Stick With Your Plans For Success By Lora L. Williams

Lord willing, 306 days from now will be my birthday (February 12, 2018).  Being a breast cancer survivor, I don't take birthdays for granted.  It's a blessing from God to be blessed to see a brand new day, let alone another birthday.    It's not easy for me to share many of the things that I will here on this blog, but that's part of my struggle.  I also know that in order to be helped, I have to be willing to share my story with everyone.  I have to be willing to expose all the pitfalls along the way, not only the successes.

I've been so ecstatic the past couple of weeks.  I've set specific goals that I'm working towards.  

• Walk 2 to 3 miles everyday
• Drink 72 ounces of water
• Keep a food diary
• Get 6 to 7 hours of sleep
• Prepped my meals to better control my emotional eating habits
• Eat no meats at least 3 days out of the week
• Strength train 2 times a week
• Drop at least 1 pound each week

My plan is to drop a pound a week, so it's exactly 44 weeks away from my birthday.  That would be a 44 pound weight loss.  That's very attainable, even with the medications that I'm taking.  

"I know that it won't be a quick fix"

I would be content with the 44 pounds, and even if it was not quite that.  Even a 30 pound weight loss would be sufficient.  The most important thing is to not give up on myself and to stick with the plan.  Everything else will take care of itself.  

I'm excited to be starting our garden soon.  This will go a long way in me attaining all the plans that I've laid out.  We're going to plant lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, collards, turnips, squash, radishes, and beans.  I look forward to walking outside my door each morning to harvest the crops we will plant.  What a blessing!

I would like to encourage you all to keep going and lay out specific plans and just stick with them.  Don't give up on yourself.  Stop by my sister's website at ReginaSwarn.Com for all the latest in healthy eating advice, and how you too, can look and feel great at any age.

God bless you my friends!

BEAUTIFUL MINDS INSPIRE OTHERS By Lora L. Williams

Just look around, and you will see people who make a difference in this life.  People who give their time to help others.  One of those people is my sister, Regina Swarn.   She's always creating and crafting projects with others in mind.  It's not about making money and building herself up, but it's all about inspiring other people.  I was so excited when she started her new website and devoted it to helping others.  I must admit, there's not many people in the world like this.  

When I poured out my heart to her a couple months ago about all the weight that I'd gained after breast cancer, she reached out to me over the telephone about a new plan she was introducing to her fans called the Regina Swarn Vegetable & Fruit Factor.   The Lord had her call me at the right time.  I was so miserable with the weight gain.  The medications that I was taking was not making matters any better.  It seemed the harder that I worked out, the tougher it was for me to lose weight.  It was like I was fighting a losing battle.  

As we talked over the phone I realized that my whole approach to losing weight was wrong.  I was staying pretty active, but my eating habits were disastrous.  I've always been a sugar addict, and a friend of fried foods.  This, along with stress was destroying my body.  I needed a change....FAST!  

After speaking for a few moments, I was convinced that I was going to give this program a try.  All there was to it was to eat (or drink) fresh fruits and vegetables daily.  I didn't have to give up meat (my sister is a Vegan), but just try and incorporate as many fruits and vegetables into my daily life as possible.  I could still eat my favorite foods, but do it in moderation.  

I'm so thankful for programs like this, and for people like my sister.  Her encouragement to me has made all the difference in the world. When I think of her sometimes I'm reminded that in this life, it's not always about us.  Helping ourselves many times means reaching out to help others.  This is the greatest gift that any of us could ever wish and hope for.  

When I look in the mirror at myself now I'm reminded that the Lord put me here for a reason, and one of those is to reach out and extend a helping hands to those who are also struggling like myself.  Every chance that I get I'm sharing with others what it was like for me to go through breast cancer, and undergoing 16 rounds of chemotherapy, and 33 days of radiation.  My scars are still healing from the lumpectomy, but some wounds will never heal.  I get through this by telling my story, and reassuring  the woman who's diagnosed with breast cancer after me that she can get through it, but it will take having the Lord, and a good support team.  A very important factor in recovery process is to take care of our bodies.  We must get the adequate amount of sleep and exercise, and we must educate ourselves on the proper nutrition.  My sister has helped me so much in this area.  I have a new way of looking at food, and I'm learning it one day at a time.  The most important thing is just showing up each and everyday with a willingness to succeed.  You are not always going to feel like doing that, but you must keep going.  You have to know that you are more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ!  

