~ Not Just Any Ole Ordinary Dream ~

Last night I had a dream I was power walking somewhere in Tennessee in a pretty place like a nature trail or park (not in a sweat stinky gym like the photo above) but more like the photo below. Aah!!!

I happened upon a beautiful and enticing steep hillside that had a footpath to the top where obviously many had journeyed before.

The photo below is not the view from my dream. It is however the view from Mount Sinai where I know I have journeyed from my own spiritual Egypt toward my Promised Land. I'll take the hillside in my dream anyday over this mountain.

 I stopped and considered the climb and thought better of it as I didn't have the faith I could do it. (Did I admit that out loud?) I also felt the taste of fear in my heart even as I contemplated the idea. (Early morning confessions are good for the soul) UNTIL, in my dream, three women, which appeared to be 3 generations of a family, Grandmother, Daughter & young adult granddaughter, all came up behind me and never gave that hill a 2nd thought as they took right to it. Their shouts of glee at the site that greeted their arrival to the top were enough to get the best of my curiosity and all of a sudden I mustered up my Kentucky Mountain Girl Courage, and said, "If Granny can do it, I can do it"!

So, I did it! I took that hillside which was rugged, rocky, mossy covered, slippery at times, and a workout on both my upper and lower body and I just kept hearing the voice of my best friend, Jack, telling me, "You got this"! "This is nothing for you"! He was right! I MADE IT TO THE TOP!!!!

And when I did, I was SO AWED and WOWED by what I saw. Look below at what I would have missed if I hadn't overcome my fears and pushed myself to do more than what I thought I could do.

I have searched online this morning to find examples of the views in my dream and I found it! Not only is the place I dreamed about actually a REAL PLACE that I never knew even existed until my dream, but it is within 15 miles from my home. HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS! Unbelievable!I believe I had a God-given dream. WOW! Look at this AWESOME place!!!

There is actually a better footpath to take to it than the one in my dream. Shewee! Thank God! See, when I overcame my fears, I found out the thing I feared wasn't as bad as my fears had made it out to be! Below is the actual photos of the path to jackson Falls.It is a great pathway BUT it is A 900 FT. STEEP CLIMB!

I did it in my dream and I believe I can realize that dream and LIVE IT!   DO IT!  Not just Dream It!

900 ft. CLIMB, People! 900 ft. For some that's nothing! For me? IT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL!

But, I'm going for it! Whole Heart and Happy About It! So, plans are already underway this morning to scale the trail to Jackson Falls as soon as we have another pretty weekend. This weekend I'll be out of town. So, hopefullly next weekend my friends and I can LIVE MY DREAM. Will keep you posted! It might not be easy, but WITH FAITH I'LL DO IT!

What's YOUR dream?
Dare to Live Out Your Dream With Me?
If I Can Do It, YOU CAN DO IT!

Oh, by the way, Ever since I woke up and said to a couple of friends, "I Had A Dream"... I can't stop singing that great song by some other great Tennesse but former Kentucky Girls, THE JUDDS, "Had A Dream"... Now that song will be in my head all day! (Click on the link & listen to The Judds)

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Wonder if I could get Wynonna to walk this trail with me! ~ "Had A Dream"..... Not Just Any Ole Ordinary Dream!

Then again, I'm Not Just Any Ole Ordinary Dreamer!

Blessings, HUGS, Love & Sweet Dreams,
Tina Maria

Miss America hopeful, Bree Boyce, lost more than 100 lbs and gained a crown

Where have I been all this year that I am just now finding out about this Sweet, southern beauty queen and her inspiring weight-loss story that took her from over 230 lbs. to a sleek, slender, poised and confident beauty queen winning the Miss South Carolina Pageant this year. Now she will be competing for the grand title of pageants; MISS AMERICA, in just a few days. WOW! AMAZING!

I came across her photos and story in the irresistable annual edition of PEOPLE MAGAZINE "Half Their Size" that I picked up in the check-out line a few days ago while shopping New Year's Eve.

I was just casually browsing through the impressive stories of all the folks featured this year when I turned a page and there she was, in her gown, sash, & crown, a true southern belle beauty, with the caption reading, "I USED TO BE FAT". It came complete with before and after photos. YAY!

