Let's Get Serious

by Cara


What a struggle it has been! The last 3 weeks have not been my best, I will admit that. I might have already even mentioned that I am not doing well, just maintaining. Which is something right?


I need some accountability. I need to get back to setting weekly goals. I need action. I am feeling that lazy creeping on me. Today, was my first shift back in dispatch at AMR in about 2 months. I forgot how painful sitting for 12 hours feels. Sure I am sitting at my new job too, but for some reason at AMR there is pain, maybe its the pain of not being there full time that actually hurts my heart and soul but my legs and back were killing me today. So just when I started to feel the aches, I stood up and did a few minutes of squats and side lunges then some tricep-dip toe touches. Anyway. I will remind everyone reading and I will remind myself, NO ONE SAID THIS WAS EASY...if it was I would have already tackled it. 


With that said, using that as an excuse is no longer viable. If it is hard then deal with it. Last week, I only got 2 workouts in. I tracked food only 1 day. And only had one good night of sleep. I did wear my Body Media Fit CORE armband everyday. And I thought about working out...NOT GOOD ENOUGH.


Back to Basics, Weekly Goals:


*4 workouts: Monday w/ Michael. Thursday Treading at 24. Friday w/ Michael. Sunday Twin Peaks Hike. (work Tues. Wed. & Sat.)


*Track all food intake w/ MyFitnessPal--1600 calories per day


*Drink 3 Nalgeen bottles of H2O everyday


*(new goal)Find a spin class to add into the workout rotation 


There are a lot of things coming up. Tomorrow is never any better than today. So as I prepare for this week ahead and the month ahead my goals continue to grow. To everyone looking for inspiration, or that spark to get going or to keep going, its here, its there, it is within anyone who wants it.


Shout Outs: 
My husband, Ryan, is getting his butt in gear too. He is hitting the gym 2-3 nights (or more) every week. He is using the NIKE FUEL Band, and he is my support. I am so proud of him for all the hard work he is putting in. 


Betty: I really cherish our double sessions with Michael. Such a smart way to get fit together.


Nicole: thank you for taking care of my babies. It is hard for me to leave them and I feel guilt leaving them with you and guilt in taking your time. You know how important this is to me, and I really truly appreciate it.


Menne & Angie Bee: I am actually a little jealous of your runs. I am not kidding I really want in.


Fongster and Amanda: I love chatting about what works and getting fit. Thank you for talking with me and fueling my fire for health and fitness.


Michael: thank you for believing in me. 

Dog Days Are Over

"Run fast for your mother run fast for your father
Run for your children for your sisters and brothers
Leave all your love and your longing behind you
Can't carry it with you if you want to survive"

-Florence And The Machine "Dog Days Are Over"

By Cara

This song takes me right back to The Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge in Malibu. Hard to believe that it was over 3 months ago that I was there. Hard to believe how hard I have worked and how far I have come since then. Forty pounds later and I can see such an amazing difference in my entire life.

Today, Brianne and I met with Michael Friedman our personal trainer. We spent 50 minutes in the 24 hour Fitness Spin room. I have never in my life done a spin class. I did today. Just the 3 of us, an empty room of bikes and an awesome play list. Michael is currently training for an Iron Man, which is amazing in itself, but he clearly knows how to plan music to workout to. He taught us how to pedal to the music, allowing the beats to determine the speed of the pedals. Michael got us about 3 quarters of the way through our workout and asked us to focus on the bike and for the next 3 minutes we would close our eyes and listen to his cues. First, think of someone who you know cannot pedal a bike, someone who might have a disability or just is not able to be on a bike. Next, think about who we were 3 months ago, on our first day at the resort. We were pedaling for that person that we were. And lastly, 1 minute pedaling for who we are now, for the strong and the able and for who we are striving to be. WOW!!! What an amazing class we had today. I am so thankful for the chance to train with a trainer, but Michael takes us to another level. I feel like I am pushed hard and I am so thankful for that. 

