Danielle’s Journey

I was very sick and then my computer went crazy for a while and now I am dealing with major issues at work.  I maintained my weight this past week, which was not surprising, but I just need a day to chill out and relax…and I have no time to do it!  ARGH!!

I have started eating before workouts, and Nancy, this is brilliant.  It has truly made me workout even harder!!  I have a ton more energy and am able to workout longer.  Having more stamina is always nice.  I would really like to have at least 25 more lbs. gone by the end of May.  I think this is possible, but I am not completely sure.  Do you all think that is a possible goal.  I don’t want to shoot too high and be dissapointed!  ^_^  I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all of your heart.”

Yesterday at church my wonderful and inspirational pastor delivered a sermon on hope. I realized shortly into the sermon…it was something I really have been needing to hear. Sometimes I don’t think we realize, as people, just how much hope we have lost or how much false hope we are harboring until someone puts it out there in our face and says, “Hey…trust and hope!!”.

“In this world today it is very easy to be frightened and scared. We as people need someone to love and love us back, something to do that matters and something to hope for.” This is paraphrased, but this part of the sermon really had me going. I began to relate this to what I do in my own life…I am a musician and I began to think about musicians from the past and how many of them, while alive, had no popularity but today are remembered as some of the most influential people of their time. I think sometimes it is hard to see the validity of what we all are doing right now. It is hard to see the importance of the stories we tell, the poems we write, the people we talk to, the gifts that we give, the smile or hand shake, the time to listen to someone who is having a bad day. We are hope bearers to our fellow man on a daily basis, yet we sometimes forget to have hope in ourselves and that something great yet unknown experience of being with God one day. “Grow where you are planted, set roots, and pay attention to what is important.” I think the important things my pastor was speaking of were our friends and families, our relationship with God, our unique gifts — not our selfish wants and desires — but more the things we have already been blessed with.

With the up and down cycle of our world today it would be safe to say most people are praying a whole lot more then they have before…which is sad, because prayer should be something we choose to do. I love my quiet time with God, I have it each day…it is humbling to feel and know I am loved always, no matter what else might be going wrong in my life. Many people I know have been laid off from work, over-spent and under-saved, have procrastinated or just simply refused to face reality — and they are praying for a miracle, for a hope to come and illuminate them. But I believe when we pray for something, God does not simply grant our wish he gives us the opportunity to make it happen. Maybe this crazy mixed up world is our opportunity to find hope again…maybe this is our time to realize we are not what we can spend and buy but who we are on the inside.

I have hope and I will keep on hoping! I find hope in every person I meet I know people with much more and much less then I will ever have but I believe there is an underlying good in everyone. I thank God everyday for the wonderful people in my life my family, my pastor, my man, my pets, and of course my wonderful friends both in real life and here on buddyslim! If I could tag every single one of you on this note I would…so if I left you out I am sorry, but know I love you and care! I will never stop caring…you are all in my heart.

I believe people come into our lives disguised as angels, and sometimes angels come into our lives disguised as people. It is possible to see God anywhere. All it takes are open eyes and ears and the willingness to see miracles. They are everywhere. God is as available as we are. Having people that inspire me to rise to higher and greater levels on a daily basis is an awesome gift. Thank you!

“Grace and Nothing More”

I thought while on this voyage long
My strength God would increase
And at some point along the way
My struggling would cease
I fought with boldness, wind and wave
And yet the skirmish lost
Exhausted, all provision gone
The channel still uncrossed
As lifeless I in stillness drift
Just strength enough to pray
It’s only then I feel the surge
That speeds me on my way

By His own hand and faithfulness
He steers me toward a distant shore
And the wind that billows in the sail
Is grace and nothing more
Yes, it’s grace and nothing more

I seek the bloom of holiness
He leads me deep within
Reveals the hardness of my heart
Unearths my hidden sin
My barren soul groans in despair
In brokenness I cry
Oh, God, I find no hope in me
A smile His sweet reply
For where the tears of brokenness
Have soaked the fallow ground
The tender shoots of holiness
Now spring up all around

Strength in my weakness
Joy through the pain
Hope when I’m helpless
Loss my greatest gain

By His own hand and faithfulness
He steers me toward a distant shore
And the wind that billows in the sail
Is grace and nothing more
Yes, it’s grace and nothing more

