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!!!