May 2013 - Week 1 Back Again

Our first week back again on plan ended last Tuesday and has yielded some nice results:

Me - lost 6 pounds

Brent - lost 10 pounds

Not too shabby!  Our scale has since broke and so we need to buy a new scale before our next weigh in.

I made me some yummy knox blox!!  (strawberry, banana, blueberry AND Peach Mango)

Last Saturday was a beautiful day and we went to the park as a family and enjoyed playing catch with the baseball and football, and just hanging out.  It's not easy getting everyone together now that our kids are older and my oldest has a job, so it was way nice.

Can't wait for long bike rides and hikes and summer fun.  I hope my knee will cooperate!  I'm having a hard time staying positive in my mind lately.  It's such a battle!!  But every day I am looking for all the positive in my life and expressing my thanks to my Heavenly Father.

One of my neighbors and friends just lost her husband less than two weeks ago.  My heart is so broken for her.  They were high school sweethearts like me and Brent.  I know how hard it's been suffering the loss of my parents, I can't imagine the pain from losing your best friend & husband.  I've been thinking and praying for her everyday.  

There is already enough sorrow in this life.  I know we need to celebrate LIFE and all that is GOOD!  There is also SO MUCH GOOD!  So many people who help others and serve and bear each others' burdens'.  There are so many good people on this earth, it's easy to get caught up in the negative.

But I don't want to waste my time.  I am trying to look forward with faith to all that is ahead of me for myself and my family!  This week I'm thankful for the sunshine, the health of my family, cars that are currently working, a friend I haven't seen for a long time who stopped by for a visit, my sons working on a project together, my daughters going to Morp this weekend, and me and my hubs going to see Iron Man 3 tonight.

Woo Hoo!!!

We are ON PLAN and DRINKING the H2O.  

Life is GOOD!!

XoxO ~Margene

Change and RE-FOCUS + Dance Dare #7

Here I am... at another place on my journey.  Another place of change.  Have you noticed that change is fine when you're making it happen yourself and plan for it?  When it's something you want and have been anticipating?  Change isn't so great when it's unexpected and shifts your footing to where it can knock you down. 

So as you can tell by the sparsity of my blog posts, I've had life and different responsibilities cross my path that have re-directed me in many ways.  I am always looking for a reason that things happen, because I don't believe in coincidence.  I don't believe that you meet anyone by chance.

 

For the last 9 months I was called into service in my church as Relief Society President, a daunting responsibility, to which I felt extremely inadequate, but learned to rely on my Heavenly Father more than any other time in my life.  I was recently released from this service, quite unexpectedly I might add.  Usually one serves in this capacity for several years.  But alas, change rolls around when you least expect it and just when you think you know what you're doing!  This wasn't an easy change as I had my whole heart into my calling and I held nothing back.  I felt it was part of the reason we even moved here.  I felt like I was making a difference.  I was truly heartbroken to have it come to an end so soon and so unexpectedly.  But I am learning once again to trust in the Lord and in His Timing.

So I find myself with more time.  I never realized how much time I actually do have now... to focus on my own family, and my own health.   And NOW I have time to re-focus myself.  I've let too much weight slip back on and my knee has began hurting for a while and affecting my ability to be as active as I'd like to be.  I've even had to pull out of playing basketball!!!!  I cannot tell you what a disappointment that's been!!  It makes me feel like I've aged ten years (like I actually feel my age right now!) Running is painful.  This is not acceptable to me.

 I went on an awesome hike a few weeks ago over Spring Break - a very breathtaking and cool hike!!  But my knee was in pain the whole time.  I'm thinking it's the extra weight I've let slip back on. 

SOO -   FIRST thing is:  We're going back ON PLAN to get our extra weight off.  

We're actually on day 3 right now!  

And next we're working on several other things.  

It's nice to be able to do that and have the time to re-focus.

Look... I focused on these deer as I drove by.  It really is a hunters delight where I live, we see deer all the time and have to watch that we don't hit them!

Here are some of our meals I've focused on making lately.  YUM.

Veggie Salad with beef strips - Salmon & Sausage with steamed broccoli 

Beef strips with sauteed peppers and mushrooms

So my motto these days is:  Trust in the Lord and in His Timing.  

