Jan. 13 - Life Visioning. Fifth Agreements

The books and DVDs you see in the photo are used to get my head and my heart right!  I want to totally immerse myself if positive influences.  I'm not on a diet journey, I'm on a journey of realizing my highest potential, through Life Visioning!  My girlfriends keep asking me about how my diet is going!  It's kinda annoying for 4-5 people asking you about a DIET each day, when it's far more than a diet. This is a total lifestyle change for me.  It's more than food, it's about shaping the rest of my life!  Here is a list of the names of the things you see in the image:

1. Inspired by The Bible Experience - This is a dramatic portrayal of the books of the bible. I love to listen to it as I work. I'm going to try and listen to this at least 3 nights per week as I unplug for the evening. I want to become closer to God and to know his word. Not the WORD my grandmother instilled in me;  not the WORD I receive from Joel and Charles Stanley;  but the WORD that will speak to me from within and  the WORD that will help me continue each day...no matter what!

2. Life Visioning by Michael Bernard Beckwith - This 45-page workbook, cd life coaching and word card set is amazing!  I use this to keep me focused on infinite love, expressing the beauty I see in the world and to help me vision the best for my life!  I don't know if this is still on the market, but if you can find it, buy it today!

3. The Fifth Agreement by Don Miguel Ruiz - Yall know how much I love The Four Agreements and how I try to live my life by it.  But, this is the new edition that adds one more valuable component to the philosophy for a successful, happier life...transforming our own lives into a place of heaven on earth!  It's all about SELF love and living an authentic life.  Not that Dr. Phil stuff, but going deep within and removing all that holds you back!

HERE IS MY FOOD TRACKING FOR TODAY

I'm starting to get back on my juicing regiment!  I have a Nutribullet and a ton of fresh veggies and fruit. I'm going to also use the juicing to replace some of my snacks for the day and at least one meal. Pray for me!  I love to have my mouth moving, feeling like I'm eating!  Sometimes, I will eat some fruit and make a veggie juice, so that I can feel as if I ate a meal.  I'm getting my juices from the books shown in the image above. I hope to see some weight loss. I won't weigh myself until Monday, but let's keep our fingers cross and the forks down!  LOL!

BREAKFAST
8:30 -  


SNACK 1
10: 30 - 



LUNCH
12:53 - 



SNACK 2
3:15 - 



DINNER
6: 40 -


SNACK 3
8:35 - 

Jan. 12 - Reference Guides for Structure

Coach Brittani had me logging in everything that I was eating for the first week. I didn't do so bad, but it has to get better!  I realize that I can't keep the same eating pattern that I had, if I want to create a healthier lifestyle, so I'm going to use the 4 books shown to get on the right path. I love the SHRED book by Dr. Ian!  It has a fabulous eating schedule that I will post below.  This week, my goal is the use the SHRED book's eating guide and meal plans to kick this journey into high gear.  I took my weight today and I didn't lose any weight and I didn't gain any either.

Here is the eating schedule that I'm going to try and maintain for the next few weeks.  In order, to maintain this schedule, I'm going to have to prepare several meals at one time and do all the prep work at once.  I'm going to start with making some of the soups from the 2 DAY DIABETES DIET book.  I'm using the SOUTH BEACH DIET BOOK to find some low carb dishes. If I can stay off bread, carbs and sweets for a few weeks, I might see some weight loss. I'm loving the green tea and honey, but this week, I'm going to try far less honey.

I spent the day working on this new company I'm starting with 2 other partners. After being in the publishing industry over 10 years and supporting many new authors and alot of veterans, I've learned one thing, we all try to do too much!  Once you become overwhelmed, sometimes you lose sight of the vision. So, I'm creating a new company that will take the burden off new business owners, artists and authors! I'm truly exciting about it, but not ready to launch it right now. I'm still working on training the team.

