If you’re intent on saving yourself, then make a PUBLIC PROCLAMATION to do so!! -Sean Patrick Flanery
I’m blown away daily at how many people have decided to re-claim their health… and lives. Every single day I receive numerous messages on Twitter from people that have truly made significant changes in their lives for the better. People that have already lost sixty to even one hundred pounds!! I’m completely blown away. SO, I’d like to compile a list of all the people that have already made changes, are in the process of change, AND those that are about to start. Yes, I’d like to keep tabs on all of you.
Keep your promises safe and solid by testifying to the world that you will SHINE… until tomorrow!! -Sean Patrick Flanery
Promises are like babies, they are easy to make, and hard to deliver
It’s easy to cheat yourself, but it’s very difficult to cheat your friends. SO, I’d like all of those ready to re-claim their lives and health to go to the comments section below and tell their story in its entirety. If you’ve made a change, then tell us how big the change was and how long it took. If you’re ABOUT to change, then proclaim right here just exactly what you WILL accomplish, and WHEN it will be accomplished. Yes, I want you to proclaim it publicly, and promise us all… as well as yourself.
“HALF THE PROMISES PEOPLE SAY WERE NEVER KEPT, WERE NEVER MADE” -EDGAR WATSON HOWE
Whether it’s losing weight, eating a healthier diet, quitting smoking, or just living more consistently with your convictions, state it below and be specific. But first, walk down to your bathroom and look in the mirror and promise yourself that you won’t lie to me. After all, we’re friends, and friends don’t lie to each other.

The new rules of your resolve: make them public. -Sean Patrick Flanery
I’ll go first… again. I promise to continue to cut Reese’s peanut butter cups out of my diet entirely, as well as reduce my sweets and/or desert intake by 80% for an additional year. I also promise to continue my consumption of at least one vegetable smoothie per day for a full year. That means raw cale, carrot or spinach. What was once “NASTY” is now quite nice!!

Let’s change this crap right NOW!! -Sean Patrick Flanery
Why a list? Because a goal isn’t a goal until it is documented and given a time frame. A goal isn’t a goal until there is an understood path and recipe for achieving. A goal isn’t a goal until it is publicly proclaimed, so that others can hold you accountable. A goal isn’t a goal until you RESOLVE to accomplish… not “want”, but RESOLVE. Otherwise, it’s just a lazy 3rd tier “want”.
If you really resolve to make a change, then start right now. Let’s separate the talkers from the doers. So let’s hear it. Say publicly exactly what you will accomplish, and don’t forget to include a deadline. Then, sign/type your real name. Promise yourself and everyone listening and reading. Show people that you love yourself, by taking care of yourself. And stop expecting other people to treat you better than you treat yourself. If you want it, there it is… go and get it. Change your life forever, and join me in changing mine.
Okay, new year’s eve is NEVER the time to lose friends because of a bit of tough love, but here goes.
For everyone that has an obesity problem or is overweight, make a decision right NOW to unidirectionally work towards a healthier YOU. And STOP with the “I want someone who will love me just for me” crap! When you go down the hall and stare in the mirror, that IS who you are. AND, if you’ve bludgeoned your body with too many unhealthy foods and not enough exercise, then it will surely show up staring you right in the eyes. Your physical body will speak volumes to others about the level of care you’ve allotted to your own person, and the level of care that you’re capable of. If you don’t love yourself enough to prioritize your own health, and you end up treating your own body like crap, don’t expect anyone else to do any differently. After all, you’ve got more skin in this game than ANYONE.
BUT, I will have you know that I will not give up on you… hate me or not, I’m not going anywhere.
On this day, right here, right now, make it an ethical issue as to whether or not you take care of the SOLE vessel that was given to you to take you through life.
Let’s have our 2013 make our 2012 seem like we must’ve been slacking.
“Whether you believe you can, or believe you can’t… you’re right.” -Henry Ford
Most people spend more time writing out a grocery list than they do planning out the most important aspects of their lives that they desperately want to achieve. And at the end of the day, how important is it REALLY… if you forget the Velveeta?
Happy New Year everybody, God bless, and SHINE… until tomorrow!!!!
-Sean Patrick Flanery
I promise to lost weight, at least 20 pounds within 6 months of the new year. I promise to eat healthier and cut out my sweet intake by 75% this year. I promise to be a better family member more than I already am this year. I promise to work on a set career and make my life my own this year.
Ok where to begin. Well, I am sick. Many different ailments, which has now prevented me from holding down a job. I have liver disease, bladder disease, muscles spasms that run through my entire body, constantly and have torn tendons, caused straightening of the spine, pinched nerves, caused me to fall because it has taken the feeling away in my legs, tremors, also I ended up with a tumor in my clavicle, which my lovely hospital blew off for months. It ended up fracturing my clavicle and eating away at the bone. I should have sued, but it wasn’t going to change the fact I now have langerhans cells now floating around in me permanently, and this could be a repeat event. Plates and screws and bone filler took care of this one incident. On top of severe arthritis, and there is more, but I’m sure other people have it way worse than I do, and I’m at the point where everytime I go to the doctors I swear there is something else. But it’s not surprising. So I don’t bore anyone any further, I have made several changes throughout these past 8 years, when it all began. I haven’t drank pop in 4 years, no real alcohol since 2007, not a lot of breads for 5 years, not a big meat eater, and certain fruits and veggies. Love fish and chicken. I’ve made some drastic changes, but I’ve only lost 80lb, I need to lose another 80+. I exercise in a light fashion, walking and whatever I can, but it seems like I’m stuck. It’s depressing. I’ve also been in therapy since I was 14. For a truly traumatic event that happened in my life and a few more that has happened along the way. I don’t have a very strong support network. I have my son. The men that were in my life were somewhat long term but I picked the ones that I thought I could save, and in turn I list another piece of me. Whether it was physically, mentally, emotionally, or all three, which were usually all three. I just want a piece of me back something. Help….2014 has to put on a path to recover just some of me….
I don’t know what I can do to help. But I’m willing to be an ear if you need to chat. One thing I have learned is that things always get better. You can help them get that way. Surround yourself with positive people and keep thinking and knowing that you will get through this and be better and stronger than ever! If you want to reach out. I’m on Facebook as Maggie McGhee Interpreter(that’s my name not my occupation) an I’m on twitter as M_Interpreter. Please reach out if you need too.
I love how your a straight shooter, you tell it like is and I love that. Your an inspiration to me. I have already started making changes in my life, one I went back to college and worked my ass off while going to my classes and worked my ass off in my classes and ended up graduating with honors and with a 4.0 GPA…It was hard work and stressful but I wouldn’t change nothing in the world for it. I did it when others were telling me I couldn’t. Its my degree and no body can take it away from me!!! Second, I have already lost 28 pounds and I have 15 more to go….I have never made excuses for my weight I always knew it was me…I used to not even look at myself in the morror I didn’t like what was there, but now I love myself and I feel comfortable in my own skin…So in return I can truley love others. Sean thanks so much for sharing your stories and life with us you will never know how much it helps people. Hope that I can meet you one day so I can tell you in person, THANKS….Shine Until Tomorrow
So I have 2 changes, 1 is to cut out snacking on junk while watching tv at night. next week I will go every other night and then by end of January be done with it and 2 is to do one thing a month out of my comfort zone, not sure what January’s is yet though, think it might be volunteering for a day.
Okay, here’s mine, and it’s my only real “resolution” this year. I’m pretty good with goals, I set them throughout the year and meet them pretty easily. But this one just occurred to me and I think, as I move toward making this more a part of my routine every single day, it’s going to have a profound effect that will trickle into every aspect of my life – health, relationships, career, etc. It’s pretty simple:
This year I resolve to change my basic mindset so that when I catch myself in any given moment, I am almost always in a state of gratefulness about either my life in general or the situation I am in specifically. I resolve to look for things that are going well rather than things I need to work on. That’s not to say I don’t seek or take actions to improve myself…I do that ALL the time. This is just so I remember to constantly be on the lookout for the good. Both in things I have accomplished and things I am graced with.
What I’m doing to develop this is pretty simple. Every evening before I go to sleep I am writing down five things I’m grateful for, and taking some time to think about them as I drift off.
Happy New Year to you and yours, Sean.
Wonderful!!!
I am making a public commitment to myself that I will no longer make allowances for my poor decision making. I am taking my health seriously and I am actively setting out to lose weight and to tone up. I am cutting fast food out of my diet by 80% and I am cutting sugary soda out of my diet by 90%. I am cutting self harm out of my life by 100%. I will eat a healthier diet and drink at least 64 oz of water every day. I will stick to these resolutions and prove to myself and to others that I care more about myself than I did throughout 2012. I will always remember to SHINE…until tomorrow!!!
Your words are so inspiring. . Thank you for putting for putting foot to ass.
In the past year I added salad to my diet. Yes, before if it was green I would not eat it. AT. ALL. I vow to continue to add more healthy foods to the list of foods I eat. I vow to cut my sweet tea addiction in half (this will be difficult) And I’ve already told myself I WILL be 25 pounds lighter by June.
Nikki Griesmer
Sean and all Twempirians
This is my story…
Last Masrch I started following Sean on Twitter he immediately helped me changed my life. I under his watchful twitter eye have pushed myself betond the limits. I started eating better and excercising as best I can as I have back problems. Since last March with Seans encouragement and the help and love of my kids I have lost 50 pounds which brought me from 300 to a current 250 I started the website and twitter Twempirians Unite in dedication to Sean and his huge heart and helped him help even more fans we are a family after all. I was very excited to meet sean in August in toronto and knowing how much he hates cigatette smoke I decided to stop smoking for a few days before I met him so he would smell it and have never had another smoke since! Sean and I have disagreed on a few things in the past months and I have let my point of view be known and he as he said in the blog is still there . No matter wether I agree with his methods or not they work and he is always there to help and that’s what I admire about him (he’s always very easy on the eyes lol) my new years goal is to stop drinking diet pepsi and lose at least another 50 pounds before August!
I love you sean xx
Thank you for saving my life.
Breesie McCrudden
In 2013 I resolve to:
1. Find a Job
2. Live In the Now
3. Let go of Anger, Sadness and Depression
4. Embrace Love, Patience, Kindness,and Faith
5. Continue going to the Gym
6. Amp up my workout
7. Reduce my sweet/chocolate/desert intake by 60%
8, Continue to Lose Weight/Lose More Weight
9. Learn/Apply Healthier Eating Habits.
I resolve to do all this by December 31, 2013!!!!!
Suzanne McKa December 31, 2012
And this is why I adore you and your blog- you make us all accountable and don’t let us blame anyone else 🙂 I did this very thing today on FB and here’s my plan for the year…
1. I have a total of 78 lbs to lose to hit my goal weight. To hit this by 1 June 2013, I need to lose 3 lbs a week.
2. To achieve Goal #1, my diet must be completely revamped. The focus for this will be ovo-lacto-vegetarianism, with lowfat dairy choices. More fruits and veggies, less meat.
3. I’m not crazy enough to think that I’m an herbivore. I can have one cheat meal a week, and yes, this can include meat. The obvious idea is think about what I’m eating.
4. Weight loss demands exercise. My weekly schedule will be 6 days of exercise, with a rest day on Sunday to prepare for the work week.
5. Every three months I will do a timed 5k. This doesn’t have to be an organized event- it can be as simple as running the neighborhood.
6. Weigh-ins are daily and charted, with measurements taken every Sunday.
7. I have a digital food scale that will be put to use. Every Sunday my meals will be prepared so there is no excuse during the week. This includes snacks as well as meals.
8. I will follow a hobbit’s meal schedule: 1st Breakfast, 2nd Breakfast, Elevensies, Luncheon, Tea, Dinner, and Supper. Meals will be kept around 200 calories, give or take, for a total of 1400 calories per day.
9. Juice and milk are acceptable during meals, but during the day I am to only have water. No drinking my calories. This includes giving up on Monsters, Amps, and other energy drinks. One cup of coffee a day, in the morning, is also acceptable.
10. I must remember that I am far from perfect. I will go through off days while other days will be amazing, especially in the beginning. No matter how many times I fall off the horse, however, I have to stand up, dust off, and put it behind me while getting back on track.
If it’s written down, I have to do it, right?
It’s already 8:20 am of January 1st here so, Happy New Year Mr. Flanery!
My friends and I have already set a time table for our “project” because THIS: “the metrics for humanity are that only 5% of us will actively & persistently set out to build our dreams. The remaining 95% will be hired by the other 5%… to help them build theirs.” is always on my mind. Can’t let it happen to me…or my friends.
You speak wisdom and truth and I hope you continue to motivate people because it’s certainly working on me.
I’ll let you know how the “project” turns out. It should come to life by October 2013.
Thank you and Happy New Year again!
My story, in a nutshell: I’ve been slightly overweight my entire life and had a dad who was into body building, martial arts and extreme sports, but had a mom(who was primary in my life as my dad was navy and gone a lot) who was very overweight and did not give my sisters and I good example of healthy eating or lifestyle. She had her first heart attack at 38, quad bypass at 45 and cont to be heavy and not exercise. I’m a physical therapist’s asst so I know the importance of healthy living and the difference it makes in longevity.
March 2011, 7mo after I had my 3rd baby, I realized I was only 7 yrs from the age when my mom had her heart attack. I lost 30 lbs over the year with weight watchers, but quit cause of money and have gained 13 back. I just went and had a physical 3 weeks ago and had to be put on high blood pressure meds. I was so upset with myself but realized I put myself here. That same day, I came across your blog and read the metrics of humanity. I was so inspired that I decided to make a serious change. I have 3 kids and work close to full time, so my time is limited, but I realized that if something happens to me these kids will be the ones suffering. So MOMMY has to take care of herself at some point too! I joined the gym and have been going 3-4 days the last 3 weeks. I know it’s not going to come easy but I think about that blog entry when I’m busting my ass at the gym to keep myself going. My next quest, if the money will allow, is to hopefully get my son, myself and my husband enrolled at a local martial arts academy that teaches BJJ.
My goals: To lose another 30lbs, run my first 5K and become a BJJ student within the 2013 year!
I pray I can keep this promise to myself and all those who I’m proclaiming this to.
God Bless,
Raina Bolander:)
Just want to again say thank you for your inspiration. I am down 75lbs w/ 20 left to go..I feel great. Changed the way i eat completely. no more breads and pastas or soda. Its amazing how much better you feel when you dont eat all thay garbage food and work out regulary. Again Thank you and hope you have a great new year!!
My goal is to be 140 pounds or less and at least be *close* to moving up in rank in Taekwondo by March 20–first day of spring (unless the almanac lied!). New everything, new me in full blossom. And stay that way. Not to give my genetic makeup (asthma, high blood pressure, and other weight-related maladies) even AN INCH to beat me over the head.
I’m not going to let my natural timidity get the better of me and kill the opportunities that I could reach out and take. Not anymore. I’m done. Feet, don’t fail me now.
Sincerely,
Beth Shepherd.
Remember the name.
Wonderful blog as always, Sean. I’ve already made some changes, and while they really aren’t anything too terribly drastic, they are simply things that I need to do. Firstly, I have already made changes to my diet. I need to eat healthier, because it’s really only me being lazy when I don’t. Which comes to the next thing…I tend to always pack on 10 to 15 pounds in the back half of the year, every year. I generally take off most of it in the early part of the new year, but not only have I been slacking with that, but also, WTF is the point of losing it early on only to regain it all again after Labor Day? Yea. Facepalm, me. So this time it’s coming off and staying off. It’s not a huge amount of weight, I know, and may seem to some like just being nit-picky or “oh you look fine, you’re tall”. Well, I’m not getting any younger and on my frame I’m not trying to weigh 120 pounds. My goal is realistic and puts me in a weight range that makes me comfortable with being me. This is something I can do in a healthy way by early March at the very latest. It really shouldn’t even take that long.
In line with that, I had an injury in the latter half of this year that had kept me on the bench for quite some time. Yes, I’m still sore, I need to wear a brace on my ankle when I exercise and when it’s cold my foot aches like hell. But, I realized something, and my Kwan Ja Nim is the reason why. I’ve been practicing Tang Soo Do for a good long time now, though I came to it as an adult and I was never athletic a day in my life before I walked in the door. So after all this time, I had an injury (not related to class), and I was allowing myself to get depressed, to backslide and to use my injury as an excuse. I was due for rank testing, I was worried and let’s face it, it’s winter, it’s the holidays and I was wanting to be bundled up on my sofa. He helped me get my act together and get off my ass. He had faith in me when I really didn’t have that much in myself.
So, while my work schedule doesn’t allow me to attend classes daily, pre-injury I was taking classes at least 3 days a week. And though I do need to be careful, the reality is that as it stands right now, there is no reason I can’t go back to taking at least 3 classes a week. I’m a long way from my black belt, but it’s not going to earn itself while I sit home eating potato chips.
It may not seem like much, but these are the things I am doing for me in 2013.
– Erin M. Bradley
Alright so I am 3 months smoke-free so that is not my resolution. Unfortunately I have gained about 7 lbs since I’ve quit, which doesn’t seem too bad except when I could have afforded to lose 10 lbs before I gained that weight. I am fairly athletic, I have insanely strong legs and they are more muscley than I would like from years of playing hockey and figure skating.
So my goal is to lose 20 lbs (or look like I have) and I will achieve this by getting the discipline to get into a fitness routine, and I will start by beginning P90x (6 workouts per week) after 3 months of that I plan to add running 3 x per week in the mix.
I also plan to cook more and cook healthier meals and reduce my red meat intake. I will also seek out new healthy recipes to keep me motivated to continue eating healthy.
To Flanery & the world, this is my story. Recently I lost 30lbs . I didn’t lose it to please others I simply wanted to feel good about myself and be healthy. I’ve kept the weight off for almost a year which for me personally has been very hard. My husband and I are trying to get pregnant and I have PCOS. So naturally the weight does not want to stay away. This year my resolution is to do everything I possibly can to have a baby and try to find the happiness in life again. I want to smile everyday and live in the moment. The difficulties I’ve faced this year with family lose and having the issues with not being able to get pregnant have really taken a toll on who I am. So this year I’m going to take my life back. Flanery you are truly a hero and even on my worse day somehow something you do makes me smile. Thanks. Love you Flan Man! <3 Heather Stephany Solis
ok, here is my story. Back in May , I decided to stop blaming my weight gain on a bad breakup 4 years ago and accept it that my laziness and bad eating habits were to blame.What is worse is that I wasn’t always out of shape. I knew I could do it, so I did. I cut out all the foods that were unhealthy. Started walking everyday (from one mile to 7 as of today) and completely changed my lifestyle. This is NOT a diet. I lost almost 50lbs and I am sure several inches. I am fitting in clothes I have not worn since 94. My goal is to be back at a healthy weight again for my small frame (I’m only 5 ft tall) by my birthday in April. This is a new lifestyle change . There is no going back. I feel better, I look better and I don’t miss a thing about the “old” me. Thank you ,Sean, for all your encouragement to all of us that struggle every day. It’s greatly appreciated.
Wow Lisa, I had no idea! That’s awesome. I lost 40lbs myself last year. You’re so right to say its not a diet, it’s a lifestyle change. It’s the same for me. To me the word “diet” screams “failure” but changing your lifestyle in a permanent way shouts out “Succeed”! If you EVER need a pep talk, I’m here for you.
And Thank You for pointing out some really great authors to me, reading de-stresses me and gives me some time to myself which I (we all) desperately need. <3
Hi Sean.
You may have seen some of my experience through Twitter. In fact I know you have because you’ve responded more times than I can count. I want to say thank you for that.
I think my life started to spiral out of control when I turned 13. I think that was the toughest year in my life. My dad left and my mom had more or less left my brother and I on our own.
My high school years were pretty average. Friends bullies good teachers, bad teachers yada.
I picked up smoking at 16. I wish I could blame it on anybody but myself. But I can’t.
My weight started increasing around this time. I didn’t really care. Why would I? No one told me different and I sure didn’t know enough about this sort of thing.
A bunch of hard obstacles popped up in my life through the years and I ended up moving to Alabama to be closer to my father. In the beginning of February 2012 I watched the Boondock Saints (and I admit I did it with resistance I didn’t see the big deal with this movie) I didn’t think much of it afterwards except “Hey that wasn’t too bad” and went on with my life. I mentioned I watched it to a friend of mine and we watched the second one. I was engrossed with it now. The acting was phenomenal, the plot was amazing, and I decided to check out the actors behind they characters they played.
Then I discovered you.
I followed you on twitter and saw how well you interacted with everyone. So I figured maybe little old me would get noticed. Well to my surprise I did, even if was only for a second.
At first I rejected your advice, thinking it was too harsh.
I was so wrong and I’m sorry for not realizing it sooner.
Ever since I’ve taken back control over my life and have dropped 40 pounds, sitting at a nice 120 that I’m happy with. I quit smoking. It’s only been a few days but I already feel better (and can breath better!)
So thank you Sean, I truly mean it. No one I know personally has even TRIED to help me. But thanks to you, someone who I’ve never met, has meant more to me than anything. I realized that if a total stranger, someone who can do whatever they want with their time but decides to help people instead, cares about my health, than I should too.
I’m really excited for what 2013 brings us and I do hope you keep me in mind, you made it possible for me to be where I’m at today.
-Virginia(@IrishPride0440)
PS. New Years Resolution? Be more optimistic. I’ve been a pessimist far too long. 🙂
I have lost 64 pounds! I’m no longer fat. I was 189 lb at the end of April and am now currently down to 125. I’m not satisfied though so I will lose another 15 pounds and/or increase weight training to look more toned by the end of this April. I don’t want to look skinny. I just want to look and stay feeling healthy. I’ll know when I’m there. I will continue to work out 5 times a week and increase the intensity to obtain the goal as well as keep preparing healthy meals for myself and my family.
I’m still working toward running in the half-marathon in April. I will continue to run every other day to accomplish this. There are other goals, but these are the main goals dealing with my health.
Thanks again for the blogs and the encouragement. I’m wishing you and all of your family a very Blessed and Happy New Year, Sean!
(Sorry for sending those Reese’s cups. I won’t feel bad if you gave them away. 🙂 )
Love Ya,
Diane @lynnwatson13
Thank you, Sean, for again giving us a forum to publicly declare our commitment to change. You were one of the inspirations to spur me to my initial 65 lb weight loss, but I still have a long way to go.
My first public goal is to lose an additional 20 lbs through continued healthy eating and exercise. It’s gotten a lot harder to take off the weight, so I’m aiming for a 1-lb-per-week loss, which would set my goal date to the end of May 2013. I can do this!
Thank you, Sean, for continuing to inspire. You rock. xx
Vicki (@CDNsev)
I got your back Vicki!! I’m giving myself until Comic Con next year to get totally ripped so i have a while but still need the motivation since like I said earlier, I’m doing it by myself here! I’ll be checking in with you on Sunday as well, just want to let you know publicly that i am here for you!!!
I’ve never been the typical girl that has been in really good shape. I’ve had a lot of confidence issues because of that. Though I’m extremely athletic, I have always had a hard time eating healthy. So I’d say I am very muscular, but, still about 14 pounds overweight. When I played sports in high school (volleyball, basketball, softball) things kinda evened out, because I was so active. But, in my first year of college, everything went downhill. I completely neglected my body. I ate whatever I felt like, whenever. I gained about 20 pounds. It wasn’t until I coached a youth basketball team in the spring, that I realized how badly out of shape I was. So, this past summer I made a promise to myself that I’d eat healthier and work out everday. I actually followed through with the promise and lost 30 pounds! But, when my college started up again, I lost focus. The stress of the work got to me, and I started to eat unhealthy again. My workouts remained pretty efficient, but without eating healthy, they were virtually effectless. So, right now, I’m pretty much in the same place I was at the end of the summer. I weigh about 154 pounds. In 2013, I promise: to lose at least 25 more pounds (and not gain it back), ride my exercise bike for at least 8 miles 6 times a week (and every time I watch television), reduce my sugar intake by 60 percent, eat at least two servings of veggies a day, eliminate late night snacks completely, drink more water, and stop spending so much time on the computer/watching T.V. Also, on an unrelated note, I am going to be more open to people and go outside my comfort zone this year. It’s about time that I stop selling myself short, and put my own mark on the world!
Sean, you don’t know how much I appreciate your wisdom and how much you motivate me to change myself! Thanks for giving me the “kick in the butt” I needed. I genuinely love you and all you do for your fans. You always call us friends and that’s actually how you make us feel. I hope you and everyone else who reads this has a wicked cool 2013! God bless you all!
For this coming year my resolutions are to lose 50 pounds and get active.to stop fearing going into the classes that will get me active. There’s a Brazilian jit jitsu class that I turn into a coward everytime I’m about to go in. I have already lost 10 pounds by myself but want to lose more. I’m not doing this for anybody else but me. I have cone a long way for being hooked on prescription meds to almost being homeless to getting my family back. My mother and sister have been through a lot with me from me almost taking my life twice to helping me get out of my depression. Now its time to help my body get better and help it get healthy again. I’m doing this for me not for my mother nor sister. Or Sean just me.
Sara Olivares. Deadline 12/21/2013
God, U R are really cute. Reese’s peanut butter cups?? Never woulda guessed…So, what the hell should I confess to??… K… have 4 kids… 5’8″ 120 lbs…kick boxing/Taebo and really good genes – no weight to lose, if anything, I forget to eat. Way too skinny, do you eat, how do you have a body like that after 4 kids, bla-bla-bla. But, everyone has something, right? I smoke 3 cigarettes a day, and CAN’T stop the 3. I think 3 is ok, but maybe not – you seem to hate smoking. Reedus smokes – do you try to stop him? I had no New Year’s resolutions, but u make me feel guilty. If anything, my goal would be to be a black belt in BJJ or karate. Ever been to Breckenridge, Co??? I live 30 minutes from there at 10,000 feet. No teachers here. Keep waiting. Con Express is on – gotta go- Shelley (Stay away from Reese’s…you can do it…)
I’ve been overweight for more than half my life. I’ve never fought hard enough to get myself to where I really want to be, and it’s been killing me. I hate not being able to be strong enough to keep up with the people I care about, and I hate looking at myself and knowing that there’s something better underneath. About two years ago, I began my gender transition from female to male, and the only way I can be complete as my true self is to undergo certain surgeries. I need to be fit and healthy in order to have the surgeries, and the longer I wait, the less chance I have of a good turnout. So the time is now,I guess. I have an end goal of 100 lbs to lose. Not an easy thing, but there’s no way for me to back out anymore. My life literally depends on this. And I can’t tell you how inspirational you’ve been, so thank you. I’ll be keeping tuned in for your words of wisdom and motivation.
Do it. Don’t look back, and just commit. It’ll suck to lose 100 lbs, but the result will be BLISS in the end.
Dear Sean!!!!
Thanks for taking the time to write today and caring about us; you are a truly beautiful human being. I’ve always done excersice in my life but also have overweight wich caused me so much suffering, so in 2005 i was tired of this so i started a healthier diet, mainly eating less lipids and sugar. Also did more excersise which became the love of my life. With that plan i lost 25 kg. From time to time when i feel like i’m about to go back to my old habits, i think about all the effort i did and promise myself never return to that dark place. Now, due to a silly accident that i had last January i live my life in so much pain that i can’t even walk or sleep well, but i try to do as much excersice as the pain allows me, i don’t want to be fat again. Because of this situation i feel so sad and angry all the time because i can’t do what i love the most, right now i wish so hard the pain goes away you can’t imagine. For now I promise you and myself not to give up trying everyday a little more, i don’t want to lose hope the pain will go away sometime, I promise to keep on my diet and to reduce the amount of sugar i take so i won’t gain weight. Thanks for allow me to do this, and thanks for listening when nobody does. Love you!!
Here we go. I promise two things right here and now. One of which started today. Quit smoking, after 10 years of a HORRIBLE pack a day smoker, I’m done. Number two – in the place of that bad habit I am taking up MMA/Jiu Jitsu. Basically I’m going to kick my bad habits and I am promising to you, like I did myself and my son that I will be living a much healthier life. And in March when I see you at a con here in Nashville, I’ll be proud to say I kept my promise. 🙂
I look forward to it!!
Good Luck Tracey. Who knows maybe I will run into you at the Conn. Hubby and I will be there. I to hope we have good things to tell Sean. Hubby and I are working on weight loss also. And it will be so great to look him in the eyes and say, I lost xx pounds. He is such a great motivational speaker. We need to take life and kick it in the balls. And I am trying. And I know you will kick the smoking habit. Hubby and I are on two years 7 months. Just take it one day at a time. Hope to meet you there. Hugs. Tami
I lost it all… and then gained it back again. I let 2 promotions at work become my excuse for fast food outings, lack of sleep, and generally not caring for myself.
I’m really good at caring for others. But this year I resolve to care for myself. I will get back to my goal weight and STAY there. I will eliminate fast food again.
I will love myself as much as I love my dogs. That’s a lot!
I am about 70 lbs overweight. All baby weight that I never pushed myself to lose. I am resolving to be free of my extra weight by the next Ranger ball in December. I want to be able to buy my dress in the normal section and be proud of myself instead of hiding in the corner, ashamed. I will cut all sweets, and diet soda out of my diet. I will work out for at least an hour everyday. I will get myself in shape to run a 5k by September. I will do this, I want my old self back.
Holy Crap my friend it is a small internet. i have faith in you, you can do it 🙂 I dont think you should ever hid in the corner. you are a beautiful person inside and out!
Here’s mine – cut out fast food, severely limit my sweets, and drop fifty pounds by summer.
Sean you continue to inspire and encourage me to do what I set my mind to do. When you posted your previous “proclamation” blog I owned up and set about actually doing what I always said I was going to do. I started being proactive in what I ate, and exercising daily, even if it was just a walk. I joined up at the local gym that offers BJJ at your encouragement (We met in Columbus Ohio and you graciously talked to me and my stepson for about 20 minutes). I’ve had a few setbacks over the last few months – injuries and sickness that prevented gym days, and family issues that have added unneeded stress. However that is life, and I’m refusing to let the excuses rule my life. I have been thinking lately about how much happier I was when I was younger despite the horrible things that were happening around me. I found solace in the things I enjoyed, art, music, and writing among other things. My resolution is to find my happiness again, to start doing the things that I love and that bring me joy. While doing that I will continue my journey towards a healthier me. I will continue attending the BJJ classes, and I will work on my health at home too. I fully plan to get a treadmill/bike something at home as soon as we know where “home” will be this year. I will not let myself slack as I have in years past. I have managed to lose about 20 pounds so far, and just that was enough for me to realize that I COULD do it. I still have over 100 pounds to lose and I’d love to have that gone this year but I know that it is unlikely. I have to remember to be reasonable with myself and not be discouraged that I don’t lose all the weight within the first few months. By the 6 month mark though I will be down another 25 pounds at least. I think that for now that’s my story, and my proclamation. Thank you again Sean for everything you do, not just for me, but for all of us that you inspire. Much love and Happy New Year! Kristi Lewis (@evadora)
Beautiful!!
I promise to let go of the past. I lost my parents within a short amount of time (mom in 2004 and dad in 2005) both to cancer. Mom was 59 and dad had just turned 64. I sat with each of them for their last breaths and walked alongside them for their journey. I witnessed their hard fight and cringed at the horrific and painful end especially mom had. I have let the inhumanity in their death consume me. I have been trying to convince myself I have learned to remember the lifetime of awesome memories they gave me but that’s just BS. I keep going back to their end rather than cherishing the time I had with them. I have let this change me in a way that I don’t like. I feel like I am absent in my own life. This year I will get myself back and I’m going to drag my kids with me. I promise to drop everything I am doing when my kids ask to go do something. I promise that we will get outside together. We started this adventure over Christmas with sledding. I live 2 blocks away for our high school track and I promise that we will go there at least once a week to either run or walk the track or even just throw a football around. I promise to train with my son for his five mile run this year that he does to raise money for Special Olympics (he is 10 and wants to help those that can’t do as much as he can). I promise that I will not go to the vending machine at work but rather to the water fountain. I promise to not use the elevator at work. I promise to myself and anyone listening that I will be present in my life again and by the time the kids are out of school in May – I WILL be a different person. I promise to get out and moving and stop living in the past. I promise to live my wedding vow I said 23 years ago “I promise to inspire you”. – Cathy Campbell @witha_c
I had to stop by and revisit my proclamation. I really thought this would be easier. Mom’s death anniversary is next week (her birthday just a couple of weeks after that) and it has truly hit me again today. I thought I was doing so good, I have felt great and made changes to keep moving. But today, I miss my friend, my mom. Night has come, everyone is asleep and once again my thoughts are back to her last days of crying with her saying how sorry I am that this is happening to her and I can’t do anything to change it and her saying she is sorry for putting us through it all. She truly loved us all and I think seeing us go through it was worse to her then actually knowing she was dying. It really doesn’t matter it was almost 9 years ago, it’s like it was yesterday. She spent her last month in the hospital and every night I would put the kids to bed and head to the hospital and sit next to her bed until the morning just watching her and talking with her when she woke at night. I know she wouldn’t want me to be consumed by her death but today is a day that I don’t know how I crawl back out of the hole.
Sean,
First of all I have to say that it never ceases to amaze me how eloquent you are with the written word and that all of your blog entries have brought honest to God tears to my eyes!
Thank you so much for writing this blog and “calling us out”, so to speak. I think you have really opened not only my eyes, but the eyes of all who will read this entry.
That being said, here is my promise: I promise to treat myself better.
Let me elaborate…
Due to some shitting things that happened in my childhood, I spent almost all of my teenage years and most of my twenties feeling very insecure and inadequate. I know that there are things about me that make me “me” that I wouldn’t change (I’m very kind, compassionate and have a wicked sense of humor), but I have always felt that there is a hole in the core of me that was carved during those very hard times during my childhood that never seems to be filled. No matter how hard I have tried to ignore it or pretend that everything is alright, it’s still there.
So, I think what I need to do is to treat myself better by realizing that I will never be perfect. I’m always going to be Sarah, and that’s OK. I really do like who I am as a person, but I just need to take a step back and work on enhancing those qualities I like instead of demonizing the qualities I don’t. I have to realize that being happy with who I am is what is going to fill that hole in the core of me and I can only do that by accepting what has happened (and what will happen in the future).
I’m also going to promise to eat healthier, exercise more, laugh more, make more friends, take up some new (EXCITING) hobbies, and appreciate the little things in my life that truly make me happy. I will be turning 30 in February and I don’t want to waste the rest of my life regretting that I never DID anything to change my outlook. I’ve wasted to much precious time already. I will no longer put myself down. Instead, will pinpoint what is making me feel insecure and make POSITIVE changes over time to improve. I will no longer tell myself I can’t do something that I’ve always wanted to try. Instead, I will TRY those things. I will no longer expect myself to be perfect. Instead, I will do the best I can with what I have and love the outcome (whether good or bad) because at least I TRIED!
Again, thank you so much for “calling us out”. It was the swift kick in the ass that I truly needed.
Here’s to a wonderful 2013 filled with happiness and self discovery!
Much love to you and yours, Sean. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
~Sarah (@saraheliza83)
Sarah~ You are NOT alone in this! As you know, I also suffer from self-hate. I say lets do this together! I think its better when you have people to fight through these things with. Also, we have to remember that no one is perfect & anyone claiming to be is either lying or bat-shit crazy! ;^)
In 2013, I vow to lose 2 pounds per week from now until March, when I head to Afghanistan. I will also increase my running from 1.5 to 2 miles a day in January, then 2.5 in February, 5 days a week. I will also hike at least 4 miles once a week (weather permitting). I will go to spin class and lift weights twice a week. Once in Afghanistan, I will cut out all red meat and fried foods. I will exercise at least once a day, twice if I am not working, until I return. I will finish Air Command and Staff College so I can get promoted and a raise.
Thanks for witnessing!!!
Thank YOU …for the service. -S
I haven’t smoked in about 10 years. Losing weight seems to be harder. Gotta stay focused. Whay would Sean do lol 🙂
I”m going to lose weight. I want to lose at least 70 pounds. I’m going to cut out sugar and bad carbs, and eat more lean meats and vegetables I’m also going to exercise at least an hour a day. I have been overweight for so long, and I’m tired of it. I’ll be 39 next year and I want to feel as good as I did at 29, if not better. Thanks for providing a source of inspiration, Sean 🙂 And Happy New Year 🙂
This past year has been a year of extraordinary change. I started out weighing over 200 lbs and completely miserable. It took the swift words of our friend here to pull the carpet-that-is-excuses out from under my feet. Of course, I wobbled at first, straining to gather my balance. I felt as insecure as ever. But where normally, this insecurity would have driven me to pull away, recluse or lash out, I instead did the opposite. I reached out. And more importantly, I took responsibility.
I stopped carrying the stress and excuses that I had used for years. And by doing so, I freed myself up to so many incredible opportunities. (also losing 60 lbs in the process)
I am so grateful for what I have already achieved. But there is always another row in this yellow brick road!!!!
So here goes my list:
Physically:
1. Maintain my weight. At the moment I am right where I want to be. Sure, I can still loose a couple lbs, but as it stands I am at a healthy weight. My focus now is staying there. (I’ll continue my 2 hours of exercise a day and add a Gym membership)
2. Over the next 6 months: Get into a Martial Arts Program. Something I have always wanted to do. Even if I have to move, It’s going to happen.
3. Continue to eat a healthy and BALANCED diet.
Personally:
1. Expand my career. I am already lined up for a couple projects but this year I’m really going to focus on getting myself out there. Murals, Illustration, Gallery Shows. Anything and everything I can possibly swing. Time to make my affinities account for something more.
2. Deal with my demons. There are many things that I have yet to face. This year is going to be my time to do that. I need to stop hating my father for not taking care of himself, for allowing himself to suffer from severe heart disease and continue to do nothing to reverse or slow it. I need to stop hating him for the resentment I have always felt.
3. Get myself organized. I have been in such a swell of new change over the last year I have neglected to actually take stock of said change and keep myself organized. That is starting this week. I’m going to start writing things down more often. And keeping tabs on my progress.This is an immediate goal.
4. Continue to Pay it Forward. I think the best way to thank somebody for inspiring you is to pay that inspiration forward. I am doing everything in my power to do so, and I will continue to in any way I possibly can.
I know I have said it at least a couple times, But in risk of sounded repetitious… Thank you to each and every one of you.
God Bless and Happy New Year,
Emili Naish
My story: 21 years of being overweight. Clinically, I’m probably considered obese. I’m not going to try to excuse myself, but many factors contributed to it — family history, what I was being fed as a child (and still too naive to notice), and my own general laziness. Time and time again I’d make the promise to myself to make a change. My pants size never shrunk. I’d always revert back to my old ways. I hated gym class and only did what was necessary to pass. The most physical activity I took part in was marching band.
About two and a half years ago, home and family issues drove me into a bad place. My dad took it to turn things around and he dropped fifty pounds. Me? I stayed the same. If not worse. It wasn’t until about a year ago that I came across words of wisdom from a Mr. Flanery. Whatever it was that he said, it would stick. It would nag at me until I went for a run outside. I still found it hard to keep consistent though.
There was one thing that did stick though, for much longer. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I decided to look into it, because of the same person who constantly spoke highly of it. I tried a class out. That was over six months ago, and three nights a week I’m there, sweating buckets, and doing something good for myself. But has it really done anything for me besides hyper-extend both my elbows, break my toes, and decorate me with more bruises than my Dalmatian has spots? I would say yes. In these past six months, I’ve become less winded while doing physically active things. I’ve had a handful of people tell me I look like I’ve lost weight. I’ll admit that I still avoid the scale, but that’s mostly because I’m too cheap to get one that works.
So where does that put me now? What are my plans for 2013? I’m thinking back, and thinking about the changes I made for 2012, and what I can continue to do. I will continue with BJJ. I will strive to get better at it. I will get the best guy in class to tap out at least once. Mark my words, it will happen.
I hesitate to set a weight loss goal, because every time I don’t meet it, I get depressed, and grumpy, and annoying. But lets say, for this year, a minimum of 40. That will already put me in a happier place. I think that’s doable, with major changes. Stop with the popcorn. Bring back the running. There’s a marathon this summer that I really want to run, that I will run, hopefully with my sister.
In addition to that, I have a few more plans. I’m sick of procrastinating, and this year, I’m going to finish a book — writing one that is. I’m also going to finish editing the one I have already written. The latter of which I want done by March. And then I’m going to tackle learning the German language more fluently. I have a learning program, I am going to complete that.
-Rebecca (@writer_renegade)
Best of luck!
In 2001, I was very sick. 5 months on steroids, and I gained 100 pounds. I got up to my highest weight of 299. Over the past almost 2 years, I have lost 90 pounds. I promise to never get anywhere near my highest weight again, to lose the few pounds I gained over this holiday season, get back to losing weight, and stay on track. I was borderline diabetic, but no longer. I will not get anywhere near diabetes ever again. My short term goal is to hit onederland on the scale, be 100 pounds down from highest, by May 2013.
I was diagnosed with PCOS on the 18th. The insulin resistance linked to the syndrome causes rapid weight gain/obesity and the main goal is to reverse the insulin resistance. I am not obese or overweight now, but now I know I have a predisposition to it, as well as diabetes and a bundle of other diseases. I am considered a rare case and this honestly scared the hell out of me. With that said, my goal is to ensure that I bust my ass to follow the recommended nutritional guidelines majority of the time and move more every day. It just goes to show that no matter how well you treat your body, even the most careful can end up with a do or die syndrome that leaves them with NO CHOICE but to make a lifestyle change. Even though PCOS isn’t self induced, my promise to myself is to develop a more positive outlook and not consider this a chore, but a necessary change. When the Spring semester starts, I’m going to stop being a sissy and participate in fitness classes and switch things up so I stay consistent. I’m all about maintaining whatever little bit of health I have left and kick this lifetime burden’s ASS and live a semi normal life in the process, with you as a motivator.
Also, this fact will make you pleased: MMA is in the works eventually. I become more intrigued everyday. Hopefully I follow through when I find my balance!
Another fact: On the 3rd, it will be 11 months since I quit smoking, which is officially my record.
It is not a record. A record can be broken. Make this final.
It’s final.. That’s my word. That crutch is gone. I can stand now!
Toni, you are not alone. I too was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome a few years ago, I was 23 at the time and the doctor I had been seeing had not caught it earlier. I had to have a D&C and go through a hormone therapy regimen. It can truly be a struggle for me, as I have been severely overweight for many years, and have a family history of diabetes that runs deep on both sides of the family. If you haven’t found out yet, it can be managed with the right meds, diet and exercise… also, there are many online communities out there to help you with any questions you have. I find myself many times schooling my doc (a GP) about my condition and have been making progress in recent weeks. I hope the best for you and your ventures, good luck!
Sean, I promise to 1. Let Go Of The Past & Move Forward in Life. 2. Lose Weight & Exercise More 3. I will continue to cut Pop out of my diet & limit sweet intake. 4. Increase Vegetable & Fruit intake & now using juicer (yay). 5. Learn to Trust People More 6. Find Happiness & Love Again. 7. Find a job I can be more passionate about because I want to make a difference in this world. So, here is to a brand New Year 2013, promises made and I will honor them. Thank you for your blog & always speaking the truth. Happy New Year Sean & Donut & Family!!! 🙂
In 2013 I will first hold myself to my goals, which include:
First and foremost to get in shape, I have already gone down a size and it took about two months. I will continue to exercise and down size my junk food intake.
Second, I will believe in myself. My self confidence needs a kick in the ass which includes no longer second guessing myself and know that I am good at all things I have worked at.
Third, I will post more videos of my singing to YouTube, even if its just for me Im gonna do it.