Words by Jon Mohr
Music by Rob Mathes and Phil Naish

So classes begin tomorrow and I am super excited!  I love school because it is like a sanctuary from real life for me.  I am a music major (a vocalist) and I want to one day be a music therapist, but that will come after the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.  O_O  However, I have always found music therapeutic and enjoyable on a personal level, learning everything about it just makes it even more fun.  However, that does not make it easy.  I am going to be in Music History II…scariest class (aside from college algebra)…ever created.  Cue the scary music…lol…but I am sure I can do well.  See as a music major I have to cram 22 credit hours into each semester in order to graduate like a normal human being.  However, I am taking only about 17 this semester to stay healthy.  I am choosing health over how long I have to be in school.  I am excited to also start integrating a normal workout into my days this semester!  ^_^

Thanks for being so real with me everyone…I know this blog is a little random…but I am just writing what I feel tonight!  I love you all because you are so real with me…I feel like I have known you all for years and that is a wonderful feeling!  Never lie to me, true friends stab you in the face…I appreciate that…I love it.  I need tough love and support and I have never found anything but that here!  Thank you ladies!!  WILDCATS FOREVER!!  VIVA LA VIDA!!  ^_^

…I hate “that time of the month”!  Sorry about my weird and motivation lacking blog yesterday!  I was just being a downer on everything but today I had a great day in the diet world and had my butt kicked at the gym.  I learned two things I am out of shape and was not utilizing my time the way I should be while working out!  Both of these things make me want to push myself as hard as I can in the future.  It is not easy finding time to workout while taking college classes and working part time on top of that but I decided today that I need to make time for myself.  I want to use that “me time” to really make my body the best that it can be.

One of my really good friends just had her first baby today and she had some complications because of her weight.  I don’t want to go through that when I decide to get married and have kids someday…I want to be healthy.  I think my eyes opened up a little bit, because I had never experienced something like this before.  No one close to me has ever had a baby or a complication because of weight.  Now I see…and it hit close to home.  No more being out of shape for me!

Also has anyone ever tried mixing Emergen-C powder into there water.  It is vitamin c which you can add to water…just wondering if it works?  Good luck everyone!

…my motivation has been lacking and there just really is not much else I can say.  I think it has just been a rough past couple of days.  I have not gained any weight…I just have this anxious, “I am not sure I can really do this thought”, creeping into the back of my skull.  Have any of you ever felt this way?  Am I alone?  I just don’t know what has been wrong with me the past couple of days.  I do not mean to seem like a downer…but I just need to get out of my funk…what should I do?  I trust your advice!

I have been able to stay with my diet and tomorrow I am meeting with a personal trainer who is going to help me work out a work out plan I can use while I am taking classes.  My goal is I would like to lose 20 pounds by April and another 20 by July.  I am not sure it will actually happen, but I would really like to try.  Sorry I have not been on for the past couple of days…it has just been a little rough.  I have missed you guys!

So far so good…another pound melted off today and I was thrilled because I was not sure if what I was doing to loose the weight was good or not.  Six pounds total down and I am very excited!!  ^_^  I have not had this kind of success in my life before and the coolest thing about it is I am doing it with a diet plan I created.  LOL  Not just a fad diet or exercise regimen (which I have tried many in the past) and it just feels good!  In fact I feel less bloated and tired and I had an epiphany yesterday when I realized I was full.  Not over-stuffed or uncomfortable, just full and I quit eating.  It has been so long since I realized what that felt like and I decided I never want to stop feeling it.

Thank you Wildcats!  Without all of you I would have probably already binged, quit and given up by now!  You ladies are amazing!  Every single one of you and you are all so very inspirational!!  ^_^  Also thank you to all of my non-wildcat buddies!  You guys are amazing too!

A quick update on my friend in ICU: She is doing much better and should be able to be transported to a physical therapy hospital in the next few days!  ^_^  We are all very excited!

Have a great new years everyone!  Be safe!

I was terrified going into the holiday season especially when it came to my diet.  I really wanted to splurge and I managed to lose a pound!  Me!  Me?  I could not believe my own self control and I am proud of myself for having it.  I have a new goal…I want to master the art of knowing when I am truly full and forcing myself to stop eating when I get to that point.  I truly believe it will make me feel better and more healthy.

It has been hard to exercise outdoors because of all the snow up here (nearly 20 inches).  But I have done so many circles of walking around my apartment I think I bore a hole in the floor.  LOL  :)  I also used the indoor stairs to get some cardio in.  I am starting the exercise slow because I have not done it in so long I need to train my body how to exercise again.

