The Breakthrough

On occasion, when a topic pops into my mind to blog about, I write the subject line down and eventually come back to it. Two weeks ago, I wrote two words, “The Breakthrough”. I was tired of the plateau I was on and decided to kick things up a notch. I made the decision to really crack down on what I was eating and drinking and to increase the intensity of my exercise. And voila- results!

Something my Weight Watcher’s leader said in our meeting that morning made perfect sense. Sometimes people say “this program is not working for me” but in reality, they are not working the program. If you follow the Weight Watcher’s program, even tweaking it to meet your needs and lifestyle, it works!

Over the past two weeks, I dropped 4.1 pounds. I am officially down 24 pounds and am at a weight I haven’t seen since 2004. Yah-freakin-hoo-doo-dle-dee-doo! So how did I jumpstart my weight loss again?

I was extremely mindful about the quality of foods I put in my body, going for whole unprocessed foods (when possible).  I switched out my beloved white bread to white whole grain bread (baby steps, couldn’t jump right to wheat). ;) I made sure I had more dairy and was hitting my water quota. I only ate out twice, one time I made wise choices and the other time I had pizza and fries (hey, you have to live a little). I made sure we had ample healthy groceries in the house. I only had 1-2 point or 0 point snacks after dinner.  I paid close attention to the extra calories I was drinking, and I dusted off my favorite Weight Watcher’s cookbook and went back to some stand-by recipes. Folks, this is nothing earth shattering, but small changes lead to big results (long term).

I also cranked up my fitness. When I walk on the treadmill, I usually walk 3.0 to 3.2 MPH. Over the past two weeks, I’ve done small cardio bursts on the treadmill, walking 3.0 then fast walking 3.7. I also started wogging at the Y with my hubby Nate. Wogging? Walking and jogging of course.  I have been afraid to try jogging because I have two bad knees. I had tendonitis in both knees in high school and wasn’t sure I could ever jog again. So for most of my life, to save my knees, I’ve been doing low impact cardio. But I thought, let me test the waters a bit. I started out walking the Y track and jogging 1 lap and I’ve slowly increased my laps to jogging 8 which equals a half a mile. Jogging a half a mile and my knees still feel great, I’ll take it. I’m hoping that I can continue to increase my jogging because Nate used to run 5K’s and I’d love to be able to run with him someday- we’ll see.

All in all, it’s been a fantastic two weeks. Being able to up my weight loss while trying to manage the pre-Christmas chaos, multiple kids’ sports activities and working a lot of hours hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth it!

Ask for help, make a choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Limitless Part II

Last Saturday, I rolled out of bed. I wanted to go to Weight Watcher’s, but I was cold and my bed was toasty and it was early (well early for me).  My bed was so warm and toasty that I got up late, forced myself out of bed and went to the meeting, as is.

I was already reluctant to weigh in, not only was it the week after my Thanksgiving indulgences, but I hadn’t been on the scale for four weeks. What can I say? Sometimes life gets in the way and boy do those weeks fly by. So I grudgingly faced the scale and I gained .8 pounds. Considering the circumstances, coming off a week filled with so many pieces of chocolate cake that I had to throw it away and not putting my best foot forward for four weeks, I wasn’t surprised.

As I sat in the chair, waiting for the meeting to start, I fought off the negative voices and replaced them with thoughts like “Hey, at least you came back and you didn’t give up. And usually after a holiday binge, it’s easier to just stop and say ‘I’ll try another time’”.  While I was sitting in my chair, giving myself a pep talk, a familiar face walked in the door.

Many months ago, there was a woman named R (keeping her privacy) that walked in and sat next to me. It was her first Weight Watcher’s meeting. She walked in using a walker, harrumphing as she sat down. R confided that she was really nervous that she wouldn’t be able to lose weight. She was limited to her walker and couldn’t exercise. She lived alone and didn’t have anyone to help her out and hold her accountable. After exchanging a few encouraging words at the end of the meeting, R and I went our separate ways.

Fast forward to last Saturday. I hadn’t seen R in a while because I switched meeting days and I could not believe my eyes when she walked in the door. She looked fantastic!! I was so overjoyed to see her success, R had lost 50 pounds. She moved from a walker to a cane when her doctor told her she would always need her walker. In addition she had reduced several of her medications.

I was SO happy for this woman named R, a woman I barely knew; she really inspired me.  It made me think about my Limitless post from a few months ago. R faced so many obstacles, yet she didn’t let them get in the way of her success. R persevered and her persistence paid off. Instead of putting up excuses, she put up results and week by week she has changed how she lives her life.

I love seeing these success stories happen right before my eyes at my weekly Weight Watcher’s meetings. Besides working toward my own goals, these real life stories really keep me going.

This week, I encourage you to break free from the limits you place on yourself and that others place on you. You will be amazed at the great things you can do!

Ask for help, make a choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

The Panis

This Thanksgiving, my sister-in-law Lydia enlightened me to a new term- panis. Lydia is a nurse and somehow we got on the topic of her overweight patients and their panis’s. According to the Urban Dictionary- a panis is an unsightly bulge that hangs over ones belt. There are more graphic definitions, but let’s just leave those to your imagination.

As we sat around gorging ourselves with Thanksgiving deliciousness, we heard tales of the items that Lydia has found stuck in her patient’s panis’s- a TV remote control, a half of sandwich. And while of course we were chuckling about it, obesity is no laughing matter.

The word panis has now become a visual weight loss cue in my vocabulary- why? Because I don’t want to have one. In my heavier days, I had one. You know, that lovely roll of lower belly fat that kind of spreads out and touches everything when you bend down to pick something up. Need I say more?

