Dawn’s Weight Loss Journey

 

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Okay buddies…

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Happy Saturday all! Hope it is going swimmingly for you all…

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Mine has been more then groovy!!!! Husband and I had a delightful evening last night, and a wonderful “Date” day today…We laughed so hard we cried…Felt real good…We havent had such a fun date in a very long time!

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Tried a new restaraunt, tried some new beers, had some great food, great conversation, and then afterwards, we walked to a cute little frozen custard shop…I have never in my life had frozen custard! It was truly heaven on my tongue! (No, I did not even fool myself into thinking it was healthy) but I enjoyed my day none the less…

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I worked out good this morning in anticipation of this event, and will work out tomorrow as well as stay on plan the remainder of the week…Promise…I had to have this day…

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Okay…So what did I do?

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Well, my dear friends…I have posted a pic of myself in my profile, of me in my size 22 shorts!!! These are slightly different then the ones I told you about last week…But I chose them because I actually had a picture of me wearing them back when I WAS a size 22…Och!!! 22!!!

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Sooo…In order to get the A-ha, or WOW factor, I had to get into an old swim suit…That is the part I cant believe I did…Posted a picture of myself on here in a swim suit…EGADS!!! Have I gone mad??????  Yep…I am sure of it…

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Please do not laugh…I know it is not pretty…I got a lot of work yet to do on my upper body, for sure…

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But I am DEFINITELY proud of my lower body…My butt, she looks good…My legs…WOW…I can really tell a difference!!! Especially, since you will see the proof in the one picture that indeed, both my legs now fit into one hole of my shorts!!!

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So there you go folks…I am telling you…Exercise, exercise, exercise…It has changed my life…The food will take you all the way, for sure, but to get a whole different body, you have to suck it up and do the exercise…My body has litterally changed shape…And my body is carrying the weight sooo much different now…

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Okay…Well, enjoy, and thanks for sharing in my humiliation!!

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Dawnie

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P.s. Sorry about the tatoo’s…now my secret is out…I am really just a biker babe at heart!

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“You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, well you might find
You get what you need”

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~The Rolling Stones (Of course!)

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UGH. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. !#%^&*&^*&^%!!!!!!

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Yes, my friends. Today I had to start off with my theme song…To help remind me that we dont, indeed, always get what we want, but often, we get what we need, even if we dont always realize it at the time…

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I wanted ever so desperately to be in the 170’s today…

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Alas, it did not happen…

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So…I had my moment of shock…Disbeleif…I yelled at the scale…I cursed it, stomped on it, kicked it…No change…Nothing…Scale sat there sneering up me. I swear it to be true!!!

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I came downstairs. Checked my food journal. Went back over the last three weeks…Food has remained between 1200-1300 calories every day but two…Those two days I went up to 1500 calories…I have exercised faithfully. Added back in my lunchtime walks last week. This week I added in the morning dog runs…

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The result??? I have actually GAINED a pound today…

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I dont need to tell one single one of you how devestating this was…I was absolutely crushed…

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I KNOW I am doing everything right. I KNOW this…I know the scale is NOT a good tool for me currently…I KNOW I am building muscle, retaining water (Just ended TOM on Tuesday!) I KNOW all of these things in the deepest recesses of my soul..

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But I am still sad…

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I seem incapable of breaking my 180’s platuea…The same thing happened to me back up at 200…I flirted with 200 for months…207-204-201-204, etc. etc. etc…

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This is not a new game to me. But it is a frustrating game…

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BUT…I will end this on a positive note. I am going to shake it off and move on…

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I dressed today in a new outfit…I look great, and no, I am not trying to be conceited. I look and feel better about my body then I have EVER felt…Even when I was smaller…My body is REALLY transforming now due to the exercises…

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I got dressed today in my  new shirt, and my jean capri’s (Casual day at the office ROCKS!!) and could NOT beleive the reflection looking back at me…

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I looked good…Truly. Good. Curves in the right places…I am still fat. This I know…And out of my clothes, there are still some places that I am not proud of, nor like…But tucked away in my clothes, well…I looked good…

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I like myself today…I do…I just soooo wish the damn scale would start noticing my hard work…

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Have a very happy Friday buddies…May your weigh ins go better then mine!!!

