What matters more than the number on the scale?

The difference between the photo on the left and the photo on the right is 10 months and 63 pounds. I was no where near my goal in the photo on the right but I felt so much better. It was hard getting to that point. Everyone asked how I did it and the honest answer was diet and exercise. This was the truth and still is; however, what people don't know is that the first 30 of the 63 pounds was brought along by personal stresses in my life at the time & quite honestly not eating like I should. The last 33 pounds that I lost were definitely by eating right and exercise.

Right after the second photo was taken, the holiday season hit! All my stresses from the beginning of my weight loss journey had resolved but now we were under different stresses. We were beginning the journey of moving two states away. The stress of the move, leaving our families and starting in a new place where we knew no one was huge. I stopped going to the gym and pretty much ate what I wanted when I wanted. It is now December of 2014, one year and two months after the photo on the right was taken, and I am now 30 pounds heavier than I was in that photo. Granted, I am not the 63 pounds heavier...like the first photo.

I have tried over and over to get back on the wagon. I have had so much trouble! I have had no energy for exercising, no willpower to turn down food and my cravings have been all over the road! Then something happened...something that even I was skeptical about...this was it....in this photo...do you see it?

There, on the left? Do you see it yet? The ruddy appearance, swollen look, tired eyes. More than that, do you see what is on the photo on the right? Still round but not as swollen looking, the glow, the bright eyes, the energy? These two photos were taken SEVEN days apart, same lighting, same location, same make-up.

What you see in the photo on the right is more than just the girl with polycystic ovary syndrome with out of whack blood chemistry...its a girl who has been able to help regulate what is going on inside of body! What you see is more than a girl who has had more energy than she has had in a very long time...that girl worked 6 out of the last 7 days and spent her one day off Christmas shopping! What you see is more than just the 7.4 pound weight loss on the scale in just ONE week...you see the happiness of someone who finally was about have her appetite suppressed just enough not to want to starve herself but to be just hungry enough to make the HEALTHY choices without a moment of hesitation. The one that was also able to completely eliminate her NIGHTLY sweet snack!

You are probably wondering how I did this and I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't share that information with you. What I must tell you is that a miracle pill DID NOT make me lose 7.4 pounds in one week....regulating my diet did. I know from my experience no matter what you do, you have to decide to make the right choices for yourself. What I can tell you is that taking 2 pills, 2 times a day for the past seven days gave me the willpower to make the RIGHT choice and the ENERGY to get done the things I needed to get done. In turn, what you see in that photo on the right is the happiness of knowing that I have a new co-pilot with TruVision Health to help me stay on track to have a happier and healthier life for both myself and my family.

Do you want to try it for yourself? Email me and let me know that you are ready to have TruChange for Life! You are ready to try this out for 7 days yourself. I promise you, you won't regret it! Contact me via tiffany.ivey.garrett@gmail.com or (210)913-2291. Also, find me on facebook at TruChange for Life. Just send me your email address and for just $20 you can get started with your 7 day sample pack and begin your TruChange for Life.

'tis the Season!

I love, love, love this time of year! Anyone that knows me, knows this fact. I love the Christmas season! I hear so many people complain about the fact that people celebrate Christmas earlier & earlier each year. I do agree that those who (like me!) love Christmas should not cram it down other peoples throats but at the same time, what does it hurt to celebrate more often. Let's face it, people seem happier during the holidays for many reasons. If having a tree up & decorations in your house make you happy...why not do it? I understand that the holidays are not always a happy time for everyone. They may bring along bad memories or stress. There are definitely two teams when it comes to Christmas....either....lets start decorating after Halloween or don't even wear a red shirt until after Thanksgiving. When it comes down to it, we should all show joy and celebrate the real reason for the season all year long...Jesus is the reason for the season. So to you all, I say MERRY CHRISTMAS - not - Happy Holidays. Be blessed!

The Ramblings of an Exhausted Mom...

This past week or so I have not slept well, at all. It is odd for me to have difficulty sleeping because short of a few times of major stress in my life, I have never had trouble falling asleep. My daughter, unfortunately, gets that from me. She is SO hard to wake up in the mornings! The advantage to that is that, even though she is now 16, she slept like a champ when she was little. While other parents complained about being up all night with their kiddos, this mom was kicked back enjoying the good life; however, the tables sure have turned on me & things have backfired now that I have a teenager! I am getting off track here. Where was I? Oh, we were discussing my sleeping issues. I am not sure what it is. I do have a lot on my mind right now with the holidays coming up, attempting to pay off some bills, training at a new job and going to school.

To add to my sleeping issue I, in general, just have no energy these days. I know much of it is because I am out of shape right now. I so bad want to be back where I was physically just one year ago. I know it will happen. I will get there but it is so hard to stay focused right now! I think once Brian gets on board with going to the gym with me, it will make things easier. I am planning on going to the gym in the mornings (before I realize what hits me) after Thanksgiving. Okay, so it won't be the immediate Monday or maybe even Tuesday after Thanksgiving due to our long drive, but it will happen!

