Stuck In A Rut

Day 11 of the 9^th segment of 10 days. Day 91 of 100 Days of Encouragement

 Day 12 of the 9^th segment of 10 days. Day 92 of 100 Days of Encouragement

 Well, I have hit a wall and a burn out. I have become stuck in a rut. I have been pushing pretty hard for about a month, and I sense that I am running out of energy and strength to stay on track. I weighed in on Sunday morning and found that I have not lost any more weight.

 For the past few days, I have not written down what I have been eating, and I noticed that I am slipping. So… tonight I prepared the menu diary to write things down tomorrow. I will go to bed earlier tonight, and plan my meals for tomorrow and the rest of the week.

 I know that I am in this business course for the next 7 weeks, so I will just have to manage my time and energy by planning, and taking better care of myself.

 So, if anyone is praying out there, I guess I have to do what I am telling others to do. Reach out and ask for support. Like it or not, I am staying with this commitment and will do another 200 days. So let’s buckle up and keep on keeping on. There is no giving up or turning back.

Treadmill Time

Day 9 of the 9^th segment of 10 days. Day 89 of 100 Days of Encouragement

Last night I started writing this post and was falling asleep at my computer, so I listened to my body and went to bed. So here is what I wrote last night.

 I think this lady found the answer to the scale not being cooperative. It is supposed to lie to her and show different numbers, so she can feel better about herself. 

 If life were only that easy….

 Well, it hasn’t been that easy. I have struggled for a few weeks now, and even though I do well at getting back on track, I run into days where I don’t have the extra time or energy to exercise. Thank goodness for my little dog Mercedes.  She gets me outside and walking, whether I want to or not. Today (Friday) I took  her for 2 walks and actually made time to jump on the treadmill for an hour. Well, it is really a battle, and it is a good thing that I am determined to win, otherwise I would give up. But I will not give up and will keep at it.  Don’t anybody get to the point where you admit defeat. No matter the struggle or how long it takes to succeed, we will get there.

Wow! It is hard to believe that 90 days have gone by. There is only one segment of 10 days left to go, so we can all push a little harder this time. I have become stuck at this point and will have to get some self discipline going for the next 10 days.

 When we reach day 100, I will start another 100 days and then another 100 days. Whatever it takes, we will get this ship turned around and reach those goals. The picture expresses what my week has been like.  It seems like I put in such long hours and run out of energy to take care of myself. Well, the good news is that this too will pass and things will settle down a little more.  At least I took my little dog Mercedes out for a long walk today. I came in and looked thorough my emails.

 It is always so good to hear from you. Be sure to write to me anytime. I always look forward to an email from you. I apologize to those that haven’t heard from me in a while. Please be sure that I will get my energy back and for sure will write to you. So keep on keeping on. We will get there no matter how long it takes.

Sometimes You Just Need a Good Laugh

No, I Haven’t Seen Your Lipstick – Why Would You Even Ask Me That? 

Day 8 of the 9^th segment of 10 days. Day 88 of 100 Days of Encouragement

I’ve been putting in long hours again, and I am glad to be able to slow things down a little for a few days. I appreciate the rest. I haven’t been brave enough to step on the scale, but I think I will get on the treadmill tonight.

 A friend emailed me with this picture today, and I couldn’t help but laugh. It really made my day, so I wanted to pass it on to you.

 Hope the picture gives you a good laugh and you pass it on.

Keep Going, Things Will Come Together

Day 5 of the 9^th segment of 10 days. Day 85 of 100 Days of Encouragements

Hello everyone. Hope you are all doing well. Today I started a program to help me build my new business. After a time of uncertainty, I feel like I am starting to get back on track. When you make decisions to change your life, wow, life really can change.

 When we face certain challenges and deal with issues as they surface, our lives can evolve and take various paths that lead to a whole new way of being. One of the new commitments I have made is to write down what I eat, no matter how much or what I eat. This shows me on paper where I am falling down and where I am doing well.

 The last few weeks have been loaded with struggles, but things are starting to come together. What a roller coaster ride it’s been! Regardless of how difficult the challenges are, I am determined and know that I will persevere until I reach my goals. We are close to the end of the first 100 days, and I’m getting ready to commit to another 100 or 200 days. Eventually I will get the new eating habits and thought patterns solid. That means that my behavioural reactions will also change. I monitor the thoughts and feelings that motivate and trigger my eating patterns, and I learning how to deal with them. This is the real challenge and this is where the victory happens. There is no turning back, which means keep going forward.

 So… keep on keeping on, because we can and will get there.

The Road To The Goal

Days 3 and 4 of the 9^th segment of 10 days 

Days 83 and 84 of 100 Days of Encouragement

It has been a beautiful sunny and warm weekend, as well as very busy. Although it has been a good weekend, I have to tell you that it has been quite a challenge trying to get back on track, with all of the changes and transitions that are happening.

