Many have paid the highest price. Please remember to thank all of those who have made sacrifices for our freedom.
Happy Memorial Day!
Showing posts with label thank you. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thank you. Show all posts
Monday, May 30, 2011
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Dance Party Winners
If you were able to attend my Onederland dance, left a comment and live in the continental United States, YOU won a prize.
If I had a billion dollars I would love to say "you get a car, and you get a car, and you get a car" just like Oprah did but, unfortunately, I haven't hit the lottery YET so you'll have to settle for a small token of my appreciation. You guys are the BEST support system and I'm blessed to have you in my life.
I want to apologize to my friends that live outside the states and are not eligible to win but this unemployed girl can't afford the hefty price of postage to send you anything but my gratitude. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!
So, to all my fellow dancin' partners, send me your address at "mb photography vt [at] gmail [dot] com (you know, without the spaces and with a "@" and a ".") and I will send you a onederland party door prize.
WOW! My feet are killing me from all that dancin'. Thank you all for sticking with me over the years of struggling and being there to celebrate my crossover into Onederland. I had a blast.
The next party I have will be when I reach my goal sometime in 2011. I can't wait.
If I had a billion dollars I would love to say "you get a car, and you get a car, and you get a car" just like Oprah did but, unfortunately, I haven't hit the lottery YET so you'll have to settle for a small token of my appreciation. You guys are the BEST support system and I'm blessed to have you in my life.
I want to apologize to my friends that live outside the states and are not eligible to win but this unemployed girl can't afford the hefty price of postage to send you anything but my gratitude. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!
So, to all my fellow dancin' partners, send me your address at "mb photography vt [at] gmail [dot] com (you know, without the spaces and with a "@" and a ".") and I will send you a onederland party door prize.
WOW! My feet are killing me from all that dancin'. Thank you all for sticking with me over the years of struggling and being there to celebrate my crossover into Onederland. I had a blast.
The next party I have will be when I reach my goal sometime in 2011. I can't wait.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Three Years Ago Today ...
Three years ago today I started this blog hoping it would help me work through my issues with food. I needed to figure out why I stuffed myself until I felt sick and then ate some more while simultaneously thinking about how I needed to lose weight. I wanted to document my final journey down the scale because this was it. I wasn't messing around anymore. I was determined to do it right this time. I was sick and tired of stuffing food down my throat to prevent my emotions from bubbling up and out. I was sick and tired of the reflection I saw in the mirror, I was sick and tired of not fitting into any of my clothes. I was sick and tired of my boyfriend asking me when I was going to get on a serious program. I was sick and tired of it all.
Back then I was inspired watching PastaQueen and DietGirl transform themselves right before my eyes and I wanted to be just like them. I didn't expect a book deal but I desperately wanted those "after" pictures showing how I finally made it. I didn't even have as much to lose as they had but I couldn't seem to find that switch I needed to flick to make any lasting progress.
This was the place that was going to encourage and inspire me to lose the weight I'd been able to lose before but always managed to gain back. I had recently turned 40 and didn't want to waste another decade of my life being fat. I didn't have the nerve to record my weight at the time but I know I had gotten to a new high of 220 pounds.
I was stressed out and miserable at work and couldn't find any strength to make lasting changes. I was too tired to get up early and workout. After being abused all day at work I didn't have the energy to go to the gym, I just wanted to go home and unwind. I binged on bag after bag of chocolate covered pretzels regularly. I would get 3 or 4 bite size chocolates almost every day after lunch to give me strength to get through the afternoon, along with all the coffee and tea. I gave into the temptation of the free pastries, bagels, cookies and other crap that was regularly in the office and then indulged on the weekend because, dammit, I deserved it after the stressful week I had.
Unfortunately just starting this blog didn't make weight loss magic happen. I continued down the same path I had been on for years. I'd lose 2 or 3 pounds and then gain 5 back, get depressed, get stressed and eat more junk. It was a vicious cycle. Two years later I was still blogging but I hadn't made any progress in losing weight.
In January 2008 I worked up the nerve to divulge my weight, an even higher all time high of 226 pounds. I was so miserable and stressed out at my job and couldn't stop myself from binging and eating way more than any human needs to eat. By the time I got laid off in November 2009, I had binged and lazed my way all the way up to 242 pounds.
