The journey...

Life is in the journey, not the destination, so do what you can and take it one day at a time. Go slow, do it right, and make your changes permanent — then help out others who are where you were.

~Jillian Michaels

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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Day 3: "Walk to School"


Breakfast: Canadian bacon, egg & cheese pockets - 170 calories (x2)
Start Time: 7:48a
Weather Conditions: 59 F, BEAUTIFUL morning
Distance: 1.82m
Return Time: 8:19a

WEIGH-IN WEDNESDAY - 1.4 lbs lost

Today was my "late day" where I don't have to be to work until 9 am and I had to run to Lenexa on my lunch break which required my car....but before I discredit my 30 days, I'd like to make note that I substituted my "Walk to Work" with a "Walk to School" this morning to escort half-pint!

The weather was beautiful and he was just as excited about walking to school today as I was about switching-up my morning route with a walking buddy. It's a little under a mile distance to take lil' man to school, but just enough to get the blood pumping and start the day off with a little physical activity.

Tonight is "Girl's Night Out" with a few friends at Mimi's Cafe and I'll be enjoying their Just Enough Sweet and Sour Chicken entree. Yum! Not fast food, not home-cooked food either, but a better choice than many on the menu.

Have a great evening everyone!

Verse of the Day:

Romans 5:6-8 (NIV)

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

DAY 2: "Back-Tracking" to work

Late Start: 7:32a
Weather Conditions: 47 F with 12 mph winds
Breakfast: Pink Lady Apple

Okay, so if you find yourself reading this and wondering WHY I'm describing the weather conditions and notating a time it's because as of yesterday I began my "30 day Blogrimage." For 30 days I will be walking to work and withholding my money from what we commonly refer to as "fast food." The only thing fast about the food I'll be eating is the fact that it's in my hands as I'm speedily walking to work! :-)

Last night was a late night because one of my good friends had her baby girl, Jade Emerson. Both Mom & Baby appear to be alright, however, they need to do more blood tests because they believe her water broke Friday night and she was unaware. The amniotic fluid around a baby helps keep the newborn from getting infection so they want to take some extra tests for precaution. My roommate had the honor of standing in the delivery room and taking pictures as she had her C-section. A role she'll never forget and an opportunity that both Baby & Mommy will enjoy years down the road when they've got photo memories of those first moments that are often missed.

Today I kinda got off to a late start but wasn't complaining, just meant I needed to pick up the pace a bit. I got a little over half-way to work: praying, thinking, jamming to my music, THEN at 7:50a (the time I'm supposed to arrive at work) I happen to look down at my phone and noticed I had 2 missed calls and 1 new text message reading "EMERGENCY!" from my roommate.

Apparently she had grabbed my set of keys (I have her spare) last night in our frantic rush to the hospital and when we returned home, we naturally took the keys (mine) out of the ignition, but we didn't realize that HERS were still left in the car. At that time I had to "back track" and rush back home. After jumping in the car, "safely rushing" her to work late (she was supposed to be there before 8 am), THEN taking my godson to school, THEN driving back to work, THEN changing clothes, I was finally able to clock in at 8:22a.

She did walk from her job to mine on her lunch break to pick-up her car so I should be back on track for walking home this evening. The forecast is 72 F with 23 mph winds...it'll be nice, but windy.

Hmm...these next 30 days should be VERY interesting.

Verse of the Day:
Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Monday, March 29, 2010

BlogrimaHUH?

BLOGRIMAGE - a pilgrimage documented by blog.

A pilgrimage is a journey of some sort, usually one with some particular purpose.
One of my best friends and her husband are participating in a 30-day "blogrimage" that their friend created. The word is he had this crazy idea to jump-rope...YES, you read that right, JUMP ROPE for 30 days and document it via blog and YouTube videos. From this random, spontaneous, yet intriguing bit of genius, a facebook group was created and from there you have it: The BLOGRIMAGE!

I read one blog where they are dedicating 30 days to creating a business idea, my friend is blogging on healthy living on a budget - proving that it IS possible to afford healthy eating on a limited budget. Her husband is spending 30 days without a car using biking, walking or public transportation as his means of travel. He spent a year in China where public transportation and physically travelling were the primary means of commuting virtually ANYWHERE. After returning to America and recognizing just how lazy and dependent we are here on our vehicles, he decided to lay down the ride (his car) and RIDE to work (on a bike). I thought it was pretty neat...

