tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65702617137037154702024-02-07T00:37:03.101-06:00From Polyester to SpandexLiving as Polyester in a Spandex WorldKimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-91168243365955216492015-08-17T17:03:00.001-05:002015-08-17T17:03:12.021-05:00Mashed Potato Workout<span style="color: purple;">Has someone ever disappointed you? Have you ever been hurt by the words or actions of another person? Did you ever discover that someone you trusted was not completely honest with you?</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: purple;">Okay, so now that everyone reading this post can raise their hands and say that they've been there and had one (or more!) of these experiences, let me ask you another question...how did you respond to it? Has it ever driven you to food as a way to cope?</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: purple;">There's a great deal of information available on the topic of "emotional eating". Examples may include using food to fill an emotional void, or taking comfort from food during stressful, painful, or challenging times. While these scenarios are accurate representations, emotional eating can also be tied to eating when you are bored, social eating (joining in and eating simply because others around you are eating), pressured eating (friends, family, or co-workers urging you to eat something they have made, or to eat with them), or eating instead of facing strong emotions, among other things.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: purple;">To tell you the truth, I have never really considered myself to be an emotional eater under most of these circumstances, and I can't recall ever purposely wanting a specific food in times of emotional crisis...until recently.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: purple;">Last week, I had a situation where it came to light that someone I had trusted in the past had been dishonest with me several years ago about something significant. It made me mad, but it also broke my heart to know I had been lied to. It challenged my feelings of self-worth. And all I wanted was mashed potatoes...</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: purple;">Mashed potatoes have always been my favorite food. I like them just about every way they can be prepared. Even in my baby book, in the section about my 2-year-old self, for favorite foods my mother penned "mashed potatoes!!!" rather enthusiastically. As I have been losing weight, I knew I did not want to give them up completely, so I've trimmed them back on our family menus to only once or twice per month, and have taken out the butter and cream cheese and now use Greek yogurt in place of higher fat ingredients. Different, but still very good!</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: purple;">As I stewed over my new-found disappointment, the madder I got, the more I wanted to get into my kitchen and make a huge pot of mashed potatoes, complete with cream cheese and butter! I have never cooked or eaten out of emotion like this before, and at first, I really didn't even realize that was what was happening. I walked into my bedroom to change clothes before cooking, however, and the sight of my weights sitting in the corner made me stop in my tracks.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: purple;">Instead of cooking and eating, I changed into sweats and chose to workout. Instead of burying my emotions in a bowl of potatoes, I worked through my feelings. I allowed myself to experience the anger, the frustration, the hurt, and the betrayal...but I didn't stop there. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: purple;">By mid-way through my workout, in tears, I was reminding myself that I am valuable. The person who wronged me was just that...wrong. I refused to allow the words of others to have power over me. I would not let another person's actions to drive me to undo the work I have done with losing weight by emotionally pushing me to eat foolishly because I was upset. Every time I lifted a dumbbell, I let go of some of the hurt and I regained a little more of my freedom.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: purple;">Exhausted, as I reached the cool down portion of my workout, I found myself forgiving the person who had wronged me and praying for them. I honestly hope they experience God's love in their life. In my heart, I released them from my anger, and in doing so, I received the opportunity to move on. And all without eating a single bite of mashed potatoes...</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span>
Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-31912019974814204342015-06-17T16:54:00.001-05:002015-06-17T16:54:24.518-05:00Making a Comeback
<br />
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Don’t you just love a
good comeback story?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know, the kind of
tale where a character has been really successful, but then life throws them an
unexpected curveball and they go through some really hard places…or maybe they
made some poor decisions that led them astray…but in the end they come back,
stronger, wiser, and better than ever?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s so much emotion involved as the character moves through each
season of their experience…The joy of the good times, followed by the agonies
of the challenges, and finally, the relief and excitement when they make it
through to the other side of their struggles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have laughed, cried, and cheered my way through many such books and
movies.</span><br />
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><br />
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Right now, however, I
feel as though I’m living out my own comeback story…Having been overweight my
entire life, I finally decided 4 years ago that it was time for a change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I worked hard to change my eating habits and
incorporate exercise into my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll
be honest with you, it’s not always easy to implement exercise and healthy
eating when you’ve spent 39 years without giving much thought to your own
personal fitness, but I did it, and I lost 169 pounds in about 18 months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was smaller than I had been since I was 13
years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt fantastic!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had taken up running and biking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was no longer restricted or limited by my
size in any way…then I got hit with my curveball, and it knocked me flat on my
back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the following 2 years, I
dealt with so many doctors and lived in so much pain, that as I stopped
exercising and devoting time to good nutrition, I regained over half of the
weight I had lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By the time that I had
recovered from my health issues, I went through a really depressed period of
time where I thought I could never lose the weight again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, I wanted to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Desperately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I had pretty much given up hope that I could actually do it
though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It all came to a head one Sunday
afternoon in March as I started pulling all of my now way-too-small clothes out
of the closet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so mad at
myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All that work for what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To regain half of it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To give up without reaching my goals? Or even
worse, to keep on gaining and end up heavier than I was when I started???</span><br />
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><br />
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I had to make a
decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could either spend the rest
of my life miserable, hating myself because I wasn’t who I wanted to be, and
feeling like a failure…or I could do something about it.</span><br />
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><br />
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I have to say, making
the choice to get back on track has set me free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Free from the feeling of “I can’t”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Free from feeling like I wasn’t worth
something better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And free from the
overwhelming feeling of being out of control and unable to do what was right
and make a change in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For the last three
months now, I’ve been paying attention to proper nutrition, working out
regularly, and staying accountable to a supervised program, and the weight is
coming back off at a healthy rate, averaging about 2 pounds lost per week for
the last 15 weeks, and I feel fantastic!</span><br />
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><br />
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">You see, no matter how
far you have strayed from your goals, you can always make a comeback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t matter if circumstances beyond
your control sidelined you for a while, or if you chose to stray from what you
knew to be the right path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or like me,
maybe you’ve experienced a blend of the two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Today, however, you are not powerless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You have the ability to choose to do what is best for your body.</span><br />
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><br />
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Are you ready to make
your comeback?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Philippians
1:6 “…he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…”</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></i> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></i><em><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional, a
representative of any formal weight loss program, or a certified trainer, so
anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance,
or recommendations. It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences.
Thanks!)</span></b></em><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-34175496827255279162015-06-13T13:26:00.000-05:002015-06-13T13:26:07.729-05:00Up and Down Escalators<span style="color: purple;">
<span>When I was a child, one of my mother’s
regular shopping destinations was a local department store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My favorite part of being there was when she
needed something from one of the upper levels, and we got to go up the
escalator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Riding up those moving stairs
was exciting to my eight-year-old self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
loved grabbing the rail and jumping on as it took us higher and higher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was only one problem, though…I loved
going up, but I was terrified of coming back down!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">
<span></span></span><br />
<span><span style="color: purple;">Going up was easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got to start the journey from the bottom,
on familiar ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just walk in and
step right on with no fear of falling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seeing
the steps rolling upwards was not the least bit intimidating to me, it was fun!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As long as I looked straight ahead, I could
ride along comfortably with no thought of how far up I was really going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">
<span></span></span><br />
<span><span style="color: purple;">Coming back down was not so easy
though, and I got no enjoyment from it whatsoever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Going down meant that I had to face the
reality of just how high I had gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
thought of pitching myself forward onto the quickly descending platform would
paralyze me in fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The big, open
stairwell loomed in front of me, making me dizzy if I dared take a peek at
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">
<span></span></span><br />
<span><span style="color: purple;">I saw others going down with no
problem, but I was scared that I would get killed if I tried on my own. Usually
my mother could prod me along, holding my hand and half dragging me with her,
my face buried in her side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One time in
particular, however, I can remember my mother (with my baby sister and her
recent purchases in her arms) told me to grab onto the rail myself and follow
her back down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She boarded with ease, but
I simply could not get myself to move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
could visualize myself tripping and tumbling down, being hurt and embarrassed,
and thought perhaps staying in the 2<sup>nd</sup> floor linens department for
the rest of my life was my fate, because there was no way I could do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now at the bottom, my mother began pleading
with me to “quit being silly” and come down, but I would not budge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather, I burst into tears, convinced I could
not possibly do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually, a kind sales
clerk heard the commotion and helped me get down to my waiting family.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">
<span></span></span><br />
<span><span style="color: purple;">I find that there are many
similarities to this journey of losing weight and living a healthier lifestyle
and my experiences with the escalator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
you are gaining weight and not exercising, the ride up is often easy and fun…After
all, fast food is convenient and inexpensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sweet, savory, and rich indulgences taste great and are often shared in
social settings with friends and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You don’t have to set aside time in your day for fitness or meal
planning, and you rarely stop to think about how far you’ve gone from where you
started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before you know it, you’ve
reached “new heights” that actually become places of despair…favorite clothing
no longer fits, your energy level is way down, you feel uncomfortable in your