As I get stronger both physically and mentally I can feel myself push harder, sweat more and feel more accomplished with each workout. I have been getting down on myself, because I have stalled a little in my weight loss. I want to say it was working night shifts for two weeks, or maybe the freaking girl scout cookie season, but there are no excuses. For me it is about tracking my food and getting in 3-4 workouts per week. In the end when I feel like I am failing,  I remind myself that I still have lost 40 lbs...40 POUNDS. That's some good work. I look forward to where I will be even 6 months from now. And to all of you: keep up the hard work. It's not easy, but no one said it would be.

This is my favorite outside workout. One hour hike to Twin Peaks. I am also really liking planking. So Ryan took these pictures of me on Twin Peaks on Sunday. He's a great workout partner too!

{One Hundred Days}

by Betty

Hundred days, feels like a long time when I say it out loud, but in just 100 days, I have lost 50 pounds. I recognize that this is just the start of my journey and that I have a weight loss goal that is still pretty far away, but WOW! FIFTY POUNDS. Cara spoke about our journey beginning back on November 27^th which was 100 days ago. In 100 days, I have changed my entire life. In 100 days, I see things completely differently. In just 100 days, I have taken control of an addiction that was completely out of control. And in 100 days, I have become a girl that believes in herself and the tenacity she has inside her. I am humbled by the experiences and stories I have from these last 100 days, but most of all, I am astounded by the support I have around me. It is in our nature as humans to find each other in the darkest of times and come together to make it through, but to actually feel it first hand is like nothing I have ever known. I have never been more thankful for the people in my life. I have gone back and forth through my years pushing people away. I have always struggled with vulnerability, but I have never been more vulnerable than after committing to this blog. Even more than accountability, this blog reminds me of the blessed life I am able to live every day. I have never felt truly worth the unconditional love and support that I have felt these last 100 days. I know that a huge part of my 50 pound loss comes from the support of the people I have in my life and I do not believe there will ever be words that fully describe the appreciation I have for them.

I decided on November 27, 2011 that my weight loss journey was about life and death. Should I have chosen to not do anything about my health, I know without reservation that I would not have lived very well or very long. I am 31 years old and 100 days ago I felt 71 years old. I wasn’t living. I was dying. In 100 days, I have completely changed how I feel. Today, I am living. Though, I do not hide how hard this journey is for me, I am constantly reminded its brilliance as well. I feel so much better. I feel the weight loss off my knees, back and feet. I feel clean from the water and fresh food. My mind is clearer and my heart is full. More than that, I know what kind of life I want. I want to wake up every morning to live as a dedicated, motivated, compassionate person for this world. I will continue to live in the present, be thankful for the past, and look forward to the future.

As I have said before, the last 100 days have not included pills, powders, deprivation, surgery or magical spells. I have just eaten less and moved more. I am mindful of every moment every day.

Shout Out’s:

I am blessed to have many strong women in my life. Two of which are Gretchen Jackson and Christine Owner.

                  Gretchen…HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I want you to know I have admired you from the moment I met you and feel so lucky to learn from you. You inspire me to be patient and thoughtful. I am so grateful for our friendship and your support.

                  Christine…this is a long overdue shout out. There is no one like you. I feel so honored to share our conversations of designer fashion, beauty secrets, handbags, relationships and Bali. You are a strong, lovely woman who lives fully and I aspire to be the same.

“There is time for work and time for love. That leaves no other time.” –Coco Chanel (Christine has this quote engraved in a bracelet she wears and I adore it).

To my support group…you know who you are…(and if you don’t, read my previous blog post shout outs and future ones too:)…I am who I am today because I feel worth it. I feel worth it because of the people in my life. Sharing life with the family I was born into and the friends that I was destined to love is all I have ever and will ever want. There will never be a moment where I am not inspired to live this life as I am surrounded by such unconditional love, support, humor, intelligence and thoughtfulness. You are all paving the path I walk (and sometimes jog) on this journey and I will forever be grateful.