Even when things don't look great, you've got to BELIEVE that God has something better in mind for you - you just have to have FAITH and PATIENCE in Him.

Life is GOOD!!

~ XOXO Margene

PS - I finally had time to Focus on putting together my latest Dance Dare video!

So here is Margene's Seventh Dance Dares!  Enjoy!!

What Faith means....

Hello there blog friends!  I hope you are having a TERRIFIC week!

It might seem that I've fallen off the blog radar, it's just LIFE has come in full force.  Big ups and big downs, but what else is new?  I think what it's come down to me lately is just my FAITH.  And by faith, I mean believing in myself and trusting in the Lord.  Believing the best of others and their intentions... believing that difficult situations will work out for my best in the end.

I find that we believe what we tell ourselves!  So if we tell ourselves that we are blessed and have loving family and friends - we will believe it.  But if we tell ourselves that we are alone and no one is true to us - we will believe that too.  So it's important to FEED OURSELVES GOOD THOUGHTS.

My Faith is in choosing to believe the good of myself and others, especially when it's hardest and things are difficult.

So on that note, my daughter, made a video by herself on what faith means to her.  She did if for a project she was working on and more than half the pictures are personal ones of ours.  I'd like to post if for you to enjoy.  I think she did a fantastic job!!  ENJOY.

LIFE IS GOOD!!! 

Love,

~Margene

xoXoxO

Month of LUV.....

Well, it is the month of Valentine's and thus LOVE, right? 

Have you shown love to yourself this month?  Have you built yourself up, forgiven yourself for mistakes you've made, and been kind to yourself?  Have you given out love and then felt empty inside?

I dunno why I'm asking that.  Maybe sometimes we as women and mothers, think so much of others and our family and those who rely on us that I wonder if we forget to be nice to ourselves.  Brent is always telling me to be nice to myself.

For Valentine's this year, Brent got me my DJ mug, and a little stuffed Spidy to "protect" me, and some cute toys and nice card.  I wasn't even expecting anything this year, but he still got me something!  That's my man.  He's cool like dat!

It's been and ON and OFF month with our eating.  Part of this is because other things have just taken precedence over preparing our meals.  It's a season of my life that is different than I expected, but it's still good.  My kids are older and they all have such unique needs.  My oldest two cannot drive yet one has a job several miles away.  My daughter sliced her thumb nearly off at school and had to have surgery to reattach everything inside.  My other daughter got asked to her first Prom.  My youngest was sick for a week and is way behind in school.  There are so many busy-needs with all my kids and I am also very involved in church work.  I am learning what I make a priority and what I do not.  Like housework is not a huge priority unless we're having someone over for dinner.  And that is when I actually make dinner!

I cannot allow myself to get on myself for every failing I think I have or do, because then I would feel like I'm failing at everything and I'd want to just give up on everything.  The old Margene used to do that… just sink down into depression and hating myself and marinate in self-doubt.  Sometimes that old "lure" tugs at me, especially when there is so much adversity.  But dang, I've come a LONG way.  Not in just losing weight but in the kind of person I use to be to how I am now!

Brent and I decided today to make a huge deal over every little thing… a positive deal.  So we exaggerate our excitement and just exaggerate our happiness and complimenting everything.  It's actually been fun!  I called him on the cell phone while I was at the grocery store and was SO excited he answered the phone and thanked him, and he was thanking me and we were lavishing over everything and then he says "Hey, it's our one minute anniversary on the phone, YAY!"  It was so over-the-top that is was fun and we continued later on at home.  Hugging and smiling and being so sappy happy!  We're weird but we like to be weird!  Maybe exaggerating the littlest of positivness is WAY better than sighing about the stresses of the day.  That just gets old, ya know?

Life is GOOD.  It's MORE than good, it's AWESOME!!!

This month, I got to go to my first JAZZ game for a GNO!!  And guess who they were playing?  The Portland Trail Blazers (significant since I lived near Portland for 14 years!)  How epic is that? After the game we went and saw "Warm Bodies" which was fun to laugh at... a great "B" movie!