own skin, and you just don’t feel good about yourself like you once did.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">
<span></span></span><br />
<span><span style="color: purple;">No matter how much you know you need
to do what it takes to get back down to where you belong, it can be scary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hard to face the reality of where you’re
at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the high point, the goal looks
so very far away, impossible to reach. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You begin to think that this is the place
where you will spend the rest of your days and there’s nothing you can do about
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know, because I’ve lived it in
more ways than one…<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">
<span></span></span><br />
<span><span style="color: purple;">Today, however, I’m so thankful that
I’m no longer standing at the top, shaking with fear, and refusing to move
because I’m afraid I might not make it back down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took a deep breath and made the steps
necessary to head back down to a healthy weight, and guess what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It feels great!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the journey to reach my weight loss and
fitness goals may take a little longer than that childhood ride down the
escalator, I’m so happy to be moving in the right direction!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">
<em><b><span style="color: #7c1750; font-family: "Neucha","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"></span></b></em></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><em><b><span style="color: #7c1750; font-family: "Neucha","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am
not a medical professional, a representative of any formal weight loss program
or a certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be
taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations. It is simply a journal of
my own personal experiences. Thanks!)</span></b></em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">
</span>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-2782947189404120782015-05-31T17:06:00.001-05:002015-05-31T17:06:57.696-05:00Finishing Well<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nearly two
years have passed since I last used this blog to share about my life, and now
the time has come for me to start writing again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not always easy, turning your thoughts
and feelings into text, but it is something I feel compelled to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Steven Covey once said, “One word expresses
the pathway to greatness: voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those
on this path find their voice and inspire others to find theirs.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hope is that God can somehow use my story
to bring encouragement and inspiration to others…and so, through writing, I
have found my voice once again.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those of
you who are here for the first time, I would recommend you take a few minutes
to read through a couple of my previous posts, <a href="http://polyestertospandex.blogspot.com/2011/06/why-polyester.html" target="_blank">Why Polyester</a>, <a href="http://polyestertospandex.blogspot.com/2011/06/why-polyester-part-2.html" target="_blank">Why Polyester Part 2</a>, <a href="http://polyestertospandex.blogspot.com/2012/03/daddys-example.html" target="_blank">Daddy's Example</a>,
and <a href="http://polyestertospandex.blogspot.com/2013/07/i-am-runner.html" target="_blank">I am a Runner</a>, and they will help you understand some of my
history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To my friends who are stepping
back into my journey, I am glad you have returned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope to use this post to bring you all up
to date on where I am today.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When last I
wrote, I was two years into my weight loss journey, and through balanced
nutrition and exercise, I had lost 169 pounds and was well on my way to
reaching my weight loss goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then,
suddenly, everything changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One afternoon
in July 2013, I went to the park to go running, and less than 1/8 of a mile in,
I was struck with a blinding headache.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Having never experienced any kind of migraine before, I didn’t know what
was going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the next year, the
headaches became more frequent and severe, to the point that they never let up,
and no medicines or therapies provided any relief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hurt continually, and it interfered with
every aspect of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was sent from
doctor to doctor, seeing everyone from a neurologist, to an eye doctor, to the
dentist, and several other specialists in between, in an effort to determine
the cause of my issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, in
August 2014, it was found that I had a large growth in my frontal sinus cavity
that was triggering all of the pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>During surgery, the doctor performed seven different procedures to clear
everything out and re-align my sinuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The surgery was more invasive then was planned, and the recovery time
took much longer than expected, and I was not released from follow up care
until the end of November 2014.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still
have some residual issues that linger, but am grateful that the headaches are a
thing of the past.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the middle
of all of the headache and sinus problems, I broke my left foot, and I was
restricted from any kind of extended walking for three months, and the doctor
told me I was not to run or ride my bike for a minimum of six months, or I
faced the risk of re-injury because of where the original break had been
located.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This brings
me to March 14, 2015…It was time to reclaim the ground I had lost and finish
what I started!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew I needed
accountability to get back on track and start losing weight again, so I signed
up for Weight Watchers, took a deep breath, and walked into my very first
meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The topic of that session was
exactly what I needed to hear…Don’t let your setbacks become stay backs!!!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have never
been a quitter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather, I typically dedicate
myself to seeing things through to the end, even when it’s difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may not always reach the summit as quickly
as I would like, and sometimes my definition of success in an area changes over
time, but when I start out to accomplish something, it’s not very often that I
give up and walk away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For example,
twenty-five years ago, I graduated high school and went on to college to pursue
a degree in music education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I completed
all but my final year of my music program, but then as they say “life got in
the way” and I did not get to finish school at that time, but I never let go of
the hope that one day I would graduate. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
2009, I decided it was time to go back to school to finish what I had started,
and in May 2014, I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Regent University with my
Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Graduating with a 4.0 GPA, while being a wife and mother, working a full
time job in the investment field, and serving as a pastor all at the same time was
no easy feat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through prayer,
determination, support from my amazing family, and commitment, however, I finished…and I finished well.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, it’s
time for me to apply that same level of concentration and deliberate effort to
finishing what I started in my weight loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My previous health issues put things on hold for a while, but that
doesn’t mean I have to stay in that place!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I joined Weight Watchers on March 14<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>, and in the first 10
weeks, I have already lost 26 pounds!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Weight
Watchers awards you little charms for various milestones, and at my meeting last
week, I received my 25lb. goal charm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
a way, it reminded me of my first semester back in school…I received a letter
telling me that I had been placed on the Dean’s List for academic
achievement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, the paper that letter
was printed on wasn’t worth much, but it signified something great in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an active celebration that
acknowledged that I was on track towards reaching my goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same can be said of the little 25lb.
charm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is just a small trinket, but
to me, it serves as a beautiful reminder that I WILL reach my goal, and I am
well on my way!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me
encourage you today to revisit your dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Do you have goals that have been set aside, but in your heart, you long
to see them come to pass?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turn them over
to the Lord, and ask Him for guidance, direction, and provision, and then take
action and see where He leads you!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Philippians 1:6 “…he who
began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…”</em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Just a
reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional, a representative of any
formal weight loss program or a certified trainer, so anything I write in this
blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations.
It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences. Thanks!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></span></div>
Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-61665266097179398122013-07-28T15:31:00.000-05:002013-07-28T15:31:37.913-05:00I Am a Runner<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">I am a runner. In fact, I have spent many years of my life running from...<br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />As a child, I ran from the other kids who made fun of me because of my weight, and found places to hide and cry...<br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />As a teen, I ran from the pain of feeling alone and misunderstood because I was always the biggest kid in every class...<br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />As a college student, I ran from the reality of the food choices I was making and the harm I was doing to my body through over-eating and making excuses for my size...<br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />As an young adult, I ran from the belief that I could ever make a change and lose weight, and I held onto the idea that being obese was just my lot in life...<br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />Today, however, I no longer run from, but I run to...<br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />I run to the truth that, with God as my foundation and my help, change is indeed possible!<br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />I run to a future of healthy living and well-being!<br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />I run to prove to myself that there is an athlete who has lived inside of me all along, and I have finally set her free!<br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />I run to show my kids that they can set huge goals in life and reach them through commitment!<br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />Today, I run because...<br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />I run because the joy I experience in the freedom of movement is overwhelming! (I will neither confirm nor deny that I have had a "Sound of Music" mountain top moment, running, with my arms flung open wide and twirling on the back half of the track at the local park...more than once!)<br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />I run because I have always been the slowest and the last in every sport and always dreaded gym class because I couldn't keep up, but I now know my body can be pushed farther than it ever has before!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I run because I want to encourage others that you don’t have to be at your goal weight to get up off the couch and start moving!<br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />I run, simply because.....I can!<br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />As someone who used to barely be able to walk to the mailbox and back, words can hardly explain the feeling I get when I lace up my shoes and hit the pavement. To finish and know that my body has carried me 3, 4, or 5 miles on my own two feet in a matter of minutes makes me well up with tears of thankfulness and amazement. To me, running represents healing, restoration, change, and freedom.<br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />I am a runner!</span></div>
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DON’T FORGET:<br />
<br />
<i>I would love for you to check out my Facebook page and to Like it while you're there. Just click this link to go directly to the page (you'll have to log on to Like it) and then don't forget to hover over the Like button and check the box for "show in news feed" so that you don't miss any of the posts:</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/FromPolyesterToSpandex">www.facebook.com/FromPolyesterToSpandex</a><br />
<br />
<em>(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional or certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations. It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences. Thanks!)</em><br />
Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-89542415939493895422013-06-14T13:02:00.000-05:002013-06-14T13:02:42.460-05:00Armed and Fearless<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
