Size 8!

It is that time of the year when it is CRAZY BUSY. I only have a month left of teaching until summer vaction, but I wanted everyone to know that I am still going strong.
I had a few mintues to clean closet and came across a skirt that was a size 8. I decided to try it on and to my amazement it fit!  I started doing the happy dance! I could not believe it so I went over to the mirror to see what I could see.  I was all smiles to see my reflection wearing this cute pencil skirt with a green and white floral scene on it. Now, if it would just get warmer so I can wear it. 
Then, we went over to my sister's for dinner and one of her friends had brought over her formal dresses for special occassions. They were a mixed bag of different styles and colors. My daughter was stunning in the red chinese-style classic dress and forest green dress. I eyed the teal and black sparkly dress, but waited until I got home to try it on.  On the tag was Size 8P. I slipped it on once the kids were put to bed and guess what....
It fit! So happy to be a single-digit size!  It has been years since I fit into a size 8! Whoo- hoo!
YOU CAN DO IT!
PUT YOUR BODY IN ACTION
BELIEVE YOU CAN ACHIEVE
NEVER GIVE UP!
Always,
Mer

How to Plant your Garden

In honor of Spring, all the good things that can come with it, plus the fact that I am eating a lot more fresh vegetables and fruit, I thought of sharing a little cuttie that I received from a friend yesterday. Enjoy....with love and happiness.....MO

How to Plant your Garden of daily living.

First, you come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses....

Plant three rows of PEAS:

1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul

Plant four rows of SQUASH:

1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness

Plant four rows of LETTUCE:

1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another

No garden is without TURNIPS:

1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another

To conclude your garden we must have THYME:

1. Thyme for each other
2. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends

Water freely with Patience and Cultivate with Love. There is much fruit in your garden because you reap what you sow.

Enjoy life now...It has an expiration date!!!

A New Style - A New Plan - A New Number

SASSY - lively and spirited!!!!

I had a good weekend. I really did!!! I totally missed my son, but I was glad that I had some time to myself. I got off work early on Friday and I got to enjoy my hair appointment to the fullest. When my hair dresser was excited that I wanted to do something a bit different she said that she was going to go for the Sassy look - I feel sassy - beautiful and feeling really confident!! No worries to all of you - I am still growing it out to donate to Locks of Love, but that is still a work in progress - hoping for sometime next Spring (maybe sooner). I don't know what it is and I am not going to try and figure it out. Well, maybe....it might be that I am actually taking care of me first (and the rest is following) or that I am enjoying my workouts and it is giving me the motivation I need. Loving life right now and not waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Friday evening I enjoyed a nice helping of frozen cooked in the oven french fries, and I will admit it - they were so good!! I allowed myself this little treat and I was so proud of the way I took it all in. Didn't beat myself up, wasn't even tempted to overeat the next day (which used to be the case). Knowing that I am doing good in controlling my temptations and at the same time proud that I got right back on track the very next morning!!

Saturday was a Good-Bye event for my Parents Without Partners group (or PWP for short). This group has been active since the late 1960's (yes, that long) and well, in this day of Internet Match Ups and just the fact that young people find other ways to meet others and the fact that it is a lot of work to run of group of 70 people and only 5 or 6 show for events - it was just time to put the whole thing to rest. We had a good time at the park Even if the food was over 1.5 hours late, it was nice to socialize with many. It is kind of funny that I joined this group thinking I would meet more people my own age, but the closest person to me is 9 years older then me and the age range goes up and up from there. I have a good group of ladies that I hang out with from time to time, but when you are the only one with a child under the age of 21 it becomes hard to get together. However, as a foot note - if you are a single parent and you do see a local PWP in your area, it does not hurt to check it out - you never know who you might meet and what fun you will have meeting them. We used to do monthly dances, wine tasting events, game nights, potlucks, eat outs and just checking out local events.

Sunday...even if it was Easter there was no Chocolate, Candy or huge temptations in my house. I met my little sis for Church and she treated me to a Starbucks coffee after (small, thank goodness) and we got to catch up for a short moment. A late Brunch and a movie with girlfriends. The Brunch was delish - but so full of carbs!!! I only had two bites of my blueberry muffin, ate only 1/4 of my potatoes and again only 2 bites of my bagel with cream cheese. Limited my shrimp, crab & cheese omelet to 1/2, too. And a funny thing, I wanted more fruit!! Chuckled a bit about that, because I am a picky fruit eater. Avoided the popcorn treat at the movie and tons of water was my companion during the day.