Fourth, continue writing and not get embarrassed at the things I write.
Fifth, audition for more plays, I can’t be an actor if I never audition for anything.
Finally, strive to be a person that my daughters want to be like.
Thank you Sean, for this opportunity to post my resolutions and for keeping me accountable for my actions. I will not let you down sir!
I promise to take better care of myself and those I care about. Love Live and Laugh more.
I quit smoking 6 years ago it was a struggle to quit but I did it .I will get down to my goal weight of 132, and find my joy for life again. I will find peace working with my horses, dogs and cats. I am planning on going back to school for either criminal profiling or baking( kind of odd choices). So I promise to do my best to succeed in 2013. Have a Happy New Year and may you all know joy in this new year.
I will be turning 30 in June and I am resolving to get back to my goal weight, be a happier person, and enjoy life more before I get there. I resolve to love myself, no matter my flaws.
Hey everyone,
My name is Vincent Brewer. I aim to get myself down to below 10% body fat. This has been a long term goal of mine but I’ve been getting in my own way. I declare to all of you to exercise no less than three times a week including yoga and running. I will also cut down my sugar intake by 85%. I will also increase the frequency of my weight lifting regiment. And finally I will cut down snacking.
As a college student this may be difficult but I as a student have a fitness center at my disposal so why not put it to use.
Remember this quote friends “success is not the result of spontaneous combustion, you must set yourself on fire” -Frank tyger and as always SHINE.
I’m going to hold my ex-husband accountable not only for his actions, but more importantly his non-actions when they negatively affect my son. How? For starters, I’ll stop being worried about filing the necessary paperwork for non-payment of support. I’ve made it for two years with no help from him, and I’m not sure why I’ve been so worried about it. However, I’ve decided that it no longer matters, because what matters is my son. We do without a lot of creature comforts, but have everything we need. It’s difficult always being “the bad guy” and having to say no to extracurricular and sporting activities. I’ve always done my best to not allow my personal feelings affect the thoughts my son has about his father. However in doing so, I’ve allowed him to not have to accept responsibility. I’m pretty much done with that. I’ll be filing the appropriate paperwork before the end of January. What else that’s for me? More yoga to improve flexibility. Another MS Mud Run in June (we’re up from a team of 4 to 12 this year) and my fifth 50-mile MS Challenge Walk in September, improving my time in each from previous outings. –Kim Bertram
I promise to start working out again and I WILL get out from under this depression!
Dealing with depression sucks. I found that after 30 years of dealing with Major Depressive Disorder that it is not going to run my life anymore! You can do it! Tomorrow is another day to make yourself better one step at a time. Good Luck to you
Don’t be afraid to let others help you with your depression. I didn’t start beating mine until I reached out to someone else. People who have been through it, or even other people who are still working on it, can be the best support group in the world. Especially when it comes to weight loss and body positivity. Peace, and good luck! 🙂
Thankfully my school has a free health clinic and free psychologist for students!
Bekkah, I’ve been dealing with a similar situation almost all of my life. I am an adult living with Asperger’s and it took me a while to find the right doctor and the right diagnosis and medicine but I guarantee you that once you do, it will work wonders. I’ve recently had to go on a medication normally used for both seizures and Bi-polar disorder and it really cuts down on my sharp mood changes. Now your experience probably will be different. Everyone’s is. However, once I found what worked, I began to surround myself with the most amazing people. I’ve fulfilled dreams of meeting some of my favorite actors and even crossed an item off of my bucket list. One of the best things I have done is to live my life now instead of waiting. You can do it and I know you WILL!
This week I’m going for much needed spinal surgery I’ve been putting off out if fear & cost
2013 is the year I reclaim my health, my ability to walk , sit& sleep without pain
Halfway through the adoption process 2013 IS the year I work to maintain health and reclaim
My life …. 2014 there may be a 5k goal
Thanks for being inspirational as well as hilarious Sean
-Christine
As always beautifully written! : ) My goals for 2013 are not necessarily of a physical nature, but just to live a healthy life for myself and my daughter. I’m not over weight ( although I’d like to tone things up a bit ) and have just recently started boxing once a wk and already seeing results. So my first goal is to continue on that path and step it up to at least 3 times a wk, starting tomorrow. My 2nd goal is to continue working on my emotional/spiritual well being. It’s been a long journey for me, I have been divorced and single from my husband of eight yrs for the past 4, and have had some very rough times. I’ve felt and thought every emotion you could possibly think of in that type of situation, and am happy to say that although I still let people take advantage from time to time, I have found my voice and believe I am someone worth loving, and won’t settle for less!! My 3rd goal is to move into a apt/house of my own, as I have stayed with my sister for the last 3 yrs, not because I needed to, but strictly for convince. It’s time to step it up, and live my own life, even if living by myself scares the crap out of me!! ( I’m a twin, so I’ve never been alone) lol hope to have all that accomplished by the end of March.
*convenience* not convince lol
My name is Sarah, I’m 40 yrs old with extensive medical issues. I was diagnosed with Lupus in 2001 after the birth of my 5th child. I was always very active until that time. I had to have full bilateral hip replacements, since then I’ve had two more replacements in each hip. I gained 80 lbs from lack of movement and steroids. I’m ready to get back in shape, but family insists that I rest constantly. I guess I just want support in doing this. When I was in the Navy during Gulf war I was highly skilled at kick boxing and hand to hand. I miss being in good shape. I feel lousy and I avoid the mirrors in my house. Any advice at all would be welcome.
One of your biggest fans,
Sarah
Has your Dr. cleared you for exercise? If so, disregard the requests to rest & take up KN again!!!!!! And thank you for the service!!!
Yes I’ve been released for exercise. Though have been cautioned to go slow. If I promise to keep you updated, will you give me an occasional ” thumbs up” ? It’s just me and the kids now my husband died in 02′. We used to work out together, and spar with eachother. So I guess im in need of some outside support. Thanks for taking the time to answer..Happy New Year.
Don’t give up Sarah!! Families say that because they care. Medical issues suck,but you can overcome. I was diagnosed with epilepsy at 4 years old..that’s why I’ve been high risk for spinal surgery..I was also told by one Dr “I should never adopt or be a mom” Having been seizure free for 3 years I went for several opinions..all Dr’s said I was perfectly fine and more than capable to adopt and be a mom..also to have the surgery and get back to swimming & diving!!! Be well and I wish you a happy and healthy 2013!
To Sean & Everyone reading,
Not all of this is easy to write, but I believe it IS the best way to stay focused & not wish or hope, but ACHIEVE what I need to achieve. My name is Casey and I am an alcoholic. I am 32 single mother of one beautiful little girl who is about to be 6. I have not put my full effort into changing, clearly. 2012 has been the roughest year yet. Luckily, I have supportive parents who have helped so that she has never seen me anyway other than at my best. At my best, though, I still am NOT AT MY BEST, I can STILL do better. I have always had low self-esteem. I am 4 foot 11, am flat-chested, and weight 110 lbs. I do need and WILL lose those ten lbs. I am DETERMINED to commit my self to being a better mother, better to myself, and to fight my demon head on. I will always be an alcoholic, but I DO NOT have to be a practicing alcoholic. One of the things I have learned is to change one thing-you have to change everything. I am committed to quitting smoking. I HAVE A LOT to work on in 2013 and I will also be staying single for the whole year. I need a year to get myself together, get off my ass and BE THE PERSON i know I can be. I have many good qualities as well, but they are too often overshadowed by everything else. I don’t know why but I am starting to cry while I write this. Honesty is hard, but necessary. I am sober tonight and with my parents and daughter. I KNOW I am not where I should be in life at this moment. With support from others and most of all the pulling inside myself that I WANT MORE out of life, I CAN do it. I am not giving up on myself. If I do that, I lose everything and I am better than that. Thank you for reading,
Casey Corine Hutson
Casey, congrats on coming forward and getting started on making those changes! I’m a reviving addict, and have 14 months clean now! It’s not easy but its the best thing you will ever do! Please look into treatment options, I did an outpatient program and it was extremely beneficial, for the support as well as everything I learned about the disease of addiction and about myself. Also, check into your local AA meetings too, I know i would be lost without my meetings!!! Good luck on your journey!
You are so brave and I applaud you for that. My thoughts are with you. YOU CAN DO THIS! You’re stronger than you think. How do I know that? Because, I think we all are. Happy New Year, Casey!!
Hello Sean,
New Year’s Eve two years ago, I made a resolution to lose weight and completely change myself. I do it! I lost almost 60 pounds since then and my whole life has changed: I’m happier, I have more self esteem and have courage to meet new people!
This year, I want to start BJJ! I’m so excited and can’t wait to start. I’m so thankful that I finally met you and I love reading all your motivational blogs and videos. Thank you for being the great person you are! <3
At 40 yrs old, with a husband and two children, I am starting a new career as a police officer. I resolve to lose that final 10 lbs, but more importantly to continue my journey of a healthy expire for my boys. Also, be as strong in body as in my morals and values. To be an amazing police officer and to help all I can.
Tara
That’s healthy example of course. 🙂
Happy New Years you wonderful man!
My resolution is simply to stop being a pushover to everyone around me. I have my life together finally, I am healthy, happy, confident (most of the time) yet I allow everyone to walk all over me. No more!
Also, you will be here in Vancouver for fan expo on my 24th birthday and I’m SO EXCITED! Can’t wait to meet you. 🙂
This time last year, my 7 year old niece asked me to quit smoking. We had just buried my dad who passed from colon cancer and she was terrified that because I smoked a lot (a pack a day) that she was going to lose me as well. Looking at her tear stained face I made a choice that I have never regretted once this year, I quit smoking. It wasn’t easy, I’d been smoking since i was 17 and I’m 32 now so 15 years and I quit cold turkey. I’d tried quitting in the past and I gained weight like crazy, this time was different. Every time I wanted a cigarette I took my other sisters energetic pittbull Dozer for a walk, we only live 2 streets away from each other. Not only have I not had a cigarette in a year I’ve lost almost 60lbs and had to buy a whole new wardrobe. Which was the best feeling in the freaking world! My goal this year is to keep it up, no smoking, lots of exercise which Dozer will love, and to switching my diet to eating healthier meals, cutting down on the soda and coffee and drinking more water. Also to have a better outlook on life, not stressing the small stuff and taking time to enjoy the victories. Thanks for the encouragement.
I met you briefly in Chicago this year, but I was so nervous and overwhelmed that I didn’t even say much of anything. After your autograph and pic (during which I thought I was going to melt into a puddle) I scurried away after squeaking out a thank you! But something positive came out of meeting you! I actually became more active on twitter after following you and I got to chat with some fellow fans! I feel like I’m part of an awesome community now, and that makes me feel great and keeps me inspired. 🙂
I quit smoking cold turkey a year ago so that was my successful 2012 resolution! It was difficult but I got through it! So for 2013 I have a few proclamations to make. I will lose 10 pounds again, or more, by exercising. My diet is generally healthy, but even so there is room for improvement! I will make the necessary changes! I’m not overweight but I’m close enough. I’m such a couch potato that I just stay the same weight instead of losing some pounds! I will not be an Ashley-sloth anymore!
I also will stop letting my past define me. While I learned a lot from my past, I cannot let the negative things that happened turn into excuses. I won’t allow them to hurt me anymore. I’ve moved on to better things and will continue to do so, and I need to stop looking back. My past shaped who I am in so many amazing ways. I will not feel sorry for myself anymore. I have grown so much as a person these last few years, and I will continue to grow. I will love myself more and stop being critical of myself in the wrong ways. I’m about to be 23 and I shouldn’t be so miserable! At this age I’m going on many adventures and finding myself…what’s there to be depressed about? Nothing, when I really sit down and look at my present day life!
And last but not least…I feel like I’ve lost a lot of my passion. This ties into the whole past thing…I’m so frustrated with my art, with my creativity, that it feels like I’m slowly losing it. Its still there somewhere. I will not let it go. I love art, I always have, and I always will. I will renew my interests, tap into that creativity, then continue to develop it – to mold and shape it. When I get frustrated, I won’t put my tablet (or my pencil) down and whine about it. I will keep going. I won’t call my art crap just because it “doesn’t look right” after an hour or two. Amazing things will take a long time and a lot of effort! And to be able to make art at all is something a lot of people wish they had…so I will not take that for granted! I will make amazing, beautiful art. It is a part of me and will not lose it. 2012 was good but 2013 will be great! 🙂
These are my promises to everyone and to myself! Thank you Sean!
Ashley Tribur (@ashleytribur)
I am not overweight however I have always taken the idea of why wait until you are to do something about it. Since then, I have taken to dancing in my room like nobody is watching as well as walking when the weather is nice. It doesn’t take much to get a healthier lifestyle. A lot has changed for me over the past year when it comes to my health both physical and mental. I never knew quite how amazing you are until I met you this past September and I couldn’t help but blush and that helps motivate me to do better in life. I try to live my life like there’s no tomorrow and that includes exercise and just plain eating well. I am so lucky to have a brother who was in the culinary field which helps me to eat both luxuriously and healthy. 🙂
I hope you have a happy New Year and I hope my card/photo got to you okay. 🙂
Well here’s my story, last year I lost 80 lbs, and was very proud of myself for doing so. But, I got stressed about some stuff and gained most of the weight back. And this year right before Christmas, my husband tells me he’s leaving me. Talk about bad timing…I’ve been stressing about that. I lost 12-13 lbs that week from not being able to eat. So now it’s just gonna be me and our two daughters. My goals for 2013 are to 1. lose all that weight I gained back, 2. become healthier, and 3. be stronger for my babies.
I promise to cut out my intake of caffine drinks and to cut 75% of my candy splurging.
I promise to spend more time moving and doing rather than setting and waiting.
I promise to love myself before asking others to love me. I promise to spend more time helping my son with his school work and activities. I promise to do one act of random kindness a week.
Christy A Mink
I, Christine Carnwath, vow to 1) cut my sweets intake by 80% this year. 2) Get back on my healthy eating/ exercise kick AND STICK WITH IT! and 3) have more patience with everything in life.
The last 3 years have been hard ones for me. My Dad has been the only man in my life that I could count on. I have been so lucky to have him in my life. He let me live my life while standing quietly on the side and when I made mistakes he always caught me before I fell. This man is an insane genius and funny. When my world was blowing apart I knew once I talked to him, it was going to turn out ok. (lucky eh?) April 2010 my world turned upside down, my dad suffered a series of strokes, one in his brain stem. This left him unable to speak clearly, unable to swallow and needing a feeding tube and now confined to a wheel chair. He didn’t smoke, he was active and worked a very physical job and he was so young (57). The following his stroke I dropped down to part time to help with his care and ended up working 4 days a week at my job and then 3- 12 hour days out at his place. I truly believed he would get his mobility back. After the 1st year I was burning out. I had two teenagers who had to do a lot for themselves. I resented leaving them and I guilty too because Dad needed me and I wanted to be there for him like he was for me. Long story short, his girlfriend cleaned out his savings and I had to get legal control so I could figure out what she had done. Then I had to make the hardest decision of my life. I put Dad into a nursing home. I had to clean out my childhood home and then get it ready for sale. The house has been gone for a year now, and this thought still makes me sad. I can never go home. not that I ever needed to but to know I will never sleep in my room makes me sad. God, the piles of crap that happened on top of that are just too ugly to even air out. Everything Dad dealt with family became my problem to solve and I don’t have the life experience he did so my frustration turned to anger. During this mess, I stopped taking care of myself. I quit smoking but I turned to food for comfort and gained some weight. I need to re-gain control of my life. I am going to get this weight off me. I need to lose 55 and I should be able to lose it in 10 months. I also need to make some free time for me and stop dealing with other people problems before I lose my mind. I still go visit Dad 3 days a week and take him to all his doctor’s appointments and his weekly speech therapy appointment and I will not cut back on this but I know if I set priorities in life I can take care of me and be there for my kids and my Dad.
I hope it works out for you. You can do it.
Hey Jacqui,
Thanks for the encouragement sometimes life feels really heavy. I’ve always put my head down and pushed thru the ugly… appreicate you taking the time.
Kaylee, you’re more than welcome, It’s a damn long hard road but I have faith you can get there. And you know what? You’ll be a better stronger person for it.
Thanks once again for a great blog post…I need this inspiration to resolve to change things in my life. I must resolve then to lose the 10 pounds I gained back over the past few months. I resolve to eat healthier…more veggies & fruit and less junk food. And lastly I finally resolve to get off my a$$ and get back to doing my art work again…painting, drawing, illustration. I must do this! I need to do it. I want to be able to make it my life’s work but have been putting it off for so long, for fear of failure and rejection. But I’ve got to get past that, and DO IT. Somehow. It’s about time, right?!
Thank you for being such an inspiration Sean. My resolution this new year is to lose weight and get healthy. I’m 17 so I’m determined to turn my life around before the end of high school. I want to be happier, I want to feel better about myself, but most importantly, I want to love who I am, and that is what I want to accomplish this new year. Sean, your supportive words have helped me to start this new journey in my life. Thank you for being such an incredible person!!! <3
I’ve already lost 60lbs and counting. But my resolution is to not let my Mom run my life and guilt trip me out of marrying my fiance in September. I have to help her realize, I’ll be fine without her. Of course I’ll miss her, living 1000 miles away, but I’m not going to cut her out of my life. I just hope she doesn’t cut me out of hers. Happy New Year, Sean, You help so many people with your blog, on twitter and all of the charity work you do. It’s no wonder we all love you so much!
Well thanks to my entering an incorrect anti-spam password I lost my original post. So, I’ve been fat then obese & then morbidly obese since puberty. Factors for that: wacky ovaries, underactive thyroid AND emotional lazy eating. I never had a lightbulb moment. Other fat people know you can look in a mirror but still not actually see yourself. You get good at it, turn away for photos, don’t look at yourself in them if it can be avoided. Don’t look at your reflection in windows. The hatred you have toward yourself is quiet, nobody sees it but you. I think I just got sick of myself. Little things like getting puffed walking from the car to the shopping centre, being unable to walk up stairs, my dogs being unable to sit on my lap because my stomach gets in the way. I joined a gym 12 mths ago. I’ve lost 22 kgs. All I did was exercise (sporadically) and REDUCE WHAT I ATE. I could compose an ode to how much this world over eats. Now I don’t clean my plate as I was raised to, I stop eating when I want to. Out to dinner I won’t order a dozen oysters, surf & turf & then dessert, I’ll have half dozen oysters a salad & no dessert & I’m still leaving some of that behind! I feel so much better it’s too difficult to explain. I can buy clothes off the rack now & not the largest size! So here goes: I promise to keep going to the gym & get regular at it. I promise to change my eating habits to eat healthy. I promise to stop drinking the remaining soft drink I still drink. I promise to eat only food that will benefit me from the inside out. I promise to drop as much of the remaining 58 kilos I have to by 31/12/13 (we do date, month, year deal with it). I PROMISE to become unreasonable in the realisation of this dream & then be even more unreasonable in maintaining that dream weight of 65 kilos. And lastly I promise that this is my real name on this post & I promise to tweet you for a metaphorical kick up the backside when I need it. Jacqui (@JezebelSpike).
You can do it Jacqui. I have faith in you. I got your back and I’ll help Sean kick you in the butt when you need it.
Hey Jacqui,
22kgs, that is something to be celebrated, You come a long way. I have no doubt you will reach your goal! I’m on twitter too, if you want to add me @kayleewallage
I’ve been fat since I was around 3 years old. Bad things happened that led to a deep depression that went from age 4 on up. So alot of my behaviors were set from an early age. Around 2-3 years ago I had given my way of thinking a huge overhaul. Which meant I felt I didn’t need anti depressants to get through life. A little over a year ago I made even more life changes that were jump started by my husband. Like giving up soda, eating better, and getting out and just moving about. I added more exercise as time went on. Just from simple lifestyle changes I’ve lost over 100 pounds and beat depression. I’m not gonna stop there. I plan on losing at LEAST 50 more pounds this coming year. Your words are always encouraging to me. So thanks for that.
I PROMISE to lose 30 lbs by the end of april and to start eating healthier and make it to the gym 3 days a week. I am sick and tired of being over weight I used to weigh 115 and now I’m 160 🙁 I don’t know why I let myself go but NO More excuses my time is now and I will lose these 30lbs again and keep it off
I’ve tried before and failed quite miserably to stop smoking. I lied to you and also to myself 🙁 I’m sorry for that. I intend to Stop Smoking this new year. My birthday is on Valentines Day and I am going to be a Non Smoker before then. I am tired of being weak and killing myself daily. I almost lost my mother to Cancer and I’m angry that I havent stopped. I read your blogs alot and you truly motivate me to be a Better Me. 🙂 I don’t deserve a friend like you Sean. You are strong and I am weak. I hope to be a friend worth having before V- Day. Anyway your the best!!! I hope you have a Wonderful New Year!!!
Jessica Ann 🙂
Ever since I was 6 I have been overweight bordering obese. Ever since my sister hit 12 she slowly began to gain wait until she became morbidly obese, now I’m nearly 19(my sister is roughly3-4 years older than me) and ever since I was 12 she has told me how disgusted our family is with my weight and how when she was my age she was thinner(which is lies) she says this on a weekly basis, and along with some other things she has said. I have recently found out that she is going to have stomache surgery in a couple of months and I want to prove to her that even with our crappy living situation and her health issues, that that is no excuse for not at least trying to lose weight!! So my promise is to be at my healthy body weight in 8 months, to feel better about myself and tell my sister to shove it!!! Hope you have a happy new year Sean
Quit smoking in May of this year. 10 year smoker finally quit for good. Now it’s time to cut the bullshit and stop telling people I’ll do it and actually do it! I want to shine… Until tomorrow!!! I have been overweight just about my entire adult life. I want to lose 120 pounds. It’s a heft goal but I will take it 1 day, one week, 1 pound at a time. I want to decrease my carbonated soda intake by 75% and add 64 ounces of water to my daily intake a day. I want to thank you Sean. Until tonight, New Year’s Eve, I had never heard of this and it’s inspiring!! I met you and Norman in Atlanta at Dragon Con and I hope our next meeting finds you well and me well on my way to my good health!! Happy New Year!
Do it… and I swear to you, your life will absolutely glow.!!!
I know it’s sorta late, but the update is in!! I have lost 86 pounds! I cut the soda almost completely and am eating healthy and exercising regularly. I was aiming for 120 pounds but I didn’t really get my groove on until February so I feel like I am successful although I fell a bit short of the total goal. The before and after pictures are almost unbelievable. Thank you Sean for making my ass get up and get it on like I should’ve been doing 1000 excuses ago!! Life officially changed!!! I feel like I’m actually living. I’m healthier, I’m happier, I’m shining… and I’m SO ready for tomorrow!!! Love you Sean!!!
I’ve been working as a chef since ’95. College, trained in Switzerland, worked for several private clubs. I get to try all different kinds of foods from the healthy to the not-so. I work as a pastry chef and in the past have eaten too much crap. Since I started Tweeting with you and reading your blogs I’ve done quite a bit to change things and joined BJJ. It gives me a goal every class to get better and kick some ass. Plus where else am I gonna go and choke the living daylights out of someone after a long day at work? I’ve lost two dress sizes and will be losing more in ’13. I’ve cut out pop except for a wee bit every now and then, it’s a freaking addiction. Cut back on the beer too. I have studied nutrition so I have no excuse to not eat right. I am looking to change careers, not sure what I want to get into yet. Everything will fall into place. I promise to keep losing the weight, sort my shit out and not get discouraged. See you at the Detroit con in May.
Oh yeah name’s Jodi Richter!
Beautiful!!! I remember you & look forward to seeing you again!!
I make the commitment to continue to lose weight and exercise regularly in 2013. In 2012 I stopped smoking and to date have lost a total of 44lbs since giving birth to my son in February. I will begin training for the 2013 Race for Life and I will continue to attend my gym regularly. I also set up my areas first ever Roller Derby team in 2012, so 2013 will also see me commit to pushing my team to pass their minimum skills tests so we can start participating in nationwide bouts.
I read your previous post like this and watching and becoming a fan of yours was what inspired me to start losing weight and eating healthier. I started on Oct 1, 2012 and I’ve lost 21 pounds so far. I still have 60 or so to go, and these past two weeks have been so difficult. My calorie goal has dropped and trying to pacify the families by eating Christmas dinner or all the many tempting sweets has had me not counting. Hopefully as the leftovers get thrown out and the sweets spoil, I’ll be able to stop the snacking.
I had the will power to not eat when I was hungry and I had food waved under my nose but I couldn’t measure it for the first 20 pounds, then I can go to bed hungry and deal with the migraines now, right? I will stop whining & complaining about being hungry — it’s my fault I’m fat, and I will learn to fix it. I will keep my jaw shut when offered sweets. I only have so many calories allowed per day, I will not waste them on sweet things, no matter how tempting they look/smell/taste.
I promise to get back on track with my juicing diet. I did it once and lost 30 pounds, I unfortunately fell off track with it and gained 10 of it back. My goal for 2013 is to say THE HELL with my screw ups in the past, I CAN and I WILL!! I will hit my goal and lose 80 pounds, not only for me, but for my daughter, Mallory. I also promise to finish my second book and stop procrastinating!
Sean I just want to say that your blogs are wonderful, I enjoy reading them very much. You’re an awesome guy and I think I speak for everyone when I say we all <3 you, you're an amazing actor, incredible man and a true pal. 😉 Happy New Year to you and everyone you hold dear!
And Happy New Year to everyone reading!! May 2013 be the year your resolutions and dreams come true!
"You'll never shine if you walk in the shadows of someone else!" -MB-
~!*Melissa Bryan*!~
My name’s Beckah, or Rebekah. I’m a twent-one-year-old studying graphic design at community college. For five semesters, I haven’t worked as hard as I know I can. I want to, I just haven’t found the motivation.
Same with losing weight. I did so well one summer and dropped a lot of weight. I also built up muscles and developed great eating habits. I went back to school and gained all that weight back.
I get seriously caught up in role playing online. I spend hours on end living through another character. It’s a place I hide when I don’t want to work hard. I’m really sick of it. I either want to get rid of it completely, or limit my time to an hour a day. I’ll do the latter, and if that’s not enough, I’ll get rid of it completely. 🙂
So, here’s my promises, Sean. I will stick to them. I’m coming to Comic-Con in July. I don’t know if you’ll be there, but if you are, I’ll print these promises out, show them to you, and show you the results.
1) I promise to lose at least twenty-five pounds by July. My weight keeps going up and down like a yo-yo. This time, I’m going to lose it, and keep it off.
2) I promise also to pursue my career whole-heartedly, and be the best graphic designer I can be.
3) I promise to work hard this coming semester at school and not procrastinate.
4) I promise to manage my time responsibly.
5) I promise to act like I’m 21…and not 16 (this may be the hardest promise yet lol).
6) I promise to cut out the things that prohibit me from being or doing these things.
7) I can very caught up in online role playing. I promise to limit my time to an hour a day, if that.
Thanks for the encouragement, Sean, and the support. 🙂
PLEASE limit your online role playing as much as possible!!!! It has no real world application, and if you dedicated a single hour of every day to a HIGH value task… you would move mountains.
That’s a really good point. I enjoy it so much, but an hour is a lot of time, especially when stacked together through the week, month, and year. I’ve been struggling with this so much over the last few months, and I think it’s time to put it behind me. Okay, Sean. I’m getting rid of it. Tonight.
There is nothing wrong with playing an online game, it can sometimes be a great escape after a stressful day, as a fellow Student and gamer myself I can give you a few helpful hints to help limit your time!
Set aside specific days & times you wish to play. Make a time schedule if you have to. Set aside time to study, time to work out, time to sleep, your meals (If you must) but never try to put them on the same day thats just crazy. Set alarms on your phone so you dont go over your time either. But give yourself time to enjoy the little things, there is hardly anything you can do in an hour and get a certain amount of enjoyment from it. three-four hours is a good time, and then two to three hours. Consider your gaming a hobby more then a crutch, everyones got to have a hobby.
I’ve found doing this has helped keep myself on a great track that I never go over my time and I always get my enjoyment and tasks out of the way and I even have time to work out! But playing an online game like World of Warcraft, Rift or anything like that doesn’t make you any less of a person. You just have a hobby. I’ve helped many a guildy beat their hold on the game through these methods. Good luck to you!!!!!
After quitting smoking i turned to the next bad thing – alcohol. My goals are to stop drinking and eventually learn self control, lose 20kilos and become the fit & energentic person i used to be, learn to love myself and to take up Taekwondo again!
Hi Sean, I was in high school the first time I noticed you in Young Indiana Jones. And I would just like to say how much I freaking adore you! I’m a 37 year old single mom (never married) of a 17 year old girl. I was a mom at 20 & a single mom (by choice) at 22. The last few years have been rough, it started with a virus I couldn’t shake, was put on steroids & gained weight. Then I lost my dad & grandparents. Guess I became an “emotional” eater & gained more weight. Got laid off from my job because they were moving, you get the picture. I guess all these years it seemed easier with the extra weight. It became my comfort zone. I didn’t have to worry about guys hitting on me or asking me out, all I had to worry about was taking care of my daughter. She will be graduating from high school in about 6 months and now all I can think about is how we have the rest of our lives to look forward to, the possibilities are endless & we need to be healthy together. I have already cut regular pop out of my life. I’ve always eaten a variety of foods (love fruits & veggies), my downfall was not planning ahead all the time & grabbing fast food because it was fast & easy. I have cut out most fast food & sugar & have started eating healthier (keeping healthier foods & snacks on hand). What I need to focus on now is making sure I’m working out at least 5 times a week. I’ve been told I have “quiet” strength, I guess when you’re a single parent & take care of everything yourself you need to have that. I’m working really hard to reach my goal weight so that come this August (Wizard World Chicago) my daughter & I can come & get our picture taken with you & Reedus & I can show you my results in person! I know I can do this…Stop, breathe & take it all in or else life will just pass you by…Until next time…Thanks Sean! ~ Shelby :o)
Yep, slow & steady wins the race.!!!!!
Well, in case I didn’t believe what I said the 1st time I typed it, the system erased it all and is forcing me to type it again! Maybe saying it twice will cement this resolution even more. In March of this year I decided 2012 was going to be the year that I finally lost the weight that has been creeping up on me for years. At 43 years old with a full time job and 3 gorgeous girls to dedicate myself to, it was hard to find not only the time but the ambition to exercise. Then in March I decided I was going to take a trip to New Jersey to meet Sean and Norman at the end of April. That was the motivation I needed to get started. Having a specific date as a goal helped me get it in gear. By the time the trip came along, I had lost 7 lbs. Doesn’t seem like a lot but it was more than I had lost in literally years. After the trip I managed to keep the momentum going. I lost 6 more lbs for a total of 13 lbs. Then it happened. I fell off the healthy wagon. I just got burnt out and didn’t feel good. Then starting to get out of shape again made me feel worse and it was just a downward spiral. I got on the scale tonight for the 1st time in months. I had been avoiding it knowing that I wasn’t following through on what I had set out to do. I gained back 4 lbs. Not the end of the world. Nothing to dwell on. Upward and onward! Or in the case of weight, downward and onward!! So, this is it. 2013 WILL be the year I lose the rest of the weight. I’m setting a goal of 20 lbs in 6 months. Its doable without being to hard to maintain. That will put be in the healthy weight range on the BMI chart. When I get there, notice I say WHEN and not IF, when I get there, I can reassess and see if there is more I need to do. I don’t talk about fat or skinny. Those are body issues I don’t want to pass onto my girls. I tell them mom needs to get HEALTHIER. I am excited to get there and I WILL get there. Thank you Sean for always being willing to kick my ass into gear! I don’t always agree with everything you say, as you may remember, I’m not afraid to tell you so, but I know that you are looking out for us and that you are here to spur us on to be better people. Thank you for that.
My story…from the beginning? Okay. Here we go. Just like so many others, I’ve been overweight since I was a teenager. I won’t bore anyone with the “poor me, who couldn’t fit into clothes” crap or the “no one would ever take me out on a date” BS because who wants to hear that? Four years ago, I got healthy…well, healthier. I started working out and eating better and I lost fifty of the hundred pounds I needed to lose. Well, I guess I was looking good because I got knocked up. My husband and I never really wanted kids but we counted our son as a blessing and we still do, of course. As time progressed, he wasn’t developing like a typical child. We took him to doctor after doctor and had several tests done, including a muscle biopsy looking for Mitochondrial Disorder. Fortunately, it all came back good but unfortunately, there still weren’t any answers. In a nutshell, he’s special needs and along with all that stress, I put that fifty pounds back on. I avoided mirrors. I wore sweatpants. I blamed my increasingly tight scrub uniforms on “that damn dryer!”. Then, I became a fan of The Walking Dead. I fell in love with Norman. I watched Boondock Saints and I fell in love with Sean. I started following Sean on Twitter in November, a few days before the first blog was posted about making right choices to get healthy. At first I was defensive but then I read it again and it hit me like a ton of ice cream. I was killing myself. Literally. Was any of that junk that I put in my mouth worth feeling like that? No. It wasn’t. So, I started eating better and doing more physical activites. I had so many excuses: “Food is all I have”, “stress from my son”, “I don’t have the money to join a gym”. All those excuses were killing me and I was allowing it. Since Thanksgiving, I’ve lost 17 pounds and I’m proud of every single ounce. My goal is to lose 100 pounds total by January 1st, 2014 and in the fall, my goal is to run a 5K. My last cigarette was tonight. As of right now, I am banning red meat from my life. I want to say thank you, Sean, for inspiring me with every word that you write and for reaching out to your fans. The moment I read that first blog changed my life and it will continue to change for the better. One day, I hope to meet you so that you can see for yourself what a huge (no pun intended…no, wait, pun INTENDED…haha) difference you’ve made in my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for caring. Happy NEW YEAR!!
Goodbye cigarettes….. hello healthy lungs.!!!!!!!! Beautiful.!!!
Oh, and I also promise to start typing with better accuracy. I obviously need the improvement. haha!
I didn’t want to wait until the beginning of the new year to begin taking better care of myself so I started a couple months ago. Last January, two days before my 42nd birthday, I joined a run group and trained to run/walk (intervals) my first 5k in April. I did 3 more races throughout the year. I gave up fast food almost 2 years ago and haven’t missed it. I need to lose weight and had hoped that these changes would help. It is disappointing that it really hasn’t yet. Now I’m looking to give up diet soda and have been really good about it the past couple of months and, surprisingly, I’ve begun to lose weight. It’s encouraging. I just lost my job two weeks before Christmas and I’m choosing to use the unwanted time on my hands to continue concentrating on taking better care of myself. 1. I want to re-start the run training (on my own) and keep working at it until I can run the entire 5k with no walk breaks by April. 2. No more diet soda. 3. Short term weight loss goal 25 pounds.
Thank you for the encouragement. I have a difficult time talking about these things and sometimes feel that I’m setting myself up for failure when I write them down, but I’m giving it a shot. 🙂
I have faith that you’ll give it more than just a “shot”.!!!!!!!
Thank you for the encouragement. I hope you know how much it is appreciated.
Update: Some weight has finally started to come off (YAY), giving up the diet soda has been a lot easier than I thought it would be. The clothes are loose, I’m run/walking my third 5K since Thanksgiving this Sunday, got my foot in the door and kicked ass with some freelance photography and had great interview on Wednesday for a “real” job. I keep smiling even when that’s the last thing I want to do.
My mutt, Happy Jack, is sending Donut something for Valentine’s Day so be watching for it. 😉
Thank you again (and again) for the encouragement.
It was SO nice to see you this weekend at Full Moon. Thank you for the encouragement and I hope you get a giggle out of the photos (Twitter). I appreciated your time, enthusiasm and encouragement…oh and the hugs. Can’t forget those. Take good care of you and do NOT let your mom sell those Hot Wheels. 😉
Hi Sean and everyone! As I said in a reply above, I’m a recovering addict with 14 months clean. 2012 has been my first year in recovery, and its been amazing to see all the changes. Quick overview of my story, I never did drugs of any sort until I was about 22, and after several episodes with kidney stones, I discovered I liked pain meds a lot. At around 25 I started using pain meds daily, and quickly went downhill. I am a nurse, and when the hospital I worked for discovered I had taken some meds, I finally realized I had a problem and started treatment. Today is 14 months exactly. It’s been a hard road, but I’m so glad to have experienced it, as crazy as that may sound. It allowed me to discover that I’m not as crazy as I thought I was growing up, most addicts think like I do, and I’ve made some amazing friends in recovery. So my resolution for 2013 is to continue to work on my recovery, decrease junk food consumption by at least 75% I may not have issues with my weight yet, but I know the effects this stuff has on my body, I also will exercise at least 4x per week and increase water consumption to at least 1/2 gal per day. Not giving up smoking yet, not making excuses for it, I’m just not ready to give it up.
Sean thank you for continuing to inspire me and many others, your very helpful words are like a treasure that could heal the mind, ill share my goals and give you my word that I will commit and shine! 1 I will get in better shape. 2 have a better diet, much healthier. 3 work on Anger problem. 4 become a blue or higher belt by the end of the year. 5 do wonderful at my jobs! 6 cut the wrong from my life. Thank you again sean may all your days bring you love and joy god bless!
I have stopped making New Years resolutions because in my 47 years I have never kept one. But sometimes things happen that change your life. Mine was having a knock down drag out fight (words only) this August. My 17 year old daughter hit every button I have and I did not handle it well, going for blood when I should have walked away. The things said can never be taken back but they the awoke many emotions and issues about myself that I often ignored. I curled up in a ball for a day and something broke in me and I saw things in a way that made it clear she was not all wrong. The one thing that was clear was I had to figure me out first before I could help her. Our relationship was almost lost but she helped me find how to rebuild me so I could be there for her.
I am an obese woman who had many bad things happen to her. I used these things as an excuse for all things bad in my life. I thought on this for a while and decided to start with the most obvious. My Weight. This was August 2012 and I have not looked back. I have changed many of my eating habits and added exercise to my life. I have lost 58 lbs and need to lose much more. I have went to my doctors and have followed through with my exams and test and have brought my blood pressure down from scary high to normal, and have my sugar levels in control.
This past year really sucked with deaths of people and pets who I loved. My job was demolished and my new boss is all about control. I wanted to act like I had before but I knew that there was no going back. This is my future, eating healthy and exercising I have even lost 8 lbs during all the holiday festivities. I am looking into getting my stomach size changed to help with my future, this is scary but I feel it may be necessary to help me accomplish my goals.
Now my list for the future:
I will continue to work toward being as healthy as possible.
Will not let people who do not care and love me have enough influence to hurt my soul.
I will work on my empathy and caring of others.
I will go to the dentist before my teeth issues effect my health.
Will start my graduate studies in the field I am called to.
I will figure out my past so it will stop effecting my future. I have blank spots in some of my teenage adventures that seem to haunt me even now.
There I have proclaimed all.
Now THAT’S resolve.!!!!!!
I guess mine has more to do with mental health than anything, but here it goes. 2012 has been alternately the best and worst. I let my own laziness get the best of me and it seriously affected my studies and motivation to do my best. But now it’s 15 minutes until the new year, and that’s going to change. In 2013, I will get my license. I will pass (with A’s) every class I take so I can get into a great nursing school. I’ll continue to fight against negativity and selfishness. I will let go of my own ego to become a better, happier person than I was in 2012.
And no more Lays chips. I’m quitting those cold turkey.
I am a 40 yr old wife and mother of two. This week I start my new career as a law enforcementofficer. I resolve this year to finally lose that last 10lbs I can’t seem to get rid of. But more importantly , to be as strong in body as I am in moral convictions. To be a shining example for my two young boys in how to take care of yourself and those you love.
Tara Williams
With that, we already have two sterling new members of a grateful society in your two boys.!!!
They say that cops are super heroes that have not gotten their powers yet. LOVE it 🙂
I’ll start with the brutal honesty from the jump… while I really need to make some promises, as well as serious changes in my life, I am extremely afraid to do so. My problems are no worse or technically different than anyone else who has posted a comment to the post. My main problem is the fear I just mentioned. Fear has been my biggest enemy for as long as I can remember.
As this nightmare of a year comes to a close while I type this comment, my promise & commitment to myself & anyone who reads this & feels like caring is this…I will get back on track with the course of tackling & overcoming my fear of living. I will do this every day. I will remember that I am a person worthy of happiness. I will stop hiding. I will…I WILL! Within the next month, I will regain my energy, my determination, my drive, my artistic eye.
Wow, this more difficult than I imagined it would be! 10 minutes left to 2012…
Okay, next…I will rejoin the living. 2012 has been arguably the worst of my life. I will no longer play or believe the negative tapes that have played repeatedly throughout my life. I will no longer repeat the quote “the bad stuff is easier to believe”. I will tell myself something positive about myself every day, without fail, without excuses, even if it’s something small. I need to remember the good things about myself.
It seems that since I have fallen into this never ending pit of despair & self-pity, I have for the 1st time in my life gained 15 unwanted & unneeded pounds. It makes me sick. I am not obese by any stretch of the imagination, so I technically have nothing to complain about, but…to me, it’s a nightmare. It makes me sick every time I look at myself in the mirror, every time I try to change my clothes. I will force myself to be active every day, no matter what it is….a walk, hoola-hooping, crunches, whatever. By the time February comes around I will have lost the extra weight & be on my way to being in the best shape of my life. I will eat healthier. I will research how to go about that, put everything into it that I have.
Lastly…I will fight my urge to give up on myself & these promises. Maybe I took on too many…but everything I typed…those goals are very important to me being able to come back to life & smile again.
I fear that this was all just a rambling mess of words, but I’m gonna stand by it, follow through on them & work harder than I ever have for anything in my life!
Here comes 2013…can’t think of a better way to ring in a new start…wish me luck!
<3
Well, I’m here to document your conviction at exactly East coast New Years.!!!!!!!!!!
Great…I can feel the pressure I put on myself through you! No seriously….I consider it a good thing, even if it scares me completely!!! Thank you for doing this, for whatever reason you do.
Right, so now that we’re in the 2nd half of April, I’d like to give a final update on my promise. It has taken me longer to fulfill the promises I made at the new year, but have now accomplished or am about to accomplish everything I typed out that cold & lonely night. I could wax philosophical about looking back on my difficult year…but screw that! I’m more interested in paying attention to the moment. I have set goals, made plans & do look forward to achieving even more as time goes on, but right now I find it imperative to focus on this day as it happens. I’ve thrown away an entire year of my life that I can’t get back, probably more if I’m completely honest, so thank you all for your support, your words of strength. What a lovely community you’ve built here Flanery…thank you for that! See you next month…maybe =)
Yeah, so…much like my friend (Thanks to you Sean) Corissa, I come back with an admission after proclaiming my :”final” update. What a cop out that statement was! Brutal honesty, that’s who I really am. The brutal truth is when I wrote that last update, I was still lost inside my own personal rabbit hole. I happen, at times, to also suffer from “everything’s fine” syndrome. When I typed that out, I wasn’t exactly lying so much as I was fighting really hard to focus on my optimism…which is a pretty way of saying I was trying to fake it till I made it. Needless to say, that didn’t work! My reason for typing out this new promise differs from Corissa in that I had NO fear in telling you who I was when I met you in Detroit last weekend Sean. Yes, to paraphrase you, I am the girl who writes often. It has always been a necessity to write out my thoughts. In the moment, when we spoke, I felt engaged, a bit confident & in my element. I made my living for many years managing, coordinating & producing many types of events, promotions & tours. I am not easily intimidated, hence my comfort level when we spoke. The conversation was quite nice…open, revealing, honest. Something in me changed on that Saturday afternoon…I had to face the harsh reality that I was not living anywhere near my full potential. I am also extremely unhappy with my physical appearance. What has been happening in the week since then is amazing mostly to myself, but also to those around me & who I interact with regularly. I am exercising almost daily. I am eating healthy. I have also given up my favorite vice, Dr Pepper (how could I tease you about Aspartame while I’m downing DP?). To date I have lost 5 pounds (big deal for me). Today was the biggest change of all so far. I won’t go into specifics, because it’s still in its infancy, but I am willing to say it is something big that WILL change my life. I feel I should thank you, Sean, for once again getting through to that part of me that I was letting rot away inside me…the confident, creative, vivacious woman that can incite magic if she so chooses. She is taking over again & my solemn promise is that I will only listen to her from now on. Oh yeah…I will also start to shine again! Thanx…”friend”
Jenn, I have some great quotes on fear and when I get to my journals, I will post for you. Fear can paralyze us so that we simply exist and not live. I believe you will accomplish your goals. Most importantly, you will kick fear in the teeth! Write more soon. 🙂
Ashley~ Even though its been quite a while since your response to me, I want to thank you! Sorry I missed this, things have been insane, in good & bad ways. I would love to read your quotes. I’m a collector of quotes myself, not sure when or why I got into it, but I guess it stems from me loving words.
