Wednesday, December 14, 2011

*I Believe*


Do you remember the feeling of Christmas from when you were a child and everything seemed possible. Santa Claus existed and even the North Pole was real.  The joy this time of year would bring. The excitement on Christmas Eve when you were so awake with anticipation, you didn't think you would ever fall asleep. The expectation you felt in the morning when you woke up and realized it was finally here!

The joy and excitement of opening your gifts and rummaging through your stocking.  The warmth of spending this time with your family and sharing the experience year after year.

Of course, these are merely words and don't even come close, for me at least, to expressing the actual flood of emotions you feel during the Christmas season.

Then we grow up and lose a little of that feeling in becoming "Santa".  We get more wrapped up in what to buy for whom and forget to slow down and take it all in. The sights, smells and sounds of this time of year. To be reminded of what Christmas used to make us feel as children.

The joy we feel as adults is still there, though it is not as uninhibited as when we were young.  It also comes from a different side of Christmas. Giving.  The joy of watching others open the gifts that you thoughtfully picked out specifically for each of them. Especially the gifts we give to the children in our lives. We get to see a glimse of that feeling in their eyes when we watch them open their gifts with faces full of sheer happiness.

Of course there is yet another side to Christmas all together. Helping to make a less fortunate person or family have that joyful experience on the holidays when they normally wouldn't be able to.  Whether it is donating your time to a soup kitchen or donating toys to an organization. You get a warm spot in your heart knowing that they will have unexpected holiday cheer brought to them.  That is also a wonderful feeling.

I cannot take all of this into consideration without saying that I still believe that Santa Claus does exist.  He may not be a jolly old man in a red furry suit with a big white beard. But this "Santa" we all truly believed in as children is the spirit of Christmas. He is the joy of giving. He is the wealth of sharing. He is the love we spread to family, friends and even strangers.

I believe that a little piece of Santa is inside of each and every one of us.  As adults we become the spirit of Christmas. We spread the same joy and love that we once received as children from our Santa Claus. Santa is in every gift you give, every smile you share,  every kind word you utter.  That donation made to the less fortunate, in the hopes of bring them cheer during a rough time.

The joy you spread when you give without the expectation of what you will receive.  That is the spirit of Christmas.

Christmas is not about what you get out of it… it is about what you give.  Giving does not necessarily mean material items or even the biggest price tag.  Giving of your heart and of yourself to make someones day more enjoyable.  To show someone that, even though they are going through a roungh time, someone cares about them.

The meaning of Christmas is the gift of Joy, Cheer, Family and Love.

Spread some "Santa" to the ones you love.

Spread some to those who are in need of it.

Spread joy to everyone, now and all throughout the year.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Choice

Everyone is battling something in this life. It is not a competition to see who has it the worst. 
We all fall down, but it's about what you do after the fall. That's what counts. 
If you choose to stay down, then you deal with the consequences. 
If you choose to get up, then learn your lesson & move on. 
Either way, there is always a choice.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Forgiveness


I found this quote today and it hit home.

Holding onto the feeling of resentment is punishing no one but yourself.

But learning to forgive... fully and honestly forgive; and let go is a refreshing thought and a new any day resolution to add to my list.


Tuesday, November 22, 2011

I will...

I will ALWAYS SMILE through it. 
I will come out the other side having LEARNED something from EVERY experience.
I will CHERISH all the GOOD I possess. 
I will be GRATEFUL for EVERYTHING I am given. 
I will enjoy EVERY BREATHE, I am BLESSED enough to take. 
It's my LIFE, I'm going to LIVE IT!

Monday, November 7, 2011

The Any Day Resolution

I propose the institution of the "Any Day Resolution"

I resolve:  To make positive changes on a regular basis throughout my life.


Why only make a new year's resolution?  When you can start your positive changes today and every day.

We may not be able to change the world alone or in a single day... but setting the example of positivity and executing good habits more than once a year... you could give others the inspiration they need to make those positive changes and who knows where it could go from there.

Pay it forward...

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Random Thoughts

It's easy to forget what others have done for you in the past.

Don't resent someone for saying no, when you should be thankful for all the times they have already said Yes.



Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Funny how things change...

As my 32nd Birthday approaches I've been thinking a lot lately about how my life's perspective has changed from my 20 Something years to my 30 Something years...

I find it interesting how much some things have changed...

In my twenties I would party until 5am; Now I wake up at 5am to go to the gym before work

In my twenties my night started around 10pm; Now I am crashing or passed out and in bed by 11pm

In my twenties I would worry if I skipped my monthly visit from Aunt Flo; Now I hope and pray that it means I will be a mother

In my twenties I could practically eat and drink anything I wanted and not gain an ounce; Now I have a glass of soda and gain 5 pounds

In my twenties I was all wrapped up in the celebrity gossip; Now I wish the majority of it would just go away

In my twenties I would listen to rumors and on occasion spread them; Now I never want to hurt other people's feelings, because I don't like mine hurt

In my twenties I would say what I was thinking before I thought about it; Now I pick my battles very carefully

Just a small list off the top of my head. I am sure there are many more things that have changed about myself and my life.

I just thought it would be funny to share how adulthood changes people in the strangest of ways and most of the time you don't even notice when it happens.

Feel free to share some of your own... :-)


Tuesday, October 18, 2011

And I Quote


This life is what you make it.  Not matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes, it's a universal truth.  But the good part is you get to decide how you're going to mess it up.  Girls will be your friends - they'll act like it anyway. But just remember, some come, some go.  The ones that stay with you through everything - they're your true best friends.  Don't let go of them.  Also remember, sisters make the best friends in the world.  As for lovers, well, they'll come and go too.  And babe, I hate to say it, most of them - actually pretty much all of them are going to break your heart, but you can't give up because if you give up, you'll never find your soul mate.  You'll never find that half who makes you whole and that goes for everything.  Just because you fail once, doesn't mean you're gonna fail at everything.  Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don't, then who will, sweetie? So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about.” - Marylin Monroe

Monday, September 26, 2011

Truth

YOU are the only one that can change the things YOU are unhappy with...

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Viva La Vito

Sometimes the humanity and kindness is those around you can really surprise and move you.

My brother-in-law has an Italian Mastiff named Vito. He is a BIG sweetheart.

