tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82049455296816646652024-03-19T03:54:35.013-07:00Yup, These Curves...They're all mine!Sarah’s passion is to help women see their true beauty regardless of the number on the scale. Her story of beauty for ashes is at the core of her passion for helping women excel and see their beauty within.
Sarah lives in Brooklin, Ontario & works in the nonprofit industry helping charities with their strategy & implementation for their online fundraising portfolios. She also volunteers at WINGS Maternity Home in Ajax as the EA, Event & Fundraising Manger and mentor.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581987390644248734noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204945529681664665.post-32672374872040918872014-07-08T05:31:00.003-07:002014-07-08T05:31:44.554-07:00Follow me in my exciting new journey as Miss Plus Canada 2014!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Follow me in my
exciting new journey as </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><b><i>Miss Plus Canada 2014!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Check out my new
website with a new blog, pictures, videos, my platform WINGS Maternity Home and
so much more!</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.sarahtaylorsjourney.com/" style="cursor: pointer;" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #3b5998; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-decoration: none;">http://www.sarahtaylorsjourney.com/</span></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><b><u>Follow me on Facebook, Intagram
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<span class="textexposedshow" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="cursor: pointer;"><u><b>Facebook:</b></u></span><span style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sarahtaylorsjourney" style="cursor: pointer;">https://www.facebook.com/sarahtaylorsjourney</a></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #37404e; line-height: 107%;"> </span></div>
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<span class="textexposedshow" style="line-height: 107%;"><i>(Be sure
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><b><u>Instagram:</u></b> @sarahtaylorsjourney</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><b><u>Twitter: </u></b>@sarahtsjourney</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;">(Note: my Twitter and Instagram handles have changed)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">I will no longer be blogging to this site so be sure to follow me on my<b><i>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581987390644248734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204945529681664665.post-67997743733984082652014-06-16T10:58:00.000-07:002014-06-19T05:29:17.231-07:00Vote for Sarah Taylor - Miss Plus Canada's People's Choice Award<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZXLUUhXb8Niv4diF4zVPfEuqq3o1_Yhbr3NkTAhIzlW_PMfSArjpWy9hyphenhyphenGOH5SanGfAsum4xyE3gYB_bdB3ZkdHWOLfwjIDmAadXwGQSLi-rxy3HoAT50NSUx3QnTJgeRtOEzayINJGH/s1600/VOTE+FOR+SARAH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHdPnT-GZ7NWzFQQNCVRZAauGipBOLbJe-rkZgVLmMfN8el7lEt40Ja1w-wnRt4GK8dXJrbfbeEye0YYlOdMEwLOE-f7BLXl7xOqFNXWka7EdHm66NPKH3L-a5QW5WTIzRWo_dUXGhV20/s1600/20140617_153524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHdPnT-GZ7NWzFQQNCVRZAauGipBOLbJe-rkZgVLmMfN8el7lEt40Ja1w-wnRt4GK8dXJrbfbeEye0YYlOdMEwLOE-f7BLXl7xOqFNXWka7EdHm66NPKH3L-a5QW5WTIzRWo_dUXGhV20/s1600/20140617_153524.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.290908813476563px;"><u><b><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><a href="https://apps.facebook.com/my-polls/jkwsfz" target="_blank">Please vote EVERYDAY from now until </a></span></b></u></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.290908813476563px;"><u><b><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><a href="https://apps.facebook.com/my-polls/jkwsfz" target="_blank">June 29th!</a></span></b></u></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 16.290908813476563px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 16.290908813476563px;">In just 2 weeks on Monday, June 30th, I will be competing as a contestant in the Miss Plus Canada 2014 Pageant in Toronto. It has been a really exciting opportunity and we’ve been rehearsing for a fabulous night! </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 16.290908813476563px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 16.290908813476563px;">One of the awards that will be presented on the night of the pageant is The People’s Choice. C</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 16.290908813476563px;">ould you please take a minute of time to vote for me as the People’s Choice <b>EVERYDAY FROM NOW UNTIL JUNE 29TH AT MIDNIGHT</b>? It’s really easy!<br /><br /><br />1. Visit this link <a href="https://apps.facebook.com/my-polls/jkwsfz" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;">https://apps.facebook.com/my-polls/jkwsf<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">z</span></a><br />2. Look for my picture<br />3. Select the little bubble to the left of my photo<br />4. Click submit<br />5. Share on your Facebook wall and if you feel so inclined, as your Facebook friends to vote for me too<br /><br />Here is a little bit about me (my bio):</span><br />
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<i><span style="color: purple;">"Sarah loves to dream and Plus size modeling was a part of that dream. As a new fresh face to the industry, Sarah’s passion is to help women see their true beauty regardless of the number on the scale – this is what drives her. Sarah’s story of beauty for ashes is at the core of her passion for helping women excel and see their beauty within.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: purple;">Giving back is important for Sarah because in her darkest hour, the love and support from those around her helped her to see her true worth and push her forward.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: purple;">Sarah lives in Brooklin, Ontario and currently works in the nonprofit industry helping charities with their strategy and implementation plans for their online fundraising portfolios. She also volunteers at WINGS Maternity Home in Ajax as the Executive Assistant, Event, Fundraising Manger and mentor.</span></i></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">Although Sarah models clothes, her heart’s desire is to be clothed with strength and dignity and ready to take on life with zeal, passion, drive, excitement and no fear of the future"</span></i><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 16.290908813476563px;"><br />If you would like to attend the event, here are the details:<br />Date: Monday, June 30th, 2014<br />Doors Open @ 7pm at the Fairview Library Theatre (35 Fairview Mall Dr.)<br />(the next day is Canada Day – aka a holiday ....no work lol)<br />Tickets are only $25<br /><br />For more details or to purchase your tickets online check out the website:<a href="http://www.misspluscanada.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.misspluscanada.com</a> - I also have tickets available for purchase (cash or etransfer)<br />(if you purchase tickets online let me know so I can flag you as my guests)<br /><br />Follow the pageant on Social Media<br />Instagram: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fmisspluscanada&h=sAQHSjdLA&enc=AZMqwsKf2hzDRCWp7UPPcLqayhu48-KeMIUw-NevHgN9U8pWkRqdYrKDv17POnV80n0&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://instagram.com/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>misspluscanada</a><br />Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MissPlusCanada" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>MissPlusCanada</a><br />Twitter: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fmisspluscanada&h=aAQGTOm0e&enc=AZP80JU0y2SML77VEnrtFQ-Aq0fwlavBsm5P52lUpLmzEAO6Ewc0k1kp26zhHTRy6CU&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>misspluscanada</a><br /><br />My Social Media<br />Instagram: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fwalkbyfaith83&h=kAQFgBl1i&enc=AZPLcC_aUwe6IfRLzUzA9C3CvY13iL54jGphBqs8gIy_0anoI321YiCeJMi92IrU-CU&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://instagram.com/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>walkbyfaith83</a><br />Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SarahRTaylor" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>SarahRTaylor</a><br />Twitter: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fwalkbyfaith83&h=lAQHmF5XQ&enc=AZPkbgUT1FUE9uvyShtIpvpBXnbh68m_1Paz9Ix0JTgDJXdF1TfPGYctLL6qChmSrNA&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>walkbyfaith83</a><br />Blog: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdamnshesgotcurves.blogspot.ca%2F&h=yAQHQoQbm&enc=AZNus1Wh4vjej5RpPLcX8R8e-EiRoNvkV01PHspSoxGMggOKPYtryP6kDlyOt0NW3TA&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>damnshesgotcurves.blogspot.<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>ca/</a><br /><br /><br />My platform is WINGS Maternity Home where I volunteer as the Executive Assistant, Event & Fundraising Manager and Life Coach/Mentor to the girls in the home and the community mom’s WINGS Support. Please feel free to check out their website: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wingsmaternityhome.com%2F&h=qAQG-2dos&enc=AZPUwpsQq2Ia_jK5JVCyBPx0p-ilqEbHCrbzujJOA5dG2gRFQGEQUcNup658LzX7cXU&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.wingsmaternityhome.com</a> . It is going to be an exciting summer at WINGS as we are expanding and moving to a new location in Oshawa – stay tuned on how you can help us as we grow.<br /><br />I will be posting updates to my Facebook event as the night approaches and if I win any of the awards or am crowned queen - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/307033142805262">https://www.facebook.com/events/307033142805262</a></span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 16.290908813476563px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581987390644248734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204945529681664665.post-26645723967942396792014-06-04T12:06:00.003-07:002014-06-05T05:14:17.284-07:00BE STILL....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">This is a spur of the moment blog post – I had not
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">But…..this week I’ve had a few people tell me that
they’re in a really tough spot. Whether it’s dealing with some emotional
pain or whether it’s not knowing what steps to take next or being in the middle
of what seems like chaos or disaster. I myself have had some struggles this week so I just thought I’d share a word I got
about 2 years ago….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Here’s the situation…..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">It had been a several months since my ex-husband had
left. He was still playing games and being ridiculous and I still didn't’
see it. I was so hurt, I felt abandoned, I was in pain….I really didn’t
know what to do. But I had like 4 people in 4 days give me the scripture
verse, Psalm 46:10 which says this:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><sup><span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">10 </span></sup></b><span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">He
says, “Be still, and know that I am God;</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> I will be
exalted among the nations,</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
<span style="background: white;"> I will be exalted in the
earth.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Now the part for me that was told
over and over was the first part – Be still, and know that I am God.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">But….I didn’t know what that
meant. Go figure….the girl who was always busy filling every moment of
every day didn’t know what ‘Be Still’ meant. But I didn’t….so I legit
googled it. I thought maybe I could find a book on it, or maybe find some
instructions online. But, nope, there was nothing….so I tried this whole
being still thing or what I thought it at least meant - I think I'm still learning it actually. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">And then…a couple weeks later I was
reading a book called<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Breakthrough-Prayer-Power-Connecting-Heart/dp/031025518X" target="_blank"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> </span></span>‘Breakthrough
Prayer’ by Jim Cymbala<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> </span></span></a>- </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">I was on the train on my way into
work….and something jumped out at me from the page. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><i>(Warning: I’m about to paraphrase a
lot here – I’m just gonna give a synopsis)</i></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">In Exodus 14 the Egyptians were
chasing the Israelites. The Egyptians were petrified and questioning
Moses and Moses says this to the people:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> “Do not be afraid. <b>Stand
firm {confident and undismayed} </b>and you will see the deliverance the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> will bring you <u>today</u>. The
Egyptians you see today you will never see again. <b><sup>14 </sup>The <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> will fight for you; you
need only to be stil</b>l.”</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Vs 13-14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Then you know what happened, God did
the unthinkable – He parted the Red Sea. Combined with the faith that Moses had
to listen to God’s instruction to lift up his staff. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Like seriously, come on, could you
imagine that!?!?!</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">But there you have it – my world was
rocked….and you know what happened to me, later that day…. My now ex-husband
sent me a text asking to meet to get our marriage certificate so he could file
for divorce.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Well, apparently God was at work that
whole time and I didn’t realize it. But you know what – because God had
given me that word to hold onto that morning, it didn’t stress me out. I
was actually at peace. I knew without a shadow of a doubt, my God had me
and I wasn’t going to have to do the fighting, he would do it on my behalf and
all I had to do….was….you got it….BE STILL!!!!</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">I am not an advocate of divorce by
any means but I was in an abusive situation with an unfaithful man and needed
out. And the last few years, as this blog attests to has been a process
of healing, restoration, ignition of new and old dreams, desires and purpose. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Anyways, I just felt like I needed to
share this message. This has been the biggest portion of my journey the
last 2 ½ years and I’m still learning this lesson but am enjoying resting in
HIS arms and letting HIM take care of me. I have it as a constant
reminder in my room, above my bed, where I’m meant to rest – see, check it out.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgiSkf75957BorXpDg1Ro_lZV5J8ylNlHErx_d4pVDjwR0xzVzUheKNvZFy9Gu4MBpcKt_mJ80hZ5OFOrN-TDyLhClOSJgsanxcolP2WpPzBT72_P3elJADA_Su1tFRKcEiNgswe7KXne/s1600/1897815_10152006604942950_1759314179_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgiSkf75957BorXpDg1Ro_lZV5J8ylNlHErx_d4pVDjwR0xzVzUheKNvZFy9Gu4MBpcKt_mJ80hZ5OFOrN-TDyLhClOSJgsanxcolP2WpPzBT72_P3elJADA_Su1tFRKcEiNgswe7KXne/s1600/1897815_10152006604942950_1759314179_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u1:p></u1:p><br />
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dark right now, HE’s got you right in the palm of His hands, so rest in them
and ask him to take care of you and help you fix whatever mess you’re in the
midst of. Follow his direction as he guides and he will not leave you nor
forsake you. After all, he loved you so much that he gave his only son
for you as a sacrifice. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581987390644248734noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204945529681664665.post-7741283789963683032014-05-28T10:27:00.001-07:002014-05-28T12:02:32.234-07:00Let the fun begin....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGdqekOTM7528QfFUSWTqHX2K-2cbZf7yuZiSDPkvtAgioP6TLzKD79CFg1mfydZi9qMcZC8f8KKOzYJ7-fcOaJMNT7_dd7QrOChE58OHTcttDGsNZpVbhylXeKVl_rp_JcC-AFavi0Fsx/s1600/10414636_10152212325607950_5800420373071805353_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGdqekOTM7528QfFUSWTqHX2K-2cbZf7yuZiSDPkvtAgioP6TLzKD79CFg1mfydZi9qMcZC8f8KKOzYJ7-fcOaJMNT7_dd7QrOChE58OHTcttDGsNZpVbhylXeKVl_rp_JcC-AFavi0Fsx/s1600/10414636_10152212325607950_5800420373071805353_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My last blog post ended with talking about getting back to
my journaling and resting and being still…one of my verses that has held massive significance in my journey the last few years (Psalm 46:10 – “Be
Still and Know that I am God”)….well I did just that after my blog post….I took
a 3 hour nap on Sunday afternoon, journaled, read and kept this up for the
first half of the week and was so enjoying it…and then something crazy happened
in my stillness. Before I go on, one
thing I asked God for during my prayer time was to show me a tangible way that he loved me. I was really feeling the need for being loved
and asked God for something tangible – it was kind of a strange request I
suppose but I was needing something a little extra special. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now first, before I get into the details let’s talk about my
challenges with being still. Growing up
I wasn't really allowed to be still.
There was no being lazy in our home.
Sitting around watching TV unless we were sick or working on packaging
phone cards for my dad’s business just was a big no-no. There was always something that could be
done. So, being still has always been
quite the challenge for me. When God
first gave me this word – I legit googled, How to be still, like I was going to
find a book on it or something….oy vey lol<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, it was April 30<sup>th</sup> … it was like 3 days of
being still … And on my way home from work, I get this email <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxcMsTHpL5s4ioX1h9mM-rOl0Z94p6qcXudkWx26SEfsDOniQOqUkEitCXQ-wz3p6COjKlxkL4HYfA0tsykp31c7ekurUzr1grnpLwHL7IS913csJS7VWHphM825P3th3XRmFyhYJMlUx/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxcMsTHpL5s4ioX1h9mM-rOl0Z94p6qcXudkWx26SEfsDOniQOqUkEitCXQ-wz3p6COjKlxkL4HYfA0tsykp31c7ekurUzr1grnpLwHL7IS913csJS7VWHphM825P3th3XRmFyhYJMlUx/s1600/1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yup, that’s right – I got an email asking me if I wanted to
be in a pageant – the Miss Plus Canada 2014.
I kept staring at the email and thinking – is this for real!?!? Well, I posted the above picture on Instagram and
had so many comments from friends and family right away – encouraging me and
telling me to go for it…well I contacted the director and filled out my
application that night…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now see what makes this even funnier to me is that I’m in
the tail end of the process for going in for gastric bypass right so that sent
me into a whirlwind the next week or so trying to process that. Was this a sign that I shouldn't do the
surgery? Was I really confident in who I
was – regardless of that number on the scale?
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well the next day…. I got the ‘acceptance’ as being a
contestant in the pageant. No way! Was this
really happening?? Even when the first meeting and rehearsal came I felt like - are they going to change their mind and turn me away....There is so much more that
has happened around all this and I’ll get into that but let me tell you
something else first that happened the day that I found out I was a contestant…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I got a message from someone. The beautiful Gloria Garvie. See, she runs a program in Durham schools
teaching girls (grades 7 and 8) their value, worth and beauty. Well, her year-end party was the following
week and she really felt that asking me to speak would be a good idea….I had to
work out my schedule, but it worked out quite well…Here’s the thing….I don’t
know Gloria all that well – she knew my parents back in the day and I have
friends who know her really well but she doesn't know my story but she really had it pressed on her heart to ask me to speak. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So after telling me all about her program and what she was looking for
in terms of speakers, I asked her…Gloria, do you even know my story? She replied with ‘no’, obviously, so I gave
her the nutshell version. My journey to
discovering my worth, value and beauty has been a long one but I've felt that I was meant to share it with young girls – and this was my first opportunity to share it with some
beautiful girls!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was such an amazing time and I couldn't believe the
response by the girls to what I had spoken about. I was in awe at the doors God was opening –
after being still for 3 days….To God be all the glory. Something else really
cool is that one of my very best friends, Natalie was there that day with me –
it was so nice to have her by my side on this very special day! (she's the beautiful one on the right)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6G34GdDxQIpdGa4Ii33vbjrSFLMJTMU5X3jrehEpuRMGM7UslzjrM1fZBUN0lxAN_7dvcyohA7h02xPBnDb8lP84PFS99qkQ8S23scdDuqN9m29KXCw_R5GDT8UCD9qk9hzXstzLWCGGN/s1600/10253827_10152179990257950_6334658814129736971_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6G34GdDxQIpdGa4Ii33vbjrSFLMJTMU5X3jrehEpuRMGM7UslzjrM1fZBUN0lxAN_7dvcyohA7h02xPBnDb8lP84PFS99qkQ8S23scdDuqN9m29KXCw_R5GDT8UCD9qk9hzXstzLWCGGN/s1600/10253827_10152179990257950_6334658814129736971_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Just about to go into my talk, someone said, you should record it, so Nat did for me!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is a video of
what I shared….<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://youtu.be/zFeAXlm8p1M" target="_blank">CLICK HERE to view the video</a> on Youtube</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What is neat also, is that I had posted in Instagram and
Facebook what I was doing and how blessed I felt and again, I had so much
support!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I also received a beautiful photo book with pictures from
our day – what a special memento to such a monumental day <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjZm_4-Jdrm4rZiN_GnPUbk2rLZ3NLkz1fmFwdhrhEyCLCTjxbJNyqOFhDYM0lMvi4Guyunm1w8DgIhuVw37hWCCPnUdbwyv1dLtolzLjfEX_4UZoVm7hdsDJHk1IqbmZhdHDHXAmcvE-/s1600/10356728_10152211406597950_245602074005161381_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjZm_4-Jdrm4rZiN_GnPUbk2rLZ3NLkz1fmFwdhrhEyCLCTjxbJNyqOFhDYM0lMvi4Guyunm1w8DgIhuVw37hWCCPnUdbwyv1dLtolzLjfEX_4UZoVm7hdsDJHk1IqbmZhdHDHXAmcvE-/s1600/10356728_10152211406597950_245602074005161381_n.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">OK so if being asked to be in a pageant and speaking and
sharing my story of God’s love, redemption and peace wasn't enough of a
tangible sign of showing me God’s love… I also received a gift…something tangible
from a friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I received a journal from a beautiful friend of mine…I was
called “The Beauty of the Lord”. It’s a
daily devotional journal, which I love because I was trying to figure out a devotional
to do everyday and journaling my days are so key. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So not only was it a gift, it held so much
significance and meaning… It again is about beauty and God has been trying to
show me my beauty and that it’s not all about that reflection I see in the
mirror. The book itself was beautiful
too - obmre actually which I love. The
bookmark in it was on a devotional called, “ I Surrender” which was exactly
what I did at the beginning of the week – surrendered my plans for God’s and
submitted myself to him to allow Him to work in my life so that I could be his
hands and feet here on earth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then….when
I opened the inside cover, I also saw my theme verse in all of this – “Be Still
and know that I am God” – Psalm 46:10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I just cried upon receiving this journal and I’m so enjoying
it. There have been some days where I’m
blown away at the relevance it has in my own life, for that specific day – here’s
an example…. This is from a post from May
10<sup>th</sup>, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3CL0PksD3BpE3QpIoZLgjNGlaPiRt0dHWyXVTTHUATxHwg4uUm63g05sR0BhrnH_gpor_qE6tkDnE-6JtrzfWL2SgQWjw7xC0jtZI9ecXcnIlF0AmBiuxZfbEpcuJGFFT4Xka8togfZu/s1600/May+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3CL0PksD3BpE3QpIoZLgjNGlaPiRt0dHWyXVTTHUATxHwg4uUm63g05sR0BhrnH_gpor_qE6tkDnE-6JtrzfWL2SgQWjw7xC0jtZI9ecXcnIlF0AmBiuxZfbEpcuJGFFT4Xka8togfZu/s1600/May+10.jpg" height="396" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Something else big happened in May – the WINGS Maternity
Home Glitter of Hope Gala. It was such a
beautiful night and the heart of WINGS was really portrayed. I was soooo proud to see our mamma’s graduate,
hear testimonies from some of our girls and the talent through the evening was
just amazing! It was a lot of work but it was so amazing to see it all come
together! There were performers, testimonies, great supporters of WINGS, our
Board, friends, family and Disney Princesses!!!