Hey,
I had decided to make changes back in May as I stated in my blogpost http://rustycyot.blogspot.com/2012/05/theres-gonna-be-some-changes.html – Good news is we’re almost paid off all our debts & even bought a newer SUV in cash. Bad news is, I lost the damn book I was talking about…I know, I know not an excuse 🙂 I started walking as an exercise program but had bouts of fatigue & tireness that I couldn’t explain til I found out I have Stage 4 Kidney Disease which causes low energy etc. Next week I’ll be going to the Transplant Center for orientation & info session so we’ll see from there. So for New Year’s Resolutions hmmm?? I quit smoking years ago, I don’t drink, I’m eating a veggie tray as I type (waving a carrot at Sean) and I recently gave up Pop. So my resolution would be to find a way to exercise around the fatigue and fight hard against my Dermatillomania which I’ve been battling for 25+ years.
So Happy New Year Sean & Donut!
Hey there!
First off I think this whole thing is great about being accountable for each other-accountability is so important when trying to better ourselves!
My name is Meredith and I am 24 years old. I have two small children: Lucy is one and Luke is three.
So I guess my story starts this time last year when I got the go ahead from my doctor to start exercising again after I had my baby girl in November. I was so excited and ready to get my pre-baby body back. I had gained a little more with her than I did with my boy and I was just ready to get it off. I was able to do it seamlessly with Luke and was half expecting the same with Lucy. So I started out really well; eating right and working out every day. I slowly, but surely began to see results. By June I was down 15 pounds and only 10 away from my short term goal.
This same time in June we lost my husband’s grandmother, whom he was very close to. I was expected to carry the emotional weight of the family which was exhausting. I fell off of the health and fitness band wagon because of the stress and apparently never got back on. With financial problems, another death in the family, marital issues and the cold weather telling me to cover my body I was able to comfortably sit on some excuses to not start back. I held onto these with one hand while with the other I chugged soda and scarfed candy every chance I got. I kept saying “Oh, I’ll start back tomorrow, next week, on Monday…” One excuse after another led to one, two, three more pounds….
Finally, this month I braved the scale once more. Devastated, but not surprised I saw that I gained all my baby weight back and then some. All this in the same amount of time that it took to loose it.
This blatant, ridiculous failure looms over my head and laughs in my face each time I look in the mirror. I have not seen the weight that I am now since I was pregnant. I’ve never weighed this much, just me! It’s so scary. My mom is medically considered “morbidly obese” and my Aunt had a gastric bypass-it’s in my family to be a big lady, but I do NOT want to be like that. Genetics stop here.
Even though this failure is so intimidating I will not let it rule my health. I am determined to pull my fat ass out of the dirt and start over-and STICK with it!!!
I’m so glad that I found your blog for accountability and motivation! I plan on documenting my progress on my new blog on Tumblr…it’d be great if you could follow it!
C’mon ladies and gents…we can do this!!! I want to make 2013 the best yet.
I’ve got to get this weight off while I’m young because I know it’s only going to get harder as I get older.
So, this isn’t my only Resolution, but it is my number one.
Some others are:
1. Spend more quality time with my kids.
2. Be a better housekeeper.
3. Brush up on my Spanish to be fluent again by the end of the year.
4. Be financially smarter.
Basically this time next year I want to be wealthier, healthier and happier that I am right now.
“I promise to work out every day and eat better. I will document this in my FitnessPal and my new blog. I would like to have lost 15-20 pounds by June 2013. Also, I promise to spend more quality time with my kids, take better care of my house, be fluent again in Spanish by the end of 2013 and be a better steward of my money.”–Meredith 12/31/12
I think it’s so great that you are taking time to help people! I’m really glad that I have your blog to motivate and inspire me! Let’s be accountable for each other, it’s always better with friends 😉
Much love-you’re great-Happy New Year! =)))
Thank you, Sean, for all of your unwaving support and encouragement. I’ve enjoyed your blog and look forward to you shinin’ that beautiful light on into the future! 2013 brings a time of extreme gratitude for me…and my family. In October of 2011, I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, growing at an extremely fast pace. It came out of nowhere…with no family history to speak of. Crazy thing is that I was in the best shape of my life!! I was eating 80% raw and exercising almost everyday! Quite honestly, I was a wee bit obsessive.
The diagnosis, chemotherapy and a bilateral mastectomy have changed all of that. I am unbelievably grateful to have another year with my sweet daughter…and I cannot predict what the future may hold. None of us can! As I move forward into 2013, into tomorrow, my resolution is to be more present. More present with my daughter, more present with my students, more present, too, when I am making choices regarding my health…mentally, emotionally and physically. You see…before my diagnosis, I was so obsessed with eating something that wasn’t organic or not keeping a regimented workout schedule that I forgot to live my life!! My battle with cancer reminded me to lighten up, embrace the things that are life-giving and be willing to step out a bit. I still strive to lead a healthy lifestyle…I’d like to hang around for another 50 years…but I’d like my girl to remember me as someone that breathed in life and shared in all the wonderful things it had to offer! All things in moderation….a balance, I have found… is the key to happiness.
Happy New Year!!!!
I am going to get back on my exercise & weight loss goals and stick to them. I want to be healthy and strong. I’m going to go back to working out at least six days a week. I need to set an example for my daughter, a champion artistic roller skater. If she’s in training for regionals and nationals then so am I! I’m also going to meet my writing goals. I’m going to get my book written and my screenplay written. I’ve put these goals off way too long because I’ve been afraid of failing at them. But by not doing anything, that’s the biggest failure of all I’m starting this year off right and I’m going to accomplish everything this year. I’m also not going to allow negative people to have any impact in my life. This year is MY year dammit and I’m taking it!
This year I promise myself to act more responsibly with my finances. It is time to work hard and get out of debt. Maybe I can teach our government something. 🙂 This is something that I really need to do and with the support of everyone here, I can do it.
I also will eat a more healthy diet. And, with sincere apologies to those on the other side, I need to put on some weight. I want to do that in a healthy way and make sure I don’t go too far.
I’m not really sure where to start, so I guess I will just start at the beginning. I am the child of an abusive home. I grew up surrounded by drugs and alcohol and pretty much every other thing that a child should never be exposed to. As I grew up I failed to break that cycle and instead ended up in an abusive relationship of my own. This year I will focus on doing what is safest and best for me. I will not continue to be a victim in 2013. Thank you so much for the eye opening words. I cannot express enough my gratitude to you.
So many people on this site have definitely made wonderful and amazing strides in their lives and seem genuinely happy with it. I’ve decided to count myself among them from this night forward.
I plan on making a few changes. When the sun rises on this new year, it will be a new me. I am quitting smoking first and foremost. There’s nothing good about it so it serves no purpose. I’m going to make myself healthier all around, eating better, cutting down on sodas and candies along with more fruits and so forth. I’m going to get moving and stop saying ‘I’ll do it tomorrow’. I’m going to be a better person all around to the people I know and love and to complete strangers and I’m going to finally pursue the career I’ve always wanted. No more excuses and wasting time on wishing.
I made the biggest change ever a couple months ago when, after several weeks on Chantix, I was able to finally be smoke free for the first time since Clinton was in office. With as much as I smoked, too, it’s a huge thing! But, with it, I’ve put on a few pounds so my next step is to get back into shape. Start jogging or cycling again. That’s my big plan this year, now that I’ll have my lung capacity back.
When my 4 year old daughter started school this year, not only did it start a new phase of her life, but a new phase in mine. I’ve been more active than I have been in years. My resolution is to stay active and to lose an additional 20 lbs by April.
I also intend to live by an old saying someone told me a long time ago. I didn’t understand it then, but I do now: don’t sell yourself short. I will rid myself of the negativity in my life and remain positive.
I promise to work out for no less than 30 minutes at least 6 days out of the week. There’s no excuse not to make this time for myself! With working out Will come the resolve to eat better because I don’t want that work to be for nothing, right? Two days out of every week will be days that I eat only whole, real, healthy foods. (Start with two, hope that it will grow to more than that.) Since meeting Sean 6 months ago and beginning to follow him on Twitter, I’ve already lost 15 lbs. Not much, I know, but it’s been a baby step in the right direction. My goal is to be down another 25 lbs (that STAY OFF) by October of 2013. That’s approx -2 lbs per month, -1/2 lb every week.
It’s going to be a test of my willpower, but that’s the only way that the will can get stronger.
This year I will break a cycle of abuse. Just because I was raised in an abusive home does not mean that I have to stay with someone that abuses me. I will not be hospitalized, beaten or used as a punching bag. I am worth more than that, if not to anyone else than to myself. In 2013 I will not be a victim. I don’t know if you will read this but of so thank you so much for the encouragement, from the bottom of my heart. I don’t know how I will make the changes yet but I know that it can be done. And that somehow I will succeed.
Hey Sean,
I’ve been “trying” for the past 2 years to lose weight. By that I mean I was sort of trying until this year. I noticed that as soon as I quit smoking in fall of 2009 that I put on weight, and then I got pregnant and I really only put on about 25lbs with my pregnancy. I didn’t use it as an excuse to binge, because frankly if I ate more than needed I would get sick to my stomach. Ok, ok I’m rambling. Anyway, this year I’ve vowed to at least get down to the weight I was before I got pregnant. And from there to get back down to the weight I was in college. BUT, this time do it in a healthy way. At that time I was starving myself and over doing it in the exercise department. I would eat a whole pizza on Monday and then not eat for a week, while training in a boxing ring. Now, if I’m “bored hungry” I drink water, if I want to take a nap while my son is napping I fire up the Wii Fit and do a few exercises. If I have a night to myself I go to the gym. I’m 6 ft tall, 188lbs, I’d like to get down to 165. The BMI says 150 is healthy for me, but I feel that I’d lose my curves if I did that. Wow, I’m REALLY rambling. Anyway, thank you for helping me to take the initiative Sean. Someday I’d like to thank you in person.
This year I’m going to lose the extra weight and go for that dream job. Finally go to Disneyland and make my family proud. Well that one may take longer than a year.
about to leave for the navy. I’ve got 14 days left. I’ve lost 13 pounds in order to be able to ship. I promise to keep working at it and lose at least 2 more pounds before I leave. I promise to put everything I have into boot camp. I’ll come out a new and shinier me. and maybe I can help others improve along the way 🙂
I’m making a promise to my self once again. Three days ago I slipped up. I ate at work. I work at the largest fast food chain in the world, and after three months of not eating there and losing about 30lbs I slipped up. So I’m doing my best to get back on track. It’s always hard since it’s always in your face. Especially on long shifts and zero or no money due to bills they pretty much shove the free food in your face. I swear to eat better, more salads and less grease. Even though I can’t say the salads there are any better. I promise to exercise more as well. I watched my dad have a stroke last August, I watched my dad make my uncle promise him that he’d take care of me if he were to pass away. In all my 26 years I’ve never been so scared to see the person I look to. The man who was always a rock lay in a hospital bed shaken with fear. Sure my mom has had her health scares it’s nothing to fear being in the ER when I watched my mom nearly die on my three times, each time scarier than the last, but to see my dad, the person who would take care of me when my mom fall ill be the one ill this time, I’ve never felt so helpless. I promised myself three months ago to cut the poison out of my body, even with new temptations, it’s hard to say the least. I’ve never been one to hold my convictions, never been one to stay on track. I just for once want to feel better about myself and finally feel beautiful inside and out. Which is hard in a society that makes it apparent that being a size two is beautiful, or asshole boyfriends who never tell you they are good enough. So today, for my loving father, my amazing mother, my perfect fiance, and finally for myself I will do my best to stick by my promise and stop eating at work, and start exercising more. Thank you for all you do in making your fans feel welcome, and thank you for always being there for us.
Jeez I couldn’t type that day, it was late a night my fiance was in the ER with Pneumonia… I feel like I came off as some illiterate fool. Sorry about that. But I have a feeling you’ll be watching me through Twitter now, making sure I keep on my promise/resolution.
Well to start, I’m just a teenage girl living in a small town. It’s hard to be yourself around here because of people being so judge mental, but this year I’ve decided to stop being what everyone wants me to be, stop pretending to be someone I’m not. This year, I’m going to show people who I really am and hopes friends are true friends and will still be with me this time next year. Also, I plan on eating a healthier diet, which will be quite hard considering there is not much of an opportunity for good fresh foods around here, but I will make it work. I love your blog and it has really shed some light into my life. Thank you for being here. Zoe Sears (@DragonGhost19)
My new years resolution is to start being more active again. When I was growing up I was out every day, hunting, fishing, camping, I was a competitive swimmer, I danced, and was a member of our communities acting group for 14 years until I moved. Over the past few years I’ve let myself stop being active and everything has started to become harder for me. Half the time walking up the stairs causes me to be tired. I’m 5’2″ and 110 lbs and 18 years old. The perfect weight for someone my height. I’ve decided I’m going to start walking and running more, I’ll go practice MMA with my friend at the gym and get lessons, I’ll go back to swimming and continue to increase my strength and cardio. You have been an inspiration to me and being able to write this makes me feel a lot more motivated knowing that you’re reading it. If you have any suggestions on how to continue to change my schedule I’d love to hear them!! Happy New Years Sean xoxox – Amber
When my husband left for basic (Army) in June, one of my goals was to work on exercising like I used to and lose some weight, as something I’d been wanting to do & a positive, productive way to spend my time. I have gone down a pant size! My goal for this new year really is to focus & make sure I contiue what I’ve started, preferably at a higher rate haha!
I’m really scared of telling my resolutions because I don’t know if I’ll get to do them. Appart from eating healthier and do some exercice [which I found it to be a lost battle every year…], the biggest goal I wanna achieve is start living on my own. I’m just 24 and thanks to you, I’ve kinda found the courage to finally leave behind this empty life I’m living. The another one would be drawing and painting for the simple pleasure of doing it without being questioned…It would really make me feel a lot better and not end up blowing myself up crying and stuff everytime I reached the limit. Thank you for everything Sean.
This year I plan on taking more photographs to upload onto my deviantART/Facebook accounts. I plan on vloging and vloging more. I plan on calling people and meeting people face to face more. I plan on no longer yelling at the news anchors on my tv. I plan on buying a toning dvd, my weights great, I just feel I could be more toned. The highlight of 2012 was meeting you.
I’ve achieved last years resolution of achieving a healthy BMI. From mid over weight range to mod average range. Now this year I got 2 goals. First one is turning the left over body fat into tone muscle, by returning to bootcamp,joining the army/police, and simple things like taking the dog for a run everyday, and the Second goal is drinking far less amounts of alcohol. Next year hopefully it would be quitting time and maybe returning back to Karate or start Jujitsu.
This new years I hav promised myself above anyone that I will keep in touch with my family more often…especially my son. To enjoy more quality time with my daughter everyday. I have realized my life is slipping by with not so many great memories of better times. Tocut out the bad eating habbits and eat better…to actually keep up the yoga and jogging. Not just to make myself happier but to make my kids happier. I also will realize that what I have set forth for myself will be hard but I’m tougher. Thank you for your inspiration and truthful words.
Well, I have one main resolution and then a couple of minor one. The major one is to quit smoking. I have been smoking since I was 14 and now I’m 34. 20 years is WAY too long! I made a promise to my mother and my best friend that I will quit and I put out my last cigarette at 11:23 pm, 12/31/12. The minor ones are to try to lose weight, one I get some health issues under control. I will also start eatting better, for the second minor one.I am going to try to start working out, even if it’s just here at home.
My fiance dumped me on New Year’s day 2012, I spent the last year reflecting on my life, how I would change whom I am to please the person I was with, how I would bend over backwards to make THEM happy, neglecting myself. Then I realized that I need to be happy before I can make someone else happy. I have to love myself before I can ask someone else to love me for me. I think this is what has brought on my resolutions. It’s time to make ME happy for a change and STOP trying to help everyone else when the amount of people I helped were not the same amount of people that would help me in return,
You know, I never considered making “New Year’s Resolutions” a lot, maybe it’s because I’m so young and I’m bad at making myself do things? Who knows really. I mean, I’m seventeen and graduating high school this year. I am literally about to be grown into the adult world and wow man. That’s freaking SCARY. But after the year that I’ve had, and reading your post, and having a whole life ahead of me I’m thinking, maybe a few won’t hurt? I won’t bring stress onto myself though, that’s the last thing I want or need. But, enough rambling let’s make this happen!
In 2013 I swear too:
1. Write once a day. Write anything.
2. Spend at least one to two hours outside.
3. Care for MYSELF first.
4. At least TRY to cut back on my cookie intact but I make no real promises there okay.
So, there you go Sean! There’s my goals, I know it’s not much and that they seem a little silly, but I think for someone who’s never really had a resolution, it’s a good start!! Now make sure I stay with it Flanery!! Or it’s all your fault!!!!
*thrown
I will watch YOU do it.
*intake wow typos everywhere.
so i’m looking up random things on the search ,y’know and typed in “tighten it up” cuz my brother and i, we both love the saints and watch it bout a thousand times…especially since the last few years have been a shit storm (and i probably should make a resolution to stop swearing but that’s never gonna be fulfilled, i’m doing the best i can not to go tourette’s style as it is.) and i dunno i feel like that’s the motto for the new year. and then i read a bit about norman and tho i don’t watch his zombie show i’m interested in him and hope he’s doing well and it leads me on to troy duffy and how everybody in hollywood supposedly thinks he’s shite, but i don’t know a thing ’bout the man so i’m not to judge, as it’s naught to me, tho i’d have loved to see the third installment come to fruition, but all-in-all, interesting just the same. then of course saving the best for last, i look up yourself and lo and behold here’s a challenge for the new year, to be authentic and state your purpose. which you did and it was clean and inspiring, so there’s nothing stopping me, right? why not. and here it is: to continue to write everyday and see if i am in fact a writer, cuz a writer, tho unpublished is still a writer a long as they’re writing and telling the TRUTH. van gogh was a painter his whole damn life, tho he never sold a thing during it, did he? to continue to be as healthy as i can for as long as i can and deal with my illness not deny it’s existence just because it doesn’t obviously show. to continue to give the best of what’s been given me freely and without stinting, to my family and friends, and to the random people who happen along my path. to keep my eyes and heart open to wonder. to live as lightly on this earth as possible, but to leave a foot print in the sand for those who’ve lost their way. with harm to none, to let my will be done, as i have a tendency to overlook my own needs in the work of being of service to others. denial of self is a type of egotism in some and i think that it’s been the case for me to martyr myself unnecessarily. so enough of that. and to take the dog to the beach as often as possible til i’m able to walk the length of it and back, which is about 4 miles, as i used to do daily before all the problems arose. and to let go of my grief cuz it’s not gonna protect me from getting hurt by loss. but i’ve got so much to be grateful for and to realize it and to let that be, generous with the gratitude i feel. and ok, to stop with the sneaky emergency ciggys and the candy stash that’s inside my sock drawer. and to get my fat ass up and moving every single day until i can fit it into my old 501’s cuz i loved how i felt at that size. light and strong as an arrow…’and then purge this moral grossness so, then like an airy spirit go’…..and to cry less, because there are no arms to catch me now, when i throw my arms out and give myself to the wind…..well, you’d have to know me for that to make sense, and you don’t but it’s part of my truth and truth is what this is all about. this is my purpose.
I promise to push myself to get a job. September of 2011 i got a job at walmart as a cashier. Loved where i was working, who i was working with and just loved life. December of that year i kept getting sick, I just thought it was the flu and didnt think it was major so didnt worry about it. I kept calling off work because i was getting worse. The day before they fired me i found out i was pregnant. Was happy about it but was upset that i didnt have a job anymore, 8 weeks later i had a miscarriage and was devastaed. Didnt want to do anything or be around anyone and just fell into a deep depression. I didnt know what to do. I havent had a job in a year and still cant find one. I dont want to be unhappy anymore. I want to be happy for my daughter, I want her to see me succeed and show her that i can. Thats why i am making a promise to her and to you that i will never give up and keep trying.
This year I promise to continue working out daily and make my goal of 50 pound weight loss. Half way there. I promise to keep my caloric intake to the recommendation of my physician. I also promise that I will keep my BDM to a minimum, because I know I will make a few. I also promise to love myself for who I am…..that’s a toughy. Thank You Sean Patrick for inspiring someone you will probably never meet. I feel like I need to do this so I won’t let you down. Lol
I promise you that if you achieve those goals… you will not find it hard to absolutely ADORE yourself.
I promise to lose weight I gained from meds and quitting smoking cigs. I promise to start making my health a priority as much as my insurance allows, I promise to try to maintain any sanity I have, I promise to work more on my book, and all of this I promise to do within the next year. Oh I also plan to read more as opposed to internet surfing in the future as well. I also intend to graduate with my bachelors degree this summer and move on to my masters and continue my therapy while getting more organized. thanks for caring. x
Never really told my story before so bear with me 🙂
My journey began 8 years ago on November 3rd. My mother, and best friend in the entire world, passed away from a 5 year battle with stage 4 colon cancer. I watched her fight for her life and wonder how such a horrific thing could happen to her body. She was somewhat overweight and, god bless her, thought she was eating healthy according to her understanding. I was 20 years old when she passed and dedicated the next 8 years trying to understand the body and how different foods harm and heal. I was weighed 185 when I took the first steps to change my life. I began learning about the chemicals put in food and the damaging effects it has on the body. I studied about genetic modification, processed foods and anything I could get my hands on. I cut out all unnatural sugars, fast food, soda and white breads. I replaced them with organic greens, cane juice, whole grains, hormone free meats and lots and lots of yummy almonds. This process was one of the hardest things I’d ever had to commit to, but I was determined to be as healthy as possible and live the life my mother would have wanted for me. I realized I used food for coping, boredom, celebrations and pretty much anything under the sun. I was addicted to food in the most unhealthy of ways. One trick I used in the beginning stages: I wanted Ben & Jerrys so badly that I would buy a pint, eat a spoon full and run hot water through the rest 🙂 this would be a waste of money but satisfy my craving until I didn’t even want it anymore. Now, even a spoon full makes me sick to my stomach and light headed. Amazing to think what the body can cope with when unhealthy foods are forced upon it in mass.
During this journey, I also started working out…something I had never done regularly. I began by taking spinning classes; which was incredibly fun and motivating and did the trick to build up my lung capacity. Then I began running. Now I run 3-5 times a week and do body weight exercises and weight training. I’ve lost 50 lbs and gained muscle tone and endurance. Running has become something I crave now and miss horribly when I take too many days off! I adore it like I never thought possible!
This is an uphill battle and one I have lost on many fronts, but honestly, my weight doesn’t scare me anymore. I understand what certain foods will do to me and how they will affect my mood or energy level. I make informed, conscious choices every day and, by doing so, determine how I will feel the next day. My body is in my control, it does not control me. There are always steps to take to become more healthy, more fit, or have more energy. But this does not have to be daunting. Knowledge is power and I believe I have added years to my life and buckets full of confidence that I simply would not have possessed had I not begun this journey.
In the hospital, my mom was in so much pain, she gripped my hand and begged me not to go through what she was going through. Not to feel the pain she felt when I had the power to take my life in my own hands and make it better. I promised her I would fight against the genetics of my own family (colon cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc.) and no longer willingly shorten my life with food that could very well kill me, a depressed outlook on life and crippling self-consciousness. It was a promise I was terrified I could not keep. But step by step, my world has changed.
This new year, my resolution is to never quit. Sometimes look into the mirror and still see the fat girl I was before but those are my own ghosts I much battle now and again. In the end, I am happier and healthier for what my mother did for me. She was my everything and a lifetime of unhealthy choices at least had a hand in taking her from me. She refused to die and allow me to blindly head down the exact same path. I owe my life to her, in every way.
and I have issues and fibromyalgia and who knows what else but I intend to do what is in my ability. so yeah, that was a p.s. 🙂 thnks so much x
My name is Chelsea Staab I have been sick and on steroids to save my vision for 5 years….in the process over the last 6 months I have lost 65 pounds and work on it every day. Sean your words of wisdom help me everyday and I appreciate everything you do!!!
I have a few goals for this year. I want to spend more time outside and not curled up on the couch watching tv and tweeting. 🙂 I also want to spend much more time with my family. I’m realizing that everyone’s time is limited whether you want to believe it or not, so spend as much as you can with the ones you love. I also want to make more friends this year. Maybe I can start with you? 🙂 If you were to comment on this or follow me or whatever, I would feel it as a responsibility to do every single thing I said. It makes me so happy when people I admire notice me. Well, I’m about to watch Lord of the Rings with my brother and tomorrow the whole family is going on a hike. Take care and Happy New Year!!!
oh and my name is Annie Shirley and my twitter username is @Anniebanani21
Here’s a little of my history, I was diagnosed with a rare, debilitating neurological disease called Intracranial Hypertension (IH) in 1995. I managed to live a fairly normal life (job, boyfriends, friends, ect.) until 11/2010 when things finally got to the point that I was unable to work anymore due to pain and vision issues. Even with this major setback I set a goal for 2012 to lose at least 40lbs. by December. I actually managed to lose 50lbs in the last year. I have almost completely cut out all fast food. I have slightly decreased my sweets intake.
Sean, before I tell you my goals for the next year I have to say “Thank You”. There have been times in the last year when things got to be almost more than I could handle and then, like a hand reaching out to help me thru the rough patch, you would post another inspirational blog. Ok my goals for next year – 1)Lose another 50lbs by Dec. 2013, 2)Cut my sweets intake by 75%, and 3)Find ways to raise more awareness for Intracranial Hypertension and the IH Research Foundation
I realized I left a few important details out of my history. Since 1995 I have had 12 major surgeries and 40+ spinal taps, the last one was 11 days ago. You see IH causes spinal fluid to build up around the brain which causes very nasty headaches and visual problems. They do not know what causes the disease or how to cure it, they can only treat the symptoms. I have a headache everyday, the only thing that differs from day to day is the level of my pain.We have tried every treatment they can come up with to get my symptoms under control. My Dr.’s have told me that currently the only thing they can do for me is pain management. Needless to say it’s very easy to get discouraged with everything, but Sean’s blog has helped me keep my spirits up to keep fighting this disease..
This year, I vow to maintain my health. This includes eating healthier and exercising more often. I promise that I will start attending a group BJJ class on top of my weekly private lesson, possibly a group class twice a week (if scheduling works out around my “job”). I also promise to involve my friends and loved ones in my effort to maintain a healthier lifestyle and help them be healthy and happy as well. And, as always, I vow to tirelessly work on my “career” by continuing to stage manage, intern, and assisstant direct as I have been for the past year or so.
Thank you, Flanery, for continuing to be an inspiration and a friend. I love that I have someone like you to look up to. And thanks again for the extra push back in Septemer to get back into BJJ; I’m completely re-addicted and happier than ever that it’s finally back to being a major part of my life. Happy New Year, hope to see you again soon!
This is lovely Sean! my goal for 2013 is to be more confident and enjoy being ME! I’m going to work towards my goal of living the best damn life I can and being happy. All my life people have put me down, why? Because I’m different. I’m someone who like to do my own thing and not follow a crowd, I’m also dyslexic. This is a learning difficulty, mine was mild so I wasn’t that bad just a bit slower than the other kids however I was told I’d never! get to highschool and pass my tests! And it just made me loose all the confidence in myself! They said I was stupid and other kids teased and bullied me. I’ve never been that popular kid who spoke up when they wanted to, teachers didn’t ask me to read because they thought I couldn’t, even though one of my favourite things to do is read? and I’m sick of that! I’ve opinions , can’t they be heard? I’m just as smart as any other kid! I passed my tests I got A*’s and A’s! So I’m going to prove them teachers wrong! And I’m going to become an animator and I’m going to work towards that goal of being happy,healthy and confident! And when I have my perfect life and I’m healthy and fit (from eating more vegetables! I am going to try a new veg each week) I’m going to look back and think of how wrong them teachers where! And I’m going to thank Sean for making me finally let me voice my opinions! I’ll promise you that Sean! Xox
First, I would just like to say Thank You Sean. You are so inspiring and I wish you a very Happy New Year! Now, for my resolutions/goals:
1. Make the Commandant’s list at my school next month at Ft. Jackson (top 10%)
2. Run four half marathons, two of which are in different states (I started a goal of running a half marathon in each state before I’m 35) and set a personal record each time.
3. Make MVP for at least one of my roller derby bouts this season.
4. Finish my Bachelor’s degree by the end of the year.
5. Get a 300 (max) on my Army physical fitness test by June.
6. Set up a blood drive at work once each quarter.
7. Limit myself to only ONE caffeinated beverage a day (I’m use to running on red bulls, coffee and soda).
Solid list… and thank you for the service.
I have one promise that is to lose more weight. I did the Atkins diet for 6 months an lost 45lbs, however I would like to add to that. I would like to lose another 45-50lbs in the next 6 months. I’ll be doing the Insanity workout again and drinking the Vi- Body Shakes. So here’s to a new & healthier me. 🙂 Happy New Year!!!
Publicly speaking, I won’t be cutting corners or taking the easy way out. 2012’s daily grind is about to close. Another door will be opening for me. As I summon my courage to look the beast within myself in the eyes in the mirror, I am ready to walk boldly through another year and aim high.
So I had to beat the door down, but I get to go to MEPS, as long as I pass, I will enlist after that!! I was thinking maybe my sons could start jujitsu while I go to boot camp, possibly they will be around Moreno valley or Brea CA…. Wish us luck ;)!!!
Good luck, awesome girl!! (And your sons!) xx
I will lose 40 lbs by July 1, 2013 by cutting sodas 100%, eating more fruits and vegetables, and going to the gym at least 3 times a week. I will also learn to deal with my emotional eating.
Lydia Villarreal
This time last year I took a long hard look in the mirror and decided I was tired of what I saw there. By changing my diet and getting off the couch and into the gym I’ve managed to drop 100lbs. I feel better now than I have in a long time. Now I can take the stairs without feeling like my heart is going to explode, but I’m not done yet. For 2013 I promise I’m going to stop giving myself permission to take “Slacker Days” those do nothing but keep you on the path of laziness and I know better. I’m going to try to get rid of the chocolate once and for all, or on a more realistic note cut it out by at least 50%. By June I hope to have taken off at least another 60lbs, I’m also going to work on cutting out the other unhealthy things in my life, both physically and mentally. I’m determined to make 2013 my best year yet. ~~~Amanda (@KyTyBella)
I have struggled over the last year with not finding work, losing my unemployment benefits, losing my apartment, and having to move in with a friend (who won’t be a friend after I move out), all of this with a child in tow. I have finally found part-time work at minimum wage, definitely not enough to support myself, a teenager, a dog, and two ferrets. So, to start the new year of 2013 out with a serious bang, I have a list of things to accomplish this year –
1. quit the off-again/on-again smoking…quit for good.
2. finish writing my novel, and see about getting it published.
3. give up Dr. Peppers…this one is painful as it stems from something I shared with my Dad (who died in 1989)
4. cut back on chocolate…or at least switch to dark chocolate…or carob…again this one hurts.
5. find full-time, fun employment that will provide me with an income to buy a car…taking the bus is not making finding that perfect job easy.
6. And the most important is find a safe, warm home for me, my kids, dog, and ferrets.
With everything I’ve been through in my life so far, I know I can accomplish each of these goals. I literally have no choice. So wish me luck, send me positive energy, say a prayer…I need it all.
Barbara Ann Morehouse
December 31, 2012
So I sit here writing this having just finished New Year’s Day dinner, knowing that tomorrow is the start over of the hiatus my diet has been on over the Holidays. I welcome its return that’s for sure. Since August 2011 I have managed to lose almost 20kg’s of the around 40 something I have gained, lost and gained again over the past 8 years. There are many things over the years I have blamed for my weights up’s and down’s, from not feeling good enough for the world, to the uproot of my family and I moving to Australia from the UK 6 years ago, my not settling here, depression the list could go on and on. But then I decided to leave Australia and go back to the homeland, only to return to Aus almost exactly a year later. A month after my return a light flicked on then I began to realize that for the past almost 25 years I had been blaming the wrong things for my once size 10 waistlines demise. I sat and evaluated all the things I hated about myself and my life, putting all the normal suspects I would usually blame to the side I realized my unhappiness was nothing and no-one’s fault but my own. Since I came to terms with that fact that it was my own doing and that though there is no way to change the past, I made the conscious decision to make sure my future will not end up the same way. Four months down the track I’m still holding strong, though my weight loss is slow it’s still coming off and will continue in doing so until my fat ass fits back in a pair of size 10 jeans, which will be in the next 6 months, if I keep up the work and the same pleasantly optimistic thoughts. Already I feel more certain that all the things I once thought were an impossibility aren’t so hard to get if you want them bad enough. So, in all the rambling I guess I’m saying, I Stacey publicly proclaim that I will continue with the efforts I have so far made, and to push myself further and harder for the greatness that is to come, not only with my weight but with my writing and other dreams that can and will be achieved. Thank you Sean for being you and helping others to see what they so desperately need to be aware of. I came about your twitter during the early stages of my journey, you help me to keep centred and make sense of things when I feel as though I may slip up, and for that I am eternally grateful. Everyone, write a new future for yourselves see where it can take you. Watch this space. x
No more hiatus.!!!!!
Two months ago now I completely eliminated sugar from my diet. I feel so much better for it and have lost some pounds. This is not another diet for me, this is my life. My family have not supported me in this decision which can get frustrating. They just feel likes this is another fad I’m on. I suppose I can’t blame them….my weight has gone up and down for the best part of my life causing insecurities and an eating disorder. So this year I promise to myself this: 1) to achieve my goal weight (15 pounds to go!) and 2) learn to respect my body as this is the one and only one I have. Thank you so much Sean for allowing me to put this into words. You are a very inspiring person. I feel like now….I CAN do this!
I don’t normally make resolutions, but things need to change for me. I need to start standing up for my faith. I want so desperately to make a change in the christian community, but I have not been willing to put the effort in to really embrace my faith. I know I can’t do any of this without God, so this is going to change today!!!
I am very foolish with my income and since I plan on going to school for about eight years here in the fall, a budget needs to be formed and stuck to. It’s a great thing there are so many apps for finances available on my android devices.
As for my health, though I am not overweight but slightly under, if my metabolism weren’t so high, I’d definitely be a few hundred pounds. My eating habits are horrible and I have an undiagnosed abdominal/digestive issue. Cutting out all the fast food, junk food, grease, soda, etc. will surely help. New healthy recipes will be searched for tonight and put into practise immediately. This year I will work like I have never worked before. I am going to make a change, make the difference that I have been longing to make, and it is going to start today.
No one has made me think about making significant changes in my life quite as much as you have. So on that note, here it goes. My goals themselves may seem small, but it’s my hope that they will lead to bigger and more challenging things as the year progresses, and maybe I’ll even end up revising these goals. Over the course of the next year, I will exercise 5-6 days a week, cut as many sugary drinks as possible and opt for water instead, cut any late night snacking, and most importantly…I will be happy, everyday.
Thanks so much for your posts, it is always an inspirational read. I have never told anyone this but this blog has made me feel that the time has come – I have been haunted by my older sister’s death for several years now, she passed away in 2007 due to multiple myeloma. The last time we saw each other she was desperately ill in the hospital and I promised her two things. Firstly, that we would see each other again. Obviously, I did not keep that promise and I don’t think I will ever forgive myself for that. I am open to the concept that we may see each other again in some other frame of consciousness but, in this mortal life, it did not come to pass. We come from a huge Irish/Cajun family and we were the only two sisters with any artistic or creative ambitions. The second promise I made that night was that I would pursue those ambitions for the both of us. I have yet to fulfill that promise to any level of satisfaction and I vow right now to make it an absolute priority in 2013. I have also been working in recent weeks to improve my health and fitness and have lost 7 pounds and plan to lose at least 20 more. Every year I make the same three resolutions yet I never seem to make them a reality – this year has to be different, it’s that simple. So here it is: in 2013 I will continue to improve my health, I will work to keep my promise to my sister and I will finally learn to accept a compliment. Just writing this down gives me an overwhelming sense of positive energy, thank you so much for the opportunity.
I’ve been a gym rat for years. I’ve always loved to sweat and to feel that endorphine rush that comes from 2 – 3 hours of intense physical activity.
On August 25, 2011, I was stopped in the road, waiting to make a left hand turn, when a young girl on her way back to college dropped a soda in the floorboard of her cherried-out 2005 Mustang. Instinct caused her to dive to get it.
I saw her coming, but had nowhere to go. She didnt see me until it was too late. She hit me from behind doing 50 mph.
The impact sent me spiraling off the road and into a field.
I managed to make it out of the wreckage, as did she, but I was in pain. My lower back and knee were damaged. My car was a total loss [and that sweet, apple-red Mustang with the $2000 rims wasnt in such hot shape, either].
I made it through, got a new car and life moved on.
On February 24th, 2012, a woman buzzed out on the super-sized latte she’d just got from Starbucks pulled directly into my path. I had ZERO chance of avoiding her. I T-boned her, doing about 45 mph.
YUP. The second car in a 6 month period was totaled! This time, however, it took paramedics and rescue workers to extract me from the remains of my car.
I dont remember much except the smoke… the panic of onlookers trying to get my doors opened… and I remember reaching for and clutching the gift I’d just bought my son, Casey. It was his birthday and I was going home to take him out to dinner.
I ended up in the hospital with the same knee from the previous accident damaged, even more severely. My hips had been ‘displaced’ and the pain was like nothing I can describe. I left the hospital on crutches and the notion of hitting the gym and doing squats or an hour on the elliptical seemed a long-gone memory.
In the months that have followed, my health and overall outlook have suffered, but several weeks ago, I began to test myself… a little cardio each day, at first, and then I began to add light weights and tension bands to my workouts.
I do the exercises my doctor has recommended, but I’m adding my own routines to the daily workouts. Sometimes it hurts, but most times, it feels great. It’s satisfying.
In 2013, I vow and promise, to myself and all those who might read these words, to focus more on achievements.
1) I will push myself to devote time to sweat, every day. A body in motion is a healthy body.
2) I will drastically cut down on the things that have become ‘comforts’ to me while I was struggling through my physical recovery [I love you, Cherry Coke, but you’re not good for me].
3) I will also finish what I start, be it getting my full health back or finishing the book I started in May.
On a side note: I also intend to take inventory of the people in my life. Never again will I cling to unhealthy relationships, just out of some misguided notion of ‘loyalty.’ There are people who have been there for me through my slow trek back to who I was and there are those who saw it as an ‘inconvenience’ to THEIR plans.
If I cant count on you when I’m down, why would I want you around when I’m back on top?
Aaannddd… today the knee is misbehaving, so it’s been a day for working out the upper body.
I’ve managed to keep away from the sodas. I’ve been keeping my word to sweat every day. As of this writing, I’m 10 pounds closer to my goal.
Slow and steady wins the race, right?
Down another couple of pounds. I’m doing as I vowed I would do… breaking a sweat every day [and loving it]. Some of the health problem from the accidents still linger, but I’m powering through.
I’m down 12 pounds since the 1st and it feels good!
I am 34 years old, and my life can be summed up as “if it were not for bad luck I would have had no luck at all.” I will spare the sob story details, and tell you where I started from.
May 21, 2011. I found my self homeless, desolate, and decided that something has to change. I got back into counseling to help deal with past traumas. I quit smoking pot June 13, 2011 and quit cigarettes January 8 2012, after over 20 years of using both. I applied for assistance from every avenue I could find, and followed through with everything the various agencies demanded of me.
February 8 2012 I moved into my current apartment. 7 days later my teen son moved back in with me. I have since gotten a class A commercial driver license, continued my education for free online at khan academy and coursera websites, taken every class offered at the Washington Worksource to improve my chances of getting gainful employment, begun having my teeth restored after 20 years of no dental care, and am setting myself up to work towards getting an MBA while I work to support myself and my son. The majority of all that all happened in 2012, including seeing a nutritionist last week. In preparation for my next step, I have already been cooking from scratch since I moved in, and have been making myself fruit/fat free yogurt smoothies every morning.
2013 will see me losing about 1 pound per week for the entire year, achieved through diet and exercise. Currently I am 5’11” tall, and weigh 240. I wear a women’s size 12/ men’s 10 shoe. Because of my bone structure and build my goal is to be at 180 pounds by February 2014.
I am making several changes this year including when something is bothering me I will talk to a friend about it instead of soothing myself with junk food; I will be working out daily. Starting at 30 minutes and working up to 60 most days, 90 when I can.
January 8 2013 I am cutting processed sugar from my diet. February 8 pastas are the next to go, and most breads.
The big difference came when I quit asking “why me” and started deciding what steps I needed to take to get where I want to be. Successful people are not successful because of luck, they are successful by life design, hard work, and follow through…
I am building myself into the most successful woman I can be.
There are many things that I would like to change this New Year. I would like to become healthier (which is something a lot of people want), I want a better view of myself, I want to get back into walking 2 miles a day in 30 minutes, I want a better relationship with my friends and family, I want to be the person I know I can be. Reading your blog for the first time has made me realize that I can do all of these things if I choose to do so. Not only are you a great actor, but you are a great inspiration to everyone who reads your blogs. Thanks for the confidence to make a change!
Hey Sean, Your blogs are amazing – I salute you for saving people’s lives every single day. You triggered me to save mine – it was not about the weight loss, although I admit that I had some extras. I have good eating habbits. Unfortunately, I also have this noncurabe condition which creates an severe pain in all the joints in my body. I am only 36 but I lived on painkillers and steroids for almost 8 years. And then I came across your blog and decided to make a change – drs told me that I cannot exercise and together with pain it was easy to say “I can’t do this, I can’t do that”. I was a sporty before I got this “gift”, so I got back to exercising. Because of your trigger. I had and still have stress fractions but I shall never give up to the pain again. 5 months later, I am 22lbs less (1.75m on ~145kbs now and reducing the weight) and almost back to my old self (I was a beauty queen once 😉 #true). In the following year, I promise to keep up working on my body – I cannot do everything I used to do. I cannot run long distances anymore but I can walk and I walk 6-7 miles almost every day. I promise to never give up to the pain again. I am not going back to the condition I’ve been at. I am not going to be a disabled person ever again in my life. And you know what – drs still can’t believe that I am doing this and advise me to stop. I shall not. This is my life to live. Did I mention that I am off the medications completely? The pain is still there but I can deal with it now. I was lucky enough to have a supportive family that accepted me in any condition, but it is so much more fun to win running contests with my son at school, rather than to sit and cheer. No one outside my 1-st level family ever knew that something is wrong with me – all they saw is me gaining some weight and then loosing it again. I hope that I will be able to fight my own body and I promise to make sure that I will do anything to prove these people right – all IS good with me. Thank you one more time!
