Start 2014 off by getting organized!!

Happy New Year!! With a new year comes new opportunities to make choices to improve our lives.  Many people will be making weight, financial, relationship, or other changes in their lives. This past year I have cleaned out many areas of my home, organized and given away or thrown out many items.  I was worried that I would get rid of something and then find I really needed it but to my surprise what I have found is that a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders and I feel much lighter!!  It is so much easier to clean my home and takes much LESS time.  I find it VERY beneficial to go through the house and pick up each evening for 15 minutes.  I wake up in the morning to a clean house and it makes my day so much better.  Today I would like to share an awesome resource for those of us who want to get organized and make our daily lives run smoother.  Copy and paste this link into your browser for a wonderful resource for a cleaning and organizing schedule.  <center><a href="http://time-warp-wife.blogspot.com/2010/09/home-maintenance-schedule.html"><img border="0" or click on the link http://timewarpwife.com/?p=808
I pray all of you will have a wonderful 2014.
God Bless,
Nena

Where were you last Christmas?

Ever think about what a difference a year can make?  Where were you last year at this time?  Were you happy?  Were you miserable?  Maybe dreading the holiday... Wishing things would change?  How are you feeling this year?  Have things gotten better?  I find that during the holidays many people struggle for a few reasons:

1) Stress- Many of us try to do too much or have too many expectations about what we should be doing or buying.  This tends to make us crazy and blow our budgets.  How many of you can ask your children, spouse, friends, or relatives what you gave them for Christmas last year and they would be able to tell you?  Last year my husband and I decided we were not going to give each other any presents because money was tight and let's face it we didn't need anything.  My husband had been wanting a new laptop because his wasn't working correctly and he had been looking for a great deal but we had decided to wait until after the holidays to make the purchase.  My daughter called while out black Friday shopping and said mom I found the exact computer dad wants and it's less than half the price; if you'll go in half with me we can get it for him for Christmas.  I told her that would be fine and she bought it, wrapped it and put it under the tree.  Christmas morning he unwrapped it and said I thought we weren't going to get each other presents this year.  I told him it was fine I didn't need anything and this was too good of a deal to pass up.  I never thought a thing about it.  Just a couple of weeks ago I told him please let's not exchange presents this year because we don't need anything and were trying to get rid of "stuff" because our last child recently moved out.  He said are we really not going to exchange presents?  I didn't even know what he was referring to.  I said of course and then he reminded me of last year.  He had felt bad this entire time and I didn't even remember it!  I told him I hope you haven't been worrying or feeling bad about this all year because I didn't even remember that you didn't get me a present.  I was just happy to give you something you needed and save money.  Truly I didn't even think of it as a present because it was something that he needed and was going to have to buy anyway.  Most of the time what has us stressed isn't even something that bothers anyone else. 

2) expectations- Many of us either have expectations about what Christmas should look like or what we THINK others expect it to look like.  I have had a big ah ha moment this year!  My husband and I have shared some very stressful holidays because we have different expectations.  Why I didn't realize this years ago I cannot tell you except that I was running around trying to meet everyone's expectations of me and didn't have time to stop and think about anything!! For some reason my husband likes to be VERY involved in every aspect of the holiday (except clean up; he does it but would be okay if I didn't need him to! LOL) I finally after 26 + years of marriage asked my husband what he would like to do for specific holidays and what a great holiday would include.  I ask him prior to purchasing food and inviting everyone.  We discussed what made it stressful for me and what made him frustrated.  Then we planned what would make it successful for both of us and made a plan for what each of us would be in charge of and how we would work together to make it good for both of us.  What we found was that we had the best Thanksgiving we had ever shared.  Neither of us was stressed and we didn't want to kill each other at the end of the day.  That is success for us!!  If you can communicate with others that you will be spending the holiday with and ask what each person would like to have happen then you can plan so that all expectations are met and no one is unhappy or disappointed.

