Christmas Countdown Challenge (Closed) - Week #13

The past 3 years I feel like my whole life has been falling apart around me. I have lost 4 family members, fired from a job I put my heart and soul into for 6 years (over something supid), and I've been 4 months without a job and my savings are pretty much gone now. The past two night I've been going to bed at 3am because my mind wont shut down. The only thing good right now is that i am losing weight and I am starting to see a difference. It is so very hard to put aside life problems and give yourself a minute to yourself. I am sorry I haven't been active (besides weighing in) but I have been so depressed and I didn't want to bring any bad vibes to this great group. That has always been my problem....keeping things to myself.....I want to change that! I am looking foreward to this weeks challange. Thank you Jenn!

Oh you poor thing. Don't feel like you are bringing bad vibes to the group. This is a support group after all. If you need to chat or vent feel free. I hope you can look up and things get better. ((Hugs))

Hello Hello Hello!!!! And awwwaayyyyyyyy we gooooo!!!!




Ok, so first off... The positives....

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THOSE WITH A LOSS THIS WEEK!

Craft338... Welcome to Onederland!!!
Abeks... AWESOME 3 pound loss!
Kristinkt... Hit the 20 pounds lost mark! And 10% total loss!!!
Neize... Broke into the 140's!


Now... I want to be honest. I was a little more than disappointed with the last week. We had 16 people that didn't weigh in at all and three of them for two weeks straight. But that's not all...
Take a look at the bottom of the chart where it gives the total lost for the week. LESS THAN 15 POUNDS BETWEEN 44 PEOPLE!!!! Our normal weekly loss is between 40-48 pounds and this week was less than 15!!!

Now, I am just as much to blame for these disappointing results. I let life literally kick me in the *kitten* for the last two weeks. Between crap at work, crap at home, and life in general, I found ways to justify bad choices. It wasn't until today that I realized... THERE IS NEVER A JUSTIFICATION FOR A BAD CHOICE.

I don't want to be negative, I want to leave the past where it is because nothing can change it now. I want to move forward and make better choices everyday. But I want to know that you are all with me. I didn't hear much feedback on the challenges. Did you complete the physical challenge? Anyone call an old friend? What was the outcome?

I am sad to see so many of us having personal challenges that aren't allowing us to focus on ourselves. But what I need from you is to know what I can do to help you... To help ALL of us! So tell me... WHAT CAN I DO? It is so important to give yourselves time for.... YOURSELVES! You can't give your all to anything without time for self-reflection and attention.

I had a whole different set of challenges for you this week but I have decided to change things up a bit. I think it's time to refocus our energies and attempt to create some intentional balance in our lives.

PHYSICAL AND PERSONAL CHALLENGE
Yes, together. Your challenge this week is MEDITATION. Give yourselves some time for some inner reflection. Allow your mind and body to release. Free yourself from the extenuating circumstances for just a few moments and find that you can think clearer, your breathing has changed, and your soul is refreshed.

I am including these links for reference. I thought meditation just involved sitting quietly and relaxing but it is so much more than that. The busy-ness of your mind can take over quickly without an intentional interruption of its normal flow.
Check these out:
http://youtu.be/e0rSmxsVHPE
http://youtu.be/2_a-Yh5FTaE
http://youtu.be/GZciXriOPi8

I can't put a time frame on your inner peace. So my challenge to you is to meditate each day this week. How long? That all depends on you...

I apologize if this post comes across as a downer. That is not my intention AT ALL! I do NOT want to be negative, and I surely don't want any of you to feel that way either. Let's take this week to refocus, take a breath, and take it into next week with a new outlook.

As always... I love you all!!!

Thanks Jenn! I'm so happy to be in the 140s!!! :happy: I'm back on the grind and meditation is just what I need!

So this week I started 30 day shred along with Turbofire - again! :laugh: And I must say that after all that I feel amazing! I'm hoping the week continues this way and I don't hit rock bottom one again :grumble:

I've never considered meditation. Reason being I can't shut my mind off, but I will definately try. I'm sure it will help with the constant stress in life.

We are in the process of adopting our son. He has been living with us since March, and our lives have taken a definite change with a new member in the family. He was in my 3rd grade classroom last school year, and it was heartbreaking to see him shifted from family to family with promises of adoption but no follow throughs with a permanent home for him. This Thursday we have our first court date and get one step closer to permanency. We are pretty excited as a family.

And -- really -- all of that is to lead up to some of the lessons we have been working with him on coming back to preaching to myself. I have really been emphasizing "with priviledges comes responsibilities" as well as "choices have consequences." The more I think about it the priviledge of indulging in a treat once in a while comes with the responsibility of portion control and exercise. The choices I make everyday about what I will pick up to eat, how much I eat, when, how long, or if I exercise all come with consequences. Some are wonderful consequences which we refer to as NSVs while others often send me into despair.

I am tired of making excuses for myself because I have seen myself slip from excuses to not really caring so many times in the past. One thing I have loved about MFP is that I don't feel like I have to feel guilty for an off day, since one day does not have to break the lifestyle I have chosen. I didn't gain the weight over night. I won't lose it overnight. But - over time developing a habit of healthy choices will take it off bit by bit.

These are some of my motivators. I hope they can help encourage you too.

Good luck on the adoption process. Glad to see your going to give him a good and permanent home. I just completed the adoption of my step daughter today, I'm excited that we are now "legally" a family. Since that's really what adoption is, paperwork to legalize a family that's already formed a bond.