Just a few weeks ago I finally got my bachelor’s degree (with summa cum laude honors) after spending 7 1/2 years in college. I originally got an associate’s degree in architectural drafting, but my last year of that I realized that I hated it. I changed my major to forensic science and had to start the process all over again. But in the end, it was well worth it. I met a few wonderful people and had a blast my last 2 years in school. After I finished, I started wondering what am I going to do with my time between now and starting my career. I eventually want to work in the City of Phoenix Crime Lab as either a DNA analyst or firearms examiner. But there is a problem: my financial situation. I had applied for an internship at the crime lab this past year. One of the questions on the application was “if we run a credit history, will there be any negative points?” With my dad being out of work and my mom had been in a skilled nursing facility for the past 4 years (until her passing last July), I was the only one with an income. I had to place a few large purchases on my credit cards to help my family and my spending got a little out of control. I couldn’t afford to pay my bills so yes, there will be negative points on a credit check. But rather than hiding it on the application, I included the situation in detail. However, that prevented me from being accepted as an intern. When I got the rejection letter, I felt like the biggest failure. If I cannot get an internship, there sure as hell is no chance of me even getting a job there or at any crime lab, not unless I file for bankruptcy. I plan on doing that within the next week or two which will be cleared hopefully by July. Come August, I plan to apply for a full-time position within the crime lab. But until then, what am I going to do?
Since spending got me into this mess, I vow to keep what little I make from my paychecks stashed away and use only $30 out of it for gas to get back and forth to work and school. I will not spend money to “grab something quick to eat.” Rather, I will fix something to eat at home and bring it with me to work. This way, I can eat healthier when I bring lunch from home. In addition to eating healthier, I plan on losing 20-30 pounds by the end of the year to help me look better in a dress for my sister’s wedding, in which I will be maid of honor. I plan to go on a walk each morning before it gets too hot to do anything. In the summer when the pools are open, I plan on swimming at least 500 yards each day when I have down time at work.
I totally connect with what you are saying. I pulled my bank statements and saw all the fastfood, pre-made food from grocery stores, going out to eat and Starbucks ( starbucks has it’s own catagory) I could not believe how much money I waste on shit that is killing me. I cried like a baby. Now, I allow myself to go out with my friends to eat only once a month and the find other things to do to socialize (that doesn’t cost money) ( i.e. playing rummy, photography, hiking) It’s actually more fun and better for me. Go figure.
This year I promise to do what’s right for me. I’m not going to take the emotional stress or let myself Tate me apart that I’m left with nothing. I wanna do what’s best for me. If I need guidance I guess I can always find someone. 2012 was the hardest year emotionally I wanna help myself see that there is hope. I lost 2 dear friends to suicide they were brothers. I helped so many people through the hardship but it is taking a toll on me. Ill find help and try to keep my head up.
Ok you said whole story, but ill give you a shortened version. I’m 21 I’ve been dealing with severe depression since I was 14 after my mother tried to kidnap me. I’ve tried meds, shrinks, everything really. Only thing that helps is me working hard at a factory as of last year I’ve lost two very close friends to suicide. I’ve helped out do many people over come the depression that it sent then into. I have scars everywhere, mainly out of rage. No one ever seems to ask if I’m alright, sure I smile every day I give great advice to so many. I guess I just need to focus on myself to make it through things. This is my promise that this year ill start running so I can run the run for your lives 5k without falling flat on my face mid step. To give my self a little time to do what makes me happy, that would be meeting interesting people actually. To top off the cake to treat myself with respect, I’m giving up my security blankets and going to be my natural self. Yeah I’m pretty sure that is all I can think of. Hope to hear any advice for anyone really.
Okay, so really this couldn’t have come at a more perfect time in my life. This last year I have had a veritable crap storm slam into me. Actually it started 3 years ago when I was assaulted by a shoplifter at my last job and the guy destroyed my left shoulder. After settling and surgery, I was let go because my left arm is now partial disable because of range of motion issues and it also surprisingly causes neck and back problems. As a result, I haven’t been able to find work for three years. I had to leave Las Vegas, my two amazing kids who are now living with there father, and everyone I knew. (Their dad is a really great guy) Anyway, I came to Washington to visit a friend before I was supposed to move back to Ohio to be near my mother. As fate would have it, my friend refused to let me leave. That was a year ago and I am still here.
Anyway, I have been doing a LOT of soul searching over the last few months. I had gained weight thanks to the injury and depression. I started smoking more and had pretty much just given up.
With all that being said, my commitment to myself first and foremost and to my children and my family and friends is this. I will lose 40 pounds within the next 6-8 months by adopting better eating habits. Instead of eating once a day (like I always have) I will start eating 3-5 small meals to boost my metabolism. I will quit smoking by my next birthday, (February 24th) and as soon as my next shoulder surgery is done with (Hopefully very soon) I will begin walking a mile a day, each week adding another mile.
Thank you Sean for this kick in the ass. It was exactly what I needed to face myself and my fears. Sincerely and with all the hope in the world, Pamela Love
OK here it goes. I will lose 30-35lb by July. I will also exercise at least 3 days a week even if it’s just running around the park with my daughter.
SO let’s try this again…..stupid Iphone or user error, probably the latter of the two. My name is Andrea Greek. I am 40 years old and have suffered from MDD for 30 years following the suicide of my father. This last October I started eating right and exercising. I am down 25 pounds since then and 40 pounds from my highest weight. I have 25 to go which I will have gone by June 2013. That give me time for the peaks and valleys as well as a safe time frame of weight loss to avoid the yoyo. I haven’t had to take my antidepressant since I started to drop the weight! I resolve this year to love myself. Not let others determine my happiness. Thank you for your inspiring words! Have a joyous and prosperous New Year!
This year it is my intention to quit smoking, thereby making myself healthier for myself and my growing family. I also intend to go back to my Ju Jitsu life and hopefully achieve my black Belt. These may not be the most ambitious goals, but it all starts with small steps.
May it be well with you, in 2013.
Hey Sean, short but not simple, 1 goal only – loose weight, actually make that 2.- learn to like myself again. Happy New Year! @spikara
Hi Sean, I promise to do the following:
1. Lose 25 lbs and 2% body fat by June 29, 2013.
2. Reduce sugar intake by 75% over the next year.
3. Go to my personal trainer, at a minimum 2x a week, until at least June 29, 2013, and longer if funds allow.
4. Do a minimum of 4 hours of cardio a week.
5. Compete in WABDL (DL) and qualify for World’s in my age/weight class.
6. Think positive, be positive, live positively.
7. Dare to expose myself through my creativity and art by taking some classes at SF Art Institute.
8. Be the best version of myself (v 2013.1.0.0).
9. Commit 2-4 hrs a month to volunteer work.
10. Always finish what I start.
Thank you Sean for your encouraging words and inspiration. I hope to meet you some day.
Hi Sean, Progress report: lost 2 lbs this week, weight trained 3x, increased max on deadlift fom 200 to 225lbs (first competion is March 9th), plus did 2 sessions of circuit training, 4 hours of cardio, reduced sugar intake, did not eat food I’m allergic to, researched classes at SF Art Institute, and going to meeting tomorrow for local beach coalition to volunteer for beach clean up. Booyah! Everytime I want to be lazy or make excuses and deviate from the goals I’ve committed to, I think again, because I know that I not only have to be accountable to myself, but to the commitment I made on this blog, so thank you.
Progress report: Got all my workouts in as planned in the 2nd week of January. Unfortunately, didn’t lose any weight, but deadlifted 225 again. Weight training like I do makes me want to eat like a haus! So I really need to structure my diet and get the calories I need to promote muscle growth, lose fat, and hopefully some weight, but it’s so difficult to try do all three in conjunction. I’m not giving up though. The 3rd week of January I was sick as dog and got diagnosed with Asthma. Some other tests are being run, and I’m scared what the outcome could be, but I’m trying to stay positive. It’s hard because I don’t have family close by for support, so I’m living day by day on virtual hugs. 🙂 I’m feeling better for now and plan on kicking the rest of this months’ azz. Thank you Sean. God bless and hugs.
Progress Report: So far, so good. I stopped having a pity party. I only lost 3 lbs in January, but that’s a start. I increased my max on deadlift from 225 to 240 and I’m shooting for 250 for the completition in March. I need to lose 6 more lbs though to make my weight class for the DL competition on March 9th. As my trainer tells me: increase cardio intensity, drink a ton of water, and sweat, sweat, sweat. Also, signed up for beach cleanup a couple times in February. Back on track! Stay tuned.
Progress report update. It’s been awhile. I sprained my ankle and stretched a nerve in my foot, which set me back. I couldn’t compete in March, so now I’m working towards a meet in Monteray at the end of June. I lost weight and I’m in my weight class, so I’m getting closer to my goal. I’m eating clean, 5-6x a day and no sugar, except what is in the few carbs I eat, along with veges, and it’s really making a difference. Plus, I feel great. I’m taking photog shots on my own and doing some creative writing and hope to take a pholography class in Fall. Shine on.
My resolution for the new year is to be a stronger person and take care of myself. During this past year I left high school and started online school. I left because the school I went to had fights occuring almost daily, drugs, and drama. Bullying cases from my school were even featured on the news, unfortunately. I personally was pushed around quite a bit, and now I have decided it’s time to stand up for myself, instead of letting myself be used for other peoples fun. I’m going to try not to let the things people say upset me so much, and I’m also going to do my best to keep my grades up, which was a struggle in the regular school.
In 2012 I was also put on medication for depression and anxiety, and lost over 30 pounds due to not eating much(I was down to 103 lbs.) so this year I want to try to be healthier and become strong enough to get control over my emotions and be able to get off the meds.
Another thing I’m going to do this year is work towards my dream of being a photographer. In December I did my first payed photoshoot, it was absolutely amazing to have someone praise my work. I’m gonna keep doing everything I can to get my photos noticed, do more shoots, enter photo contests, and learn as much as I possibly can about the photography field.
Oh, and another resolution… to meet you and Norman. Haha that would be wonderful!
Thank you, Sean for the great words you post and have a great year. <3
I’m 5’1 and weigh 101 pounds. What exercises, activities or diet would you suggest to stay healthy? I run every now and then. My resolution is to stay fit and healthy like you.
I promise to lose a stone in weight (14 pounds) by the start of June. I promise to walk to work instead of getting a taxi. Most of all, because I’m rubbish at this, I promise to SAVE my earnings rather than SPEND every penny I get. I know these goals aren’t very big or life-changing, but I’m sure it will be worth it in the long run. Right?
Here is my story in a nutshell. 5 years ago I started my PhD in Biology. 4.5 years ago I started to develop chronic pains in my joints and nerves. The first 2.5 years I was very resilient. I did everything I could to not let the pain run my life. I (shy as I may be) even elected to switch from a terrible working environment that stressed my already pained body even more to one that would allow me to pursue my dream of a PhD while allowing me to take care of my health. However, that last two years I let B.D.M take over my life. I convinced myself that I was hopeless and that it was better to just mope around about my pain than to keep fighting like I had done previously. It was all too easy to just forget about living a somewhat normal life despite my pain. Well NO MORE I say. Your blog has given me that proverbial kick in the butt to take charge. I may have pain but I DO NOT have to let the pain control my life. So in 2013 I vow to you and everyone reading this that I will be active and happy regardless of my pain. I already have started making progress towards this. This past fall I took swimming lessons so that I can hit the pool for some exercise. I may not be able to run or do other high impact workouts because of my joints but that doesn’t mean I can’t get in a good workout by doing some laps in the pool. So GOAL 1: Get to the pool twice a week and swim some laps. I also tried archery for my birthday and really enjoyed it so GOAL 2 will be: Pursue archery as a hobby and have fun with it. GOAL 3: Just have some fun regardless of my pain issues. 2013 is gonna be my year. Let’s do this thing!
In 2012, I made a promise to myself to stop running from my problems and face them head on. It was not a pleasant year but I got a lot of things settled. For 2013, I have a plan in place to pay off debt and excersizing every day. I began in Nov 2012. Debt-wise (according to my calculations) I should be debt free by Jan 2014. But this is my 40th year of my life and I really, really wanted to go to Spain and walk the Camino de Santiago. My sister makes a good point, I have already promised to pay my debt off prevsiously and that promise has to be kept. So, instead of the expense of going to Spain and being out of work for 6 weeks, there is the Colorado Trail here in my state that is 500 miles long. And I pledge to be able to hike that trail from Denver to Durango in 2013. And since you guys are pretty much strangers, I will go post this on Facebook for my family to hold me accountable. 😉
I promise to start a healthier lifestyle. I’m tired of looking in the mirror and hating the weight I gained in high school and regretting not losing it after. I’ve heard countless people tell me, it’s so easy to gain weight in college, and it really is. But, I know how much better I’ll feel when I start eating GOOD, HEALTHY foods and exercising every morning. I don’t have a deadline, I just hope I can continue my new lifestyle for the rest of my life.
I’ve tried losing weight so many times and I always have a new excuse to stop, whether it be the holidays, final exams, or just being “too tired”. My other promise is to STOP these excuses and continue on my new journey no matter what happens.
I really believe that 2013 will be the year that my life changes for the better. But the only person that can make that happen is ME.
But, I also have to thank you, Sean, for inspiring me, as well as so many others, to change themselves for the better.
Good luck to everyone in their New Year!
Hi everyone. Im not so great on telling others of myself, but like Sean said I am among friends. Ive just turned 20 years old, Ive been smoking since I was 14. A bad habit as I picked up from my parents who have been 30+ years. For my commitment I will make for you isn’t just one; but three commitments. For my first, is to get my act together and get back in college. I went through a rut in life and gave up on schooling and dropped out. Thanks to you all I found that strength to just DO IT. My second is to get back in shape. I used to weight 112lbs. I excercised daily and had a healthy diet. Now im at 135lb its not much but from going to in great shape to the point you dont go out cause you dont like what you see takes a toll. I am a very self conscience person. Staying in shape was very important to me. For my final commitment to you all..Ive started 2 weeks and one day a head of the beginning of the year. I WILL quit smoking. I am STRONG. With the help of my friends I ask for you strength because it’s not an easy task. I thought it would be easy. A new year a new defined Katalina. Thank you all for taking the time to read my story of me 🙂 I really appreciate it. Sean I know you’ll read this in time. If you do, you have my many thanks. Even from afar through Twitter and Blogs. You’ve managed to be my rock. Thank you with all my heart
I,Katalina Galindo, will follow these commitments and keep them for a life time to better myself and live a happy life 🙂
We will hold you to it!!!
Sean and friends, I will not let you all down!! Hope yall have a great year and good luck with your promises! You CAN and WILL accomplish anything with your inner will 🙂 Sean thanks again. Hold it to me all you want Im going to do it! 😀 <3
Dear Sean. This blog has been the final push that I needed in order to get myself in shape. I recently lost three and a half stone (about 50lbs) and all of my muscle mass due to an illness that lasted for almost a year. I have decided that now I am at a reasonable weight it is a good time to get in shape, get fitter and gain more muscle. I don’t have a lot of fat on my body but I am not toned, so that is my first goal, to get a flat stomach and stop the jiggling. My second goal is to improve my cardio as I love to play football (your soccer) but I don’t have the ability to play for very long without being too out of breath. The third goal is to gain muscle as my illness made me very malnourished and stripped me of any muscle I used to have. I’d like people to look at me and see me as someone that is healthy and fit, not just thin, because what I learned from being ill for so long is that being thin isn’t the same thing as being fit. My last goal is to be smoke-free from now on in. I stopped smoking in September but I know that in the past I have quit and then started again. To stop smoking would have a huge effect on my ability to run and play sports and so this is really important to me. Thank you so much for making this post and encouraging us all to complete our goals. It makes a huge difference when we are being encouraged by someone who has excellent fitness themselves. I used to hate Physical Exercise in school because the teachers weren’t very inspirational people, but to see how you’ve transformed yourself and the things you’ve achieved through martial arts is very inspiring. Thank you for this boost that I, and many other people, needed to get going. I hope you have a fantastic new year and all of the people that post here achieve their goals. x
The start of one of my long-time goals officially starts on January 15th of this year – to earn the Masters degree in English and to finish the teaching credential process (the credential process was started in California but moved to Arkansas due to financial reasons and family obligations). The credential process in Arkansas is much different in California (CA you earn your BA then the credential: AR you do both the BA & credential at the same time). When Arkansas State saw my Cal State Long Beach transcript they were ‘not aware’ of California’s process for a teaching license. Also, my beginning teaching course I took @ CSULB may cause problems; there it was 3 credit hours there where @ ASU it’s 4. While that course is going under official review to see if the class is comparable enough to satisfy ASU’s requirements, I’ll be taking the MA level courses and another set of courses that satisfies another goal – getting fluent in Spanish! (MA in English requires competency in a foreign language and I let all of those Spanish courses I took go to waste).
As for the weight thing. I’ve used every excuse to not work out since my two knee surgeries back in ’94 and ’96 and I am ashamed to say my weight shows that neglect (I weigh double what I should). My goal here = getting to a healthy weight (about 150-165) by the time I earn my Masters degree & teaching credential. One of the benefits @ ASU is that I’ll have access to the Red Wolf Center (http://www.astate.edu/a/student-affairs/union/rec-center/WellnessPrograms.dot for info). I vow to take full advantage of their programs to meet this goal. I do not expect to do it all in a year but do expect to have it done at a healthy pace.
this one may seem a little odd, but it’s important to me. For some reason I have recently become somewhat of a recluse and I’m going to change that, because it sucks. I will wake up everyday with the intent to go outside and experience some of the gifts that life has to offer. One of the many being fresh air. I will not use the excuse that “I hate the cold” (which I truly do) to keep me from getting up and going out. Coats are a thing. Rain, shine…whatever. I will walk, I will absorb my surrounds and find the inspiration to pick up a pen and write like I used to enjoy doing. I will take a picture everyday of something that inspires me and share it via Facebook/Twitter (as proof) for the entire year…Starting now. I’m grabbing my coat and heading out.
2012 brought me the Gift of Life, a kidney transplant!
• I hereby declare to take the utmost care of my gift.
• I will maintain my ideal weight in spite of steroid meds etc.
• I will run at least one 5K race to raise money for charity!
• I will remain positive, hopeful, happy and continue to make the best of the hand life has dealt me!
• I will Shine! (there’s no ‘until’ its infinite)
Thank you Sean for your on going interest, inspiration, motivation and support of us all. Happy New Year! Helen x
So many people trying to be healthy- that’s brilliant. I too am going to continue my weight loss journey I started in 2012. I am 60 pounds away from goal weight (147) and have a set plan of how to do it including exercise, better choices in food and drink, and although weight loss is imperative so is being kind.
This is the year of Kindness – to myself to others. I want to be kindness personified. A kind word from one person can chage another’s whole outlook, make a day, make a life change, who am I not to offer that when I myself have been seemingly redeemed by another’s kind word to me?
At 45, it seems I am entering the second half of my expected life. Who am I to waste that precious opportunity to make it the best 45+ years that I can. All of my life it has been just my daughter and myself, after leaving an abusive husband when she was 6 months old, him coming from England to the US to attempt her kidnapping, after I had been granted custody while our divorce was being handled in international courts as she was a dual British/American citizen, him beating the crap out of me when he finally found our house, (I was able to get her out of the house and to the neighbours before he caught me) him being caught, jailed, deported, and a divorce process that was, after much money and lawyers meetings, finalized 8 years later, Needless to say, have seen and experienced more than I would ever wish on an enemy. I was careful to make sure her happiness was taken care of, she is now 21, out of the house in her gap year before she starts her senior year at a college I can’t afford but will continue to pay for so she can succeed at what she wants to do, she’s in a committed relationship (1 year and two months) with a boy who loves her deeply, and her life is just beginning. In the last 21 years I have lost myself. This is the year I find me again and improve all that was great about me and purge what I know to be truly not helpful behavious and aspects of my life.
I am giving love and inspiration and grace as I can give it, and I will receive it tihs year as I have never done for the last years. We all so richly deserve this, so this is the year that I will not settle for anything but the best of me in all aspects. It’s a high standard and I am will not be defeated. If prayer or karma is a part of your process, any you can throw any my way it would be greatly appreciated. I wish nothing but the very best for us all this and all years. – Col.
My resolution is bit different from weight loss, but one I struggle with all the same: I want to beat myself up less. I get so worked up about how my life “should” be, that I don’t always allow myself to enjoy the moment. And that just lends itself to building useless frustration and hopelessness. Yes, I am working hard towards certain goals, and I need to pat myself on the back every once in awhile, instead of drop-kicking my ego in the nuts. Anyway, I think you are a HUGE inspiration, Sean, and I can’t wait to see what 2013 brings! Hope to see you back here in New Orleans soon! (Mardi Gras, maybe?)
We should make a bet, Sean, regarding our resolutions. You’ll be in my city in May!
In the past year, I’ve lost my gallbladder, barely kept my job because I was so physically ill all the time I was unable to work, and was finally diagnosed with celiac disease. I’ve lost about 60 lbs now. Since removing gluten from my diet, everything about me has changed. At 240 now, I’m about halfway to a truly healthy weight already. Physically, I’m so different than what I was. Color is healthy, taking less medications, feeling better, getting night vision back… Huge changes. However, I am not accepting the diagnosis. It means giving up the life I had, everything I thought was normal. I’m struggling. I can’t go grocery shopping. I can’t look at pinterest or read gluten free recipes without getting extremely upset or just start sobbing. I’m living life attempting to remain oblivious to the new lifestyle I need to adapt and always on the fence about giving up on the gluten free diet because maybe I won’t really get sick, maybe the diagnosis was wrong. My goal for this year is to stop lying to myself, to stop trying to cheat myself from the health I deserve, to start coping and adapting even when it hurts. I will do my own grocery shopping and have good, balanced meals again. I will create a new normal. I will accept that cheating means the risk of killing myself and will not allow that option.
Hi Tara, I’m so glad I saw your post, because you reminded me of a really important promise I need to keep, and I also wanted to let you know you are not alone in this fight. Over 10 years ago I found out that I’m allergic to gluten, dairy, eggs, and various other foods. I had to change the way I thought of food, because what I once thought of as healthy foods were making me sick. Food is fuel, it builds me, repairs me, sustains me, and sometimes can still entertain me. You stated it well when you said you will “create a new normal.” Use this as an opportunity to explore other kinds of foods you would have never considered, be creative in cooking, and be thankful and appreciate the little things and other blessings in your life. I wish you the best on your journey. If you need a fellow gluten free cohort, feel free to reply or perhaps we can connect on twitter (Kzjme).
@Sean-one more for the road: I promise to not eat foods that I’m allergic to that will harm my body.
At 15 weeks self-injury free, I made a promise to you via twitter that I would stay clean. It has not been an easy road. Sometimes the only thing that got me through was that I made a promise to one of my heroes. I even got aequitas/veritas tattoos as a reminder. Now I am 37 1/2 weeks clean with no intention of relapse. In the next year I have vowed to start running and taking BJJ to further take care of myself and have a healthy outlet.
Much love.
Over two years clean myself. You can do it.
I’ve been over weight my whole live. No matter what I ate or how much I worked out nothing would happen. I found out I have PCOS which has been preventing me from losing weight and getting healthy. I promise to complete P90X in the 90 days. I also promise to remember to take my medications everyday at the correct time. My goal is to get to a healthy weight and stay there, continue to eat healthy, and keep my amazing bond with my brother strong. To make sure I complete all my goals I’ve surrounded myself with people who love and support me and are going to push me to do my best. I wish you all luck and if you need someone to help support you or want to follow my progress i’m @AndFruhauf May your year be filled with happiness <3
I love P90X. It is amazing. Just keep pushing play and do your best and forget the rest! Get online to Wowy and log your workouts to remind you. I am doing P90X as well and have already lost 28 pounds in 45 days.
This is fantastic! I always do better when someone is holding me accountable. I was a competitive swimmer my whole life. When college was over and I stopped swimming and gained a lot of weight. I have lost 25 lbs so far (by changing my eating habits), but have quite a bit more to lose. I know that if I get back in the pool the weight will start coming off. I miss the feeling after a hard workout where I can barely pull myself out of the pool, and the feeling it gives me the rest of the day. That feeling like I did something to make myself better. So my promise is to get back into pool, even though it scares me a little. I know I can’t hold myself up to my previous standards, just get back into it and see where it leads. My goal is to join Masters Swimming and start competing again! Thanks so much for the inspiration and the opportunity for all of us to put our goals out there and achieve them together! Best of luck to ALL of us!!!
This year has been a difficult year but I am so ready to just breathe. I am a very self-conscience person and I don’t leave my house unless I absolutely have to (for the record even writing this makes me want to vomit because I hate talking about myself). I am 24 and have decided that enough is enough so my commitment is to get out more, to do something that makes a difference. I want to volunteer at a nursing home because I think that sometimes we forget that the elderly are people also. I did do something out of the ordinary for me and I took CNA classes. I am officially a GNA but can’t afford to take the test to become a CNA right now. I commit to making better, healthier decisions. I commit to restart doing the things that I love, I love photography, painting, and writing but haven’t done any of these lately because I’ve been so down on myself. I commit to start loving myself and doing things that genuinely make me happy. I also commit to start managing my money better and to start paying off my debt. I want 2013 to be a year of awesomeness and goal accomplishments. This WILL be my year! I promise you that!
AMBER MARTIN
Sean- I really love reading your blogs and love that you genuinely care about your followers. Reading your blogs has helped me face myself and make some much needed changes and for that I say thanks and keep it up!
My goals feel so trivial compared to some of the ones I’ve read on here, so I feel a little ridiculous right now. I’ll be 19 years old in March. I don’t smoke or drink, and I don’t have a problem with my weight. I’m actually a fitness enthusiast. I use exercise as a way to clear my mind and de-stress, because I suffer from social anxiety, as well as general anxiety. Not a day goes by that something doesn’t make me panic. Unfortunately, once I stop exercising, the stress comes back, which is why I’ve went as far as working out three times in one day and/or whenever I would get stressed. I get stressed in social situations pretty easily. I have this trick where I keep the conversation turned solely on the person I’m speaking to directly so that I don’t have to talk much. I almost always walk away from a conversation with someone wishing I hadn’t sounded so dimwitted and boring. If I’m being brutally honest… I have crippling low-self esteem. Some days are worse than others. Some days I can quiet the madness of self-loathing, and other days, I’m so absolutely disgusted I can’t stand the sound of my voice or the look of my face. It causes extreme insecurity that makes me awkward around large groups of people (thus my social anxiety). But living like this, in this silent hell, it’s exhausting. The thought of spending the rest of my life like this is actually more depressing than some of the thoughts I’ve had about myself. SO, I’m going to try, try, try my utmost to be better; to treat myself a little nicer. Aside from that, I have two other goals: (This particular issue adds to my stress.) People have come to me with their serious problems since I was 15 years old. If I could motivate people like Sean here, maybe I could’ve done them some good, but at 15 (and now 18) I’m completely clueless as to how I can help a person out of a severe state of depression, or an eating disorder that has taken over a loved one, all by myself. I can encourage they get help; I can help them seek out the help they need, but I cannot physically work my hand and make them better. When I can’t help them however, I feel like such a failure. I carry their problems with me. I couldn’t fix my friend’s depression when I was 15, though she begged me to say something to snap her out of it; I couldn’t fix my cousin’s eating disorder, and I can’t fix my own mother’s depression. I want to help them, but I fear I’ve done all I can. But I’ll never feel like it’s enough. I need to find some way to let go of this failure; I can’t carry it with me. I fear that my whole life, I will strap people’s problems on my shoulders and take them with me, as if I don’t get stressed easily enough already. Most of these people had eventually found their own ways out of the tunnel, but I still wonder what kind of a person am I for having not helped them myself when they needed me? I’ll be frank: This guilt SUCKS. And lastly, my goals are to become a writer. I haven’t been writing much lately, and I feel like I’m losing a part of myself in the process. It’s something I truly love, and it’s been such a big part of my identity since I was 10 or 11 years old. I need to set aside time to write, to work toward my goals, but I’ve been slacking. I’m afraid if I continue to move at this slow pace, I’ll never reach my goals. In short, I just want to become a person I can be proud of; I want to live life with no stress, no guilt and most importantly, no shame. I’m tired of feeling ashamed. Thank you Sean for doing this. You have no idea how much you’re vastly changing people’s lives here. This post of yours hasn’t left my head all day since I read it last night. I thank you.
Carrie Ann, I use the trick of asking people about themselves too. It’s a good one & we’re not idiots for using it. I lived for years in my own shell barely leaving the house. I’m SO GLAD you’re recognising this in yourself as such an age & attempting to get out from under it now. Social situations are always painful to a degree. For those they are not, well they are lacking because everyone has something that stresses them out socially speaking at some time. Unfortunately asking people about themselves turns us into excellent listeners so people then come to us with their problems. You’re recognising you can’t help people. One of Sean’s things is people have to help themselves first. You’re doing that, the other’s in your life are not, that is NOT your fault and you need to recognise & accept this fact. I hope you continue to take those steps toward your goals. I’m going to take a leaf out of your book with regard to the exercising. The absolute best of luck to you.
I came on here to write out a question I had, and I found this in my email. Thank you so much, Jacqui. You have absolutely no idea just HOW MUCH I needed to read this tonight. Thank you. THANK YOU.
Carrie Ann, Anytime. It was my pleasure. As I read your post you just made me think “I wish I had realised that about myself at her age”. And don’t feel obligated but if you need to talk I’m @JezebelSpike. I wish you luck in your goals. I’m sure following Sean you will get there. We both will.
It’s not much,unlike some of the other amazing goals of others but I my goals I really want to work on is letting go of the small petty trivial things I have no control and just let it be. The other is yoga, I used to really luv it but got away from it,the way it relaxes and calms me after a long day from work felt so nice.So,I’m going to try and get back into it and feel and embrace the calming effects again. Well you see it not much but that’s what I’ll be working on in the new year. Bless you Sean and all your amazing and encouraging words. Here’s to a wonderful year @};-
I believe that to find peace with oneself is to live in balance. I am still working on attaining this.
In regards to the physical aspect I want to reduce my intake of processed foods by at least 50% and eliminate greasy potato chips all together (my biggest weakness since quitting smoking 2+ years ago). I also want to go for walks 3 times a week.
For the mental aspect I will continue my quest to learn at least one new thing daily. I also want to reduce my TV viewing by 25% and to use that time to read instead.
For the emotional aspect I want to do at least one Random Act of Kindness a day. For I believe that you cannot help but feel happy when you do good for others. I also want to meet more people with similar viewpoints by becoming involved in my community. For example I intend to join the Trail Alliance organization.
And lastly for the spiritual aspect, I want to become more in tune with nature. I love photography so I want to incorporate this with walking. By partaking in these activities I can enjoy all of Mother Earth’s gifts more often and spend more time outdoors. I believe that getting pleasure from the simple things that life has to offer is good for the soul.
I thank-you for this idea as it does feel more real once you write it down. Good luck and all the best to you this New Year!
This year, I, proclaim will be my best year. 2012 was a year of negativity for me, so I have decided that 2013 will bring me nothing but positivity and guide me to a path that will bring me happiness and joy. I have decided to take the leap of faith and move from the east coast back to the beautiful west coast. I’m thinking of making Santa Barbara my new home. I hope that by this time next year, I will be in a better place. I want to start my own business and hope to grow it into a success. I hope to find someone who is worthy of my life and accepts me for all my quirks and my ability to recall random facts about classic black and white movies, my ability to create something meaningful from nothing, and love me unconditionally. Guess I need to start doing my California research. From the words of Jon Bon Jovi, “It’s my life, it’s now or never, I ain’t gonna live forever, I just want to live while I’m alive, It’s MY LIFE.”
So I realized in my last post that I forgot something very important. The more I thought about my resolutions and thought a lot of them were very personal, the more I thought of how inspirational you are, Sean.
I have Asperger’s. I do not use the word disorder or syndrome because there is nothing wrong with me. One of my goals is to help other people with questions and just talk about my own experiences although other’s are more than likely totally different. Some of my other resolutions include:
1. Cleaning up my life – I’ve already begun to clean up my health, the next step for me is to clean up and organize my living space and KEEP it that way. It’s one of the hardest things for me.
2. Get out and be social on a regular basis – This is something I /really/ struggle with. I get really nervous around strangers as was evidenced at the con I met you at (not expecting you to remember but I was very flustered because of how long I’ve been watching your movies and TV shows). I actually ran into someone from high school and ended up so nervous I was tapping my fingers and fidgeting with my foot. Something I want to overcome.
3. Gain and hold steady employment – Another thing I have struggled with. This is not only because of my lack of healthcare and constant need for medications that usually cost over $100 each but because it helps me with goal number 2.
4. Continue to cross items off of my bucket list – I did this last year by seeing ArcAttack with their amazing Tesla coils and even got into the Faraday cage to have lightning strike around me. I want to experience the world more like this.
I think those are my main goals at this time but I will probably add more as the year goes on.
Also, I will be continuing to donate to the Hero Initiative as it has helped my friend battle a rare form of Spinal Cancer.
I ran my first half marathon in 2008 in memory of my Dad, who lost his battle with cancer. In 2010, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had never taken more than a multivitamin or maybe an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen. I am allergic to a number of prescriptions meds – found when I became sick with pneumonia my freshman year in college. After my cancer diagnosis, I became the “case study” for all doctors in my area. I had things happen that they had never seen before or knew could happen but they never had. I ended up having 8 surgeries, had an anaphylactic reaction to one of the chemos, and had a severe infection that put me in the hospital for a month. I have to take numerous supplements a day as my vitamin levels are depleted (vit D, B, potassium) and tamoxifen for the next 4 years. The chemo also affected my thyroid. Not to mention my mind – chemo brain is scary and real.
I gained 40 pounds. Three major factors: one) the medicines I am on cause weight gain; two) with all of the changes in my body, I became extremely lethargic and didn’t exercise for months; and three) I stopped eating balanced, nutritional foods (would sometimes not eat at all or eat only one meal a day).
I have an important set of goals this year. For my health: a) I will walk/run/bike/swim/elliptical a minimum of 15 miles a week; b) I will add strength training two days a week; c) I will make sure to eat more vegetables; and d) I will run another half marathon in honor of my friend David, who has ALS.
I also plan to do a minimum of 52 random acts of kindness. One a week for sure and, hopefully, more. Each day of this year I will “Pontificate the Positive” (more on the expounding aspect and not the rambling about nothing) and write a tribute to one particular person. I plan to share the soul of said person that others might not know. Going beyond the surface and focusing on depth. Therefore, 365 people will be shared to my other friends and family.
2013 is about helping others to shine and regaining my health.
Thank you, Sean, for all of your encouragement. You make a big difference in the lives of many.
I like this. A lot.
You seem to be an incredibly strong woman, Ashley & I applaud you! I am loving this random acts of kindness idea….maybe we can start a real movement, finally! The world could certainly use more kindness. I’m sure you’ll reach your goals & you have inspired me to start training for a half marathon, even though I don’t know if I can do it.
Thank you
I thought a lot about this blog last night. I apologize ahead of time for the long post. I’ve always handled crises in my life by eating crap, not eating at all or burying myself in work. It usually doesn’t take me too long to bounce back though. In 2010 my father passed. This inspired me to go back to school and stop putting it off. However maintaining a 50 hour work week and 20 hours of school meant that I cut some things out. I stopped cooking my meals and ate out of a bag. I stopped walking 30 miles a week and did zero. I stopped going to church. Tired, busy, tired, busy was my motto. I told myself that I wasnt gaining much and I’d get it off. (LIE).
A year and a half later, I graduated in December 2011. I had also gained 46 lbs. May not be a lot to some but Ive had 2 back surgeries in my 20s and knee surgery 6 years ago. Maintaining healthy weight has been my doctors command! I woke up one week after graduation with a fever and backache. I went to work and while teaching, my back went out completely. I could not get off of the floor. I was in so much pain but I remember more being humiliated. I had to be carried out by medics and spent the night in the ER. Turns out I had torn a few disc and pulposa leakage was causing fever and swelling. When I went to my doctor he was blunt. “I have never seen you this heavy and you have to change it now”. My body just cant carry extra weight. My disc were ripping because my body cant handle anything extra. I weighed 186, more than when I delivered my last child. I’ve gotten down to 169, but I have to get to 140. While I was being honest w/ myself I also realized that I don’t allow myself to go enjoy anything that other people don’t want to do. My life is passing me by while I miss the things I want to enjoy. I almost didnt go to the con where I met Sean PF because no one would go with me (glad I went though).
SO, I commit to losing the last 29lbs by April 1st, my 44th birthday by adding yoga and walking back to my life. I commit to getting rid of crap food and going back to cooking for myself. I commit to going back to church because it made me happy and centered (starting this week). and once a month I commit to finding a new experience I want to enjoy (an opera, sky diving, dance lessons) and following through for ME! You all are my witnesses. Thank you Sean, April Billue
I’ve always been a chubby girl. Even in high school when I was working out 5 hours a day, I was still not entirely slim (5’1, 120). Then college happened, I quit playing sports, I got pregnant, so on and so forth. When I had my son and lost my initial baby weight at the age of 26 I was 163. That’s when I decided to move back home to be near family and friends and start a new career path. I am not lying when I say that ALL my friends are thin. I’m talking the sit around all day, never exercise, eat whatever they want, drink and smoke, have babies and never gain a pound thin. That includes both my sisters, whom I’ve always resented for having the exact same DNA as me and always looking so much better with so much less effort. So with all that for motivation I got back into playing softball, started going to the gym, quit smoking, and lost 20 pounds. I was at 140 when I broke my nose, had to have surgery, and came down with strep twice in one month. That was the last four months for me. So now I’m up to 153. And I am going to change that. I am going to be committed and not make excuses. I am doing this for me and my self confidence and also for my son, so that he can have a beautiful mommy he’s proud of who have the energy and ability to play ball with him and run around at the park with him. And also so I can be beautiful enough to find a good man to be with me so my darling boy can finally have the true family and strong father figure he deserves. Good luck to everyone in their new year and new attitudes. Sean, thank you for inspiring and motivating. Slainte!
End of the year Results and Proclamation
OK so for most of you that have followed me know that I’ve had a rough year. My husband left, I was losing the house and I had gained a lot of weight. Now I’ve been overweight since puberty. NEVER could I lose a pound. Tried a lot of supplements, gimmicks, and followed what doctors had said to do. Last year and a half I had gained so much, mostly from depression. My brother died and husband and I were having a very difficult time and last December he refused to grow up and just left me. Mounting bills, i’m still in so much debt I cannot hope to get rid of anytime soon.
Then March of last year I found something that was mine and not his or ours and that was Flandus fandom. I found my girls who gave me some purpose and I decided to take my life back!
I made a list:
Lose the Weight – I started reading up on foods that boosted my metabolism, how to eat, what to eat and implementing a workout program that suited me. To date, many of you know that I’ve lost 55lbs this year.
The House – It was in his name and the bank refused to work with me. So it went into foreclosure and my mom, God bless her bought me a new one. One that I loved and needs work but I have nothing else to do so I clean, unpack and even painted the house mostly myself. I’ve learned how to do repairs and even use a drill!
Debt – Got into a program that will eliminate our mutual debt in four years. So until then, I pay cash, I watch every penny and I’m very frugal. His debt, he will have to be responsible for.
Divorce – The only one of my goals that I wasn’t able to do. Finances just not there. But my plan is to do it by Feb. at the latest.
3 out of my 4 goals I actually have met or found a solution to. I feel empowered to succeed. The first time in a very long time that I’ve felt that I can achieve anything.
For 2013 the Proclamation to Myself:
Weight – Continue the weight loss and my goal for next year is another 50lbs. My mom thinks that’s too much but I guess I’ll see how I look and feel. this also includes toning my body and cleanse it of toxins. I’m eating healthier and want to increase that to envelope my whole lifestyle. I’ve done a lot but I KNOW I can do more.
Divorce – I will file and start my life over again and this time be more selective in choosing a man.
The House – I plan on unpacking the garage which is full of mostly his stuff and fix up what needs to be fixed.
Debt – I have no intention of traveling out of state even thou my mom really wants me to go to CA. I’m in GA and even tho she wants to pay for it, there is still costs incurring and I must save money to get out of debt.
The Boys – I know I won’t get to see Sean this year, which saddens me greatly because I would love to see him again so he can see the results in person. He is such a great influence and meeting him was likely one of the greatest highlights of last year. Norman there is a good chance I’ll see him hopefully twice since he films not far from me. BUT I’m pushing it back to June/July where that will give me 6-7 months to lose the weight I want and look good.
I think that these goals for me are realistic and I have a path to achieve them. So there you go. 😀
My commitment for 2013 is to continue with my weight loss. I am 26 yrs old and I have always been a fat lazy kid. All my life I would say I need to lose the weight. I am going to do this…. tomorrow. That tomorrow never came for years. In 2011 I hit my lowest. I was miserable, angry, and I hated my life. I wanted it all to end. I was losing everyone around me b/c of how I was and I felt like nothing would ever change. St Patty’s day I went out (even though I didn’t want to) with some friends and I had a good time. When I got home I really started to look at things. I stared at a picture of myself from the party and said to it ‘I don’t ever want to see you again’… I needed to make some changes. First was my eating habits. I was drinking probably a 2 liter of soda a day. Took me almost a month to get over the migraines. Then I started walking. Just a little each day. I was not fully committed to this idea yet. To me I was testing out the waters. Fast forward St patty’s 2012. That past yr I lost 30lbs. I took a new photo of myself. I could see a little difference, not just in how I looked but I was smiling a little more. I decided to increase my exercise and move forward. That summer I found your blog post that started YOU ARE FAT!!! I can’t really explain what it did to me, but it helped. I started eating a lot better, and I walked more. My attitude improved too. My one friend told me he was proud of me for bettering myself. There was one more thing I needed to do though to complete this new me. All my life I heard this voice telling me that I couldn’t do this and couldn’t do that. It was time to shut it up. There is a place here called 1,000 steps. It is 1,000 rock steps that climb up a mountain. Miners use to walk this every day to work. My brother, sis in law, and I on October 14, 2012 climbed that mountain. It sucked, but I did it. I can’t even explain the feeling I had when I reached the top. I eat even better now and exercise more. Finished the 1st 30 days of p90x and about to start the next go. I have lost a total of 75lbs and it feels great. Almost 2 yrs ago now I was about to give up on everything. Now I am excited to see what tomorrow will bring. I have even inspired others to start working towards their goals and that feels even better knowing that b/c someone saw me get off my butt and do something, they will too. I have a long way to go but I am committed to improving my life and inspiring others to do the same. ~Jenn H..
Hi Sean. HAPPY NEW YEAR! I’m new to Twitter and blogging and just happened upon your site. I’m blown away by all you’re doing for people. I’ve shied away from social media for several reasons but now that I’m “online” I’ve decided to start my resolution with you. I’m 38 years young. To get to my pre-baby weight I need to lose 30 lbs. My “baby” is 9! During my marriage my ex-husband wasn’t supportive in any way, shape or form. At that time I was not over weight. I had a difficult pregnancy that resulted in months of bed rest that packed on the pounds. After my daughter was born, my ex told me that I was “too big” for him. He never gave me a moment to myself so I can exercise or even sleep. Even being out in public with him was upsetting because he would always rave about his friend’s wives/girlfriends that were perfect in his eyes. He would agree with his friends and family’s jokes and comments about me! Not once did that man stick up for me. Because of him I rarely wanted to interact with people face to face. I’ve been happily divorced for over 5 years now and it’s been quite the uphill battle. Altho his words can’t hurt me anymore, they’re still floating around in the back of my mind. Sometimes memories suck. Consequently, I haven’t dated since the divorce. In April, I started a better job with great pay, work close to home, and have so much more time for my daughter. This summer I found out that I have allergies that were a major cause in the exhaustion and illnesses at certain times of the year. Now that I’m getting that under control, I can now look forward. I eat ok now…no fast food, lots of water, occasional sweets, a case of pop will last the whole year, and I love salads. I never smoked. I was an athlete in school so I know I can do this. I vow that this is MY year. No one can or will hold me back ever again! I will lose those 30 lbs because I want to. Maybe I’ll lose more. I will snack on healthy foods at work. I will find the time to take a walk, get on my exercise bike, play wii sports with my daughter, and dust off my weighted hula hoop. I will look in the mirror and see the good person that I know I am. I will smile more. I will laugh more. I will learn to laugh at myself. I will learn to be me again.
