If your body is working hard to eat right and exercise yet your mind is filling your brain with doubt, frustration, or even compromising the things you are doing.....in the end you will fail. I almost hate to use that word "fail" as I find it very powerful and very sensitive for some, but the reality is, when it comes to this kind of lifestyle change, there is no middle of the road. It's pass or fail.

Start telling yourself you can do this. Don't look at the big picture and what you need to accomplish in the end but tell yourself daily the small things your mind needs to hear to get you through the day. 

- I can look good in the clothes I wear today.

- I can drink all the water I need to get in today.

- I can eat what I have planned on my menu for the day.

- I can be good at this.

- I'm a winner.

- I'm a fighter.

- I'm determined.

Just remember, in the end it's your job to show your body and mind who is boss. Don't let your body win the battle. If you do, the weight will just come back. Remember your body is a shell, and the thing that matters most and will carry you to the end is your mind. Take care of your mind so it can take care of you. 

What Motivates You?

I've thought about this question several times lately, and it's amazing what my answers seem to be. Healthy eating, going to the gym, making outdoor choices when it comes to recreation, running, feeling fit, and the list goes on. Has my answer always been of this nature? Absolutely not. In fact, it was quite the opposite. My motivators were at one point based on food or feel good moments or what I thought brought me joy but in all reality was just a cover up, a band-aid.

It wasn't until I started to change my life and explore the new me that my motivators changed. Every little step counted along the way. It was as if the more time I spent exploring what my body could do, the more I craved what I was learning. It's so easy when we start a new regimen of any kind, especially losing weight, to focus on the scale changing each week to be the motivator. Anybody ever fallen into that trap? This is great maybe for a week or two but what does your brain do when the scale doesn't move for a while but maybe the inches are moving and or the brain is changing? Do we start to get discouraged? Do we panic? Do we inch a little more towards wanting to throw in the towel? I think what happens is we get fixated on the number on the scale and if it doesn't move, our motivation can so easily be tampered with. I guess the message I want to get across is don't let that happen to you. Keep going. Every day is worth you giving it 100% on your journey. Plus, yes the scale is helpful and lets you know you are making progress but that is only a very TINY part of the problem you've gotten yourself into in the first place. In order to change we need to look and think of ourselves in a different way. We need to come up with some self motivators that are healthy yet helpful.

What are other things you can do to motivate you throughout the week? Here are a few Paige ideas:

- Talk to God about what you're up against each day

- Plan ahead - avoid rush

- Get with a friend and share your goals/exercise together

- Write down ahead of time everything you will eat that day

- Make a chart or graph and track your progress (progress can be with eating, exercising, weight, inches, etc.)

- Pick some healthy new recipes to try 

- Keep a journal/blog and write your thoughts and feelings

- Share your progress with someone else (I know this sounds a little odd but I didn't really do this until after the fact and to see what a blessing it has been to share my own story and pay-it-forward has been a huge motivator to me to want to continually help others I know on their own journey.)

- Get a cute or fun water bottle that you enjoy filling up several times a day. 

Don't stress and think about what you have to do to lose that 1-2 pounds this week (or 5 -10 if you're brain is currently thinking unrealistically). Think about what you can do to motivate yourself to become the best you you know. And in all reality, maybe you don't know who that person is yet and that's okay too. ( I met her along the way myself.) Plant some seeds now and you will build within the walls of your frame a person whose motivation is built on an active lifestyle and a desire to be healthy, not just by dieting, getting skinny, and watching the numbers on the scale go down just to gain it back when you think you're ready to be done with this latest phase or way of thinking.

Whatever it may be that will motivate you, find something and stick with it, even when the going gets tough. Motivation is not only how we feel but even more so how you think. If you can train your brain to be healthy and remind you of the potential that is within you, everything else will come so naturally. 

Your body is an amazing creation and can do amazing things if you will but motivate it and tell it what do to. Think of your body as waiting and wanting to hear from you each morning on how you're going to work together, to become the best team you possibly can. You can do this! 

Remember My Post Last Week? Here's What I've Been Working On......

Remember how last week I mentioned just picking ONE thing to work on? Well, I picked mine and am ready to share. I actually had several little areas I was considering picking but decided to stick with just one - water.

