Three Trainers

I very often find myself surrounded by people who encourage me and want me to do well. My walks in the park often consisted of many breaks on the bench. The last time we went walking, my friend told me, “Carolyn, no breaks!” As we watched some jog and run past us and aspiring to get to that fitness level, I told her that we would see. Little did I know that my son would agree with her and force me to walk a few times around without sitting down…at all!

After marching up one incline and down another I eyed a bench and was just about to have a seat when my son grabbed my arm and said, “Mom no breaks”. After I jokingly called him a traitor and told him to have my friend make him his grilled cheese sandwich, he turned around looked at me and said, “Mom you can do it…The Lord is with you”. And apparently He is, because I did. I love my little trainers. After my shower I thought about Joshua entering the Promised Land and smiled.

Speaking of Joshua let me introduce you to my trainer. His name is Joshua Stroud. When you want the best results, you look for the best people in their field. Joshua is my gentle giant. He is my big trainer and in charge of transforming my body with the help of the Holy Spirit. I am more than certain that I will reach my weight loss and maintenance goals with the encouragement and expertise that I have on my team!

Walking and Laughing

One good thing about sharing your goals with others…they often hold you to them! Earlier this year, I asked God to restore some things in my life…my body being one. Over the last couple of weeks God has restored a friendship of mine from childhood.

One day after school, the boys asked if we could go out for pizza and take two of their new friends in the apartment complex. I said yes, but that I needed to meet their friends’ mom first. I did not want an Amber Alert sent out unnecessarily. As we all walked around the corner in the complex, I heard my old friend say, “You guys went out and found my friend!” We laughed and commented on our weight.

Yesterday my friend and I started walking together with our children. It was good for me to see that I am not the only one whose thighs tingle, ok burn, as we walked up the inclines. My abs also got a workout as I laughed at how her new mother-in-law and sister-in-law asked her husband if she was pregnant (as a result of the extra weight she has gained since their marriage); and how she told her husband to inform his mother and sister that, ”they shouldn’t go there”. We put together a plan to walk together during the week and go to bible study together on Wednesday nights.

Restoration is a project that often requires many processes. I am glad that God and I are still working on it together. I take joy in knowing that there is no project to big for God, and I am more than elated when He gives me special gifts along the way.

One Down and One to Go...

One major task accomplished and one to go. Finally the boys and I have moved into our apartment and completely out of the house. This gives me time to concentrate again on being fit, although I found myself working harder than usual setting up our apartment as we moved in. I am really glad that my jobs do not require physical labor. Thank God for in-laws and family who love me! Everything looks great as long as no one opens up a closet. Just joking…only two closets are inoperable.

During the last month, I missed my opportunity to join Weight Watchers at half price and many chances to slim down by working out. I was really just too busy. What I have gained in addition to a few pounds is a sense of peace and accomplishment. Yeah, for making tough decisions that will make your life easier in the long run!

When I started here a couple of years ago, the university had a weight loss challenge. Maybe that is something we can do again with the opening of the new fitness center; or incorporate Weight Watchers at work? I would love to see everyone get to their desired weight. Don’t let me be the only one walking the halls like a runway in December…this December.

I had taken pictures of my trainer to upload, but they were inadvertently erased. I will try to take more before next week. This week I will rest. Peaceful rest. Isaiah 26:3 rest.
Until next week…take care!

Life in Motion

Moving, to borrow from dictionary.com is to change from one place or position to another. Unfortunately, I’m finding it difficult and just as overwhelming to downsize from a 2,700 sq ft home to a 2 bedroom 2 bath apartment; as I do to slim down from my current size 16/18 frame to my desirable 9/10 frame. How in the world did I obtain so many things, clothes, movies, adipose tissue?

I did see my trainer. That’s all, I saw him. Okay I also gave him a hug and we put down a start date for July 1st. I find myself pushing that start date back to July 13th. I really need to concentrate on moving. The good thing about my situation is that I remain an optimist. I am a visionary who knows my power source. Hey, size 10 in 2010 sounds like a perfect slogan. Fortunately my trainer is a visionary also. We looked on the calendar together and he promised that he can get me into a size 10 by Christmas (this Christmas).

