My Dad ~ My Inspiration

 Four years ago today in the early afternoon my world stopped as I knew it.  The morning started off great, coffee on the deck enjoying the morning listening to the birds sing, the butterflies on the lilac trees and all of the gifts our Lord has given us in nature.  In April of that year I started on a journey to a new me, I was changing my lifestyle, I was making healthy choices, I was loosing weight 35lbs from April 1, 2008 to June 8, 2008.

 

My hubby had ran into town to pick up some groceries he needed for work when a knock on my door happened around 2:10 pm...the knocked that started me to spiral out of control.  My cousin was at my door, he was the one with the task to tell me that my dad had passed away that morning.  I couldn't believe what I was hearing.  This can't be true, my dad is fine why are you so cruel is what was running through my mind in the few seconds that felt like minutes before it hit me that my dad was gone.  My youngest daughter was the only one at home with me at the time....we comforted each other but neither of us felt comfort.  My eldest my son was living in Saskatoon at the time, I couldn't phone him and tell him this news....I asked my cousin to make the call for me as I was shaking like a leaf about to drop off the tree.  Then I had to try and track my husband down in town...he was going to friends place to pick something up so I called he had left there....he wasn't answering his phone.....my heart was breaking and I couldn't located the one person that was my rock.  What seemed like forever was probably about 30 - 45 minutes when my husband drove up and I told him what happened.

You see my dad and I were extremely close and I wasn't ready to say Good-Bye just yet.  I wanted more time to spend with him.  So after everything was over and I was trying to go back to living my life, I ended up living in the day before as I wasn't ready to accept what had happened to me and my family.  I told everyone I was fine but really I was far from it.  I reverted back to all my old habits in a short time, knowing that if I continued I would be like my dad and headed for an early grave because of heart disease.

Within 2 years I had gained back close everything I had lost but not more which was a good thing.  I kept on living a sedentary lifestyle, eating anything I wanted and not really thinking about the consequences.  When I would sit down and think about things I knew if I didn't make some changes in my life I would be heading for an early grave and I wanted to enjoy my life and time with my family.  So I went to the doctor in February told him I know I need to make some changes in my life, I need to loose weight, get in shape but before I start any of this I want to make sure I have his OK to do so in-case there were some health issues I needed to be aware of and work around.  I told him that I was planning on joining Weight Watcher's and was also planning to start getting some exercise.  I got the green light back from the doctor, every test came back in the normal range as well as encouragement to stick to my plan, that I could do this and it would help me out in the long run. 

Today I remember my dad with happy thoughts and wonderful memories.  I know he and my mom with my grandparents are watching me from Heaven cheering me on.  My dad has become an inspiration for me on my journey to a new me.  He is one of the reasons I think I am doing so well on this journey.  My dad helps keep me strong. 

Today I am 20 + pounds lighter and over 8.5 inches smaller than I was when I started my journey. 

Thank you dad for your inspiration and support.

I Believe......
       .....My dad is always with me!

Corinne~

Daily Affirmations

A while back...before I joined Weight Watchers On-line I was looking for the quick fix to loose weight.  I wanted the magic wand that I could wave and "Abracadabra"  I would loose pounds and inches and look amazing.  I read some articles for PGX Daily Supplements.  Instantly; I thought this is the miracle I have been looking for....look at these people that were able to loose all their weight taking these pills with each meal.  So I started to take these.....I notice that my appetite wasn't as strong as before, but it wasn't enough so I downloaded the PGX Daily book and started reading it.  It talked about busting my vices, the vices that were helping me keep my weight on.  Not only did they talk about busting the vices but daily positive affirmations.  The booklet provided a daily positive affirmation, which I printed off, lamented and posted on my fridge so that I could see it each time I was at the fridge.  It didn't take long and it just blended in with the other things on the fridge.  I know realize that I wasn't in the right place mentally to make the changes I needed in my lifestyle to reach my goal to be thin and healthy. 