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Luv ya-

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Dawnie

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Today I shall WOW you with my tale of 7 Jenny?s?Hold on to your shirt tails buddies?There is nothing weight loss related in this blog!!! If you need that today, best just keep on movin?..Cause I sure haven?t got one thing in here about it!

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Now, my husband finds this incredibly bizarre? I don?t know that I agree?Maybe slightly unusual, but bizarre??? Hmmm?

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I think I shall let you decide?

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So, for some reason, I seem to collect friends with the name Jenny?It started young and does continue to this day?

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Now, granted?Jennifer IS one of the most popular names for girls. I believe it?s been on the top 10 list for girls for quite some time?So really, I don?t think it?s all THAT weird, but I suppose, when I ask everyone else, no one else seems to have as many Jenny?s in their life?

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So my husband thinks I must have some karmic draw to those named Jenny?It?s important to point out, that these Jenny?s in my life, aren?t just mere acquaintances?They were all, at one time, considered a BEST FRIEND?Heck, if I added mere acquaintances, school mates, co workers, my list would be twice as long!!

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So here?s the rundown (Last names have been omitted to protect the innocent!):

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Jennifer H- She was my first official Jennifer?I was 9 ish, she was 7 ish. She is that friend that we all have had at one time?My mom was friends with her mom, they lived next door, so we had to play together all the time!! Which was cool, we got a long fine?She was my ?Strawberry Shortcake? buddy?YEP?We would play with our Strawberry Shortcake dolls for HOURS up in her room?We also listened to the Annie soundtrack and danced and sang to it?

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Jennifer A- (Called ?Jay? for the longest time I didn?t even know her name WAS Jennifer!!! LOL!!! This was another one that lived in my hood?Her sister and my sister were best friends for awhile, and I am sure that?s how we got started, but this was my true neighborhood buddy?She and I would spend HOURS in the creek, playing, tramping through fields, we were definitely tom boys in those days!

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Jennifer F- Ahhhh?How to describe Jenny F?This was probably my first official best friend?I was 13 and she was 12 when she moved into my neighborhood. I remember, to this day, she was wearing aqua blue shorts and a pink and white shirt with Madonna on it?She and her little sister were in the front window of their apartment acting stupid, and I thought ?Man?What a bunch of losers!? LOL!!! She didn?t talk to me for awhile because she was, I think, afraid of me?She used to call me the queen bee of the neighborhood because wherever I went, I would have two or three other little kids following me! This is the first of my Jenny?s who is STILL my best friend even today?This is the one that I have a history with two miles long?Stolen boyfriends?Fights?Babies?Broken hearts?We have weathered a lot?

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Jennifer N- This one was definitely short lived, but I include her because for at least one summer, she and I were inseparable! She was my first ?Work? friend?I met her while working at Sisters Chicken and Biscuits (YUM!) She was young, 17, married, and had a child?And her spouse was very very abusive?So that summer, she hung out a lot with me and my mom as she tried to break free from this relationship?I haven?t seen her since that summer, but I learned a lot through her?I learned very early what I would and would not accept from a man?

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Jenny G- Ahhhh. The second of my Jenny?s who remains to this day, my best friend?Jenny, and yes, that is her given name, NOT Jennifer?Jenny was my second ?Work? friend?She and I met while working at McDonalds! HAH?And guess what?I HATED HER!!! I thought she was a stuck up little snob?Truly?Then one day, I was walking out, and she was sitting on the curb?She was waiting for her brother to pick her up. (He apparently had forgotten her) So I said, well, I can take you home?She got in my car, we popped in my Bobby Brown Ca-single (anybody remember those???) and we have been friends ever since?I was at her wedding, she at mine, we have weathered college, a divorce, parental issues, re-marriage, children, and still, we remain ever so close?

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Jenny S- She was another work friend. I actually met her right before I met my husband. I worked night shift at The Limited Distribution Center?She was married, but a true party girl. Every night, after work, I would go to her house and hang with her and her husband?And we would party?I shall leave out the good part?Wouldn?t want you guys to think I was a crazy gal or something!!! Anyway, she was a great friend to me?I ran into her at Kroger?s of all places last year?She has since divorced, remarried, and had THREE children?I couldn?t believe it. This girl was a die hard party girl?And by die hard, I do mean, heavy duty, sometimes illegal, stuff was consumed by her?To imagine her with children was near impossible?But she seemed sooooo happy. So mature?

