Sunday, September 28, 2008

Another goal reached!

Looking back and remember the feeling of no hope I didn't think I would ever see the day when I would wear my size 14's again. Before I started with Paul Mckenna's system I was in a size 22/24 and the thought of seeing size 14 was so far out there.

I have learned much in this new journey of mine and making small goals along the way will bring you to the ultimate goal you first set out to hit. I can say I never imagined how great it would feel to have gone through this and it was all me. I have control and I love trust and listen to my body.

I have been keeping tabs on where my body is at. I keep trying on my size 14 jeans. Just a few weeks ago I was excited because I was able to get them up and on and zip and button them. Now today I am confortable to say that I am a size 14. I tried on them jeans and they fit comfortably enough where I feel I can actually wear them!

I never thought about size 12 or even 10. Now I am, my new goal will be 12's. And I know I can do it. I know I still have more weight to lose, but I have achieved so much that if I don't make it there for a while I am so happy with all that I have come through.

You always hear people say if I can do it you can to. I used to hate hearing that because I didn't believe in myself. I thought up all those silly excuses why I can't. I don't have time, I don't have the will power, I hate to exercise and so on.

Not anymore. I started to change my thinking. I want to be healthy for me & my family. I want to keep that passion of growing love going between me and my husband. I want to show everyone that thinks that it can't be done that it can be. My strength comes from my heart and I want people to see me and not the shell I used to hide under.

I love to exercise and I have never eaten this healthy in my life. It is all naturally happening. It is a miracle that came from me, not a pill or diet.

I've never been a size 10. I was in a size 12 for like one month in high school I'd love to be there or maybe pass that. We will see where my body wants me to be. One day at a time and go with the flow.

Jamie

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Getting rid of the clutter!

I know not dealing with the clutter that takes up room in my house is just eating away at me. I know putting things to one side to deal with later just makes things add up. If you think about it it shows all over you too.

With out dealing with it sooner it leaves time for dust to settle leaving it all the more harder to deal with. Learning that baby step and taking things slow, tackle one thing at a time.

So I wrote my list, first I just wrote down the things that bugged me most. Then I put them in order of which one needs to be done first. Thinking of daily life and when I am in the moment of getting tings ready what is the obstacle that is standing in my way and would make life just that much easier?

My bedroom was the number one. When we first built our house we had put our big desk in our master bed room. Then it got out of control trying to use the computer or do things at the desk. The desk was more of a dumping ground than anything. So, we got a laptop this past Christmas and got rid of the desk.

The problem wasn't completely solved because then there were the boxes that held all the stuff from the desk just sitting there in the corner waiting to be sorted. Of coarse the longer it sat the more we added to that pile of needing to be sorted stuff.

Yesterday was a great day. I had my list and I knew what I wanted to do first. Taking my new tools that helped me with food, I put them to use with cleaning. I hung a sign to remind me, I am cleaning the BED ROOM to be a bedroom not storage! So anytime I was tempted to give in and say I'll put this here and do it later, I'd look up and see it and it reminded me how great it will feel to have space to walk and have a bed room again!

To think all this is stemming from the basement, if I had never cleaned it out and started to organise things down there I wouldn't be able to find more storage space for thing. Now I can bring the al the clothes and sort them out in the basement were they wont be in the way and we have plenty of room to do it in now. We had 4 baskets of clothes that were either too small for the kids or needed to be stored for Gabby to use as she grows, even my pregnancy clothes. Do you know how great it felt to get the size 22 pants and frumpy clothes out of my way? I can't believe the amount of weight that has been lifted yet again.

Not only for tackling a couple of things on my list but for getting the scale out of my house! I even found an old scale it felt so great to be able to through it away! The other one I sent it of to my hubby's parents house. He's not ready to let it go yet. In time I am sure he will understand, I think we have gotten much better at complimenting and encouraging one another.

I also wrote myself reminders on my list. Things to think of because I know sometimes what I am thinking when going threw old things. How long has it been since we used this? Think, can you truly say you will use this with in the next year? You don't have to though everything away, you can put it in a yard sale, or simply donate it, just get it out!