I've always loved water and drinking it has never really been a problem for me. In fact, often times during my weight-loss I had wondered if I was drinking too much water. (Did you know that too much water can be bad for you?)  It seemed that since I started my new job this fall I struggle with getting my water in during the day. Really there is not a good excuse for not doing it. Especially considering we have a water guy that comes every two weeks and gives us the good, fresh stuff. Part of it I think has just been that I am far more busy in the moment than I was before, and it's not always easy to get away from my desk.  Whereas before, the water jug sat within an arm's reach distance from me.  Now, kids are constantly in and out of the office and phones are ringing. It's not long before time has slipped away from me and I realize I haven't had much water, if any. (Some days my cup hasn't been filled until lunch.) Oh, and since it's so cold these days (16 degrees at the moment) and the front door gets opened and closed all day long, the last thing I want to do is add something else cold to the mix.

Okay, enough of the excuse button. This last week I wanted to focus on water. It was a struggle the first day but before I knew it, it was easy. It was as if my body was happy with me again. (Don't get me wrong.  It wasn't that I had cut water out completely.  It was just that my body was at one time used to so much more.) I knew it was a good sign when I was visiting the bathroom several times an hour, not to mention that my urine was again very clear instead of having a yellow tinge. Now onto this week.  Things have been fine. Water intake is going well. I guess that means it's time to add in one of those other little areas I could work on, add it my water intake, and continue to move forward.

So in moment when it's just too cold for water, MIO comes to the rescue. This is one of my very favorite things to add to my water from time to time, but recently I discovered adding it to hot water is just as good if not better! It's like a yummy flavored tea. 

How do you get your water?

It's been TWO YEARS!

It was 2 years ago today that I met with Jacob Wilson (the best trainer in the world) and stepped on that scale for what was another life-changing moment.

I knew I was getting fairly close to hitting my goal weight of 145 and that morning felt a little different. Because I met with Jacob on a semi-weekly basis at that point, I wasn't consistently weighing myself but would only stand on the scale when he said I needed to. We met that morning at a gym I wasn't altogether familiar with as it wasn't the one we normally met at. (He works out of a couple different gyms as he is privately contracted.) I was wearing my favorite black Nike shorts and an old Nike shirt that accompanied me many hours in the gym. In fact, on measurement days I tried to wear the same exact thing to get the most accurate reading. He took me into the small dressing room and made the comment, "Is this the day?" I was so nervous I could hardly speak, let alone think. He asked me to take off my shoes and step up on the scale. If you've ever watched the Biggest Loser, it's like when they go to the weigh-in and everyone is on pins and needles. The only bad part is there was no beeping, waiting, or commercial break in my case. The number just popped up on the screen in black writing with it's blue background reading 143! I didn't even know what to do or how to react. Not only did I hit my goal weight, I was under by two pounds. Jacob couldn't wait to go out and tell anybody he could in the gym what had just happened. In the past, he had made me wear a vest with weight attached during workouts to show my body what it used to deal with. Those were very hard, emotional sessions but this time was different. He tried to get one of those "heavy weight" (I call them) bars and put the total weight I had just lost (133 pounds) and have me lift it. I couldn't! It was a very humbling moment for me to realize the reality of what had happened with myself over the past year.  I had lost an entire person. Not only that but it was motivating and inspiring as Jacob's client to see him get slightly teary and tell me that this is why he does what he does. 

Sometimes it seems like that day was just yesterday but in all actuality, it's been two years. It wasn't always an easy road but it was so worth it. It has changed my life forever. And looking back on things, I'm not so sure God wanted it to be easy. There have been so many things I have learned about myself, who I am, and what my body can do. I'm not sure I could have mastered these things if it would have been a cake walk...something I had to put no effort into. The best part about this whole thing is that anyone can do it. It takes no experience, expertise, nutrition knowledge, loads of money, and the excuse list can go on. It takes you wanting to sincerely make a change, sacrifice some things, and put hope and faith into the fact that two people can do anything, as long as one of them is God.

