HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last weekend I started getting myself organized for the big day. I cleaned the house and stocked the kitchen pantry and fridge with the things they say I will need. I’m covered.             I also took some time to go through all those cloths I saved for some reason thinking some day,, I might be able to ware them again. I pulled them out and separated them into piles by size. So I will have clothes to ware and won’t have to purchase any new for a while. (I will probably be dressing 80’s for a while) Anyway as I went through the bins and bins of clothes I had stored I came across my ARMONI suit. I purchased it the last time I lost a significant amount of weight on sale at Macy’s about 15 years ago. The pants have a “32" INCH waist and I only got to ware it two times. Once to a friends wedding and once to a company Christmas party. Then I started to gain weight again and ended up packing it away. For some reason I didn’t remember keeping it. I promise I remember putting it in the goodwill pile a number of years ago thinking I would NEVER be that size again.             At the beginning of this little journey, my only goal was getting approval. (six mo ago that seamed impossible) Now not only am I approved for surgery. I am about to have surgery on MONDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But, now I have finally figured out my next goal. My goal is to fit into that Armoni Suit again… I don’t know how long it will take but I do have an idea of how much work will be involved (even after surgery).. But, I’m ready for it.               With that new goal in mind I was wondering what others used to keep themselves motivated… So what was it?? A better Body? A healthier self? Quality time with family and friends? Please share……………………………………… HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

What motivates me is being able to move the way I want to, climb steps, walk through stores without having to sit down, those kinds of things.

Good luck in your journey!

Connie 

Those are good goals.. I didn notice that walking through Spring Hill mall  this holiday season was much easier then last year.  I even parked at the end row of the parking lot.

I want to be able to day hike and snowshoe. As a goal, I want to hike the Dungeness spit this year (five miles each way on sand) and enjoy it!

I also want all the other health and interpersonal benefits that weightloss brings, but being more active is a good symbol of that for me.

Its really funny that you should bring the snow shoe thing up.. About a week ago on one of the morning Chicago news programs they rated the the top winter exorcises... Of course on the top of the list was skiing.  But, they also ranked shoveling snow and walking in snow very highly. They say that if you shovel snow for an hour you can burn around 1500 cals. if you walk in snow you can burn as much as 1200 cal per hour but if you add snow shoes that increases to 2000 an hour. So maybe you're on to something.

Great post!  My goal this year or even next is to try to water ski!  I am so done with being the boat driver!  Also I have pulled my kayak out and will begin using it come May!!  This slow weight loss is so changing my life and softening my heart!!

Happy New Year everyone!!

Ann..just a side note!  I am a avid kayaker, and some of the best times to do it is in the winter and fall.  You just need to invest in a wetsuit so you dont get cold, and a good knit hat.  Then where ever you go, its you, nature and silence....one of my favorite places to kayak is at Whiskeytown Lake in the winter.  Bald Eagles flying, snow on some of the trees.  AMAZING!

I think just knowing you could get into one of those with out the jaws of life to get you out would be worth the whole experience.. That sounds like fun.

Happy New Year!  Best of luck on Monday. I loved your post. I think the suit is a great motivator for your journey. I think the major motivator that I have is improving my health in a way I can measure... less Rx, better doctor visits and no more CPAP!  I already eliminated my diabetes Rx for Glyburide. I had a heart attack and triple bypass 2 years ago. I want to minimize the possibility of recurrence in the future. Keep up your positive thoughts. We ALL benefit from them. -- Tom

Good luck Monday! What motivates me is I wanted to be as beautiful on the outside as my husband thinks I am. He told me when he met me he thought I was a goddess. I also have a 20 year (ACK! Am I really that old) class reunion in 2010 and I want to go looking HOT to rub it in every ones face.