I have decided to also do a little bit of shake up in my eating plan. Not really like Mer's, but I have also been on a plateu and sometimes your body is just fighting you all the way. A few months ago I was given this plan and well, when I first looked at it I felt it was limited and I was not "hip" on doing it. I looked over the menu plan again and thought - I can do this, it can't be that bad, it really does have some great selections. The groceries have been bought, I have two options each day for each meal and I am going to try it for about 2 full weeks before I share. A huge exercise nut gave me this plan specifically based on my feedback and well, I never put it to use and it is all there in writing for me, what is the harm, give it a shot and tell my friend thanks when it works - oh, but I have to make it work and I plan on doing my best. Wishing myself luck!!!

I can't forget to tell you - the exercising - going great!!! As busy as I am, I have been on track and doing my 30 minutes of exercise each day. Wow - what motivation!! I am feeling good, feeling sassy and totally recharged!! I got on the scale this morning and I still think I am in a dream! I am down 25 pounds !!! Somebody pinch me, because I can't believe it. I am afraid if I slip it will all be gone in an instant, but I am doing this - you are doing this - we are all doing this !!! No slipping for this girl - going strong - feeling good and ready for what is on the horizon for me!!!

Staying MOtivated

Day 68- I had a "pause"

From 100 days of Weight Loss (Spangle)-
More notes from the reading-

• change your dieting vocabulary
• skip beating yourself up with harsh, punishing words
• see slip ups as a "pause"- kind, non-judgemental words doesn't make detrimental reference to personality or ability to accomplish a goal
• if you gobble 10 cookies that was not on your plan, mentally draw on an erasable white board and write 10 cookies. Then, mentally erase the board and get on with your life

As a parent, I constantly remind my own children-" it is not you that I am disappointed with it is your behavior that I am not happy with. I will always love you." So, when I think about my healthy lifestyle change I think about my behavior and habits instead of judging myself.  So I like this idea of a "pause" so that I can take a moment to rest, refocus and regroup so that I can get myself back on track. It is all about changing those eating habits and behaviors. It is far better to be positive and more nurturing being harsh gets me no where. When I want to change behavior in my students I praise them when I see them doing good and I work on building the relationships with them so that they know I care.  I have to do the same with myself. I have to keep reminding myself to be my best friend and to treat myself that way. 
I really like the idea of mentally erasing and moving on. What a powerful way to keep moving forward and not looking back to dwell on those minor mistakes. It use to take me a few days to get back on track after a mistake so it really does help to "keep me moving forward"  and mentally "drawing that line in the sand and stepping over it" will help me too. 

PAUSE.
REST.
RETHINK.
REFOCUS.
REGROUP.
RETURN TO YOUR PLAN.
YOU CAN DO IT!
Always,
Mer

Day 67- Never say "I blew it"

From 100 Days of Weight Loss (Spangle)-
Here are my notes from this reading-

• Common phrase-"I've already blown it so I might as well go ahead and eat the rest." 
• Saying this reinforces your sense of failure and disappointment
• gives yourself permission for the minor slip up with a major eating binge.
• throw old dieting lines out and begin using kinder more gentler voice when talking to yourself
• one mistake doesn't ruin your entire plan-look at it as a minor event
• look at your eating struggle and try to figure out what happen. 
• focus on taking care of the need instead of the food
• creating some neutral ways of dealing with the minor set backs like-
  "Isn't that interesting? I wonder what that was all about."
  "That was minor so I need to keep it that way."
   

I am pretty harsh on myself and I do say phrases like "I blew it. Oh well, I guess I will finish this whole bag of M & M's." So this little reading makes me think about an earlier post that had to do with self-talk. I have to change what I am saying to myself so that I can be successful and like the saying "don't sweat the small stuff" I need to treat one little mistake as "small stuff" and keep going on my plan no matter what.  So from now on I am never going to say, "I blew it." instead I am going to say these phrases-

"Good job, you caught yourself. Now, get back on track"
"I am not sure what I was thinking, but it is time to stop and doing something else"
"That sure tasted good. Time to refocus and start over"
"Stop. Draw a line in the sand and step over it. No looking back."

