Hello everyone,

Well, I think I will try this again.  It is now July 2010 and I see the last time I posted any information on here was. . . . . May 2008.  That is pretty sad on my part.

I am still waging the war on obesity.  4 years ago (04-2006) I started a journey to change my life and I am still on that journey.  I am happy to say that I never completely gained back all the weight that I lost 2006.  I have managed to keep off 70 of the over 100 pounds that I lost.

In January of this year, 2010, I ended up in the hospital which was a shock to me.  I was having horrible problems catching my breath so when I went to the doctor it was decided that I needed to be put into the hospital.  I was admitted that afternoon and was there for the next week.  They discovered that I had Atrial Fibrulation or A-Fib for short.  What that means is that the upper part of my heart and the lower part of my heart are not beating at the same time. Nevertheless, a few prescriptions later and a week of “rest” (NOT) in the hospital life went on.  Since I am/was so anti doctors who knows how long I have suffered from this heart issue.  Along with all of that I was finally able to be tested for sleep apnea.  I was told that I have it.  Wow, big surprise.  Do you suppose that is why I was only getting 1-2 hours of sleep per night?  What a concept.  Again, nevertheless, after several months of going through the system. . . I now have a C-pap machine.  It’s amazing what life can be like when you are not sleep deprived.  I was so delirious from “no sleep” that literally all I could do was exist.

However, I have said all of that to say this. . . I am now sleeping and I am back on the road to conquering obesity!!!!!  :-)

Yesterday was the first day I was able to exercise in the pool.  I decided that walking in the pool was much better for me than taking a walk around the block.  Not to mention that I detest hoisting this fat body up and down the street.  It is just too difficult and frustrating at this weight.  I am very thankful to God for the pool.  Yesterday I walked around the pool for 10 minutes.  I would do 2 laps one way and then I would turn around and do 2 laps the other way.  This way I was always walking against the flow of the water giving me more resistance.  After that I set the timer for another 10 minutes to which I held on to the side of the pool and did kicking. . . and I might add that I did this without stopping.  Who knew that you could tire yourself out so much in 10 minutes?!  :-)

I have decided that for this week I will do these sets for 10 minutes each and then move on from there.  As I see it. . . I have two good months of hot weather to do this.  So I plan on being in the pool everyday and I am expecting results.  For now the results that I have are a red body from too much sun and a pair of legs that feel like noodles.  Praise God for sun and noodles.  :-)

Remember you are never too big to do something.  If I can keep going so can you!  Let’s win this battle together.

Well, here I am again.  I can’t believe that it has been almost a year since I last journaled.  Shame on me.  I was reading over some of the entries from a year ago and I realize that I have dropped the ball as far as some things that I had promised doing.

Believe it or not. . . I have wrestled with writing an entry.  I always want to have a positive spin on things and it doesn’t seem as if that is happening.  Well, at least not to me anyway.  Friday, May 23rd will mark yet another birthday that is here and another year of promises that I made and have not achieved.  Nevertheless, Happy Birthday to me because (Read on …)

Happy Summer everyone,

First off I want to say “thank you” to all of my family and friends that sent such lovely “Happy Birthday” messages.  It really means a lot to me to know that there are so many cherished people in my life.  Each one of you make every day a little bit brighter.  Thanks for your love and thoughtfulness.

Well, this past month has been eventful in many stressful ways.  Some people that are very dear to me have lost loved ones, and others have had to put loved ones in a board and care facility due to Alzheimers.  This keeps me even more focused on learning more about health and how to get healthy and share with others what I am learning.  There has been other drama going on that is just NOT worth mentioning other than the fact that I have used it as an ‘EXCUSE’ to blow my plan.  Believe it or not I even tried to take a two week ‘vacation’ (another excuse) from going to the gym and working out with my trainer.  Thankfully, she saw right through me and said (Read on …)

Well, believe it or not. . . here I am posting again, FINALLY.Today is my birthday soooooo I decided it was a good way to start a new year of my life.  I know I have been terrible about updating; however, I am going to make a valiant effort to do better. 

I will just tell you that the past few months have been rocky. I have basically maintained my weight loss. I still go to the gym at least 4 times a week and work out with the trainer.  She is wonderful!  She trys to keep me on the straight and narrow and believe me somedays it is an awful task.  Nevertheless, she takes the challenge and she does get results.  