Liane, my name is Barbra, and I have made a similar promise as yours. I can also, somewhat understand where you are coming from. Although I have never had an unsuportive husband I do have an unsuportive father. I have always been a little overweight and I have vowed to losse 25lbs by June, I know i can do that. I have also promised to work on my selfesteem issues. This is where I know I will have some trouble. Like your ex-husband my father has never been suportive of me. I have always had “problems” that I could work on ever since I was little. I can still remember when I was 7, eating at an Arbys resteraunt, I had eaten a small arby roastbeef sandwhich and my sister asked me if I wanted some of her fries. I ate a few and my father looks at me and says “do you ever stop eating?” That seamed like it was beggining of it all. I was never beautiful enough and never fit enough.
Although,I am 26 now and have a wonderful husband that reminds me daily how beautiful and special I am, when I look in the mirror I have a herd time believing it. When I see my reflection I still see the ugly, fat, worthless girl my father sees. I know I still love my father, he is my father after all, and I’m sure you loved your ex at one point of time, That is part of why all the things they’ve said and done have stuck with us for so long. I know it’s hard but we have to realize that their opinions do not count. We have to look past them and see who we really are. I know it’s going to be hard but we can do this!!
The number one thing I promise to finally do away with this year is to get myself out of debt. Tired of saying I don’t have money to go out, or to pay for things I actually NEED to take care of… like minor health issues. I’m going to cut out expenses (like certain events I attend) that cost me more money than I have. I promise to work on my relationships with friends and family. Some of my friendships just are not what they used to be. As much as my friends tell me that I’m such a great friend, I often feel I might be the problem. I’ve had major issues with trusting people. And lastly, I promise to work on my confidence. I’ve been told recently that I need to be more confident in myself. Possibly because I think more on the negative side. Going to try to live with a more positive attitude. Thanks Sean for your words of encouragement!
Im going to start of by saying since January I have lost 45lbs. It was a journey. One that I will continue to go on as Im seeing Im headed to a wonderful place. Here is something to try. You speak of walking by a mirror to pretty much see you progress. Well I took it a step further by standing there naked. Oh yes I know for a woman this truely sucks because you see EVERYTHING by everything I mean flaws. I wanted to see if I could see something I liked. I cried the first time but then put on the big girl panties on and did it. What was it I saw? Thats for me to know. You’ll find yours. Keep this up every month. This years goal is simply to continue what I am doing as I know it is working. Also to surround myself with like minded people. Im really glad I got to meet you again. You really do inspire people. I can accually say I inspire myself now which is something I could never say before. So goals for this year. Lose the rest of the weight (30lbs). Get our kid center up and running so we can get our kids in our town fit. Compete in a BJJ tournament this year. Pass the NREMT class at the basic level to start. And finally take a real vacation outta the country. Someplace sunny in a 2 piece…..this I can do/ 🙂
Okay, here goes. I finally faced the fact I had to leave him when I watched him tell my three year old daughter that he would kill her if she did not clean her room. It took me over two more years to do it. It’s been twelve years and I still have not divorced him. Why? Over the years I have had a lot of excuses.Survival-money-lots of things. Real reason- I’m scared. There I said it. I’m not afraid of dying. Made peace with that a long time ago. I’m afraid of living. Living. Normal. Life. Siting here shaking. Silly, right? Silly in that I have had the courage to do so much in my life, I raised two great kids, I work at protecting people’s rights everyday. I’m going back to school to finally finish my degree. Silly. God help me. I have got to do this. This one thing. Just one more thing. This is harder than I thought it would be. I resolve,,,,,,, I will not let one more year go by without getting my freedom and my name back. I want no I will live. I will. okay just post this liz push the button
Glad you pushed it.!!
I have 2 major things I would love to devote to solving this year. The first being getting a bit healthier. Last year I joined a gym, worked out a minimum of 3 days a weak and ate healthier. my sister and I both were on different diets so we were always swopping healthy recipies and excresize ideas. I started to get disapointed in myself when after 6 months my sister had lost 50 lbs and I ,however, didn’t gain or loose any weight. My sister thought this was unusual, she pointed out that i was always excercizing and new i should be loosing some weight. She convinced me to go talk to my doctor about it. After a few more months of no wight loss, I finally did. I found out that I have a thyroid problem that has been preventing me from loosing any weight. I am now on proper medication and ready to work even harder than last year to reach a healthy and reasonable weight.
The second goal, is to finally learn to love myself. I grew up with a verbally abusive father. He was always blunt and open about how I’ll never be beautiful, I’ll always be fat, no one will ever love me, and how I’m useless. It was even harder when he would compare me to my older sister. Saying he wished I could look more like her. She is beautiful, tall, skinny, and naturally smart. I’ve always had self esteam issues because of this. I’ve always believed what my father had to say to me, I mean why would my father lie? Dads are supposed to only tell the truth, right? As an adult now I still see and hear what he said to me when I look in the mirror. Even though I have a wonderful husband that tells me every day how special I am, I still have trouble believing him. I still see myself as the chubby, ugly, worthless girl that never stood up to her fathers expectations. I promise this year to work on seeing myself how my husband see’s me and not how my father sees me. I promise, to try and prove to myself that I am beautiful and worthy of my husbands love, My goal is that by June 29, my 27th birthday, I will be able to go out as a confident woman that has lost a minimum of 25lbs. I want to go out on my birthday and shine!! So here’s to 6 months of gruiling work, physically and spiritually! I know it’s going to be hard and I’m going to need a lot of support. i know i can loose the weight, I’m already on the right track but my self esteam is going to be a challenge. I could use any as much support and advise that I can get!!!
2012 was a year of dedication, motivation, and hard work. 2013 will be even better http://t.co/LDJ7lZUC
I’ve been pretty active most my life, but it wasn’t til 2012 that I realized you are what you eat. I cut out majority of sugary foods, sodas, and processed foods. I will treat myself at times, but after a couple bites or two sips I’m good.
I sure hope the link works. If not pleaae let me know.
For 2013 I want to get into a set routine of working out. To accomplish this my sister in law and I have created a challenge for for ourselves and friends. It will begin on Sunday and end the 30th of March. Everyone will set their own goals and create a plan to reach those goals. My ultimate goal being that work outs will become a part of me, it will become such a routine that when life gets crazy ill still fit some form of exercise in.
At home I want to get better about taking care of chores and keeping things in order. Spending more time letting those I care about know it and in forms of phone calls or written letters not just email, text, or Facebook.
I want to continue revamping my ‘diet’….buy trying at least three new recipes a month
I will also run my first marathon. Sean thank you for your blogs, holding us accountable, I look forward to getting this year off to the right start with you and others who set their goals.
After meeting you a few times this year and reading your blog you have inspired me and I am vowing to be a healthier me. I know losing weight will help but also letting go to anger and giving forgiveness is important. Only one person can truly change me and that is me. Have an awesome year I know I will.
Almost 2 years ago my husband had major heart surgery and I was told I had a brain tumor…thankfully my husband is doing well and after a series of tests I am fine no tumor the doctors were wrong. I made a promise to meet New people and not give up on my dreams in 2012 and i did I met you and Dean Cain and other actors whom I admire their work.
I’m ready to start this again. I actually did a public proclamation before in August I believe. But I never wrote my goals down and never committed to anything. Long story short I’m 28 with Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, foot/hand circulation problems, and 102 lbs overweight. I gained my weight in college and after. My goals for 2013 are 1. get my diabetes under control, 2. get off my diabetes meds, 3. get off my high bp meds, 4.lose 45 lbs by my 29th birthday on May 19th, 5. lose the last 57 lbs by dec 31st, 6. eat a cleaner healthier diet, 7. cut my tv watching down my 95%, 8.cut my soda intake down by 95%, 9. cut my vanilla coffee intake down my 95%, 10. cut my fast food intake down by 95%, 11. increase my cardio to 5 days a week, 12. increase weight lifting to 3 times a week, 13. go jogging at least 3 times a week, 14. stick to my healthier and more active lifestyle! 15. get off my depression meds. I just joined a challege group with a friend of mine from elementary school I recently found through facebook. I am excited to start this lifestyle journey. It won’t be easy but I can do it with Sean’s support and the rest of ya’ll. Here’s to a new me in 2013
Hello everyone! ok…putting it all down in writing is not as easy as i thought it would be.
I’ve been over weight pretty much my whole life. in 2002 i was 422lbs..at 5ft10in i never really realized how big i was. until my nephew said and i quote” Molly your fat..your really really fat” that broke my heart and broke my spirit a bit. over the years my Doctor and I tried several things. and finally in 2002 I decided to have gastric bypass surgery my Doctor told me he disliked the surgery as a whole but since we had tried and failed everything else this was a last resort for me.
so May 2002 i had gastric byapss surgery. by October i had lost 100 lbs my dad and i had made a deal…once i lost 100 lbs then he’d stop smoking. well he didnt count on me losing the weight that quickly so in april of 2003 he quit cold turkey and was smoke free (my mom still is) by my 1 year surgery anniversary i had lost 225lbs i was down to 197 and stayed there for a few years. up until about 2006-2008 and i was up to 230lbs and stayed there…up until my dad passed away in nov 2008 and i went into a depression that i wouldnt wish on anyone and took me a while to even go see my doctor to ask for help. by that time i was up to 287..yes 57lbs gained in less than a year. i didnt care. when i went to the doctor asked for help over the next year i focused on making sure my internal health, blood work, ie sugar levels, cholesterol good and bad all those things were good. and suprisingly i did not have high cholesterol, my sugar levels were good all was ok except for low vitamin d and borderline hypertension. im still working on being borderline hypertension.so with that being said i commit to myself first and foremost to eat healthier. be responsible for what goes into my own body. i commit to cutting out those damned good expensive bad for you Starbucks frappichinos by 60% I also commit to cutting pop out by 60%..i commit to myself also to exercise a min of 3 times a week. i will not go back to where i was before. i refuse to. i commit to losing 50 lbs by dec 31 2013..does not seem like a hard goal in 12months..but it is.but i WILL do it this time. its out there now for everyone to see. it wont go away…fyi i just weighed myself and im 271.5…so i wish you all the best of luck this year with your commitments..thank you Sean i really am going to do it 🙂
Molly!!! I love you!!! Bazinga!
Jennifer I love you too and we not only can do but will do this 🙂
Thank you for this — I needed a kick in the ass.
I got back in the pool in August after about 3 years of being dry. I stopped after college because I could (I was a walk-on and suffered a wear-and-tear shoulder injury [that I should have seriously rehabbed but did not] during training trip my sophomore year, but stayed on all four years). Watching Phelps retire and an older Lochte decide NOT to retire pushed me back into the pool. I had grand plans of swimming three mornings a week with an aim to swim some personal bests, but I’ve been inconsistent. I’m swimming solo, coachless, and at a three-lane, 25yd gym pool. I don’t write down my workouts (make them up on the fly) and when I get bored, I get out. Sometimes that’s after 2500 yards, sometimes after 1200. I can’t use the shoulder injury as an excuse for my inconsistency — I’ve had absolutely no problems with it.
My difficulty is a lack of accountability. Until now, I’ve only ever swum with a team and a coach. In college, the first time I had to do morning workouts regularly, I had teammates as roommates and a sense that if I failed to show up to AM practice, I was letting someone else down. I can’t find that accountability from someone else in my adult life. There’s a lot of, “oh, but you’re so small, you don’t NEED to be working out.” Yeah, I’m at my race-weight, but it’s not MUSCLE weight, it’s FAT weight and I need to start hating that more than I did two months after my college career ended. Others can’t see why I’m dissatisfied with my body and I feel like a bitch sometimes explaining what’s wrong — mushy around the middle, weak in the arms, squishy in the legs — because I get that “but you’re SKINNY” look from coworkers and friends. A close teammate put it best — I weigh the same, but it’s moved around to undesirable locations. I don’t need to lose weight in the long run, but I do need to shape up and convert that fat weight to muscle weight. NOW.
So here are my goals: 1. MWF 4:30AM wakeup calls, swimming at least 1500yds for the first month swimming seriously, bumping up to 2000 by February. (I’d do more, but I have a time limit here with work as a teacher.) 2. At least one weekend practice of 2500 yards, working up to 4000 by March. 3. I don’t need official times to consider a goal met, but I will keep an eye on the Masters events calendars for nearby meets. I’m not traveling extensively this summer, so this is feasible. 4. Times to beat: 50 free (29.97), 1650 free [mile] (24:41.06). My main interest now is the 500 free, but I don’t recall my best time from high school so I’m contacting my HS coach for it. If we can’t find it, I’m going to quality-swim a time for myself and set one from there. I’m also interested in the 1000, but I’ve never swum it before so I’ll have to Q it and set a goal from there. 5. In May, when teaching the kiddos becomes less intense, swim afternoons on at least days I’m not swimming mornings. When school lets out, swim mornings every day (this won’t have to be 4:30am).
I KNOW that I feel better on days I swim. I KNOW I automatically make healthier eating and drinking choices on days I swim. I KNOW that I am a more patient teacher and a better person on days I swim because I feel proud of myself. But I still convince myself when that alarm goes off that somehow, that hour-and-a-half of extra sleep is going to make me a better person. It’s not. I know that, but I need to act like I know it. I’ve updated the blog I made to keep track of my yardage [set it as my website here] and I’m going to keep it updated with yardage, practices, and how I care for my shoulder (like I said, haven’t had problems, but you can’t be too careful). This — the blog, posting this here — will help keep me accountable. 2013 will be the year I can say “at 26, I swam faster and better than in high school or college. At 26, I felt better than at 25, 24, or 23.”
I am in exactly the same boat as you! My goal is to get back into the pool and lose the weight I gained when I stopped swimming. I am going to make myself go at least 3 days a week. That means 6-7 am lap swim and then straight to work. When school ends (I work at a University) I will be able to travel the 25 miles to the nearest masters team workouts and train there in the mornings. I feel your pain having to swim alone. I always do better when someone is next to me, pushing me and holding me accountable, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do it! Good luck!
Alright, seeing you ladys’ (and gentlemen’s) incredible stories and resolutions this might not be the most significant of New Year’s Resolutions, but here goes.
In 2012 I will attempt to do at least one random act of kindness a day, and be it smiling at a stranger. By showing people the beauty in the world I will see it myself.
My Abitur (diploma from German secondary school qualifying for university admission or matriculation) is coming up in March/April, too and I’m big on procrastination, so no more of that. I will study thoroughly and early enough that I will have no reason to say “I can’t”.
-Joana Bußmann
Oh wow, I meant “In 2013 I will attempt […]” of course. Startin’ off good…
You’re a beautiful man, Sean. This year I will be healthier. I promise to exercise at least once a day for at least 20 minutes. I will cut back on sweet and sugary snacks and eat more fruits/vegetables and just healthier food. I will continue to not drink a lot of soda and instead drink lots of water. Another important goal I have is to go back to school. After this past Fall semester, I decided I was not going to back for the spring. Almost 21 years old, half way through junior year, and I decide to drop out because I’m an idiot. One of the reasons was because I was not happy there. Didn’t like the campus/surroundings, people weren’t friendly. The main reason is I still don’t know what I want to do with my life, so I just picked a random major. Thought the major was stupid and pointless and wouldn’t help me in life, so I decided not to work for it anymore. Maybe I was just scared. Even if within these next couple of months I don’t figure out what I want to be, I want to go back to school this upcoming fall. Bachelor’s Degree in sociology or liberal studies. Part time or full time student. Actually going to classes or online classes. It doesn’t matter, I know I can get my Bachelor’s Degree. This third goal may be the most challenging. I’ve always been shy. Social situations make me uncomfortable. I’m only myself around people I’m close with. By the end of this year, I want to be more comfortable talking to people. I don’t want to be afraid of putting myself out there anymore. And finally, I promise to keep laughing. There is humor in every day and I will not get down on myself no matter what happens. And hopefully, I will make other people join in on the laughter, too. Robyn Konowalski
Well, where to begin? 1st off, let me start off by saying “Thank you” to Sean Patrick Flanery for himself for being so inspirational, so positive yet full of life & happiness. I thank Sean because sure he’s all these things I’ve listed & more but by who he is as someone who cares to help others by advice & just helping about. From word to word, blog from blog, video or by site, Sean manages to help a lot by others & giving positive feedback. With myself, for years, I’ve dealt with my weight. Losing weight, gaining weight. Eating right, eating wrong. When I work out, I manage to believe in myself & then comes the give up phase. When eating, I would eat salads, lots of fruits then again come back to the junk food, sweets, cola drinks. I’ve always had a problem with my image. Saying to myself “I’m ugly”, “I’m Fat”, “No guy will ever like me or be with me!”. I’ve dealt with this for many years. When I was in high school & got into the whole “I have a crush on this guy” phase, I changed myself completely for guys to like me more. I would work hard to change my body image. Dying hair & really hurting myself in losing weight. I practically in days will starve myself in just being in the perfect outfit or just showing off to guys to look at me. It was hard yet I still Til this day don’t know how guys can see a girl, laugh, smile & be nice without thinking once that “yeah, she’s not skinny enough”, “she’s not pretty enough” or “she’s not perfect”. I didn’t mean to lose weight for a guy, I was trying for the world. People can see other people & say many things about how that person looks or is. Of course judgement is always something people do (or for some people for that matter). Many years passed, didn’t care about myself & the way I looked until it hit me. I have to stop everything & just be happy the best way I can. Stop listening to people, stop seeing people & saying “I wish I looked like her”. I just kept my thoughts, my feelings to myself & changed for myself. Come to more of last year of 2012, I just ate right, exercised more right & got into Bjj. I was terrified & kinda worried I admit of starting Bjj because I didn’t know if a girl like me can go through it. Til this day, I’m glad to be apart of Bjj. It completely changed my way of thought more, helping with my image being more healthy & positive & most importantly, it changed my life. When I heard & found out more about Sean Patrick Flanery through twitter (even though yes, I’ve seen his films before) but really starting to know that he’s more than a celeb, but he’s a believer to help others & be a inspiring person for many. Reading his tweets, his blogs & lucky enough to ask him for advice helps me a lot. When I have a weight issue, a problem for work or for my life? Sean is there just to help open your eyes & give the truth (even though you can asks others but you just cant help to ask sean 1st). I will always give Sean a BrazilianJJ update & mention how much weight I’ve lost (grand total 186.4) as of last Wednesday. Having people ask me “what are you doing to lose weight?” & “how I lost it?” Is a incredible feeling along with being told “I look more glowing & good” also helps me believe in myself to keep going forward yet stay positive. I became more truly blessed in my life from 2012, being in a relationship, having promotions from work & smiling all the way everyday. When i eat, i eat healthy but im not gonna lie i may have a burger or pizza once in a while, yet i eat small portions of my food. Lots of veggies & fruits is a must for me & I love it as well. Everything is good & I know I will continue to shine on bright to accomplish more. I believe in myself & I claim that I can go through this & manage to succeed that. A lot can happen in a year, months, weeks & even a day, but if there’s something that we want, something we are willing to go on & try to make it happen, we can do it. We just got to have faith, believe & claim it. Just hold on & never let go. My words may not be best but just know that you CAN do it! You CAN make things change. You CAN make your negative turn into a positive. So yeah, there it is, again, thanks Sean for believing in us & helping others believe in themselves!!!! God bless…. Crystal Tamayo
A couple months ago, I decided I needed to start making a change. I have three beautiful daughters. All three dance and are thin, beautiful and healthy. I started going to a trainer two days a week (two days is all I can affort at this point). The other days, I try to walk/jog for at least 30 minutes. I am promising to contiue the progress I’ve made and keep moving forward. My trainer will be weighing and measuring me this Friday to see how I’m doing. She told me to stay off the scale because we’re trying to gain muscle and then numbers might discourage me. I’ve gone down almost two notches in my belt and can jog further every week. I’m actually looking forward to the measurements, I will update you on that if you like. I want my girls to be as proud of me as I am of them and that is my promise. To keep up the hard work and make them proud!
I want to thank you for your posts. They are inspiring to me and very encouraging. Thank you and God Bless!!! Sharon DeCurtins
Okay…I wanted to post this last night but my net was down so here goes:
In this new year I proclaim to take back my health! Allow me a moment to explain…I had a great job opportunity handed to me in my early 20s, after the birth of my son, as a fitness trainer at a local gym. I loved my job and threw myself into it 100% loosing 50 lb in the course of a month and completely sculpting myself as well. i was in great shape both physically and mentally as a result, but due to an old knee injury I had to stop working out and lost most of my definition and inevitably quit my job. I remained at a relatively slim weight over the years after and in good over all health. Last year I began to notice that I was beginning to gain weight and was getting a “belly”. I chalked it all up to age (approaching my 30s this year) and was actually a little pleased to have some curves. A few months went by and I realized, at a routine check up, that I had gained a significant amount of weight (around 20 lb) over the course of around 3 months. I was shocked but, again, thought it was just weight and the joys of a new relationship (fat and happy…lol). About a month later I began not being able to keep any food on my stomach. I went for series after series of test and finally came to the conclusion that my thyroid had nearly stopped working all together (the result of my weight gain which tallied about 55 lbs at that point), and i had developed problems with my kidneys, intestines, and over all digestive track. That was all in the course of about 4 months.
Fast-forward to today…I am on several different medications, but am in better general health. I started taking a Combat Fitness class and kickboxing at my son’s (now 6) Dojo. I have shed about 10 lb, but still have no definition and feel sloppy…
This year I proclaim that I going to get back into the best shape possible and get into even better health, not just for me but for my family. A healthy life is a long life and I want to be around for as long as possible. Also I want my son to see and learn by my example that life is about the choices we make and what we choose to do with our lives directly effects those around us.
Keep my in your thoughts and prayers and help to encourage me to complete my goal of not only loosing the remaining “unhealthy” weight, but to get ripped in this new year. i need the motivation since i will be going at this alone. Thanks.
So i’ve restarted this thing about three times, each time they’ve come out to be gibberish. Truthfully I am not making a vow about any weight loss, it’s almost impossible for me to lose weight is the conclusion i’ve come to, so it’s not a big cloud over my head. But i’m not just not doing anything about it, I’ve made many, many health changes, including giving up all sugary carbonated drinks. Mostly because my partner had to give them up for some issues she suffered. It’s been three weeks since I’ve had one. I had an incident in 2009 that I gave up sodas for as well and lost almost100lbs but I also wasn’t eating or drinking alot (long story on this) maybe it’ll happen again but a more healthy way we’ll see. But I go to the gym regularly with a trainer, 30 minutes cardio & 30 minutes weights. I’ve developed better stamina, and oxygenation (which was needed) so I dont get tired as fast, I’ve toned, but not lost… my trainer and I are close so we speak often and he’s finally become a good influence on me. So I guess we will see what happens now.
** But….. well I think my biggest problem this year has been that I haven’t written….anything in almost 6 months now….. I stopped writing completely. I am in my last year of college, graduation is on the horizon for me. My major is English but my focus is on Fiction writing, I was in my last writing class before my independent study this term and was informed that I wasn’t that good and I should stop. I was pretty much my professors punching bag, I truthfully dont know why but everything I wrote for this class even if it stayed within the guidelines of her demands was deemed…trash. (Her words) I have filed a complaint with the department but this woman is the head of the creative writing department so she can make my life a living hell. I dont know how or why we got on this foot, but it’s been the story of my life since I have been in school. I dont have a superiority issue, I always think others writing is much better then mine so I know it’s not that. But… in truth i’ve given up. It took three days before my final revision that I got her voice out of my head enough to write it, to me I thought it was incredible, I put so much passion behind that revision and to me it was the best piece i’ve produced all term……. my final grade was a C for the course…. I’ve never gotten such a low mark.
I know grades dont make the writer, but… I dunno I haven’t written anything else. My confidence what was left of it is gone.
I guess my one and only vow for this upcoming year….. is to….write something…. anything.
Crappy Goal I guess.
Back in July, I made a promise and I broke it. Today, I regret that broken promise.
You are the only person who has been truthful with me in saying the three words no one else will: YOU ARE FAT!! Bottom line, you are what you eat! That is what my body is speaking. I have to make a lot of changes for the better. If I don’t, I’ll be disappointed in myself. The time is NOW, not tomorrow or the next day. No more excuses!!! Excuses are for lazy people!
I am 5 feet tall. My body weight far exceeds what I should be, as I tip the scales at 147. And I’m a rather pudgy 147. I met you in Toronto in August. I was the pudgy one who gave you your SHINE UNTIL TOMORROW cross and dogtag chain. How ironic is that?
Instead of a promise or a proclamation, I’m making a list of ten commandments. These are MY TEN COMMANDMENTS to a healthier and happier and leaner me in 2013.
1. Thou shalt eliminate sugar from your lifestyle.
2. Thou shalt exercise 30 minutes to 1 hour a day, every day! NO EXC– USES.
3. Thou shalt eat lean protein, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables every day.
4. Thou shalt keep a daily food journal.
5. Thou shalt wake up every morning determined AND go to bed each night with satisfaction.
6. Thou shalt drink more water.
7. Thou shalt not let a bad day, turn into a bad food choice. Count to 10 and ask, “is it worth it?”
8. Thou shalt push a little bit harder every day.
9. Thou shalt NOT give up. Ever.
10. Thou shalt thank Sean Patrick Flanery for his inspiration and words of wisdom and determination that guided you to SHINE….UNTIL TOMORROW!!!
I just came across your blog and reading it has inspired me. So here is my commitment.
I have been overweight my entire life and in may 2012 I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic. My initial thought was how could this happen? Secondly was how do I fix it?
Well I’m very proud to say that since that day I have totally changed my eating habits, I exercise 3-4 days a week. Because of the lifestyle changes I have made I have lost 70lbs and my blood tests have all come back normal.
My goal is to lose a total of 100lbs by May 31 2013 and to continue losing weight from there. I am going to continue exercising and eating healthy. It’s not an easy goal but as I have learned so far it is so worth it. I’m happier now then I’ve ever been and I will only be happier as I reach my goal.
Thank you for being so supportive to everyone. When making big life changes support is so important….Katherine.
I have 2 changes I want to make this year. One is to eat healthier and regularly. Sometimes I’m so busy, I forget to eat or I scarf something down before going out the door. I found out a couple weeks ago that I have high blood pressure. So, this is something I HAVE to do. The second change is to get more sleep. I keep hearing how important this is to your health and it worries me because I don’t get much sleep. I work two jobs and right now this is something I have to do. Hopefully this will change in the future. So during the week, I get about 3 or 4 hours sleep. And on my days off, when I have a chance to get more sleep, I usually end up going to bed early in the morning because there’s so much to do. How do you do it, Sean? With your busy life, how do you stay so fit and healthy? One thing I’m going to do is see if I can get my hours cut on my second job so that I have time to eat right. And since this is the 1st day of the NEW YEAR, I’m going to stop now and get my butt to bed. Thanks for listening. Luv ya
I promise to continue with my diet and not fall into the temptation of smoking. 5 years without smoking!! Yayyyy!!
On the other hand, I promise to do some physical activity. I always love to roller skate!!! So, I really want to take up…Wish me luck!!! ♥
Do a work out at least 3 times a week, including stretching, crunches and ankle/foot strengthening exercises. I’m also planning on taking some skateboarding classes so I can go to skate parks with my younger nephew who is in kindergarten and just learning. You all may know that I tried a daily workout blog in August of 2012 in a semi-private online group and posted digests of the first few weeks. I didn’t get enough feedback to feel motivated from the outside to go for almost every day. So I’m pledging the 3 days – plus extra, rather than over committing to something that might be too daunting. I got to the point where I could do 20 “girl push ups” so I know what a couple of weeks can change. The goal this time is to keep it going longer… though time.
Ok, as a mom of three let me say that when you are pregnant, its is wonderful to have people notice. But when you are not, it is a horrible thing to have people think you are. I would get the awful question, “Oh, are you pregnant?” Or, “when are you due?”. At least once a week. Then the dreaded question came twice in ONE DAY! It was awful. I knew then that I had to do something. I was at my heaviest weight ever, the same or a little more as full blown, nine months pregnant. And no, lovely strangers of the world, I am indeed not pregnant. So I joined a gym, and started eating better. I have lost most of my goal weight. (I only want to lose about 10-15 more pounds) Once school started, along with my job, the gym was cut out. Much to my surprise, I still continued to lose weight. I think that working has caused me to cut portion sizes, and has kept me from giving in to temptations, as they aren’t there. But I have noticed a change in my mood/outlook/overall feelings. So I have a couple of resolutions. For starters, I need some kind of exercise, I believe for my overall mental health/status. Secondly, I want to spend more and better quality time with my kiddos, especially my 3 year old who tends to lose out at homework time for my first and third graders. Thirdly, I want to get back on the healthy bandwagon, that like so many, I fell off of during the holidays. Lastly, I want to have a more positive outlook, and to speak more positively of people, situations, anything really.
I am publicly announcing my success of:
1. Eating a healthier diet (much more fresh veggies, fruit and fish, much less sugar, fats and general junk) and actually ENJOYING the healthier foods.
2. Losing 27 pounds so far.
I am also publicly declaring I WILL do the following:
1. Continue this healthier way of life
2. Reach and maintain my optimal weight goal by October 2014 (wedding!)
3. Take up an active hobby(ies) (tactical knife training and mixed martial arts)
4. Increase my physical strength to better perform my job as an EMT
Signed, Sealed and Delivered,
~Sarah E. Miller~
About 2 years ago someone I look up to suggested I explore a Paleo diet, that it would change my life. I started but found it challenging to fully commit. I still do sometimes. But I resolved to make some health changes. You see I had put on quite a bit of weight over the last few years and I didn’t want to suffer health issues like my Mum. She had Type 2 diabetes…yes had…. she passed away late September this year.
I wanted to change my life around. About 18 months ago I joined a gym and started seeing a personal trainer twice a week. It’s more than just losing weight, it’s making healthier choices. However to date I’ve lost 17 kilograms in 18 months. It has been a struggle at times, especially when I broke my wrist.
This year I plan to lose another 10 kilograms and reduce the amount of junk/snack foods I eat to once a week. I’m setting a deadline of the beginning of December 2013.
The following is even more difficult. I “play fight” on Twitter with someone for fun. When it’s friendly banter it’s entertaining. But frequently it turns darker and I find myself being controlled and bullied. I don’t think it’s healthy for either of us. This year I plan to get myself back on track and not get sucked in by this person. No more tears.
Thanks for listening.
webgurl
Where to start??? Well my name is Samantha. I am 20 years old. I have been a pack a day smoker for 7 years, I do not eat healthy but still weigh 120 (i know weight is not an issue here, but I am still not a healthy person,) I am usually always negative, and I always make excuses for my negativity. ex. oh my job is terrible i hate working, my ex made a comment today so it ruined my day, my dad doesn’t pay child support, my mom is a single mom trying to raise me and my brother. All bad things that happen, but NOT an excuse for my attitude towards life. I used to be such a happy person. I still have goals in life. I want to travel and see the world and experience EVERYTHING that life has to offer, I will sleep on floors if I have to, to see life through others eyes. So that is why I promise to quit smoking. As of January 1st, 2013 I am smoke free. And although I have had the worst headache all day, I feel sick, and I’m shaking from the nicotine withdrawl, I know that all of this pain will be worth it in the long run. Because today is the first day I’m going to get my life back on track. I promise to start working out, and I’m getting my gym membership on Thursday, I want to run a 5k zombie chase in August so I’m really set on getting my body and lungs restored. I promise to no longer make excuses for my negativity, and I promise to just stay happy! Life is to short to be anything but happy! And I’m slowly beginning to realize that none of what I think now matters, I have my whole life ahead of me and I need to start living that life. I promise to start doing things for myself and no one else. I promise to smile more, because there are people who don’t have the life I do, and who would kill to live my life. I make all these promises to you Sean, so you will know that there is one of your fans out there trying to better her life. 🙂 I met you in Louisville, Kentucky back in 2012. You were so nice and sweet and gentle. I was not expecting that at all. My wish for 2013 is to get the chance to meet you again. I was soo nervous and there were so many people the day I met you, that I didn’t get to say what I really wanted to say. That is a big regret. Its not everyday you get to meet someone who you look up to, and who they inspire the hell out of you. I hope 2013 is a chance I get to say what I really want to say to you. Until that day, you are awesome Sean. Please continue to do what you do. You are simply amazing, and you help sooooooooooooooooooooooo many people that it is truly inspiring to see. Now, if you are ever in St.Louis, Missouri, let me know! I’m always here! 🙂 Now the question for you, what is your resolution Mr. Flanery???????
I am a 32 year old married mother of 3 with a full-time “real job.”
For too long I have let all that equal no time for myself, no time to watch what I eat, no time to get moving, no time to care. Then I realized that I let my weight balloon from 150lbs to 230 lbs in 12 years and I didn’t recognize myself. I am done.
My goal began early November. I did my research because I want to lose weight the right way and keep it off by living a healthy lifestyle. No diets have ever worked because I have a sweet tooth and love my carbs. I am going to lose 100 lbs by changing my eating habits and adding exercise to my day.
I am decreasing my calorie intake by 20% of my daily calorie usage, putting me at around 1500 calories per day. So far I have lost and kept off 10 lbs.
I will save up and purchase a treadmill or elliptical machine before my birthday in February and use it at least 1 hour three times per week. I will play Just Dance with my daughter for at least one hour in a given weekend. I will take the stairs at work every day, even when the thought of it makes me want to gag.
I will hold myself accountable through weekly weigh-ins posted on MyFitnessPal and monthly measurements.
Thank you for this outlet. It may be just what I needed to get out of the holiday fitness slump!
Ok, here it goes. I must quit smoking. I became an occasional smoker in high school…quit for a while, on and off for years. Then I quit for good 13 years ago to start a family. Life was sweet… and then my son died in his sleep of a berry aneurysm at the age of 5. I went to wake him up for kindergarden and he was cold. Eventually so was I. I never succumbed to drugs and alcohol. I was never even tempted. Instead I dove headfirst into my work, quickly becoming an anti social workaholic with a 2 pack a day habit. It’s been six years now since we lost Garrison. Healing has been a slow and brutal process for me but it is happening. I can say his name, tell you stories about him, show you pictures..all without that stabbing pain in my chest, or rage or tears. Which brings me to my point…I MUST QUIT SMOKING!!! At last, after all these years, I am ready to try to have another baby. We both are. And I must be nicotine free before I get pregnant. That’s it. The only option. It’s been 38 hrs now, and I am feeling at times a step away from a panic attack, and other times illogically enraged. But these pass quickly, and I can do this. I will do this I am hopeful that by my next con you will be congratulating me . And hopefully by this time next year I will be rocking my baby.
Your comment has touched my heart so much more than all of these comments have. I couldn’t even imagine being in your shoes. I am rooting for you on your journey. I truly believe you can and you are going to reach your goals, and build a wonderful, beautiful family.
Beth, my heart goes out to you, four years ago today my niece died from an unknown disease. She was almost 2. We had to watch her slowly get worse while the doctors tried to find out what was causing it, and that never happened. Four years later they are still looking and we are still waiting, but most likely will never get an answer. I wish you nothing but the absolute best in your goals and am truly rooting for you. GOOD LUCK, GOOD LUCK, GOOD LUCK. Lisa
P.S. My brother and his wife had a little boy almost a year and a half ago, and trust me it’s totally worth quitting smoking for
I want to become the person I used to be. Happy. Actually loving myself as a person. I lost that. I let myself get sucked into stagnancy and apathy. Then it got worse and became self-loathing. I don’t want to even talk about this last year, this last horrible summer. I want to forget all of that and put it behind me. To start over and become who I know I am, who I was, who I should be.
So I will. Thanks to you, Sean. (Should I be calling you Mr. Flanery in my head?)
I’m going to go running with my dogs every day until I go back to college for spring, and when that happens I’ll keep it up on my own. I’m going to stop focusing so much on my screw ups and instead keep my eyes on what I can do to make my life and the lives of others a better one. I’ll focus on my studies more. I’ll save my money. Most direly, I’ll sleep more
Thank you for this, really. Thank you for being so kind and encouraging to all of us, and at the same time giving us enough tough love to get us off our asses and really live life. I wish you and Donut a very happy 2013.
Love always,
Josie
I wanna change my life,completely..i’m not happy,i’m not satisfied and i don’t wanna feel like this anymore!
I wanna move from Italy because i don’t feel i have any bright future here…i feel like i belong to something bigger!
But i’m scared, it’s not easy to start a new life,making new friendship in a different place…alone…but here is my goal:
I DON’T WANNA BE SCARED ANYMORE!!!! I deserve to be happy and to live the life i want to live!
I wanna say thank you Sean for being one of those stars that would help there fans. Your one of the people I look up too the most. After reading your blogs I have found faith in my self once again and that I wanna make myself heathier. I have found the faith in my self to quite drugs. So this year I have made a list starting with my addiction. At the end of this year I want to be a year sober.I plan on starting my insanity program back up again. I plan on losing 80 pounds by May 12. Im starting a knew diet too. Nothing going to stand in my way this time.
I started my diet a week before new years and I have to say this is the first I have been proud of myself and can finally look my self in the mirror for once and say yea I can do this even though I have along ways to go. Ive only been drinking slim fast and doing my insanity every day for 3 weeks now and just weighed myself and already lost 20 pounds but im changing my goal to loose 100 pounds by may 12 which is my high school graduation and I have you to thank you Sean for making myself believe in me again.
Okay, I’ve decided that I’ve had enough of being overweight. I’m the mother of a 9 month old, I quit smoking April will be 4 years ago, I don’t drink a lot of soda (It’s mostly Coffee and water ^__^), but I can’t seem to shake those last few birth control/baby pounds. 20-25lbs would get me back to my weight when I graduated high school (and I was relatively okay with that weight), but with a herniated disk in my lower back a lot of stuff is too much and I’m laid up for a couple days. Any help of what type of exercising would help me more than hurt me would be fantastic. I’d like to have this accomplished by the time it starts getting nice around here, which is about May-ish (I live in Northern Maine where it is currently -2 degrees, with a wind chill of -21). It all needs to fit into my schedule of working 40 hours a week and being a mom 168 hours a week…pretty please? ^__^ You sir, I’ve inspired me. ~Tasha (@MCRmy_Starshine)
You can tell the coffee hasn’t kicked in yet…You sir, HAVE inspired me…not I’ve inspired me. Heh.
Dear Tasha,
Whatever you do, start slow. If you can add large movement stretching into your life for a few weeks, then you can try something “on top of that.” I understand that as a parent you may not have time to take classes. If someone gives you a video – make sure to maybe just to the “warm up” or first 5 to 10 minutes of it for a while.
Basics:
(1) raising both of your arms up and pointing your fingers towards the ceiling – breath in on the way up, slowly breath out on the way down. Try reps of 4 or 8 to start.
(2) If you have no ankle or knee or back problems that you know of, do “knee prances” – bring on knee up – just a bit – and then put your foot back down. Either do reps on each side of the body, or switch off legs. Breathe in on the way up, breathe out on the way down. Learning to breath right when doing exercises and good posture (keeping your shoulders square but not hunched or up) is the road to being able to do more later.
(3) Sitting in a chair toe pointing and ankle rolls. Later on you can do this standing. Sit in a chair and extend your legs. Point your toes, then release. If you have ever had physical therapy for your knees or feet, try to remember some of those exercises and apply. Ankle rolls are — with your foot relaxed – turning your feet clockwise or counter clockwise.
** Not a doctor – try at your own risk — talk to the professionals face to face or watch demonstration videos before you try anything more intense! **
I made 3 resolutions for 2013. Thanks to Sean for your article, it was a kick in my ass to do something 🙂
Here there are:
Resolution #1: Write a diary
I promise to keep a diary every day. Wouldn’t it be cool to remember every single day of 2013? I mean in ten years or so…
Resolution #2: Play Wii-Boxing 2-3 times a week
Heh? Wii-Boxing??? Yes. Wii-Boxing. I played it the last two days just for fifteen minutes or so and my muscles hurt badly! It’s better today, but I couldn’t move my arms and shoulders yesterday. It was hard to put on my clothes or wash myself. So I think my body needs some special training…and Wii-Boxing is fun and fun is good. If something is funny it’s easy to go on with it. And after my arm-/shoulder muscles are trained, I’ll do something for the rest of my body. Just step by step.
Resolution #3: After a successful realization of #2 (training at least until the end of March) I’ll set a third resolution. I’ll think about it later, #1 and #2 are hard enough to realize….If you wonder that there are no “I promise to get rid of my overweight- eat more vegetables – make more sport etc.” promises, there is an easy reason for it: I promised it the last 15 years without success. Ok, I changed my diet and I eat more healthy stuff but it’s not perfect and not enough. But I think it’s time for a new strategy. Talking too much about losing weight causes the exact opposite of it, so I won’t talk about it this year 😉
Thanks again Sean for your – wise – words. They made me think about goals I want to achieve and how I should live. I wish you the best for 2013!
I find this website extremely encouraging. I’ve been overweight my entire life. I lost a lot of weight and kept if off for 5 years. Then I got a desk job and I’ve gained 55 pounds. I’m not proud of it and I’m very disgusted with myself. I do not like the person I see in the mirror. So with the support of Sean and everyone on this website I resolve to lose that 55 pounds plus some. I’ve also been smoking since I was 12 now I’m going to quit and stay that way. I’ll do good for a few months then I’ll start back up not this year!! I will finally start college this year. I will also do better at keeping in touch with friends. I will not go months without talking to them. I want to be a better person and feel better about myself. Thank you Sean for making this site. Now that I’ve told you I have to do it because I would feel awful if I let you down. =)
I am 48. My life starts now.
I had an awesome childhood; I graduated from high school and found a job working in retail. Soon I moved in to management and made very good money. I loved camping with my friends and often wrote about times we had. I lived with my parent while I saved money to get my own place, a house. We had brother that lived with us. He made life hell for my parents; an environment I wanted to avoid. When it got to the point I save money for a down payment my mom became ill. My dad asked me to stay. I did. 27 years later, I am still a family caregiver. Since then I have taken care of my mom (emphysema, pancreatic cancer) my dad (Congestive heart failure diabetes and depression) and my dad’s brother (mentally handicapped). I lost my job of 24 years in 2007. My first panic attack occurred in 2005 at my Aunt’s funeral. She was 16 years older than the uncle I aided. It was also at this time I stopped writing a 1630 historical novel I was working on. I believe it was the constant worry coupled with my ADHD destroyed my focus. In 2010, I sought help for depression and the panic attacks. Caregiver Burnout. Not the life I imagine for myself. I gained a lot of weight, was on numerous meds and plagued with health problems. I was taking my more meds than the person I cared for. Since I moved him in a care facility, I lost 100lbs and reduced my meds. My goals (1) to be med free (2) get back into creative writing (2) write an auto biography/advocacy book on family caregiving.(4) Never stop learning (advice from my dad) (5) As for my weight I don’t want to put a number on it. With the 100 I lost and the changes I made; the burdens I shedded, I know I will lose more. My focus is on physical and my mental well being. I believe I found the right path for healthier living for me. I started Zumba. .