Now I can't wait to watch the Miss America Pageant January for the first time in decades. Seriously! It has been at least 20 years since I last watched a pageant. It used to be a family tradition with my sisters and my Mom and I. And even before that, with my Grndmother, Mammaw (Lena Rivers) Riffe, and my cousins. We would all dream of growing up and becoming pageant winners but I always had to prefece that thought with another more pressing thought; "If I would lose weight, I could enter a beauty pageant". I was even led to believe by very impartial grandparents, aunts, uncles, and parents that I was pretty enough in the face and had talent and communications skills well enough to not just compete but to win the whole thing! Crown, title, money, scholarships and all. Who ME?

I was a pretty baby! Healthy and normal size at sightly over 7 lbs at birth back in 1962. But that didn't last long! I grew up to weigh more than 500 lbs and a size 56-60, wearing this 80's skirt. I still have it.

Thank God the skirt no longer fits, in a good way! After reducing 335 lbs and still managing to keep half that weight off since 1994, I am not ready YET for a beauty pageant competition, even if I wanted to enter one, but I am determined that in the near future I will be able to fit into my own dream gown that makes me feel like a pretty princess all dressed up for a handsome prince. It will happen someday!

Until then, I will be poised and gracefull while eating my healthy lite snacks with some friends and watching the 2012 Miss America Pageant  in 2 weeks and CHEERING for Miss South Carolina. (I will also cheer respectfully for both Miss Kentucky & Miss Tennessee) whatever the outcome on January 14th, I hope she will continue her efforts to bring awareness to obesity and to spread the good news to those struggling with weight problems that there are healthier options than surgery, pills, rigid diet plans and other drastic ways to lose weight.

Not to say that I think less of folks who choose those other alternative routes. You all should know that I would NEVER judge you on your decisions. I am in SUPPORT of each of you and in whatever ways you believe BEST FOR YOU. I hope you all understand. I will always, always, always, encourage, educate, and inspire anyone to do everything you can to get heatlhy by getting excess weight off the same way you put it on. Eating and activity. It is usually a matter of eating too much or eating the wrong foods at the wrong times and not getting enough of healthy fitness conditioning activities that piles on the extra weight and leads us to becoming unhealthy. So, reversing that will reverse the weight problems. Just makes sense, doesn't it. Usually we all need no help in putting it on, but we all usually need help in getting it off. SO HERE IS YOUR HELP! ME!!!

And inspiring stories like Miss South Carolina, Bree Boyce. Like me, she lost her weight the old fashioned way, with healthy eating and working out.... and I love and admire that about her. It really helps to give HOPE TO ALL that it is totally possible to change your weight and change your life!

 To me, MISS SOUTH CAROLINA IS ALREADY THE WINNER AND SHE IS SO WORTH IT!

If she and I can do it, YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!!!!

REMEMBER! THERE IS A WINNER IN YOU, AND YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!!!!

Blessings, HUGS, & Much Love,
Tina Maria

On the 9th Day of Christmas Tips

On the 9th Day of Christmas Tips - GET UP AND CLOWN AROUND!

I bet you thought I was going to say MOVE AROUND. Right? Well, Surprise! Sort of!

It is VERY important to add movement and activity that increases your heart rate and gets the blood pumping and fat burning and sweat clearing out those toxins and junk that keeps us from losing weight easily and from feeling energetic and happy. Exercise does all that, an more. But when we think of exercising, we tend to not think of it like that, in all the positive life building ways. We tend to dread it like the dentists drill.

HOWEVER, DOING SOMETHING FUN AND FUNNY that accomplishes the fitness goals IS THE BEST, EASIEST, AND QUICKEST WAY TO GET INTO THE HABIT OF WORKING OUT!

 So, in the interest of getting you interested in working out to help you burn fat and lose weight.... I am introducing to you this VERY FUN and FUNNY way to get Move it and Lose it. CLOWN STYLE!
Check THIS out!

How to Do the Hip Hop Clown Walk

 

Written by:

Jessica Jones (e-how contributor)

 

The clown walk or C-Walk, as it is often referred to, is a series of dance moves that include the Heel-toe, the Shuffle and the Snake. Many hip hop dancers enjoy performing the clown walk because they are free to use their creativity and individual talents. If you learn the basic moves, you too can use the Hip Hop Clown Walk to express your individual style.

