The Best Day Of My Life! (Me sing a song?)

Good Morning!  I hope your day is starting off as wonderful as mine is. There is a reason  for that and please feel free to use it to kick start your day too.

I don't know if any of you know this, but I am a music person....no I don't write music (I wish I did), no I don't sing (I really wish I did.....in fact in my next life I plan on singing and dancing on Broadway), but I just love music.  I like to dance to it (yes lots of times in my living room, by myself!), I like to power walk to it, jog to it, run to it...) music (all types) brings me joy.  Mostly I try to find songs to add to my playlists on my iPod that have a real beat to them (and yes even at 66 sometimes that includes rap...Ha Ha!)  Recently I've been looking for songs that inspire me, that talk about being a fighter and a survivor and a champion.  I've come across a song that actually came out in 2013 (where the heck have I been?)  It's by a group call American Authors and it's called "The Best Day of My Life".  When I found it yesterday, I decided it would be a great song to start each day, so starting this morning, I got up, plugged my ear buds in my ears and played this song.....and yes danced in my living room. That was about an two and a half hours and I'm still smiling.

Here's a video of the music and words.....THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE (by American Authors)

(If the video doesn't work when you hit the arrow, copy the link below into your browser and enjoy!)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fTUj9mfnUk

I'm a firm believer that every day when you wake up, you have two choices.  You can choose to be happy or choose to be unhappy.....or as I've heard it so appropriately put  "you can rise and shine..... or you can rise and whine".  And I don't care how old you are,  or what your circumstances are, this is true.  I am inspired every day when I go to the gym by people who have 20 years or more on me, who are using walkers, braces, in wheel chairs who do not let anything stop them.  They choose each day to live to the fullest.  They choose to make each day, the best day of their lives. They truly make me ask, "Now what was my excuse?"

I met a 60 year old woman yesterday who has lost 100 pounds. Her trip like many of ours has been up and down...the proverbial roller coaster ride of losing, gaining, and losing.  But she joined Weight Watchers, stuck with it, started going to the gym, got a trainer and even got up the courage to train for and enter an onstage contest where she had to wear a two piece bathing suit and high heels.  She looks amazing....not like a body builder, just toned and firm....but more importantly healthy....and most importantly happy.  She was just beaming from the inside out! It's true that we do get happy when we lose weight (if we're trying to lose weight), but we also have to be happy to lose weight.  You know a lot of it is a mind game.  You have to "see" the person you want to be in your own mind's eye.  You have to believe you can accomplish whatever you set out to accomplish.  You have to set goals and push yourself each day just a little further, a little bit out of your comfort zone.  The time doesn't matter.  If you're trying to balance on one leg and you can only do 10 seconds....then do 10 seconds, and keep working at it until you can do 20 seconds etc. etc. etc. and repeat  You'll get there.  Remember as Jesse J (if you don't recognize the name, she's a pop singer) says in her song "Masterpiece" 

I still fall on my face sometimes and I
Can't color inside the lines 
'cause I'm perfectly incomplete
I'm still working on my masterpiece 

That my friends is the secret, you just have to keep working at it.  Yes we all have bad days when we overeat, yes we all have days when we DO NOT WANT TO GO TO THE GYM, or go for that walk, or get off the couch....so have that day....and then start fresh the next day....just don't give up.  The greatest athletes, the greatest authors, the greatest painters, the greatest business men/women, and yes, the people who have succeeded and maintained in this sometimes grueling world of weight loss and control, failed a million times before they were a success.

Some of you may not know, but I'm doing Weight Watchers.  I love it!  I love it!  I love it! 
I love it because nothing is off limits (NOTHING). It's all about portion.  You never feel deprived. It makes you super conscious of what and how much you put in your mouth.  Some people hate counting the points, but if you've never tried it, give it a go.  There's a meeting place in almost every city.  I've lost 27 pounds since February (along with 10 pounds I'd lost on my own before I started), so I'm down 37 pound since last November.  And yes I have weigh ins where I don't lose a pound and even some where I've gained a pound. But after lots of tears and fretting, I've come to understand that's just part of this crazy game....you win some, you lose some.....but you just have to keep trying.  And it is never ever ever too late.  You are never too old.  You are never too overweight.  As the sayings go:

   

I'll end my post today with something else I'm sure you don't know that I did.....and the funny part...