My grandmother use to get on to me about my mouth as a teen. I was a mean girl and I bully!  While my grandmother created this selfish, egotistical monster, she tried to reign me in as often as possible. Sometimes it worked and most times it didn't.  I'm still suffering a few stripes from those bad times!  Karma is a beast!  But, it hasn't changed my mind or re-shaped my grandmothers words:  everybody has the power to heal, create, and destroy within them. It's up to you to determine how to use that power!  My great-grandmother used her power to save others from themselves and she was definitely a healer.  My grandmother was a creator!  She gave people the encouragement and the inspiration to do whatever they wanted. She might have given me too much...LOL!

Today, I encourage others to use their creativity to start a profit making business!  We all have the power to create!  The foundation to starting a success journey with this creativity is to create a SELF that will recognize the talent, use that talent, and that will live a life without fear or judgement of that very talent!   Think about it!

Jan. 11 - Season.Sparkle.Cheer.Happiness

Between The Lines bookstore owner Kim Knight sent me this card for Christmas,  I added it to my vision board for the year.  I keep my vision board on Pinterest and visit it daily to add new items!  This card is my theme for 2015! This is MY season to shine and I'm cheering on all goal diggers.  I'm going to add more sparkle to my life by going to some awesome events outside the book world and by purchasing things that make me sparkle!  I'm going after happiness with a vengeance! 

In the past, I always thought happiness came with whatever relationship I was in. Now, at 50, happiness begins and ends with me and me only. Others can enjoy the ride, come along for this adventure, but I'm the only soul that matters right now!  I'm going to revel in my season, cheer on greatness in all that achieve it and grasp all the happiness I can. Join me, won't you!

In order to start eating right, I realized early preparation was the only way I was going to stay on the journey. So, I took the morning and chopped up all of my veggies and put them in a bag!  With my schedule, I have to do things quick, fast and in a hurry.  Cooking is a drag when I have new books releasing. For the next week or two, I'm going to try preparing meals that can last two days.  We have a baked chicken in the frig that is going to become one dinner and lunch for the next day!  I found all kinds of gluten free pastas yesterday. I'm not eating them right now, but I'm glad that I was able to find some. I have some shrimp and I want to make a nice dish for Mon. or Tues.

HERE IS MY FOOD TRACKING FOR TODAY

I'm only able to drink about 4-5 bottles per day.


BREAKFAST
7:50 -   Two gluten free pancakes, two slices of bacon, raspberries and green tea. I started taking fiber pills today and Vitamin D3. I'm going to workout to the Youtube videos and meditate for about 20 minutes from my bedroom.


SNACK 1
9: 45 -  Gluten free protein bar, water, banana and  strawberry Greek yogurt cup.


LUNCH
12:45 - Ounce chicken salad, 1 ear of small nibble corn on the cob and raspberries. Water.


SNACK 2
2:15 -  Gluten free protein bar, pear and Greek yogurt cup. Water


DINNER
8:10 - Chicken quesadilla, sliced tomato,  jar salsa, sour cream, nibble corn on cobb and salad wedge. Wine.

Jan. 10 - It's My Time

Whew...Friday was a beast of a day!  My mind was overloaded with work and stress at home. The contractors called at the break of dawn wanting to come in and fix the drywall in the kitchen and storage area. I wasn't up and nor was my partner!  He took over the entire kitchen area before anyone even had breakfast.  This was the start of a bad day for me. Not to mention my partner had this attitude all day.  After inquiring as to what was wrong, I kicked in the FOUR AGREEMENTS and said:  I'm not taking this personal and I'm not making any assumptions!

I went off course on the eating right and only drank 3 glasses of water all day.  By the end of Friday night I was in such brain fog, I couldn't calm down to do my nightly unplugging, I didn't blog about my food and I didn't say one prayer.  I just zoned the hell out!  My nerves were shot because EDC Creations has 4 books releasing on Tuesday and a total of 16 radio show in Jan!  The problem is, the authors haven't sent in all the information we need and my team of outsource girls are sweating me something fierce!  But look, all is well!