I had a good Christmas family and gift wise.  I gave many gifts and received what I had asked for, but I feel better giving then receiving.  My boyfriend and I had a short vacation which was nice and I got to see my family.  ^_^  However, it has also been difficult because a good friend of mine was involved in a major car accident the day before Christmas Eve and she ended up having a shattered pelvis and a ruptured stomach and large intestine.  She had to go into immediate surgery and spent Christmas Eve and Christmas day in the ICU.  She is only 18 years old and this has been difficult for her family, herself, and we her friends.  However, she is feeling a little bit better and is able to breath on her own as well as eat a few ice chips every once and a while.  It is going to be a very long road to recovery, however, I know she can do it.  Any prayers or thoughts would be great, though.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!  ^_^  I am not sure how much I will be able to be here in the next couple of days, however, I really will try hard to get back here and blog!!  ^_^

I was not able to workout today like I had originally planned to, but that is because I woke up with a cold. I have asthma so it would have been a bit detrimental to my health and I would have become winded far too easily. However, I did go to work for 3 hours and was on my feet staying active the entire time. For a day like today I think that was enough exercise. I felt good after work, like I accomplished something healthy and worthwhile, which is always a good feeling. Overall, I was pleased with my day both on a diet level and exercise level.

I am going to get up early tomorrow morning and do a workout tape.  I can’t go for a walk because it is very, very cold outside and it is supposed to snow again tomorrow.  However, I have a treadmill in my apartment so I think I will walk for about an hour.  If my cold has subsided I will try and jog for a bit too.  I am excited about working out in the morning, I think it will be fun.  I have a friend who gave me some of her old workout dvd’s so I have tons of things to try everything from turbo jam to Jillian Micheals.  EXCITING!!

On the topic of exercise…could anyone give me some different things I could do at home that are at a beginning level besides my dvd’s and treadmill walking?  I thought about doing a push-up or sit-up challenge or both?  What is a good number to begin with?  I am a bit of a novice when it comes to adult exercise…any suggestions or words of advice would be wonderful!!  ^_^

I need help in this…really I do.  I have never been one of those people who has loathed exercising…I just…well…I just honestly have no idea how to get started.  I have had a gym membership for God knows how long and never gone because I never really know what I would do when I get there.  I have asthma which means no running for long periods of time, however, I like to be active and feel like I am doing something besides sitting on my butt.  I have several workout dvds…but I would love to hear what works for other people or even have some ideas.  I am new to exercising, but do enough that I am in pretty good shape.  Any ideas would be ever so helpful and appreciated!  Thanks!

Today I have been very self motivated in getting my weight loss plan into an organized layout.  I have decided to create a notebook, of sorts, and keep everything together there.  I have created a page to write down my calorie intake, fat grams, and points values after I eat each meal. (I was a member of weight watchers for a short time and even though I no longer attend meetings I felt it was just one more way to stay motivated.)  I also have a page where I have allotted how many servings of each food group I need each day.  My notebook opens with a page of basic information about my diet and the daily goals I have set for myself.  Then the previously mentioned pages follow, along with a page of diet tips I have made for myself.

I have also measured several areas of my body and made a measurements and current weight page, which I am going to update each month.

I thought about it a whole bunch today and decided I need a plan for the first two meals of my day…so I am making a breakfast/lunch chart which I will update on a weekly basis.  This way I can pre-plan what I am going to have each day for these meals and I don’t have to put the thought in my brain of, “what should I have for lunch today?”  This is one of the questions which gets me into a whole bunch of trouble!! 

I am going to create a section called what’s for dinner and list healthy dinner options there.  An exercise log is also in the works…however…I have classes and work to go to so they may have to be finished later this evening.  LOL

My two favorite pages are the Goals and Rewards page and the motivation page.  For every ten pounds I lose I am going to reward myself with a special none food related gift!  I need this…something to look forward to!  Something that in and of itself is self motivating…because I lack motivation and confidence.  Sometimes I need someone to kick my behind into gear…so I don’t give up on myself.  Also I am working on a motivation page, as I already mentioned…this is where I am going to write encouraging thoughts and quotes, so if I ever get a little lost, or have a bad day I can say…hey look…you still have hope!

I know this is probably a little random…but I thought I would share my plan with all of you.  If anyone would like more details or even like to follow this plan with me…please do not hesitate to ask!  ^_^

WISH ME LUCK!!