 I also got to DJ three dances this month!  What other 44 year old "Mormon Mommy" gets to Dee Jay a big youth crowd and get them going?  And later an 80's dance and then an Adult Valentine's dance.  Who gets to do that?  My life is so freakin' awesome!! 

For those who have read my blog for a while, you may remember the church women's "Beach Retreat" I went on every year in Oregon.  Now, just next week, I've organized a women's "Mountain Retreat" for here in Utah!!  I am SO excited for this opportunity to share such an event with my new church family here!  We have some very cool things planned and I hope it all goes well.

One miracle to share:

A couple weeks ago, my daughters got sick and were throwing up.  Then a day or two later, both my sons and Brent were all sick and also throwing up.  My oldest daughter felt well enough to go to school.  It was that morning where I woke up with all the same symptoms as my family - who were all sick now and vomiting.  So I layed in bed and slept until noon, but I made myself get up because I had to pick up my daughter from school so she could babysit for our neighbor.  As I did, I didn't feel so bad.  As I drove to pick her up (her school is like 30 minutes away), I learned about her thumb getting cut.  So I ended up taking her to the emergency room at the hospital and was there for that traumatic experience and to help calm her.  Later that day there were several other church-related needs I took care of.  That night I realized that I had started out SICK that day!  I had every same symptom as the rest of my family.  I KNOW it was Heavenly Father that took that from me, he made me "whole" so I could be there for my daughter and be there for those that needed me that day.  No one else would have been able to pick her up or take her to the hospital.  I consider that a miracle.  I know HE did that for me.  I never did get sick!!!  How totally blessed am I? 

There you have it:  

Be NICE to yourself.

Notice how God is intervening in your life and helping you.

It's not always how you may expect, but He is there!

You can move a mountain, one handful at a  time.

Much Love XooXXoo

~Margene

It's about Perspective

Isn't perspective everything?  The same situations in my life change depending on my perspective of them.  People change before my eyes, depending on my perspective.  It's my own perspective that changes how I see myself.  What I think is really my choice!  I either feel rich in blessings and see miracles around me OR I feel empty and lacking and full of heartache.  Even if circumstances change, we can gravitate to either way of viewing it.

I remember listening to marriage talk tape once where the author was saying that no matter what your spouse ever does… you can find something to praise about him.  She gave the example of someone who said all their husband does is sit on the couch and watch football (while drinking and cursing).  She said that you can admire his appreciation of sports. 

You can ALWAYS find SOMETHING positive if you look for it. 

Thankfully, it's not a struggle for me to find the good in my husband.  But there are other areas of my life that I am continually working on my perspective. 

Like even moving here to Utah.  It was our most difficult move and required many sacrifices.  But we have also gained many blessings and opportunities as well.    

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I've had this thought that because of our sacrifice in moving here, the Lord would bless me in a specific area that I wanted.  So my perspective starts to mold around whether I feel this blessing will be answered or not. 

Doesn't it seem true that our pain, disappointment and sorrow is often attached to the fact that there is something we WANT? 

And is it wrong to want something good?  Is it wrong to have righteous desires?  A good marriage? To have children? To mend family relations? For better health?  Etc.

But why must wanting and praying for good things bring such heartache?

Perhaps it is our PERSPECTIVE. 

In my own perspective of looking for a specific blessing, am I not seeing all the other blessings that have been showered upon me?  Am I not enjoying what I already have?  And really, am I lacking anything? 

Is it possible that the feeling of "lacking" something or the sense of "loss" is really a deception?  After all, doesn't God provide for our every need? 

If we don't have something we want right now, is it possible that we don't really "need" it like we think we do?  Or maybe we aren't ready to have it yet?

In my goals for this year, I not only want to EAT HEALTHY, KEEP ACTIVE, and SERVE OUTSIDE MYSELF… I have also written down my greatest blessings and also the answers to my longings (as if they are realized) in sentence form, and will repeat these sentences to myself every day.  Because it's about my PERSPECTIVE and I want to keep it as real as possible. 

I know there is an Adversary trying to manipulate my perspective and distract me from truth.  For me, keeping close to the Lord is the ONLY thing that helps me overcome some of this very strong manipulation.