He recently tore his ACL in his hind leg, leaving him in pain 24/7 and forcing my brother-in-law to make the decision to spend upwards of $4000 between surgery and physical therapy/recovery or have to put his dog down.

A little back story on my brother-in-law's last dog... His sister "rescued" a 4 to 5 week old puppy that was going to be abandoned. My brother-in-law adopted the responsibility of the dog and therefore it was his dog. This dog grew up loved by all of us and we became part of his "pack". Some where along the line the dog developed some aggression problems for ANYONE outside of his "pack". So pretty much anyone outside of the family who entered the house was in danger of this dog.

The family tired a few professional dog trainers to no avail. Eventually they were put in the position to either put this dog, with trust issues, into a no-kill shelter to live out his whole life in isolation feeling abandoned by the only "pack" he knew and to never have physical contact from a person. The alternative they decided was much more kind to the dog and they decided to put him down. A VERY hard decision for them to come to. The day they Euthanized the dog, while he was under heavy sedation, he still tried to go after the doctor that entered the room. Solidifying that they had made the right decision, no matter how hard it was on them.

Now, Vito is my brother-in-laws first dog since then. Vito is my brother-in-laws shadow. They dog is hyper aware of him and where he goes. It is like they were meant to find each other.

My brother-in-law is in his mid 20's and just moved back home. When my husband and I found out how much the surgery would cost him, my husband came up with the idea to try to collect some donations from friends and family. Whatever they could spare, be it $1, $10, $50, etc. Facebook seemed to be the best way to communicate the situation to everyone at the same time and still be able to keep it a secret from my brother-in-law.

We created a group named Viva La Vito and sent out invitations to all of the friends and family on there. Explained what was going on and how we needed their help. None of us wanted to see him have to loose another pet, especially when there is a resolution in this case.

We expected to collect a small amount of money to lessen the financial burden placed on our brother's shoulders. What we have received has been amazing and generous.

As of today I believe we have over $700 to give to our Brother for his Dog.

His Birthday is this Saturday and we are going to put all the donations into a card with everyone's name signed in it and give it to him.

I know he will appreciate it all very much.

It's very touching to see how may people came together to help him out. I am in awe.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Truth

Friendship isn't measured by words.

It's trust, honesty, loyalty, laughter, forgiveness, love & memories.

And it lasts a lifetime.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Epic Thought of the Day

There is no recipe for instant and continuous HAPPINESS.

You CREATE your own;

It’s not free of effort or easy to achieve.

That’s what makes you CHERISH it all the more.

HAPPINESS Begins And Ends With YOU.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Epic Thought of the Day

Perhaps the greatest judge of one’s character is what others say of them; rather then what they say of themselves.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Epic Thought of the Day

In life, you get what you give.

Beware of what you put out into the world, because it can & will come back at you ten fold.

It's up to you whether that is a good thing or not.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Epic Thought of the Day

Everything happens for a reason. Though you may not be aware of the reason at the time of the event, the experience was meant to teach you something. If you don't learn from your mistakes and misfortunes, you will continue to experience them.

Fiesta Taco Casserole Recipe

Fiesta Taco Casserole (betty croker recipe)

1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1 can (15 to 16 oz) spicy chili beans in sauce, undrained
1 cup Old El Paso® Thick 'n Chunky salsa
2 cups coarsely broken tortilla chips
4 medium green onions, sliced (1/4 cup)
1 medium tomato, chopped (3/4 cup)
1 cup shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (4 oz)
Tortilla chips, if desired
Shredded lettuce, if desired
Additional Old El Paso® Thick 'n Chunky salsa, if desired


1. 1 Heat oven to 350°F. In 10-inch skillet, cook beef over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until brown; drain. Stir in beans and 1 cup salsa. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally.

2. 2 In ungreased 2-quart casserole, place broken tortilla chips. Top with beef mixture. Sprinkle with onions, tomato and cheese.

3. 3 Bake uncovered 20 to 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Arrange tortilla chips around edge of casserole. Serve with lettuce and additional salsa.


**I think I am going to do mine in individual ramekins instead of one casserole dish... That way I can cook mine when I am ready to eat and then throw my hubby's in the over about 15-20 minutes before he'll be home from work. :)

I am guessing it will make four (4) servings this way, which is perfect!

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Epic Thought of the Day

If we all lived up to the expectations & standards that we set for others, the world would be a much better place.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Epic Thought of the Day

Life will inevitably change without your permission.

It is the ability to adapt and the desire to move forward that will allow you to continue on; while still being you.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Leap of Faith

I have always questioned what I want to do with myself. What I can do that I would enjoy and that would also spread joy....

In March of this year I joined something called The 365 Project online (www.365project.org). It is a website where you take a photo a day for a year and then you can look back at your year. It's pretty much a photo blog and it's a great community.

The more involved with taking pictures everyday I have become, the more stimulated I feel about getting a good camera and actually learning the tricks of the trade. I have always loved taking photos and I honestly think that this is something I could do for the rest of my life.

The goal in this is to stick with something all the way through... at this point I am 39% complete with 145 photos posted so far. I am proud of the fact that I haven't just given up on it... and some days are just so busy, but I always try to get at least one good picture to post, even if it is at the last second...

It also makes me seek out photo worthy objects and attempt to capture them in the best way. I know nothing about lighting or any of the other things that go along with setting up photos.... yet... But I plan to.

I requested a brochure from the NY Institute of Photography for information on their online classes.

I told my husband that the only thing I want for my birthday is a really nice camera. A real photography camera...

I believe I found my nitch and it feels great to finally not wonder what I was meant to be doing with my artsy talent... :)

Monday, July 25, 2011

Relax, Relate, Release

Originally heard this quoted on A Different World by the character named Whitley Marion... This was in the late 80's and I was only about 10 years old, but it has always been in the back of my mind.

When something hurtful happens and I want to react or lash out, it pops to the front of my mind. When I feel the need to knock someone down just because they were unnecessarily hurtful towards me, it reminds me to take a minute to breathe.

I am almost 32 years old and I know who I am and I am happy with the way I live my life... I am comfortable in my own skin. I know how I would like people to remember me and I try my hardest to not do something to someone else that I wouldn't want done to me.