And while I did over-indulge this Thanksgiving, I’m still feeling pretty great. For the first time in a long time, I can say that I am content with how I look, but more importantly with how I feel. I’m still not at my goal weight, but hey, I’m just feeling SO much better. The weight is coming off super slow, but I am focusing on how I feel- mentally, physically, spiritually- and (most days) I feel fantastic.

Maybe this feeling and appreciation comes with getting older? The first time around on Weight Watcher’s, I was so goal driven that I forgot to cherish the process and my progress. You know, the whole “it’s the journey not the destination thing”.  And this time, I am just so appreciative that I even get to be on this journey. I am thankful that I have made the choice to take care of me, because, in turn, this helps me to take care of others. I am thankful that I can afford the Weight Watcher’s meetings. I am thankful that I have friends and family that support my efforts. I am thankful that I have work-life balance and a schedule that helps me do what I need to do. I am thankful that each day I have more energy to exercise and even more so that I enjoy it. I am thankful that God has given me a body that works and the wisdom to know I need to take care of it, because it’s the only one I’ll get.

And lastly, I’m thankful that I don’t have a panis (anymore). ;) Ha, ha!

Hoping that your Thanksgiving gratitude carries over into the Christmas season, I am thankful for you!

Ask for help, make a choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Winning the Race

Last week, during our company meeting, one topic that came up was how Team New Zealand finally came to win the America’s Cup.  The focus of our meeting was about “getting better” by setting small goals that result in big change over time. It was said that Team New Zealand was able to win the America’s Cup by making small focused changes in their performance, and these changes helped them to win the race.

This image really stuck in my mind, picturing the crew working together as a team to tweak their performance really got me thinking about my work and personal performance and how I could kick things up a notch. It also got me thinking about my weight loss efforts.  I love Weight Watcher’s because they embrace this notion of small goals leading to big change.  When you join, you work toward reaching 5% of your weight loss, then 10% of your weight loss, then finally your goal weight.  This makes that daunting weight loss (that seems to take forever) more achievable.

This time around for me on Weight Watcher’s, just like Team New Zealand, I decided to make small manageable changes. I decided that making drastic changes just weren’t sustainable in the long term for me. And as hard as it was to accept, I had to embrace the fact that small changes do not lead to instant results. There are so many diet programs out there that promise a quick fix- lose 20 inches in 20 days or lose 30 pounds in 30 days- and these may work short term, but as soon as you go off the plan, or stop taking the magic pills, the weight loss comes back on.

Those of you who know me well know I am an extremely picky eater. My repertoire of vegetables consists of green beans. I throw caution to the wind by trying wheat bread. And that’s OK. I might not be eating perfect, but I’m eating better. Back in the day, my typical lunch from Burger King was a Whopper, large fries, large coke and an apple pie. Now, I really don’t choose to go to Burger King, but if I do with my kids, I make different choices. I now have a kid’s cheeseburger, apple fries and a small coke. Yes, I still have my coke; I love me an iced cold Coca-Cola! I’d rather have a coke once a week and savor it and have water the rest of the week. It may not seem like a lot, but that’s a difference of 990 calories for one meal. Imagine the impact this small change can make over several meals per week, per year and MAN, you will start to win that race.

Weight loss, is a life change, tweaking small habits over time until you reach and then stay at your goal. For me, weight loss is about making those changes but still living and enjoying my life.

What’s one small change you can make this week that could lead to big results?

Ask for help, make a choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Baggage Check

A few weeks ago during our Weight Watcher’s meeting, our leader asked the question “besides the scale, how do you measure your success?” There were a variety of great responses- more energy, taking less medication, able to exercise longer, able to play with my kids more, clothing is loose and just overall feeling better. Our leader talked about visual reminders of success. It’s a great way to notice your weekly weight loss successes, big and small; from a five pound bag of sugar to a ten pound bag of potatoes. The first time around on Weight Watcher’s, I lost 40 pounds. I was carrying around four large bags of potatoes, no wonder I was so tired all the time. This time around on Weight Watcher’s, the weight is coming off a lot slower. I’m fourteen years older and my priorities have shifted. Most weeks, after working very hard, my weight loss is .5 pounds. And that’s OK, as long as the scale is moving in the right direction.  

Think about the size of a one pound dumbbell, or a can of vegetables; although they may be small, they still take up some real estate and it’s a great way to visualize the smaller weight losses coming off your body. Last year, when I worked in an office, I used to carry a fabulous purple leather laptop bag. Because I had to walk from the car into the office and up two flights of stairs, I loaded that bag up. It held my laptop, work files, lunch bag, water bottle and so forth.  And let me tell you, that bag was hea-vy! Every day when I entered into the lobby, I was faced with a choice- walk the two flights of stairs, or take the elevator and every day (unless I was feeling seriously spunky); I took the elevator because the bag was so darned heavy. One night after work, I decided to weigh my laptop bag and it weighed eleven pounds!

Fast forward to today.  I have lost 22 pounds- two laptop bags! My visual reminder is my purple laptop bag. I was so tired carrying that extra weight each day that I took the elevator, it was really bogging me down. I wonder, what extra weight are you carrying on your shoulders each day? Is someone or something weighing you down? What can you do to lighten your load? And how can others around you help?

Ask for help, make a choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

What On Earth Was I Thinking?

Last week, I decided to shake things up in my workout routine and try something new. So I scoured the YMCA catalog for something that looked interesting. I decided on a PIYO class which combines pilates, yoga and cardio. Have I ever done pilates? No. How about yoga? A little. And cardio? Well, I am a beast at cardio.

