What this blog is about

Real Time Information Sticky Comments: 6
Progression of weight loss from pictures taken at three consecutive writer events: 11-28-12, 12-3-12, 12-29-12

Progression of weight loss from pictures taken at three consecutive writer events: 11-02-12, 12-1-12, 12-29-12My BeNew journey began October 24, 2012.

My BeNew journey began October 24, 2012. Obese, I weighed in at roughly 210 pounds. On January 1, 2013 I began blogging about what it was like to walk this road to health. The posts below share that journey. (If you just started the journey to a healthier, thinner you, consider reading my early posts for ideas and encouragement!)

BeNew Outside 1

2-7-2013

On January 31, 2013, I had lost 32 pounds and 19.75 inches and felt  stronger, healthier, happier, and sexier than I had in years!

mom looking for her girl (2)

May 19, 2013

This picture was captured by a friend on May 19, 2013 at my daughter’s wedding. What a joy to feel completely comfortable with my body and how my clothes fit for this special day! In this picture I am down almost 50 pounds from where I started last October. Getting healthy is possible, my friends!

Worth a Thousand Words

Real Time Information May 22, 2013 Comments: 3
mom looking for her girl (2)

My 18, 2013

Several of you asked about my mother-of-the-bride dress. This is the first picture that has come since the wedding of me in it. I’m not standing or even posing, but it shows the dress and captures my JOY in my daughter’s delight.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

In this picture I’m completely comfortable with my body in my clothes. Wow. I’m not thinking about trying to hide my double chin or suck in a tummy. I’m just sitting there, looking for my dear husband to escort our beautiful daughter down the aisle–uh, sidewalk.

fat fb picture

September 2011

I’ve told many people that you don’t know what you give up in the area of health until you start getting it back. People say I look and act ten years younger. That’s because I FEEL ten years younger. I’d forgotten what it was like to hop out of a chair or flit across a room. Fifty pounds ago I lumbered. Aches I thought were age related are disappearing as my body is once again active and carrying around a normal amount of weight.

I say all of this because I want YOU to know that change is possible. With good nutritional support, some mental focus, a little exercise, and healthy spiritual and emotional under-girding, life can be different for you, too. The pounds CAN come off. You CAN regain some of what you thought was gone forever.

And since a picture is worth a thousand words I want to remind you that I know what I’m talking about.

Tweetables:

A picture is worth a thousand words

You CAN 

Life is different as you regain your health

You, too, can live a BeNew journey

Daily Choices (Days 126 & 127)

Uncategorized May 22, 2013 Leave a comment

Healthy weight loss doesn’t happen overnight, but it can happen quickly. In the posts below I’m chronicling changes that have taken place over 127 days–roughly 4 months. In that time I went from wearing a size 16 or 1x in pants to buying a medium!

Sometimes I fear sharing my journal entries is a bit mundane, but folks, they are real life, and that is what weight loss is. It’s the daily choice to try a new, healthy food. To exercise. To be  think through choices. To make a healthy recipe. To go heavy on the salad and light on the pizza. To choose nutrition. To take a walk. To be intentional about portions. To care for the inner self. To enjoy food, but not let it control you To identify bad thought patterns. To choose a healthy program that is GOOD for YOU. (I chose BeNew)

This is how weight is lost. This is how bodies are strengthened.

And so I share slices of my journey.

IMAG0647Day 126: I made homemade humus for the first time! It’s easy! And healthy. Unfortunately I’d gone too long without eating and ate my humus too fast, too much, and too late. Busy, busy day. No exercise. That’s frustrating. But I DID get to the store to buy almond milk. I’m hooked on it and my BENew shake.

Despite the rushing around, I had a great lunch–homemade pizza the right way. Huge salad. One piece of pizza! HA! ~Feb. 26

Day 127: Scale dropping again! Yay! Grabbed a pair of sweats at Wal-medium!mart because mine were so lose it was hard to wear them when I exercised. I got a large—had been used to plus sizes. Large was too big. Had to go back for a medium. Can’t remember the last time I bought M in anything!

Disappointed that I’ve walked about half of what I did in January, and the month is almost over. Trying to prioritize walking again. Walked 3 miles. ~ Feb. 27

How About You:

Would love to hear some slices of YOUR journey!