I even had a couple princesses help me with my hair and makeup to get
ready!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am sooooo beyond thankful at the opportunity I have to
work with WINGS. It’s really neat to be
able to use my skills in my professional life (administration, fundraising and
event planning) for a ministry and to also be able to pour into these special
mom’s and babies that are at WINGS. I have
been blessed beyond measure by those I have met through WINGS and I’m so
grateful that God has given me such a special opportunity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">WINGS is in need of monthly donors to help us with the bills
associated with running the home (mortgage, hydro, water, food, programs, etc.). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here are some great pictures from the night as well as a video
from the night if you want to check them out:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Laura’s Song – Laura <span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 107%;">actually learned the song, bought and relearned the piano to play with
it while she sang in less than a week!!!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3_dlNBjMqcI" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; line-height: 107%;">CLICK HERE</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 107%;"> to view the video on Youtube<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 107%;">It was taken from this
song that was a viral video - </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35say5G5cz8" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; line-height: 107%;">CLICK HERE</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 107%;"> to view the video on Youtube<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If your interested in
learning more about WINGS and even supporting us, check out our website:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.wingsmaternityhome.com/" target="_blank">www.wingsmaternityhome.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To hear some more great testimonies
of our girls – check out some of the interviews on our website:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.wingsmaternityhome.com/news--tv.html" target="_blank">http://www.wingsmaternityhome.com/news--tv.html</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So during the next few weeks of time I really started
wrestling with the whole gastric bypass surgery and all these modeling
opportunities and now this pageant. I
woke up one morning and just questioned everything about it – do I move forward
with it, am I being a hypocrite doing this surgery and being in a plus size pageant
where we are proclaiming that our curves are ok? The next week or so I really just want back
and forth in my mind. The day this
started was the day I also found out from my internist appointment that he
thought I had a thyroid issue according to my blood test (which I’ve followed
up on and is not the case) and he thinks I have sleep apnea and sent me for a
sleep test (that was fun…NOT). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think this is a good new look for me….what do you think
lol<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpwcKqjSngenzQxbEqbZCJMAm-CsS-R_RK2KNIR5mHQ3wU81su40bj-J287L3zl0yfRB75H87GRihmGsGKkuYQMkkA1364YVtz_bspwNoR5KrGWs19u8KnLFK6H4gBu8yP5jyBtjuSSME/s1600/1554426_10152198457832950_3274365119651922704_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpwcKqjSngenzQxbEqbZCJMAm-CsS-R_RK2KNIR5mHQ3wU81su40bj-J287L3zl0yfRB75H87GRihmGsGKkuYQMkkA1364YVtz_bspwNoR5KrGWs19u8KnLFK6H4gBu8yP5jyBtjuSSME/s1600/1554426_10152198457832950_3274365119651922704_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The result of all the back and forth was this…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am doing this for health reasons. My back is still in pain every day and the
weight needs to be gone. I have tried
everything and have struggled for so long.
I am NOT doing this surgery because I can’t stand to look myself in the
mirror or am not confident in who I am and it’s not because I don’t love
myself, it’s actually quite the opposite….I do love myself and I want to be healthy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If I win this pageant, than that’s great but it will be for
a year of my life and this surgery will have lifelong effects. I cannot wait to be active again and get back
running, hiking, biking and just enjoying life!
This whole thing has been quite the experience and I’m so excited for
how much fun it is and will be. We rehearse every Saturday for the pageant – we’re
doing a fun dance and includes all the things you see in a pageant – swimsuit,
evening gown and…talent. I really
pondered what my talent would be and I decided on doing a spoken word – with my
story. I really feel like this is a
place where my story may be able to help others and is a platform for young
woman to embrace all of who they are – regardless of the number on the
scale. I am so blessed to be a party of
this and to have met so many amazing women!
The pageant is on June 30<sup>th</sup> in Toronto – if you’re interested
in attending – you can purchase tickets from me and online <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.misspluscanada.com/" target="_blank">http://www.misspluscanada.com/</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You can also follow them on Instagram and Facebook to see
the updates leading up to the pageant and night of<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Instagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/misspluscanada" target="_blank">http://instagram.com/misspluscanada</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MissPlusCanada" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/MissPlusCanada</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/misspluscanada" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/misspluscanada</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Check out a pic of some of us at rehearsal 2 weeks ago<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Something kind of funny….I started breaking in my shoes for
the pageant and the same week I bought a pair of Birkenstocks and was breaking
them in – I think I confused my feet quite a bit <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I also received a beautiful painting this month that I’ve
hung in my room. My beautifully,
talented friend Laura (the one who sang at the WINGS gala) paints scripture
inspired paintings. I asked her to paint
me something and payed her for it. The only
direction I gave her was to make it bright to match my room (which she had
never seen actually). Well, she blew me
away! Here it is!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is so much significance in this….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">-It is bright and beautiful … It has hibiscus flowers which
are my fav … the woman (inspired by me) is crowned with beauty (IS 61) and her
tears are not going to waste – they are watering her garden… she also gave me a
new scripture (IS 58:11) about God directing me and strengthening my frame (my
back). I just love it and I’m so
thankful for this piece (I’ve never bought any art before actually).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One more other really exciting thing this month was that I
got to go to Calgary last week and speak at the Habitat for Humanity Canada’s
national conference. I got to speak on
Online fundraising best practices. It
was so neat! I was super nervous but my
nerves finally calmed when I realized – hey, I know what I’m talking
about. We signed 5 new contracts too so
I’d say it was a success. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">While I was there I got to go visit Dawson’s grave site at
Queens Park (my brother in law) and I also got to visit with my ‘bro’ and his
wife and kids which was so nice! It was
such a great trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I took the red eye home Thursday night to make it to my last
set of appointments for Gastric bypass…I didn’t sleep on the plane so I was so
worried that I was not going to stay awake (I actually got to the hospital at
7am and slept in my car for an hour and half for the 3 hours of meetings). Well, my meetings went better than
expected!!! My nurse told me that my blood
work was virtually perfect (aside from my very low vitamin D – see all those
vacations down south are actually needed for my health ;) ) and instead of
having to stay in the hospital for 3 days after surgery, I only have to stay
there for 24 hour which is amazing! We
talked for a while and we talked about how I will be post-surgery and she is
confident that I will do well physically as well as emotionally because I’ve
worked on my inside and have learned to love me. I met with the dietician and she was happy to
hear that I understood the process and also believes I will be successful with
this and then came the psychiatrist apt, the one I was really nervous about –
she only needed 5 minutes with me instead of an hour and also said she’s
confident I will do well and succeed with this.
I go on Monday (only a few days away) to find out my surgery date. A year later and this is finally going to
happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Life has certainly been very interesting and I sit back and reflect,
I think about how thankful I am to have come through what I’ve come through and
come out on the other side. I am
confident that the plans for my life our good and I’ve given up trying to
control them and just live life. I have really
seen this past month how much I’ve gown and I’m so thankful to be able to say
that…. I am the happiest me I have ever been.
I am fulfilled, I am peaceful, I am confident and I love my life. No, I’m not perfect and not everything in my
life is but I’m ok with it. I’m excited
to see what the future holds and what other adventures are on the horizon. I’m now in the place where I’m able to share
my story (mostly without crying) and give hope to others who may not have it today. I am just so grateful for everything and
everyone in my life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My heart is full.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I thought I'd share something else with you too that I totally related with... and although for some, it seems crazy to be open with my story - there is healing for me and I'm learning that there is healing for others. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><a href="http://www.charismamag.com/spirit/spiritual-growth/19977-td-jakes-daughter-brings-healing-to-masses-through-personal-testimony" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> t</span></span><span style="font-size: large;">o read Sarah Jakes' interview with Charisma Magazine on sharing her testimony and the healing that comes along with it. <br /><br />This was my fav part I think....<br />"When asked what lessons she hopes her readers take away from her book she says...That they have the grace to try again. Whether it's a divorce, whether it's a teen pregnancy, or whether you were the victim or the villain in someone's story, you really do have the grace to try again.<br /><br />One mistake doesn't have to define the remainder of your life. You still have time and you still have hope, and if God is with you, He said He's going to complete this work in you.<br /><br />But we have to really give Him permission to complete that work. And if readers of this book really accept grace and the ability to try again, then I know that God will meet them as He has met me.?</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581987390644248734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204945529681664665.post-66665364346623282202014-04-27T06:09:00.002-07:002014-04-27T06:09:50.941-07:00Purpose in the Journey ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVbImdMf8RXDwXPcm-OXlmAD37qjdCaQ3Vf3UaRdWkrWm3Rtl1gX8hIe8uc6XM-GzucLD63cGtY1Y4ETpQdqmHgaRqeykKP4W7i1O7PShooGfN2aQTuuOViMFk_zy6dgU22Cdd0fdeLPH/s1600/1525185_10152443726723304_8953908402706044643_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVbImdMf8RXDwXPcm-OXlmAD37qjdCaQ3Vf3UaRdWkrWm3Rtl1gX8hIe8uc6XM-GzucLD63cGtY1Y4ETpQdqmHgaRqeykKP4W7i1O7PShooGfN2aQTuuOViMFk_zy6dgU22Cdd0fdeLPH/s1600/1525185_10152443726723304_8953908402706044643_n.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well it’s certainly been a long time since my last blog</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(7 months) and life has been pretty eventful and interesting. I find myself in a heightened state of contemplation these days and am waiting with expectation for my bright future ahead. I chuckle as I write that because it’s been a tough road to get here and yet my outlook has remained quite positive and reflective and very conscious of how far I've come, yet knowing that I still have a ways to go. I’m humbled by the love and grace those in my life have shown me – both old friend and new friends. I have so much to be grateful for and my outlook on life has completely changed with the filter of gratitude upon me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just a couple of weeks after my last blog post in September, 1 big change shifted a lot of things in my life and looking back it’s fun to reflect how much that 1 change has affected every area of my life…I had to move out of my Toronto apartment due to a bad case of mold that was making me really sick. My dr put me on puffers and told me I know had asthma. Within a couple weeks out of the apartment, my ‘asthma’ disappeared. It was a quick move – I discovered the problem and within 48 hours I had a moving truck and had my parents and a friend from work help me pack up all my belongings after work on a Tuesday and moved back to Brooklin with my mom. It was a miracle #1 that I got everything out in 1 evening and another miracle that I got everything unloaded in the same night (with the help of 1 friend – thank God for such great people in my life).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The night I moved back something really interesting happened…I was headed back to Toronto to drop off the UHaul and pick up my car. The 401 was closed at the entrance I usually get on so I had to take a detour and go to the next entrance on and I just happened to see this unmistakable big white WINGS Maternity Home van. What’s that you ask? It’s a maternity home in Ajax where this amazing woman (a single mother herself) takes in pregnant and homeless young woman who have chosen life. The girls live in her home while they are pregnant and usually until the baby is at least 6 months (and sometimes longer). These girls are given more than just food and shelter – they are taught skills to be great moms, contributing members of society, helping them break their cycle, heal from their pasts and now they can even complete their high school education at the homeschool right in the house. Well I had been around WINGS quite a bit the last year and moving to Toronto made it difficult to be at the home as much as I used to be. Well, I flagged Marion down (the amazing woman who runs WINGS) and she asked what was going on – I told her and she said to follow her to her place and that she’d come with me for the ride – it was 11pm! This was the start of something great and I knew it was God….I’m reminded of Psalm 37:23 “The steps of a good man {or woman} are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well at the end of that week I was already booked to go on vacation to Cuba with one of my besties, her husband and 1 of her sons. This was a well needed vacation to rest and get better. It was a great time away!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upon my return I got my life organized now that I was back home. The original plan was that I would live in the basement but mom had a great idea to move upstairs – and I didn't realize how important that actually was. I had lived in a basement apartment since my parents split so it had been about 7 years since I lived above ground. Seeing daylight through my beautiful new window felt like such a gift. In getting organized, it meant washing every piece of clothing I owned because as I started to fold and hang everything my throat and chest started to act up and I realized it was because EVERYTHING smelt like mold. If you know me and my closet, you know I have a lot of clothes – I probably had 20 loads of laundry or more to do – it was a lot of work and sure taught me patience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At Christmas time I redid my room to be like my personal oasis – sand coloured walls with 1 coral accent wall – decorated with scripture, quotes and my fav flowers, hibiscus flowers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazBAIsP4eq8XXjeYMRitTtb1n3nT0lD_DjpoEoF_JPCm9npZw15-ZihDGSH9rVFLaGmgHhM9LrH-EnIsuzIk850hxion6kOM-s1eQOWMjgGht29wkw6rZK5w65CCpThqx2wJ2ZHPk6scl/s1600/10168110_10152115782117950_1528615235339533028_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazBAIsP4eq8XXjeYMRitTtb1n3nT0lD_DjpoEoF_JPCm9npZw15-ZihDGSH9rVFLaGmgHhM9LrH-EnIsuzIk850hxion6kOM-s1eQOWMjgGht29wkw6rZK5w65CCpThqx2wJ2ZHPk6scl/s1600/10168110_10152115782117950_1528615235339533028_n.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that I was organized and all set up, I dove in to helping out at WINGS – thinking, brainstorming and putting some plans together to use my skills to help and now help with administrative and online fundraising – which is what I do for work. So it was really cool to use my natural skills to help an organization that was close to my heart. I’ve been able to make some great friendships as a result of my time there and I’m also able to help the girls some support when it comes to healing from the past – given my journey the last couple years, it’s really neat to be able to use my pain and lessons learned to help other girls. I feel so blessed to have this opportunity!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some other exciting things that have happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got a new tattoo – one that means quite a bit. Proverbs 31:25. My heart’s desire is to be a woman described in Proverbs 31 and I feel like my journey is helping me get there. This is my declaration, this is what I wear proudly and it reminds me of the woman I want to be as I walk forth into the future. My ex-husband would tell me that I would never be a Proverbs 31 woman and criticized me so heavily and I believed all his lies for too long. But, he was wrong. I’m so thankful for God’s love and his redemption<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Went on my first wine tour with a group of my girlfriends to celebrate our 30<sup>th</sup> birthdays, some of them even learned to like wine – it was such a great weekend! And the day before we left, one of my girls got engaged! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzXizCK-5XGu_BfTj_f8aZKzWd4XZmxa8A9woT4ZYZgS2sqvg4qxD-cMsgbIIjtlHlnXhbldYpxpGbZObMCEEjfuwji_ebx6SnLz4Haqe9Cb1GjXo7C3Fn631A0sqN2DAYv5oLTHvjN6R/s1600/wine+tour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzXizCK-5XGu_BfTj_f8aZKzWd4XZmxa8A9woT4ZYZgS2sqvg4qxD-cMsgbIIjtlHlnXhbldYpxpGbZObMCEEjfuwji_ebx6SnLz4Haqe9Cb1GjXo7C3Fn631A0sqN2DAYv5oLTHvjN6R/s1600/wine+tour.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxphNnJZmKKwL-mdi7sXQWzO_JhDIdgyDOuuZcXSxG6VHba0-cWDOebQRrfnraI4z4XTTLfiU20zhBc3zz-pVgJgMwtiNr-wSMz0Xl7KdUviKQkRyUQ2z9iiQYNzf4PlplVvTzQuzCX_Fq/s1600/destiny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxphNnJZmKKwL-mdi7sXQWzO_JhDIdgyDOuuZcXSxG6VHba0-cWDOebQRrfnraI4z4XTTLfiU20zhBc3zz-pVgJgMwtiNr-wSMz0Xl7KdUviKQkRyUQ2z9iiQYNzf4PlplVvTzQuzCX_Fq/s1600/destiny.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had our first ever open house at WINGS which was a great success! We had about 300 people through the home which was really exciting. We had a bake sale and sold some calendars and note cards of the babies. We had a new baby born around the time of the open house as well – beautiful baby Destiny </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">December 15<sup>th</sup>, I celebrated my 30<sup>th</sup> Birthday. My mom, sister and Marion held a surprise birthday party for me at WINGS. It was such an amazing surprise and day and I was so blessed by the entire thing! My sister made me a really cool slide show too of my life – it was so sweet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check out the link to the slideshow she made me - https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151885040402950.1073741832.507537949&type=1&l=0bbe8ef021 </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christmas with the fam as well – which was great and we spent Christmas day at WINGS which was so special. It was really cool to see how excited Deacon was! He was hilarious on Christmas day too!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the Christmas holidays I worked at renovating the WINGS website – which was so exciting! The company I work for gifted WINGS access to the system which we were so thankful for. So I was able to build the donation forms and fundraising events to go up on the website too. Check it out – <a href="http://www.wingsmaternityhome.com/">www.wingsmaternityhome.com</a> Check out our latest newsletter too if your interested in hearing some of the exciting things that have happened the last several months- <a href="http://www.wingsmaternityhome.com/winter-2014-newsletter.html">http://www.wingsmaternityhome.com/winter-2014-newsletter.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Something else really exciting happened…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Right before I moved out of Toronto my wonderful mom told me I needed to start dreaming again….so I did. I started dreaming big. I listed some things I didn't think would happen but were on my heart. One of the things that I thought was a pipe dream actually happened, twice. It’s not really that major but it is cool to see that how even my dreams that I think are impossible, really aren't impossible with HIM.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5p7ANtOiwXd1EuBWyrVpaSElf8eu8CrMwS_O6ctSyjBeGCLZEueefF6A_-OMi8Vklr4UWP1wjGNvwjggsO2TTFgn8k41fWESL1Ario_74_rB_KFW6rp2Ie4V8CDz-hjuUFspNI7dl2tA/s1600/1798779_10152004557637950_748163576_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5p7ANtOiwXd1EuBWyrVpaSElf8eu8CrMwS_O6ctSyjBeGCLZEueefF6A_-OMi8Vklr4UWP1wjGNvwjggsO2TTFgn8k41fWESL1Ario_74_rB_KFW6rp2Ie4V8CDz-hjuUFspNI7dl2tA/s1600/1798779_10152004557637950_748163576_n.