Before

At Goal - January - 2011

Goal Maintained - Holidays - 2012

What Paige Thinks About New Years Resolutions

Happy New Year everyone! I've been dragging my feel about this post for over a week now, and I really can't pinpoint why. I think it's maybe because I haven't wanted to ruin any body's thinking and/or motivation for the new year, but I will just come out and say it.  I really dislike new year's resolutions. In fact, I almost want to use the word "hate" but that word never leaves my mouth. (Believe me, in this case it was tempting.) I'm not sure why, but every time I've heard the word lately, I want to cringe. I would much rather hear people say things like, "My new way of life" or "Becoming a better me."  Whether it has to do with weight loss or something else you're wanting to change and work on, I think it sounds more personal.  More individualized. 

When I hear the word resolution I think of lots of people all at once trying to do or be better for a short time, and then it stops. It's like the focus is only for a period of time. In the past, maybe you worked on something for only a few weeks and others for a few months, maybe even a year. 

However, when you are thinking of making changes that involve losing weight (and wanting to keep it off) and becoming healthy, this is something that has to be considered carefully. It can't be something you only do for a few weeks or a few months until that cruise you have on the calendar or even just for a year. It has to be something that you are committed to doing forever. It becomes who you are. It becomes your lifestyle.

I know none of this is easy so it is important to just start small. Too much too soon can be overwhelming and discouraging. Not to mention, you may get burned out and have a desire not to continue. I know this was the case for me in the past. I started out strong and hard but then as time went on I teetered out and went back to my old ways. It was almost as if it was a contest to see how long I could go before I was back to eating and doing the things I was before. 

After finding my way and figuring out this whole process there is a spark in me that so wants other people to understand that it will only work if they start slow and take baby steps to success. A baby can't go from being born to walking in a matter of weeks. Thus we can't expect to decide we are going to be healthy and only do it for a certain amount of time. It's a lifelong commitment. 

There are so many things to consider when wanting to change your body. You need to map it out. The only way I was successful was to start out slow. Everyone is different, but I would suggest picking one thing this week that you haven't done in the past but are willing to try. It may be something to the effects of drinking 8 glasses of water, cutting out treats, or going for a walk. Pick something (just one thing) and write it down. Next week you can add to it and so on. Before you know it, you will have formed many new habits that contribute to a healthier YOU! And remember, you can do anything you put your mind to! 

P.S.Don't worry, I'm planning to write something down and share it with you next. 

Getting Through the Holidays.....

It seems like I've received several emails lately on how to eat healthy and still enjoy the holidays. I will be honest with you, just eat! Eat what you want. Enjoy food. Don't feel guilty. The key is to do it in moderation. 

The only people I know of who have ever eaten a "strict certain diet" over the holidays are those people following a "strict certain diet."  Problem is, what will happen one, two, or three Christmas's from now when they are not on that diet anymore? Will their body know what to do? Will their brain be trained on how to eat for enjoyment but in moderation? Have you trained your brain?  Are you willing to give it a shot?

This is really the key with weight loss and maintenance. Yes, initially you have to make some sacrifices on your food choices when you are actively losing, but when it came to special occasions and or the holidays, I always ate what I wanted but in moderation. I never wanted to deprive myself of anything.  I wanted to train my mind most of all, on how to eat normal foods, even treats, and still come out a winner in the end. I often times wouldn't find myself losing that 1/2 -1 pound weight loss for that week but I maintained without a gain and learned I could enjoy that special celebration or holiday and ENJOY the foods I love. 

I was just at a Christmas luncheon for work a week or so ago and one of the gals I work closely with said to me afterwards, " I love how you just ate whatever you wanted. I saw you pick some naughty things and I also saw you pass by other naughty things. (I try to balance out the naughties when I can.)  It made me look at you and think, if she can do it like that...so can I." 

You too can train your body and brain to be successful during the holidays. The key is to eat what you want, enjoy the festive foods you're surrounded with, and keep moving! Yep, you can't do all this and expect not to exercise. If you're away from your gym or the things you're used to doing, go for a walk. Go on a hike....just be active in some way each day. Honestly your mind needs that more than anything. For me it makes me feel empowered. I'm telling my body who is in charge and that even though we may be eating some things that normally aren't consumed, we're still going to have to work for them. You can do it! You make up the rules remember? Just tell your mind and body how it's going to be, and they will follow along. I promise it works every time.