To ponder and tweet:

Weight loss is one healthy choice. Then another.

Healthy weight loss doesn’t happen overnight, but it can happen quickly.

Truth and Grace (Day 125)

Middle Weight Loss Journey May 21, 2013 Leave a comment

How would YOU process this journal entry?

Day 125 ~ Down an inch in my waist and a half inch in my neck. Surprised that my thigh was actually a little bigger. Question: Is it because of the Pilates working different muscles and actually gaining muscle there or because I’ve not walked as much this month as last? Not too worried because my thighs are no longer my problem place. It’s the tummy and waist that still need to tone/lose.

I went two weeks without using My Fitness Pal App. I didn’t gain, but I didn’t lose as much as I wanted, so I think I will return to it until I reach my goal. It was nice taking a break, but I want to be a little more aggressive.

Reflecting on last week, I’m not sure how to think about the fact that I only exercised three days. It was a very difficult week between a few crises and my writing deadline.

Do I think, “Wow. I exercised three times despite snowy days, unusual stressful issues, and a writing deadline!”

Or maybe, “Okay. It wasn’t a great week. You didn’t exercise as much as you have been the last couple of months, but you DID exercise three times, something you wouldn’t have done a year ago. You just need to be more intentional this week now that some of the stress is off.”

Or should I be more proactive, “Even when you have especially difficult week, you need to prioritize taking care of the physical you. Exercise first, then it won’t get left out when the day gets more stressful than you expect.”

One thing I do know is with all the snow outside I need to prioritize Pilates or some inside work today and start this week right.

Or maybe I should just bundle up and brave the snow.  It looks really pretty out there. And that is what I would have done last December. Should I really let 8 inches of snow keep me inside?? ~ Feb. 25

Real Time Update:

So, what do you think? Which thought process would best suit YOUR needs?

All these months later I think I’m still a combination of all of them. I believe in focus and intentionality. Life gets stressful, but even in stress my health is important. Taking care of my body needs to be prioritized, but so does taking care of my heart. In high stress times I have to give myself grace. Getting more stressed because I’m not perfect in my health journey isn’t going to help me.

Maybe it comes back to something the pastors at our church say often: Truth AND Grace, not Truth OR Grace.

The truth is that healthy choices like exercise are imperative if I want to take good care of myself. Grace accepts me even when my efforts fall short of my goals. Truth reminds me that I have to take care of myself or eventually I won’t be able to take care of my responsibilities. Grace doesn’t beat me up when responsibilities push aside self-care.

Tweetable:

What does Truth and Grace have to do with Weight Loss?

Be Prepared (Day 123)

Middle Weight Loss Journey May 20, 2013 Comments: 2

Hi Folks!

Still scheduling ahead so I can be all about the wedding for a few days. My guess is I’m completely exhausted and either sleeping or trying to sleep as you read this post. Or helping take down the wedding tent!

Just because my life is in a circling pattern doesn’t mean yours is, so I’ll continue with the weight loss journal and one of these days when I come up for air I’ll share some wedding photos and stories!

Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

Day 123 ~ My agent liked my work. Whew! Now the wait on the editor begins.

Stephen wins tournament 3Had some success at lunch today. I went to Stephen’s Mixed Martial Arts tournament. I hadn’t seen him compete before. He’s really good! I did feel sorry for the smaller guy when Stephen picked him up and slammed him on the mat, but I was pleased when my boy got first in his division.

His success was on the mat, but my success was dealing with the unhealthy high-priced food. I took my BeNew shake (chocolate with almond milk and no add-ins). I also had a protein bar in my purse, but I chose not to eat it because I planned a nice meal for the kids tonight and wanted to limit my calorie intake so I could eat more at supper. I’ll admit the over-priced fries and chicken fingers at those stupid concession stands actually smelled good to me. I don’t know if they would have tasted good. I haven’t had food like that for some time. I’m really glad I planned ahead for when I got hungry, took my shake, and didn’t take spending money.

