Livin' Large

Prayers Answered and Awards

2009-10-12T03:28:00.000-07:00

Friends....

It has been forever...I have missed you all soooo much!! Well work has calmed down some and I am still doing the 12's but they seem to be getting easier, if that makes any sense...

Want to thank all of you for all the kind words, prayers and emails about my sissy, she is doing better, and they are pretty sure once the swelling goes down in her head, she will regain her eyesight. She has some now, and they say it will just continue to improve, so that is very great news!! Differently an answer to prayer...the chemo she starts in the next few weeks will kill all those cancer cells, it is 100% effective so that will take care of the thyroid cancer, as for the brain tumor still inactive and they really aren't saying much about that right now, there are other things to take care of first and the chemo only goes after the thyroid cancer, so we don't know about the other yet...But still wonderful news from where we were before...Thank you all so very much!!

While I was away I received some awards and just want to say thank you for those...Sandy and doc have left me an "Over the top" blog award

1. Where is your cell phone? Charger

2. Your hair? Dark

3. Your mother? Left

4. Your father? Left

5. Your favorite food? Steak

6. Your dream last night? None

7. Your favorite drink? Coffee

8. Your dream/goal? Fit

9. What room are you in? Kitchen

10. Your hobby? Writing

11. Your fear? Leaving

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Alive

13. Where were you last night? Play

14. Something that you aren’t? Shy

15. Muffins? Blueberry

16. Wish list item? Socks

17. Where did you grow up? Stillwater

18. Last thing you did? Snuggle

19. What are you wearing? Shirt

20. Your TV? Off

21. Your pets? Scooby

22. Friends? Heartwarming

23. Your life? Progressing

24. Your mood? Improving

25. Missing someone? Often

26. Vehicle? Taurus

27. Something you’re not wearing? Shoes

28. Your favorite store? Catos

29. Your favorite color? Navy

30. When was the last time you laughed? Now

31. Last time you cried? Friday

32. Your best friend? Hubby

33. One place that I go to over and over? Work

34. One person who emails me regularly? Friends

35. Favorite place to eat? Outback

Your Blog Is the Over the Top
I pass the award onto these folks who are fairly new to my reading list--but all more popular than me! I still love many others (you know who you are!)
1.Jack-Jacksh*t getting fit
2.Kari- Fat(free)me
3.Dawn- bbubblyb
4.Lynn-Actual scale
5.MB
6.266

I also received an Honest Scrap Award so I will try to list 10 things about myself that know one knows, Sean has told a lot so this may be hard...but I will try....

1.When something needs to be done, I take charge, I don't like waiting until the last minute to get things done. I would rather have it done then relax, as to wait and dread about it the whole time. The longer you procrastinate the longer the torture, get it done and be done...

2.Both of my parents left me, and I was raised and then adopted by my grandparents who really weren't actually my biological grandparents, but loved and cared for me just the same, they are both gone now both died at the age of 84 when our girls were young in fact, Courtney doesn't even remember them, and Amber hardly does. That is sad to me cause they were the greatest people I have ever known...But because my parents both left me and I always feared my grandparents leaving me too, because they were in their mid 60's when I was born. I have a fear of being alone and being left. Losing someone I hold dear, or people leaving me.

3.I had a great up bringing with my grandparents went to church every Sunday sang in the choir, sang at every revival and did plays every play we did. Went to church camp and Loved to play softball, I was the pitcher and got money from grandpa every home run I hit, Grand slams were more...lol We had a huge garden that we took care of all summer long, sometimes all day long, we in a since had two, cause when my uncle Emmit died aunt Minnie needed help with hers, and hers was as big as ours, if not bigger. I would eat her strawberries and blackberries which we did not have in ours, and i would get into trouble, cause they Knew by my face I had eaten them...I would have to go for the two things that stain more than any other....

4.Even though grandpa was well into his 70's when i was playing softball, he still practiced with me everyday and made a tire so I could pitch into it, as long as it went through the middle of that tire, it would be a strike every time. It made me good, better then good, it made me one of the best. I was asked to play for the high school team and if I would have been allowed to I know I would have went far probably scholarships and everything. I wasn't allowed to though because we had away games and grandpa and grandma didn't feel comfortable with letting me go. Which I didn't understand then, but i do understand now. Who knows where my life would have been if they would had let me do that one thing, it would have changed it all around. It was a true love though and I was good at it, so I wasn't happy with them telling me no.

5.It is hard for me to hurt someone else's feelings, and I am always cautious about doing so. This is one of my greatest regrets I will share with you...well you know I was adopted and I could never call my grandparents Mom and Dad this hurt my grandmas feelings so bad, and to this day I don't know why I never did, the only thing I can come up with is that I wasn't officially adopted until I was eleven and by then, I was so used to calling them grandma and grandpa, plus the dad that I thought was my dad, was still around the house, their son and i didn't want to hurt his feelings, and then my mom would come to visit with my seven full blood sisters and brothers and she wanted to be called mom, my sisters and brothers all called her mom so I didn't want to hurt any of their feelings, but I hurt the two people who most cared for me and that i cared the most about....How odd is that? I know, I don't understand it either....

6.I saved my sister JoEllens's life three times. No I am for real...The first time was when she was meeting a friend half way between our house and the friends and I can still see her standing there, she was about 6 and i was seven, her long curly hair blowing in the breeze, I was in our back yard playing and she was a few houses down at the neighbors drive standing there on the gravel waiting for her friend. It was the Westmorlins property and they were gone for the summer to California. I was playing when i seen a yellow firebird pull up beside her. Thought at first he was just asking for directions, until he got out of his car and was going around to her. I sensed something and started running in her direction yelling mom dad at the top of my lungs, knowing no one was home. I ran so hard and fast I kicked there dog in the head, but i didn't have time to stop I killed it instantly. All the screaming for mom and dad though made the guy look at me and get back in his car and peel out of the little gravel driveway. The next time was at the lake she couldn't swim very well and she was going under and I got her back to safety no one was around just us and grandma and grandpa didn't know how to swim. The next time was when we were coming back from the pool that we went to everyday in the summer and they had closed it for the weather we had to walk home and there was this metal bridge we had to cross and the lightening was intense, we were on the bridge when I out of no where told them all to jump the lightening struck right above our heads and a big tree limb feel down by our feet it was raining so hard and I knew we had to get to shelter so I got us all there and I was only eleven, but I always looked out for my sissy's. I guess there is four times because the next one Jo and I were at a water park and we had went down the slide and landed in the pool of water at the bottom only I didn't see Jo at first, she hadn't come up, then I seen her feet kicking, her head was stuck in the pipe the suction one and it was filling with water and she couldn't get loose cause the suction was holding her there. I immediately went and found someone, cause again no one saw her but me. They cane and shut it off and we were able to get her out, but they said to me any longer and that could have been real bad. Shortly after that the park closed down again I was only seven.

7.I had touched on the fact that Sean had to leave the room with our youngest child. Not by choice but they made him leave. Courtney was breech and they tried to do an emergency c-section but the doctor who was on call wouldn't answer his page so I had to have her feet first without any thing not even Tylenol and they made me sign a paper that if anything happened to her or me then they were not liable. I don't think before that day him or I prayed so much in our entire lives. We got through it and mom and baby were fine. But made it where I never wanted anymore Sean did he wanted a boy and we tried, but we weren't able to so we gave up.

8.I love to write, Sean and I have actually written many things we have written songs and a screen play, we have so many ideas for so many things...I don't know if you have heard of the T.V. show Medium, but I wrote it, like a year or two before it came out it wasn't called Medium, but it was the same principle..If I had nothing else to do I would just write.

9.Sean asked me to marry him by saying that his grandma said we were already
spending so much time together we should just make it legal and right in god's eyes. I said okay I guess, and here we are. I never got an engagement ring, we didn't even have our own wedding bands we borrowed my grandparents after all they were married 62 years so they were perfect. It wasn't until years later we got some of our very own.

10.The last one and the biggest, well I told you we were married young and we were married in a church, but not the kind of wedding you always dream of when you are growing up. Since I was raised by my grandparents and they believed strongly that you only wear white if you are pure and since I wasn't I had a pink J.C. Penny' s dress and Sean was dressed in a plaid shirt and maroon pants, a wedding from the 1800's is what we looked like. Someday I want an actual wedding in a REAL wedding dress and white with my colors and all. Sean in a tux and the only bad thing is my grandpa wont be giving me away again....I have always wanted a real wedding, maybe when we renew our vows...wink wink...I hope its soon!!

Well there you go some things you didn't know about me, and maybe some things you didn't want to or care to know...but there it is......

Boy I made this long....lol

Cheers to new beginnings,
Irene

Still Alive and kicking

2009-10-06T01:22:00.000-07:00

Friends....

Thank you so very much for all the comments, prayers, emails, thoughts and consideration that you have given Sean and I in this very dark few weeks of my life. I am very blessed to have all of my family and friends praying for my sister...I have been so busy with her and Dr.'s and now starting 12's again, I don't know which way is up...

But I just wanted you all to know that I deeply and sincerely appreciate all the out pours of comfort and prayer...prayer is what is going to get her through this, and it will be the only thing...We go to the doctor again tomorrow, well your today, to get the results of all the tests she had last week, about the cancer and how far it has gone. The eye surgery went well, but still to early to tell with the water on her brain still and it being swollen worse then it was when she went in the first time...and then the 7th and 8th she has more appt. to re check her eyes and decide what to do from there, and her brain tumor at the moment is inactive, so that is good news for now...bless her heart, just all these things at once and she is handeling things better then me...