I really need to hear from each of you to know that you are still out there. I got a very encouraging email today (Read on …)

Well, I started my day out in the right way; however, it did NOT end up that way.  I had my daily “Gym Fix” and then KAPOW!

For whatever reason. . . this afternoon I started going through some stuff that needed to be cleared out.  I NEED to finish getting organized because I can’t stand clutter and dismay.  Nevertheless, I came across some stuff that brought up LOTS of memories both good and bad.  Instead of just experiencing those moments I resorted to my old ways of dealing with pain by turning to comfort foods.  I must tell you that at least  I am coming clean with these experiences faster and more honestly than I ever have before.  I WILL make it to my goal and I WILL be successful.  I just want you all to know that I struggle just like you do.  Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I do you.  Together we will be successful on this journey to health. 

Tomorrow is a NEW DAY.  I am a new creation in Christ Jesus all old things have passed away and behold all things are new.  Praise God for forgiveness and newness.  Greater is He that is in me. . . . .

Thank you for your love and support.

Well, I must say that my last journal entry was a little dismal.  I wasn’t feeling very positive nor was I feeling very inspired.  Nevertheless ALL that has changed.  I was able to find my way back on the right track.  I prayed and asked God to show me something positive out of that whole ridiculous situation and He was faithful and He did show me some things.  One very imporant thing that He showed me was that I had finally come to a place where I made a positive out of a negative.

Never before in my life that I can remember did I pull myself up out of a difficult situation.  I have always been prone to (Read on …)

Well, I have procrastinated over this for long enough.  It is time to bare my soul and come clean as it were.  I have always said that in this journey as you all walk with me I would be honest as to what happens with me.  That being said. . . .

December was a very trying time for me eating wise.  I did fine after Thanksgiving and even into the beginning of December then KABOOM!!!  I’m not quite sure what hit me nevertheless it hit me with a big KATHUD! 

I got my front yard decorated for Christmas before Thanksgiving and I was really in the spirit of the season and all that was left to do was to decorate the house.  All of a sudden (Read on …)

Well, here we are just one week before Christmas.  I haven’t even got my tree up yet.  Oh, well, hopefully I will have that done BEFORE Christmas Day.  After all, I am having people over for Christmas and I suppose it would be nice to have the house decorated. 

One thing I have always and will always promise to do is to be totally honest.  What is the use of me being anything else?!  I am here to tell you that I am definitely having a real struggle this past couple of weeks.  I must confess right here (Read on …)

Well, here we are just 16 more days until Christmas.  The time is fast approaching when many will be making their “New Year’s Resolutions”.  Does anyone ever make those and then actually stick with them past January 3rd? 

I am sitting here pondering what this past year has brought and what the New Year has to behold.  I am expecting great things in 2007.  I must say that 2006 wasn’t too shabby.  Hopefully, I will be able to close out this year weighing below the 400 lb mark.

Today has been sort of a tough day.  I have not really wanted to do anything.  I have my outside Christmas decorations done; however, I have no energy to (Read on …)

Well, today was a wonderful day filled with much to be thankful for. I am thankful for the many friends that I have made these past few months. I am thankful for all of the support and encouragement that I have had through my journey thus far.

One of the biggest things I am thankful for is this. . . . . I believe this is the first Thanksgiving that I have truly enjoyed (food wise) WITHOUT beating myself up and feeling guilty for what I ate. I have decided since I AM NOT on a d_ _ t (nasty four letter word) any longer that it is okay to eat things that I wouldn’t normally eat on a day to day basis. A friend once told me to adhere to the 90/10 plan. Eat good and healthy 90% of the time and 10% percent of the time splurge and enjoy. Well, today I did just that, I enjoyed the things that I would not normally have had AND I don’t feel one bit guilty about what I ate. Mind you, I didn’t get wild and gorge myself; however, I did enjoy the Thanksgiving meal that was prepared.

I plan on doing the same thing on Christmas day. I am going to enjoy the various types of food on Christmas day and NOT feel guilty one bit. I have learned that Thanksgiving is ONE DAY and Christmas is ONE DAY. It is NOT a food fest from Thanksgiving through Christmas!!! If we keep this in mind I think we will all feel better about ourselves when January 1st rolls around. It will definitely make the whole New Year’s resolution process a LOT easier. Don’t you think? I look forward to hear your thoughts on this.