Author: From My Hart

Motivated and Determined

/ From My Hart / 9 Comments

motivation

About two weeks ago I decided to tell the world (okay, technically just those who read my blog) that I weigh an astounding 265 pounds. Hell, I was just as shocked as y’all to not only see it on my scale but to actually admit it on the internet. Most women don’t tell their real age let alone their weight. Yet, I did. I wanted to not only hold myself accountable but to document the process of losing it pound by pound.

Since that blog entry, I have been walking on the treadmill every other day for 45 minutes at an incline (definitely feeling bootylicious these days!), using free weights for my arms/back and finishing with a round of abdominal exercises. I’m not going to lie. Some days are much harder than others, especially with how busy I have been at work. Hell, I even took my tail to the gym yesterday when the temperature was only 16 degrees outside.  I believe I earned a gold star for that one. In addition, I have been drinking nothing but water which is no easy task when you’re used to drinking Diet Coke several times a day. Don’t judge me. I would drink Diet Coke the way most people drink coffee. It was my source of caffeine.

To my surprise, I have kept up the routine and have friends who continuously hold me accountable. Last weekend I really, really, really wanted some bacon, but my dear friend Brandee reminded me it was no longer on my “approved to eat list” unless it was turkey bacon (yuck!). Tonight, I even joined my co-workers for a one-hour long line dancing class. That was a fun way to burn some calories! My boss even joined us! Good times!

So I guess this is the part where I give you my weigh-in results. As of today, I weigh 255 pounds! A whole ten pounds down in two weeks! I don’t’ know about you, but I am freaking excited!

The hard part will be to keep up this momentum and continue to lose more pounds and inches. I have set goals for myself, and, once I reach each of them, I will be rewarded. For example, I want to go skydiving before the end of 2015. In order to do that, I have to be no more than 200 pounds. I believe I can do it, and I will get there.

The struggle is real at times. I am not even going to lie. I know there will be times I will need to stay in the gym an extra 30 minutes because of the piece of birthday cake I may have consumed at someone’s party. I know there will be times when I want just one more martini but will remember my goal weight and have water instead.

My next goal is to reach 230 pounds. When I do, I will let you all know. I am determined and motivated.

 Until next time…….these have been just a few thoughts “From My Hart.”

Goodbye 2014, Welcome 2015!

/ From My Hart / Leave a comment

2015

Well, this is it. The end of 2014 is here, and it has surely been an eventful year.

I lost friendships but gained new ones. I lost weight but then gained it back and then some. I helped to create three mobile apps for my employer (that was pretty exciting)! I celebrated my 34th birthday both in Memphis and Indianapolis (I always go big for my birthday….more on that in a future blog post). I colored my hair red….like serious fire engine red. That was fun while it lasted! And yes, you can have red hair and still manage to look professional. I was introduced to online dating (more on that later). I bought a new car! I had an opportunity to not only attend but give a presentation at a national conference.

This blog entry though isn’t just about what happened in 2014 but what’s in store for 2015! Many new adventures are on the horizon, including my quest to fulfill 35 things on my Bucket List during my 35th year on this earth. I am determined to do things I have either never done or done in quite some time. I am determined to truly live MY life this year. I am determined to smile more than frown. I am determined to laugh more than be stressed. I’m claiming love in my life!

God works in such mysterious ways. As I’m typing this, one of my favorite songs just started playing on my gospel music station. “For every mountain You brought me over…..For every trial You’ve seen me through…..For every blessing…..Hallelujah, for this I give You praise!”

For all things I have had to endure in my short amount of time on this earth, I am truly blessed to still be given the opportunity to see yet another year. And for this, I give Him ALL the praise!

I am really looking forward to 2015! I believe this is going to be an exciting year!

Please be safe tonight and get a designated driver if you are going to drink!

Until next time…….these have been just a few thoughts “From My Hart.”

265? Oh Hell Naw.

/ From My Hart / 6 Comments

Oh hell naw

The season of 2014 holidays is just about over, and there will no doubt be many who look at their beltline and realize they may have eaten two (or three or four) plates too many between Christmas, Hanukkah and Thanksgiving. But let’s be honest. We all know we inevitably gain a few pounds during this time of year just based solely on the amount of food at the work place, holiday parties, etc.

Well, I know I did.

So, what’s the meaning behind the 265? Is it the number of songs on my iTunes account? Naw.  Is it the amount of money in my checking account? Naw. Is it the number of days left before my next vacation? Naw….but close. 

The other day I chose to weigh myself. I purposefully hadn’t done it in quite some time because I knew I had gained weight and figured if I didn’t acknowledge the actual number then it would somehow mean the extra weight really didn’t exist. I know, I know. That sounds crazy even as I type it, but in my mind it made perfectly good sense at the time.

