In a bit of shock right now

I just received some sad news that I wanted to share with my friends who go to WW with me.

I am afraid that John Millar from our group passed away last night.

I don't know many details other than he had a pain in his ear and ended up in hospital. He then slipped into a coma for a day or so and passed away.

I can't say I knew John really well but always enjoyed seeing him in Weight Watchers.

While almost everyone said "hi" at the meeting, John always said "Hi Alan". I know that is a silly little thing but it is a silly little thing I always noticed. It somehow had more meaning, especially since I can never remember anyone's names.

He had been a longtime follower of our leader Cindy. Meeting her first at "WW at Work" meetings at Dofasco and then joining our Wednesday night group.

I will miss John.

It is yet again a reminder that our lives are too short to mess around with. We must enjoy every minute we can and take care of ourselves so we have as many minutes as possible.

Rest in Peace John.

Be healthy,

Alan

Getting Back In The Swing Of Things

OK I am back...at least I hope I am.

I am eating well, exercising regularly, and have registered for two more courses at the Institute of Holistic Nutrition.

I am going to try and do things a little differently this time though and make it my goal to lose weight as slowly as possible.

I can lose weight quickly but in the long run it just doesn't work for me...I gain it back just as quickly.

If I lose it slowly it will take me longer to lose it and hopefully by the time I will have established better eaten habits.

That is the theory at least.

So here we go again....onward and downward :-)

Be healthy,

Alan

Posting The Picture

Ok I am keeping my promise of yesterday. I don't particularly like where I am "at" right now but the first step toward changing what you don't like is facing what you don't like.

So here they are...the pics of my current body:

Can I live with where my weight is? Yes.

Do I feel good where my weight is? No.

I don't really need the pictures to tell me to get my act together...the way I feel is already telling me. I don't feel healthy.

The good news is I am on the road to recovery once again. Yesterday and today were good days and tomorrow is going to be even better.

I am going to force myself to be good until I actually feel like I WANT to be good again.

As I said yesterday, sometimes waiting around for motivation simply doesn't work.

Be healthy!

Alan

Motivation

Do you ever lose your motivation to continue?

I do, I have, and I have been there for a while.

It isn't a case of giving up as much as it is a case of getting comfortable with where I am.

Being comfortable is good right?

Perhaps...but perhaps not. It depends on whether or not it is an excuse. In my case it is an excuse.

I say I am happy where I am but then I get up in the morning and look in the mirror and I feel disappointed instead of happy. I think about how I feel inside and I don't have that "bouncy" feeling of health...I have the weighed down feeling of food.

I am NOT comfortable where I am. It is just easier to think I am.

Finding the motivation to restart is hard when you tell yourself you are comfortable. I need to re-find that motivation.

Even my lack of blogging is primarily due to a lack of motivation. I say I am busy but I could have time....if I wanted to.

So I need to turn things around and remotivate myself.

I will start with affirmations. Just stopping a few times a day and telling myself I can do this. I will also do my best to keep my commitments even though they are way past due date.

I haven't posted a picture of myself shirtless on this blog in ages even though I have promised several times. I will take that picture today and post it tomorrow. It won't be pretty...but I will do it.

The only way to remotivate oneself is to start doing the right things. Sometimes motivation doesn't come from within. Sometimes you have to force yourself in the early stages.

It is time for me to force myself.

Be healthy!

Alan

A DAY TO VALUE LIFE!

Hi all!

I know I have said this a million times but I really do hope to get back to regular blogging soon. Things are just so busy lately!

I have been reasonably good (after being bad) so I am not where I want to be weight-wise but it is going down again. I will take a picture on the 12th and post it on the 13th regardless of what my weight is at the time. I have to get back to forcing myself to stay in check.

I couldn't let today go by without posting a message though.

Today is the anniversary of the passing of two people who touched my life immensely. The first is my friend Kelly who passed away August 8th, 1978. She wasn't afraid to be my friend when I was young and no-one else would because I didn't "fit in". I will miss her forever and my heart goes out to her family on this day. Time may help us cope but it certainly does not heal all wounds.

The other is my sister Shirley. She passed away from Ovarian Cancer ten years ago today at the age of 47. I am still having trouble grasping the fact that my life is now longer than hers was. We were a lot alike, I think, and I miss her so.

When one lives with the memories of someone who is no longer here, I think one really begins to understand how precious every day of our life is...and how important it is to have as many "days" as possible. Shirley and Kelly were not as fortunate as us.

We are here, and, to a certain extent it is within our power to stay here.  It is also within our power to be happy. Life is about choice. Let's make sure we make the right ones. I would like to be blogging to you when I am 97.

Be healthy,

Alan

P.S. Shirley's daughters are organizing a team to walk in Shirley's memory at the Ovarian Cancer Walk of Hope. Jamie and I will be walking. If you would like to sponsor either one of us, click on either of the links below. Thank you in advance for your support:

To Sponsor Jamie Click Here:

Donate in Shirley's Memory via Jamie

To Sponsor Alan Click Here:

Donate in Shirley's Memory via Alan