Over the past week or so, I've been feeling off. My emotions are all over the place! I'm tired all the time. I just want to curl up in bed all day and sleep. I've realized what's off is my eating habits! I've been eating too much processed food and not nearly enough fruits and vegetables!! I was reading a blog that my friend Elizabeth and her aunts have created (http://www.3fruitychicks.com) and I realized that it is time for a change and another reboot!
Step 1: Spend the next 4 days removing processed sugars, dairy, and meat from my diet.
Step 2: Starting January 1 I'm going on a 10-day (maybe longer) juice fast. I need to clean out my body again and get the energy I had back!
Step 3: Make an exercise schedule and stick to it! I plan on asking friends to help me (come work-out with me, going walking/running with me, or just call and remind/motivate me to go). Having a good support system is important!
Step 4: Enjoy New Year's Eve and celebrate the success that I've had!
Now on a better note, even with not eating the best and surviving through the holidays, I've continued to lose weight! I have lost a total of 41 lbs!!! Remember my goal is to lose a total of 150 lbs by this summer so the disk in my back with either move back on it's own or I can have surgery to have it moved back into place. Which means I only have 109 lbs left to go!!! And I will do it!
Here's to a new year, with a new beginning of life for me!
Starting weight: 365 lbs
Current weight: 324 lbs
Total lost: 41 lbs!!! woot woot!
I'll post some new photos soon!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Christmas Letter
Over the past week or so, I've been receiving Christmas cards and letters in the mail (and through blogs) from many of my friends. It has brought me much joy to hear about and see pictures of your beautiful families! I started wondering if I should write a Christmas letter this year (never have done one before), but at first as I thought about my life over the past year, I thought that it might sound depressing. However, after more thought, I received that what matters is that I overcame the challenges of this year and learned from them. I'm very happy with where my life is now and I'd like to share the journey which got me there...
A year ago I have lived in a small one bedroom house with my husband and our puppy Bella. I was working at the Wells Fargo Call Center in Salem. Unfortunately, our Christmas Eve didn't turn out the way we had hoped ... while at work on Christmas Eve morning, I received a phone call letting me know that my Grandma Hodges had passed away. This was very hard new for me to receive because I loved her so dearly! She was an amazing woman who I look up to and hope to become more like as I grow older.
In January, Sherman and I decided that we needed more room, so we moved into a 3 bedroom 2 bath (1250 sqft) apartment in Keizer. I loved that apartment!
In February, I took a teller position at a Wells Fargo branch because I wanted to have more face to face interaction with customers.
In March, we had our one year anniversary and went on a trip to California (the Bay Area where I use to live) and Utah. Our trip to Utah didn't go very well, since Sherman's mom ended up in the hospital and our dog Bella died while we were gone. On the flight home, I was very ill and couldn't keep anything down and had a bad pain in my side. That continued through April and May. I wasn't able to work because I was either drugged up or vomiting and in pain. In the end of May, my doctor finally discovered that I have a disk in my back pushing into my spinal column which is causing nerve pain. We saw a neurosurgeon who informed me that she would not do surgery on it until I lost 150 lbs or until I become paralyzed! That was very scary and frustrating to hear! In June, I started receiving epidermal injections in my back to numb the nerves. I continue to get them on a regular basis so I can continue functioning.
In April, we got a new puppy named Molly. She was very cuddly once she got to know you. Unfortunately, she needed more attention and love than we were able to give her so we found her a new home in August.
August and September were not pleasant months for me. In the end of September, I lost my job and we no longer had any income so we had to move out of our apartment. Sherman moved to Utah and I moved to my mom's home in Newberg. A few weeks later, he told me that he no longer wanted to be married to me so we filed for divorce.
Now for the not so depressing part ...
In October after I moved back to my mom's, I realized that I needed to make some changes. I started this blog, changed my eating habits, started losing weight (36lbs so far!), went to counseling (that helped a lot), started the process to go back to school, became more active in my church, and started hanging out with friends!!! I am so thankful for the friends in my life!! You guys are awesome! I also, went to the haunted forest twice! It was so much fun and not something I would usually do!
In the beginning of November, my mom and her husband put their house up for sale and moved to Dallas, Texas. Since then, I have been learning to adjust to living by myself (I've always lived with family, roommates or my husband). Had friends over for dance parties, movies, yummy food, and lots of laughter!
In December, my life has gotten even better! I was very worried going into this Christmas season that it would be difficult with the anniversary of my grandma's passing and the divorce. However, I have some amazing people in my life who have made this Christmas so wonderful for me! Lots of good memories, going to SleighBells, making Christmas cookies, singing, picking out special ornaments for the tree, putting up the Christmas tree, dancing in the living room, going to Peacock Lane, going to the temple, and much more!
Tomorrow is Christmas and New Year's Eve is a week away. As I look back at this year, I'm grateful for the lessons I've learned and how I've grown. I'm excited as I look forward at my future! I'm starting school at Portland Community College in a few weeks and hope to get into the OHSU nursing program soon! I've realized that this time in my life is to better myself and prepare myself. So, I plan on continuing to lose weight, get healthy and fit, progress in my education, grow spiritually, and have lots of fun along the way!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all my friends and family!!
I love you all!
Sincerely,
Stephanie Bailey
A year ago I have lived in a small one bedroom house with my husband and our puppy Bella. I was working at the Wells Fargo Call Center in Salem. Unfortunately, our Christmas Eve didn't turn out the way we had hoped ... while at work on Christmas Eve morning, I received a phone call letting me know that my Grandma Hodges had passed away. This was very hard new for me to receive because I loved her so dearly! She was an amazing woman who I look up to and hope to become more like as I grow older.
In January, Sherman and I decided that we needed more room, so we moved into a 3 bedroom 2 bath (1250 sqft) apartment in Keizer. I loved that apartment!
