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I am using Bob Harper's book ARE YOU READY as my guide thru this lifestyle change and so I am claiming him as 'MY' coach.....

Ali Vincent WON the BIGGEST LOSER title last season and she is my inspiration and one of my groups is the PINK team following a Biggest Loser type challenge.... ( I forgive ya Ali for going with Jillian ...)

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Ali lost over 112 lbs and 48% of her Body weight to be the first every WOMAN BIGGEST LOSER ---goooooo Ali! The Power of PINK!!!

 

 

The dreams you choose to believe in come to be.
When you feel in your innermost being
that you will achieve what you set out to do,
you open the way for miracles.

Choose to believe something good can happen.
Expecting it to happen energizes your goal
and actually gives it momentum.
What you expect to happen, happens.

If you expect to succeed, you’ll succeed.

 Copyright 2008 www.yourdailymotivation.com
Reproduce freely but maintain Copyright notice.

Does this ( the above motivational moment) sound a bit ’to simple’....???
I admit after a while these type of reminders really do sound redunant and over simplified. But wait a moment, Debbie old gal, and  think about it!

What you expect to happen, happens.

I’ve gotta admit this is true, how many times have I said something is ’never going to change’ and...

 it hasn’t? 

Or how many times have I said, sure I lost 20 pounds but I won’t be able to keep it off and ...

I didn’t!

What you expect to happen, happens...

sorta like the person who said,

" If you say you can, or you say you can’t...you are correct!"

There is something not quite right in my thinking when I get what I expect because...

 I expect LESS THAN THE BEST that life has to offer me!???

I gladly expect nothing but the VERY BEST for YOU or the rest of my family, yet when it comes to myself I find myself setting limitations. 

 Maybe because I can then rationalize ...

’ If I don’t expect much, I won’t be disappointed.’

Yet I DO believe in a God that desires the very best for each and every one of us.

 So why limit things when it comes to myself?

Each day I must greet the new possibilities and look for the BEST possible outcomes. 

 Does that mean every day will go ’perfect’ or everything I desire will come to pass today?

No, of course not!

But I can expect the best possible possibilities and outcomes!

I can expect to see progress towards my goals even though they haven’t been accomplished in full (yet).

I can expect to find a warm smile, helping hand or word of encouragement.

I can also expect to find opportunities to share a smile, a helping hand or word of encouragement ( rather than voicing negatives, joining in pity parties, or tearing someone down).

"What you expect to happen, happens."

"If you expect to succeed, you’ll succeed..........."

So expecting the best possible outcomes means to expect success and if I expect success I will succeed just if YOU expect Success, YOU will succeed!

Makes the Journey new and exciting again doesn’t it?

Then let the Journey Continue!

The first ingredient of your success is to dream a great dream.
You must dream big and think big to be big.
High expectation always precedes high achievement.

You’re as small as your controlling desires,
or as great as your dominant aspirations.
Once your mind stretches to a new idea
it will never go back to its original dimensions.

If you dream of little goals you can expect little achievement.
Dream of big goals and you’ll win big success.

 Copyright 2008 www.yourdailymotivation.com  
Reproduce freely but maintain Copyright notice.

What are YOUR ’Big Dreams’?????

For myself, I’ve always dreamed of being a healthy weight and having unlimited stamina and energy to enjoy the things I want to do and to especially keep up with the grandbabies!

BUT-until recently, I didn’t really EXPECT to ever get the weight off or make any real significant changes.  After all the majority concensus in my family was we are ALL ’big’ and will ’never’ loose weight -that’s just genetics-just the way it is....( * OK, I’ve since begun to realize this is stinkin thinkin and poor rationalization at best!)

As the above author mentions..."High expectation always precedes high achievement."

I achieved exactly what I EXPECTED to achieve in the past .....little or no lasting results!

OF late though, through educating myself with resources and information at Sparkspeople and at the BLC site, I’ve learned I CAN obtain a healthier lifestyle as long as I’m willing to pay the cost! 

NO...not big bucks to a ’system’ or weight loss ’center’.....not even big bucks for a ’miracle pill’.

The cost I must be willing to pay is the cost to EMBRACE CHANGE and DO THE WORK I need to do MENTALLY as well as PHYSICALLY to get it done!

I’ve got to be willing to pay the cost of upsetting the status quo not only in my life but in my family as my family begins to realise that change is
 possible for me, then it begins to disrrupt their comfort levels as well.

"....If you dream of little goals you can expect little achievement.....
Dream of big goals and you’ll win big success..."

I’m expanding my dreams and expectations this year and I’m EXPECTING to see success!

How about YOU?

The Journey Continues......

This past year as I’ve joined in with the BLC and other wonderful support teams in my quest to lose this weight the healthy way, a friend began reminding us to EMBRACE CHANGE.

