Most of us have been there at one point in our lives or another .... the place of the unhealthy, unwanted overweight woman!!
The day my daughter, Emily, was born I was OVER 300lbs. and felt gross and ugly and disgusting. I vowed to get to a healthy weight! After my recovery from the c-section I hit it hard .... it was "Valerie's Low Carb Diet" and I did GREAT at it! I lost an amazing 145lbs in a matter of less than a yr and a half!!! I can't even really explain "how" I did it because there was virtually no exercise involved (not that I'm proud of that, but the weight melted off without exercise).
Then the unexpected happened ..... 25lbs from my goal I was diagnosed with MS and hospitalized for the 1st time because of it. Every hosptialization (7 in all over 2 1/2 yrs) led to steriod treatments which led to a million different side-effects, one of which being --- weight gain! I was SO ticked ... I was more ticked at the weight gain than the MS itself at times.
Over the course of the 2 1/2 yrs I put back on 80 of the 145lbs I had just rid my body of!
Well, I've been healed of MS now for 15 GLORIOUS months (see a different post on the amazing story behind that) and it's now time to do something about all this extra baggage FOR REAL!!
I actually first started this journey back in Jan 2011 and had lost 19lbs but then sickness, a mission trip and more sickness led me to gaining 10 of that back and before long I lost motivation and drive to lose the weight. So, after taking a 2 month "break" I am now remotivated and my drive to succeed with this adventure is back!!!
And I am not going to make any more excuses .... I don't want to be the fat wife/mother/friend ..... I'm sick of shopping in the plus-size section! I want to wear the cute stuff too dangit!!!
On June 8th, 2011 I started a 12 week challenge and 7 of my friends have joined me ... for 12 weeks we are committed to making healthy choices and losing weight. So far, so good .... we're all doing great and losing ..... of course, there's incentive ..... the person with the lowest % of weight lost each week has to put $5 in the "kitty" and the person with the highest % of weight lost at the end of the 12 weeks get the $60 that accumulted in the "kitty!" =) Enough $$ for at least 1 new outfit.
I lost 4.6lbs the first week, but after gaining 3.4lbs the 2nd week I knew I had to do something different. My body has IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and without getting into too much icky details, my body was literally filled with toxins because I wasn't "going" regularly. So, after researching it I started the IBS diet last Wednesday and this week's weigh-in showed an 8.4lb LOSS!!! WOOHOO!!!
My goal is to be at my ultimate goal by Jan. 1st, 2012 ..... I've lost 9.6lbs in 3 wks and I have 26 wks and 63.6lbs to go!!! But, right now I'm taking it day by day with my short term goals .... in 3 wks I leave for VA on vacation and I want to lose another 13.6lbs by then!
I plan to blog about this journey, its ups and downs from now till the end so follow me as we head to the land of healthy/happier people!!!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
I got to thinking the other day ..... Emily will be 8 in a few short months. That means we are 1 yr from being 1/2 through her school-age years (aside from college). Where did the time go? I blinked and she went from playing with blocks on the living room carpet to making sure her hair is "just right."
You hear it said very often, cherish each day because soon your children will be grown. How many of us actually take that to heart? We lead busy lives filled with appointments, meetings, work, household duties, wife/husband responsiblities, church committments, friends, extended family, illnesses .... the list goes on and on. I often times feel overwhelmed with all the demands placed on me (often demands I place on myself).
Once in a while (more often than that but who has time) it is VERY important to sit back and relax and evaluate just exacting where you are and where you'd like to be. And figure out, if you're not where you want to be, how to get there! This doesn't have to come in the form of having to get away for a wkend or anything .... just take time during naptime one day and SIT .... wait on the Lord .... dive into His word and see what He says about your crazy, busy lifestyle. And if it's not "naptime" for you because your children are older then maybe you need to head off to the peacefulness of the library some Saturday morning or Barnes & Nobles' coffee shop some evening.