Tackling one or two things once a week, or when I know I can handle it and not get over whelmed. That is key, because that is how the piles started in the first place. You go in all gunning for it and use up all your steam before the job is done and done right the first time.

Now I can take these feelings to the next thing on the list, just remember how great it feels to be getting things in order and get rid of the extra baggage.

Thank you for reading, and I hope I may have been of some help to others out there with clutter problems.

Be Well
Jamie

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Just thinking

Wow, I can't believe all that Paul Mckenna has to offer us. So many people out there like me that have struggled with weight and just can't find the magic to make it all just disappear. We all wanted some pill or something that would make us wake up the next morning to start with a fresh thin body because it would make life so much easier and happier.

Who would ever think that we have that magic built right inside of us? It's been there all along and we just kept on smothering it with mindless eating and dieting.

I have been catching myself as I walk by a mirror or see my reflection in a window, and say wow is that really me? I can't believe the changes and I am the one who did it! Last Saturday before my youngest daughter's first b-day party I was getting dressed and I was so excited because I was going to see people friends and family I haven't seen since Easter time. Not only to see what they might say about how my new shape is taking form but to see the real me starting to show from the inside.

I wasn't sure on which shirt to wear with my only size 16's I have, my capris,I wanted to be comfortable and not have something draped on and make me feel frumpy. I found an XL tank top (far from my 3X I've been wearing) I haven't worn in years and I felt good and was worried about how I could still see my top roll. Of coarse I was home with just my kids so it's not like they could reassure me or tell me if it looked like I painted my shirt on, I mean I knew it wasn't that bad but I always feel like I need others approval or opinions. So I stand there judging myself yet again, an old nasty habit. I stopped and really look. I started to get teary eyed and said Jamie what are you doing to yourself. Look at you, you look awesome. Just think how much fat isn't showing anymore and you feel it you know you do, your comfortable and you know you don' care what others think. You just lost 52 pounds in 5 months show it!

My mom came over to help me gather kids and stuff for the party up at her house and her face said it all when she first saw me. She basically said what I was thinking. So I felt even better after I had another opinion.

Every now and then I get this feeling like wow is this me? Is this really my body? I will reach to scratch my shoulder and acually feel a shoulder bone. Ya maybe still a little squishy but I can feel a bone. Or when I go to rub my eye or scratch my face and can actually feel my cheekbones or even just feel the difference in how it's not as squishy. Just taking little mental notes and letting them seep in is so motivating and makes me feel proud and with this new journey letting myself feel proud and happy for me, it's allowed.

I had to tighten up the draw strings again on my shorts today and that made me feel real good. I can't believe how much not only I have don e but for being able to witness that I am not alone. So many of us are going threw these changes and it's been so wonderful sharing it with all of you.

Wishing you well and a great journey
Jamie

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Ah it's so great

I am so happy to have gotten my hair cut. It was well deserved and fits well into the new me. I know I have kind of a goofy look on my face in my new picture. I was trying to take it myself and I felt silly no matter what I did my smile didn't look natural. So I did some silly faces and I think this was the better out of a few.

Thank you to all you lovely ladies for all your support and guidance. I can't wait to read more of your lovely blogs. Keep on writing!

Best wishes and always Smile!
Jamie

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

The kid in me

Wow, what a week I have had. I know it is Tuesday, but last Wednesday I started my new project. With the help of the ladies on the McKenna site, I have placed more puzzle peaces into my life puzzle.

Learning what was bothering me most emotionally and sharing it with everyone and getting support and comments to lift the fog from my cluttered brain. I can't thank them enough for informing me that I have a light and my light is shining threw it.

Moving on and smashing that brick made me feel so accomplished and so alive!

I have been keeping track of my daily steps, and tonight I will be totaling up the past 7 days steps and coming up with my average steps per day. I wanted to just move along as usual to get an accurate step count but the new feeling of me came out. It all came so naturally to start moving more and playing with the kids. I am starting to feel like a kid again.

Yesterday I just sat back and watch the kids play. They are all different ages and all have obstacles to work out, one trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. The other trying to figure out how that hula hoop is supposed the go around you, and not you moving within the hula hoop.