I will get my physical assessment when I begin working out with my trainer next week. There was a guy looking at the house on yesterday who almost tripped over my scale in my shower area. I moved the scale and told him that I don’t like to have on very much when I weigh in. His wife laughed and said that all scales were manufactured in the place opposite of heaven. Ha, ha… I agree at least until the year end.

Hello Father: Thank you for having a picture perfect view of my life and the lives of my children. Please allow us to move safely into our new place, for my body to move into a healthy and fit state, and most of all for my family to move perfectly within Your will.

Fun Times

The wrestling match was great! I even managed to pass on the cheeseburger and hamburger baskets my boys had. I was not as fortunate at IHOP following the wrestling match. Yes, the boys did eat two dinners (but I only ate one), and yes we went to IHOP at 11:00 p.m. We had such a great time that I didn’t want to ruin it for them and not go to IHOP when they asked. Hey, it landed me a huge hug. I’m certainly glad God provides. Can you imagine my grocery bill when they become teenagers?

Yes… I saw Kelly, Kelly the female wrestler and wanted to watch the remainder of the match while walking the treadmill. I knew that would happen. Being totally absorbed by the ambiance, my sons asked if they could yell anything that they wanted. I said yes, but no bad words. The youngest said, “Mom I know hell is a bad place, but is it a bad word too?” When I told them both that it was, they settled on screaming, “Jack Swagger, You Suck”; opposed to telling him where to go.

I did not weigh in today, as I will see my trainer on Friday and figure two weigh-ins in one week should be unheard of (until I reach my target weight). Also, I had such a good time that I didn’t want to ruin it, even this morning. I consider myself a cool mom, but I definitely have the greatest Dad EVER! Thanks Abba, Father for giving me memories of childhood and giving me two of your greatest children to be steward over. Help me to make healthy decisions, and to set healthy examples so that my family may please You in word and deed for a long, long time.

Letting Go of BOB

I’m in love with BOB. BOB is not my husband, or a guy on the side (I would never do that), or even the boys’ school crossing guard that I have dropped off breakfast to before. BOB is an acronym for What-a-burger’s breakfast on the bun; which I usually get with sausage and the bun toasted on both sides (served between 11:00 p and 11:00 a). I buy them so frequently that I knew when the price went up ten cents. One commitment this week is to substitute BOB for a bowl of Special K, or some other cereal that is not all sugar.

I spoke with my favorite Aunt last week. She is in her 40’s, but can easily pass for her late 20’s. She advised me to eat five to six healthy meals a day starting at 6:00 a.m., and eating again at 9:00, 12:00, 3:00, 6:00 and 9:00. I will probably stop at 8:00. She also suggested that I pick a day to eat what I want to (not to go overboard) so that I don’t deprive myself; and that I must be consistent with my exercising. I use to think it was a waste of time for her to jump up and down with the Fitness Pros early in the mornings. She has always been beautiful with a great shape. Years later I realize that proper maintenance is a lot less expensive than renovation or restoration. Older women teach the younger, but don’t just tell us how, take the time to explain why.

I have one more week until our WWE event at the American Airlines Center. I’m pretty sure that the female wrestlers will be further motivation for getting and staying in shape. I will also have a virtual drill sergeant to help me with my workouts. Fun times…indeed!

More Than Food On My Plate

The last few weeks I have had a lot on my plate. I look at the calendar and tell myself, “Only two more weeks until I work out with a pro”. That’s my justification for not working out everyday like I should. I did walk two miles yesterday in a hilly area, but I didn’t do anything on Monday. I did walk on Sunday.

I often ask myself and God, “What happened?” As beautiful as He made me (I say that completely humble without sounding vain). As I walked yesterday… legs hurting, thighs burning (I hear that is a good thing) it came to me… years of neglect.

I looked for a new place to move to last week, as I have been working on my exit plan to get a divorce. Yesterday, I thought not only have I neglected my body by eating what I wanted to for years and not working out; I have also neglected my husband by doing what I wanted to for years and often not consulting him.

People who really know me always say that I can do much better, or that I deserve much better. He definitely is a handful, but yesterday I thought about my part in creating the person he has become. For instance I work a lot. I make more money than most people realize. The thing is I also worked on our wedding day. I know who does that? Me. I would even make donations of $800 to $1,000 to different churches without consulting him.

