As I get more involved in church, singing, and work, I find myself doing more and more. I want to do even more, take a couple of classes, audition for a musical, that kind of thing.

What is something you can do to stretch your own limits creatively and emotionally? When I was at my heaviest, when I was FAT, I was depressed, and it was almost all I could do to do anything remotely creative. Then as I lost weight and started finding myself again, I started chasing my passions. I always felt that I didn't have a good enough voice, that I was never "good enough"...

And now I am in choir, I'm doing the Sunday children's programs, I'm working, I'm helping with funerals at church (ooooooo)...I'm going to be (hopefully) working on the church website, to update it and keep it going...

I'm the woman that certain people come to at the library to help them find specific books...

So how have you grown and how are you growing?

I've lost track of the number of things that I've tried in the last year. But the thing that I have noticed most is a very strong sense of self confidence that I never had when I was 80+ pounds heavier. Of course, some of that lack of self confidence was overcome by professional counseling, but I still had to be willing to do that work, too.

Plus, my adventerous, ornery side will continue to grow as I try to figure out how to balance it with the more reserved, quiet side. And I'm officially heading into my very first entire season working at an amusement park this year. Not something I could have done 80+ pounds ago, or even 30 pounds ago.

quote:

Originally posted by cobismom:
Cate, great homework. However, I have a different point of view. Why wait? Why wait to do the things you want to do because you are fat?

Good point. I think that for me the extra weight can be a symptom that I am letting my own needs come last. Doing lots of good things for myself, including the non-weight-loss-related ones, is really important when I see that extra weight starting to creep on again.

Those of you who are familiar with my posts know that I have an elephant-sized ego. However, from a physical sense, I truly do not like to be the center of attention. The idea of public speaking makes me want to curl up into the fetal position on the closet floor.

For work reasons, I signed up to take American Sign Language I. At the time, I thought it was a great idea. Suddenly, I realized that this will have its own form of public speaking. Obviously, it's too late to change things. I will have to go forward with the course.

It reminds me of words of a former colleague of mine. She would say, "So you'll grow an inch." I hope she's right.

All my best!

Bill

Cate, great homework. However, I have a different point of view. Why wait? Why wait to do the things you want to do because you are fat? When I was 50 I started this trek to become healthy....I started eating better, exercising, developing a better attitude. But I was an okay person before that...I was active in things outside of me, I was not the type to sit around or on the side lines because I was afraid people would point and talk.I had the idea, that they needed to see that heavy people, fat people were valuable to society and could do things even though.


How can I stretch my own limits? I guess I have always been a risk taker, but, maybe I don't need to think it over so much before I take the risk. I think I need to be more spontaneous about the risks I do take. A gal asked me to join her water aerobics class last week at WW...I told her I would have to think about it...if I wanted to stretch a limit, I would have jumped at the chance right away. I eventually did join the class and love it, but sooner would have been better maybe.

Thanks for a great lesson. It would be good for me to remember and maybe others that no matter what size we are, we are all very good and valuable creatures. Even the quadraplegic has a reason to wake up in the AM....

I have grown a lot since starting this journey. I realized that not everyone supported my efforts in getting healthy and I had to find the strength to "rid" them from my life.

Having done that, I found that I was doing many things in my life for them and it was time to focus on what I wanted to do and was capable of doing.

DH supported me 100% and even though he doesn't understand my fascination with art he went with the flow. I decided that I wanted to focus more on the arts with my students and I became the art coordinator at my school. The first year I planned a school wide art project that is now on display when you enter the school.

Last year I was able to participate in a wonderful art museum program and my class has been priviliged to go on 3 FREE field trips (we still have 2 to go this year).

Through that program I came up with an art show idea for my school which I initiated last year and it was a great success! We will be doing it again this spring.

I also have a love for travel and DH does NOT. I have taken some trips with friends and with DH in the last few years. I would love to do more of this! Knowing that DH likes to stay close to home I need to plan some shorter trips so that he will go with me...plus we would love to take our doggy

I am also in awe still when people come to me for advice on losing weight, exercise or to get healthy recipes. It feels good to be that person!

It feels good to be my OWN person and not be linked to someone else and their ideas. People don't confuse us for each other anymore and that feels good. I am a strong, confident, healthy and capable woman!

quote:

Originally posted by grrlscout:
Reading your assignment made me think ... am I doing something different? or something to express myself? Something to help me grow?

I don't draw anymore...

I realized the very same thing this week. I realized that in making an effort to be healthy, and keep my weight under control, it has become more about what I can't have and struggling for control, than in rejoicing in life. So this week, for the first time in years, I dug out my drawing supplies and drew a portait of my 12-year old niece for her birthday. I was surprised at how good it made me feel! I also realized that I approach drawing from a different perspective, looking for the "essence" of Annie, not just trying to make the drawing look exactly like her.

Thanks for this homework assignment!

Grace

Since I have started working, I notice that I feel more energy for things. I did not think it would work out this way, but I have been diligent about taking care of myself and it is making all the difference. I make sure that I take 30 minutes of alone time each day and that I get to the gym at least 3-4 times per week. I am pretty organized with food so that we are eating well. In fact I seem to be eating better with the structure of school than before. (I tend to do well with lots of structure- when it is on my own terms and meets my needs.)

