Learning to incorporate change

When confronting a big project, it is often overwhelming; just as incorporating healthy living into my renegade lifestyle was. And look where I've come on that front! Now it's time to tackle some additional areas of my life - I long to be organized and live life in a simpler manner. Thanks to my wellness coach, I have learned one huge lesson that I intend to employ in tackling this lifestyle project.

One of the first lessons I learned in the Ultimate U Challenge was that baby steps are the way to go to incorporate lasting change. I'm not interested in going great guns only to burn out in a few weeks. Baby steps will avail me much change; one stretch at a time.

And thus, I shall take small steps and conquer the land of disorganization and mis-kept ways. Look out basement - I'll be there before you know it. Today, I tackled the first-floor guest bathroom - took about 15 minutes but makes me feel so great! Organization reigns in a tiny place - but is destined for the whole house!

Shopping but not dropping!

There is a song in the air; it is my heart singing. This year I have rejoined the shoppers. The last few years I've been forced to strictly shop online because it physically was just too hard on my out-of-shape physical condition. Let's face it, shopping is not for the weak in heart (and feet and knees)!

But this year...look out I have been out in the masses for hours at a time. As a matter of fact, I took on Black Friday at 5 a.m. (much to my chauffeur brother's dismay) and hit store after store. Was I tired when I was finished? Yes, but only because I got up early. The walking was easy and I Christmas-shopped to my heart's content.

I LOVE my new life!

A new name

Wow - I never knew I would get a new name in this quest for health - but, I LOVE it! I'm becoming known as "the ever-shrinking Strawn" at the gym. And it feels so good! It puts a big ol' smile on my face.

I finally made it past 69.8 pounds lost this past weekend - all the way to 70.6. Somehow, psychologically, that just sounds so much better to me.

The current behometh in my way is the tendency to eat something right before going to bed. Stupid, yes; hard to control? Oh my yes. But I know if I am diligent and really try to make snacking right before bed verboten, that eventually snack-free bedtimes will be a habit - adding another healthy living habit to the list of many I've made over the past year.

A light glows brightly

Did you ever wonder why we're drawn to light? It really is mesmerizing. This morning as I drove to physical therapy, I saw the sun breaking dawn in the east. Amid a scenery of bare trees and grey sky everywhere, there was a gigantic and looming bright red glistening sun sitting on the horizon. It almost looked like one of those "art style" black and white photographs that had the sun artificially colored. It was quite a spectacle.

This is how I see my life right now - the grey representing the work yet to be done - and it is vast. Yet, there is the bright, sparkling red sun pointing me in the way I should go.

A poster for me!

Thanks to a friend and her tip on a fun little exercise, I've created a motivational poster to help me identify my path over the last 10 months. These words mean soooo much to me - as do all of the people who have helped me along the way.

It's all in the little things

While my ankle mends and my work-outs are modified, weight loss has slowed, but thankfully it hasn't stopped. While the scale is not reflecting great losses, I choose to reflect on the great gains I have made - the ability to move through a crowded restaurant or room without feeling self conscious and not needing to ask everyone to "scoot in" so I can get by. Navigating previously "tight" pews at church are no longer a source of embarrassment. Sitting in restaurant booths is now a wonderful luxury. Unless one has traversed these situations, they cannot imagine the stress that something so small can cause. And now I am free from that stress and I am, oh, so thankful! I, too, am finding that I am shopping more and more often in regular-sized departments - what freedom that is (and much more stylish too!).

I'm also finding that it is quite fun to see friends I haven't seen in months - just to register their facial reaction when they see me. It just feels good to be me again! And, tonight I get to see my mom...and I haven't seen her since spring - what fun THAT will be!

A pleasant surprise!

When the doctor advised that I could not continue my exercise program as I knew it, I immediately thought, "There goes the weight loss." Luckily, I am able to continue a modified exercise program with a stationary bike and anything that doesn't stress the knees and ankles. I didn't realize that I could still get a pretty decent workout.

And, boy, have I been surprised that I continue to lose weight - albeit slowly. For that I am thankful! I am really getting close to 70 pounds lost (68.6!)and that is so exciting. Usually after 40 pounds I have given up and let the weight climb back up. But, not this time. I am amazed at myself sometimes - this time it truly is a lifestyle change. I am thinking new thoughts and employing new methods to create a healthy life. And, I am feeling so much better about myself!!