Today, Saturday, I was able to get it together and get back on track!  I woke up and meditated from the bed.  And totally reflected on the banner shown above. It's my time!  I've spent years trying to be the perfect: sister, daughter, mother, wife, partner, business owner and friend. I'm just want to focus on being the BEST Ella I can be now for Ella!  The only expectations I want to live up to today are my own! I deserve to live the best life ever at 50 and in my mind...it starts now!  My daily chant goes a little something like this:  My name is Ella Curry and I succeed in all that I do. The past is over and done. I'm living in the moment. Life loves me and I love life! 

Losing this 100 pounds is my primary focus for 2015, along with launch my career as a women's empowerment coach!  I know that THIS year is going to bring about the positive change I expect. I have all the tools, faith and team members I need to succeed. I'm starting each day with the declaration that I'm winning!  After all, my thoughts, my self talk, is what creates my future. 

HERE IS MY FOOD TRACKING FOR TODAY

Right now I'm only able to drink about 4-5 bottles per day.

BREAKFAST
8:20 -  Three mini gluten free pancakes, shown on above. Baked hash-brown, 2 pieces of bacon and cranberry juice.


LUNCH
1:20 - One banana; homemade salsa and tortilla chips. One ounce of pepper jack cheese wedge. Water.


SNACK 1
4:20 - One bowl of sliced cucumbers in vinegar and Italian salad dressing. Water.


DINNER
7: 15 - Curry chicken, small serving of rice, red cabbage and water.

Jan. 8 - Flat Abs Walk - Full Length 40 Minute Walking Workout

I'm so excited about the coming of 2015!  For the first time in life, I want to focus on ELLA in a healthy way, a more relaxed, smarter way than ever before! This is the start of a new year and a new way of life for me. I have so much energy and I can just feel the opportunities coming my way.  While I'm ready to go out and live my life in living color, I also want to go inside myself with mediation to find my inner voice.  Right now, that voice is telling me to make this year explosive, and fun, and sexy!  I need to find my way back the ELLA!

I want to lose the weight, but more importantly I want to just enjoy life, seek out new things that give me joy and to start back going out more. I use to be THAT party girl!  I have faith that LIFE is going to bring me all that I need and I'm going after all that I desire. If you are reading this blog, I so need you to come along with me for this adventure!

During this journey I want to look at my old habits of eating and how I treat my own self.  I'm looking at everything in my life that needs revising!  The old habits, beliefs and self-doubt has to go, so I can make room for more love, adventures and inner peace.  I hope that you will leave comments on my posts and share your journey too!

I'm only 5 feet 5 inches and I weigh a disturbing 240 pounds. This is stressful for me to deal with right now. I use to be so slim as a younger person, but the Crohn's Disease and steroids changed all of that.  I think the biggest factor in all of this weight gain was moving to Maryland and starting a computer based business!  I'm sitting behind a desk or in my bed sometimes 18 hours per day working for my company EDC Creations.  I'm also snacking during that time. 

Some of my weight gain has come from emotional eating too!  The stress of running my own company and trying to earn enough money, sometimes causes worry and self-doubt. This entire blog journey is to correct all of my destructive eating habits from the last 7 years.  I hope you will continue down this path with me!

I found a even better video to use for exercise in the house.  My stomach is huge and I want it gone!  I love this video because it's geared toward losing the mass around your core and stomach areas.  When I become a little more comfortable with letting people see my body and me exercising, I will post videos of me using this video from Youtube. I hope that you will find it useful too!

HERE IS MY FOOD TRACKING FOR TODAY

WATER:  I'm drinking more and more water each day.  My goal is to build up to a gallon per day. Right now I'm only able to drink about 4-5 bottles per day.


BREAKFAST
8:40 -  16 oz green smoothie drink and 4 mini rice cakes; grapes and bottled water.


SNACK 1
10: 45 - 2 tablespoons of peanut butter and gluten free tortilla chips. Lemon tea.