Losing my job after 11+ years was scary and depressing but it was the best thing that could have happened. It wasn't until I got laid off in November 2009 that I really started losing weight. I had time to go to the gym, go food shopping and cook healthy dinners regularly. I was waking up happy instead of sick to my stomach about having to go into the hell hole where I worked and getting abused every single day. I started to remember who I used to be before getting beat down by stress. I felt like I got my life back.
As of last Friday I've lost just over 40 pounds and I'm on the threshold of breaking through to the 100s any day now. That works out to an average of 13 1/2 pounds A YEAR which sounds a bit pathetic since I had anticipated being able to lose all the weight I needed to lose in one year, maybe a year and a half tops. Hell, I lost 60+ pounds at least twice before and each time it didn't take longer than six months. Why is it taking so long this time?
I feel like a completely different person than the one that started this blog. I feel blessed to have had this time off to get myself together and I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to continue to keep up the pace when I have to go back to the daily grind. Will I be able to continue what I've been doing when I have to fit 40 hours of work into the equation? Will I be able to deal with the stress without using food to help me cope? I certainly hope so.
For now I'm just going to continue the Tippy Toe weight loss plan as I've been doing the last nine months or so. It's not sensational drastic Biggest Loser-type weight loss but it's working so I'm not messing with it. Maybe I needed to lose it slowly so I can learn how to keep it off permanently.
Three years later I'm not at my goal but I'm making progress and still fighting the good fight. I'll get to that ultimate goal someday and I hope you're all here to go to the big dance with me. In the meantime, there will be a small onederland dance very soon to tide you over 'til the big one. I was hoping it would happen today but I had some delicious fresh homemade salsa from Biz to test out and tortilla chips were the easiest and fastest way to polish off a jar.
I absolutely love and adore all the friends I've made here, the support I get when I'm down, the encouragement to keep trying, the advice on how to do it healthily, and especially the ass kickin' you've given me when I needed it these past three years. I truly appreciate each and every comment you've taken the time to write. It's nice to know I'm not in this alone in this battle.
Some of you have already come back from the front lines and have gone back into civilian fat-free life and some of you, like me, are still fighting the war one battle at a time. No matter where you are on this journey I think it's time we realized that we can't change the past and just need to learn from our mistakes and move on. I'm hoping to get to my goal by my 4th Blogiversary. Wish me luck.
Thank you for being a big part of my journey. You are the BEST!
Back then I was inspired watching PastaQueen and DietGirl transform themselves right before my eyes and I wanted to be just like them. I didn't expect a book deal but I desperately wanted those "after" pictures showing how I finally made it. I didn't even have as much to lose as they had but I couldn't seem to find that switch I needed to flick to make any lasting progress.
This was the place that was going to encourage and inspire me to lose the weight I'd been able to lose before but always managed to gain back. I had recently turned 40 and didn't want to waste another decade of my life being fat. I didn't have the nerve to record my weight at the time but I know I had gotten to a new high of 220 pounds.
I was stressed out and miserable at work and couldn't find any strength to make lasting changes. I was too tired to get up early and workout. After being abused all day at work I didn't have the energy to go to the gym, I just wanted to go home and unwind. I binged on bag after bag of chocolate covered pretzels regularly. I would get 3 or 4 bite size chocolates almost every day after lunch to give me strength to get through the afternoon, along with all the coffee and tea. I gave into the temptation of the free pastries, bagels, cookies and other crap that was regularly in the office and then indulged on the weekend because, dammit, I deserved it after the stressful week I had.
Unfortunately just starting this blog didn't make weight loss magic happen. I continued down the same path I had been on for years. I'd lose 2 or 3 pounds and then gain 5 back, get depressed, get stressed and eat more junk. It was a vicious cycle. Two years later I was still blogging but I hadn't made any progress in losing weight.
In January 2008 I worked up the nerve to divulge my weight, an even higher all time high of 226 pounds. I was so miserable and stressed out at my job and couldn't stop myself from binging and eating way more than any human needs to eat. By the time I got laid off in November 2009, I had binged and lazed my way all the way up to 242 pounds.
Losing my job after 11+ years was scary and depressing but it was the best thing that could have happened. It wasn't until I got laid off in November 2009 that I really started losing weight. I had time to go to the gym, go food shopping and cook healthy dinners regularly. I was waking up happy instead of sick to my stomach about having to go into the hell hole where I worked and getting abused every single day. I started to remember who I used to be before getting beat down by stress. I felt like I got my life back.
