Unleashing Well-being Through the Power of Self-Expression

Photo via Pexels

In the vibrant tapestry of human experience, self-expression emerges as a crucial thread, intertwining with the fabric of our well-being in profound ways. It's an innate need, as vital as the air we breathe, enabling individuals to convey their thoughts, emotions, and identity. This article hosted by Jasmin Queen delves into the myriad ways through which the power of self-expression not only acts as a catalyst for personal growth but also significantly enhances our overall well-being.

The Psychological Impact

Catharsis and Emotional Release

Engaging in self-expression offers a therapeutic release of pent-up emotions. Whether it's through journaling, painting, or composing music, articulating feelings can lead to a profound sense of relief and catharsis. This emotional unburdening is not just metaphorical; it has tangible physiological benefits, including reduced stress and a boost to the immune system.

Identity and Self-Understanding

Self-expression is intricately linked to self-discovery and identity formation. It provides individuals with a platform to explore and affirm their beliefs, values, and unique perspective. This ongoing process of reflection and articulation fosters a deeper understanding of oneself, enhancing self-esteem and confidence.

Connection and Empathy

Expressing oneself authentically allows for genuine connections with others. It invites empathy, understanding, and mutual respect. Sharing our true selves can help dismantle barriers of isolation, creating a sense of belonging and community. In a world often marked by division, self-expression serves as a reminder of our shared humanity.

Enhancing Well-being through Self-Expression

Cultivating Creativity and Joy

Engaging in creative acts of self-expression can be a source of joy and fulfillment. The process of creating, regardless of the outcome, stimulates the mind, nurtures the soul, and can bring about a sense of accomplishment and pride. Creativity also encourages mindfulness, allowing individuals to be present in the moment, further enhancing emotional well-being.

Building Resilience and Coping Strategies

Self-expression equips individuals with the tools to navigate life's challenges. It fosters resilience by providing a means to process experiences, reflect on emotions, and articulate responses to adversity. This not only aids in coping with current stressors but also builds a foundation for handling future challenges.

Encouraging Personal Growth and Transformation

Finally, self-expression is a dynamic force for personal growth and transformation. It encourages individuals to question, explore, and push beyond their comfort zones. This journey of self-expression and discovery is not always linear or easy, but it is invariably rewarding, leading to greater self-awareness, adaptability, and a more fulfilling life.

Digital Creativity Unleashed with Adobe Express

In the realm of self-expression, the digital age has ushered in unprecedented opportunities for creativity, with tools like Adobe Express leading the charge. This innovative platform has become a beacon for those seeking to express their inner thoughts, emotions, and visions through digital creativity. Adobe Express empowers users to delve into graphic design, photography, and blogging, providing a versatile canvas for digital expression that resonates with a wide audience.

Graphic Design: A Visual Language

Graphic design with Adobe Express offers a powerful medium for visual storytelling. Users can create everything from simple social media posts to intricate posters, blending colors, text, and imagery to convey their message. This form of digital creativity allows for the exploration of complex themes and emotions in a way that is both accessible and visually engaging.

Photography: Capturing Moments and Emotions

Photography, another cornerstone of digital creativity, has been transformed by the capabilities of Adobe Express. The platform's tools allow photographers, whether amateurs or professionals, to edit their photos, adjusting lighting, color, and composition to better reflect the mood or message they wish to convey. This process of selection and editing is deeply personal, offering a glimpse into the photographer's perspective.

Blogging: The Power of Words in the Digital Era

Blogging through Adobe Express provides a dynamic platform for written expression. It combines the timeless art of storytelling with the vast reach of the digital world. This form of digital creativity is not just about sharing knowledge; it's a way to connect on a personal level, offering solace, motivation, or enlightenment. The tools available on Adobe Express facilitate the creation of visually appealing, engaging blog posts, making it easier for writers to focus on their content while ensuring their message is delivered in an impactful way.

The power of self-expression is a cornerstone of well-being, offering a pathway to healing, connection, and personal growth. It's a testament to the human spirit's resilience and creativity, highlighting the importance of fostering environments where voices can be heard, and authentic selves can flourish. In embracing our unique expressions, we not only enrich our own lives but also contribute to a more empathetic, vibrant, and connected world.

