Not waiting for a New Year, Today is a New Day! Right now is a new Minute!

It has been so fun to celebrate Christmas with this new found energy.  I have cooked and cleaned and shopped and wrapped pretty much the same as every year, but have not gotten as tired and cranky as usual.  It was a joy to participate in our little service projects, and have the strength to actually help.  I can not wait to see what it will be like next year! 
 But I will have to admit the holidays have been hard.  I have not stayed on the program very well. I have had good days and bad, but today is the day I start fresh again. This is a great principle I have learned this last year.  Starting over.  Whether it a slip up as small as a nibble or conscious decision to eat a large Christmas dinner complete with pie.  Now is the time to begin again.  I know lots of people wait for the New Year.  And that is fine.  But for me it is mentally better to start now.  No matter how many nows there are.
So anyone else want to start now?  No matter the goal, lets do it! 

"Happy are those who dream dreams and are willing to pay the price to make them come true." Anon.

"When dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird which cannot fly

I have been thinking about the concept of Dreaming quite a bit lately.  It all started a couple of weeks ago when I was shopping with a friend.  I picked up a really cute Pea-coat in a Medium, and said "I can't wait till I can wear cute things like this"  And I totally meant the size!  I don't think that my friend meant to speak out loud.  But she muttered under her breath, just loud enough for me to hear "In your dreams" and yes it was in that tone.... She immediately  realized that she had spoke out loud and started apologizing.....To be honest I felt bad for her.  I then spent the next few days trying to decide whether I was offended or not.... I chose not. I love my friend, and I know she has a kind heart...And the reality is that I have not been a size 10...ever. I am pretty sure I went from a girls size 14 to a juniors 13. 

But back to the concept of Dreaming.  Over the next few days I ran across stories, poems and quotes about Dreams.  People who had achieved things that were impossible.  And lets be real.  We live in a world that was completely inconceivable 100 years ago... Well except by the dreamers.  

I have children who dream... And have followed their dreams.  

I know people who have achieved great things.  All of these things began with dreams. 

So yes.... In my dreams I will be size 10.   

               In my goals I will be size 10 next summer

How do I do this.....Follow the plan.  Do the work.  

Think I will go dream about some other stuff too....... Happy family, Travel, Laughing with my Grandkids...hmm....

My little Story

So people have been asking me a lot about my recent weight loss.  Yes I have lost 102 lbs.I have 100 more pounds to go.  The goal is 145 lb. And more importantly, to be healthy, strong and fit.  I know that I am still very heavy, but I already feel successful, and I can't wait to reach and maintain these goals.

 So if you have done the math, you know that I started at 347.  But what that number really represents.  Is a 47 year old woman, who had diabetes, who couldn't hardly walk a mile, who didn't sleep well, and was generally tired, cranky, and half sick most of the time. 

I finally decided I was going to die if I did not do something about this!  

This didn't seem like a great option, at the time.  My sense of responsibility was overwhelming me.  I have a husband who has serious health problems, and  at the time 3 minor children.  Including Jake who was  only 9

So on December 31st I started writing down everything I ate.  and in February started this amazing program. With my sweet sister as my health coach, The Habits of Health  study material,  and a great support group of friends I have managed to steadily lose weight this last year.

To be honest, I have been on and off of the  food plan, which has only taught me  the significance of doing it right.  When I follow the plan and my body in in fat burn, I feel fantastic.  I have struggled with the head part of it too.  But even at this half way point let me tell you the results are amazing.

!) NO MORE DIABETIC MEDS 

2) I need about 2 hours less a night of sleep, and feel so much more awake

3) Last weekend I hiked 7 miles in wet mucky ground...no problem!  

4) House is magically cleaner!!  ( guess I have more focus and energy) 

5) I have saved money!!! ( Literally costs less to buy the plan than the food I was lying about)

6) My mood is more consistently happy, I am more patient etc.... by products of feeling better I guess.

I could continue this list for a very long time, but you get the point... 

I will update weekly and try and post a picture once a month.  My plan is to also discuss some of the wisdom I have learned from Habits of Health. 

One little  disclaimer here though... I am a very religious person with a great faith and dependence on my Savior Jesus Christ.  It will be impossible for me to discuss my growth without giving credit to Him and a loving Heavenly Father who have blessed me with tender mercies daily through out this process and through out my life.