Well, it's been almost nine months since I started my weight loss journey with Sureslim - and I've REACHED MY GOAL! I've lost 63 pounds on Sureslim and 85 pounds from my highest (when I stopped getting on the scale that is!).

It's funny how the time went by regardless - I could have stayed fat or, quite possibly, gotten fatter (is it politically correct to call yourself fat?) but instead I chose to work on dropping the excess pounds. I've maintained my goal weight for one month now so I think I may have this maintenance eating figured out... but the temptation to 'snack' during the five hour fast between meals is tough to beat and I find myself constantly repeating my mantra "Nothing tastes as good as being HEALTHY feels!" .... yes, it's supposed to say "THIN" but I don't necessarily think that 'thin' is a good thing. I'd much rather go for healthy.

When I go out shopping or speaking, so many people ask me how I lost the weight and I can't say enough good things about the Sureslim Program. I don't want to sound like a commercial but when something works I want to share the info! There's no shakes, pills, diet bars, patches, or pre-packaged meals. It's just a special diet using REAL food that is geared to your own health needs. My food program was totally different from my friend Linda's. And it's working for both of us.

The Sureslim slogan is, "It's not you, it's your metabolism." Do you know how great it was to blame my excess poundage on something besides my own lack of self control?! Seriously, it was like magic - and I couldn't be happier with the results - from a size 24 skirt to a size 8 - isn't that incredible! As soon as I figure out how to post photos on this blog I'll post a few pictures of me on the weight loss journey.

Five months ago I looked in the mirror and wondered how the heck a 'fat' version of my mom got in there! I was a size 22 and now I'm a 12 thanks to a whole lot of discipline and a whole lot of determination.

It's funny, when I look in the mirror now I can't stop smiling and wondering where the heck 'I' was for the last 20 years! I haven't weighed in the 160's since I got pregnant with my youngest son 21 years ago... at my highest weight I was a morbidly obese 235 pounds. (God bless all my friends and family who still said, "You look great!"... but pictures say otherwise!)

My oldest son's marriage celebration inspired me to drop a few pounds but not nearly enough and I regained all but 18 pounds of it in the five and a half years since their wedding. When I seriously decided to jumpstart my metabolism on October 28th, 2011, I was 217 pounds - still officially obese - and to add to the challenge I literally only had one leg to stand on - I had lost my entire right leg, including my hip and pelvis to bone cancer in 1988.
Being overweight was tough on my ego but even tougher on the joints in my one remaining leg.

It's appropriate that I am one of the co-authors of 'Choosing to Smile' because that is what I do EVERY day as a cancer survivor but also what I DID as a fat person as well. Now I don't care who tries to convince me when they say, "I'm fat and happy!" because I know it's not entirely true. Having 'been there' I know that nothing compares to the feeling you get of LIKING how you LOOK in the mirrror - of LIKING how you look in photos - of LIKING who you are for succeeding at such a difficult challenge as losing unwanted pounds!

Julie had a "Bucket List Wish" to live long enough to see our book become a Canadian best-seller. Unfortunately that didn't happen but we are continuing to move toward that goal.

So many people have been asking if we're close to fulfilling that wish and the answer is both "Yes" and "No" ... officially we have to sell 5000 books through a recognized venue such as Coles, Indigo, or Chapters who track the sales - we have done about 300+ books through that avenue but most of our sales happen the old-fashioned grass-roots method - word of mouth, speaking events, and other sales locations and most importantly, fundraisers. We haven't sat down to 'do the math' but it looks like we're about half way to reaching the 'unofficial' best-seller goal - about 2500 books sold so far!

We are hoping to get picked up by Indigo Books (Coles and Chapters are included under their umbrella)but until then we've decided to go for an 'unofficial' best seller and sell 5000 copies with your help.

