In a land far, far away lived a young, confident woman. Seeing all the possibilities around her, she found a gorgeous purple bikini that she wore on a cruise around the Bahamas. Life was fun, opportunities were infinite and that purple bikini followed her every summer from beach to beach.
Then one day the young woman met a prince from a far away land. She started a brand new life with the prince -- and soon little ones sprung from this wonderful union. New opportunities presented themselves but the confident, purple bikini-clad woman began to fade. She allowed herself to be defined by others, to lose her identity and with that she cloaked herself in a new shape -- and this shape had no room for her gorgeous purple bikini.
An angel message came to this woman one day -- who have you been created to be? What is your identity? Live the life you’ve been chosen to live! The woman woke up and with that, she was presented with the right people in her life -- to help her understand nutrition, push herself beyond her comfort zone, love herself completely and be confident in the woman she had become (beyond the roles of wife, mom, sister, friend). She realized she was the Daughter of the King and decided to live that way.
So what did the woman do this southern hemisphere summer? She slipped into her purple bikini - two kids in tow - and looked and felt the way she did all those years ago. She lay, looking out at the sea and thinking wow, this is the beginning of a life that was in hibernation. Welcome back, purple bikini woman. It’s good to see you again!
I am the bikini woman... obviously. This journey, this Holiday Health Challenge has given me an incredible opportunity to find myself again. And what I’ve found is a strong woman -- one who ran a 5km in the rain; and then ran a 7km the following day; one who hikes, salsa dances and swims. This is the woman I have always been. I had just put on layers of self-doubt, insecurity, heaviness = weight. In recognizing my true worth as an individual, I was given all the amazing resources to make that change. That change being to find myself again and start living the life I was made to live.
My friend who encouraged me to sign up for the Holiday Health Challenge made two definite predictions: You will get to your goal and beyond; You will go to South Africa feeling amazing and will be able to determine your next goals. Well, she was oh so right! It seemed like a pipe-dream, 23pounds ago. But when I slipped into that purple bikini, right where I’d last worn it 5 years ago, I knew that I was back. My true self had returned.
A relative said to me last week: Welcome back. It’s good to see you again.
I am back. And I’m here to stay.
Thank you to withu and all the resources available to help us reach our full potential. Thank you to my husband, sister and incredible friends who held my hand through this. I could not have found myself again without your selflessness. Ke lebogile... I am deeply thankful.
-- Trailwalker --
Monday, December 20, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Vigilance
OK, holiday season is really travel season...
Airplanes; jet-lag; parties; eating out... Mm-hhmm
This week I'm visiting family and friends in sunny South Africa. My trip has included the above and more. I'm having a terrific time, but the question is: how do I stay vigilant with all the changes to my routine?
Simple answer: Portion-Control.
I decided that if I'm going to enjoy all the goodies and fun associated with being here, it's important to stick to certain behavioral patterns that have worked these past few months. Eating 1,300 calories has an amazing effect (after enduring the first week): YOUR TUMMY SHRINKS! Yay!!
I look at the food in front of me and know that even if I'm sharing one serving of pasta, it's simply too much food! So, I've been able to enjoy all the goodies by sharing with my sister. I will say though that I did try wolfing down more than I'm used to and man, my tummy was on fire!! That totally took the joy out of the meal. NOT WORTH IT! SO, I decided to stick to what has become my way of living and am much more satisfied!
I even did a shortened version of my core workouts this morning- it felt great! My son teasingly asked: Mom, whatcha doing? My reply: What I always do. He had a satisfied smile, as if to say: some things remain constant.
A friend who's kept her weight off for over 10 years told me one piece of advice: Stay vigilant -- don't take your eye off the ball.
I have been thinking about that. I'm 22 pounds down now - 15 more to go!! SO, I can't let this vacation and change of schedule affect my goal. Yes, everyone's very complimentary on my progress thus far, but I have to keep my eye on the ball.
Vigilance.
That's the ultimate pay off.
---Trailwalker---
Airplanes; jet-lag; parties; eating out... Mm-hhmm
This week I'm visiting family and friends in sunny South Africa. My trip has included the above and more. I'm having a terrific time, but the question is: how do I stay vigilant with all the changes to my routine?
Simple answer: Portion-Control.
I decided that if I'm going to enjoy all the goodies and fun associated with being here, it's important to stick to certain behavioral patterns that have worked these past few months. Eating 1,300 calories has an amazing effect (after enduring the first week): YOUR TUMMY SHRINKS! Yay!!
I look at the food in front of me and know that even if I'm sharing one serving of pasta, it's simply too much food! So, I've been able to enjoy all the goodies by sharing with my sister. I will say though that I did try wolfing down more than I'm used to and man, my tummy was on fire!! That totally took the joy out of the meal. NOT WORTH IT! SO, I decided to stick to what has become my way of living and am much more satisfied!