Again friends thank you so much for taking the time to read what I have to say, and for keeping my sis in your prayers...we need all we can get in the prayer department...Hopefully I will have better news to give in a day or two...God does work...and I do believe he will here!!

Thank You

cheers to new beginnings,
Irene

FEAR?

2009-09-27T23:20:00.000-07:00

Well friends,

We had an AWESOME weekend....Frontier City, and just great family time...Letting go of all we have had hangups about, felt so wonderful...scary at first...lol but wonderful in the end, I guess that can be said about anything though, isn't it always scary in the beginning to let go, or to try something new...

I was scared when I was a kid, that my grandparents would pass away before I was 18. They had plans in case this happened and those scared me. Scared they would never see me grow up, let alone see y girls at all. When I met Sean I was scared, when he said he thought we should marry, I was scared again...I know when I found out I was pregnant the first time with Amber I was scared to death and then when I held her.
Again scared to death and when she was growing, scared to death trying to protect her from everything, I was scared when my grandparents went to the nursing home, scared when they passed away, I was scared when I found out I was pregnant with the second one, Courtney I was scared again, it was a hard birth and we both could have died. That is for real she was breech and I had to have her feet first with not a drug one for the pain,they made Sean leave the room..I have been scared most of my life about everything and all things. It is normal to be afraid or to fear the unknown, and well if you have other excuses it is easy to just not know...

I have been afraid of roller coasters and most heights all my life, I mean yes, i used to climb trees and jump from the branches to another branch, and yes I got up on the roof of the house and sun bathed, and jumped to trees from there too...But a roof and a creaky Ferris wheel that sways in the wind are two very different things....I have always thought if I could just let go of some of the things I fear and get me down on a regular basis I could live the life I was always meant to live...does that sound stupid?
Well I believe there is a lot of firsts, new things, and things I will be afraid of to come, and just like the ride on those rides, I will strap in, maybe close my eyes at first and just plunge ahead with no fear, what ever happens...Like Sean said, It will be over soon, hang on, and just remember your not going to die..so that is how from now on I will face all my fears....jump on,strap in, hold on, , and close my eyes at first, but open them in time to enjoy the ride.....

Well on another note....I lost 7 lbs in a week well that is the last time I weighed one week ago, but as discussed before, it was probably the whole bottle of rum I drank and the fact that I was bloated...but now I am 208 and the oneders is looking not far in the distant again...So I am so excited about this...not that I doubted, just a sit back ya know...

My sister is getting out of the hospital tomorrow and I will keep you posted on the other thing about her...and I just want to thank everyone for keeping her in your prayers and the support you have given me for this is incredible...I just want to thank you all soooo very much!!! It means so much to me...Thank you again!!

Leaving you with a few of my favorites from frontier city.......

OUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY

COURTNEY AND ME

AMBEE GIRL AND ME

OUR GIRLS HAVING FUN!!

SEAN AND ME...LOOK AT US NOW BABY!!

we had a great time....thanks for reading!!

Cheers to new beginnings,
Irene

FEAR?

2009-09-27T14:55:00.000-07:00

Well friends,
We had an AWESOME weekend....Frontier City, and just great family time...Letting go of all we have had hangups about, felt so wonderful...scary at first...lol but wonderful in the end, I guess that can be said about anything though, isn't it always scary in the beginning to let go, or to try something new...I was scared when I was a kid, that my grandparents would pass away before I was 18. They had plans in case this happened and those scared me. Scared they would never see me grow up, let alone see y girls at all. When I met Sean I was scared, when he said he thought we should marry, I was scared again...I know when I found out I was pregnant the first time with Amber I was scared to death and then when I held her. Again scared to death and when she was growing, scared to death trying to protect her from everything, I was scared when my grandparents went to the nursing home, scared when they passed away, I was scared when I found out I was pregnant with the second one, Courtney I was scared again, it was a hard birth and we both could have died. That is for real she was breech and I had to have her feet first with not a drug one for the pain, Sean had to leave the room..I have been scared most of my life about everything and all things. It is normal to be afraid or to fear the unknown, and well if you have other excuses it is easy to just not know...
I have been afraid of roller coasters and most heights all my life, I mean yes, i used to climb trees and jump from the branches to another branch, and yes I got up on the roof of the house and sun bathed, and jumped to trees from there too...But a roof and a creaky Ferris wheel that sways in the wind are two very different things....I have always thought if I could just let go of some of the things I fear and get me down on a regular basis I could live the life I was always meant to live...does that sound stupid? Well I believe there is a lot of firsts, new things, and things I will be afraid of to come, and just like the ride on those rides, I will strap in, maybe close my eyes at first and just plunge ahead with no fear, what ever happens...Like Sean said, It will be over soon, hang on, and just remember your not going to die..so that is how from now on I will face all my fears....jump on,strap in, hold on, , and close my eyes at first, but open them in time to enjoy the ride.....
Well on another note....I lost 7 lbs in a week well that is the last time I weighed one week ago, but as discussed before, it was probably the whole bottle of rum I drank and the fact that I was bloated...but now I am 208 and the oneders is looking not far in the distant again...So I am so excited about this...not that I doubted, just a sit back ya know...
My sister is getting out of the hospital tomorrow and I will keep you posted on the other thing about her...and I just want to thank everyone for keeping her in your prayers and the support you have given me for this is incredible...I just want to thank you all soooo very much!!! It means so much to me...Thank you again!!

Leaving you with a few of my favorites from frontier city.......

OUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY

COURTNEY AND ME

AMBEE GIRL AND ME

OUR GIRLS HAVING FUN!!

SEAN AND ME...LOOK AT US NOW BABY!!

we had a great time....thanks for reading!!

Cheers to new beginnings,
Irene

Prayer Needed....Please

2009-09-25T03:20:00.000-07:00

Thank God it's Friday....

And I don't think I have ever meant it more...such a hard week for me...emotional and physical draining without a doubt the hardest in a while...Work was hard this week, a lot of choices and a lot of stress, but it all comes with the territory of being the manager of a lot of people, it usually isn't as bad as this week has been, and not even a weekend, I can only imagine...
Tonight I am sad and I even went and hung out with some friends, but this black cloud over me will not be shaken, sometimes it is this that just makes people throw in the towel and try to disappear for awhile...Get another job or just pack up and move far far away...My week as crappy as it was, wasn't even close to the news I got last night....

This is what this whole post is about....

MY SISSY AND ME

Let me start at the beginning as you know from another post my sister suffers from tumors on her thyroid...Well yesterday she went in for surgery to have those removed and even her thyroid if she had to..well her surgery went great and they didn't have to even take all her thyroid out, they left part of it, which just means she doesn't have to be on the strongest strength of the synthoid medicine. The surgery lasted over 5 hours, but it was a success...which we are all very relieved about!!!

The other part and the reason for all the talk about my sis, is this week she has been having headaches and vision problems she is 36 and a mother of 4...she is a strong woman and stubbornly strong willed, she has had this condition before a couple of years ago and they were able to treat it with medicine...okay I am getting ahead of myself...she went to the doctor last week for these symptoms and when she told him of her pain he immediately ordered an emergency CT and MRI...well she called me at work when she had the results from these tests....and I was not prepared to hear her tell me her brain is swollen she has a cyst on her brain...a tumor...she is getting rid of the ones in her throat on her thyroid and now....she has at least one on her brain....Is this what caused the swelling of her brain, the fluid on her brain is doing what they call “washing” her brain. She cannot see anything and she has such bad headaches that the surgery she had yesterday, she wasn't even worried about, she just wanted morphine, to make the headaches stop for awhile...when she had the swelling and fluid on her brain before, they never did a CT or MRI so who knows if last year this cyst was there then...

I just had to write this...this is bothering me so much and I cannot even think... My buddy has been so wonderful,I love him so mucn...he is always trying to find the positive in everything, and I do too, but cannot help thinking the worst and worrying about EVERYTHING...Please keep her in your prayers, she has another appointment on the 7th...and she is on medicine for the swelling and pressure of her brain...so hopefully that will get better so she can at least function....She went to the doctor on Tuesday and wanted to go to work on Wednesday and surgery on Thursday i took her to work but they sent her home...Which I told her they would....but the fact that she went as bad as she is doing and feeling says a lot for my sissy...

Thank you all for listening and for your support....It is so appreciated and thank you for praying for my sister...

cheers to new beginnings,
Irene

Change

2009-09-20T21:16:00.001-07:00

Wow what a busy fun filled weekend....we had a blast with each other friends and concert, it was a lot of fun!! I didn't weigh when I said, but I did finally did today, and i was disappointed with myself, i have a 5lb gain since I last weighed, I weighed 210 and today the results....were 215,Sean baby was very supportive and even changed the scale from lbs to kgs so I would laugh about it, it was very funny, he always has a way to cheer me up, one way or another...i want to be small enough for him to carry when he is strong enough to do it, and so I really gotta get busy!! To my defense I did have an amazing weekend and did consume a lot of alcohol so therefore I am bloated and was probably not a perfect day to weigh in considering all that is wrong with me currently including a whole bottle of rum :-) I know, how stupid was that...but I don't get to drink very often and when I had the opportunity I indulged WAY to much!!!

So I plan to weigh again in a few days, for a more accurate reading, just not convinced this is true...so we will see, but either way its okay just time for a change!!

Got to get better on the move department and the eating more so I can raise my metabolism off the floor full charge ahead and gonna get this done....once and for all.

Thank you for all the comments and the inspiration and the faith you have in me, because of you I know I can do this and I am not giving this up, the time is now.....just watch the change in me....