In February, I took a teller position at a Wells Fargo branch because I wanted to have more face to face interaction with customers.
In March, we had our one year anniversary and went on a trip to California (the Bay Area where I use to live) and Utah. Our trip to Utah didn't go very well, since Sherman's mom ended up in the hospital and our dog Bella died while we were gone. On the flight home, I was very ill and couldn't keep anything down and had a bad pain in my side. That continued through April and May. I wasn't able to work because I was either drugged up or vomiting and in pain. In the end of May, my doctor finally discovered that I have a disk in my back pushing into my spinal column which is causing nerve pain. We saw a neurosurgeon who informed me that she would not do surgery on it until I lost 150 lbs or until I become paralyzed! That was very scary and frustrating to hear! In June, I started receiving epidermal injections in my back to numb the nerves. I continue to get them on a regular basis so I can continue functioning.
In April, we got a new puppy named Molly. She was very cuddly once she got to know you. Unfortunately, she needed more attention and love than we were able to give her so we found her a new home in August.
August and September were not pleasant months for me. In the end of September, I lost my job and we no longer had any income so we had to move out of our apartment. Sherman moved to Utah and I moved to my mom's home in Newberg. A few weeks later, he told me that he no longer wanted to be married to me so we filed for divorce.
Now for the not so depressing part ...
In October after I moved back to my mom's, I realized that I needed to make some changes. I started this blog, changed my eating habits, started losing weight (36lbs so far!), went to counseling (that helped a lot), started the process to go back to school, became more active in my church, and started hanging out with friends!!! I am so thankful for the friends in my life!! You guys are awesome! I also, went to the haunted forest twice! It was so much fun and not something I would usually do!
In the beginning of November, my mom and her husband put their house up for sale and moved to Dallas, Texas. Since then, I have been learning to adjust to living by myself (I've always lived with family, roommates or my husband). Had friends over for dance parties, movies, yummy food, and lots of laughter!
In December, my life has gotten even better! I was very worried going into this Christmas season that it would be difficult with the anniversary of my grandma's passing and the divorce. However, I have some amazing people in my life who have made this Christmas so wonderful for me! Lots of good memories, going to SleighBells, making Christmas cookies, singing, picking out special ornaments for the tree, putting up the Christmas tree, dancing in the living room, going to Peacock Lane, going to the temple, and much more!
Tomorrow is Christmas and New Year's Eve is a week away. As I look back at this year, I'm grateful for the lessons I've learned and how I've grown. I'm excited as I look forward at my future! I'm starting school at Portland Community College in a few weeks and hope to get into the OHSU nursing program soon! I've realized that this time in my life is to better myself and prepare myself. So, I plan on continuing to lose weight, get healthy and fit, progress in my education, grow spiritually, and have lots of fun along the way!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all my friends and family!!
I love you all!
Sincerely,
Stephanie Bailey
Friday, December 2, 2011
The Challenge of Eating
I apologize for the long absence in posting, but I will try to be better about it. As some of you know, I've been going through a lot of emotional stress in my personal life. I am going through a divorce, trying to find a job, and for the first time in my life I'm living completely alone. For the past month, I've been trying to adjust to my life changes. Honestly I think I'm handling everything pretty well. I've recognized that I need to feel the emotions, deal with them, and let them go. It's okay to cry. Also, okay to be happy even when you are sad about the things that are happening in your life. Praying, journaling and spending time with friends have been great tools for me during this time.
Now that you know about how I've been handling my mental/emotional health, let's talk about my physical health. I'm still struggling with remembering to eat often, however for the most part I've continued to eat healthy. I love to eat fruits and vegetables! I'm not craving things like I use to. Also, I use to get heartburn and nausea a lot. Now I never get heartburn and only occasionally get nausea when I eat meat or carbs. I usually drink herbal tea to help settle my tummy. I love peppermint tea!
Thanksgiving:
The day of celebration and being thankful was a hard day for me. However, I am proud to say that I didn't have any big melt downs and I ate fairly healthy. My family had dinner at my Aunt's house. At no point did I eat so much that my stomach hurt and I felt exhausted. I tasted everything that I wanted to eat, but filled up on vegetables and salad. And yes I did have some pie. :)
With Christmas coming, I'm learning to say "no thank you" more often or limiting myself to one treat. I've found that keeping my fridge and cupboards full of healthy choices makes it easier on me.
If anyone who has been reading this, has made some changes in their lives and would like to show their story, please let me know.
Starting weight: 365 lbs
Current weight: 335 lbs!!!
I've lost another 5 lbs! Making my total weight lost 30lbs!
Now that you know about how I've been handling my mental/emotional health, let's talk about my physical health. I'm still struggling with remembering to eat often, however for the most part I've continued to eat healthy. I love to eat fruits and vegetables! I'm not craving things like I use to. Also, I use to get heartburn and nausea a lot. Now I never get heartburn and only occasionally get nausea when I eat meat or carbs. I usually drink herbal tea to help settle my tummy. I love peppermint tea!
Thanksgiving:
The day of celebration and being thankful was a hard day for me. However, I am proud to say that I didn't have any big melt downs and I ate fairly healthy. My family had dinner at my Aunt's house. At no point did I eat so much that my stomach hurt and I felt exhausted. I tasted everything that I wanted to eat, but filled up on vegetables and salad. And yes I did have some pie. :)
With Christmas coming, I'm learning to say "no thank you" more often or limiting myself to one treat. I've found that keeping my fridge and cupboards full of healthy choices makes it easier on me.
If anyone who has been reading this, has made some changes in their lives and would like to show their story, please let me know.
Starting weight: 365 lbs
Current weight: 335 lbs!!!
I've lost another 5 lbs! Making my total weight lost 30lbs!
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