One of our most successful fundraising efforts came about as a team effort between the Valley Women's Network and The New Page Human Services Society. The Valley Women’s Network (VWN), www.valleywomensnetwork.com Chilliwack Branch, created the 'Choosing to Smile Book Fund' in order to spread the message of hope and inspiration to others facing adversity. The money donated to this fund is used to purchase copies of 'Choosing to Smile' which are then given free of charge to patients who are undergoing treatments for cancer at various cancer centres in BC. In return, for every book purchased by the VWN, Choosing to Smile donates $5 back to the VWN organization to support their 'Families In Need' program. So far, close to $2000 has been raised to purchase books through this fundraiser.

Donations can be made at any branch of the Envision Credit Union to the:
'Choosing to Smile Book Fund'
account #1455864
Contact Joyce Esau: jbesau@shaw.ca -- 604-858-2409

Julie has been gone for two weeks and three days. Why does it seem like forever and yet seem like yesterday at the same time?

The celebration of life service on Saturday helped with some closure but I'm still missing her. I know that it takes time to get over losing someone you love but how much time? How do we know when to stop grieving? The answer for me is: You don't EVER stop missing them - you just get used to it.

Julie would be the first one to say, "Okay, now it's time to get back into the swing of things." Only she would say it in that wonderful English way of hers. Michelle and I are soldiering on without our little general but it feels as if a piece is missing (besides my leg and Michelle's spleen!) - we were the three muskateers for so long! But before that, we were the FOUR muskateers until we lost Bonnie Holmes on March 28th, 2010 - can it really be less than a year ago when we were all together? Maybe I feel a little overwhelmed with loss but there's this wonderful book called, 'Choosing to Smile' that will help me work through my grief!

I know that it's okay to be sad - it's okay to cry - it's okay to miss someone almost more than you think you can bear - but it's also okay to enjoy coffee with a friend, smile in the sunshine, laugh at a joke, eat, drink, love, and be happy without them. Because before you know it we'll have had our day in the sun and we'll be traveling the same road they took before us.

So, my two wonderful friends Bonnie and Julie are likely having a fabulous time catching up and rejoicing in finally feeling 'good'. And you know what? I plan on rejoicing NOW because I once had these two exceptional people in my life rather than cry over the fact that they left too soon. And you know what else? I am so very grateful to still have such an abundance of exceptional people in my life here and now to share every remarkable moment until it's my turn to leave!

Here it is - three days since Julie passed away and I don't even know where to begin. It's hard to put into words the depth of loss so many of us are feeling. Julie was such an inspiration to so many - she was a 'take charge' person who never backed away from a challenge. When the doctors gave her 18 months to 2 years to live after her diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer she said, "No, I don't accept that."

She decided she had too much left to do and needed more time than they were giving her. She used those extra years wisely and left a legacy of hope for every person who reads her story. She chose to smile right up until the end. We laughed when, even though she could no longer speak, she still managed to shoot Graham (her husband) 'The Look' when he was teasing her. It was such an honour to witness the love connection between the two of them - especially on her last night with us. Julie fought so long and with such optimism.

Michelle and I went in on Tuesday afternoon, January 18th, for a visit and Julie was hoping we might just manage one more 'Survivor Dinner' at the Hospice Centre on Sunday. She was coherent and still anticipating the future. Of course we were all hopeful the dinner would happen but by the next day the reality of her situation was evident as she slipped in and out of sleep more often. She loved her friends and she adored her family. Although so many people loved Julie and vice-versa at the end of her cancer journey she had limited her visits to immediate family only along with Michelle and myself - and we were so happy to be considered her 'soul' sisters. It was very fitting that her last night was spent with her amazing family - husband Graham, son Paul, daughter-in-law Mel, grand-daughter Abby, and her friends, Michelle and I.

Julie has been in and out of the hospital for over a week now and it's made me realize how very precious the gifts of time and friendship are. I'm not ever going to take either for granted. Friends are not the same as family - friends are 'invited' into our circles and family members are obligated into them ... which doesn't mean we love our families any less - just differently! Julie, Michelle and I have walked through so many ups and downs together - we've shared laughter, secrets and fears(some our husbands don't even know!) and tears too... we are building our futures together and supporting each other through it all.