With that in mind, and as we remember this week the birth of our Savior, I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

I'm Still Here

I know many of you have wondered where I've gone and why I've stopped posting lately. Just to clarify, no I haven't stopped because I've decided eating healthy isn't for me and I don't want to do it anymore. No I haven't been gaining all my weight back and are afraid to blog. In fact, here is my scale weight as of this morning.

(So, it was early and I used my phone upside down. Whoops. Basically, it says 146! Very NORMAL for me as I am usually anywhere between 143-147.)

No, I haven't stopped blogging because I'm afraid I won't be able to keep the weight off and am just giving up. Nope, none of the above is true so you can put your mind at ease.

I really don't know that I have a good answer as far as why I haven't been blogging. I actually enjoy blogging about my journey. It's therapy for me. It excites me. It makes me feel good to share my story with others and it makes me even more happy to hear about your progress and your own journeys.

I know October was a hard month for me mentally, which had nothing to do with my weight-loss journey. It was the year mark of a time where my son was seriously ill in the hospital and spent a week in ICU and then some. Just the memories that would often come flooding back through my mind (and they still do) of those days spent there and how scary things were for him and our family during that time have left me a little bit in reserved mode these days.  Even though the outcome was wonderful and I'm so grateful God saw fit to let him stay with us, the whole experience, as beautiful as it was, certainly has seemed to shake my world a bit. 

Don't worry, I think I'll be back to regular posting soon. Just trying to get up again and keep moving forward. The good news is, I've found great peace in my moments of exercise. It brings me joy to know that my health is good, and that my body is able to do such amazing things. I'm finding it important to share this post with you so you can see that I too am very normal. I struggle. I have hard times. 

Just because I haven't been blogging doesn't mean I haven't been doing what I always do. Here's a picture of a great hike we took up Rattlesnake Ridge, Thanksgiving morning while in Seattle. (It was about 2 miles up, a great view, and the two miles down.)

Here's to hopefully another post in the near future!

Dare to Dream

One of the things that I found really helpful while embarking on such a task as losing weight and changing my lifestyle was the occasion where my mind would slip into another place and before I knew it, I was living my life in my new body.  I was dreaming.

I had energy.

I was moving in ways I never thought I could.

I was wearing things I never thought I could.

I was talking and motivating people in ways I never thought I could.

I preferred healthy food over any other food.

I was active.

I was running.

I was climbing mountains.

I was happy.

I wanted to keep going.....

 In some ways I give credit for these "small moments" to God. He needed me to embrace just who I was becoming and fall in love with the new me. He wanted me to see that I could be anything I wanted to be and none of it had to be a dream but something that could become a reality. God is the only one who knows the desires of your heart and is so deeply invested in your happiness that He will do just about anything to show you how much you mean not only to Him and to many others, but most importantly yourself. If you can fall as deeply in love with that person as He has, your dreams will soon become a reality.  No matter how long it takes to get there, it will be something you cherish and it will be a lifestyle you will hold on to forever. 

Dare to dream? I say go for it!

 

Ready for a Makeover?

One of the things that was so noticeable in my progress and how I saw myself as the weight began to melt off was how I looked. My appearance. This is something for years I honestly hid from, so to have it be on the front line and something I had to think about was daunting. It scared me. I was so used to being comfortable with who I was and hiding under the layers of skin and fat, that often times even my personality was hidden.

It was very normal for me to wear baggie tops and or a vest of sorts to hide the thing that bothered me most - my mid section. (Even though I liked to look nice and took good care of myself, this was still the pattern and a source of comfort.) It was almost as if I thought, "If I wear a baggie top, no one will notice just how fat I am or notice if my stomach gets a little bigger." It was what I knew. It was what was comfortable for me.

As I lost weight, as the sizes got smaller, I often took the same approach only in a smaller size. I was drawn to the "fat lady section." It took support team member # 3 (click here) and a lot of prodding and convincing to get me to the skinny section. Often times I was rummaging through racks and she was looking several sizes smaller. I would be thinking she was looking for herself and then she would remind me what size I was and re-direct me to the right spot and remind me she was looking for things for me. (Crazy but true story!)