Between the cold of February and my increased work load I’ve struggled to walk as much as I was doing. Today I couldn’t see how I could get a walk in and get everything done. Jerry suggested I walk to Sam’s Club for the groceries, and he would meet me there so I didn’t have to carry them home. Thus I got everything done AND walked a couple of miles. He’s a keeper.

Interesting, I haven’t eaten much pasta in the last few months, but I ate some at supper when I made one of the kid’s favorite meals.  I noticed that my fingers swelled a little later than night. There was a storm coming, so it may have been barometric pressure, but I wonder if it was the pasta! ~ Feb. 23, 2013

Real Time:

I’ve admitted here before that I don’t like to be scheduled too tightly, but that doesn’t mean I don’t see the value in planning, especially for health. A few minutes to grab a healthy snack, pack a healthy lunch, or prepare a BENew shake can mean the difference between success and caving to a moment of weakness.

To Ponder and Share:

Plan ahead. Carry a healthy snack. Be prepared for hunger.

Overcome temptation by being prepared.

Preparation: the difference between success and caving to weakness.

Spirit Seeker Sunday 7

Uncategorized May 19, 2013 Comments: 2

mountain image“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts . . .”

I have to stop right there and pray.

Lord,

I’m not sure how to do that.

Be still and know I am God.

KNOW you are God. Believe you are bigger than my struggles and my worries. Stop the questioning, the whirling tizzy. And KNOW you are God. Bigger than me. Almighty One. All Powerful. Caring.

And You, God of the universe see.

See Me.

“You were called to peace. And be thankful.”

CALLED to peace. Wow.

Lord,
Help me (and all of us) to walk forward in peace this day.

Author’s note:

Found these rambling thoughts as I looked through my devotional journal. They seemed appropriate, all that talk about peace and being still for Sarah and David balloonstoday my baby girl marries her sweetheart. Weddings aren’t exactly know for quiet or stillness. I pray this one will be about knowing HIM as God, though. I scheduled this post way ahead, of course. Today I’m all about my girl. The celebration. Welcoming a son. Staring into my husband’s eyes and sharing this wedding day as no one but husband and wife–the MOM and DAD–can when their little girl proves once again she is all grown up and takes another plunge of maturity. If you’re reading this, think of us today. Cheer my baby on.  Say a prayer that our celebration will be powerful, our shared love deep, and that the sun will shine on our party!

Battling the Deadline

Middle Weight Loss Journey May 18, 2013 Leave a comment

Maybe you, like me, have chosen a career that is in direct conflict with a toned, healthy body. When I started writing seriously I gained 3-5 pounds a year. It kept creeping on and “suddenly” I was obese.

work

Work can be never ending . . .

The sedentary aspect of the job is only part of the issue. The other issues are probably similar to things you deal with in your job, things like deadlines that make you work long hours, stress that makes you crave chocolate, projects that are so overwhelming you don’t take a lunch break or have enough time in your day for exercise.

Chances are you don’t get to work in your jammies like I often do, but we share a lot of the same struggles I wrote about in my weight loss journal:

Day 121 Crazy day! When my first guests arrived for the wrap party hosted by my friend and fellow author, Alison Strobel Morrow, I was still in my gown! Seriously! Since I needed to get a proposal to my agent I figured I’d get up early and start working. When I finished I would work-out, clean the house, shower, and be gorgeous for the wrap party.

Right.

I hit send on my proposal as the doorbell rang about 6:30 that night, let the first two people in, then rushed off to brush my hair and put clothes on. Sheesh! No exercise, no decent food. . . and  here I was, house not so clean and me not so clean. But we had fun at the wrap party anyway—and I lost ¼ inch around my waist in the first 45 minutes. ~Feb. 21

Day 122 ~ How have I let this happen? I haven’t exercised since Monday, and it’s Friday! Thought I might make a strong focus of exercise this morning until I opened my email and found that my agent wanted several things in the proposal that I hadn’t put it. Next thing you know I’m reliving Thursday and working all day in my gown. But this deadline pretty much trumps everything.

I eventually got frustrated with my lack of creative progress and wanted to reach for snacks. I was proud of myself when I took a break and did 40 minutes of Pilates instead! Then it was back to the grindstone.