Alarms should have gone off in my brain when I walked into class and it was only the instructor and one other person- signaling A) this class stinks or B) this class is so hard no-one wants to take it. But I took my shoes off and hopped on my yoga mat, enthusiastic and raring to go. After some initial instruction and chatting with the leader about adjusting the routine to my bad wrist and knees, we were off and running.

After the first set, which focused on arms, I thought, I am out WAY of my league. But I’m no quitter, so I kept on going. Then we moved on to legs, and I thought, sweet Jesus, please take me home! My legs were shaking and like jello. We were doing power squats and lunges, combined with quick and repetitive yoga moves like airplane, tree, warrior and a whole bunch of crazy. Sometimes, during the workout, I had to will my body to move. Come on arm, reach down and touch your toe. Come on leg, unwrap yourself from the pretzel pose, you can do it, move leg, MOVE.  I’ve done plenty of workouts in my life, from Tae-Bo to strength training, from Zumba to kickboxing, yet no work out was as tedious as this one.

Did I mention that both the instructor and the other woman were in fabulous shape? Teensy tiny little ladies with muscles to spare. And there I was, extra weight on my knees and ankles, doing my best to…well…do my best. And huffing and puffing, I did.

When I got home, guzzled Gatorade (that I can’t stand the taste of), took some Motrin and got my heart rate down, my husband said “why on earth didn’t you stop if you thought it was too much?” I said “because I’m not a quitter” and “I really wanted to try something new”.  And I think he muttered something about not having common sense and that I was crazy. Yeah, yeah, yeah, what’s your point?

Looking back now, the whole situation was a bit crazy. I was in over my head and I should have gracefully bowed out. But really, what was running through my head was that I had faced my fear and tried something new. And although I over did it (a tad), I walked through those gym doors and did something scary and out of my comfort zone, and that was the point.

When was the last time you tried something new?

Let’s face it, most of us are creatures of comfort. Yet I wonder, what really cool things are we missing out on? And more importantly, what’s holding us back?

Is there something you’ve been wanting to try? What’s stopping you? Make a goal to try something new this month, don’t wait until the new year, try it now. You’ll be amazed at what you can do, if you just give it a try!

Limitless

Hey blog-o-riffic readers!
Take a look at my latest post written especially for Jon Stolpe's blog Stretched.
And be sure to spend some time in Jon's blog site, he's a wonderful writer and has a lot to share with you!
http://jonstolpe.wordpress.com/
Hugs and friendship,
Tara

Rather Uninspired...

Over the past few weeks, I’ve found myself at a loss of what to write about. And believe you me, that doesn’t happen very often as I’m always thinking, dreaming, planning, plotting- you get the drift. I usually have a never-ending list of what I’d like to write about. Why so uninspired?

Well, I think it ties into a big event in our family’s life that happened about 3 weeks ago. We dropped our daughter off at college, freshman year. Our baby girl has flown the nest. And even though she is only 30 minutes from home, I must say, it was a fairly traumatic experience. Now some of you might be thinking, trauma, I can tell you about real trauma- OK I hear you. Some of my friends and family are facing some really tough times right now and my heart breaks for them. But pain is relative to your reality. And dropping Ash off at school was so painful. Nobody warned me of the mixed bag of emotions that I’d lug home with me after I dropped her bags in her dorm room.  

It all seems so final…like you’ve worked so hard over the past 18 years grow your child into contributing member of society and then BLAMMO, they are gone. Sure they are coming home, but as my one friend said “it’s a game changer”. The family dynamics change. The parent-child relationship changes because you realize that your child is now an adult. Holy cow, when did that happen?

You wonder if you did enough, said enough, guided enough, loved enough.

When did we go from wagon rides and pumpkin picking to Barbies and braces? From board games to boys? From plaid dresses to prom dresses and graduation gowns?

Some of you might be reading this and thinking “seriously, Tara, get a grip” and some might be thinking “awe honey, I’ve been there”.

Right now I’m trying to reconcile the fact that things are changing and will continue to change- understanding that not many things are constant.  

One thing I do know for sure is that God has got his hands on Ashlee (and on me) and with his guidance we welcome this new chapter in our lives. And suddenly I find myself feeling rather inspired! So check back with me in a few weeks and I’ll share with you what new challenges have come my way. J

Make the choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Moving the Finish Line

Well, what can I say? It’s been a while since I’ve taken the time to put pen to paper. And, it’s been a while since I slowed down to take care of me. I have not been on Weight Watcher’s program since July fourth. I’ve been trying my darndest, given our summer of travel, to grab something healthy on the run, and to exercise in between activities.

Last week, I decided to go to Weight Watcher’s to face the dastardly scale, just to check in and see how much damage I managed to put on--- and much to my delight, I only gained .5 pounds. Given my recent love affair with Bakers of Buffington graduation cake and the fact that we’ve had to eat out a lot and make the best of it, I’ll take that half pound gain.

When life gets too busy or overwhelming, the first thing that goes out the door for me is my eating. I would usually say “the heck with it”! What was different for me this time around, is awareness.

I am aware that I am 21 pounds thinner and that no matter what--- I want to finish what I started! I am aware that I feel healthier than I have in years. I am aware that when I put good foods in my body, I feel friggin’ fantastic! I am aware that when I exercise, I sleep better at night and am more mentally sharp the next day. I am aware that I am a fighter, not a quitter, and that getting side tracked doesn’t end the journey.

Think about this, endurance and long distance runners cannot see the finish line, even though they know it’s ahead. And as they venture on, their bodies might start to give out, muscles screaming, but their minds are clearly focused on that finish line. And that mental focus is what keeps them moving toward their goal.