As I have lost weight, my body has changed in various ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it’s fun and exciting to see myself shrinking, the fact is that some areas will bear the marks of my extremely overweight days long after I reach my goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you start out where I did, it’s pretty much inevitable, so it’s just something I’m learning to live with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the more prominent areas where I deal with this is in my upper arms.</div>
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As a woman (who now has so many new shopping avenues available to me), I’m finding so many summer dresses and tops I really like that are very cute, but sleeveless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the size of my arms has gone down considerably, I still have a great deal of toning work to do, but even with that, I’ll probably always have some loose skin left there, and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been pretty self-conscious about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, for every sleeveless garment I’ve bought, I’ve also got a jacket or sweater to go over it and cover up my arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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This past week, as the temperatures have soared from the high 70s into the 90s (hello summer!), the last thing I’ve wanted to wear is multiple layers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I got dressed for church last Sunday, I put on a sleeveless top and instinctively grabbed a jacket, then became very upset over feeling so bad about the way my arms look and feeling like I have to cover them all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After an encouraging conversation with my husband, I ended up spending part of the day with the jacket off, bare, flabby arms and all, and you know what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world didn’t end over it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one stopped and stared and pointed at the lady with the under-arm flaps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one laughed at me or asked why I dared to show off my not-so-perfect biceps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wore a sleeveless top…and it was okay…</div>
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Here’s the reality of it…if we’re honest enough to admit it, we all have areas about our bodies we feel insecure about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wait, can I say that again with a little more emphasis?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ALL</b> have areas about our bodies we feel insecure about or would like to change in some way!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s just no getting around it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There may be some pudge here, or some flab there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe we’re not as buff and built, or as slim and trim as we used to be or would like to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Face it, we’re human and time and gravity do a work on us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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What I’ve learned this week, however, is that while I’m working to improve my strength and muscle tone as I continue to lose weight, it’s okay to be real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s okay to accept that this is me, where I’m at today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not as good as I will be, but I’m sure better than I was!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That measure of self-acceptance comes along with a heaping dose of peacefulness and contentment, and I’ll take that any day!</div>
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So, if you see me fearlessly baring my imperfect arms this summer, just know this, I’m thankful for the strong arms that God has given me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These arms help me express myself in worship as I raise them in praise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These arms have gone around the shoulders of hurting people to extend comfort in times of need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These arms have carried my babies close to me and held them for hours of rocking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These arms embrace my husband and hug my children and other loved ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They may not be perfect, or sculpted, or beautiful, but they’re mine and they have served me well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I strive to make them better, I’m going to do my best not to complain and grumble about the way they look any more.</div>
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DON’T FORGET:<br />
<br />
<i>I would love for you to check out my Facebook page and to Like it while you're there. Just click this link to go directly to the page (you'll have to log on to Like it) and then don't forget to hover over the Like button and check the box for "show in news feed" so that you don't miss any of the posts:</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/FromPolyesterToSpandex">www.facebook.com/FromPolyesterToSpandex</a><br />
<br />
<em>(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional or certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations. It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences. Thanks!)</em><br />
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Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-10606099903660424052013-05-31T11:34:00.000-05:002013-05-31T11:34:16.475-05:00I Did it!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I DID IT!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Memorial Day morning I completed my first official 5K with a time of 36:18!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a crazy, eventful, and exciting day it was!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I trained well in the weeks leading up to the event, and had my pace and time down into a good range.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could easily walk the 3.1 miles in 44-45 minutes, and had done it with a mix of running and walking in about 39 minutes, so I was confident that I could finish with a decent time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honestly, I just wanted to finish, and not be the last person over the finish line!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve spent so much of my life being last when it came to any kind physical event, competition, or game, that I really hoped to simply come in somewhere in the middle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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When the race started, I felt great and headed out at a quick pace (for me anyway).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully, I remembered to hit “start” on my mapping app as I crossed the starting line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This became very important later in the day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As my app announced my distance through my earbuds every half mile, I knew something was drastically wrong when I passed the 3-mile mark and the finish line was no where in sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, the joke in our family has always been that I am totally, and completely, shall we say, “directionally challenged”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having a GPS system on my phone has saved me more times than I care to remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, before the race started, I looked over the course map as one of the volunteers was going over the 5K and 10K routes that were set up for the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt great as we started, and when my husband was at the halfway point taking pictures, our camera documented that I was just a couple of minutes behind one of our friends who was also running the race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The back half of the course, however, proved a bit more challenging for me!</div>
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Apparently, in order to get the entire 3.1 mile distance into the course, there was a small detour through a parking lot that the 5K runners had to take towards the end of the course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, it happened to be very close in location to another section of the course, and the volunteers directed me into this area at the wrong point, and then wouldn’t let me out without circling around the cones set-up a couple of times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, once I finally made it out, volunteers made me go back through it again at the end (which is when I should have made just one half-loop through it).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Once everything was said and done, I covered a total of 4.5 miles, instead of 3.1!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Initially, I was pretty frustrated about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, this was my first official 5K, and it took me 51minutes to actually cross the finish line for my 4.5 miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the more I thought about it later on, the more I realized what a blessing in disguise it actually was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see, I never again have to be afraid of being able to complete a 5K.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After everything I went through a couple of years ago in a <a href="http://polyestertospandex.blogspot.com/2012/09/finishing-what-i-started.html" target="_blank">5K walk that I couldn’t finish</a>, I have to admit that I was a bit nervous about this run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though I had covered the distance many times over in training, being surrounded by other runners in a race environment was scary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing that I ran above and beyond the 5K distance has stripped away the fears associated with it, and next time will be even better because of the confidence boost this has given me!</div>
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Once the race was completely over, I was able to speak with the people at the timing results table, and they were able to take my running app and verify the altered course that I ran, along with the split times for each mile I covered to figure out my average speed and they calculated my total time for the 5K distance at 36:18.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I guess you could say that, had I just ran 3.1 miles, I would have been an overcomer, but running 4.5 miles made me <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">more</i></b> than a conqueror!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Several of the folks from our church pastoral team ran this race together, and we had shirts that said, “RUN YOUR RACE”, which references the scripture that states, “…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1 NKJV).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Truer words could not have been spoken for me that day! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjhqgMR9KXWnVBc2WAZGargjDHwPyym08mT-dACrlvNXfTahMUkhHqkrvLkd1u4I2xFFA8NVHYyYsoLPa5tXsxHPSZox1tPOqfhNWjLKgG1gM1gzZf5ev7QbRMQjtlXGpVu4lphYxg2I/s1600/186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjhqgMR9KXWnVBc2WAZGargjDHwPyym08mT-dACrlvNXfTahMUkhHqkrvLkd1u4I2xFFA8NVHYyYsoLPa5tXsxHPSZox1tPOqfhNWjLKgG1gM1gzZf5ev7QbRMQjtlXGpVu4lphYxg2I/s640/186.jpg" width="315" yya="true" /></a></div>
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DON’T FORGET:<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I would love for you to check out my Facebook page and to Like it while you're there. Just click this link to go directly to the page (you'll have to log on to Like it) and then don't forget to hover over the Like button and check the box for "show in news feed" so that you don't miss any of the posts:</i><o:p></o:p><br />
<u1:p></u1:p><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/FromPolyesterToSpandex">www.facebook.com/FromPolyesterToSpandex</a><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<em>(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional or certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations. It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences. Thanks!)</em><o:p></o:p><br />
Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-81308613696960065322013-04-23T15:48:00.000-05:002013-04-23T15:48:55.403-05:00Calling Names<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I mentioned in a previous post that from time to time I was going to address some of the emotional issues that come along with weight loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, here you go!</div>
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Most people tend to carry around several titles throughout their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m a Christian, wife, mom, sister, friend, blogger, employee, daughter…you get the idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throughout my childhood and teen years, I carried around a whole host of other names, although none were of my choosing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my very first post on this blog, <a href="http://polyestertospandex.blogspot.com/2011/06/why-polyester.html" target="_blank">Why Polyester?</a> I talked about the horrible names my pediatrician called me during an office visit when I was just 7 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That doctor wasn’t the only one who used to call me names because of my weight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Getting teased was a daily occurrence for me at school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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While so many kids made fun of me from time to time, there was one particular girl and her group of friends who tormented me. Every. Single. Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had the unfortunate problem of going to school from first grade through high school graduation with this girl, and she never let up on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was the harsh, classic bully that intimidated me, stole my lunch money and school supplies, threatened me, and found every possible way to humiliate me about my size in front of other classmates whenever she could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The list of cruel names she had for me back then seemed endless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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As an adult, the names continued to come at me, only from different sources.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In clothing stores I was labeled as an “extended size,” at the doctor’s office I was labeled as “morbidly obese,” and on more than one occasion I have been referred to as the “plus-sized gal,” and the “heavy-set lady” among other descriptions people have had for me in both social and professional realms.</div>