Instructions

 

1. • 1
     The Hip Hop Clown Walk is a series of smaller dance moves that when put together create this dance move. Below are some of the basic moves and how to perform them. Once you learn these moves, you can combine them into your own version of the C-Walk.
   • 2
     To perform the Heel-toe, which is a popular move when doing the Clown Walk, cross one leg to create a semi-twist. The trick to this move is getting the angles of your feet in the correct position. Most people try to create 90 degree angles in order to perform a clean move. While the Heel-toe may seem easy, it can be difficult to maintain your balance, so practice it many times before combining it with another move.
   • 3
     The Shuffle is an easy step to master. All you have to do is move your feet frontwards and backwards to the music. (refer to the little guys shufflin at the top of this post)
   • 4
     The Snake is another popular move when performing the C-Walk. This move, similar to the Heel-toe, requires dancers to place their left leg on their right heel and move forward. The back leg is used for support. This move can also be tricky as you will have to learn proper balance in order to achieve it.
   • 5
     Once you've mastered these moves, you can combine them to create a C-Walk routine. Many Hip-Hop dancers use the C-Walk during longer routines.

Personal Note Here: I am not a fan of Hip Hop. I will be the first to admit that. But, I do love to clown around and have fun and really like the idea of it helping me to get off this weight and to get in shape!
So, come rain or shine, I am committing to GET UP AND CLOWN AROUND! You with me?

On the 8th Day Of Christmas Tips

On the 8th Day of Christmas Tips -  SCHEDULE A VISIT WITH A GREAT TRUSTED DR.

GET A COMPLETE PHYSICALTO LEARN YOUR NUMBERS!!!!

Here is my wonderful Dr. Meghan Gannon.

December of last year, 2010, I felt it necessary to have a physical just to make sure all my numbers were healthy. I had lost a younger Sister a year before way too early due to obesity related death. I lost my Momma 4 years earlier to premature death from obesity related cancer. I nearly lost my Daddy in 1993 to obesity related Heart Attack. (Thank God Daddy is still with us) and grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all to early deaths caused by obesity.... TOO SAD AND TOO UNNECESSARY!

So I went to a new GP that was highly recommended to me and requested a number of tests be run on my heart, lungs, and all metabolic functions. I did the fasting glucose where I had to drink all that NASTY sugar syrup liquid that according to my Dr was equivalent to a large Mountain Dew and 3 Krispy Kreme Glazed Donuts. On an empty stomach. Then I had to go back 2 hours later to see if the numbers went up to a diabetic threatening level.

Due to my family history of Diabetes, Heart Disease, Cancer, and all other Obesity Related issues.... My Dr. felt sure because in addition to that, my weight being more than 340 and my age of nearly 49.... and all the life-changing stress I had been under.... The combination was enough to assure her that I was in bad shape. She was unaware of my previous Hungry Hearts Weight Management Program success so she was prepared for the worst.

HOWEVER, MUCH TO MY DR'S SURPRISE AND MY GRATEFULNESS, we were both DELIGHTED to have the results of all that testing to come back with the conclusion that METABOLICALLY SPEAKING I WAS IN PERFECT HEALTH! No threat of any obesity related diseases.

I was told "WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING, WORKS! SO KEEP IT UP AND COME SEE ME NEXT YEAR! Yahoo!!!!!

I tell you all I have the best program in the world for not only losing weight but improving your overall health and fitness. Nothing is better than my God-given weight management program. I believe my good health all these years has been directly due to my losing 335 lbs and keeping it off for several years and then continuing to basically eat healthy and move more than being a couch potato.

Anyway...So, here we are! It is time for my return. Happily, I no longer weigh more than 340. I hope, by the time I go next month, I will no longer even be in the 300's. HALLELUJAH!!!!

Anyway, how do you know what you need to work on the most unless you know where you stand. So, here are some NUMBERS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER!!!

Lipid panels include:
Total Cholesterol
HDL ("GOOD" cholesterol)
Total Cholesterol / HDL ratio
LDL ("BAD" cholesterol)
Triglycerides
Blood sugar
VLDL (Very low density lipids)
What are YOUR numbers?

American Heart Association - http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/

National Heart / Lung / Blood Institute http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/index.htm

What Your Numbers Mean: Cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL). Your total blood cholesterol is the number you normally receive with your test results. To determine your risk for heart disease, it's also important to know how this number breaks down into LDL cholesterol ("bad"), HDL cholesterol ("good"), and triglyceride levels.

Here's a guide to interpreting your test results:
Total Blood Cholesterol Level
Your total blood cholesterol will fall into one of these categories:

• Desirable: Less than 200 mg/dL In this range, your heart attack or stroke risk is relatively low, unless you have other risk factors. Almost half of adults have total cholesterol levels below 200 mg/dL. Have your cholesterol levels measured every five years-or more often if you're a man over 45 or a woman over 55.