I have started reading again and have turned off the TV in the evening. Big difference. My library card is getting lots of use these days.

I have also been doing more regular strength training.

Dh and I have planned a couple nice short trips this spring. I was happy to plan them and did not go into "overwhelmed" mode.

It's interestingly, my weight loss also coincided with me rekindling some lost passions - I joined our local community band and started playing the sax again. I enjoy it soooo much! It was so nice to nurture that side of me again.

I also started my new wellness coaching business which is really going quite well. I have clients ever morning M - F while dd's in school. It's the right balance of keeping me busy but still available to her from the moment she gets off the bus.

As for things in the future, I still am desperate to get back to skiing. We were really hoping to go to our local tiny hill this winter just to get dd on skis for the first time but it's been an incredibly mild winter here with barely any snow. Our neighbor works for the snow making company at the mountain and although there is artificial snow, the conditions don't sound very good (especially for a beginner like dd).

Being that we're building a new house currently, we don't have it in the budget for a ski vacation somewhere else. Hopefully next year.

I also want to get back to horseback riding this Spring (I'm a year overdue with that reward) and try indoor rock climbing.

quote:

Originally posted by grrlscout:
I don't draw anymore. I don't read anymore.

Yea, if you change the verbs to "write" and "craft," that would be me. There was a time when I couldn't imagine my life without writing in it. Now, I hardly ever write. I don't take time to write. If I would stop sitting in front of the TV and playing Sims and off the Internet long enough to give myself some dedicated time to write, I'm relatively sure I would start back up again. I love it. It's part of me. It's even part of my heritage (my father was a poet).

A large part of why I am taking the "Best Year" course is that I recognize that I have just stopped exercising the creative side of my brain and I am really unhappy about that development.

I am very excited about this year so far. I feel like I am expanding in every direction (except for my waistline ..phew!)

I might have just taken on more than I can chew but I am learning so much about myself and those around me.

*I have been flying with the Fly Lady for a few months now and have recruited a few friends and I am having a great time.

* I signed up for and am pluggin along with the Best Year of Your Life online course. I am learning alot about myself in teh process.

* KD's Daybook is making it fun to stay on track. I love the way it is formatted and look forward to filling it our everyevening.

* My exercise routine is developing. I have been enjoying my treadmill and have been adding different elements to my routine. I just started do stretches before and after my walks.

* I started my own business, a home daycare and am enjoying what it has brought to my life. I love the fact that I am able to be home everyday for my children and to have this opportunity to play a role in others lives is great.

I feel like I can just go on and on...but I will stop here for now.

quote:

Originally posted by mountaingirl:
Look what I found, a website dedicated to making dreams come true. Looks very cool

43 Things

I was checking out this site and it is really cool. I have signed up and got sidetracked for about 25 minutes. My timer will certainly come in handy for this endevour

I am trying to stretch myself by exercising(stretching my muscles, too!!) each and every day and this is a huge stretch for me. I really don't enjoy exercise but hope that by doing it I will get to the point where it becomes part of my life and enjoyable.

But, more importantly, I have been thinking very hard about a career change or taking classes at our local community college. I have been feeling lately that my mind is not challenged enough and I would so love to feed my brain. I haven't really pursued this too much but after this homework I am setting a goal of making an appt. with the college to discuss some classes.
Jill

I'm like you, grrlscout! At some point I stopped doing a lot of the things I really love.
This could be, for me, titled....Pushing my limits and expanding. I lost so much weight and did so well and now I have gained 6 pounds and am not feeling so motivated. I find myself saying, "I will start again tomorrow". Tomorrow never comes and so I keep expanding.
I have wanted, for a long time, to return to college, take some classes and get my degree in nutrition and physical therapy. Another one of those things I think a lot about and never do. I am going to go over to USF on Monday and see the guidance counselor. I do need to start doing something that is all about me, so much of my life is devoted to everyone else.

Thanks Cate, for this excellent food for thought!!!

Look what I found, a website dedicated to making dreams come true. Looks very cool

43 Things

Thanks Cate.

Reading your assignment made me think ... am I doing something different? or something to express myself? Something to help me grow?

Pretty much no.

I mean, I get some joy from designing stuff for my cafepress shop. I've been going nuts with new designs for V-day.

But that's it.

I don't draw anymore. I don't read anymore. I skipped out on the winter soccer season. I'm not involved in the fire service anymore. I don't go to the local social group for the gays anymore.

WTH?

So I logged onto the community college website and searched through the PhysEd classes. There's a Judo class starting in a week or so, takes place two nights a week. I've always wanted to study a martial art. It'll end right around when softball starts.

So I'm printing our the info and will probably register in the next couple of days. I'm going to consult with GF first. I mean, I know the decision really comes down to what I want, but I do like to confer at least.

Thanks.

Cate, that is just awesome. This homework is extremely timely for me. I have a habit of exerting my life in big ways and then retreating in cycles. I realized this week that I have let my life get small, again. I had a miserable job last year, and have been kind of hiding since leaving it. Although I have stretched myself athletically and physically more than I can even believe, there are other big gaps in my life right now. I want work that I'm passionate about, but I'm scared of being miserable again. I think the one step I can take today regarding this is to really believe that I will find the right work, or the next right job, if I keep on trying.

Lynne