Surround yourself with people who believe in and support you.  Along with my sister, my husband is so supportive of what I'm trying to accomplish.  He sees all the bad days, and the times that I fall.  He bought me a fit-bit that I just love.  I'm so excited when I put it on in the mornings because I'm pumped to see how many steps in the day that I can take.  I want to do better than I did yesterday.  I'm setting weekly goals and striving to meet them as best I can.  I've taken all the unhealthy foods out of my house and replaced them with healthy ones.  I'm starting to get to sleep earlier every night.  I'm reading more on health and nutrition.  I'm keeping myself accountable by sharing with others my journey.  I'm trying to get comfortable with weighing myself once a week again.  I can't be afraid of the scale, but I'm not going to obsess over it either.  I'm taking monthly measurements of my body.  I'm drinking more water than any other liquid.  I drink some diet soda once or twice a week, but that's it.  I also drink green tea with a little honey.

                                       (Me back in 2010)                                       

My sister has given me a wonderful opportunity to write motivational articles on her new website.  You can visit it here ReginaSwarn.Com.  If you are indeed serious about taking your health to a new level, then check out this place.  There are all sorts of healthy recipes, inspiring articles, and motivational blogs.  I'm looking forward to the new show, "Important Topics" coming soon.  I hope to share my own story there in hopes of paying it forward from all the help that I've gotten along the way.  I look at pictures from a few years back, and with the Lord's help I will be there again.  I won't give up, but will just continue to move forward in faith in the Lord.

Thanks so much Regina for your help and inspiration.  You are doing so much to help other people live healthier lives.  I only pray that I can help at least one person out there who may be struggling by sharing my struggle with them.  You are not alone.  Remember that God has placed people in various places in your life to be of help.  I'm so grateful for the ones He has set before me.  

Be blessed my friends!

NEVER GIVE UP ON YOURSELF By Lora L. Williams

Over this past weekend, I was able to browse around Spark People, My Fitness Pal, and other weight loss communities for a while and read many blogs from different people. I love to read and respond to them, and there were quite a few of them that I read where someone was ready to throw in the towel. First of all, we have all fallen down. We have all done things in our weight loss journey that we wasn't proud of. We have all caved in at one time or another. This has always been my problem in the past. I would be doing so well and one weekend I may have went overboard on my calories or just totally pigged out on something and ended up feeling guilty. I would then just say, what the heck and continue to eat like crazy. Next thing I know, I'm completely discouraged. I would feel that there was no hope. But, I know that there is hope. The most important thing for those who may be struggling with staying motivated after a lousy slip up is to just keep going. Don't feel that one bad day of eating, or one bad weekend of eating should erase all the other wonderful things that you have worked for. I know that it's easier said than done, but doing it is the only way to get through these pitfalls. Simply forgiving yourself and moving forward. Why should you give up on yourself for making lousy choices? Why should you throw in the towel? Aren't you worth every effort of sweat and tears that you've put into working out and eating better? Why should one mistake change all the good that you have done? Remember the slogan: "A winner never quits and a quitter never wins?" That's so true. I'm motivated simply by the fact that if I continue to give up every time that I make a mistake then I will never reach my goals. I owe it to myself to keep going. You owe it to yourself go keep going. Continue to hold your head up and set your sight on crossing that finish line. 

I love horse racing, and I remember watching the 2005 Preakness Stakes. With a quarter of a mile to go, Afleet Alex's feet got tangled with another horse, Scrappy T, causing Afleet Alex to scrap his knees in the dirt. But this colt was not to be denied. Afleet Alex reached out with his front feet and got back into his stride. He bolted ahead to win over Scrappy T by three quarter lengths.....What if his jockey would have given up on his horse because of that stumble? His horse would have not tasted victory, and neither will you if you give up on yourself. Let's be like Jeremy Rose and Afleet Alex. We can still win this race. We just can't afford to give up on ourselves.....