Cheers to new beginnings.....
Irene

Understanding Me More And More

2009-09-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

Hello,

WOW what a week work and meetings 55 hours in 4 days...so ready for my days off now!! Cannot believe I have made it through, I tell ya Thursday with no sleep got up at 2pm on Wednesday afternoon and went to work at 5:30 that night stayed there until 7am working and then got on a bus to Norman at 7:15 and going to Norman for a meeting and then casino hopping and Remington park anyway didn't get back home until 10:00 Thursday night, I thought I was going to die...But 27 in a half hours on the clock...pretty cool....

Tonight we are going out with friends and should be another fun night I am excited drinking, Texas hold em dinner out and spending time with friends, whats not to love....Then tomorrow Sean and I are going to a concert....just spending time together is sooo wonderful, doesn't matter what we do!

This week in the food category, i haven't done well at all...and I know Sean will say it is excuses, but really I have been to busy to eat, and I am not hungry...but I know if I would eat better it would get my metabolism up and I would loose weight faster, and I say it everyday, but here I am again with hardly any calories consumed and the day almost over....but I just don't feel if I'm not hungry, that I should eat, I m not afraid I m going to overeat, I don't eat enough and then I stock up on the caffeine, which causes the water weight and the bloating....which is what I seem to be going through right now, I know what to do, its just the doing it, that seems to get me every time...

The exercise department this week has been very good, i have ran my butt off, and go up and down the stairs at work on purpose...just to get some exercise in, but since I have been sick, it is harder to catch my breath and go up and down them stairs without getting out of breath and then coughing like I am dying....Hut overall it has been a great week and very productive, except, I haven't gotten a chance to weigh yet, but I am going in the morning and I will let you know...i just feel I haven't lost any, don't see or feel any different in my jean size or anything else so I have been dreading it, and I am pretty sure I am still not into the oneders....Which is really getting me a little discouraged...Just have to remember..

But sometimes that is easier said then done...ya know? Sometimes I feel the world is on my shoulders and so much pressure to get where I want to be once and for all.....STRESS can be a very made thing and I try not to let it control me....

Sean doesn't think I worry about anything...but quit the contrary...I worry about everything!!!
So I spend less time thinking about me...I need to make the focus on me more...my eating patterns and what is good and what is bad about them..... I cannot say I have never over eaten, but I can say I don't like to, and so I think I have tricked my brain into thinking I am never hungry, which in turn has lowered my metabolism, I was loosing weight every two weeks, and feeling it, now I'm not feeling it so i haven't weighed in, I just need to go weigh and get it out of the way, and see where I am so I can keep on going, its the not knowing that is killing me.....but its like my brain keeps saying.....

I just have to remember to eat and not say no to food all the time, sometimes I am so full from all the liquid I drink...A.K.A. caffeine, that I don't feel I have any room for the food....and that is the wrong approach, because I cannot have a fire in the wood burning stove, if I never put anything in there to fuel it...

Cannot live on grass alone right? So I have to stop saying No to food its not helping me lose weight by not eating....you have to eat to lose and I so know this, so why can't I just do that? Instead this is what my brain says...
.

Why can't I make it say......

So this next two weeks after I weigh tomorrow, I am really going to get with the program on eating better, and that is going to include eating at least three times a day without going over the 500 calories per meal and having a snack or two throughout the day.....Like Sean keeps telling me to do, and like I know I have to do, I have reached a hard struggle here my friends not a road block but a hurdle to get below where I haven't been since high school, mind you I don't know what I weigh right now, but I know I'm not below where I am trying to me as my first motivation and that was into the onders below two hundred...60lbs to go and I will be where I want to be, it doesn't seem like much to me, considering how far I have come....So I am going to get on those scales tomorrow and tell you whatever it is, hope I have maintained at least and no matter what I am going to tell myself.......

SOOOOOOO anyway...I will keep you posted....

Cheers to new beginnings,
Irene

365

2009-09-15T07:55:00.000-07:00

Hello again friends,

As most of you know we are celebrating Sean's transformation in just a year he has lost 212 lbs yes that is right.........365 days he has totally transformed himself into a different person....

So this Post is all about HIM, My Buddy My Hubby, My Guy, My Best friend

365 Reasons not to QUIT: Things Sean has Taught us

1.Be a lead in a play
2.Ride on a roller coaster
3.Walk a 10K
4.Sit in a booth
5.Try out Wicker
6.Patio furniture
7.Ride a horse
8.Sit in a sports car
9.Drive a sports car
10.Jog
11.Run
12.Smile Big
13.Endurance
14.Do sit ups
15.Push ups
16.Dance
17.Shake it (Less of It)
18.Ride a bike
19.Sit in a Air plane seat
20.Porch swing
21.I can put my arms around him
22.Sleep without a machine
23.Don't have to wrap his leg everyday
24.Touch toes
25.Swim
26.Dive
27.Play with the girls
28.Teeter totter
29.Baseball
30.Foot ball
31.Skate
32.Racquetball
33.Weights
34.Tricycle
35.Water Park
36.Tire swing
37.Water boat
38.Water skies
39.Skiing
40.Jumping
41.Jump Rope
42.Get healthy
43.Love
44.High blood Pressure
45.Diabetic
46.Heart attack
47.Jet ski
48.Bungee Jumping
49.Outgoing
50.Picnics
51.Dropping a size
52.How about dropping 22 of them
53.Shopping
54.Clothes that fit
55.Clothes that look good
56.Reactions
57.WOWS
58.No worries
59.Comfort
60.Eating to lose
61.Hope
62.Faith
63.Goals
64.Believing
65.Prayer
66.Confidence
67.Motivation
68.Iron curtain
69.Calorie bank
70.Inspiration
71.180
72.Mind over matter
73.Letter to Obesity
74.Obese
75.Hurt
76.Pain
77.Learning
78.Loving yourself
79.Forgiving
80.Moving on
81.Self esteem
82.Praise
83.Unforgettable
84.Cravings
85.Food
86.Courage
87.No fear
88.Better life
89.Happier
90.Healthier
91.Zone
92.Mind over matter
93.Cassette tapes
94.Achieve
95.Dream
96.Transformation
97.Indulge
98.Simplify
99.1500 calories
100.Ice cream
101.Steel curtain zone
102.Transform mind
103.Focus
104.Determination
105.Goals
106.Achieve
107.Strength
108.No fear
109.Joys
110.Smell the flowers
111.Feel good
112.Hop
113.Skip
114.You can do it
115.Freedom
116.Convey
117.Laugh
118.Cry
119.Changes
120.Insecurities
121.“PLAN”
122.Booth Freedom
123.Mix Tape
124.Mental hangup
125.My Kryptonite
126.Support System
127.Decisions
128.Investment
129.Time management
130.Encouragement
131.Choices
132.Life
133.Mentor
134.Struggles
135.It gets easier
136.Easy
137.Pitas
138.Pizza
139.Egg whites
140.Future
141.Decide
142.Conquer
143.Family
144.A Year
145.365 days
146.Alive
147.Derail
148.It gets better
149.Weigh in
150.Choose
151.Lose
152.Diary
153.Accountability
154.Awareness
155.Guilt
156.Patience
157.Grip
158.Stride
159.CONSISTENCY
160.CONSISTENCY
161.CONSISTENCY
162.Loyal
163.Commitment
164.Integrity
165.Food
166.Scales
167.Fast Food
168.Wants
169.Desires
170.Journey

And there is so many more things I havent mentioned....

365

WOW...He has lost 212 lbs in 365 days...that is the weight of THIS....

DO YOU REALIZE THAT IS 42 BAGS OF 5LB BAGS OF POTATOES?

LOOK AT HOW FAR YOU HAVE COME BABY!!
SO VERY PROUD OF YOU!!!

Cheers to new beginnings,
Irene
...

A Promise To Me

2009-09-14T06:05:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,

I am dedicating this post to me...The inner me, that has tried to come out for sooo long, and this is a promise to myself, to let me live and once and for all let me see me......

A PROMISE TO ME

I promise never to cause you any more problems, but be a part of your solution.
I promise you a life of serenity, like that of still water;
never causing turbulence, but erasing all your tension's
I shall be a good listener, whenever you need to talk;
I shall be beside you, moving step by step, with your walk.

My love for you if seen in a mirror, shall be devoid of conceit or contemplation; the image shall be pure and honest, reflecting my most noble intention of giving you love, without any strings attached;
of the greatest kind of happiness, that can never be matched.

I promise to appreciate your ideas, to learn your little ways
and to adapt to your outlook on life as time passes by, with beautiful days!

I admire your strong points, your strength, your every ability; so also, I promise to accept your weaknesses, which, I feel, you haven't got any.

My heart promises to fill your life with fragrance, like that of the fresh flower with dew;
it promises to hold you within forever, for it loves you more than you ever knew.

It vows to love you more and more, to explore the wonderful person within you,
your wishes, your wants, desires and dreams whether they be more or few.

I will be there beside you, anytime that you need me;
just as I am important to myself, equally important, for me, you shall be.

You are, for me, a beautiful dream, more precious than silver or gold;
you are that star of the sky, which my eyes will always behold.

I shall wipe your tears, holding you tight in my arm;
so that none in this wicked world, can cause you any harm.

I shall never ask you to change because your self-respect is what I admire;
but I will gladly change myself, if ever so, you desire.

I shall grow with you, gradually, but promise to give you space if you so need
I will never go away, you can always call on me

I will passionately love you and will genuinely care;
it is not just your joys, but your blues, too, that I will share.