Sure I have unhappy thoughts, mean thoughts... but that is where they stay... In my thoughts. I rarely voice them, cause I don't like to be hurtful. I know how it feels to be on the receiving end of cruel words and I don't want to be the one to cause that unhappiness to others.

I refuse to let anyone else's negativity drag me down to their level. If other people want to be hurtful only to raise themselves up, then honestly that is their problem.

I will go on being me and knowing that if I am happy with Me, then it doesn't matter much what anyone else seems to think.

Relax... when something bad happens, process it

Relate... when you are hurt, remember it only feeds the fire to hurt in return

Release... forgive, forget and move forward

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Summer Treat

Going to a Block Party BBQ this weekend and I am going to make Mango Peach Salsa... super excited cause I haven't made it or had it in a while. YUMM!!!

Figured I would share the recipe on here. It is really quite tasty! :)

Mango and Peach Salsa

Prep Time 15 Minutes

Ingredients

* 3 whole Ripe Mango
* 5 whole Medium Sized Peaches
* 3/4 cup Diced Red Onion (chopped small)
* 3 Tablespoon Minced Cilantro
* 2 Limes (for juice)
* 2 Jalapenos (seeded & diced)
* Salt to taste

Preparation Instructions

1. Slice mangos around the pit. Be sure to avoid getting too close to the pit because the flesh around the pit is stringy. Peel the skin, dice into 1/2 inch pieces and add to a medium bowl.
2. Slice the peaches around the pit, peel, dice and add to the bowl.
3. Add the red onion, jalepeno and cilantro. Squeeze in the lime juice. Add a dash of salt and mix gently.

Serve immediately or refrigerate no more than a couple of hours.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

The Adventures of Charlie

So, upon getting our new little furry bundle of joy... a couple of people referenced the dog Marley from the story Marley and Me. We hoped that we were not getting a handful of trouble like Marley, though we would love him either way.

He has been very good with training so far. The potty training is a work in progress but it has been one with more positive results then negative.

He knows the commands for Sit and Come. We are working on Heal and Stay.

He also knows Lay Down and Paws. He is AMAZING at fetch, he brings it back every time until he is done with the game and ready to move one. We are also working on "Drop It"... it's been a 50/50 result there.

Not bad for a pup at 11 weeks! I have been utterly impressed with his intellect!

Anyhoo... we are crate training him and he loves his room. It is the kind of crate where the door needs to be lifted in order to get the latch into the corresponding loop and then there is an additional lock to secure the door from being lifted to open.

Last week Charlie woke me up with a little whine. I woke up thinking "Well that's odd, he sounded like he was in our room on the floor..." I sat up to see him sitting on the floor next to our bed and woke my husband up to point it out.

This little stunt earned him a new nickname (among the few he already has). He is now aka Houdini. :)

This time was our fault for failing to lock the lock thinking he wouldn't be able to lift the door to open it. Well lesson learned.

Or was it.... This morning at 5am I hear a bark. I decide to get up to see if Charlie needs to go outside. When I walked out of my room I see three pairs of my husband's shoes sitting outside his crate (the shoes are almost bigger then the dog) and the crate door is wide open, but charlie is no where to be seen.

I call for him and he comes running out of the living room. Very excited to see me. I am not sure how long he was out, but I decided to take him out just in case. He seemed scare when I picked him up and huddled close to me. My guess is that he knew he had been a bad boy and was worried he was in trouble.

He had a few accidents inside while he was out, so naturally he didn't have to go when we were outside.

I placed Houdini back into his room, gave him a cookie and closed and LOCKED the crate door and proceeded to go back to bed for my last 2 hours of sleep before I had to get up for work.

I checked with my hubby and he says that he locked it. So we are not sure how Houdini managed the great escape this time. Part of me is tempted to get a little nanny cam to catch it next time. Would be interesting to see.

Just thought it was a funny story. Hope you enjoyed it. :)

Monday, June 6, 2011

Words to Live By...

Just some inspiration quotes I've found that I like and wanted to share...

"Today is a choice. Today I choose grace over impatience, laughter over worry, and beauty over negativity." -Carly Price

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” - Maria Robinson

“For everything you have missed, you have gained something else, and for everything you gain, you lose something else.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

“The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.” - Flora Whittemore

“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” - Pericles

“Life can either be accepted or changed. If it is not accepted, it must be changed. If it cannot be changed, then it must be accepted.” - Unknown Author

“Fear less, hope more; Eat less, chew more; Whine less, breathe more; Talk less, say more; Love more, and all good things will be yours” - Swedish Proverb

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” - Winston Churchill

“You've done it before and you can do it now. See the positive possibilities. Redirect the substantial energy of your frustration and turn it into positive, effective, unstoppable determination.” - Ralph Marston

That's all for now... I'll be back when I have something blog-worthy to talk about. :)

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Puppy Love

My husband and I finally (after almost 3 years) got a new dog. Our last dog came to us late in his life and we loved him very much. Unfortunately we had to put him down right before our wedding because he got sick and there were few options that were fair to him.

After waiting until we were ready, we starting looking for one a while back. We decided to check out the classifieds. The old school way of advertising for pets and sales, etc. in your local area. We ended up answering an ad on eBay Classifieds for Lab Mix pups in Brooklyn, NY.

We drove out on May 14th and got us a cute little fur-baby boy. He is 8 weeks old and he is BEAUTIFUL. He is a Silver Lab mix. I had never heard of a silver lab before... so I googled it and they are gorgeous and rare... He is Gray with Blue Eyes. His coloring is so unique and his eyes just make him one gorgeous pup.

His name is CHARLIE (I call him Stinky sometimes too, lol). You can see his picture over in the right column. Stay tuned for more pictures of Charlie as I am in LOVE with him and completely obsessed with taking his picture. I refer to myself as the Puparazzi. ;) I think I will update the pic as he gets bigger & older...

We took him to his first vet appointment where he tested negative for worms & parasites. YAY!! He had his nails trimmed and was given his distemper shot. Going back in three weeks for round two.

We are finally getting a crate for him tonight and will begin his crate training. He has been as good as can be expected being gated in the kitchen. He has minimal accidents and he is getting so good at going potty outside. :) The crate training will just bring that to 100% no accidents when we're at work & in between our breaks to come home and let him out.

