For the last year, I have worked from home doing Computer Sales (in support of my husband). As I mentioned, my daughter is involved in Cheerleading (R.A.G.E., formerly known as Champion) Tues, 6pm-9pm, Fri, 5-7, and Sunday, 2-5, with the occasional Thursday for tumbling as well as Saturday for extra practice. They will be involved in several competitions, starting in November. In addition, she baby-sits for our Church on Thursday nights from 6:30-9:30pm. She also does babysitting on the side. She is a part of NJROTC at school which requires time outside of school ex: they sell pretzels and lemonade at the NC State games. She has been involved in dance for the past 10 years, however, is taking this year off to pursue Cheerleading. Not to mention that she also has a social life. Needless to say, her schedule keeps me busy.

I am very much involved in Kairos, which is a prison ministry. I recently was a part of a team who went into NCCIW for 4 days to present a program much like Cursillo, Ameus Walk, etc. It is a very powerful weekend as well as exhausting. Several months prior to entering the prison, we prepare as a team with Team Meetings as well as an Overnight Retreat in order to properly bond with our fellow team members. I will begin the process again in January in order to enter the prison in April. I have been asked to be the Coordinator for this particular weekend.

My initial thoughts are pure excitement. I am thrilled at the thought of finally getting to the best I ever dreamed possible. I’m not even sure what that is but now I have a picture in front of me that gives me a good idea (Thanks Angela!).

I am so excited about this journey because I realize (after having turned 40 last November) that everything is connected. So, though I have struggled at different times in my life with my weight, I now know that if I can get and stay on the right track everything in my life will benefit.

MY personal best is what I am looking for. And I am not going to say that I am hoping for it, I am going to say that I will achieve it!

I am totally confident in you (Angela) coaching me through this. I know that you have the knowledge and you are able to zero in on each person and what their needs are.

My family has always supported me in whatever I do. My daughter is a cheerleader and works hard to be conditioned properly and in the best shape. My husband has recently decided that it is time for him to get healthy. And they know what this means to me, so I feel blessed to have them in my corner.

As a family, we are very involved at church. My husband is an Usher as well as helping with Sound. My daughter is an Acolyte. I will be trained to be a LEM (Lay Eucharistic Minister) which means that I will be able to help with the service, including communion. I helped with Sunday school for middle school aged kids for the past year and a half. My daughter and I took part in ASP (Appalachian Service Project) over the summer which took us to Virginia to help families in need to rebuild parts of their homes. A group of ladies from my church meet at my home twice a month. A friend and I have been working out together for several months, though we have been supporting each other for a couple years.

• Being flexible enough to get my workouts in when life throws me a curve.
• I would’ve said that eating properly was a challenge, but with the meal preparation, I am confident that it won’t be an issue.

Week 3 Begins! 10/29/02

This week has proven to be a very powerful week with my body fat dropping to 15 ½%. How did that happen? Here's what I think.

• I have made a decision. A decision to totally follow the plan that Angela has set before me. This is important because I remember the few times in my life that I was able to get to a place physically that I was happy with, everything seemed to be just right. There have been MANY, MANY more times that I have tried to get to a place physically that I was happy with, but FAILED miserably.
• I have allowed myself to eat ONLY the food that is on the plan. However, it is MUCH easier than I would have thought. I attribute this to the fact that all I have to do is grab a container of food from the refrigerator. Last Tuesday, Angela and I shopped for the food on this week's plan and (she) prepared the food and then we put it into containers. I believe this ACTION to be one of the biggest contributors to the success of this plan. I also believe that preparing and portioning my food is something that will benefit my health for the rest of my life. Something that I found very interesting is the fact that I did not even think about taking an extra portion of the foods that were already in containers. I did notice that when I made several chicken breasts and had to serve myself a portion, it was much easier to desire a larger portion than was planned.
• I have stayed with my exercise plan and followed through. Knowing that it is completely up to me to come away with the expected results, I truly am committed to sticking with my daily exercise goals. I will not let a day go by without getting in the exercise suggested on the plan. And I am very grateful to my family for their support. Over the weekend, my plan called for me to sprint/walk. My husband graciously coached me through this. I am certain without his help - I would have had a very difficult time pushing myself to the max, given the fact that this is not typical behavior for me. But he made sure that I did it and to the best of my ability!

