God did it!!!

Wow! I am overwhelmed with the support from the FB world!! Thanks for the encouragement. But most of all, thanks for the prayers!!! God totally helped me Walk the Color Run and it was sooo much fun!!!! 

1. God orchestrated new friends to walk the color run together...and they are awesome!! I look forward to getting to know them more. Pics to come!

2. God gave us the perfect parking spot. I was worried to death that we would have to park a mile away. Then my 5K would have been a 7K or something crazy like that! 

3. God let me see another friend right when I got there. She was very encouraging!

4. God allowed me to walk the WHOLE TIME!!! We didn't even stop to catch our breaths! We stoped to take a pic and I grabbed some water along the way, but we never stopped and rested! I was prepared to cut through the race if I felt like I needed to!

5. God allowed me to walk it with my new fiends! They were determined to get me through the race, so they didn't walk ahead of me! This was good becuase who wants to run through color by yourself! Would have been sooo boring!

6. God allowed me to not feel unbearable pain! My left calf hurt, but other than that...no unbearable pain!

7. God allowed me to get TONS of support and prayers from FB. I knew people were watching to see God work, so I knew I couldn't give up!

8. GOD ALLOWED ME TO FINISH!!!! 

Those are just a few ways that God showed himself to me through the Color Run! It was soo fun! Next year I will have to dress up crazy! I had crazy hair, but needed a tutu and crazy socks! LOL! 

This is a new beginning for me! I'm so excited to press on to better health! Here is my verse for today and lots of pictures of the race! Thanks again for the support and prayers!!!

Confession is good for the soul...right??

I will just start with the confession: I haven't done one thing for my journey in the last 3 months. There, I said it! I thought getting back into the school routine would get me back on track, but I have been failing miserably! I know I don't have to confess to you guys, but this blog is to journal my trials, successes, and failures throughoout the journey! I want to continue to blog because God has put this journey in my heart and he will complete the journey with me! He hasn't gone anywhere. I, on the other hand, have not been faithful to continue to eat right and exercise. I haven't weighed in months, so I don't know what kind of damage I have done in the last 3 months. I am not going to stress over the numbers, but I am going to give this journey back to God because HE is the only one who can pull this off! I can't do it! That's obvious! (PSA...I don't want to take any supplements or pills!!! I'm glad many of you do and it's working!! I have tried a million things..this time around...it's gonna just be God, me, and hard work! Just had to throw that out there before I get 15 private messages about various products!)

About 6 months ago, I signed up to run my first 5K!! Well, the big day is tomorrow! I haven't been to the gym in over a month. Last time I was there I walked 1 mile...barely! Tomorrow, I willl walk 3 miles. You might be asking why. Well, I'm not a quitter or a failure! I have had Color Run written in my planner for months. Two weeks ago, I crossed it out and wrote "You are not a Failure! Move on!". I have looked at that message in my planner all week! 

If I don't walk this 5K, I am sending a message to myself, that yes, I am a failure!! No matter what I write in my planner! So, I decieded to do the race! It will be a God thing when I finish! It's supposed to be the easiest race on the planet! They don't even time you!! For me, it will be the hardest thing I have ever done....literally!!! 

I have to tell you about my answered prayer! I began to pray last week that God would give me clear direction about the race. Holly had written off herself, but I wanted to make sure God was cool with that! Well he wasn't!! Duh, he never writes us off! I had asked several people to do this race with me over the last couple of months, but nothing really panned out! About Monday, God was telling me to GO and DO IT! So he was changing my heart about the situation. The week before, a new acquaintance from church friended me on FB. I have been reading her posts for a week, and just love what she writes each day! Tuesday morning, I read her post and almost wrote on it that I am glad we are getting to know each other...etc. But, I didn't. Later that day, on FB, she said she was doing the color run on Saturday and just wanted to see if anyone out there wanted to do it with her and another friend. 

And some people say God doesn't still talk to people??? He does!!! It wasn't through a Burning Bush, a Donkey, or an Angel...it was through FaceBook!!! LOL.