You and I by Lady Gaga is one of my favorite tunes right now. I dedicate it to you. 

“You and I
You, you and I
You, you and I
You, you and I, I
You and I
You, you and I
Oh yeah!
I'd rather die
Without you and I

C'mon!
Put your drinks up!

We got a whole lot of money, but we still pay rent
'Cause you can't buy a house in Heaven
There's only three men that I'm a serve my whole life
It's my daddy and [San Francisco] and Jesus Christ”

Last, but not least…To me: You have lost 50 pounds. Believe in yourself. Trust the process. Change forever. I love you more than bread and butter.

Tips:

I was told at the Resort by Jessica the nutritionist that I shouldn’t need to take a mutli-vitamin if I am eating the right food. The right foods have all the nutrients and vitamins you need. I ventured out for my weekend shopping trip and tried to select a couple different foods to ensure I get what I need. Tonight, I made a dish with kale. Food is fuel.

Have fun! No I mean, like real fun. Friday night my sisters and I took my mom to see the play Mamma Mia. We ate, we drank and we danced. Enjoy all your days.

“Mamma mia, here I go again
My my, how can I resist you?
Mamma mia, does it show again?
My my, just how much I've missed you
Yes, I've been brokenhearted
Blue since the day we parted
Why, why did I ever let you go?
Mamma mia, now I really know,
My my, I could never let you go.”-ABBA

Fuel for the Fire

This journey started for Brianne and I on Sunday, November 27, 2011. We have been doing this now for 3 months (which is 14 weeks or 98 days). When we began we had each other. We went to the Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge Malibu with each other as our support because we knew that in order to do this well we would need each other once we returned home. Those two weeks were the best money and time that we have spent on ourselves. And when we returned we returned on a lasting high of weight loss and energy and excitement. We did well, we pushed ourselves harder than we ever had, and we had time to invest in our well being. Being "Survivors" of the Fitness Ridge program was enough to help make what we learned stick and last through the first month home.

I have to say that the people that we met at the resort have made the experience that much more amazing. We are surrounded by people who dedicated time to themselves and invested in themselves the way we did. We have so much support from the other guests that were there, but we also now have an amazing network of trainers, a life coach, and former Biggest Loser NBC Contestants that we can access with questions ALL the time. 

Week 1 at BLR. We thought we would die, but survived to tackle a second week. The people in these photos continue to inspire us.

As we get further and further away from our stay at the resort that empowered and successful feeling is getting smaller and smaller. We came home feeling so accomplished and feeling like we were unstoppable. As we started tackling it on our own, trying to make real life schedules work with our plans of weight loss and training, it was clear that this was not going to be as easy as it was for the two weeks we were at the resort. 

For the past month this journey has seemed to take a turn for me. I am not tracking my food the way I was and I am not as strict on my workouts. Yes, we took a huge step of introducing a personal trainer to the mix. And I have to say that Michael has made an impact, if I didn't have him I might not be where I am right now. He pushes me harder than I can push myself and he can even see when I question my ability and he helps me believe. It might be the most important part of my journey right now...believing that I can keep doing this.

And lastly the journey comes full circle because I am now giving eating and fitness tips to other people. Really, I have a long journey ahead (about 60 more pounds to lose). Last night I had the chance to talk to an old co-worker and friend who has just started this tough journey. We talked food, mental ques to help get through the tough moments, and working out. I sat there and was talking about what my life has become and I realized that in sharing this with someone else that spark from the resort is smoldering and when I can give someone else advice or just tell them what works for me it throws a little fuel on my fire, and I am reminded I still have it. I might have moments or weeks that aren't my best but I do have a tried and true routine and process that I can go back to because I know how to do it and I know it works. So I close this post with thanks to my friends and family and encourage anyone reading to ask questions or ask for advice because helping you means I am also helping myself!