...neat enough that I decided to join him! Now, I must confess, his distance to work is around 9 miles one-way, mine is quick a bit shorter clocking in at just under 1 1/2 miles but HEY - it's a way to get active AND be disciplined in an activity right? RIGHT! In addition to walking to work, I've decided that for 30 days I will not visit a fast food restaurant for any reason, not even a Large Diet Dr. Pepper for $1 at the local McDonalds - NOPE! I'm not eliminating sit-down restaurants only because I know my weight loss F.I.T. sisters will be here next weekend and we will likely have one "Girl's Night Out," (a blog on that will follow), but other than that I want to stop conveniently swinging through the drive-thru when I can prepare in advance and discipline myself to plan meals in advance AND possibly save money in the process.

Sooooo...how did today go? Other than playing frogger with cars and nearly freezing my uncovered legs off, today's travel wasn't bad at all. I tried two-different routes, one route to work and a different route home for lunch. One way took me around 25 minutes and the other more like 30 minutes. On my trip back to work I was tempted to swing through Burger King for a iced coffee but refrained...

The PURPOSE of my BLOGrimage:
  1. Using my time for worship and Prayer
  2. Adding more physical activity to my daily life
  3. Documenting my progress by means of time AND weight loss
  4. Building a life of DISCIPLINE in prayer AND exercise
  5. Sharing and encouraging others as I discover new things on my journey
Let's see how my "30 day blogrimage" goes...I'll keep you posted!

Care to join me? Email me at Demesha.Wright@gmail.com or copy a link to YOUR blogrimage in the comments section.

How can YOU help me? PRAY! I need to really seek God out about direction, some struggle and victory in my life so if you think to, PRAY for me as I travel my own personal, fun, yet purposeful blogrimage.

Thank You!

Verse of the Day:
2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NIV)

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Friday, March 26, 2010

A blog on "failing"

rel-a-tive
-adjective

existing or having its specific nature only by relation to something else; not absolute or independent: Happiness is relative.

Have you ever heard the term, "It's all relative?" I have a couple friends who used to use this phrase almost DAILY! It was typically inserted in a joking manner after some "weight comment," pointing out the fact that my friend WISHED to be my weight, I wished to be a different friends weight and even she wished to be the weight of yet another one of our friends. For each of us - the next step down was our "dream" even though the one currently living in it never saw it as so. (...and YES, I created my own cartoon with the help of Microsoft Paint :)

The past few weeks I've personally started to grasp this concept of "relativity" with the only person under the scope being ME. With the formula described in the definition above, my weight loss would best be summed up like this:

CURRENT WEIGHT + (GAINING or LOSING) = STATE OF MIND

The way I view my CURRENT WEIGHT is typically dependent on one variable which is whether I am currently GAINING or LOSING weight. Let me elaborate...I started in February 2009 at 342.2 lbs. In one year, through healthy eating and exercise I was able to take 122 lbs away from that number. At 220 lbs I felt like I was on TOP of the world, everything was new: new body, new sizes, new activity levels, new foods, new level of self esteem. I loved my flabby, yet shrinking body. I felt proud looking in the mirror at a collar bone that was never visibly viewable before. It was as if I had redefined the word "skinny" in my life to fit the weight of 220 lbs. It was relative. Although by health standards 220 lbs is by no means "skinny," as a matter of fact, 220 lbs is still very much so OBESE. But for me, 220 lbs was a milestone I had reached that brought a sense of accomplishment and self worth unlike anything else. I was losing weight and feeling great and 220 lbs was that relative DREAM come true!

NOW...

Since then I lost an additional 12 lbs...YIPPEE!...but WAIT, hold the party! After that I GAINED 15 lbs back! *insert violin music here*

Now I look in the mirror and all I see is a bloated face, swollen eyes, double chin, flabby arms and an ever growing belly. Tighter jeans, less energy and the undeniable sense of failure.

BUT HOW can this be? The FIRST time I reached this weight my numbers were dropping and you would've thought I just fit into a brand new size 2 pair of jeans. This time around however, I'm gaining and it's as if I never dropped a single pound. You know, they say the "mind is a powerful thing" and the human mind has the ability to block out traumatic events - it's as though mine has just TOTALLY forgot about the first 100+ lbs lost and how I used to look, discrediting the fact that it ever really took place.

Due to this bad case of "memory loss," it's left me embarrassed and ashamed enough to avoid my blog, facebook, friends and anyone who may even begin to MENTION a peep about this supposed "weight loss." Afterall, what testimony and encouragement could I be - surely that 15 lb gain is enough to make any observer turn around and think twice before looking to me as an example.

WRONG!