Here are some yummy meals I've had this last month when out on a date with my man:

The one on the left was some beef kabobs, and the right was prime rib with cole-slaw - which I haven't had in years (I cut the fat off it, of course)

Our waffle iron got dropped and broke, so Brent made me these Medifast Pancakes in the sandwich maker with sugar free syrup to dip.  I thought that was clever!

That is all for now.  I hope to do better at updating my blog this year!  I appreciate all my wonderful blogger Peeps!  Thank you for reading and for your positive encouragement.  :)

Much love, XOxoXo ~Margene

EXTREME THINKING and TOXIC PEOPLE

~ I believe this is one of my most important posts ~

I am learning so much about how our journey changes as it goes.
I started this blog to show myself that this time I believed that I could make the changes I wanted to.  

But not only has it been a journey of dropping the number on the scale, but more importantly, for me, it's been the changing of the way I perceive my life and handle life's challenges.  For the first time, I truly believed I could move a mountain in my life.  And with the Lord's help, I did.  My chains are gone, I have been set free!!

I reached my weight loss goal almost a year and a half ago.  My life is completely different today.
Those who know me and have seen me (then and now), can see and feel a difference in me in so many ways, not just physically!  Soon after reaching goal, both Brent and my doctor felt that my goal weight was too low for me.  I settled into a weight about 15 pounds higher than my goal.  Since then, I have worked to find a balance with how I eat and exercise to maintain my goals.  I have admitted that I've gained weight and wanted to shed some pounds.  Yet I have maintained the majority of my weight loss since I reached goal.  Although now, I do not emphasize the number on the scale, because I have the tendency to become too obsessed with that number and then my focus gets off balance.  

Maintenance is about moderation and BALANCE for me.  My blog has changed along with my journey.  I now blog more about what I am learning not only physically, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually as well.    

Here on my blog, readers have complete access to all 58 weeks of my journey in phase 1 of TSFL.  I have a wealth of information of what I went through and what meals I made for my lean and greens and so forth.  And hopefully those in maintenance can find some helpful things from what I am going through now.  Or just follow along for the ride!

I have unfortunately, joined the ranks of some of the finest weight-loss bloggers I know who have had very cruel judgments pointed against them by certain readers.   

I have put my story out in a public blog to be helpful for some, and sometimes that means being criticized by others.   But when my family is attacked, that is crossing the line with me.    

Some people in your life can be Toxic to your overall health. 

It is OKAY to set boundaries for yourself. 

It doesn't mean that a person is bad; 

it means that you need to set a "fence" 

for your own safety and that of your family.

The fact is, most people do not get overweight or obese being emotionally healthy!  

Usually, there are even bigger issues with our emotional health than with our physical health.
Our inside thoughts eventually get manifest by our outward appearance.
This comes through with what we think, turning into what we feel,
turning into how we act and the choices we make.  

Life is NOT black or white. 

People are NOT black or white. 

Extreme thinking is NOT healthy thinking. 

I myself struggled with severe self-loathing.  I thought in the extreme.
Everything that someone said that was remotely negative was seen by me as extremely negative
 and added to my extreme thinking of what a horrible person I was.
It sounds absurd, and it is absurd, but it is a REAL struggle
when you are trapped in this way of thinking.
For me, it's been like climbing out of a deep muddy pit.

It requires one to make NEW PATHWAYS of thought.  

It requires one to HANDLE SITUATIONS differently.  

For me, it's been a lot about trusting in God more.  

It is hard work to change the way you think!
I have come a LONG way. (Just ask my hubs!)
 I don’t handle things the same way I did a few years ago.  

I have learned and I'm still learning: 

* To not get offended so easily. 

* To give the benefit of the doubt more. 

I notice that many people, who judge harsh, 
do so while they remain in their "safe" area 
(not having revealed their own vulnerabilities), 
where those they judge are out in the open.

The problem with our extreme perceptions of people is that eventually we will be disappointed.
And if we don't realize that it was our own PERCEPTION,
we may in fact BLAME the person for our disappointment
instead of acknowledging our own mistake. 

I am not in phase 1 of weight loss anymore.
I am learning the balance of moderation in maintenance.
My life reflects that.
I am living a healthy life-style right now!