{Ronald, You Are Dead To Me.}

by Betty                

 Most everyone who knows me knows cooking is not my strongest talent. If you need a paper written, a CPR lesson, or a laugh, I am your girl, but cooking…not so much. I can make the basics and I can boil water, but I am nowhere near the culinary talents of almost anyone in my family. My mom and Cara are brilliant cooks, Dad and Ryan are great grillers, Steven is in culinary school, and Monica can def get by way better than I can. Nicole might be the only one I can take in the kitchen…’might’ being the key word. (I know she learned some serious lessons after that grilled cheese in the toaster mess). Either way, I am not a wiz in the kitchen which makes me laugh out loud. How does one not cook, but have a serious food and weight issue? Oh right, fast food. (This post is quite embarrassing so bear with me as you always do).

Fast food has been my down fall for as far as I can remember. I don’t recall eating much of it with my parents as a kid, but on my own, I was a dedicated patron of all the greats, Jack, KFC, Taco Bell, Carl’s and especially McDonalds. I have not had any fast food since being home from the Resort. (The last fast food I had was on the drive down to the Resort. Cara and I stopped at a Del Taco and I had diarrhea on the first hike that following day and had to crap in a portable potty in the middle of Malibu, California. Can we say that’s what you F’in get!) Fast food is highly addictive and I know this first hand. I craved fast food more than any other kind of food during my emotional eating binges. People told me that I would never eat fast food again if I watched Super Size Me, a movie about the effects fast food has on the body. I saw the movie and I kept eating it. I also read an article about all the things people have found in fast food…finger nail clippings, packaging materials and pubic hair. Yes, hair from your pubic. You think an article like might stop someone from eating the food. Yea, not me.

I was always so embarrassed to order fast food. I would never go inside, always drive-thru. I would google where I could find a drive-thru just so I didn’t have to go in. I never wanted to admit to anyone that I liked fast food. I know it’s disgusting. I knew it with every bite I would take. It’s greasy and fatty and I am surprised that obesity is the only disease I have. I would “run” up the stairs to my house with the bags and large drink hidden so none of my neighbors would see me. I have hidden the garbage under the seat in my car and felt so ashamed for binging on food that took me 30 seconds to consume. I would easily eat 3000-4000 calories in one fast food meal sometimes more than once a week. Fast food is full of sugar and salt, both food items had me completely addicted. Fast food was the easy way out. I didn’t have to cook. I could just choose what type of food I wanted and drive my car through a little path that ended in a full bag of good smelling food that was already cooked for me. It would curb my emotional responses to stress and anxiety until I fell asleep in a food coma. I would always promise myself that tomorrow I would change my eating behavior. “Yesterday, you said tomorrow” is a quote that resonates deep within me. I am not sure why or how my fast food addiction started, but it’s done with now. I have placed it on my “Never Again” list as part of my past life I will not ever return to again. Fast food supported my addiction on and off for several years. I found what I believed to be comfort in food that was killing me. I now feel detoxed from that sugar and salt, but the emotional triggers I used to have are still in existence. Fearing a complete relapse with one bite, I stay far away from fast food.

Writing this blog, though I know I am now in a different place, I feel such shame. Everyday, I want to live a life worth living. Even back before the Resort, I felt humbled by the blessed life I was given. My parents instilled values in me and my sisters that we try to live out every day. Cara, Nicole and I grew up with parents that would do anything for anyone. They would give their last cent out to someone who needed it more. Because of my parents, I live with a true sense of integrity and work ethic that dedicates me to serving other people. I have seen struggle and sadness, yet I have allowed myself to spend money on food that has set me back several years. Shame is an understatement. It saddens me to think that I have not been living my best life. How do I walk around clearly over fed when there are people in this world, right in the community I serve that are starving? So shameful. So embarrassed.