You have taught me what it is to believe and have faith,
on these grounds, then, I make a promise strong;
that with my love, nothing will ever go wrong.

Cheers to new beginnings,
Irene

No fear

2009-09-12T05:51:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,

I have missed you all once again...I have got to get this schedule organized more so I have more time to post, read, and comment...This week of work was good but very long. I have had a good time with it though have been going up and down the stairs a lot to get my exercise in, sometimes I feel like I'm just not getting enough. Still haven't weighed yet, think I am going to save it for Wednesday when Sean and Courtney go to weigh next, after all it is just a number, but I sure hope I have lost some numbers...want to be below two hundred sooo bad!!

Sean and I enjoyed a play today it was very good, and just loved spending some time together. Been working on his lines, it is so fun to watch and listen to him get into character, he is going to be great! Didn't get to meet his play wifey, but I guess I will soon, something must have come up...But we sure did have a great night!!

He will be going to the OSU game again this weekend with a friend and I hope they have a great time...I will get some housework done that needs it in a bad way and spend some time with Courtney, maybe her and I can go to the gym and get some good exercise in...

I have been doing the 1500 calories and exercise this whole journey, I have had a lot of changes in my body, but mainly in my mind..I have to tell myself a few things along the way....

WEIGHT LOSS....THERE IS A LOT OF ROAD ON THIS...BUT WE CAN GET IT TRAVELED...

THE FIRST THING IS TO ALWAYS KEEP IT SIMPLE.....THAT IS SIMPLY HOW ITS DONE...

EASY DOES IT!! ONE DAY AT A TIME

STAY FOCUSED FOCUS ON YOUR DREAMS ON WHAT YOU WANT AND GO GET THEM..FOCUS ON THE DAY TO DAY AND IF YOU DID IT YESTERDAY, WELL YOU CAN DO IT TODAY TOO!!

HAVE NO FEAR...YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

GOT TO HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF...

BELIEVE YOU CAN DO THIS AND KNOW IT WILL HAPPEN...

KEEP HOPE ALIVE AND DWELL THERE...DONT EVER DOUBT YOURSELF...

DREAM BIG AND FOLLOW THEM ALL THE WAY....

IF YOU DO ALL OF THESE...YOU WILL REACH YOUR GOAL!!

Cheers to new beginnings,
irene

Life

2009-09-06T19:56:00.000-07:00

Hello again my friends,

Well I have had my three days off...boy does it go fast!! Happy Labor Day!! I will start another set of 12's tomorrow not looking forward to it, but at least I do love what I do and they will be over before I know it.

We have had a good weekend, enjoyed seeing my Ambee and beating her and Courtney at phase 10...hahahah It was sooo much fun!! Amber and I went and got our hair did, and our eyebrows waxed it has been forever since I had done either one, so it was very fun, and my hair needed the ends cut something terrible, it feels so much better.

We went out to eat and just enjoyed each other today...Really didn't get in any exercise today, but I know its coming...and my dear friend Kathy J asked “what about the weigh day that you were going to do with Sean?” Well as it turns out, I haven't had a chance to go and do that yet, cause they are not open on the weekends where we have to go and weigh so....I will have to go before work this week...I am hoping its good!! I took some more pics today of the girls and I just having fun...

So it was a very GREAT day ....want to leave you with a little something....

myspace glitters

Life Encourages

Life encourages us to take every Step in Life with Meaningful Intentions, Considerate, Purposeful & Responsible Actions

It is L I F E we L I V E for

Learning; Inspiring; Fulfilling; Expectations -

A Meaningful Vision of Peace, Faith, Hope, Love, Wisdom, Principles, Values, Ideals & The Very Finest of Virtues

L- for Learning
I- for Inspiring
F- for Fulfilling
E- for Expectations

L for Learning *

Learning meaningful values that will make it impossible to fail learning from the past of why we are the way we are and how to fine tune ourselves to become anything we want to be...that power is available and we can learn how to use it and once and for all become free...

I for Inspiring *

Inspiring one another to achieve and accomplish meaningful objectives, such as loosing weight and giving hope along the way that you are not alone my friend you are not alone and together we can DO THIS!!

F for Fulfilling *

Fulfilling our higher purpose of Life, seeking to fullfill the enter self and get to the root of all that is bad and corrupt and leave it behind...to full fill all that this life as to offer..

E for Expectations *

Expectations of the very Best for all People all across the World; expecting the best in ones self and to grow and learn from mistakes of the past and let go of all the mental garbage that holds you back and keeps you from being what you dream to become..

The above is a very brief prelude specifying a few of the salient aspects that encompasses a multitude of happiness and joy for one and all to go through this life full of joy and happiness...happiness in ones self and excited about the future.

It is L I F E we LI V E for;A L I F E of Meaningful, do make the best of each day and accomplish all we can along the way...LIFE is to short to be inhappy and unsatisfied with your life...We only get one chance to make it the best we possibly can make it...

Vision – A Meaningful, reasonable Vision for Life is Extremely Essential & Important to accomplishing your goal.

The meaningful vision, purposeful and responsible vision for one;s life; the road map; the strategic plan; the mind map; the life map of one’s life where each step gets you closer and closer to your goal and the number one reason is consistently

Cheers to new beginnings,
Irene

Making Lemonade

2009-09-04T22:16:00.000-07:00

Hello again my friends,

Wow it feels like forever since I have posted...I have missed everyone and now just trying to catch up...I have been so busy 51 hours in 4 days and I am beat...gosh the things we have to go through just to get a weekend off...lol

Well My 12's are over for a few days I will return to them on Monday, but for now I have the weekend...YEAH and Labor day weekend at that...I did make some plans, but some of them fell through, but I guess that is just life, you plan and plan and sometimes nothing works out the exact way you wanted it to. I had planned for Sean and I to have this evening for ourselves but he had a 8hr rehearsal to do instead and now it is midnight and he is on his way home from another town that they ended up in. We are going to salvage what we have left of our evening, He was going to be home at 11 and now it will be after one in the morning, so not sure what we are going to do, but I hope its fun!!

Amber is in town and her and Courtney had plans tonight too, so it has just been some time for me tonight, which hasn't been bad, I have just missed everyone so bad with this schedule I have been on , that I was disappointed about how things went, and tomorrow Sean will be gone all day in Stillwater watching the OSU game so the girls and I are going to go do some shopping and garage selling it will be fun and then movies and playing games...Sunday will be the day we finally get to come together as a family and spend some time before Amber leaves again on Tuesday, because Monday I will be back to the 12's....

Well my week at work was so tiring and miserable working long hours with no sleep and then getting sick on top of that and you need sleep to help get you well and none comes...Thursday was really bad cause I was up for 30 hours with work and meetings all day...But feeling so much better loaded up on the vitamin C , the cough syrup, and sinus medicine.

Life sometimes don't go as planned so you gotta plan something else....
Kind of like the old saying...life throws you lemons...Well it makes a good drink...

I didn't plan on reaching over 345lbs- but had I not I wouldn't have gotten to know any of you; I wouldn't have gotten to know myself and my desires, I wouldn't know what all of you are going through without experiencing it on my own...I have come along way from that shy girl I used to be I am more out going and fun. I can do things I couldn't do before and the lower I go the more I will do. I want to feel free and alive, I have been dead for to many years and just living through the motions of living...No MORE, I want more!!

I didn't plan on being 37 with so much left unaccomplished- but I'm not dead yet, I have a lot of living left to do and a lot of bright things in my future still to come. When you are little you dream big, and as you get older you seem to forget how, I am dreaming big again and what ever my future holds it is going to be great!! I have accomplished a lot I am a wife of 20 years a mother to the most precious girls in the world I have a great job that I love and have worked my way up from nothing to only 2 people above me...

I didn't plan on this being so hard- because it doesn't have to be it is a way of living a change of life and one I have to make, am making, I want this for me... I have put everyone first and let myself go and I am grabbing myself... holding on to me...I cannot lose myself again I don't want to because in the end all I have is me and if I don't love me, How can anyone else really love me? I have hated myself for far to long and I am just starting to love myself again. Yes I have lost weight, 142lbs but its so much deeper than that. When you have felt ugly for so long like I have it takes time to get that back....it is coming but one day at a time....

I didn't plan on this taking so long to get to my goal- Of course that is my mind saying that, I have never had a gain I have stayed the same but, I am doing it natural and honest and day to day the same thing 1500 calories or less and most days exercising my butt off, it hasn't been fast but it has been consistent and I am pleased with the time it is taking, of course we do get impatient and sometimes I just grab my fat belly and say go away already!!! But then I say it didn't get there overnight and so its not going away overnight it does take time and I know in the end if I keep doing what I am doing it will be done...

Well my lemon drink should be home any minute and we are going to go cause some trouble, paint the town, or what ever, there is no plan we are just going to go enjoy one another....Miss my baby, my buddy, my best friend

Cheers to new beginnings,
Irene

Stranger In My House

2009-09-01T15:05:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,

Gosh I miss you all, it has been a crazy week!! all the 12's seeing family I ha vent seen in a while and my dad in the hospital, haven't even gotten a chance to go see him, only talk to him. he went in with pneumonia and congested heart failure a couple days ago. He is doing a whole lot better now and is in his own room. it is so hard it seems to get just a minute in these days to do what you need to do.

I had to post and tell everyone that I am doing well haven't forgot you and haven't went anywhere...still hanging in there not eating the way I should been so busy...who has time...lol Amber will be in on Friday I cannot wait to see her, it will be nice to have her back home even if it is for a short weekend!!

