Back around Christmas time, I stepped on my scale and went, “Whoa!! That can’t be right.” My scale was saying I weighed 181 lbs. Not too far from 200. My weight had been going up for some time and I just ignored that it was and was enjoying my fatty foods. But when I saw that I weighed that much, I knew that it was time to make a change. I also thought that everyone makes resolutions to lose weight in the new year, but I wanted to make this change for myself, not because I felt obligated to fulfill a resolution.

So, I had to think…what changes do I need to make to be healthier? I just sat down and thought of all the ways that I thought it would be manageable for me to lose weight and stick with it! Here are a list of the things that I have done and seem to be working…

#1: Drink more water and no carbonated drinks. This one wasn’t all that hard, because I had been drinking Coke Zero for some time and water was just the next step. I always thought that filtered tap water was nasty, but when you drink enough of it, then it becomes addicting. I also drink flavored waters that are 0 calories. You have to have some flavor to your drinks from time to time.

#2: No school lunches. At first, I was trying to pick the healthiest things they had to eat, but it wasn’t filling. They didn’t have enough choices of healthy things. I also didn’t feel like what I was eating was completely good for me either. I was also being tempted to get things I shouldn’t get. So, that led me to #3.

#3: Pack your own lunch. I went to the grocery store and chose things that I felt were healthy. Such as, veggies (peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, avocadoes), fruits (strawberries, kiwis, bananas, apples), yogurt (Chobani is the BEST), trail mixes (not the ones with M&Ms), whole wheat bread, turkey, pretzels, etc. When I pack my own lunch, I get to control my portion sizes. The lunch ladies like to pile on the goods. ?

#4: Zumba or exercise of any kind. I got the Zumba Wii game for my birthday and I love it! It doesn’t feel like working out. I turn on the fan, or you can leave it off to sweat more, get a bottle of water, and go to town dancing. I recently bought some ankle/wrist weights to up the exercise. Set a certain amount of time to do it and go for it! Do something that you are going to enjoy, not something that you are going to wonder why you’re doing it.

#5: Making better choices. The hardest place to practice this is at restaurants. When you look at a menu, it’s hard not to order some ribs with corn and French fries. But there are good food choices, most anywhere you go…minus Waffle House and Olive Garden. Instead of getting French fries, get broccoli. Instead of corn, get green beans. Instead of mashed potatoes, get a baked potato. Every time you eat, you have at least two choices, choose the path less traveled.

#6: Smaller portions. Don’t go get that second serving. Don’t get a portion bigger than your fist. Eat on smaller plates, so it makes you feel like you’re eating more. Fill your plate with more of the good stuff than the bad stuff, so you get filled up on that first. At a buffet, get samples of different things, instead of piling it up with everything.

#7: My Fitness Pal App. Download it and count your calories. If you see that something is going to make you exceed your daily limit of calories, then make a better choice. Before you order something off a menu, look up different things to see which one is the better choice. You’d be amazed at how many calories some of the things have. I thought, one time, that I was doing better than Daniel by ordering the salad instead of the soup, but the salad was actually more calories than the soup. Blew my mind!

#8: Support group. Surround yourself with people that will bring you up, not naysayers. Don’t let the people that say that it will be hard and that you won’t keep up with it bring you down. Surround yourself with people that are in the same boat as you and you can uplift each other.

#9: Desserts. I limit myself, but I don’t deprive myself. If you weigh yourself at the end of the week and you lost some weight, treat yourself. Don’t splurge, or else your weight loss means nothing. But get a scoop of ice cream or eat some sherbet.

#10: Stay away from carbs as much as possible. That’s all.

#11: Weigh once a week. If you weigh every day, you WILL be discouraged, because your weight may fluctuate throughout the week. Choose a day to weigh and stick to that day only.

#12: Hold yourself accountable. Find someone to tell about your weight loss journey, because you need someone to know how you are doing. If you keep it to yourself, then you might gain more and think it’s okay to keep gaining. If others know, you don’t want to disappoint them. At least, I don’t.

#13: Eat breakfast. Whether it’s a granola bar, banana, or yogurt…find something that’s healthy to get your metabolism going for the day.

That’s pretty much all I’m doing. If I think of anything else, I will add it.

Also, if you need me to be the person that helps you hold yourself accountable, then just e-mail me at Katie.colter@gmail.com and we can support each other.

These things I listed are easy to adopt. It’s all about…sticking with it…being motivated…making it a habit. I have already lost 13.6 lbs., by sticking to these things.

You can do it! I believe in you!!

Also, if you have any weight loss tips that you would like to share, feel free to leave a comment.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, fasten your seatbelts. Keep all hands and objects in the ride at all times. And have fun!” My relationship with Pepe has been an uphill ride, filled with excitement and fun.