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was one of several models at a plus size store in Toronto (Your Big Sisters Closet) who was in the display window at the boutique as part of an art installation. I held up signs along with other women expressing my relationship with my body - Signs like - “I have a beautiful body”. There is so much pressure on women - and men too - to look a certain way, have a certain look and really when it comes down to it – the number on the scale doesn't matter. Loving yourself comes first. This has been a major part of my journey the last couple years and I’m still a work in process in accepting all of me – regardless on that number on the scale. That day I was asked by one of the women there to audition for the upcoming Fuller Women expo in Toronto this summer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also went with them as one of the models for a pitch for the dragons den which was exciting. Who knows what will happen with this but it was fun just to have a taste of this dream I never imagined possible. I've also met some wonderful women through this experience and I'm so thankful for that as well!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAaDI2gYZKibo41gLuoR3pQzdXXI_huu4QCz3qj2q40tLvsEv2Ny6U9OzezEFRrL3qwfnurRxw-M6JuoWuVaAVxfXH8HwxrbOsIY-3TaDbo8v_bAww6yWAheU-z_kuIuCDbR1m6ATuwSC/s1600/modeling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAaDI2gYZKibo41gLuoR3pQzdXXI_huu4QCz3qj2q40tLvsEv2Ny6U9OzezEFRrL3qwfnurRxw-M6JuoWuVaAVxfXH8HwxrbOsIY-3TaDbo8v_bAww6yWAheU-z_kuIuCDbR1m6ATuwSC/s1600/modeling.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <i>Out with the Old, In With the new…had to give this one a title…</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFunETe0lQogWc7hyQwQ6jR6YbfyWeDmph8kXsdN5ZISKYv-BN2XlMHNm3-EQNlWuwFNzo75_AP4t8xOe9YwCGqX-JEZdChSIiUgl98mx3G-0St7WiwslfcsI-jAic11Ls37pFnZ1HpGX/s1600/1920535_10152062673502950_419943659_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFunETe0lQogWc7hyQwQ6jR6YbfyWeDmph8kXsdN5ZISKYv-BN2XlMHNm3-EQNlWuwFNzo75_AP4t8xOe9YwCGqX-JEZdChSIiUgl98mx3G-0St7WiwslfcsI-jAic11Ls37pFnZ1HpGX/s1600/1920535_10152062673502950_419943659_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Earlier this year a friend of mine asked me if there was an issue with my mustang. I told her, yeah, I didn't really want it. It was the car that my ex wanted and although I loved driving it, I didn't want to hold onto any more of my past and it was really expensive commuting with a mustang. So she told me, well I’ll pray it gone. I was like OK, sure, but someone is basically going to have to come up to me and ask me if they could buy my car cause I've tried to sell it 5 times (no lie). At first I started looking for a new car, what kind of car did I want, how much could I trade mine in for and after a few days of feeling stressed about it, I really felt like it was time to just leave it in God’s hands and not look. I waited a couple months and on March 17<sup>th</sup> ( a significant date for me) I got home from group at WINGS and there was a letter. A letter from Ford, saying basically….we are looking to beef up our used car lot and we’re looking for 2008’s and we’re specifically looking for mustangs and your service record indicate your care is an ideal candidate and we’ll throw in some extras for you, you just need to buy a new 2013/2014 car that is on our lot. I actually laughed out loud, like seriously, did this just happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlR4YrKFiHQjmQoV5mXiEXaKDoeYmffqfNojLRKTanO8iuqGaTtGEW7EhaOWVEuTSWEgdMM8OEHpnOpotVciOFaR3qZIZtdCDRsBcQVisgUYFrKyXZUsz44rUzf034W3o_vqlQLYh08RMk/s1600/car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlR4YrKFiHQjmQoV5mXiEXaKDoeYmffqfNojLRKTanO8iuqGaTtGEW7EhaOWVEuTSWEgdMM8OEHpnOpotVciOFaR3qZIZtdCDRsBcQVisgUYFrKyXZUsz44rUzf034W3o_vqlQLYh08RMk/s1600/car.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, the next day I went online to see what cars they had and I found they had 1 black 2013 Ford fusion. It was good on gas, it was kind of sexy looking and it had a Bluetooth phone (perfect timing as that day was the first day the fines increased for texting and driving). And, what’s even funnier….I looked at a black ford fusion when I was buying the mustang – it was between those 2 cars. I did some online comparisons with other cars to determine if it was fuel efficient enough. It was. I called and booked an appointment to go that night to see if I could make the trade. Well, after some negotiation and playing some hard ball, the papers were signed and arrangements were made for me to go pick the car up on Thursday night. Now, here’s where it gets better. Because of how much I’ll be saving on gas and fixing the car, it’s actually not really costing me much more. God is good….and learning to trust Him to guide and provide is so exciting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its been a busy few months with work and WINGS and new friendships and just enjoying life. I just got back from a trip to Cuba which was fun (yes, Cuba for the 7<sup>th</sup> time lol…what can I say, I love it there?)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, not many people give an account for the things that happen in a 7 month time period, but these events, and so many more have been so significant for so many reasons. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here’s why:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A friend posted something yesterday that basically said - we are so used to telling people about our painful pasts, and instead we should focus on the positive things that are happening in our lives - my past is just a story at this point which has brought me to where I am at and made me who I am. I will not live in the past any more and I will enjoy all that this time in my life has to offer and enjoy the journey. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've learned and grown so much. God has taught me so much….he’s taught me to trust Him, to lean on Him to provide, guide and take care of me. Nothing that happens in life is wasted, not even the hard stuff. He uses all things, even things I never imagined to be useful. There were some really tough days, days where I couldn't do much more than cry but, I’m still here. I’m still standing and I’m actually much stronger than I was or ever thought I would be. Sometimes all we need to do is just say yes to God and show up and he takes care of the rest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am amazed by the people he’s brought into my life in the last year and I’m so thankful for new friends and old friends and for my family. I am blessed beyond measure. So much more has happened than even this and I've been journalling it all along the way. I really felt God ask me back in November to start taking notes on what my days were like, the things that would happen, because things would start happening fast and I needed to be able to recall them. That time has turned into my quiet time with him, journalling my prayers and my heart’s desires and my heart’s cries. The last month or so I've not journalled as much, or at all really and am really feeling that I need to get back to it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I was writing this post I actually had a friend send me a message who was preparing for a workshop she was doing on hearing the voice of God - she asked me if I could share how I hear from Him and it was actually pretty interesting timing given my reflective head space. Here's what I realized....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I find that God usually speaks to me in a few different ways….but I’ll mention how I learned to hear the voice of God and know it was him</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've always questioned, do I hear from Him and about 2 years ago as I was getting through a difficult time I really asked God to teach me how to hear his voice….he picked a fun way to teach me. God started telling me while I was driving to turn here, go here, don’t go here, etc. I thought it was really strange but kind of cool because I love driving and I decided to be obedient as he led. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learning to listen to his step by step directions has led me to discovering truth in so many ways. I continue to learn how to discern that He is speaking to me and when I remain in Him, regularly in His presence, it’s much easier to hear him and know that it is Him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Often times I will get a random thought – or what I think is random and then God confirms that it is him either with a dream, a scripture he brings to light (during my quiet time or by a friend or in church). I usually sit with a word for a little bit, especially when it comes to direction for the future and I leave it in His hands to guide the complete the work. Most recently God has revealed some heavy things in dreams and they require me to pray through things however I kept putting the pressure on myself to figure it out when he wanted me to ‘Be Still’ just like Psalm 46:10 says. He’s really been teaching me to rest in Him, something I was never really ‘allowed’ to do growing up – being still and doing nothing. I find now that when I’m still and wait on Him until I have peace to move forward, whether it’s a decision that needs to be made, a step to be taken, etc. he makes the path ahead of me and then bam, things happen fast. In the past I would try and hustle to make things happen faster and in the last couple of weeks he’s reminded me of how He speaks to me and now I’m finally catching on – Listen for him….be still and wait on him….allow him to complete the work He has started. Not my will, but His will be done. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I thought about this a little bit more I realized something pretty neat to....that my journey in hearing the voice of God has actually been something that He's used as part of my 'ministry' with WINGS (and with some others as well). A couple of the girls in the home have asked me the question, how do I hear God's voice - how do I know it's Him? and I'm able to share how He's taught me which is the coolest part - the things God teaches us are usually not just for us - but to pass it on to....so here I am passing my life lessons onto you too...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Here are some major things I've learned and really embraced:</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am not defined by my past pain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am not going to be a good, Godly woman, I am a good, Godly woman. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am loved, not for what I do for others, but for who I am and I love me – this outlook has changed everything in my life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've learned that what is on the outside isn't what counts. I have curves, I dress my curves. I've had a challenge with loosing my weight and have actually gained some weight because of some major issues with my back from the accident – every time I work out I seem to injure myself (ribs popping out of place, my lower back going out, constant pain, etc.). Most recently I put my back out and was put on 6 weeks rest because of it. But, I’m not depressed from gaining the weight. I’m uncomfortable, yes, in pain everyday , yes, but, I’m happy and I’m not defined by my outside package. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am close to the end of the process for going through with gastric bypass – surgery will likely take place this summer. Some might not be as open about this as I am but it’s going to be evident one day that something changed and I’m not going to be ashamed of it. I have worked so hard to deal with my weight for years. Since my accident it’s changed so much and I just cannot do what I used to do and my dr has told me that because my hormones are so out of whack because of the pain I’m in, my body actually fights me when it comes to loosing and keeping the weight off which is why I stropped loosing weight. This surgery is not an easy pass, it will be hard work and I’m thankful I've learned how to eat well and balanced as I will need these skills the rest of my life, post surgery. There are risks associated, I am well researched, but I feel this is the route I am to take and my doctors believe it will significantly help with my pain, and hopefully take the pain away when the weight is gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I suppose I will sign off for now, and hope to not take so long for a post the next time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keep fighting the good fight my friends – the fight for walking out your full potential, regardless of your past. You have no limits on what you can achieve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sarah :)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581987390644248734noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204945529681664665.post-90405752674096517122013-09-14T09:36:00.001-07:002013-09-14T09:36:30.658-07:00Leaving the past in the past....A new thing is beginning....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBbCEUsu53DVEFshkKy4GMX-WqrbYDsKRg2wcJ9RrWaPOUQyPxLk07bEr3_tQ6cz6fV1OUCcf-5O5wz6ZBIc-rZ7X4tdwONbfknOcZoQbiUKdgz667dbpqIHhGv_HDZ8q7stbr3IXd6A8/s1600/tumblr_m7671rutwJ1qhmhdfo1_500.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBbCEUsu53DVEFshkKy4GMX-WqrbYDsKRg2wcJ9RrWaPOUQyPxLk07bEr3_tQ6cz6fV1OUCcf-5O5wz6ZBIc-rZ7X4tdwONbfknOcZoQbiUKdgz667dbpqIHhGv_HDZ8q7stbr3IXd6A8/s1600/tumblr_m7671rutwJ1qhmhdfo1_500.jpeg" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
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It’s been a while since my last blog….The last few months
have certainly brought about a lot of change!</div>
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This blog started off documenting my weight loss journey and
things in my life have certainly shifted.
Do I still have my goals – yes!
Unfortunately, I’ve had some major limitations still with my back but
I’ve been seeing another new chiropractor the last few weeks and I’m finally
seeing some more progress. July
and August were tough months – my ribs kept popping out of place making it
painful to do anything including breathe – hence another new chiropractor. Her instructions to me were to stop
working out – and I’ve had to force myself to listen. </div>
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Typically, this would pretty much devastate me however its
caused me to dig into some places in my heart I haven’t gone before. I’ve come to some pretty big
conclusions as a result. My
priority right now is making sure my heart is healthy (it’s physically healthy,
I mean emotionally) and getting to the place where I am pain free. </div>
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Through some recent events the last few weeks I have also
discovered that I’m actually alright.
I am fun, outgoing, passionate, energetic, hard working and beautiful
and I really need to stop being so
hung up on my weight cause it appears that no one else seems to be hung up on
it. I’ve tried to work on
improving my self image pretty much all my life but this month has been pretty
big in improving my self image.
People aren’t going to love me anymore than they do when I’m
‘skinny’. I’ve been obsessing over
it without actually realizing it – pretty much my entire life. </div>
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I keep thinking that others will love me more when I like
the way I look. Big problem with
that – I need to love me for me – for who God created me to be. Does that mean I stop being healthy –
heck no! I will focus on getting
my body in good working order (pain free, and my insides – both emotionally and
chemically – I’ve started seeing a naturopath to help with that) and I will
make wise choices – eat healthy and balanced and stay as active as my body will
allow. I will follow the direction
of my chiropractor – she’s actually pretty confident she can get me pain free
which is the first time a professional has told me that. She will work on
getting me pain free and then rebuilding/re-strengthening my body. This entire discovery has taken a huge
weight off my shoulders and I don’t feel quite as intense about things in
general. </div>
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Something else that has taken a huge weight off my shoulders
is the fact that my divorce is official official – like for real. I received my final papers at the
beginning of August and last weekend my 31 days hit which means that my divorce
is final. I am free! This came a lot sooner than expected –
from the date that divorce was filed to the date it was completely finalized
was less than 5 months – that’s like unheard of. It’s brought forth a lot of emotion – obviously but I’m
thankful it’s done. I’m in a
better place for sure. I still
have some work ahead of me…I don’t’ know what it’s like to be in a healthy
relationship. I’ve only known
something that is unhealthy, abusive, controlling with absolutely no trust or
no reason to trust. </div>
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So what does the future hold for this girl….Well I have no
idea frankly but here is what I do know.
My heavenly father has watched over me and has kept me safe through all
this. He has been faithful and has
redeemed me and situations in my life beyond anything I ever expected. He has brought people in my life to be
there for me, encourage me along the way, help me pick up the pieces and start
over, people to speak into my life and mentor me and he’s brought people in my
life to help remind me how to have fun and be who He created me to be – I lost
the real me for almost 5 years but I’m back and I think I’m actually an
improved model of the old me – think of the new iPhone lol. </div>
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A few weeks ago I felt really stuck. I’ve just been in survival mode really
and waiting for things to be finalized so I could close off everything on that
chapter of my life. I talked to my
wonderful mom about how I was feeling and she had me to a really great
exercise. She told me to write out
my dreams, hopes and Desires. I
hadn’t really thought of any of that in a long time because I was just trying
to work through so much and get through what I was going through. Now it’s time to dream big and start
reaching for those dreams. One of
those dreams is to be a wedding/event planner and a few weeks ago I did a
wedding and I’m doing my first paid wedding in June and trying to figure out
how I can do some more events on the side. It’s pretty exciting.
I have a few more things I want to do and I’ll slowly work towards those
things.</div>
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I am hopeful, I am happy, I am free, and I am beautiful just
the way that I am. I’m excited to
see what my future holds and see where my journey takes me. I am going to stop holding onto my past
and letting it determine my future.
It’s time to move forward with all life has for me. </div>
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The next month or so I have so much enjoying of life to do –
My divorce party (this wasn’t my idea but I might as well celebrate my freedom
and new lease on life), baseball tournament, Cuba with my bestie, Wine tour
with my girls for our 30<sup>th</sup> birthday…this is not a life of someone
who wallows in their pain – this is the life of someone who has so much joy, reason
for living and someone who has peace.
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I hope that one day I will be able to share with young girls
my journey and help them work through some of the issues I’ve had to work
through (and am still working through).
There has been so much pain as a result of a lot of my own choices and
the choices that others have made that have affected me and if I can use that
pain and the joy that has come out of the sorrow to help some others get
through things sooner than I did so they can live life to the fullest.</div>
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A special thanks to all those in my life who have been there
by my side through everything and who are still there. I am beyond grateful for all the
support, love and care I’ve had.
God has truly blessed me beyond words!</div>
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That’s it for now…stay tuned for what the future holds</div>
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I’ve included some pictures of some of the fun I’ve had the
last few months</div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581987390644248734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204945529681664665.post-47376375363683182442013-07-16T18:06:00.003-07:002013-07-16T18:06:45.401-07:00No turning back...No turning back...<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tonight I sit here in my room, in my new place (in the city) and I should
feel really down and part of me is…but at the same time, I’m holding on for
dear life. I cried a lot of tears
today – tears of pain and frustration.
Today I had 2 of my ribs pop out of place for the second time in 5 days
making it hard and painful to even breathe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It’s been over 2 ½ years that I’ve been in this battle with
my back, neck, shoulders and collarbone – in pain everyday. All the while I’ve been working at
trying to get my weight down and going through a lot of emotional stress with my divorce. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The last 9 months I’ve been at a plateau which has been
quite frustrating to say the least.
So, when I moved to the city 6 weeks ago I decided I needed to do
something to change things up. I
took the time to get settled in and continue seeing a new chiropractor (my 9<sup>th</sup>
one) and finally started to get some relief. I started to de-stress, went from having a 4 hour
daily commute to just over an hour (35-40 minute bike ride each way to work)
and started considering what else I needed to do to get this weight off for
good. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I went gung-ho!