Things come so natural to kids, when they are hungry it come on slow. Like mummy I'm hungry and if I don't get to it soon, it turns it creaming and tantrums because their hunger is being ignored and uncomfortable. They want to go out and run around and can't get out. Lets run around and jump on the couch. Having the tv on or shoving food down doesn't accomplish taking care of those feelings. They play and learn at the same time. I am so blessed to be able to watch my children grow and learn from them.

I used to turn the tv on and let them play and wonder why wont just leave me alone I'm trying to get the dishes done or the laundry ect.

I have completely turned my life around for the better of me and my family. I came to realize that I can't get things done because they do come first. The dishes can wait a while longer, just go they want your positive attention for a little while. It may not look like it but they like it when rules are set and you stick to them. They are always testing to see what they can and can't get away with. Testing is a fun thing for them.

Telling my son to stop licking his hand and whipping on the baby's head, he gives me this look with a little smirk, like what are your gonna do about it? He licks his hand and has it hovering over her head getting closer and closer as I count to 5 and start getting up to go get him for a time out. I reach 4 and walking towards him, he quickly wipes his hand on his pants instead, ya that's what I thought.

Getting up and moving and playing with the kid. Exercising with them is much more enjoyable than not having them around. Watching them trying to lift the the 10 lbs weight up with all there might and such.

I figured you can't beat them than join them.

So find the kid in you and get up and move. Start out a little at a time. Try something new for 5 min, when you master it or feel confident add a little more to it.

The kid in me has spoken, thanks for listening.

Be Well Jamie

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Making life fun again!

Thanks to all the support on the Paul McKenna web site, I have been able to start chipping a way more pieces of the shell I have been hiding under.

I have started looking at my life the way I look at the world. I am getting better at treating myself, like how I treat others. It's a hard thing to do when your not used to respecting and complimenting yourself. How is your life supposed to change if you can't trust ans love yourself the way you love others?
So I put me in a clear box of frozen time. Visualising every thought that ventures in around my brain. I can see the clutter of fog that has nestled it's self so snug and cozy all over. What's causing it? and how the heck do I get rid f it?
Slowly I have started making changes in my life. Setting small goals for each week, and not getting depressed if it takes longer than a week. Day by day is worth a life time.
I've manged to clean out my basement of just about all the junk that's been sitting down there for about 2 years ago since we built our house. I never realized how much it really did bother me that that space being cluttered was cluttering a part of me.
I just went down and did it! At first I cleaned up little piles at a time and then one day I had this burst of energy and I went down and cleaned until I was done. It took me non stop 5 hours but I did it and I felt so excited it was done! The only thing left was to get rid of baby things and like 5 big bags of trash and 4 big bags of big/prego clothes.
Freeing up so much space in my basement gave new opportunity to turning my life around yet again. I was able to set up a play area for the kids and a small area for my work out stuff. So no more excuses that I can't bring the kids downstairs with me and I never have time to work out because of no space.
Yet another idea, my washer and dryer are down there, so I set up a table to fold the laundry on and to get more exercise out of my day, why not take one pile up at a time to put the clothes away. Not only was I getting exercise I am tackling another thing that bothered me most. I was always searching threw clean laundry basket for clothes that just never got put away. Now even if I don't get to putting them away right away they are folded on my table in the basement and another opportunity to use the stairs!
It's great finding new things that get you motivated and your mind starts to lift some of the fog. So take a look from out side the box approach to my life is continuing to help me achieve many things.
Setting new rules in my house and sticking to them is the best for me and my family. Limited tv time, I used to think that people were crazy, I couldn't survive without the tv being on for the kids. Not anymore I understand now why they say that. Just as anything else we are letting something other than "us" control our minds.
Which brings me to the scale. This week I set a new goal, a life long goal. Put away the scale and start trusting your self. No more weighing into the scale gods a couple days a week or every other week. But to help with getting my mind off of that I put my pedometer on for the first time yesterday to see just how many steps I do in a day.
Shannon gave me some great advise on how to set my goal. She said she marked down the total # of steps taken each day, then at the end of the week (7 days)add them all together and divide them by 7 and that will give you the average steps you take daily. The goal would be to add 500 steps a week until your body feels comfortable to working up to 10,000 steps a day.
I will be doing that and I decided to keep my scale where it is and I figured if I have a paper with the number of steps taken daily as motivation and look in the mirror for my morning pep talk and get my day started on a good note and weigh myself once a month.
Yesterday was a fun filled day! I reached over 10,000 steps, I made it to 10,734 steps! It wasn't hard and I had a blast playing with the kids. It was so enjoyable, not that feeling of pealing myself of a chair and sitting on the floor and let them pounce on me. I was running and playing catch and dancing to Hanna Montana, or the Wiggles. Life can be amazing if you think of all the possibilities you have right in front of you.