When we have no stewardship over someone (like being their parent)
yet we feel we are in a position to judge someone
and tell them what we think they "need to hear",
(especially when we have such little knowledge of their lives
or haven't even met them in person),
we are inappropriately putting ourselves in a position of too much power.  

We are not here to judge each other

We are ALL in this TOGETHER!  

We need to SUPPORT each other!  

We need to be each other's CHEERLEADERS!  

I think we all are doing the best with what we have.

I am thankful that I have a new lease on life! 

I can run!
I can rock climb!
I can play basketball!
I am 10+ years older than all the ladies I play with,
but I have a lot of lost time to make up for!
And even though I've damaged my knees from all those years of obesity,
right now I can still use them, and I'm so thankful for that.
My planters fasciitis is gone now!
I sleep SOOO much better than I ever did. 

If I have offended anyone who read this blog or this post, I sincerely apologize.
If my blog or story doesn't relate to you --
find blogs or books or whatever it is you need that does motivate you --
and then go for it!
Life is TOO SHORT to wait any longer!
Life is TOO SHORT to worry about what others are doing.
Make YOUR life worth LIVING!

That is all.  Peace out!

~Margene

The ART of drinking water!

There really needs to be an art to drinking water when you aren't thirsty.  

Because really, to get in the minimum of 64 ounces of water a day, 

it means you are chugging the H2O when you're not necessarily thirsty.  

I think this is one reason I was never a good water drinker.  I didn't crave gulping it down.  

And, whenever I drank very much, I always had to pee a lot.  

It's a pain to keep running to the bathroom.  

I think that was my biggest obstacle.  

But now, I am a major water drinker.  

Usually over 100 ounces a day.  

But it takes conscious effort since it doesn't come naturally to drink when you're not thirsty.  

Here are some ways that have helped me:

1. Have some good water bottles that are easy to re-fill 

and drink from always available 

and get used to taking a water bottle 

with you wherever you go.  

I personally like the kind with a trigger spout 

that I tip to drink from.  

But I've also used the kinds with straws in them.

2. When I first get up in the morning, I've gotten in the habit of drinking a glass of water right off.  

This is before I've eaten or even showered.  

That first 8 oz is easy to get in first thing when I wake up.

3. It is my goal to try and drink one of my 24 oz water bottles 

with each of my six meals.  

So, before each meal, I take several swallows of water 

and then in between bites I keep taking sips here and there, 

so by the time I'm eating my last bite, 

my water bottle is pretty much empty.  

By this time, I'm feeling quite full and satisfied. 

4. I always try to quickly fill 

my water bottle back up once it is empty.

5. If I want a piece of gum, 

I always chug some water before I pop a piece in. 

6. I keep my water bottle with me in the car, 

and when I stop at a stop lights, 

I get a few swallows in each time.

7. To keep my water bottle full when I'm out and about, 

I take it in stores and eating places 

so that I can easily fill it up at a soda fountain 

where there is water 

or at a drinking fountain.  

I keep it in the cart when grocery shopping 

and chug a bit here and there.

8. To switch it up sometimes, I add in some crystal light 

or other low/no calorie flavoring into my water bottle.  

I try to do this only once a day 

because I don't want to become dependent 

on needing that flavor to drink my water.  

It's more of a little treat once in a while.

YES, I do have to use the bathroom quite a bit.  But, I feel better when I drink a lot of water!   It flushes out the toxins in my body.  I don't get headaches when my water is good.  I can just tell that my body feels and responds better when I'm getting my water in.  This is probably the biggest thing I've learned on my journey. Up until about 2.5 years ago, I barely had 1 or 2 glasses of water a day!  I think I've amazed myself that I've become such a water guru!

Do you have any tips or ways that help you get your goal amount of water in each day?

LIFE IS GOOD 

(especially with yummy water!)

XoXoxO ~Margene

New Video (Yikes, but happy)

Happy New Year!!!!  Wahooo!!!

Okay, my daughter made this video for a school project in her video production class.  She chose to interview me.  It was a busy day and I did NOT prepare for the interview, so I wasn't even wearing make-up or did my hair or anything... which, now I wish I did!!  She edited it all herself and I thought she did fantastic.  I just don't like the way I look... why do I have this crease in my forehead the whole time?