I started biking 100km/week and started doing body pump 2-3 times a week
only to put my back out in the second week. So I had to take a couple weeks off. Once that resolved itself (after a lot
of tears) I went and met with my cousin who put me through a fit test and
suggested I try doing a 4 day split weight training program and reduce my
portions some more (I had let things creep up a bit). She also suggested visiting her naturopath to make sure I’m
doing what’s right for my body. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, that brought me to last week…I was feeling great! So I started my new weight training
program – I was super sore but it felt good. I went easy – not super heavy weights and slow so that my
form was good. I also went to
visit the naturopath for my first assessment visit where I just spilled
everything I was doing, things that were going on with my body and expressed my
goals – get pain free, have my body deal with stress better and loose my last
90-100 lbs. So that was
Monday. Thursday I go visit my
chiropractor and was up all that night.
I was in agony! I ended up
going for an emergency appointment only to find out I put a rib out of place
which is why it hurt to breathe. I
spent the weekend relaxing with my sister and nephew to try and calm things
down. Monday rolls around and I’m
in pain again, so I drive to work instead of riding. I also had my naturopath follow up only to find out there
were some significant things going on in my body that I wasn’t aware of…super
low iron (almost anemic levels), low on b12, thyroid issues, etc. She is confident with some natural
tools we can fix these things and work on the pain as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So last night I was feeling pretty encouraged that things
were about to change. Then I woke
up today and so much pain again – it hurt to breathe and all. I got out of bed and just laid on the
floor and cried and again had to drive into work today. I made another emergency chiro
appointment only to find out I put 2 ribs out again….and I’m not allowed to
bike or go to the gym the rest of the week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So tonight I come home and I just get in bed and watch tv –
I have no energy. Fighting all the
temptations of just having bad food cause I’m so sad, mad and frustrated. Tonight I have overcome! I enjoyed some Greek yogurt and
eggs. Probably could have eaten
more but I’m actually not very hungry because I’m so nauseous from the
pain. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But today is just one day. I have to learn to accept me for me and continue on making
progress. I keep putting the
pressure on myself to just loose all 90 lbs now but if I don’t love myself at
every step, I’m never going to love myself when I finally get to my goal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, tonight, I surrender to my body. I surrender to the process and I hold
on for dear life knowing that things will get better. I know God has a plan and He’s working things out for good
for me. His word tells me so and
He hasn’t let me down yet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I took a couple tiny steps tonight to take pictures of where
I’m at right now and I blog to get my feelings out and center myself some
more. I didn’t eat my
feelings. I relaxed (which I’m
typically not good at).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The last couple years have been hard but they are coming
around. All the crap that’s left
in there seems to be surfacing but I can only hope that’s just so things can
start soaring and not hold me down.
My divorce is almost finalized.
I am almost free. I am in a
good place and I need to stay that way.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">No turning back, no turning back…</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibb6a-Pt_NnL4f-NJU-x3d67aE3waxHZc9FwA2NGPQPUaipzzkRbj8V-_GB6-rz1lV9vcli7Bc4NWxqgxbn15gjqnLWUxAoMYenpyEYVOK9isMhwLhFOGnG_uZR7f8zRN3-jYuSTMVkJUh/s1600/proverbs+31+25.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibb6a-Pt_NnL4f-NJU-x3d67aE3waxHZc9FwA2NGPQPUaipzzkRbj8V-_GB6-rz1lV9vcli7Bc4NWxqgxbn15gjqnLWUxAoMYenpyEYVOK9isMhwLhFOGnG_uZR7f8zRN3-jYuSTMVkJUh/s1600/proverbs+31+25.jpeg" height="320" width="296" /></span></a></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581987390644248734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204945529681664665.post-63240114803562559952013-05-20T18:41:00.001-07:002013-05-20T18:41:24.683-07:00I Refuse to Give Up on Myself<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPCD5Hlj32_UgMcAmD0OLUKt1ikBvjTDXp0XZyM-q3Aa5ijCXM328uehjD94jjP5Tk_W7FzbhhzBBrcce9Mk4rvDKT1TvehtiLQftUBKq8pr0jClM_SIA85uVRoHefrvAslxWJFK6VB1J/s1600/i+refuse+to+give+up.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPCD5Hlj32_UgMcAmD0OLUKt1ikBvjTDXp0XZyM-q3Aa5ijCXM328uehjD94jjP5Tk_W7FzbhhzBBrcce9Mk4rvDKT1TvehtiLQftUBKq8pr0jClM_SIA85uVRoHefrvAslxWJFK6VB1J/s1600/i+refuse+to+give+up.jpeg" /></a></div>
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It's been just over a month since my last blog and a lot has happened....I never knew that #1 I could handle so much change, #2 would enjoy the change, #3 be up for more of it and #4 not knowing what to expect but totally being ok with it.</div>
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Well what has happened....</div>
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- I found a new apartment in the city (less than 10km from my work). It has everything I was looking for - all inclusive price including utilities, cable, internet and laundry. Its by the highway but close to work. I'll be attempting to bike to work - that will be interesting but will be good for my weight loss goals considering its 20km a day and I"ll be going to the gym on the way to work...scored a wicked deal for Goodlife. </div>
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- My ex-husband actually filed for divorce and I was served 2 weeks after he filed. This is kind of a big thing...typically the first part takes 2 months and this took 2 weeks....so it should move along quickly. How the whole situation went down really made me realize it really is time to move on - even though I was his wife and he asked me how old I was while he was filling out the forms - he put my wrong age (2 years younger than I actually am) and my wrong birth year - just goes to show he didn't really pay attention to details about me but I don't say that because I"m bitter...I say that because it makes me want to move on and be with someone who cares about even the small things. He also had his mother serve me divorce papers rather than paying someone to do it. Which really wasn't fair because I had to see both his parents and it just went to show that he's still getting his mom to do everything for him. Again - not bitter, just really made it easier to receive my divorce papers and not cry and move on. </div>
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- We put the house up for sale and 2 weeks later sold the house - closing date is July 4th</div>
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- Helped an amazing charity that I support put on a gala at the beginning of the month. It was a great success and I'm so blessed to have met some amazing people through all the prep. </div>
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- I've met a lot of amazing people in the last couple months. I'm just amazed at the people that God has brought into my life. I've been blessed by so many of them!!!</div>
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- I started seeing yet another chiropractor - I think this one was the 8 or 9th I've tried since my car accident...I've had 2 sessions and the feeling of hot knives constantly stabbing me in my shoulder blades seems to have gone away and I can breathe. So I"m optimistic. During the assessment she checked out my thyroid and thinks something might be wrong so I'll have to get that checked out. But I'm hopeful that this chiropractor will help and one day I will not live in pain every single day.</div>
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The one thing that I'm not so proud of in the next month is that I've sort of let go of my weight loss determination and not that this is an excuse or anything....but my back, neck and shoulders have been pretty bad the last 2 months and I'm finally starting to feel a little better....soooo no more lack of working out and no more of not sticking to a proper healthy diet. </div>
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I feel pretty crappy when I"m not eating clean so that's a good reason alone to get back at things. I will work on my diet this week and next and working up my bike riding to get ready for my new commute that starts in less than 2 weeks. I will not give up, I will keep going even though there have been some pretty large set backs. </div>
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Once my move happens, things will get a little easier in terms of my workouts....I'll be biking 20km/day and in the gym 5-6 days a week because I will have time and I will not have a 4 hour commute everyday....My life is about to get very, very different and I'm super stoked!!!!</div>
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I've also spent a lot of time this month reading and journaling...maybe one day I'll write a book lol. One of the things I've spent a lot of time studying is how our names hold such meaning. In the Bible peoples' names were very significant and they 'grew into' their names. It certainly got me thinking....my married name was Greaves...no wonder I spent 5 years 'greaving'....my says of grieving are over. That is no longer my name. I really felt like I should start reading some more on what my name means...Sarah...well it means princess. As a little girl I loved that my name meant princess but with my ex he made me feel like it was a bad trait to have or bad persona to carry. But, I am a princess, I'm a daughter of the King of Kings. And thats great! But I started to take it a little further...how are princesses supposed to be treated - I wasn't treated very well by my ex and was put down a lot and it was really abusive. But also, I didn't treat myself very good. And I don't want to do that anymore. It's time to care for me. Not only so that I'm confident but also so that I'm able to give back to others. </div>
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I also started reading about Sarah in the Bible. God had promised her a child even though she was barren. She ended up trying to take that promise into her own hands and gave her maidservant to her husband to have a child. But that is not what God meant for her. He has promised to give her a child. I did what Sarah did and her husband Abraham had a child with her maidservant - Ishmael ...I tried to take things- about being with a man- into my own hands and it turned out horrible and caused immense pain, sorrow and sadness. But, like Sarah in the Bible, I've given all of me back to God. I will trust him to work things out for me and I know that I can trust him to work everything out and fulfill his promises in my life and for him to restore the 5 years that I lost. God has been restoring things that I would have never imagined and despite even being served divorce papers, I haven't cried. I know that my father in heaven has got this and He's got me in the palm of his hands. </div>
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I know this post isn't over exciting but a lot has happened and despite how hard this month could have been, it wasn't and I'm still standing and I'm ready to keep going. Truthfully, I feel better on the inside than I have in my entire life. I'm free, I'm strong, I've got so many blessings in my life and I'm working through all the 'stuff' I need to work through. I'm not sweeping any of it under the rug...I'm not leaving any stone un-turned. Now it's time to tackle the outward portion me some more. It's all about balance, getting back up when you get knocked down, dusting yourself off and keep on keeping on. </div>
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And even though I may have gained 5 lbs or so...I'm still beautiful inside and out and that is the first time that I have ever been able to say that in my entire life! I'm content and I'm at peace and I love me! Again, I don't say any of this because I have a big head - if you know me...you know I'm not like that. I have never been able to say that I am beautiful and that I love myself until the last couple months. I'm proud of me.</div>
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Remember to never give up on yourself. Remember that the darkness will not always remain - things will get better - the sun will come out tomorrow. Keep your head held high and take one step at a time. </div>
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Peace out all!</div>
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Sarah </div>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+42&version=MSG">Isaiah 42</a></div>
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Here are a couple pictures from the past few weeks</div>
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A friend did this for me...I loved it so I thought I'd share :) Fast & Furious 6 comes out this week! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiti2_bLnrReey16oPAAhg24EecD5dgBQRA5kDvREpl1zGXZrZHDswgm1HYsTFxOWKWpHS2mg7wB1yBo9Xjn3W-Jo4-RDNUaScHK6ZgeMN7egYHKMydU2zhyphenhyphenpFqzlr15xUpGBOXo__FK3nr/s1600/fastnfurious.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiti2_bLnrReey16oPAAhg24EecD5dgBQRA5kDvREpl1zGXZrZHDswgm1HYsTFxOWKWpHS2mg7wB1yBo9Xjn3W-Jo4-RDNUaScHK6ZgeMN7egYHKMydU2zhyphenhyphenpFqzlr15xUpGBOXo__FK3nr/s1600/fastnfurious.jpeg" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
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New Glasses....different look for sure!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboRDTyVb8Lx6PQIRU51nnqGlEubnCgwng2xrzadATOeJbpgyS6RJWKuMaEtw9COxBCHyU2TGQJMqIgzFAPe311KcTJcLNNTBCLfeuY_U3qiDkXEOwZdI8_-Ze-nx2gIysCj0b3_j7ZF34/s1600/glasses.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboRDTyVb8Lx6PQIRU51nnqGlEubnCgwng2xrzadATOeJbpgyS6RJWKuMaEtw9COxBCHyU2TGQJMqIgzFAPe311KcTJcLNNTBCLfeuY_U3qiDkXEOwZdI8_-Ze-nx2gIysCj0b3_j7ZF34/s1600/glasses.jpeg" height="320" width="244" /></a></div>
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Me and my fav little guy! It's going to be hard not to live with him anymore...I move out the day before he turns 3 :( Auntie Sarah is going to miss you little guy xoxo</div>
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Brianna and I with Cinderella at the WINGS Gala on May 11th </div>
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Zucchini lasagna - replaced noodles with Zucchini - so yummy!</div>
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Me and Brianna again </div>
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Kat and I at a friend's Basketball party - enjoying being back to me!</div>
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Mom and I on our way to Buffalo this past weekend - had a great time together </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581987390644248734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204945529681664665.post-64684380740741596752013-04-11T18:27:00.001-07:002013-04-11T18:40:27.699-07:00Not just a new chapter in my book...It's a whole new book!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSi6v80kS7Aljw88LL934-M5FtVP2sg5p4L7on4KhnCdw3yO3_Hej2VoFmpGr3PJnkmTCueAwKeVMEmZ72XrZaS2J286mc1ruFE58eQRXftkGms2vgW1bY5ae8RQnIHI6jiTgsJvrvhUJm/s1600/537894_10151406354092950_1262265705_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSi6v80kS7Aljw88LL934-M5FtVP2sg5p4L7on4KhnCdw3yO3_Hej2VoFmpGr3PJnkmTCueAwKeVMEmZ72XrZaS2J286mc1ruFE58eQRXftkGms2vgW1bY5ae8RQnIHI6jiTgsJvrvhUJm/s1600/537894_10151406354092950_1262265705_n.jpeg" height="297" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(For those who don't know my tat's...yes those are my feet)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">To most, today is just
another day. For me however, Today
is pretty much epic - for a few reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Tonight I quickly reflect on
the last 5 years and tonight...I leave them in the past. I leave all the pain, hurt,
devastation, abuse, neglect, and anything that is not positive – heck I even
leave all the stuff beyond those 5 years.
And tonight...I not only walk forward but run as fast as I can into the
future my God has promised me. As
Jeremiah 29:11 says, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“For I know the plans I have
for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans
to give you hope and a future.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">He's also promised me a new
beginning in Isaiah 43:19<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“Behold, I will do a new
thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way
in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Why has this new beginning
all of a sudden come…well my husband let me know that he filed for divorce
yesterday. Our relationship was a
tough one. There was a lot of pain
and a lot of hurt. I loved him a
lot but to be honest, I’m not sure he loved me – that’s something he even told
me during our separation. But, you
know what, I know I loved with all that I could, I did everything I could to
try and save our marriage and make him happy - including working on all my stuff that wasn’t so
pleasant. Do I regret having the
hope and faith I had for reconciliation – NO. Because I know that I won’t have any regrets for trying my
best and hardest, I would have regrets if I didn’t try my best though. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It’s actually kind of
strange but last year on April 6<sup>th</sup> – I cooked him the last meal I
ever cooked him. We were separated
but I cooked him dinner on his birthday.
It was the next couple days following that day that he stopped talking
to me again and I really felt God ask me to start praying for the
reconciliation of our marriage.
But, that was really what God me seeking God and re-developing my
relationship with Him. You see, being
a Christian isn’t just about religion, or going to church, or following the 10
commandments. It’s about a
relationship with our creator, our Heavenly Father, the one who breathed life
into us and set this world in motion.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Looking back now, I think
God knew the only thing that I put before him was my husband. And maybe the only way God could get my
attention was to try and get me praying for my marriage. Because, if you knew me the first 4
months of our separation, I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do about our
marriage. The man I married and
loved so deeply hurt me so badly in so many ways and was unfaithful (at least
with his heart). I was so
angry. I didn’t want anything to
do with him and at the same time I couldn’t imagine life without him. I knew I deserved to be treated better
and maybe I didn’t do a great job of being a wife either. All I knew was things were bad and the
only thing to change that – was through prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It is now pretty much
exactly a year later (I’m just not 100% sure on the date but it was within a
week of April 6<sup>th</sup>, 2012) that I got on my knees before God and
started to repent for all I had done.
I prayed that God would change me – my usual prayer was that God would
change him but I was urged to pray a different prayer in a book by Stormie
Omartian called The Power of a Praying Wife. I ready the book probably 8 times in the last year during
our separation. I spent time
praying for him and that he would do well in all that he did, and I prayed that
God would change me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Well, I at least know God
answered the prayers about me. As
I have not really seen him in months, I don’t really know what’s gong on with
him other than he’s moved on and is with someone else. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">But none of that matters….
I’m not the same person that I was a year and a half ago. Even as I sit here writing and thinking
about what life was like for me a year and a half ago, I’m brought to
tears. I was so broken, angry,
passionless, jagged, and dark – I had no light in me. Today if you were to meet me – you’d see that I’m a totally
different person – you actually may not recognize me. Despite all the pain and difficulties the last year and a
half, I’m happy. I smile all the
time. I have passion back. I have drive and determination and most
importantly, I have peace. This
was not the result of me getting her in my own strength. No, I had to relinquish all control,
all my will and my stubbornness to my Heavenly Father. And you know what, it’s the most free I
have ever felt – which I get, seems so bizarre.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">My prayer for him, the one I
loved so furiously, is that he does well in life and that he realizes how much
our Heavenly Father loves him too and that he wants great things for him. I hope he finds what he is looking in
for life and I pray for his safety.
But, today I need to run into my future and all God has in store for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So what did I spend my day
doing – the day that marked the first page in Sarah’s new book? Well, I went to work – to the job I
love and am so thankful for and was surrounded by people who encourage me so
much even on days that are tough, who make me laugh, who inspire me to do great
and who see me as a strong woman – I always thought I was so weak. I’m learning that was a lie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I spent time today thinking
about what is next for me and asking God to guide me in it all. We are putting our house up for sale in
a few weeks and I’m on the hunt for a new place to live. I’m looking for something downtown
Toronto – close to work and I have a list of things I’m hoping to find in my
first place on my own downtown. I
said I’d never live downtown…well I’m learning you should never say never
cause….well a lot of my “nevers” are becoming my realities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I’m making plans for my
future – what do I want? Where do
I want to go? Who do I want to
be? How can I better myself? How can I make an impact on those
around me for the better? So many
questions and so many possibilities.
These are different questions than I’ve asked in the past and the state
of mind I’m asking them is so different too. I’m not longer a victim. I’m not longer ruled by my situations – good and bad. I’m no longer just trying to survive,
but rather, I’m thriving and I will continue to thrive!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I’ve sort of taking a few
weeks to be more ‘still’ and I’ve sort of slacked off on my workout regimen but
still eating good – mostly lol.
And you know what, I’m not beating myself up for it. Divorce is hard and it’s emotional and
it’s like a death and I need to give me some time. With that said – I will be picking up my weights again next
week and getting back at it.