I like to view life as a constantly moving finish line. There’s tons of room on the open road for growth, yet we’ll hit plenty of road blocks along the way. The key is to not let that road block end your journey. It may delay you by a week, or maybe a couple of years. It may re-route your plans altogether. I like to look at road blocks as opportunities and ask myself, what does God want me to take from this?

Our summer of travels may have side tracked me from my weight loss, but I had a wonderful time with my kids, husband, family and friends.

Whatever obstacle you’re facing right now, know that it came into your life at this time for a reason. God is very intentional. Ask yourself what new opportunity can grow from this burden? Maybe you’re elbow deep in it and it’s not evident right now.  Just keep on marching toward your finish line, and as it moves, take a deep breath, reflect and refocus, adjust your pace and know that you are exactly where you are meant to be! 

Make the choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Home, Home on the (Marshallton) Grange

What a gorgeous day today! Keep it coming Mother Nature! We love it!

This time of year sends me back to my childhood, to the simpler days of summer. Riding my big wheel, jumping rope, making mud pies, playing Little House on the Prairie- all on a breezy summer day.

It also reminds me of the Peach Festival. Every summer, the Marshallton Grange held its annual Peach Festival. It was a night filled with simple joyfulness. Bumpy hayrides that you wanted to go on again and again. The anticipation of the fish pond, throwing your clothes-pinned hook over the top, waiting for the tug to retrieve that special prize. The freshness of the peaches over melted ice cream. Picking a numbered pocket from the pocket lady’s apron, wondering what was inside.  Taking part in the cake walk, hoping that you would take the cake (hey- is that where that saying comes from?).  Playing hide and seek or catching lightening bugs until it was time to go home, and then begging that the hayride would run just one more time.

These are memories from a simpler time, life seemed much less complicated. Time stood still and those slow simmering summer days would go on forever.

It makes me wonder if we have over-complicated the whole weight loss thing? What if we looked at food in a much simpler way? What if food became a way to nourish our bodies? Not a reward, or a punishment; not something to control or lose control of- just plain ol’ nourishment.

Nourishment implies a simple goodness for our bodies. When we put good foods in, we get good things out- like improved health, increased energy, reduced medications, better sleep, glowing skin. It means going back to the basics- enjoying more fruits, veggies, lean meats/protein, low-fat dairy and water and less processed foods, fast foods, fried foods, soda and sweets. It’s going back to what nature has provided us in the purest form.  We know this right? It’s the food pyramid from WAY back in elementary school. Boy those food pyramid people must have been geniuses because it really does work (btw- I had to spell check genius, oh the irony).

It’s not the concept that’s difficult, it’s making it actually happen. It’s flipping the mental switch and then committing to the change.

But let’s not get overwhelmed here. If you begin to make small daily changes, great things will start to happen. Swap out an apple and peanut butter for your morning bowl of cereal. Have a side salad in place of french fries.  Have a half of brownie instead of a whole one. Swap out whole grain pasta for regular pasta.  Eat the chicken sandwich without the roll. Make slow changes that are maintainable and reasonable for the long term.

I challenge you this week to savor the simplicity of food by choosing foods that are good for you. PAY ATTENTION to the way your body feels after eating. Energized ? Healthier? Happier? STOP AND THINK about the foods you’re putting in your body. And I promise you, before you even know what’s happening, your life will start to change.  And your body, just like the hayride, will be begging you to do it again, one more time!

Make the choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Space and Grace

Well, it’s been a while since I’ve had a moment to even pee, let alone blog. The past few weeks have gone by in a blur. If anyone told me 18 years ago, when I was a bleary-eyed new and inexperienced mother, that every season would bring a different challenge, I probably would have smacked them. During that time, I was exhausted, unsure of myself, my parenting abilities and my overall dealing with life skills. I was pretty sure that I was the only one in my boat, that my boat was going faster and was in rougher waters than anyone else’s and it was about to go over the waterfall.

Through the years, our boat has hit some scary unchartered territories- most notably the teenage years. I can hardly believe that just a few weeks ago, our daughter graduated from high school. Remember that lovely little book that everyone read called “What to Expect When You're Expecting?” We propped the book on our preggo bellies, pouring over the instructional chapters, dreaming of our perfect babies. Well…no-one told us that one day that baby would turn into a teenager, no book can ever prepare you for that. J

And now, our teenager is an adult. Mother of Pearl, when DID this happen? It seems like it happened over night.   

Perspective is a funny thing isn’t it? Back when our daughter was young, I felt like our lives were so busy and overwhelming. I was exhausted, unsure of myself, my parenting abilities and my overall dealing with life skills. And now, 18 years later- some days I’m still exhausted, unsure of myself, my parenting abilities and my overall dealing with life skills. J

The past month has felt like I’m on a Merry-go-round and the only way I’m getting off is if the ride breaks. I’m quite sure we’re busier than ev-er. We have two active and involved kids- pardon me- one kid and one adult. With the events leading up to graduation- awards ceremonies, invites, photos, house cleaning, party planning, not to mention the fact that tournament baseball seems to be taking over our lives. And oh yeah we just got back from Toledo for gymnastics nationals.

I haven’t had much time to take care of my body. I’ve tried my best to eat the right foods and get exercise in whenever I can but if it doesn’t happen right now, I will lean on two of the greatest lessons I’ve learned as a parent- space and grace.  As far as weight loss goes, I’ve pressed the pause button. Not the quit button, not the forget button, but the hold button. And until I can make the time to resume my weight loss journey, I will allow myself the space and grace to stay exactly where I am.

Just as I thought my boat was about to careen over the waterfall, I dropped anchor.  Time to re-assess my journey.