So, I wrote her back and asked if I could go with them. Of course, she said yes! Four of us are going together, and I fully expect to have 3 more friends at the end of the day. Not just aquaintances!! 

People: God is so good to us!! Even when we don't deserve it!! And we never deserve it!! As you read this, please pray for a positive experience! Also pray that this spurs me on to get back on the right track physcally! 

I am posting my verse for tomorrow a day early!

So, tomorrow...whether I run, skip, walk, or crawl through the finish line...God will be there with me! In fact, he may be dragging me through the finish line!! But we will finish!! 

Of course, pics of me and my new friends will follow in a couple of days! Until then....I'm ready for the Color Run!

 

I'm BAAAAACK!!!

Yes, you read that correctly. I haven't given up! Just had a setback! My neck and shoulder are in perfect condition now! Praise The Lord! After the setback, I got discouraged. Satan knows just how to "get" me. This summer, I have been TOTALLY off the program because I didn't have much of a schedule! I work much better when I'm on a schedule! I have gained a little back, but I'm ready to press on! My first 5K is November 8th!

For a teacher, August is for new beginnings! I am taking this time to get back into the swing of things! I started eating right on Saturday, and I will add some exercise in this week! I love going to the gym, so I am looking forward to going back! 

This week is going to be challenge becuase I will be eating right, exercising, and starting back to school. Please pray for strength and endurance! With God's help, I can do this! 

Proverbs 16:3 - Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.

Romans 8:31 - What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

God is good, people!! This setback will not define me. The journey continues....stay tuned!  

Test Results!!!

Well, I had a scare after the Nerve Conduction Study and the Neck Xrays. Radiologist thought my neck may have been broken. WHAT? You heard me right! For a week, I thought my neck might be broken while waiting on my MRI results. Long story short, I don't have a broken neck! Hallelujah!!! This was a major praise!! But what is wrong? 

If you can read those and understand them...you know more than I do!! LOL. Here is the short version about my neck....I have an annular tear in my C5-6 and narrowing in the C6-7. The short story about my nerve test...signs of problems with the median nerve..which is the carpal tunnel nerve. So, I am going to see a doctor about possibly getting carpal tunnel fixed. I have NO feeling in my 3 fingers and my arm goes to sleep a lot during the day. As for the neck...just gonna live with it and pray it doesn't get worse! Don't know why all this has happened, but fortunate to NOT have a broken neck...God is so good!

The best news.....I CAN EXERCISE AGAIN!!! YAY!!!! I don't know what the next few months will hold. My next appointment is on July 2nd. Please pray for wisdom for my doctors!! I don't want a numb hand and an arm that falls asleep on command. 

Honestly check.....here it goes....I have eaten WAY more than I should the last month and haven't exercised in 2 1/2 months!!! I have gained a few (5-6) pounds. Boo hooo!!! My new friends at the gym probably think I have fallen off the face of the earth. Well, that is all about to change....with God's help!!!

I knew I wouldn't lose 181 pounds over night, but I was planning on being consistent!! An injury stopped me for a while, but with God's help, I can continue on this journey!!! So 3 months after injurying my neck/shoulder....I am back on the program!!

Please pray for me as I get my MIND, HEART, and BODY back where it should be!!! It't not an easy thing to detox your body, but here I go again!!

You gotta have faith...faith....faith!!!

I need all prayer warriors to pray! I injured my neck/shoulder/arm about a month and a half ago. I have been on pain killers and muscle relaxers. Three weeks ago I lost feeling in three of my fingers on my right hand (dominate hand). I can still do everything...it's just really annoying and scary! I have a Nerve Conduction Study on Wednesday and more xrays on Tuesday. Please pray for good results and that the numbness is not permanent. I hope physical therapy can fix it! So, this is my bad news. 

Even worse, I haven't exercised in several weeks. I miss it soo much. I have just been afraid to mess up my neck even worse. That would not be a pretty sight...as my Dad would say! I don't lose weight if I don't exercise!!! It's just a proven fact with my body. So, I have maintained a 43 pound loss.

