In the pink...

Comes from the English foxhunting tradition; people who foxhunt often 
wear scarlet jackets and are called pinks--so if you are in the pink, you are about to set off to gallop your horse across 

county.

Those who know me well, know that I really get into research. When I wrote my book “The Devil Made Me Eat That,” I looked at several different kinds of “supplements.” The side effects of some, I won’t say which, were down-right scary. I lost 80 pounds without using dangerous drugs or herbal supplements.  My goal was to lose 100 pounds. I’ve been stuck at 15 to  20 pounds short of my goal for three years now.

However, I’d say I’m in pretty good shape for the shape I’m in. I’m in a very good place right now, blood pressure – good, cholesterol – acceptable, knees – pain free. I’m even basking in the joy of being named Georgia Author of the Year Finalist. (That’s second place if you didn’t know.) Finances – surviving thanks to a few part-time jobs working with and for some awesome people.

It’s all good, right?

The only problem is it doesn’t leave any time for my first passion which is writing.

What I need is a job with a good income that doesn’t take a lot of my time.

“Yeah right! Who doesn’t want that?”

And the magic bullet for losing that pesky last 20 lbs would be nice, too.

The next few months will demonstrate whether or not I’ve found that job and the magic bullet.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, my day jobs go on without interruption. I haven’t spent a ton of money, which I didn’t have, and my friends will see if the healthy weight loss happens. (Cause fat shows, no matter how you try to hide it.)   Kind of like wrinkles.

What in the world am I going on about?

http://shopmyplexus.com/savvylady/index.html

I haven’t even gotten my starter kit yet, which cost a whopping $34.95. But I’ve been listening to the success stories of others – many others. And frankly my dear, I’m downright excited.

In years past my husband and I tried to sell Amway. The circles made me dizzy.

The products are good, but the business was too time consuming.

Then we tried to sell Miracle Maid Cookware.  Dwain kept talking people out of spending their money. I still have our set. 

I sold Mary Kay. Great products. I still use them. The downside for me was keeping inventory or finding customers who didn’t mind waiting for their order. Also time consuming – ordering for me, my customers and my recruits.

Dwain decided HE wanted to sell Pampered Chef. However, HE only liked the cooking performance.

Forget paperwork or selling. After he abandoned me with a crowd of people at a party in the middle of an ice storm – I QUIT HIS BUSINESS.

So… after much research here’s what I learned about Plexus. I don’t have to keep inventory. I don’t have to order for ANYONE ELSE. I don’t have to go to meetings. I don’t have to book parties.  I don’t have to browbeat my friends to sell for me.

But the best thing of all is this company is Christian based.

I have friends who are struggling financially, and physically. Jobs are few and far between and take a lot of time and energy to find, only to be told “you’re not right for our company.”

I’m 73 years old and nobody at this company has told me I’m too old, too dumb, too fat, too skinny or just plain don’t fit the company image. Everyone has embraced me and made me feel welcome.

If you are interested in joining me in this journey – pm me, text me, call me, or yell at me. But don’t wait for me to hound you. I won't. It’s your choice – always.

Check out my website:  http://shopmyplexus.com/savvylady/index.html

Connie in the pink.  

I grew up in an arid land. Our annual rainfall was somewhere close to 10 inches. That’s ANNUAL folks. I didn’t think anything of it, but when it did rain, it was an event. After the rain these amazing little desert frogs would emerge.  At the time, I didn’t know where they came from. Their song was my lullaby for several evenings afterward. They lay their eggs in the muddy puddles all around. My friends and I loved to catch the tiny tadpoles.

Once my girlfriend and I rescued a “crop” of these little cuties. We prepared a basin of clean water for them, thinking that had to be better than that cloudy, dirty water they wiggled through.

Dusk came, our curfew, and we had to go inside. The next day we rushed to see how our new pets were doing. But the tadpoles were GONE! Every last one of them… and in their place were tiny frogs, no bigger than the tip of my finger. What an amazing transformation.

Do you long for a transformation? The most “amazing transformation” comes when we ask Jesus into our hearts. He brings us out of the mire and into a new life. Like the tiny frogs, at first we are vulnerable and fragile. We need to be fed. We need to submerge ourselves into the Word of God, like the adult frogs burrow into the mud to survive the next dry season.

A few years ago I longed for a different transformation, a physical one. I was seriously overweight. I hated the way I looked and felt. Something clicked in my head and I got serious about getting healthy. My husband and I joined a gym and hired a trainer for a short time. When we felt strong enough, we continued on our own.

The weight came off slowly, but steadily. There were times I wanted to quit. There are still times like that, but I remind myself this is a lifetime journey. Something we only have one shot at it. So I plod along.

Today I am 15 pounds from losing 100 pounds. The last time I saw my doctor she called me amazing, and told me I was no longer “obese,” but normal weight. I told her, “I’m not done yet.” She had never admonished me to lose weight and was surprised, and concerned when the weight started dropping.  She couldn’t believe a septuagenarian could lose weight on her own – and keep it off without being sick.

The “secret” to my weight loss is no secret at all. I eat smarter. In other words, no more than my body needs. I take vitamins to cover any missing nutrients. I don’t exercise as much now, but I maintain my gym membership. I look and feel better than I’ve felt in years. (Okay I know that is vain, but it ain’t braggin’ if you can do it.)