• Borderline high risk: 200-239 mg/dL About a third of American adults are in this group. Have your cholesterol and HDL rechecked in one to two years if your total cholesterol is in this range; if your HDL is less than 40 mg/dL; or if you don't have other risk factors for heart disease.Talk to your healthcare provider about managing your individual risk.

• High risk: 240 mg/dL and over About 20 percent of the U.S. population has high blood cholesterol levels. Your risk of heart attack and stroke is greater in this range. In general, people who have a total cholesterol level of 240 mg/dL have twice the risk of coronary heart disease as people whose cholesterol level is 200 mg/dL. It is important to discuss your cholesterol and overall risk of heart disease and stroke with a healthcare professional.

LDL ("Bad") Cholesterol Level The lower your LDL cholesterol, the lower your risk of heart attack and stroke. In fact, it's a better gauge of risk than total blood cholesterol. Talk to your healthcare provider about managing your individual risk.

LDL Cholesterol Levels
Less than 100 mg/dl	Optimal
100 to 129 mg/dL	Near Optimal/ Above Optimal
130 to 159 mg/dL	Borderline High
160 to 189 mg/dL	High
190 mg/dL and above	Very High

HDL ("Good") Cholesterol Level
With HDL ("Good") cholesterol, higher levels are better. Low HDL cholesterol (less than 40 mg/dL for men, less than 50 mg/dL for women) puts you at high risk for heart disease. In the average man, HDL cholesterol levels range from 40 to 50 mg/dL. In the average woman, they range from 50 to 60 mg/dL.
People with high blood triglycerides usually have lower HDL cholesterol and a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. Progesterone, anabolic steroids and male sex hormones (testosterone) also lower HDL cholesterol levels. Female sex hormones raise HDL cholesterol levels.

Triglyceride Level Your triglyceride level will fall into one of these categories:

Triglyceride Level	Classification
Less than 150 mg/dL	Normal
150-199 mg/dL	Borderline-high
200-499 mg/dL	High
500 mg/dL or higher	Very high

Many people with high triglycerides have underlying diseases or genetic disorders. If this is true for you, the main therapy is to change your lifestyle. This includes controlling your weight, eating foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol, exercising regularly, not smoking and, in some cases, drinking less alcohol. Visit your healthcare provider to create a plan of action that will incorporate all these lifestyle changes.
People with high triglycerides also may need to limit their intake of carbohydrates to no more than 45-50 percent of total calories. The reason for this is that carbohydrates raise triglycerides in some people and lower HDL cholesterol. Use products with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

Cholesterol Ratio
Some physicians and cholesterol technicians use the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol in place of the total blood cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends that the absolute numbers for total blood cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels be used. They're more useful to the physician than the cholesterol ratio in determining the appropriate treatment for patients.
The ratio is obtained by dividing the HDL cholesterol level into the total cholesterol. For example, if a person has a total cholesterol of 200 mg/dL and an HDL cholesterol level of 50 mg/dL, the ratio would be stated as 4:1. The goal is to keep the ratio below 5:1; the optimum ratio is 3.5:1.

My next post will include important info regarding sugar/diabetes numbers and what you need to know before you get tested.... SCHEDULE YOUR COMPLETE PHYSICAL TODAY!!!!!

THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT LOSING WEIGHT AND LOOKING BETTER!

THERE IS MUCH MORE TO YOU THAN WHAT YOU WEIGH. ~

Know your numbers so your number won't be up too soon!!!!

Blessings & Love!
Tina Maria

On the 7th Day of Christmas Tips

On the 7th Day of Christmas Tips -  Take a Chill Pill.
The photo below reminds me of days when I felt really great about how I looked. Chills me out!

Christmas Day was yesterday. Today is Monday, the start of a New Week, heading toward a New Year! Since Christmas and Christmas Eve fell on the weekend this year, most folks are enjoying another day off today. So, instead of spending the day feeling fat, bloated, and sad, depressed, or even angry at yourself for not having more healthy Holiday foods.... CHILL OUT! Determine to not sit around in the dunmps all day with a bad mood or attitude. And for Heaven's sake AND your own sake and sanity, don't eat all the leftovers.

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What you ate or didn't, yesterday and all the days since Halloween, is history. TODAY IS A BRAND NEW DAY! Only today matters at this moment, because you cannot change a thing about the past, except for how you feel about it. As the old saying goes; "You can't re-write history! So, don't worry! CHILL OUT TODAY! Eat healthier today than you did yesterday and drink more water especially with organic lemons in it to get rid of all the toxins, wastes, and junk that you took in. JUST CHILL!