That was all the bad news. The good news is that...GOD IS IN CONTROL of the situation! He knows why this has happened and He will take care of it! In celebration of knowing God will take care of this problem, I decided to register for my first 5K. I am just having FAITH that he will allow me to have good results and begin exercising again (which I was loving soooo much). I just took a test about my Spiritual Gifts. FAITH is in my top 4 gifts!! I have faith that God will take care of my physical body and allow me to start exercising again! I have faith that I will be able to train for my first 5K!! I have faith that I will be able to lose 181 pounds! I have 138 to go...but who's counting!!! LOL!

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. I just read the "faith" chapter. This next part is from my commentary. God is who He says He is!! God will do what He says He will do!! When we believe that God will fulfull his promises even though we don't see those promises materializing yet, we demonstrate true faith. 

I believe that HE who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6) 

In January, I wote that God gave me a vision! That was from GOD!!! He gave me the vision of Holly's New LIfe!!! He will complete the vision! So, numb hand or not....He will complete the vision he gave me! I have FAITH!! Please pray in faith with me that I will get good test results soon, so I can exercise and train for my first 5K!! Whoop whooop!!!

The "Holly Can't Do This On Her Own" Lesson!!!

Well April was just one big mess up! I wrote 2 weeks ago about having RESOLVE. Ha! Holly can NOT have enough reolve to do this weight loss thing!!! I have to rely on God to give me the resolve! So, lesson learned. Tomorrow is a new day! I am going to rely on God to get me through this, by praying and studying the Bible. PERIOD...THE END!!! 

Last week was weigh in week! So here is the new pic!!

Pounds Lost - 42.8

Total Inches Lost - 44.5

Waist - 12.75

L Arm - 1.25

Bust - 6

Hips - 3.75

L Thigh - 5.75

L Calf - 1.75

Neck - 3

Wrist - .75

WHOOO HOOOO!!! I don't know if God showed me MERCY or GRACE this month, but he did allow me to lose some inches! (I get mercy and grace confused!) God has brought me a LONG WAY!! And, since I learned my "Holly Can't Do This On Her Own" Lesson, he will take me the rest of the way! ONLY 138.2 pounds to go!! Keep reading and keep the prayers coming...this is gonna happen!!! 

Let's Go Back to the Basics!!

I have had a very hard April! Work has consummed my life, unfortunately!! I knew this journey would not be easy and I was right! The first 3 months flew by and I had a lot of success! The last month....I have stayed the exact same!! NO, it's not some kind of plateau...It's me NOT doing what I'm supposed to!! I have not exercised like I should AND I have been eating too much!! I have gotten into some bad habits, and I MUST get a grip! 

IT'S TIME TO GET BACK TO THE BASICS!!! Can I do that on my own? NO!!! I need help!!! So, I am digging deep tonight and asking for God's help! We know he will move this mountain, but I have to continue to LOOK TO HIM for the help!!! HOLLY CAN NOT DO THIS ON HER OWN!!! Let me repeat....HOLLY CAN NOT DO THIS ON HER OWN!! With the popularity of the blog...it was easy to get relaxed and rely on myself!

So, let's dig deep together!

The Daniel Plan Diet doesn't talk much about Daniel, except that Daniel ate the food that made him strong. So, I am going to begin reading Daniel tonight and ask God to speak to me though his word! I'm am going to share what I learn, but just remember I am not a theologian!! So, I might not get what you get out of the verses!! 

Okay, so I am starting at the beginning! Daniel 1:1-21. King Nebuchandnezzar asked for some Isrealites that were just about perfect. He wanted them to eat his food, and be trained in the way of the Babylonians. After three years, they would be put in the king's service. Daniel and his 3 friends were given new names...babylonian names. But that did not change who they were or WHO they worshiped! Verse 8 says Danield RESOLVED not to defile himself with the royal food and wine. In my Bible's notes it says resolve is a strong word that means to be devoted to principle and to be committed to a course of action. So Daniel had ALREADY made the choice to eat what God had told him to eat in order to be healthy. Daniel and his friends were given permission to eat what God called them to eat for 10 days. After the 10 days, they were more fit and healthy than the other people eating the King's food, so everyone ate what Daniel ate. At the end of the 3 years, Daniel and his friends were put into the King's service. There Daniel was given many opportunities to tell about God and show God's power. If Daniel had decided to give into tempatation and eat what the king said to eat, he might not have found favor in the King's eyes, and God's will would not have been completed in Daniel's life. But Daniel had RESOLVE!! He knew what he would do BEFORE the opportunity arose! 