It’s time for me to dance!
I guess it’s my turn. I don’t know if you remember, Sean, but I promised you that I would join a gym and start a regular workout schedule and healthier eating habits. Well, on 12/29/12 was my first time. I’ve commited myself to the gym at least 3 times a week (if not more when my schedule allows it). It kicked my ass. I was so sore the next day. My continued promise is to stick with it and the next time I see you, Sean, there will be alot less to hug. I have a few great friends to help with support and I need that. Thank you Jacqui, Mel & Clark.
~Sherri Henry
You will come to LOVE that pain… just like I crave Cale.!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Sean for your support . Just got done and it BURNS! Once I get used to it, I know I’ll be happy.
Sherri, I know you can do anything you set your mind to. It’s your time to shine & I have complete faith you will stick with it & there will be less of you for Sean to hug later this year. And he is right; you’ll come to love that pain because it means progress & effort & work that you’ll see results for. One step, one day at a time & never look back. And if you fall you get back up & keep on going. Thank you for your encouragement as well, it means a great deal.
I’M so hapwe have each other for support. We may be miles apart, but not in spirit & hearts. Love ya Girlie!
Love you back Sherri!
After reading some of the 70 comments I got posted to my email address, I realise that my promises are completely selfish. To fix this, I will take Ashley’s advice and do 1 Random Act of Kindness once a week. If I can’t find an opportunity to help, I’ll just stick £3 in an envelope and stick it to a vending machine: Sorted. I still want to stick to my “Selfish” promises, for me. With the money that I will SAVE and not SPEND, I’ll use it to travel to my dream destination: America. I’ve always wanted to go but never had a chance because of money situations. When in America, I will come to any event that you and Reedus are doing and I will prove my promises true. Thanks for reading, Sean. It means a lot:)
I vow to lose at least 60 pounds by September. I also plan on spending more time with family and friends, as I worked way too much in 2012. I also want to try to budget better to save money this year. After my weight loss, I would love to see Sean Patrick Flannery, and have him tell me I did it!!!!
A few months ago I had a dream that I was at one of those all you could eat buffet places. I was perusing the trays of hot foods and filling my plate with all the yummy deliciousness one could want. Crispy fried chicken, mash potatoes covered in gravy, etc etc. My plate was getting so heavy it started to tilt, dripping food everywhere. It was a disgusting mess. I was just about ready to devour all this “food” when suddenly I look up and there was Mr. Flanery himself, giving me one of the most disapproving ‘for shame’ looks any one person could muster. I was humiliated and embarrassed and felt like a big fat heifer! In the dream I ended up dumping the plate after his disapproving stares. I woke up thinking to myself, “damn, if only I had my very own personal Sean Patrick Flanery walking around with me everyday I would finally lose those last pesky 30 pounds I need to lose!!!”
The thing is, I DO have my own personal Sean Patrick Flanery walking around with me everyday, just the less hot and less talented version—IT’S ME!!! Here I am testifying to him what I should be doing to make myself healthier when all along I should have always been making these promises to myself.
So in that respect, here are the promises I will make to myself, with Sean and all of you as my witness. I will lose these 30 lbs I have gained in the past 3 years. I will stick to the system I have used in the past that has helped me to lose weight and I will make sure to do it ALL 7 days of the week! (and not take weekends off like I’ve done in the past). Exercise will be a PRIORITY in this process—and not just for my weight loss but for my health in general! And most important of all–if I should make a mistake, if I should ‘go off the wagon’, if I should fall down I will ALWAYS always get up again and continue until I have reached my goal. I will not hate myself (like I’ve done in the past) for ‘failing’ I will accept my mistakes and start over and remember that the only time I will truly fail in this is if I ever stop.
I promise to continue with my healthy eating and working out! I will return to BJJ as soon as my injured elbow has healed. I will continue to keep sweets and desserts to a minimum. I have eliminated them by 85%. I will continue to have may veggies, by smoothie ( Cale ) or just eating them. I’m a big fan of broccoli and eat it all the time! I will continue to be inspired by the people in my life and also try to also inspire the people in my world!! Thank you Sean for inspiring me on a daily basis! Here is to a happy and health new year to all!
Thank you
Mia
AKA Envy the green fairy (twitter)
Thank you for this. Somehow your words struck a chord deep under my defenses and moved me more than I can express… This is my first time to your blog. The first time of many times to come. That’s a promise.
My promise, or resolution, for fitness is well underway. I WILL accomplish my goals to be “fightin’ fit” by the end of March. Probably February, actually. I have already stopped eating Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, so stay strong brother… (winking here). My goals this year are to make serious advancement in my film/acting career. I’ve let old wounds and fear hold me back here. I admit that to you (all). No more. I promise to face the healing process. To endure. I need to.
This promise has a twin. The promise to acknowledge that my martial arts/defense training has not been for self-confidence as one may assume. It’s been fueled by pain and anger. This is (really) hard for me to confess because I REF– USE to be viewed as a weak or a victim. I haven’t been victim of any violence (let’s be clear). But I’ve made myself a FIGHTER, rather than a defender. So I promise to stop using anger to fuel my workouts. (What else can I use…?)
I am proud that I am a self-reliant, confident person. I just want to trust people more easily. The first step that direction is actually leaving this comment. This feels far too raw (a.k.a – real) to post for strangers to read. But I’m going to do it anyway. Veritas.
Thank you. (No really, thank you). ~Corissa Baker
So. Here’s the SitRep. The update. I’ve lost 10 pounds. I have a little more to go, but I’m basically on schedule. I’ve been working out for an hour everyday and posting about it on Facebook. Daily. It was meant to be a way to just keep track of what I was doing, but it turned into more. I have friends of mine messaging me to say, “since you’ve been posting I’ve started going to the gym. I’ve lost 15 pounds so far, so thanks for the inspiration…” Wow. What a feeling! These responses to my posts have kept me going. It’s like I have greater responsibility now! But there’s more to it. I’ve been studying for my fitness trainer certification. That will be done in two weeks. Then I get to have even more fun! [Side Note: I current work in a BAKERY. So losing weight while surrounded by fresh cakes, donuts, muffins, breads… This is on-the-job training in WILL POWER. Also. I cannot get over being amused that your dog’s name is Donut. I want to hug that dog. Like, now.]
Yeah, so I suppose I should get to the martial arts/anger stuff. Basically, it isn’t a problem anymore. I can’t actually pinpoint what happened (I usually can), but it’s like something threw a switch. My entire attitude towards martial arts has changed. I don’t actually feel the need to learn anything else in the area of “self-defense.” I’ve re-catagorized previous experiences and realized I’m as capable as I need to be. I’ve proven it. Several times. So now that I don’t feel fueled by anger anymore, I’m going to get my gi out and start training again. I’m a purple belt in Shotokan, but recently have been increasingly obsessed with BJJ (thanks to you, Sean). I have been watching training videos and such everyday. I NEED to learn this! Yes. NEED. I’m completely fascinated by it. Therefore, to start, I’ve arranged for private instruction with a friend of mine. This should be hilarious considering he’s a FULL foot and a half taller than me a maybe 70 lbs heavier… AND has vowed to do everything in his power to embarrass me… Yet here I am, still looking forward to it!
Right. Okay. So that brings me to the last part. I have taken an assessment on all my professional goals and re-strategized accordingly. I’ve identified the fear that was most holding me back. I will now be facing that fear. This will including moving back to Los Angeles. I’ve already called up my allies there. Plans are in motion. I’ll be teaming up with my theater friends. They are good people. And, you know what? Once I get back…maybe I’ll check out HBJJ… Okay, shut up. OF COURSE I will.
I’ll end by adding a new goal, Sean. To work with you on a film project. That is all I will say on the matter. Ha! So, I’ll go now. And be shiny and all that. My loves to you, good sir. Keep on keeping on. xx
Hey, so I thought I’d give an update for the end of March. Basically I have two things going here, right? My fitness goals and my creative endeavors. Well, my fitness goals have slowed slightly due to time being delegated towards the creative endeavors. Because I’m planning on moving to Los Angeles (from Minnesota) at the end of May, I’ve taken a second job. It’s an overnight shift. And it WEARS me out. But whatever. I’m fine doing the grunt work when I know that it has specific intentions (getting me back to California).
Actually, Sean, word on Tweet Street says you count us as friends, right? Well, within the realm of the rational, I’ll reciprocate. That goes for everyone here, actually. So I’m gonna talk as such.
I have an unrelenting enthusiasm when it comes to the pursuit of my dreams… I guess this overwhelms some people because I’ve had more friends distances themselves from me. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure why. I have theories, but speculation is a waste of time. I’m no stranger to being the “different” one, even if it’s in a positive connotation (as it is often). But I’m uncomfortable with it. And I’m uncomfortable with being labelled a “Badass” because of the assumptions the word leads people to make about my personality and world-views.
So why am I saying this? Because I’m afraid to. So I’m making myself do it anyway. See, back in college…well, it wasn’t a pleasant experience for the most part. I wanted to leave. I nearly dropped out, twice, to join the Marines. But that would have been running away. So instead I ADDED a major and stayed a whole extra year. I made them give me TWO degrees and a proficiency in a foreign language. So there. That’s my attitude towards adversity.
Sean, I’ve told you I want to learn BJJ… Well, I feel like my entire life (so far) has been about trying to NOT get submitted [winking], so BJJ seems an obvious choice for developing the right attitude towards life. (Do correct me if I’m wrong). Besides that, I didn’t feel Shotokan was challenging enough. I made purple belt in a year and a half. I suspect that will NOT be the case in BJJ. (Right?!)
Anyway. This is the last update I’ll leave on this post. I’ll be off doing my thing. I will say that having these blogs to read (and re-read) has definitely helped keep me motivated. I used to be off on my own, trying to keep MYSELF motivated. So having a place to make frequent stops to boost morale is basically AWESOME. I’ve already promised to thank you in person for this. I will. You’ll see.
I’ve been watching my way through your filmography, Sean, as you may (or may not) of noticed on Twitter. I just wanted to say that I only do that for actors/actresses who are both extremely talented AND decent people off screen. So my meager tweets are my means to show my support. The way you show yours for us here. Thanks, Flanery. And I suspect I may be attending Motor City ComicCon in May with some friends. Perhaps I’ll get to thank you there.
So, I’ll be off…to be SHINY and whatnot. Catch ya later.
2 things…1 ~ you ARE going to Motor City Comic Con next month & 2 ~ you ARE a badass…deal with it ;^) hehehe
Woah! Callin’ me out on Sean’s blog, are ye? Well alright then! Yes. I AM going to Motor City Comic Con where I expect to shake MANY new friend’s hands. (I’m lookin’ at you too, Sean!!) And YES. I AM a badass. There. I said it. Okay, okay…confession time. Thanks to a lovely little interaction with Sean the other day I’ve gained the courage to explain the self-consciousness (about badassery) thing here.
[Note: My saying this here is PROOF I believe all y’all are my friends. Or at least that you’re friendly.]
Oh Lord. Here goes. It stems from something my Dad said a few years back. Don’t get me wrong (!!), he and I are close and he apologized for this later, but you know how words stick… Regarding my intense love for martial arts (and that I was briefly a blade-smith apprentice…), he said, “If you don’t stop acting like a warrior no man is ever going to want you.”
He’s old fashioned. Whad’ya want? But it just… I mean, I never felt like I had to fit any specific gender roles before. So this blindsided me. I don’t have a boyfriend. Haven’t for a while. This isn’t something that bothers me. What bothers me are all the guys that say I scare them or the thought that pursuing my passions will make me, somehow, less attractive. I’m nearly past this. Probably. Maybe. Oh, I don’t know! All I can say now is that I’m just moving forward regardless of my emotional response to it. I’ll deal with that along the way. But this place – this community – Sean has created (and Sean himself) has done more good for me in the last few months than I’ve ever experienced before. I didn’t know how much I needed it. So thank you. All of you.
Um. Right. So…I’m gonna go….now…and deal with the minor panic attack I’ve induced by confessing this here. (I’m mostly joking. Mostly…).
Your dad was wrong. There has been a psychological evaluation of men being taught that their sex defines their roles in life, and they have passed on this hoopla from grandfather to son for generations. That a man has to be tough and not see a doctor, that a woman does the housework, that a man likes cars and a woman likes to sew. It is all a stereotype that no person should force themselves into a role that is not suited for them. In fact, a man that can learn to sew and cook as well as fix a car has more of a chance to mature and be happy than browbeating a woman into submission to be what “he thinks” is a woman. I’m proud to be a warrior. (I even have been known to wear face paint) to be yourself and not change who you are to try to “attract” a man is not going to benefit anyone. A real relationship is based on responsibility and friendship, and mind you there has to be equality or one becomes the dog and the other the master. I’m androdronyous as well, it means that I am not defined by my sex as a female, my gender is that of both sexes. This is something people don’t know about, that gender and sex are two different things, mostly n part because they trust the hoopla passed on down from grandpa generation after generation without questioning it, blindly trusting it to be a truth. Well, wake up and smell the coffee made by beans picked by slaves to keep prices low,… Attracting the wrong people is not what we want, so keep your chin up and your head high, being happy with who you are makes you ultimately sexier and causes your light to shine brighter!! You weren’t put on this world to serve a dominating man and be a subservient wench, hell no! Of course a man doesn’t realize he wants a level headed partner that thinks for herself and doesn’t depend on him for every little thing and so on until he matures, which is like Sean’s age! Lol;) live, love, laugh, learn. Be a badass if that what they call it, freedom rules!
Thank you for your passionate support, Kari! It’s great to hear from other gals like me. (Face paint? You are AWESOME!) I know part of the reason that statement hit me so hard is tied to my current location. I’m from a small town with old fashioned values. I say “old fashioned” without any intending it in a negative way. I hold a lot of these values myself. The disconnect comes when these values become linked to certain societal “rules” or whatever you’d all it… Around here it’s weird for a woman my age to NOT have kids, NOT be married, and/or to have ambitions beyond the household. I’m not condemned for being different. I’m just…different. You should see the looks I get at the local gym when I’m training MMA with my guy friend who’s twice my size… Hilarious!
I think this gender issue goes both ways. Women are taught it from the “Grandma Generation” that their value is to be the support to their husband. I don’t want to get too general either. My sister always wanted to be a mother and a wife. That’s the lifestyle she is happiest in. She’s fulfilling all her dreams. That’s great! For me, on the other hand, I’d go crazy if that’s all I was doing with my life. I’m saying this to be clear that I don’t think ALL women should be like me. I just wouldn’t mind having more LIKE me AROUND me… You know? 😉
Also, I want to be sure I’m clear I’m not attacking my Dad here. He’s seriously one of the coolest people I know. (I count my parents among my friends). He’s taught me a lot and supported me in everything. After we talked over that comment he understood and accepted where I’m coming from. My brother and sister are already married, so he was just worried I would scare guys away. (I do. But I scare away the RIGHT guys, lol). Now he jokes, “We gotta find you a cowboy.” And I answer, “Yeah, well, just so long as I ride off into the sunset WITH him, I’m good.”
I accept (and embrace) that men and women are different. Difference isn’t inequality or lack of respect. For a relationship, I want a man as “badass” as me (or more so). I want a best friend and a sparring partner. I want to know what it’s like to walk down the street and NOT be on my guard (not the same as “afraid” because experience proved I don’t need to be). But for the foreseeable future, I’m perfectly fine just carrying on my way – on my own. I don’t place my value in my relationship status. And as for men’s maturity not happening until their 40s…? I think I need to date older men…apparently the dudes my age are pussies. Haha!
Here’s an affirmation for you, “my value increases every day”, and you, Corissa, are right, I am awesome!! And you’re awesome too, obviously have respect for your dad, I meant no offense. I know what it’s like to be unique like everybody else!! We all have a purpose, just not all the same purpose at the same time. Don’t rush into things, and re-think cowboys! 😉 j/k.
It’s YOUR life, live it how you want!
I like that, value increasing everyday…! No worries, I didn’t take any offense. I just wanted to be sure I explained more clearly. 😉 I am working on getting myself around other people like me. That will definitely help! And as for cowboys… They’ll have a challenge to get a lasso around me! lol Since I’m going into the film industry, I just think my Dad is afraid I’ll bring some artsy hipster home who he’d have no idea how to relate to… Please! I want a MAN! Haha! Thanks for being awesome, Kari!
Um. Right. Hi, Sean (and everyone). So…I’m going to update here again. Before I do I have to call myself a liar. Twice. Title this: Corissa Baker is a LIAR….AND a pussy!
I’m posting again, so I guess that make me a liar because I said I wouldn’t anymore (I was running away from being open with all o’ y’all). The second lie is when I told you, Sean, that I would reciprocate your friendship. Hear me out… (And forgive the length). I’m making this public, because I need to do this to myself. Trust.
See, part of my promise here was to deal with the issues that are holding me back from pursuing my dreams. I said that I would start trusting people more. And it looks like I have, if my posts have been an indication. The problem is I haven’t. I’m still hiding. I just hadn’t realized how much…. I met you this weekend at Motor City Comic Con. I kept my promise to shake your hand and say “thank you”. But… I didn’t let you in on who I was in the context of these posts (and your blog in general). No one was in line behind me when you signed my Indy photo. It was a perfect moment to started a conversation. Instead, I fell back on my usual guarded, unwillingness to show my heart. I was embarrassed to let you really “recognize” me. So I just said, “I don’t know how to be a fan….I’m just here to say Hi.” You laughed, shook my hand again, and I left. It’s true, I may not know how to be a fan (I’ve worked in Hollywood before, so I was alway made to “play it cool” and all that crap). But the reality is…I just didn’t let you be a friend to me. And that’s the only thing I’m truly sorry about this weekend. You were so willing to be a friend and I wouldn’t let you in. I’m sorry, Sean. Really.
See. This is where I struggle. I’m fine offering the friendship but I don’t easily receive it. I told you once that I tend to say “I don’t need a friend”. You confirmed that you do think of us as friends and I believed you. I still do. And it means a lot to me, like I said. This weekend I just pussied out on reciprocating. That’s why I blurted out my “I was a pussy” confession at the photo op Sunday. I needed to say it. Out loud. To you. Even if there was no time to let you understand what the hell just happened! Haha!! [I hope you got the promise I left at your table].
In my mind I was thinking, “I don’t need Sean’s attention. I’ve said it all before anyway.” But in truth, I hid in my internet anonymity (which you specifically asked us not to do). So I’m going to work even harder on this…now that I’ve been made aware how many walls I still hold up. Even to you. (Seriously? I couldn’t even talk with you about your career?? Issues, dude. I have issues). I don’t regret anything from this weekend. I’m just admitting that I could have given/received more from the experience of meeting you in person.
I must say that my favorite memory of the WHOLE Motor City Comic Con experience was the look on your face at the photo op when I stuck my finger in Reedus’ face and said/demanded, “Long live Daryl Dixon.” I still can’t believe I did that!! I was so flustered afterward that I forgot to politely respond to what he said back. Geez… I really enjoyed those two seconds of abrupt laughter! Also, thank you for answering my “Young Indy” question at the panel. I’ve rewatched the Battle of Verdun since and have seen so much more symbology, no…um, symbolism(!) and poetry. The scene between Indy and Remy in the “hospital” is beautiful. And playing chess in the rain? Perfectly brilliant imagery for the Battle of Verdun! Oh, and when I clapped for Broken Horses at the panel it’s because I’m really, honestly looking forward to that one. A lot!
To wrap this up (finally, I know, right?) all I can say is: Thank you for the friends I HAVE made through your blog/Twempire. They know who they are. (I love you guys, well…gals!) Also: I admit I still have a lot of work to do. I’ll keep working. I’ll make this up to you – 10 times over. And I’ll keep shining…(you know the rest).
(By the way, I learned “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” on guitar now. So there’s that.)
Corissa,
I wish you’d have told me who you were, but I’m glad you’re back. God bless.
Just so you know we’re all in this together… I too am here to make a proclamation. I am eliminating soda from my diet. Completely. If you see me drinking a diet Coke or diet Pepsi, please come up to me and immediately kick me straight in the balls. They are done. Not gradually. Immediately. Effective yesterday.
It’s something I’ve been meaning to do, but Mireille turned the “some day” into a “today”.
Oh Sean, I wish so too. I promise, next time I will. And there will be a next time. I’m glad to hear you’ve given up soda (we call it pop where I’m from). If I see you drinking any I’ll considering kicking you straight in the balls…then I’ll reconsider given your status as a BJJ black belt and settle on sticking my finger in YOUR face saying, “You best not be doin’ what I think you’re doin’…” I feel this response is safer. xx
But yes. Okay… We ARE in this together. Together… I’m going to go try to stop crying now. Thank you, Sean. You’ve always responded to me when I really needed it. I should have told you this in person. Someday, I will. And this time I’ll hug you.
First & foremost I must tell you how proud of you I am Corissa! I mean that sincerely. Spending time with you last weekend in itself was wonderful & I’m so glad we finally met. I am also happy that it’s just the beginning for our friendship. I know I may have pushed you kinda hard…but look at the result. Remember the promise we made to one another to push when it was necessary? You put your feeling out there & what you got back from Sean filled you with joy. Secondly, this is to you Sean…after our conversation on Saturday & my giving you grief about the Aspartame, I realized what a hypocrite I was, looking you in the eyes, knowing I have been harboring a serious Dr Pepper addiction for the last year. I promised you last night & will do so here again, that I will walk this road along side you. Yes, this first day really sucks, but I’ve been through SO much worse & the end result will be amazing! I could say more, but this thread isn’t about me & I’ve already said far too much in the last few days. Corissa….shine on, you beautiful lil badass! <3
Jenn! I’ve read your update too and have to say that the pride is reciprocated! (I’m also keeping true to my promise to lay off the coffee/sugar). I’m so glad we got to hang out so much that weekend and even more so for all the 4 hour phone conversations and endless Twitter chats/emails. You may have pushed hard (and will again, I’m sure), but I truly appreciate it. It has been worth it, to confront these fears in front of such a supportive community. You are right Sean, we are in this together. Not only do I believe that now, but I see the evidence of it daily.
Since I’m here, I want to add a little update. As I mentioned feeling a certain tension with my Dad, I should tell you that I had a conversation with him recently. He and I are a lot alike, so we used to clash A LOT when I was younger…so I was afraid to jeopardize our newfound closeness. THAT was the root of what happened when I was so hurt by his comment. I thought I lost that connection. But in this conversation, I brought up martial arts and other subjects I had avoided before. And you know what? He was very supportive! Surprisingly, in fact. What was I afraid of?! On top of that, just yesterday he invited me, repeatedly, to join his guitar jam with his friend. I know, literally, TWO songs but I went anyway. I sit down and instantly they tell me to play something… So I ignored the fear and I played AND sang (with my whole heart) The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald. Everyone was genuinely impressed and said as much. Naturally that boosted my confidence a bit! My Dad’s friend went on about it even more after I confessed I’ve only been playing guitar for a couple of months. My Dad said, “Yeah, well, she’s one of THOSE people…a natural born musician [inserts comical vomiting sound].” Haha! That’s his way of bragging about me and admitting he’s jealous. He and I are MORE than good now.
More than that has been taking shape, but I’ll leave the update to this for now. But I’ll add “Be a Rockstar” to be list of back-up plans (which are all equally ridiculous). Thanks Sean and Jenn, and everyone. I’ll talk to y’all later.
Right, so I’m back (in the saddle again). Checkin’ in for an update. As of today, I am officially a certified fitness trainer! I finished the CPR/AED requirements this morning. Actually, I took it a step further and attended a class for medical professionals (rather than “lay person”). Why not get the most out of it, right?
So this puts me in a better position to have more control over my income/free time. That’s going to be HUGE in helping me get my independent film stuff going. Oh, yeah…I’m doing that too. By the end of the week my friends and I will have legally started our independent film company. !!! This is an accumulation of dreams and goals and passions. All of ours together. But for me, individually, this has been my dream ever since I first saw the ‘Indiana Jones’ movies when I was twelve. Yeah, so, it always comes back to Indy with me… Just so y’all are aware. 😉
Naturally, and traumatically, this new step forward threw me WAY outside my comfort zone. And as much as I’m excited for this I’ve been nearly (nearly!) incapacitated with….well, terror. Yeah, terror. Now that it’s on the threshold of being REAL there’s the risk to lose it. That’s why I really needed to be reminded of Hope today. It’s no secret, Sean, that you’re willing to offer a little individual help over on Twitter. The other day I messaged you when I was having a really intense moment of this terror. I knew you were busy (it was the cast Dexter premiere), but I didn’t know/have anyone else to talk to. I said as much. And you responded. Again. I doubt I possess adequate talent to express how much that means to me. And others from this “Twempire” who have shown me true friendship. I’m really starting to believe and trust in “friendship” again. At last.
One final thing, because I know this is getting long… I thought you’d appreciate hearing this, Sean. I think of this blog, this community, as a bunch of friends hiking up the side of a mountain. We’re all at different points, but heading to the same place – the summit. When I’ve started to lose my footing or the height starts to scare me, I call out. To me, Sean, it’s like you’re a few steps ahead and hear I need a little help. So you take a second, offer a hand, laugh a little and say, “Are you coming?” The image makes me smile and internally I accept the hand up and reply, “Yeah, haha, I’m coming…” Take it however you want, but thinking of it like this helps me ACCEPT the assistance. But what’s more important right now, is that I am actually WILLING to ASK for help now.
I’m moving forward, upward, to a higher elevation. And eventually, the summit. (Okay, we never REALLY reach the summit, right? But the view gets exponentially better the higher you go). xx
It’s been a while since I’ve stopped by to file my report… 😉 So here I am, as promised. I have to be honest (since that’s kinda the point) and say that isn’t been a little rough recently. My birthday is this week and I always think of it as my own personal New Years. And I am NO WHERE close to where I was hoping to be by now.
Now I know… Success swerves. And I’m re-aiming and all that. So don’t think that I’m giving up or anything. I have a lot of accomplishments I can report. Getting certified as a personal fitness trainer, in CPR/AED and First Aid had made me feel really good about myself and my new abilities to help people. I have a job now where I am in charge. This is a first. Another worthwhile challenge that I’ve stepped up and met head on. I’ve gone from 156.7 pounds to 142.0 since the start of the year. And still going…
Regarding my goals here, my Proclamations, I’ve made new, close friends. People I have opened myself up to more than I ever would have in the past. And, Sean, I have a plan for how I’m going to make things up to you over that whole Motor City Comic Con thing. (I know you don’t hold anything against me, except my own word).
Anyway. I’m just stopping by to keep my word and be honest. I’m getting a little tired of re-aiming. But as I like to say…”Difficult” is just another word for “Resistance Training.” I’ll keep going and I’ll only get stronger. Oh, and Sean? Thanks for being such a good friend. I’ll see you again, asap.
It’s time for the final update of this year, isn’t it? I’ve gone back over my previous posts and I remember that sad, scared, lonely person who wrote that first post. And now I have tears in my eyes for entirely different reasons. I’m so amazed and grateful for all your help, Sean. And for the help from others in this lovely community that has gathered here. I still have financial setbacks that are keeping me from my achieving my goals, but that is nothing compared to what obstacles my mind and been cluttered with…
I have a confidence and belief in myself that I never thought I’d find. I believe in friendship again. I can recognize real friends and TRUST them. You gave me that, Sean. I don’t know how to thank you enough. Except! By giving back. And I am. Making up for not talking to you at MCCC back in May was a huge breakthrough for me. ACTUALLY talking to you down in Austin (and giving you that letter)… It meant a lot. I have so many difficulties ahead, but it’s like you said as you referred to the epic “toilet scene” in Boondock Saints: “If you have a why… you’ll FIND a HOW.” So I’ll be ripping my proverbial toilet out of the floor and dropping squarely on the head of anything that gets in my way.
Oh, and my fitness goals? I’ve lost 25 pounds and am in the best shape of my adult life. This year I got my mind and body battle-conditioned. Next year… Well, you just wait and see. But I’ll tell you one thing. It’s going to SHINE!!!
You are CRUSHING it!!!!!!
Well, thanks again!! The saga of SHINE continues… 😉 I’ll see you in Los Angeles someday and we can roast marshmallows over all my burning bridges. Ha!
Alright! So how about I get on with giving another update? SO MUCH has happened since the last time. In many ways I feel like the person who first writing these posts here is a different person than the one writing right now. But that wouldn’t be fair. It’s the contrast that make this a stronger story. Where once I was afraid to write… Now I have no hesitations. As for personal interactions? That is no longer something that holds me back.
With the help of a friend I FINALLY moved back to Los Angeles! I fell in with a solid group of friends how have been amazingly supportive. We are very close to moving into preproduction on a short film. I started a little webshow to post on Youtube to get over being afraid to talk about myself or put myself out there. Now that show is about to be “produced” by a small production company here in Los Angeles. I’ve been part of Brian Mahoney’s “Toast and Post” videos numerous times. He and Rocco have befriended me. They invited me to the Bad Country premiere where I got to meet and hang out with so many of those in the Boondock Saints crowd. I mean, I was driving Troy Duffy and friends around town… And you know what? I never froze up. I just enjoyed talking with everyone. Holding my own. Even with Duffy in my back seat. lol
Yesterday I got to be a part of Greek Easter with the friends I’m staying with. And for the first time… possibly in my life… I truly felt like I belonged. I had a great time! So I’m feel very confident and back in the game! I am confident in each area of my endeavors. The last part of my Proclamation left to conquer is my finances. I’m going to decimate these student loans with EXTREME prejudice. Asap! I am being personally referred for a very good freelance writing position with a good company. Generally, things have EXPLODED with SHINE. And I want to thank you Sean, and everyone in this Shine crowd (and the one on FB. SUNNY, I love you!). I honestly wouldn’t be here without your support. Veritas. Oh, and FLANERY! When the monies are sorted… I’m signing up at HBJJ. I’m keeping my word. xx
After much thought and deliberation … and procrastination, I think I finally have a grasp on some of what I want to focus on for this year. I am a 20 year old, 5’5″, 135-145 pound (depending on the scale and amount of junk food I’ve eaten in the past week), blue eyed, brown haired (at least it is now until I decide to dye it again), single, jobless, introverted college student who lives with my parents. I’m indecisive, a MASSIVE procrastinator who has some tendencies of OCD and REALLY POOR impulse control (I suffer from Trichotillomania and I’ve always had trouble resisting junk food) and I think the ONLY reason why I’m not overweight (like my best friend and my parents (who are both 45 and over 200 pounds)) is because I have a high metabolism. Since I’m all of these things, it was difficult for me to decide on a few (of my many) flaws that I am going to focus on improving this year … and hopefully I won’t give up on this in a few months or years.
Since it’s easier (in my opinion anyway) to focus on improving the physical and not the psychological I’m going to state those resolves first. I hereby calm (because that sounds all official and shit) that I will lessen on my intake of carbohydrates (chips, cheese its, goldfish and other snacks that I can go through too quickly) sweets (chocolate mostly) and sodas by AT LEAST 50% over the next year. I say 50% and not higher because I know temptation is extremely prevalent in my household (I swear my mom goes through chocolate as quickly as a kid on Halloween .. I’m not kidding) and there’s bound to be moments (finals weeks and other stressful moments in my life) where I’m bound to give into temptation and gorge myself on carbs and candy. I can’t cut them out completely but I will try my damnedest to substitute as much unhealthy foods as I can with fruit and vegetables and smoothies (those are delicious) … (man I need to get a blender.) My soda intake (which thankfully isn’t as bad as my mom’s) will be substituted with water and 100% fruit juice. None of this Gaterade/Powerade/fruit punch shit that is mostly sugar and sodium and completely unhealthy and unnecessary, since I’m not an athlete or a 5 year old. I will (try) to limit myself to only 1 soda a day, only because I need the caffeine to help wake me up. Also since since a change in eating habits is only half the physical battle, I swear to be as physical as I can. I will exercise by walking everywhere (which I already mostly do), swimming, dancing, hell even running (which I HATE because I have such terrible lungs (thanks grandma (who I grew up with/lived with) who decided to smoke around me up until she had a stroke when I was 10.) Since all the fitness classes for spring semester at my school are full, I will have to work out by myself, which I figure that won’t be TOO difficult to keep up with because I live in Santa Monica and my place is a mile by the beach, so I can always find a place to work out for free.
Now onto the psychological. … I’ve had low self esteem and poor confidence in myself my entire life, but I’m a young, slightly attractive (at least everyone tells me that) female who lives by the beach, so I’m bound to feel like that. A change in eating habits and exercise can only count as half the battle so I’ll going to focus on improving myself mentally, and becoming more accepted with who I am and how I look (regardless of what others think). I desperately need to stop worrying about my friends drama when it either doesn’t help me at all to focus on them and their problems instead on my own, or they don’t even listen to my advice anyway. Girl talk is one thing, but I’m not a therapist or a counselor (at least not yet anyway) so I’m not going to be giving out anymore free advice. I partially hope that improving the physical could help the mental, but I need to get rid of any unnecessary stress and my indecisiveness and procrastination desperately need to be dealt with .. that and what seems to be my inability to say no, when I should know better.
If my friendships and social life suffer this year, so be it. I need to have myself and my schooling as my top priority, not anything (or anyone) else. I am no longer a teenager, I can’t afford to keep acting like one. I’m physically an adult, It’s now time to (finally) start thinking and acting like one. There’s bound to setbacks, and moments of weakness, and times when I’m just like “fuck it, I give up, it’s too damn difficult” but I’m human and nobody’s perfect. I just need to persevere and overcome any obstacles I may face. 2013 is going to be a good year for me, simply because I am determined for it to be so.
I read this blog with tears in my eyes. it really hit home and I think I needed your tough love. I don’t know if you realize how much it means to have someone truly care when they really don’t have to. I am a 26 year old woman with huge hopes and dreams, but somewhere along the way I became complacent and ok with being disgusted wtih myself, the way I look. I let food and fat limit my life and all of the love I had for adventure and art became overshadowed by my growing waistline. I’m about 65 pounds over weight and I battle with a chronic back condition and depression. I have also developed high blood pressure. But, things weren’t always this way. I used to be active and i felt pretty. I was never skinny, but I was never limited by my weight. I was able to do the things I wanted. I began experiencing seasonal depression, which I soothed with food. As I started to gain weight, I experienced more pain and became more depressed. On top of that, my family went through a very tough time during which my dad became disabled. Living back at home, I was the sole breadwinner for the family and the stress was overwhelming. I just gave up. I would go to work at my mind numbing job, come home and eat, and eat, and eat…then sleep and get up and do it all over again if I could drag myself out of bed. It was a never-ending spiral of destruction. I was always saying that “someday” I would do this or that, but i never followed through. I realized that I am a talker, not a doer. I would just sit at home depressed, thinking that a miracle was going to occur and things would just fall into place. What a load of crap? I began to see all of these people I know living their lives and fulfilling their dreams and I realized that I was short changing myself. That was supposed to be me. I began to really realize that the fat, sad person I was seeing in the mirror is not me. This is not my life. This is just the trap I’ve made for myself through consequence. When I started following you on Twitter, the photo of the skinny person trapped inside their unhealthy body is one of the first things I saw. I related to that immediately. I feel trapped in my body, in this shell of a life. I now realize that my body should be a temple and not a steele trap. Things have finally started looking up for my family, so I had already decided that 2013 was going to be my year of change. When I read this blog, it sealed the deal! I’m ready to be me again, to use my talents and be seen for who I truly am. I’m ready to do the things I have talked about for so long. So, in 2013 I will paint, draw, and create. I will apply to school, cosmetology or special makeup fx. I will cut out soda pop and cut down on my unhealthy food intake. I will excercise and become strong both physically and spiritually. I will lose 40 pounds by July and a total of 65 by the end of the year. I will do this and I expect you to hold me to it. I will do this, because I am worth it.
All I can really say is, thank you for helping me save my life.
Progress report:
So far this year, I have done fairly well. I have only had one soda and i have altered my diet significantly. I am eating much less in general, and eating alot more baked chicken and many more fruits and veggies. It has been hard and I have slipped a couple of times, but I’ve been able to get back on the wagon the next day. I’ve been sick with an ear and sinus infection, but as soon as I’m well, next on the agenda is starting an exercise routine. I’m actually really excited about exercising right now, I just hope I stay that way when I get started. I’ve been trying to paint a little every evening if possible and I think it has improved my general mood. I’m hoping that the differences I’m feeling already will be enough to keep me going and in good spirits, but i know it will eventually get harder. Reading the stories on here and the progress reports on Twitter have really made me feel motivated. It’s nice knowing that it’s possible and that I’m not alone. And Sean, thanks for your awesome spirit. i’m waking up in the mornings with life’s balls in my sites, haha!!! Pretty soon, I’ll be kicking.
My goal for this year is to take it slow, work on fixing my spine and showing the surgeon he is wrong.
I know it may not seem much to you, but to me it is. I am a “just get up and do it” type of person. I don’t care what the weather conditions are, or if I have a fever, or how heavy it is, what time it is, how badly I need to pee – I keep going. This is how I damaged my back to start with. I had to prove to them all that I could work just as hard as the boys. I was an underground miner for 7 years. Not many women doing this. In the surface mines yes, or underground as a geologist or engineer yes. But not as a miner. After my spinal surgery in Oct 2012, I found the laying down for 6 weeks hard. And boring! Then 8 weeks after my operation i had my follow up with the surgeon. He said that I shouldn’t travel, ride a bike, go on a boat in choppy seas, lift anything over 7 kgs, no gardening – nothing. Well I am sorry. I had my 35th birthday yesterday. I am single and childless. I have nothing in my life but to enjoy it. I will make this year about proving him wrong. I will do it. ALL, But I have to pull myself back, and that is hard. I can’t rush it or I will not achieve this. I have to learn to take it slow. Not to push my back to do things again, but give it time and build it up slowly. This is a GREAT challenge for me as I don’t work like that. And I don’t want to do the just enough. I have to focus and be strict with strengthening my core after it has healed. Not like I used to and just do a little. If I don’t, I will do my back in for good when I try to go back to my regular lifestyle. So patience, focus, strict exercise and routine, no slack days. This is what I promise to you that I will do. For me. For my back. For being able to enjoy the world. I will not rush but I will keep at it. 12 months. Repaired and strong. Then I can send a postcard to my surgeon saying, “Ha ha ha”
Sean- Roghly 8 years ago I struggled with some issues with substance abuse. I have been clean now for 8 years and I really want my physical self to reflect the pride in changing that aspect of my life to match! My plan: I am going to meet with my doctor (to practice accountability with him as well) to line out a nutrition plan for me to cut 60 lbs on my frame. I just started a new job with gym benefits and i intend to use then to their fullest extent. I’m looking into dance classes also, to shake things up a bit. My goal is to have lost a majority of the weight by the end of the years, but I’m going to be pushing myself further than that because I KNOW I can do it. Thank you for your blog and your support, and good luck with the Reese’s! ((HUGS))
Don’t worry, the Reese’s don’t stand a chance.
So here it goes. I will be 45 in June, single mom with two teenage boys. I am on my way to completing my Advanced EMT Certification (June) & then on to Nursing school. I had foot surgery this past August and turned into a marshmallow! Which I admit marshmallows are tasty but resembling one not so cool. I resolve that I will get back to better eating habits and working out, taking the dog on longer walks, which I actually enjoyed but have become lazy. My birthday is my deadline, so June will be a big month. Here’s to me getting motivated and staying focused. And to all of you who have a made a commitment to do the same…..WE CAN DO THIS AND STAY POSITIVE!!!! Happy New Year and a blessed 2013 to all!!!
I am eating better! Cut out processed foods and fast food. Eating way more fruits and vegetables. Drinking alot more water. Cut out all soda and juice. I can’t give up my coffee but I don’t drink a pot like I used to. I still smoke and I have tried so hard to quit, 18 times, I haven’t given up but I can’t seem to let smoking go completely. I have alot of weight to lose, I have lost it before and gained it all back 🙁 I am on the weight loss roller coaster ride and in it 100%!! I want to feel good again! Thanks Sean for doing this!
Much love!!
~Louann
P.S. Been there with reese’s! & milky way midnight!
I’d love to kickbox the person who made them lol ;0)
I have a question! I already posted my post about my goals a few days ago. I was just wondering though, are we obligated to post on this very blog post about the progress we’ve made? Or do we just post our goals once, focus on them and show our progress at the end of the year? I’ve been reading almost everyone’s replies and you all are so inspirational! Honestly, the strength it must have taken some of you to get downright personal here; I admire you. I also cannot begin to express the respect I’ve gained from Sean from all of this. I was a fan to begin with, but now… I just love that guy. Caught myself telling someone the other day, “If I could just have Sean Patrick Flanery’s attitude on life at the end of this year, to just kick life in the balls and get moving, I’ll be where I need to be to move forward and get excited for life.” They just blinked at me and said, “…Kick life in the balls?” Hooray to all of you for gaining control of your lives and getting serious about making changes!!! 🙂
No one is obligated to do anything. But, I’d LOVE to hear regular progress reports. ..and I am reading and monitoring every single word. Please don’t think that I haven’t read if I don’t respond. I’ve read. I read them all.
I believe you, Sean. 🙂 I definitely wasn’t suggesting that you don’t read them. I understand it’s damn near impossible to reply to every single one. I was just wondering if that was a plan here; whether or not we give regular updates about ourselves. 🙂 Thanks for answering! And more than anything, thank you for caring so much about us.
Progress reports you got it….weekly, biweekly, monthly? And would you like it on here or twitter?
Thanks for the encouragement Sean
On my train ride home last night I was thinking about this whole thing and wondering how you were going to keep track of us all (and of our resolutions) and I thought to myself, “maybe we should prepare some progress reports for him!” lol. Can you imagine? you’ll need to get an administrative assistant to help you!!!! (I would volunteer but I don’t think I could do the commute cross country every night, my commute is long enough as it is!) ;p
Sean- I really think it’s cool that you take the time to read all of these. This post has not left my mind since I read it. I am really excited for this coming year and the changes I am already making. Just wanted to say thanks for writing your thoughts and encouraging us to live better.
Thanks!
Amber Martin
I’ve been inspired just by the sheer amount of people who are going through similar situations that I have and I am hoping that it helps me gain enough resolve to actually follow through. I am infamous for setting goals and not living up to them…
I understand that, Rachel. I’ve been there. 🙁 Right there with ya.
Trust me Carrie….spilling our guts or not, some of us have already fallen on our faces (me)
I’m sorry to hear that, Jenn. But we’re only so early into the new year! You have so much time to get yourself together and FOC– USED. Don’t sell yourself short!!!
Thanx for that!!!
A new dawn and a new day… I want to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.
Not an easy thing to do… Do you know how you might do this? I’m just curious. 🙂
Hi I’m Emylee. This is my first comment on this site. I promise to no longer put my ‘friends’ problems before my own. I’m not going to get suckered into helping a situation that isnt being faced by the one involved. Ive been screwed over sooo many times by thinking of others before myself, i was just getting used. I have myself to work on, im my own responsibility. I’ve always been told not to, I’m an only child, but i’m 30, its time for me to be selfish for a bit. i’m finally thinking about ME. I was smiling as I typed that last bit…
Em~
Ok its been three days since I had a soda and I’m going crazy. I miss it but I know I shouldn’t. I started drinking those veggie. And fruit Smoothies but its something I have to get used to. I still haven’t been able to sign up for the classes at the bjj. Studio heree I’m still a coward and I’m. Not able to get out of my car. And do it
Maybe you should start out slow, take baby steps. Good for you that you cut out the soda but rather then jump right into veggie and fruit smoothies, that you might not enjoy the taste of and then be hesitant to drink, how about just sticking with water? Best thing for you to drink!