No matter where you are in your life journey, in calm waters or in the toughest storm of your life- take the time to accept where you are as God maps out a new plan and soon you’ll realize that you are exactly where you are supposed to be. Make the best of this season.

Every season will bring a new set of challenges- it’s called life. It’s how you live that life it that makes the difference.   

Make the choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Stop Fighting, Start Living

Over the past few weeks, I have been reminded of the precious gift of good health. I haven’t been feeling very swell. As some of you know, I have a neurological illness called trigeminal neuralgia-atypical facial pain. This illness, which for me is primarily triggered by extremes of weather (cold, heat) and stress, causes incapacitating lightning bolt pains in my head. In some medical journals, it is called “the most painful affliction to man”. I’ve had the illness since 2002. Most people that meet me wouldn’t even know I have it. But those who are close to me know just how much it impacts my everyday living. During the winter and summer months, I am stuck inside. I have to think about everything I do outside of the house and be strategic about my exposure to the weather. If I don’t, I will end up in bed in severe pain and medicated for one or more days.  

Last year was my worst year with the illness. I tried some heavy medications- nerve blockers that made me sicker than the pain relief was worth. During a low point, I was crying in my neurologist’s office that I just couldn’t take it anymore. My doctor said to me “stop fighting this illness and accept it. Start living with your illness”. Eureka! Stop fighting…start living! Stop fighting…start living! Brilliant! Live YOUR life!

Mentally, that was a turning point for me- because chronic illness can wear you out and be downright depressing. Whenever I don’t feel good, I eat. During bouts of neuralgia, I would lie in bed (because I couldn’t move my head), with a bag of Hershey kisses. It makes you really sad when you can’t go to your kid’s sports, pick out a Christmas tree, or go to a family picnic- because the weather (hot or cold) makes you sick. And you miss out on life.

What’s eating you right now so badly that you’re missing out on life? Illness? Depression? Anxiety? Tensions at home? At work? Trouble with your kids? Finances? Death?

I’m here to ask you---DO NOT let the pain take control of your life. You (and God) have the steering wheel. YOU, control your attitudes, your behaviors, your reactions and beliefs. YOU control how you choose to live your life.

This past year, I made the mental shift to take my life back. And let me tell you…when you’re feeling like you cannot go on anymore, and you have no idea where you will get the strength to face another day- you will dig deep and keep on keepin’ on.

It’s really hard to keep on keepin’ on when you’re ill, depressed, anxious, stressed at home or at work, struggling your finances or mourning the loss of a loved one.

But remember, there is a light inside of you called hope. And this hope will give you the courage, strength and perseverance to tackle whatever life brings- head on.

Make the choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Leaping Off the Wagon

Well, this week, I didn’t just fall off the wagon, I leapt off.  Maybe not even a leap, but a full force run in the opposite direction of where I was heading.

And I discovered…it’s really easy to blog when things are going well. But during times of struggle, it’s hard to put myself out there.

It made me think about the life of a celebrity. No privacy, always under scrutiny for their appearances, family ties, career moves and life choices. Imagine if people judged us like we judged them? We don’t even know them. Yet, I’m guilty as charged. I’ll sit in front of the TV, in my comfy clothes and be thinking “what the heck is she wearing? Doesn’t she have a mirror?”

When I thought about celebrities and their public weight struggles, plenty came to mind. Janet Jackson, Jessica Simspon, Wynonna Judd, Jennifer Hudson, Kirstie Alley, and of course Oprah Winfrey.

As I watched the trailer’s for Oprah’s 25 year career, I couldn’t help but to think about the ups and downs of her weight loss journey, after all, it was right before my eyes. This woman, the most powerful and wealthiest in the world (until Lady Gaga knocked her to #2), she struggles just like you and me.

Oprah has the world of heath at her fingertips. She’s got a cook and a personal trainer. The best fitness equipment that money can buy. Yet she still hasn’t found her way. I’m not talking about when she rolled the wagon full of fat unto the stage in her little skinny jeans, she was too thin then. I’m talking about overall wellness.

And for you Biggest Loser fans…they have the best trainers in the world, the weight loss opportunity of a lifetime. They exercise and eat in a controlled environment and some weeks…they blow it. Makes me feel better on those nights when I’m watching Biggest Loser while eating my peanut butter Tandycakes.

This week, I ate just about everything in sight (and then some). My workouts fell to the wayside. I was tired and grouchy. And I realized that I was tired and grouchy because I ate just about everything in sight and my workouts fell to the wayside. And joyfully I thought “I don’t like feeling this way”. I like the way I feel when I put good foods in my body and when I exercise. That’s progress baby! J I thought I leapt off the wagon this week, but as it turns out, I’m still in it. My wagon just took a little detour.

Part of the reason I created this blog is to remind women (and myself), that we’re only human. We try, we fail. We try, we succeed. What’s most important is that we keep trying.

“There is no comparison between that which is lost by not succeeding and that lost by not trying.”~ Francis Bacon Sr.

Whatever you’re facing this week, don’t miss out on something wonderful by not giving it a try.

Make the choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Missing Mo-Jo

dis·com·bob·u·late–verb- To confuse or disconcert; upset; frustrate.

This week, I’m feeling very discombobulated (love that word). I’m tired, frustrated, frazzled.

My “get up and go”…“got up and went”. I lost my mo-jo. You get what I mean…I’m beat.

There are simply not enough hours in the day to get things done. I feel like I’m running around like crazy and accomplishing ¼ of what I need to.