3) maturity- This is a big issue and I am guilty myself.  A sign of real maturity is when you can think of the other person and not your own selfish attitude.  Every family has the person that the entire holiday (and most days of the year) has to revolve around.  Many times those closest to you like to display your "dirt" and family knows each others hot buttons to really get the ball rolling down hill.  I challenge you this year to ignore the negativity and walk away or redirect the topic to something positive.  Maybe play a game...lets see who can genuinely find the good in situations today or go around the table and say something nice about someone (the same person can't be picked twice) or draw names from a hat or bowl and that's the person you have to say something nice about so everyone hears one positive!  Many times our habit in families is to find fault but when we start looking for the good our entire attitude changes and the climate in the room changes too!  Try to be the bigger person this year and see how good it makes you feel.

Where were you last year at this time emotionally?  How are your choices effecting your holiday?  What can you do to make a difference this year?  One thing I am learning with age is that I can't change anyone else or control someone else.  The ONLY person I have control over is me!  I can buy in to the drama and negativity or I can ignore it, walk away, or try to turn it into a positive.  The choice is mine. 
I pray your holiday is everything you want it to be. 

God Bless,
Nena

Losing weight over 50

Many times I have heard "Women can't lose weight after they turn 50" or It's very hard and slow going.  I am here to tell you that it is possible and it isn't hard if you have the correct system in place.  I lost 100 pounds in 8 months after I turned 50 AND I continued to lose 134 pounds in 13 months.  I am now the smallest I have been in my adult life.  I went from a size 22/24 to a size 2.  I have so much amazing energy!  I truly love and enjoy my life now and feel like I am living instead of just existing.  I am so energetic and positive and definitely don't feel 50!  Many people tell me I don't look that old either but I am!! LOL  So if you're telling yourself you can't do it because your menopausal or your too old or your time has passed...STOP because I am living proof it can be done and it can be done in a relatively short period of time.  I'm not special or different in that respect.  If I can do it YOU CAN DO IT!! If you have any questions of would like any free coaching or support please contact me or leave a comment on this blog and I will be glad to share my experience with you or help you in any way I can.  One thing I did do before I began was to pray to God and surrender to Him and now I want to praise HIM and let my journey and my life by a Blessing to others.
God Bless,
Nena

Is 2014 Going to be YOUR year?

Are you tired? Unhealthy? overweight? stressed? ????
What have you been putting off?  Now is the time to start planning to make a change in your life.  I know the New Year means a new beginning and many people make New Year's Resolutions.  Making them and sticking to them are two very different stories.  I would like to ask you a question...food for thought.  Where are you going to be in one year if you don't make any changes in your life?  Where do you want to be in one year from now?  One thing is certain (if you're lucky) YOU WILL BE ONE YEAR OLDER!  That will not change.  Now do you want to be one year older and in your current position or are there some things you would love to change? A little over a year ago I was 134 pounds heavier, very tired, stressed to the max, unhealthy and miserable.  I made some small changes in the beginning and then as I learned and had small successes I made more changes until I was very successful.  It is my desire to help others too!  I NEVER thought I would be successful...I thought that only happens to other people.  My metabolism is too slow, I'm at that age where you can't lose weight, my life is just too busy, I have family issues, and on and on.  But I found with the proper system in place and great FREE coaching I was able to overcome every excuse I could think of and be successful!! 

Think about what you want!  Know it is possible and you can be SUCCESSFUL! I would love to help you.  We are starting a Rock Your Resolution on January 6th and the coaching, support, videos, conference calls are all FREE!  Yes that is correct FREE.  Go to this link www.RockYourResolution.com  Click on Register then Click on my name Nena Holt and register for free.  There are many amazing success stories for you to view.  You will be given all the support and help you need to be successful this time.  You can also leave me a comment on this blog and I will contact you to help in any way I can.  Remember YOU ARE WORTH IT!

God Bless,
Nena

www.getoffthescale.com
You may read my story and see my before and after pictures too!

Are you already in Christmas stress mode?