Oh, just sayin hbjj sounds awesome, but not so much for me, unless you have a course for people in chairs =)
Near the end of 2012 I made a promise to myself to avoid the health issues experienced by many of the larger members of my family – diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease. My biggest problem, however, became very clear: I’ve constantly struggled with depression, and it’s always affected my motivation and resolve to do much of anything. Eating often becomes less of a necessity and enjoyment and more of a coping mechanism. I lost ten pounds and, when stressful situations came, I found that those pounds had been regained within two weeks. One step forward, two steps back.
I normally don’t make resolutions. But with my current career aspirations, returning to school for a proper degree, and the new goals I’ve set, it’s never been more important to get out of my own way. Because really, would you take holistic treatment and wellness advice from an obese massage therapist? Didn’t think so. This needs to change.
So my goal is to lose (at least) 10 lbs. a month and get into the habit of exercising (at least) four times a week. In addition, I will curb my “emotional eating” and find a better outlet for those…less than constructive habits. I will cut my sweets in half and eat more veggies and fruits – observing portion control, of course. It’s almost time to be certified and licensed as a massage therapist, and it’s best to go into it with my shit together, physically and mentally speaking.
I’m definitely into the idea of kicking life in the balls. In my case, it’ll be with steel-toe boots and a smile. To everyone making the decision to change their lives, I applaud you and join you – let’s make the most of this year! 🙂
Ariel, I also used food as a coping mechanism (I denied I was an emotional eater for years!!!!). One mantra that I try and stick to that helps (sometimes) is constantly reminding myself, “If hunger is not the problem, then food is not the solution!” It sounds ridiculous that I would have to remind myself that the only time I should eat is when I’m hungry, but that’s the sad truth.
That doesn’t sound ridiculous at all – in fact, I’ll definitely remember that! Sometimes it’s not something I think about unless I’m so down to the point that I eat just to occupy myself. But it’s true – it’s not the solution to the problem. It used to be that I would write stories whenever I felt that way… writer’s block, however, is a real bitch sometimes. Looks like I’ll be getting back to that though, as I’ve got a wild imagination and too many details to keep contained in my head. Thank you, Lucia!
I’m just going to write you a letter…~Em
I have PCOS. For the past few years I’ve tried to control my weight with diet and exercise, but until recently was a miserable failure. I would loose 10-15lbs and then it would be gained back again. I started taking Metformin to help control the insulin resistance and control the weight gain, but had severe stomach upset from the drug and was cut back from three to one dose a day. I felt stuck as all that I had begun to loose again came back. In the past six-eight weeks or so, I have changed my eating habits with increased veg., fruit, fish, and whole grain while cutting back (guessing 70%) on meats and white or processed starches. I began to notice that the stomach issues had disappeared and have worked out a plan with my doctor to increase my dose again (2X/day). I’ve lost 28 lbs, four of which was lost over the holidays. Now for my goals: 1) continue to loose weight (and avoid injury)… 80 lbs before my trip to Ireland in the fall 2) finish all projects I start. I am an artist, and need to allow myself the time and energy to make… and follow through with all of my projects, no matter how large or small. If I allow myself to leave another project undone, I’ll be more likely to not follow through with my other goals listed here. I can’t do that. 2b) make my abilities work for me, I’d like to either show my work or sell some stuff this year… though both would be better, 3) be a better Daughter, Friend, Sister and Tante (we’re french, I’m an Aunt- AND there’s another on the way). I refuse to take anyone in the family for granted, even my father, who has caused much hurt feelings for many years. Along these same lines, I want to regain some patience… a virtue I have always struggled with, I’d like to become a master of. 4) get a new job. I’ve been in the same job for six and a half years, and I’m over it. I was only supposed to be working at the truck stop for a couple years while taking classes but the downturned economy has felt like I’d been boxed in. No more excuse for that. I can surely find SOMETHING better, something that pays better, has benefits. — I’ve just applied for a new job, and am readying myself to call for a follow-up soon… fingers crossed. I’m sure there’s more I’d like to proclaim here, but I can’t think of them now… plus, I think this is enough to focus on for this year.
It’s taken me awhile to get on here, thanks to out lovely internet service. I’ve always been a fat girl, always. My life has been constant ups and downs of losing weight and gaining ever since I was 11 years old. I’ve been through alot of life changing things in my life, hurt feeling, people dying, people being broken apart, things that will lead to BDM and being lazy and not caring. So of course, I have created myself a huge fat body to live in…but not any longer. The last 6 months I have started a new healthy way of eating and losing weight, I was able to lose a good chunk of 65 pounds. Things of happen and yes my judgement was bad, and I was a bad girl and decided to go on break for the holidays, but *life* isn’t a break, esp my life. Not with everything I’ve already being fighting for, and all the hard work I’ve put in. I’m not a perfect person, and being fat for the majority of my life, you grow accustomed to it, since its the only “look” you’ve ever known. But…I HATE that look, I HATE that feeling. I HATE myself, sorry to say but it is the truth at this point and time. I know very well, everyday is a new beginning and waking up with that urge of power to do something different…”Healthy” is the best thing for me to feel right now and I consider it a good place to start.
Hi Sean!! my name is Nadia, I’m from Rosario, Argentina.
I want to know if I can send you the next medal Judo if I win a tournament, you are a true inspiration to me, and I need to devote a medal to you. I admire you and love you, I hope to meet you and you practice some judo.
if you read this you have to know who you are a wonderful person!!!
I wish with all my heart you are be happy.
smile!!! and hopefully one day can give you a big hug.
This year I intend not to give up!! and go ahead and fight for my dreams,!!! if I can do it!!! many thanks for every!!
Thanks for making me smile !!!! 🙂
someday we will meet and I promise to make you smile, remember this, remember me.
I soon go to live in NYC and I hope to see you!
I will, always following my dreams…
thanks again, greetings from Argentina!
Nadia Michelle Ortiz ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
sean, gracias por hacerme sonreír, un día nos reuniremos y espero que podamos ser amigos, realmente te quiero mucho!
Please post a picture of your next medal!!! We’d love to see it!!
Tried to post twice now, let’s see if 3rd time’s the charm. My pledges:
1. To be in the kind of shape I want to be in by my birthday at the beginning of June. Since I’ve been going to the chiropractor, I have way more mobility & less pain, so I can work out again without too much fear of my back going out. And I just messaged a friend about taking his martial arts class.
2. To eat healthier, esp. at work (I work midnights & tend to snack on sweets).
3. On that note, I will cut my sugar intake by at least 25%. I’ve seen where folks have pledged up to 80%, and that’s fantastic, but I have to be honest about what I can do. My sweet tooth is mighty powerful. I start getting into better shape, I can do more, but let’s start at 25%.
My family and friends are supportive, but don’t necessarily provide the boot to the backside that’s sometimes called for. So thank you, Sean, for being the friend to do that. I look forward to one day actually meeting you (instead of just seeing you at D*C) and sharing my success in person.
got distracted by my niece needing a diaper change and forgot to sign my post. ha ha
Kim Oliver
In 2013 I want to finally begin lose weight because I have always put that off to the side thinking that it wasn’t important and that I should focus on other things. Since I’ve been over weight my whole life I have held back from a lot of things I wish I hadn’t because I’ve always been uncomfortable with the way I look. I have never known what it feels like to walk into a store and find my size right away, to have complete confidence, to be able to look at myself and like what I see, and more; it’s a really shitty feeling and I don’t want to feel that way anymore. Well it’s my senior year, my grades are awesome, I’ve already applied to the colleges I want attend, and I am generally satisfied with my life, but now I think is a great time to start to lose weight which is the main burden in my life. I know it won’t be easy, but I promise to change how I eat, find some way to work out every day, always put my health first, and cut out something unhealthy from my life every month, if not faster, until there is no more. I want to lose at least 50 pounds this year, but even if I accomplish that before 2014, I will continue to lose more weight until I am happy with myself and I am able to love the person who I see every day in the mirror.
To be honest, this is my first New Year’s Resolution ever. I feel like I should thank you in advance because just by reading the motivational stuff you say in your blog and on your Twitter, you have already helped me with so much, so I have no doubt you will help get through this too. So, thank you so much Sean! I hope you can understand how much this means to me, you’re truly amazing.
It has been about a month now and I’ve lost nearly 15 pounds just by changing what I eat an how I eat, I have yet to live up to my promise about working out, but I have no doubt I’ll get there!
My resolutions this year are like none I have ever had before. I am going to learn to love myself, not because I watch the numbers on the scale go down but because I am a good person. I am going to be a better wife, mother, and daughter. I am going to quit blaming myself for my father’s death, I did all I could to help him. I am going to quit caring what other people think of me because if they have time to judge me then they have too much time on their hands that could be focused on their own short comings or issues. I am going to quit smoking cigarettes because I want to live to see my grandchildren. I am going to be more open with people and not keep them at arms length because they might break my heart. These changes won’t happen overnight and I won’t give up or beat myself up because they don’t but I will keep going until I accomplish them. Saying this on here was my first step. Most generally, I would stay quiet because I would worry what others might think of me but 2013 is going to be my year of change and this is proof to myself. Thanks Sean, for putting something like this out here to help others with their goals no matter what they are. God Bless.
Well Sean, 5 days into juicing!! Down 3 pounds already! It’s not the best tasting diet out there but I find it to be the most effective. For the other reading this, if you’ve tried weight loss before and had minimum results I recommend watching Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, a documentary by Joe Cross it’s on Hulu.com, it’s amazing and it really is life changing! If you’re tired of being overweight, feeling tired, feeling embarrassed about your body and hurting please try this! I was 150 pounds overweight and I juiced for 1 month and I lost 30 pounds, that’s with no exercise at all, NONE! I just juiced and drank water everyday and lost the weight. I urge everyone to try this! And it’s way cheaper to buy fruits/veggies for juicing instead of all the junk we consume. When I juiced I had so much more energy, I slept less, and became more active, I felt better about myself. I stopped juicing though and I’m still overweight, but Jan 1st I started juicing again. I am so thrilled to do this again, I already feel better after just 5 days! My daughter also juices with me, I make her apple, grape, brocolli, kale and pineapple juice, she loves it! Please go watch this and change your life for the better by juicing. If you’re a parent don’t do this JUST for yourself do this for your kids! My daughter is almost 5 and I feel terrible I can’t keep up with her and I can’t do all the things with her I wish I could. But I am changing that this year! I will get healthy! I am determined! And remember if you juice stick with it because if you cheat on your diet you’re only cheating yourself!!! “You’ll never shine if you walk in the shadows of someone else!” -MB-
And for those who want to weekly updates on my juicing follow me on twitter @MelBryan1488 Have a blessed day
Sean, I read this blog right after you posted it, but decided not to comment. It has been bugging me ever since, so I decided to go ahead and do it. Two and a half months ago I realized the only thing I had to look forward to everyday was going to sleep. I decided that if that is all I have in life, then I might as well already be dead. That scared me. I knew that I didn’t want to die, so I decided to make my life worth living. I spent a lot of time thinking about what needed to change. The most obvious answer was my weight, but I knew losing weight was not going to solve all my problems. I’d lost weight before only to realize I was still miserable. So before I even started working on my weight, I identified what was holding me back. I discovered there were many things in my life that I could change like smiling more, surrounding myself with positive people and avoiding the negative ones, not putting so much pressure on myself to be perfect… I also realized there are many things that I could not change like my past and family so I decided to let that stuff go instead of mulling it over constantly. For two months I’ve been eating better and exercising. I eat 1,000 -1,300 calories a day and workout 6 days a week. Giving up junk food and sweets was not that difficult, but my one addiction that I cannot seem to give up is Dr Pepper. I have managed to cut it down to one 90 calorie serving a day which is a HUGE improvement. I don’t really mind the exercise either because I feel so awesome afterwards. What I have a hard time with is being patient. In two months I think I’ve lost 10 lbs. I say think because my damn scale stopped working and the new one did not agree with the last scale. Anyway, all I know for sure is I’m down two sizes. I guess that’s progress it’s just so frustrating because I need to lose 140 more pounds. I know that I spent a lifetime packing on the pounds, so I should expect to work hard to take it off. Well that’s where I am now. I vow to keep on this path until I reach my destination no matter how long it takes. My other goal this year is the most important one of all and unfortunately the one I’m having a hard time with. I want to help my son shed weight and live a healthy life. He isn’t exactly cooperating, and my mom is making it very difficult to get through to him. (Very long story) I vow to not give up and to do whatever it takes to help him be happy and healthy.
Hi Sean, my name is Shana,
Fist i wanted to thank you for being this awesome person. so THANK YOU!
Now
1. I have to start excercising at least once a week – fitness at home and as soon as spring starts i’m going to run with my best friend Valerie – i have an aversion from sports and i have to kick in the nuts and start loving it.
2. I have to eat more vegetables and learn to love them! – i’m skinny and i have no idea why. i eat snacks, french fries, desserts, sweets, chips and everything that is greasy and easy to make everyday. But i’m tired, always, i could sleep almost all day long, wake up and still be tired :(.
3. I need to learn that i’m unique in my own way and i don’t have to change my hair or the way i dress because of other people. – really i don’t dress that weird in my opinion but blouses with zebras, 18mm gauges in my ears and a septum scares people and on public transportation i’m often the one to be stared at..
4. I have to quit smoking: i tried before by just quitting from one day to the next but that didn’t work for me so i’ll try by smoking less everyday and i have to be at zero a day when spring starts because running and smoking isn’t a good combo
5. DRINK LESS: i survive on coffee, water and alcohol – the water can stay but i have to cut back on the coffee to two cups a day and the alcohol, especially wine and coctails.
Last but not least THANK YOU SEAN for giving me the courage and kicking our butts because we say things have to change but don’t do anything bout it in the end. You and Norman have giving me lots of new friend (on twitter), our love and adoration for both of you have brought us together from all over the world.
God Bless you because you’re an Angels send from heaven
Much love from Shana
Hi Sean, my name is Shana,
Fist i wanted to thank you for being this awesome person. so THANK YOU!
Now i never was a person to make New Year Resolutions but for you i will! and i swear to you and everyone here i won’t fail!
1. I have to start excercising at least once a week – fitness at home and as soon as spring starts i’m going to run with my best friend Valerie – i have an aversion from sports and i have to kick in the nuts and start loving it.
2. I have to eat more vegetables – i’m skinny and i have no idea why. i eat snacks, french fries, desserts, sweets, chips and everything that is greasy and easy to make everyday. But i’m tired, always, i could sleep almost all day long, wake up and still be tired :(.
3. I need to learn that i’m unique in my own way and i don’t have to change my hair or the way i dress because of other people. – really i don’t dress that weird in my opinion but blouses with zebras, 18mm gauges in my ears and a septum scares people and on public transportation i’m often the one to be stared at..
4. I have to quit smoking: i tried before by just quitting from one day to the next but that didn’t work for me so i’ll try by smoking less everyday and i have to be at zero a day when spring starts because running and smoking isn’t a good combo
5. DRINK LESS: i survive on coffee, water and alcohol – the water can stay but i have to cut back on the coffee to two cups a day and the alcohol, especially wine and coctails.
Last but not least THANK YOU SEAN for giving me the courage and kicking our butts because we say things have to change but don’t do anything bout it in the end. You and Norman have giving me lots of new friend (on twitter), our love and adoration for both of you have brought us together from all over the world.
God Bless you because you’re an Angel send from heaven
Much love from Shana
Since people have been doing peer to peer motivation, so I just wanted to check in and say I did my first “formal” work out today. I’ve been doing a lot of exercise in daily activities, so I was pleasantly (but not completely) surprised to find out that I was nearly at my end of August 2012 fitness level (my month of working out almost every day).
So, yes I did pledge for 3 times a week and that was more than 4 days ago – but I didn’t let the fact that I had not started yet keep me from not starting ever.
Try again – your first day can be today, if you haven’t started already! – Rachel Kadushin
Dear Sean. I cried when I read you’re blog because you are so right and for many years I was so wrong to be stuborn. There are reasons why I am who I am, bad (long and personal story) and good things that made me the person that I am today and there are, like most of us, reasons why I eat to much or unhealthy. I don’t want to look the way I do, feel the way I do and weigh how much I do. I get jealous when “the other” grils can eat what they eat and not pay the price for it. Unfortunately, mother nature had a different design for me allthough I used to be very skinny when I was about 17 years old (37 now).
It is not easy to be friends with them, the skinnies. For some reason, people who take the effort to get to know me actually like me. I get asked to go out all the time, but a part of going out always includes food. Same thing at work, everyday someone wants to go out for lunch with me and we often end up at McDo’s or a kepab or somewhere else where they serve french fries. I want it to stop, I want to live healthy, but I can’t help but wondering how I will end up. Will I end up in isolation because I won’t go out to eat anymore. That scares me. But it also scares me to die young because of the way I live. I have what they call morbid obesitas so the clock is ticking.
I also have a problem with sports. I get up at 05:30 in the morning to go to work, I’m back home at 18:30, sometimes even later because I do lots of overtime. It doesn’t really give me much time to go to a sportclub. The closest I come to excercice is in the weekend when I clean and work around the house. And there is also that hernia and the daily pain that comes with it.
I know, I know, everYthing I do is my decision and I have to quitt the BDM and stop looking for excuses, but be fair, it’s all easier said than done.
Is it weak of me to say that I can not do it without help ? Without someone who watches over me and can be painly honest to me when necessary ? That is who I miss in my life, no one wants to hurt me but by allways being kind and looking away, that’s exactly what they do. I hope that you and the people who are part of this blog can be honest with me and inspire me.
So here it goes, even though I never make resolutions I will make some now. Because you inspire me and you make me feel like you care. Today, I promise to you that I will change my eating program. I will drink water from now on and only have one diet coke a day. I will eat less food and concentrate on fruits and vegetables. I will take the stairs instead of the elevator. My addiction is chocolates and I know I can’t give that up completely but I can say that from now on, when the urge is high, I will take one small peace of 70% pure chocolate. I’ll quitt the french fries for now and will talk to my friends and collegues to ask for their support.
I know I will fail at a certain point but I hope you won’t give up on me when that happens. I promise I’ll be honest with you when I make that bad decission.
And off course, I will keep you informed on my status. I wish when I reach my goal I could meet you again, so we both look good in the photo this time instead of me being just a big blue spot ;-).
Love, Veronique
Hey Veronique,
I know what you mean by the isolation… It’s scary and it sucks, but I find that people really respond to seeing someone achieving their goal. I started posting daily updates on my Facebook pages for my “Badass Workouts.” Since then, 6 friends/family members have either joined a gym or dusted off their treadmills and started messaging me with updates. In addition to that, over a dozen friends/family are interacting with me about my “Badass Workouts” and tell me they are starting to think about doing something themselves. Basically what I’m getting at is that even though some of my friends put distance between us, a WHOLE LOT more have rallied behind me and even joined me! I think I sorta started something here… And that promise here? Well that’s going well too. (I’m waiting to officially update). So if you want some guaranteed support, you can find me on Twitter: @CorissaBaker. I’d be glad to help you in anyway I can. ~Corissa
Hi Corissa. That is so nice of you. This is an amazing community and so are you. All these stories are so recognizable. It’s somewhat strange to see how much I see myself in most stories posted here. It makes one feel less alone. I am totaly there with the ‘driven by anger” part. So much anger, frustrations, pain inside and so much energie put in hiding it from every one around you. It’s sometimes tiring to keep the mask on. But, I am not miserable all the time, I try to have as much fun I can and I do have friends that are angels, but they like to eat and gain no wait at all, so everytime we go out, we go to a restaurant first, or when we stay in, the table is filled with chips and chocolates and other goodies. And me, it seems I only have to think about food and gain wait immediately, haha. And truth be told, I do have a history and there’s a reason why I started seeking comfort in food. So it’s not easy when a lot of things are in your head and you don’t really know how to deal with it. But that’s why I’m here. To see I’m not alone, to gain straight out of the many stories here and maybe help others with my own experiences. So thank you for your support, I will certainly use it and look for you on Twitter. And if I can help you, even if it’s just to listen, I’m here for you. My Twitter is @Niknakske.
I think it’s a good idea to put my resolutions and progress on facebook and share it with my friends, that way I also have a certain pressure because I wouldn’t want to have to write down I made no progress at all.
Love, Veronique
Hi Veronique! I agree. An AMAZING community. I’m glad I forced myself to join in and speak up. I’m encouraged by the commonality in struggles here. We shall rally our forces and conquer…uh, well, OURSELVES! I’ll have your back. You’ll have mine. It’s nice to know you understand the “driven by anger” thing. Things happen. It sucks. And it sucks MORE when you can’t (aren’t allowed to) talk about it. But this is a passive position. An “it happened to me” attitude that I can’t stand. I have to REACT, to DO something in response… That is when the anger really started. But things are changing. It hasn’t even been than long (8 days) since my promise, but people are noticing I’m different now. In my workouts I don’t react with the old anger. When I need that extra push now I ask myself “what are you fighting FOR?” It brought me out of reacting emotionally to answering, “the next minute on the treadmill.” Or, “the next push-up, sit-up…” I redirect the moment into something I can do something about. At first, it felt like I surrendered my shield. But now I feel like I have no need for such a bulky thing in the first place!
RE: food/weigh gain. Ah, the metabolism. What a backstabbing bitch, right? I’m one of the “luckier” ones that doesn’t have to watch what I eat AS STRICTLY as others. I completely understand your struggle though. I’m actually studying to get my Personal Fitness Trainer certification so I’ll share what info I can from afar. I see we’ve connected on Twitter so I’ll give you my e-mail address in a DM there. But yes! Putting your resolutions/goals up where you and your friends/family will see them WILL keep you accountable. I’m 39 days in to mine and I HAVE to go shopping for new jeans now! The first thing to grasp: Have faith. BELIEVE. It WILL change. Because YOU will change. And I’ll help as much as I can, although Sean’s doing most of the work here. 😉 See you on Twitter! Much Love, Corissa
After recently stumbling upon this and reading everyone else’s posts I thought what a good idea to put it out there and be held accountable, so here goes. This September my uncle passed away, he was 58 and his death was completely avoidable, he was in horrible shape, smoked, had diabetes and pretty much did nothing to try to change it. I don’t want to die young, I want to live to be like 110 so my New Years resolution is to get healthy, no more climbing one flight of stairs and being out of breath, and then thinking “maybe I’ll eat some chips now”. I’ve always been overweight and always said I’ll eat this now and start my diet tomorrow, well as we all know that never happened. My resolutions are to lose 35 pounds by June, to work out 5-6 days a week and to reduce my diet pepsi intake by 95% (it’s pretty much all I drink now, I know horrible right?) Here’s to a healthier 2013 and wishing everyone a Happy New Year and the best of luck, Lisa
I know it’s kind of late, but I just came across this blog. I recently discovered the amazingness that is Boondock Saints (as a total TWD fangirl deciding to check it out as well). It’s been three days since I saw the first movie and one since I saw the second and I am so in love with them. The thing I have always loved about Norman Reedus, and now you ;), is how real and down to earth the both of you are. I guess that’s why I’m sitting here crying like a baby and typing this now. I generally have a very hard time opening up to anyone at all about myself, but just find you so approachable. I don’t know if this is exactly what you meant by wanting to know stories and details. If not, I’m sorry.
Well, here goes. There are three major things that I want to change about myself. In order to explain them, though, I need to start at the beginning. I’ve been overweight for as long as I can remember. It’s the only thing I’ve ever known. It started with babysitters who were older and believed that bigger was better. All I ever heard was “Eat more” or “Don’t drink so much soda…you won’t have as much room for food.” I was in elementary school and eating 2 grilled cheese sandwiches for breakfast every day during the summer. After that, it ballooned out of control. I developed depression some years later and food became my crutch. It was my comfort, the only thing that was there for me when people weren’t. I ate when I was sad, angry, happy, excited, etc. I would always stuff myself far past the point of being full because of my emotional state. In recent months, I have discovered that there is a name to put to what I have always done and still do. I have what’s called Binge-Eating Disorder. It’s kind of like Bulimia with no purging afterward.
When I was in seventh grade, everything began to fall apart and the tone was set for the rest of my life. I began to get teased relentlessly every single day for my weight, what I wore, what I thought. The girls responsible for this had me believing they were my friends for the two years prior to this. I ended up only having one friend to rely on that entire year. I went home crying every day and had never felt more alone. My seventh year of school was also the year that my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Through the surgeries and chemo, I was terrified I was going to lose her. That same year, my sister became phobic of school and had to be home schooled and also ended up having to be hospitalized due to an emotional breakdown. My dad also became suicidal and had to be hospitalized that year as well. In light of everyone else’s problems, I decided to ignore myself, try and help whenever I could, and fade into the background. I became an expert at hiding my emotions and growing depression. To this day, I constantly get told by people that I am the happiest person they know, never without a smile and always laughing. I’ve gotten so good that they don’t even realize the person they are talking about is a facade, a character I play to hide the ugliness on the inside. Six years of internalized emotions all came rushing out around the time I was nineteen. My depression had gotten so bad that I resorted to self-harm as the only way to release the emotions and pain I couldn’t otherwise express. I’m twenty-three now and have been cutting myself for the past three and a half to four years. I probably have more than sixty currently visible scars littering my arms, thighs, and shoulders right now. I had actually been doing well this past year, going six plus months without a single cut. I don’t think I even bought a single pack of new razor blades in all of 2012. I was very proud of myself. Over the holidays, however, I relapsed pretty badly.
In addition to emotional eating and self-harm, I have also developed another detrimental coping mechanism. I have become addicted to shopping. Whether it’s for me or others, as long as I’m spending my money, I’m happy. I don’t leave my house at all pretty much and the only regular contact I have is with my parents and sister so I shop online. It gives me something to look forward to. I guess you can equate it with a kind of high when I get a package. It quickly fades, however, and I have to buy more in order to continue the good feelings. Most of the time, I just end up feeling worse after the fact, though.
I don’t make New Year’s resolutions anymore because, to me, they’re just words to say and forget about. You have made me really think about it, though. Maybe with a little support from a community working together towards a common goal, I can finally do something about these things. At this point in my life, I really can’t say that I love myself because I don’t think I do. I just have too many flaws. There is someone, though, that means the world to me and makes me want to fight this. That person is my four month old niece. I want to make her happier than I ever was and always be there for her. That’s something I can’t do if I’m dead. My five year old cousin came over this past weekend and made me realize that I won’t even be able to keep up with my niece to so much as play with her if I don’t do something now. My cutting is also scaring me. I keep having to go deeper and deeper to help lately and it terrifies me to think that, one day, I may go too far. My eating, self-harm, and shopping addiction are the three major things that need definite attention right now. By the end of this year, I want to have completely eradicated my self-harm and shopping issue and have lost significant weight (I really need to lose at LEAST 200 lbs to be healthy). I’m sorry this is so long. Like I said, I don’t open up to anyone about these things. I have revealed more here than my own parents even know and once I started, I just had to keep going. I had a need to just get all of this out.
I will make these changes. I HAVE to.
Thank you for giving me the chance to babble and the inspiration to make changes that have been a long time coming.
~Maggie
@KonekoRain
This is a community that can offer support in seeing this through to a positive result. However, the self-harm needs to be dealt with immediately. Have you seen someone about this? Both the weight and the self-harm are navigable, but they must be dealt with correctly and delicately. I’m sure someone here has more knowledge than I, and can offer their help as well. Stay tuned, and we’re right here with you!!!
Hi, Maggie, my name’s Jonah. I’ve got a past similar to yours, (friends who didn’t treat me right, a mother diagnosed with a tumor, unhealthy addictions, and binge eating disorder) I didn’t ever self-harm for extended amounts of time, but I’m aware of the desire to do so and the feeling that maybe that’s the only way to feel like you’re in control of yourself. And maybe the words of a stranger might not mean much to you, but you are AMAZING and you deserve so much better than that. I think it’s wonderful that you managed to stop, even if you did relapse for a while. It proves that you want to change and that you know you deserve better. And you CAN do better.
If you’re looking for someone to help, like Sean suggested, therapy is very important. I know it sometimes seems like a terrible idea, bringing in some stranger and telling them all of your problems and letting them see sides of you that you’ve kept hidden, but that’s what they are there for, it’s what they have chosen to do with their lives and they are good at it. Find a therapist that you are comfortable with and let them give you the help you need. This can be with self-harm, the shopping addiction, and with weight loss, as well as with your need to please others (I do the same thing, it’s so much easier sometimes to just pretend everything’s fine and be happy because others need you to be.)
If you have financial problems and don’t think you can afford going to a therapist, check out the colleges nearby. Sometimes, when they have on-campus therapy centers, they will allow grad students to help in the therapy center and the rates are reduced. If you have insurance, check to see if they will cover therapy for you (sometimes they’ll cover it only if it’s through a specific venue, such as Sanford).
I hope this information is helpful to you, and I hope you find the help that you need. I’m new to this community here, but it seems like a place that could really help. Good luck, and shine on!
Maggie,
Maggie, I’ve been where you are today, i want to let you know a little about my story and offer some advise. When I was a junior in high school, I was 16 years old and dating an 18 yrear old guy named Peter. He was my first real boyfriend and I thought I was in love. I never realized until too late that he was nothing like what I thought. All through our relationship he would pressure me into having sex with him. I was a virgin at the time and knew I wasn’t ready for a commitment like that. I also, had made a personal promise to myself not to be like my sister, 18 and pregnant. Anyways, on our 6 month anniversary Peter said he wanted to do something special for me. He had a “surprise” for me. I was so excited, like I said he was my first boyfriend and these were all new experiences for me. On the night of our anniversary I walked in to find a cooked dinner waiting for me. I felt so special. I had never been to Peters apartment before and he offered to give me a tour. He showed me the kitchen, bathroom, his study and finally his bedroom. It was when we reached the bedroom I finally realized what his true surprise was. There were rose petals on the bed and candles lit everywhere. It was beautiful but like I said before I knew I wasn’t ready for this. I don’t want to go into grave detail about what happened that night but Peter took something from me that night I can never get back, He raped me.
After everything had happened I was scared and confused. I went home, took a shower, and never told anyone about what happened. I felt like if I did they would blame me. Tell me it was my fault for being so stupid and nieve. after all thats how I felt. I fell into a deep depretion the mix of all the secrets I was I holding inside me plus the emotional abuse I was receiving from my father, became too much for me. I found the “joy” of cutting when I accidently cut my finger pealing a potato. I found how the pain and control I had made me feal alive. Like you it finally got out of control. My mother finally found out what i was doing. She couldn’t understand why I was doing these things to myself and I still couldn’t tell her why, I still blamed myself. My mother made me start seeing a therapist. At first I wouldn’t open up to my therapist but once I finally did, things just started to flow, things I didn’t realize were even bothering were coming to surface. My therapist also helped me face my assult.and as i started dealing with my problems and slowly taking control back I was able to slowly stop cutting. But what really helped me was the weakly group meatings my therapist made me go to. It helped to know that there were people out there like me, people that understood in one way or another what I was going through. People that I could talk to openly and freely with no judgement. There was one girl, Rose, that I connected with. We became each others sponsers per say. We held each other accountable. We both were still struggling with our own issues but everytime one of us felt like cutting we’d call the other and talk it out. Cutting is an addicttion and like any addiction it is very very hard to overcome, but you can do it. I am 26 years old now and I haven’t cut myself in 7 years. I’m proud of myself for that, but I know I could never have done it without the help of Rose, my therapist, my group, and even my mother. I want to let you know you are not alone in this. There are people who want to help you. I know you don’t know me, but sometimes it helps to talk to a compleate stranger, you can’t see, and who wont judge you. I want to help you. If you want to call or e-mail me sometime just let me know, My e-mail is [email protected], I will gladly send you my number if you ever need to talk. I’ve been there and I know how hard and painful it is to face this addiction. But this addiction can be beat and like Suan said, we are all here for you. And we all want to see you beat this. Sincearly ~Barbra
Maggie, have you contacted someone to help you yet? I know a little about cutting, and it’s only going to get worse. Please don’t put it off.
Hello Maggie,
My name is Mireille, I am one of the community members. I would like to extend my support and to let you know I am here for you if you need someone to talk to. I found a number I would like to share with you: 1-800-334-HELP (4357): The Self-Injury Foundation’s 24-hour crisis line. Please know that you are not alone and there are people who care.
I will pray that you overcome your difficulties. I myself am overweight and the most effective thing I have done to lose the weight is juicing. Go watch Fat Sick and Nearly Dead. I juiced for a month and lost 30 pounds. I’ve started back up again and walking 1 mile everyday and in 7 days I’ve lost nearly 13 pounds. If you ever need someone to talk with please email me or get in contact with me on facebook I can be there if you need to vent, talk or anything. I myself went through struggle and loss and had an eating problem. My email is [email protected] my facebook is https://www.facebook.com/Melissa.gamergirl.7141988 and my twitter is @MelBryan1488 I would love to talk with you 🙂 I hope to hear from you.
Wow. I have to say that I was floored and brought to tears by the responses from you wonderful people. I spent the entire day regretting what I wrote and feeling stupid for every word. I realized when I looked at the all of the words of advice and encouragement that it was probably the most right thing I have done in a long time. Also, as far as some of the concerns that people had, I am currently on medication for my depression and other disorders. I currently see a doctor every three months who prescribes these medicines, even if I don’t always have the guts to be completely truthful with him. Up until May of this past year, I was seeing a therapist every week. When I lost my job, however, I no longer had the funds to pay for the visits and had to quit going. At the moment, I’m torn on whether I want to try and find another one. I did decide today, however, that I am going to try and get back into the gym I used to go to. My paranoia and social phobia caused me to lose any confidence I had gained the first go around and I stopped going. You guys have no idea how much your words mean to me. I’m truly grateful that I came across this.
See? It’s a beautiful family here.!!
Damn right!!!
Maggie,
I have been in very similar situations as the ones you are in, especially when it comes to self harm. In my childhood I had many traumas that I kept secret. Over time it built up inside of me until I hit a breaking point. I started cutting at age 15 when I found out my aunt who was like a mom to me was diagnosed with terminal cancer.I needed a way to release my pain. I cut on places noone would notice such as my stomach and hips. After a while I started cutting my legs and arms. About two years into cutting wasn’t doing it for me and I found other ways to hurt myself. It became an addiction greater than anything I had ever known. My harm became so bad that i was afraid of myself and my judgement. Despite not being suicidal I called suicide hotline because I was scared that one day my cutting and other methods would end my life. They have me great references to places that could help me and I found myself in a wonderful outpatient program that changed my life and gave me the tools to find healthy outlets for my pain. I am twenty three now. My scars have faded and there are times where just like any other addict I think of how much easier it would be to return to my old habits but I know that where I am now is so much better then where I was then. Please find help.You are worth so much more than this! It is very hard to stop and be successful on your own, there is an orginization called S.A.F.E. that can help give you the support and refferences you may need. They’re toll free number is 800-366-8288(800-Dontcut). I apologize if it is against any rules to post the number but I genuinely believe you may find some help here. It only takes one error in judgement to accidently end your life. Big hugs to you and best wishes on this journey to end self-abuse.
That’s one thing I actually haven’t ever admitted to anyone before. I’m scared too. When I was younger, I knew self-harm and cutting existed, but I didn’t know much about it. I always told myself that, no matter how bad it got, I would never, COULD never hurt myself. I don’t do well with pain and thought I wouldn’t be able to do anything even if the thought crossed my mind. I’m not suicidal, but thoughts of the sort have popped into my head from time to time. I tell myself that I would never even attempt to take my own life, but there’s a little voice in the back of my mind reminding me that I said the same thing about cutting and now look at me. It truly does terrify me sometimes. Thank you and I will look into this.
Maggie,
I am struggling with cutting also. I just wasn’t able to post about it because it’s something I’ve done since I was 12 and I am now 24 and it’s super difficult for me to face. It’s extremely hard and I am not sure where to even turn. I know I need to stop and should but don’t really know how. I, like you, have a shopping addiction also. I like to spend my money and I recently got myself into a very big mess up where I couldn’t pay my rent because of it. I just don’t know where to start or how to start.
Amber, I understand where you’re coming from. Even admitting it online to complete strangers is one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do. It’s a great start, though. While I don’t think I am in a great position right now to be giving any advice, I’ll give you some things that have helped me. I have managed to at least get myself under some semblance of control over the past year. Before that, I was cutting multiple times every single day. Every argument in my household, every harsh word said to me, every time I flew off the handle to cover up the fact that I was hurt, every difficult situation at work when I felt like a total failure all sent me running for my room or the bathroom at work to get myself under control by hurting myself so that I could face the rest of the day with no tears. Now, I sometimes go days, even managed weeks and months before, between episodes. Part of that is due to the fact that my mom found out about what I was doing. I’ll never forget that day, either. It was my first visit to the psychiatrist I go to now and she went with me. I decided I wasn’t going to lie about anything because I knew I needed medicine. It felt like my world ended when that simple question was asked: ‘Have you ever intentionally hurt yourself?’ I still sometimes berate myself for not lying, but I know that I wouldn’t have been able to decrease my episodes had she not found out. My mom still doesn’t understand my self-harm and still threatens hospitalization if I continue, but it has forced me to be more cautious about cutting. That, in turn, has lessened the number of times I do it. When you’re ready to, I would say to let someone in. That really is the first step. Find someone you trust completely and you know they have your back 100%. Find someone who is understanding and won’t judge you or give you an ultimatum. It has to be someone who you are comfortable with talking to and can be there to listen when you need it. I don’t have anyone like this in my personal life which led me to the internet (I still have infinite trouble expressing myself without feeling stupid even on the net too.) If you don’t have someone like this either, you can shoot me a message. I’ll always be here. Another thing that helps sometimes is trying to wait the feelings out. It’s HARD but, if it works even once, it’s worth it. Still, this doesn’t work all the time for me. I try to distract myself sometimes by drawing, reading, or writing as well. Like I said before, I’m still in the same boat. I slipped just yesterday because things got too emotional and difficult for me to handle. I still have some hope, though. I don’t know if you’re familiar with the To Write Love on Her Arms movement, but it has also helped. There is one thing that the amazing Renee Yohe said that has always and will always stick with me. “What matters isn’t that you fell, but that you got back up. No matter how many times it takes, it’s that you get back up that matters. We fall down and all isn’t lost.”
This is one of my favorite videos of Renee talking about these issues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5dtv646wq0
All this isn’t much, but it’s a start.
Maggie,
This touched me so much that you replied. My best friend actually does know that I have cut but she doesn’t know I started again. I don’t have the courage to face her and tell her because I am too ashamed and embarrassed that I started again. I went over a year without cutting but this last year has been so hard for so many reasons. I, like you, cut over words, arguments, anything that made me feel less than a human being. I feel like that all the time though. I grew up hearing you’re worthless, you’re stupid, and all of those types of things. I can’t see myself as anything but worthless. Suicide crosses my mind all the time and now it’s to the point that I am terrified to be alone. I am at a loss as to what to do. I will check out that video though because it sounds interesting.
Thanks for replying,
Amber Martin
Maggie, I was/am a scratcher. I know it is not like cutting but, it always made me feel good after I did it. It was/IS MY was of saying that “YOU can’t hurt me, only I can hurt me” I do not do this as often as i used to-maybe 3 or 4 episodes a year and I’m almost mid 40’s. I know this response is WAY late BUT I hope you are doing better. I’m glad I found sean and all of the wonder people I read about here. YOU ARE SPECIAL to everyone! dawn a
Hello Sean, i want to thank you for all that you do. I read all of what you have to say. You have inspired me to get started on a path that is more healthy for myself. I started gaining weight because of my step dad, school, loseing people, and not being able to find a job. I have tried many workouts but i fail to stick with them because i never saw any results…but id like to make a promise to you. I promise to stop smoking, to stop eating unheathy when im bored. I promise to get out more on my bike. Go out for walk/jogs. I promise to not just sit around. I promise to keep this promise. I am starting today and will hopefully loose 10-20 pounds in the next 5 months. Thank you for all your kind and truthful words.
I posted my promise for this year last week. I began my changes a couple months ago before 2012 ended and promised I would give an update on my progress, so here is my first update. I am down 10 pounds with a total loss of 6-3/4″ so far, 2-1/2″ in my waist alone! I am looking forward to continuing this progress in 2013!
Nice.!!!!
I’ve started back to school with the goal of finishing my Counseling degree [with an emphasis on counseling ‘at risk’ youth and families]. My first classes were today. I’ve decided the best for me would be to grab it by the throat and take a full course load when at all possible.
As my schedule stands now, I’ll have my degree in a year.
My main goal here, is to maintain my place on the Dean’s list until the end.
Hey guys! Checking in. I lost 3 lbs last week making my total weight lose 13lbs in 2 months.
Way to go…….
Woohoo! Way to go Rhonda!!! Keep us updated! How much are you planning to lose all together?
Thank you! I’m embarrassed to admit that I need to lose another 137 lbs (YIKES!) I feel fabulous already though. It’s amazing what eating right and exercise can do.
When I typed out my promise on NYE, I couldn’t have known what would happen within the first week of the new year. Admittedly, I began to struggle within a few days of making said promise…until receiving the news that one of my dearest friends was killed in a horrific car accident on Friday afternoon. Initially, the news shattered me to the point of physical paralysis, but when I woke up on Saturday I began painting my house. I had to do SOMETHING! This was something I planned for back in the beginning of November, even bought the paint then. It just sat there for months while I moped around, feeling sorry for myself & doing nothing productive. Over the last 3 days I have finished 2/3 of the house, with only the 2 bedrooms & one of the bathrooms left. I’m sure it doesn’t read like a big deal, but considering how inactive I had become, it’s a VERY big deal. Back to my friend & how his passing shook me out of my buillshit. Over the last 7 years I have lost 10 people who I dearly loved, including a boyfriend. This has been incredibly difficult to process & honestly, a couple of them directly contributed to my extended funk. I realized something this weekend. I’m still alive. I need to act like it. I am ashamed of the person I’ve become, existing rather than thriving. This is not the person I am! I want my life back! I want to laugh so hard I cry. I need to be creative. I have to go on a road trip. I might even like to go on a date, but I’m not sure about that. I do know that I have to live! If I don’t I feel as if I’m disgracing those who I love that don’t have that option any longer. So, basically, I’m rededicating myself to my original promise. Thanx for the wonderful support I’ve received here! If you wanna find me on Twitter, do so here @gypsyjenn <3
Jenn, I’m so sorry to hear about your friend. I completely understand your painting project. When I’m under great stress I find some physical project for release. I hope you were able to get back to your goals. Start small if you need to. Good luck
Rhonda~Thank you for your kind words! I have gotten back on track with my goals…small steps to start, so I don’t get frustrated & give up. I’ve worked out in some form every day for 4 days now. Tomorrow is grocery shopping for healthier food & I also have a job interview in the morning, to tide me over until I am ready to get back into what I love. I doubt I’ll turn back now. I don’t want to go backward anymore.
Thank you Sean for the beautiful words. I’ve been procrastinating writing my “resolutions” because on New Years I really didn’t believe I would follow through with anything. My back story is that I’m Bipolar and also suffer from PTSD, OCD, and Anxiety. I was forced into retirement at age 46 (I’m now 50) because I couldn’t maintain my daily activities and be around people for extended periods of time. I go through extended periods of time where I will seclude myself in my apt in what I call my “troll cave”
I have smoked since I was 15, yup that’s right 35 years. I’ve never had the desire to quit. I always told anyone who said I needed to quit, since lung cancer runs in my family, that I enjoyed it and when I didn’t enjoy it anymore I would quit. Well, I still enjoy it BUT today on Elvis’ birthday I smoked my last cigarette. I’m done. I’m sick of the smell in my home, on my clothes, in my car, etc.
