The Fluffy Girl and The Blue Bell

Hello to all...I hope you all have had a good day.  I had a busy day at work...been a busy week in general.

Tonight was the visitation for Amy's mom Sheila. 
It is always such a mix of emotions during times like this...obviously it intensely sad at times and then there are those moments where you see old friends, family... people you have not had an opportunity to talk with in such a long while...and somehow in the midst of such grief...there is a laugh, a quick moment of relief from all of the sadness. 
I hope my friend Amy has had a few of those lighter moments over the past couple of days. 

I am singing a song at the funeral tomorrow that has special meaning to Amy's parents...makes me really nervous....makes me want ice cream!! LOL!  The truth hurts! 

I went to dinner tonight with some of my favorite friends...friends I have known for close to 30 years...special friends...friends who spent the last 15 minutes of our dinner conversation tonight talking about ice cream....yep....ice cream...not just any ice cream...nope....Blue Bell ice cream... Blue Bell...."the best ice cream in the country".

Afterward...I had to go to the grocery store...where they have Blue Bell...left without any...miracle!

Tired....tomorrow will be a tough day.  Please say a prayer for my friend Amy, her Dad, brother and all of their family. 

Goodnight...please don't hesitate to tell those that are important to you how much you love them...life is so precious. 

Suit Up and Show Up-God has the rest

Happy Election Day...I hope all of you took the time to vote!  Every vote counts!  I early voted this year and I am so glad I did!
  I am feeling a bit sluggish today...stayed up late and have been quite busy today.  I must work out tonight.  I did not work out on Sunday and ended up not working out yesterday...so Today is a MUST! 

Stress eating has been looking really attractive over the past 24 hours.  Again, I am reminded that I must really work hard to NOT stress eat. So strange, how much it feels 2nd nature to me.  Clearly, I don't mind talking about feelings or sharing them...at least to some extent...but if I am being honest, and God knows I am trying, it is just easier to stuff my face and my feelings at the same time!!!!  I do know that the consequences can be huge...but unfortunately, at times, it still feels easier to just eat something! 
This is not the easiest thing to write down either...knowing that some people just do not react that way...food is not their crutch...and it is certainly judged by many to be a terrible weakness.  One of those "you had a choice" kind of problems.  But reality is...It does not matter what other people think or how they judge...it is a real, daily issue for  me and I purposely chose to use the word FIGHT in the title of this blog...Because I knew it would be one.  No use in sugar coating!!!!  Though sugar is wonderful!  This is a fight...a good fight...but a fight nonetheless. 

Here is the good news...I do not feel defeated or overwhelmed or ill prepared.  I feel like fighting and for that I am grateful!  So while life continues to throw challenges my way...I am Blessed and I am protected.  All I must do is suit up and show up....God has the rest! 

So I will work out tonight and then I am headed to spend some time supporting my friend Amy!  As it should be! 

Have a good night and again please Vote!  It is a wonderful statement to the Freedom we all share by living in this wonderful Country.  Regardless of the outcome of this election....I plan to pray for God to touch the heart of our President, to lead this Nation with a compassionate heart and I pray that we, as a society, remember that we are ALL God's creation and that hate, anger and greed can only destroy what makes us unique.  I will be working on that myself! 

Good night!

Living Every Moment

Hello to all...It is very late!  It has been a difficult day and this is the first chance I have had to stop long enough to post. 
One of my childhood friends lost her Mom today, somewhat suddenly.  This is one of my closest friends growing up....We went to high school together, we spent tons of time at each others homes, have maintained a friendship for 30+ years... I sang at her wedding, held her babies, and now on Thursday...I am saddened but honored to be singing at her Mom's funeral.  But it is surreal...sobering! 
Life is so precious...just another reminder that it is my responsibility to fully live life...Cherish it, respect it and not take a single moment for granted. 
It can be so easy to get lost in the details of daily life...I do it all the time.  Yes, this Journey is about me getting healthier and shedding weight...but everyday it gets clearer and clearer that this Journey is about so much more.
  I don't want to get distracted by the details...I want to see the whole, fabulous picture. 
I want to truly live every moment! 

I am afraid I must sleep...Sweet Dreams! Jaime

Barkin' Dogs

Hello and Happy Sunday!  I hope everyone has had a splendid day.  It has been a beautiful day here in Houston...Lots of sunshine and not too warm!  Mom, Emily and I started our day with Church and then Mom and I struck out northward to Montgomery to see our buddies Stef and Patsy and Jen!  We met them for lunch...(I ate healthy)...at a cute little place in the bustling metropolis that is Downtown Montgomery :)!  We chatted for several hours...short for us and then headed back home!  Good times...Good times!  Love them!

When I woke up this morning and my feet hit the floor...I felt a little stiff... My dogs were barkin! But not too bad though for a Fluffy girl.  My right foot has been a little persnickety...but a little ice and a day off from workouts should do the trick. 

Again, I cannot tell you how great it felt to accomplish something that I know I could not have even attempted 2 months ago...NO WAY...Again, I know that 3 miles is not some Ironman distance..but when your body has been broken down and not maintained well...well...it feels fabulous to experience the change and know that I am moving in a direction that will lead to better health and a better life. 

I again, must thank all of you that walked with me (even though I know some of you could have finished the race light years faster)...I must thank all of you that donated to the Houston Food Bank on behalf of our team and for all of you that continue to encourage this Journey!  Like I have said before...I could thank you everyday and it would not be adequate. 