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As I have now lost 167 pounds (!), I’ve been dealing with getting past the negative names I’ve been called throughout my life, and ironically enough, it’s been due to complimentary remarks that people have made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see, very well-meaning friends, people who I know care about me and are supportive and encouraging to me in my journey, have said things to me like, “Hey Skinny!” or called me “Skinny-Minny” and similar things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a part of me, that when someone says something like that, I feel very, very self-conscious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s kind of like the idea of nick-naming someone for a characteristic that is completely opposite of the way things actually are…like calling a guy who’s 6’8” tall “Shorty”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See what I mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At a size 18, I know that I am far from being anywhere near skinny at this point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thinner than when I started? Absolutely!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But really and truly thin?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nope, not yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I have to resist the emotional urge to feel like I’m being made fun of when people say things to me like “You’re going to blow away if you lose much more weight!” I know in my head that they’re not making fun of me, they love me and are acknowledging my weight loss in a light-hearted and encouraging manner, but part of healing from the past means I have to remind my heart of this fact regularly.</div>
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Losing weight truly is about much more than just shedding pounds from your body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living as an overweight individual results in a host of emotional baggage, and through the grace of God, I’m learning to drop the emotional weight I’ve carried for so long right along with the physical weight!</div>
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Healthy. Healed. Whole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the theme for my life!</div>
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DON’T FORGET:</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I would love for you to check out my Facebook page and to Like it while you're there. Just click this link to go directly to the page (you'll have to log on to Like it) and then don't forget to hover over the Like button and check the box for "show in news feed" so that you don't miss any of the posts:<o:p></o:p></i><br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/FromPolyesterToSpandex">www.facebook.com/FromPolyesterToSpandex</a><br />
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<em>(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional or certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations. It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences. Thanks!)</em><br />
Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-45145062334027017172013-04-22T15:49:00.002-05:002013-04-22T15:54:45.078-05:00Crazy Pain<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Wow, I have had some crazy stuff going on with my back since Friday! <br />
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As I've talked about in the past, before I started on my weight loss journey, I had a bad fall in a local park that resulted in extreme back pain and sciatic nerve issues in the right side of my back and my right leg. That went on for such a long time, and was the worst physical pain I had ever endured. As I have lost weight over the last 22 months, that sciatic pain had completely went away, and I can't remember the last time I dealt with it.<br />
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Fast forward to this past Friday. Friday morning, I went to work as usual, with no back pain or issues at all. By 10:30am, my back had started hurting, truly out of nowhere, and on the left side of my spine. It literally started hurting while I was sitting in my office chair. I had not done any kind of strength workouts for a week, and had done no lifting or anything out of the ordinary. I can't pinpoint any specific action that could have caused this.<br />
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The pain got so bad that I left work early Friday and went to the chiropractor. He did an adjustment and sent me home to ice packs and rest. I proceeded to spend the entire weekend flat on my back in my bed, as it was the only position I could be in to get any measure of relief! Even though I was in bed and resting for almost three whole days, doing nothing, I felt completely exhausted, and couldn't even get myself to read and dozed in and out of movies on the television. My sweet boys came and went to entertain me from time to time by reading Dr. Suess books to me, performing little skits they made up, and climbing into the bed to watch movies with me, on the strict instructions that they had to lay still and couldn't bounce around because any kind of movement made me hurt.<br />
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Today, I had to come into work, and have been on pain relievers and using a heating pad all day, but haven't had much relief. This feels just like the sciatica I used to get in my heavier days in my right side, only now it's in my left side. The wrong movement makes it feel like an electrical shock in my back, that then travels down my leg with a searing pain. There just aren't words to describe how bad it hurts. Off and on over the weekend I would just cry, telling my husband that I never, ever dreamed I would have this kind of back pain again since I've lost so much weight. Not to mention, the frustration over having done nothing specific to injure myself or set it off. <br />
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So, for now, I continue to pray for healing and rest as much as possible and I appreciate your prayers as well as I mend!<br />
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DON’T FORGET:</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I would love for you to check out my Facebook page and to Like it while you're there. Just click this link to go directly to the page (you'll have to log on to Like it) and then don't forget to hover over the Like button and check the box for "show in news feed" so that you don't miss any of the posts:<o:p></o:p></i><br />
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<em>(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional or certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations. It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences. Thanks!)</em>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-33203334212897774562013-04-16T14:52:00.000-05:002013-04-16T14:52:30.380-05:0022 Months and Still Going Strong<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Well friends, today marks 22 months since I started on my weight loss journey and I’m happy to report that I’m still going strong, and continuing to learn things along the way!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For month 22, I lost 6.6 pounds, which brings my grand total to-date to 165.3 pounds lost!</div>
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Back in January, I came to a point when I decided that I would purposely go into maintenance mode for a while, instead of trying to actively lose weight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be honest with you, there was a little part of me that wondered how I would handle maintenance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would I feel like I could splurge more often and end up gaining some of the weight back?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would the thought of eating more per day feel scary?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would I truly be able to maintain my losses?</div>
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Well, the answers came in a good, well-balanced way!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have spent the last three months in maintenance mode, and did not go overboard with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I basically ate the same things I eat in loss mode, just a little more of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I continued to track my intake and to weigh-in daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through the process, I discovered that my habits really have changed for the better, and I am not the same person I was before I started losing weight, where my personal health and nutrition are concerned.</div>
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About two weeks ago, as I was nearing the end of my planned maintenance season, I began to ask myself if I really wanted to jump back into losing mode or just stay on in maintenance indefinitely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, I reasoned, losing over 160 pounds without the aid of surgeries or specialized programs was a significant accomplishment, all of the symptoms of my back injury and reflux have been gone for a long time now, I weigh less and wear a smaller size than I did when I was 13 years old, and I have complete freedom and mobility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked myself if it was worth the effort to keep going on the weight loss journey.</div>
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Quickly, I realized that the answer was a resounding yes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because, I am worth it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am worth being the best me I can possibly achieve, and part of that includes not giving up on my goals, be it with weight loss or in other areas of my life (which is why I continue to read hundreds of pages of textbooks each week and write more papers than I can count, because I WILL finally earn my degree!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And today, I want to encourage you as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me remind you that you are worth pursuing your goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t give up in the middle of your journey because you’re tired, or it seems too big of a job to finish. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t get complacent and satisfied with the progress you’ve made part-way and never make it to the finish line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t lose sight of the dreams you have in your heart and the goals you’ve set for yourself, because you can accomplish them!</div>
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I have just 59.7 more pounds to lose until I reach my goal of losing 225 pounds!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s your goal, and what are you going to do to make sure you reach it?</div>
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DON’T FORGET:</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I would love for you to check out my Facebook page and to Like it while you're there. Just click this link to go directly to the page (you'll have to log on to Like it) and then don't forget to hover over the Like button and check the box for "show in news feed" so that you don't miss any of the posts:<o:p></o:p></i><br />
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<em>(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional or certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations. It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences. Thanks!)</em><br />
Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-78369842032928258862013-04-05T09:36:00.000-05:002013-04-05T09:36:27.530-05:00A Quick Update<span style="color: #333333;">Hey folks! I wanted to stop in and write a quick post to let you know that I haven't fallen off the face of the planet, really! My writing schedule for school this semester has been insane, plus I've had a couple of skits to write for church the last two weeks, so when I score a few minutes of down time, I'm spent, and just cannot get myself to write anything else!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;">I do have several posts that I'm planning to get out soon...Some interesting happenings and perspectives I'm looking forward to sharing, so bear with me!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;">In the meanwhile, I hope you all had a beautiful Easter!</span><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I would love for you to check out my Facebook page and to Like it while you're there. Just click this link to go directly to the page (you'll have to log on to Like it) and then don't forget to hover over the Like button and check the box for "show in news feed" so that you don't miss any of the posts:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/FromPolyesterToSpandex" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/FromPolyesterToSpandex</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<em>(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional or certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations. It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences. Thanks!)</em><o:p></o:p></div>
Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-67951210838868895882013-03-21T15:51:00.002-05:002013-03-25T15:33:11.084-05:00Out of the Picture<span style="color: #333333;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">This past weekend, I took a new photo to mark my weight loss progress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So far, I have lost 161 pounds, and I was wearing a new outfit, so I thought it was a great time for a photo!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve put it next to a “before” photo just to show the differences in the two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the before photo, taken in October 2009, I was wearing an outfit in a size 36.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my newest photo, my dress is a size 18, and my jacket is a 14/16!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ahhhh!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That means, from my largest, at a size 36, I have now come down 9 dress sizes to an 18.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That, my friends, feels pretty amazing!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">As I was pulling out my before photo file today, I ended up looking through several albums I have stored online, and came to the realization that I don’t have a whole lot of “before” photos to choose from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For almost every event, be it birthdays, Christmas, vacations, etc., there are only one or two photos of me, which I call the token “yes, mom was there” photos, and in those, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I almost always either have my children standing in front of me, or they’re head-and-shoulders-only shots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I mentioned in a <a href="http://polyestertospandex.blogspot.com/2013/03/eeeewwwww-at-pool.html" target="_blank">previous post</a> that being extremely overweight causes a lot of emotional baggage, in various ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe this is a great example of that fact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At my highest weight, I did my best to always be the one behind the camera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have, literally, thousands of photos of my children, but only a handful that include me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then, I used to go through and delete many of the photos I was actually in (from when someone else would grab my camera) from off the camera before even uploading them to the computer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t want to leave a photographic trail of myself for anyone to look back on and remember what I looked like.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">You see, at my largest size, I struggled in two ways with being unseen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, I often felt overlooked, with my accomplishments and abilities often being ignored or passed by because of being so overweight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the same time, however, when you’re really big, the last thing you want is for anyone or anything to draw unnecessary attention to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, you do your best to stay in the background, even though you’re longing to be part of whatever is going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, both literally and figuratively, you’re out of the picture and going through an emotional tug-of-war over it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">As the weight continues to come off, I’m working through these issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m no longer afraid to have my picture taken, and I am learning to not be afraid of stepping out anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few years from now, when I look back through photos, I believe my albums will be filled with pictures that show me having the time of my life!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">DON’T FORGET:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I would love for you to check out my Facebook page and to Like it while you're there. Just click this link to go directly to the page (you'll have to log on to Like it) and then don't forget to hover over the Like button and check the box for "show in news feed" so that you don't miss any of the posts:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/FromPolyesterToSpandex" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/FromPolyesterToSpandex</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<em>(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional or certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations. It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences. Thanks!)</em><o:p></o:p></div>
Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-33072018865085270982013-03-12T15:33:00.001-05:002013-03-12T15:33:13.409-05:00"Eeeewwwww" at the Pool<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
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<span style="color: #741b47;">While on vacation in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chattanooga</st1:place></st1:city> last weekend, I spent some time in the pool at the hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was your typical chain hotel indoor pool, which meant it was fairly small, and having more than 2 or 3 families in there at once made it feel very crowded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My natural tendency in most situations is to keep to myself and to avoid crowded spaces, so when we first entered the pool area and I saw several other people already in the pool, my first reaction was to skip swimming altogether.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sons, however, would not let me get away with it, and since I had promised them some pool time, well, I had to grin and bear it for their sakes.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;">We had been in the pool for about a half an hour, along with a man and his two sons, who looked to be about 5 and 9 years old, or so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also in the pool, was another family with the dad, mom, and teen-aged son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The teen was asking his parents to take him to go eat, and what happened as they got out of the pool broke my heart…</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;">As the mom from the other family got out of the pool and began to dry off, I saw that she was an extremely overweight woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 5-year-old little boy from the other family immediately noticed her and started pointing at her and saying “Eeeewwwwww…” very loudly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His dad looked at the woman and smiled (smirked?), but did nothing to correct his son’s rude behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The child pointed and said it again a couple of times as the mom looked back at the boy and then quickly left the pool area ahead of her family.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;">Now, the 5-year-old boy may very well have been saying “Eeeewwww….” about any number of things, as boys that age sometimes do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe he hates the color blue, which was the color of the mom’s swimsuit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe he heard them say where they were going out to eat and it’s somewhere he doesn’t like to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe he wasn’t pointing at her at all, but saw a mosquito flying through the air in front of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe…</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;">Regardless of what the child was truly thinking, I saw the look in that mom’s eyes, and I automatically put myself in her shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it had been me 20 months ago, before I started losing weight, and the boy had been pointing at me, I would have believed he was making fun of my weight and how I look in a bathing suit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would have ran to my hotel room and cried until there was nothing left of me, and vowed to stay away from the pool for the rest of my trip, lest that boy be there to make fun of me again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My day would have been ruined, and I would have been crushed as I felt the sting of being publicly humiliated.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;">Behind the smiles and the laughter and the joyful exterior an overweight person might portray, very often are many layers of emotional scars received from the words and actions of others regarding their size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For all of the excitement I’ve experienced through losing 161 pounds so far, I’ve also had to face the insecurities, the hurts, and the mental scripts that formed within me through nearly 40 years of being overweight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I plan to address some of these in upcoming blogs.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;">In the meanwhile, that other mom and the little boy remain in my prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hope is that the mom can overcome the hurt that was so evident in her face that day, and that the little boy will grow to learn to speak only words of kindness to others.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">DON’T FORGET:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I would love for you to check out my Facebook page and to Like it while you're there. Just click this link to go directly to the page (you'll have to log on to Like it) and then don't forget to hover over the Like button and check the box for "show in news feed" so that you don't miss any of the posts:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/FromPolyesterToSpandex" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/FromPolyesterToSpandex</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<em>(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional or certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations. It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences. Thanks!)</em><o:p></o:p></div>
Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-2185070874676781802013-03-11T15:55:00.000-05:002013-03-11T15:55:37.004-05:00Highs & Lows<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #741b47;">I had the opportunity to spend the last three days in Chattanooga, TN, and had a great time! While I was there, I definitely experienced some highs and some lows...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">The high points of my trip...literally...included standing at the top of Lookout Mountain!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On top of Lookout Mountain</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #741b47;">And running up stairs...I climbed several sets of stairs that are decorative/fun features out in front of the Tennessee Aquarium and at other locations in the city, and I counted almost 500 stairs total I climbed on Friday! This is pretty amazing to me, since I used to avoid stairs at all costs, and now I climb them for fun!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I actually did not get out of breath at all climbing these!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In times past, you would have found me sitting here watching everyone else instead of climbing the stairs myself!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #741b47;">Another high point of my trip was tackling the Chattanooga pedestrian bridge! Not only did I walk across it and back, I walked over 5 miles around the city and enjoyed every minute of it! I kept thinking over and over again how wonderful it was to feel so free and to be able to walk wherever I wanted to go!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;">And, as I said, there was a low point during my trip as well...I took the one mile walking tour of Ruby Falls, a cave with an underground waterfall that lies over 1,100 feet below Lookout Mountain! It was beautiful!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;">It was a great long weekend that served as a wonderful reminder to me of just how far I've come on my journey. I look forward to many more vacations filled with new adventures and activities in the days ahead! I'm trying to get up my courage for ziplining, hot air balloon rides, and rock climbing in the near future!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">DON’T FORGET:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I would love for you to check out my Facebook page and to Like it while you're there. Just click this link to go directly to the page (you'll have to log on to Like it) and then don't forget to hover over the Like button and check the box for "show in news feed" so that you don't miss any of the posts:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/FromPolyesterToSpandex" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/FromPolyesterToSpandex</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<em>(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional or certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations. It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences. Thanks!)</em><o:p></o:p></div>
Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-33604922583903230812013-03-06T13:41:00.000-06:002013-03-06T13:41:32.798-06:00Tomorrows and Yesterdays<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In costume, from "The Music Man"</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Well, it’s over…the 3+ months of rehearsals, followed by 18 performances during the course of the last three weekends, and “The Music Man” has now become another part of my history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s kind of bittersweet, really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The schedule was extremely intense, and in many ways, I was ready for it to be over to return to my “normal” life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were a lot of things I had to put on hold to be a part of this show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among those, I have not been to the gym in a while, and I took a session off from school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Getting home from rehearsals and shows anywhere from 10:30pm-midnight kept me from getting up at 4:45am for the gym, and there’s no way I could have kept up with schoolwork during the production while still working full-time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand, I have to say, upending my schedule was well worth it and I was truly sad to see it come to an end!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gained a whole new theatre family with our cast and crew, loved getting to experience it all with my oldest son, was reminded how much I love performing classic Broadway musicals, and had a few life lessons reinforced along the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #741b47;">For instance, it can be so easy to get stuck in a rut of how we think we’re supposed to be living our lives, can’t it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, if we’re at least reasonably responsible, we get up every day and tend to our duties, whether that be to family, school, church, work, or other things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In doing so, time, money, and energy can be stretched thin, and dreams often get set off to the sidelines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trying something new, or taking a leap of faith, or embracing an adventure, fall outside of the realm of the possible, because they just don’t fit the mold of what we expect of ourselves, or what the others who influence our lives expect of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We get caught in the trap of “tomorrow…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Pushing dreams, risk, and exploration off until “tomorrow” keeps us chained to the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It's the classic case of doing "what I've always done". </span>Think about it…Examples of saying you’ll “get around to it” at some point in the future find their way into everyday matters, such as:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #741b47;">I’ll start eating right tomorrow…means you’ll keep putting junk into your body and gaining weight today<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #741b47;">I’ll forgive that person tomorrow…means you’ll continue to bear the damaging weight of a grudge today<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #741b47;">I’ll take the steps to start my own business or apply for that new job tomorrow…means you’ll still feel chained to your desk today<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #741b47;">I’ll invest in relationships with others tomorrow…means you’ll stand alone today<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #741b47;">I’ll try something new tomorrow…means you’ll miss out on opportunities and excitement today<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #741b47;">At one point in the script for “The Music Man”, one of the characters speaks the most profound line of the entire show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He says, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #741b47;">“You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know about you, but I’d like to make today worth remembering”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>~ The Music Man ~<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #741b47;">I want each of my days to be worth remembering!