I also had to say somethings about Sean's post....first of all he got an AMAZING role in what is sure to be an AMAZING play for one because he is in it...lol and I am so very proud of him for going after the things he has always wanted to do!!
Secondly, my sisters reaction....I completely understand, I know its so hard for him to see,but the changes in him are so different sometimes I think there is a stranger in my house....The old Sean will be missed I look at his old pictures and know I will never see him again. The face I fell in love with, the sense of humor he has, had is still there, but somehow different, it is really hard to explain and very deep and I am sure I will write more about it later in other posts. Its not that I love the "NEW" Sean any less...I love him more and more everyday, and sometimes I have to pinch myself that he is one in the same but different, better, the "NEW" improved Sean....He is happier and healthier and everything I have always wanted him to be...I look at the old Sean and he will be missed,But when I look at the "OLD" Sean I see how miserable he was and self confidence was low, and like he said he felt dead and just going through the motions of living...and now the "NEW" Sean will make sure he is alive and able to do all the things he ever wanted to do!!

About this play....HE HAS TO SHAVE....not happy about this....lol

Cheers to new beginnings,
Irene

When I Think Of Butterflies, I Think Of Freedom

2009-08-28T05:09:00.000-07:00

Hello again my friends,

I have started the 12's so I will try to post, and comment when I can...cannot wait for them to be over, I will miss you all like CRAZY, but after these I will have 6 days off, so its a pretty good trade I think...Today was a good day in every department...

CALORIE DEPARTMENT:
Woke up to AMAZING steak my favorite food of ALL time, my buddy loves me and loves cooking on the grill. Had some mashed potatoes and little ear of corn. At work we have a man who owns a restaurant in Kansas and comes to the casino to do some gambling, well when he comes he always brings fried rice and egg rolls to us. So I did have a little fried rice and chicken and then when I got home this morning, and still had a steak waiting for me. So well under my calories for the day.

EXERCISE DEPARTMENT:
Well today exercise was GREAT, Sean and I went to the gym and did some more weight training so sore from that, my right arm is soooo much stronger then my left, so it will take some work to get it caught up....Sean was so funny with the weights...below is some weight training pics...ALSO I whipped him all over the place on the racket ball court. He may try to tell you different on this but DON'T believe him..K?

Want to leave you with what has been on my mind since I posted on yesterday.

Sometimes do you feel that your life can change from “Cocoon to Butterfly”? Can you feel something within yourself going through a subtle gestation process? Where changes are occurring, perhaps a new direction your life-yet it is unseen? Do you feel trapped inside the cocoon and you cant seem to free yourself, alone and afraid of what the future holds for you? That you will never become the butterfly that you know you are deep inside?

The Cocoon

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly,
one day a small opening appeared, he sat
and watched the butterfly for hours, as it
struggled to force its body through that little
hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress.
It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could on its
own and could go no further

Then the man decided to help the butterfly, so he
took a pair of scissors and snipped off a remaining
bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily.
But it had a swollen body and small shriveled wings.

The man continued to watch the butterfly because he
expected that, at any moment , the wings would enlarge
and expand to be able to support the body, which would
contract in time, Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly
spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen
body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste did not
understand was that the restricting cocoon and the
struggle required for the butterfly to get through
the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid
from the body to the butterfly into its wings so
that it would be ready for the flight once it achieved
its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in
our life. If God allowed us to go through life without
any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not
be as strong as what we could have been when it is
time for us to fly. In your times of trial and tribulation
remember that the stronger you become, the further
and longer for a lifetime, you will fly......

Cheers to new beginnings,
Irene

A World Without "T"

2009-08-27T15:30:00.000-07:00

Hello again my friends,

Thank you all for posting such wonderful comments on my page yesterday...all I can say is WOW your support means so very much to me. Sometimes it is hard to look at ones self and really be able to see, I always have seen myself as not very outgoing, shy, reserved and held back from being me. So it was so good to hear all these wonderful comments about my In progress pics. You my inspirations, inspire me everyday and so glad I have you to encourage and support me as well. So that is your new names cause that's what you do for me you inspire me. You make me want to keep going, you make me know I am not alone, and you make me know the feelings and struggles that I have are shared. Because we have a common thread that holds us a tie that bonds.

First Of all I want to thank Jo a New friend of mine but very dear to my heart all ready, she has made my day today and AMAZING is all I can say about her and that doesn't even begin to describe the impression she has left on my heart. When someone tells you that you have inspired them, It is one of the most incredible feelings in the world to know that you have touched someone in this way. I have only been bloging for less then two weeks about 10 days, but the joys I have gotten here are unbelievable it I would have known, If i would have believed, I would have started at birth...LOL But for real I am AMAZED that I am actually able to inspire anyone. So thank you so much Jo for making me someone who had the privilege of touching your life.

I had all these big plans for my blog last night, and the computer would not cooperate with any of it, so I tried to save it and lost that too. So this is starting over from scratch. Our schedules didn't mesh well at all last night Courtney was sick and left school early, Sean had weather coverage and didn't know how long he would be, so dinner was delayed and schedule was modified. We did finally get to eat, but not together and with the rain and storms we didn't get our 5K in so I opted for some good ole' around the house exercise which was fun and exhausting all at the same time, so it was good.

One of the things I look at the most on my blog is, “Whether you think you can, or think you can't you're right” That statement is so true. So many times we have said this is to hard, I cant do this, I don't want to try anymore. Then what you have done is created in your mind a reason “an excuse” not to, and you may not even realize what you have done. I have heard them with Sean, I have heard them with me, I have watched us give up by giving into what we tell ourselves we can not do.

The thing I have noticed is when I was 345 I had never been that high before, EVER. I always was between 200 and 250 . So even though I have dropped 142 pounds I am only where I have already been before, so I want to see myself at 150,140 ,130 somewhere that I have never been since high school. I have to see it I want to see, and I will. Where as Sean is already in a different place, a place he has never been in his whole adult life, In fact the face that looks back at me I have NEVER seen it is AMAZING and I want him to see the face he has never seen before in me. That is why I keep going that is why I am not done, that is why friends and family always notice such a difference in Sean and not in me, because I have been here before. Most of my adult life never getting below 200lbs this face and this skin I am is gonna change and I will become the butterfly that is locked up still.

Take away the T and what you have is CAN

I cant do this today
I cant change my eating habits
I cant do this for life
I cant handle the stress
I cant get motivated
I cant stay motivated
I cant stop mood eating
I cant enjoy the foods i like
I cant handle a buffet
I cant get past my mind set
I cant eat just one
I cant resist temptation
I cant see my future changing
I cant see myself thin
I cant look people in the eye
I cant change myself
I cant picture things different
I cant dream
I cant I cant I cant I cant

Cheers to new beginnings,
Irene

New Pics And A Great Day

2009-08-26T02:13:00.000-07:00

Hello again friends,

So good to be able to catch up some today, I have more to read and comment on, but I did get a lot done today. I am off the next two days but starting Friday, I will be doing 8 twelves in a row so it is gonna be hard to keep up, I will try but just in case you wonder where I went...LOL I will be working my butt off...and that is FOR REAL...LOL

Amber at www.amberisdroppingit.blogspot.com is back...YEAH have missed her posting. Sean at www.losingweighteveryday.blogspot.com has a new toy on his blog if you haven't gone to check it you soooo should he has an interview with the popular blogger Jack sh*t getting' fit at www.jackfit.blogspot.com Very funny stuff :-)

CALORIE DEPARTMENT:
Well today was a great day off with lots to do. I woke up with tacos, because my buddy loves me, two party tacos and one soft which was 500 calories and then for dinner I cooked some pork chops scalloped potatoes and had some green beans and that came in at about 310. I have had lots of water today and to much coffee, but coffee with the creamer I am still spending about 250 of my calorie budget for coffee....Not good!! Later on for my dinner I had a bacon sandwich with 50 calorie dressing and low calorie bread and so that checked in at about 300 with 4 pieces of bacon and lots of tomatoes....YUMMY it was so for the day so far I have had......1360 and so i might have a banana or a nutri-grain bar with one more cup of coffee before bed, but today was great in the calorie department. Right at the 1500 I give myself...

EXERCISE DEPARTMENT:
Well Sean and Courtney and myself decided that we were going to go to the gym tonight and get in some weight training, and boy are my arms already feeling it....we lifted weights and did about 6 reps in all and I even got in some crunches before we left after the cardio on the treadmill, it was a lot of fun wish my schedule let me do this with them all the time, I hate it that it don't and that I can't always go, but I love the times that I can....We usually do the 10K on Tuesday, but maybe we can tomorrow...or at least a 5K...I will let you know..I do want to go back to the gym though for some more weight training, gotta really work them muscles.

Thank you everyone for all the wonderful comments they REALLY do mean the world to me...nothing helps me stay focused more then YOU...So thank you...

well some people have said I need to add some body shots and I do mean pics...lol I have been taking some tonight and I hope you like them...still working on the reality show...lol

BEFORE:
WOW......

HATE THIS PIC!!!

NOT A FAN OF THIS ONE EITHER!!

IN PROGRESS:
I had a little toooo much fun doing this:-)

So there you go....In progress pics....I hope you all like them!!!

Cheers to new beginnings,
irene

See The Signs

2009-08-25T04:56:00.000-07:00

Hello again friends...

I have missed you all so so much...Feel so out of touch with everyone.. I did get to catch up on a few blog's, but still have so much more to catch up on. The last few days have been fine at work it all went smooth and stress free, unlike last weekend... it seemed to go by very fast too. Keeping busy just really makes the time go by.

