Monday...a gloomy, cold and rainy day. I have suffered with allergies and asthma since my big walk on Thursday morning which was cold and windy...pollen count was not good, however I was unaware of this until a couple of hours after the walk when I felt like I was breathing through a coffee stirrer!
Due to the above, I did not walk or exercise on Saturday or Sunday. Today is a new day as my dear friend Jessica reminded me during our check-in this morning when I confessed to her that I laid low over the weekend. No fear, I will be walking on my lunch hour at the mall.
And, is it just my imagination or are my size 16's feeling a teensy less tight? It has only been a week but I swear there is at least a an extra centimeter of room in there that was not there last week!
I can faithfully report with all honesty that I did quite well with my eating this past week. I did have seconds at Thanksgiving and a piece of my Coconut Cream Poke Cake. I did not have birthday cake or any other sweets period. When the fam had taco's I made it into a salad and left out the tortilla shell, when the fam had chips, salsa and cheese, I left out the cheese. Feelin' strong. Feelin' a bit victorious and celebratory!
Can I get a "woooo hooooo?" anyone?
About Me
- Your 31 Bag Lady
- I am starting a journey that I call "RE" which means that after listing areas that I want to change or improve, I have decided to attack them with gusto to become the Me that I want to be. True to form, I was on fire for the re-newal but started procrastinating around month three and now I have three months before the big 40 arrives. Procrastination in my middle name...or rather, Tina is procrastination's middle name. See? Right there? In the middle? Tina.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
RE: The List.
A few of the things on my list:
REcommit
I want to be healthy. For my family I want to provide healthy yet tasty meals and snacks. Tofu? Nah, don't think so. Not in this house! My husband and daughter know the difference between ground beef and ground turkey, no matter how much Pampered Chef Southwestern seasonings I throw in there!
REorganize
I have too much stuff. I have trouble throwing things away. I have piles here and there. I think I need to organize the piles so that I can actualy organize! My piles? Receipts, items for Liv's scrapbook, pictures, books, music, my Thirty-One business supplies, Women's Community materials. Then, there are the clothes. The skinny ones....yes, at one time, I wore a size 8. It was the year leading up to meeting my husband. Ahhhh, brown suede jeans, I remember you fondly...you were there the night I learned to do the Sweetheart Shadas (sp?) and you were there on my first date with John. How could I ever part with you?
Oh yeah....and then there are the remnants from my six years of selling Pampered Chef. I can still find unique uses for all 17 pieces of stoneware....how could I give up the mini loaf pan? That is vital for holiday baking (that I haven't had the time to do since Liv arrived).
My highschool yearbooks are out of the hope chest...although bulky and taking up quite a bit of space, they are completely necessary for my Facebook research...who was that that just "friended" me? Oh yes, 10th grade English!
REmodel a role model for Olivia
OK...so we are sitting at the dinner table and Olivia doesn't like what I have cooked...surprise! She decides that she must leave the table. I explain the rule, whether we eat or not, we sit as a family until we are all done....be happy darned it!!!! To which she exclaims in her most dramatic voice (I think she is going to be an actress....) "I need to relax on the couch, I am not feeling good...I think I am sick." Now, for most people, this might be kind of cute. But for me, it was like daggers to my heart. How many times have I said that very thing? Many. She is a sponge. Ouch.
Well...these are just a few. But they are a great start. Comments? Anyone?
REcommit
I want to be healthy. For my family I want to provide healthy yet tasty meals and snacks. Tofu? Nah, don't think so. Not in this house! My husband and daughter know the difference between ground beef and ground turkey, no matter how much Pampered Chef Southwestern seasonings I throw in there!
REorganize
I have too much stuff. I have trouble throwing things away. I have piles here and there. I think I need to organize the piles so that I can actualy organize! My piles? Receipts, items for Liv's scrapbook, pictures, books, music, my Thirty-One business supplies, Women's Community materials. Then, there are the clothes. The skinny ones....yes, at one time, I wore a size 8. It was the year leading up to meeting my husband. Ahhhh, brown suede jeans, I remember you fondly...you were there the night I learned to do the Sweetheart Shadas (sp?) and you were there on my first date with John. How could I ever part with you?