We've also started the BELL training for outside. Ivan Pavlov is a genius (If you don't know, google it)! Our vet recommended that we place a bell on or near the door to outside and ring that bell every time we take him outside to go potty. Within a couple of days he should pick it up and go ring the bell to let us know he needs to go out. I really hope this works because that would be AWESOME!!! :) We are on day three of that training today.

I am so excited about him that I had to share. I am sure many of my upcoming blogs will be about Charlie or Charlie related things. :)

Stay tuned and thanks for stopping by.

Friday, May 6, 2011

People are People

We are all made up of the same materials. Bone, Blood, Tissue, Organs, Skin, Hair... Heart, Mind, Body & Soul.

Who cares what color my skin is or what God I do or do not pray to?

Am I not a person just like you?

There is no need for uniformity in a world as big as the one we live in. Each man and woman has a right to be an individual, practice what ever faith they choose and LIVE their lives. The freedom to choose our own thoughts and actions is what God, any god, intended when we were created; otherwise we would not have Free Will.

Is it really justifiable to hate someone because their views are different from yours? Is it any better to hate them because their skin is a different color than yours or because their religion has them practice their faith differently from ours?

Should a community of men be punished for one man's actions?

Fear and Ignorance only spread more fear and ignorance... try spreading LOVE and ACCEPTANCE and KNOWLEDGE and PEACE...

The lyrics of John Lennon's song "Imagine" still ring true today, even 40 years after they were originally released...

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one


I think it's about time we listen to his message. We could change the world....

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Be the change you want to see in the world...

It is so easy to judge others, that we sometimes forget to judge ourselves. It is often times easier to point out other people's flaws then to acknowledge our own.

There is no such thing as perfection and we should be glad of that fact! If there were a concrete example of perfection in this world, none of us would measure up and think about what that would do to our self worth.

There are so many other, BIGGER, things going on in the world around us. Death, Sickness, Wars, Homelessness, Starvation, Torture, Hate, Disasters and the list goes on.

Do we really believe that all the little things that irk us daily are more tragic than the actual tragedies that take place on a daily basis around the world?!?!

We are minuscule in the scheme of things. In the population of our planet I am one of BILLIONS. Yes, Billions. My strife is nothing compared to the real life struggles of people far less fortunate around the globe.

So, if love and positivity can spread from person to person and become continuously contagious. Then maybe we could all learn to start leading by example.

Love begets love, just as hate begets hate and if knowledge begets knowledge, then ignorance begets ignorance.

This world, the whole world, could use a lot more love and a lot less hate. A lot more acceptance and a lot less judgment.

Change starts with one person. It starts with me and continues with you.

"Be the change you want to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Mental Nurishment

If there is one thing I have learned, it's that the only thing in this world that I have absolute control over is myself.

No matter how much any of us would like to control what happens around us, we ultimately cannot.

However, we can control the way WE deal with any given situation. The choices we make shape us as individuals and are a part of who we become.

I've come to terms that however much I may disagree with something, I have two choices; accept it or change it. That which cannot be accepted must be changed and that which cannot be changed must be accepted.

I'm content in the fact that as long as I am happy with the way I handle myself, then it doesn't really matter what other people think. There is no "right" way of living your life... but there is a positive way and a negative way. Your choices determine which side of that spectrum you fall on.

I intend to live mine on the positive side.

Just some food for thought.

Friday, April 29, 2011

MUSIC!!!

I love that music has the ability to enhance your mood. I don't know if this is the case for everyone but I find that music can make my moods.

When I am happy and I hear an upbeat tune with inspiring lyrics, I can't help but feel that everything will be OK. That no matter what, you're attitude can totally change a situation for good or bad.

We're human, so of course we get upset or angry or down on ourselves... that's only natural. But if we can take a step back and gain some perspective on our situation vs. the world or any given person who has it way worse then we do... we realize that we can and will go on.

What I'm saying is music makes me happy when it's happy. I feel like it lifts my spirits and give me that extra push in the right direction.

Even when I am upset or angry and I am listening to music that lets me channel those emotions by singing along or even just blasting it while I clean my house... it helps me vent in a way that sometimes talking never could.

Even simply singing in my church choir lifts my spirits and makes my shoulders feel lighter.

My point? Music can make any given situation better, so long as you choose the right tune for the right moment.

So turn your radio UP people!!!

Have a great weekend! :)

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Recipe of the Day

Balsamic Chicken
w/ Baby Red Potatoes & Veggie of Choice

Chicken (Tender, Breast or Thin Sliced)
1 LG Garlic Clove (Pressed)- add more if you love garlic
2 Sm Garlic Cloves (finely chopped)
Pinch of Ginger
Fresh Rosemary (to taste)
Salt & Pepper (to taste)
Balsamic Vinegar


Place chicken in a shallow dish or large zip-lock bag. Add the Pressed Garlic, Pinch of Ginger, Rosemary and S&P and then add balsamic vinegar to just cover the chicken. Let it marinate for up to 30 minutes (or more).

Cut baby red potatoes in half. Place in a pot to boil. Add two cloves of garlic finely chopped to the water. Add fresh rosemary to the water. Put over medium heat and bring to a boil. Boil until potatoes are soft and then drain. Add one Tablespoon of Smart Balance Butter to the potatoes. Salt & Pepper to Taste.

Blanch or steam your veggie of choice as the second side dish.

Remove chicken from marinate and cook on the grill (or Foreman Grill) until done.

*As an alternative to the potato & veggie, you can also serve this chicken over your favorite salad.

Monday, April 25, 2011

The Power of Positivey

It's been a while... sorry about that. April has been a crazy busy month for me and I am oh so grateful that it's almost over!

I have been doing well with my life style change and have been in situations where I have not had the best options food wise and I have managed to make the best of them and find the healthiest avenue within what was available.

Weight wise I have hit a plateau... I am holding at 161+/-... So now I think I need to kick up the work-out end of my deal. Went for a nice Jog/Walk this weekend.

My motivation (besides the obvious): We have a wedding to attend next month to which I would like to get a new dress BECAUSE my staple black dress is too big on me! :)

I have found myself letting the negativity of others get the best of me and plant it's seed. I am a fester-er... when something is bothering me it is almost constantly on my mind. I know it is a horrible habit, because often times I make more of a situation then I should or just worry myself sick from stress.