Still been flying by in the calories and NO pop...Figuring out I can do this after all...getting plenty of exercise, not the sleep though, But did catch up a little today.

Amber says she misses everyone too...she will post again soon, she is just getting settled in and been taking time fixing up her room.

Tonight I thought I would share what has been on my mind all weekend...Cant seem to get all the signs out of my head...

There are so many telling you what to do and where to go.....

WHAT?

HUH?

MMMMM?

WHATEVER>>

DONT GET IT...

Sometimes it just gets so confusing.....

YOU JUST WANNA SAY.....

But there are those that just stand out that ARE crystal clear and make perfect sense...and that is what I've been doing a lot of thinking about the last few days....

This is my favorite and so true in the shape of a stop sign....because if you stop then you.....

So if you follow all the CLEAR signs and ignore all the things that don't make ANY sense then the only thing you have at the end of this journey is PURE JOY!!!

Just something I have been thinking about there may be a few......in the road......

But you can get through it and overcome ANYTHING and EVERYTHING you set your mind to!!!

Want to leave you with this...

SIGNS

.Signs are everywhere, Some say stop and some say go,
Some say the speed limit and some say go slow...

On this journey your journey, and mine
Not tomorrow today is the time,

.Try to always see the positive in every day,
There is gonna be so many along your way..

Your gonna notice things you couldn't do before,
things you have only dreamed of at your door,

Tie your shoe with ease and lay down and see your feet,
Droppin' the pounds, closer to your goal complete,

Your pants are getting baggy and soon they wont fit,
Changes in your body You've come to far to quit,

People will notice you as they ask what you have done,
All you need to say is I put me number one,

I loved myself enough to keep going and never quit,
A lot of things I had to go through to get trim and fit,

See the signs my friend and hold your head up high,
Even if you think you failed just give another try,

No speed you have to go, no U-Turn in this game,
Dead end or to stop will only cause you pain,

Take one last look at your past erase it from your mind,
Only positive signs on this journey yours and mine:
By IRENE ANDERSON

Cheers to new beginnings,
Irene

My Comfort Zone

2009-08-23T05:10:00.000-07:00

Hello again friends,

Just wanted to say a quick message that......

I have truly missed reading blogs this weekend,so far. I will have a lot of catching up to do come Monday after my 12's are done for a few days.

Some of the blogs I have had a chance to read I have noticed a lot of my friends are struggling... So I just thought I should share something for them this morning...

My Comfort Zone
Author Unknown

I use to have a Comfort Zone
Where I knew I couldn't fail
The same four walls of busy work
Were really more like jail.

I longed so much to do the things
I'd never done before,
But I stayed inside my Comfort Zone
And paced the same old floor

I claimed to be so busy
With the things inside my zone,
But deep inside I longed for
Something better to come along.

I couldn't let my life go by,
Just watching others win.
I held my breath and stepped outside
And let the change begin.

I took a step and with new strength
I'd never felt before,
I kissed my Comfort Zone 'goodbye'
And closed and locked the door.

If you are in a Comfort Zone,
Afraid to venture out,
Remember that all winners were
At one time filled with doubt.

A step or two and words of praise,
Can make your dreams come true.
Greet your future with a smile,
Success is there for you!

I really hope it helps!!

Today was a good day, no stress at work ate less than 1200 calories today and had no pop and lots of exercise:-)

I hate to leave so much I want to say and so many friends I want to comment on their days....but I have to go to bed now and sleep so I can get through my last 12 hours. I promise I will catch up on the reading I love it, and gonna try on my days off to get Sean and Courtney to take some more pics:-) Full body shots are coming...

Cheers to new beginnings,
Irene

Weight Loss Garden

2009-08-21T01:31:00.000-07:00

Hello again friends,

I Thank you each and everyone who will keep my sister in your prayers, that means a lot to me!! Thank you so much!!

Well today was a good day, got plenty of rest ate well and didn't have any pop...only water for me today. Okay well I did also have coffee, me and coffee have become very close.... Pulling 12 hour shifts and staying up 20 hours at a time well water just don't do what coffee does...

Had my weigh in today and lost another 2lbs gone forever...Yeah wanted to lose more, so I could be below 200 when Sean goes below 300 but all that means is I have my work cut out for me the next two weeks...I would have to lose 9 pounds though and I might be able to if pop stays out of my mouth...So that is one of the changes I am going to make....Oh and eight 12 hour shifts in a row should help too...lol

OOHH did you know....

To lose one pound of fat, you must burn approximately 3500 calories over and above what you already burn doing daily activities. That sounds like a lot of calories and you certainly wouldn't want to try to burn 3500 calories in one day.

However, by taking it step-by-step, you can determine just what you need to do each day to burn or cut out those extra calories. ...which is what I will be doing by giving up the pop...and going to cut my calories to 1200 which is pretty much what Ive been eating anyway....

I have to do a little reflecting today too...Just so proud of how far we have all come...so I am going to add some more pics...The first ones not so flattering....but to know you gotta see..

Courtney before

Courtney now

Amber before

Ambee now

Me before

me now

Sean before

US NOW!!!

By the way I may not get to post for a few days at least not long ones...I will try to post a little at a time but I will be working twelves the next three days...and then I will also catch up with comments...So if I don't leave one you know why....gotta go back to work:-(

Wanna leave you with this....

Plant Your Weight loss Garden Today
First, plant 3 rows of peas;
Patience
Promptness
Politeness (to yourself)

Next, plant 3 rows of squash;
Squash self-doubt
Squash indifference
Squash criticizing yourself for making human mistakes

Then, plant 3 rows of lettuce;
Let us be caring to ourselves
Let us start making little steps toward our goals Let us be a person who tries

Finish, with 4 rows of turnip;
Turn up with positive thoughts
Turn up with a Smile
Turn up with a Vision
Turn up with Determination

UNKNOWN

Cheers to new beginnings,
Irene

Feeling Inspired

2009-08-20T00:16:00.000-07:00

Hello again Friends,

Thank everyone again for all the awards!! It was so hard to pick only 15, because I follow everyone of you for so many different reasons....some make me laugh, some make me cry, some make me think and some are funny and unique but all of you inspire me, not just the 15 I choose, but all of you, and I cannot thank you enough for your comments, your words of wisdom and all of the inspiration I have found here!

This is for all of you.....

Well today was a day, I did not get to weigh today, when I had the opportunity it wasn't available for me to grasp...So it will be tomorrow, hopefully I have something great to report...

Today started with my sister, she is 13 months younger than me, and she has been dealing with her thyroid now for all of her adult life, just like me she has thyroid disorders but hers are tumors ,Benin but tumors just the same.

Her husband left her back last November with the four children and no means of transportation. Well she had a doctors appointment today so I went to get her to take her there. Her tumors have gotten bigger and now take up most of her neck. It cuts off her breathing and hurts to bend her neck, talk or even breath, which she has a rough time doing.

She was referred to a surgeon today and she has another appointment for Monday. So please keep her in your prayers, I worry about her so very much. Hopefully she can once and for all have them removed and everything goes well. It will for sure change her life.

Decide To Be Healthy
Dr. Robert Muller

Decide to be healthy.

Pray to God every day for good health.

Take health as your sacred, God given duty.

Make no room whatsoever for the slightest thought of sickness.

Encourage your trillions of faithful little cells through joy, happiness and confidence.

Thank them, talk to them, sing to them.

Let no foul air, food or liquid poison you.

Let no anger, anxiety or bitterness enter you.

Wake up every morning with gratitude for your resurrection and repeat ten times:

"I am the happiest and healthiest person on earth."

Repeat it again before you sleep.

Close your eyes and think of God, good health and happiness.

And thank your Father in heaven who has given us a body never to be sick, a mind never to be dull, a consciousness never to be empty, and a spirit full of
the heavens and of the Earth.

Thank you all for listening to me tonight....

Sean was a little bummed about his weigh in today...so I thought he needed a little reminder....:-)

Before at 505

in "PROGRESS"

Wow....Sean baby your AMAZING!!!

well friends need to wrap it up once again.... want to leave you with this.....

Heartprints
Author Unknown

Whatever our hands touch -
We leave fingerprints!
On walls, on furniture
On doorknobs, dishes, books.
There's no escape.
As we touch we leave our identity.

Wherever I go today
Help me leave heartprints!
Heartprints of compassion
Of understanding and love.

Heartprints of kindness
And genuine concern.
May my heart touch a lonely neighbor
Or a runaway daughter
Or an anxious mother
Or perhaps an aged grandfather.

Send me out today
To leave heartprints.
And if someone should say,
"I felt your touch,"
May they also sense the love
that is deep within my heart.

Cheers to new beginnings,
Irene

My 15 of those who inspire me everyday!!

2009-08-19T06:22:00.000-07:00

. Sean at "The Daily Diary of a Winning Loser"
2. Amber at "drop it Like Its Hot"
3. michelle at "My journey To Onderland"
4. Kathie at "my journey.com"
5. K at "Fat [Free] Me"
6. Tammy at"From Fat to fab"
7. Pam at "Journey to the Healthier Side of Life"
8. Jo at "282.5 My Journey To Health"
9. Jack t "jack sh*t gettin'fit"
10 "45 and Aspiring"
11. Sarah at "Misssarahlou"
12. My Rach at "A Journey To Me"
13. "Chubby Chick"
14. Suzie at "SpunkySuzi"
15. Zaa at "Zaababy-The Incredible Shrinking Woman"

Thank you all for making my day brighter and keeping my spirits high!!
Irene

What Works For Me.....