You have yourself a great day!
Jamie

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Finding ME!

I have started a new journey and my life is now thriving with new findings. I am finding me! Who I really am. It has been 4 and 1/2 months and I feel I have come a long way in such a short time.
In that time I have lost 48lbs and have a new look at how I have been living my life in a shell. I am learning more and more how to rid myself of my shell. The only way to fix me was to think way back to things that I had buried long ago.
You know when looking at kids and trying to put things simply worded so they can understand and find the correct feelings to match. Well I found that I remember when I was a kid, people were always saying she's over weight and she should start watching what she eats. I remember being at the doctors office and them handing my mom a paper of foods I should stick to and try and keep me away from junk and stuff.
I don't know of my sister and brothers struggles if they even had any with weight growing up. To me they always seemed able to take care of losing the weight and didn't seem much to fuss about back then. I just remember me, I was a kid and how they think. I had no clue what they meant about being over weight, I new I was bigger than other kids but I didn't know why. I can remember kids say oh, Jamie's strong look at her arms how big they are, and how big she is. It was nothing at the time, but when the remarks got harsher and harsher as got older I didn't know how to fix it. Burring myself deeper into a hole. I was already pretty shy but I think I felt safer with food and it helped me to pull away.
Just the other day I was talking with my mom a little about me new finding of my past on whats holding me back, and another thing that happened was I had told her was how I remember always being told I had to finish my food before I even thought of having dessert. I don't blame them because that is how they were raised and their parents were raised during the depression. Food is so readily available these days and the cheaper foods are junk. So no wonder we are all struggling. I also told her that I used to sneak up to the kitchen either when no one was around or sleeping and sneak food to me room. I don't know weather if it was my way of getting a thrill out of trying not to get caught or a way of trying to get attention. Watching my kids watch me and starting to notice little things like because something is there it needs to be eaten. I knew I was really struggling and need to fix it so that my kids don't suffer the way I have.
So, the begging of March I watched on TLC series by Paul McKenna, "I can make you thin". He is a hypnotist but he doesnt hypnotise you, he helps you to learn how to re-boot your mind and pay attention to what you want. It is a simple thing to do. You just need to learn to let go and trust yourself and learn to love yourself. It isn't a diet it is a life style change. You learn that everything your body does is controlled by YOUR mind and YOU have control over it. Don't let other people tell you when to eat what to eat, they don't know your body the way you should know it. We live in a world that is growing on living life fast. We take the time to stop and fill our cars with the correct gas, and we know that if we over fill it it will make a mess, or if we don't fill it enough it will stop working or not go as far. So why treat your body any different.
So with that I highly suggest checking out his web site. Go to www.paulmckenna.com Everything on it is FREE! Start by clicking on the 4 Golden rules. I recently last week stumbled into his forums and there are so many people of many ages and different walks of life that are doing just as I am. There are many subjects listed and you can add your own and so much support from many people. I have made friends with a few ladies. It's been great finding people that understand and can help you to be motivated and it really helps to share your story, and if your like me and have a hard time talking to people, it's great having the Internet, cause nobody knows what you look like and when you write things down it's the real you shining out from under the layers of skin. So I wish the best for anyone wanting to try out Paul's system.
The best advise I think I can give, don't be afraid to try it, don't shy away because your afraid you might not lose weight. Just jump in and do it, no more excuses and believe in your self. Giving up is the easy way out. But proving your self wrong is so much more rewarding.
Thank you for taking your time to read my thoughts, I think I will be keeping a lil blog journal, because it truly has help exposing all my feelings for all to see. I've always have been afraid to say things afraid of what people would say. I am slowly learning to forget all that and learning to let go.
Be well and God Bless!
Jamie (that's me)