Work is busier than ever. My husband’s job is stressful. We have kid stuff every night of the week. As the school year comes to an end, it seems as though the teachers try to cram in all of the projects they didn’t quite get to assign. Don’t forget about the awards banquets. Our daughter is a senior, so add in the graduation planning and college preparation. Scheduling summer sports and camps. Not to mention the endless array of paperwork that comes with all of the above. And oh yeah, the house still needs to be cleaned, laundry done, groceries bought, birthdays remembered…How about squeezing in time for our family? Spouse? Children? Friendships? Spiritual time? Ourselves?

Such is the life of a busy Mom. Is it any wonder that we struggle to lose weight? I don’t know about you, but often times I come in dead last. How on earth can we find the time to shop for healthy foods? To plan and prepare meals? Exercise? And how do we dig deep enough to find the energy to “keep on keepin’ on?”

Something is different for me this time around. Which is probably why I’m feeling a little discombobulated?  I have flip-flopped my priorities. In that list of “to dos” above, just look at what comes in last place. Family. Spouse. Children. Friendships. Spiritual time. Ourselves.

Right now, I’ve got laundry mountain waiting for me to conquer. My house is semi-clean but needs some help. The endless paper pile is growing. But Jimmy Crack Corn and I don’t care! Why? Because I’m doing what’s truly important.

I went shopping with my daughter. Played whiffle ball with my son. Took a family walk and enjoyed the weather. Went out to dinner with friends. Read a book. Walked the dog with my husband. Went to Zumba with my girlfriend. Spent time in prayer. Exercised almost every day. Took some photos. Prepared healthy foods.

A few weeks ago at Weight Watchers’s, our leader asked the question “who can name one or more thing you’ve done for yourself this week?” We all sat scratching our heads and looking at each other like hmmmm…I dunno.

This week, try the twofer rule (yes I made that up). Every day, if I can get TWO things done from my never-ending “to do” list- I consider it a day well spent.

Remember, you can’t do it all, but you can do what matters.

Make the choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Something Amazing Awaits

Well…it was bound to happen. I am at a plateau. Over the past few weeks, I have been up a pound, down a pound, up a pound, down a pound. It’s enough to drive a girl crazy. It’s also enough to make a girl quit!

When I’ve reached this point in my weight loss journey before, I threw in the towel. Because those little voices in my head tell me the sacrifice is not worth it. The exercise and aching muscles. Planning and wise choices. Weighing and measuring. The cooking…for Pete’s sake, I despise cooking.

But this time, as I write the words, the sacrifice is not worth it; I’m thinking the words, I am worth it. I am worth the work.  I am worth the exercise and aching muscles. I am worth the planning and wise choices. I am worth the weighing and measuring and as much as it pains me to say, I am worth the cooking.

So what makes this time around different? I want it! I want this. And I believe that if you want something bad enough, you can…and will…make it happen.

Granted, it “might” not happen within your planned timeline. Many years ago, when our daughter was very young, I went back to college for my bachelor’s degree. I took one class and stopped. Then, a few years later, I took another class and stopped. Not only was it not the right time in our lives, I simply didn’t want it bad enough to put in the hard work to make it happen.

In the fall of 2004, I went back again to get my degree. And this time, I wanted that degree so bad, I was willing to do anything to make it happen. I was working full time, had two very busy kids and decided to take an accelerated degree track, taking 10-15 credits a semester, including summers. On class day, I woke up at 5:30am, went to work, worked a full day and went right to class until 10:00pm. On non-class days, when push came to shove, I woke up at 5:30am to study before work. And I despise getting up early almost as much as I despise cooking. ;) I was a woman on a mission, and nothing could stop me. And with the wonderful support of my family and friends, I graduated in 2007.

I’m not exceptional, ordinary people achieve extraordinary things every day. What’s different for me on this leg of my journey is that I want to make this change. And although I might encounter all kinds of obstacles (work stress, lack of time, kid events, caring for family members), I am going to make this happen. Because I want this and I’m worth it!

A little disclaimer needs to happen here…J A good friend of mine once said to me “God’s perfect timing may NOT be perfect to you. But it is to Him”. So true. Sometimes, we want something very badly and it doesn’t happen. It might happen a year from now, ten years from now or never. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t go for it. Something amazing that we hadn’t even planned for might just happen instead.   

Make the choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Somewhere in the Middle

“Somewhere between the hot and the cold,
somewhere between the new and the old.
Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be,
somewhere in the middle, you'll find me.”

Love, love, LOVE that song by Casting Crowns and it really hits home for where I am in my journey right now, weight and otherwise.

Last week, I hit the 20 pound marker. I’m over half way to my weight loss goal. I should be jumping for joy. Yet much like the character in the song above, I’m a little apprehensive. Change is scary. Even positive change can bring about a case of the jitters.

“Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense.
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle”.

I wonder if that’s why so many people are content being caught in the middle?

Wouldn’t it be great to live life as a fearless warrior? Living with reckless abandon. Setting crazy goals. Dreaming larger than life dreams.

I don’t know about you, but I love listening to kids talk about their hopes for the future. Man, they have some gigantic dreams without limits. Sometimes they crack me up, and sometimes they blow me away with their sunshiny optimism. They don’t care if the dreams are silly, ill-timed or possibly unachievable. They are not caught in the middle; they are caught in the moment.

Where does that moment go? What happens when we grow up? What makes us cautious? Hesitant? Leery? Cynical?

We get hurt…fail. We get burned...run out of steam. Common sense kicks in.

As I’m caught in the middle, I am reminded that I have the power to get “unstuck”. Every day I have a choice and the beauty of it all? Even if I screw things up, God gives me another fresh start.

So this week, have faith in yourself. Take stock in your abilities. You have done and will do some incredible things! Tap into your fearless warrior. Do something you’ve been putting off yet wanting to do.  

The only thing holding you back…is you!