2009-08-19T02:12:00.000-07:00

Hello again friends,

Want to give out a special Thank You to Michelle@MyJourneyToOnderland and also Kathie@MyJourney.com These two special ladies gave me a blog award and I feel so grateful to be one of the blogs they like!! I haven't been doing this but for only a few days, so it means so very much to be noticed for this special award, thank you both so very much!!!

Sean and I got in a 10K tonight it was a wonderful time to talk and walk, it was nice out from all the rain, we tried to do a on the go video but it was so dark, don't know what of it is visible. We were talking about the first time I walked it with the girls over a year ago at my highest weight and I couldn't get but half way around the darn thing, the girls couldn't believe it. Mom had to stop and rest her legs. right then and there I said No way is this going to happen and I just kept doing it and a little at a time and tonight again we walked 7 and a half times around.

I have always been active played softball was pitcher on the team, hit home runs and grand slams that my grandpa used to pay me for. Played soccer and ran the ball all the way down to the goal, loved to do cart wheels and play outside all day. I was raised by my grandparents and even at 70 grandpa would practice with me everyday. Then met Sean got out of school and went hog wild on fast food, I never had it growing up we had 3 square meals a day, home cooked meals but, barely enough to feed us all. Grandma and grandpa both retired and 4 grandchildren they were raising. We did have a huge garden though and we all had to help with it all summer long...lol But it was abundant in fruits and vegetables and we loved it.

These are My Thoughts and opinions on some things.....

Sean and I was talking tonight about weight loss Gimmicks, plans and diets that work for short term, but not for a life long commitment. I don't like it when people ask me "Hows your diet going?" I am not on a "diet" I am on a life changing commitment, changing the way I eat, what I eat and learning to do it one day at a time, for life.

Not just to lose all the weight I can, and gain it all back, but to change my habits and my thinking along the way. The weight lose industry is a billion dollar company, they find people like us and give us pills, plans , diets ,charts and points. Some give us food pre -packaged and some give us shakes and tell us no carbs none of this and none of that. So what we end up believing is...If we eat something we want or something that we crave then we have already failed.
When in fact if we eat less, but still have the foods we want and exercise more we will lose the weight, you cannot help to and along the way you teach yourself how to eat while still enjoying your favorite things, but in moderation. This is what I have done and what Sean has done and this is all we have done...He has lost over 200lbs and I have lost 142 so it can be done and we have no desire to "cheat" cause everything we want we can have.

Its the same thing with the surgery Tammy was talking back in her blog Tammy@FromFattofab a few nights back. When you have surgery, mind you some people need it for emergency reasons if they cannot exercise any longer, but just to have it because you "don't think you can" is a different story. Because what happens after the expensive procedure is.....you have to cut done your portions and eat in moderation and exercise anyway.

Sean wanted this too at one time, and if his insurance would have covered it he would have had it. he also mentioned going away and staying in a hospital and only having food through his veins until he lost the weight. Desperate measures? yes of course it is, but he didn't think he could do it any other way.

We have a dear friend who did do this the lap band i think it was or the gastric cant remember but yes they lost the weight they were looking good and slowly they became the frog in boiling water..(From Jack@jacksh*t,gettin'fit

They let their old ways of eating creep back in and before they new it they were back in the boiling water and heavier then they were before, Because you can cut the stomach and make it shrink you will get sick if you eat to much, but if you keep over eating the stomach will grow again and there fore it will hold what you want it to again.

Enough about that.....Weigh day is today....and Sean should be in the 200's.....and Courtney should be in the 100's....YEAH....so very happy!!! I will be in the 100's next weigh day and that will be a milestone for me...Today will be close, but don't think I quite made it...we will see.. I haven't been below 200 since I can remember, when I got pregnant with Amber I was 215 and still in high school so below 200 will be remarkable!!!

Leave you with this....

What works for me....Having what I want
What works for me....Eating in moderation
What works for me....Exercise (and it doesn't have to include a 10k)
What works for me....it doesn't cost me ANYTHING
What works for me....I'm losing weight while learning to eat
What works for me....Is teaching me to eat in every situation
What works for me....Is knowing I will soon be at my goal
What works for me....Can and will work for you too!!!

Cheers to new beginnings,
Irene

Rainy Night and Time with Amber

2009-08-18T01:17:00.000-07:00

in progress

In progress

well today was a pretty good day...Long and tiring, but a really good day. Road trip to Weatherford was great Sean and I talked the whole way there and back. Telling him about my day the other day and about the horrible night I had at work the night before. Just talking about nothing and everything, it was REALLY nice!!! Our schedules the way that they are, we really have to make time to be together and when we are we take full advantage of it....

We missed Courtney being with us though, she had school so she stayed with a friend. We enjoyed so much getting to see Amber and getting her in her dorm. She has the same roommate though as she had last year so she was a little disappointed, but it does have its pluses. It was just a great trip and I can't wait to go again, next time with Courtney to though. Now we are listening to the storms here all night...Love a rainy night, Sean was trying hard to write his blog but the electric kept going out, so we opted to go to bed and get up early, so it will be another late post for him, as for me, well I work the overnight shift and can't sleep, so here I am as soon as the power came back on.

We didn't get a good workout in today, unless you call trucking all over the campus a workout, up and down hills, building to building in the heat, well I guess it was at least some form of a workout. I remember a year ago today, Sean hadn't started his transformation, and I was still up there as well and we had a lot harder time with it then we did today.
We talked about it a lot, the chairs in the offices were no problem like they had been before, the walking all over the place and carrying things up to the dorm room with ease, not out of breath like we were before. We even took the stairs today over the elevator, are you kidding, we would have NEVER done that on purpose before, the dang thing would have had to be broke if we didn't take it.

Just the things we can now that we could have never done before is UNREAL and the list just goes on and on and it will just get longer and longer as we go, We have another chance to be happy and healthy and this is the last one we will ever need, Courtney and I also went to the clean the station and the offices downtown vacuuming and taking out the trash and cleaning up the bathrooms and such. Si I guess we did get some sort of workout there too.
We did good on the calories today too, we had Taco Mayo me baby with Amber and it was nice getting to spend the time with her that we got to spend with her today. Don't know when we get to see her again but I sure hope its soon!!
well I guess it is time to wrap this up once more....

Cheers to new beginnings,
Irene

2009-08-16T06:55:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,

I know I have missed a few days,I assure you I am not off the wagon...lol. Sean boy was supposed to let everyone know in his blog, that I wouldn't be writting for a few days, because I had to work...Just got done getting my over 40 hours into 3 days, but he failed to mention......Yeah the 13 hour days in three, running all over the place...but now 4 days off..HOORAY!!! SOOO well worth the horrible three days I just put in.

Tonight was a very bad night for me, and last night, well not much better. Being manager you have to deal with a lot of issues with customers and with staff, we staff over 400 people and customers, well tonight we had 1200 in there from overflow from another casino who had Kansas there, I would have loved to go see. Anyway tonight I had both employee issues and customer issues all night long, made everyone wonder if the moon was full...lol but of course it wasn't so don't know why all the weirdness tonight. Usually everything runs smooth and everyone gets along okay, but not tonight.

Called amber today and she is much better, she had her sugar and blood pressure checked, thank you for all the concerned comments for her, It scares me so much her being so far away from me especially when she isn't feeling well. But everything turned out okay, think she had a panic attack when she got scared of the symptoms of the feeling like she was going to faint and the black dots she was seeing scared her.

we see her today...I cannot wait, I know its only been a week or so since she left well a week exactly, but it still seems like forever. I do have to sometime get some sleep, but not sure just yet when that's gonna be.

Sean and Nay got to go to an awesome ROCKIN rock concert, I had to work, life is sometimes so unfair!!

There was so many tempting things to eat at work tonight, all I had today was a burger like at like two, so by the time 12 came along, I was starving, ate my favorite thing from there even though they had ribs, tender juicy and everyone telling me how good they were, I knew they were just from the smell...AMAZING!!!But I got my norm, three pieces of bacon on wheat bread with a little mayo. Really wanted those ribs though!!

I know it was a bad eating day for me, but this is my norm something before I go in and then like at 12 when its slowed down some and the kitchen isn't packed I may have time to eat a bacon sandwich. Not good I know and in between its coffee and water, I just simply don't always have a lot of time to eat.

Here's my thought for the day....
my journey is like riding a horse....
please let me explain...

I may slip and I may fall, which is my journey there are bad days and good days highs and lows everyday as you go, but as long as nothing gets broken, and that is my spirit my hope and my learning along the way, then I can dust myself off and start over the next day and go on, I control the reigns I decide how fast I want the horse to go, which is my choices my day to day good or bad, I have to live with it and deal with only myself at the end of that day. If my horse stops to rest which could be a bad day, or one that doesn't please me the way it should, then I know I cant let it rest for to long if I want to win the race, but as long as I don't put the horse down, which would be total despair and giving up, as long as I'm not done and I don't quit, my horse may not come in first place but it wont lose either it will eventually cross the finish line...
So take hold of your horses take the reigns and cross the finish line!!!

Cheers to new beginnings,

Irene

Thank you and saying good-bye poem by Irene Anderson

2009-08-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

Hello,

WOW...Thank you all for your comments and for adding me, that means so much!!
....you guys are amazing...explains why Sean loves you all so much...