LUNCH
1:45 - chopped chicken with stop light peppers and lots of onions; sliced tomatoes and avocado; 8 pita chips; 3 gherkin pickles; bottle of water.  The chicken looks like a Philly steak and cheese without the bread or the steak...LOL



SNACK 2
3:40 - 1 small yellow apple and 2 tablespoons of peanut butter;  green tea with honey



DINNER
7: 40 -  chicken kabobs with loads of peppers and onions. I also had a small salad with mushrooms, tomatoes, cheese, cauliflower and avocado. Here is the photo, from the web, I used to make my own kabobs. I used a marinade on the chicken and grilled it all on top of the stove.

 

7 Cardinal Rules for a Better Life!

I saw this meme on Facebook about the 7 Cardinal Rules for a Better Life!  I'm saving this because sometimes we just need to be reminded of how to stay on course.  My goal for the month is to be very optimistic about the pounds I might lose on this weight loss journey, but more optimistic about how my attitude will change for the better!

For some reason, I can feel the blessings raining down on me already!  I'm glowing with anticipation of this year unfolding in unbelievable ways!  I had an hour long conversation with a well know author, Lutishia Lovely, about all this new year brings.  Lutishia stated that come this time next year, we both are going to be awed by all that we were able to accomplish successfully.  I'm claiming it! Tish, is such a good mentor with her silly, funny, self!

In my opinion, before we can use this 7 Cardinal Rules for a Better Life banner, we have to set the stage!  That stage is set by forgiving and forgetting all those things that have held us back over the years. We have to put the people who didn't support us, the emotional pain that has drug us down and anything that doesn't make us better...behind us!  Those experiences helped to make us stronger, but baby, they didn't kill us!  We are here, we are in the now and we can do this. I'm turning my face to the sun and basking in the glow all future success!   I love me, life loves me and if you keep following this blog, you will love me too...LOL. 

The one thing that stands out for me the most on this banner is #6 - No one and I repeat no one is in charge of my happiness!  I'm going to go out and enjoy my life and make myself happy with my choices and learn from my mistakes, but please know this is my thang!  This is Ella's world!  But, I will share a little bit with you too!

Jan. 7 - Starting the Food Journal

Coach Brittani D. Williams had me to start a food journal, so that I can keep up with the meals I eat and how often. So, I went out and got the journal to write about my strengths and weakness, but I will also use it to plan out my weekly menu.  I'm still using MyFitnessPal too.

I'm also reading the book THINspired to give me some inspiration from a woman that lost 90 pounds, while gaining a real understanding of her over eating. The book has some really good recipes that busy career women can use.  

I found this great video to workout to each morning until I can walk 3 miles. This video is a great fit for those days I don't want to go outside.  It's a little hard to go 1 mile right now, but my goal is to make it all the way to 3 miles within 2 months!  Let's go!

HERE IS MY FOOD TRACKING FOR TODAY:

WATER:  I'm drinking more and more water each day.  My goal is to build up to a gallon per day. Right now I'm only able to drink about 4-5 bottles per day.


BREAKFAST
8:40 -  1 cup peach Greek yogurt and 1 tangerine.  16 oz green smoothie drink.
Because of the snow, I threw on my gear, turned up the iPod and exercised to this video: http://youtu.be/wuDp6v_oL34.  It helps you to walk a mile in the house!!  Love it!



SNACK 1
11: 20 - 1 cup of homemade salsa and tortilla chips. I had the rest of my green smoothie drink.



LUNCH
1:34 - 1 cup of chicken salad, frozen grapes, 3 gherkin pickles, sliced tomato and green tea. I also used this time off for a 15 minute guided meditation session.


SNACK 2
3:10 - 1 small yellow apple and 2 tablespoons of peanut butter;  green tea



DINNER
6: 40 - Steamed purple cabbage with jalapeno peppers and onions;  baked swai fish topped with salsa; small baked potato and a huge glass of water.



SNACK 3
9:00 -  1 small sliced kiwi;  some vitamins and water.  I watched the EMPIRE TV show on ABC, so I wasn't really thinking about food...LOL.

