Random Ranting Brought on by Earth Hour Blackout

I'm sitting at my table writing this out by candle light. I know it's silly but it is my way to respect our earth. One wonders if it really makes a difference to turn out our lights for an hour but at least in my head it shows that I care, even if it doesn't do much. The funny thing is that even if I was doing it for the earth I also found it to be very therapeutic. There is something about sitting in the dark with no background noise and just letting your thoughts run.

I think that we should all make time to be alone with our thoughts. Our world races by so fast that we hardly have time to notice. Being a history major I tend to look to the past with a strange respect that probably paints it with rose coloured glasses, but I do think there are aspects from the past that we could use now a days. I have often said I was born in the wrong era. But as I learn more about myself this thought is changing. What I really want is to bring some of the old traditions and values back not to move back to another era.

If I could bring anything to our present day from the past, in terms of values, it would be the sense of time. More specifically time for the individual and the family. I think the world would benefit by slowing things down and focusing on taking time for the things that really matter. If we took time to cook together, eat together, and just be together I personally think we would have fewer lost people. I know for me personally that the lost disconnected feelings have led to a lot of over eating to try and compensate. This is also seen when just watching people. Everyone seems to be searching for something and trying to connect, leading them to do silly things some of the time.

I know the idea of being connected sounds a bit strange coming from me, the queen of being independent and on my own, but I think that having some sort of family closeness and connections, as well as a sense of community would help the world immensely. We would probably have fewer issues and problems in a lot of different areas. It would make the world a better place.

Wow, ok off my soapbox. Totally random rant, but what can I say sometimes my brain just goes blah and spews words and thoughts. I do want to share some good news with you though. In spite of not being able to get all my work outs in and a chocolate fountain at work, I was still able to lose 2.6 pounds this week. This means I am on track for hitting 50 pounds for my birthday. Yah.

Anyway with that I leave you. Find some time to listen to yourself think. Silence although scary can be very worth it. Maybe your brain is ready to spew as well.

Most Powerful Weapon/Muscle....Your Mind!

Last night as I was trying to fall asleep I let my mind wander and it went to trying to figure out what I should write in my blog today. I realized that there was one topic that was on my mind most of the week and it seemed rather fitting, the power of my mind. I know it seems cliche and new agey but I'm starting to realize that all those times I heard it being said or had it told to me that they may have been right.

Now those of you who know me, know that I don't believe in much but when I do it is because of careful thought and reason behind it. So where, you might be asking, is my latest revelation coming from? Well that is simple, work. As much as I may complain about my job, and as much as I may dread going, I will admit it has taught me a lot about myself. This week while listening to everyone go on about their colds and various other ailments I realized that anyone that was a hypochondriac would end up sick just from working there and listening to it all. Then low and behold I started to feel run down and like I was catching something. I don't get sick, this is what I have always claimed and I believe it (it's hard not to when the last time you even had a cold was Jan '09...and for those smart asses reading this I don't count food poisoning...LOL). The run down feeling lasted until last night (Friday). When I got home, I got on my treadmill as I always do and felt wonderful. I no longer felt like I was catching the cold that is going around. Coincidence...maybe, but I think it's the power of my mind. Away from all the symptoms of everyone else I had nothing else influencing my mind and could believe in my own thoughts no matter how twisted or crazy they may be. Once again I believed that I do not get sick and therefore felt better.

So what does all this have to do with my weight loss journey, well that's simple. In order to get to my goal I have to believe in it. Last time I tried to lose weight I kept saying that I believed I could, but never actually believed it. I thought that it would only be a matter of time before I would gain it back. This time around I believe with all my heart and soul that I am meant to lose my weight and meant to reach this goal. I believe to my very core that it is no longer impossible. While I'm working out I picture myself hitting goals. I physically see myself getting my 5 pound stickers from Weight Watchers or climbing up more mountains. I can see myself skinny. It is so vivid it is like it is actually happening which pushes me on further. This belief also carries me through the not so good days, because even if I'm having a bad day I still believe that I'm meant to do this in spite of any bad days that may get in the way.

Our minds are truly powerful. If you get up in the morning and say it's going to be a bad day it will be, but if you get up and say that it will be great and put a smile on your face it will be. It may not be the solution to all of our problems but I have been converted to thinking that my mind effects every part of what I'm doing. If I get up thinking I don't want to work out or that I'm too tired to work out when I start it's hard and it does not feel as good. If I get up and think that I'm excited to work out and ready to go than I am able to push myself further and I fly through my work outs. It doesn't make everything easier physically because it's the same workout whether you want to do it or not but it does mean I'm not caring the burden of negativity. Negativity weighs you down while positivity pulls you up.