When I younger, he would come to a lot of my basketball games. He would sit in the stands with his eyes on one player, me. When the game was over he would come up to me and comment about how well I played. He said, “You had your arms up like this (while doing a reenactment) and that girl was not going to get past you! You were the best little player out there.” Even if I didn’t get the MVP of that game, I felt like I won the title from my Pepe.

I remember always going into his room and looking in his drawer for strawberry candies. The ones that come in those wrappers that look like strawberries.

There was one time when I was at Meme and Pepe’s house and my little boyfriend was over there as well. There was a little creek that was down the road a little bit from their house that was awesome. It had tall rocks and a path that seemed to go on forever. Well, this particular day, I went up to Meme while she was mowing and asked her if we could go to that creek. She told me yes. So, on we went. My boyfriend and I walked there, climbed on the rocks, followed streams, acted like it was our palace. When we decided it was time to go back, we got to the entrance of the creek and saw Pepe driving by, hollering, “Katie!!!” We hid, because we were scared that we were going to get in trouble, since he was looking for us. I told my boyfriend, that we probably should let him know we were there, because we didn’t need to get in more trouble. So, we went up to the truck and he said, “We have been looking everywhere for you all!” I don’t know if any more words were said, but I’m assuming it might have been a quiet ride. When we got back to their house, my parents and his parents were sitting on the couch, very disgruntled. No telling how long they had been looking for us.

I remember, he would have scratches all over his hands from his beagles. He would sit in his recliner, with me in his lap. He would put this orange stuff over his wounds to help them heal. I remember thinking it was strange that he was putting it on his hands.

I also remember him sitting in his recliner peeling an orange with his knife. When he was done eating the orange, he would eat the peels. I remember thinking that was strange as well. He would tell me, “That’s where the good stuff is.” I didn’t agree with him.

He always had goats and beagles when I was growing up. I would always go out there and help him feed both of them. I remember thinking that those dogs ate better than most people did.

At family gatherings, he would sit in the chair in the corner of the dining room and share stories of his hunting days. People would sit around him and be captivated by his stories. He mumbled some when he talked, so I never understood his stories. But I remember just watching the twinkle in his eyes as he relived the most memorable days of his life.

When I was older, we would go to these dancing places with him. He could dance circles around me. I would be out there with him and he would swing me out and pull me back in, what seemed like a hundred times. I would have excuse myself, to get a break. He was such a young soul on that dance floor and he loved to jitterbug.

When he was in the hospital waiting to have surgery on his hernia, I remember going to the hospital and my aunt, Nova, and I were the only ones there. We sat back there with him before they took him back and I remember him and Nova arguing. I don’t remember what it was about, but I remember thinking that I wish it was just me and him back there. While they were arguing and Nova wasn’t looking, he would look at me and roll his eyes and then wink.

One time he was in the hospital for his hip surgery and I asked him if he wanted me to pray for him. He asked me, “What would you pray for?” I told him that I would pray for him to heal and get better. He told me that he didn’t need to be prayed for. I remember my feelings being hurt a little bit, but it didn’t last long.

I remember when I would come visit him, at the nursing home, and he would say, “Get me some hot chocolate.” I would get him some and give it to him. He would scoot it to one of his friends and then he would tell me to get one for him. He was always looking out for others, before himself.

Mom called me one time and told me that he needed some new shoes, because someone stole his. So, I went to Payless and got him two pair. When I took them to him, he was very appreciative. He told everyone, “My granddaughter got me two pairs of shoes, one for me and one for the thief. In case, he comes back, he will have a pair to take with him.” Later on, I told him that Mom told me that someone had taken his pair of shoes. He said, “I was wondering how you knew I needed shoes. Let me pay you back!” He was always offering to pay for things.

Speaking of which, I went out there one time and he seemed to be doing really well. He also told me that he was a rich man. I joked around with him and asked if he was ready to go shopping with me. He said, “I do need some new clothes.” He said, “Wheel me up to the front office, I’m going to have them give you some money to get me some clothes.” I didn’t expect him to go that far with the idea. We went up there and they said that they’d have to check with my uncle to make sure that it was okay to get the money out (since he was the power of attorney). Pepe then said, “That’s ridiculous! It’s my money and I should be able to spend it if I want to!” I agreed with him. They wrote me a check to cash at the bank. When I got to the bank to cash it, they called him and asked him if he knew I wanted to get this check cashed. He said, “Of course! That’s my granddaughter and I trust her!”

One time Mom and I went out to the nursing home and he was in the dining room. They put in a chair aerobics video, so that the residents could get their exercise. I said, “Pepe, are you going to do these exercises?” He shook his head, like saying, “Psh! I don’t think so.”

I remember his soft, white hair.

I remember how he laughed so hard at times, that his eyes would be squinted and they would water.

I remember the way that he would eat. He would end up with more on himself, than in his mouth.

I remember how soft his hands were. They felt like little pillows in my hand.

I remember how proud he was of all of his teacher grandkids.

I remember how he would always say, “I bet no one else has as many teachers in their family.”