There is a new show coming out on NBC (next spring) called S.T.R.O.N.G. (Start To Realize Our Natural Greatness).  It's by the same people who do Biggest Loser, The Voice, and Survivor.  It's not a weight loss show, but rather a show for people who want to get strong....who want to start realizing their natural greatness.  They will pick 6 men and 6 women and 12 trainers (each person will have their own trainer) and they'll compete for a prize.  There was a casting call in Austin about a month ago and I went to the casting call and tried out.  I was the oldest person there and..... I didn't get a call back (at least not yet..wink wink), but I went and I tried.  I stepped out of my comfort zone and just went for it!  So here's the funny part.  A few days ago (or I should say a few nights ago) I had a dream that I got the call....YOU'VE BEEN CHOSEN FOR S.T.R.O.N.G.     Yahooooooo, in the dream I was jumping up and down and screaming with delight.  I flew out to Los Angeles and when I walked in the studio, this is how the conversation went:

Them: "What song did you write and are going to perform?"
Me:  "WHAT? I have to sing a song?  I thought this was 'STRONG'!
Them:    "No....this is a SONG competition!"

I woke up laughing........ I probably won't get that call back to be on that show....but I am still happy I went and tried out.  I've decided that's how my life is going to be from here on out.  I'm going to keep trying.  I'm going to be happy and live life to the fullest.....I'm going to step out of my comfort zone more often.  I'm going to try new things.  I'm going to push myself at the gym and challenge myself to do one more push up or one more minute in a plank......I'm going to win this battle with my weight and every morning I'm going to choose to be happy and tell myself....

THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE....

Let it be yours too!
 

A Few Simple Words

This morning my words to you are simple....actually they come from a poster I found on Pinterest....I currently have this as my screen saver to remind me....when you're  running short on time (as I am today) you just have to keep on trying....In 30 mins. you can do a great workout....(or 5, 10, 15 mins.. Just do something)  EVERY LITTLE STEP KEEPS YOU GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.....

I've heard it's never to late to get back in shape.....Now I'm a believer!

Hi everyone....

I know, I know you thought I had abandoned this blog.  But I didn't.  I just got way way way off the beaten path and forgot to leave a bread crumb trail. But I clawed my way back through the jungle, learned to eat berries and fresh food off the land and found my way back.


I am pumped up as much, if not more, than I was in 2012 when I was down to my fighting weight....you know before I lost my dad, before I had Achilles Tendon surgery and went through that long long long (did I say long) recovery and before I was diagnosed the second time with breast cancer.....remember me back then...well if not (if you're just meeting me) or just returning after a long time (because you thought I wasn't writing this blog anymore)...this is what I looked liked then

   

I was just about 7-10 pounds away from what I weighed in my early 30s. I guess you might say I was on top of the world and then I started "celebrating" right back to where I was when started.

Please tell me you can relate to that!  How many times have you lost and regained that 40-50-60 pounds.  It's a vicious cycle until you GET IT !   What does that mean....well it means you have to engage your mind.  YOU CAN ACHIEVE WHAT YOUR MIND BELIEVES. So before you can get the 3 parts of losing weight and getting fit (Determination, Dedication, Discipline), you have to get your mind on board.  You have to convince yourself that you're not too old, that you're not too overweight, that it is possible no matter what your age, no matter what you weigh, no matter what shape your belly, muscles, joints are in, to turn that all around....and yes it will take time....and yes it will not always be easy....and yes you will have to eat healthy.  But you can get back in shape.  You can get healthier and feel better physically and mentally.  You can extend your life.  You can see your children give you grandchildren.  You can see your grandchildren grow up .  I want to tell the whole world you can do this.  Just put one foot in front of the other and start with baby steps.  Remember when you go outside and walk for 5 minutes,  you are walking circles around the person sitting on the couch.

I live in an "active senior" community and I thank God everyday that I decided to move here. Yes there are pretty much 'all' seniors here (and I do miss the laughter of children), but I will tell you that the people who go to our gym inspire me beyond words.  We have a gentleman that I believe is 93 years old who walks from his home to the gym (luckily he lives close by) with his walker twice a day.  Once a day he does a few exercise machines and once a day he gets in the pool and walks.  We have people with bad backs, hurting shoulders, aching knees and just the aches and pains of aging.  But the ones that get out and walk, the ones that make it to the gym, the ones that take chair yoga, the ones the make an effort to keep moving..............keep moving. 

And for a lot of them,and yes even for me....it's not always easy..... but as the saying goes:

                                                      

    

Right now while you're reading this (or get up and go look in the mirror) .... say to yourself.... I deserve to be fit and happy.  I'm not too old to start.  I'm not to overweight to set a goal and reach it. I'm not too tired to take that first step.  I can do this. And tell yourself that everyday if you have to until you believe it....

  

Check back....I'll be writing again.....  Come on.  We can do this...together!