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Jen B- And so now I arrive at Jen?Jen is the last of the Jen?s I have collected so far?I met her in 1999?Guess where??? Yes?Work again?I mean, heck, you spend 8-10 hours a day there, you?re bound to pick up someone, eh???? Jen and I clashed from the start?Both loud. Both opinionated?Both think we are always right!!!! HAH!!! I didn?t care much for her at all?(Do you see a pattern here???) well, I still am not quite sure how it happened, but we spent some time together, and a friendship was born?She is the third of my Jenny?s that is considered a true, dear, and best friend?If I want a truly honest opinion, I go to her. If I want to hang with someone who has never ever judged me, I go to Jen?Its good to have at least one of those friends in your life?

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So there you go. I currently have THREE best friends named Jenny/Jennifer/Jen?

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It can be confusing, sometimes, for sure?I hear often ?Which Jen??? My husband has devised nick names for them all, to help tell them apart!

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That, my dear friends, is the tale of my 7 Jenny?s?Now you can all sleep better at night, safe and secure in this knowledge that was just mine, and is now yours!

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Cheerio all!

 

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 Well,  as per the title of my blog, this is: The morning after?

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After what Dawn??? Well, friends, it is the morning after my Condo Association Board meeting?

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First, I will state, for the record, this is the first meeting I have ever attended in 9 years of residence. This is NOT a good thing. I should have shown an interest years ago?For I learned A LOT last night?

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In addition, I will publicly state that there is no love lost between myself and our property manager, whom I shall call ?J??I sent a complaint over two weeks ago, and she JUST got back to me yesterday prior to the meeting?This is pretty typical of her?Back in December Steve sent a complaint?Two weeks went by. He had to resend the complaint a second time before we got a response?So, take that for what its worth?

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With that being said, I will give you an outline of what occurred?

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We walk in?And there sits a Columbus Police Officer?I am very anxious to hear what he has to say?

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For buddies, in addition to the relatively minor irritation of the equipment  being broken, my community is having severe and dangerous problems with a unit that sits DIRECTLY across from me?You may remember a blog I posted last Fall about a particular run in I had with the unit where the cops were called?

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I could fill 10 blogs with stories about these folks, but I won?t waste the time or my breath?Lets just say that this one unit has single handedly brought down the value of every unit in our neighborhood. The police are there at least once a month, sometimes more?

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They are dangerous and unstable?Period.

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So?Mr. Officer gets up and gives his report?And lo and behold, five more people arrive?5 separate home owners, in addition to Steve and I?Every single one of them, from my street!!! All my neighbors?All here to find out why in the hell our condo association can fine and ticket us for our trash cans being out past trash day?Or for not picking up your dog poop, or for having your Christmas lights out one day past Christmas, but you cant get the trashy people out across the street??? FOLKS?These people are RENTERS?They don?t even own the property they are trashing?

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So. I learn about all the stuff the police are doing?All well and good?Then I find out that I have the unfortunate luck to live in the largest precinct in Columbus!!! Precinct 14 they call it?My sub station sits roughly 15 miles away, in South East Columbus. NO WONDER it takes the cops sooooo long to get there!! I had NO IDEA?Truly?Then I learn that in an incident that occurred just last week, that they have found out that the home in question does have guns?There were shots fired a few weeks ago and the 14 year old boy that lives there was involved?But they weren?t caught in the act, so Police can do nothing?

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So needless to say, my temper was on the edge of boiling over?This must have CLEARLY shown on my face?For my dear husband reached over?Grabbed my hand, and said ?Dawn?Take a deep breath before you speak??Kids, he knows me soooooo well?I have a temper that can be rather fierce and uncontrollable. I am not proud of this. But it is what it is. I have come far with it, but have far to go?

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I will spare you the details, but within seconds, I was in a full fledged shouting match with ?J??She and I?Both adults?Both going at it?I am telling you?It wasn?t QUITE Jerry Springer material?But it was ever so close?She said she was ?Offended? because I said she wasn?t doing her job?I said ?You aren?t?Your title is PROPERTY MANAGER?I suggest you start managing this property!??Now. My only saving grace is that my husband is often able to defuse my temper?THANK GOD?So he inserted, on my behalf ?What my wife is trying to say?? AND my neighbors, BLESS THEM ALL, every one of them defended me and my anger?