Funny isn’t it that for the most part we experience change as a scarey or at best uncomfortable situation?

Some changes, such as devestating illness like cancer, or an unexpected death of someone close to us we have no way of controling. Yet the more we fight agaist it the tighter it becomes entangled in our ability to move ahead.

Even good change cause stress!  Studies have shown that planned, great changes such as a birth of a new baby, getting married, or accomplishing a hard sought goal produces the same levels of stress in most cases as the ’bad’ stress of illness, death of family or job loss!

By EMBRACING Change we acknowledge that it is a part of who we are
( so ’good or bad’ change becomes less relevant).  Emrace Change for what it is and we begin to merge it into our being and find a way to use it to progress and move ahead.

EMBRACE CHANGE --- What does that mean to YOU?

Everyone of us will interpret it differently. As we should . It means to Embrace those things that make us who we are or who we are in the process of becoming!

For me to Embrace Change means to not let the stress of making changes for a positive lifestyle detour me from that goal.   I choose to embrace the fact that the changes I am making does and will impact those around me.  Some are supportive, some skeptical and yes, some even uncomfortable enough to try and hinder the journey.  Yet, in Embracing Change I choose to keep moving ahead and accepting all that change encompasses knowing that there really in no ’end’ to change, simply a progression.

Embrace the Change in YOUR life. 

The journey continues......

Vince Abner once observed,

"Vision isn't enough-it must be combined with VENTURE.  It is not enough to stare up the steps; we must STEP UP THE STAIRS."

To move from desire to action, plan your FIRST steps. THEN get going!

For YEARS I had a vision or 'dream' in the back of my mind of being fit and healthy, having the stamina and energy to truely enjoy life and the zeal to keep up with the grandkids as they came along. 

 Yet for YEARS....I stared at the dream.....

 'stared up the steps, as it were....' and WAITED.......

I waited for the right time, the right place, the motivation....the support.  A good horoscope prediction, guaruntees of success, an easy way out...

  I Waited for a sunny day, a cloudy day, MODAY or the weekend to begin.....

Each week, month, year I remained 'staring up the stairs'......

As the grandbabies began to arrive I realized I had to step up....grasp the plan....and GET MOVING...to VENTURE out of the comfort zone...that trench I'd worn at the foot of the 'stairs' that led to my dreams and BEGIN......

The first few steps back in July 2007 were terrifying, uncertain and shakey at best.  But a funny thing began to happen...

 As I began the VENTURE up the stairs with that first uncertain shakey step....I began to find the support, motivation and encouragement I'd been waiting for. 

I found that TODAY is the day to BEGIN. 

 EVEN now 6 months into the journey....

TODAY is the day to begin just as tomorrow will be the day to BEGIN a fresh new start. 

Begin to build on the victories of today or learn from the lessons of yesterday but BEGIN.

  It doesn't matter the length of your journey or the speed in which you complete it as long as you BEGIN each day taking one step closer to the finish line.

WE become our own biggest obstacles when we get tangled up in the 'HOW to Begin' logic. 

SIMPLY take that first step....then keep it going one day, one moment, one step at a time.  The next step, support or direction will appear only as you move forwards towards your goals.

Tomorrow morning join me in BEGINNING ....

Here's to the Journey!

Be Blessed,
Debbie

DAILY ACCOUNTABILITY CHECK: Sat.- September 22,2007

Did you stick to your calorie range YES
Did you get at least 64 oz water? 140 oz
Did you have at least 5 fruits and veggies? YES
Have you planned for tomorrow? Yes
How much cardio did you get in? 60 min
How much non-cardio did you get in? 20 min

How much strength training did you do? 20min

Did you do any challenges today? Yes: 300 stairs
How many steps did you get in? 10,456
Did you journal feelings and food? Yes

YES: All Threads
YES: Journal
YES: Food

Cardio: 60 min/ 30 hills work, 30 Gazelle…unsure about the possible 15 minute diff so only claiming 60 total.
Plus 300 stairs ( 5 sets of 60)
JJ (modified) 100
Crunches: 100
Squats: 100
Push Ups: 100 (modified-desk ups)
STEPS (Pedo) 10,456

Double Trouble -Lunge with 3 pound barbells.=100
Challenges: Foxy Ladies arms/squats = 100 desk-ups/100 squats
Journal Junkies: .....to be done Tuesday


* * The 'difference' mentioned under my cardio minutes is because I walked/ slogged (slow jog)the hills in my neighborhood for 2 miles but neglected to check my time when I left. My mother says she thinks I was gone 30 minutes, but those hills were tough and I think it was more like 45 minutes...good cardio workout but still grabbed a session on the Gazelle to make sure I had at least an hour in. That also wasn't counting the STAIRS in with cardio either as I don't 'time them' though they are a workout

My first Boot Camp at the Biggest Loser Club ends today and the NEXT one starts tomorow!!!