I'm Back!!

Hey everyone! I know I have been MIA for awhile now. Life has just gotten so busy that this took a backseat. Life is still crazy busy, but I thought it would be good to come back here and stay in touch with everyone. I haven’t updated this Blog since 2018, so let me catch you up to speed.

My sweet daughter is almost a teenager, but luckily is still as kind and loving as ever. My husband is still a rockstar. Pretty soon we will celebrate our 14 year wedding anniversary. We have a 4 year old German Shepherd we have also adopted the cutest bearded dragon ever.

I still work for Ingles and love every single minute of it. I love sharing my recipes with everyone. My favorite part is when people try my recipes and then tell me their family enjoyed it. That makes my heart smile. I get to represent Ingles at some really fun events. One of the coolest things I get to do is a segment on a T.V. show in Tennessee called Living East Tennessee. Every Wednesday I share a recipe with the viewers. The staff there are all so much fun to be around and the energy is through the roof. It really feels more like hanging with my friends than working.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. It feels good to be back!!

Swimsuits

I have always dreaded swimsuit season. I am one of those people that love the feel of a bikini, but have always felt too uncomfortable to wear one. I have been a fan of Swimsuits for All for awhile now, but never felt like I could rock one of their 2 piece suits..... until now. I was contacted by Swimsuits for All (www.swimsuitsforall.com) and they asked if they could send me some suits. I was so excited and honored that they would want me to advertise their suits for them, but then the feeling of dread set in. I realized that I would have to post pictures of me in a bikini. What in the world was I thinking???? The suits were overnighted and I received them the next day. When I opened the package the first thing I noticed that the suits were super cute and very well made. I was excited to try them on. I had promised myself that I was going to have a positive attitude and say nice things about myself. I tried on the tankini first and was pretty pleased with how I looked in that one. Then came the bikinis. I looked in the mirror and felt good about myself. They fit well, didn't ride up, didn't push the back fat out; they were great! I was pumped and ready to go take pictures in these bad boys. Since that day, I have purchased many more bikinis from this company and wear everyone of them proudly!! 

I learned a really big lesson from these suits. Wear what you want to wear. Don't worry about what other people think. Not one person even cared I was in a bikini. No one looked at me funny and even if they did, oh well. I was comfortable and my stomach was getting some much needed sun! 

Surviving the Holidays

I probably should have written this before Thanksgiving, but I guess better late than never.

We filmed the show through Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas last year. I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to enjoy all the yummy food that I normally would enjoy during the holidays, and I was right. I didn't eat a lot of the crap that I normally ate. Cookies, pies, chocolate, and candy were all on my list of things to eat. Last year, I didn't eat any of those things and I lived to tell about it. When you have the possibility of winning $50,000, it is very easy to turn down those things when they are offered to you. It is definitely a whole different ballgame when there is no contest, no tv show, and no money! Dawn taught me some tips and tricks to make it through the holidays. Last year I lost weight during the holidays. This year my goal is to just maintain.

Here are the tips that helped me:

1. Focus on family and friends, not the food. 

2. Skip the appetizers.

3. Only eat when you have a table, plate, and chair. Don't just stand around mindlessly munching on food. 

4. Fill half your plate with veggies.

5. Pick your one favorite dish and make sure you eat some of that!

6. Skip foods that are just 'eh. If you can buy it at a grocery store, you can skip it. If it is something that your Grandma makes that you can only get once a year, take some. 

7. Drink lots of water and skip drink calories. 

8. Go for a walk. 

9. If someone offers you dessert and you feel like it would be rude to turn it down, take it home. Then you can toss it without anyone knowing :). If you do decide to have dessert, pick your one favorite and only eat that. Don't take a little of every dessert. Too many choices is a bad thing. 

10. Remember it's progress, not perfection. If you mess up, own it and move on. 

Hopefully these tips will help you as much as they help me. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season!

Washington D.C.