This past week I put an M & M Easter egg in my mouth and immediately I stopped myself. I took out the M & M when I heard the voice in my head say, "What are you doing? You don't want that! Spit it out! Spit it out!" I laughed at myself when I did that since the voice usually say, "Yum, get another one! That was not enough." I think my self-talk and willpower is getting better. I also took pictures of Easter cookies from one of my bakeries and usually I slip and eat one of them, but not this time. I just took pictures and put them back in the box for my family to eat.  I was really proud of myself, but I also think that the Body for Life meals have stopped those sweet cravings. I eat 5-6 meals a day now and it helps having smaller meals so that I am not ravenous by the time I eat because usually I overeat when I am really hungry.  It is so important to change what you are saying to yourself when you are changing your habits and carrying them around in a little notebook helps since it has to become automatic the phrases have to pop in your head like an instant message.
So, what will you say to yourself when you have a minor slip up?

STAY FOCUSED!
ONE MISTAKE IS JUST THAT!
GET BACK ON TRACK!
SAY ONLY GOOD THINGS!
YOU CAN DO IT!
NEVER GIVE UP!
Always,
Mer

Body for Life- Workouts

A quick update-
I am only on day 3, but I have done weight lifting for my upper and lover body, Day 1 and Day 3. I also did 20 minutes of cardio, Day 2. I tried jumping rope, but my new rope gets all twisted so I jogged-walked instead. I got another 20 minute walk in yesterday and did some light gardening today.

I also wanted to share the Body for Life website so that anyone that wants to follow the program can-
http://bodyforlife.com/
I am deep into looking at the Body for Life Library since it has the trackers that you need to do the program. It is all about creating healthy habits and working from the inside out. 
Two words to describe it- Simple, Intense.

I better hit the hay so I can do my cardio tomorrow morning.

Good night all!

ANYONE CAN DO THIS!
RENEW YOUR GOALS EVERYDAY!
JUST ONE MORE DAY!
NEVER EVER GIVE UP ON YOU!
Always,
Mer

We Can Do It!

Emails from this week-

This is the message I sent out to a friend who has talked to me about doing bootcamp. It is from my bootcamp instructor-

Subject: 5-WEEK SPRING INTENSIVE OK, LADIES!! ONE WEEK TO GO!!!!
Hi Ladies!!!
LET'S DO THIS THANG!!!!  YES, INDEED!!!  ONE WEEK TO GO!!  Enjoy sleeping in cuz you'll be hit by a Mac Truck soon!!  I'm gearing up for our 5-week Spring Bootcamp Intensive.  We will still be meeting indoors as it's chilly in the mornings!!  We can use the stereo @ Carden, then head outdoors in June, in time for the early sunrise of Summer Days!!!!  WAHOO!!!  Summer is just around the corner!!   We are starting on Monday, April 25th, the day AFTER EASTER!!! 
Bring a *new friend* and receive $20 off ! ! !   Let's grow our group, ladies!!  I guarantee one day a week of willpowermethod.com, one day a week of cardio intensive drills, ending the week with 1/2 hour weights & 1/2 hour yoga.  I'm putting together a program you can use on your own to prepare to run a 5K and/or a 10K and perhaps we can make it a goal to enter a race sometime this Summer as a team!!
Let me know if you're joining the Spring Intensive Bootcamp, and please print this off and pass it out to friends!!  The more the merrier.
xo,
Michelle

This is the message I got back-

Even for a tired and lazy mom of 5? I so need inspiration and motivation. But having 5 kids in five years did my body no good.  Would this be too much after 5 years of zero exercise?
Jul

This the message I sent to her-

Hey Jul,
It is a bit of a shock to the body when you start. Since I was that way (zero exercise) when I started, 2nd child at 38 and nausea was constant so had to eat carbs the whole pregnancy to calm my stomach and it just made me gain a ton of weight! The 5:30 am is hard, but it is the only time I can get a workout in being a busy working mom and so I still drag myself there. Once I am done I always feel so much better and ready to face the day.  It finally came down to this for me- "You have to do something for yourself, your health, your peace of mind and being busy is never going to stop so-if not this then what?"
Do what is best for you.
Mer

This is the final message I got from her tonight-

Yep, I'm in.   I'll email her tomorrow to signup.  I talked another friend into too so she'll sign up too!

Whoo-hoo! If they can do it. You can too!
WE CAN DO IT!
TOGETHER WE CAN LOSE TO WIN!
JUST DO IT!
NEVER GIVE UP!
Always,
Mer