There are many lessons to learn along this journey and being humbled by every reflection allows me to experience the truth of my reality. I have lived very comfortably with my fast food and soda while others struggle to find food. The Biggest Loser TV show talks about paying it forward. Taking the lessons you learn and doing good for someone else. I have learned that I can’t hide myself under the seat in my car or in my jacket so my neighbors don’t see me. Like with this blog, I need to put it all out there. I met with a non-profit organization in San Francisco called Glide Memorial. It is one of the longest standing, most comprehensive resource shelters in the Bay Area. It serves food 3 times a day, 365 days a year to people who have nothing. They find housing and medical care for homeless and less fortunate every day. Glide serves without judgment or restriction. They turn no one away. I spoke very few words during this visit as I was so consumed by the fact that I have this amazing life filled with possibilities and people and support when there are so many without. To pay it forward, with the help of some truly dedicated and selfless people I work with, we are starting a work group that will begin volunteering time to serve food at Glide. Many of us have struggles of all different kinds. I have eaten too much food, when there are many who eat too little and it’s time that I give back. 

“Love.  Acceptance. Compassion”-Glide

Shout Outs:

Cara: YOU LOST FORTY MUTHA EFFIN’ POUNDS! Good work son. Trust the process. I believe in you.

Mom and Dad (aka Chaz and Grod) Thank you for instilling values in me that help me see how lucky we are in this life. I am forever grateful for every ounce of support and unconditional love you give me, Cara and Nicole.

Victor Cruz! Not a day goes by that I am not inspired by you and your fitness journey. Thank you for being my long distance workout partner.

Michael Friedman, our patient yet ass kicking trainer: THANK YOU for making Cara and I a priority. We choose LIFE BY TRAINER!

Heather A: That picture you sent me this week made something very clear for me... Though I have a lot more weight to lose than you did, I believe it can be done. I can’t wait to send you my pics. Thank you for inspiring me.

To Ronald BitchAss McDonald: I will try to avoid blaming you for the weight that I have put on since you didn’t force feed any of it to me, but I can be angry at you. Ronald, you and your stupid costume and stupid fries are DEAD to me. Good bye.

Tips:

It is important to be present on your journey. Reflect on what is different about your life as you go. Make changes when needed and do what works.

If you have a roof over your head, food in your kitchen and a potty to crap in, find it in yourself to do some work for others that have nothing.

Kill fast food before it kills you.  

Dropping Emotional Weight

"Its all so real. These are real emotions that are going on. Some of these people have held all their emotions in. Now they have to get them out there, fess up and acknowledge their emotions." -Bob Harper

This week on the NBC Biggest Loser Show emotions got the best of them. And I share this quote from Bob Harper because emotions are a huge part of losing weight, but your support system is even more  important. You need to trust those around you and you need to believe that they will support you along this journey. I was extremely disappointed in this weeks episode, although I have been disappointed with this seasons show in general, I can see myself in them and I know where they are coming from right now. No one said this was easy.

As the weight continues to drop I am realizing that there is a huge emotional weight that comes off too. For the last few weeks as I plateaued a little and as I started my new job I found myself in a very emotional place. I have been feeling great physically as I started meeting with our trainer Michael Friedman. But with so many changes to my life both schedule wise and weight wise I started feeling overwhelmed. That was about 4 weeks ago. Since then I have changed my thinking. I am doing so much better. I also went back to where I was when I felt in control of my weight loss. I realized that for a few weeks I had not been tracking my food in and I was not committed to my 3 workouts. So last week I focused on those two things. I worked out twice with Michael and twice on my own doing 40 minutes on the treadmill. I also tracked all my food in MyFitnessPal app on my iPhone. These are the 2 things that I need to keep up on and I know that I am on track. The four weeks that I was not doing these things I was losing 1-2 pounds. Last week when I focused on these 2 things I went back to what I was losing the first 2 months of my weight loss, I lost 4.7 pounds!

Update: I have officially lost 40.3 pounds! 

