STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN ... FROM A BETTER PLACE THAN BEFORE

Well, hello!

It has been almost 6 months since I have been on the blog?

Have you missed me?

Lots of good things have kept me away.

Lots of unhealthy things have kept me away.

Lots of obstacles have kept me away.

Lots of excuses have been thought of because I've been away!

The long and short of it (or thick and thin of it)

is that I lost 80 pounds (got right down to the 300 pound threshold)

and then gained back 30 pounds.

So I am officially 50 pounds down on my goal of losing 180.

But I have learned a lot about myself, my health, 

and how to help my body reflect who I really am!

And I am back on track in making my health a priority

and actualizing life that is satisfying and successful!

These are the things that I have learned 

and have already incorporated 

on this journey to optimal health and life!

I Am Best And Happiest When:

I go to bed between 10-12, in bed, with wife beside me, 

with my CPAP on, and sleep there for 6-8 hours.

I get up early but rested and kick start my metabolism 

by drinking water and exercising.

I anticipate my days and plan out my eating 

focused on fueling my body with green leafy vegetables, 

eating the  rainbow, lean complex proteins, and low glycemic foods.

I see high sugar, saturated fat, empty caloric foods as rat poison - even when someone kind is trying to share it in love.

I exercise for at least 6o minutes spread out throughout the day - choosing between brisk walking, running, high intensity interval training, weight training, yoga.

I plan out and live my day so that I accomplish what I have to do and do what I love and love what I do.

I am best and happiest when I protect, plan,and enjoy time 

with the people I love the most.

                                             

  

And I make my health a top priority!

I am back on track!
I have to loose the 30 pounds I gained 
before I start collecting from you,
but start saving up your money
because I will not only crash through the 300 pound barrier,
but I will make it past 200 as well!
I am, once again, on my way!

LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY

February is often my toughest month in the calendar year to get through.  

(I do not know if, at this point, that is a self fulfilling prophecy,

that I can change with a change of my mind, 

if it is related to the lack of sunshine,

if it is a post-excitement crash after the holidays,

or if it is just the ying and yang of life's flow.)

Sometimes the biggest blessing is that it is only 28 days 

with an opportunity to celebrate the love in my life halfway through!

Snowstorms, cancellations, sickness, stress (both wonderful and burdensome)

have made this month a long and tiring 28 days for me,

where I feel like I just have to keep doing one more thing 

(getting farther behind with each accomplishment) 

until I collapse.

The disappointing news is that all I was able to do 

this time around in my new healthy lifestyle

was maintain.

The good news is that in the midst of it all,

I was able to maintain!

    

I have gotten through it.

I stand here today - 

not a lot farther along on my journey of health,

but not farther back either!

I have lived to face another day

and to make healthy choices!

And the thing that brings me back to excitement 

is the knowledge that by this time next February

I will have learned and practiced more of my healthy life

and I will find more positive in th the reflective time

that February offers me.

So here is to not getting overcome by the darkness and stress

and being ready 

to break through the surface of the next exciting growth of health

that is a sure as the coming of spring!

AN APPLE and A HEAD OF ROMAINE A DAY

I had a trip to the dentist last week for a cleaning.

As the hygienist worked on my mouth, 

she ran the scraper over my teeth and poked my gums.

Then she declared.

"Well, Mr. Hollis,

you have left me nothing to clean. - 

No tarter, no plague, nothing!"

I knew that I was feeling clean and healthy,

but I did not think about the effect 

that all the vegetables and fruits 

and their accompanying  fiber and roughage 

had on my teeth!

No Plague, No Tarter - Nothing!

I feel good!

THE MAGIC WORDS

It's beginning to happen.

I was getting an oil change 

(no, not unsaturated for saturated)

but in my car,

and the receptionist said

"Have you lost a lot of weight?"

And then the next day at church, someone said

"You're looking really good."

Those things are really great to hear!

But the best thing is that I tell them to myself now too!

NOT EATING ENOUGH TO LOSE WEIGHT

The most difficult thing that I am experiencing with this life style change

is that because the foods that I am eating are good for me

and fueling my body,

I am not hungry!

I am not eating enough, because I am satisfied.

But I have to eat on a regular basis

to keep my metabolism going.

Who knew that to lose weight

I had to force myself to eat!

ROUND TWO - DETOX REVISITED!

What a great time of year to begin my second session of weight loss with Karen Dalton,

my lifestyle change and wellness coach from Transitions Lifestyle Systems.

(See Karen's Contact Information on my website.  She helped me save my life!)

I will use the rise in energy of people around the world striving to achieve new resolutions

to set out anew on my goal of becoming all that I am

by becoming half the man I was! 

(Becoming healthy by loosing 186 pounds in 18 months!)

55 pounds are gone forever and my life has already changed!

The rest is soon to follow!

I started DETOX yeaterday!

I have already lost the two pounds that I gained over the Christmas holidays.

(plus one more!)

Detox helps me to 

regain control of my eating patterns,

cleanse my body from the harmful sugars, chemicals, and fats that I let into it,

and jump start my weight loss for another round!

Oh, and by the way, I am also raising money for two very wonderful Non-Profit Organizations as I go!

Won't you join me on this journey 

and in support of The Acoaxet Chapel and The Swamp Meadow Community Theatre!