I'm Inspired.

One of the things I'd like to do with my little blog project is post from time to time about something or someone that inspires me in my weight loss journey.

I have just the PERFECT person to start with tonight!

I'm inspired... by Ali Serra.



I found this post on the site of a photographer who I follow~ this is actually about her husband, Ali. I read this with tears streaming down my face. Besides Ali's success (which is totally incredible!), it was just SO moving to read how Kristie talked about him~ you can sooooo easily tell how proud she is. It really, REALLY hit home.

And the really special thing for me is that they're actually cheering for me, too~ both Kristie and Ali. How lucky am I? They're incredibly kind and supportive and it means so much to me to have them rooting for me, too. In fact, Ali gave me some advice tonight that I'd like to share with you~ especially those of you that have told me you're doing this right along with me. He said to look at this time as a lifestyle change, not a diet. Read that again, and really think about what it means. I have been doing that all night, and believe me, I plan to work on doing exactly that.

So please, please, please click on the link above if you haven't already (the words Ali Serra). Read the post...

Be inspired.

I am.

Grateful

You guys, I'm simply overwhelmed at the incredibly nice responses I'm getting on this project... people have said just the kindest, most encouraging things in comments (visible to everyone at the bottom of each of these posts) and in emails and facebook messages, wow... I'm just completely touched by each one.

Suffice it to say I feel an incredible amount of support in this journey, and thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm so grateful. And, what's really cool is I know there are people out there now who will be checking up on me (extra motivation) and even some that felt a push now to make their own changes, too! That's even cooler! Especially to those people, just know that I'm struggling in all this too but I want to make a change and I know you do too~ I will be here to support you as much as your words have already supported me. Definitely let me know, shoot me an email, message, etc, about how you're doing. You are not alone, either!!

And speaking of, definitely keep the "tip oriented" emails and comments coming, people! I love them! If you haven't already seen some of the comments that have been posted, definitely check them out! There are some super-good tips and words of wisdom. I'll take as much of that as I can get!

So, I'll leave you with this for now...



This is me, enjoying the most wonderful watermelon after work today. Sometimes after work I stop by the nearby gas station and get a little pint of ice cream to polish off before Andy gets home (not everyday, but sometimes)... today, I had watermelon. And it was darn good.

Feeling Good

Well, technically speaking I didn't actually meet 2 out of my 3 goals for today, but I'm still super-proud of myself!! Why is that?!?

First, I actually did not stay within 31 WW points, but I was really close, and THAT is a small victory! I ended up going a little over at the end of the day, but I chose to eat a lot of fruit during the day, and I will never feel badly about that. Overall, I did DARN GOOD. (Especially because there are two kit kat bars kidden away upstairs that sound awfully good but I've resisted all day... that's MAJOR!).

Second, I didn't get to work out at the Y today. Andy and I went to the Y at 2:15, but we pulled into an empty parking lot because unfortunately the Y had closed at 2:00. Bummer!! And I was totally ready to go...



But here's the good part.... I still worked out, and I still got my heart rate up for 30 mins, which was the most important part of my goal (I told you I was being technical). Believe it or not, we have an elliptical machine at home, but in the past it has made a funny grinding noise when I've been on it so that helps me to avoid it (like I need help with that!). But, today, since the Y was closed and I was ready to work out, when we got home I jumped right on and did a good 30 minutes, and I didn't care what kind of noises the machine made. Awesome... I actually completely surprised myself, and I didn't let the fact that the Y was closed keep me from working out. Normally, I would have.

And because of all that, I am proud of myself today, and that means I really did officially meet goal #3. That's the best one, I think.

One Day at a Time

I woke up this morning and even though it's really blah, rainy, and dark outside, I decided right away to have a sunny disposition about the day.

See? This is me... sunny disposition. (and kind puffy too, yikes! camera?)



The second thing I decided is that I'm going to take each day as it comes, one day at a time. I'm all for setting goals, really, and of course I already have a major goal to be healthier and happier when all is said and done. BUT, I will not set my sights on 150 pounds just yet~ I'm going to start with each day, setting a few attainable goals in the morning, and seeing at the end of the day how I did.

So, for today, attainable goals:

1) Stick within 31 Weight Watchers points (yes, I've done Weight Watchers many, many, many times over the years... Will totally work if I stick with it~ the program has never failed me, I'VE failed the program.)

2) Go to the Y with Andy and do something that makes my heart rate go up for at least 30 mins.

3) Feel at least a little proud of myself at the end of the day.

So, that shouldn't be too bad. Sounds easy, I know, but it will actually be an accomplishment, even if it's small, and it will definitely be one that I will celebrate at the end of the day today.

On to food, one of my favorite things. It's 10:15 right now and so far, I've had a Slim Fast shake for breakfast. It was good! Not as good as the scrambled eggs and 6 pieces of bacon that I often get at the hospital in the morning (see, I told you, it's ugly!!!!), but it's chocolate and I love that...



It doesn't taste bad at all, in fact, I really like the 'chocolate royale shake,' but see on the container where it says 'controls hunger for up to 4 hours'? Yeah, I'm wondering who decided to write that on there because I just had it five minutes ago and I'm already hungry...

My {Almost} Completely Happy Life

I am someone who lives a completely blessed life... I have a wonderful husband and family, we have good jobs and wonderful friends, we live in a nice home, etc... Life is good most of the time, and although we face the usual challenges in life and things aren't always perfect, we are very happy. In fact, I'm almost as happy as I can get...

Almost.



The only thing about my life that doesn't make me happy (that is within my power to change) is my weight. It's something I've struggled with for a long time now, and although I've tried and failed a bazillion times before to make a change, I'm deciding today that I'm going to do whatever I have to do.

I'm starting this blog as a way to document the journey to health and complete happiness~ the blood, sweat, and tears, the inspiration and the frustration, the good, the bad and the downright ugly... all of it. I am doing this for myself and for no one else, although I'm completely open to sharing my journey and of course, I will take all the support I can get! Please send my way as many positive thoughts and prayers as you can muster... I'll need every one of them.

I am about 5'5", and as I write this, I weigh approximately 263 pounds.



But that's about to change, once and for all.