So...really, I guess that is all this rambling will be about. I am just tired. I want my energy. I miss it. Please send it home if you find it.

Later, friends.

Hamster Wheel!

 
 

Whew. Here we go...Again. I am constantly dieting it seems. Last year I worked hard and lost 63 pounds but pretty much since last October I have been slacking! I have gained some of my weight back but thank goodness not all OR the all I lost plus some that often happens. However, no matter how much of the weight I gained back, I feel miserable. I am tired. I hate the way I look in clothes. I am not motivated to do much lately. I am sleepy so often!

So here I go again. Back at it...Round #icantevenkeepup...it's tough. I want it bad but I also have to realize I am human & what has worked for others (or maybe even myself!) might not work for me this time!

So that being said, the only thing I am trying to do today...is being better than I was yesterday. 

Later, friends.

Thanksgiving Speed Dating

Gobble! Gobble! (Doesn’t it seem strange that we use gobble….the sound that a turkey makes…in order to talk about eating the turkey & all the fixins’!) Speaking of “fixins’” (I had to type it the country girl way!) I am ready for some good ol’ southern food! The food here is good but as my daddy has always told me since he has been away, no place is like home! We are ready to get back home for the holidays. We only have four days off total & basically two of those days include driving. So that leaves 2 ½-ish days to visit with at least 6 different families. We won’t get to spend a lot of time with any certain family but we at least plan to get a hug from everyone!

We won’t be able to come home for Christmas this year. We only have Christmas day off at my job & Brian works the Fri/Sat/Sun after Christmas. Bummer! Next year, we won’t be the low man on the totem pole so it will be a little easier to get off for the holidays. We will still probably come home either Thanksgiving or Christmas (not both) BUT we will be able to stay longer! There will probably be certain times/certain years we come that we dedicate to seeing one or two families at a time since we have so much family; however, at least every fall holiday season we will try to see everyone.

All that being said, in the event that we haven’t done so, we want to extend an open invitation to anyone that wants to come out & visit anytime! We have a small place for now BUT are more than happy to let you stay with us if you want a quick get-a-way and don’t need to splurge on the hotel. If you want to stay at a hotel, we can give you a wide variety of options that are within close range to our place! Never worry about if we have plans, etc. There is rarely anything we would be doing that you couldn’t join us in. Brian works every other weekend with this Fri/Sat/Sun being a work weekend. That gives you an idea of good times to come. We don’t mind if you come on a work weekend for him if it is your only weekend. He will still be able to have dinner with us at a bare minimum! The weekends we know we are 100% free at this time are December 5, December 19, January 2, January 16 (I have a 3 day weekend this date) and January 30.

We look forward to seeing everyone out at some point! If it is later than January, just let us know a time that is good for you! Much love to all!!!

Today was a good day...

...admit it. You know you sang along with that blog title! So why was today a good day, you ask? Not really for any reason other than the fact that it is almost 2 pm and I have not once pigged out or taken the elevator. I have taken the stairs four times at work just today. Actually, in the past few weeks I have only taken the elevator twice (& we are on the fourth floor)!

I know all these things are so small but I decided that I am going to start counting all victories...even the small ones! Why not? Why do we only celebrate the bug things? Aren't the small ones just as important? Without all the small things we wouldn't have the big things. The small things are our foundation for success! 

So today...I celebrate the small things...today was a good day...and it isn't even over!

What will you celebrate today?

Saving Christmas

This past weekend, Baylee & I had a quick bite to eat & decided to go see a movie while Brian worked the night shift. Baylee & I are huge Christmas lovers (That is another post in itself)! When I saw the Saving Christmas movie featuring Kirk Cameron, I knew that it would be a good Christian film!

I will be honest & say it was kind of slow & more of a "made for TV" type of film. The purpose, however, was not lost on Baylee or myself! She & I both were very impressed with all of the information that was shared! The biggest point of the movie was about how to see the true meaning of Christmas in all the little things that people may think are not related to the true reason of Christmas at all. There will be those who will still say, "Well they are just trying too hard to relate everything at Christmas to Jesus." 

To those people I will say this, "Isn't that kind of the point of being a Christian?" Shouldn't we want all people to see Jesus in everything? I haven't done my own research regarding the information that was given but I have to be honest, I really like what was said in the movie. My thoughts are, whether right or wrong, is that you can almost make anything a pagan god. Some may see these Christmas items as pagan but if I see it to be a reminder of Jesus then what makes it so bad. Plus, the way I see it, there are reminders of Jesus everywhere, everyday. If I choose to use other things that remind me of him during the Christmas season, which Christian could blame me?

Later, friends.