However, this time, during this break – I didn’t’ throw my eating right
out the window and I’m not beating myself up for needing to rest and I’m not
going backwards. I’m learning that
as long as you are making progress – in whatever you do – it is good. For so long I’ve had the pressure to be
‘on’ all the time and I end up wearing myself out and hating what I’m
doing. So a break is sometimes
necessary and when dealing with a
broken heart…it’s really necessary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A lot has happened in the
last month actually, even as I try to ‘be still’….and here it is in summary….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Went on a glorious vacation to Cuba with my mom
and had an amazing time and met some amazing people. I danced all night and slept in
the sun all day – probably got the best tan I ever have<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Have reduced my chiropractor visits to every
other week – which is great!
I’m not in as much pain as I was and she gave me some natural
supplements to help my body deal with stress and pain a little better<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I’ve made some major progress with a group of my
clients that have been really challenging to engage<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I’ve been set free from a lot of pain, heartache
and things holding me back<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I received significant breakthrough and healing
at a retreat I just attended last weekend<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I’m pretty sure I’ve found something that may
actually be my calling – something outside of what I do for work right now
– more to come on that but it’s one of my “I will never” statements<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">God is answering my prayers left right and
center – I even prayed for an e-reader for my commute to work cause I
couldn’t afford one – I really wanted an iPad but realized I just needed
an e-reader…well…someone at work GAVE me one last week!!! And…it’s purple – my favourite
colour. I think sometimes God
just really wants us to see how much He really knows us…<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Divorce was filed <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">My new beginning has officially begun<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I have new ideas on things I want to do – my
creativity is coming back<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I’ve learned how to handle stress wayyyyy better<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I’ve realized that what some see as my
weaknesses or the things that they don’t like in me became the things I no
longer liked about me.
However, they have resurfaced now that I’m coming back to who I
was. People respond to me so differently
and I really feel like God has started to use what is perceived as my ‘flaws’
as something good – like me talking too much – If I didn’t like to talk
and share things I wouldn’t be writing this blog or being sharing my story
and helping young girls who are where I was 5 years ago<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I have also accepted myself for just who I
am. I am me – curves and all
and that’s alright. There is
no other like me. I’m not
perfect and I’m working on the things I can but it’s all about progress. I have met a lot of new people in the last month and they seem to like who I am too - the real me and that's really cool. I was told for so long that I was socially awkward and that people didn't actually like me, they just pretended to my face so I've officially been released from those negative opinions and I'm breaking into my own element and being who God created me to be. These people I'm meeting - they don't have any expectations or want me to fulfill something for them - they just enjoy spending time with me like I enjoy spending time with them - it's so refreshing and I feel so loved!</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I am more confident than
ever that God is with me and that He’s brought me so far and that He’s not just
going to stop now…He’s proving it time and time again. Here’s just one example…while I was
getting texts from my ex yesterday about the divorce and that he just filed, I
got a text from a girl I met this weekend at the retreat I was at…keep in mind,
my text message will still open from Him…what did her text say….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was John 15:16 - You did
not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear
fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father
will give you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Why did that verse mean
something to me…well because this act of filing for divorce is about the only
thing I can remember him doing on his own without me having to do it since I
met him. And it’s kind of hard as
a sensitive woman to swallow that the first thing he did was make the final
move to get rid of me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I then got another text
saying Philippians 4:6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Do not be anxious about
anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Now this scripture is pretty
obvious as to why it touched me…I don’t think I could break it down any better
that it is in the scripture. But
in short – I need not worry but rather to trust God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And followed by an
encouragement to walk by faith and not by sight and that she was trusting with
me that this God who loves me dearly will fight on my behalf. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Now, to some, these messages
may seem strange. This may seem
like nothing to you…but to me – it’s huge! This also happened the day my ex asked for our marriage certificate
back in October or November so he could file for divorce…2 minutes after his
text, I got a text with a scripture from a pastor friend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I have a hard time believing
that this isn’t God. Rather I
believe that he’s right there with me, even in what should be my darkest hour –
my valley. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Some of you may ask
yourselves as you read this…why is this chick so open with what is going on in
her life? Why isn’t she scared to
share her most vulnerable feelings and what’s going on in her life? Well, I really only have 1 answer for
you and that is this….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">God has brought me through a
lot of heart wrenching things and I’m still here, I’m here to tell my
story. I’m here to try and help
others who may have the same feelings of desperation that I once had. Not only am I still here, I’ve been
renewed and transformed and I’m stronger than I have ever been in my life! 3 weeks ago I almost threw in the towel
completely and just wanted to give up on trying anything but I knew I couldn’t
do that – I new I was at the very edge of my breakthrough and well…here I
am…pushing forward and change is happening and my future is just brighter and
brighter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I suppose that this is
enough for now but know this….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">There is a God who loves
you. He loves me. He is the reason that I live. He is the reason that I’m still here
and has helped me get through all this pain and heartache. He is the reason that I live. It’s your choice on what you believe but
this is what I believe. He is
turning my ashes into something beautiful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I don’t know what my future
holds, but I know he’s got me in the palm of His hands and I’m right where I
need to be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">My hope is that something in
what I write has helped you or inspired you or encouraged you. You are worthy of love and you have a
purpose here on this earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thank you to all those in my
life who have been by my side through all of this and even beyond this. Thank you for encouraging me to keep
going and to stay positive and to keep fighting – for me! Thank you for seeing the good in me
even when I didn’t’ see it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">One last thing, I promise....as I sat here wrapping up my writing tonight one of my very favourite songs played...ironic enough it's the song I had some of my favourite people sing at my wedding. Here's the youtube video of it if you want to check it out - it's called - </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsGF9xJl9ZY" style="font-family: Arial;">Till I see you</a> (click on the link)</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Much love!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sarah <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Here are a couple pictures from my trip to Cuba.... I actually didn't take a lot - but I totally enjoyed my time!!!</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Oh here's some funny pics I thought I'd throw in too...a friend had a birthday party that was basketball themed and asked everyone to wear basket ball jerseys. Well the only one I had was mine from High School - never expected to #1 wear it again and #2 wear it to a party lol<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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And lastely, I just like this picture - my nephew worked out with me one night and he let me bench press him lol</div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581987390644248734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204945529681664665.post-15685880073376758552013-03-08T12:06:00.004-08:002013-03-08T13:46:08.464-08:00I will Beat Her!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUhrsOgisYySS5DBc1f5xd1fhyphenhyphen-A-wZi4eXBuHMtxrdHZTEaIeTLtrY0lkraJL7khaKWC0p4oUoU0Udb6se_tLLtM3MlJPJbe_LMWcPlcM95L0cwK_JfTfnhqALbPPO4xQjyEx-Wk9FA7/s1600/I+will+beat+her.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUhrsOgisYySS5DBc1f5xd1fhyphenhyphen-A-wZi4eXBuHMtxrdHZTEaIeTLtrY0lkraJL7khaKWC0p4oUoU0Udb6se_tLLtM3MlJPJbe_LMWcPlcM95L0cwK_JfTfnhqALbPPO4xQjyEx-Wk9FA7/s1600/I+will+beat+her.jpg" height="286" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">A friend sent me the picture above this week and funny enough it waswhile I was out shopping for some last minute things for my trip down south.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a first time in a really long timethat I felt good while shopping for a bathing suit and some summer clothes butthe thing is…it’s not cause I’m my ideal size (cause that’s still quite a waysaway) but it was because something inside me is different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something in me finally recognizes that I amwho I am and I’m still a work in progress and I’ve said goodbye to the old meand I don’t plan on ever seeing her again!</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">I tried on a bunch of stuff and not everything looked good <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or fit right but it didn’t get me down becauseI am beautiful and it’s not just because of what I look like…it’s about who Iam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve started to come into my ownagain and way more relaxed, fun and actually funnier than I thought I was…howeverI’ve had several embarasing moments at work this week because of it…sending anemail to your whole office about salad club and comparing it to interactiveadult show and tell…well…..that’s probably not a good idea….just saying.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">Something happened this week in me that just sort of broke off more of thepast and more of the pain and rejection I’ve been feeling due to all the thingsgoing on in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t even explain whyor what happened cause nothing major actually happened, it was just somethingin my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m walking taller andholding my head up high and I’m still pushing through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel strong and I’m not sure I’ve ever feltthis strength before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s prettycool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still have some pretty big goalsto accomplish but I’ll get there in time and I’m just going to take it one dayat a time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">The other interestng thing is that I’m in this state where I feel like I’mjust supposed to ‘be still’ like Psalm 46:10 says.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was a verse that I was given a few monthsago by 4 or 5 people who didn’t know each other – all in the same week!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I think God was trying to say something tome…ya think?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only thing is…I had no ideawhat that meant – you say – Sarah, it is a pretty easy statement to understand,there aren’t even a lot of words to comprehend there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well ya… you’d think I’d get it quickily butseriously….I googled ‘how to be still’ – triying to figure out how you actuallygo about that or try and find a book to read about it…well there is no suchbook and well, 3 months later I finally got it….and well that’s what I’m doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYXUsz-Gus_7e0y1jgcpK7PE5igTTGljW-zIp70UfhXOPYeFn0FZFEGGtn091FT2H4fF_YzJIYhsrQDEZJT3V6p75PLOLEXvX74ZJy95pbmBHhS_D2QM89PSMORJTDgjhiKGCarlejVsP/s1600/be-still.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYXUsz-Gus_7e0y1jgcpK7PE5igTTGljW-zIp70UfhXOPYeFn0FZFEGGtn091FT2H4fF_YzJIYhsrQDEZJT3V6p75PLOLEXvX74ZJy95pbmBHhS_D2QM89PSMORJTDgjhiKGCarlejVsP/s1600/be-still.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span> </div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">I pretty much am just sitting back and letting God do things and notworrying, problem solving or trying to fix things on my own (for all those thatknow this is a huge feat…I’m not good at this and plan everything like a madwoman).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does it mean I sit at home doingnothing all day…no…it means that I go about my regular days – up at 6, headinto work, do my work thang (and work super hard of course – I do absolutlylove what I do) and then get home around 6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I commute 3 ½ hours a day but it gives me time to read my bible on thetrain and I get to walk 5k/day on my walk from union to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And mostly, my evenings consist of workingout and hanging out with the fam – with mom being home healing from surgery (bythe way – it went well and she is cancer free…praise the Lord!!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m inbed by 10ish and then I repeat the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">So most would say my days are full and that heck no that doesn’t actually looklike being still but it’s my heart that is still.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s my heart that is waiting on God andputting my trust in Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, I’m justsitting back and watching him work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’sstarting in small ways but they are getting bigger and I’m seeing prayersanswered that I never really expected to see which is pretty neat if you askme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And God is taking the pain I’ve beenthrough and the crappy things that have happened and giving me opportunity tospeak into other peoples lives – and these are situations that I have notsought you – people have come to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sothat’s pretty cool of God cause he’s already turning my ashes into somethingbeautiful (also one of my favourite verses and I recently just had this tattoedon me – covering up another tattoo so kind of funny and ironic).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: purple;">My latest tattoo inspired by Isaiah 61 is on the left</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: purple;">For those who grew up with me...you're probably suprised how tattoo'd up I am...Yes this is my back...and yes i'm baring my curves for you all....</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKV0Zs9Ff2CooSaDGCcj6sgJSOp6hBsPuVQnPkyTWXFhn106pEcELFJCvOLaexNB7ZSCkHUHIFQYbcdJVa94tTeX6EML5rlJehRx8Ym9tshtoks9CHMTSFfIvFpX3g2cOA8GZjXOPuQN-/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKV0Zs9Ff2CooSaDGCcj6sgJSOp6hBsPuVQnPkyTWXFhn106pEcELFJCvOLaexNB7ZSCkHUHIFQYbcdJVa94tTeX6EML5rlJehRx8Ym9tshtoks9CHMTSFfIvFpX3g2cOA8GZjXOPuQN-/s1600/photo.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span> </div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">The other thing that is pretty new is this joy I have inside me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most people would say I’m a pretty happyperson but there were a few years that there wasn’t much life in me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no passion, no joy, no excitement forlife (I know…hard to imagine, right? Cause now I just don’t shut up lol).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, that’s changed too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have so much to live for, I have so much tooffer and the possibilities are endless!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used to think that I’d get tothis state when everything in my life lined up – and when I had my own family,was at my goal weight, was at the top of my career, had all the money in theworld I’d want and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But acutallymy life right now has not accomplished any of those things…well I’d say mycareer is going really well but the others, well they’re still what I’mreaching for and you know what, I’m stil happy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d actually venture to say that I’m happier than I’ve ever been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My circumstances aren’t dictating my joy orlack of joy….if they were, I’d still be miserable with all that’s going on, havegone on or rather not going on and not solved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">One other interesting thing happened this week...talked to a guy I used to date a few years ago and he said something to me that impacted me so huge! I used to think I wanted to be known as beautiful or the hot girl and that when others thought that of me, thats what they should think of.... but he told me something more valuable than that...he told me that I was a girl of quality, a girl of substance and that I deserved to be treated so well and that meant more than him telling me I was hot. I want to be known as a girl of quality, substance, strength, compassion and love. My prioriites and mindset are certainly changing and that is the impression and legacy I want to live and leave behind me. </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">Anyways, this week has been a little slower in terms of my working outcause I’ve still got this silly cold but I’ve been trying to sleep it off whichis good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, you know whaat I havn’tdone – I haven’t gone off my healthy eating plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I cheated once this week – I had awerthers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, that’s pretty good if youask me </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s progress, hugeprogress for me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">I’m a work in progress, my target is constantly changing, my plan changesregularly but what matters right now is that I keep moving forward, take holdof the things I can change and let go of the things I can’t and embracing all of who I am…curves and all.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">I’ll leave you with one of my new found favourite verses that I discoveredthis week…<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: magenta;">(7:2) "..... The curves of your thighs are likejewels, the work of the hands of a master craftsman." -Song of Solomon 7:1</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: magenta;"></span><br />
I hope you all have a great week and can get something out of this for you if nothing other than encouragement that even when things aren’t perfect in life, you can still be happy, you can still have a bounce in your step and you can achieve your dreams, one day at a time!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rrKkqw9GkEHRGUrHTde9DAH8c1h8mlafN99BdvF_9_OLBJno6zhegexNPJgTW7Z9HSbIkjInMzXBabEbNJYx6EvJR54Pt5cHp6LviW0sQpNtAoXNUzFuNfE-3NSSJ1_YGsk1XAPqTE15/s1600/keep-calm-and-love-your-curves-9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rrKkqw9GkEHRGUrHTde9DAH8c1h8mlafN99BdvF_9_OLBJno6zhegexNPJgTW7Z9HSbIkjInMzXBabEbNJYx6EvJR54Pt5cHp6LviW0sQpNtAoXNUzFuNfE-3NSSJ1_YGsk1XAPqTE15/s1600/keep-calm-and-love-your-curves-9.png" height="320" width="274" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvl9Rlko3j1kU345XDOWcjWDNbccp5NdnJ6ewL7nLBEEFjZ6jEfZ5SlAVTm648TLGK3we8YgnVw37pbNgFQsT00uEFIFuwIGwK4BKPWkP0MfHcXzsbEMCdfC80dIjxRJGrnGSj6ew5nsBc/s1600/curves+are+beautiful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvl9Rlko3j1kU345XDOWcjWDNbccp5NdnJ6ewL7nLBEEFjZ6jEfZ5SlAVTm648TLGK3we8YgnVw37pbNgFQsT00uEFIFuwIGwK4BKPWkP0MfHcXzsbEMCdfC80dIjxRJGrnGSj6ew5nsBc/s1600/curves+are+beautiful.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zDdmfs-L5845z-x6J2I6w1ggQ4lrGNj_aNso9XpgSiVHWXZzVhECeCso2oyOYVOYe09FSfP0aZWJGuUOBRd4xF9oxaN7F32OAdhKHZmMYwa2PWWCaCCmuhY2cGOW2xvynmG5sNOgmTVE/s1600/beauty_is_how_you-7860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zDdmfs-L5845z-x6J2I6w1ggQ4lrGNj_aNso9XpgSiVHWXZzVhECeCso2oyOYVOYe09FSfP0aZWJGuUOBRd4xF9oxaN7F32OAdhKHZmMYwa2PWWCaCCmuhY2cGOW2xvynmG5sNOgmTVE/s1600/beauty_is_how_you-7860.jpg" height="118" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581987390644248734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204945529681664665.post-77436102147814097892013-02-27T13:31:00.004-08:002013-02-27T13:37:57.497-08:00All the blood, sweat and tears are damn worth it - Celebrating 1 month!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElS1VVqDpN61QxjwzI4uIZ_PBG4QF4ZpcLIgVDUD11DKmQzu6vWM9_tjdXXBOnq86csmDzHqjFBOHVSFCmkQRZWM3VTBaS62baTKugL62eykkcfe8WukNdRcf-FQYHdTdF5qPJuUTyVGq/s1600/weight+bar.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElS1VVqDpN61QxjwzI4uIZ_PBG4QF4ZpcLIgVDUD11DKmQzu6vWM9_tjdXXBOnq86csmDzHqjFBOHVSFCmkQRZWM3VTBaS62baTKugL62eykkcfe8WukNdRcf-FQYHdTdF5qPJuUTyVGq/s1600/weight+bar.png" height="225" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I meant to
write this post last week but things have been rather busy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>February 21<sup>st</sup> marked 1 month since
I got my act back together and boy does it feel <span style="color: magenta;">fan-friggin-tastic!</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Here’s all
the things I had to celebrate in month one</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8 pound weight loss</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">15.75 inches lost (between bust, abdomen, hips,
waist, thighs, calves, etc.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Successfully managed to stay on track on
weekends – usually only cheated 1 or 2 times each week <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and we’re talking like A piece of chocolate –
not crazy cheating (this is enormous improvement for me!!)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Worked out at least 3 times every week, if not
more</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tippled my workout time actually – used to do
only 30 minutes of ciruit training 3 times we week and now I’m doing 1.5 – 2 hours,
3 times per week – now this might sound like a lot but I just get going and
feel so good so I keep going so it doesn’t feel like I’m working out this long.