When I started losing weight I was miserable, just wanted out of this "fat suit" that I had done to myself so bad. Blamed it on a lot of things my thyroid, my quitting smoking after 17 years or more, nobody doing it with me....and the list goes on and on. I do have thyroid dis function that does make it hard to lose weight, cause my metabolism is rock bottom half the time, and when you stop smoking you do want to replace it with something, so I replaced them with skittles...lol and that went on for two years until I started smoking again, and of course it is easier to lose weight if you have someone to lose it with you. Someone to walk and talk and encourage you along the way. I blamed it on my job, sitting behind a computer all day 5-6 days a week sometimes 10 hours a day and eating skittles, of course I gained. Got up to 345 and so ashamed and embarrassed of that number, but it is what it is, at 5"7" or 5"6" what ever height I am it was devastating to me and I had no idea I weighed that much. I knew I felt bad and it was hard to breath at times, but it wasn't until I went to my doctor for my thyroid that I got on some scales and for the first time ever realized what I had done.

I knew I had to get busy, my first thought was quit my job, and find something where I could have more movement. Stop sitting around and eating skittles all day, what is the matter with you. I did that and now 130 some pounds later and a little over two years ago, I am now a floor manager at a casino and have non stop movement. Although movement isn't everything, it has been slow for me, because I struggle with pop...Pepsi to be exact, okay I am a Pepsi addict.... there I said it, if it wasn't so good we would have less problems, but that is my ice cream, my pastry, my worst temptation is pop...Sean still has that face whenever he sees me with it that says, "really your still gonna have pop, thought you were serious Irene" Well I am and I try to pass it off like his ice cream, cause i cant have ice cream so I just tell him a can of Pepsi is 150 and so is our ice cream cone, its just what I choose to have. Although I have come along way with the pop, we don't have two liters in the house anymore and so I can resist the temptation there, but at the place where I work, pop is free and in every room there is to choose from, but no Pepsi so less tempting...lol. I have cut it way back from where it was, and soon I will let it go completely, I drink a lot of coffee, tea, and water with the flavoring though, the problem is I hate the taste of water without something sweet, or unless I am sweating and then there is nothing better.

I also struggle with some foods, pastry and sweets have never been a real problem for me, but moderataion has, and so its hard to explain the skittles, I honestly don't know what got into me, I guess just something I could get from the vending machine with a lot in a bag and sit there and have something in my mouth.... When I was growing up we had a garden beautiful, big and all summer we would take care of it and my aunts garden too, hers was right next to ours. We would eat from that garden all year round I have always been a fan of fruits and vegetables, but of late not so much of either, mainly chicken, steak and I always have to have a vegetable, but not the real good ones....I have a lot of improvements I need to make to eating better, for example with my job it is hard to eat while I am there, we are constantly busy so usually I get one meal a day on average and sometimes two, but very rarely three, and differently no time for snacks, which is what Sean has been doing," feeding the wood burning stove", and I know if I can do this it will help. I know I can do it, but while I'm still losing it is easily justified to me, mind you I'm not losing as fast as I should or could without it, but still losing. Something I have to improve on....my goal is to be where I want to be by summer 2010 140 pounds or "what ever feels right".I I used to think that I just wanted to be under 200 lbs but that is no longer my goal, it is now to be the best me I can be in every way. I know I sset another goal before the first one was completed, but thats how I am going to get to the next one, can't stop and celebrate just yet....

used to think that I just wanted to be under 200 lbs but that's no longer my goal, it is now to be the best me I can be in every way. i know I set another goal before the first one was completed, but thats how Im going to get to the next one can't stop and celebrate just yet....

I'm saying Good-bye

Saying good-bye to bad choices and horrible thinking,
Good-bye to tight fits and clothes cause baby I'm shrinking;

Good-bye to the snickers and awkward glances when I walk into a room,
Good-bye to the "someday" cause it's gonna be very soon;

Good-bye to the temptations that have always held me back before,
Good-bye to the "I cant's" cause I don't believe that anymore;

Good-bye to the insecurity and doubt that comes into my brain,
Good-bye to the excuses cause there is none that remain;

Good-bye to the yesterdays and good-bye to the past;
Good-bye to the fears I ve had that I can't make this last;

Good-bye to the mental hangups and thoughts that I will fail,
Good-bye to the I cant succeed, cause I know this time its for real;

Good-bye to the things that have always gotten in my way,
Good-bye to the poor choices, cause there is nothing that can make me stray;

Irene Anderson 2009

In closing I just wanna say how pleased I am to have all of you that have added me and have left me comments, It is a privilege to share with you and such an inspiration to me to follow you on your journeys as well. Thank you for taking the time to visit me....It means so much!!!

Cheers to new beginnings,
Irene

Reflections

2009-08-12T14:07:00.000-07:00

Hello Again,

I know it says i posted today already, but this is just the schedule that I keep... LOL...for me this is a different day, my schedule is H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E.....

In todays blog, I just wanna reflect back, a minute to a different time when the mind set wasnt there and where life was just considered one day to the next, not living not grabbing hold of anything just letting the days go by. No motivating thoughts, no thoughts really at all except "I know we gotta get busy", but in the mean time...time is just passing us by. The knowing how, but the not having the will to get there. I have been there, my husband and I both have struggeled with weight our whole marriage. Our whole lifes, it has kept us from being the people we have always been but always wanted to show, and doing the things we have always wanted to do. We have been miserable and incomplete, we are not all the way done, but the feelings that have come with the journey thus far are incrediable.

Sean baby....You look amazing!!!

My buddy, highschool sweetheart, the apple of my eye, the love of my life and the owner of my heart...I am so VERY proud of you! For all that you do, for your heart pure and true for the caring and the love that you give, your honesty , compassion, how you let people see your heart and know what a true special person you are.....I love you baby

Getting past all the mental hangups, that has held us back for years, breaking through all the bad thinking and bad choices that have tried to distroy us, getting past all the excuses and all the "I dont think I cans" and what is left is...A journey to the otherside of life, a life we have only dreamed of. To grab hold of the day, cherish it, and not let it pass you by, not one more day gone without saying I did all I can today, I tried My very best, and we are doing that one day at a time, until our goals are met.

I am dedicating this blog to you Sean, for being the wonderful person that you are and for inspiring me, our family and countless others along your way to show that it is possible, that WE can do it too. So I just wanted to say THANK YOU, thank you, FOR YOU for being in my life and touching so many other lifes with your story. We are SO lucky to have you!! You baby are truly a BLESSING!!

SOMETHING TO LEAVE YOU WITH
(the abc's of it all)

A Always Love You because when you love yourself, you have more love to share.
B Be who you are, not who someone wants you to be.
C Care for yourself and care enough to care for others.
D Believe in the Divinity within you and every other sentient being.
E Experience the ecstasy of life!
F Forgive others but don’t forget to forgive Yourself.
G Be gentle, genuine and generous with your love.
H Have an open heart.
I Be your own inspiration and illuminate the heavens.
J Look for joy within you.
K Be kind to all kindred spirits.
L Like yourself, laugh often and live life with leisure!
M It’s okay to be marvelous! Manifest your dreams and create loving memories.
N Be noble and know that as you face the nemesis within, you will be victorious!
O Your heart has an ocean of melodies waiting to be sung.
P Preserve and paint your heart with precious positive memories.
Q Take time for quietude and be open to quantum quality in your heart.
R Remember to receive love with appreciation and joy.
S Search your soul, find the love within and remember your greatness!
T Be tender with your thank yous.
U Be universal. Know that MotherFatherGod is within you!
V Be vibrant and know that you have value and are worthy to love and be loved!
W,X,Y,Z Wealth is the warmth and giving spirit of your heart. Xanadu, a place of great beauty and contentment is YOU! So be zany with your love!

Cheers to New beginnings,
Irene

Spreading Your Wings

2009-08-12T01:13:00.000-07:00

Hello
My name is Irene Anderson wife of "The Daily Diary Of A Winning Loser" Sean Anderson...A.K.A. My Buddy. Sean has inspired so many, his family, his community and he is now working on the world....We both share a desire to help others we have come along way and we are not done yet...

I started at 345 pounds, and in the last year I have really made a big improvement in my size I went from a size 28 jean to a now size 14 and im not done yet....my goal is to be 140 or like sean says whatever feels right...I am now at 208 and i have about 70 pounds to go.
Like so many other girls, my self-confidence growing up was almost nonexistent. I doubted my abilities, had little faith in my potential and questioned my personal worth. If I achieved good grades, I believed that I was just lucky. Although I made friends easily, I worried that once they got to know me, the friendships wouldn't last. And when things went well, I thought I was just in the right place at the right time. I even rejected praise and compliments.The choices I made reflected my self-image. I ask you to consider two important questions "If you could be, do, or have anything in the world, and you knew it would be impossible to fail, what would you choose? And if you could create your ideal life, what would you dare to dream?"
I imagined having the courage to change my life. I pictured a better life for me and my family. My husband dreams about being an international motivational speaker so that he can inspire people the way he has inspired me. He writes his story to encourage others. So I went on to create a clear visual picture of my new success. I envision myself being thin being able to wear what ever i want and it fit right everywhere. How would it feel and look to see myself in the mirror trying on a size 7....I knew that if I was going to dream, it was important to fill in the details for my five senses. So I went to the store and held up a size 7 in front of the mirror. How would it look and feel? What does size 7 new jeans smell like? I found a picture of a woman in these really amazing jeans that I too would someday wear. I hung the picture up where I could see it every day. It helps to keep the dream alive.
And soon the changes began.. My "impossible dream" has started to become a reality.
I believe that all success begins with spreading your W.I.N.G.S.--believing in your worth, trusting your insight, nurturing yourself, having a goal and devising a personal strategy. And then, even impossible dreams become real.

Cheers to new beginnings,
Irene