So this week begins Week 12...My plan is to work out Mon-Thurs and Sat.  I am hoping to have a few interesting new articles to share this week and will post a few more pics from the race. 

There will be another Mini-Goal announcement.  I will finalize the details and will be posting it on here as soon as I have finalized the plan.

Please keep it in the back of your head that we are planning a charity Volleyball game for AUGUST 17TH 2013...I know it seems like a long way away but I want as many people to be there as possible.  More details to follow!

I hope everyone is ready for another great week.  My goal for this week is to Be Inspired and Be an Inspiration.  Reach out to more people...clear a few more hurdles and kick some weight loss butt!!!

WHO IS WITH ME!!!!

Let's have a great week..."MaWa Inspired" Journey 120 is moving on.....

The Fluffy Girl and the 5K

Well....I did.... We did it!  Team MaWa completed the 5K!  Some quicker than others...but everyone crossed the finish line.  It was fantastic!

I DID NOT FINISH LAST!!  WOO HOO!

There were close to 3,000 people in the race.  Everybody was all aglow!  We even saw a guy with a chandelier on his head!
Hilarious!

It felt great to accomplish the 1st Mini Goal!  Great to have such wonderful support...Great to support a charity within our local community! Thank you to Lindsey for suggesting the Firefly 5K, thanks to Kristen for designing the T-shirts and thanks to My sweet Mom for being a great cheerleader!  Finally, thanks to Henry, Kyle, Mike, Kristen, Lindsey, Stephen, Bill, Donna and Emily!   Also, thanks to Ali, Barb, Claire and Jonathan....we missed u guys!

God continues to bless every step of this Journey! 

Here are some photos from the event...Enjoy!

I am posting these from my mobile...so the order is funky!  I will post more in the next day or two!

Death of a Scales....Man!

Close your eyes and imagine the haunting sound of TAPS playing in the background...Dum Ta Dum...Dum Ta Dum...Dum Ta Dum Dum Ta Dum Dum Ta Duuuuummmm...Yes...I am afraid that I have some bad news...The Fluffy Girl's Scale broke...fazoot!  It was a sad moment...no goodbye...nothing!

So today marks the end of an era it appears...the era where I had a scale that gave me 5lbs (less) than reality...I love that scale...so giving and forgiving...so generous when it came to weight loss...

R.I.P OLD FRIEND

 

 

 

NOW...enter the new scale...sleek, transparent, brutally honest.  EVIL!!!!

 

 

 

Say Hello to my little friend!!!

 

 

THIS scale says I weigh more...MORE than I originally thought.  THIS scale is requiring me to revise my weigh in numbers for Week 11...This evil, shiny new scale says that I must amend my previous weigh in...BUT....I refuse to fully succumb to the new scale's reality. 

 

So we have reached a compromise...I am revising my Starting weight to reflect what I weighed last Monday (when I received the new scale) but since the new scale was not around at the beginning of this Journey...It could not possibly know what I weighed on August 17th 2012 (though it would be easy to surmise it was MORE than I originally thought). 

 

 So my weight loss total will remain the same...but my actual weight will change from this point forward....that must be the way it is....So...my new weight is posted in the right hand margin as usual...but you will note the change.  I weighed in last Monday and my weight loss for the week reflects how much I weigh after weighing on the New....Evil Scale on Monday morning!  Confused Yet????  I am!  So having said all of that...I lost 1.5lbs this week!

 

 

I am still on track to lose 120lbs...I am still working for that goal...and No Evil shiny new scale will deter me!!!  I will not be stopped!!!! 

 

TOPIC CHANGE: 

 

Tomorrow is the Big Day...My first 5K!!!! Woo Hoo!!!  Team MaWa is ready and so am I.  I am truly looking forward to it.  I have my shirt...my KT tape ( to tape all ailing joints--in other words I will be a Mummy)...I have a plan for tomorrow.  I am picking up my race pack today and I will be pounding the pavement tomorrow!!!  I should have good pics....before and after!!!  Please say prayers for Team MaWa!!! 

 

I hope you all have a terrific rest of the day and a wonderful, blessed weekend!!!!

 

Next week I will be trying to maintain my focus...work on my problem areas both phsically and mentally...and I will be MOVIN and SHAKIN!!!!

 

Song of the DAY!!!

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzSdPxlGGZc

 

 

 

 





A lot to lose...More to gain

Hello followers of fluff!  I hope you all had a wonderful day...happy, healthy and productive. 
I worked from home today...Mom and I both had Drs appointments today so I had to stick close to home! 

So tomorrow is Weigh in #11....and the beginning of the 12th week of this Journey 120....3 months...WOW!

Pretty unbelievable for me that I am 1/4 of the way into this Journey and still have a full head of hair, most of my sanity, and 23 less lbs of fluff.  Sweet!
So many amazing Blessings, support challenges and victories....in just 11 weeks...can't wait to see what the next 9 months hold...I have so much to lose...but so much more to gain. 

While I shed this physical weight...there will be opportunities to gain perspective, gain understanding, gain knowledge, gain new friends and gain new respect for the friends and family that have been on this Journey with me. 

God continues to bless this Journey everyday....even on the difficult days! 

I am ready for the next nine months. ONE DAY AT A TIME!

No workout tomorrow...I will be resting in preparation for the 5K on Saturday.  Really excited to take on this "mini-goal". Thanks to all of you that have donated to The Houston Food Bank on behalf of Team MAWA!  Makes me proud!

Happy Friday to all! Love and Hugs!