To be better for your family you need to make time for YOU!! God can & will help you through all the hussle and bussle of life's chaotic times but you have to have times where you allow yourself to run in low-gear too!!
God bless your day friends!
You hear it said very often, cherish each day because soon your children will be grown. How many of us actually take that to heart? We lead busy lives filled with appointments, meetings, work, household duties, wife/husband responsiblities, church committments, friends, extended family, illnesses .... the list goes on and on. I often times feel overwhelmed with all the demands placed on me (often demands I place on myself).
Once in a while (more often than that but who has time) it is VERY important to sit back and relax and evaluate just exacting where you are and where you'd like to be. And figure out, if you're not where you want to be, how to get there! This doesn't have to come in the form of having to get away for a wkend or anything .... just take time during naptime one day and SIT .... wait on the Lord .... dive into His word and see what He says about your crazy, busy lifestyle. And if it's not "naptime" for you because your children are older then maybe you need to head off to the peacefulness of the library some Saturday morning or Barnes & Nobles' coffee shop some evening.
To be better for your family you need to make time for YOU!! God can & will help you through all the hussle and bussle of life's chaotic times but you have to have times where you allow yourself to run in low-gear too!!
God bless your day friends!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Haiti Trip - Days 9 & 10
March 16th - Day 9
Not really a whole lot to report from this day ...... mostly spent gathering all our stuff and packing and saying goodbyes and such.
We were suppose to be doing to children's program for the kid's of Heather's Home tonight but as we were finishing the balloon animals the electricity went out (as it does quite often in Haiti) so that kinda put a kabosh to that which bummed the kids out something aweful. We all felt bad.
We did have an impromptu church service in the dining room at Heather's Home at 9 PM! =) That was cool.
March 17th - Day 10 - Time To Go Home
We all got up early so we could say goodbye to the children before they went to school which led to pictures and then 4-5 of us from the team actually went with the van to take the kids to school. And that was it for me, as they piled out of the van my waterworks starting. I was a wreck. I didn't want to leave "my" kids.
Around 8 AM we headed to the airport and by 10:30 we were all thru customs and everything and waiting for our plane -- not without "incident" however!
The guy checking my baggage opened one of them to find a Haitian doll and said "your daughter?" Assuming he meant "for my daughter." I said "wee, wee." He then proceeded to pick on me relentlessly .... "she is going to sufficate, your whole family will be very sad!" Oh man, everyone was cracking up! He called the head security guard over and told him I had a baby in my suitcase ..... he thought he was serious! I told him "you're going to get me into trouble. Knock that off!"
So when he opened up my 2nd checked bag he asked "any more babies?" hahahahaha.
The rest of the trip went off without a hitch ...... we left Haiti at 1:30 (an hr later than planned) and arrived at JFK at 7 PM. We got thru immigration and customs and found our next gate just in time to scarf down some food and catch our 9:30 flight out of JFK to Syracuse!!!
Oh my goodness, the minute I saw Don in Syracuse I ran to him. Hugs & kisses and just complete elation that I was finally HOME!!!
Not really a whole lot to report from this day ...... mostly spent gathering all our stuff and packing and saying goodbyes and such.
We were suppose to be doing to children's program for the kid's of Heather's Home tonight but as we were finishing the balloon animals the electricity went out (as it does quite often in Haiti) so that kinda put a kabosh to that which bummed the kids out something aweful. We all felt bad.
We did have an impromptu church service in the dining room at Heather's Home at 9 PM! =) That was cool.
March 17th - Day 10 - Time To Go Home
We all got up early so we could say goodbye to the children before they went to school which led to pictures and then 4-5 of us from the team actually went with the van to take the kids to school. And that was it for me, as they piled out of the van my waterworks starting. I was a wreck. I didn't want to leave "my" kids.
Around 8 AM we headed to the airport and by 10:30 we were all thru customs and everything and waiting for our plane -- not without "incident" however!
