I've made many attempts at losing weight over the past few decades years. I've lost some, gained it back, lost it again, etc., etc. As a result, I have a lot of different sizes of clothes that I've refused to give up hung on to in the event that 1. I'd lose weight and be able to wear the smaller sizes again, or 2. gain it back and nothing would fit. And since clothes are expensive, especially plus size clothes, I just kept everything and rotated them from the current size closet to the not-current size bins in the garage.

This weekend I decided it's time to change my hoarding of clothes. There will be no gaining weight back for me this time. And if I believe that (and I do) there is no reason to hang on to the clothes that are now huge too big. I spent this weekend going through my closet and the bins in the garage and did I have fun! It was like playing dress up. I had some clothes that I'd forgotten about and they fit me now! And...look good. Standing in front of a mirror hasn't been fun for me in years. I avoided mirrors except to put on my make-up. But, this weekend, I liked looking in the mirror and feeling proud of myself. I feel like a confident woman. Corny, huh?

My mom gave me a few Chico's jackets and I love them. I bought a pair of boots the other day to wear with a skirt that I've had - that's right, a skirt! I've been wearing pants forever because I  didn't like how I looked in dresses or skirts. I don't really have any heels but I guess I'll be looking for a pair soon :)

My word for this year is change and change is happening in lots of areas. Not just my size or my attitude about food and exercise. Change is happening at work and I have to believe that it's all good. A few months back, I asked God to help me change my life. I have tried to do it alone and never seemed to make any real progress. So, I prayed for Him to change me and change some other areas in my life. One of which was the situation at work with the co-worker that I've had to fill-in for because she's never there. Well, last week, we found out she won't be back. Which is no surprise, except that I'm glad it's finally permanent and that management is looking to hire someone and re-vamp her job, mine, and another co-workers to make the work-flow more even. I'm excited to see what is to come. I know that God is working on me and I put my faith in Him.

Oh, and I'm still getting up every morning to do the elliptical and in the afternoon, too. And Sydney gets her walk everyday. All this activity feels fantastic!

Have a great week and take care.

Celebrate!

This was overall, a good week. I went to the doctor. Not a big deal to some of you, but I tend to avoid going. One of my goals this year is to be better at meeting my regular doctor visits. So while I was there, I scheduled a mammo (since my last one was in 2006 *gasp* I didn't know it had been that long, sheesh) so that is what's lined up for Tuesday next week. Anyway, my lab results came in and I felt like shouting the good news from here to Alaska. Most improved was my blood sugar and my HDL. My HDL had been 29 in October and is now at 38! My total cholesterol and triglycerides were good. Blood pressure was good and EKG was very good. Exercise is paying off in more ways than one, for sure.

Aside from the good lab results, here's another cause for celebration this week - for the first time in probably 25 years, I weigh under two hundred! Woo Hoo! I'm in that place often referred to as "one-derland." I didn't think I'd ever want to call it that, but it has a nice sound to it now that it applies to me, lol. I'm not that far into the one-hundreds, but 198 sounds so much better than 2-something. Change is happening!

Last but not least, my birthday is Sunday, January 15th (I share that day with Martin). I'll be 55. Wow. I don't feel older. Just better. I had wanted to do something outdoors, but kayaking for the first time in January might not be fun. We've had some very cold temps here lately and the water might be a bit too cold so I think I'll save that for Spring.

Lee wanted to see my entryway redo. So here is a picture.

 It's clean and simple. I bought this little set from Home Depot and put it together myself. I love assembling things. In fact, last night I went to Ikea and got new chairs for the dining room and I'll be putting those together after some house cleaning today.

Link I'm loving: 7 Little Habits That Can Change Your Life, and How To Form Them

Have a great weekend!

Change

I finally decided on my word for 2012. I was trying to come up with some poetic, fancy schmancy word but got tired of searching. So I spent some time thinking about what I want this year and what I really want is change.  I want to change a lot of things. My thinking. My attitude. My life. Me.

That's a lot to change, isn't it? But I've already started changing how I view losing weight. I think I've finally figured out that it's really not about the just dieting. It's about how I feel about myself. And lately, I've been having this vision of myself as athletic. Now, stop laughing don't laugh, I don't mean athletic in the competitive sense, but athletic in the sense that being active is second nature. I want being active to become a habit like brushing my teeth. I want to be active and not just walking and biking. I want to get out, join in and participate! I've hidden behind my weight for so long and I'm ready to get back to the matter of living. A couple of goals I have in mind for this year are:  kayaking, hiking, camping out, and whatever else I can get myself in to. I'm thinking of signing up for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer that will be here in Houston in April. Sounds like a fun, crazy, two day time. If anyone is planning on walking it, let me know.

It's one thing to talk about change. But if you change nothing, nothing will change. So, I listened to Mizfit about becoming a morning exerciser and Tuesday through Friday I got myself up early and did 10 minutes on the elliptical before going to work! Then when I got home from work, after taking Sydney for her walk, I did 15 minutes more. Monday, I just got up earlier than usual to get a feel for how much time I'd need to exercise and get ready for work. And the best part is...I liked it! Yay!

Change is hard. But change will happen when we make it happen.

Today (Saturday) I put together a new entryway table and two little lamps. I had looked around at my house over the holidays and realized that I haven't really cared about how things looked. Well, that's changing, too. Clearing clutter and getting rid of stuff I don't need has been a daily thing for me over the last couple of weeks. And it feels good.

Hope you are having a great weekend. Be good to yourself.

Hello 2012!

Here it is, the first day of a brand new year. Twenty-twelve. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

All in all, last year went well. We had some losses - two pets. My son moved back for a short time so that I could help in the care of his dog, Colby. It was a trying time and finally, in the end, my son had to take him and have him put down (I hate that term, but can't think of any other way to say it). He took him by himself, that's how he rolls. He had that dog for 15 years. They were a great team and Colby will be missed for a very long time.

Colby

Our cat, Flower, also died last year. She was old and had always enjoyed living outdoors. She would only come in for a few minutes to get a little love and then be on her way. She was 17 years old. I still find myself looking for her when I drive up the driveway.

Flower

In September, I started using Medifast to get some weight off. I'd tried everything - low carb, southbeach, low-fat, low-cal, protein shakes. You name it, I think I tried it all. I just couldn't seem to get my head in the right place to seriously make a difference. Lots of yo-yoing. So, in my terms, I needed to do something drastic. A couple of women at work were going to a medifast clinic and losing weight regularly. I knew the clinic was too expensive for me but found out you could order it online. So, I ordered a couple of weeks worth. It was easy, I didn't have to think about what to eat. It is pre-measured, and portable. Now, 48 lbs later, I think I made the right choice. I'm moving more and feeling good about myself again. I'm learning that a gluten free diet is much better for me and that I don't have to eat large servings of food to be satisfied. This may not work for everyone, but it's what works for me. So, combined with what I've lost so far on Medifast and what I lost while struggling on my own the past couple of years, I've lost 83 pounds and counting!

I spent a lot of last year waiting. Waiting to do things "when I've lost more weight." Waiting for my son to get his stuff out of his old room. Waiting for my mother while she reads every label in the store while we are shopping. Waiting for co-workers to step up and do their own job. Waiting for death to come for our dear sweet dog and cat. Waiting...for a creative mood to strike.

Enough of the waiting, already. This year, and I don't have word for it yet, but there will be no more waiting. There will be living. Lots of living!

I wish you the best of all that makes you happy and bright in the new year! I hope blessings follow you everywhere you go. Thanks for being here and I hope we get to know each other even better this year.