Jan. 6 - Snow Day and Meal Preparation

There was 4 inches of snow in DC today, so I got plenty of exercise shoveling the snow from the walk way.  I took some great photos of my breakfast, lunch and dinner. I was so hurt when the photos didn't come out on my old phone. My new phone came today, so I can do much better at sharing my prepared meals.

I spent about 2 hours creating little baggies of my fruit and greens for morning smoothies.  Also, I chopped alot of the vegetables I will use for dinner this week. I'm trying to make things easier for me to prepare dinner after a long day at EDC Creations Media.  Sigh! 

Breakfast - 8:30 am:   Chex cereal, almond milk, banana and strawberries.

Snack - 9:30 am:  Homemade salsa and gluten free tortilla chips and cranberry juice.

Lunch - 1:15 pm:  Chicken salad, blackberries, gluten free tortilla chips and gherkin pickles. Tea.

Dinner - 7: 42 pm:  Blackened swai fish, baked potato, green beans, yellow squash. Tea

This image brought so much inspiration to me today and I wanted to share it with you too! 

Jan. 5 - The Journey Begins with Coach Brittani D. Williams

I started day one of my transformation off with guided meditation, a walk around my neighborhood and a very simple breakfast.  Lunch was salsa and a few gluten free tortilla chips. Dinner included backed salmon, green beans and rice. I'm looking forward to this journey and all that it brings good or bad. 

Here is a link to the recipe I used to cook the salmon: http://www.oprah.com/food/Seared-Salmon-with-Green-Bean-Salad-and-Balsamic-Vinaigrette-Recipe

Coach Brittani D. Williams wants me to answer these questions to get the program started.  I'm going to answer them all now, because my work schedule this week is unbelievable. 


01/05: What is your why? 
I have extremely high blood pressure, so I must lose some of this weight. My family is filled with horror stories of the results of high BP. I turn 50 in August and I want to be a healthy, fit 50 and not sick.  I have ONE child, she is 19 and I want to be there for her as she starts her journey to adulthood.




01/06: Why is this time different? Are you really making a LIFESTYLE CHANGE? The purpose of my company is to assist in healthier lifestyles not temporary diets.
Yes, this is a lifestyle change for me!  I have already given up adding salt to my food and I'm trying to go totally gluten free.  I have Crohn's Disease, which led to me having 4 major surgeries on my intestines. I can go through the hardship of this debilitating disease by not eating well.  I want to go back to a healthier life, the life I had 6 years ago.  I realize that I must get out more;  exercise more and work behind this computer less!



01/07: How do you plan to stay on track?
I created this blog so that I can keep track of my journey with notes, photos, inspiration and  video.  I have a daily journal that I will write down the times and amounts of things I eat.  I also downloaded MyFitnessPal to my new phone to look up calorie content and the amounts of sodium in foods.

Empowerment: The Four Agreement

For the last 5 years I have been trying to live by THE FOUR AGREEMENTS.  It's challenging to say the least, but one of the agreements let's you start each day over, if you don't meet your expectations. I want to share the agreements with you and I will continue to work on this as well. You can read more about them and find out how to start the full practice in your life by going to this link:  http://www.toltecspirit.com

Living the Four Agreements: A life changing Journey

In the bestselling book The Four Agreements written by don Miguel Ruiz  gives four principles to practice in order to create love and happiness in your life. Adopting and committing to these agreements is simple. Actually living and keeping these Four Agreements can  be one of the hardest things  you will ever do. It can also be one of the most life changing things you will ever do.

As you practice living these four practices your life will dramatically change. In the beginning these new habits will be challenging and you will lapse countless times. With practice these agreements become integrated into your being and every area of your life and become easy habits to keep.


The Four Agreements are:

1. Be Impeccable with your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the Word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your Word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don’t Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don’t Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.

New Beginnings

I saw this really interesting post on Sophia A. Nelson's Instagram page and I want to use it to motivate me on this new journey.  The image is below and here is her message:   Each new day is a gift. Yesterday is gone. You must be intentional about your attitude each morning! It's a new year! It's a new you! It's a new life!

I'm going to keep this message in mind as I start my journey!  What are your thoughts when you read this?