Anyway... to brag on my daughters video skills, I am posting it here on my blog!  

Life is GOOD

~Margene

Twelve Days...

Merry Christmas!!

I am bowing my head in shame for taking so long to update my blog. 

Wanted to note - for financial reasons, we've had to put our return to the 5:1 plan on hold temporarily, but I am excited the second we can do another order and get back On Plan… there are so many newer Medifast foods now too. For now, we watch what we eat as always and stay active!

I am giving you 12 days of Our Christmas 

(in no significant order) - Enjoy!!

1. First Day of Christmas:   We got to be involved in an Extreme Makeover of a teen girl's bedroom here in our neighborhood, after they suffered a horrible break-in robbery and vandalizing of their home.  Over 70 people came together to do this.  Can I just say AMAZING!!

2. Second Day of Christmas:  We were blessed to spend some time with a sweet widow in our neighborhood, which is cool since my kids have no living grandmother.  I just love the attention she showed my kids and feeling her sweet spirit.

3. Third Day of Christmas:  I got to see so many in our neighborhood come together gathering gifts for some that are less fortunate.  So many acts of love and service, it just restores my hope and belief in the goodness of people and in the Goodness of our God!

4. Fourth Day of Christmas:  We enjoyed our church Christmas Breakfast!  We all came in our PJ's and had a yummy breakfast and hot chocolate and enjoyed some live Christmas Music.

5. Fifth Day of Christmas:  We threw a neighborhood party at our home and had over 40 guests.  It was so fun!  So cool that people actually came and we had a fun white elephant game!

6. Sixth Day of Christmas:  Got to host a family party at our home with all my local siblings & their kids.  How fun to have family here and see everyone.  We ended with a special Christmas story and sang some Christmas songs!

7. Seventh Day of Christmas:  A neighbor friend randomly brought me flowers!  How sweet it that?

8. Eighth Day of Christmas:  My daughter and I made our own wreath!  I'm pretty pleased with it!

9. Ninth Day of Christmas:  We celebrated my oldest turning 20 years old (silent scream!)  Good times!

10. Tenth Day of Christmas:  Simple Christmas at home with my family… new PJ's for kids.  We have good health, warm place to stay, and love of our family and friends.  So richly blessed!! 

11. Eleventh Day of Christmas:  Special Surprise box from a friend who started her weight loss journey just 13 weeks ago and has lost almost 35 pounds.  Her determination and energy is contagious.    

12. Twelfth Day of Christmas:  Lastly, Brent and I celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary!!!  Wahoooooo!!  I can't say enough about my man and best friend!  Truly!  He supports me so well, and often gets overlooked because he puts me first.  I get a lump in my throat just thinking about him and how grateful I am for him.  Such a good man!  He stays in the shadow (where he likes it) but he makes all the difference in my life!!  I love him tons and tons!

Holding up our "2" and  "4" - at our Anniversary Dinner at Texas BBQ

I truly believe that if you are feeling down and want to feel better… then get up and do something for someone else!  It's amazing to see the difference you can make right around you, and how that makes your own problems so much smaller and easier to bear!!  Sitting and pondering about your problems only makes them bigger.  It really is about "forgetting yourself" in helping someone else with theirs!  And if you don't think you are needed or make a difference… I'm here to tell you that is just NOT true!!  Pray to know who you can help and then keep your eyes open.  I am learning this lesson first hand and feel humbled to learn!

Love to you this Season!! 

xoXoXO ~Margene

Skipping... I can do that!

It's Week 5 Back... and we are both skipping weigh in!  We had a couple days off plan and I don't want to step on my scale and feel sick or bad, so we both decided to give ourselves another week.  Plus we need to order more food as we're running out of our favs!

This last week, as per our tradition, my girls and I went to see the new Twilight Movie "Breaking Dawn Part 2".  We liked it better than Part 1.  Pretty cool.  