The guy checking my baggage opened one of them to find a Haitian doll and said "your daughter?" Assuming he meant "for my daughter." I said "wee, wee." He then proceeded to pick on me relentlessly .... "she is going to sufficate, your whole family will be very sad!" Oh man, everyone was cracking up! He called the head security guard over and told him I had a baby in my suitcase ..... he thought he was serious! I told him "you're going to get me into trouble. Knock that off!"
So when he opened up my 2nd checked bag he asked "any more babies?" hahahahaha.
The rest of the trip went off without a hitch ...... we left Haiti at 1:30 (an hr later than planned) and arrived at JFK at 7 PM. We got thru immigration and customs and found our next gate just in time to scarf down some food and catch our 9:30 flight out of JFK to Syracuse!!!
Oh my goodness, the minute I saw Don in Syracuse I ran to him. Hugs & kisses and just complete elation that I was finally HOME!!!
Haiti Trip - Days 7 & 8
Monday - March 14th
TODAY WAS MY OFFICIAL 1 YR ANNIVERSARY OF BEING SYMPTOM FREE OF MS!!!!! I PRAISE GOD FOR THE MIRACLE OF EACH AND EVERY DAY OF THE LAST YR (and the 30+ yrs prior to that too of course).
The kids from Heather's Home went back to school today from their week off. It made it very quite around the house and there was a lot of time to do "nothing."
I spent a lot of today reflecting .... every time I'd look at the clock I'd think "oh, I was doing .... at this time last March 14th." My mind was anywhere but in Haiti today. All I could think about was March 14th, 2010 and how I will NEVER forget that date!! Thank you, Lord!
Tuesday - March 15th
We decided to go sightseeing today to see the view of Haiti from the top of a very large mountain!!
About 3 hrs into our trip the van we were driving decided it couldn't make it any further up the hill so we had to park it in some lady's driveway and wait for a 2nd rental vehicle to come pick us up and take us the rest of the way up the hill.
TODAY WAS MY OFFICIAL 1 YR ANNIVERSARY OF BEING SYMPTOM FREE OF MS!!!!! I PRAISE GOD FOR THE MIRACLE OF EACH AND EVERY DAY OF THE LAST YR (and the 30+ yrs prior to that too of course).
The kids from Heather's Home went back to school today from their week off. It made it very quite around the house and there was a lot of time to do "nothing."
I spent a lot of today reflecting .... every time I'd look at the clock I'd think "oh, I was doing .... at this time last March 14th." My mind was anywhere but in Haiti today. All I could think about was March 14th, 2010 and how I will NEVER forget that date!! Thank you, Lord!
Tuesday - March 15th
We decided to go sightseeing today to see the view of Haiti from the top of a very large mountain!!
About 3 hrs into our trip the van we were driving decided it couldn't make it any further up the hill so we had to park it in some lady's driveway and wait for a 2nd rental vehicle to come pick us up and take us the rest of the way up the hill.
Our leader, Rev John Earley & our translator, Makin waiting by the "broken down" van.
So, after the new van arrived we all piled in and drove another 1 1/2 hrs to about 1.5 mi from the very top of the mountain. That's as far up as this van could go safetly. So, the men of the group and I all decided to hike up another .25 mi of the mountain to get a view for pictures because where the van stopped was all tree covered and you couldn't see anything.
That .25 mi was VERY steep and rugged terrain!! But, since I was healed a yr. prior to I had no trouble!! =)
So, after 4 hrs we finally made it up here to see this gorgeous view! And I wouldn't trade 1 min in the hot 12 passenger van with 13 OTHER people for anything!
On the way back home we found a rare delicasy in Haiti and stopped for a snack ..... DOMINO'S!!!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Haiti Trip - Day 6
THE BEST DAY FOR ME - HANDS DOWN!!!!
Sunday - March 13th
Today started out with a great chance to sleep in and rest. 1/2 of the team headed out to Pastor Lucien's church to minister while the rest of us stayed back at Heather's Home to rest and get ready for the evening service at Pastor Eladge's church.
We had a great time with the children in the morning and into the early afternoon. We headed out to Pastor Eladge's church around 3 PM .... it takes about 2 hrs to get there.