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Started running again – not much but I got my
feet wet at least and signed up for the St. Patrick’s day 5k next month</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Successfully made wise choices when going out
for dinner – no more burgers and beer for this girl…I’ll survive! Including going to the movies twice and not getting movie poporn which is just horrible for you - I brought a steak salad and grapes with me last night to the movies lol</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gave up wheat part way through the month – not going
super crazy with this – just really avoiding stuff like breads and pasta - already feeling a difference - just dont feel as bloated</span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">While all of
these are all super exciting, there is something else that feels even better
than all that put together or rather that something else is due to all of those
things added together. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are certain
positive results given to me – I feel strong, I feel powerful, I feel good
about me, I feel happy and I feel confident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Confident that I can accomplish my goals, continue to excel in the
things I invest time in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">There seems
to have been a lot that has happened this month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve had some sad days, happy days, and
frustrating days but at the end of the day….I’m still standing and I am
stronger than I was a month ago – physically, mentally and spiritually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For years I was in pain and felt like I was
drowning, and all though things in my life are not all ‘fixed’, I can still
stand with my head held high and I can remain in peace knowing that God’s go
this – He’s got me! </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">One of the
verses I’ve really clung to this past month is Proverbs 3: 6 and it says this:</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">“Acknowledge
him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.”</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I may have
made some really poor choices over the years and I’ve had to pay some
consequences for them but as I learn to lean on God and trust him to direct me,
He is and will continue to do so and straighten out this mess I’ve made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m so thankful for His grace and His love
and His provision in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Now for some
less serious chatter…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I get asked
a lot what types of things do I eat and how on earth have you managed to not
eat wheat – especially being Italian?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well the choice was one that I took a long time to make and I did this
in stages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the most part I had cut
pasta out of my regular diet and for bread I was pretty much only eating a
whole wheat English muffin at breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now, I just don’t eat wheat and have found some alternative carbs – I don’t
think my world would go on if I couldn’t have any carbs, I might actually die…no
seriously, I might…</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">So, here’s
some ideas if you’re looking to change things up and get a sense of what I'm doing....</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Breakfast
ideas:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I like to
have protein and some sort of carb so I’ve been having 2 eggs (either
hardboiled or fried – no oil thought) and 1 cup of cooked oat bran.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I cook my oat bran I put in some sort of
fruit (I like mangos and strawberries best) and this week I added some coconut
flakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put a little bit of milk in
too and I’m good to go – I made enough for a week’s worth of breakfast and it
works great!</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, why oat
bran – well there is no wheat it in and apparently it’s got a lot of great
health benefits to it – do a quick search on it if you’re interested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Another great
idea is loaded omelets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can do a
combination of eggs and egg whites (I usually do 1 egg and like ½ cup of egg
whites) then I add in a selection of other things I like such as: spinach,
kale, onions, peppers, chicken, cheese – often very little cheese, salsa, broccoli,
etc.</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="color: purple; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<o:p></o:p><span style="color: purple; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Lunch ideas:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’m still
making my mini turkey meat loaves (I take ground turkey, add some peppers,
onions and spinach and some seasoning and then I roll them in balls – usually about
1 cup- and put them in a casserole dish and cook @ 400 for about 35 minutes-
then I put them in zip locks or a Tupperware container and freeze them and take
them out when I want one).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I usually
then have some other veggies like peas or green beans and have some quinoa (I
like mine with just a little bit of butter and salt and pepper).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I also do
salads on Tuesdays and Thursdays – we have salad club at work both days so
everyone who participates brings to ingredients and then you all share – it’s
pretty awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then I bring some
chicken breast and add it to my salad for some protein .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I’m really hungry I’ll have some quinoa as
well.</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Dinner Ideas</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Well I tried
a few new things this month</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I did
chicken parmesan but instead of bread crumbs I used oat bran and seasoned it
and then baked it – I usually a really yummy and pretty natural sauce from Costco
– white linen label I think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then I
usually have a salad too. I used a little bit of bocincchini cheese on top too instead of cheddar</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="background: black; border: 1pt black; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 0pt; layout-grid-mode: line; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-language: X-NONE; mso-border-alt: none black 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-font-width: 0%; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="background: black; border: 1pt black; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 0pt; layout-grid-mode: line; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-language: X-NONE; mso-border-alt: none black 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-font-width: 0%; padding: 0in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Here’s one
of my new fav salads too: cherry tomatoes (cut in half) – 2 packages, 1 red
onion (chopped), 2 packs of fresh basil (chopped), boccinchini cheese (cut up
into little pieces), a little bit of olive oil and some salt and pepper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mix this all up and leave it in a Tupperware
container and it lasts a few meals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
usually add it to arugula or spinach salad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I also load a bunch of other random things in my salads – kale, avocado,
nuts, crasins or raisins, green olives, etc and for dressing I usually just put
in a little olive oil and sometimes balsamic vinegar too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I don’t have a meat prepared I usually
just throw in some chicken breast so and there’s a meal!</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Something else
I really like is taking chicken breast, some coconut milk (light is less
calories and fat), fresh basil chopped up and some red curry paste and put cook
it all together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’d delicious! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put this on top of miracle noodles (0 calorie
noodles) or quinoa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Snacks:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I usually
portion out my snacks as well (like in mini Tupperware containers or zip lock
bags):</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">½ cup
cottage cheese, ½ yogurt, ¼ trail mix, fruit, hardboiled eggs, apple with
almond butter, banana with natural peanut butter (ie. No sugar or salt – just nuts)
etc.</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I’ve been
having a loaded protein shake in the afternoons too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s what I’ve been putting in it:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Kale,
parsley, spinach, protein powder, pomegranate juice, lemon juice, raspberries,
blueberries and mangos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put it all in
a magic bullet and enjoy!</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">What
have I been doing for my fitness you ask? Here are what my workouts looks like:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4 days I walk 5k (my walk to and from work to union station)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>3 Big workouts/week – Monday, Wednesday and
Saturdays: 3 curcuits plus ab work and stretching:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Circuit 1 – repeated 3 times</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>10 burpees</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>15 squats with 15 lb kettlebell – plus a pull up
to sholder length – hard to explain</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>15 side pull ups with 15 lb kettle bell </span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>10 side lunges on each leg with 10 lb bicep in
each hand doing curls</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>10 Wide shoulder press with squats (10lbs/hand)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>10 Squat and corkscrew presses (10lbs/hand)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>10 squats with 20 lbs and kick (10 each side –
20 total)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>15 dead lifts – 50 lbs</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Circuit 2 – repeated 3 times</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>10 sets of: 10 punches each arm, 10 side jumps
each leg and a 1 burpee</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>10 chest flies (10lbs/hand)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>10 triceps lifts (10lbs/hand)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>10 back lunges with 20 lbs and kick (10 each
side – 20 total)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Circuit 3 – repeated 3 times</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>10 clean and presses – 25 lbs</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>10 bicep curls – 25 lbs</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>15 squats – 20 lbs</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>10 chest presses – 20 lbs</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Abs - I then do some ab work for about 10
minutes </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>1 minute - Bicycle</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>50 - Full sit ups (ie start laying on back and
sit up and touch my toes)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>50 side to sides with 10 lbs</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>50 Crunches on medicine ball</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Etc.</span></div>
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</span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I try and do 1 really heavy duty ab workout a week
and do the bodyrock ab video that is about 18 minutes long – usually on
Saturdays</span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p>And then I always
finish a workout with stretching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p>If I do a
full 3 circuits, some ab work and stretching it usually takes me 2 hours – I usually
do those workouts Saturdays cause I have more time and Mondays and Wednesdays I
usually cut off at an hour and a half. Sound like a lot but doesn’t feel like
it – I’ve got everything I need at home and I usually watch the biggest looser
while I workout <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The time goes by so quickly and I sweat like
crazy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">So that’s
pretty much everything this month consisted of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The plan for the next month is to continue working hard and I’m actually
going to try and add some more cardio workouts in – zumba and running 1 or 2
times a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-size: large;">I leave for Cuba on the 17<sup>th</sup>
so I have something to work towards which is nice and I plan on staying on
track while on vacation…I’m sure I’ll work off lots while dancing all night,
every night! So excited to go away!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have another trip planned for the end of the year with some friends to celebrate
our 30<sup>th</sup> birthdays so that will be an even bigger goal to get to for
that trip, but I can do it!</span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve
included some pics of some of the meals I’ve made and some updated pics of
where I’m at </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Peace out!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Chicken parm and Salad </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6GpF523F2wukPAbgWslGJhlz9t_KAIr5FijjJJLHyefUH5dBkPikGoXK2nqthpebof-rPPYJHofEJoj-QVDWd6qqAizbjfDkohAXf3EcRCQ7nK-jYtf-omKBi_5qSwg8mFHIyz-AyfHx/s1600/7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6GpF523F2wukPAbgWslGJhlz9t_KAIr5FijjJJLHyefUH5dBkPikGoXK2nqthpebof-rPPYJHofEJoj-QVDWd6qqAizbjfDkohAXf3EcRCQ7nK-jYtf-omKBi_5qSwg8mFHIyz-AyfHx/s1600/7.jpeg" height="320" width="239" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> BBQ Steak and Salad with lots of good stuff - I actually took this to the movies with me instead of popcorn (which is my fav thing to have)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPYV0_-LoQfgVtbuVWscVxvK9PS1NmDO6fHEO3TwCg2hr3G_a8tP2feNxwyAWTD2rUjP6dDQA-F92nB6Aven_wCQzDJr_sVHlcuKKwAuHHfcqGjVb0v-syTxCrwwWdH6axL9VwRDHGBJh/s1600/1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPYV0_-LoQfgVtbuVWscVxvK9PS1NmDO6fHEO3TwCg2hr3G_a8tP2feNxwyAWTD2rUjP6dDQA-F92nB6Aven_wCQzDJr_sVHlcuKKwAuHHfcqGjVb0v-syTxCrwwWdH6axL9VwRDHGBJh/s1600/1.jpeg" height="320" width="239" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> BBQ Chicken and Salad chucked full of good stuff</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBq72gLmyv0x0OTk87VjcxIP1CnltOIKRmZzCb2swS3gKVRhpkrRzWJLJEyY9_flJ-1ewL0nsEByVooRzGg-jZCcLBBykhlHYctpkxm6rVZfDZTaxVxdcY8Vr21fwlo8nGPzH9dLJT8vw2/s1600/2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBq72gLmyv0x0OTk87VjcxIP1CnltOIKRmZzCb2swS3gKVRhpkrRzWJLJEyY9_flJ-1ewL0nsEByVooRzGg-jZCcLBBykhlHYctpkxm6rVZfDZTaxVxdcY8Vr21fwlo8nGPzH9dLJT8vw2/s1600/2.jpeg" height="320" width="239" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Spring Salad with mini turkey meatloaf</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivUnA6w19YUtfjv8XusK2YIwPESp0SMng4twUlCozl7Rt4ebwOcH7kIriho-tvXmnkWKG-mcoBzr2xSxyZguD3orib8S1tdxqYDPFnglxyNsUTTWQNbOGWE8BYC5wDiSVDAuLDxAiDTDj/s1600/5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivUnA6w19YUtfjv8XusK2YIwPESp0SMng4twUlCozl7Rt4ebwOcH7kIriho-tvXmnkWKG-mcoBzr2xSxyZguD3orib8S1tdxqYDPFnglxyNsUTTWQNbOGWE8BYC5wDiSVDAuLDxAiDTDj/s1600/5.jpeg" height="320" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> My fav to salad addition - cherry tomattos, boccinchini cheese, red peppers, fresh basil, olive oil, salt and pepper</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqjZeyJ2rjPytJDogxco5Vo3eWeZ-9_xUKlxdf1yIIpET5ZfA3d0KGtp07WRYU1EQ7CWiXDA4XafGd8S2RU1ALAI57cqKdvwG5EpX9qqibQlBUEty6LIu58cVYKbapRm4cM3XAafqWUTq/s1600/6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqjZeyJ2rjPytJDogxco5Vo3eWeZ-9_xUKlxdf1yIIpET5ZfA3d0KGtp07WRYU1EQ7CWiXDA4XafGd8S2RU1ALAI57cqKdvwG5EpX9qqibQlBUEty6LIu58cVYKbapRm4cM3XAafqWUTq/s1600/6.jpeg" height="320" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chicken Parm - breaded with oat bran and topped with boccinichini cheese</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjuYyYSdbS-xAcaVjPIYm1jQajmc2blLBpIeM8UX12yDNZe2h3WlejGRCbsF4aODAhPrvDWCqiwJytK6gtMsfF-0Im9FynSLNCgsCGjFcg-C6F_79kjTTDoT4mfAaTb7XjqnmqlARNJB8/s1600/11.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjuYyYSdbS-xAcaVjPIYm1jQajmc2blLBpIeM8UX12yDNZe2h3WlejGRCbsF4aODAhPrvDWCqiwJytK6gtMsfF-0Im9FynSLNCgsCGjFcg-C6F_79kjTTDoT4mfAaTb7XjqnmqlARNJB8/s1600/11.jpeg" height="320" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are some of the exercises I've added to my routine too </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfGQu_xulZgQ_BdtdKwakgAlU365k43axPAMo59ZkvOrfHxrKlZgxIKUF7RLZMKI4GjO-yr3lIdSFosKqMDk1FSreBPZGE-iIPkjBbGz8xVsMo1wfjT0T84dn9qo57gpt7qn9PRLkAgWK/s1600/exercises.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfGQu_xulZgQ_BdtdKwakgAlU365k43axPAMo59ZkvOrfHxrKlZgxIKUF7RLZMKI4GjO-yr3lIdSFosKqMDk1FSreBPZGE-iIPkjBbGz8xVsMo1wfjT0T84dn9qo57gpt7qn9PRLkAgWK/s1600/exercises.jpg" height="320" width="247" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Finally starting to see some major differences in my face and body which is pretty exciting!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9p-eErcehl5yAQVgM-eFm31oWC2rEC9TUYO6bPoD02aT9fx-I8bc8GW0SNTywYzHcl1iQY7ivxLy6yGnGUR11Btjw8MfBZYw6xRo-D3SO3U5BWLeGd1gX3cK1LIXaBhiOuDk0xD7Nv77K/s1600/8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9p-eErcehl5yAQVgM-eFm31oWC2rEC9TUYO6bPoD02aT9fx-I8bc8GW0SNTywYzHcl1iQY7ivxLy6yGnGUR11Btjw8MfBZYw6xRo-D3SO3U5BWLeGd1gX3cK1LIXaBhiOuDk0xD7Nv77K/s1600/8.jpeg" height="320" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here is where I started (this was May 2011 - 306 lbs)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581987390644248734noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204945529681664665.post-65652148424081749102013-02-06T20:32:00.002-08:002013-02-06T20:32:56.492-08:00Today...I am Rose....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So you know that scene in the movie Titanic where Rose holds onto to Jack for a really long time after the ship sinks...and finally she realizes there is no life left there...so she let's go....well today...I'm Rose...today... I'm letting go. <br />
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Today I'm letting go of the pain, shame, guilt, condemnation, low self esteem, lack of love for myself and all that other not so pretty junk. <br />
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My final straw was a new one for me...being told I didn't know how to treat him right because I hung up on him after he kept insulting me...guess the fact that I've been working out lots and building my backbone wasn't really appreciated...but hey...just like a body builder can't instantly shrink he's pecks to fit into a shirt on the spot, I can't just lay down and take it anymore...<br />
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Let's get one thing straight though...I'm not bitter...I'm better. I actually write this blog tonight with great peace and serenity, no anxiety, no stress, no bitterness (wait...maybe thats the muscle relaxant I took an hour ago). In all seriousness, I'm not holding onto this, I'm letting go - letting go of it all. If a miracle happened and things turned around, well that's great but it would have to be a miracle (according to Wikipedia, A miracle is an event attributed to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God" title="God">divine</a> intervention) and at this point, that's what it would really take for reconciliation. <br />
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Discovering why things were the way they were and why I allowed things to continue on the way I did was a big key to getting some peace in my heart. And this is what I realized...For most of my life I didn't love me, nor respect myself so how could anyone else? Today...things are different. Today I've realized I have an amazing life, amazing family, amazing friends and hey, I'm well loved and not too shabby - just the way I am. This past year has been a tough one but I feel like I've really taken the time to work through my stuff and deal with it all. No more pushing it away, no more pretending everything is ok, no more hating myself, no more hating what I look like and my personality. <br />
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I may be a little more open about my life than some are but I really feel like maybe I can help someone else and encourage them to push through the tough stuff, because, just like me, you are worth it. I am senstive, yes, but that makes me me. I wear my heart on my sleve, yes, but that makes me me. Sometimes I talk to much, sometimes I am over the top...but you know what I've realized that is kind of cool - some may view these as 'imperfections' but mostly, these are the things people actually appreciate about me - I have a new found appreciation for these things even which is really cool. A friend told me recently that she used to 'beat herself up' over a certain personality trait but God started letting her see things in a different light - that he was going to use even the things that she thought were imperfections for good. It really impacted me and helped me to start seeing the things that I didn't like about me and how they could be used for good. Does this mean that all my quirks are fabulous, probably not, but most of them are...just joking :) but no, seriously, this helped me not be so hard on myself which is what I needed...<br />
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I realize that most of this post isn't about my weightloss goals but what's on the inside is just as important, if not more important than what's on the outside - this is also something I've really grasped. If everything on the inside is a disaster, it doesnt matter what the outside looks like. <br />
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One day I will find someone who will love me for me - for real and will fight to keep me and not go looking in other places. We will compliment each other and build each other up. I realize I wasn't perfect in my relationship but I tried my very best, gave it my all and I've done everything I can to make sure I'm a better partner when that day comes again. I am not perfect but I'm trying to always better myself and be healthy in all areas of my life so that I enjoy it to the fullest and can contribute immensly to those who are in my life. This year will be a year of preperation for my future. This year will consist of fresh starts in a lot of ways. The plans for 2013 are big - continue at my weightloss goals and get stronger emotionally, physcially spiritually mentally; moving to the city in a couple months, re-learn the flute, and learn to step outside my comfort zone in a lot of areas. <br />
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Today I am happy, @ peace, strong, confident, beautiful, and more determined than ever to make sure everyday I'm here on earth I live with purpose and try and make a difference. There are sad days, but those are few and far between and to all those who have been so amazing to me not only this past year but for many years. Thank you for not giving up on me and helping me fight to get me back! Thanks to those who read my blog and are interested in knowing how I'm doing and encouraging me along the way. <br />
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This girl is still on her way...but I'm confident my future is spectaularly bright!<br />
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"...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion..."<br />
~ Philippians 1:6<br />
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"For I know the plans<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19647A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> I have for you,” declares the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, “plans to prosper<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19647B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11<br />
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If you are curious on my weightloss progress - I have actually gained 2 pounds but my clothes are fittting different...I've added some new weight exercises to my routine and have been doing tonnes of burpies...I really detest them but am finding they are getting easier. Based on how my abs feel...I should be skinny already...but alas, they are just getting some well over due attention and are just getting some TLC, well not really, they are being whipped into shape, there is nothing tender about that...lol. I get lots of ideas from this girl who is friggin awesome!!! Look her up on facebook: <span itemprop="name">Lisa-Marie BodyRock.Tv Host. She posts videos daily on facebook (and her website). If you are brave, try her 'Sweet Nothing' core workout - it's 18 minutes of a total killer core workout: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCQEdEvgu-A&feature=youtu.be">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCQEdEvgu-A&feature=youtu.be</a> </span><br />
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<span itemprop="name">(I thought I was going to die...but I did the whole thing!!)</span><br />
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<span itemprop="name">I've also increased my veggie and fruit intake by incorporating some in my shakes - the first one wasn't a success but as I tweak it it's getting better - I've realized the Cayenne pepper and fresh ginger in my shake is not tasty - it's actually really nasty!</span><br />
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<span itemprop="name">Peace out till the next time!</span><br />
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<span itemprop="name">Sarah</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581987390644248734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204945529681664665.post-75670359834642575402013-01-30T18:28:00.000-08:002013-01-30T18:28:26.447-08:00When Life Gives You Curves...Flaunt Them...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have a new found appreciation for mine....so here I go flaunting all my curves....</div>
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MY lady lumps, MY life story, well....just ME </div>
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I have a new found out look these days...I have new freedom, more joy and even more peace...even though there are still storms raging. A friend sent me a quote that really sort of explains my situation right now...Sometimes God calms the storm...sometimes He lets the storms rage and calms his child. <div>