Oh yeah....and then there are the remnants from my six years of selling Pampered Chef. I can still find unique uses for all 17 pieces of stoneware....how could I give up the mini loaf pan? That is vital for holiday baking (that I haven't had the time to do since Liv arrived).
My highschool yearbooks are out of the hope chest...although bulky and taking up quite a bit of space, they are completely necessary for my Facebook research...who was that that just "friended" me? Oh yes, 10th grade English!
REmodel a role model for Olivia
OK...so we are sitting at the dinner table and Olivia doesn't like what I have cooked...surprise! She decides that she must leave the table. I explain the rule, whether we eat or not, we sit as a family until we are all done....be happy darned it!!!! To which she exclaims in her most dramatic voice (I think she is going to be an actress....) "I need to relax on the couch, I am not feeling good...I think I am sick." Now, for most people, this might be kind of cute. But for me, it was like daggers to my heart. How many times have I said that very thing? Many. She is a sponge. Ouch.
Well...these are just a few. But they are a great start. Comments? Anyone?
Friday, November 27, 2009
REinspired
Took this on a recent walk...found it symbolic that this little sweet yellow flower was striving to stay above the pile of old and dead leaves that had surrounded her. That is me. I took it as a "God Wink".
REally great birthday
Today John and Olivia surprised me with presents. As requested, truthfully requested by me...NO Birthday Cake was present! There was the little cupcake that my sweet co-worker gave me on Wednesday that I gave to Olivia and John to enjoy. It didn't hurt...really!
The gift that touched me the most was a pink water bottle and a card from John...It said "May all of your changes come true..." Ahhh, sweet boy. He is listening! I needs me a stylin H2O container to work it 30 minutes daily!
They took me to lunch at one of my faves, Demos, and I left the bread alone. Funny how much more salad and soup you can enjoy when the bread isn't taking up all of the room Elmo card from Liv!
Then we embarked on a 30 minute walk. It was not brisk due to my head cold and having great difficulty breathing through my nose, but, I DID IT. I kept to my goal of 30 minutes daily. And John and Olivia were right there with me, rooting me on.
The gift that touched me the most was a pink water bottle and a card from John...It said "May all of your changes come true..." Ahhh, sweet boy. He is listening! I needs me a stylin H2O container to work it 30 minutes daily!
They took me to lunch at one of my faves, Demos, and I left the bread alone. Funny how much more salad and soup you can enjoy when the bread isn't taking up all of the room Elmo card from Liv!
Then we embarked on a 30 minute walk. It was not brisk due to my head cold and having great difficulty breathing through my nose, but, I DID IT. I kept to my goal of 30 minutes daily. And John and Olivia were right there with me, rooting me on.
REstart: Today begins my journey to 40
It's my birthday....it's my birthday!
So, this is it. I have thinking about this day for a couple of months now. Today starts my re-everything. My first committment is my health which includes being active and mindful in my exercise and eating. I am ready for this challenge. I know I am jumping wwwwwaaaaayyyyyy ahead, but I actually thought...could I, someday, run a marathon? A little one? After reading Ali Vincent's book "Be It, Believe It" I feel a teensy glimmer of hope. She wrote about trying everything at least once. I wonder......
For now, I will stick to the 30 minutes a day. That is enough of a challenge for me at this stage. My devotion this morning was about PREPARATION (there is a "re" in there!)
Ephesians 2:10 (New International Version)
10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
2 Timothy 2:21 (New International Version)
21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
They both speak loudly to me. This first one made me think of the role model I will become for Olivia who watches me and repeats everything I do. The second one made think about the possible marathon some day...
So, this is it. I have thinking about this day for a couple of months now. Today starts my re-everything. My first committment is my health which includes being active and mindful in my exercise and eating. I am ready for this challenge. I know I am jumping wwwwwaaaaayyyyyy ahead, but I actually thought...could I, someday, run a marathon? A little one? After reading Ali Vincent's book "Be It, Believe It" I feel a teensy glimmer of hope. She wrote about trying everything at least once. I wonder......