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And the cop, BLESS HIM, said my worry and anger was warranted?

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So?By the time we got to the issue of the elliptical machine, I was very nearly drained of every ounce of patience?They put the suggestion to a vote?Blah blah blah?Vote was passed. They are purchasing another treadmill, perhaps two and an additional elliptical?So?We will see how long that takes!!

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UGH!!!

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On the bright side, I did get up this morning and run again?YAY!!! Food and exercise is going great this week!!!

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Sorry for the vent. Thanks all for listening!

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And by the way?I will now be attending every single board meeting! J If they think I am going away, they are sadly mistaken! I think they shall regret the day they told me ?We want you to give us your feedback?? Hah hah hah?

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My ?feedback? you shall have then?I will try to deliver it more maturely next time though!!!

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Take care buddies!

 

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Well well well?

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Here we are?Tuesday is upon us!!!

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Well, I have been wanting to share with you all something, but wanted to wait for a bit?To make sure I would stick with it before I did! Hah hah hah?

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As many of you know, I lost my motivation for a couple of months?It started coming back, oh, about 3 weeks ago I will guess?It wasn?t fully back, but I could feel it coming!!!

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Well, its back BIG TIME now, and I once again feel like I am on top of the weight loss world?WHEW!!!

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All I can really say, is I just kept doing what I had been doing, and it did come back, on its own! So if you too, are struggling, just give it time?BUT DON?T STOP DOING WHAT YOU NEED TO DO!!

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Okay?So I was thinking a few weeks back about how my weight loss slowed to almost nothing?And for some reason, as smart as I sometimes am, I was having a rather large stupidity moment?Then it suddenly occurred to me?Up through October, in addition to my elliptical and weight training 5-6 nights a week, I was also walking for 45 minutes a day at my lunch?I stopped in early November, as the weather turned?

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Well, GOSH!! I lost out on 2 ? hours of exercise per week!!!! No wonder my weight loss slowed down significantly?I took away the outdoor walk and didn?t add anything back in!! And to top it all off, it took me until three weeks ago to come to this realization?Yes?I was having a ?blond? moment!!!

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So I started back up last week, weather permitting, and have continued this week?And I feel absolutely fantabulous!!! What a difference that mid-day walk makes! Clears the cobwebs out of me brain?Clears out my lungs?Gets my blood pumping?YAY!

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Well?In addition to that, I also did something else new?You see, I am really really raring to go now?I want to reach my goal here this summer?This is the first summer in over 14 years that I am this small, and I want to enjoy EVERY freaking moment of it!!! So I added a morning run to my routine this week!

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Yes?I said RUN?ME!?!?!?! I say that because folks, I DON?T RUN!!! Never have?But I have been kinda jogging from time to time on the treadmill?And well, yesterday and today, I got my butt out of bed at 5:30, a half hour earlier then normal, leashed up my fattest dog, and out the door I went?

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And I jogged?THE WHOLE TIME?Yes, I thought I was going to die?Was CERTAIN old Lucy would have to run home and alert the husband that my lungs had popped out and I was laying beside the road?Slowly and painfully dying?But, to my complete and utter surprise, it didn?t happen!! My lungs did not burst, and I sit here today, ALIVE and typing away!! Who knew????

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Now?I don?t know if I will keep up with the morning run forever, but I certainly want to do it for a while until I reach goal AND to get Miss Lucy (She is the previously mentioned Fat girl!) to drop a few pounds?

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Yes my friends?I confess?I own a very old (12!) Very overweight, Beagle?Miss Lucille came to us through a rescue group about two years ago?She was supposed to be a short term foster dog, but, unfortunately, my husband fell in love with her, and after we returned her, he went back and got her!!! Okay?So MAYBE I missed her too?A little?But don?t tell him that!!

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Anyway, for some reason, she has gained over 5 pounds in the last two years?We cant figure it out?She is fed LESS then the other dogs, she is on diet food, and we strictly monitor her intake?She gets about 2-3 walks a week in the winter and about 4-5 walks a week in the summer?Yet she is still fat?

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I told Steve that I think she has an outside source giving her food?Gotta be?!? Right?? The dog, seriously, is ALWAYS hungry?She goes and sits by her bowl, and flips it over as if to say ?Please feed me, I am ever so starved?? And I say, ?Lucy, I can?t?You are too fat!!? UGH!!!

