Enjoying the journey

In weight loss you have to have goals. However, it's important to train yourself to find things you love while losing weight. What do I mean? If you hate the food you eat, dream about pizza all the time and cry after every workout (been there, done that) you WILL gain the weight back. Losing weight should not feel like you are on punishment. How I view it now it that I love myself enough to make these small sacrifices (that sometimes feel HUGE) so that I can walk without a cane in 10 years, or avoid insulin needles for-eva (in my Cardi-B voice). Last year was a sacrifice but the reward of losing and getting down to a 14/16 was soooo worth it. So I've gained and lost the same 15 pounds since last June/July. I was started to get frustrated until I realized how mych I've learned, and how proud I am of myself and how I haven't given up!!!! So let's keep on this ride, enjoying our success and learning (and loving) through our mistakes. I have the rest of my life to lose these last 20 pounds! 

Sometimes, food is love

Okay, I'll admit this may be the fat girl inside talking but I believe that sometimes food can be given and received in love. My cousin just posted on her facebook page that her neighbor made two slices of pound cake the same day she was cutting down on calories. You already know what my cousin did- what we all would do- start tomorrow. Lol. But seriously- sometimes food should just be enjoyed for what it is- a symbol of love. Throughout time we see food being used to bring people together, celebrate occassions, and comfort. Take care of ourselves and making our health a top priority does not mean that we can't enjoy meaningful exchanges with food. What it does mean is food cannot replace human nurturing. As Geneen Roth says food should nourish, people should nurture. So that food cannot replace love, but it can be given and received in love. Now go enjoy a great Sunday dinner. 

Me, Oprah and Weight Watchers

So most of you know Oprah has been my mentor since the 5th Grade. Although we've never met, she's provided hours of advice and been a role model just through the life she's lived. I decided in October to join Weight Watchers and was thrown back when I logged on WW and saw Oprah there smiling back at me! 

Oprah has alway been there along with Maya Angelou, Iyanla Vanzant and Tyler Perry. Together, they've helped me navigate an unplanned pregnancy in Undergrad, law school, divorce, starting over, failing the Bar exam and living my best life NOW! 

Over the last few years weight has remained the one thing that was always out of control. The external representation of my inner failings. Always knowing but never doing... Until now! I know with Oprah and Weight Watchers I will be able to love food and love my body, veg out and work out!  I can and will conquer this giant! Thank you Oprah for your constant love and support and through teaching by transparency! I teach everyday using the tools I've learned from her life! Consider joining weight watchers, it's scientifically proven the most effective weight loss method. What do we have to lose? 

Day 3 and 4

Still feeling good! The numbness and tingling I was feeling in my hands every morning is gone. I have plenty of energy! I'm feeling good going forward and I keep reminding myself that this weight loss thing is a marathon not a sprint. Let's get our goals for 2016 ready. What is your weight loss goal for 2016, and what are you willing to risk to attain this goal? I accomplished so much last year, but it came with sacrifice. I exercised when I'd rather be sleeping, I saved when I'd rather have been shopping, I sacrificed and it paid off. But it takes a while to see results! So you have to do the work even when you don't see results. Change takes time and you are so worth it!!!!!

Day 1 & 2

I love the Master Cleanse. After feeling so sluggish for months and dragging myself out of bed, I woke up this morning without an alarm. I feel so alive. And to not have to decide what to pack/cook/eat- it's a great feeling. I'm down two pounds. I woke up at 4am when I drank Smoove Move so I skipped it last night. I'm down 2 pounds. Excited!!!!

Biggest Loser

I set my DVR to tape Biggest Loser tonight. This show was a great motivation to lose weight. I will never push myself as hard as the contestants on Biggest Loser are pushed. It feels like nothing to work out and break a sweat after watching this show. Everyone has to live with what they choose to do to lose weight. I have family and friends who chose weight loss surgery and loved their decision and other who did the surgery and had regrets. At the end of the day each of us has to live with the decisions we make. 

I would really encourage you to do things you can live with for the rest of your life. Make choices that bring you some sense of enjoyment. I drag myself to the Wii to do yoga or dance aerobics or Zumba and as soon as I start, I'm loving it. Treadmill and weights- not so much. So I "earn" the fun workout by doing the treadmill and weights first, then topping it off with yoga (the reward) and a rest day. I can do that for the rest of my life. We have to build strong bodies and get our cardiovascular health in order. We have to see the Dr to get his/her approval before beginning any workout or diet plan. I am not a Dr and this blog should not be used as medical advice. I'm just a woman who got tired of seeing women that looked like me sick and dying. We will encourage each other and keep losing weight and making healthy choices! Join me tomorrow to see how Day one of the Master Cleanse went!

Reset

So what happens when you are unmotivated, tired, sluggish, irritable? This happens to be one of those times for me. I am so happy and proud of my hard work in 2015 but after taking the holidays "off" (something I'm rethinking for next year), I am having a really hard time getting recharged to lose these last 20 pounds to my goal. Times like this I call on the Master Cleanse to help me detox and refocus. I found the Master Cleanse in 2005. My friend and co-worker Denise introduced it to me. Denise was diagnosed with MS in her late 20s and told she would never have kids because of the rapid progression of her disease. Denise researched and found the Master Cleanse. Through the cleanse, as well as a healthy diet, which was a core tenet of her Seventh Day Adventist belief, she was able to halt the progression of MS and give birth to three healthy children. I was always more prone to holistic ways of healing versus medication and I knew that MS was a devastating disease, so my interest was piqued! I could not believe how I felt on the cleanse. How lemon juice, grade B maple syrup and cayenne pepper in distilled water could boost energy and improve your mood and the weight just fell off. I've done the Master Cleanse at least once a year for the past ten years. When I was diagnosed in 2009 with fibromyalgia, an auto-immune disease, I found that the Master Cleanse along with a semi-vegetarian or vegan diet took away all symptoms of pain, ache and fatigue. The cleanse must be followed for a minimum of ten days (the longest I've done is 30 days). Every night of the cleanse I drink Smooth Move, a detox tea. So to get out of this rut, caused by an overload on carbs and sugar and a lack of exercise, I will be cleansing for 10 days. Read my previous posts on the cleanse, google, or in Columbus visit HSU where you can find the items to purchase as well as the books. Take a day to research and we will start bright and early Monday morning!