Whirlwind

Have you ever felt like your life was riding on a whirlwind? This is how I've been feeling since last week.

I can't believe that a week has passed since I had the photo shoot at my house. I haven't really had time to process it all. I can only say "Wow!!" I sometimes pinch myself to see if it is true...I'm going to appear in a National Magazine.

I am truly humbled and honored to have this opportunity to share my story about my weight loss journey. It is certainly a journey and one that is not over. Although I don't need to loose anymore weight, I am on a journey to maintain my goal weight that I reached in the middle of May. I am 42 pounds lighter than I was in January 2006 and I intend to stay at my goal weight.

Since the photo shoot, I've been on the local radio station that broadcasts from the Reservation and traveled to Rochester. The radio station broadcast was a special live promotion that we did at the transfer station on Saturday. After this, I hopped in my car and headed south to spend Saturday night with friends. On Sunday afternoon, I continued my journey to Rochester where I crashed at my luxurious room at the Radisson; it was nice getting off the whirlwind for few hours.

The reason I traveled to Rochester was to attend training that taught me how to work with people. I sure did learn a lot. After a quick trip to Wegmans (I wish the North Country had a Wegmans) I headed north and arrived at friends in time to watch the Giants beat up on the Cowboys on Monday night football; I'm a die hard Giant fan in case you didn't know.

I'm back home now and getting back into my routine. Speaking of routine, I need to sign off and head off to the financial class that I'm taking at church.

See you later.

Before & After

Wow!! The change in my appearance didn't really hit me until I received some of the photos from the photo shoot.

I have much to share about the photo shoot, but I've been on the run ever since yesterday. I'm hoping to post sometime on Sunday since I'll be traveling again; I find that I have more time to write when I'm traveling. So until then, enjoy the pictures.

The picture at the bottom was taken Christmas Eve 2005. This was a week before I started eating according to the principles in the Fire Up Your Metabolism book.

Photo Shoot - Woman's World Magazine

The photo editor from Woman's World Magazine contacted me today. She informed me that my story has been selected to appear in the December 19 issue. Please see my post from 10/6 to learn more about my interview with the magazine.

After a few phone calls back and forth, the photo editor arranged for one of their photograpers to come my house on Wednesday, October 18 at 4pm. They will shoot photos of me in two outfits of my choosing; it is a good thing that I'm going shopping for winter clothing tomorrow since I don't have any that fit me. At the magazine's suggestion, I have made arrangements to get my hair styled and to have makeup put on. Carina will be styling my hair and Connie will be applying make up.

They will be taking several full length shots of me and take pictures of me in my kitchen preparing my favorite snacks, which are a peanut sandwhich on whole wheat bread and yogurt with cheerios and fruit.

I never dreamed that I would be appearing in a national magazine when I started my weight loss journey in January. I am so blessed and I thank the Lord for the opportunity of sharing my story through a national magazine.

Dust Bunnies

As I was changing earrings this morning, one of the clasps slipped out my hand and went behind my dresser. I decided that I would hunt for the clasp when got home from work since I was pressed for time.

This afternoon I arrived home and decided to look for my lost clasp. The first thing I did was move the dresser away from the wall. "Ooh gush! Look at all those dust bunnies and other little debris behind my dresser" I said to myself. I didn't let the mess deter me from my task at hand - finding my lost clasp. After looking for a couple of minutes with no success, I decided to get a flash light and the vacuum cleaner. I shined the light behind the dresser and still didn't find the clasp. I then decided to move the dresser farther away from the wall and this is when I saw the clasp. It was underneath one of the legs of the dresser. I then made all those little dust bunnies disappear through the use of the vacuum cleaner. The carpet was cleaned and I promptly put the dresser back into its place.

All the time I was looking for my clasp, I begin to think about how those little dust bunnies hid behind my dresser until I moved the dresser. Up to this point, I had no idea that they were there; they remained hidden until I had a purpose to move the dresser.

The Lord began to show me that those little secret dust bunnies are similar to things that we keep hidden inside of us. Sometimes we aren't even aware that there are hidden dust bunnies that God wants to expose and shine His light on. The hidden dust bunnies are no surprise to God, though, since He knows and sees everything.

God patiently waits for us to invite Him to move our dressers so that the dust bunnies are exposed. He can then shine His light, apply His cleaner, and set us free from those hidden dust bunnies.

Interview With Woman's World Magazine

I received an email yesterday from the nutrition twins inviting me to be interviewed by Woman's World Magazine; see here. One of the editors of the magazine contacted the nutrition twins and wanted names of ladies who were successful in following their Fire Up Metabolism eating plan. The nutrition twins submitted four names to them and I was one of them.

One of the writers for the magazine interviewed me today via the telephone. They were particularly interested in knowing how snacking in between meals helped me to loose weight. My answer: snacking gives me freedom to eat more food without feeling guilty and I don't get hungry in between meals. I realize now that snacking is a normal part of my daily routine and I rather enjoy it.

I'm not sure if they will publish my article. I'll keep you posted if they do and let you know what issue it is in.

Speaking of snacking...it is time for me to have my evening snack. Off I go to enjoy my yogurt, cheerios, and fruit. Chow!