The best of 2013

As 2013 comes to an end, I find myself scrolling through my Facebook page, and pictures seeing all that I have been blessed to be apart of this past year.  So here is my top 15 of 2013:

1: I made a huge life decision and switched church families.  It was hard to leave my familiar roots, and my comfort zone, but my Abundant Life Church family welcomed me with open arms, and truly set me up for such and amazing year from my first day there!

2:  My little man turned the big #4 this year.  He had an awesome construction theme party with family and friends.

 

3: I joined a gym and started to make a solid effort to work on my health, not only for myself but my family as well.

 

4: I re-connected with a dear friend from High School, Heather Holcomb, who shared her passion and heart with me, and helped me continue my health journey but with a whole new attitude about my WHY! ( Week one on program)

 

5: I got connected with an amazing Lifegroup through church, and have been able to heal, and move forward with my life, not hanging on to the past anymore.

 

6:  I started running!  To my amazement I LOVE TO RUN!!!!

 

7:  I competed in my first 5k run with my wonderful cousin Corrie - We ran in the Electric Run at PIR it was awesome!!!

 

8:  I ran in the 5k Foam Fest with Heather, Lauren, and Corrie! It was pure awesomeness!!

 

 

 

9:  My sweet daughter turned 6 years old and became a first grader at Corbett.  She has the same teacher I did when I was in first grade!!

 

10:  My mom and I did our annual Race for the Cure this year.  18 years down....looking forward to another 18 years.  This year also was the first year I did the 5k run, and then met up with my mom and kiddos and walked with them.  It was awesome.

 

11:  Miss Kaylee accepted Jesus Christ into her heart and was baptized. It was truly an amazing experience to help her along this journey.  She is such an inspiration, this girl is going to do amazing things as she continues to grow!

 

12:  I completed the Not A Fan series through my church, and it took my relationship with Christ to a whole new level.  I also became a member of Abundant Life Church, truly a blessing to be apart of such an awesome, inspiring and wonderful family.

13: I officially stepped out of my bubble, and became confident in myself as a daughter of Christ, a mother, a daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, cousin, and so much more.

 

14:  Celebrated another amazing Thanksgiving with my wonderful family, and really treasured the time spent with my Grandma.  Her memory is not what it used to be, but playing a game of cards made me look back on what an amazing person she is and be truly blessed to be so close to her.

 

15: Loosing almost 100lbs (I am .6 away from 100lbs gone)  What an amazing year of overcoming so much and truly finding myself in the wonderful, and amazing process.

 

Blessings to all of my family and friends.  You all have inspired and encouraged me through this year.  All I can say is bring on 2014, talk about a year full of awesomeness about to happen! 

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR from my family to yours!!!

What's your WHY?

It had been almost 10 years since my health coach Heather and I had talked to, or even seen each other.  When she made that first phone call to me I could tell she was truly passionate about what she was doing, but more importantly she was there to build a friendship.  As our conversation went on and we slipped easily into the good old days of high school and band trips, not once did I think she did not have a heart of gold for me.

When she started to share her health journey with me, she asked me my "WHY".   Molly why do you want to regain a healthy lifestyle?  

As I think back to our conversation I am trying to remember all the details about my answer to her and the one that sticks out the most is my kids.  At this point my daughter was 5 1/2 and my son had just turned 4.  I could not carry them for long distances without getting short of breath.   I could not chase them outside and run around with them.  I disliked going on long walks because it was too hard to keep up.  I hated to go swimming, and really just did not like doing anything active with my kids without grumbling inside.  I had a few other why's that I identified but my kids were definitely at the top of the list. 

When I joined my gym in February 2013, I was not asked my WHY.  I was given a outline of where I needed to be and some tools to start with.  Yes that was helpful, but identifying the WHY in my life is what made me turn around and re-think how I was going about my journey towards health.  My WHY gave me a reason, a purpose, and a focus to keep moving forward and to adapt a healthy lifestyle that would overflow into my children as well.

Identifying the WHY is a very important step in anyone's journey towards health.  It sets one up for success, gives one purpose, and something to look forward to.  I am now able to chase after my kids.  I can carry them, sometimes both at the same time, through the zoo.  Going on a walk is now peaceful and enjoyable, regardless of the weather.  And swimming,  I have nothing to hide from anymore and enjoy any chance I get to swim with my kiddos.  I don't grumble inside when I think about playing with my kids, but more I am trying to figure out ways to be active and challenge myself with them.

What is your WHY?  Do you ignore stairs, because you know you are going to get short of breath?  Do you drive around the parking lot to find the spot nearest the front of the store because it is too much to walk that far?  Are you on the verge of having diabetes?  Are you at risk of cholesterol issues or heart problems because of your weight?  These are all WHY's I identified at one point or another in my life, but now no longer have worry about as I have kicked them to the curb!

Starting January 1, 2014, how would you like to join me in a 12 week transformation.  I will come along side of you and help you identify your WHY, and then help you get started on a program that can change your life forever.  Not only will I get you started on the program but I will join you in the transformation as well.  Let's identify the WHY now, and work together to create a happy, healthy lifestyle for your future.