I have caught myself saying, "Are you sure that I'm not eating too much?" It just amazes me that to be on a definitive plan expecting weight loss, it allows me to actually eat MORE than I am used to. I am able to eat six small meals a day, leaving no opportunity to get overly hungry because I am feeding my body. And it will let me know when it is time for more. And I do look forward to my next meal - because it tastes good! It's regular food, prepared properly (with minimal effort, I might add) and it has great flavor. No weird foods or portions only big enough for a bird. I go to a regular grocery store and purchase regular food.

I turned 40 last year and I have certainly noticed that it seems much more difficult to maintain my physical body to the level that I was happy with over the past 10 years. But I now realize that people like me just don't know that there are changes we need to make. I continued with the moderate exercise and the same eating patterns and expected to stay the same. However, until it was brought to my attention, I did not take into account the fact that, my body is changing. BEFORE: I was eating the same amount of food, however, my metabolism was dropping. I continued with the same exercise plan, however, I was increasingly more sedentary as each year passes. But I thought that all I had to do was to keep doing what I had been doing. WRONG!!!!! I must pay more attention to food or become more active in order to keep the weight off. I have to get up and get moving in order to boost my metabolism. And weight bearing exercises, I have learned, are critical to increase my metabolism and fight osteoporosis.

I have decided, through my own personal findings, that people my age simply forget what it feels like to be able to tuck in their tops and simply slide on a pair of pants. As I've realized, unless I make changes, I WILL gain weight, on a yearly basis. The statistics are already in place. I just didn't think it included me because I stayed at a weight that I was very happy with for 12 years. But I am part of the statistics and I must make changes, or continue to wear the big tops and the loose pants that help to hide the additional pounds that I am prone to.

Week 6 Begins! 11/19/02

I'm going into Week 6 and turning 41. Life is great! It was a good week. I dropped 2 lbs as well as some bodyfat. I am down to 13%. I am unsure whether or not I was ever at this percentage. Maybe when I was young, I don't remember calculating that back then. It's funny though, I am also realizing that I still have a lot of fat on my body. Much more work to do.

Anyway, I am beginning to see the fruits of my labor. My clothes aren't as tight, my face isn't as full, I have more energy and my stamina is increasing. I don't dread waking up in the morning as I did before I began this program and I am beginning to believe that I will have the tools at the end of these 12 weeks in order to maintain the final results. Truthfully, I have no idea what my physical self will look like because I have never been at my best. I am very much looking forward to that time.

Without support, I realize, this would not be happening. It's hard work! Worth it, but make no mistake, it's hard work! Without the tools that Angela has put into place for me, I would be right where I used to be. Without her encouragement and help, I would not be as far. Without the support of my family, I would have had difficulty continuing on. Without the commitment on my part, there would have been no beginning. But thankfully, everything is in place. I will succeed this time, unlike the many previous beginnings. I will finish and be better than I ever dreamed possible. Stay with me, I need as much support as I can get!

Week 7 Begins! 11/26/02

This program is working! Let me tell you how I know. My husband bought me an outfit for my birthday. Would you believe I needed to exchange it for a smaller size? I can't even express to you how wonderful that feels. There I was - trying on clothes. I was trying on clothes that are two sizes smaller than what I had been wearing. How exciting! I felt like a kid in a candy store. I was actually giddy. It feels so good. I feel so much better than I did just 6 weeks ago. And do you know what Angela said? She told me not to buy too many clothes because we're not done yet. Can you believe it? I still can't imagine what I am going to look like 6 weeks from now. Are you going to stay with me to find out?

Week 10 Begins! 12/17/02

Here we are going into Week 10. It's just amazing how different I am and how differently I feel. I am so much more confident. I believe that I am a happier person. I get so excited when I try things on - that haven't fit me for years - and they fit! It is an awesome feeling! And I'm often by myself, but it doesn't matter. I get very excited - I start jumping around and I'm smiling! I feel like a kid! My Dad and my son are back. They will be here with us over Christmas. Yesterday, there I was, jumping around in the kitchen - for no real reason except that I can. My Dad said to me, "You really like being in shape, don't you?" And I do! It is the best feeling.

People, I am completely convinced that this program is the best medicine that any of us could take. It hasn't been easy. I have worked hard. But I have never felt alone. And I feel totally energized now! There have been many years when I would be walking around like a crazy person right now - with all that I need to do, all that needs to get done, but I'm not crazy this time and I know it's because I'm fit. The stress level is so much lower. I'll get done what I get done and I will enjoy it all along the way.

NEXT: The Jackson's

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