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So I am hoping, by adding this 20 minute morning jog, that I can help Miss Lucy lose a few pounds too?

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Well, take care everyone! Hope you all stay happy and healthy today!

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Love-Dawn

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Yeppers! Just like Lightening McQueen, in CARS, I am gassed up, geared up, and ready to go!!! Vrooom!!!

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I dont know what fell out of the universe this weekend and popped me in the head, but I am ever so motivated this week…I feel great!

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I had a great food/exercise weekend…The weather was beautiful…And I FELT beautiful too!!!

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I have got to tell you all, I pulled out my shorts this weekend…Havent seen them since last August, really…My most favorite pair of lounge shorts are khaki with a drawstring…They are sooo comfy…They are a size 20, which I havent been in for a long long time, but because they ARE so comfy, and have a drawsting, I was able to still pull them off last year…(I have issues letting go, can you tell???)

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Well, yesterday I pull them out, and hold them up and they appeared more large then normal…I couldnt figure it out…Then I started thinking…I have lost 26 pounds since August…Of course they dont fit anymore…I am a good, solid size 14 now!! But I held them up, and my husband about died from holding in his laughter…I could fit BOTH legs into one of my leg holes of the shorts…It was hilarious…I am SOOOOOO going to take a picture soon…I swear…

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Well, of course, I had to then go through ALL my shorts…Out of about 15 pairs, TWO pairs fit…The rest are too big…DAMN…Gotta go shopping…Bummer…Eh??? Cause us girls sure do hate to shop!!! 

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So I felt truly truly thin yesterday…To make a pretty damn good day, better…I was standing upstairs talking with the husband…

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Now picture this…I worked out in the morning…Then took the dogs for a super long walk…Then we worked outside…I did not shower after any of these events (oooooooooooh, gross!!) I know! I know!!

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So, I KNOW I am looking pretty damn rough…I have on some cute little purple leopard print shorts (They are actually pj bottoms!) and a purple tank top…(Me in a tank top is NEVER pretty)…And I am standing in the doorway, talking to him, when he says out of the blue “Hey, you look REALLY cute just now!” (Gold star moment for Steve!!! )

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I’m like, “Have you gone mad??” “I havent showered, my hair is a rats nest, I have not one lick of make up on, and I am certain I smell!!!!”

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“None the less”, he says, “You sure look cute and rather thin!” YAY!!!

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So that was exciting…

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ANyway, I am pretty darned stoked this week…Feel very motivated to keep on moving and move my cute little elliptical butt into the 170’s…I have also issued a weight loss challenge to a good freind…Should they accept my challenge, you can bet this chick is gonna work her ass off, LITTERALLY, so she doesnt have to lose…I am NOT a good loser at all…

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Take care buddies-O-mine!

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And I want to send a Very special thank you to Janis who was more then kind in sponsoring me on my Pet Promise Rescue Run in May…THANK YOU JANIS!! I shall think of you while I walk a way!!!!

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Love ya all-

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Dawnie

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Happy Saturday buddies!

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WHEW!!! What a delightful day it has been already!!!

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The husband and I went out for a lovely dinner last night?Then we came home and watched a thought provoking movie, which then led to some pretty good heart to heart conversation?It was actually a very nice, quiet Friday night for us?

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Then, this morning, I did something I have not done in quite some time?I got my happy ass up at 6 a.m. to go to the Humane Society to get back to my volunteering?I have not done this since November, after having done it EVERY Saturday morning for four years!!! When I hit my major life funk this fall, I let it go?

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Very very happy to be back at it today!! What a major sense of accomplishment it is to give up a few hours a week to help these animals. I feel ever so great and everyone was delighted to see me again?Especially the doggies!!! YAY!

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I have also worked out already today, and did a nice long jaunt on the elliptical, rocking out to Akon (Smack That!) (LOL?Awesome song to work out to by the way!!!)

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So here I am?Back home?Getting ready to rustle up some lunch, and then just hang with my fur kids and my spouse?

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Sooo. Its that time of year again?Time to start Spring Training! I did my first 5k back in May of 2004?I never ever thought I could do them before, so I never did?Well, when I first started losing weight, I decided to just go for it?Well, I have kind of been addicted ever since?I try to add at least one new one every year, and last year I added two!!!!