As of last Friday I've lost just over 40 pounds and I'm on the threshold of breaking through to the 100s any day now. That works out to an average of 13 1/2 pounds A YEAR which sounds a bit pathetic since I had anticipated being able to lose all the weight I needed to lose in one year, maybe a year and a half tops. Hell, I lost 60+ pounds at least twice before and each time it didn't take longer than six months. Why is it taking so long this time?
I feel like a completely different person than the one that started this blog. I feel blessed to have had this time off to get myself together and I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to continue to keep up the pace when I have to go back to the daily grind. Will I be able to continue what I've been doing when I have to fit 40 hours of work into the equation? Will I be able to deal with the stress without using food to help me cope? I certainly hope so.
For now I'm just going to continue the Tippy Toe weight loss plan as I've been doing the last nine months or so. It's not sensational drastic Biggest Loser-type weight loss but it's working so I'm not messing with it. Maybe I needed to lose it slowly so I can learn how to keep it off permanently.
Three years later I'm not at my goal but I'm making progress and still fighting the good fight. I'll get to that ultimate goal someday and I hope you're all here to go to the big dance with me. In the meantime, there will be a small onederland dance very soon to tide you over 'til the big one. I was hoping it would happen today but I had some delicious fresh homemade salsa from Biz to test out and tortilla chips were the easiest and fastest way to polish off a jar.
I absolutely love and adore all the friends I've made here, the support I get when I'm down, the encouragement to keep trying, the advice on how to do it healthily, and especially the ass kickin' you've given me when I needed it these past three years. I truly appreciate each and every comment you've taken the time to write. It's nice to know I'm not in this alone in this battle.
Some of you have already come back from the front lines and have gone back into civilian fat-free life and some of you, like me, are still fighting the war one battle at a time. No matter where you are on this journey I think it's time we realized that we can't change the past and just need to learn from our mistakes and move on. I'm hoping to get to my goal by my 4th Blogiversary. Wish me luck.
Thank you for being a big part of my journey. You are the BEST!
Friday, January 15, 2010
You Are So Beautiful ....To Me
A big THANK YOU to one of my favorite bloggers, Tammy From Fat to Fab, who bestowed the Beautiful Blogger Award upon me. With so many amazing bloggers out there it seems a bit crazy she would pick me. (Hey Tammy - have you lost your mind along with all those pounds?). I'm flattered to receive this award especially since I'm constantly wondering if I should go back to just lurking around the blogsphere and commenting instead of having my own place to write. I spend so much time only to produce mediocre posts when others seem to do it so much better and with apparent ease. Whenever I think of shutting this blog down I think of all the support I get from all of you. I don't think I can give that up. It means too much to me. Thank you all.
I have to admit that these type of awards make me feel a little funny though. I'm happy that someone thought enough of me to give me props but I don't really know how to pass it on to "x" number of people without feeling bad for leaving someone out. How do you decide who makes the cut? Is it the new person I just discovered or those bloggers I've been following for years? Who's more deserving? I think everyone on my reading list deserves to be recognized as a Beautiful Blogger. You are all beautiful to me in one way or another.
As a recipient of this award I'm supposed to tell you 7 things about myself that you don't already know. Hmmmm... I feel I've spilled my soul over these pages over the past couple of years. I don't think I've left much out.
Let's see if I can come up with 7 new tidbits of information: **sing Jeopardy music here**
... two days pass ...
I'm having a hard time finding things you don't already know about me.... Please forgive me if I've mentioned any of these things before.
1. I grew up really poor and always felt ashamed about it. I almost feel guilty about collecting unemployment now for the first time in my life.
1. I grew up really poor and always felt ashamed about it. I almost feel guilty about collecting unemployment now for the first time in my life.
2. I babysat for my landlord's kid one time and the guy tried to stick his tongue down my throat on the drive home. Needless to say that was the last time I took that babysitting job.
3. I'm 42 years old and have never traveled outside of the USA except for a couple of trips to Canada. The furthest south I've been is Key West and the furthest west I've been is Missouri.
4. I had a twin that died at birth. I always think of how my life would have been different had she survived.
5. I don't think the guy I call "Dad" is my real father. Even though I've never gotten my mother to confirm it, I'd be happy to know he isn't really my father.
6. Both my brother and sister are gay. My brother got married and my sister is engaged and even though I don't have to jump through hoops for the right to be married, I have no desire to have that little piece of paper (even after 27 years).