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A year ago, I wouldn't have had the appreciation for this statement, but today, I do. There have been lots of storms the past several years and especially this past year for me personally and there are still some going on but...I'd say that for the first time in a really long time and maybe for the first time ever, I know that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be, I'm at peace and I'm the strongest I've been - emotionally, physically and most important spiritually. </div>
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Does that mean I'm done growing and learning, or that everything in my life is perfect and solved -heck no! It simply means I know I'm on the right path to my destiny and that God has taught me how to be calm in the midst of the storms. There are still some unknowns in my life - like when and where I'm going to move when we sell our house in the spring and who am I going to move with? Or how I'm going to cope with not living with my nephew and getting to see him everyday and all the new things he does. But, it doesn't have me worried, it has be excited for the endless possibilities for this girl!</div>
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As you know...I took on a big challenge for this year when it comes to my weight loss - despite all that is going on. My goal this year - to loose 85 pounds. Well I'm happy to report that a week and a half in - I'm 7% of the way there (thats 6 lbs loss)! Yeah! </div>
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What have I done to do this? Well, I got my eating back on track and am following my plans - like not snacking after dinner (I think I only broke this once this past week), more fruit and veggies and lean protein, less wheat carbs, more water and of course I've resumed my workouts. I've started doing my weights again and incorporated some new exercises, including my least favourite- burpies (they are horribly and I hate them and am praying that I learn to love them - some how - God is a God of miracles, right????)</div>
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For me, the past week or so has been about facing my past, dealing with it and leaving it behind where it belongs. Over the weekend I started packing and purging as we prepare to sell the house. I went from 20 boxes in my storage room to 4! </div>
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As I unpacked I came across something pretty neat - my old football jersey from when I was in college. Why do I mention this you ask....well when I got this jersey, I got it on game day of my first game and it was soooo tight (and it was a XXL). I was so embarrassed and so ashamed to wear it! So after the game was over I realized... I had to alter it. I went and bought a pair of shorts that matched the colour/material and had to have inserts put in it so that it wasn't so tight - and even after that...it was so tight and I was so embarrassed. This is how I grew up. Nothing normal fit me. I had to modify so many clothes because things didn't fit right. Not only was I a tall girl but I was a big girl and nothing fit right and I spent so much time just ashamed. Well...I tried on that jersey and I was swimming in it! Which was really neat! Here's a pic - just for fun - of how big this thing is on me. In the pic on the right you can see one of the panels I had to have inserted...not cool...but this picture is...remember this was still super tight when I had to wear it...</div>
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So often I forget where I started and how far I've come...I actually saw someone this week who I haven't seen in a year and she actually took a double take cause she didn't recognize me. That was pretty neat. Sometimes we focus too much on where we have to go, that we don't stop to think how far we have come. Whether it is weight loss, or your career, or your personal development, your faith, finances, and so on - we need to stop for a moment and see how far we have come and give ourselves some credit. This is something I haven't done too much of. So, I challenge you to do this - take a picture of where you are now and look back at where you came from. You might be surprised at how much you have accomplished and have a new found appreciation for yourself as well as all your hard work. </div>
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I also got some interesting news this week...Because of my car accident 2 years ago, I've basically been in pain all day everyday which is really annoying! I've been to multiple chiropractors, massage therapists, acupuncturists, physio, etc. and still the pain has persisted. It makes me nauseous sometimes it's so bad and it has limited what I'm able to do in regards to fitness. Well, after a recommendation from a friend, I went to see a new chiro yesterday and had my first adjustment today. Turns out my neck vertebrae looks like what they call the 'stair effect' which essentially means my neck is not straight and I've actually damaged some tendons as well. My hips were 20% off (ie. they were twisted) and a bunch of other crazy things. Well this new chiro says she can help and after 1 treatment I already notice a significant difference. She also mentioned that she thinks my cortisol (sp?) levels are likely really off because my body is fighting so hard against the pain that when my pain is gone, I will likely see an increase in weight loss - ie, this pain...well it's certainly not helping and in fact likely hindering my weight loss. Imagine how much more I'll be able to do when I'm not in pain!!! So, it's dually exciting news! So my instructions after my first treatment - no weight sfor 3 days...sooo some lighter exercise for now....</div>
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Our family is also preparing for something else coming up next week, so if you think of us, please do send up some extra prayers....My mom is going in for a hysterectomy as they found pre-cancerous cells. The good news is that they caught this early, so we are very thankful for that. So if you remember, please keep my mom in you prayers for an effective, smooth and good surgery and a speedy recovery. My mom is an amazing, strong, loving, compassionate and generous woman and we are so thankful for her. She will learn to be pampered by her daughters for 6 weeks during recovery, so this will certainly be a role reversal for her.</div>
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So as always, lots is going on but...I'm good! You may have lots going on in your life but if you maintain a positive outlook, it really does help. Let me challenge you that if things seem dim right now, or if thing seem really hard, think about your progress in a variety of areas in your life and remember that 10 steps ago, things may have seemed hard and look at you go now! If you think it's time to re-group and maybe set some new goals, go ahead and do that and make some plans on how you are going to get there...</div>
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Thats in for me ...for now....now go flaunt your curves - whether they are your lady lumps (or manly lumps? - ok, that just sounds weird, lady lumps is much cuter) or your curvy life story. </div>
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Sarah </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581987390644248734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204945529681664665.post-58103105457135748822013-01-20T18:41:00.001-08:002013-01-20T18:41:15.192-08:00So where am I and where is 2013 going to take me?!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks to everyone who has already started to read my blog and for all your positive encouragement! I have an extra amount of excitement to move forward towards my goals!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wasn't really planning on making a second entry right away - was sort of thinking of like weekly updates but I got some extra fire under my ass after receiving so much encouragement from so many of you who have started to read my blog. I still think it's funny that I'm writing a blog, sharing so many details about my personal life for others to see but to be honest, I've learned so much this year, not just about weight loss but about me, life, my heavenly father and such that I want to share what I've learned....If I can help just one person who feels the way I did a year ago, it's worth it. I was in such a low, desperate place and the way I feel now is the total opposite. There is hope, there is peace, there is joy and it's amazing and a much more fulfilling way to live life. So my hope is to help someone or many people and encourage you not to give up and to start fighting not just for the things you deserve and the things you want but to think outside your box and think bigger. I never thought I'd get to the place where I love me, I never thought I'd wake up in the morning and feel as joyful and as peaceful as I do. I've had to deal with a lot of stuff and sometimes dealing with your stuff just seems too hard, but let me tell you, now that I'm starting to come out on the other side....it's worth every bit of it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, yeah I've been through quite a bit over the past few years but it could be a lot worse. I actually heard someone's story at church today and it totally rocked my world and realized that I have so much to be thankful for and things could be way worse and it's time that I just look at all the positive in my life and let all the things that are negative fall away and allow God to work things out while I focus on moving forward in His strength! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2013 is my year and I'm claiming it! One of my besties has been saying to me for months - "I'm so excited to see what your future holds and what God has got in store" well now, months later - I'm now saying it. I'm so excited to see what the future holds. For the first time I'm pretty sure in my life I'm not stressed out about some pretty big unknowns in my life and for me the main reason is because of my faith - I know God's got some big plans and he's got this, He's got me!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, where am I starting 2013....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well in July I started an amazing new job that I love. Same industry as before only this time a little more exciting. So for those of you that don't know, I work for a software company that builds fundraising software for non-profits. We built the first ever facebook fundraising app, we have a mobile app to help fundraisers raise more money for amazing causes, we have an amazing product and an amazing team and I love what I do (if you want to check us out, visit www.Artez.com). So after no job for 4 mths last year, I found this job and it was such a perfect fit for me! It's right downtown - about a 25 min walk from Union. I take the train in so that means I get lots of ready/relaxing in and I get 5k of walking in everyday which I certainly cannot complain about - I actually enjoy it...There are some changes coming this year too which I think are going to be great! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My marital status is still in limbo...I've learned a lot about myself over the past year and learned that I am valuable and God made a pretty great woman outta me - well I was pretty great before I suppose, I just didn't see it at all - now I do (please don't take that as me being full of myself, I really did not see myself having much value and now I do and this is a totally new feeling and sense of joy, pride and strength). I'm not really worried about this area to be honest cause everything will work out how it's supposed to in the end and I know what I'm worth now. What I also know is that I had some things wrong, I've learned from them and I've tried to make sure I'm striving for 'fabulous' in everything I do. Some things are out of my hands completely but the things are are in my hands, I'll make sure I continue to take good care of, including me! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are selling our house in the next few months - currently I live in Brooklin (Ontario, not New York), in a beautiful basement apartment and my mom, sister and nephew live upstairs. I tell ya, getting to see my nephew grow up like I have has been such a gift. He is such an amazing little boy and I love him to bits! It's also been neat to live with my sister again - mind you sometimes I'm sure we wouldn't use the word 'neat'. We've worked through so much together and it has been pretty cool to be able to be there for each other through some tuff stuff and encourage each other along the way. And of course, my mom is pretty much the best mom in the entire world (I know you all would disagree and say your moms are but I'm serious - she's amazing). This means that I'll likely be moving out on my own and I'm looking at moving to the city - I've never lived in the city so this will be a big change but then again...a lot could happen in the next few months so who really knows lol...all I know is change is coming and it's going to be good!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Where am I at in terms of my weight loss goals?? I got a little off track with my nutrition and exercise over the holidays and I'm back in action now. I was so tired during the holidays and realized my body does not respond well to crappy food, lack of sleep and no exercise lol. My body loves me when I eat healthy, workout regularly and sleep. So what's the plan you ask??</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well...first thing is - I've made some goals and I've defined how I'm going to get there. Today, my mom and sister and I sat down and came up with our goals for the year (complete with our visual board and set a date every week for a weigh in to help keep each other on track - kinda like The Biggest Looser). So here are my goals for 2013</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(I do ask that you don't judge where I'm at - I have NEVER really shared my weight with people and this is a big step and I'm pretty much bearing my soul here....but I want to show you what I can do - and to really get the full picture, and for me to see how far I come over the next year I need to see the numbers)</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">June 21st (6mth goal) - weight loss of 40 lbs - this would put me at 215</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">December 31st (1 year goal) - weight loss of 75 lbs - this would put me at 180</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I realize weight isn't necessarily the right measurement - especially since I'll be doing lots of weights so my real go is to be a size 10 - currently a 16/18 (my smallest was a size 12)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want to be back running 5k by June 21st (as long as my back/neck/shoulders permits it - I had to stop when I got to 10k because I was in too much pain :(</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So you ask...how are you going to attain this lofty goal Sarah - this seems crazy!</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">90/10 rule when it comes to sweets - this means no chocolate everyday (ie. I'm going to not having it on a daily basis but may have it at say a birthday party)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I need to eat cleaner on the weekends - this is my toughest time </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">no evening snacking and no eating at all after 7:30 (I workout at night so I will eat dinner then that's it)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No Curry Chicken Pad Thai (that's what I eat when I'm stressed...it's my guilty pleasure I'd say)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Increase my water intake</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">only 1-2 coffees per day (in the morning only)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When eating out, order something healthy (ie. salad with lean protein)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No buying/eating bread (other than my English muffin for breakfast), cheese or butter - I swear I should be able to live off this stuff but my ass tells a different story....</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Regular sleep 7-9 hours at least every night - this means asleep by 10pm week nights</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Exercise 4 times/week (aside from my 5k of walking to and from Union during the week). For me, exercise will consist of a combination of things - weights 3 times a week and I'll be incorporating some other workouts - body rock tv (see links below - this girl is friggin amazing) as well as some Zumba - I am thinking that I may want to become a Zumba instructor at some point....I also want to get back to adding some running in </span></li>
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<span style="color: #1f497d;"><a href="http://www.bodyrock.tv/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://www.bodyrock.tv/</span></a></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #1f497d;"><a href="http://www.dailyhiit.com/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://www.dailyhiit.com/</span></a></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and she’s on facebook too – I get updates with her daily workouts (she’s doing a 30 day challenge right now) <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/TheDailyHiit.LisaMarie?fref=ts" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/#!/<wbr></wbr>TheDailyHiit.LisaMarie?fref=ts</a></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But here are some real details....this is what I've sort of gathered together over the years and find really effective in shedding inches and weight. I had actually put a 'plan' together for a friend based on my experience the last year and this is the summary of all of that. You may find it helpful, you may agree and then again you may not but this is pretty much what I'll be sticking to...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've learned that cardio isn’t necessarily your friend. When you are doing working out, your body doesn’t continue to burn calories, but weightlifting burns after. You may not notice pounds on the scale for the first little while but you will notice the inches just falling off. I started weightlifting in August and by December I had lost about 30 inches in total (from my bust, waist, hips, abdomen area, thighs, biceps, etc.). It’s best to do weights and cardio<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started following a book called, the new rules of weightlifting for women. It’s like $20 at chapters if you want to pick up a copy. In a nutshell it helps you understand that you actually need to eat more than you typically think you do on a diet and you need more protein. This was hard for me to grasp because I’ve dieted so long but I worked for a couple weeks to find the right balance of calorie intake.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">Here is a website for the book</span><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"><a href="http://www.thenewrulesoflifting.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0066cc;">http://www.<wbr></wbr>thenewrulesoflifting.com/</span></a></span><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If I were to summarize my learning’s in a nutshell, here’s what it would be:<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>Nutrition</u></b><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ü Eat 3 meals a day<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ü Eat a snack in between each meal – something with protein (low fat cottage cheese, greek yogurt (I add protein powder, flax seeds and fruit to mine, etc.)<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ü Drink lots of water – with lemon is even better –it helps clean your liver out<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ü Eat lots of veggies<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ü Eat the right amount of protein<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ü Eat balanced! I can’t eliminate carbs because I love them and if I were to eliminate them I’d gain everything back if I started eating them again<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ü You will likely need to increase your protein (I did this by adding protein powder to my greek yogurt – and greek yogurt has higher protein, I eat a lot of egg whites, chicken breast, you want lean meats if you are going to have meat – chicken, turkey, etc.)<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ü For the first little while, tracking your food his helpful – makes you realize how much you actually eat and keeps you accountable – I used Livestrong’s app on my iphone – there are others though<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ü When having carbs, eat good quality carbs –steel cut oats, whole wheat, nothing white!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ü I prepare everything 1 month at a time – some people just do it week by week<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">o For example: I cook 2 packs of chicken breast from costco on the bbq and portion it and then freeze it in zip log baggies – that way I can just grab it and warm it up for lunch or dinner; I also make the meatloafs mentioned below the same way as well as my egg things for breakfast)<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">o Having precut veggies is also great too<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>Fitness</u></b><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ü 3 days/week do weights – I try and do a 45 minute workout each time<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ü Rest in between weight days (I do full body when I do weights – some people workout everyday and alternate the muscles they work on)<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ü Do cardio at least 3 days per week – I do it 5-6 days per week but not super hard. Sometimes working too hard can actually exhaust your body and hinders more than helps - I've learned this the hard way</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ü Running is a good cardio – I used the couch to 5k plan (there’s an app for that too) to help me start running - I got up to 10k but had to stop because of back pain. Start small, be patient with yourself. If you don’t want to run though, don’t be a runner lol<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ü Have some protein after a weight workout –protein shake, chocolate milk, cottage cheese, etc. (within 1 hour of your workout)<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>Other</u></b><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ü Make sure you are sleeping – when you aren’t sleeping there is almost no point in working out (thats what my dr said - she may have been a little dramatic but when she told me I was pretty much sleep deprived so maybe it was a scare tactic)– your body will be exhausted. So try and get some sleep </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ü Try and distress – sometimes easier than done<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ü Having someone to be accountable to helps. When I started loosing weight, I had a coach –he was just a family friend – if you want, I can help J What I did was emailed my friend every morning what I weighed, what my plan for food and exercise was for the day and then the end of the day I’d email him and tell him how I did. It helped…but you may not need it, or you may just for a couple weeks to get you into new habits<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is what I typically eat to give you an idea<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">Currently I’m eating between 2000-2400 calories per day – lower on the days I don’t do weights and this is what my meals look like</span><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">ü</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"> </span><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">Breakfast: 1 egg, ¼ egg whites, red peppers, green onions (I make a big batch in a casserole dish, put it in the oven and cut it into 12 pieces, put them in zip loc bags and freeze them) and put it in a whole wheat English muffin (277 calories)</span><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">ü</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"> </span><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">Morning Snack: 1 cup plain Greek yogurt, 1 scoop protein powder, 2 tbsp flax seed, 1 cup strawberries/blueberries/mangos, etc. (407 calories)</span><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">ü</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"> </span><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">Lunch: big salad with lettuce, cucumbers, ½ avocado, ½ cup chick peas, 4 oz. Chicken, ½ cup strawberries (or other fruit) and low cal dressing or olive oil and balsamic vinegrette (575 cal)</span><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">ü</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"> </span><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">I also make turkey meatloaf – I make a bunch at a time so I’m not cooking everyday) – I take ground chicken, add pepers, onions and seasoning and bake them as like big ‘meatballs’ . I usually have a salad with it too</span><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">ü</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"> </span><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">Afternoon Snack: 1 cup cottage cheese and ½ a cucumber and ¼ cup hummus (375 cal)</span><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">ü</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"> </span><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">Dinner: Here I have a variety of things – chicken, quinoa and salad or some time of veggie, or ground chicken/turkey in pasta sauce and pasta chucked full of veggies (5-700 cal)</span><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">In a nutshell...I eat lots of protein and my breakdown of calories is 40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% fats...I track all my food in the app Livestrong and it tells me what the breakdown is each day J</span><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Below is also an idea of what the first phases of the weights workout looks like – you do 3 workouts in 1 week and you alternate (so week 1 will be A, B, A; week 2 will be B, A, B, etc.)<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So that in a nutshell is my plan. I've been mostly sticking to this and have maintained my weightloss however it's time to step it up a notch and get working hard to get the rest off. I can do this - I know I can and I'm going to! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've also included a picture of our family's goals for 2013 - each of us got a flower for a goals (along the top) and we've listed each week and we'll weigh in every Monday and keep track of our progress in relation to our goals. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Peace out!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sarah :)</span></div>