I have decided that Positivity has a lot of power behind it. I think if I make a conscience effort each day to begin it on a positive note and continue on a positive note... I might just be able to change this bad habit of mine into a good one.

I know that there will be times that I just get a little down or let a little of the negative come out... it's only natural with all these feelings and emotions flowing through me on a daily basis... but if I can manage to make the positive continue to out weigh the negative, then I might just make each day a little brighter.

Shut out the bad and let in the GOOD!!!!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Mornings, UGH!

I am SOOO not a morning person. I always snooze one too many times and make myself behind by just a few minutes. But those few minutes make me perpetually late for EVERYTHING.

Even if it is only by 5 to 10 minutes, I still feel badly. I just hate waking up in the morning... I wonder why that is.

Anyway, since I have been doing so well with the eating habits... still not an ounce of chocolate and I am OK with that... My new challenge is to start forcing myself out of bed when the alarm goes off. I want to be able to eat breakfast at home before leaving for work by the end of next week.

I hate rushing and I hate feeling guilty for arriving late on a regular basis. I will change this bad habit of mine!

I have a busy Friday & Saturday but I plan on taking it easy Sunday and doing some stuff around the house. As long as I get to bed early, I should be well rested to start this on Monday.

Also... Monday is week two weigh in... We'll see if I maintained and/or lost any more weight. I am excited and anxious... but I am being optimistic!

So until next time... Enjoy your weekend!

Monday, March 28, 2011

It's Official!!

Today is officially the one week mark of when I started changing what I ate throughout the day. As I said in a previous post this change in eating habits has not been so bad. I have enjoyed everything that I ate and even found some new healthy snacks that I really enjoy.

I even resisted temptation with the sweets this week, which I am super proud of myself for.

So I decided to weigh myself this morning at the one week mark and.....

.....drum roll please......

I weighed 162.5lbs as of this morning. This means that I lost 5.5 pounds in the first week!!!! SO EXCITING!!!!!

I know I cannot expect to maintain this kind of pattern on a week to week basis, but I believe that is a really great result for the first week of really just eating better overall.

So, here's to the future and more positive results!!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

I've had better days...

I had a hard morning this morning... maybe not the most difficult day of my life, but rough all the same.

I had a baby shower to attend today. I got up with plenty of time to shower, get ready and I even had time to eat breakfast and relax before my ride got here.

The difficulty came with my wardrobe and my unhappiness with my body. I don't usually fret too much about what I wear, but I like to look presentable. Especially when attending a social event. I must have changed a million times and at one point could have just locked myself in my room and stayed there all day... My emotions got the best of me.

This has been my first breakdown in this battle and I am quite positive that it will not be my last. I am a very emotional person, so I know that on hard days I will feel worse then usual about how I look and how much I hate the way my clothes look on me.

I finally got dressed (wearing the initial outfit I had on) and waited for my ride.

The shower was lovely and the food was heavy and mostly pasta based, but I believe I did well balancing what I ate. Had a little pasta, some brocoli salad and some ham.

Here's the best part.... I turned down CAKE and COOKIES!!! I didn't even have a bite of either. This is big for me. I am an emotional eater and after the morning I had I would have loved nothing more then to enjoy the comfort of a cookie. But I decided if this lifestyle change is ever going to work, then I need to learn how to say no to myself.

I get home to all the fixings for Taco Salad for dinner and my thoughful husband even picked up 2% Shredded Cheese and Light Sour Cream. I don't care how starnge this may sound, but this made me SO happy.

So after a rough morning and a nice afternoon with a small feat in my battle won... all and all today wasn't so bad. I've had better, but I've also definitely had worse.

OK, that's all for now... Until next time. Enjoy life.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

One week down, a lifetime to go...

So my first week of eating better and just being healthier overall was not so bad. I actually enjoyed it... I had to step a little more outside my box when planning and cooking meals which was nice. Sometimes you just get tired of the same old and I was in a pretty solid routine of meal rotation.

The only thing that bothered me were the cravings... but I guess when you take something in often enough your body kind of becomes dependent on it. I have a lot of food weaknesses. I love desserts, fried foods, salty foods, cheese, snacks. Which in moderation aren't so horrible for you. But my appetite knew nothing of moderation as of late.

If I can quit smoking cold turkey (which I did on Jan 1st of this year) I can quit eating all the items that go right to my fat cells... at least for now, until I am in a much better place and can afford a treat every now and again (in moderation).

This week I had one chocolate covered strawberry. The remainder of the things I ate were healthy and involved NO CHOCOLATE. I am proud of myself for that. I resisted temptation all week with the candy bowl at work. :-)

Even though I was craving chocolate something fierce today.

I've decided to reward myself for a Fantastic first week! Tomorrow, TGIF, my friend and I will be going out to lunch. Relax, we're only going to Saladworks and since it's Friday and Lent; I can't eat meat anyway.

I have been thinking about my salad options and I believe I will be getting Eggs, Mozz Cheese, Tomatoes, Cucumbers & Lite Ranch Dressing with a wheat roll. I'm looking forward to it!

Rewarding yourself for doing well at something is a good way to keep yourself on track... gives you something fun and good to look forward to, even if it's not a ooey, gooey cookie. :)

Until next time... Stay classy!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Excuses, Excuses...

So part of my promise to myself was to begin doing something physical on a regular basis... I started this plan on a bad week because Monday I had a work thing and last night I had choir practice.

So tonight would be the first free night for me to stick to my promise and wouldn't ya know it... mother nature is throwing a challenge my way.

Well you know what M.N. ... Challenge accepted!

I may not go for a really long walk, but I will go for a brisk walk in the cold rainy/sleety weather you've thrown my way.

Because if I start this off by making excuses, I know that I will never stick to it. There is always an excuse to get out of doing something... that's the easy part. The hard part is actually sticking to a plan.

So it's settled. I am going to be crazy and walk in the sleet.

That's it for now... until next time.

Thanks for stopping by.

p.s. Anyone wondering how the Lemon Pepper Chicken recipe came out; it was delicious. Note: I cut it down to 1/2 TBS of Pepper and the juice of about 1.5 Lemons. Very, very good though.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Making Dinner

I'd like to say I'm a good cook (toot toot). My husband likes to say he taught me everything I know... well that's somewhat true; except for my baking skills.