Since November 27, 2011. (12 weeks)

When I posted this information on Facebook I was surprised that people actually asked how I was doing it. Hello, I have this blog...this abundance of information and tips and tricks...use it! So I thought I would post exactly what it is that I am doing, using and believing in. 

1. I spent 2 weeks and learned all of this at the Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge in Malibu, CA. If you can go. If you can afford missing work for a week or 2 or more and afford the stay...GO! It honestly was the best time and money I have ever spent on myself. And I know that I want to go back at some point. 

2. I eat 1600 calories a day. I am loving all kinds of fruit, salads and our whole family is trying new things, like more fresh fish and grains like quinoa. Lots of greek yogurt and WATER.

3. Working out 3 times a week. I now am working out twice a week for 50 minutes with our trainer, Michael Friedman at 24 hour fitness. I love those workouts, they kick my but my arms my legs and my mental game. Yesterday I PB'd (personal best, not peanut butter) at 8.0 sprint on the treadmill. In the end even if you think you are working out well on your own, you cannot push yourself the way someone else can. I also get in 1-2 additional cardio workouts on my treadmill at home, a walk through the neighborhood or the gym with Ryan. 

4.  I wear a BodyMedia Fit CORE armband. It tracks my calories out, my steps taken, the time I spend working out and how hard I workout. I use it to make sure that I am burning more than I am eating. And it holds me accountable so that I know when I need an extra workout or if I need more sleep. 

5. Subway. Eat Fresh. This is a treat for me, but it is also good for me. I eat a 6 inch sub no cheese no mayo, and loaded with veggies and the low fat honey mustard. I feel like when I get at least 1 subway a week I am not actually denying myself of anything. 

There are no gimmicks, pills, powders or tricks up my sleeve. It is what we all know how to do. Self control, making mindful eating part of every bite you take.  I know and you know that a grilled chicken breast on a salad with dressing on the side is a better choice than a whopper or a pasta dish. I know that I was gaining weight because I sat around instead of getting up and moving. 

EAT LESS. MOVE MORE. 

It's that simple.

 

 

{It's Worth It}

by Betty

To echo Cara’s last post “Reality of Life”, life does get in the way. And to clarify, I am a busy person, but no one is busier than a parent. I am lucky in the sense that my time is MY time. I can be quite selfish in how I structure my day, my food and my workouts. (How breeders do it is beyond me.) But that doesn’t mean I have it much easier. I repeat how hard it is many times in my blog posts because prior to starting my journey I would read all these sticky sweet bio’s of people who lost hundreds of pounds, but nothing about how hard it was. All the magazines that feature people losing weight, all the famous success stories like Jennifer Hudson…nothing about their struggle. I would always wonder how people dealt with the hard days. But you never see a magazine article describing their doubt, tears, anger or shame. Just “Oh Hi, I was fat and now I am not and I eat oatmeal now”. Well, I am still fat and still struggle and don’t want to hide that. Especially, if there is even one person reading this blog in need of real motivation and inspiration…if you are like me, you want to know that it’s hard for the people that are on track and trying. Don’t feel like you are the only one doubting the possibility of success. I do every day. I’m sure this doesn’t surprise anyone, but I refuse to sugar coat this journey. Sugar is one of the reasons I am unhealthy, so there will be none of it here. THIS SHIT IS HARD. It’s hard every-effin’-day. But nothing worth anything is going to be easy. I don’t expect it to be easy either. I have an addiction to food and I notice it every day. I still struggle with emotional eating. I can tell when I am eating because I am upset or fearful or stressed out. That type of eating is not healthy for me mentally, but I refuse to eat anything unhealthy. I have not binged, but I have caught myself many times eating my apple or rice cake because of an emotional response. I log all of those incidents as instructed by Essara, my BL Resort Life Coach who I still channel and text anytime I need her. I have many triggers in my life that make we want to turn to food. However, triggers have changed since I have returned home from the Resort and though food is what I know, my coping mechanisms have changed as well. I do a lot of focused breathing throughout the day to clear my mind. I try to do so much and I must realize it’s just not all possible to have everything as I want it to be as quickly as I need it to be. Same with my weight loss. It will not happen overnight and I don’t expect it to. There are things I do every day that contribute to my success on this journey and I will share a few here:

