Setting Goals....

For those who are goal oriented...Could you please share your goal setting ideas.

When you have something big you want to accomplish. What do you do to get there?

• How do you mentally prepare?
• Do you set long or short term goals?
• How do you keep track of your goals? (Visuals, commit to others etc?)
• Do give yourself rewards? Do they motivate you?
• What do you do when you blow it?
• How do you break down your goals so they are manageable?
• How do you push through ~ no matter what happens?
• If the goal is not accomplished, do you know why you do not reach it?

Getting ready to go to the next level.

Let the preparation begin!!!

Keep focused!!!

Feeling the Momentum!

You guys are soooo inspiring!! I've been reading your blogs and I can feel your momentum!! Are there bumps along the way? Oh yeah, but you are fighting through...Nothing is stopping you!!

I feel the same way! I've blasted through a couple fears last week. It's amazing how it has propelled me to want to tackle more. Who knew that could happen? Anyway, I am encouraged!!!

This week I will  have a more willing heart to press on. I will say "YES", instead of  "no" I'm too scared!! I'm breaking down the wall of fear!!!!

I'm willing to work hard in the gym, eat what "I'm supposed to eat and drink my water. I'm propelled to help others, pray more, give a lot and hug when I can.

That's what reading your blogs does for me!!! Love you all!!

Keep focused!

Walls

I am stuck...Really stuck! I have a wall in front of me and I have not been able to bust through it! 

This wall is stopping me from going to the next level in my weight loss and fitness journey!
Anybody else out there with walls? Are you stuck? Just wondering.....

I have not posted in a while, I have really been focusing on everything! I've been putting my time in at the gym, calories are finally under control. I am back down to my lowest weight 217. (I have been messing around with 2 pounds....up 2 down 2 for sooooo long!!!) I have been spending a lot of time alone, just thinking, praying and waiting on the Lord, trying to figure out what is going on with me.

Last year, I did most things wrong and some things right and lost over 50 pounds. This year ~ totally focused, have all my systems in place, trainer, food etc and my weight will not budge!

After much thought, my eyes opened and I could really see that I have built this wall, right in front of me. This wall is very frustrating, unpenetrable and HUGE! There have been moments when I get clarity and have mustered up the courage to peak around that wall and I can see what's on the other side of it. Then I get all panicky and retreat back to what I know, what's comfortable. Takes a lot of courage to push through and I frankly have not been ready to do it. Not then.......But I am now!!!!

After much exploring I realized what makes up this wall....Here are a few things.

FEAR!!

• Fear of success...When I lose the weight....what next?
• Fear of buying new clothes again (just bought a bunch, spent too much and feel guilty buying new smaller ones...(Really fear of going into regular sized clothes stores. It scares me. I really don't know what to do. I am really comfortable in my fat lady clothes store. I know where every thing is. I know what looks good on me, I know what fits well. Out there....well out there, there are so many choices. TOO overwhelming!!!
• Fear of pushing myself too hard in the gym. Had 4 exercise over use injuries last year ~ Don't want any more!
• Fear of not losing the weight...not reaching my goal...
• Fear of gaining it back...
• Fear something tragic will happen and all of my success will go away.

FEAR,,,,FEAR,,,,FEAR!!!

Well I am really to bust through this fear!! No more hiding behind the wall....I am ready to put on my armor....face the enemy and tackle this to victory!!

Yesterday I began breaking some of the wall away. I faced some fears.

1.) My trainer wants me to run. I don't want to run....I am afraid I will hurt my knees. I afraid that I won't have enough strength or energy to get it done. My shoes are worn out and it will cause me injury. (Doesn't whining make you sick ~ I am sick of listening to myself ~ Geez!!!) Anyway, I decided that I was going to listen to my trainer and do what she asked me to do. She only wanted me to work on this for 30 minutes. The plan was 5 minutes of walking, then 5 minutes of walking and running, repeat 3 times. Easy stuff, huh? May sound easy to you, but dreadful to me. But I got myself prepared, set my mind that I wanted to get this done and I did it. Not only did I do the 30 minutes, but I continued on for 20 more minutes and finished a 5k before 7:00am in the morning!!!

