Thank You for all the best wishes for my b`day

Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Wow - can`t believe how many of you took the time to stop by my page and wish me a happy b`day.

Thank you! Thank you!

What a great community SP is - all are here to help each other - cheer each other on - support each other.

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one year reflection on a life changing decision

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

One year ago yesterday I had my last drink - so today is my one year anniversary of not drinking - my soberversary as I've seen it called.

It has been a difficult year but I have made it through without drowning my sorrows, my stress, my anger etc so i am now stonger than I was before.

Was it easy - NO! But I got through it with the help of my husband who is also celebrating his one year soberversary today. We were each others support and going through this together has made us stronger as a couple. He supported me but I also supported him as he had much more difficult time of it at first than I did. Knowing that if I slipped he would also start to drink again helped me stay with it. His health was being affected by it and I want to keep him around for many more years (have already been married 38). We are not the type to go to AA etc so we just faced it together - and still are.

Now I look back on it I think that sometimes I used to use events/problems as just an excuse to have the drink. I'm stressed so I need one to relax - I'm depressed I need one to feel happier etc. But the drinks did not change the situations - did not really change my perception of them - just delayed it and in many cases maybe even increased the problem.

It's only since I stopped drinking that I realized how controlled my life had become. What I would do - where I would go etc. Everything planned around having a drink at the end of the workday - the afternoon of the day off etc. Only after do you realize the decisions you made that revolved around your drinking - even the friends you made - the ones that didn't make you feel bad about your drinking - the ones that wouldn't comment on your drinking etc.

You may lose some friends - but then again were they really true friends if they don't want to be with you anymore because you don't drink etc? Even family members did not fully support - at first they do but then you start to hear well can't you just have one or two? You don't really plan on doing this forever do you?

I've seem many blogs/posts that basically say the same for those that have lost the weight - others waiting for them to fail and gain it back. Maybe they just don't like that someone has been able to quit drinking or smoking or having lost the weight and they haven't. But you have to do what you know is best for yourself - it is not your problem if they can't deal with it - it is theirs.

Then in January I decided it was time to lose the weight and get healthy. I didn't gain when I quit drinking as I just replaced it with unhealthy eating habits so now time to stop the food addiction as well. So I came back to SP!

SP not only helped me to gain my health back but I found a great support group to help keep me strong and keep me from drinking - the members of the Living Above the Influence Group. They are a great group and everyone there is supportive and understanding. If anyone out there is contemplating going AF (alcolhol free) come by and join the group to get the support you will need. Team Leader Cyndy is great! Thank you to the whole LATI group - you have made me stronger.

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never quit pledge

Monday, August 06, 2012

Never Quit Pledge
Monday August 06, 2012

Today, I promise I will not quit.

I pledge that no matter, how many ups and downs I pass through, I will continue on my journey.

I pledge to make a NEW START today, and forgive myself for my past, and to stop being so critical of myself.

I pledge to take control of myself, to stop making excuses, and stop blaming other people or situations.

I pledge to treat myself as I would my best friend, because that is who I am.

I pledge to stay in the race and to be a WINNER!


signed: Leisa (Sunflowergal40)
04/26/12

Signed: Chris (chriskenandkids)
04/26/12

Signed: Linda (scoutmom715)
04/27/12

Signed: Nancy (tedybear2838)

(from Linda S. Jayne (Geminisue)

Signed: Vicki aka VICKI-B--56


Signed; Pixie (Pixie-Licious)

Signed: Gloria (GloriaB73)

signed Fran

Signed Sarah (Millie 5522)

Signed Shelby (theshelbster)

Signed Beckie (BIRKIE528)

Signed Debaune (Doobie893)

Signed by Wallahalla on Friday, June 29, 2012

Signed by Karen (MAMAWALMART) on June 29,2012

Signed by Sibille (musolf6) Friday June 29,2012

Signed Shirley (Lookingup2012) Friday, June 29, 2012 who needs to do this because she quit SP three times in 3 years.

