Would you believe.....

Well, here it is...a week (okay, and a day) since Vicki Heath challenged me to be at/near my goal weight by October 1st. Well, I got off my duff and exercised that evening......and the next.....and the next. Here I am a week later, and I can tell you, I've exercised about 5 of those days in one form or another. Not too shabby. And the weight loss, well, I can also tell you I'm FIVE pounds lighter! Been using myfitnesspal.com every day to log in my food/exercise and I'm seeing results! Not too bad for one week!!! Let's see what NEXT week brings. Are you with me on this journey? Leave me a comment (positive ones are the best ones) and we can pray/encourage each other. Have a blessed Easter...HE IS RISEN!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Evening Everyone! Well, my last post/email to you all mentioned that I had applied (and I thought I had been accepted) to become a Networking Leader within First Place 4 Health...well...that's true. But I didn't get it...YET. I did not read the criteria to become a Networking Leader and had I done that, I would have seen that in order to be a Networking Leader, I need to have lost a significant amount of weight, OR be at my goal weight. Well folks, I've done neither. So I totally understand, even though I don't like it, that at this time, I can't be a Networking Leader. Am I going to let that stop me? HEAVENS NO!!!! Thanks to Vicki Heath with FP4H, I have been challenged to get within 20 pounds of my goal weight in six months (October 1st). That's about a 70-80 pound total weight loss my friends! Am I going to sit around and let this challenge outweigh me, or am I going to let my GOD prove how HE can outweigh the challenge? I'm going with the latter. So, how am I going to do this? Well, I need to do just as I tell all of my FP4H members, start small, set achievable, attainable goals. Here's how I plan to break it down. Anyone want to join me??? Today is March 19th...a Tuesday. It's 6:15pm as I'm writing this. That leaves about 3 hours before I go to bed...so I'm going to hook up the Wii, or pop in a DVD and get MOVING! NO sense putting off til tomorrow what I can do TODAY!!!! As I see it, there are 194 days between today and October 1st. That is 5 months, 11 days. That's 28 weeks. Focusing on 2 pounds a week, I'm looking at 56 pounds. Pretty darn close. So I'll have to kick it up a notch or two and work really hard to get those extra 14 or so pounds. Means I'll have to really watch what I eat (sorry for everyone that invites me to go out to eat, have pig-ins at work, etc. I can't do it), get to the gym or exercise at home A LOT more, and really focus on my goals. I want to encourage you to set Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely goals as well. What do you think YOU could accomplish in 194 days, 5 months, 11 days, 28 weeks? You just might be surprised!!!! I covet your prayers during this time and I offer you mine. Now off to work out!!! God's peace. Liz

Wow....huge step of faith!

So today I did something huge. Well, huge for me. I volunteered to become the networking leader for DC/MD/VA First Place 4 Health leaders! I think this is something that has been tugging at my heart since I went to the FP4H leaders summit back in 2011. This company, this plan is incredible. The people both in the company and in my FP4H groups are the best bunch of people I know. Such great people of faith. Such great, encouraging people. If accepted by the company, I will be so elated to take my participation in the company to the next level. Now, my weight has stayed the same for quite awhile, but I have managed to get back in to the gym. Well, until I got sick. I'm just getting over a nasty head cold/sinus infection so I'm hoping to get right back into the gym and start...again. Praise God that He makes us new creations every day and doesn't dwell on our pasts! I feel that taking this step of faith will only help to propel me on my weight loss journey. I will be asked to encourage others, teach others, and lead other leaders in this area to achieve their goals. I can't wait! If you want to join me on this journey, we have new books starting on April 5th. Email me at lizcarper@verizon.net and we'll get started!!!!

A week later. Well, I can say I'm trying. I'm more aware of my food choices, but I'm still a work in progress. Thankfully. I would never want to believe that I was perfect. I would never want to believe that God was finished with me. I have a lot to learn. There is plenty I probably need to ask to be forgiven for. Do I have stress? Yes. Do I have a busy schedule? Yes. But God has placed it on my heart to rise above all of the challenges and obstacles that stand in my way. God wants me to do better. But how? Well...I told you before I cut back on my "extra" activities. It wasn't my first choice, but I needed to walk away from some things I loved doing. All for the sake of putting time back on my calendar. No...it doesn't add any extra time to my day. We're all given the same 24 hours. Nothing I do or don't do will add more time to my day. So I have to work with what I have. And i have to be smarter. This week I resolve TO get to the gym.....I WILL use the time I've put back on my schedule wiser. What will you do this week to find some time in your day to get in some exercise?

January 2013--Let's Try Again

Well, here it is, 2013. I started this blog in 2010, if you can believe it. Thought I would stick to it, thought I would follow-through on goals, etc. Well, as has been the case for most things in my life, I gave up. I gave up and made excuses. Tons of them. Obviously, three years worth. But enough of the past. Time to move forward, right? So here it is, January 2013. I'm starting again with this blog because I have made 2013, the year to be "Accountable". Accountable to the First Place 4 Health groups, accountable to my family and friends and most importantly, accountable to my God. I want this to work for me. I know it can. I know I just have to work it. It's the way it is with any diet, lifestyle change, etc. You MUST work it. There is NO quick-fix for this. There is NO easy way to snap my fingers and get this done. Trust me, if there was one, I would have found it by now. And I certainly would have lost the 100+ pounds I need to to get rid of the words "MORBIDLY OBESE" from my medical records. What a statement. Even when you think you're doing well with your "lifestyle change" those words are still listed on your medical records until you reach a goal weight that drs and medical professionals feel you should be. So, how am I going to do this? I'm going to do my study daily. I'm going to re-examine my food choices, and I'm going to start updating (again) the myfitnesspal.com website. I've also made a calendar appointment to update this blog every week (generally when I write the week's devotions). Hopefully that will help keep me accountable. I want to bring you along on this journey with me. Honestly, I'm NOT the after picture. I'm a struggling, picky eater with the emotional ties to food that most people have. I'm on this journey with you. I want you to know that. I'm with you on this. What other goals can I make this year? Hmmm....Well, There are 52 weeks in the year. I'd like to lose 100 pounds. If I break it down to a SMART goal, that would be about 1-2 pounds loss per week. That's a first goal. My next goal is to spend more time in the gym. I've redone my schedule, and removed myself from several commitments (outside of my full-time job). I need to take advantage of the time I've put back into my life and get myself into shape. My SMART goal would be to work my way up to 4 days of week in the gym. Minimum. How will I do this? Put myself in the gym at least 1-2 days to start, then work my way up to 3-4 days NO LATER than the end of February. My next goal, and this is a big one, is to FINALLY run a 5K. I keep seeing people that have achieved this, and dag nabit, I want to do one! How will I achieve this? Well first, I need to achieve that goal of the gym (above). Then I will reasonably look at 5K's further along in the year so that I can realistically build up to a 5K status. Probably October time-frame. Then I will work to get a good time to achieve this goal by building up to it and using tools such as the Couch Potato-to-5K plans/strategies. Finally, nutrition. I know I have an aversion to fruit. I know it. My nutrition goal isn't to suddenly become a fruit addict. It just won't happen. But I will look to incorporate new meal ideas into my daily life. That means a LOT less fast food, (watch the Chick-fil-a stock prices go down!) and a lot more eating at home, cooking at home, etc. I'll seek advice from others/websites to help me create more balanced, nutritious meals. I'll share what I learn here......once I learn it. :) Well, I think that's enough for now. I welcome your comments/feedback, but please, know that I appreciate POSITIVE comments more than negative. Negative comments do not do anyone any good so please keep them to yourself. God Bless, Liz