2.) Went to the homeless shelter last night to serve food. Usually I get to take trays of food to the people, but last night they wanted me to be a table captain. This means I sit at the table and just talk. Most of the people who go there are men and a lot of them are not very friendly. But I decided to face my fears. I prepared myself, with a lot of prayer, and did my job. You know I had a fabulous time, had great conversations and made some friends!

So I learned.....that once I DECIDE to push through the wall, it breaks....It breaks pretty easily! It will happen....if I decide!!!

What about you....Do you have any walls you need to break down. If so, let's do it!!!

Keep focused!

Urge to Rush!

I think I have all the time in the world to get get this weight off and get fit. Every day I lumber through, make pretty good choices and do just the bare minimum required to lose weight. It's happening, ever so slowly. I figure what's the rush?

For quite a while I've known that I need to do something with my life. Something so outside my comfort zone, something that needs a lot of energy and enthusiasm. Something that needs me to be fit and thin. So really in order to be successful at my something, I need to get this done. But what's the rush?

As you all know we have been experiencing a lot of natural disasters, where life, for the people affected has changed forever. Some have even lost their lives. Stuff happens to us every day. Just the other day, I was driving on a side street, minding my own business. It happened to be a dry that day (probably the only one this month!) and I was going only about 20 miles an hour. Something caught my attention and I happened to look at my left, for just a second, and the next thing I knew, the car in front of me had slammed on the brakes and I was going to hit them. I tried all I could to stop my car. Unfortunately, the road was sanded (tiny rock were everywhere) and I slid into the car in front of me. Thankfully, I was going pretty slow, so there were no injuries or damage. Thank you Lord!!!!

But the point is, things could have been changed in just a second. I could have been going faster and caused a lot of damage or I could have killed someone. In just one second!!!

Every time I hear of a disaster or of someone dying on the news. I always think....."The morning before all this happened, they had no idea that their life would be changed forever!!" They ran out of time!!!

Ack! This morning could be my last!! What if I only had 3 more months left of life and I'm just wasting it because I think I have time?

If I got really busy right now.....worked really hard to get this weight off. I could be at my goal weight by, this time, next year. (If I lost only 5 pounds a month) Now granted, if I only had 3 months to live, I would not hit my goal, but if I don't get started and make this happen, it will take me years to get there. I don't want to waste anymore time!!!

Another thing....I live in an earthquake zone. They are talking about (and really have been talking about this for a long time) that we are due for the "Big One". What if we had an earthquake, as big as the one Japan had, and everything around me was destroyed? Would I be fit enough to withstand being trapped for a while? Would I be fit enough to live with an injury until help arrives? Would I be light enough for someone to carry me to safety? Would I be fit enough to walk anywhere and everywhere I needed to go. My job is 9 miles away, could I walk or ride a bike 18 miles a day if I needed to?

I better get busy!

I just don't want to miss anything that life offers and I don't want to run out of time.

I feel the urge to rush....How about you?

Keep focused!

What's your Mantra?

I got this great magazine "Free", for 1 year, just by buying a workout video. So I thought what the heck, can't lose here, so I ordered it. The magazine is called fitness. I liked the magazine and found a lot of helpful information. Anyway, one of the first things I read was the editor's note, written by Betty S Wong, Editor in Chief. Out of everything I read, this article has stayed with me all week.

It's about finding your magic words. Words that help you get through the tough stuff and get your going!!

Some of the words used in the article were..."Breathe, just breathe"..."Bring it"...."I am invincible!"..."Keep your chin up"..."You've got this"...

If you've read my blog for any length of time, my mantra is...."Keep Focused!"

