Monday, January 3, 2011

Merry Christmas, happy New Year....yada, yada, yada

Happy Holidays!

What a busy time this past few weeks have been. My apologies for mising posts the last 2 weeks, but as they say, Life got in the way.

I had a pretty successful 2 weeks since the past post...dropped 2.6 the Wed. prior to Christmas, and maintained last week (pretty good considering all the pot lucks, Christmas, etc). I feel good about the last few weigh ins.

A while back “Star Wars – The Empire Strikes Back” was on. I haven’t seen it in years. So, I spent the night vegging in front of the TV. It was great! Although now I want to see all of them again. Anyways, while Luke is training to be a Jedi Yoda is sharing his knowledge with him and something he said jumped at me. Actually, several things did but I’m going to only hit one for now.

While Luke is training he continually fails and says, “I can’t”. But Yoda continues to teach and he says something very profound. “You must unlearn what you have learned.” Wow! How true is that? So many of us fail time and time again and we feel like we just can’t do it. Whatever ‘it’ might be; losing weight, stopping negative thoughts, letting go of the past, creating healthy habits; you fill in the blank. The point is from the time we are born we are being taught. But when we make the decision to change our lifestyle we find ourselves in Luke’s shoes. We are trying to live a new way of living through the eyes of our old one.

We must learn to unlearn what we have learned. This happens as we take each step one at a time. You've spent years learning how to be unhealthy, so it's not going to change over night. It is a learning process. Spend time reading articles, research new recipes, exercises or healthy activities. Spend time with people that have the same goals. The more you put in the more that will begin to come out and bear fruit in your life.

Want to stop feeling like a failure? Start unlearning what you have learned. That Yoda guy’s pretty smart.

Something to think about....

Until next time!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

One year ago...

It was one year ago tomorrow I made a decision to change my life for the better. I joined Weight Watchers at work, and it was one of the best things I ever did (Joe of course falls in that group as well)!

I had a small goal I set to achieve for myself within the year, and as of today, I DID IT! I have officially lost 125.2 and there is no looking back!! I still have a ways to go, but what an achievement in just a year. I have a great support group at work and with my family, and for that I am truly greatful! I couldn't have been this successful without your love and support.

I don't have a before picure from when I started, but I do have one from a few months before. Below are photos from July 2009, and Thanksgiving 2010.




Have to run for now! Until next time...

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving (a tad late!)

Hope your Thanksgiving was a great one, shared with close friends and family!

We went to Joe's Aunt & Uncle's on the farm for dinner. We had a nice time visiting with his parents (don't see them too much since they moved over 2 hours away), and we had an awesome meal as usual :).

We then headed to my brother's house to see my family, and have dessert with them. My friend Denise was there, and we caught up on lost time. She wants to take a trip to England over the big April 29th wedding of Prince William. That would be sooooo much fun, but a bit on the pricey side at the moment. I have never been to Englad, and so would love to go. She would be one of the people I would love to show me around as she has been there a few times before.

As for the weight loss, I officially hit 120.4 last week. It is so hard to believe that in just 3 more weeks, I will have been doing this for a year. My goal for that week is to make the 125 mark. What an accomplishment to say I lost 125 in a year!

As of this past Sunday, Weight Wathcers changed their plan again, and it is a lot to take in. I hope this will still allow me to make that goal of 125 in the time I need. Only time will tell!

Have to run for now. Take care and see you in a few days.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Another fun trip!

Well we are back again from another fun trip to the North Shore! Man was it cold, but yet so beautiful! I don’t know what it is about Duluth and beyond that I enjoy so much, but Lake Superior is just magnificent. It is the closest to the ocean one will ever get if they never leave Minnesota.

We drove up to Grand Marais and was it windy. The waves from the lake were crashing over the breakers like there was no tomorrow. I got some great shots I will post later. We bought a state park sticker in September, so we hit a few parks while we were up there. Only bad thing was many of the parks up there were going to be closed for a special hunting season. We did make it to Tettegouche, Cascade, & Gooseberry, and had some good hikes while there.

As for our continued weight loss, I actually stayed the same (first time I ever did that), and Joe lost 2.4. He is officially in the 60’s for weight loss…..Woooooohoooooo!! I feel good about the zero as we were on vacation and it could have been a lot worse! Joe’s leader has a “travelling tracker” book, and he took it for the week. I think it did him good and will get him back on track again.

Tomorrow is stamping day….getting together with some friends and working on Christmas cards and some scrapbooks. I can’t wait!

Time to run. Have a great weekend and catch ya next week!!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

What a night!

Happy day after elections!! What a night it was last night. I worked as an election judge, and put in 15 hours. The precinct I worked in had almost 1000 voters turn out (about 66% for this area). It was busy from start to end. What a great opportunity to serve as a judge, and I would do it again in a heartbeat!

Today was weight in day, and I dropped another 3 pounds, putting me down 116.8. Joe dropped a pound and is getting so close to the 60's!!

Now we are sitting in a hotel room in Hinckley, on our way back up to Duluth again for a few days. We will be off to the casino soon, and hopefully will hit the pool & hot tub tonight....woooohooooo!

More to come during the trip...I hope!

Until next time!!

Friday, October 29, 2010

Happy Halloween (almost)!

Hello to all the ghosts and goblins out there!

Hope all is well and you are enjoying this lovey fall weather (Brrrrr if you are in Minnesota).

Well, it was another successful week in the weight loss world. I dropped another 3.4 and Joe lost 4!! Rock on sweetie!!! I am officially down 113.6 now! Now comes the challange.....I joined WW before Christmas last year, so I was already past the Halloween candy, and Holiday potlucks. There are all kinds of candy laying around and I am doing my best to avoid them (though I have been good when I caved and only had 1- small miracle for me since I LOVE CANDY!). We are off to a party tonight, and I am bringing a healthy(ish) treat so we can enjoy the festivities. I am going as a penguin, and Joe is going as the Red M&M (get in the bowl!).

Have to run for now. Have a happy and safe Halloween!!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Wooohoooooo!

Wow! Another great week on the weight loss. I went down 3.4, and am not at a total of 110.2! Not too bad for starting a part time job and not getting as much walking as I usually do. Joe, on the other hand, went up .6. :( I wish I knew what else I could do to inspire him to keep on losing. He said he wants to get back on track, but it has to be in his own time.....which is hard on me when we aren't in this together. I just keep hoping....

Well I have to run. Time to go home for the day and get ready to go play at my stamping group tonight :).

Until next time!!