This was my first day off plan (Friday).  It started with me having lunch with a friend... and I knew it was a place that wasn't 100% on plan, but the time with my friend meant a lot so I "planned" to go off a little.  Then later on, I "planned" to have some off plan appetizers at my sisters house when we went over there... but even though I planned to have some, I did over-do it and had way too much.  So then later at the theater, I didn't have ice cream with my girls, but I did have a small popcorn and some other munchies. (sigh) 

Then the next day, Brent wanted to go out to eat since I did the day before, so that seemed only fair.  That made Saturday pretty much off plan for both of us.  Looking back, I don't regret going to lunch on Friday  but I can see that I have to be careful what I allow myself because I DO have a sugar addiction.  Once I said yes at my sisters house, I was gone!  I slipped in frozen yogurts both days too!

By Sunday morning I was SICK!  My body had way too much sugar.  Now, in my obese days, I didn't get sick from too much sugar.  But now that I'm used to eating healthier, my body does not like when I eat much sugar.  I missed choir practice on Sunday and almost missed church due to my bad choices!  

In fact, since I started my journey... I practically NEVER get sick. And the ONLY times I have gotten sick since reaching goal, have been times I have splurged on the higher carb, fatty foods.  I did this on my Girls Oregon Trip last March... indulged in 2 greasy pieces of pizza and some choc. covered pomegranits and I was SICK for 24 hours!  

When our friend from Australia came last year and brought us the rich Aussie chocolates which I totally ate way too much of, I got sick again for 24 hours.  I missed spending the next day with our friend giving him a tour of the Utah sites cuz I was out sick.   

I've even gotten sick once when I ate TOO much watermelon... and I mean I ate way too much!!  That time I missed my daughter performing her first flute solo in church... cuz I was home sick from what I ate!!

So... I am still learning!!  I'm glad I get sick, actually.  Then I remind myself that it wasn't worth it!!

On a fun note, I tried a fun new thing on Pinterest.  It involves jello!!!  

I made these jello orange slices.  So cool and fun!!

Well, that is my report for this week.  I'm looking forward to a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family and I do feel so thankful for the blessings that I have - especially my family and friends!!

Much love!! XoxOxo ~Margene

Week 4 - Back

Happy Tuesday!!!

So Sunday was our weigh-in:

I lost 2 pounds

Hubs lost 1 pound  

(almost 2, but  he'd rather count is as just 1)

Slowly but surely!  

Brent knows he needs to get his water in.  I know he's working on that!

One of my favorite lunches have been my Medifast Chicken & Wild Rice Soup with crackers in it and ground pepper & dill seasoning.  Yum.

We also went out to a Hibachi grill for a date night last week and I had hibachi chicken and salmon with veggies.  It was okay - I enjoyed it.  Brent was feeling like Hibachi chicken but I'd probably have preferred a steak somewhere.  Heck, I'd prefer some Cafe Rio pork nacho's... but that's not on plan right now so I will enjoy what I gots!!  ;)

The weather has been getting COLD and I have not been running, but I am keeping up with basketball which I love.  Lots of running there.  I hope I can find ways to keep active this winter.  I'm SOO ready for Christmas Music but I'm also trying to enjoy the Thanksgiving time as well.  Life is going SOOOO fast right now.  November just started and It's almost half way through.  

I saw this quote on Facebook and it kind of emulates where I need to be and want to be right now:

GRATITUDE 

turns what we 

HAVE 

into 

ENOUGH!

I love that and it's so true.  When I find myself feeling upset and frustrated, I know I need to humble myself and truly be thankful for all I do have, which is so much!  I know this is true, yet I still find myself feeling bad about this or that.  So it's a daily vigilance for me to be thankful!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Life is GOOOOD!!

XoxoXO ~Margene

Week 3 Back :)

Today marked our WEEK 3 Back on plan.

Me - Lost 5 Pounds

Brent - Lost 2 Pounds

BOOYA!!  

For the kind of crazy non-stop week its been, I'd say that's a huge success!  

Some of my quick lean and green meals this week:

Stuffed peppers (lean beef & turkey & light cheese)... the meat shrunk a little.  Lightly breaded chicken salad with light yogurt-based dressing

Thin herb tilapia with broccoli - YUM

I can't believe it's November already!  It's like October just flew by.  Our Halloween was nice and low-key. We hung out at home and watched a movie and let our older daughter answer the constant trick-or-treaters.  Our two youngest still went out trick or treating themselves and we just chilled.  Not even one bite of candy... I didn't even want to see what my kids got.  It pretty much stayed out of my mind, so that was nice.  I love it when I can just spend some relaxed time with the hubs. :)

Now on to this wonderful month of Thanksgiving.  I got my "Give Thanks" wall hanging up to write down something we're thankful for each day!  I love it!!  Life is GOOOOD!