So, what does this mean for me. I must ask God to help me resolve to do what He tells me to do! I need to know what I will do in times of temptation. Will I drive home instead of going to the gym? Will I eat that chocolate that has sugar in it? Will I eat that roll that has gluten in it? 

I will sit down tonight and write down my resolutions! I will stick to the plan I started! With God's help, I can keep my resolve. Daniel relied on God and I will too!!

So the dietary resolutions are as follows!!

1. No Gluten, Sugar, or Caffeine.

2. Eat my veggies!

3. Drink water only and drink a lot!

4. Track my calories in the Fitness Pal app.

5. Exercise!

Seems simple enough! God can help me do anything...I just have to get back to the Basics!

Moving Mountains!

Eating right and exercising is hard work. I never dreamed it would be such a time committment! Sorry if you get tired of seeing this pitiful before pic, but I have to show it again today! I have lost 40 pounds and 35 1/4 inches in 3 months!! Whoooo HOOOOOOOO!!!!

I'm in shock over my neck!!! I never thought I needed to lose weight in my neck, of all things. But, I have lost 2 inches in just my neck! LOL

I could NOT do this alone. I have a great support system! My MOM and SISTER, family, friends, and co-workers are all helping me along this journey and being encouraging. Thank you all for your love!! Thank you for helping me find the NEW HOLLY!!! I am almost a fourth of the way through my journey! Hallelujah!!! I know that even though I have this great support system, I couldn't do it without God.

Proverbs 16:3

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. 

"And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

Kid, You'll Move Mountains!

So, Be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray

or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,

You're off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So...get on your way!"

-Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You'll Go!

I haven't moved the whole mountain yet, but I have FAITH that is will be moved!! 

Matthew 17:20-21

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

It's easy to get wrapped up in the complements and nice things that people are saying, but if I take my eyes off of God, this mountian will not move! As you finish reading this, pray that I will keep my eyes on HIM because if I do....HE WILL MOVE THE MOUNTAIN!!!

You have to dress up in order to go up!

That's a Zig Ziglar quote! I was raised listening to Zig and I own a bunch of his recordings and books. He inspires me! 

You have to dress up in order to go up.

Over the past several years, I have let my weight dictate how I look. I got to the point where I cut off all my hair....it was terrible looking. I didn't care because I felt like nobody was looking anyway! I also quit caring about my overall appearance! I wore sloppy clothes that were too big because I thought people were not looking! 

I have read a lot about people who lose over a hundred pounds (I am going to lose 181!!!). Losing the weight is one thing, but a person that loses that much weight goes through an emotional journey too. 

So I have said that I want a new life. Well here is one thing I am doing besides losing the weight. I am changing some things about me, so when I reach my goal I won't have the same emotional problems that I do now! I am trying to look at myself differently. I am telling myself that I am worth losing the weight. I am telling myself that I deserve to wear cute clothes, wear makeup, and fix my hair daily!! That might sound silly, but if I don't start taking care of myself now, I won't be any different emotionally when I lose all the weight. I am trying to get into the habit of dressing up in order to go up!!

God has blessed me twice in the last couple of weeks! And I want to share them with you.  

Allison, my new friend, gave me a gift certificate to Marshalls, after she started reading my blog. She said that God led her to give it to me, so I could buy something to wear! I have gone down a size, so I got to pick out 2 shirts in my new size!!! WOW! What a blessing!!!