I paused for a moment before stepping onto the scale realizing there was no turning back. I had to take the first step to reclaiming my life and curvaceous body. See, I love my curves. I embrace them. I feel they add to my personality. Unfortunately, life (and all that entails) turned my curves into much more and now I want them back. My hips! My thick thighs! My derrière! My breasts! Yep, all of that!

Okay, okay….I’m once again delaying the inevitable. Yes, I stepped on the scale. I was unbelievably shocked. I was saddened. I was speechless…..well, almost. The scale read 265. Oh hell naw. I wanted to cry. I really did. Instead, I looked at that scale and told myself (yes out loud) enough is enough.

I am a fighter (you’ll learn more about that later in upcoming blogs….duh, I’m a communication professional so of course I have to leave you with a teaser), and I will fight this weight head on. For the last two days, I not only woke up early when I really didn’t have to, but I took my butt to the gym. Talk about a shocking experience….my body didn’t know how to react when I walked through those doors! Nevertheless, I did it. I spent a solid 30 minutes on the treadmill (20 of which was on an incline), and I have to say I was pretty damn proud of myself. It may not seem like much to some of you, but to me it was the first step in the right direction. Hey, you have to start somewhere, right?

Why am I telling you this? Well, for one it is pretty damn therapeutic for me. It’s also a way to hold myself accountable. I mean think about it…..in two months I should be writing about my weight loss instead of gaining another 10-15 pounds, right? But there really is another reason for this blog.

With the new year comes many around the world who make New Year’s Resolutions, most of which are to lose weight. With these resolutions comes an influx of individuals at the community gyms. For those of you who regularly frequent these establishments, I know you absolutely HATE this time of year because the new gym goers take all the treadmills, elliptical machines and free weights. What these people need is encouragement from you. Tell them to keep up the good work. If you see someone sweating profusely and struggling to even walk to the locker room, let them know the pay off will be so well worth it!  

As for me, I have set my own personal weight loss goals, and I will keep my blog updated on my progress.

Until next time…….these have been just a few thoughts “From My Hart.”

Welcome to My Blog!

/ From My Hart / 4 Comments

headshot1

Well, hello there! Today I decided to start my own blog. Scary, right? Writing is very therapeutic actually, and this blog will be an opportunity to take the thoughts in my head and put them into complete sentences for all to read on this here world wide web. 

I guess I should start by introducing myself to anyone who doesn’t already know me. My name is Elizabeth, but my family and good friends call me Liz. Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana (Go Colts! Go Pacers! Go Fever!), I moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 2012…..probably one of the best decisions I have ever made but not for the reasons some might think. More to come on that later.

I am a 5’5 single Pisces who likes long walks along the Mississippi River (that sort of sounds like a dating ad, huh?), and I communicate for a living. Yes, that’s how I earn my paycheck to pay the bills. Who better to start a blog than someone who literally writes for a living, right?

Okay….back to why I moved to Memphis. As you follow my blog, you will learn more in depth about me, but the short answer is I needed to get away from my hometown. I needed to get away from what was familiar to me. I needed to re-establish my identity….both personally and professionally. 

And thus I will begin my blog…..stories and thoughts “From My Hart.” 

 

Alzheimer’s Sucks

/ From My Hart / 2 Comments

Grandmama and me

Alzheimer’s sucks. Yep, it does. It is a horrible, horrible disease I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. I am pretty sure I have said that at least 1,000 times in the last couple of months but even more so after spending the last several days visiting my beloved Grandmama in my hometown of Indianapolis who currently suffers from the debilitating disease.

So, who is Grandmama? 

Grandmama is my maternal grandmother. She is the heart and soul of our family and is by far one of the strongest women I have ever known. From the moment I was born, she has been my biggest cheerleader….even when I knew I had done wrong. When I have needed anything, whether a ride to physical therapy after knee surgeries or a home cooked meal, she has always been there for me.

It’s Grandmama’s fault I started watching Young and the Restless! We used to discuss those crazy characters every weekend when I was a student at Alabama A&M. (Don’t judge me. Yes, I scheduled my classes around the long-running soap opera). 

Grandmama taught me how to play cards. She taught me how (and why) to cut coupons before going to the grocery store. She taught me the importance of making lists every morning before starting the day. She taught me how important it was to exercise the brain by doing word searches and completing (or attempting to at least) crossword puzzles.

Now, this same woman’s memory is fading and fading fast. 

The last several days has been tough to watch her, but I know seeing my face brought her so much joy. Even when I want to cry as reality slaps me (and the rest of my family) in the face, I find comfort in knowing her memory is not completely gone. She still remembers some people and periods of time.

It’s not easy seeing someone you love and have always admired become the latest Alzheimer’s statistic. 

DID YOU KNOW?

  • More than 5 million Americans are living with the disease.
  • Every 67 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s.
  • Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women.
  • In her 60s, a woman’s estimated lifetime risk for developing Alzheimer’s is 1 in 6. For breast cancer it is 1 in 11.

For more information, visit the Alzheimer’s Association at http://www.alz.org/.