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent far too many days being afraid to try new things, afraid to let go of what was comfortable and familiar, and afraid to grad hold of something new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our lives are made up of days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We only get so many of them, and I want each and every one of mine to be extraordinary!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">DON’T FORGET:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I would love for you to check out my Facebook page and to Like it while you're there. Just click this link to go directly to the page (you'll have to log on to Like it) and then don't forget to hover over the Like button and check the box for "show in news feed" so that you don't miss any of the posts:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/FromPolyesterToSpandex" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/FromPolyesterToSpandex</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<em>(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional or certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations. It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences. Thanks!)</em><o:p></o:p></div>
<u1:p></u1:p>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-47001728616412127832013-02-20T15:18:00.000-06:002013-02-20T15:18:00.346-06:00Sidelines to Frontlines<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Whew!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last week and a half has been crazy in so many ways!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday of last week were our full dress and technical rehearsals for “The Music Man” and Wednesday night was our final rehearsal that doubled as a preview night for a small audience of friends and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything went really well and the entire cast and crew were excited about opening night on Thursday.</div>
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Thursday morning around 11am I received a call from our director, saying that the actress who was playing the role of “Mrs. Paroo” (one of the major roles in the show!) had just come from the doctor and was very sick with the flu and would not be able to perform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She asked if I thought I might be able to learn her part and fill in…without going into all the details of that very stressful, yet extremely exciting afternoon, in the end, I was able to memorize all of the lines and songs, capture the Irish accent that was needed for the part, and perform the role…with just 6 hours of rehearsal!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt honored to be able to perform the part for all 6 shows over the weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God was truly with me and enabled me to perform this role, of that, I have no doubt whatsoever!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> His ability far exceeds mine every time! </span>It was so much fun and something I will never forget!</div>
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After spending the previous 8 straight days at the theatre, we were due for some much needed family time, and thanks to the President’s Day holiday, the boys were out of school and I didn’t have to work, so we were off to the zoo!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using my runner’s app, I logged in over 3 miles of walking the paths and trails while we visited our favorite animal friends, and even after such a long week, I felt energized and enjoyed the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our local zoo has a huge outdoor jungle gym, complete with wooden forts and a maze of rope nets to climb through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the past, I would have happily made use of the benches they’ve provided for weary parents, but not anymore!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I climbed through everything right alongside my boys, and although I have to admit that I was a bit scared of the nets, I jumped on out there and climbed through them anyway!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before we left, we took a ride on the carousel, and for the first time since I was a child, I actually climbed up and rode on one of the animals myself, instead of just sitting on a bench watching the boys go around.</div>
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So, between moving from an ensemble role to the part of Mrs. Paroo over the weekend, and choosing to play and participate in activities with my kids instead of just watching them have fun without me, I feel like this weekend I’ve taken a huge leap from the sidelines to the frontlines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are things that I would have never dreamed of doing 157 pounds ago, and I’ve loved every minute of it and been so thankful for these experiences!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4MvFXyHtyr2n_lI2FCmx8Ptx0sdblwJMpn2GPXxw1Fmleh5pmRr_oOUp5IzQNB0-cKd3Bl5zp-6K0km3yulaSfKzkk_r2fOW02TTHojZJMqrKzQmD9KlHld0hHxp1NmmYytX-GODu6Y/s1600/02-18-13+Carousel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4MvFXyHtyr2n_lI2FCmx8Ptx0sdblwJMpn2GPXxw1Fmleh5pmRr_oOUp5IzQNB0-cKd3Bl5zp-6K0km3yulaSfKzkk_r2fOW02TTHojZJMqrKzQmD9KlHld0hHxp1NmmYytX-GODu6Y/s1600/02-18-13+Carousel.JPG" height="400" mea="true" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding the carousel at the zoo! Not the most flattering picture, but the only one we had time to grab before we had to get off or pay for another ride!</td></tr>
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<em>(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional or certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations. It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences. Thanks!)<o:p></o:p></em>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-75264169902823874382013-02-06T11:13:00.001-06:002013-02-06T11:13:56.354-06:00Functional is Fabulous!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our rehearsals for <a href="http://polyestertospandex.blogspot.com/2012/12/another-openin-another-show.html" target="_blank">“The Music Man”</a> have ramped up to four days a week and are running between 3-4 hours each.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can hardly believe the show opens next week!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along with the show, I’m also still working 40 hours a week at the investment firm, with an additional 10 hours of commute time to get there and back each week, I’m taking care of my responsibilities at church, and I’m managing to sit down to dinner with my family every night.</div>
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We had our first rehearsal with costumes Monday evening, and it’s amazing how much that changes things and the extra amount of energy that takes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have four major costumes I wear in the production, and counting all of the shoes, hats, individual garments, and other accessories, I’ve got over 30 pieces to deal with personally, in addition to keeping up with all of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my son’s costume pieces and changes as well. I promise, I'll have pictures soon!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh yeah, and in between running back and forth to the dressing room and changing costumes every few minutes, I actually have to make it on stage for my scenes!</div>
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As I think about the frantic pace this show requires for rehearsals, and as we head into six performances each weekend for the next three weeks (one performance on Thursday and Friday evenings, and both matinee and evening performances on Saturdays and Sundays), I cannot help but realize that before I began losing weight, I could have never met the physical demands of a production like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was barely managing to make it to work and church, and there’s no way I could have added a show of this level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was still directing productions with our church drama department, but I had to do it from a chair, which for someone who is as hands-on as I am by nature, that was an awful restriction to deal with!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Physically, I just could not have done <a href="http://polyestertospandex.blogspot.com/2012/12/another-openin-another-show.html" target="_blank">“The Music Man”, </a>and I would have missed out on the joy of performing in one of my all-time favorite productions and being able to do so with my oldest son.</div>
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In the past 19 months that I’ve been losing weight, however, I’ve experienced a complete turn around in my physical capabilities and mobility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a time a couple of years ago where I had reached the point where it would take 20-30 minutes for me to go from a lying down position on the couch or bed to standing up because the pain in my back was so severe, and that is no exaggeration whatsoever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I was finally standing, I could not remain on my feet for more than 2 or 3 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t bend over to tie my shoes or put on socks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trying to go into a store was terrible…an aisle or so in, and I would be bent over the shopping cart in tears, trying to take the pressure off my spine and looking for a bench somewhere to sit down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could barely get in and out of the car, and I always had to be dropped off at the door of anywhere I went with others so that I took as few steps as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I retreated farther and farther into the role of a spectator in life, because I just couldn’t participate any longer.</div>
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The limitations I experienced when I was heavier were horrible, but I can honestly say that now, even though I’m not yet at my goal weight, I have absolutely none of the pain or problems I used to have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Losing 157 pounds has given me my life back!</div>
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I can literally pop up out of bed. </div>
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I can get down on the floor and play with my children. </div>
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I can dance around the kitchen with my family. </div>
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I can stand as long as I need to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I can go to events and attractions and walk around all day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I can park at the far end of a parking lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I can shop without dropping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I can stand all the way through the worship part of the services at church.</div>
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I can run.</div>
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I can do whatever I want to or need to do without my body holding me back.</div>
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My life, which used to be framed by the words “I can’t” is now defined by all of the “I can’s” I can possibly come up with!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regaining complete function and mobility is fabulous!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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So…on with the show!</div>
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<em>(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional or certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations. It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences. Thanks!)<o:p></o:p></em>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-26120526948517798122013-01-24T15:02:00.000-06:002013-01-24T15:02:30.665-06:00Give Up and GainIn a recent conversation about my weight loss someone asked me, “What was the hardest thing for you to give up?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I thought about it, there’s no one particular food item that came to mind as being particularly hard to give up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aside from <a href="http://polyestertospandex.blogspot.com/2013/01/fast-food-flashbacks.html" target="_blank">fast food (which I talk about here)</a>,<span style="color: blue;"> </span>I haven’t really cut many things out completely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, the past 19 months have been teaching me how to live my life with a healthy balance in my food choices, which is something I’ve never had until now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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There are things I have definitely cut way back on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Butter, sauces, dips, and dressings are what I consider trouble served in a little cup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about it…in a restaurant, these items are served in innocent looking small portions on the side of a plate, but they pack a huge calorie wallop with little to no nutritional value, and I’m just not willing to accept that any more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I may occasionally have a tiny amount of one if it’s very a good quality, I’ve found that most food actually tastes much better if it’s not swimming in a pourable or spreadable topping!</div>