I even did a shortened version of my core workouts this morning- it felt great! My son teasingly asked: Mom, whatcha doing? My reply: What I always do. He had a satisfied smile, as if to say: some things remain constant.
A friend who's kept her weight off for over 10 years told me one piece of advice: Stay vigilant -- don't take your eye off the ball.
I have been thinking about that. I'm 22 pounds down now - 15 more to go!! SO, I can't let this vacation and change of schedule affect my goal. Yes, everyone's very complimentary on my progress thus far, but I have to keep my eye on the ball.
Vigilance.
That's the ultimate pay off.
---Trailwalker---
Friday, December 3, 2010
Milestones
We’ve all had them. An event or achievement that marks an important stage IN A PROCESS (Macmillan Dictionary).
I especially like the last part -- the process, the journey. Often, we look at the obstacle(s) and think it’s near impossible. That was me and the dam* dam I mentioned in my first blog.
The first time I went up this hill I kept asking the walkers breezing down how far it was to the top. I remember asking a British lady how she could do it. She replied: “You can do it, just put in a little Michael Jackson** and you’ll get there!” OK, I appreciated the vote of confidence but all I heard was ‘Beat It’ -- you have no business attempting this!! That first time, I didn’t get all the way to the top.
But I went back and back and yes, back again. I got to the point where I could slowly push myself... then the double stroller up to the dam, without saying dam*! But always, no matter how hard I thought I was pushing, my husband would be way ahead of me. I’d be heaving, doing my personal best; keeping my pace and eventually getting there.
That was months ago.
This past Wednesday, something had shifted. I power-hiked the dam WITH my husband, keeping his pace without feeling winded! His comment: Finally, we can hike together! The real thrill was getting to the top and jogging further up the hill to reach the golf course and continuing on down. I could hear MJ crooning -- ‘She’s Bad!’
OK, so this achievement, this event highlighted the other milestone I reached this week: 20 POUNDS DOWN, BABY! Right here in front of me, the journey is taking beautiful shape. Right now, there’s so much satisfaction. It’s called freedom. I can hike at a reasonable pace; run up stairs and inclines to fetch my son in record time; act like a grown-up 5-year-old at kindermusik by jumping up & down while jamming with my kids; enjoy a power-hike with hubby.... Absolute freedom is limitless!
A friend told me that her workout guru once said: “Nothing tastes as good as slim feels.” I would say “nothing tastes as good as strength & freedom feel.” Wow!
This is an amazing process. I’m still on the journey. But yes, ‘The (Wo)man in the Mirror’ has changed her ways -- “if you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make that change” MJ counsels.
Most def.
**Apologies to those affected by my unabashed referral to MJ. I’m not even a fan... not really...
I especially like the last part -- the process, the journey. Often, we look at the obstacle(s) and think it’s near impossible. That was me and the dam* dam I mentioned in my first blog.
The first time I went up this hill I kept asking the walkers breezing down how far it was to the top. I remember asking a British lady how she could do it. She replied: “You can do it, just put in a little Michael Jackson** and you’ll get there!” OK, I appreciated the vote of confidence but all I heard was ‘Beat It’ -- you have no business attempting this!! That first time, I didn’t get all the way to the top.
But I went back and back and yes, back again. I got to the point where I could slowly push myself... then the double stroller up to the dam, without saying dam*! But always, no matter how hard I thought I was pushing, my husband would be way ahead of me. I’d be heaving, doing my personal best; keeping my pace and eventually getting there.
That was months ago.
This past Wednesday, something had shifted. I power-hiked the dam WITH my husband, keeping his pace without feeling winded! His comment: Finally, we can hike together! The real thrill was getting to the top and jogging further up the hill to reach the golf course and continuing on down. I could hear MJ crooning -- ‘She’s Bad!’
OK, so this achievement, this event highlighted the other milestone I reached this week: 20 POUNDS DOWN, BABY! Right here in front of me, the journey is taking beautiful shape. Right now, there’s so much satisfaction. It’s called freedom. I can hike at a reasonable pace; run up stairs and inclines to fetch my son in record time; act like a grown-up 5-year-old at kindermusik by jumping up & down while jamming with my kids; enjoy a power-hike with hubby.... Absolute freedom is limitless!
A friend told me that her workout guru once said: “Nothing tastes as good as slim feels.” I would say “nothing tastes as good as strength & freedom feel.” Wow!
This is an amazing process. I’m still on the journey. But yes, ‘The (Wo)man in the Mirror’ has changed her ways -- “if you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make that change” MJ counsels.
Most def.
**Apologies to those affected by my unabashed referral to MJ. I’m not even a fan... not really...
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