Once a noticeable amount of weight was gone, gone forever, I sorta kinda liked the idea of shopping. (Something that had seemed so foreign for so long.) Not only was I feeling better physically and emotionally, I was catching the vision of what my body was beginning to look like and the physical changes that went with it.  It was excited to try new things. New clothes. New clothes I never thought in my wildest dreams would ever look good on my body. It was a gradual process, but the more I poked around with the idea and the more I was encouraged, the more ready I was to make the switch.

Same goes with my hair. I had had long hair for as long as I can remember. Long as in, can fit into a ponytail long. It was what was safe for me. The long hair hid the rolls of  double chin and chubby cheeks. I remember visiting a new hair dresser (so I was already nervous) after losing my weight and asking her what she thought. She didn't even blink an eye and told me to go back to my natural color (no more highlights) and cut it short. SHORT! I thought she was crazy. I remember sitting in her chair for the next 45 minutes nervous and not sure what I had really gotten myself into but I went with it. All said and done, I loved it! See nervous again for the change but happy with the results

I admit, there are days even now when I feel bloated and/or like my body looks fat - I want to cover up. It's something I've been accustomed to for so long now it's going to take some time and eventually, hopefully, it will fade away for good. In the meantime, I'm really enjoying the new look and feeling of both the clothing AND the new hair!

Are you ready for a makeover of sorts? As scary as it sounds, it gives your body a chance to celebrate what it's been up to lately. It may not be the clothes or hair for you but whatever you chose it to be, enjoy every minute of it. Celebrate what the new you is becoming! 

Here's me in that vest I was talking about. It was seriously my cover-up! I wore it ALL THE TIME.

A little braver these days - more style, more skin! 

Old hair..... 

New Hair!

Support Team #6 - My Mom!

I love to share these posts with you. It really has made me reflect in so many ways about what I've been through and who has been a part of this journey with me. This week we get to hear from my mom. One of the things that I have loved about my mom through this whole journey is that even though I know weight is something that she struggles with herself, never once has she tried to down play or sabotage anything I was doing. (Often I would get this from others who were dealing with weight issues.) She has been so encouraging, full of support, altered meal planning, and just made me feel special for every pound she saw me lose. Not to mention, our time we spend together these days is different. Different because I've changed. In a good way. A healthy way.It blesses me to have a mom that is not only my mom, but also my friend. Thanks mom! Love you. 

I don't know where to begin to express how I feel about the accomplishments Paige has achieved over the last two years.  Of course I am incredibly proud of her for the tremendous hard work and sacrifices she's made in her body transformation and weight loss  achievements.  She has shown fierce determination and developed an  "I can dot it ", "I won't give up"  attitude that I really admire.

 

But, during this process she's also become a runner, a dedicated gym rat,  a fashionista, a dietician,  and even a writer.  She has gained confidence in all areas of her life and to me, these accomplishments  are as great as the weight loss.   Paige  is an example of someone who has shown us that anything really is possible if you dedicate yourself to it;  not  just "talking the talk", but really "walking the walk".  

 

I'd never followed a blog before I started reading  Paige's, and honestly didn't know her  talent for writing.  She inspires me, she makes me laugh-out- loud, she makes me cry and she gives me a sense of calm and peace.  I don't know how she does it but I love that she does. Some postings have been emotional for me and I admit that I've really cried over some things in them.  Most were tears of genuine happiness but there were a few sad tears.   I think I was feeling responsible or shall I say irresponsible for things I may have done that contributed to the unhealthy Paige.  But I don't think about that now.  I truly believe that this Paige;  the healthy, happy, energetic one is the only Paige we'll ever see.  Her new active lifestyle suits her and their family.  There seems to be more running,  hiking, camping, biking, etc at the Morrils and everyone seems happier and closer.   

