Goals, Prayers, and Promises

OK. OK. I've been gone for awhile. I still have a lot on my plate this week. But nothing like last week. Hmmm. I wonder why I chose to use "a lot on my plate" to explain how busy I am? Anyway, I'm still taking the vitamin D. And I do feel better.

Goals
Today I decided to write down some of my life goals, not just weight loss goals. My ultimate goal is to be retired and loving it. That's far and away number one. OK. So I haven't thought much beyond that. But when I am retired, I intend to do all of things I've always wanted--like have a farm. I know I've talked about that before. So I'm speaking of this goal as "when" not an "if."

Prayers
As far as weight loss, I still can't get myself in the right place to even begin. I'm not sure what it's going to take. I think a positive state of mind for starts.

Promises
Anyway, all I really need is a lot of money. And who doesn't?

So this was quick and sweet. I guess I want my life to be my life. How's that for a goal?

The List

An update to the list my niece came up with:
1. Chicken nuggets
2. Macaroni and cheese
3. Broccoli
4. Yogurt
5. Apples
6. Ketchup

It did, at least, have a couple of healthy items. I was really amazed at the broccoli. I forgot that when she was about three years old, she preferred salad to chicken nuggets. I took her to McDonald's one time, and I got chicken nuggets for her and a salad for me. She refused to eat the nuggets. I asked her what she wanted, and she pointed at my salad. Seriously. That really happened. So I gave it her and she ate it—without dressing. Because that's the way she liked it. Where did this kid come from?

How Would I Know What to Do?

Hey, I'm off this week. I will be taking care of my nephew's kids while he goes hunting with his Dad. This morning as I drove the kids to school his seven-year-old daughter told me: "We need to get some healthy food in this house."

I said: "OK. What do you want me to get?"

She rolled her eyes and said: "I'll make a list. You just go back home and go back to sleep."

I laugh everytime I think of it. Geez. If she weren't here to guide me, how would I know what to do?

I'll try to check in when I can. Have a wonderful holiday week.

We All Have a Choice

Some things in life, you can't help but feel proud of. My beginnings in this world were meager to say the least. But it's part of who I am. I have learned something through every challenge I've faced in life. I am writing this post to make a point to myself, but also to people who think they're stuck with the cards they've dealt. You can always trade at least part of the hand in. But if you do choose to play the hand, remember, you can win a poker game with a deuce high, if you play your cards right. 

I come from a very poor background. I grew up in three-room tar paper shack that didn't have a bathroom. In fact, I lived there until I was 14 years old. We burned coal in the winter to keep warm. I woke up freezing every morning after the fire went out during the night, all the while blowing black coal soot out my nose. I had pneumonia and strep throat more times than I want to remember. I wore hand-me-downs and second-hand clothes and shoes. My mother made most of my dresses. I usually only had two, and if we were "in the money" at a particular time, I might've had three. I was poorer than just poor. Most of time we didn't have any money.

I spent most of life figuring I'd never make it to college. After all, how would it be paid for? Well, I'll tell you how. I took out student loans. I got grants. I worked sometimes up to three part-time jobs while carrying a full-time class load. I worked my way through college. No one, and I mean no one, handed me anything. And I managed to make the dean's list virtually every semester.

After I graduated, I got a job in my chosen field. I do not make treasure chests full of money. In fact, there are times when it's difficult to get by. But I am strong. I will do better than I am now. I know I can because I've done it. I worked my way out of the hollers of West Virginia. I did it on my own. And in the process I learned something about people. Every person on the face of this earth has a story. Neither you nor I are the only ones who've faced challenges.

So here's the thing: I will not under any circumstances feel guilty or apologize to anyone no matter what their personal issues are because I chose to better myself. I deserve what I have, and I deserve the successes I've had in life. And if I choose to improve myself even further, that's what I'm going to do. And I will not be sorry about it—now, tomorrow, or next week. I worked for everything I have.

Like all people, I have suffered great losses and been weighed down by so much grief that I had to drag along with me, I thought death would be better. But I have also felt the love of a child, the warm embrace of a man, and the joy of living. I have known poverty. I have enjoyed prosperity. I am just like everyone else. 

Today I choose happiness and abundance over doom and deficiency because this is a day that the Lord has made. My task is to enjoy it. And you can, too. It's your choice.

P.S. Read about John of God. 

Vitamin D More Important Than I Knew

Who needs vitamin D? If you have struggled with weight loss; have Diabetes, Parkinson's, cancer, including skin, breast, ovarian, prostrate, and numerous others; have psoriasis; have thyroid disease; are depressed or suffer from mental illness; have cataracts or other eye diseases, including macular degeneration; and the list goes on and on—you need probably need vitamin D. In fact, the Vitamin D Council thinks that more than 85 percent of the population is vitamin D deficient. 