Merry Christmas

I have to say my week did not start out great.   I was not really in the Christmas spirit, but was making an effort for my kids.  Although I might have seemed jolly, and happy I was not feeling it on the inside.  Last night as I was wrapping the last of my gifts for my kids and watching Miracle on 34th Street, I realized I was the one choosing to be in "Grinch" mood.  Nobody was putting there it was my choice.  I was not focusing on any of the positive's that had happened only the one negative.   Right then and there I decided I needed to take a few minutes for me and just pray.  I had neglected that the past couple days in all the craziness.  So I literally got down on my knees and just gave it all to God.  I mean the true meaning of CHRISTmas is Jesus Christ coming to earth for me.  Once I was done praying I had the sense of "its all ok" feeling and everything else did not matter. 

I have been that way ever since.  It truly is a blessing to be a daughter of Jesus Christ.  He will always provide for me, regardless if I can not physically see how He is working in my life, He always is. 

We can choose to be in a "Grinch" mood, we can choose to be happy, go-lucky, and jolly on the outside but feel completely empty on the inside. I was empty for so long in the inside, and not only did I suffer from it, but my family did too.  I have been reflecting on that this Christmas season, and realizing how truly blessed I am to have a family that regardless of my "deadness" they still loved me and supported me. 

So here is to a year full of blessings, me reaching a weight of 184lbs, giving me 4 pounds to get rid of and I will have reached 100lbs gone.  And huge satisfaction in knowing I only have 39lbs to shed and I have reached my goal weight!!!!

2014 cannot come soon enough.  It is going to be an EPIC year of transformations!!!

Who's going to join the awesomeness that is about to take place across America!!!

Once again Merry Christmas, and many blessings to all my family, extended family, friends, and facebook friends.  May you all feel the blessings this holiday season!

Why wait till January 1.......START NOW!

Are you thinking about your New Year's resolution yet?  In the past mine typically started in late November early December and would change weekly, sometimes daily.  Last year my New Year's resolution for 2013 was to find a new church family.  

I had a friend who had invited me to her church for months, and I kept saying no.  I was holding on to familiar roots and did not want to let go.  I did not want to branch out and try something new.  Story of my life, stick with the old......the new is not for you.  But when 2013 started I decided I needed a change.  I went to Abundant Life Church for the first time on Jan 6, 2013.  Now if you were there on that day sitting towards the back left and you saw someone wearing a white blouse with jeans and brown shoes who had the "deer in the headlights" look, than you saw ME!!!!  I felt like I was the only person in the room.  Like the senior Pastor was only speaking to me.  "Thrive" was the series Abundant Life started 2013 off with and WOW was it amazing.  

This one resolution that I followed through with was a huge turning point in my life.  I began to grow spiritually, I began to embrace life, I began to be a better role model for my children, but most importantly I realized I needed to make a change for myself regarding my health and eating habits.  I joined a gym in Febuary and while I embraced it, I still was not 100% committed.  

Jump to June 10, 2013 when I started my transformation.  This was not the easiest process, but I was committed.  I started to really open up to my health coach, and share things about my personal life that I really did not share with anyone.  I slowly started to peek out of the box I had been in for so long and see the beautiful light all around me.  

It has taken time for me to embrace and fully love this new healthy lifestyle I have gained.  Now that I have, why hide it any longer.  In 2012 I would hide from anyone, and everyone.  I would hide with a bowl of chips and just eat.  In 2013 I started to see the light all around me, I tossed the bowl of chips out the door and committed to a transformation not just for me but for my family as well.  And for 2014 I want to help you, your family, your friends and your neighbors see the light, step out of the box, and toss the chips away and create a transformation just as I did.  

Give me 90 days.......We will go on a transformation together, and in the end only greatness can come out of what we have accomplished.,  WHO'S IN?

So many numbers

Really.....you are going to talk about numbers?  Yeppers I am talking about numbers, but you will see the importance of these numbers as I count them down to you...Here goes nothing:

280 - That was me at my highest weight (not my favorite number, however it is a number I will never forget because it shows me where I will never be again and how far I have come)

189 - My current weight :):):):)

145 - 150 - THIS IS WHERE I WILL END UP - WEIGHT LOSS GOAL 2014!!!

91 - That is how much weight I have lost from my heaviest!  Holy buckets - in 9lbs I will be in the onederful land of 100lbs gone!

48 - That was my BMI when I started this journey towards health.

44 - How many pounds I am going to shed to get to my ultimate goal 145lbs!

32 - That is my BMI now - and this number will go down, just wait and see!

27.5 - How many inches I have lost since June 10, 2013

24 - That was the largest pants size I could barely squeeze into at my heaviest (not a number I ever want to see again when it comes to buying clothes)

12 - My current pants size but not for long

4 - How many months it took me to join a gym after being diagnosed with sleep apnea

3 - How many 5k races I did this year (Next year I will double this number and there will be a half marathon in there too!!)

2 - This accounts for the two precious children I have and the reason I will continue to live a healthy life and share it with others.  

Saving the best for last...............................

1 - It took one amazing friend, Heather Holcomb, to share her story, her passion, her love, her faith, and her heart with me.  She reached out to me, and has been walking along side of me and my journey ever since.

It only takes one person (THANK YOU TO MY HEALTH COACH - HEATHER) to come along side you and support you in a journey.  With my one, I have gained so many new friends and now have a whole team behind me, and I behind them as we all work together to create optimal health not only for ourselves but for others as well.

If you need just one person, then I want you to close your eyes, and picture me jumping up and down saying "pick me, pick me, pick me, pick me."  Because as you picture this, that is exactly what I am doing.  Let me be the one person who brings a whole community behind you, just like my one person did for me.