Have a mentioned that I have this remarkable daughter with the best weight loss/exercise transformation story you'll ever hear,  who is so comfortable in her skin that she's beaming most of the time.  And did I mention that she has a terrific, handsome, husband and two very  smart and talented children who all adore her.   Have I mentioned how much she makes my heart smile and how really blessed I feel to have her as my daughter.  Have I mentioned that I want to be more like her in many ways.  And did I mention how much her infectious laugh makes me laugh and I can hear it now.   Hugs and Kisses Paige!

 

Mom and I at the finish line of the Seattle Rock N Roll Half Marathon. She was there to watch, there to support, there to cheer me on! (I keep telling her she should train and even walk this race one of these times. Go Mom! :)

Instant Results?

I'm sure I've talked about this in some way or another at some point on my blog, but it seems like I've been bombarded with questions recently about people wanting to see results in their body. Like NOW! Like yesterday! It's almost like there is an urgency or something to have things all of the sudden be different over night. It makes my heart hurt to read some of the emails I've gotten but not just because of the things that are being shared, but because I at one time felt that way too.

There are a couple of ways I like to look at it.  I'm the first to admit, it's not necessarily the way we maybe want it to be, but I promise if you can try to catch the vision of what I'm about to say, the way you look at losing weight and or changing your lifestyle will become more natural. Something you're more apt to stick with and make a lifestyle of than a temporary fix.

First we need to remember that we didn't become unhealthy or overweight overnight. It took time. It was gradual. One pound at a time, and before we knew it we were buying bigger clothes and/or feeling out of shape. The cycle kept going until things got out of control and now we are in panic mode and want a quick fix.  If we don't see changes sooner than later we give up and think our bodies are now too old, not meant to lose weight, and whatever other excuse button we can find to push. (Trust me, I'm SO guilty of the excuse button. Even now I get caught hitting it here and there.) Am I right? Anybody have those feelings? Almost like we talk ourselves out of why our bodies are not performing the way we want them to?

I truly believe that this whole weight-loss thing was not meant to be understood quickly. Think of it like a bank account. The more deposits you make into educating yourself, eating healthy, and changing your life, the more interest you will gain and more likely you will be to keep  the weight off. It will have become a way of life for you and not just a phase or something to do for a time period in order to get the weight off and then go back to your old habits. I know for me, this was huge. Every day was an investment into my future. If you're saving for a trip or a new car, you have to work at it right?  Using a credit card would be a quick fix and you wouldn't have learned anything. Weight loss is the same way. No quick fix will work. It will come back to haunt you just as debt does. Take the time and do it the right way. I promise you will come out a better person, and in so doing I bet you'll inspire others.

God didn't create us to "get it" over night. To change in a snap, to go from one extreme to the other in a matter of moments or days. Could you imagine? Going from birth to grey hair in a matter of days or weeks? It would seem odd wouldn't it?  Our bodies are the same way. Be patient. They need to be treated with care and value and respect. Not only that, but God created our bodies to learn and grow. To experience difficulty so we can come out stronger. To take time to get to know our bodies and what they are capable of and in so doing learn and grow closer to Him. What a gift.  It all just takes time. 

Hang in there! It will happen. Some days are frustrating, believe me I know. (I still have those days) The good news is you're far better off than you were before you decided to make some changes right? Even if you're stuck at a plateau and nothing is working, keep plugging along. One day at time. One step in front of the other. In the meantime, celebrate every little victory! 

Might I recommend you go back and read the post I did last spring about about comparing weight-loss to ground beef? (Click here) It's one of my all-time favorites and still seems to bring peace to my heart when I know at times I struggled with seeing success along the way.

Yep, that's really me on the left. Celebrating one of those victories! 

(My best friend Tam and I on a detour trip to the Oregon Coast after running our 2nd half marathon in Seattle in June!)

Support Team Member # 5 - The Blakester!

It doesn't take much for this little guy to put a smile on my face. Since the moment I held him for the first time 12 years ago, I was in love. He melts my heart like no other. I'm not just saying this because he's my child, but he really is truly such a GREAT kid with a great personality. Very sweet, very caring, always willing to help others and has a deep love for God and the things that are important. I wish everyone could experience having a Blake in their midst, but we're pretty selfish around here and don't do much sharing. 