The thing we need most is time - time to fulfill our goals and dreams. We're working on making our vision a reality - to have 'Choosing to Smile' become a Canadian best seller. So many people have read it and been touched by our stories - it's a wonderful feeling to feel as if your life has made a difference somehow. I just want there to be enough time for us to do everything on our bucket lists and more! I think I'm going to add new things to my list every day so I've always got dreams to follow... Julie shared her bucket list with me the other day in the hospital - I was touched and moved to tears by the 'little' things she has included like a 'shopping day with Abby' her grand-daughter. Ultimately, it is those little things that make our lives worthwhile - so WHEN our book becomes a best-seller I will have no regrets because I will also have enjoyed so many of those 'little' things on my bucket list along with all the 'big' ones. Somehow I just can't see a one-legged lady bungee jumping so it's coming off the list but jet-skiing every summer is definitely staying on!

glenda@choosingtosmile.com

Another month is zipping by and I have completely and utterly failed in my commitment to exercise regularly so why don't I feel more remorse? Probably because at this point in my life I want to do what I like and, frankly, I just don't like exercising enough to make it part of my daily routine. Is that wrong? Fitness gurus and exercise junkies would say wholeheartedly, "YES! GET YOUR BUTT BACK TO THE GYM!" but people who would rather lay on the grass watching the night stars come out than jog down the street ducking and dodging traffic might say otherwise.

Having a life that's fulfilled is what matters. I fill my life with family, friends, and passion. Everyone has different passions - there are no right and wrong paths - everyone chooses the one that's best for them. For example, I could no longer commit myself to becoming an avid gardener than I could try and make an avid gardener commit to becoming a writer if it wasn't something he/she had a passion to do. The same applies to exercise.

I know exercise has benefits - I know it will likely increase longevity - but, as I've watched my aging mother struggle with her health, I've realized that she was both a fitness advocate AND an avid gardener. I am neither. She may have achieved longevity at almost 87 but she's still experiencing aches and pains alongside some of her friends who were neither physically active nor scale watchers. So in the end, does it matter?

I don't think it does. It's better to love who you are right now and, when changes happen, love the person you change into just as much.

It's been one week since we got home from our four day 'end of summer' vacation getaway to Ruby & Rick's (R & R) Bed and Breakfast in Osoyoos, BC, Canada's only genuine desert! My husband Rick and I had never done a B & B before but co-author Julie and her hubby Graham love this one and highly recommended it. It was absolutely gorgeous - we had a beautiful bedroom that looked out onto the Lake; our patio doors opened onto a lovely space just a few steps away from our own beach front area; the homemade breakfasts lovingly prepared by Ruby were spectacular and delivered right to our dining room table; BUT apparently breakfasts are supposed to be eaten at 8:30am??? So that's what sunrise on a lake looks like? Who knew?

 The lake is supposed to be the warmest in Canada but I stuck my toes in Friday when we arrived and figured somebody was exagerrating - it felt friggin' freezin' to me! Apparently, we'd just missed the intense desert heat by a few days and the lake was already cooling down... go figure! Aside from the fabulous breakfasts the hi-light of the weekend for me was my jet-ski experience. It was on my bucket list and I was very disappointed that the wind came up on Saturday and no boats were on the lake at all. We went to check out the parasailing but it was too windy for them too - so we spent a quiet day cuddling and contemplating what to do on Sunday IF the weather smartened up. Lucky for me, it did!

Well, it's officially my birthday even if it's almost 3:00am... and I haven't been to bed yet. Not that I can't sleep, I just choose not to at times! Wow -I'm 55. There, I've said it! It's official - I can now order off the senior's menu when Rick takes me out for my birthday dinner. Yes, I'm choosing to smile folks...

Way back when I started this blog I said that I was going to jump out of an airplane for my 55th birthday - well, apparently there's some thing called a 'parachute' that has to be strapped around your legs and around your shoulders and if you don't have 'legs' (as in plural) this can pose a bit of a problem... at least that's what the jump instructor said when I called. I'm putting out some feelers to see if any other hemi-pelvectomy amputees have tried sky diving so I'll know if it can be done and how they did it. I can't see it being a problem if I'm jumping tandem attached to someone who does have all his body parts (at least the ones needed to sky-dive safely!)but I'm not the expert...