New rule or resolution…write down all the areas of my life that needs housekeeping and ask God which ingredients to use. I’m sure forgiveness will be in there somewhere...myself, him, and others. I don’t think that I will file for divorce right away. I will just separate. I was also neglectful last week in forgetting to help one of my very best friends complete a project by the deadline. I am so sorry about that. So my friend in Grapevine, Texas, please forgive me. I have more on my plate these days than just food.

My weight this morning was 219.6

A Little Disappointed

Hello, to be perfectly honest I thought about giving up on my weight loss and holding the title of pleasantly plump. Then I think about my kids and a great woman that once told me that I should finish what I start. I gained this week, and I am not happy about it. My sister has NEVER been smaller than I am, and she is. I can go on with complaints, but I like my children’s school slogan, “No Excuses, Just Results”.

What will I do about it? Keep trying until I get the results I am looking for. One Apostle used the word, “Press”… I would encourage those that read my blog that pray, to pray for me and maybe you guys can help “Push” me to the mark. Hey, as long as I get there healthy.

Until next week… Oh by the way, my weekend co-worker told me that everyone was upset with her for buying me a cake. Don't be, we are actually good friends and I guess I did buy her fries when I knew she was trying to shed four pounds, or libs as she would call them. True story...every since she was young she always thought lbs was pronounced as libs. When she got married she asked her husband to pick up a couple of libs of grapes at the store. I have laughter all around me, even when I am disappointed.

Many Different Gifts

Starting out I mention that I have more than a couple of pieces of exercise equipment that I bought while watching television and some I have just picked up while out shopping. Well, added to the list of exercise bike, glider, step machine, large array of workout DVDs, big exercise ball (with DVD) and Gold’s Gym free weight set with bench; I can now add Bowflex. Yeah!

Before you start thinking that I am a bad steward (which I am going to sign up for a Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University class – even though I already have the cd’s), or an all things fitness hoarder; I just want to mention that I am using some of the items now and that I got the Bowflex at a really great deal! Actually I consider it as a gift from God. That may sound weird, but I kept telling Him that I wanted one, but couldn’t justify the price. With enough pouting (consistency pays off in more than just working out), someone sent me an email that bought one for $1,400 and only used it to hang clothes. She only wanted me to pay $200, but I gave her $300 because she delivered it to me. . Yeah, saving money and losing weight what a great combination!

I spent the last week concentrating on healthy food choices. My weekend co-worker tried to sabotage my efforts when she bought me an entire cake. Can you image, who does that? She bought me a birthday cake and it wasn’t even my birthday! She probably weights 105 pounds. I thought about making her one of my gift baskets that I am famous for and filling it with sweets, but instead I will buy her a case of tilapia or boneless skinless chicken breast and give that to her instead. You know… be kind to those who persecute you.

I want to thank my boss for my beautiful cookie bouquet that I can share with my boys. They will love it and so do I. Hey, I have a Bowflex to work it off. Today’s weight is 217.

Revisiting Priorities

“Carolyn you don’t have a weight problem. You have a priority problem. You need to exercise. If I told you that I would give you a certain amount of money if you lost weight in 12 months, you would be in my office in 6 months to get your money. Change your priorities and you will lose the weight.” These are words from my OBGYN a few years ago after I asked him for a referral to a weight loss doctor. He saw me before I had my children, so he is familiar with my body.

Last week is over, and so is my sister’s visit. I weighed in this week at a gain, I hate to say… 217.2. I am convinced that some people (including myself) settle for mediocrity and being comfortable at the moment without considering the long term effects. Otherwise, why would anyone decide to smoke, over eat, living with excesses; and why did I decide to eat Swedish meatballs with my sister at 11:30 p.m.

Recently my son and I were watching television together and out of nowhere he told me, “Mom I love you so much that if one of us had to go to heaven and one of us had to go to hell, I would pick you to go to heaven and I would go to hell.” I was silent for a moment and then told him that God loves us so much that we both can go to heaven. He said, “Yeah, I know through Jesus”. That really touched me coming from a 4th grader. That caused me to revisit my priorities.

