Trials of a Long Haired Girl

I can't say that everything about this year went my way.  What I can say is that I am learning more and more about my body and how it works.  It was not until earlier this year that I realized that I wasn't in the right mindset when I was losing weight before.  I still was in an all or nothing/diet mentality.  I feel like I have made some progress with changing my mindset.  Although I have been struggling with the same 5 or so pounds for the last several months, I do feel like my mindset is changing.  I am not focusing on what I "can't" have or always forcing myself to eat a salad.  I am trying to make healthier choices and trying to eat more veggies and fruit.  This isn't all or nothing, it's about making changes that last a lifetime.  How can I truly do that if I tell myself that I can't have a specific food?  I am trying to lighten up my recipes so that I am not making the full fat versions of everything.  I am amazed at how this is changing my mind

I truly have no idea other than really trying to be better about tracking.  I have been up and down with my weight loss since August.  I feel like I have been fighting with the same 5-ish pounds.  I am determined even with the holidays to re-focus and make some changes.  I'm definitely not focusing on perfection, but progress.  Meal planning is key for me.  I figured out that if I start there, it is a positive step for me.  I am really enjoying using my crockpot and making some delicious meals for my family.  Being a little creative in the kitchen is always fun.  I have created some casseroles just based on what I had in the kitchen at the time.  I started referring to them as "throw together" casseroles.  We've got the older son living with us too so the things we might have eaten before we can't always eat because of his allergies.  Definitely figuring it out though.  I love having him here for sure.  The changes are coming, it is just slow.  Here's where I

I think oftentimes we forget to be thankful for what we have.  Today I was reminded very clearly that I needed to thank the Father for my blessings.  I was on my way home from work and saw a woman on the side of the road, clearly panhandling.  I do not give money to panhandlers, but this woman really had me thinking twice.  Her "story" on her sign hit too close to home.  There have been many times in my past when my oldest son was smaller that I would get the call telling me my electricity had been cut off...or the gas...or the water.  I was blessed that I had my mom to help me and family members, but if not for the grace of the Father above, I very well might have been in that woman's shoes.  It was clear to me that this was not familiar territory for her.  Where most of the panhandlers that work that corner only walk part of the way down the grassy area, she walked down as far as she could.  I wish I could have done something to help her.  I have read online about the &

There are many of us that have been on this journey for awhile or have “restarted”, gone back to basics, etc. I think sometimes we forget why we started on this journey to be healthier. I know I have. After the comment from my doctor asking me if I had considered weight loss surgery, I was really disturbed and then shortly after I lost an old and dear friend that I realized I had known for over half my life. I have really come to realize that we are promised tomorrow. I need to take care of my body and myself because this is the one that God trusted me with and I will have it all my life. I have been listening to SparkRadio a lot in the past few weeks. Even listening again to episodes I may have already heard and trying to educate myself a little more. (side note, if you haven’t listened to SparkRadio, give it a try) I am being reminded as I listen of things that I heard before and have forgotten or used for awhile and then they went by the wayside. I began to feel a renewed sense of

It is time to catch up, set goals and re-kindle my weight loss.  I have really been off and on for the last several months and have been struggling with the same few pounds.  I'm just TIRED of feeling bad.  I have my 4th wedding anniversary coming up this week.  On my honeymoon, my sweet husband had to help me get up the mountain.  I want to be able to do this by myself.  I don't want him to have to push me up the mountain.  It was totally worth it, but it was totally not just me.  Although I have a ways to go (over 50 pounds), but I know that I can do it.  I just have to break it down in small steps.  In the past few months I have lost a childhood friend, lost a radio DJ that I have been listening to for so many years.  I was diagnosed with a slight case of sleep apnea and the first thing my neurologist says to me is "have you considered weight loss surgery?"  Um, no, I haven't.  I was stunned.  My weight loss is more important than ever.  It is not just that I n

Reflecting back over the weekend, it has occurred to me that weekends seem to be more difficult for me than the rest of the week.  I guess it's because all of the family is home and there is really no set time to eat or workout.  Sadly, when DH and I tried to hit yoga over the weekend, he though I was watching the clock and I thought he was.  This meant when he realized what time it was, we didn't have time to get to class.   When I was working, I had a schedule and would have my meals and snacks generally at the same time each day.  I also had a specific time to workout.  Unfortunately, since I have been unemployed, I haven't had a schedule like that to stick to.  I am trying to get back into a schedule for my own peace of mind and waistline! I'm a woman determined to get back on track and continue with the positive changes.  Make those positive changes habits.  Does anyone else have the same problem about staying on track on the weekends?  I'm definitely open

You are *anything* but ordinary. - Ellis Grey, Grey's Anatomy I have been  watching old episodes of Grey's Anatomy, starting with Season 1.  I recently saw the episode where Meredith dies and she sees Denny and the bomb squad guy and her mom's scrub room nurse and her dog, Doc.  They are all telling her that she needs to go back, but she's not listening because she's not ready to yet.  She needs to deal with what is going on in her head before she goes back and part of that is hearing her mom, Ellis Grey, who was a force to be reckoned with at Seattle Grace and any other hospital, tell her that she was ordinary.  I can't imagine how that would feel.  My mother didn't raise me to be just ordinary.  The Father above didn't create me to be just ordinary.  I am special.  I am one of a kind.  There is no one on this earth exactly like me.  Sometimes I think we just need a reminder that we are not simply ordinary.  We are extraordinary.  The Father created us

I saw this on FB and started thinking about it a little bit.  I know I am a child of the King.  He has great plans for me, even though I may not know what those are.  No matter what struggles I may face, the war is already won.  Jesus loved me enough to die on a cross for me.  What an amazing love that is! The other thing that I thought about is that I haven't really been making the best choices for myself lately.  I've only been given one body.  With only one body, I should be taking better care of it than I am.  With that in mind, I am trying to take steps to take better care of me.  Ultimately, I want to lose 52 pounds this year.  However, what I realized from this year is that I need to take each day as it comes and focus on that day.  I can plan my meals in advance, but I also realize that life gets in the way sometimes and I need a back-up plan just in case.  If I take it one day at a time instead of focusing on the bigger goal, I can handle it without getting ove