Back in January I was invited to speak at the Your Weight Matters convention in Washington D.C. with Dawn. I said yes and decided I would worry about the logistics of it later. Well later finally came last week and it was then time to worry. I had only flown twice in my life and Callie had never been on a plane. The thought of flying was giving me some serious anxiety. I was also very nervous about speaking in front of a large group of people. 

Last Wednesday we took off to D.C. The flight went really well. Callie loved it. She was shouting with excitement during take-off and landing. We got to D.C. and hopped on the Metro. We don't ride the subway in Atlanta, so this was a new experience for us. It was convenient and actually pretty fun. The first night that we were there we went to Arlington Cemetery and were fortunate enough to see the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown soldier. That was truly incredible to see. We also went to the White House. My feet were killing and so were Callie's so we went back to the hotel after those two stops. The next day we went to the Gaylord hotel, which is where the convention was taking place. This hotel was beautiful. We got settled in there and went to the Smithsonian Air and Space and Natural History museums. Kevin loved the Air and Space museum and Callie's favorite was the Natural History museum. I enjoyed both of them and loved walking around the city. We also went to the Capitol building. On Friday, we spent all day at the Gaylord. We walked around the exhibition hall and I got to speak with a lot of really sweet people. Dawn got there on Friday and we decided we were going to go to the Costume Party later that night. The theme was "America". We had nothing to wear so we found this store that sold all things American. We got a t-shirt, bow, and some seriously cool knee high socks. The party was a ton of fun. They had delicious food and a fun photo booth, which Dawn and I took advantage of....several times. 

Saturday was the BIG day. We had a full house listening to us speak. I was nervous until I hit the stage. Looking out and seeing all of the sweet faces made me feel so comfortable. Like I was just chatting with friends I had known my whole life. Dawn and I had a fantastic time sharing out story with everyone. We even got a standing ovation, which was awesome!!! Later that night we all went out for Mexican food and then took a spin on the Ferris wheel. I wasn't a big fan of that, but Callie sure enjoyed it. 

What a memorable few days we had in D.C. It was such an honor to be invited to speak that this convention. I was surrounded by some very inspiring, brave men and women. I came home with a feeling of empowerment, Kevin came home with some new funny t-shirts and Callie came home with 8 new stuffed animals. All in all, we had a great time!

My Child is a PICKY eater!

My 9 year old is a very picky eater. Meal times were always a struggle and snacks were nothing but junk. When Dawn came along, she changed the way we think about meals and snacks. Now we know that as the parents it is our job to provide our daughter a healthy meal. It is her job to decide whether she will eat it or not. No more power struggle, no more fighting. The meal is what it is. We let her pick what healthy meal she would like us to serve twice a week so she feels a sense of ownership. We also post a list of snacks that are available to her for the week. I already have the snacks divvied out into baggies so she can easily get them. This has made life a whole lot more enjoyable and easier. Plus, my child is now eating fruits and veggies without (much) complaining!!

Ingles Table

I had so much fun doing a segment for Ingles called Ingles Table. I made a green smoothie, which is just like the Green Popsicles we made on the show, just in smoothie form. I hope you will take a minute to go check out the recipe. Just click here to go watch it!

I hope everyone is doing great. I will be going on vacation for the next two weeks!! I will blog again when we get back. Hopefully I will have some fun stories to tell. 

Thumbs Up Man!

We did so many things while filming that were never shown on the actual show. One of my favorite moments was making a shirt with Callie and Dawn. Callie was drawing a picture one day and one of the producers asked her what she was drawing. She told them that she was drawing something that expressed how she was feeling. We went and looked at her picture and it looked like a drawing of someone flipping someone off with both hands. Thank goodness I decided to ask her what it was a picture of before I scolded her for her drawing. It was a picture of her giving 2 "thumbs up". The producers took her picture and surprised us with shirts with the picture printed on it. They also brought fabric markers so we could color our shirts. We had so much fun that day. The drawing then became a running joke between all of us. If we were ever frustrated at anyone we would just look at each other and say, "Thumbs-Up Man!".  Callie and I still wear our shirts. In fact, we wore them yesterday. Our shirts remind us of our fun day together. It also reminds me of the people that I spent many hours with over 14 weeks. I miss the contestants, crew and I especially miss Dawn. 