Make the choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Ouch!@#$#!!

So tonight after acupuncture, my acupuncturist gave me a loaf of banana bread. And when she handed it to me she said “I didn’t want to give this to one of my clients that was trying to lose weight”.  What’s that supposed to mean? Do I look like Jabba the Hut? I mean h-e-l-l-o, I AM losing weight. KP, if you’re reading this, I still adore you, you had the best of intentions.

Words hurt. And even words said with good intentions sometimes can cut us to the core. Have you ever been in mid-conversation with someone and thought “oh shoot, that’s not exactly how I meant to say that”.  It’s not just spoken words that can hurt; the words that we think and say to ourselves can be just as damaging.     

I wonder, what kind of words are you saying to yourself on a daily basis?

The other day, I was in a department store and the nice saleslady in the store was helping me pick out clothes. I heard her say to her co-worker “let’s avoid this kind of cut for her jeans, she’s kind of thick waisted”.  Thick waisted…I thought I had heard all of the chub comments over the years… that’s a new one for me. Ouch!

When you look in the mirror, do you pick out all of your flaws? Do you criticize…your wrinkles…a notch in your nose…an ill-placed mole…feet that are too big…hair that won’t cooperate …a figure that will never be a size zero?

As I get older, the way I look at myself is changing. I am finally beginning to appreciate that I am exactly the creation that God intended me to be. He views me as perfect, just the way I am.

Looking in the mirror now, my goal is not to be skinny or to be thin. I want to be fit and healthy. I don’t need to look like everyone else; I just need to be the healthiest version of me.

What makes you beautiful?

Do you like serving others? Are you a fantastic cook?  A whiz in the garden? A loving friend? Do you excel at work? Kick butt at sports? Scrapbook like nobody’s business? Do you devote time to aging parents?

This week, I encourage you to take a fresh look at who you are. Each day, as you look in the mirror, pick out something you like about yourself- all the while remembering that your inner beauty will always shine through.

Make the choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Spring In My Step

During the bleak months of winter, when I think “I cannot take this weather one more day”, something wonderful happens. One day, while lying in bed, I’m not as cold as usual and what’s that I hear? It’s the birds singing. The trees are blooming. They fill the air with new and wonderful fragrance and tiny plant sprigs are popping through the ground to bask in the sun. How can you not have a spring in your step during this time of year?

I know that I do! The scale is moving in the right direction- down. I feel lighter inside and out. I’m ready to go outside and get my body moving. I remember back to when I first started Weight Watchers, way back in 1996. The idea of getting my body moving was a daunting task. When I exercised, everything hurt- my knees, ankles, back. I was carrying so much extra weight on my joints. I started walking and even then it was hard to put one foot in front of the other, I was SO tired. I remember starting with a five minute walk. And each week I gradually increased my pace until I was whipping around the neighborhood, walking 4 miles a day! That felt good!

A few weeks ago, the topic of our Weight Watcher’s meeting was yo-yo dieting. Oh yes, we’ve all been there. This is not the first or the last time we’ll be facing the fact that we’ve put on a few pounds. What really stuck with me from that meeting is how important it is to focus on the positive by learning from past experiences. Start to think about how you felt at your most fit and begin to work your way back.  You may be thinking, yeah, yeah, yeah, I’m just too busy to exercise. Well, we are ALL busy. J I’m learning that exercise doesn’t have to be an all or nothing activity. My mindset is usually that I need to hit the gym hard and have a high calorie burn for at least one full hour. Please join me in a new approach to exercise.    

If you take ten minutes before work, walk with friends at lunch, take ten minutes after work- before you know it, you’ve exercised for 30 minutes! And your morning and evening routine hasn’t suffered for it. For me, I think about the time I spend winding down in the evening, watching my favorite sit-coms…and then I realize wow, two hours have gone by and I was lazing on the couch. And yes, we all deserve a break and need the rest. But we also need to take care of ourselves.  

I challenge you this week, to get up and get moving. Spring is a time for re-birth. It’s when everything comes back to life. Such a great time for a fresh start on a new you!

Make the choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

The After Picture

So I’ve been thinking about doing this blog for quite some time. I’ve been thinking…and thinking…and thinking…and thinking some more. My friend Cathy is probably laughing when reading this. And my husband Nate has been known to say “Tara, you overanalyze the heck out of things”. So true.  

What can I say? I like to mull things over. I was taking this quiz the other day and while I was deciding on an answer about being spontaneous I read the note in parentheses that read “if you’re still thinking about your answer, you can pretty much rule out spontaneous”. Ha!

I never like to do something unless I can do it all the way, giving better than my best effort. Doing it just right. Blowing it out of the ball park.  

Sometimes this leads to procrastination. Ever experienced this? I tend to get in my own way. When I was creating this blog (in my head), I had in mind the “after picture”. You know the one where I look fit and fab-u-lous and have reached my goal. So I thought, I’ll just wait until I reach my goal AND THEN, I’ll start my blog.

Ever had one of those moments? I’ve heard it’s called “someday syndrome”.  Someday, I’ll try a new hobby. Someday, I’ll paint the living room. Someday, I’ll have more time to spend with the kids. Someday, I’ll take a day off. Someday, I’ll call that person I’ve been meaning to reach out to. Someday, I’ll lose this weight. Someday, I’ll start that blog.

Well I don’t know about you, but I’m fed up with someday syndrome. Because all of those somedays go by and you’re still in the same place. You can’t make a change if you don’t take the first step. So here I am, mustering up the courage to take that the first step by sharing my journey with you. Will you come along with me?

One step at a time…one day at a time…one choice at a time…one challenge at a time.

Are you ready? I sure am! Make your someday- today!

