Take Me out to the Ball Game

Happy Friday Everyone!  What are your plans this weekend?  Is anyone getting out in their yard and gardening like me!?  I am so excited to get my other two window baskets up and get all of my flowers planted.  Tell me what you're excited about this weekend!?


Last night I went with friends to a Twins game and it was wonderful!  It was a cooler night and slightly overcast, but it wasn't blazing hot and it didn't rain, so I can't complain.  A group of us from work go to a Twins game every year and it is a lot of fun.  I was bummed that Ron couldn't go this year because he had school, but I took one of my best friends Kelsey who is also one of my maids of honor.

We always go to the Imperial Room downtown beforehand because they have a FREE mashed potato bar, amazing buffalo chicken strips with homemade blue cheese and cheap drinks for happy hour.  I am proud to say that I looked all of these temptation's in the eye and went a completely different and healthier direction.  I had a water and half of a quesadilla with half the amount of cheese.  It was really good and in all honesty I was so busy being social that I didn't even miss the food or alcohol.


When we got to the stadium I was once again tempted by delicious warm french fries, ice cream helmets filled with crunchy and sweet toppings, hot dogs, snow cones, peanuts... okay you get it.  I could go on forever.  I literally stood 100 feet away from my friends who were in line and faced the field and not the concession stands because I knew that right now that was my only choice.  I am not going to sit here and pretend like my will-power is iron clad.  It is far from it. 


I was able to fight temptation the entire game despite everyone around me indulging in ballpark goodies.  It felt really good.  It is a small step in a long journey, but it is one that will help me build up my strength and willpower.

I have to stop and tell myself that a moment happiness now is not worth sacrificing a lifetime of happiness in the future.

All too often I have fallen into the category of,  "it is just one ice cream cone, it is only one thing of french fries."  Or else I will say to myself, "I can always start this tomorrow or on Mondy."  The classic line lie that I tell myself is, "This will be so much easier when this event is over, or when we're done moving, or when we don't have so many parties to go to."  Blah.  Excuses make me sick. I am sick of my excuses and I am really sick of being fat.  I know that losing weight is never wasy.  I know that there isn't a better time than now.  I know that I am in control of myself and my actions and what I put in my mouth.  I know if I don't lose this weight now I may never do it because life will get more difficult and I will get more discouraged with each pound I gain.  So the time is now.  There is no better time than the present and I am taking control of my life and my eating habits.  I have the willpower to say no and the power to win this battle once and for all.

Donuts and Bridesmaids

Happy Friday everyone?  Was this the longest week on record?  I seriously felt like I was crawling to get to this point.  It could also be because I have a serious case of Spring fever.  The other day it was still semi light at 5:00 PM and I immediately started to daydream of rooftop patios, being at the lake, working out outside, etc.  I need this snow to melt already!  This is probably wishful thinking as I live in Minnesota and sometimes it snows in April, so I shouldn't get too ahead of myself.

Today was someone's last day at work and they brought in donuts.  Not just regular old donuts, but donuts the size of your head with sprinkles and even.... an apple fritter.  I went into the break room and filled my water bottle.  I sat at the opposite table and smelled the donuts.  Yum.  They smelled absolutely delicious.  I walked out of the room and sat down.  10 minutes later I was still thinking about donuts.  I walked back in to the break room.  Apple fritter was gone.  I decided sprinkles sounded good.  I cut the giant donut in half, so now probably only 400 calories instead of 800, haha.  I looked at it, was just about to pick it up and I RAN out of the room.  I walked to my desk, picked up my bowl, filled it will oatmeal and put it in the microwave.  I walked back and ate it.  After 10 minutes I was full, satisfied and not thinking about donuts.  WIN!

Anyway,  what does your weekend look like?  Playing workout games on your gaming system?  Hitting the gym hard?  Grocery shopping?  Okay, that is my weekend, but maybe some of you are doing similar things?  I have a happy hour after work (already looked at the menu to decide what to eat) and no alcohol.  I then have a birthday party at a bowling alley tonight.  Tomorrow is a big day of wedding stuff.  We are going to look at a couple more venues and we are also asking our bridesmaids and groomsmen to be in our wedding.    How did you guys ask people?  Just walk straight up and ask them?  Did you write them a nice card?  Give them something?  I have an idea of what I want to do, but I always welcome advice.  So tell me how you asked people to be in your wedding!?

Have a safe, healthy weekend.  Remember the next 180 days (6 months) will come quickly.  Will you be closer to your goal?  or maybe even at your goal?  Don't look in the mirror in July and say, "I wish I would have started sooner!"

What Keeps You on Track?

You know that feeling that you get when a craving kicks in.  When you are hungry and your stomach is growling.  You are in a rush and you need to make a decision about food.  Your head may say, get a donut.  It might also say get a McDonald's breakfast sandwich.  Well, this morning donuts and sausage biscuit sandwiches tempted me.  They called out my name and said, just do it... you can always get back on track later.  FALSE.

Some days our willpower is stronger than others.  Today, mine was a brick wall, no one was ruining my healthy plan.  I walked right past the donuts and drove right past two McDonald's.  I didn't even look back once.  So, my question is, "what keeps you on track."  When you want to derail and succumb to your craving what is something that picks you up and keeps you focused and on track?

For me, I stay focused for a lot of reasons.  The first one, because it is the closest is because I am going to Florida in two months.  Swimsuits, dresses and shorts.  Airplanes (yuck), amusement parks and swimming pools.  I want to look better in my pictures this year than I did last year in Hawaii.  More than that I want to feel better than I did last year.  Next thing, I have five weddings to go to this year.  I want to look great in the outfits that I wear and feel comfortable.

One of the major reasons is because I know one year from now I will be trying on wedding dresses.  I want to look and feel my best.  My sister and several other brides that I know have said, "I wish I would have pushed my self to be as healthy as I could be in my wedding dress."  I know people have had to get gowns that they didn't want to because they weren't at their comfortable weight.  I don't want to have that problem.

One of the last things that keeps me on track is other people noticing that I am losing weight, complimenting me or telling me that I have inspired them in some way.  Yesterday, one of my co-workers wrote to me and said,

"I don’t know why or how it finally happened where I finally couldn’t stand what I was doing to myself, but it happened.  I am more focused than I have ever been and I just wanted to thank you for being inspirational in my journey to good health.  We work in a bldg with food everywhere, and it is worse for you, because you are like 50 feet away from it.  I admire your willpower, strength and determination to do this, despite all the obstacles.  It will make you an even stronger person in the long run, it just kind of stinks right now.  Feel free to call me to be there for you whenever you feel down and “emotionally hungry”.  I have a little note on my computer “If hunger is not the problem, food is not the solution”.  And since food hasn’t helped that so far, I’m trying something different this time."

I was very touched by this.  Someone that I work with noticed my actions and was able to positively change something in her life as a result.  It is the ultimate pay it forward.  This is the kind of kind words that keeps me motivated.  When you think that it is not just about you, but that someone else looks up to you or notices your hard work you want to continue on even more.  I have never been more motivated in my life.  I have my friends and family supporting me.  I have co-workers who admire me and my willpower.  I also have all of you following the ups and downs and keeping me in check.

So, today you should tell someone that you admire them.  That you are motivated by their actions and determined to live the healthy lifestyle that the are striving for.  You just may say the words that keeps them on track and helps them with a roadblock on their journey!  :)