If you are ever aggravated, but can't say what you are thinking, just give them a big "Thumbs-Up"! 

New Workout

I love going to the gym. I love my Zumba class and I love Pound (this is the class where you pretend to be a rockstar to keep your mind off the pain), but I have been stuck in a routine. I have been going through the motions, but not really pushing myself. I needed something to light a fire under me. I needed something to push me way out of my comfort zone. I needed something that I could do with my husband- he is not a dancer, LOL!  Enter, our new personal trainer. I have known our trainer for about 5 years. She used to teach at our daughter's school. I always loved her energy and her amazing personality. I just happened to run into her at Kroger about a few months after the show ended. I was telling her about the show and how I miss her because she no longer works at Callie's school. She reminded me that she is a trainer, but added if I didn't like to work or get dirty to not call her. This intrigued me, so I called. We set up a trial class for both Kevin and me. We went, we almost died, and we loved it. We are both now hooked. We go twice a week for at least 1 1/2 hours at a time. We do exercises I never thought I could do. I mean, this woman has me doing pull-ups! I am feeling like a total badass and I can't get enough of this feeling. I am starting to see muscles and I can feel myself actually getting stronger. Kevin is loving the workouts too. It is fun to do something together. She even gets Callie to do some of the workouts. It was just what I needed to motivate me to push out of my comfort zone and rededicate myself to being fit. I still go to Zumba and Pound, but I seem to enjoy them even more now, if that is possible. I think I have found the workout routine that works best for me and my body. I am excited to see the results of my hard work. 

Live Well Expo

I was invited by Ingles to go to Asheville and do an InglesTable.com segment and go to the Live Well Expo. It was such an honor to be invited to do these things. We went up this past Friday. We stayed at the Inn on Westwood. This B&B is beautiful. It was built in the 1800's. There are two suites. They have sitting rooms (fancy), a full kitchen, and two bedrooms. It is just a short walk to restaurants and the view is breathtaking. We recorded our InglesTable.com segment in the kitchen of the other suite. I had never done a cooking segment before, so I was very nervous. Luckily the film crew was amazing and made me feel very comfortable. I made Dawn's green smoothie recipe on camera. This is the recipe we used to make the green Popsicles on the show, I just made it in smoothie form. This will be on InglesTable.com soon.  I finished up about 5:00 and then it was time for dinner. We went to a place called NineMile. It is the freshest food ever. I had a salad and a chicken breast topped with pineapple salsa and a small bite of rice. It was delicious. Kevin had the salmon and sang its praises. 

The next day was the Live Well Expo. I didn't really think there would be anyone there that watched the show. Boy, was I wrong. I met so many people that were inspired by the show and the people on it. People definitely related to all of the contestants. It was neat to hear their perspectives on everything that happened. I heard so many powerful stories. People that felt hopeless until they watched the show. People that were sick and overweight, but watched the show and that motivated them to get healthy. I met little kids who watched the show with their parents. Those little ones were a lot of fun to talk to. They seemed star struck and it was the cutest thing ever. I met people that were already healthy eaters, but learned some new tips and recipes from watching. I had people cry when they met me and I had others that had no idea about the show, but just wanted to stop by to tell me how much they love Ingles :). It was a truly humbling experience. I never knew what an impact this show had on people's lives. It was very powerful. I was already grateful for the experience of the show, but after meeting people that actually watched it, I am now even more grateful. It is an amazing feeling to know that I had some sort of hand in changing someone's life for the better. 

I am also very grateful for Ingles. It was an honor and priveledge to do this. The people of Asheville are super friendly and the town is beautiful. If you ever go to Asheville, I would highly recommend staying at the Inn on Westwood. The innkeeper, Molly, will even bring you over fresh pastries in the morning. Kevin and Callie really enjoyed that perk! She had a big basket of fresh fruit that I enjoyed. 