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I really can’t think of anything else that I’ve completely eliminated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have made more healthy substitutions and swaps than I can keep up with, and as a result, I haven’t ever felt deprived of things I really enjoy. Throughout my 156 pound loss to-date, I have eaten out at restaurants at least a couple of times each week, I’ve had cake at birthday parties, and survived several church potluck events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My family and I eat the same meals for dinner together every night (except when I swap broccoli slaw for pasta…I haven’t gotten the kids on board for that one yet!), and we make homemade pizza every so often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Portion control, more nutritious ingredients, and overall healthier choices have made all the difference!</div>
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As I think about it, I guess I have given up some other things, but in doing so, I’ve gained so much more…</div>
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- I have given up spending time in front of the television…and gained lean muscle and functional strength by going to the gym to workout!</div>
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- I have given up fast food…and gained freedom from severe reflux problems!</div>
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- I have given up a negative self-image…and gained a sense of empowerment!</div>
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- I have given up the idea that I can do this on my own…and gained a new understanding of Philippians 4:13 that tells me I really can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!</div>
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- I have given up living in a constant state of denial…and gained a clear sense of reality!</div>
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- I have given up feeling out of control…and gained a peaceful balance!</div>
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- I have given up overeating…and gained my mobility!</div>
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- I have given up defeat…and gained victory!</div>
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The value of what I have gained far outweighs what I’ve given up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s just no comparison!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What will you gain if you make the choice to give something up today?</div>
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<em>(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional or certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations. It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences. Thanks!)<o:p></o:p></em>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-40659951927515881862013-01-15T14:47:00.000-06:002013-01-17T14:23:54.737-06:00Fast Food Flashbacks<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have mentioned from time to time that I used to eat a lot of fast food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By “a lot” I mean, in the five years (or more) before I overhauled my lifestyle in June 2011 to reflect healthier choices, I went through the drive-through anywhere from 10-12 (sometimes more) times each week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most days Monday through Friday, I would pick up breakfast to eat in the car on the way to work, and then run out again to get something for lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saturday lunches were handed through the window quite often too, especially during our busiest seasons of rehearsals for our drama productions at church, and many Sunday mornings found me in line yet again to get breakfast on the way to service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hard to write about this, because admitting your bad habits is never easy, especially in a public forum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hope, however, is that by sharing my experiences, other people can find that change IS possible!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fast food addict is who I used to be, but it is definitely not who I am today!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As I look back, I’ve realized that my addiction to all things served in a paper bag began years ago, when I was still a teenager.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the independence of driving and having a little money in my pocket came the ability to eat a burger and fries just about any time I wanted to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was easy enough to dispose of the trash before coming home, so my parents never knew just how much junk food I was consuming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As someone who has been involved in music since I was 12 and theatre since I was 14, I’ve always had evening rehearsals and performances to attend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I started going to those on my own, I developed a terrible habit of getting things like milkshakes and fries late at night on my way home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since I’ve been in rehearsals for “The Music Man” for the last few weeks, as I’m driving to and from the theatre, I pass by 10 different fast food restaurants (that I can readily think of to count right now), and typically I don’t give them a second thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One night recently though, I had what I call a “fast food flashback”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a little thought that I could pull into one of the places for a “snack”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, what’s totally absurd about this is the fact that I have only eaten something from a fast food restaurant 4 or 5 times in the last 19 months, and those have been when we were traveling out West and literally had no other options, and then I only got simple fruit cups or plain grilled chicken and we went inside and sat down (to avoid the drive through itself).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As quickly as the thought came, I was surprised by it, but immediately pushed it aside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I smiled at the strength I felt as I drove on by, knowing that I truly have no desire for that kind of food anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What it made me realize even more, however, is that temptation will rear its ugly head now and then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The key to overcoming it, I believe, is threefold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, I am determined to see my commitment through to my goal weight and then continuing on to live a healthy lifestyle for the rest of my days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, I did not entertain thoughts of giving in to the temptation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t start thinking about how good it might be “just this one time” or how much I “miss it” (I really don’t miss it, and actually, the smell of fast food makes me sick to my stomach if someone around me has it these days). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lastly, I opened up and told someone I’m accountable to about the temptation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though it was no more than a fleeting thought and I felt no desire to actually run through the drive-through, I told both my husband and my sister about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talking about it with someone I can trust helps strengthen my resolve and re-emphasizes my commitments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">Have you ever had a "flashback" of a prior habit? How did you overcome it?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional or certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations. It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences. Thanks!)</em><o:p></o:p></span>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-65615353435022321192013-01-10T15:43:00.000-06:002013-01-10T15:43:02.956-06:00Firecrackers and Pilot Lights<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
As we’re now a little more than a week into the new year of 2013, I have to admit that the sheer number of television and radio commercials dedicated to weight loss products and services is a bit overwhelming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, retailers are on the proverbial bandwagon as well by putting all things workout-related on sale this month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s as though the whole country starts a collective diet and exercise plan about the time the last of the Christmas dinner leftovers have been eaten or thrown out.</div>
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While I’m obviously a strong advocate for eating healthy foods and exercising, and sincerely applaud anyone who decides to make healthy improvements in their life, I can’t help but think of all the money that will be spent for gym memberships that will only be used a few times and forgotten about, and all of the trendy workout clothes that will be purchased only to be donated to the local thrift stores in a few months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many people go into the new year with the best intentions for their “resolutions” of diet and exercise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly, a majority of those resolutions go unfulfilled.</div>
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The way I see it, a person can make a resolution regarding changes they want to make in their life, and they’ll either become like a firework or like a pilot light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me explain…</div>
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Fireworks are exciting!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are typically displayed at important times of the year, most often during the holidays or at a big celebration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fireworks go off with a “BANG!” and because of this, they draw a lot of attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They get the “ooohhh’s” and “ahhhh’s” of onlookers and infuse the air with energy…but only briefly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see, that’s the thing about fireworks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the initial flash, they sizzle through the air as the spark burns out and they fade away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> There's no long-lasting comittment with a firework. F</span>ireworks are the perfect example of the expression, “well, it was great while it lasted”.</div>
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A pilot light, on the other hand, is not very exciting at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honestly, most people don’t really think about a pilot light all that much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s small and usually hidden away underneath or behind an appliance like a hot water heater or a stove.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one boasts, “Hey, have you seen my pilot light lately?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Come on out to the garage a take a look!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The beauty of a pilot light, however, is that it has an ongoing job to do and it just keeps on burning. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Did you catch that?</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just keeps on burning…</div>
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Resolutions can be like the exciting, but temporary firework, exploding into the new year with lots of pizzazz but forgotten about rather quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Resolutions can also be like the ho-hum, yet continually burning pilot light that stays committed to getting the work done, day in and day out.</div>
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Me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d rather be a pilot light than a firework any day!</div>
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<em>(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional or certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations. It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences. Thanks!)</em><o:p></o:p><br />
<u1:p></u1:p>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-15586860309446863772013-01-02T14:29:00.000-06:002013-01-02T14:29:44.600-06:00Happy 2013!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I look back over 2012, it was an incredibly full year!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the health and weight-related highlights for me included:</div>
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- Losing 92.1 pounds during the year</div>
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- Not having to take reflux medicine even once this year</div>
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- Regaining strength in my back and reclaiming my mobility</div>
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- Joining a gym</div>
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- Discovering that I actually enjoy working out</div>
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- Running a 5K distance in the local park in under 46 minutes</div>
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- Going down FIVE sizes in jeans (from a 32 to a 22)</div>
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- Going down from a size 30/32 to a size 18/20 in tops/dresses/jackets</div>
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- Teaching my “Reflections” Bible study series to a great group of women</div>
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In <a href="http://polyestertospandex.blogspot.com/2012/11/2012-year-end-goals.html" target="_blank">my blog from 11/1/12 titled “2012 Year End Goals”</a> I listed 7 specific goals I made for myself to accomplish between 11/1/2 and 12/31/12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s my list of hits and misses:</div>
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1) Lose 15 pounds (this will put me exactly 75 pounds away from my final goal weight!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>RESULT: I lost 19 pounds across November and December!!!</div>
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2) Work out 3 times a week, even on holiday weeks</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>RESULT:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I noted in a <a href="http://polyestertospandex.blogspot.com/2012/12/another-openin-another-show.html" target="_blank">previous post</a>, I am in rehearsals for a show called, “The Music <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span>Man”, which I am having a fabulous time with, however, it has thrown my gym schedule into a tizzy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have not been in the gym nearly as often as I would have liked to have been, however, I’m getting in some cardio in dance rehearsals, and I’m getting ready to start the 30-Day Shred video workouts at home.</div>