I went with my Mom this week when she got her hair cut. I was planning on making an appointment in June, so I could get a cut before my birthday. I haven't had it cut in over a year! I just wasn't concerned about it because I was overweight and nobody was looking at my hair. Well, Thom has been cutting my hair since I was about 13. He is wonderful! He took one look at me and told his assistant to wash my hair. He said my hair looked like a broom! Haha!!! And it did!! He cut my hair and wouldn't let me pay for it! Another blessing! 

I want Allison and Thom to know that they are true blessings to me! I want them to know that they have encouraged me to dress up in order to go up. Where am I going up to? A new life!!! 

So here is a picture of me today! Wearing my new shirt and rocking my haircut!!! 

Thanks Allison and Thom!!! 

WHOOP!!!! THERE IT IS!!!

I was driving down the road this week and looked down at my arm. THERE WAS A MUSCLE!!!! Yep, you heard me....a MUSCLE!!!! Whoo hooo! I'm not an expert, so don't quote me, but muscle burns calories. So the more muscle I have the more calories I burn. And I don't have to be moving to burn the calories. At least that's what I've heard! The muscle has a lot of fat around it! But who cares...it's there. I try to picture what I look like under the fat....and I am getting muscular!! It's gonna be awesome!!!

I've had a rough couple of weeks with snow days, sickness, and work stress, but I continued to go to the gym as much as I could. I am losing about 2 pounds a week, which they say is the max to lose per week. With all the stress, I have eaten a little more than I should, but I'm still eating the right stuff. I went to dinner at a friends house and nothing was on my diet. What did I do? Well...I ate small portions of it. And let me say, if I were going to cheat, it was my favorite meal ever!! Poppyseed chicken and creme brûlée. Yum!! The next day it was like nothing happened...I was back on the plan!! God is good to help me with cravings!!

I'm about to sign up for my first 5K. Talked my sister and brother in law into doing it with me. Whoo hooo!!! I'm frustrated though because some days I can run 2 minutes and walk 1 minute for 8 times. But other days, I can't run 2 minutes. Weird! I lift weight before I run, so that might have something to do with it? Might lift weights 4 days a week and run 3 days a week. Then I can take a rest day every now and then when I need it! 

So, even with some setbacks I am still losing fat and gaining muscle!!! Whoop whoop!! I know God is going to get me through this journey because....Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

It will be a reality!!

I love my creative side. I spend a lot of time on Pinterest, but unlike some people, I follow through with ideas that I pin! No offence!! What I have noticed on weight loss pins and blogs is that people make vision or dream or motivation boards. I'm not calling mine a dream board...simply because this is not just a dream...it WILL BE A REALITY!

So, I am going to call it my reality board! The naysayers my say but do you think you can really look like those girls. To them I say YES!! Why not? I believe that anything is possible with God on my side. I am going to work hard!!! Is my body shape the same as theirs? Who knows??? I can't remember that far back, so WE SHALL SEE!!! I don't plan of wearing a bikini though!! This is going to be fun! Whatever my shape is, it will be healthy and fit! And I'm just going to be honest here...I want some muscles!! Not "I'm going to beat you up" muscles, but some muscles! Never thought I would say that! 

So this is a vision of my soon to be reality, with some motivational phrases and Bible verses. On the right side, I am counting down the pounds! When I finish row 1, I will be half way there. The goal...to lose 181 pounds!!! Whoo hooo!!! (There was my honesty again) I am going to prop the board up on my piano! It's on one of those 3 fold science project boards, so it will fold up and slide behind the piano when I have guests. 

I'm excited!! It's the middle of the night again...but I just couldn't sleep so I made my reality board. I have been working on cutting out phrases all week. I have soooooo much energy now. I don't need as much sleep as I thought I needed. That's a great thing. I'll read this again tomorrow around 3 when I crash! 

I am loving this blog! It's such a good way to keep my thoughts together and I love the accountabilty! I mean....who's gonna give up at this point? Not me!!! So, until next time. Here is my REALITY BOARD!!!

Drum roll please...