Meanwhile, I'm going to find something else thrilling to do to celebrate my official 'turning' into a senior... ('turning' sounds like something old milk does!) I really want to go on the King Swing in Nanaimo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eDffJm4WhU
Now that looks like fun! Anybody want to join me? Email me at glenda@choosingtosmile.com and let's make a date!
Hmmm, maybe I can talk my husband into going on it with me! I'll video tape it and post it on youtube too so everyone can share in the excitement... stay tuned...

To every thing there is a season... but it's sure hard to accept that when the thing you're talking about is someone you love. My mom hasn't been well for a few years - she's had congestive heart failure since a major heart attack in December of 1995 (if you've read the book you know!)and the condition is taking a toll on her. She'll be 87 in December so I know she's had a lot more time on this planet than a lot of us will ever hope to have but life is such a hard thing for some of us to let go of and yet others seem to have no problem in throwing it away. Hmmm, go figure. Every day she struggles just to get out of bed and 'do' something. I admire her so much for her determination to live each day to the best of her ability. Today she said she's 'tired' and ready to rest. For the first time in as long as I can recall she stayed in bed to eat the lunch I made her. She appreciates the little things so much now - a car ride, a foot rub, a scrambled egg and toast... No, old age certainly isn't for sissies and I'm so grateful to come from such sturdy stock!

I had to laugh when I listened to my phone messages - Curves called wondering where I've been the past two weeks... I thought about my answer and somehow I don't think they'll believe me.

I've been coordinating a series of junior golf tournaments for kids over the past two weeks and, ironically, I've never golfed! How does a one-legged lady find herself putting together a Junior Divot Tournament for 40 kids every year for the past (almost) two decades? Well, somebody asked for help and I said, "Sure!"

If you don't ask, you don't get!

I'm sure Fred Wellsby had no idea when he asked The Chilliwack Optimist Club if there was any chance one of our members would be available to lend him a hand running a kid's golf tournament that, years after he'd passed away, the tournament would still be as popular as he'd dreamed it would be when he began.

If you don't ask, you don't get!

Fred asked for help and, even though I knew NOTHING about golf, I thought it would be fun to learn about the game and help the kids. It was and it still is. I couldn't run the tournaments by myself so I've had to recruit two other helpers since Fred passed away and, guess what? They don't golf either!

If you don't ask, you don't get!

The tournament ended today so I guess I'll drop by Curves tomorrow and try to explain why I haven't been in for the past two weeks - think they'll buy it? As much as I don't like working out in the gym I have to get back to it - my summer break is over and I'm just about out of excuses...

Like so many things in life that fall by the wayside for lack of 'asking' for help, I'm glad Curves called to ask where I was... and WHEN I was coming back... guess I'm committed because

THEY ASKED....

We were on Global TV this morning doing a five minute interview about our book 'Choosing to Smile' and it made me appreciate just how good those TV interviewers are! In five minutes she managed to talk to the three of us and make each of us feel that we were integral parts of the interview. Five minutes went by so fast and there was so much more we wanted to say but that can wait for our longer sessions! I especially want to thank all the viewers who have already gone online to order our book and send us emails to share their 'Choosing to Smile' stories with us. There are so many amazing people in this world who have lived through some pretty tough times but still find it in them at the beginning of a new day to smile... I love the resilience of the human spirit. It always inspires me!

So, we're doing a few radio interviews this week - CiTR tomorrow which should be fun - the thing I like about doing radio interviews is I can be in my pyjamas and be sipping my morning cuppa Tim Horton's coffee and feel like I'm just 'shmoozing' with my good friends on the phone... I like that! Mel Majoras from the Cancer Warrior program will be taping our radio interview later in the day - I have a hunch we'll be getting down to some nitty gritty stuff with her. I'll keep everyone in the loop as to when it will be on the air... Friday Julie and I will be chatting with Lynn Lane - Voices of Survivors - and I know for sure he's going to have us laughing and pulling out all the stops in his podcast... Yikes, that means no pyjamas with Lynn!