7. I'm still with the guy I lost my virginity to and have no regrets about not playing the field. I know there is nothing in that field for me. I was one of the lucky ones who found true love and held on tight.
It wasn't easy to come up with 7 things I haven't told you already. If you are reading this I hope you take this Beautiful Blogger Award and tell us 7 things about you. Inquiring minds want to know.
Thanks again, Tammy. I still think you may be crazy. ;)
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Be Thankful
If we can afford access to the internet I suspect all of us have our basic needs met. We have an abundance of food to eat, we have clean water to drink, we have clothes (in my case, in multiple sizes), we have a roof over our heads, we have people who care about us, family to support us and so many more luxuries than most people in the world. We are so damn lucky even if our day to day life is one irritation after another.
Many of us have lost loved ones this year but we should remember how lucky we are to have had them in our lives. They will always be in our hearts and happy memories even if they are unable to sit across the table from us today. We need to remember to stop and think about how much we truly have to be thankful for.
I am thankful for you, and you, and especially YOU!
I wish you all in the states here a very Happy Thanksgiving. To everyone else, Happy Thursday! Be thankful you aren't a turkey today.
What are you thankful for?
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Giving Thanks
I spend so much time here b*tching and moaning about my life, my weight, how much I hate my job, blah, blah, blah so I thought today would be the perfect day to turn it around (at least for the day) and give thanks.
I absolutely hate my job more than ever but I'm thankful I have a job and receive that all important paycheck every week that keeps a roof over my head and, obviously, more than enough food on my table.
This year was extremely tough with B's broken back and bout with meningitis, his Dad's broken back and ribs and other health related scares but everyone is recovering and our families are relatively healthy and happy.
There was that huge incident with my mother back in May and even though she never apologized and we haven't spoken on the phone, we have been in contact over e-mail. I realized that she is who she is and she is never going to change. I have to accept her the way she is and move on from there. I know it will be hard to handle her future visits because she will not be able to stay at my house with B but we'll figure something out. She is a stubborn Italian who knows how to hold a grudge and no matter how wrong she was she will never see it that way and will never apologize. I'm got over it like I got over all the things that happened in my childhood that she says never happened but she did give me life so I have to be thankful for that.
As much as I hate all the extra pounds I've been carrying around for too many years, I'm still pretty healthy. I can (and do) walk, run, hike, bike, ski, snowboard and stay active even if the scale doesn't move in the downward direction. My weight doesn't hold me back from moving around and living my life. I'd be more thankful if I didn't have to lug around all the fat while doing these activities but I haven't given up so I'm very thankful for that.
I'm also thankful for all the love and support out there in the blogsphere. There are some incredible people who have done amazing things and I'm glad to be a part of their lives even if they don't know I'm lurking around. Thank you all for being part of my life even if it is only through the screen.
I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. Remember to be thankful for what you have.
I absolutely hate my job more than ever but I'm thankful I have a job and receive that all important paycheck every week that keeps a roof over my head and, obviously, more than enough food on my table.
This year was extremely tough with B's broken back and bout with meningitis, his Dad's broken back and ribs and other health related scares but everyone is recovering and our families are relatively healthy and happy.
There was that huge incident with my mother back in May and even though she never apologized and we haven't spoken on the phone, we have been in contact over e-mail. I realized that she is who she is and she is never going to change. I have to accept her the way she is and move on from there. I know it will be hard to handle her future visits because she will not be able to stay at my house with B but we'll figure something out. She is a stubborn Italian who knows how to hold a grudge and no matter how wrong she was she will never see it that way and will never apologize. I'm got over it like I got over all the things that happened in my childhood that she says never happened but she did give me life so I have to be thankful for that.
As much as I hate all the extra pounds I've been carrying around for too many years, I'm still pretty healthy. I can (and do) walk, run, hike, bike, ski, snowboard and stay active even if the scale doesn't move in the downward direction. My weight doesn't hold me back from moving around and living my life. I'd be more thankful if I didn't have to lug around all the fat while doing these activities but I haven't given up so I'm very thankful for that.
I'm also thankful for all the love and support out there in the blogsphere. There are some incredible people who have done amazing things and I'm glad to be a part of their lives even if they don't know I'm lurking around. Thank you all for being part of my life even if it is only through the screen.
I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. Remember to be thankful for what you have.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Thank You!
