Alright, no more blog posts about weight loss and IP. I get it, all you non-commenters!

I am seriously debating getting rid of FB. I love blogging. I love having a record of our lives. I don't do baby books, scrapbooking, or heck, right now, I don't even keep up with photo albums. I know that if I didn't have FB, I would blog more.

I find lately, my life is swamped. I'm often overwhelmed with all that there is to do on my plate. Then I find myself wasting time on FB. My house is a mess, laundry piles threatening to overtake my bedroom, my dishes undone, and there I am, wasting time checking what other people are doing.

I don't like how it makes me feel. Often I feel inferior, unworthy, excluded, and lonely. It makes me compare myself with others, something I try hard not to do.

Other times I get so annoyed at others' statuses that are copied and pasted, claiming that FB will start charging soon, or you need to post your bra size, or if you don't pass it on, Jesus won't be happy with you. Seriously people??

But then there are the people that I do connect with on FB whom I love and would miss greatly. I have a business and I use FB often to communicate with my clients. I have made some great friends because of facebook. I'm scared that if I were to leave FB, I would feel even more left out.

I get that these are all issues and insecurities within me, that probably have very little to do with FB, but something's gotta change.

Anyways, those are my thoughts for the night...

One year.

One year ago, I decided to give Ideal Protein a try. I did it for them.

I was tired of having no energy and tired of being uncomfortable in my own skin. I didn't like hearing my doctor tell me that I was morbidly obese, at risk for heart disease, likely to develop diabetes, and that I probably shouldn't try getting pregnant again. I had no confidence, wanted to hide at home, and it was hurting my friendships and my marriage.  I wasn't happy.

Now, a year later, I'm doing things I only ever dreamed about. I'm learning to love myself, trust myself, and BE myself. I'm happier and healthier and my whole family benefits.

 In my clinic, I have a wall of "non-scale victories." These are little things that have changed since losing weight that have nothing to do with sizes or numbers on a scale. There are so many things that are hard to do when you are overweight.

Some of my personal non-scale victories are:
- wearing boots. They finally zip up! I have choices! I own 6 pairs. Hee hee
- shopping! I never knew it could be fun. I used to have to buy whatever fit.
- I'm not afraid to sit in lawn chairs. (Some of them only have a 200lb weight limit!)
- seeing my collarbones.
- two words - skinny. jeans.
- having confidence to join workout classes.
- finding out how strong I am, physically.
- running a half marathon!! (Okay, this one happens Oct. 8th, but it still counts!)
- buying two bathing suits because I loved them both!
- being able to crawl around after my kids.
- having my doctor stand up and applaud me.
- jumping on a trampoline (again, without fear that it's going to break)
- being able to get in and out of a car, comfortably.
- watching others around me take charge of their lives and make healthier choices.

It hasn't been easy - far from it. Actually, if the truth be told, losing weight was the easy part. Maintaining is always harder. But here, I am, happily maintaining, working hard to maintain, choosing with every day and every meal to maintain. Food still calls my name. I have good days and I have bad days, but all of the time, I have healthier, happier days. (Yes, that was super cheesy.)

Oh and it's been 365 days since my last taste of pop. Oh Diet Coke, I still miss you, but I will choose to avoid you always, mostly because I'm really stubborn. 

Calgary and Ideal Protein Superstars

So last Friday, Chris and I hopped a plane and flew to Calgary to attend Ideal Protein's level 2 and level 3 training seminars. I was pumped. Obviously, my heart belongs to IP and I am grateful to this company for helping me become who I am today. I was sooo excited to go and learn more and meet my IP superheroes.

There were only about 125 people at the conference, so it was small enough to actually get to chat with the speakers and presenters and other clinic owners. It was so much fun. I know the theme of this post is going to be "fun" and "excited" but really, I was. I did learn so much and took a ridiculous amount of notes and I feel refreshed and invigorated.

The first two people I was excited to see were the amazing Martin Galipeau (the business development consultant and my personal mentor and coach) and Cheryl Zatwarnitski (my regional consultant). Without the support of these two wonderful people, I wouldn't be where I am today. I adore my support team! Martin always has me flexing for him and Cheryl tells everyone about my IP cupcakes and my belt of truth.