I have often wondered why I picked that one, when there are so many other ones out there. Kimberlynn wrote this great post about The Power of Focus that made so much sense to me and helped me see why focus is so important. Here's one of my favorite parts:

If you think about it, our minds are a lot like a magnifying glass having the same ability and power to focus. A magnifying glass, depending on how you use it, can make things appear larger or smaller, can bring clarity, and if truly focused can direct the sun's energy to ignite a fire! Are our minds really any different? Do we not also have the ability to make our problems seem bigger than they really are when we focus on them? And can we not also make them seem smaller when we change our perspective? And when we're truly focused, our path seems clear and bright and easy to navigate. But losing our focus brings confusion and a loss of clarity in the choices we make. It can seem like we're drifting through a blurried fog. And finally, if we focus in on the Son, our Lord and Savior, does He not have the power to ignite in us a fire that is life changing?


I think that's why I like Keep Focused......Helps me stay on track, have clarity, direction and a place to go.

What about your...what's your mantra?

Keep Focused!!!!

Another Reason...

Just found another reason to get this weight off.....GOLF!!!

Went to the driving range with my hubby and our friend. Hubby and I split a bucket of balls, so I got around 50 or so. I have never played golf and have never really been on a golf course except for 2 times. The first time I got to drive the cart and then another time for a wedding. I have only been to the driving range 1 other time, but did not really get into it....Mostly because my boobs were too big!!! No room to swing the club.

So last night I decided to give it a try. My first attempt...I got nothing but air. Then the second time....same thing!! Then I smacked the turf a couple of times and then....and then....I hit one. Sliced it totally to the left, but I got it out about 25 yards. So the guys were watching me and of course I was doing everything wrong. They we telling me to stand this way, hold the club that way, look up, keep my eyes on the ball etc...Kind of felt like a pretzel. Once they got me into place, I said, "And you want to to hit this thing?" Did not seem possible. But with some practice and concentration I was able to hit some nice shots.

At one point I was tying to hit the 100 yard mark and I was getting frustrated that I could not make it there and my hubby informed me that that iron, I was using, was not the right tool for the job and he gave me an iron that would give me more distance. I said, "It makes a difference which club you use?". He just gave me the look, I'm sure you seen a look like that, when someone is looking at an idiot!

I quickly realized that when you are at any golfing event, it is some pretty serious business, so I did not give my hubby too much grief!

I was whacking a lot of balls into the range, trying to hit the guy on the little golf cart who was picking up the balls. What a great job!! Anyway, I eventually was able to hit several balls 100 yards...straight!!

I was having so much fun the guys gave me some of their golf balls so I could keep practicing. Really a lot of fun!!

The boob issue is still a problem, I can't really get the full swing I need to give the ball enough power to get any distance. So this is my new motivation to keep at this weight loss and fitness thing.

I want to play golf and have the energy to do it. I need to be thinner to be able to really play this game.

So excited!!

How about you...are you trying new things?

Keep focused!

Swinging all over the place!!

I don't know what's up with me. I am usually a calm, even tempered person, able to keep my emotions together. But this past 6 months or so my emotions have been all over the place! Up one minute, down the next. Just not like me!

I am sure some of it is due to all the changes in my life, it could also be some hormone changes and I know this weather is making me crazy! Dark gray clouds and rain most of the time. Yesterday we had a glimmer of hope, the sun was out for part of the day. Today it's dark and rainy again, augh!!!

Anyway my point is.....two days ago, I was having a rough day, no energy, bad attitude, fatigued and hopeless. I took the day off from work and spent the whole day in front of the TV watching shows about other people who have worse lives than me. Mostly I watched CSI, Cops etc. On my last post, I talked about what we are putting into our minds. Said we should be making good choices about what we read, listen to and watch. Well let me tell you, watching what I did that day was not a good choice. By the end of the day, I was more depressed than ever!!