Food Saving

When we grocery shopping, we shop for 2 weeks of food at a time. Many people have asked how I keep my produce good for that long. My secret is a food saver. We use it to keep our lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, and meat good for weeks. My husband cuts up the vegetables and then places them in Mason jars. We have the food saver that has an accessory hose. We use that to seal produce in the jars. It really does work wonders. My mom taught me this trick and it has saved us a ton of money, which we LOVE. We used to put salads in jars, but that seemed to get my lettuce wet and I can't stand to eat wet lettuce, so we decided to put everything in its own separate jar. If you want to see the food saver we use, click HERE.  To see the jar sealer, click HERE. Happy Sealing :). 

Grocery Shopping

When my family and I would go grocery shopping, we would buy a lot of stuff that you get from the middle isles of the grocery store (crackers, cookies, pasta, boxed cereal, granola bars). Now, we shop the perimeter of the store, trying really hard to not go into the middle. We no longer buy any boxed meals, sugary cereal, or granola bars. We buy meat and a ton of produce. We buy so much produce that the cashier and the grocery bagger had a bet going on about our family last night. We had so much fresh produce on the conveyor belt that the bagger thought we were vegetarians. Dawn taught me to always do a cart check. Your cart should look like your plate (25% protein, 25% grain, and 50% veggies). Obviously we are still living by that rule! When we go shopping, we shop for the food we will eat for the next 2 weeks and we do not buy anything that is not on our list. We also NEVER go hungry. As Dawn says, "Hungry people make bad decisions". How true is that!?! If I go to the store hungry, I impulse buy things that are not on my meal planner.  This is never good. Grocery shopping used to make me feel guilty because I bought unhealthy foods to serve my family. Now I leave there feeling proud that I now know how to shop for healthy foods. Staying on track is hard, but the feeling I get from being the best me I can be, is so worth it. 

Keeping It Real!

Yes, I lost 53 lbs. on a TV show. When you have cameras in your face, an expert with you almost 100% of the time, and weekly weigh-ins that will be shown on National TV, it makes it a little easier to lose weight. Now the hard part has started. There are no weekly weigh-ins, no expert with me all the time (of course I still talk to Dawn daily), and $50,000 is no longer at stake. I wake up in the morning and have to tell myself that today I am going to do good. I am going to eat healthy and go to the gym. I'm not going to go out for cake. I'm not going to eat my daughter's candy. At night when I am watching t.v. I have to try hard to not fall back into old habits. My old habits consist of eating ice cream or butter covered popcorn while watching my favorite show. "My Diet is Better Than Yours" is over, but my journey is not. I still want to lose about 20 more pounds. I still have to work at it every single day. I am not perfect. My eating is not perfect. Luckily for me, I have a new found love for myself that I never had before. I enjoy the way I feel. I like that feeling more than the feeling I would get baking a cake. I do still have to occasionally remind myself of that. I have a few tricks that I use when I want to eat something with sugar or something not so good for me. I keep a before and after picture on my refrigerator. I try on clothes that I couldn't fit into a few months ago. I look at old pictures when I was at my heaviest weight. I read sweet Facebook posts that tell me that I am an inspiration. I also leave notes for myself in the pantry. They say things like, "Summer is Coming", "Think Before You Eat". These notes have kept me from making several bad decisions. It's kind of like having Dawn standing in my pantry giving me those disapproving eyes (like the ones she gave me when I didn't want to give up my clothes). My point to this post, is everyone struggles. Everyone has to find motivation. If you don't do great one day, don't give up. Don't stop. Remember why you started. If you have to put notes around your house or paint your nails to keep you from eating, do it. Stay strong and your hard work will pay off. I've added some pictures of what keeps me motivated! 