For now, I will stick to the 30 minutes a day. That is enough of a challenge for me at this stage. My devotion this morning was about PREPARATION (there is a "re" in there!)
Ephesians 2:10 (New International Version)
10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
2 Timothy 2:21 (New International Version)
21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
They both speak loudly to me. This first one made me think of the role model I will become for Olivia who watches me and repeats everything I do. The second one made think about the possible marathon some day...
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
RE: the beginning of the journey
Re-invent
Re-pent
Re-work it
Re-move it
Re-do it
Re-organize
Re-juvenate
The year of the "re".
I am embarking upon my 39th birthday, this weekend to be exact. And I am not happy. Not with the fact that I am turning 39, but with me. Who I am , or who I am not, at this age. REmembering back to when I was a little girl. Even amidst the chaos and instability that I was raised in...I still wanted to be something special. What little girl doesn't? I didn't have a dad growing up. Oh, I had daddies...a few. But not a father. So, I didn't have that relationship to model my future husband after. I wasn't the apple of someone's eye. I didn't have a male protector. But I did have my moo-moo (my affectionate name for my mom) and my little sister. I grew up knowing a lot of what I didn't want. But somehow, I managed to gain just that, a lot of what I didn't want: weight and insecurity.
Overweight, out of shape and lots of work to do.
So, I can look at this, my fortieth year, as a sad thing...as a "look where I am, nowhere" or...
I can ....RE. I can "re" a lot of things that make me unhappy. Why, why, why should I be unhappy? I have a loving husband and a precious daughter. A thriving business, an amazing church family, friends and family...
I must begin to like me. I must create the change that I want to see. Then and only then will I start to like me and finally, love me. The things that I am blessed with, they are blessings, but they can't make me "do it." That is up to me.
My most important Re's:
1. God, my relationship with HIM (re-connecting and re-deepening)
2. My husband (re-ignite)
3. My daughter (re-model a role model for her)
The rest, well...it is up to me, I mean, RE.
My first re. RE-Commit to my health
I am overweight. By a lot. According to the doc, I could lose 50 lbs. Yes...I could actually qualify for candidacy on the Biggest Loser. Which brings me to my a-ha "re" moment. I had felt a stirring for quite some time that some changes needed to take place. Lots of changes. But I would get so overwhelmed with how much I wanted to do. Last week, I read that Ali Vincent, the First Female Biggest Loser, would be at a book signing at a book store very close to where I work. It was scheduled for 7pm. I wanted to go, I felt a strange urge, a pulling, that I must go. However, my three-year old daughter would have to come with me. Her preschool is right around the corner from where I work and closes at 6pm. My husband was recovering from surgery so he would not be in the best position to care for her...and it was an hour commute, minimum, to get home. So, I braved it. Picked Liv up and went to McDonald's (yeah, I know....bad choice) and had some dinner. Then we hit the book store. I was filled with excitement and so was Olivia. So much that she had a hard time containing it. Looking back, I feel bad for expecting so much out of her. She is only three. She actually did very well for the anti-child environment I put her in. You know where I am coming from....lots of adults, single, or child-less for the evening. Turning and looking at you because your child is not perfectly still and quiet. Sigh. But, we endured. I got to hear most of what Ali was saying. Several things resonated with me
The picture is priceless....She is in her gorgeous outfit and pretty booming smile and I am holding a less than thrilled child and my make-up is nowhere to be found after the three mini nervous breakdowns I had throughout the evening!
The next day I made a pact with my dear friend Jessica to be active for at least 30 minutes per day for six days a week. After that visit I took Olivia to the Greenway for a 30 minute walk. Been walkin' ever since.
*Overcame the temptation of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies last night and a birthday cupcake from a sweet co-worker today (in honor of the large 39 coming up!)