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So this year, I added a new one, and today, learned of another I might do!!! If I do, I will have 6 on my schedule?I am ever so excited about them all?So I am going to list them out now to keep myself accountable?

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March of Dimes Walk America (5 Mile) Sunday, April 29^th

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Komen Race for the Cure (5K (3.2 Mile) Saturday, May 19^th

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Pet Promise Rescue Run (5k) Saturday, May 26^th

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Rescue a Friend Run/Walk (5k) Thursday, June 28th

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American Heart Association (5k) Saturday, August 25th

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New Albany Walking Classic (10k) Sunday, September 16^th

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So there they are?In writing?I am going to start training today, actually?My husband and I long ago mapped out a 5k route in our neighborhood, so when we are getting ready to walk one, we start training by walking it at home 2-3 times a week!! I am very very excited?

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So with that, now here goes my sales pitch?

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As you all should know by now, animal welfare and rescue is a true passion of mine?I do believe it is why I was put on this earth?Just like Jo and her Aids cause, stopping animal cruelty is mine?

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The Pet Promise Rescue Run above is a new one I added this year. It is held over memorial day weekend and I have been out of town traveling the last two years and have not been able to participate. This year I will be. I am very excited about this one.

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Did you know that every year, 12 MILLION animals are euthanized in the United States??

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That is ONE MILLION a month or 1388 animals AN HOUR!!!!

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Pet Promise is located in Central Ohio and is a NO KILL rescue organization dedicated to finding homes for homeless pets?

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I have started a fundraising page of my own, and should your passion be my passion, I would be ever so thankful if you would help sponsor me on this walk?

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http://www.firstgiving.com/DCraley

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Well, that?s all I have today buddies?Have a VERY happy weekend all!!

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STAY FIT AND HEALTHY!!!

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Love-Dawn

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Happy Friday friends!!!

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Well, hope you are all having a good start! As for me, it is raining buckets full here in Ohio?BLUCK?I don?t mind the rain, when I can stay home curled up in my favorite P.J.s?But to be here?At work?Well, truly bummed I am!!!

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So, I awoke this morning to TOM beating on my front door. Damn him?I punched him in the gut and kicked him in the head, but still, he decided to stay ?

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And yes, he brought his usual 2-3 pounds of luggage with him?So needless to say, I did NOT weigh in today on my usual Friday weigh in?You know, he really does suck?Someone should tell him so?

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I feel really really good otherwise though?I have been back to my regular work out schedule this week, despite still being down two machines at our clubhouse?I have gotten lucky and gotten on every time. My eating has been good, so I am confident?ABSOLUTELY confident, that I will be in the 170?s next week when TOM leaves?(I know, I have promised myself and you guys that for two months now, but I SWEAR it this time?I WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN ) I feel like I am FINALLY?FINALLY ready to go now?After a two month plateau?Or whatever it was?

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Lets see?I went to a seminar yesterday with my boss and my co-worker? ?Conflict Resolution Skills for Women?? Gotta say, it was mostly common sense and things I already try really hard to put in practice when ?discussing? things with my friends or family? You know?Keep your emotions out of it?Take a time out before replying in anger?Stick to the issue and not the emotion?Respect the others view?And communicate, communicate, communicate?Well, I try to do these things anyway?As a matter of fact, my husband and I have this down to a science now! As do a few good friends and I?So I felt pretty good about that?

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I did learn a TON about how different Men and Women are when we have conflict?That was a real eye opener and explained a lot to me as to why occasionally I will feel like I hit a brick wall with one of my male friends or my husband?When in actuality, the end result we want is the same, for some reason, the route we take to get there is sooooo very different?I learned that this is just that man brain vs. woman brain thing?And now that I am aware of it, I will try very hard to avoid it in the future!!

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But she did say one thing that just jumped right out at me. Of course she was using it to talk about work conflicts, which thankfully, I don?t have?But she said that no matter how many times we are told we are good, we are wonderful?That we are a good mom, a good worker, a good person, attractive, etc?It will never ever sink in, until we, ourselves, believe it?

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I know this is true with weight loss?I know I have been told a lot in the last few months by friends and family how good I look. Sometimes I see it, sometimes I don?t?But I am working on believing it ALWAYS so that when the compliments do come, I can accept them graciously? So keep that in mind buddies?If you don?t believe it deep in side, it really doesn?t matter what you hear?So start working on believing it!!

