To Mary Jane and Angel!

SO EXCITED for BOTH OF YOU!!!!! We are all starting to be on a ROLL...What we need to do...is have BEFORE and AFTER pictures...when we are finally done...

There was a time...I was going to take..a picture after the loss of every 10 pounds...(smile)

Just wanted to tell you both...I am VERY HAPPY for the progress you both are making...I KNOW how hard it is to lose weight...so I can't help but REJOICE in your PROGRESS! (smile)

Happy "60th" Birthday!

Have I really lived 6 decades? Even at this age, I found that I can still jump on a trampoline...play baseball...and keep up with 4 little ones for 4 days! (smile)

I have come to KNOW...the VALUE of GREAT HEALTH...and no longer take it fore-granted. One must EARN and MAINTAIN good health by eating CORRECTLY and staying ACTIVE...physically...

I am very conscience of what I put into this sacred and God-given gift...my body...I have come to KNOW that the "Word of Wisdom" is our gift from Father...to let us KNOW HOW to take care of this physical "temple"...and am SO GRATEFUL to know that there is REVEALED doctrine on the subject.

I find I get little jabs at the way I am choosing to eat...Don't get me wrong...I still look at the things I have LOVED over the years...but, I weigh very carefully, now...if it is worth giving in to eating foods I know will break my body down...Once in a while, I suppose during a CELEBRATION of some sort...having some scrumptious dessert...would be OK...but, again, I weigh out these situations...and let the spirit guide...for I have come to, also, know...from a missionary experience...that HONORING a gift of the heart...of something made for you...particularly...may be more important to receive...than offend the individual giver...Again, the SPIRIT will guide in circumstances like that...

I got up this morning...to celebrate 30.6 pounds loss...and am, again, GRATEFUL...for KNOWLEDGE that is helping me...to conquer the "flesh"... 

Stamp out the White

I did it!!!!! 4-mile workout!

I felt I needed to post my experience this morning... I don't know if any of you have ever experienced this or not...In all my years of athletics...or exercise...I have never had this "emotion" flood over me...for "myself"...

Maybe, it is because I am approaching "60" years...but, when I finished the entire "4" mile workout this morning...I had this STRONG EMOTIONAL feeling come over me...even to the point of "tears"... I have never had such an experience before...in achieving anything like this....EVER...

I get "emotional" when I see an athlete accomplish a feat...always have...but, it was ALWAYS SOMEONE ELSE I would get "tear-y-eyed"...Never understood it, but it is true...

But, today, it was for myself...I DID IT!!! I DID IT!!! With God's help, we can "do ANYTHING"!!! (smile)

Added "Exercise" to my New Lifestyle Change

Yesterday, I decided that I would ADD EXERCISE to my new "Lifestyle" change...After seeing a couple of pictures that Abraham took of me at Glacier National Park...I thought...LOSING WEIGHT is NOT ENOUGH...I need to TONE up and STRENGTHEN my muscles...if I am going to continue to "serve" in this life...I KNOW how much STRENGTH is needed in many areas of service...and being NOT FIT...slows me down...

So, I began my "Walk Slim" with Leslie Sansone. I LOVE this "walk fast" program...I did ONE mile, yesterday.  Today, I did the TWO mile program...Tomorrow, I will do the THREE mile set....and hopefully, will be able to handle the 4 mile....

After doing TWO miles, today...I was sweating...and could FEEL my muscles...but, I am determined...to go THREE tomorrow...I have ALWAYS PUSHED myself...May be madness, since I am coming up on "60"...and no longer in a "20 year old" body...but, my SPIRIT is still the same...consequently...I PUSH...

My friend, Mary Jane (missionary companion) told me about this program...Diet Power...NO it is NOT a DIET...but a program that keeps track of everything I eat...sets up how many calories I need to take each day...to reach my goal...my water intake...whether I am eating HEALTHY or not...I can ADD foods that are not on the list, etc.  Plus, when I work out...it calculates all that as well...

It is working for me as well...cause by the end of the day...I know exactly how many calories I have left...which often is the downer...cause often that is when it is the "bigger" meal...when in reality...it should be our LOWEST in calories...

Hope you are all doing well...in your goals...

My Lifestyle Change

For all those who want to know....I am doing a very dramatic change. I have cut
out SUGAR completely (for now)...which includes store bought bread. I
have also cut out bread but not completely. I will only allow
myself...in the future... maybe once a week for my homemade
bread...which consists of wheat flour, honey, applesauce and olive oil
instead of white flour, sugar, eggs, and butter....but at the moment I
have cut all bread out too. I have hardly any dairy...one reason,
Lillie is allergic to COW projects and the other reason is that I
don't really need it. So, I don't eat cheese...I have cut down on
butter to maybe once a week...maybe a glass of milk every now and
then. I am still deciding if I am going to become a vegetarian or just
cut out pork and beef...sniff sniff...I love beef. Still thinking
about it...If all else I will have chicken mainly and once in a while
have some beef but I am cutting out pork completely. I am also cutting
out pasta for the most part..once in a while I will have some. As for
rice, I am going to brown rice even though white rice tastes SO MUCH
BETTER. :) I am staying away from popcorn too...even though I love oil
popped..but that is very fattening...so I will have some once in a
while. For my protein I am going to be eating beans instead of meat.
And then I am exercising...Monday thru Friday and on Saturdays, Jared
wants to go hiking every week as a family unless something comes up..
SO I am really only eating FRUITS and VEGGIES. I eat more veggies at
the moment till I can get a balance of the two and make sure I am
getting all my servings of vegetables a day. This past week I have only
eaten fruits and vegetables and today was my milk day...but I only had
2 small glasses. I have only been drinking a ton of WATER. I will be
bring in juice...as long as it doesn't have sugar or added
sweetener....I am thinking of making my own juices. So for me...this
is my dramatic change. Sure there will be an occasion or two that I
will not follow this exactly but this is what my lifestyle will be
looking like.

I know this is going to be hard...even now because of all the food I
make Nathan that is not on my menu..especially when it comes to bread
and pasta....but I know it will be well worth it and I will be heather
for it. And Lillie will be getting better leftovers. :D

Hope this helps
Love Angel

Though it has been quiet....

Though our little blog has been on the QUIET side...Angel just posted a LOSS...Garvin is slowing down in the rapid weight loss...and I am...still...going back and forth...but, still working at LOWERING my situation...

My goal for this month...is to lose enough weight to settle into the 140's by the end of the month...I probably will stay in that range for awhile...but, I need to get there first...(smile)

NO COMPLAINTS...I am thrilled that I have lost the initial EXTRA I put on when we were in transition those first 6 months in Montana...

Angel...YOU GO GIRL!!! You have INSPIRED me to keep moving FORWARD!!! (smile)

I know ABE has really made GREAT progress in reducing his FAT content...but, I don't have the figures in front of me...GO ABE!!!

Hyrum has been working out...using Abe's program...

GO SMITH FAMILY!!!!!