I remember how he used to sit there at Thanksgiving looking around at all he created. The look on his face was one of pride.

I remember him telling me how special I was to him.

My Pepe is and was a very special person in my life.

Saturday, the night that the rollercoaster reached the top of the incline, went “click, click, click,” and flew down towards the bottom; which made my stomach go in my throat.

Daniel and I went out for my b-day that night. We ate at Overtime and went to watch the movie, “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.” During the movie, my chest started hurting. I didn’t know the reason. I just thought it was indigestion. When the movie was over, Daniel and I stepped outside and we both saw we had a missed call from my parents. I checked my voicemail and it was Dad saying that they wanted Daniel to call them. I told Daniel and he called them. I knew something was wrong. I knew someone had passed away. I knew it was Pepe. When he got off the phone, he told me, “Bebe, your Pepe passed away.” I told him I knew it. I didn’t want to believe it. He said, “They are at the nursing home, we can go out there, if you want to.” I said, “Yes.” The rest of the ride was spent with Daniel’s hand on my leg and my hands on my face. Tears were streaming from my face. The street lights were blurred. Daniel’s occasional squeeze, let me know I wasn’t alone. You know how people say that their lives flashed before their eyes? Well, my life with my Pepe ran through my head. I imagined him wearing the shirt at Thanksgiving that Mom made him when I was younger, that said, “I’m a great grandpa, Just ask Katie.” I imagined us dancing across the floor, with his hand on my back and my other hand holding his. I imagined him eating those peaches that I brought him one time, like they were going out of style. I imagined the glimmer in his eyes. I imagined what he was doing in heaven.

When we got to the nursing home, Mom met us at the door. She said, “Would you like to go see him? He looks so peaceful.” I said that I did. The walk down that hallway was filled with sobs. When we got there, he was laying there with his mouth wide open and his eyes closed. I just looked at him and sobbed some more. It didn’t seem real that he wasn’t with us anymore. I kept looking at his chest, expecting it to rise up, but it didn’t. I ran my hand through his cotton hair, wanting to remember just how it felt.

Last night was the visitation. I didn’t know how it was going to go. I didn’t know if people would be boo-hooing or just visiting with each other. It was like a reunion of sorts. Everyone was sitting around telling old stories of Pepe and his life. People were laughing with each other. This was not a typical visitation. This was a visitation where the life of an extraordinary person was celebrated. There was a time allotted for people to come up and tell stories of Pepe. It was neat to hear how caring, loving, and funny Pepe was to everyone. I wasn’t the only one that felt this way about my Pepe, there were many others. There was a story told of him thinking a game warden was chasing him, when it was his light that was dangling behind him. There was a story told of him driving down the road with my cousin in the truck. He had his arm resting on the window and there was a snake dangling from a tree branch that my cousin’s dad put there to show off. Well, Pepe didn’t know it was there, but when it brushed against his arm, he freaked out and ran off the road. There were stories told of his dancing. There were stories told of his love of women. All stories that were told were about him loving life.

Today, is his funeral. I don’t know how it’s going to go or how I’m going to feel. I do know one thing though, Pepe might not be on this earth anymore, but he is in a better place. I know that he lived a good, long life. I know that he’s not suffering anymore.

I know that he will be missed.

I love you Pepe!

It has been almost a month since the last time I wrote a post. A long time for a supposed blogger. Good thing I’m not making money from blogging, or else I would be broke right now. By broke, I mean more broke than I already am. Anyhow, point is, I haven’t blogged in awhile. I also have gone back on my word.

**GASP**

I said that I was going to cut down on Facebook. Well, to be honest. I am not addicted to it, like I used to be. I can do without Facebook, if I had to/wanted to. I just feel that it too valuable of a communication tool to throw it to the wayside. So, yes, I am back on Facebook…uploading pics, updating my status, and liking statuses. What makes me happy? People. What keeps me in touch with people? Facebook. So, basically, happiness=Facebook. Just sayin’.

Well, this is what I’ve been up to…

Work, looking at online colleges, hanging with my Bebe, celebrating Christmas, spending time with my family, Facebooking (haha), eating, breathing…you know the important things.

This year, I picked out my Christmas presents, but Daniel had a trick up his sleeve. He got me a special, small present that is residing in my stocking right now. He told me that I couldn’t know all the presents that I’m getting for Christmas. Isn’t that so sweet?

We celebrated Christmas with Daniel’s parents Monday. We racked up on some decorating things, that I love! We got an electric fireplace. Which I love! I was bummed that our house didn’t have a fireplace, so this is the next best thing. She also got us some things for the walls. Daniel doesn’t like for there to be holes in the walls, but he made an exception for these things. Woo hoo!

We still have two more Christmases to celebrate and I can’t wait! I might have been M.I.A., but my Christmas spirit is definitely not missing!

It’s here! At least it is…at our house.

Is it Christmas time at your house?