A Plan for Victory

Today I heard a great quote and I wanted to share it with you. "You can either get busy living, or get busy dying." What do I mean by get busy? Here are a few things to help you get busy and once you have accomplished these things you are well on your way to a healthy life.

Find an Accountability Partner
This is someone who is walking the same path you are walking right now. Before you consider this person make sure you are picking the right partner for you. Your partner needs to be fully committed to losing weight just like you. You want someone with a good attitude and someone who will encourage you when you are ready to give up. You must be the same type of partner to them. Remember to keep positive and don't say "if" I lose the weight but rather "when" I lose the weight.

You will need to give up the following things during your journey to becoming a healthier person.

White Sugar
I know... suck it up! Everyone loves sugar and you still have to give it up. Here are the reasons why; do you know the reaction cars have when sugar is put into the gas tank? The engine will die. Well guess what your body reacts the same way over time you are killing yourself with sugar, think diabetes for an example. Sugar needs to be marked "legal drug" because it is addicting, alcohol is sugar and this is what alcoholics are addicted to. When you give up sugar your body will go through a detox period and you will feel horrible and have withdrawal symptoms much like an alcoholic. God created natural forms of sugar in raw fruits, raw vegetables, honey and molasses. This wasn't good enough for man so they had to "enhance" the sugar by using fourteen steps to process sugarcane and sugar beets to make sucrose. "Sugar has been known to contribute to depression, fatigue, irritability, hypoglycemia, diabetes, hyperactivity, and violent outrages." Sugar Blues by William Duffy

Artificial Sweeteners
Why eliminate this? Because well they are artificial! "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." (Galatians 6:7) We are reaping the effects of poor nutrition, lack of exercise, sleep deprivation, and ignorance. The food industry makes billions of dollars every year from our ignorance. Foods that are labeled fat free, sugar free, and artificial flavor are some examples of the marketers making us feel safe. You would be safer to eat the packaging rather than the artificial sweeteners.

White Flour
Food manufacturers are stealing the nutrients from brown whole grain, they remove all of the wheat germ and bran, and they bleach it white with chemicals kind of like Clorox bleach. Then the kicker is they sell you the wheat germ and bran back to us as "health food." If a package says bleached or enriched put it down and run the other direction.

White Potato, White Rice, and CORN
If you haven't watched the movie Food, Inc., I really encourage you to head to your nearest movie store and rent it. You will be amazed at the fact that corn is in everything. I mean everything, Motrin, Pampers, all soft drinks, all food in boxes, about the only place you are safe from corn is in the produce department unless you are buying corn of course. Corn, potatoes and rice are carbohydrates that turn into sugar quickly in the body and this will make you tired and overweight. To be healthy you need to stick to raw fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and low-fat complex carbohydrates.

Fake Foods
What are fake foods? Anything with white sugar, bleached flour, soft drinks, boxed items and some canned items minus vegetables. I know you are wasting your money if you emptying out your cabinets from all of your "Fake" food. Guess what if you keep eating those foods you will spend even more money on your health. Don't announce to your children you are getting rid of all the "Fake" food or even your husband for that matter. I think husbands throw an even bigger fit than the kids. Introduce foods slowly to the family and over time they will come around. This isn't a diet it's a new way of life. Once you have been rid of the "Fake" food in a few weeks you will feel better than you have in a long time.

Stop Eating after 7:00
It's better to eat your calories during the morning and by lunch time. This way you are not trying to make your body digest a lot of food at night when you tend to be sitting around or better yet sleeping. The body cannot possibly digest a lot of food at night and you will probably get a better night sleep if you don't eat after 7:00. If you are really hungry try a hard boiled egg and a sliced apple.

If you follow these tips you will be well on your way to making changes. You will notice a difference and probably some weight loss within the first week to two weeks by using these tips. Follow me and I will lead you to the finish. Dream big and pray hard for strength to keep you on the right path. Losing weight is a mental challenge and if you can overcome all the mental obstacles you will lose the weight. -

You Are Not Alone

Two people are better than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NLT

During this challenge I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and make friends with other challengers. Everyone is going through the same things you are going through. Don't suffer by yourself, instead find a partner during your journey someone to be your cheerleader and you be their cheerleader. The reason most of us became overweight is because we chose to stay isolated from our friends and family and thought we could handle everything on our own. Well you see where that got us.

Don't let your mind separate you from other people during this time. Encourage others and you too will be encouraged. Have the courage to conquer your fears and reach out to others and they will do the same to you.

During the holiday season this is a very tough time for many people, due to stress over money during the holidays and some people have lost their jobs. Focus on things to be thankful for, your goals, and do not let stress bring you down during this time of the year. Do not fall back into bad habits, now more than ever you need support and encouragement from others.

Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25 NLT

Dream Boards

Making a dream board is a great way to stay motivated during your challenge. Here is an example of Kerri's dream refrigerator, Kerri is a mom of two little girls, she has completed two challenges and just started her third challenge.

Here's what Kerri's dream board consists of and what it is in her own words.

Top 10 Bikini Bodies-because one of my big goals is to look hot in my bikini again
My favorite inspirational quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us" I AM strong, I CAN do this, and no difficult task lasts forever!
My very first before picture and my most recent after picture-I've made this much progress...why stop now???
Pictures of me before I got pregnant with baby #2-I was comfortable in my own skin then and I felt great!
Reasons to keep going: I'm getting healthier, I'm setting a good example for my kids, how great I feel after a workout, etc.
Motivational quotes from real people in my life that prove I'm working toward my goal. They can see it, too!
My "inspirational" card from you after the 1st challenge.
A run-down of when I should eat and some ideas for quick meals in case I'm in a hurry. Also, ways to save on calories.
Some strength exercises. These are handy when I'm waiting for lunch or dinner to get done-I can get in some strength while I wait!
My Ritter's magnet. I've written on it "Just say no!" Ice cream is my weakness, so I chose my favorite kind and looked up all the terrible nutritional info on it and posted that, too.
Dead center: my goal sheet! I see it everyday (several times a day) so I am reminded that I'm always working toward my goals. I also keep track of how many times I work out each week on there.

Kerri said it so well. This board has a lot of meaning for her and yours should too. If you are really passionate about making changes in your life and really reaching your goals a dream board will be a great tool. A dream board is very encouraging, inspiring and a great motivator. It's important to set goals and to see your goals daily. People who set goals are far more likely to reach their goals. Setting goals will help you achieve your weight loss and seeing them daily will help you continually work towards those goals. When you see your dream board it will help you stay motivated and keeps you accountable. I loved Kerri's idea to use the refrigerator because when she's making meals for her family she can see what her ultimate goal is and it also helps her refrain from getting into the refrigerator for unhealthy foods or just simply overeating.

If you have a dream board you would like to share please send me a picture, I would love to feature your ideas on the blog or our Skinny Mom Group Page. If you have other ideas I would love to hear them. Send you ideas or pictures to skinnymomschallenge@yahoo.com

Thanksgiving Thanks

It's November and a time to be thankful. What are you thankful for in your life? Email me at skinnymomschallenge@yahoo.com or reply to this posting.

I am thankful for my family and children's health.

I am thankful for God giving me a second chance at life.

I am thankful for the many wonderful women I have become great friends with during our challenges.