WHAT THE SCALE (DON'T) MEASURE! By Lora L. Williams

This has been me too many times when the number on the scale wasn't what I wanted to see...BUT...NO MORE SCALE OBSESSION FOR ME!  After my doctor's appointment on yesterday, and seeing the number increasing, I"VE HAD ENOUGH!

If only scales could tell the true story of our weight loss journey we wouldn't be ready to pull all the hair out of our heads, kick the furniture, scream at the dog, or stand looking in disgust at ourselves for gaining that extra pound this week.  We've all been there, and I'm sure that I'm not in the minority when I say that I'm sick of the scale dictating to me how I'm suppose to feel each week.  I've obsessed far too long over waiting each week to be either highly excited, or greatly disgusted, over what it tells me.  In this case, I waited an entire month (between my doctor's visit).  SO...NO MORE SCALE OBSESSION FOR ME!  If I ever created a scale it would tell the true measure of what's going on in my body.  Some general thoughts of what my scale would read:

1. The fact that I stayed under my calorie goal for the week and ate lots of good things for my body.

     2.  It would show my workouts and how many steps and miles I completed from my fitbit.

     3.  It would show the inches that I lost.

     4.  It would dial up the excitement of still no prevalence of cancer returning to my body.

     5.  It would measure each morning that I arose to get outside chores done, followed by my walk.

     6.  My scale would reward me for not quitting when I was feeling tired from aching joints and 

         didn't feel like working out that morning.

    7.  The scale I designed would say to me, "Look at your legs, they're getting stronger and firmer."

    8.  It would show that my underarms jiggle less, and I'm hearing less "clapping sounds" because 

         my inner thighs don't rub together like they did.

   9.   My scale would show that I'm less depressed now since I've been treating my body so good.

 10.   It would let me see that I'm thinking more clearer, feeling more confident, and reaching my goals.

 11.  It would be a "constant reminder" that doing something is always better than doing nothing.  JUST MOVE IT! 

       

 12.  It would remind me to NEVER GIVE UP and KEEP ON MOVING FORWARD!

 13.  Lastly, but not least, it would tell me each day NOT to let three little silly numbers define all the hard work and dedication that I've put into my workouts.  DON'T YOU DARE LET THAT THING BOSS YOU AROUND NO MORE!  BE DEFINED NOT BY WHAT 3 NUMBERS TELL YOU, BUT BY ALL OF THE OTHER POSITIVE THINGS YOU KNOW TO BE TRUE EACH DAY!

**********WHAT WOULD YOUR SCALE SAY?**********

Give yourself a big pat on the back for not giving up on your journey.  Don't let the number on the scale cause you to lack any less confidence than you would if you saw that it showed you exactly what you wanted to see.  Learn to look inside and feel and see how much you have grown on your journey.  And, I must add, this will not come from the number on the scale.

Praise Jesus Christ for the victory.  Amen!

New Inspirations (By Lora Lee Williams)

Learning to set goals is really important to any new weight loss plan, so that's exactly what I've started doing.  I bought a dry erase board just recently and now I set new goals at the start of each week.  Monday through Friday I try best as I can to be disciplined.  Honestly, I've slipped once this week, but that's okay.  I just keep pushing.  These were my goals:

1. No Snacking (I slipped once this week) 
2. Drink at least 64 ounces of water
3. No eating after 7 p.m. (Got this idea from a recent video Regina Swarn just shared)
4. Get 6 1/2 - 7 hours sleep nightly
5. Eat no bread
6. Consume 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily (Fresh fruits/veggies or Juicing)

I've done really well this week.  It's so important to write your goals down.  It feels so good to check a completed one off my calendar.  

FITBIT CHARGE HR

I love this device!  My husband surprised me with it this week, and I tell you, it's one of the best gifts that I've ever received.  Talk about motivational!  All that I have to do is put it on and I get inspired to move.  From the moment that my feet touch the floor in the morning, until I get ready to turn out the lights at night, my fitbit is always on my wrist.  I sleep with it as well a few nights out of the week to see how my sleeping habits are.  I still need work here.  I try to be in bed now no later than 8:30 at night, so I better complete this blog before long.  I will talk more about this device in a later blog.