Sorry I've not been more 'faithful' in writing on my blog - I just get carried away with other things and put it on the back burner... speaking of 'back burners' I do believe supper is ready!

Why is it I have time to go visit friends, see clients, read a book or write this blog but making time to go to the gym is SO hard to do? It only takes one hour or less out of my day - you'd think that would be easy to do wouldn't you? If a friend phones I can always find time to sit and chat; if I have to take my mom to an appointment I manage to fit that into my day; if my buddies want to meet for coffee or lunch it's never a problem... heck I even make time to work on occasion but when I try squeezing in an hour of gym time three times a week it's an unbelievably big challenge. I know some of you can completely relate to my dilemma and others of you will be shaking your head saying, "Just Do It" (gee, where have I heard THAT slogan before?!)

Michelle loves to garden; Julie loves to go for walks with her hubby and Dragonboat; I love to visit with friends which usually means a choice of breakfasts, coffee, lunches, dinners, drinks, and/or appetizers of some sort ... uhoh... I don't see 'going to the gym' anywhere on my list of activities and there's the problem! The girls at Curves are so cute - they call me if I miss too many days and remind me that they haven't seen me in awhile. It's nice to have a conscience that actually makes phone calls!

So, to the wonderfully encouraging staff at Curves, if you're reading this, I will be in sometime this week... just not tomorrow - I'm working all day and I don't do afternoons... oh, that's not a very good excuse is it? Sigh... was that my phone I hear ringing?

Can't believe it's been a week since Michelle and I left to go on our Kelowna and Kamloops booksigning tour! It felt odd to leave our 'third muskateer' at home but Julie was just too weak from being in the hospital for five days and eating nothing but jello! (She had a bad reaction to her chemo and decided to take a break from her meds for awhile to allow her body time to recuperate.) We needed signed copies of the book to take with us so Julie had to put her autograph on in the hospital - what a trooper! She may (or may not) share some of her wild hospital experiences with you in her blog but she had me rolling on the floor laughing when she told me about her room mates! It has the makings of another book for sure!

It's hard to believe how much can happen in the blink of an eye... I think all of us here at 'Choosing to Smile' have been procrastinating about updating our blogs while we were all coping with the illness and death of our good friend Bonnie. Bonnie passed away March 28th - we all feel her loss but, as Bonnie would have it no other way, we are choosing to smile as we remember everything we loved about her.

We are so grateful that we finished the book in time for Bonnie to hold our completed stories in her hand. She never finished reading the book but she knew she was a huge part of it. The other day Michelle pointed out that if Bonnie hadn't been so sick we may never have taken our 'girl's weekend' getaway to Bellingham last April and Julie's idea to write the book may never have occurred. Funny how one thing can be the catalyst for a whole set of life changing events for so many. Thank you Bonnie - you did good!

We had a great time signing books yesterday at Cole's Bookstore - thanks to so many FB fans, friends, and family for dropping by to say Hi! It still seems like a dream everytime we are stopped by someone who recognizes us and tells us they've read our book and loved it. My goal is to get the book out to 200,000 people in one year ... so I better get busy!

Speaking of busy, tomorrow I will go back to the gym (I just wish I enjoyed exercise as much as my sister Lorrie does!)and continue on with my goal to drop a few more unwanted pounds by summer... anybody have any good motivating factors for me? I work better on the reward system ... and no, sorry, added 'health' benefits don't count as a motivator reward - that's a given - I'm talking a new wardrobe or a trip to Hawaii or something along those lines ... now I just have to convince my husband! Wish me luck...

Well, I see time didn't stop since the last time I blogged - go figure! Since I last wrote we've launched our book (wonderful success)- been written about in the newspaper as well as appeared on local TV and radio - we've sold hundreds of copies of our book and are on the way into the 1000's!! The book is already in several book stores and the response has been so overwhelmingly positive from every reader we've spoken with... it just reaffirms our belief that this book was meant to be.