Signed Susan (catladyx8) Friday June 29, 2012

Signed John (Johntj1) Saturday June 30, 2012

Signed Deb (jewelle217) Saturday, June 30, 2012

Signed Kathy (Kalantha) Saturday, June 30, 2012

Signed elizabeth (MEADSBAY) Saturday June 30, 2012

Signed Caz (NEW-CAZ) Saturday June 30, 2012

Signed Julie (Shawfan) Saturday, June 30, 2012

Signed Michele (BeFit012) Saturday June 30, 2012

Signed Cheryl (Clavinova) Saturday, June 30,2012

Signed Sarah (NOTGIVINGUP49) Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Signed Bobbi (SLIMMER_197) Saturday, July 28, 2012

Signed Cherie (BIGSKYCHERIE) Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Signed Janet (EATVEGAN) Tuesday, July 31, 2012

SIGNED ( ESILBO) AUGUST 1, 2012

Signed Jenn (Plynsn316) AUGUST 2, 2012

Signed MaryAnn (MARYANNGI) AUGUST 2, 2012

Signed Diane (DianeDoesSmiles) August 8/2/2012

Signed Helen (Helen_Bru) August 3/2012

Signed Maria (winfield28) August 5, 2012

Signed: elizabeth (meadsbay) Aug 5, 2012

Signed: Pauline (lessofpmcd) Aug 6, 2012


Will you blog and post the Never Quit Pledge, today/soon?

To do so, copy and paste and put on ur page under blog. :)

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Losing a pet - harder than I thought it would be.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Losing a pet is difficult - I think only those that are or have been pet owners can really understand this.

Our cat - Toonces - would have been 19 yrs old next month but age had taken its toll on her. My husband took her to the vet today and they didn`t even suggest we try anything - just said it was time to let her go.

It seems even harder this time (had to put down the brother of our cat 11 yrs ago) as we have been through a lot in the last year. The cat was always there to give us a little comfort when we were down.

A year ago we lost my mother-in-law and in April we lost my mom. My dad is sick and has been told he will not probably last until the end of the year. Our best friend found she had breast cancer in December and has had to have a masectomy and is now undergoing radiation. Then two weeks ago we learnt my husband`s friend since he was 11 (49 yrs ago) is not expected to live more than a couple of more weeks.

My husband is the one that was closest to the cat. Wherevever he went the cat followed. When he sat down on the couch the cat would jump up to get a scratch. He slept on him at night etc. He is the one that took her to the vet today - I was out running errands (hoping he was wrong and she would come home). When I got home he had already moved her food bowls - blankets - toys etc.

Toonces was our daughter`s b`day present when she turned 15 so we called her so she could came by today to say her goodbyes.

If you are wondering where the name Toonces comes from... it is after a character on Saturday Night Live - Toonces the Driving Cat.

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Clothing shopping - an aha moment!

Saturday, June 30, 2012

The aha moment - when you realize what you have been working to achieve is now a reality.

I wrote previously about that even though the scale has moved down and you know you have lost weight you sometimes feel fatter now than you did before you started. You just nod and say thanks when someone says wow you`ve lost weight - you look good etc because you don`t really see it when you look in the mirror.

But then you have your aha moment - mine was today.

I`ve been putting off going clothing shopping - I hate shopping - always have. Even when I was younger and skinny (used to be 130lbs at 6`ft). I`m just not a shopper.

Well today when I saw the shorts that were just way too big to the point of being uncomfortable I decided I had to go couldn`t put it off any longer.

Went to a local women`s clothing store. They were having a great sale - 30% of of lowest price etc. Thought I was probably - hopefully a size 16 now (before the diet I was shopping at the large women`s store). They only had sizes 11-13 or 17 - clerk said try the 13 sizes are a bit larger than some. They had some tall sizes for pants so I found as size 15 dress pant and a size 13 jean took them all into the change room along with the shorts.

I couldn`t believe it - way too big. The clerk came by asked how i was doing and I couldn`t contain my pleasure - Ì almost shouted - I need to get he size 11`s! She could only find one pair of pants in that size (it`s a popular size!) and they fit great. Comfortably as well.

So I only came away with one pair of pants but they are a size 11 - I can`t remember the last time I would have fit in these pants. I also bought some tops - still size large as I have a fair size bust and I don`t like to wear anything tight - not one to bring attention to myself at all - but not a 2x like before.

Now... Just need to tone up - all the skin that held the fat is taking it`s time but hopefully some of it will eventually go away. Step 1 - even though very hot out today - over 90 - I went out for my walk and I will be doing my exercises tonight as well. Now I`m here I want to stay here!

if you haven`t had your aha moment yet - keep at it and one day your moment will come.

Remember you can do this and you will do this!

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