Diet Update

On the morning of day ten I weighed in. My total loss is now 14 pounds. Wow!!!! Can you believe it?? Next update in one week.

My Girls

My second born Meghan Kathleen Champion turned 21 yesterday, April 12th. She was so nervous but she doesn't know why. We went to a local casino and had dinner and drinks. The food was great and she opened presents. There was about 15 of us. We had a good time. At some point Meg came back to the table and said she was bored!!! Can you imagine?? She always has been my bored child. But here you are in a casino and you are 21 and you say are bored!!! Oh Meghan....I was speechless!! Meghan can be described as a quiet, hardly know she is there person. She is very layed back and easy to get along with. She doesn't always have alot to say but isn't a doormat either. She is kind, forgives easily and oh yeah gets bored easily. She is engaged to be married to Justin Nastansky on Nov. 4, 2006. She is a Certified Nurses Assistant (CNA), working at a nursing home and attends school to achieve a degree in nursing.

Her sister, Erin Kelly Champion McGuire is totally opposite. Erin will be a quarter of a century old this year on August 1st. Erin is gregarious, fun, loud, opinionated, and a lot of times over the edge. The two girls look like sisters, think like sisters, often liking the same things without the other knowing it yet they are total opposites. Erin was and is very athletic and competitive. Meghan is not interested. She on the other hand played the clarinet and piano. Erin was married to Mark Anthony McGuire on January 3rd, 2003. Mark is in the Army and they currently live in Germany. Erin works and takes classes, mostly on line to get her degree finished. She likes to try things. Recently she tried boxing but gets too roughed up and gets a headache. She has always liked to fight and wrestle around. Erin is crazy and proud to be!!!

I love spending time with both girls. We do totally different things and each relationship is different but equal. I love Erin's craziness, in your face, say how it is girl but that can also cause problems. Her and I are the most alike so we can be at opposite ends with each other. With Meghan it is much more level and even keel. I wouldn't change a single thing about either one of them. I love their differences and their likenesses. They are both caring, loving and generous young women. I couldn't be more blessed. I love my girls!!!!

It's Time to Loose 20 Pounds+

Last Sunday, April 3rd I embarked on a new program to cleanse my body and loose some weight. It is called ISAGENIX. A friend at work has lost 51 pounds since September 2004. I thought, what do I have to loose but some money (and some weight!!) so I jumped in with both feet. I had already spent a year paying for Curves which I hardly used so I might as well be willing to throw my money at something else.

With the husband's approval and support I started a nine day program. The first two days are cleanse/fast days. All you get is the Cleanse for Life juice 4 times a day with water along with two accelerator capsules. You can also have up to six of their snacks. You must drink your water, at least 8 glasses. If you get really hungry you can eat celery or apple slices. I made it through the two cleanse days feeling great!!!! Hungry but great. Now I am on day 4 of 5 drinking two shakes a day, 2 accelerator capsules and one sensible meal (400-600 calories). You can still have the snacks too. The last two days will be a repeat of the first two.

I have already seen the changes!!!! I did measurements before and pictures (uck!!) I have weighed myself once and have lost 12 pounds!!! I will weigh again after day nine. I am pretty pumped and motivated. I've decided to blog my progress so stay tuned. If this peaks any interest look at www.isagenix.com .

Something to Blog About

Okay, so I haven't followed my own advice and written down my thoughts. So it's been awhile.....Sometimes there is so much to talk about that I can't put it down. It runs through my head and I have this great entry written....in my head. It's like anything else. Taking the time and making choices. Today I choose to blog.

Are you Stressed?

I really must share this article from the Ladies Home Journal by Megan Cherkezian:

The'Write' Way to Reduce Stress

When taking a deep breath and counting to 10 aren't enough to stem your stress, try putting pen to paper. "Writing down your feelings helps you stop dwelling on past events, which reduces stress and allows for better sleep" says James W. Pennebaker, Ph. D., professor of psychology at the University of Texas, in Austin. In fact, researchers at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, found 21 cancer patients slept longer and with fewer interruptions during the night after venting their feelings on paper compared with 21 patients who wrote about their diet and exercise.

To stop stress from stealings your ZZZs, Dr. Pennebaker recommends setting aside 20 minutes each day for four consecutive days to write. Find a place where you won't be distracted, and pour out your thoughts without stopping - or worrying about spelling or grammar. It's not the puctuation, but the release of feelings that will make you feel better and snooze more soundly.

That's what is so great about blogging. If you're not into journaling this is a great way to get all those things on your mind off. My daughter Erin has strong opinions and I think it's great that she can get them down in print to share with others and also reduce stress. Here's to blogging and sleeping better.

Goals vs Resolutions

It always seems there is alot of fuss about New Year Resolutions. People make all these promises to themselves or others and more than likely don't succeed at keeping them. For years now I have called these resolutions, "goals". If you make the goals small enough they are easier to attain and then set another goal. A resolution is too broad, not defined enough. Here are some Top 5's that I have for myself.

Top 5 Goals for 2005:

1. Spend more time with God
2. Loose 20 pounds
3. Read 20 minutes a day
4. Save $200 more a month
5. Love my husband more (ie. sex)

Top 5 Things I'm looking forward to in 2005:

1. Watching Emma grow. (our granddaugher)
2. Visiting Germany to see my daughter (Erin) and son-in-law (Mark) live.
3. Spending time at the Cabin
4. Weekends, holidays and days off.
5. And anything that resembles a vacation

Top 5 Things I'm not looking forward to in 2005:

1. Celebrating my 50th Birthday.
2. Getting up to go to work.
3. Mowing the lawn.
4. Exercising
5. Cleaning house

Top 5 Things I should cut back on:

1. Television
2. Computor Games
3. Eating
4. Swearing
5. Staying up too late.

AND FINALLY...

Top 5 Things I should try to do more of:

1. Reading Gods Word and praying
2. Loving Others
3. Square and Round Dancing
4. Yardwork!
5. Sewing, scrapbookking and other things I like to do.

Happy New Year one and all!!!!