Okay, with that said, I DO feel a LITTLE guilty for not working out regularly through all the excitement March has brought... I'm just a little nervous about weighing in and the pizza I grabbed for dinner was likely not the best food choice I could have made... sigh.... ah well, tomorrow is a new day and I'll start again...

I have been putting this off for awhile now but I have some sad news for you all - for those of you who have read 'Choosing to Smile' you'll recall reading about Bonnie Holmes in all three of our stories. She is our 'fourth musketeer' and the fourth member of our survivor's dinner group along with Michelle, Julie and myself. Bonnie was admitted to hospital two weeks ago. The reason she was unable to write her story along with ours was because she was too ill dealing with metastatic colon cancer. She also had breast cancer and a mastectomy - unrelated to her colon cancer - so she's been through a heck of a lot the past few years. She's a tough cookie but I think she's just about had enough. There comes a time when we're just too tired to keep fighting and I hate to admit that my good friend Bonnie is approaching that point in her battle; she was admitted onto the paliative care ward tonight. There is a time for tears my friends and this is one of them...but Bonnie would HATE that - her favourite expression is, "Oh well..." said in a wonderful sing song voice and a huge smile plastered on her face! Please send her your positive thoughts and prayers...

I can't believe I've been back to the gym for a whole month already... and I weighed in with a little trepidation but I'm happy to say I've lost 3 pounds and 5 inches... my skirts are practically falling off me already (and no - that is not a pretty sight!) It's amazing what a little exercise and toning can do to put the curves back where they're supposed to go. Who knew all the experts were right?! I really have to be honest and say it's the exercise that has contributed to the weight loss because I haven't changed my (bad) eating habits too drastically. I still like the occasional dessert; a 'Dirty Mother' once in awhile hits the spot(and if you have to ask you're not a tequila fan!); and popcorn with butter is a Saturday night staple around here. So I'm sure the number of pounds lost would be greater if I was a little more disciplined... but I always ask myself, "When I'm sitting in my rocking chair looking back at all my memories will I remember the piece of pie I ate or the piece of pie I didn't?" It's a bit of a conundrum isn't it? I bought three pounds of butter today and as I put them in the freezer it put the weight loss into perspective and I was happy - I'll keep you posted as the pounds fall off each month...hopefully!
(PS - I still miss my little Jewels but I've stopped sobbing in my pillow and am 'choosing to smile' when I remember her which is just as it should be!)

Here's one of the last photos of me with my little girl.

I have been sticking close to home the past few days because my little dog Jewel was put down yesterday, February 12, 2010, at noon. For anyone who is a pet owner they'll understand how hard it is to make the decision for your pet to end their life. When my dad was so ill with cancer he said he was ready to die but a pet can't articulate their wishes in quite such a clear manner. You have to rely on body language and intuition a lot and even then you're sometimes left wondering, "Were they really ready to leave?"

The night before we took Jewel's to see the vet one last time, I cuddled with her on my bed. I told her how much she was loved and that I'd always have a special place in my heart just for her. I thanked her for her gift of unconditional love when I wasn't alsways deserving of it. She looked at me with her cataract clouded eyes and I know she understood what I was saying or at least the emotions behind my words.

It's very difficult to say goodbye to those we love whether they're human or animal. I've found myself reaching down to pat her on the head a dozen times today and my heart just breaks when I realize that she's gone and I won't have her 'shadowing' me from room to room anymore. I am allowing myself a few days to honour her memory with occassional tears while I feel sorry for myself and for what I have lost. Then, I am going to choose to smile as I remember all the wonderful times we've spent together over the years and how much she enriched my life by sharing hers with me. I believe she'll be one of the first 'people' who will greet me when it's my turn to leave this world and I look forward to our cuddle time once more...

Today I skipped the gym - instead I put on a pair of high heels (well, only one actually) and went to Cloverdale to speak at the Valley Women's Network Luncheon. They were was such a nice group of ladies and I really enjoyed sharing with them just a few of the funny events I've experienced as a one-legged lady. One day I'm going to put all those funny stories in a book (yes, some are most definitely included in 'Choosing to Smile')

I got home and watched our music video that 'The Art of Living Productions' did for us to the 'Choosing to Smile' theme song - It is so great. Aaron and Tim are amazing - if you ever need a videographer I highly recommend them. I can hardly wait to see what they put together from our interview... should be ready to post soon.