Make the choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Humble Pie

If you know me, you know that I haven’t met many pies I don’t like- apple crumb, cherry, pumpkin, lemon meringue…add a little whipped cream and YUM! One pie that I don’t find particularly tasty is humble pie. Have you ever had a taste? It tastes a little bitter.  

This week, I had myself a little slice and it was pretty hard to swallow. It wasn’t a stellar week all around. Work was busy, our evenings were filled with kid stuff, the weather was crap and I was sick for a few days. All in all, it was a challenge to stay on point with my eating and exercise. I did manage to stay on program and was conscientious about the foods I was putting in my mouth, but due to sickness and a crazy schedule, I only exercised once.

So I figured, “oh well, life happens”, at least you ate right and you stuck with it, that’s half the battle. And I strolled into my WW meeting thinking, “ok you probably maintained but it’s better than a gain”, and WHAMMO, I gained.

You might be thinking, dang, I’m not gonna follow this blog; this girl can’t even lose weight. But hang with me here. Remember losing and maintaining weight, it’s not an overnight gig. It takes a lifetime of effort. If I have learned anything from Weight Watcher’s, it’s that perseverance pays. It didn’t take me two weeks to gain this weight, it took years. This transformation isn’t going to happen overnight, I’m going to have to work for it.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”. ~ James 1:2-4

Life is going to throw us a bunch of curve balls, and some are going to be harder than losing a few pounds. What’s important to remember is that you have the strength to persevere, through anything that comes your way.  These trials, and your reactions to them, will shape who you are.

Keep the faith and believe in yourself. Stick with me on this journey, because the best is yet to come!

Make the choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Duh…winning?!?

Alright, so I’m not going to apologize for the Charlie Sheen reference. Let’s face it, this whole Charlie Sheen fiasco has been like a train wreck, painful to watch but you just can’t stop.  And while the SNL skits do make me chuckle, the whole situation is downright sad. He’s a man that is falling apart, for the  whole world to see. Have you had a moment this week where you feel like you’re coming unraveled? Maybe a few moments? But you don’t want the world to know about it because you are strong; you are woman…mighty and fierce. Well I had just that moment this week, on the Weight Watcher’s scale.

Week one back at WW, I was, in my opinion, an A+ student (and those who know me know I grade tough). I tracked my points, drank my water, choked down the fruits (not quite yet embracing the veggies), cooked healthy meals (OK, well Nate cooked the meals), and worked out HARD, six out of seven days. And do you know what the scale read? Zero. I mean really…zero…I gave better than my best effort and zero weight loss.

I was crushed and even worse…fuming, fuming, mad. I wanted to run as fast as I could out of that meeting room, why stay for the meeting when I was a big fat failure? But something inside me said “stay”, so I sat and listened, grinned and bore it, while self-berating in my head. “I might as well quit. If I did everything right and didn’t see any results, why bother? It’s just too much flipping work”.

After the meeting, I ranted and raved. I grumbled and growled around the house. I was really, REALLY ticked. And then, something pretty cool happened. I shifted gears. Usually a zero on the scale would lead to an all-day binge… maybe an all week binge or maybe an “I just give up”. But this time, I brushed myself off and got right back on program, not tomorrow…that day. I put good foods in my body and spent an hour doing some high cardio exercise to burn off that negative energy. Because I didn’t want to give the pain the power. I have the power, and the only person that can take that away from me is me.

And even if I didn’t lose on the scale this week, I consider my mental shift a big win. Remember that your wins are what you make them. Not taking that extra bite, winning. Walking an extra five minutes, winning. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator, winning. Brushing yourself off and starting again, winning. Realizing that you don’t always have to win, to win…well that’s duh…winning. J

Make the choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Dirty Laundry

So here I am, laying it all on the line, publically airing my dirty laundry, granny undies and all.

Last week, I walked through the doors of Weight Watcher’s for the umpteenth time. I arrived late to the meeting because before I even got out of bed I was already well into the negative self-talk. “Why bother? You’ve struggled with weight your whole life and you still have many years to live. That’s an awfully LONG time to watch what you eat. Sounds like a lot of work. Wouldn’t it be more fun just to let yourself go? You know, just enjoy life. Eat whatever you want? Yep, today is NOT the day. I’ll let myself eat whatever I want today and then tomorrow, I’ll get serious”.

But tomorrow never comes because there is always a great excuse as to why today is not the day. Well…gosh…let me see…it’s my birthday, I must have cake. It’s someone else’s birthday, we must have cake.  Office party…what no cake? I lost two pounds; let me celebrate with a big fat piece of cake. And don’t skimp; make it the cake with the sugary icing, extra flowers, end piece please. Holidays, weddings, baby showers, going away parties, picnics, graduations, dinners with friends, vacations…Get the picture?  Every season brings a reason to eat while tomorrow gets further and further away.  

Think about this…tomorrow is only one excuse away from today. So why not start today? You have the choice to make a change, today! And that’s exactly what I did. I rolled out of bed, silenced the worries of potential failure, swallowed the embarrassment, and stumbled into the meeting to start my new day. Isn’t that the beauty of life? Every day we get to wake up is a brand new beginning.  The world is ours for the taking.  Yesterday’s failures are left behind and we get another chance. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to waste this precious gift I’ve been given.

I created this blog to personally invite you to begin this weight loss journey with me. Let’s stop “trying” and start “doing”. Let’s make tomorrow- today! Let’s pick ourselves up and brush ourselves off and know that we have the power to make a change.

Make the choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

PS- I promise to keep you posted weekly on my progress. In exchange, I’d love to hear from you. Post your pics and share your stories, we can do this together! J