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3) Increase the intensity of my workouts (higher weights, increased sets/reps, etc.)</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>RESULT:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My trainer at the gym has reformatted my workout to help me accomplish this, and as soon as my show finishes, I’m going to head into my new routine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For now, the videos at home will at least provide a fresh approach and keep me moving.</div>
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4) Register for my first 5K run</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>RESULT:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had planned to register for the local zoo’s 5K, which is held in January, however, I’ve got a rehearsal I can’t miss on the day of the run, so I’m going to look for a 5K for March or April instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just need to find one now and get registered!</div>
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5) Increase my running speed/endurance (move from running intervals to extended periods of running)</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>RESULT:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been making improvements in this area, but still have a long way to go!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This will be an ongoing goal.</div>
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6) Go down one size in jeans</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>RESULT:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in a size 24 on November 1<sup>st</sup>, and am currently in a size 22, and <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>am not too far from moving down again to a size 20.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last time I wore a size 20 jeans, <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I was in the 7<sup>th</sup> grade!</div>
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7) Pay attention to and appreciate the people and interactions at holiday gatherings more than the food</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>RESULT:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had one of the best holiday seasons I can remember having!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I truly enjoyed my time with family and friends and didn’t stress over food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t fixated on the goodies, but I wasn’t scared to eat either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kept things in balance far more than I indulged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had more hugs than cookies, and that equals success!</div>
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How was your holiday season?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you accomplish your goals? What are you working on for 2013?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnJrUpnL5wP0cDzUnt4LGO2WdM3XBuWN0VEl9GzScKfOao3I3XXDeBEUjvUaIEnhdIwT_uGcZkZlqo9BDR01XkEkJOCHCRSdnrIiu1rPqTDm-ht4Ijwm5gmMPvvyu3HIlqlnAdp1zHPQ/s1600/Me+01-01-13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnJrUpnL5wP0cDzUnt4LGO2WdM3XBuWN0VEl9GzScKfOao3I3XXDeBEUjvUaIEnhdIwT_uGcZkZlqo9BDR01XkEkJOCHCRSdnrIiu1rPqTDm-ht4Ijwm5gmMPvvyu3HIlqlnAdp1zHPQ/s400/Me+01-01-13.JPG" width="248" /></a></div>
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<em>(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional or certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks!)<o:p></o:p></em><br />
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Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-63297428529759067242012-12-21T10:02:00.000-06:002012-12-21T10:02:42.843-06:0018 Month UpdateHey there! I'm almost a week late with my 18-month update post, since Sunday was my official check-in date, but I have been really sick with the respiratory junk that had been going around, and just haven't had it in me to sit down and write a post until today. I started getting sick Sunday afternoon and went downhill from there with the fever, sore throat, chest and head congestion, coughing, weakness, and everything that comes along with it. I was sicker than I can remember being in several years! From Tuesday evening through Thursday morning, I didn't even leave my bed for over 34 hours (with the exception of a few trips to the bathroom). I am finally starting to feel a little better today, so there's still hope for being better before Christmas! Anyway, on to the update...<br />
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As of my 18-month weigh-in on December 16th, for the month I lost 11.4 pounds which took me to a grand total of down 151.20 pounds in 18 months! <br />
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I had a goal of reaching 150 pounds lost by the 18-month point, so I was really excited to see that I had exceeded it! I cheered when I saw the number on the scale, and then burst into tears. My sweet husband hugged me and kept telling me over and over again how proud of me he was. It was definitely a good morning!<br />
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Every time I look at the numbers and see where I'm at, compared to where I've come from, I can't help but praise God for the changes He has helped me make in my life. No, I cannot say that it has always been easy, because change rarely is simple, but I can honestly say it has been easier than I ever imagined it would be, and difficult or not, it has always been good and well worth the effort!<br />
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<em>"For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength" </em></div>
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<em>Philippians 4:13, NLT</em></div>
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<em>(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional or certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks!)<o:p></o:p></em><br />
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Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-6255318587324796872012-12-12T09:20:00.000-06:002012-12-12T09:20:25.482-06:00Hello Facebook!I am excited to tell you that I have set up a Facebook page for my blog! I would love for you to check it out and to Like it while you're there. Just click this link to go directly to the page (you'll have to log on to Like it):<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/FromPolyesterToSpandex" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/FromPolyesterToSpandex</a><br />
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This will take you right to my page, where you can click to Like it, and then don't forget to hover over the Like button and check the box for "show in news feed" so that you don't miss any of the posts.<br />
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I'll be posting links whenever I have written a new blog, as well as fun updates from time to time. I promise not to overwhelm your newsfeed! <br />
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When I first began my journey to lose 225 pounds through healthy choices in food and exercise, I had a hard time finding others who had succeeded in doing what I was trying to accomplish. I found many examples of folks who had lost 100 or even 150 pounds without surgeries, programs, fad diets, or other extreme measures, but those who have lost over 200 pounds "on their own" so to speak, were a lot fewer and farther between. Although I'm still working towards my goal (down 147 pounds so far!), I hope that my story can be an encouragement to others.<br />
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Please feel free to share the link on your own Facebook page and help me spread the word about From Polyester to Spandex!<br />
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<em>(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional or certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks!)<o:p></o:p></em><br />
<br />Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-74355396200949992132012-12-07T11:30:00.000-06:002012-12-07T11:30:01.572-06:00Another Openin', Another ShowAs I mentioned in a previous post titled, <a href="http://polyestertospandex.blogspot.com/2012/07/i-like-it-i-really-like-it.html" target="_blank">"I Like It! I Really Like It!"</a>, I was actively involved in band, vocal music, and theatre throughout high school and college, and even majored in Music Education when I attended college (the first go around) right out of high school. I have always had a great love of performing. There is something about telling a story, be it through word or music, that has always been dear to me. The conveyance of thought and emotion via the arts is simply a part of who I am. With that in mind, I just love how God brings the pieces of our lives together! I have been very blessed to have served for the last 20 years in the arena of church drama ministry, and have worked as the Creative Arts pastor for my church the last several years. It has been one of my greatest joys to share the Gospel in this manner. My passion for sharing the thruths of God's Word has been blended beautifully with my love of the arts, and I am so thankful for that!<br />
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Recently, an opportunity came up that has returned me to my traditional theatre roots! I had heard that a local theatre was holding auditions for one of my all-time favorite shows, "The Music Man", and after some prayer and discussion, my family decided that my oldest son and I would both audition. I am happy to say that we were both cast! This is proving to be a great time for me to sharpen my skills and learn from others, as well as to expand my network of friends who are locally involved in the arts. Plus, I love that I'm getting to share this experence with my son! We've only had a few rehearsals so far, but we're already having a blast with it!<br />
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As I think about actually performing in this type of show again, I cannot help but realize that 146 pounds ago, I would have never even considered auditioning. Oh, I would have wanted to very much, but my physical condition would have kept me from it. I wasn't sick or battling any illness, but there is no way I could have stood on my feet through the long rehearsals or had the endurance to make it through 15 performances over three weeks. Not to mention, there is a good amount of dance that is involved in this show as well. Just the small section we learned at auditions would have been enough to do me in back in the days before I started losing weight. Now, I'm actually finding myself looking forward to starting the choreography work in the coming rehearsals! I'm thinking I need to wear my HRM to dance rehearsals so I can track how many calories I burn! <br />
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Day after day, I am realizing how much better my life is becoming as the extra pounds fade away. Don't misunderstand, I'm not saying that losing weight is making me into a better person or changing who I truly am. I'm still the same person, with the same heart as before. But what it is doing however, is allowing who I really am to come out of hiding. Each pound lost represents a restriction that I break through. I can psycially do more than I have in years, and I'm loving every minute of it! Even though two years ago I would have argued that my weight was not holding me back from living and enjoying my life, I was wrong, but I couldn't see it until I started making changes. I am able to do things and actively participate fully in life in ways I didn't realize I had been missing out on until now!<br />
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If I feel this good now, I can hadly wait to see what life is like when I reach my goal!<br />
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<em>(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional or certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks!)<o:p></o:p></em>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570261713703715470.post-40089973292644493562012-12-06T13:28:00.000-06:002012-12-06T13:28:39.723-06:00Lost a PersonWhen I first set out to lose weight, I knew it would take some time to reach my final goal of losing 225 pounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, a person doesn’t gain that much weight overnight, and I didn’t expect it to disappear that fast either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have always been very realistic about my approach, and planned from the onset for it to take around 2-and-a-half years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My projections have been right on target so far, as I am 17 months in and am about 64% of the way there (okay, yes, I’m a numbers geek, I admit it!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you’ve got that much weight to lose, and know it’s going to take a while, finding creative ways to evaluate your progress helps keep things interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance, you could say that I have lost the equivalent of:<br />
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- 28 (almost 29) 5-lbs bags of sugar</div>
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- 32,535 M&Ms</div>
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- 16 (almost 17) gallons of whole milk</div>
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- 6 cases of 24 bottles of water</div>
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- 12 bowling balls (12 pounds each)</div>
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Once I had lost around 120 pounds or so, when people found out how much I had lost, I often heard comments like, “Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve lost an entire person!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This remark has never felt more appropriate to me than it does today…As of this morning, I have now lost 144.6 pounds, which is more than my husband, who comes in at 143.3 pounds, weighs!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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When I put it into this perspective, before I started losing weight, it was like I had my husband taking a piggyback ride on my shoulders all day, every day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s no wonder I was tired all the time and didn’t have much energy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I love my husband dearly, I’m not altogether sure that’s what the vow, “to have and to hold” was really talking about!</div>
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Only 80.4 pounds left until I reach my goal…hmmm, that’s about the equivalent of one of my kids plus my dog’s weights!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<em>(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional or certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks!)<o:p></o:p></em><br />
Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515581459246489753noreply@blogger.com2