Well I have since taken off the rose colored glasses and I am looking at myself and the world with my own eyes.  What a wonderful feeling to be living in the here and now, being in control of my choices not just coasting through life.  I feel like for the first time in a very long time I am living my life and I am enjoying every minute of it.

Affirmations are powerful tools for weight loss and for any other goal you would like to achieve in life. Affirmations are short, positive statements about something that you would like to achieve.  Affirm means to “make firm.”

Our minds works like a powerful computer.  Affirmations are like software programs to help reprogram the subconscious mind.  They harness the power of our mind to bring about what we want to create.  Affirmations help focus our attention on our goals and help to keep us on track. 

I Believe.....
         ......Using affirmations will make my weight loss goals a reality. 

I didn't need a magic wand to make the weight disappear and the inches shrink I need to take control and make the changes and keep a positive attitude and work towards each and every day towards what I was wanting. 

Affirmations are a form of positive self-talk that we all need to hear from ourselves just like we need to hear the positive comments from our family and friends.  We need to acknowledge to ourselves; "I feel whole and complete as I continue my journey."  Affirmations will help you to change your inner outlook about yourself, your body, and your lifestyle.

When you use affirmations for weight loss, or any other goal in life, choose an affirmation that matches your goals, desires and emotions.  This is an important part of using affirmations.   Affirmations take time to work but the end result is worth every minute of your time and effort.  When you catch yourself speaking or thinking negatively turn it around to something positive.

I Believe.....
        .....I am a beautiful woman 


Corinne~

Realization

The other day I was craving McDonald's fries something terrible.  So I decided to see if the craving would go away or get stronger with time....well it got stronger and stronger.  With my lifestyle change I have decided if I have a craving that keeps getting stronger and stronger then I will satisfy it right then if I can so that it doesn't get to the point where I can't control it.  So after my nail appointment off to McDonald's I headed for Big Extra with Cheese and Bacon, Fries and a Coke.  Oh it smelt so good and when I did get home to enjoy my supper it tasted so delicious.  I haven't had McDonald's for 3 months at least.  What surprised me most was how sweet the Coke tasted.  I don't remember it being so sweet, but I guess when you drink it pretty much on a daily basis you don't notice the sweetness of it.  Being POP free for the last 3 months with the exception of probably 3 glassed of the sweet nectar I can see why it was so sweet tasting.  

On the negative note the wonderful supper cost me 37 points on Weight Watchers Points Plus program...that was a big chuck of my weekly flex points.  But hey I am allowed to enjoy myself now and then...and my recipe for success allows me to indulge once in a while but be aware of what I am eating and how much I am eating.  Good thing the craving has been soothed over.......wouldn't have much success if I craved McDonalds every day. 

Corinne~

On My Way!

Sunday after I stepped off the scale I was thrilled to see that I hadn't gained any weight,  I hadn't lost any weight either. This was good news for me especially after indulging in some sinful but oh so yummy munchies on Friday night.  My niece held a Jockey Clothing party....had a glass a wine called Girls Night Out - Yummy, ate lots of the veggies that were out but indulged in the cheese and crackers, the amazing cheese ball and the ever so Sinful & Yummy Nanimo Bars.  So Saturday morning when I dug out my points calculator I was pleasantly surprised to find the crackers that I had indulged in were much lower in Weight Watchers Points Plus points than I had figured.  So even without a weight loss last week I was thrilled that I hadn't gained any weight. 

Now the time came to take my measurements....hind sight being 20/20 I really should have done this when I started WW's back at the end of February and not been afraid to look at those numbers.  After all that is what they are a number and a number that I plan to shrink over time.  So my plan is to track my measurements on a monthly basis using the last Sunday of each month.  I set up a chart in MS Excel to track my measurements on the last Sunday of the each month.  

I am definitely out of the starting gate and on my way to a new ME!

I Believe........
          .........I will succeed; One day at a time!

Corinne~