How blessed I am to have had him on my team of cheerleaders as I fought the fight to get the weight off my body. He was exceptional at telling me how good I was doing, how much my body was changing, and how lucky he was to be my son. (Occasionally I'd even find a love note of encouragement.) God sure new I needed a Blake in my life. I will forever be blessed by his presence. The best part is, he'll forever be mine. Love you Blake.

I love my mom and I am so proud of her accomplishments and all the things that she does for me. With her example she has truly changed our lives.  I love her very much. Also I would like to congratulate her for her truly incredible story. It takes a lot of courage, bravery, and faith to do what she did. Not every day was easy but she kept going.

I want to thank my mom for the many things she has taught me to love.  For example, running. Not only did I used to not do it as much, but I also have bad asthma. Once she lost her weight and began running, she inspired me to do cross-country, and she helped me learn to love running. We’ve gone on a couple runs together, hikes, and even on special occasions- one of my favorites - mountain biking. Well, she only did that once and it wasn’t so fun for her but she was a trooper! Shall I mention she crashed? But she was inspiring because she got back on the bike and finished the course blood and all. Needless to say she has not gone back since. I love that my mom is a true supporter in everything I do and she’s always willing to try new things now that she is skinny. I love her very much for that. She is always there for you and will always be your friend. I love having my mom as a friend.

My mom really is wonderful. She is always so nice and willing to teach and help everyone around her. People are always talking to her about how to eat healthy. I love that she has taught so much to our family just by her example and now we love to be healthy too. 

Now, even though I love her so much, there is a downside to having a healthy mom. Yep, you guessed it, not enough tasty and unhealthy snacks in the pantry. This can be devastating for a growing kid like me, but that’s okay. I can look forward to Grandma’s house for the good stuff! She’s always got it stocked! 

I love you mom! Thank you for your testimony that anybody can do hard things!

Before

After

Desire is the Master Key!

Have you ever noticed that most of society reaches more for what they WANT and not really for what they NEED? I want that new dress. I want those red shoes. I want to go on that vacation over seas. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we thought that same way about our health? I want to be healthy. I want to be fit. I want to hike that mountain. The interesting thing is that some of these desires are truly wants. Others are not only wants, but I believe they are also needs. We NEED to be healthy. We NEED to take care of our bodies in a way that is normal so they function properly. Not only is choosing to make bad choices and letting our  bodies spiral out of control not healthy, but it also is very debilitating. I know personally when I was at my heaviest, I didn't have much motivation. Like, it was near to nothing. I certainly tried to put on a happy face and play along but deep down I knew better. How could I have been happy with who I was when I found myself shopping for larger clothes every time I went to a store? Or what about finding myself in pictures and I was 3 times the size of anyone else. Oh, and the wheezing as I sat in a chair doing nothing. That was sad.

The good news is that we all have some desire to do better in whatever it is we each individually are up against. I know you may feel like some days it's not there - you can't see it, you can't feel it, but I promise it's there. I talked last week about stretching ourselves. (click here) This is one of those times we might need to stretch ourselves to dig a little deeper within our soul to find that desire. Just by reading this post proves you have the desire within you to change your life. To do better. Pretty cool, huh? The question is this: How bad do you want it? You have to desire it enough to want to do what it takes to reach for it. The proof of desire is pursuit. Are you pursing what you want? Are you taking action? You must possess enough desire to make it a need. If we can train our brains and do this we will give birth to our dreams. I can testify that this is SO true. It's not always an easy thing to do. Desire is a tricky one. It has to come from within. What might that look like? How about pressing forward, even when you've hit that plateau? What about putting on those gym clothes and getting back to the gym even if you've taken the week off? Or what about getting back on track and eating the way you know you should even though you've been eating horrible lately? Desire is the master key! It's like a fire. You can light it and watch the flame get bigger or you can not do anything, stop halfway to your destination, and watch yourself smother it. 

Desire will not only motivate you, but if used properly it can change your life. The best part is we all have it! DESIRE! I know it was something that drove me full force and helped me to achieve who I've become today. Take a look...

Before I had any desire to be healthy.

After, with all the desire in the world - trying new things! (First time EVER not on the bottom of the pyramid.)