I just wanted to say thank you to every single one of you that found your way here and took the time to leave words of encouragement. I never thought it would mean so much me to to get comments from "strangers." I have been lurking around your blogs for so long I feel like I know you intimately; hey, it's like being famous when people you have never met think they know you personally.
I was having such an awful day when I read Crabby's words of wisdom and it made me so grateful you are all there.
A special THANK YOU to Bean (my very first visitor); Chubby Chick (an amazing cheerleader), Amy, Princess, Savy, Elissa, Scale Junkie, the truly Amazing DietGirl and Crabby. In addition, even though they haven't commented here (yet), I'd also like to shout out a big thank you to the incredible shrinking Pasta Queen and the very witty and talented Wendy because they were the first blogs I started reading and I wouldn't have found you all without them (in a six degrees of separation way).
Can I have your autograph? I'm a huge fan!
Friday, September 7, 2007
Where do you find inspiration?
Do you carry a photo of a slimmer or fatter self? Do you put pictures of models with your dream body on the refrigerator? Do you have skinny jeans or a dress you want to fit into hanging where you have to see it every day? Do you watch all those weight loss programs and infomercials looking for the key? Do you read weight loss blogs (obviously you do if you are reading this); but do they inspire you?
I find that I am more inspired by the average person than the celebrity who can drop the baby weight or lose 50+ lbs for a movie roll or photo shoot in a matter of weeks. I don't know why I think it is easier for the rich and famous to lose weight. I guess I assume they have more time and resources to keep them healthy. Maybe I need to get a trainer to get my fat ass to the gym or hire an amazing chef to cook some tasty healthy meals but deep down I know it doesn't matter how fat your bank account is - it is the decisions you make each and every day.
The rich and famous have more of an incentive to look good while the average person can go through life hiding from the camera and avoiding the mirror if we want to. I can't imagine how I would feel if I saw my fat ass on the cover of a magazine with some horrific headline like "it is not a fat suit." *shudder* Just knowing that there are high power zoom lenses out there trying to get an unflattering shot of the dimples on your thighs or butt must give them a kick in the ass to put in that extra hour of cardio or pass up the dessert or extra glass of wine. Shouldn't being healthy and feeling good be incentive enough?
I try to find inspiration everywhere. I am constantly inspired by some of the amazing woman out there in the blogsphere. I find inspiration in every new post of many successful (and still working it or just started) weight loss heros. Jennette is the PastaQueen who has lost more than half of herself and is thisclose to her goal; Shauna is the DietGirl who really isn't on a "diet" anymore but the name kind of stuck; and Erin at Lose the Budda is finally getting comfortable in her size 10s. These are just a few of the incredible shrinking woman out there who prove that if you can commit to a program of eating well and moving your ass you can reach your goals (or find you are happy without actually reaching that magic number). Thanks for showing us that it is not always easy but it is possible.
I find that I am more inspired by the average person than the celebrity who can drop the baby weight or lose 50+ lbs for a movie roll or photo shoot in a matter of weeks. I don't know why I think it is easier for the rich and famous to lose weight. I guess I assume they have more time and resources to keep them healthy. Maybe I need to get a trainer to get my fat ass to the gym or hire an amazing chef to cook some tasty healthy meals but deep down I know it doesn't matter how fat your bank account is - it is the decisions you make each and every day.
The rich and famous have more of an incentive to look good while the average person can go through life hiding from the camera and avoiding the mirror if we want to. I can't imagine how I would feel if I saw my fat ass on the cover of a magazine with some horrific headline like "it is not a fat suit." *shudder* Just knowing that there are high power zoom lenses out there trying to get an unflattering shot of the dimples on your thighs or butt must give them a kick in the ass to put in that extra hour of cardio or pass up the dessert or extra glass of wine. Shouldn't being healthy and feeling good be incentive enough?
I try to find inspiration everywhere. I am constantly inspired by some of the amazing woman out there in the blogsphere. I find inspiration in every new post of many successful (and still working it or just started) weight loss heros. Jennette is the PastaQueen who has lost more than half of herself and is thisclose to her goal; Shauna is the DietGirl who really isn't on a "diet" anymore but the name kind of stuck; and Erin at Lose the Budda is finally getting comfortable in her size 10s. These are just a few of the incredible shrinking woman out there who prove that if you can commit to a program of eating well and moving your ass you can reach your goals (or find you are happy without actually reaching that magic number). Thanks for showing us that it is not always easy but it is possible.
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