A close friend of mine said to me last week, "A blog on failing, now that'd be a good blog!" I kinda laughed it off at first, but it's so true. People want to see that you are human, you are prone to err, you aren't perfect nor will you ever be. When you look at the image of someone who is supposedly "flawless," all it does is bring out more of your own imperfections, causing a person's self-esteem to plummet.

I think part of the reason we go through trials in our lives is so God can use us to help someone else who may be going through that EXACT same thing at a later time. So that we can pour into the life of someone else from the perspective of "I've been there," and them be able to look and see HOPE on the other side. Now don't get me wrong, there are "self-induced" trials, God-induced trials, "other" induced trials and ones that are flat out caused by the devil - but whichever trial we may find ourselves falling in - EACH has the potential of being turned around as a learning experience that causes us (and others) to grow as people.

My "self-induced" trial of re-gaining some of my weight back has truthfully been NO FUN...but I already see how my failures have in a round-about way encouraged others. If all I ever do is "boast" about my success and deny my failures - people will never learn the TRUTH and REALITY of this lifestyle change. Others may find themselves disappointed and discouraged when they don't steadily lose week after week because I've portrayed a standard that I myself am not even obtaining. Not only that, but I'm taking note that there are seemingly A LOT of people around me right now who have found themselves in the same rut of gaining and/or struggling and I'm starting to realize I can join in on the pity parties, OR I can be positive and again lead by example. I can confess my weight gain, acknowledge the areas I've went wrong, forgive myself for making unhealthy choices and not allow those poor choices to hold me back from working hard again.

I actually just responded today to a friend who I talk to on facebook who has also had a rough two weeks and told her that just like the scripture that tells us God's mercies are new for us each morning...we have to realize we start with a CLEAN plate with no junk on it every day! We cannot stay in the dumps because we added a bunch of junk food and high calorie items to yesterday's plate - we have to look at what's set before us today - A sparkling, clean, empty plate waiting to be filled with what we choose to put on it! Today I can choose to put clean, healthy, beneficial foods on my plate and have a good day!

I wanted to include an article from an old Biggest Loser newsletter that I've kept because I think it tells it best for those of us who recognize this IS a lifestyle change and there WILL be moments when we go up in weight, it's not always going to go down.

When Life
Throws a Curveball

When you realize that what you're doing is really a lifestyle change and not a "program" or diet, it will empower you like never before. Making this transition in your thinking means there is nothing to quit. You can't quit a lifestyle like you quit a diet.

Injuries, illness, job issues, family commitments all come and go and constantly change. And a program or diet is easy to lose track of when a big life "trauma" comes along. But if you're focused simply making healthy choices most of the time none of these obstacles will hold you back. Sure, you'll have to adjust your approach and try new things. You'll experience setbacks and have to regroup. But that's life. And it's always within your grasp to live it healthfully if you choose.

Verse of the Day:

Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV)
"Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Fiber Faceoff


I write today's post with a heavy heart, yet open mind...

BREAKING NEWS: Today I was introduced to Fiber PLUS! Yes, you read that right...Fiber PLUS!!!

Me and Fiber One have maintained a GREAT relationship for a little over a year now, I even have an ENTIRE facebook photo album dedicated to my obsession with these tasty, chocolately bars of DELIGHT!

I will remain a fan of Fiber ONE, afterall, they've supported 35% of my daily fiber needs. I cannot help but graciously THANK Fiber ONE for contributing to my success in losing over 125 pounds to date. However, I must say that TODAY, I had to upload my first picture featuring my newfound friend - Fiber PLUS! I've held off "taste-testing" this close competitor for quite some time now, but today I hesitantly took my first bite. All it took was ONE bite for me to understand why this mid-day treat bears the name PLUS!

Not only do these delicious bars taste BETTER than Fiber ONE (who would've even thunk it possible), but they cost less, are softer, less sugar, less carbs, less sodium...

...and get THIS...

THEY HAVE 20 LESS CALORIES!!!

Ay! There is a verse in Proverbs that I thought fitting for today's post - the MCV (Mesha Condensed Version...lol...see below for REAL verse) would basically read, "Fiber One presented their product first and seemed like the best thing since sliced bread, until Fiber PLUS came along delivering their nutrition facts."

Today, Fiber One was cross-examined and with my taste buds being the judge, I must say I'm going with Fiber PLUS as my final ruling.

They're just...well...BETTER!!!

Verse of the Day:
Proverbs 18:17 (Amplified Bible)

"He who states his case first seems right, until his rival comes and cross-examines him."