 Transitions have a way of adding excitement as well as stress and uncertainty. It is during times of uncertainty that you have to walk by faith and not by sight. Well, it sounds easy enough to say, but walking the walk is much different than talking the talk. This is where the rubber meets the road, and I have to live in reality. Despite the trials and struggles, I have to say that I am thankful for all of the support I have, for all of the opportunities, and for an abundance of blessings. I am also very thankful for this great team. It is a pleasure to hear from you and I feel blessed to be sharing this journey with you in this life changing experience.

 One thing for sure is that when you decide to deal with something like changing eating habit and thinking patterns, you are going to run up against some emotional and psychological challenges. These may even play out in your day-to-day life, which is usually the case. It can seem like you’re going through hell.

 Today I heard someone repeat a famous quote made by Winston Churchill, “If you’re going through hell, keep going.”  The only way out is to keep going. It seems like the challenges pile on top of each other and keep growing, but I will keep on keeping on, because I know that no matter how many times I fall down, I will get back up and get there. I know that if I can make it, anyone can.

Making a Difference

Day 2 of the 9th segment of 10 days. Day 82 of 100 Days of Encouragement

I tried to put this post up last night, but the server was down, so this morning I am happy that everything is up and running, even me. I took my little dog Mercedes for a nice long walk in the beautiful sunshine.

Do you ever feel like you aren’t making a difference? I want each and everyone of you to know that every effort you make in this life makes a difference. Have you said a kind word or done something special for someone, or maybe sent up a prayer because you know that person needs it?

 You need to know that there is always an angel watching over you, and every time you reach out to make a difference in a way, that you are also doing something special for yourself. Sometimes I hear people get exhausted from helping others and feel like they don’t get any help. Well, I know from past experience that the help is just around the corner. It will come back to you many times over. Just when you least expect something, the help will be there.

 So let us all take a little time to find a way to do or say something special to someone today. Let them know that an angel is watching over them, and that life is worth living.

Day by day, I have come to realize that there is always an angel watching over you. This morning I was busy and feeling a little stressed about my new business adventure. I took a minute to check my emails, and I had received some very special messages from wonderful people. Thank you for the uplifting words. You need to know that your efforts and genuine hearts are so appreciated. I will keep working away at the challenge, and hope that I have been able to reach out and help or inspire, even a little. We are a team, and we will get there together. So I am sending up a special prayer for each and every one of you. Let us keep on keeping on and making a difference.

The Power of Dreams and Believing

Day of the 8^th segment of 10 days. Day 81 of 100 Days of Encouragement.

I can hardly believe that 80 days have come and gone so fast. These last 10 days have gone by like a blur, and  it was a pretty tough 10 days. Part way through the 10 days I told you that I had gained a few pounds from all of the stress and fatigue, but I have since lost that weight gain. So that is the good news. The frustrating news for me is that I am at the same weight as I was at the last 10 day segment.

 BUT, I know that I am such a determined person that I will not give up until I get to the goal. It is quite the journey, loaded with challenges, yet, those challenges are actually opportunities to overcome obstacles and make amazing memories.

 I know about the power of dreams and believing, as I have many, many experiences with perseverance and dreams come true. In fact, I will have to write a book about them, as there are so many. It is from all of the collective experiences that I know that I will get to this goal and many others.

 I have to share some current experiences, because months ago, when I finally made the commitment to change my lifestyle and life habits, I could never have guessed that my life would change so much, so fast, in 80 days. This includes the joy of dropping 11 pounds, (and working on another 30 to 35 lbs), meeting new people, issues being dealt with, and ….

 Here is the big one; a change in career. For many, many years I have dreamed of starting my own business, and it seems that all of the stars have aligned and things are coming together. A number of years ago I created and copyrighted some very special dolls with incredible concepts built in. I held onto the dream and believed that one day this would happen. In April I met some people at a business mixer and was blessed with a complimentary pass to the Alberta Women Entreprenuers (AWE) convention, which is worth $600. The convention was amazing, as well as the business contacts that I made, knowledge and information that I gathered, and inspiration that moved me up to the next level. Everything that I needed so far has come together, and…  by the grace and mercy of God… I feel like I am “Living The Dream”.

 I am still putting some of the pieces of the new and exciting business together, and will fill you in on the details as they happen. As is the case with many things, there are risks involved, but my faith tells me that each day will bring exactly what I need to keep going forward. One day at a time I will meet my challenges and do my best. Without a doubt, I know that we will all “Live The Dream” of overcoming the obstacles that challenge us to build the character strength we need to live the most fulfilled lives we could ever dream of and hope for.

 So keep on keeping on, because we are going to celebrate victory. We will never surrender. We know that we can and will experience the exhilaration of “Triumph of the Human Spirit”.