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And remember?People treat you how you allow them to treat you?If you don?t love or respect yourself, they wont either?Why would they???

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Be healthy. Be strong. And be happy!!!

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~Dawn

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Happy Spring buddies! Its here, at least, officially!!!

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Today is my “OFFICIAL” 6 month anniversary in the buddyslim kingdom…

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And I took Mary’s advice, and did some Spring cleanning…

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I had to do it…I went through my buddy list and cleanned out a few inactive buddies…Man…I hated to do it…But one of my buddies hasnt been on since October of 06…I am guessing she isnt coming back for a while…I miss her a lot too…She was one of my first buddies…Not sure what happened to her…

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I cleanned out anyone that hasnt been on since 06…

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THANKFULLY, I really didnt have to get rid of too many…

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And of course, I will buddy up with them again should they re-appear…But my honesty won out over my ego… No sense in saying you have a bunch of buddies if you truly dont…

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Soooo…At 6 months, I am at 113 buddies! (13 is my favorite number by the way!). I have written 120 blogs! And I have, as of the writting of this, received 2500 thumbs up…Miss Julia was actually my 2500th! Should she win a prize or something??? Oh, wait!!! Being my buddy IS the prize!!!! 

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I am doing a very good job staying on plan this week…Have gotten several GREAT workouts in this week too!!! YAY!!! So I hope Friday’s weigh in is at least SOMETHING worthy…Although TOM is heading my way for a visit…Damn him!!!!

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Other then that, I am rather boring today, eh??

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I gotta tell you all, I am ever so sleepy!! I am having severe sleep problems these days…My anxiety and worry is keeping me awake, and after talking to my husband and mother about it this past weekend, I think we are all agreed its time to visit a professional for maybe a sleep aid or anxiety medicine…

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I hate medicine of any kind. Truly. For very real reasons, my mother was addicted to prescription pain meds for over 20 years…She also was a walking zombie for 2 years due to inaccurate medicine from her doc…So I am very very jaded and suspicious…

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But…I have fought it as long as I can…I am tired of sleepness nights worrying about things that are beyond my control…It consumes me and makes me crabby…And a crabby Dawn is NO FUN for anyone…Trust me!

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Thats about it for me kids…Sorry, nothing exciting to report…I will try to find some excitement for you to blog about in a day or two!! HAH!!!

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Take care all!!!

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(and please keep my buddy Scott and his wife Tracey in your prayers today!)

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Happy happy Spring Day!

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Dawnie

 

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Happy Tuesday buddies!

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I happened to notice this morning that tomorrow will be my 6 month anniversary on buddy slim!! 6 months! WOW?

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This of course, brought on a slew of thoughts for me?As I reflected on where I was when I first joined and where I am today?

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Six months, in the large scheme of life, is nothing?But when I reflect on this particular chunk of time, well, it?s a lot?

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Since my initial join date (and in no particular order):

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*I have traveled out of the country

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*I have met a celebrity

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*I have made new friends

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*I have lost old ones

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*I have started a new hobby

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*I have attended my first professional hockey game

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*I have lost more weight

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*I have seriously considered divorcing my husband

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*I have learned that I am truly, deeply loved, by at least one person, and in most cases, several

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*I have learned that I still have a lot of work to do to become the person I want to be

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*I have learned that I love my husband more then life itself

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*I have learned that even at my worst, I can still be loved

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*I have learned that my sisters and I are as close as two peas in a pod, yet different from night and day

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*I have learned that love is hard and that hate is easy

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*I have learned that I like beer

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*I have learned that I like to exercise

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*I have cried?A lot?

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*I have laughed even more

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*I have learned that no one?s rules or titles define me

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*I have learned that by continuing to live my life, MY WAY, on my terms, I am a better stronger person

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And I learned that I am not the same girl that signed up six months ago?And in 6 months more,  I don?t think I will be this girl typing this blog! I think there will be pieces, for sure, but ever evolving I seem to be! And I embrace that girl. I look forward to meeting her?

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The most important lesson I have learned, is that I define me. My life is what I make of it, and will always be?I can wallow in muck, or I can soar with the eagles?I choose to soar?The view is much nicer from above?

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