I purchased a new water purifier.  I know that alkaline water is the best, but in the meantime, I drink tap water and I put this little water purifier to good use.  I spend so much money on bottled water, and to be honest, drinking water this way has inspired me to drink more.  Each morning when I get up I fill my water bottle and drink away.  Even though I set my goal for 64 ounces of water daily, I end up getting much more than that in a given day.  And I crave more water now.  I opt for diet soda over regular.  But, I drink mostly water.

My biggest inspiration is looking at old photographs of myself.  Right now I'm trying to drop 30 pounds (that's a reasonable goal, and will put me at the weight that I'm at on this picture.  This was 5 years ago (before I got married).  I've been through so much since then, and being an emotional eater, the stress has played havoc on my body.  And then....there's the cancer diagnosis, and more stress.  No excuses for me though, I'm just going to keep grinding, and most importantly, keep the faith in Christ.  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!"

I encourage you to find your inspirations.  What inspires you?  Find you "Why" in wanting to adopt a healthier lifestyle.  You owe it to yourself to make life great by treating your body right by feeding it the best nutrition, and giving it rest and exercise.  Do it for yourself!

CREATING A HEALTHY BALANCE

I feel so blessed to be a part of Regina Swarn's new website.  Not only because she is my sister, but I love the fact that she has dedicated herself to teach others how to live a healthier lifestyle.  I'm learning to create a healthy balance in my own diet.

About 6 weeks ago, I received a phone call from my sister.  She didn't know it at the time, but I was getting so depressed over all the weight that I'd gained after cancer treatment.  After cancer?  Yes, after cancer!  I did not lose weight, but gained instead.  After going through both chemotherapy and radiation, I was placed on the hormone drug, Tamoxifen.  For the next 5 years I'm on this pill, and it came with its' own side effects.  One that I really hate is the extra added bone pain.  Some days the pain in my joints makes it harder for me to move around, let alone staying motivated enough to work out.  It's an effort just putting one foot in front of the other. 

I'm not a quitter, though!  I keep showing up each day, just doing the best that I can do.  You see, quitters never win, and winners never lose!  I got rid of my scale for the time being.  The only time that I know what I weigh is when I have my doctor visit each month, and that's more than enough.  I have started to incorporate the Regina Swarn Veggie & Fruit Factor in my life.  I try to eat or drink fresh veggies and fruits at least once a day.  I don't always use a blender, but you better believe that I have my fruits and veggies daily.  5 - 9 servings of fruits and veggies a day is the recommended daily allowance, and it's much easier for me when I mix it up and find that balance.  It was harder for me eating plate after plate of salad and being consistent with it.  With juicing I get to mix it up.  I also love that I consume a different variety of fruits and veggies when I blend them.




Today, I took a fresh pineapple, cut it up, and added some kiwi, strawberries, banana, blueberries, grapes, and a very small amount of orange juice.  It was pretty good.  The picture above was the finished product.  

I will be sharing many different articles with you while I'm on this new healthy journey.  This will help to keep me accountable, and to also help, hopefully, to encourage all you that are struggling.  What I have learned from being diagnosed with breast cancer is that eating better in the future will go a long way to ward off the disease from coming back.  I take it very seriously.  I only hope that my blog posts will help to encourage anyone who may be struggling (as I am) with their weight that it is possible to eat better and exercise.  You just have to find your own healthy balance.  We are all different.  My sister always encourages me to do the best that I can by incorporating as many fruits and veggies in my daily lifestyle as possible.  Some days are better than the others.  I just find my own balance.  That's what you will have to do as well.

Whatever you do, don't give up!  

I have set realistic and attainable goals for myself this time around.  "Show up every day, and do the best that I can!"  Realize that there will be times when I'm not perfect, and may slip from time to time, but never quit!  I know that the Lord is always right here by my side, and He has already equipped me to win.  I feel so blessed to still be here to tell my story.  I'm already a winner!  Thank You Jesus!!!