O.K. After much thought I decided to put up some pictures. It gives me an incentive to keep going. I am almost at a 10lb loss and am very proud and excited.

I was looking for some pictures of me before Christmas. Could only find 1 and it's only 1/2 of me. I realized that I have been shying away from the camera for some time. I guess a little "self conscious" of what the picture will look like.

So Today I took a shot of me before leaving for work. As you can tell I still have some work. The neat thing about this picture of me in the M&M's shirt is that when I received it, it REALLY didn't fit me. I was so embarrassed but knew this was the shirt I had to wear. Today, it's still a little snug.. But I can wear it and see that YES my hard work is working

Thanks for your support.

Can't wait for my next weigh in

Heidi

Having a Craving..

Hey there everyone

Did my weekly weigh in and am very pleased. I am down another pound. I need to lose 1.8lbs and will hit a 10 pound weight loss. I am so excited and am finding a little bit of exercise and LESS calories goes a LONG WAY...

For myself this last few weeks has been a JOY!!! I know that sounds crazy but it's true. I've decided that No matter what the outcome, it's time to get healthy. The weight loss is just the bonus

I normally despise any form of exercise but NOT anymore. I have started a program called off the Couch to 5K. This is a running program that starts with 60 seconds running /walking. It's a 9 week program 3 times a week and surprising Works, IF you keep going, even when it gets tough.

When I'm not running. I'm walking for at least 30-45 minutes at least 4-5 times a week. I go to the Arena, or the highschool OR I have Walk the pounds away DVD's.

I also am eating less Calories. The way I am counting them is with a program that I use Online and IF you have an ipod, it's a FREE application you can use http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ It's really been a great help! If you decide to use it, you can add friends on it (kinda like a facebook for weight loss.. Feel free to add me,)

I am finding that if you enjoy yourself and BELIEVE in yourself. Set yourself up for success not failure. You can do it !!!! Don't be discouraged. You CAN do this!!!

Now I am having a little struggle. I want want want Ketchup chips. I've tried in the past the "rice crackers" but it is not taking away the "urge". I am PRAYING big time b/c I know that I WILL eat the whole bag. I just love them.. I can't just have "3" I know myself, so I am REALLY fighting an inner battle. I WANT to lose the weight and I want to WIN the competition. BUT I know if I eat that darn bag of chips, it could bring me back to square 1. It's like alcoholism, you can't just have 1 drink after getting sober. I can't just have 1 bag of chips. It's an addiction, and I need to BEAT it!! I WILL beat it. I just came to the revelation that if I want to get healthy, I can't go back to the chips. Wow!! what an interesting thought. I can do this!

Thanks for being my cheer leader. Please pray for me that I will continue to have a desire to work out.

Be blessed
Heidi

A Bible Verse and an update

Hey all.

Today I went in for my regular weigh in at Vickie's for my "Biggest Winner" competition. Can I just tell you that I was a little frightened, I know that I've been working out WAY more then the past. I know that I've REALLY been watching my Calorie intake too. Less food more exercise, and yet I was scared and thought that I probably GAINED. A voice in my head, (who was NOT God) was telling me that I was failing and a failure.

Well Guess what DEVIL.. I can do ALL things through Christ that Strengthens me. (This is my "signature" on my e-mail) and yet I forgot this verse until today!

I watched the scale and waited until the Zero's stopped. One foot then the next. Still a little worried, BUT when I saw the number at 227, I just about FREAKED right out. Having 2 other ladies screaming for me was also pretty exciting too. Ladies and gentleman, that puts me down 7.8lbs since January! I am so happy and thankful to my Father in Heaven. I know that he is proud of me. Just maybe I am proud of me too. Not too proud that I'm getting a BIG head, but PROUD that I CAN do this and WILL do this. I started this blog last April and it took me almost 10 months to really start seeing some progress. I am really pumped today and HOPE that I can continue this journey.

I am not writing this to be congratulated or cheered on. I am writing this to encourage everyone that IF you put your mind to it, you can DO this.

January I felt God really challenging me that my weight problem wasn't because I had 3 babies. My weight issues were ME and what I was putting into my body. Therefore, Today I am confessing that I am a bored eater an "emotional" eater and a "stress" Eater. BUT I want to be an example to my Generation and younger generations. I want to live for Christ and I REALLY feel that the way I eat is a bondage that Christ will set me free from. Today I am proclaiming to the World that I WILL be free from this. It won't be easy, and there are always "bumps" on this road. Today is a New Day and I hope you will continue on this ever so fun journey with me.

I really appreciate all of you. I find that having this blog allows me to be accountable to ALL of you. If any of you need prayer or just a little encouragement, send me a message. I'd LOVE to be there for ya!!! Having Vickie's Specialty shop Cheer me on, PROVES to me that there is POWER in accountability.

God Bless

Heidi

Down and excited..

Hey World. So this has been a very interesting week. I haven't been able to run for a week due to time restraints and my baby being ill. However, I have done some work out video's and really downsized my portions. With this routine and drinking my water......

I was down 6.2lbs from last week. I was shocked and excited. Hoping I can keep this streak going. If I do, I WILL be the Biggest Winner in the contest. I am REALLY hoping for this. $100.00 gift card for new clothes is SUCH an incentive.