This week I was ill which always sets me back and leaves me feeling a little anxious.  I have planned, shopped, and been working on getting things ready for Christmas for a while now because I wanted to avoid the last minute rush of getting things done.  I really want to enjoy my family and friends and not be the stressed out, ticking time bomb I have been in years past.  You know the one that eventually snaps at the first person that says something innocent to me that questions my ability to do something correctly; probably my poor unsuspecting husband! Something awful like "Do you think the gravy needs more salt?" And I snap back "Well if you don't like the way I cook perhaps you should do it yourself, you know I was up all night while you slept getting this meal ready, perhaps if you would have stayed up and helped everything would be perfect!" As he stands there dumbfounded for asking a simple question.
I also have found in my weight loss journey that the more prepared I am ahead of time the less stress I feel and the less I am tempted to "grab" the first thing in sight to eat; which is usually something that isn't good for me.  So I started thinking about how to reduce all the stress during the holidays and what I needed to do to enjoy the holidays and I think the secret, for me at least, is less IS more! Yes that's right. Slow down, don't say yes to everything.
1.  PLAN first.  Decide what you want to do...what's most important?  If this didn't happen it would
     have a lasting effect on your holiday.  Put everything on a list and prioritize by importance.
2.  Prepare ahead as much as possible.  I wrap my present as I purchase them (no not at the store!).
     As soon as I get home I wrap what I have purchased and put a name tag on it.  I can go back later
     and put bows, ribbons, etc. on if I don't have time but at least it's wrapped and I know who it's for.
3.  If you're preparing the meal at your home make your shopping list ahead of time and purchase
     things a little at a time a few weeks in advance so you don't have a huge shopping trip or a huge
     bill all at once.  Also consider letting others contribute to the meal by bringing something.  I used
     to do everything and it was very expensive and a lot of work.  Yes I could control what we had
     and make sure it was to my taste but it put a lot of pressure on me and didn't allow others to feel
     needed and appreciated or allow them to provide dishes that perhaps were important to them and
     their holiday traditions. 
4.  Ask others for ideas and help along the way.  NO it won't make you look inept; it will make you
     look like you care about others and their ideas.  It will relieve a lot of stress and make them feel
     like you value them.
5.  Ask yourself...what on my list can I do today?  Do one or two things each day and check them off
     the list.  It makes you feel a sense of accomplishment and you have so much done that there aren't
     that many last minute items left to do and you can enjoy your time with family and friends.

I'm sure there are many of you saying "DUH" right about now but you are not the stressed out messes I usually am!! LOL  Some of us are slow learners because we are so busy stressing that we didn't think about planning ahead.  So PLEASE if anyone has any great advice about what works for them PLEASE SHARE.  Comment on the post and help the rest of us!  Merry Christmas to all of you and remember this is suppose to be a celebration of Jesus' birth not a commercialization our advertising industry and retailers would want you to believe!!  Jesus would be very happy if we just got together with family and friends and shared a meal and loved one another!
God Bless,
Nena

Slow to anger, slow to speak, quick to listen

Wow, Thanksgiving came and went very quickly and I cannot believe there are only 22 more days until Christmas!!  My daughter talked me into going Black Friday shopping on Thursday evening...yes that's right our great retailers have moved black Friday up to Thursday but that's another story.  We were at Wal-Mart for the iPad mini deal and I was standing in line and a lady got mad at me for standing there, where Wal-Mart had stationed the line and she kept knocking into me with her cart.  I turned around and said ma'am I'm in line here and cannot move.  She became irate and started taking her anger out on me because she couldn't move as quickly as she would have liked.  I turned to her and said "Merry Christmas and God Bless You".  Then I turned back around while she fumed and finally got away from me.  The people who were around me in line could not believe it nor could I.  I don't think you need to be mean to people ever but I especially think that shopping on Black Friday requires a lot of patience.  This time of year should be joyful and a celebration of our Savior; that is the reason for Christmas and if we have to fight each other to get what we want then there is something terribly wrong!!  I found the verse James 1:19-20 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires (NIV).  I have been trying to work on the listening part.  I am finding that being a good listener requires much concentration and work.  I am also finding that it is the key to good communication.  I hope as we draw closer to Christmas you will think about this verse and how it can help with the people you encounter.  Even if they are angry we have a choice to not escalate the situation and perhaps even turn it around to something positive.
God Bless,
Nena