My husband introduced me to a lot of different foods. When we first met I was a picky eater. Mostly due to the fact that my mom was a creature of habit when it came to cooking. She rarely ventured outside of her own comfort zone. This made me behave the same way. I was fearful of trying new things and I was SO ignorant when it came to food.

I was guilty of judging a book by it's cover... If it looked gross or sounded gross, I would never even consider trying it. But after dating my husband and his families love of all kinds of food... I learned to be a lot more open minded. I tried and fell in love with several foods I would have never tried if it weren't for him.

With those new flavors came the broadening of my cooking skills.... So I guess, the improvement of my skills are thanks to my husband...

My new habits will consist of cutting out the "bad" butters and oils and replacing them with a healthier version of themselves; Smart Butter and/or Olive Oil. I mostly cook with Olive Oil now anyway... so it will just be an adjustment to STOP frying things and to try to use less of the bad and more of the not so bad.

Tonight for dinner I am going to make Lemon Pepper Chicken with brown rice and sauted veggies... I hope it comes out as delicious as I am imagining it.

Here is the recipe I will be using for the chicken... I will share my honest opinion after I try it tonight.

Ingredients

* 2 teaspoons olive oil
* 1 tablespoon ground black pepper, divided
* 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast half
* 4 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a small skillet. Pepper the skillet with 1/2 tablespoon of the pepper, then lay the chicken breasts onto the pepper. Squeeze fresh ½ of the lemon juice onto the chicken, then season with the remaining pepper.
2. Sauté chicken breasts for about 5 to 7 minutes, then turn to the other side, squeeze remaining lemon juice onto the other side and sauté for another 5 to 7 minutes (or until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear).

Breakfast

One of the biggest changes I am planning to make to my eating habits is the addition of breakfast back into my daily meal plan.

I am LAZY and quite the opposite of a morning person... so needless to say I snooze my alarm about a million times before I actually get out of bed to get ready for work. Never leaving myself any time to have breakfast at home.

My secret weapon? A box of Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal in my desk at work.

Day two of my plan started this morning with a nice warm cup of oatmeal and a cold drink of water.

I will eventually start forcing myself out of bed earlier so that I can have other things for breakfast at home. I bought spreadable Honey when I went grocery shopping this past weekend. My husband says that it is quite good on toast and I would like to be able to at least try it one morning.

For lunch today I have a variety of fruits, 2 hard boiled eggs, a yogurt with granola and some wheat thins. I plan on picking myself up a green tea with ginseng and honey as well.

All and all it is a good feeling to know I am taking better care of myself.

The beginning of this week has been busy for me; with a networking event last night for work... which I believe I did well with balancing what I ate. It was pretty much an all you can eat buffet of sample foods... I kept myself in check and was proud.

Tonight we have choir after dinner... so tomorrow begins that daily walks after dinner. I am so happy that my husband is on board with this whole thing, because it's something else we can enjoy doing together.

Well, now I'm off to find a delicious and healthy recipe involving Chicken and Asparagus for dinner tonight.

I should also get back to work.

Until next time...

Monday, March 21, 2011

Eat This, Not That

http://eatthis.menshealth.com/home

A helpful website that gives you tips on eating out & healthy choices.

10 Things that pack on the pounds (from Fox Health online)

Struggling with your fat-loss attempts? Or are you currently happy with the chiseled physique you have but fearful that you may start to pack on the pounds?

Whatever the situation, by learning about some of the fastest ways to gain weight, you can make sure to avoid them at all costs. If there's one thing we know for certain it's that staying ripped at all times does take hard work. Fortunately, by making sure the following 10 traps aren't in the picture, it'll be that much easier.

Here are the 10 fastest ways to get fat. Avoid them at all costs.

10. Down the fruit juice
If you’re looking for a quick way to put on weight, start downing glass after glass of fruit juice. While often thought to be a healthy beverage, it's really anything but. It contains far too many carbs to be on a fat-loss or weight-maintenance diet and what's worse is that a large portion of these carbs will be fructose, which gets converted to body fat much quicker since it can't be stored in the muscle cells. Solution? Opt for water, milk or green tea.

9. Binge drink
If you're the type to avoid drinking throughout the workweek and then go out for a night of partying on the weekend, you're going to get fat. It's quite easy to consume well over 1,000 calories on a good night of drinking, and if you add up all the chicken wings, pizza and peanuts you consume while you're at it, you could be looking at a full pound of fat gained over the course of the evening. As far as your waistline is concerned, limit alcohol consumption to one or two drinks a night, on occasion.

8. Eat carbs
If there's one thing that can make you fat quickly, carbohydrates would be it. High-carb foods, especially of the processed variety, are extremely dangerous in terms of fat gain, because they'll quickly cause your insulin levels to soar, which puts the body into a fat-storing state. With all these calories floating around in the blood with nowhere to go -- unless you've just done a very intense workout -- they're fated for fat storage. Always keep carbohydrate consumption to a moderate level and be sure to balance them out with a lean protein as well.

7. Eat out
Another thing you should avoid doing is eating out frequently at restaurants. Many people do a great job at avoiding fast-food fare, but what most don't realize is that dine-in restaurants are almost twice as bad. The average entree can easily pack in well over 1,000 calories and is often processed, so if you want to prevent fat gain, cook at home as often as possible.

6. Take the car
As much as you might focus on getting in the most intense workout sessions possible, failing to look at the everyday ways you can be active will really cost you. If you hit the gym regularly but then drive everywhere (and are all-around quite lazy), this will significantly lower your overall calorie burn for the day. Just by getting out of the car and walking around more often, you can easily burn off 200 to 500 calories per day. Easy, right?

5. Eat greasy food
If you are going to cheat on your diet, the worst foods to do so with is high-carb, greasy fare. When you consume foods that are both high in carbs and high in fat (such as pizza, doughnuts or burgers), you're really hitting the body hard with excess calories that will lead to weight gain. Now you'll have raised insulin levels from the high-carb intake, and with those insulin levels high and your body in prime fat-storing mode, you'll quickly take the fat up and store it. If you're going to cheat, do so with lower fat, higher carb foods. This way, with the raised insulin, all the excess carbs can go toward the muscle cells to refill muscle glycogen, thus reducing the chances that you gain body fat.