So yesterday, I woke up, in time to do my exercise, but just did not think I could do it. I wanted to call in sick again. Could not face the day. As I was getting ready to call in, my sweet hubby, did a little encouraging and convinced me to at least try and see what happens. So I did.

So even though, my hope was gone, I had no energy, I did not feel like it etc....I got on my treadmill and had a good workout. I read my Bible, got ready for work and arrived early! I worked hard all day - got a lot done, then I went to my water aerobics class and came home and did a bunch of house stuff. EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT FEEL LIKE IT!!!

You know today, I feel better? Even though it's dark and gray outside and I'm up 3 pounds (geez that could make a person really mad!!), and even though I have a tough day scheduled, it's only Wednesday, even though...even though...even though. I'm doing it!! I living this day with a great attitude!!

This is my gentle nudge, my encouragement to you that even  though whatever you are going through, for today....just try!!!! Even though whatever it is.....make today the best day you can. Make good choices...Push through the tough stuff. DO what you have to do!!!

Take it from me, you will be glad you did!!!

I'm glad I pushed through!!

How about you......are you doing it....even though?

Keep focused!!!

Grand Prize Waiting for YOU!!

If you knew ahead of time that you could easily earn a GRAND PRIZE would you do what you needed to do to earn it? What if the prize was something so amazing, a real life changing thing, would you go for it? What if this prize would change your life and the lives of everyone you know...WOULD YOU DO IT?

What about the prize, what one thing could you earn (not a possession) but that one thing that drives you each day to get out of bed. You know that thing that's stuck in the back of you head, that gnaws you. It rises up once in a while, beckons you go try to grab it. You know that thing that gets you all excited and revved up!! Come on, don't tell me you don't know what I'm talking about. It's that THING!!! (Well if you don't know what I'm talking about, I'm sorry, I'm real sad....you know you were created for more and there is something you should be doing, need to be doing....something you need to stretch for. It's there for the taking ~ if you're willing to take it).

Maybe you think, that going for the prize is too hard. You feel trapped and captive to this body that is burdened with fat. You don't have the energy to even try to reach for the prize. You don't have the stamina to do what it take to get there.

I get it, I do, been there done that. But no more for me. I don't want to wait around any more. I don't want to waste any more time. I've got something I want and need to do. My prize is waiting. I need to get healthy and get this weight off so I can claim it.

And my prize is life!!!!! Life to its fullest!!!! I've got something I need to do and I've known it for years. I have tried my best to hide behind this wall fortress of fat, so I'd have an excuse why I'm not achieving my prize. My fat helps me to not even try. My fat helps me to keep pushing down the prize and to not do ANYTHING. The fat used to be stronger than the prize. No longer, life is beckoning me. I want to live it more than I want to sit on my butt, being the best, fattest, TV watching, game playing, procrastinator I used to be. No more....NO MORE FOR ME!!

Are you ready for the chance to win. To win this GRAND PRIZE, then lets do it!!!

Here's the game plan.

EVERY DAY -

• Make good and healthy choices? Not just with food - what are you watching and listening to on the TV, the computer and  the radio? What are you reading? Do these things bring you up or tear you down?
• You body ~ what are you putting into it? Drugs, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, fat? Or are you putting fresh,  whole grain and healthy foods into your body. What about vitamins. For those who are taking prescriptions. Are you taking them because you need them to stay alive or do you take them for "other" reasons?
• Moving ~ Are you doing it? Everyday?
• Your mind - Are you using it? EVERYDAY? Not to be funny, but are you doing things to keep your mind active, are you stimulating your creative juices? Do you listen to good music? Look at art. Read?
• Water - Are you still drinking soda? Yikes do you know what that stuff does to you? No really are you getting your water in? It is so beneficial!

I'm starting to win my prize. Each day, I get a little bit more of it. It's not good enough for me to stay where I am. I want more....I want it all!!! I don't want to be trapped in my body any more. I want to be set free!!

How about you? Are you with me? LETS DO THIS THING!!!!
Keep focused!