So, here are the stats for weigh in #2! I have lost a total of 33.6 pounds and 29.5 inches!!!! Since January 3rd!! (Remember the headband that I had to start wearing...there it is!!!! Not attractive, but at least I don't have sweaty bangs in my eyes!!)

Today I ran 1.5 minutes on the treadmill...multiple times!! I'm learning how to run faster and keep my heart rate up without thinking I'm going to die. I am increasing my weights every time I go to the gym. I don't get very sore after lifting weights. Now that I have a good habit going, I am increasing the intensity! If I had been painfully sore the first month, I might not have gone back! I see regulars at the gym now and one guy even gave me a high five after he saw me run for my pitiful 1.5 minutes! Laugh out LOUD!!! So, people at the gym are supportive even though they don't know you! 

I'm pretty excited at this point! Hard work is paying off! This week I lost 10% of my body weight. That's a big deal in Weight Watchers. And I should know.....I have joined at least 15 times in my life!! I have literally been on a diet since high school!! Sad to say...but true! If I could talk to my SKINNY 16 year old self, I would tell myself to get active!!! That's the key for me! I can't just sit around and watch life pass me by! 

Get up and get moving!!! You will feel so much better!!! Don't let life pass you by....

Satan tried but failed!!

Thanks for the outpouring of love and support. I am truly overwhelmed! I'm so excited to be on this journey and have all the love and support from you guys! 

Back to satan....he comes to kill, steal, and destroy! I had 2 obstacles to deal with this week. Stomach pain and foot pain.

I really missed peanut butter. So I added it into my diet this week! Ate it for lunch every day and it was soo good! I had a tummy ache all week and Thursday figured out that the problem was the peanut butter! I don't know if it was the fat or little bit of sugar, but it made me SICK every day. So, I bought organic peanut butter and will try it next week. Hopefully it will be good, but I don't plan on eating it every day! So don't worry dietitians out there! 

Remember those awesome new shoes I bought for running? Well, they killed my feet all week. I tried to run Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday but was miserable. Thursday evening I bought new shoes AGAIN!! I bought some shoes that I love because I have bought the style 2 other times. They are not "running" shoes, but they have a lot of cushion on the bottom and that's what matters right now. When I don't have so much weight, maybe I can buy the actual "running" shoes. So here they are.... They feel like my foot is in a cloud! AND they are my favorite color!!

So, even though satan tried hard to discourage me this week, I managed to work out Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday! Didn't exercise Monday because of my tummy. And decided to take Friday and Saturday off because my feet needed to heal a couple of days. I will be back into the swing tomorrow after lunch! I missed going in Monday and Friday. I missed my new friends! 

I managed to lose 1.6 pounds this week! Yay!!! So satan tried to bring me down, but by the grace of God, I still lost weight! I'm trying NOT to focus on the numbers, but it is hard not to. I was able to wear 2 pair of jeans that I haven't been able to wear in 3 months, and my "fat" jeans are hanging off of me!! I was busting out of my clothes in December, so they were really tight. They are just now starting to fit or get a little loose. I was wearing very loose fitting clothes to hide myself, so they are looking really big now. I don't know about you, but I sure don't have the money to spend on clothes in every size as I lose the weight. So, my plan is to wear size 28-30 for a couple more weeks. Yep, I just told you my size.....no secrets here!! Then I might splurge and buy a few essentials! So, if you see me and I am wearing super big clothes or the same clothes every week or day, just know that I am in transition. I don't want to buy a wardrobe in very size! That's crazy! I can't wait to hold a pair of size 30 pants beside me while wearing a SMALLER size (whatever that my be). You know what I'm talking about...the success picture!! Looking forward to that. 

So back to satan....John 10:10 says, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to more abundantly.

He will not win this fight! Jesus came so I can have life and have it more abundantly! The new Holly is thankful for this promise!!! So whatever your fight might be.....remember who the winner is!!

Dum dum dum dum dum dum dum dum....