I sweat. Let’s face it people, working out SUCKS! There is little I dislike more right now. But not one day goes by where I don’t do something to burn calories. Michael Friedman, our personal trainer has been pivotal in our lives as I never find myself sweating or breathing as hard on my own. Cara and I are working out with him together for now and the goal is 2 times a week with Michael, 5 times a week on our own. Move your ass people. It’s the only way. (Even if sometimes I would rather poke my eye out with a hot, Tabasco dipped fork.)

I eat 1400 calories a day. I have been getting a little frustrated with food recently because I feel like I have been eating the same stuff over and over again. However, every time I feel myself start to get pissed off at ground turkey and spinach, I remember food is fuel. It doesn’t have to be glamorous. It just needs to be the right stuff. Find what works and eat it. Ground turkey and spinach work great for me. The trick for me is to never find myself without food. I always carry a low fat string cheese, a piece of fruit (usually an apple so it doesn’t get nasty in my bag) and a 100 calorie package of nuts. Food is one of the hardest parts for me, but it is critical that I renew my relationship with food. I owe lots of love to that lady Jennie-O.

Be mindful of everything. This is the key for me. Be aware and don’t allow yourself to give up. I drive past McDonald’s every day and no one would know if I just stopped in for a little visit, but then I remind myself of how I used to feel after eating that crap (gut rumbles and acne) and I know that’s part of my past. Drive on past.

Stay connected to other people who are working just as hard. Working out with my sister is one of the greatest things I am doing right now to stay connected. Granted we are sisters and whether I workout with her or not, she is a huge support, but being next to her during a Michael workout makes me want to be there. I see Meg and Heather and Kelly and Keith and Tracy and Amanda all working so hard and I know this is what I should be doing for myself. There are so many people who have contributed to my every day and I am so thankful.

Update: my scale is broken so I don’t have an updated number for you, but I fit in clothes I was ready to give away a few months ago and I can feel the stress off my knees. I can feel the change and that is all that matters. Trust the process.

SHOUT OUTS:

Jessica Johnson: my lovely friend. As Cara described in her post, Jess sent us amazing little gifts that are true to her generosity and unconditional support. I worked many hours on an ambulance with her hubby, Dave (Mighty 265 fo life). Dave and Jessica are two people that I never want to live without. There are people on this planet that make it better for everyone else, and they are two of them. Thank you, Jessica for thinking of us and supporting us every day. I love you more than life.

Lisa Peterson: a work friend. Your phone call this week to me was so timely. Thank you for checking in on me and my struggles. You have always been such a support and it helps so much to have someone who understands what stress our work brings. Our weekly phone call vent sessions have saved my mental state.

Jonna Hensley: HAPPY BIRTHDAY (yesterday)! You are one of the reasons my life is so great. Your friendship and insight have changed me to be a better person and I can’t wait to live the rest of our adventures together. Enjoy every moment of your life. You deserve it.

To Sarah Nitta…(We met Sarah our 2nd week at BLR. Sarah was on Biggest Loser Season 11 and now works at the Resort in Utah) on many of my hardest days I remember that Dog Park hike you walked with me and I cried the entire way. You reminded me that days will be hard and it’s all in the attitude you have that helps you get through them. I dedicate this post to you and thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your story with us. You are a true inspiration and I will forever hold you in my heart.

Please take a moment to view Sarah’s story. I have never been more moved by anything in my life. She is an amazing lady and I can’t actually believe I can call her a friend. She has helped me save my life. Her sister captured a You Tube video that gives you an idea of her journey.