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: 4.65pt; width: 515px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td colspan="9" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; width: 298.5pt;" width="398"><div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPNDsIWTyb230_48Vt2RqxfBYOYOG_tPJ_LX5wLebpBynjp19G6CI-KJ9Akk0e0RsOithUx9BkfxvtWQ_l6mqVcLAzymcPFIIPh8CvTa_dtNhSn0v7pN0-xKzN5T8j70bnlI2WZl5uaVi/s1600/photo+(11).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPNDsIWTyb230_48Vt2RqxfBYOYOG_tPJ_LX5wLebpBynjp19G6CI-KJ9Akk0e0RsOithUx9BkfxvtWQ_l6mqVcLAzymcPFIIPh8CvTa_dtNhSn0v7pN0-xKzN5T8j70bnlI2WZl5uaVi/s1600/photo+(11).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a> <u></u><u></u></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="min-height: 13.5pt;"><td colspan="5" nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 386pt;" valign="bottom" width="515"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Workout A</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td colspan="4" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; width: 147pt;" width="196"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td colspan="4" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; width: 147pt;" width="196"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="min-height: 13.15pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 207.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="277"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Exercise</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 37.45pt;" width="50"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Sets</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 42pt;" width="56"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Reps</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 38.5pt;" width="51"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Rest</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.4pt;" width="81"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Weight</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr style="min-height: 12.75pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 207.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="277"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Squats</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 37.45pt;" width="50"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 42pt;" width="56"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">15</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 38.5pt;" width="51"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">60</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.4pt;" width="81"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr style="min-height: 12.75pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 207.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="277"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Squats</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 37.45pt;" width="50"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 42pt;" width="56"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">15</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 38.5pt;" width="51"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">60</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.4pt;" width="81"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr style="min-height: 12.75pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 207.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="277"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Push Up</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 37.45pt;" width="50"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 42pt;" width="56"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">15</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 38.5pt;" width="51"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">60</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.4pt;" width="81"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr style="min-height: 12.75pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 207.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="277"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Seated Row</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 37.45pt;" width="50"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 42pt;" width="56"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">15</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 38.5pt;" width="51"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">60</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.4pt;" width="81"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr style="min-height: 12.75pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 207.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="277"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Push Up</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 37.45pt;" width="50"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 42pt;" width="56"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">15</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 38.5pt;" width="51"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">60</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.4pt;" width="81"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr style="min-height: 12.75pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 207.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="277"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Seated Row</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 37.45pt;" width="50"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 42pt;" width="56"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">15</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 38.5pt;" width="51"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">60</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.4pt;" width="81"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr style="min-height: 12.75pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 207.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="277"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Step Up</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 37.45pt;" width="50"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 42pt;" width="56"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">15</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 38.5pt;" width="51"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">60</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.4pt;" width="81"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr style="min-height: 12.75pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 207.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="277"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Prone Jacknife</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 37.45pt;" width="50"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 42pt;" width="56"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">8</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 38.5pt;" width="51"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">60</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.4pt;" width="81"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr style="min-height: 12.75pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 207.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="277"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Step Up</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 37.45pt;" width="50"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 42pt;" width="56"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">15</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 38.5pt;" width="51"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">60</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.4pt;" width="81"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr style="min-height: 13.5pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 207.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="277"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Prone Jacknife</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 37.45pt;" width="50"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 42pt;" width="56"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">8</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 38.5pt;" width="51"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">60</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="81"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr style="min-height: 13.5pt;"><td colspan="5" nowrap="" style="background-color: #d8d8d8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 386pt;" valign="bottom" width="515"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Workout B</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr style="min-height: 13.15pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 207.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="277"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Exercise</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 37.45pt;" width="50"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Sets</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 42pt;" width="56"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Reps</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 38.5pt;" width="51"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Rest</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.4pt;" width="81"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Weight</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr style="min-height: 12.75pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 207.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="277"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Deadlift</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 37.45pt;" width="50"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 42pt;" width="56"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">15</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 38.5pt;" width="51"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">60</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.4pt;" width="81"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr style="min-height: 12.75pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 207.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="277"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Deadlift</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 37.45pt;" width="50"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 42pt;" width="56"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">15</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 38.5pt;" width="51"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">60</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.4pt;" width="81"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr style="min-height: 12.75pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 207.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="277"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Dumbbell Shoulder Press</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 37.45pt;" width="50"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 42pt;" width="56"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">15</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 38.5pt;" width="51"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">60</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.4pt;" width="81"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr style="min-height: 12.75pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 207.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="277"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wide Grip Lat pulldown</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 37.45pt;" width="50"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 42pt;" width="56"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">15</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 38.5pt;" width="51"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">60</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.4pt;" width="81"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr style="min-height: 12.75pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 207.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="277"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Dumbbell Shoulder Press</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 37.45pt;" width="50"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 42pt;" width="56"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">15</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 38.5pt;" width="51"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">60</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.4pt;" width="81"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td></tr>
<tr style="min-height: 12.75pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 207.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="277"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wide Grip Lat pulldown</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 37.45pt;" width="50"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 42pt;" width="56"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">15</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 38.5pt;" width="51"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">60</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Lunge</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 37.45pt;" width="50"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">15</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">60</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Swiss ball crunch</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">8</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">60</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Lunge</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 37.45pt;" width="50"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">15</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">60</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Swiss ball crunch</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 37.45pt;" width="50"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">8</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">60</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581987390644248734noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204945529681664665.post-56645250533980636552013-01-19T20:38:00.001-08:002013-01-19T20:38:04.614-08:00My Story - Reflecting on the Past but sure as heck not staying there....Well...great way to start a blog...with the word 'well'...however I feel like it's a good introduction...<br />
<br />
I've thought about starting a blog in the past but have been a little gun shy. However, a friend of mine actually suggested it this week and said she's follow me so here we go...<br />
<br />
I guess the purpose of this blog will be for a 2 main reasons<br />
<br />
1. I've learned a lot over the years on what it takes to get healthy and it's still a work in progress so I think I have some valuable tips and hope that I can continue to motivate those around me. I know I've needed motivation along the way - so hopefully I can help some others.<br />
<br />
2. I think blogging will also help me stay on track when it comes to fitness and nutrition. My goal for 2013 is to get under 200 pounds sooooo...that means I have 11 1/2 months to reach my goal of at least 55 lbs of weight loss<br />
<br />
So let's start with where I've come from before we get to where I gotta go....this is MY STORY....<br />
<br />
I've struggled with my weight pretty much all my life - my lucky mother gave birth to me at 9 lbs, 14 oz. Mind you, even at birth, I was almost 2 feet long (23.5 inches to be exact). I was always the big boned tall girl. I remember as a kid going to my doctor and they would talk about putting me on a child diet or sending me to fat camp but it's not something we could ever afford or do. At the age of 12 I remember being a size 12 (crazy, I know). <br />
<br />
I seemed to just get heavier as time went on - gained weight in high school - lost a bit in grade 12 when I started playing rugby and running but then college happened an I gained a lot of weight- I worked almost full time while going to school, had a very active social life and just didn't eat healthy or workout really. <br />
<br />
Then I remember just after my 21st birthday we went on a family cruise over the Christmas Holidays with another family. I remember so clearly, like it was yesterday actually, being at the bar/club on the cruise and all of the girls I was with were off with other guys, so, that night, I left ever so quietly around 9:30 and went to bed and cried myself to sleep. The next morning I solemnly met my parents and the dad of the other family for breakfast and they all knew something was wrong and I totally broke down. It was then that that other dad offered to help me - he committed to being my coach. <br />
<br />
So when I returned I got on track right away and this was the plan - every morning I would email him my plan for the day - what my weight for the day was, what I was going to eat at each meal and what I was going to workout for the day. And then at the end of the day I emailed him and told him how I did - if I went off course I got reamed out - so I did really good sticking to a healthy diet (just pretty balanced really) and I worked out lots! So in just over 6 months I lost close to 80 lbs. The lowest weight I got to was 198. It was such an exciting day. However, one thing I realized - later on - that was not good was that the way I lost the weight so fast was by doing 3 hours of cardio 6 days a week and that is not something many people can maintain, nor is it healthy (different if your training for a marathon or something different of course)<br />
<br />
Well, when I got there, some major changes happened in my family. My parents who had been married 25 years or so got divorced. It was a really rough time. I grew up in the church and for me, this seemed like the worst thing in the world. As someone told me, it was like the house I always knew had been torn down and was in shambles, and I, was standing in the middle with bricks, drywall and chaos all around me and had no idea where to start to rebuild. My entire world changed at that moment! I lived in the home with my parents for 6 months until mom and I moved out - that was tough! When mom and I moved to Stouffville my life changed even more. I continued my schooling (in Marketing) but I moved to do my studies part time and I got a full time job during the day and then I kept my evenings/weekend part time job. That means I worked close to 70-80 hours a week and went to school part time. Which means - I started gaining weight back because I stopped working out as hard and eating as healthy.<br />
<br />
Then in 2008 I started to train to climb a mountain in Indonesia when I went on a missions trip with my church....half way down the mountain (in the middle of our trip) I broke my ankle. We still had 10km to go or so to get off the bloody mountain - thank God for some good friends who helped me get down - one walked in front of me clearing a path and the other behind me in case I fell and...my last km I went down on a shaddy motorcycle with a guy who didn't speak a lick of English just to get off the stupid thing and that was the scariest moment of my entire life I think! <br />
<br />
Well that left me in pain with my ankle for about 2 years. Around that time too I met a boy...this boy liked my curves and he also really liked to eat and was not very active sooo...over the years of our relationship and into our marriage I put on 80 pounds. A lot happened in those years - I moved out on my own, my sister got married, my sister got pregnant, my sister's husband passed away (when she was 3 months pregnant) and moved back to Ontario for the first time in 5 years, I got married, one of the strongest men I knew passed away - my Papa.....my favourite little man was born and I became an auntie all in one day..... I was in a car accident....<br />
<br />
And in 2011 I decided that enough was enough and in May weighing in at 306, I decided to make a change...again! I went into a Jenny Craig and signed up. I did that for about 2 or 3 months just to train myself on portions and what to eat. Then I started to run - very slowly obviously - but I used an app called Couch to 5k - was super helpful and I totally recommend it if you want to start running. I ran my first 5k with my mom and sister - the Army Run in Ottawa - my time was something ridiculously slow like 43 minutes, but, I DID IT! And I loved it! I worked hard trying to change my habits - even did a 5k on new years eve going into 2012. I really was just focusing on eating balanced and being active (running, zumba, biking, walking, etc.).<br />
<br />
Then in January 2012 another big life change - that boy and I - we separated. My heart was shattered and I realized how unhappy of a person I was. Then in March that year I was laid off because the company I worked for went bankrupt, I was betrayed by a very close friend because she was hiding some of her own deceit and trying to cover it up and I guess you could say I was at rock bottom - my marriage was over, I had no job but I soon discovered I had a lot more than I ever realized. I had a God who loved me and was there even when I didn't pay any attention to him. <br />
<br />
I started on a journey discovering who this God was that I have known all my life and I started trusting him in all areas of my life. I started reading some amazing books and the bible and praying so much more and started to see God answer some prayers. I started searching for meaning in every area of my life. I started to heal (I'm still healing but I'm making progress that I never imagined possible). I started to push harder in my exercise and nutrition and from July - December 2012 I lost 45 inches (I started weightlifting, eating more balanced, increased my calories actually and my protein)<br />
<br />
My heart bore a lot of pain for a lot of years, I never loved myself, I never valued or respected myself. I always had the pressure that I had to be skinny on myself and that I could never be happy where I was until one day (actually only like a month ago this realization came) I realized that I love me and I accept me, curves and all which is why this blog has been given this name.<br />
<br />
I guess thats a long enough story....the next blog I'll share what I have found to work really well in terms of nutrition and exercise and what I will be doing to keep going in this journey to lets say 'define my curves some more'.<br />
<br />
I will leave you with this final thought....<br />
<br />
You can do more than you can imagine but you can't get there if you don't take the first step. Sometimes the first step is to plan where you are going to go and how you are going to get there. So maybe, my story will inspire you somewhat to start down that path.<br />
<br />
Cheers to a great year ahead!<br />
<br />
Sarah :)<br />
<br />
<br />
Here's some pics too from over the years....<br />
<br />
I was probably like 4 or 5 here...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-K5w5CezVl0RiThjK-4oME2C1T1gLFz2f5yaMcg61gQa4Jr9GKpXNomzvsyveeQBjxVnkXNe_MC2f9igZN8SeooKOpl1JuwxcAe99ElMCWuxgRuSExm2wJYHG7v2ST4vNd3VvdWtkoRh/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-K5w5CezVl0RiThjK-4oME2C1T1gLFz2f5yaMcg61gQa4Jr9GKpXNomzvsyveeQBjxVnkXNe_MC2f9igZN8SeooKOpl1JuwxcAe99ElMCWuxgRuSExm2wJYHG7v2ST4vNd3VvdWtkoRh/s1600/image.jpeg" height="320" width="280" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1ys3Z5nHsa3aNWoPf2wCW7rt7CMHmz3Wohp79MhxgSY5dGlZhuu_Fa4dFQnxbgdNrw_UDYpwPLIQFvdpYTbM6MlCby6x6_B3rwjgtZV5zKo9y88kHQVmHxC1hcS3WAo9EWepv40_hYc1/s1600/image_1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">This was me around age 20<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1ys3Z5nHsa3aNWoPf2wCW7rt7CMHmz3Wohp79MhxgSY5dGlZhuu_Fa4dFQnxbgdNrw_UDYpwPLIQFvdpYTbM6MlCby6x6_B3rwjgtZV5zKo9y88kHQVmHxC1hcS3WAo9EWepv40_hYc1/s1600/image_1.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhej7taD5QhSt-2JlxukJVgn8V9x4pxHNsPnF1RVqcbsjT6OYocj72co56hhxl7krRGFVXQtburcDpwIl8VtcH8SbPBWEKigByqLFhRIOdMPz7Qrut0rkuzwdDFY7hwtUlnB1pvh_lMRy/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhej7taD5QhSt-2JlxukJVgn8V9x4pxHNsPnF1RVqcbsjT6OYocj72co56hhxl7krRGFVXQtburcDpwIl8VtcH8SbPBWEKigByqLFhRIOdMPz7Qrut0rkuzwdDFY7hwtUlnB1pvh_lMRy/s1600/photo.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGs0jkIp7lIjfsx08VoVitSl0tOCfLROWiBaMGJonzeaxQ4iCKeV2OKGGwuYA90MopwDVMvU4foM9Lv8ZvkJeFSZ8PwmUQx7eSebQxQkKb8t1OIqm1hAPVYzCo2GLsWYtGOJ0bh-Hmemx/s1600/image_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">These are some pics from when I got down to 198</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGs0jkIp7lIjfsx08VoVitSl0tOCfLROWiBaMGJonzeaxQ4iCKeV2OKGGwuYA90MopwDVMvU4foM9Lv8ZvkJeFSZ8PwmUQx7eSebQxQkKb8t1OIqm1hAPVYzCo2GLsWYtGOJ0bh-Hmemx/s1600/image_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1KjvaTc3xYVoFkHSNbbYpt_Ub6Fjpn-X90EidAuLa-PIgr843LN-mK2qay5dKwsv_8zq9YBzqAMxfJBzbHFwtT4vtwnR_X2RT0CO9QhgGJWTmsGYOtvT4FJfvPTRynW55e3lKuyk6FEb/s1600/image_4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1KjvaTc3xYVoFkHSNbbYpt_Ub6Fjpn-X90EidAuLa-PIgr843LN-mK2qay5dKwsv_8zq9YBzqAMxfJBzbHFwtT4vtwnR_X2RT0CO9QhgGJWTmsGYOtvT4FJfvPTRynW55e3lKuyk6FEb/s1600/image_4.jpeg" height="320" width="132" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXVSVYU1eiVSles-f1nb-YA2fG2wHIFW7NMSHcbgMGnF7JVz5ebeUNIuH2U8-Xa9OPs-cp9pGTd8O8HZVf4Yjd7H16-pb0oWkk3JICVUsCxjcni130mgmMMhgCVZVydSEueYhOflRGkxQ/s1600/image_3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXVSVYU1eiVSles-f1nb-YA2fG2wHIFW7NMSHcbgMGnF7JVz5ebeUNIuH2U8-Xa9OPs-cp9pGTd8O8HZVf4Yjd7H16-pb0oWkk3JICVUsCxjcni130mgmMMhgCVZVydSEueYhOflRGkxQ/s1600/image_3.jpeg" height="320" width="136" /></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGs0jkIp7lIjfsx08VoVitSl0tOCfLROWiBaMGJonzeaxQ4iCKeV2OKGGwuYA90MopwDVMvU4foM9Lv8ZvkJeFSZ8PwmUQx7eSebQxQkKb8t1OIqm1hAPVYzCo2GLsWYtGOJ0bh-Hmemx/s1600/image_2.jpeg" height="187" width="200" /></div>
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The picture on the left was at about 306, my heaviest weight <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_vAborxJXKXdyNKnzLaOtG2jYewM4no2cRebqwX5Og-NMa4l4dzQhlTG-4-QtZPo3Yw_pxHTqsBwycfIWS-H7-6Fg1lLzOCr7VZM6I8UEERlr-YWnLt8KPf1Yt7_MUOnH4xz-3R1l-nn/s1600/image_6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_vAborxJXKXdyNKnzLaOtG2jYewM4no2cRebqwX5Og-NMa4l4dzQhlTG-4-QtZPo3Yw_pxHTqsBwycfIWS-H7-6Fg1lLzOCr7VZM6I8UEERlr-YWnLt8KPf1Yt7_MUOnH4xz-3R1l-nn/s1600/image_6.jpeg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
This is a couple weeks ago.... (December 2012)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRw9Uw7PH2MPYSLdHXrXY0xjWnCV1Y0lFtn4TjqLazZT7QcOuzP3KReu8f6d3IozhkqnwG69b60z2HD3AICFNatiPGclWp3NCf4Y2qXSK0C5ErVHM1OvqZ_Ni5u3w5PZX3ek7_SM2yuerN/s1600/image_7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRw9Uw7PH2MPYSLdHXrXY0xjWnCV1Y0lFtn4TjqLazZT7QcOuzP3KReu8f6d3IozhkqnwG69b60z2HD3AICFNatiPGclWp3NCf4Y2qXSK0C5ErVHM1OvqZ_Ni5u3w5PZX3ek7_SM2yuerN/s1600/image_7.jpeg" height="320" width="164" /></a></div>
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