I went to workout today after church and lunch. Picture this in your head....I have my tank tops, yoga pants, and new shoes on. I have my hair pulled up in a Pom Pom and a crazy headband holding all my bangs back. Not at all attractive, but knew I had to pull those bangs back on week two. Sweaty bangs are not attractive. On week three, I had to buy weight lifting gloves because I got a callus!!! I am not going to have callused hands...just not gonna happen. So I am quite a sight when I go to the gym, but I don't care! 

My normal workout schedule goes like this...

10 min - warmup on the treadmill

40-50 min - weight lifting (the pretty term is strength training...but I call it weight lifting)

30-40 min - treadmill

The gym has a cinema room. In the cinema room it's dark like a movie theater. I love it being dark!! Nobody can see my struggling to run! They play a movie every day....it just repeats every 2 hours or so. I have watched great movies...Grease, the Notebook, Iron Man....etc. Well, today was the best kick butt movie ever!!!!! ROCKY II!!!! 

The movie starts with the theme song and the Rocky vs. Apollo Creed fight. When I say the theme song, I mean THE THEME SONG!!! I love that song! I play it for my kids at school during testing week. When you hear it, you think you can do anything! I did the impossible today. I ran 1 minute..walked 2 minutes. 8 TIMES! So I ran 8 minutes!! A.Maz.Ing!! 

So not only am I fired up today after running 8 minutes, but I am reminded that music plays such an important part of my life. For those who don't know me, I'm a singer. I've been singing since I could talk. And music inspires me! I teach music to 400ish elementary students each week. I love my job more than anything. It's my goal to instill a love for music in them. But today....THE THEME SONG reminded me that nothing is too great for me! I can run 8 minutes today....and 18 minutes in a few days!! I just have to keep my eye on the fight ahead of me and remember I am not running alone! I know God is beside me at the Gym and he is helping me fight for good health! I can't do this without Him! 

Luke 1:37 says, "For with God nothing shall be impossible."

So here is the recap!

I have just written 5 posts in a row! Wow! If you are still around, I hope you will go on this journey with me! You can encourage me and I will encourage you!!! This is going to be a long process! 

It's funny.... I already see glimpses of the new and improved Holly. The Holly with a new life!! 

I'm not doing this to be skinny. I really hate that word. I'm doing this to be healthy and look good!! Whatever weight that ends up being, I will be happy with it. I think I will lose about half my body weight.  Wow....that's a lot! 

So, I'm going to bed for know. I was just so excited about telling my story that I had to do it in the middle of the night! Hopefully this will not be a habit! I need my sleep!

Thanks for reading....

Now, we are in the present tense!

My verb tenses have been all over the place! Sorry to those English teachers and grammar nuts! I just wanted to get to the present! 

So here we are! 

I have lost 27 pounds so far! Since January 3rd!! I don't have the eating thing down perfectly, but I'm working on it! Here is a little tidbit about myself...I don't eat fruit, and barely eat veggies. So, eating has been a challenge. I don't crave the chocolate and junk. Which is a miracle. But I don't love the veggies and fruit yet. I am a work in progress! 

The gym is my favorite thing about my journey so far! I go almost every day. I say hi to my new friends, and then I work out for about an hour and a half. I didn't realize it would be such a time commitment, but I'm worth it! The new Holly is worth it! 

So, today was a big day! I jogged for 1 minute straight. When I started I could barely walk a mile. Now, I am jogging at the slowest speed available. I can actually walk at the speed I am jogging. But it's something! It's a lot!!! 

I have 2 fitness goals that I am looking toward. I have a short term goal and a long term goal!

1. My short term goal is really sorta long term. I want to run in a 5K! I am planning on November! I want to run in the color run race! I've heard it's easy and fun! I know.... That's almost a year away.... I'm giving myself plenty of time! At the rate I am going.... I need it! I bought my first pair of running shoes today! Whooot whoot!!!

2. My long term goal is to be a Zumba instructor! This is far fetched right now. To see me in a Zumba class right now is scary to say the least. I am a musician though and I have some rhythm, so I think I can do it!! Well, I know I can do it!! My plan is to get certified when I lose my extra weight! 

That's it right now....my fitness goals are out there for all to see! 

I know I'm doing something right!

