My best advice

I made the following post to my blog on "Myspace" - but my friend Tammie reminded me that not everybody uses Myspace so she suggested that I put this information here - on the Blog associated with my Web site. So here it is..."My best advice"...for what it's worth.

Hi everybody! Life continues to be so busy - - but wonderful. Both my boys are growing by leaps and bounds before my very eyes. Noah is almost as tall as I am and he's only seven! (Ok, so Mike calls me a legal midget, but still...) And Jaxon turned three months old yesterday. And he is barely fitting in his 3 month outfits. Life is good!

I spoke at a local middle school today and I am often asked the same questions. I am flattered that people even care what I have to say. It's kind of odd but good at the same time if you know what I mean. I still maintain that I am just an ordinary person who was presented with an opportunity to take control of an area of my life that was in desparate need of some attention.
I really do mean it when I say, "If I can do - anybody can do it. There's nothing extraordinary about me." Actually it seems to be that statement that resonnates so loudly with people. And I am thankful that I can share that viewpoint because I really do believe it.

One of the teenage girls at the school today - who is also a Myspace fan - asked me for some advice. There are a few key points that I think were very significant in my own journey and I like to share them with others when they ask. And I do actually get asked that a lot. This sweet girl was very appreciative of the time I spent talking to her and said, "You really should post that advice on Myspace! I'd love to be able to go back there and read it again."

So I thought, you know, that's not a bad idea. It's only my opinion. There's nothing magic to the words I am about to share with you. But I am going to share them anyway. If nothing else they are a good reminder to ME.

Most of you who are reading this probably know that fought my weight most of my life. I was never really thin. But I finally understood that THIN doesn't necessarily mean HEALTHY. And it really is about good health and quality of life. It's not a vanity issue.

So here's my best advice to anyone struggling with weight issues like I was:

1) Start today!
Stop putting it off. Stop making excuses.

2) Find your motivation.
For me it was the example I was setting for my son. It was the desire to have another baby. It was the fact that I wanted to grow old with my husband. That was the defining motivation for me.

3) Don't look at the big picture.
Take it one day at a time. One pound at a time. Looking too far ahead will only discourage you.

4) Move more and eat less.
Burning more calories than you consume is the ONLY way you will lose weight. You have got to get moving. Take it slow but do it.

5) Surround yourself with positive influences.
Rid your home of bad foods. Surround yourself with supportive people who will encourage you. Set yourself up for success!

6) Set small achievable goals and then when you reach them...CELEBRATE!!!
Don't have a piece of chocolate cake though. Go get a pedicure. Or take a walk with your best friend. Buy a piece of clothing one size down that NOW you can get in to. Do something for you.

7) BELIEVE you are worth it. Because you are!!
I think that last one is one of the hardest. Because as an overweight person I was faced with a lot of rejection. Prejudice against the obese is the last acceptable prejudice left in society. And it's hard not to buy into the lies we hear all around us. But you've got to do it. And then when you are on this side of the struggle you'll be so glad you did.

You know my motivation t-shirt on the Show was "To finish what I started, for once." I've had so many people tell me they could relate to that slogan. But you know what? I have realized that I will never "finish what I've started." This will be an ongoing journey for me for the rest of my life. So my new slogan is "to continue what I've started...forever."