PHEW! .......This one started August 17th.  Since that time, I have lost over 17 inches according to the measurements taken then and this morning...and and 13 pounds!  ( 21 pound loss altogether since joining BLC)

In the past 6 week I have exercised CONSISTENTLY for the first time EVER and pushed myself beyond anything I thought I could do.  The first week, I thought...WHAT have I gotten myself into? LOL...

But with the motivation and encouragement of an awesome team, I not only 'survived' but was signing up for the next without a moment's hesitation!

Not every day do I give 100% to the plan...but everyday I do SOMETHING to get a step closer to my goal to lose 112-120 pounds!

There are still many days I don't 'feel like' exercising or putting thought and effort into making the smart CHOICES but....I'm DOING it because I'm finally 'getting' the realization that the mind games are the biggest stumbling block to me losing and keeping the weight of! ( Gee it only took me what 30 plus or more years??)

I am so thankful that the good Lord put me in the right place BLC at the right time ( NOW) to get moving in the right direction!

DAILY ACCOUNTABILITY CHECK: Wensday September 19,2007

Did you stick to your calorie range YES
Did you get at least 64 oz water? 100 plus oz
Did you have at least 5 fruits and veggies? YES
Have you planned for tomorrow? yes
How much cardio did you get in? 60 min
How much non-cardio did you get in? 30
How much strength training did you do?30
Did you do any challenges today? yes: 500 Stairs/ 30 dolphins
How many steps did you get in? 10,377
Did you journal feelings and food? no

Water: 100 plus
total cardio: 60 min
STEPS: 10,377
30 dolphins
STAIRS: 500
Crunches: 100
Squats 75

Will post Today's Accountabilty tomorrow as well as the final numbers from Boot Camp.....

Wow ...it has been sometime since I've blogged here.

Life has been majorly 'busy' around here lately.

Grandma has been in the hospital twice in 6 weeks staying a week each time. Thankfully she is home now and doing pretty well, still at almost 95 (Sept 23rd) she is slowing down much as she hates to admit it!  She goes back to the doctor tomorrow for follow up!

My doggie-Wrinkles died a few weeks ago too ( between Grandma's hospital trips) ....not going to get any new dog or puppy for a while as it would be underfoot and grandma is shakey enough these days already.  Still no doubt will get another one day.

I've not had a chance to do much writing at Associated Content or anywhere else lately.  There still ARE only so many hours in a day and I am sensing the need to step back from a few things and work on 'Project Debbie' for a while.

At... * 50 something ....I'm not getting any younger and unless I start doing something to improve my own health I'll be in no shape to help anyone else!  so, to that end, I've joined Biggest Loser Club with a goal to drop 50 pounds by New Year's.  I need to lose more than that but that would be a BIG step in the right direction.

Glad to see a few visitors here on this sorely neglected page....

Hope y'all come back and leave a note to let me know you stopped by!!!!

((((hugs)))

Debbie

Since July 10th, I've lost as of this morning 12.4 pounds.  My 'mini-goal' is to lose 15 by my birthday the 6th of September so looks like its within sight! 

Boy, I am keeping busy, busy, busy!

Thanks to Associated Content I am making money for doing what I love to do!!! WRITE

I'm also teaching an online Writing For Children Class as well so I am at the computer at least 12 hours/ day.  It drives my family a bit bonkers...

OK, it drives my 94 year old grandma totally bonkers as she doesn't get the technology idea that allows you to work from home and get paid without ever receiving a check 'in the mail' or having to go to the bank.  In her eyes if you don't have 'real' cash in hand, you don't have 'real money'.

Guess at a certain age in lfe technology ceases to make sense!

Interested in writing for AC?  Check out this link:

          Write & Make Money!

This is Jonathon Jr and his baby sister, Jaden Lee

and

This is Miss Jaden Lee hamming it up for the camera already!

OK...off to write more articles ....someone please come read them here!!!

    CAN YA? WILLYA ? DIGG A FEW?

Well, I'm officially 'published' on the Associated Contents site and  Was My Face Red!  when that motorcycle just rode off!!!!

You can click the link to go there and read it for yourself.  A true experience that happened YEARS and years and years ago, but which the family still gets a laugh at sharing with 'newcomers' to the clan!

My articles at Helium are upwards to 60...some still need views, the pennies in my penny jar there are getting lonely.  Click here  to See what I've written lately!

I also received my first official REJECTION letter from a magazine this week, but hey, I'm sending the same story elsewhere and it just may find a 'home' yet....LOL.

Such is the life of a freelance writer...wanna be fiction writer!

GOOD, bad or ugly it all goes out and settles somewhere.

Write, write, write some more and if all else fails....BLOG IT!!!

Be Blessed!