Here is the first weigh in! I lost 24.2 pounds and 17 inches (that's only on the left side of my body!! Lol) I was too excited! God was giving me results to let me know I was on the right track! 

I don't know how to edit this pic, but you get the gist of things! Look at that face!! My next weigh in is in a week and a half! Can wait to see that difference! 

What did I do next?

Well, I did what came naturally. I joined the gym! I was scared to death. I came in thinking I would do a little walking on a treadmill. Boy was I wrong. 

So, my gym is awesome! Wonderful people work there and they are soo encouraging! Allison signed me up. I got the premium package which will allow me to take classes on top of working out in the gym. They have a computer program that gives you workouts, complete with how much weight to use and how many reps to do. Yep, I am lifting weights!!!

Never would I have dreamed of weight lifting! The first week or two was difficult. The machines are numbered and I could never find the right machine. Oh, and there are men everywhere! I don't have a problem with men being everywhere, but it was intimidating! I got used to the equipment and I got used to not caring about ALL the men who looked like they knew what they were doing! Maybe they don't. Who knows?

I am officially a gym rat and I love it! I hate taking rest days! I feel like they hinder my progress, but I know they are necessary! After working out for 10 days straight, I got a stomach bug. Just God's way of saying I needed a break. So I took 2 days off and got right back into the swing of things. I take a rest day every week....usually on Saturday because I like to lounge on my day off. 

I'll talk more about the gym later! 

Keep reading for the first official weigh in!

So the journey began...

Now that I have been honest, let's start the fun part. The journey. I know it's not going to be all roses and sunshine. I know that there will be hard times. I know that I will want to give up. 

I KNOW THAT I WILL SUCCEED! 

Why, because with God there is hope! Now some people have just stopped reading my blog and I'm only on post 2. That's okay! I believe that someone out there will benefit from reading this. 

On January 2, 2014.... I changed my diet for life! Yes....not for 9 months to lose the weight, but for life. Was it hard? Yes. Is it still hard a month and a half later? Yes!! The only thing that got me through the first 10 days was God and a lot of prayer. The Bible says that our body is God's temple! I don't want God to dwell in an obese temple, so I changed (with His help).

I cut out all caffeine, sugar, gluten, and dairy for the first 10 days. I lost 17.5 pounds!!! If that's not motivation, I don't know what is!! I am following a plan called the Daniel Plan...look it up! Rick Warren wrote it with the help of some fabulous doctors...including the Dr. Oz.

So, after the 10 days, I added dairy back into my diet because I couldn't live without some cheese. I left all the other junk out! 

After my mindset changed, my diet changed. After my diet changed....we'll you will have to read the nest post! 

Why get a new life?

I'll tell you why....

Because I'm tired of being obese. 

Because I have no energy. 

Because I hate being on medication because of problems related to being fat. 

Because I got a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt because it wouldn't fit. 

Because I couldn't ride rides with my nephews at Silver Dollar City.

Because I take too many naps after work. 

Because I want to be a better teacher and have fun with my students.

Because I have pushed away all my friends (If I pushed you away, I'm sorry. Know that I still love you!)

Because my family is worried about my health.

Because I have trouble walking up a flight of stairs.

Because I spend money to fill the void of being lonely.

Because I eat the wrong things and they make me feel blah.

Because I don't exercise AT ALL.

Because I have trouble getting off the couch.

Because I can't cross my legs like a lady.

Because my feet are swollen and hurting. 

Because I'm tired of wearing tents instead of cute clothes.

The list could go on and on, but I'll stop there. Depressing huh? On December 31, 2013....something changed...my life! No, I didn't lose all my weight overnight. But I decided to change everything. I changed my mindset. I began to look toward the future and know that I would never be obese again. At 321 pounds, I had a breakthrough! I saw myself differently. I saw the future me! The vibrant sanguine Holly that I used to be! The Holly that had lots of friends! The Holly that loved to ride rides at Six Flags! The Holly that enjoyed life to the fullest!

So here is the old Holly.....never to be seen again!!