4. Use commercial weight gainers
If you're someone who's trying to pack on lean muscle mass, you might be considering the use of a weight-gain product. If you want to stay lean, however, you'll want to rethink this. While you may require a high-calorie intake to build muscle, some of these commercial weight gainers pack in well over 1,000 calories, which is too much for even the biggest weight lifter. Plus, these commercial weight gainers are often filled with simple sugars, which will wreak havoc on your body and set you up for diabetes. Instead, create your own weight gainer using protein powder, raw oats and flaxseeds.

3. Load up on the wrong proteins
You're aware you need protein to build muscle, and you take this information to heart. Day after day you're loading up on all the high-protein foods you can find and don't feel ashamed to indulge in a juicy 12 oz steak when the opportunity presents itself. If this describes you, you may very well be on your way to gaining body fat. Remember that many protein-rich foods do contain high amounts of saturated fat and calories, so consuming too many of them will put you on the quick road to obesity. Instead, choose leaner sources of protein, and consume them in moderation. Men naturally gravitate toward protein-rich foods whenever they have a craving, but remember that you can get too much of a good thing.

2. Move back home
In today's tight financial times, more and more adults are choosing to move back in with their parents. If you're looking to maintain a lean body, though, this may be the last thing that you want to do. Surrounding yourself with all of your mom's high-fat, high-calorie cooking will likely lead to excess calorie consumption. With someone else doing the cooking and you strictly focused on the eating, you're headed for a bad situation as far as your belly fat is concerned.

1. Forgo your weight-lifting workout
Do not not skip your weight-lifting workouts. Even if you can get to the gym and do one set of each exercise, that will be far better than skipping it entirely. What some men fail to realize is just how much of a boost they will get in their metabolism after weight training, and this could mean the difference between you staying lean at the end of the day and you gaining body fat by night's end. You can burn up to 200 calories over and above your usual expenditure after a very intense workout, so don't ever underestimate the power of lifting weights.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/03/08/10-fastest-ways-gain-weight/#ixzz1HFSjyFiR

10 Fitness Myths (from FOX Health online)

Think you'll get a six-pack with crunches? You might want to check out these fitness misconceptions before hitting the gym.

Whether it’s coming from the media, athletes, celebrities, or friends, there are countless exercise myths that are widely accepted as fact. Here are 10 commonly held exercise misconceptions, as well as the real truths to improving your health and performance.

1. Static stretching decreases risk of injury
If people warm-up at all, they usually static stretch. Static stretching immediately before exercise can cause performance decrements; it can also increase your risk of injury. Stretching can also cause a short-term decrease in musculotendinous stiffness. If joints are relying on this stiffness for force production or stability, this decrease can lead to undesired joint movements and eventually cause injury. This is especially true in runners who do the standard calves and hamstrings stretches outside, and go immediately into their run.

There is research demonstrating that runners who static stretch immediately before they run actually suffer more injuries than those who don’t. Dynamic warm-ups with joint mobility and muscle activation exercises will improve your range of motion while promoting muscular control. This gives you the best chance to move efficiently and avoid injury.

2. Getting in shape is good for fat loss
Most people equate losing weight with getting in shape. By definition, getting in shape means that any given workload (for example, a three-mile run at 7 mph) will be easier to perform and less costly in terms of energy. Using jogging as an example, this means you’ll need to run longer or harder to get the same metabolic disturbance (what causes weight/fat loss). This can lead to excessively long training sessions that take a significant toll on your body. One way to minimize this adaptation is to alter your methods of conditioning, like with biking, running, slide-boarding (if possible), and resistance training circuits. This prevents your body from becoming too efficient at any one modality and therefore increases the metabolic disturbance from each.

3. Long-distance cardio is good for fat loss
Just about every piece of cardio equipment currently manufactured comes with a nice display of target heart rate zones for “fat burning.” The idea behind these zones is that working at the specified target heart rates will allow you to burn the largest proportion of your energy from fat. Sounds tempting. What few people realize is that you actually burn the highest proportion of fat while at rest (around 70 percent of your energy comes from fat).

There is a growing body of research now supporting the use of high-intensity interval training for fat loss. This form of “cardio” takes well less than half the time (typically 12 to 20 minutes) of traditional long distance cardio and leads to better results. The only people that should ever do long-distance cardio are endurance athletes, people who have a complete disregard for the value of their time and people who aren’t in good enough health to pursue high-intensity intervals (in which case, lower-intensity intervals would still be better).

4. Pasta is the ultimate pre-workout meal
For endurance athletes, there may be some benefit to the idea of carb loading. With that recognition, carb loading has been misinterpreted as requiring the need for large amounts of carbohyrates in the meal eaten before exercise. Pasta is the most frequent culprit. Most men have fully depleted their body's carbohydrate stores through the foods they eat throughout the rest of the day. Overeating pasta does little in the way of providing energy and likely leads to fat storage. Carbohydrates can also cause people to feel tired. A better meal option would be a balance of lean protein (like turkey, ham, fish, chicken, and lean beef), whole-grain products (such as quinoa) and vegetables. This provides a wider range of nutrients and gives your body the fuel it needs to perform optimally.

5. A quick jog and a few stretches is a sufficient warm-up
Not overlooking the fact that many people don’t warm up at all, the quick jog to “break a sweat” and a few stretches is the default warm-up of those that do. There are a few benefits of this type of warm-up. By going for a quick jog, you’ll increase your circulatory rate and your body temperature, which can help improve the elasticity of your muscles. But this type of warm-up does little to stimulate the nervous system (or increase the excitability of the working muscles) and doesn’t take the working joints through a full range of motion.

Static stretching immediately before exercise has been shown to decrease performance measures like power, speed, and balance. While the deleterious effects of static stretching are datable and frequently misinterpreted, this type of warm-up can still be improved upon. A dynamic warm-up consisting of joint mobility and muscle-activation exercises will take your joints through a full range of motion, increase the neural drive to the working muscles, increase the extensibility of commonly locked-up muscles, increase your circulatory rate, and increase your internal body temperature. This type of warm-up is ideal both in terms of performance and injury prevention.