I have a second job that gives random drug tests. I have been there for five years and took my first one this week. I don’t use drugs; however that showed me that some things we should just be ready for. My later response to my son’s statement is that I love them so much that I want to teach them everything I know about God, and teach my grandchildren as well. I want to be healthy and around so that I can.

This week when working out, I keep in mind to push myself a little more (especially seeing that it is easier to gain your weight back than to lose it). With each extra lap around the track or extra minutes on the work out machine, I am preparing myself so that I am ready to be available for my children and in excellent shape to chase my granddaughters or beat my grandsons in basketball (all contingent on what God says of course). How is that for prioritizing and long term planning?

Thinking Before I Eat

My sister is here from New Mexico, Yeah! Although I am elated that she is here, I also have to think before I eat. My brother-in-law is in the Air Force, so she has lived in several different countries. We like to get together and celebrate different nationalities by cooking and eating different foods.

I found it fascinating that McDonald’s in Italy serves beer, while McDonald’s in France serves wine. While talking on the phone with my sister when she lived in Italy, she wanted me to ask the boys if they wanted to visit her there. One of the boys said no because he doesn’t speak Italian; while the other said (in his best Italian accent), “I can, Do you wanta Pepperoni on youra pizza?”

My sister thinks that I should weight in and blog daily, but I think (and I am sure that some from the law school would agree) that is cruel and unusual punishment. I will, starting next week weigh in on each Wednesday instead of every other Wednesday; and post a workout log. I’m going to try my best to loss as much as I can by June 1st, before I go to a trainer. No, make that June 2nd. The boys and I will be attending the WWE Smackdown wrestling match at the American Airlines Center on June 1st.

My weight this morning is 215! Yeah! My sister has actually lost 25 lbs in the last 5 ½ weeks. She was on some sort of diet and using her Firm Wave. She did cheat a little. Her husband found her KFC receipt and wondered why he had a bowl of cabbage soup while she went out for a two piece original. Hey, it could have been a three piece.

Losing weight is a little slow for me especially compared to my sister’s success. I just do not want to diet. So I am making gradual consistent changes as not to overwhelm myself, and cause me to throw in the towel. Until next week….215 Yeah!

French Words for Living

Spring break . . . what a great time to spend with my sons! A big thank you to those responsible for allowing me that paid time off. I often tell my dad that I hit pay dirt when I selected this job with all of the days off with pay.

I would like to say that I worked out twice a day over the break . . . but I can’t, because I didn’t. I did however manage not to eat all day while acting on the words of a great French man. This man isn’t Voltaire or Henrie Matisse. He is currently and has been for a great number of years the General Manager of an exclusive private dining club. He has an incredible equal level of commitment in ensuring that both his staff and membership base are well taken care of. To me that makes him a great man, who happens to be French.

This great man once told me, “Carolyn (pronounced Caroleen) you don’t have to eat the whole thing. You may eat for taste”; when I asked his advice on weight loss. Alright, he also became my hero when he came to rescue me from the stair well as I attempted (with Nikes on my feet and my cell phone in hand) to take the stairs from the concourse level to the 40th floor as an attempt to lose weight and tone my legs. I know this weight loss thing is long overdue.

I would like to thank him for the idea of portion control . . . which I exhibited very well over the break. For example we went out to eat dinner at a seafood place (who’s food by the way is nowhere near as good as the place I used to work), I only had two of those delicious cheese biscuits and pushed the biscuit filled metal basket to my dad’s side of the table. I also only ate half of my food and took the rest home for the following day.

I will end with a reminder to me and an encouragement to others with goals. This is a quote from the French - Paul Valery, “The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up”. This morning I weighed in at 217.2.

Obstacles....

Obstacles. It is funny how they just pop up as if right out of nowhere to impede your progress, or better yet to stop your succession altogether. I knew when I started my weight loss journey that I was actually beginning with a few of my own; like past reluctance to move and sweat simultaneously and the only green vegetable consumed willing was fried okra.

Well I recruited a buddy, (we actually recruited each other), and we participated in step aerobics, walked the treadmill and used stationary bikes. The step aerobics class was an obstacle within its self... right-step, v-step, and box-step. I tried to jump in where I could. The ladies were very nice and supportive after class. My awkwardness must have been reminiscent of their first class. Thank God for people with empathy!