I totally miss my running buddy and will be calling her this week. It's sooooo important to me that I get to the 5K ASAP.

My co-workers asked if I was losing weight. That was MUSIC to my ears. I hope I can keep it up.


thanks for sharing my excitement with me. I am doing this journey for me, but because I know that you are cheering me on. I WILL not QUIT. I picked up a key chain from Vickie's Specialty shop that say's "Do not Quit Do Not Quit DO NOT QUIT"
I am making a promise to myself. I WILL NOT QUIT I WILL NOT QUIT I WILL NOT QUIT

Be blessed
Heidi

Still running and joining the "Biggest Winner" Competition

Hey there World

SO I'm still running. We had taken a break for a while, but on Monday did week 4 day 1. It was incredible. 2- 5 minute runs and 2- 3 minute runs. I was really scared about the 5 minute run. BUT.... We did it! It was tough, but we did it. I was so proud!!! I look forward to running again tomorrow too! It will be a challenge, but I know it's about 2 1/2 times around the top of the Arena.

The new BEAUTIFUL arena in Sensational Smiths Falls has a Walking area at the top of the seated areas. I wasn't sure if I would be comfortable running there, but Courtney and I did it and it wasn't that bad. A little "loud" from a Bears Practice going on, but I'm happy we have a place to run. Much easier running there then on the snow.

Also excited because I'm joining a competition at Vickie's Specialty shop, one of my favorite stores here in town. It's called Biggest Winner (aka-weight loss) from Now til June, I will Simply weigh in once a week at Vickie's and collect my prizes! They are offering gift cards for EVERYONE who loses 5,10, and 20lbs and then a $25 gift card for EVERYONE who keeps their weight off all year! The person who loses the most by June 15th, will win a $100 gift card! That is my goal, the $100.00 gift card!!!! I will need new clothes, don't you think??? I can't wait!! A little more incentive to get healthy and LOSE the weight!!! Whoo-hoo to awesome ideas!

Well this is what's "new" now. Can't wait to write more and tell you all about my journey.

Heidi

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!

Welcome 2011. I'm not going to make any resolutions on "eating healthy or losing weight" due to the fact that I've been at this journey since last April. I can say that I am working on it. It's a "SLOW" process due to my LOVE of eating.. HOWEVER that being said...

I am still running. I took a 2 week break due to sickness and Christmas festivities and helping out at the M&M Meatshops. I missed running.. I missed it ALOT (which surprises me, since I HATE Physical Anything... lol)

After church today I decided it's time to get back at it. I repeated week 3 day 3 of couch to 5K , just to get myself ready for week 4. I am unbelievably proud of myself, because I did it without my running buddy! I missed not having her there, but to prove to myself that I can do this on my own was SUCH an achievement. With this run into Today we can proceed on Tuesday as we run together again for Week 4 day 1. I can't wait! A tad nervous since there is More running then walking, but I know that we CAN do this. We also found out that we can run in the upstairs of the arena. This makes me very very happy. Bad weather WILL NOT hold us back. It's so exciting to me that I will actually complete this program (even if I'm a little behind)

Thanks to many of you that have encouraged me through this journey. I look forward to 2011 to see what God has in store for us.

Be blessed, YOu can do anything that you set your mind too.

Love
Heidi Kozlof

I feel like a new women

Hello World.

This running and getting healthy has been such a blessing to my life. I have a renewed sense of self worth. I can do something that I thought I never could. On Saturday I ran for 3 minutes straight TWICE. To many, this may seem like no big deal. To ME this was such an accomplishment. I get to do it again tonight, and I am excited about it!

With this getting healthy kick, I am noticing that I am not really craving the "sweets" as much. I still have the odd craving for "Ketchup chips". I think I may have fallen into temptation on this twice in the last 3 weeks. I will overcome and learn to have a little "self control". I just LOVE those chips, I can't help it.

Yesterday was the ladies "cookie exchange" that my friend Mary and I organized. I think it was a great success. We had over 30 people at our exchange. Massive amounts of cookies. It was wonderful. I have a vision of all the generations of ladies coming together in unity, and working together for Christ. We as women are known (no offense) to be "complainers, grumblers, stuck in our ways". BUT if we can walk with Christ, do his work, stop our pigheadedness, we WILL accomplish GREAT things.

Last night there were at least 7 generations of women/little women at the cookie exchange. It made me emotional and excited to see what God has in store for us. It was exciting to see some of our youth girls just helping out. These girls never grew up in church, but they were excited to be there and willing to help. It BLESSED me beyond words. It takes a "community" and I believe that our "community" is BEAUTIFUL and wonderful.. I look forward to the next few months of planning to see what's next for all of us

In regards to the cookie exchange. I hardly had any "sample" cookies. Which is AMAZING, since I LOVE sweets!!!

Well, God is good and faithful. Thanks for reading my blog. You make me smile everyday.

Ps- I lost 3lbs in the month of November. Larry even thinks I'm starting to "tone up" a little. :) Yippee to that.

Be blessed

Love
Heidi