I just love my friends! I look at Julie and Michelle and I know how blessed we are to have each other. Tomorrow is another really busy day for me - appointments booked from morning till late afternoon but I will get to the gym at some point for sure. I need to make up for skipping out today - but that high-heel just looks so much nicer than a sneaker... (my mom almost fainted when she saw me walking around in a four inch spike heel on one leg - but then she sighed and said, "Enjoy it sweetheart because when you're 86 you won't be able to wear them anymore!" Hmmm, maybe... maybe not! We shall see...

Well, the weekend flew by way too fast as usual. Why is it when I look at my chock full calendar I wonder, "Hmmm, where oh where can I find time to go to the gym?" but if my buddy phones and says, "How about getting together for a Tim Horton's coffee?" I'm there in a flash! Funny how that works...

I am still planning on skydiving on my 55th birthday. So far my friend Liz is coming with me - against our husband's advice of course! My two sons are thinking about joining me as well - wouldn't that be a great memory to make...
I better plan on getting to that gym tomorrow because I don't want to lie about my weight to my tandem partner and end up going down in a blaze of flapping parachute silk! Somehow the gym seems like a good idea when weighed against the options...

Weigh in day is the 18th... I'll keep you posted - I'm aiming for at least 2 pounds... but we shall see! People keep telling me, "You didn't gain it in a month so don't expect to lose it that fast either!" I tell them, "Why not? I lost 28 pounds in one day once!" (but I'm not willing to lose any more body parts to achieve that kind of weight loss again!)

I have a handout in my presentation package that describes the steps you need to take to 'Have a Good Day' and on the flip side of the card are the steps you need to take to 'Have a Bad Day' - all summed up it says that "You need to make time to be healthy or you have to take time to be sick!" So exercising or not is just a choice we have to make - just like 'choosing to smile' is a choice. With that said, I am going to the gym today and I certainly hope that eventually I will start to like working out... but for now, it's a necessary evil. I just don't get the thrill out of sweating that some people do... can anyone explain it to me? (aside from the 'endorphin release' theory cuz I've heard that one and have yet to feel it!)

Hopefully, I will be down a few pounds by the official launch dates of March 5, 6, and 7th.... we shall see!

I'll weigh in on February 18th and see how I've done... one month after the start of making a commitment to lose weight. I can't believe my inspiration to lose weight is so that I can jump out of an airplane on my 55th birthday! What was I thinking?!

Well, I had a bit of a surprise today when I went back to Curves after a four month hiatus - I'd managed to lose four pounds and an inch or two in my absence! Not bad! Actually, pretty good considering I usually gain weight over Christmas and New Years. I've got a long way to go and a relatively short time to get there so hopefully I can manage to stick to a schedule of diet and exercise that will work for my crazy schedule... Yes, it's 2:00am and I should be in bed so will try to incorporate earlier 'bed times' into my regime at some point. And that may prove to be the most difficult task of all...

January 18th,2010 12:30am

Well, I never thought I'd see this day - I'm starting a blog! I was going through old pictures to put in the book and decided I really do look WAY better thinner. I figure there's enough people out there in the same boat as I am that would like to join me on my weight loss journey. Now, I'm kind of committed aren't I? That's usually my problem - I fall off the committment wagon! I start off determined and then gradually go back to my old ways... which is eating too much of the wrong kind of food; not eating regularly; and a real big issue - lack of exercise! If it's not fun, I don't want to do it... and I've never been a big fan of the slogan, "no pain - no gain!" To me that's just wrong! So, here goes - one pound at a time.... and I'm not going to tell you what I weigh now... I'll tell you when I've reached my goal! Some things you just don't share... But I'll try and take pictures every month and hopefully in 8 months - on my 55th birthday - I'll go tandem skydiving and I won't be freaking out because I'm too heavy for the person to land safely - and GENTLY - with on the ground... whoo... now I'm REALLY committed...