Second week not so good. I was actually without appetite for a few days and no exercise (pretty big obstacle). I am certain that success often times come with road blocks, and all setbacks even those that touch my heart are very small when compared to the One who holds my heart. My workout buddy and I will hit the gym again tomorrow!

Today’s weight: 219.9 (a small gain!)

And Then There Were Sweets.....

Cakes, cookies, brownies, cinnamon rolls, blueberry muffins, toasted blueberry bagels with syrup ... you can see where I am going with this. I love sweets, so much that I eat something sweet everyday; or twice a day, who was counting before this week?

My weight loss by substituting water for sodas is so great, that I am inclined to put a cap on my sweet tooth. That is only a figure of speech (I don’t really have caps).

I just want to thank everyone for your cheers and kind words in passing. I will still acknowledge you when I am supermodel status again. Just joking; however, my dad has always taught me to show gratitude. You know say thank you with a call or a note someone is kind to you. Gratitude is also taught to my children. We have a prayer bench at our home and before the boys and I conclude prayer, we always stop and pick one thing about God that we love and tell Him why.

One day, my youngest one son said, “Father God, I love you so much. One of the things I love about you the most is that you are so sweet. You are sweeter than my sweet tooth.” Ah, a child after my own heart with an innate love for God and great appreciation for baked goods.

Today’s weight is 219.6. Yeah!

Two Weeks Later ...

I am down to 224.4 lbs. I was not as successful with exercising as I would like, but I was able to kick the soda habit.

Because of the weather, we experienced power outage and were forced to stay at a hotel for a couple of days. My exercising consisted of snowball fights and learning new dance moves from my boys. I believe the biggest contributor to my weight loss has been me, soda free.

I work on the weekends and usually take a couple of two-liters in with me. I know ... yes … two-liters. When I looked in the refrigerator, there they were … two two-liters. I pulled them out and thought about having a drink. Trying to reason with myself thinking, “It’s only one drink.” The fact that it was a small struggle for me gave me cause to pause and thank God for delivering people from addictions, even those that we don’t realize we have, or decide to label as other things.

Finally, with all the fervor of a recovering alcoholic stumbling across the last hidden bottle of Grey Goose or Disaronno; I emptied the bottles…..down the drain of course!

I never thought that I would be excited about being 224.4 lbs, but I am; and moving in the right direction (down on the weight scale).

Next items on the list: Actually accomplish my cardio 30 minutes per day, four days a week; and incorporate an abs workout two days per week.

A New Beginning

Two hundred thirty pounds ... Terrell Owens plus six pounds, Dallas Mavericks James Singleton, the Colts quarterback Peyton Manning; and according to the Feed the Children website enough food in pounds to feed a child for one year and 11 months. Unfortunately, it is also my current weight. According to every weight chart I find, I also find myself overweight ... no actually obese ... O.K. morbidly obese. Ouch! The realization of that stings a bit!

I was actually 5’5 weighing 135 pounds before I had my two sons. With work, taking care of a family, maintaining a home, helping others and a couple of other stressors thrown in; I am not only far away from my normal weight, but my weight gain from pregnancy 9 and 10 years ago has gone from:

135 pounds + infant baby weight to 135 pounds + fourth-grader son weight holding a 20 pounds bag of potatoes

I don’t have much time for myself, but I will make time to exercise and hopefully get closer to my ideal weight of 135 pounds to 145 pounds within the next 12 months. The purpose of this blog is to hold me accountable with weigh-ins, better food choices and ultimately keeping my word to myself. I have an entire garage of workout equipment and impulse infomercial buys that I will try out from time to time. I will give an update every two weeks with my current weight and things and/or circumstances that I encounter along the journey to a healthier, better feeling, more attractive me.

God allows things to happen in seasons. Hopefully this is my season of restoration starting with my weight. The first items on the list:

Substitute my soda intake with water (I drink about four 20 ounce bottles per day), and exercise (cardio) at least 30 minutes a day, four days per week. Oh yeah, and lots of lots of prayer!

See you in two weeks!