So my thought for the week is for those of you who are struggling, just keep telling yourself you can make it. Tell yourself over and over so many times that it sinks into your mind, your heart and your soul. Once it twists itself into your being it will give you the drive to keep pushing forward. It may not be the whole solution but if it makes it a little bit easier, maybe it is worth a shot. The stronger you believe in something that more real it is and the harder it is for anyone else to convince you of something else.

Imagine...Believe...Achieve

I found the above image while I was searching for possible new tattoos and it spoke to me. It seemed like a good image to include in this blog as this blog entry marks my one year mark since I vowed to change my life for the better.

I did well with my weight loss losing 3.6 pounds, as well as almost getting my 25 pounds lost and I was also able to work out every day minus yesterday. It's funny though because even though I did well, I feel like it was a hard week for me. I found myself feeling sorry for myself because of how much work and effort it takes to fix my life. I think the scary thing is about what I'm doing now is what I will always have to do it. I know that eventually it will be easier but it is still a hard thing to accept. In order to give myself the life I want I have to change the way I've been living it. Logic says that it will get easier but for now I just keep plugging away at it. At least I got a positive result for all my hard work. It proves that even if doing that right thing sucks it can pay off.

So although this is a short entry please take the message 'imagine, believe and achieve' with you. Make it your own. Pick your goal and dream that it is possible. Write it down make it real. Believe that it is possible. Take that belief and turn it into action. Find the steps you need to make your dreams come true. It won't always be easy but anything is possible. If we are all willing to make it happen we will achieve every dream we have always wanted. I know that I have a lot of support and I am sending my support back to you all. Let's all imagine, believe and achieve together. This time next year we can celebrate our successes.

I Climbed a Mountain

This week has been a phenomenal week, and I’m excited to share it. I have a list of goals that I want to accomplish both weight related and non weight related. The list ranges from every 5 pound increment I have to lose until I reach my 250 pounds to going ice skating again or being able to get on a plane and not need a seatbelt extension, ect. It is a wide ranging list that is a list in two columns over three pages. (I highly recommend to anyone that you start such a list...I find it really motivating especially when I get to check them off.)

Anyway, as you have probably guessed now I was able to cross off yet another one of my goals this week. There is a mountain on Vancouver Island called Mount Tzouhalem that my dad regularly goes hiking on with a friend of his. He has also taken both my brother and my sister to the top off it, but I had never been asked to go, and I had never asked if I could go thinking I couldn’t do it. This week while visiting my mom though Dad actually asked if I wanted to go and I jumped at the opportunity. I was nervous about it because I knew it was going to be tough but Dad was willing to take his time so that I could do it. So Dad and I went on a hike, which is something we haven’t done probably since I was in high school. Anyway the hike was challenging but not too hard. There were parts that were quite steep but nothing that was impossible. There were a couple spots that I wasn’t sure I would be able to do but I took my time and was able to make it. We got to the top (well it’s not quite the top but close enough...the top apparently doesn’t have a view because of trees) and I felt amazing. The view was gorgeous even though the day was a bit cloudy. I think the highlights of the hike besides making it were 1) the area nearing the top that was full of rock figures, sort of like the Inukshuks of the Olympics and 2) the salamander I nearly stepped on but didn’t when we were coming down. I know strange things to be excited about but it was cool. The rock figures just look neat the way they stand amongst the trees and it was fun to take a few minutes to try and build one. The salamander was super cute. I made my dad move him off the path so no one else would almost step on him (because I almost did step on him) and then I took a few pictures. It was a great day and one of the highlights of my whole vacation to visit my parents.

Here are a few photos from the trip. The first is me at the top and the second is taken from below the mountain. The tiny red box is where the first picture was taken to give you a bit of an idea how high up I was :-) The third is me with Cowichan Bay in the background.





The only down side to this week was my weigh in today. Unfortunately I was up 1.6 pounds. *pout* Of course when you consider that I had two surprise birthday’s (Mom’s and my sister’s) and I was travelling I can’t really complain about the weight gain. I know that I wasn’t able to get my work outs in and I wasn’t tracking my food. I knew getting up this morning that I would weigh heavy. So now for the next week I’m going to work extra hard to get my works outs in as well as track everything I eat. As soon as I do that I know that my weight will drop next week and hopefully with any luck I will be able to hit my 25 pounds down. I would like to hit 50 pounds down for my birthday, although that might be a bit of a lofty goal as it’s only 7 weeks until the weigh in before my bday. For now though my world gets back to normal now that 40th and 60th birthdays are done and celebrated.