Sunday - March 13th
Today started out with a great chance to sleep in and rest. 1/2 of the team headed out to Pastor Lucien's church to minister while the rest of us stayed back at Heather's Home to rest and get ready for the evening service at Pastor Eladge's church.
We had a great time with the children in the morning and into the early afternoon. We headed out to Pastor Eladge's church around 3 PM .... it takes about 2 hrs to get there.
Almost immediately I caught the eyes of this beautiful little girl and got a chance to hold her and love on her. She was so cute, even when she spit on me ..... she's only a yr old! =)
WOW! Talk about a worship service!! I have never been in a worship service so spirit-filled and AWEsome!!! Tonight was the eve before my 1 year anniversary of being symptom free of Multiple Sclerosis and what a celebration it was!!
I don't speak (or sing) in creole but worship was so loud that noone there knew I was singng in English and tounges. I just made up words to the tune they were playing!! It was GREAT!! I've never felt so free to just praise God.
This video is the VERY BEGINNING of worship ...... I was too "into" it later on to even think about getting out my camera to video! =/
Monday, March 21, 2011
Haiti Trip - Days 4 & 5
Friday - March 11th --
Today I stayed at Heather's Home with the children while the rest of the team took a 12 hr. trip to visit the YWAM (youth with a mission) facility in Haiti.
I had a GREAT day just loving on all 10 children all by myself. We sang songs, I taught them "chubba" (for those of you who've never seen my "chubba" just ask the next time you see me), I painted their faces, we took pictures ...... it was a blast!! It made me miss Emily something fierce though. I was also able to rest and spend a lot of time with God today. I got ahead in my Old Testament Quest reading and just throughouly enjoyed my day "alone."
Saturday - March 12th --
Today was a great "break" for all of us! We drove to a Haitian Beach Resort and spent the day relaxing in the sun, playing beach volleyball, scubba diving and (some of us) drinking non-alcoholic pina colada's!! =)
I got A LOT of souveniers this day ..... including 2 very large, gorgeous shells. My husband and I kinda of collect them ..... especially the big ones since some are worth a lot of money!!
The best part about today was watching the sunset over the ocean --- absolutely amazing!!
On our way back to Heather's Home we were driving by a huge mountain and all of a sudden we could see that the top of it was on fire! That was a gorgeous sight but also knowing that something was ON FIRE made it scary.
As soon as we got back to Heather's Home we were mobbed by the 10 beautiful brown-haired loves!!! =) That was always the best part about going anywhere ...... the coming home!!
Haiti -- Days 2 & 3
Wednesday - March 9th -
Today we went to the Embassador's for Jesus Children's Home, an orphanage that The Love Church of Horseheads has been supporting for decades.
While we were there we did our children's program which consisted of a skit, balloon animals, making a wordless book bracelet and a short message. We all had a great time loving on the children that attended.
Got my first taste of a Haitian "super"market today too. They are about 1/8th the size of Walmart! =)
Thursday - March 10th -
First experience in "waiting" (which is common on the mission field) this morning!! We were suppose to leave for the Good Shepherd orphanage at 7, instead we left at 8 due to a flat tire.
We performed pretty much the same routine as yesterday only with a different skit.
We were then suppose to head to a 2nd orphanage but while we were there the Pastor got a phone call from a lady in a tent city orphanage that needed help desperately so we felt the call of God to go there instead. If our driver had been "on time" today we wouldn't have been at Good Shepherd when that call came in!! God is good and His timing is PERFECT!
Upon arriving at the tent city orphanage we immediately starting loving on children and doing balloon animals and singing while Rev Earley and another man from the team went to buy them food. The children sang to us, in English, "We're so Happy You're Here!"
Also, I had another great experience at this orphanage ...... I got to pee in a tent city ..... a VERY large concrete above-ground well "hidden" by bed sheets (that were blowing in the wind)!! =) Picture of the tent city "bathroom" is below.
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