According to the council:

"Technically not a 'vitamin,' vitamin D is in a class by itself. Its metabolic product, calcitriol, is actually a secosteroid hormone that is the key that unlocks binding sites on the human genome. The human genome contains more than 2,700 binding sites for calcitriol; those binding sites are near genes involved in virtually every known major disease of humans.

"Current research has implicated vitamin D deficiency as a major factor in the pathology of at least 17 varieties of cancer as well as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, muscle wasting, birth defects, periodontal disease, and more."

The council goes on to say that benefits of vitamin D to our health can no longer be ignored.

For me, vitamin D was the miracle I was looking for. After some research, I decided to take 10,000 IUs per day for four weeks. Then lower it to 5,000 per day. I started this on Monday. I have lost 8 pounds since then. And I swear I can see better. Further, I have what I thought was Meniere's disease—a static sound in my right ear. It's virtually gone. My sense of smell is improved, too. My skin looks and feels better. I have more energy than I've had in years. I feel lighter. 

While many may think my little "experiment" is crazy, the council says it's harder to overdose on vitamin D than we have been lead to believe. Some people may be more sensitive than others, but most people can handle an initial larger dose with no problem. 

Do some research about vitamin D. Many doctor's and health care professionals are becoming aware of how important vitamin D is. While some will continue to hang onto the old philosophy, many are now checking people for vitamin D deficiency. If you think you are deficient, have your doctor check you out. The council, however, recommends starting with a dose 5,000 IUs and then getting checked. 

Check the councils' web site for more information: vitamindcouncil.org. 

Vitamin D

I'm wondering if you or anyone you know may have tried supplementing vitamin D to help with weight loss? This isn't a new idea, and people have supposedly done well increasing their vitamin D—by about 2,000 international units a day.

People who are obese, have thyroid disease (either hyper or hypo), are menopausal, were breast feed as babies, and a couple of other things I probably don't know about tend to be vitamin D deficient. Research has shown that supplementing vitamin D has helped people lose weight—often significant amounts of weight, along with diet and exercise of course. Physicians recommend adding calcium, magnesium, and zinc as well.

So, I'm curious? Has anyone out there tried this? Do you have any results?

Too Much Pressure Leads to Failure; Dreams Exposed

I think I have dieted myself into a place where I can't lose weight anymore. To successfully lose weight, I will have to eat minimally and exercise until sweat drips from me and I collapse. Seriously. Just dieting and walking won't work—unless I'm willing to walk six miles a day. My metabolism is shot. Part of it is thyroid. Part menopause. Part yo-yo dieting for the past 30+ years. What I need is a way to fix myself—no fads or gimmicks please. And most of all—no pressure. As soon as I put pressure on myself, it's over before it starts.

A New Section

Photo by yark64. 

A funny old saying that I always liked is: Opportunity knocks but once, but failure is always pounding away. That makes me laugh. And that brings to me a new section I like to call: Things I've Always Wanted to Do But Couldn't Figure Out How to Make Happen. 

Photo by Salem Elizabeth.

You know what I've always wanted? To be a farmer. You know have some cows and horses to take care of. That would make my life. It just would. Please don't tell me how much work it is to work a farm. I grew up on a farm. I know. OK? I know it means long days filled with lots of work. But it's good work—getting back to the land kind of work. And just take a look at these pictures. I mean really. How could you pass up such a life? Well, everyone has their own wishes and wants. So I can't expect everyone to agree with my dream. But this is my dream. To retire, buy a farm along with some cows and horses, and live the rest of my life in my own bliss. Happiness. That's what it's all about, right?

Happiness. Bliss. Being in the moment. Living in God's world in harmony with nature. That's my dream.

When I look at these pictures, it makes that dream that much more intense.

Anyway, that's what I'm sharing today. And it's kind of uncharacteristic for my put it out there like that. Because this is a real dream. I'm always afraid people will mock me when I'm absolutely honest. No one wants their dreams ridiculed. But I'm opening up a new side of me.


Someone told me, you have to say your dreams out loud for them to come true. So there's my dream. My wish.

More from the deepest recesses of my soul. . . .
Last night I dreamed I was a wedding planner. What? OK. Let's take a look at this from another point of view. What does a wedding planner do? Helps people plan one of the biggest life changing events that will ever come to pass in their lives. A wedding is a joining of two people (or two things, whatever they may be)—a commitment, a bond, a promise.

So what does that mean to me? Planning a life altering event that requires a commitment. Is it just losing weight? Or is it more? I think it's much more.

This Blog
I started this blog in September of 2006. I've had varying degrees of success. Right now I'm considering whether I want to keep this blog up. Or start a new blog that allows me to talk about more than the trials and tribulations of weight loss. Or maybe just change this blog altogether. Change the name. Change the focus. Or keep this blog and start a new one, too. Anyway, that's a struggle.

OK. I've said more today than I've said in a long time.