Years of packing around too much weight wore out my knees. In December I had my second knee replacement. I did pre-emptive strengthening exercises. I was off the walker in a week and off the cane in another week. Everyone called me “amazing.” It’s not me who is amazing. I give credit to a skilled surgeon, God’s grace and the prayers of friends and family. Maybe a positive attitude helped, too.

Do you long for a transformation? Do you know Jesus? I can give you some pointers on both if you’re interested. I care about you. I’ve been where you are.

You can email me a conniefleming@comcast.net 

P.S. I’m not selling anything. I’m just giving encouragement. 

Black Friday

Today was the day retailers hoped to make enough profit to push them into the black for the year. Shoppers were hoping to score amazing deals.

Don't you find it kind of ironic that the day after we thank God for all the blessings and wealth we enjoy that we rush out to buy more stuff; stuff that most don’t need. I like to call this “shoppers gluttony.”  When I see news videos of shoppers brawling over some thing, it brings to mind similar videos of people fighting for food rations after some natural disaster. That is understandable to me. They are fighting for the survival of their families. The shopping spectacle makes me feel sick and ashamed. I hope they have the decency to feel ashamed of their actions.

So, how are you feeling tonight? I hope you had delicious food and a time of fellowship with family or friends on Thanksgiving Day. I hope you have much to be thankful for. And I hope if you went shopping in the wee hours of the morning on Friday you found the bargains you were searching for and didn’t end up in jail over the newest ibox, iphone, or whatever “i” thing you were longing for.

I hope you have the most important “I” of all. “Jesus saith unto him I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh to the Father, but by me.” John 14:6.KJV

No material possession means anything if you don’t know the one who spoke those words some 2,000 years ago. They are still true. Oh, and by the way, it's free to all. 

Now that’s a bargain worth sharing. It comes to you as a result of the first Black Friday.

I would love to have your feedback on this topic.

Wishing you peace, love and healthy eating through this holiday season.

Good Girl/Bad Girl

People say that dogs don’t have a conscious. I say they do. At least my dog Annie does.

Annie is a mixed breed rescue dog. As far as her breed – the only thing we are certain of is that she is a dog, but don’t tell her that. Like her people, she has an eating problem. Two things make her happy, food and praise. Like me she has NO willpower when it comes to people food.

Yesterday we forgot and left some banana nut muffins on the prep table. It’s tall, but so is Annie. We knew the minute we walked in the door that she had been a “bad girl.” 

She wouldn’t make eye contact, and she immediately ran to the back door to go outside.

The tell-tale muffin wrappers on the floor told the rest of the story. I didn’t even have to scold her – which is unbearable punishment to her. She was SO ASHAMED.

Boy can I identify. But nobody scolds me when I eat too much, or eat something I shouldn’t. As a matter of fact, people encourage me to be a “bad girl.”

“Only one little piece of cake won’t hurt.”  “You have to try my10K calorie whatever.”

But is does hurt. I’m a foodaholic. Once I start, I can’t stop. And then I feel ashamed – which depresses me – which makes me want comfort food.

Thanksgiving is just a few days away. This year I intend to make it truly a day of giving thanks.

I am thankful for you, my friends who are as close as family. Celebrate your blessings, for there are many who are so less fortunate,

And go ahead and have that sliver of pumpkin pie. Then go for a walk in this beautiful world God gave us.

As Tiny Tim said, “God bless us, every one.” 

When Troubles Come

You know how it is when one bad thing happens, and new problems just keep coming one after another.

When there is NOTHING you can do about it, what do you do? Do you reach for that old standby comfort food?  Cookies, candy, something salty?

STOP, DROP (that snack), and ROLL out the door: to the gym, or a walk around the neighborhood, or put on your favorite upbeat music and rock and roll.

Oops, just revealed my age. Well, I do come from the generation that invented rock and roll. But look at it this way…I’m still able to rock and roll.

I understand. Really, I get it. When everything seems wrong and nothing is right, the last thing on your mind is how many calories/fat grams/or carbs are in that food you want. But trust me, if you put on another pound or three, you will feel worse, physically and emotionally.

So what does this have to do with Friday the 13^th? Absolutely nothing at all. Just as luck has nothing to do with obesity or getting healthy.  

It has everything to do with intention, or the lack thereof.  We are quickly approaching a very difficult season for people with a weight problem. Every which way you look there are temptations. Very few are “healthy” choices. Cookies, cakes, shortbreads, etc. and etc.

If you work outside the home there will be extra goodies brought in by well-meaning co-workers or customers. What’s a body to do? No one wants to munch on carrot sticks or celery when there are chocolate chip cookies calling your name.

Here are some low calorie, low fat suggestions.

In a pretty clear bowl, layer pieces of angel food cake with low fat yogurt, sugar free pudding and fruit.  Top with sugar free whipped topping. Both attractive and tasty.

A veggie tray with low calorie dip.

A fresh fruit tray.  Fruit is available year round.

Nuts are good, but be careful – too many will pack on the pounds, plus they are usually high in salt, which makes you hold on to fluid.

Pretzels are also a good alternative, but again – lots of salt.

The main thing I’m saying is “be intentional.” Make a plan and stick to it.  You can do this. And so can I.