Change is happening. It has only been a few days. But, I feel something inside of me that I have never felt before. Determination. Procrastination has always been a problem of mine. Did you know that "Tina" is Procrastination's middle name? Really...look!
Re-pent
Re-work it
Re-move it
Re-do it
Re-organize
Re-juvenate
The year of the "re".
I am embarking upon my 39th birthday, this weekend to be exact. And I am not happy. Not with the fact that I am turning 39, but with me. Who I am , or who I am not, at this age. REmembering back to when I was a little girl. Even amidst the chaos and instability that I was raised in...I still wanted to be something special. What little girl doesn't? I didn't have a dad growing up. Oh, I had daddies...a few. But not a father. So, I didn't have that relationship to model my future husband after. I wasn't the apple of someone's eye. I didn't have a male protector. But I did have my moo-moo (my affectionate name for my mom) and my little sister. I grew up knowing a lot of what I didn't want. But somehow, I managed to gain just that, a lot of what I didn't want: weight and insecurity.
Overweight, out of shape and lots of work to do.
So, I can look at this, my fortieth year, as a sad thing...as a "look where I am, nowhere" or...
I can ....RE. I can "re" a lot of things that make me unhappy. Why, why, why should I be unhappy? I have a loving husband and a precious daughter. A thriving business, an amazing church family, friends and family...
I must begin to like me. I must create the change that I want to see. Then and only then will I start to like me and finally, love me. The things that I am blessed with, they are blessings, but they can't make me "do it." That is up to me.
My most important Re's:
1. God, my relationship with HIM (re-connecting and re-deepening)
2. My husband (re-ignite)
3. My daughter (re-model a role model for her)
The rest, well...it is up to me, I mean, RE.
My first re. RE-Commit to my health
I am overweight. By a lot. According to the doc, I could lose 50 lbs. Yes...I could actually qualify for candidacy on the Biggest Loser. Which brings me to my a-ha "re" moment. I had felt a stirring for quite some time that some changes needed to take place. Lots of changes. But I would get so overwhelmed with how much I wanted to do. Last week, I read that Ali Vincent, the First Female Biggest Loser, would be at a book signing at a book store very close to where I work. It was scheduled for 7pm. I wanted to go, I felt a strange urge, a pulling, that I must go. However, my three-year old daughter would have to come with me. Her preschool is right around the corner from where I work and closes at 6pm. My husband was recovering from surgery so he would not be in the best position to care for her...and it was an hour commute, minimum, to get home. So, I braved it. Picked Liv up and went to McDonald's (yeah, I know....bad choice) and had some dinner. Then we hit the book store. I was filled with excitement and so was Olivia. So much that she had a hard time containing it. Looking back, I feel bad for expecting so much out of her. She is only three. She actually did very well for the anti-child environment I put her in. You know where I am coming from....lots of adults, single, or child-less for the evening. Turning and looking at you because your child is not perfectly still and quiet. Sigh. But, we endured. I got to hear most of what Ali was saying. Several things resonated with me
- She had a very similiar upbringing
- She realized while wearing a size 18, that her clothes were cutting into her skin. Right there with ya babe...size 16 is killing me.
- She achieved what I would like to achieve. Living a sedentary life style and turned it in to an active one. Living proof that I could do it
- She reminded us that we have to love ourselves. Love myself? I barely like myself. Is that the missing link for me?
The picture is priceless....She is in her gorgeous outfit and pretty booming smile and I am holding a less than thrilled child and my make-up is nowhere to be found after the three mini nervous breakdowns I had throughout the evening!
Liv, Me and Ali Vincent 11/20/09
The next day I made a pact with my dear friend Jessica to be active for at least 30 minutes per day for six days a week. After that visit I took Olivia to the Greenway for a 30 minute walk. Been walkin' ever since.
*Overcame the temptation of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies last night and a birthday cupcake from a sweet co-worker today (in honor of the large 39 coming up!)
Change is happening. It has only been a few days. But, I feel something inside of me that I have never felt before. Determination. Procrastination has always been a problem of mine. Did you know that "Tina" is Procrastination's middle name? Really...look!
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