Shaun T

One question I get asked a lot is "How does Shaun T act in real life?". The answer is, just like he acts in his videos. He is super sweet and extremely motivating. I have been a fan of Shaun for many, many years. I have exercised with him on his videos. I have followed him on social media. I was watching him on Facebook the night before we went to set for the first time and he was doing a video from a hotel room. I said to my husband, wouldn't it be cool if Shaun T was on this show. I mean, I think he is the best fitness instructor out there. I went to bed with that thought in my head, never thinking it would come true. The next day on set all of the contestants were hanging out and talking. Someone asked who we would want to be the host. La'tasha and I both said Shaun T. I was telling everyone what a huge fan I was and how I just loved him. When we got onto set and saw him come through those doors, I almost died. I am seriously shocked I didn't pass out, throw up, or cry. Seeing him was so surreal. I had been watching him on T.V. for years and there he was, right in front of me. He said hi to me and I almost fainted. I had a real fan girl moment. When we weren't filming, and sometimes when we were, he would cut up with us. He is hilarious! During the challenges, he was always there motivating us. Telling us to "Dig Deeper". He truly wanted us to succeed. It wasn't an act for television. He is honestly genuine and sincere. Shaun took the time to get to know us. He asked questions about our lives and our families. He ate breakfast with us and lunch with us most of the time. He is a normal, down to earth guy. He gave us tips and encouragement the whole time. He would come into our holding area just to say Good Morning or ask how our week was going. He took the time to take pictures and sign my shirt. Never once did he act too busy to speak with us. If we were down, he was there to cheer us up. One day I caught him in a room dancing. He didn't stop when I walked in. He just kept dancing and told me one day we could dance together. You can tell he loves what he does and is so grateful that he is in a position that allows him to help people. He has a wonderful support system. Scott was there everyday. He is also very down to earth, even though he is absolutely gorgeous. Scott was always super friendly to us. He gives great hugs and gave them out frequently. He and Shaun make a great pair. I wish they lived here, because I want to hang out with them all the time. I am so honored that I had the opportunity to spend time with them. I mean, I worked out with freaking Shaun T. He told me personally to "Use my core". I will never forget the experience I shared with him. It was a total dream come true. Now, go do some Insanity or Cize!! 

Bra Shopping

A lot of ladies will feel my pain when it comes to bra shopping. I always hated shopping for a bra because I could never get a cute one. It was always big and white with extra large straps. I could never get a cute one because I had to get a bigger bra and I could never find any color other than white. Once I lost the weight, I really needed new bras and panties. I got a gift card to Victoria's Secret. Before I lost the weight, nothing in that store would fit. I was really nervous that I still couldn't wear anything in there, but I sucked it up and went in anyway. I found a few bras that I thought might fit and went to the dressing room. I wasn't sure if they were fitting like they should so I had an employee measure me. I was shocked to find out that they did fit perfectly. I could finally fit into bras and panties at VS!! This was a huge day for me. I am a very practical person and knew that I had no bras that fit. I was only buying one bra that day so I picked out a white one. My husband knows that I have always wanted to wear a cute, colorful bra. He told me to not get the white one and to get the polka dot one that I loved. He said we could buy me a white one in a couple of weeks (those bras are a little pricey!). Since then, I have been back many times to buy more bras. I never realized how fun bra shopping is. Also, a good bra does wonders for how you look in your clothes. When your boobs are up where they should be your waist looks smaller. If you ever go to VS and need to know which bra to buy, I recommend the Dream Angels Push Up bra. I will admit, with this bad boy on my boobs look pretty good. I am posting a pic of me with my old bra on and then with a Dream Angels push up bra on. Holy cow...the difference is crazy!!!

The Gym

I remember very vividly the first time I walked into the gym. I was so nervous. I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know if I would be able to actually do the classes. I didn't know if people would be nice. I really didn't know if I even wanted to be there. I was standing outside the studio door trying to decide if I was going to go to class or go home. When I was just about to turn around and go home, someone smiled at me. She asked if that was my first time there. I said yes and she said it was her first time too. We decided that we would go in together. This was 2 years ago. I have been at the gym at least 4-5 days a week now since then. I have developed some great friendships. The instructors at the gym are fantastic. They are so caring and so supportive. They push me and get me out of my comfort zone and I appreciate that.  I now have a love for the gym that I never knew I would have. If I don't go to the gym, I miss it. I love the way I feel after I workout. I love getting to spend time with my friends. If you go to the gym on a regular basis, please remember this post. You might be the one person that gives someone the confidence to go into a class. Just smiling at them and saying hello might be all they need to feel comfortable. If you have never been to the gym, try it! You just might end up falling in love like I did. 