Saturday, we spent most of the day listening to the President and CEO of Ideal Protein, Olivier Benloulou. He was encouraging, inspiring and motivating. I love his passion and mission for the company. It was so great to hear how IP started and how it is constantly changing and evolving and taking a stand against obesity. I am so excited and blessed to be a part of his team!

Sunday was an intense day of learning. The knowledgeable Dr. Michael Ciell, the Chief Science Officer and Vice President of Clinical Operations, presented, spending a great deal of time educating us on the science behind IP, debunking a lot of myths, and patiently answering all of our medical questions. I found him fascinating and could have listened to him speak all day.

Also, on Sunday, we finally got to meet Dr. Chanh Tran Tien! He is the man with the vision behind the protein diet. He actually got to the hotel on Saturday night and ate supper at the table next to ours. I felt like a starstruck fan. Chris just kept laughing at me as I was watching the doctor all night.



On Sunday, after listening to him speak, I decided I was going to fully embrace my geeky self and go talk to Dr. Tran. I was giddy and starstruck. He listened to my story, congratulated me, hugged me and then we took another picture. I'm smiling like a geek because I was barely holding it together. I am so thankful for this man and what he does. (Seriously, I don't like this picture of me at all, but it's the only one I have!)

So Saturday night, Chris and I had a bit of free time, so we went for a great steak supper, then wound up playing a board game in the hotel lounge. It was nice to be able to relax, even just for a few short hours. Sunday was the conference, then we visited with our friends in Calgary and then took a flight home. We got into Winnipeg at midnight and were tucked into our beds at 2:30 in the morning, and both of us were at work for 8:30 Monday morning.

 

We are exhausted, but oh so glad we went.

Bedtime

I was going to blog something really cool and interesting that would attract tens of comments I'm sure, but then I remembered that I have to work tomorrow - all day. That means being showered, dressed, and fed before I wake up the kids to get them dressed and fed.

Ack. Bubye summer of 2011. You were fantastic. I'm going to miss you.

Change

It's been almost a year since my life changed. September 25th last year I started IP. In so many ways, it was easy. In so many other ways, it was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. But this post is not about that.

I'm not the kind of person who declares on facebook every time I workout, but rest assured, I workout and I workout hard. I do bootcamps, Turbo Jam, a few Jillians every now and then and as I declared in my last post - I run. I think I finally think it's okay for me to say "I am a runner."

I've dreamed of running in a half/full marathon for about 8 years. I've trained before in university and got really close, but then caught bronchitis and cracked two ribs and was told to stop running.

I secretly told a friend a few months ago that I wanted to run at least the 10K. This wouldn't have been too hard because I was running a lot. My minimum run when I run is 3.5 miles and at the time, I could do 6. For me, it was more the commitment of actually sticking to it. Last summer, I could easily finish 6 miles, but I didn't sign up for any 10K races because I was so embarrassed in my own skin. This summer, no excuses. So this friend put together a schedule for me to follow and one of my runs was scheduled to be 7 miles.

But add a little determination and a sprinkle of stubborness and I wound up running 8. This was the farthest I had ever run and I did it without stopping to walk or anything. I was so happy and shocked and proud (hence the blogpost).

When I got home, my husband simply asked, "So are you doing the half now? It's only 5 more miles."


So I figured I'd give it a shot. I figured, "Why not?" I'm in the best shape of my life thanks to proper eating and hard work.

So yesterday, I set out with a goal. I was supposed to do 9 miles, but wanted to do 10. Ten miles - yikes.

It was AWESOME! I chose to run down the highway, through a couple small villages and then down country roads. I love the peacefulness of running on gravel with no one around.

As I looked down at my running watch and realized that I had run over 8 miles and that this was the farthest I had ever run, the song "Defying Gravity" came on my ipod.

Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules
of someone else's game

Too late for second guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes and leap

It's time to try
defying gravity
I think I'll try
defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I'm defying gravity
and you won't bring me down...

I'm through accepting limits
'cause someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But 'til I try I'll never know

Defying Gravity Lyrics at elw

I was now running with goosebumps and even a few tears. See? Good thing I run out in the country.

Something has changed within me. I am so strong now and in control. I am doing things and trying new things and have a confidence that I've only imagined.

So, it's official. October 8th, I'll be running the half marathon. I don't promise that I'll be running it fast or anything, but I will finish it. :)

Here's to defying gravity.