As for me; I will soon be on the road, leaving My Old Ashland, Kentucky Home, and heading back to My Nashville, Tennessee Home.

Work comes calling tomorrow morning as does a follow-up to the Allergist. Looks like a beautiful day to travel south. Had a fantastic time with my family. If the weather is good, I will be coming right back in a couple weeks to celebrate the 7th birthday for my beautiful sweet niece, Hannah kellene Grace who at the moment is sleeping soundly in the bed we share when I visit and I need to get back in there before she wakes up because her favorite thing to do is wake up and snuggle/cuddle with me and her favorite little bear, Max.
Here she is with her American Girl Doll, Samantha, Christmas Gifts from Me. Fortunate finds!
YAY to the best Aunt on the planet! ~

For me, THIS = TAKING A CHILL PILL!

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2011

Merry Christmas 2011

Please scroll down for todays Christmas Tips (#6)

Blessings & Love,
Tina Maria

On the 6th Days of Christmas Tips

Notice the title. DAYS is plural. I have been terribly remiss in getting these TIPS posted and I am so very sorry. The past week has been crazy and now TODAY IS CHRISTMAS! So I am going to make these 6 tips really quick and simple!

On day 6 we should take a moment to reflect back on the previous 5 tips!

Tip # 1 - Eat a M&M every day! Morning Meal.
Breakfast. To REV-UP the metabolism. BURN FAT. Get the fires stoked and fuel your brain too!

Tip # 2 - DETOX -
Get your body rid of those fat grabbing flabby clinging toxins, wastes, and poisons that make it seem impossible to lose weight and get toned up. Toxins also drain energy AND promote aging! OUCH! It's one thing to look fat, but another to look fat AND old. Don't want that now do we! So to S.L.O.W. down looking old and tired, Drink up to a gallon of Filtered Alkalized Water EVERY DAY to DETOX! And to celebrate and get this tip off to a GREAT start, I offered the Give-Away Prize to a lucky M&H Blog Reader Winner, of a IonPod Alkalizing Refillable Water Bottle. AND OUR LUCKY WINNER IS: JANETTA BLEVINS! (picked randomly by a friend, according to a number. Name identified after number selected. Janetta Blevins name happened to be behind #4)

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A ALKALIZING REFILLABLE WATER BOTTLE, UNTIL YOU CAN GET ONE, HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP RID TOXINS WITH REGULAR FILTERED WATER!
Squeeze ORGANIC Lemons and add the juice to your filtered water. Drink at least a half gallon to a gallon EACH and EVERY DAY! IT REALLY DOES WORK!!!! Don't add sweeteners or sugar to the water though or you will be adding toxins rather than removing them.

Tip # 3 - Do Not PROCRASTINATE!
Don't wait until Jan 1st. Here are a few quotes I found.

"Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination: never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
Lord Chesterfield

My evil genius Procrastination has whispered me to tarry 'til a more convenient season.
Mary Todd Lincoln

Procrastination is like a credit card: it's a lot of fun until you get the bill.
Christopher Parker
Procrastination is one of the most common and deadliest of diseases and its toll on success and happiness is heavy.
Wayne Gretzky

Procrastination is opportunity's assassin.
Victor Kiam

Procrastination is the bad habit of putting of until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday. Napoleon Hill

Tip # 4 PICTURE Healthy YOU!
Get a mental vision of YOU HEALTHY!!!! (Remember my Red Dress Photo and story)

Tip # 5 Eat Fruits & Nuts & Seeds.
These healthy goodies are great snacks and additions to your meals and menus to help you meet your fat burning and nutritional needs and keep your appetite satisfied and prevent hunger driving us to the nearest cookie jar or candy stash.

Tip # 6 REVIEW THE 5 tips ABOVE AND SEE WHERE YOU STAND IN IMPLEMENTING THEM ON A DAILY BASIS.
Decide which tips are the most needed in your daily life. Hopefully you have at least a few already established as good habits but if not, today is the best day to get started.

By the end of today all can be put into action and then tonight you can review them and get started on # 7.
COMING UP RIGHT AFTER THIS POST! So get to reviewing and TAKE ACTION, NOW!!!!!

7-12 are gonna be a bit more challenging!!!!
GET READY!!!!
By the weigh (notice that pun there) if you add all 12 by New Years Day, you will not weigh as much as you weigh today! WHOO HOO.

Merry Christmas!!!!
Tina Maria