~Margene

Happy Hallo's and Week 2 Back

Happy Halloween!!!

Week 2 on plan again resulted in NO Loss and No gain… we both maintained.  I anticipated that with fasting one of the days and a planned enjoyment of a birthday dessert with a friend another day.  So we are both back to being strict on plan and getting back to losing!

I went to a most inspiring and uplifting women's conference this last weekend called "Time out For Women".  It was such a nice needed break.  It was fun and edifying.  I got to listen to and meet some of my favorite people:   

 Among them Sheri Dew (2nd time meeting her), and the performing group  "Mercy River" who sang the song Love Never Fails which I made a video for and posted on here a few months ago... and they have a ton of great songs.  Epic!

This is a crazy week for me (it seems like I think that about every week now).  Although today is one of my low days.  It's one of those days that moving here feels hard.  I know how I feel isn't necessarily based on fact or truth, and that it's just a rough patch again… but dang, I miss being around people who know me.  People who know when I mess up that it doesn't reflect who I really am. 

Days like today, I feel that the sacrifice to move here feels huge, even tho we've been so blessed.  I gave up a harvest of friends and an amazing church family in Oregon.  And it's been a good move for my kids and we finally own a home again.  It's all good.  But at times I feel like a mis-fit and so completely isolated.  It's like the Lord dropped me off and said "Now, go do some good" and I'm trying.  My motivation is lacking.  I didn't go to basketball yesterday for no reason except it just didn't seem fun anymore.  And that's the one thing I do for me!

I emailed a dear friend in Oregon several days ago… telling her some of my struggles and heartaches.  She is someone who I've known for years and greatly admire.  She's been with me through my weight loss journey as well.  She wrote back to me and shared a description of me in a way I've never heard or thought of before.  It explains so much of why I struggle.  I wept while reading it because I know she understands.  Not only that, but it was overwhelming to hear her say such positive things about me.  I didn't realize how much I needed to hear that.  Here is an excerpt from her email:

"You my dear are blessed to be able to feel deeply. Actually it’s a blessing and a curse – opposition in all things. Not everyone feels deeply. More of us are light in that department. That is why so many can flit from friend to friend but you fall in love and feel the attachment in your very soul. It is a good thing, but it means that you are more prone to the pain of unreturned deep feelings from the flitterers that are out there. They love you . . . truly . . . but not quite the same depth. It’s a different perception/reality/paradigm . . . whatever you want to call it. The majority of us are shallow when it comes to feelings. You are a rare gem of the deep feeling kind. You need to accept your gift, it is so similar to the love the Savior felt for his friends when he was here on earth, but look at the pain he suffered because he loved so much. There were even those moments when HIS friends were just simply shallow and uncommitted. Accept that along with the joy of loving deeply there comes great pain and sorrow because we who flit simply are not blessed to feel as wonderfully deep as you.
It’s actually a spiritual blessing too. You also feel things spiritually deeper than a lot of people. This is what makes you an amazing servant of the Lord. You put your whole self into everything you do and others are blessed by your commitment, your own family, your ward family and your friends.
Like all things in life, there is an upside and a downside. You find what you look for. Stay positive my friend. All these trials work for your own good . . . even though you may not see it now or even for a very long time."

I know there are many out there who struggle with HUGE things, who have deep wounds to heal, who suffer every day and every hour.  I pray for you.  My heart goes out to anyone who suffers.  My own trials are but trivial compared to many others. 

Today, I'm going to count my blessings and try to do some good!  I've got 4 amazing kids that need me and who I absolutely adore & a husband who is the bomb diggety!!  There are others who need me too, and I pray I can be there and make a difference where I can.

 

Have a wonderful Halloween, my friends, 

and don't touch that candy!!!

Life is good!

~Margene xoxOXO