Preparing for the 1/2 marathon

I have received several emails asking how I prepared to run the 1/2 marathon. I thought that deserved its own blog post. Before Dawn, I liked to run. Kevin, Callie, and I enjoy running 5Ks together. We have probably ran 20 over the past 5 years. That's about as far as I have ever ran. The thought of running for farther than that really intimidated me. Dawn started me on a training program and we also started interval training. I could not run for more than 2 minutes at a time without thinking I was dying. She started me off running for 1 minute and walking for 4. We did this interval for a couple of weeks and then we moved to a 2 minute run, 3 minute walk. When she left, we were running for 3 minutes and walking for 2. This was of training really worked for me. I didn't have to run the whole time, but I was pushing myself to run faster and longer. When Dawn left, Kevin started running with me. He is great at pushing me. He loves to run and is really good at it. He can run for miles and not think anything about it. Me, on the other hand, always thinks I am dying. We went to Tennessee for Thanksgiving. Normally on Thanksgiving we get up early and start eating. This past Thanksgiving we started a new tradition. We got up early Thanksgiving morning and ran a 10K. It was freezing, but so much fun. We really enjoyed doing this. The plus was I got to see my old college roommate, Tara, that I hadn't seen in years. The day after Thanksgiving, my training program said I needed to run 7 miles. Kevin and I headed to the State Park to run. We lucked out and there just so happened to be an 11K race going on. What great luck was that?! The 11k was a little rough, but we pushed through. Before the 1/2 marathon, I was running 3 days a week. The most I ran was 11 miles. I figured I could crawl the last few miles if I had to. Luckily, the training paid off and I didn't have to crawl to the finish line. I actually ran! I will definitely run another 1/2 marathon. The feeling I got when I crossed that finish line was unbelievable. I am so proud of myself! Next time, I will be running with Dawn and Kevin :). 

Make sure you click through the pictures!

Valentine's Day

What are you doing for Valentine's Day? For the past 12 years Kevin would always give me lots and lots of chocolate. One time he even had M&Ms especially made for me. They were so good and so super cute. This year is different. We have decided that he would not give me chocolate. We are going to go out to eat (and I will apply Dawn's "Know Before You Go" Rule). We will also go have dessert somewhere. This is probably my favorite part of the Superfood Swap diet. I love that I can have sweets, treats, and alcohol. I just never eat it at home or alone. I am really looking forward to making smart, healthy decisions this Valentine's Day. I hope that you enjoy the day and make great choices. 

Guess who rode the carousel?!?

My family and I love going to Six Flags. I hate roller coasters, but I do enjoy the kiddie rides! Callie always wants me to ride the carousel with her, but I was always afraid that I was too big to fit on an actual animal. If I did ride it, I would ride on the carriage that doesn't move. After I lost the weight, we went to Six Flags and guess what.... I rode the carousel and I fit. Perfectly. Callie was so excited that I could ride that with her. Kevin doesn't ride the carousel or really any ride that spins, but she talked him into riding the swings with her. Normally, he wouldn't fit into a swing, but this time he did. He hated the ride (he almost puked), but loved that he could fit. I feel like we have a whole new life now because the weight is gone. It is a wonderful new life and I am excited to live it!

I blew it!

I was walking through the mall yesterday and it finally happened. Someone recognized me. This was a total first. This sweet lady said, "You are on TV". I said, "Yes, that was me" and smiled at her. She then gave me a big thumbs up and told me I was her hero. What did I do? Did I tell her how sweet she was to tell me that or how much I appreciate her watching the show?!? Nope, I just smiled and kept on walking. Not because I don't appreciate someone being so kind to me, but because I was so caught off-guard that I didn't know what to say. I have been kicking myself since yesterday. I wish so badly I could go back and hug her and tell her thank you. Thank you for supporting me. Thank you for watching me. Thank you for her kind words. Hopefully she is reading this. If you are, please know that I am so sorry that I didn't stop and talk. Next time (if it happens again), I will be more prepared and definitely friendlier. I will admit though. It was an awesome feeling to have someone tell me that. It really meant a lot to me.