Helping Each Other

Day 10 of the 8^th segment of 10 day. Day 80 of 100 Days of Encouragement

It is hard to believe that 80 days have gone by, and so quickly. I’ve really gotten back into tracking what I eat and how much I exercise. I did get on the treadmill today for an hour and took Mercedes for an extra long walk. The weather is finally getting better, although I am enjoying how green everything is from all of the rain we’ve had in the past month. This last 10-days has been too busy and I have had a very tough time, so tomorrow will be weigh-in.

 I appreciate hearing from all of you and the progress you are making. Some of you have done very well and lost up to 6 or 7 pounds in one week. That’s is extremely impressive. Keep up the good work. We need to ensure that we encourage and help each other on this journey. As you can see in the picture, one of the pandas is helping the other by holding him or her up. I want to thank everyone that has contacted me and offered support. I love hearing from you, and really appreciate when you take a minute to post a comment. Be sure to read the comments and offer encouragement and support. That is what this blog is all about. We are traveling on the road to victory each and every day. Keep on keeping on, because we will celebrate those successes together.

The Happiness Factor

Day 9 of the 8^th segment of 10 days. Day 79 of 100 Days of Encouragement

Hope you are all doing well. I called today’s post “The Happiness Factor” because I had the blessing of meeting up with a very happy lady. Some of you may recall that I wrote a post around a month ago talking about a lady that drives the shuttle for an auto dealer. She makes it her goal to find some way to sow the seeds of happiness in each person she give a ride to.

 Today I had the privilege of riding with her again. We had a lot of laughs, even though she had put in a very long day, and ended up working late. She went into a wrong driveway, but we just laughed, and then she ended up having to use a unique parking spot, which sent us into laughter.

 There are so many studies that indicate that happiness comes from within. It is a perspective that I am working on. Some years ago I had an older vehicle and took a group of youth to the mountains for the weekend. On the way back the vehicle ran into breakdown after breakdown. The only thing that seemed available at the time was to turn into laughter, so we did. And.. everything we needed was there when we needed it. The muffler fell off right at the garage. As we were driving away, something else happened and we were able to get it fixed.

 By the end of the trip, we ended up with a lot of great memories, even under such trying conditions. Happiness means working on our perspective and trusting that things will work out, because they will.

 Today I was happy to hear from Jay, one of our team members. He posted a comment asking everyone for suggestions, so TEAM, let’s make sure we post comments and suggestions. He is having to deal with going to BBQ’s that have a lot of pasta salads and salads loaded with mayonnaise. I suggested that he take some salads or other foods he can have and let the host know that he is eating a restricted diet. Anytime I tell people that, they are respectful and seem to go the extra mile to ensure there are foods that I can eat. But, team, please come up with some suggestions.

 Of course I have been Off Course for a week now, but I am back, and more determined than ever. We will all keep on keeping on, believe, and know for certain that we will get to the goal.

The Concert

Days 6, 7, and 8 of the 8^th segment of 10 days.

 Days 76, 77 and 78 of 100 Days of Encouragement

Well, I have been so busy with the concert and then recuperating that I haven’t had time or energy left over to put up posts for a few days. The concert went well, and many third world children were sponsored. It was a lot of fun, and A LOT of work, but so worth it. Geoff Moore came in from Nashville and sang some of his songs that are played on the radio.

As you can see, it was a beautiful sunny day; the best weather we’ve had in a month.

 My son and another band member performing.

We are still sorting through the pictures and video, but have some to put up on this post. Everyone had a lot of fun. There was face painting for the children, and even some adults joined in.  Val Martins from Joyful Face Painting has an artistic flair that pleased all of the children.

These two little girls are adorable.

We gave some very nice prizes away, and I had a chance to go up on stage and draw for some of the winners. Flaman Fitness sponsored advertising and also donated a Vibration Fitness machine worth $2000. That’s me up on stage anouncing the winners of the Vibration trainer and Sky Dive package. There was also an acoustic guitar and case that was donated by Axe Music. It was very special when I found out that I had drawn the name of a lady that had really wanted to play guitar with a group of friends but could not afford to buy one.  Low Carb Canada generously donated gift certificates for their noodles and their all natural derma care products. People are looking forward to trying the low calorie, low carb noodles. I felt pretty good going up on stage after having lost some weight. It makes you feel more confident about getting your picture taken. It was a very good evening.

The children’s portion of the concert was very cute. They had little instruments and went up on stage with the band to sing and play “This Little Light of Mine”. Some of the parents were busy taking pictures and videos, making memories. How important it is for us to be making good memories.

The music was great and there was soooooo much food. You would think my being in charge of the food would help me to stay on track, but the past 4 days have been a wipe out for me. I am struggling to get back on track, but I know that I will, because I have made the decision to do so.

 Today I did jump on the treadmill for an hour, but I am still recovering from such a hard push for the past week. I don’t know if I will be able to post any weight loss for this ten day segment, but I will work hard at it. I will not give up and  know that the team will not give up either. Go Team!!!