I never did get my work being as perfect as I wanted it to be–or maybe I did and didn’t know it. I called a writer friend and read it to her before I could hit the send key. She assured me I’d done good work. Her words gave me enough courage to call it finished  When I finally sent it off to my agent it was with the plea that if I was stupid instead of clever she would let me know. Sometimes I just can’t tell. ~ Feb. 22

As I’ve said before, life rarely looks like I’ve planned it. It’s easy to get thrown off track in the weight loss journey, but every step forward moves us toward our goal. Even when things aren’t perfect, like in these two journal entries, we can make a single decision we wouldn’t have made before–like when I did Pilates instead of snacking–and still be moving in the right direction. We can choose strong nutritional support that helps carry us through the stress times.

My career–and maybe yours–doesn’t lend itself to a healthy body. But I’m not powerless. Sometimes the deadline battle trumps everything else in the short-term. I just can’t let that be for the long-term. Because I am important, not just my responsibilities. If I don’t take care of me eventually I can’t take care of my responsibilities.

To ponder and share:

A single right decision keeps us moving forward.

Some careers work against a healthy body, but we aren’t powerless.

If I don’t take care of myself eventually I can’t take care of anything else.

Skinny Jeans and Starbucks (Day 120)

Middle Weight Loss Journey May 17, 2013 Comments: 3

Read this journal entry at your own risk!

Day 120 It was a drive Sam around and then wait kind of day–and uh, so I played.skinny jeans

When I took Sam to physical therapy I chose to shop rather than workout. How could I not? I happened to know that Target had a major clearance and, hey, I’ve lost enough weight I need some clothes! I bought  skinny jeans for $6.88. When I showed them to Sam, he snickered and said, “I guess you’re ready for Bingo.”

Huh? Then it dawned on me that he thought my super cool, flowered skinny jeans were for the older crowd who frequent his baseball team’s Bingo fundraisers.

Not a problem. I’ll just wear them in front of his friends if he continues to tease me.

I wanted a new coat I don’t swim in, but I didn’t find anything on clearance that I loved. I don’t want to buy just because it is inexpensive, which is my temptation. I want to buy because it looks fantastic.

Later it was off to Driver’s Ed with Sam. I had a wonderful time working at Starbucks while I waited for him for three hours. I wrote a scene about snow as I stared out the plate glass window at the big, fluffy flakes waltzing to the ground. (Pretty cool my WIP (Work In Progress) needed a snow scene!)

Of course snow means coffee. I did it. I ordered a yummy Starbucks. Do you have any idea how many calories are in those things?? Shocking! My favorites have more calories than I eat most meals now! I did modify what I would have bought in the past and ordered something with less calories, but I also bought one of those tiny cake pops.

I guess when a girl can fit into new skinny jeans she can handle a little Starbucks.

But when Sam and I finally made it home through the storm, I ate only a small bowl of low calorie taco soup for supper! ~ Feb. 20

Real Time:

Okay, okay. I hope that post wasn’t too risky for you. If you suddenly skip exercise to shop or can’t resist a Starbucks run, just remember yesterday’s post and make your NEXT choice to return to the path of perseverance.

Seriously, I didn’t feel badly about my choices that day. I was mindful at Starbucks. (The old me would have had a 500 calorie white chocolate peppermint!) And my NEXT CHOICE  was to eat light and healthy after my three hours with the snow and doctored up coffee.

Now that I’m a normal weight and working only to refine what I’m already comfortable with in my body, I stand by what I’ve said all along. I want this journey to be something I do long-term. I want life-change, not just weight loss.

I’m not going to deprive myself of special Starbucks moments for the rest of my life. On the other hand, the new me plans to be mindful for the rest of my life about how I treat my body. My norm will be healthy choices. My norm will be intentionality about a lifestyle that includes movement, exercise, and sunshine.

My goal is a healthier future, not just a skinnier today. (Which is why I LOVE the nutritional value of my BENew products!)

For me, the weight loss journey must be sustainable. And I can sustain an occasional Starbucks, just not a daily one.

How About You? How do you move toward your goals of a healthier you in a way you can sustain?

Share with your Twitter Buddies:

The goal is a healthier future, not just a skinnier today.

The weight loss journey must be sustainable.

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