Stomach Bug

It came and it went in all of a matter of 7 hours thankfully. However, when the stomach bug hits you, you are done, there is no easy route with it. I was at Zumba and felt a little off but nothing too serious but by 10 pm on Wednesday I knew I was in for it. 

Thursday, I slept for most of the day and was very cautious about what to put in my mouth so I would not land myself back in the bathroom. Three days later, I still do not have much of an appetite and am cautious about foods. Maybe not having an appetite is a good thing?

I always pondered though, when I have thrown up to the point where there is nothing left, if I can do a "restart" on introducing new foods. Almost as if what I went through was a way for my body to say, "Hey, I do not agree with this food anymore, let's get a little healthier with out choices". Meaning, stay away as much as possible from processed foods and gear towards the healthy stuff.  Yet, time and time again, I fail to do this because I am unsure of where to start and I think I would be much more comfortable if I was in a home of my own as opposed to living under someone's roof. My eating habits would be a lot different and what I would keep in the pantry would be altogether different as well. 

If you do go to the gym though, watch out because illness is lurking at every corner. I know some other people who I attend the same gym class with, and the illness has gotten them as well. All of those germs that are staying alive because of all the body heat at the gym. Make sure to use hand sanitizer and be cautious to clean the machines before and after you workout.  I would not wish the stomach bug on my worst enemy! January is also the peak month for being sick, and while I know February is right around the corner, still be aware. Better to be safe than sorry!

Ashley

Letter to Me...

Thanks to Kim for the challenge of writing a letter to myself. The purpose of the letter is to outline why I began this journey and my reasons for why I want to lose weight. So here is my letter, unedited for the world to read.

Dear Ashley,

Your life has been full of many struggles and it has been hard at times. Yet, you have succeeded in so many ways; becoming a strong woman, graduating college, finding faith, learning to cook and bake. Your personality is one that is welcoming to so many people and you find the positives in life and share them with anyone.

The one thing you have failed to succeed in one aspect of your life; weight. Year after year, diet after diet, you have tried and hit road blocks each time. Each time, gaining more weight than what you originally weighed. Finally you hit a wall when Christina passed away. You decided at that moment that she would not die in vain or that her memory would be attached to the choices she made that ultimately led to her death. She is your wake up call, your hope for the future.

You find yourself scared at the possibility of succeeding in your weight loss journey because it is the one thing you have never done before. It is time to close that chapter in your life to move on to a better healthier you. You have come to terms with your past and your weight is the last piece that is linking you to it. Put it to rest and move on, there are so many opportunities in your future; loving another, "growing up". Do not let your weight hinder your ability to do all of the plus more.

You are the non-conformist of the family, make your journey of losing the weight for good, part of your non-traditional ways. There will be times that you hit bumps in this long road but remember to get back up and keep going. You have to separate your emotions from the reality of weight loss. Fear is not an emotion, it is an action because it causes a chain reaction that only you can work to avoid. So keep this fight up, you have come so far in only a few short months. The future holds so many possibilities and while it may be tough at times it will end up being totally worth it.

Victory will taste so sweet!

Ashley

Now I challenge you. What would your letter to self look like?

Monday Night

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you 

going.” ~Jim Rohn

Even though I just wrote a blog a few days ago, I feel compelled to write another one. It seems as if many people that I know are having a tough time getting back up on this weight loss roller coaster ride. It is almost as if the idea of a New Years Resolution has created a mental road block which people are having a hard time getting around. There is nothing getting in your way except for yourself. What is your personal challenge that you are hiding behind? What is it that scares you from getting up and moving around? What is it that scares you from eating healthy and in moderation? It is not until we begin to answer the questions of "why not" that we can begin to move forward. 

A bit of a side story but an appropriate one I think. Over the past month or so I have battling with a huge fear of mine. The fear of hitting Onderland and the unknown that comes with it. I have not been at that point since I was 13 years old, that is 10 years ago. My fear is the unknown of who my identity will be once I begin to end my journey of weight loss and start my journey of maintenance. How do I personally handle all of these new changes? It is scary but I know ultimately that I have to do it, there is no other choice for me. I will fail but I have to be able to get back up and do what I have to in order to be who I want/need to be. This body of mine has to last me a good 60 years and I need to be healthy and take care of it to last that long.

Motivation is only the beginning of our journey. Habit is what we need to get into so that we may continue to make good choices and be active within our weight loss journey's. We are all at different points in our journey, some it has taken longer than others but we must remember never to give up. 

“You must have long-range goals to keep you from being 

frustrated by short-range failures.” ~Charles C. Noble