6. More is better
In an effort to get stronger, faster or to improve athleticism, most people default to adding more volume. This is often at the expense (or neglect) of added recovery. In order for your body to adapt, it needs sufficient recovery time. While brief planned periods of volume increases can be beneficial in increasing your capacity, continually adding volume will eventually have deleterious effects on your performance. Many men have heard that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to master a skill. This may be true in some cases, but it’s important to remember that quality practice leads to quality muscle memory and that fatigue masks fitness. In other words, you need to give yourself time to recover from skill-based practices, or you’ll be teaching your body to remember garbage movement strategies. Stress is necessary to stimulate improvement; recovery is necessary to realize adaptation.

7. Strength isn’t important for distance running
It’s true that every distance runner doesn’t need to be and, well, shouldn’t be built like a powerlifter. With that said, every distance runner should be doing some form of resistance training. This doesn’t mean the low-weight, high-rep crap that seems to frequent endurance training; this means strength training designed to actually get you strong (like sets of 6-8 reps). Distance running events are about covering a set distance as fast as possible, meaning speed is the key. Speed is improved by putting more force into the ground in each stride. More force means more strength.

Think of it this way: If you need to put an average of five units of force into the ground each stride to attain your time goals, and you’re maximal capacity is 10 units of force, you’re working at 50 percent of your maximum capacity. If you improve your capacity through quality strength training to 15 units of force, then running at five units per stride is only 33% of your capacity. More likely, you’d increase your speed to maintain your given work intensity (in this case 50%). Strength is far from the only component of being a successful distance runner, but it’s one of the most overlooked.

8. Basketball shoes protect against injury
High-top basketball shoes were invented in an attempt to minimize the risk of rolling an ankle as a result of landing on someone’s foot. These shoes, which increasingly have ankle support that mirrors ski boots, effectively limit side-to-side ankle motion. This will minimize the risk of ankle sprains but causes excessive range of motion at the knee. The knee has some rotational ability, primarily flexes and extends. Unfortunately, basketball shoes also limit the ankle's range of motion in dorsiflexion (shin coming toward toes) and rotation. When these ankle movements are restricted, compensatory motion occurs at the knee. Over time, this leads to a number of knee problems. Couple this with the fact that restricted ankle motion causes a decrease in sensory and reflexive ability of lower-leg musculature and consequent impairment of balance, and basketball shoes can be viewed as both injury inflicting and performance inhibiting.

9. Squatting is bad for your knees
The idea that squatting is bad for your knees has a few sources. Data on patellofemoral contact (kneecap against the joint) forces during these movements can show forces in excess of nine times an individual's body weight as the knee flexes through 90 degrees. This is coupled with doctors concluding that squatting is bad from your knees after seeing men come to them in pain from squatting. From the doctor’s viewpoint, this is a logical conclusion. If you hear people say they hurt their knees from squatting again and again, squatting must be bad for your knees.
The gap in this logic is that most people without a history of knee pain squat without ever experiencing it. Regarding the patellofemoral contact force data, a number that seems strikingly high doesn’t necessarily imply that the body is not built to sustain these forces. Most men that have squatting-related knee pain have poor technique. In an attempt to keep their torso vertical, they drive their knees excessively forward. In a good squat, the angle of the shin matches the angle of the torso. This ensures loading of the posterior hip musculature (glutes and hamstrings) and minimizes the anterior shearing forces across your knee. In people with a history of knee pain, it’s best to try to maintain a vertical shin angle throughout the motion.

10. Crunches are the best way to get a six-pack
Everyone, from the average civilian to elite level athletes, has been fooled by the same misconception. Doing crunches and sit-ups are not the best way to get a six-pack. Having a visible six-pack is almost entirely a function of body fat and minimally a function of abdominal development. We all know the rail-thin guys that have a shredded midsection. Contrast the overwhelming majority of powerlifters who have insanely strong core muscles but don’t sport a six-pack. Intuitively, we all know this, but when we start to feel saggy in the midsection, we go straight for the ab exercises. Contrary to popular belief, training a muscle group will not burn fat locally. This means that doing ab exercises won’t burn fat from your midsection. Save yourself the wasted time and probable back pain -- the best way to get a six-pack involves making better dietary choices and doing high-intensity interval training.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/03/17/10-fitness-myths/#ixzz1HFRgeHlF

Today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life...

Today is the start of my healthy living... This blog is for me to track and keep record of my struggle with my weight and my recent decision to get to a healthier me. I plan on being 100% honest with myself and anyone who reads this blog. It won't work any other way.

I have been struggling with my weight for the past 10 years or so. Mostly trying this diet and that diet and having great results at first. Then slowly sliding back into my routine of bad eating habits and laziness. I joined at least three gyms over the course of the past 10 years, only to waste the money on the monthly payments because I just stopped going. I relied on others to motivate me, when I should have been motivating myself.

This time I am not following a diet. This time I am making an overall change to my eating habits and my lazy life style.

I recently went to the doctor, because my husband and I are having trouble conceiving. My doctor showed me the file he has of all my records. When I first came to him as a teenager, I weight maybe 100lbs. He showed me how each year my weight increased a little bit; some years a lot. He told me there is no "right" weight for anyone... you just have to be healthy and in shape. It's not an exact science.

He told me that my weight gain could have a lot to do with my irregular cycle and therefore the fact that I am having trouble with conception.

He also put me on some hormone medication and had me get an exam to ensure everything was working right. This exam is supposed to make women twice as fertile within the following 60 days. I was also told by several people that women got pregnant pretty quickly afterward. Paired with the medication he prescribed I assumed I would be pregnant before I knew it... I was sadly mistaken...

I am 5'3" and when I was 18 I weighted about 110 pounds. Granted my metabolism was much better then and I was a lot more active physically. But now at 31 I find myself at the heaviest I have been in my whole life and that makes me very sad and disappointed with myself. I am in no way obese, but I am over-weight & unhappy. I currently (as of yesterday) weight 168 pounds. This means I have gained about 10 pounds since my previously described doctors visit a couple months ago.

So now that you know a little of the back story... I plan to change my life style and my eating habits. I am paying more attention to what I eat and trying to stay away from the items that are really really bad for me (i.e. fatty, sugary & greasy). I am also trying to start to do something physical everyday. Walking or riding my bike or jogging to start.

This starts today.... I welcome you to follow my journey.

Thanks for listening.