I got my doctor’s authorization yesterday to join the local gym and have my intake evaluation tomorrow morning with my personal trainer. I didn’t think I could afford it but with the elimination of the extreme costs of smoking, I will more than be able to pay for it. I really don’t have weight to lose just need to tone everything up, you know the muffin top could really go!
I’ve also committed to more volunteer hours at the local hospital where I’ve been helping. Also, I’ve signed up for a study class. These things along with the gym will get my psychiatrist and therapist off my case for “socializing” more and maybe just maybe I’ll finally meet someone since I’ve been divorced almost 7 years.
I fully intend on updating you regularly so I will have some accountability. Now that I’ve written it down it’s out there for you and all God’s creation to see my commitment.
Thanks for your support and all you do!! Susan Neal
Hi Sean, my name is Milada. I am 16 years old. I know that a lot of people say that you are an inspiration for them and for me, you are an inspiration, you’re famous, people love you and you’re unforgettable. I’d just like to tell someone and I believe that you’re the right person. I think that today’s world is very bad. Everyone spends their entire day on the internet I simply would like to turn the internet off. Because I think there is a better world, but a lot of young people do not see it .. and seeing where the world leads sometimes feel that everything is useless in life nedocilým never anything amazing what you have advice for me? you are my role model and I think about you every day, I just wanted to ask what you think about the world today? Regards M.
Well, let’s see here. I’ve already quit smoking. It’s been a few months of not smoking. Maybe even a year at this point. I had been smoking off and on since I was 12. Before I quit I was at a pack a day just about. Now my goals are to find a JOB. Move out of where I am living now. Build my self confidence back up. It got torn down a bit by this verbally abusive man I WAS in a relationship with. With that said, my other goal is to not be so quick to believe the horrible mean abusive things a person says to me. Just chalk it up to them being stupid. You know that quote “Before you diagnose yourself with depression and low self-esteem, make sure you’re not surrounded by a bunch of assholes first.” Yeah, it’s a lot like that. And finally my life long goal is to not end up like my mother. She is an alcoholic. Not very honest with herself or others, therefore could never make a change in her life. Change is never easy. But change is even harder to accomplish if you don’t at least try.
Update. Yesterday was my 1st day with out a smoke! Still at 0 smokes today. 🙂
Congrats!!! I’m right with you…day 2 zero cigs!! WE CAN DO THIS!!!
Good luck to everyone! Reading all the goals and plans for this year is so inspiring.
As for me, I have signed up for the Wounded Warrior Project’s 10k/half marathon that takes place in June here in Texas. I have never been a “runner” by any means so I can use all the support I can get. My plan is to run…well…jog five days per week. I plan to work on the distance required first, then increase my speed. I can do 2 miles now but need to increase to at least 6.2 by June to complete the 10k.
I work full time, am a part time student, I am a wife and mother, and I don’t want use my busy life as an excuse not to succeed in this goal. I may try…If you see my doing this…STOP ME! 🙂
Last year I gave up all soda (regular and diet) and this year I am limiting my carb intake. So far so good.
Thank you Sean for all you do to support others! You’re fantastic!
Little progress report because I need to vent….I’m doing well limiting my carbs but am pretty frustrated with my 10k training right now. I injured my knee transferring a patient at work. After some medical intervention and PT it was feeling much better only to be re-injured. I’m am currently walking rather than running and i am bicycling as its low impact for my knee but I know I am falling behind. I know if I don’t let it heal completely it could become worse but the process seems to be taking forever. Especially since the re-Injury. (Driving, btw, hurts it more than anything. How strange is that?)
Thanks for letting my vent….
Hello, just a little progress report. My knee injury required surgery and as my weight loss halted I was more than happy to blame my circumstance. After all, how could i continue to lose weight if I couldn’t exercise for several weeks? Right? Wrong….very wrong. It was totally my fault as I didn’t take the various steps I should have the weeks pre and post-op. Yes, I hopped aboard the “I feel sorry for myself right now” train and road it for a few weeks until a certain blog pointed out exactly what I was doing. I still think you were talking directly to me, Sean, when you wrote “I have a secret….about the future”. The fact that I had not taken responsibility for my actions, or rather lack of actions, hit me like a ton of bricks. Thank you for that. <3
Now I am back on track and moving in the right direction. I am still signed up for Wounded Warrior Project's 10K/half marathon in July and I will do it. I am also looking for a BJJ school in the North Dallas area that accepts children as well as adults. If you know of one, please let me know.
Off the subject…I met you in Dallas at Frightmare but the totally forgot the items I was bringing to you. I am going to send them to HBJJ; hopefully that is okay.
Thank you again! You're wonderful! (@TangiNorris on twitter )
***Sorry if this comes up twice. Was having some technical difficulties.
Well, here it goes. I did the stop smoking thing. It’s been a few months, maybe even a year at this point since I stopped. I had been smoking off and on, mostly on, since I was 12. I’m 29 now. Now my other goals will be to find a job and move out of where I am living. Build back up my self confidence after it was taken down a bit by a verbally abusive man that I WAS in a relationship with. Which leads me to my next goal, to not be so easy to believe the horrible things someone may say to me. You know that saying “Before you diagnose yourself with low self esteem and depression, make sure you’re not surrounded by a bunch of assholes”. Yeah, it’s a lot like that. And my long term goal is to not be/end up like my mother. She’s an alcoholic. She could never be honest with herself or anyone else, about anything, therefore could never make a change. At least not a change for the better. I know change is never easy. But change is a lot harder to accomplish if you never try.
Ok, here it goes. This year I have made the biggest decision in my entire life. It has been in the works (in my head) for about 11 years, Almost half my marriage. At this point it doesn’t matter and it would be too long of a story to try and explain, Why two people would stay in a marriage without love for so long, I can’t tell you. Sometimes it is much healthier to admit defeat and everyone is much better off, (especially your kids). It is better for them to get the best of both of you, rather than see two miserable, depressed people. Five years ago we had to move out of state for my husband to get a job. That was the last straw. It just ruined everyone. Especially my daughter. Leaving all friends, family and everything she knew sent her over a shaky edge. (one that already had started) The following years brought to our lives (my daughter) drugs, police, rehab, doctor’s, hospitals, alternative schools. I now have the means to move back home. But, only for a relatively short period of time. A year, year and a half or living extremely modestly, getting a part time job and going to school. With no net to catch me. It is do or die. Scared beyond belief, but excited to finally kick myself in the ass and take that leap. I have no room to fail. In the last siix months I have had surgery to remove a good chunk of my kidney because of renal cell carcinoma. In the clear now. Three and a half months later a lumpcteomy to check for breast cancer. Life is too short to live out the rest of of life living miserable existence. After I save myself (this is why in the event of a incident on an aiirplane, they tell parent to take oxegen first. you can’t save your child, til you save yourself). Then I can try to save my daughter from herself. I have done everything in my power to do so for years. She hasn’t started college this year. I pray going back home, being with her normal friends and family and starting college with her childhood best friend and getting the riight help, will get her on a path to salvation. First I must get there. Also, with all the medical problems, last year cervical fushion surgery exercise was out of the question. Fat redistributes itself in all the wrong place, so I hate to look at myself. And I still need to lose 20lbs. I got on the eliptical today. Not for long, but I got on it. This is also key to having a better life. Exercise is nature’s anti-depressant. A therapist told me that years ago. It is true. It took me awhile to get on here, I have been judged for so many years now, it holds me back. I was afraid of being judged. I do know that is not the kind of person you are. That is another thing I must overcome…the fear of everything, It’s too late to go back now, wish me luck…I am going to take that leap of faith. I am the only one to catch myself. I hope if we meet again Sean, I have a great sucess story to tell you. It felt good to wirte this. Thank you. Pat Kaminsky @pattycake926 Wow, real names are scary.
2012 threw A LOT of curve balls my way. At the beginning of the year I was a blissful newly wed with so many goals and aspirations! By the end of the year I had packed on fifty pounds(booooo), gave up on my dreams, slipped into a bad depression and not only decided to live apart from my husband but also gave up on our marriage.
This is the beginning of 2013 and I am determined to take control back over my life! My husband and I are working on us being a family again. We have already had our first hiccup of this year(as you may remember from a tweet he sent you saying he would owe you his life Mr Flanery) and are patching through it. It is going to take time for me to emotionally heal from it but for the first time in my life I am not pushing him away over a set back.
The second thing I am more than commited to doing is getting rid of this weight in a healthy manner. I have started eating better, am exercising and have even got my son on this kick. I have noticed some changes already in the way I physically feel. I hope that by doing this in a healthy fashion vs. the way I have done it in the past will bring me happiness with myself. My confidence in this goal is sky high and when I meet you at Texas Frightmare I know I will be able to thank you for posting blogs that kicked my butt into gear and helped my future self get whipped into shape.
Last and most importantly, I am going to chase my dreams and not give up. My dream started four years when I enrolled into a school that would allow me to be licensed for the career I have always wanted. I dropped out six weeks before I was due to graduate because I was scared of failing my state board test. The regret I have is immense and I am determined now more than ever to make it right. I know I will be successful and the outcome will benefit me and my children more than we could ever imagine.
So there it is for the world to see! This is going to be my year to shine!
Jordi!
Hello Sean, thank you for this inspiring post. It is so great to see celebrities promoting healthy living. I went vegan five years ago now but my biggest accomplishment is stopping eating sugar and salt. It’s only been a month but I was so addicted to it it’s already a win! I know I won’t go back. I am a film critic and journalist, I would really LOVE to interview you. If it’s possible to do so by e-mails please contact me. Linda
Here are my goals. Usually I eat chocolate every day in copious amounts. My goal is to cut down my chocolate intake by at least 75% in 2013. I am also aiming to make 80% of my fluid intake pure water, and drink more fluids. I want to be more organised with my sleep patterns and go to bed earlier so that I’m not tired in the mornings and sleeping in. That way I’ll get to work on time and my get to spend time with my son before I take him to my mother’s for the day. That will benefit both me and him because I’ll go to work feeling less guilty and happier to have had an extra half hour with him. My last goal is to tackle my phobias and anxiety issues. I’ve suffered with panic attacks and phobias since I was in my early teens. Some I’ve conquered, then new ones would appear. I want to work on being more relaxed by listening to my relaxation tape at least two nights a week before I go to sleep and if I find myself being afraid of something I know is irrational I’ll write down what the fear is and why it’s irrational. Seeing it on paper in front of me will reinforce the common sense I know I have.
I started making changes in my life about 2/12 years ago. my health issues were just pilling on top of me not to mention my quality of life was not good. i was just too big my back hurt, couldnt walk for very long, developed sleep apnea and the list goes on. now i am down 169 LBS. no longer have sleep apnea, my cholesterol is under control, my mobility is so much better! i still have health problems i have a blood disorder and have to get chemo but that is not weight related. i have come a long way. i still have 25 LB that i want to lose that is my goal. i do have a hard time exercising because of all of the chemo, not trying to make an excuse it just really takes away all of my energy. when im not getting chemo and i have a little energy i do try to fit as much exercise as i can. i know that i can lose these last 25LBS i just got to stuck to my guns and keep at it. thank you Sean for being so supportive of all of us
I will be eating better and losing weight. No one could have put it better. How can I expect someone to love me when I haven’t loved myself. I start back to school next week for the first time in 3 years and I couldn’t be more excited about that. Now I know I need to work on being better for myself and my plan is to eat more veggies and cut the sweets. My sister and I are going to sign up for kickboxing. We start as soon as this month. My goal is to lose at least 60 lbs by the end of this year. Not only do I want to feel better about myself but it also will reduce how much I pay for my health insurance at work. Just another reason to stop being lazy and just do it already! Thank you so much, Sean!!
How does someone go about learning to love themselves, who they are, and what they look like? Someone who is told everyone else can see it but can’t see it them-self?
Make a list of the things that you do like about yourself … looks wise (do you like your eye color, hair color? … then add it to the list), the good personality qualities you have (examples: good listener, considerate, etc.). The list is just for your eyes, no need to share it so do not be worried about what you add to the list … just be honest with yourself.
There is no one way. There is no right way. My recommendation is to take baby steps. It can take a long time to like how you look. Start with accepting that you exist and have to do stuff. You might even get your “have to do stuff” done and “want to do stuff.” It’s okay spending time thinking about what you want. It’s okay to take small steps in trying out different things to see what works best for you. Or even what works a little bit for you. I can also suggest that you make a list of everything you did in a day – you don’t have to list all of your grooming individually… but you know… if you did the dishes in the sink instead of leaving them there… or if you don’t wash your hair every day but you want to make a point of washing your hair every few days. When there is stress or depression in life, we do not always recognize that we have accomplished something. Virtual hugs! Keep exploring and figuring things out! It is an ongoing process.
I surround myself with people who are genuine friends. I have a group that I am a member of and although we party quite a lot, I stay with them because they support me have seen me grow from an awkward 20 year old into a woman who cares about others around her and works hard to do what she loves. I still continually collect the dearest friends because those are the ones who will be with you through thick and thin. Now keep in mind, these aren’t people who kiss up to you because they want something. They are people who really and truly care for you.
Wow 344 comments!! Amazing stories and amazing strength! Rally on!
“Do something today that your future self will thank you for”
Don’t know how Sean will keep track if it all 🙂
As an update to my resolutions, I had mentioned donating to my friend’s Hero Initiative fund. While I still want to do that, I found out a month after the fact (January 2nd) that said friend passed away in November. He passed after a 4 year battle with a rare form of spinal cancer and is one of my inspirations. He worked in the comics industry as an artist and was one of the people who helped me build back so much confidence that I lost in grade school. He was always supportive of my own artistic endeavors. This just strengthens my resolve to put money aside whenever possible to help.
Maybe it’s a bit late for this, but I still feel the need to write my new years resolutions on here, especially now that I realize that I’ve been lying to myself again/won’t stick to my own rules and aims again (and it’s just been 10 days since the new year started *sigh*) So maybe I really need to make this public on your blog, tell strangers about it and have them know and “promise” them to stick to my resolutions this time. Here are the things that I have achieved so far: Got through secondary school and got my A-Levels despite me being very ill and hardly ever going to school (and I got a solid B-C average, that’s absolutely okay. Could have been better brainwise, but it was physically impossible.) I pretty much fought my depression. No more crying all day, no more being sad and seeing the world as a dark and disgusting place, no more cutting, no more pills, no more medicine, no more Doctor talk and I feel fine. When a tv station wouldn’t pick me for training after being amongst the top 20 out of about 300 candidates (they only picked two out of those, so I didn’t do so bad, did I?) and I was left with no job/trainee position/university didn’t start yet I went to work at a grocery store, just to earn some money and help my mother with the household, just so I wouldn’t get payed by the government for doing absolutely nothing all day. A university accepted me despite my grades not being good enough and me not having enough experience, and now I am studying media engineering,. Somehow they still took me. I got my driving licence, and I payed half of it with my own money which I got from my job at the grocery store. (I’m still very proud of that, I’m “just” 20 and payed 600€ myself whereas all my other friends got all the money from their rich parents). I stopped eating white bread and too much flesh, I now refuse to eat instant food and fast food. I have never smoked in my life, never drank any hard stuff, never smoked, never took any drugs and I won’t ever do it and I stick to that rule. Now here are the things that I’m still doing wrong and what I would like to change about them this year. 1.) Get my sleeping habbits under control. No more sleeping every two days and no more sleeping for more than 10 hours. No more staying awake after 12pm. No more getting up later than 11am. 2.) Do sports again. I know it will be a lot of hard work and it will be painful and difficult, but I am also aware that I cannot run for 30 minutes straight on the first day. So I will try to do it slow and work harder every week, so my body and muscle can adjust to the sudden change. My muscles are literally pudding, and I’m all bones and wobbly out of shape ass and thighs. I need to get a more toned body because it looks better and it is healthier. 3) Gain weight/eat more & healthier. No more making it through the day with just two slices of bread/one small warm meal/ a banana. I need to do some research what’s good for my body, what I need, what it lacks because of me not eating enough. 4) Get up every morning, no matter how tired I am. I need to go to classes, be there as much as I can. Means less work/less revising for my finals. 5) No more excuses. “I lack experience”, “I lack knowledge” won’t get me anywhere. I know exactly that it is my fault that I lack that stuff. If I don’t go to classes than I can’t have the knowledge in my head. It’s not gonna implant itself in my head. I need to actually go there and do something to make it work. 6) No more pessimism/talking myself down. Yes, I know that I talk so low of myself just so others can’t do it and hurt my feelings, but all this pessimism and self hatred as become a serious issue. So maybe I am not as smart as others. So maybe they got more experience than me. So maybe they look better than me. So maybe they got “better” interests than me. But I need to stop thinking that everything I am, love, and do is bad and disgusting. That I have achieved nothing in my life. I got my A-Levels, university, my flat, my driving licence, my friends, my books, my videos, my art, my talent, my creativity. And so many people have -told- me that they’re -seriously- impressed by some of my artwork, that they think I am seriously talented and got a lot of potential. Not just friends and family, they don’t even really know about it because I talk it down in front of them. No. Strangers, officials, professors, other professionals, so many people have told me that I’ve got the potential if I just stopped being so lazy and made something out of myself. So this is my last point. 7) Stop being so lazy Susan. Stop pitying yourself. Stop saying “there is a problem” and cause the problem with it in the first place. Just stop, go out there. Do your job. Show everyone who you are and what you can do, stop torturing your own body with sleep and food deprivation. Kick 2013 in the balls and leave the past behind. And thank you Sean for giving me the opportunity/inspiring me to actually do this here!
In 2013 I resolve to become healthier and to finally get published. My weight has been a life-long struggle, and last year I found a program that helped me retrain my mind and body to what they really mean by portion control, and I lost 47 pounds. Then an injury sidelined my physical activity, and I lived with constant severe pain in my lower back, hip, and leg. Frustrated with the healthcare system I turned to food to feed my pain – thinking that food would help me feel better or make me happier. I went off my program, made poor food choices, increased my portion sizes, and gained back 20 of the pounds I worked so hard to lose in the first place. Although I’m still in pain (and pain meds of all kinds haven’t helped and surgery down the road may be the only answer), I have realized that those sweet rolls and pizza and ice cream weren’t helping the pain go away either and that I need to go back on program and make healthier food choices and eat the appropriate portions of those healthier foods. Since I went back on program, I’ve dropped a few and am already feeling better having flushed the crap out of my body. My goal is to get back to the weight I was last fall (lose those 20 pounds again) and then lose another 30 pounds beyond that by December 2013.
My other commitment is to my career. I am a new professor, and I have done a lot of research however I have not had anything published in a journal. I have only shared my research results in oral presentations at academic conferences. If I am going to further my career, I have to “publish or perish.” I am committing myself to submitting at least 3 articles to academic journals by December 2013. My field of study is management of sport, but I also look at gender issues in sports and media portrayals of athletes. So becoming healthier and more fit will help me further my career as well. I’m just hoping that my back issues will be resolved in 2013 so that I can get back to my favorite physical activities of walking my dog, playing golf, playing hockey or just skating on the ice.
I have struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember and while I am not as heavy as I was when I was 14 and people made fun of me in school because of it, I could stand to lose a few pounds. Therefore, in 2013, I have resolved to lose 10 pounds by not having seconds and to get up earlier, so I can get in a good long workout before work. It just so happens that my sister has the same goal and she asked me to help her out with it, by going with her to a Fit Body Boot Camp class a few times a week. I agreed to help and we start our first class tonight. I am looking forward to helping her achieve her goal, while I am working on mine. I will report our progress as we go. BTW, the people that made fun of me in school for being overweight are overweight themselves. I just had my 20th class reunion and some people were so big, I didn’t even recognize them! It is just funny how things turn out!
Hello everyone and Sean,
I stumbled upon this page quite randomly and found myself reading all of the blogs and comments soon after. In my life I have struggled with addiction for so long. A slave to a substance, a fear that you cannot live without it, nor would want to. I came to this page today on my 10th day sober. I’m starting to feel better physically, but mentally I feel erratic and unstable at times. I’m a victim of my own poor decisions, and it’s hard to realize that no one else is to blame but yourself. However, I found a great deal of hope and determination in everyone’s words here. I feel a strength well inside me that just needed a bit of channeling and focus. Thank you Sean for being candid and forthright in your convictions. I will do my best to shine 🙂
My overall resolution for 2013 is to live a healthier lifestyle, and although there’s no way to accomplish this overnight, I have a series of baby steps in place. The biggest goal is to kick the nicotine habit – for good. I’ve had an on-again, off-again cigarette habit for the better part of 20 years, but I’m cutting back and hope to be completely smoke-free by the end of February. I know once I kick that habit, my food intake will increase, and I’m actually ok with that. I’m going to reduce sweets & sodas (none 6 days a week, and minimal intake on a designated “cheat/reward” day), and limit caffeine to one cup of coffee per day. Making and sticking to a regular eating schedule will help with this, and I’ll actually need to increase my calorie and protein intake once I begin a regular exercise routine. I’m already at a weight and size I’m happy with (5’4″, 125lbs) but I would like to give that tiny bit of “squishy” a little more tone. Since high-impact workouts are out of the question (My third c-section never quite healed correctly. I have severe pain and a very real fear of the incision tearing when my abs are strained.) I will be looking into yoga and Pilates routines three times per week.
The last, and probably my most personal goal for 2013: keep writing. Not get published. Not finish a project. Just…keep writing, a little bit each day, even if it’s “just” blogs, fan fiction or fantastically horrible poetry, and the rest will fall into place.
Saw Sean’s blog a few days ago, and I have been thinking of what to say for my story. I will be 50 July 23,2013. And all of a sudden it hit me. I am middle aged. My mind does not feel it but my body does. I have started my bucket list and gonna do everything on it, adding to it daily. But the bucket list will be for another blog later. But I will say meeting Sean and Norman at the Nashville Con in March 2013 will mark two things off that list.
But to be honest, I don’t want to go over my entire life, that brought me to the point I am at in my life now. It is my past. And to be honest as awful , hurtful, painful, happy, joyous etc my past was I would not change much, {just a quickie , some of the bad stuff was sexual abuse when I was 6, sexual abuse as an adult, physical abuse , mental abuse, drug and alcohol abuse. self abuse they call it cutting these days.semi homeless after my 1st divorce.} By going thur all that has gotten me to where I am today. {well I would like to cut out the Diabetes and being over weight and the back troubles. and sexual abuse. LoL} That past helped me grow to be a stronger person, and without going that route, I would not have two wonderful sons, Troy 29, his wife Amanda, and Tony 27, and his partner Dallas. Yes my younger son is Gay. I will say now anyone that has an issue with it, don’t bother to talk to me. And some life long friends, who I dearly love. Last but not least, my wonderful husband Scott who loves me for all my faults. He is my 3rd husband. And younger then me. I am 49 he is 32. I am also a Pagan {Wiccan} I believe in Gods, and Goddesses. My spirituality is very nature based. I believe what spiritual path that each person follows is very special to them and should be respected. What fills a persons sole is what counts. I may say Blessed Be or Bright Blessings ,and send healing energy to people. But that does not make me a bad person. I am at one with the Gods and Goddesses.
We quit smoking cold turkey 2 years and 7 months ago. June 1 ,2013 will be 3 years. We set a date, and smoked all we wanted , then on May 31, we smoked till we were sick. {During the time leading up to the quit day, we started to take note of why we lit up, and tried to note of all the habit smoking, IE: Driving , talking on the phone, sitting at the computer, after eating, after sex.
etc. So each time we went for a smoke it was do I really want this or is it just a habit.
So we did it. But I will say, I will not say I am quit for the rest of my life. I am a very goal type person. So my goal for not smoking is each day I get up , I say , I will not smoke today. There are some days , I want to smoke so bad, but I tell my self I can do it. Day by Day.
So just a quick review of some stuff, I am diabetic,diagnosed at 30 but I feel I had it long before that. I feel if I had not been so loyal to my doctor for 3 years my diabetics would not be as bad now, he kept telling me fasting sugars of 250 is not that bad. I finally realized I needed to educate my self about diabetes, and found a new doctor. But by then the damage had been done. I have several health issues that come with it. Neck and back trouble,Car accident I have fused vertabrey in my neck. And Osteophyte’s on my neck and back..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteophyte }Hypothyroid, which after years, found out I was on the wrong type of med, I was taking generic thyroid, and found out that I needed to be on Synthroid. generic was not regulated like Synthroid, I am up to 400 mcg of it. So needless to say with the bad thyroid, and being insulin resistant {I am on a pump and take 88 to 150 units a day} my weight has gone way off course. And depression. I gained steady weight since I turned 30. At my worst ugh hate to say it I was at 256. I am now at 240. Have no idea how I lost 16 lbs. Prolly water weight. LOL. This will sound strange but I am not a food alcoholic who eats like nuts. Since I am diabetic I have to follow that type of diet. But my splurges are kinda not to good, I love bread, cheese and sauces, salad dressing. I got over the sugar / sweet thing early on in my diabetes. But the weight just won’t go way. I hope changing my meds and more exercise that will help the pounds come off. And increase my metobolisim. And with the insulin resistance, that is a big killer. I need the insulin to live but it causes weight gain. Along with some of my other meds. So it is a double edge sword. And my chronic pain. Makes me not want to exercise as much as I should. I hurt all the time, sometimes more then others. sI have let the pain slow me down. It is gonna be there no mater what I do. So pretty much I need to kick something in my life up a notch, to get over this hurdle. I say I want to live to be 101. I say that because when I make it to 100, I don’t want to turn around and croak on my 100 th birthday blowing out my candles. LOL. But to make it that far the next half of my life my body can not take the abuse it has gone thur the past 49 years.
I do not work out side the home, but I am a full time care giver for my hubby’s grandma. And that is hard and stressful in itself. And some days by the time I am done tending to her needs, hubby, who works 6 nites a week 12 hour niteshift. Taking care of house hold chores and our three fur babies. I am wore out. And staying up half the nite to watch the Grandma, she wonders in her sleep. My sleep time is not to good. I put everyone first I always have. But in 2013 I resolve to put my health first. Then everyone and everything else next. I can’t take care of everyone if I am not healthy.
So I am saying to you all and Sean. This is the first day of the rest of my life. I resolve to in 2013 : to be strong, healthy, {body, mind, and soul }, enjoy the second half of my life. Lose at least 20 lbs {hopefully more} exercise more, eat healthier make sure I get some ME time each day. Be more positive in all things I do. Not sure if this is what I was supposed to say as my story. But it is me. And I usually don’t open up like this when I first meet people. I am very shy, till you get to know me. I am on Twitter @Nyterisa if anyone wants to follow me, I will follow back.
Good luck to everyone on the path and goals you all are trying to reach.
Thank you Sean, this is really awesome of you to have this blog and support for people. Looking forward to meeting you in March and when I meet you would love to give you a big hug.
Shine on ,
Bright Blessings to all,
Tami R.
Yes Im working on my weight, lost 25 lbs and still going. The things I need to change are where you cant see, inside! Guess you can say I have Step-Daddy Issues. I was literally treated as a red headed stepchild. He kept me a prisoner in our house all my teen yrs and never really could have friends w/o being investigated. I was accused of everything in the book and called many names. So I developed a passion for music early on to cope..I left when I was 17 and never really found out WHY. I have trust issues and if it wasnt for one dear friend all those yrs ago, I would be screwed up more than I am. Glory be to some great classic rock for keeping me sane. So I promise to give people a chance before jumping to conclusions that they are lieing to git what they want from me and quit reading the room before entering..There might just be something worth walking in there for!
Hi Sean and everybody! I came upon this blog not too long ago after stumbling around the Sean Patrick Flanery tag on Tumblr, and I have to say I love it. The posts are all very inspirational and have made me think about ways I can improve my life. That said, here’s the deal with me. My name is Laura (people on the wide world of the Interwebs call me Yume, short for YumeSupernova), and I’m a 24-year-old college graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. I did not have very healthy habits during college; the most exercise I got was either in my one university-required P.E. class or while walking from my dorm to classes, I’d eat unhealthy things or skip meals, and I got little sleep. After my graduation about a year ago, I hoped to be able to get a job in illustration (operative word here is “hoped”, and even during school, I had a tendency to half-ass things). Nothing has come of that yet, and my art has actually gotten worse in the time since I graduated.
I did manage to get a job in May working at a local factory, and from the time I started working there up until now, I have lost 10 pounds; I went from 165lbs. to 155lbs. I would like to continue this progress and lose another ten by July 25 (my birthday). I know that with better eating habits and more physical activity, I can get there!
As for my artistic pursuits… I know some people mentioned online roleplaying in previous comments, and I must say that I do it a lot, along with tabletop roleplaying games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons and RandomAnime (I’ve played and game mastered campaigns). It has helped me a lot with my writing and storytelling, which is one thing I’d like to do in the future. I have a fictional universe that’s been rattling around in my head for goodness knows how many years, and I plan to have the setting fleshed out – locations drawn up, characters created, a brief history written out – so that I can start writing stories for it in November. I’ve always wanted to do NaNoWriMo, and I think this will be perfect way to get started.
I am @yumesupernova on Twitter, and I’ll be happy to follow you! Let’s achieve our goals together!
So..I have an update! I am now 11 days smoke free! Haven’t gained any weight since quitting and I am walking a mile and a half everyday. I just wanted to say thank you Sean for being a truly inspirational human being.
I stumbled upon this website this morning, and I can’t explain why but I decided to look into it more in depth. I’m a true believer in things happen for a reason, and I think I found this today because that’s what was meant to be.
Even though I have accounts with Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr and I follow a few people (including Sean), I never post anything because I’m an incredibly private person. But over Christmas break (I’m a special education teacher for students with moderate and severe disabilities) I came to some life changing decisions, and I have made a commitment to make some changes for the better. Then finding this site… it seems the perfect place to open up a little.
Wow! I can hardly believe I’m actually doing this but here goes….
I have three sons ages 22 to 28. My middle child’s name is Justin and he has severe cerebral palsy and multiple medical issues and requires care 24/7. I’ve been a single mother since my youngest was only 1. Over the years this has led to a tremendous amount of stress and strain both mentally and physically. My head’s in a pretty good place, and for the most part, it always has been. But being a teacher requires a lot of time, and then I come home and care for my son. That doesn’t leave much time to care for myself. I’ve reached that age when my muscles and stamina are starting to need extra work to maintain status quo…meaning I’m going to have to work more at it. Taking time for myself has never been something I was good at.
I’ve known a couple of situations where parents haven’t been able to care for their children, requiring the difficult decision to move them into a long term care facility. Over Christmas break, I looked at Justin, and I thought of those 20 year olds having to be cared for in a facility, and I realized, I want to be able to care for him as long as I possibly can here at home, but I’m not a spring chicken any more so I’d better get my behind in gear and do something about it.
I need to work on rebuilding my muscles (my core muscles have been crap since multiple abdominal surgeries in my 20’s); my shoulders, arms and back are weaker and strained due to constant lifting in my job and at home of 150-175 lb men; and I need to lose about 30 pounds. In the past, I’ve made efforts like this, but I’ve kept them to myself. This time, I’ve told a couple of close friends what I’m doing, and I spoke with my son’s physical therapist who is helping me out by providing some exercises to work on for the core and arms (he was going to hold me accountable for doing them), and now it seems, I’m posting this in order to “proclaim it publicly”. If that’s not asking for a reason for being accountable, I don’t know what is!
So I declare here and now that by Christmas break 2013, I will be able to look at my son and know that I have improved my muscle strength, lost my extra pounds, and will be able to care for him for several more years to come, so long as God sees fit to keep me here on this Earth.
Beautiful. God bless.
So I guess this is my version of an ‘update’, not much has happened other than me waiting for school to start again (which it does tomorrow morning! YAY!) and I have Dr. appointments to get new medicine to help with my depression and won’t cause me to gain tons of weight, and I will start my exercise routine again tomorrow evening (tuition includes a full gym access) I might wait for the weather to warm up to start swimming, but with all of my birth defects, finding cardio workout that is low impact on my knees is super hard. and that’s it really… not much of an update but its what I’ve got!!
~beKKa~
I needed to post on here, though I wasn’t sure which blog it should go on. I needed to get this out of my head, because for approximately six hours or so now, I’ve been driving myself crazy over it. This is the one place I know that has a whole herd of fantastic people who are striving for the same thing as me: Reaching toward their goals, and making themselves a better person. I decided to come here, asking for some guidance and reaching out for honesty, from either Sean himself or one of you very intelligent people who read these posts.
I posted on here before, telling people about my goals. One of the main goals I’m working on — just giving a brief backstory here in case you missed it — is my self-esteem issues, that have seemed to worsen over the years. My self-esteem has caused me to suffer from social anxiety and to not want to participate in activities that involve being, you guessed it, social. I can’t explain why I feel the way I do, but I know that it’s real and it’s there. Today I took my first big step in working toward my goals. I purchased two books: One that is a journal that you write in, to help you write through your self-esteem issues and get it all out. It’s a 10-week program. The other is a similar book, about writing out your feelings (I AM a writer), but also offers a helpful hand to guide you through the process of learning to live every day with a clearer head and a greater understanding of who you are. I was super excited about this. I felt like I was taking the first major step in bettering myself. The biggest mistake I made was telling people about said purchases. Huge mistake. Since I’m not one to openly discuss my self-esteem issues, someone was rather surprised when I showed them the book. “Why did you buy THAT?!” Someone asked me, incredulous. I briefly explained to them my reasoning, and they let it go. But that wasn’t the end.
Later on, we got into a deeper discussion of it, when I was telling another person about the books I bought. That same person who asked me earlier why I bought it, spoke up again. “Yeah, that I don’t get. Why do you have self-esteem issues? You’re pretty, you have a nice figure…” Before she could finish, I said, “It’s not about my appearance, necessarily. It’s everything.” Then we got into a much deeper discussion about it. And this is what’s been bothering me.
Because I’ve always struggled with self-esteem, I tend to believe someone whenever they have something negative to say about me. If someone thinks that way about me, then it must be true. In the midst of the discussion, this person proceeded to tell me what’s wrong with ME. Why I think the way I do, and what’s wrong with my thinking. But you see, when someone already sees themselves in a hideously negative light, their so-called reassuring you-just-need-to-stop-thinking-about-it nonsense just magnifies the issues. She said this: “You know what your problem is? You think too much. Just stop. Just don’t think about it. Just don’t. It’s ridiculous.” I explained that it’s not that simple. You can’t just shut it off. She replied with, “Yes. You can. You’re just self-centered. You’re always thinking about yourself, and your issues. You should start doing things for other people.”
Here’s the thing. I’m not by any means saying I’m the nicest person on Earth, but I don’t consider myself to be particularly selfish. I am ALWAYS there for my friends, my family, whenever I can. I listen when they need to talk, and I give my utmost to my relationships. I care deeply for those I love, more than I could ever care about myself. I put everyone I care about first in my life. Claiming that I’m self-centered struck me pretty hard. I don’t understand why wanting to have a better understanding of who you are, and to be meticulous about preparing your future makes you selfish.
After lecturing me for a good hour about what I need to do, and “not just buy stupid books that are not going to help you,” I felt pretty speechless. I didn’t know what to say. I still don’t. Is she right, or is she wrong? Is that my problem? That I don’t have low self-esteem, I just think too much about myself? See, even now, I’m going over everything in my head, because emotionally and mentally I’m not strong enough to handle this kind of tough-love attitude. Somehow, I don’t handle being called self-centered too well. It doesn’t go down so easily.
“It also seems like an act of self-pity.”
“I’m not feeling sorry for myself.”
“But in a way, you are. You’re so busy thinking about yourself.”
And that’s what gets me. SHE’S RIGHT. I have been thinking about myself, about my goals, about what I want to do for myself to prepare for my future. I’ll be 19 years old in March, and I’m scared that if I continue down the path I’m on now, of mental self-destruction and social anxiety, I’m never going to get ANYWHERE. I’m terrified I’m going to spend the rest of my life feeling like I’m watching everyone else from the outside looking in. Sometimes I feel like I’m sleepwalking through everything. I want so much better for myself.
But here’s my questions, now that I rambled! How on Earth do you guys handle negativity, when people thrash it in your direction? I’m sure at least one of you had to have been told off in regards to your goals. How do you handle this?
And secondly, are they right? Do you think that’s really my problem? On one hand, I think they’re right and that’s just the slap in the face I needed to get over myself. That I have been very self-centered, and I need to start spending more time thinking of others. And then on the other hand, I think that although they’re right, that maybe they should’ve presented their speech with a little more… kindness and understanding.
Regardless, I’m pretty bummed out now. I feel like returning those books. The excitement I had a few hours ago has long been gone now. They feel worthless. After listening for an hour about how books won’t help me (although they have in the past), they feel…tainted, almost. I just feel so incredibly guilty for being selfish.
Disclaimer: I realize so many of you have SUCH bigger problems than mine. Please know that my heart goes out to each and every one of you who are struggling with the loss of loved ones, or any other traumatic experience you may be paddling through. I would never, ever assume that I have it worse than others. I’m grateful for my good family and friends, and all of the many blessings in my life. This isn’t about hating my life. It’s about wanting to be happier with who I am, so I have the courage and confidence to work toward my real goals. I know who I want to be, and I think I can get there, but I need to know if I’m doing it all wrong. I need to know if I am TOO self-focused. If I just need to STOP THINKING.
(I realize the irony of this post, since I just rambled on about myself for several paragraphs, which in hindsight, is coming off pretty self-focused. My apologies.)
After all of that, I went up in my room and sat there, and thought, “I’d give anything to talk to Sean about this. He would know what to say. He’d tell me straight-up if I’m being too self-absorbed, or if my way of thinking isn’t irrational.” I come to you, Sean, and everyone on this website, for a little guidance. Please. Let me know what you think.
XO.
Carrie,
First off, you’re 18. You SHOULD be thinking about yourself! You’re at that point in your life where you have to make decisions for your future. I re-read your original post and I’m wondering if you’ve talked to anyone about what you’re feeling…you’re parents, siblings, church leader? Don’t take back the books you bought. If they make you feel better then use them! It’s probably one of the hardest things to do, but what all of us on this site need to do is to stop caring what people think. Tailoring yourself around what others think you should be or do or become is not living. My whole life I’ve listened and believed comments from everyone. Some stuff really sticks with you. Are they correct? Does it matter? Who cares? I’m now 38 and because of this site I’ve FINALLY taken control. I look back and have SO many regrets that it blows. There’s always that “what if” aspect of my/our past. If I really did follow my dreams dispite what others laughed at, where would I be now? Keep writing, Carrie. No one can take that away from you. Also, I work at a church. Sometimes that’s the best place to start. For all of us. Everyone here is on this site for a reason. Let’s do it! Take control and love ourselves. We were given the greatest gift. Let’s not waste it. We are all beautiful. We were made different for a reason. Use it.
@liane810
Just know that you’ve arrived at the point of self analyzation (and sometimes OVER-self-analyzation) at exactly the same time that most people do. You’re in good company.
LIANE- I already personally thanked you on Twitter for this response, but I wanted to thank you AGAIN through here. Your response was exactly the reassurance I needed. I appreciate your reply more than you know.
SEAN- Thank you! I was actually nervous to read your reply, seeing as I wasn’t sure if I had been entirely wrong to invest so much time in trying to, more or less, discover who I am and what will make me happy. I feared that person was right in saying that I was just merely being self-absorbed. I appreciate your reassuring comment more than words can express. I have never been more motivated to prepare for my future than I have been ever since I started being active on this website. I admire you so much; I don’t believe I have the space or vocabulary to sum it all up in this little box here. I’ve scribbled some of your quotes down on my calendar as a reminder of what I’m working toward, and I look at it every morning when I wake up and every night before I go to sleep. I truly believe my future is so much brighter thanks to your encouragement. You are so inspirational, and you’re so selfless for taking the time out to reach out to your fans. You are truly making a difference in the lives of so many. I only hope some day I will be gifted with the opportunity to thank you in person. I genuinely and wholeheartedly think the world of you. Thank you.
Been thinking bout what to say for awhile- did a public proclamation back in July or August- I was on track till October but I lost a fur child that I had for a long time and had to grieve. I did good tho- instead of bags of goodies for Halloween- I didn’t have bags- a piece here and there. Tried to get back on track and it was the start of the holiday season- I watched what I ate and joined a gym. December I slacked off again cause of the craziness of the season- sounds like a bunch of excuses- But I tried to keep everything in moderation. I try to get my butt to the gym everyday when I am not bowling or sick or have any other obligations. I am trying to get back in the saddle and stay there. I am determined. I’m so over it. Plus, when I workout it helps w/ my sore back and knees.
I am going to lose 5 pounds and eat healthier, I am going to do at least three random acts of kindness each day, I am going to quit worrying about things and live more, I am going to make a list of goals having to do with my career and get at least half of them done this year, I am going to take more risks and if I feel my heart going a different way, truly, honestly follow it and not look back.
Hello everyone,
I want to write down both the things I have already changed and the ones I work on changing. I’m not a native english speaker, though, so I hope it won’t sound too confusing.
In October 2008 (I was 20 back then) I weighed about 154 kilos / ~ 340 lbs, struggling both with the physical and psychological effects from this being overweight and I even became depressed, constant fights with my sister, with whom I lived back then, did not help, either. Being the person I was back then, I didn’t even care that much, not about myself (actually I didn’t quite realize how far off I was), not about university, about nothing. It was due to a friend, that I understood I needed to change because one day at a party he took me aside and told me that he and my other friends and even his parents were worried for me like in worried for my life and he begged me to finally do something about my health because they did not want to lose me at such a young age. It was then it hit me: They were right, I could not continue living like this. The next day I went to see a doctor to get help and soon I got the confirmation: the next month I could take my first steps in a psychosomatic clinic. Few days before I departed, my sister told me we were giving up our flat as she was moving in with a friend of hers, which left me to find somewhere else to stay and I found a little room in a flatshare before I finally departed to the clinic. With sports and some healthier choices when it came to eating I lost my first ten kilos / 22 lbs during the six weeks I was there, and when I returned home in december, I could start anew.
Today, many years later, I still live in my little room with the best flatmates I could have found and I have lost a total of 50 kilos / 110 lbs. I’m a more motivated and even more dedicated person now, to myself, to my life and also to my duties. From a nearly dropout I’ve managed to become one of the top-students of my year.
Of course, it isn’t always that rosy and there are still days I just wonder, ‘why am I even doing this?’ or ‘I just won’t make it anyway, so why bother?’ And I have to say, ever since I discovered this site here, it keeps on reminding me of what I have to do.
Anyway, there are still things I need to keep on working at to improve myself. In 2013, I want to lose another 14 kilo / 30.8 lbs – more is appreciated, but that’s the goal for now. I want to improve my overall fitness and switch from elliptical trainer to running outside as soon as I’m able to do 30 minutes straight on the elliptical every time instead of every now and again. I also vow to stick to my exercise regime which includes at least 10 minutes on the elliptical + 15 minutes of further training five days a week. In October 2013, after moving, I will take up a martial art that suits me. I will no longer buy large quantities of sweets for get-togethers with friends, instead I’ll provide me and them with healthier alternatives than soda, crisps and chocolate and I will even try to learn to eat at least one or two sorts of fruit and vegetables each this year (currently I eat none of either). I will work harder for university so I can be proud of my degree when I’ll finish in autumn.
The last thing I vow is to get back on stage after I had refrained from doing so for many years now, too ashamed to show myself. I will find a choir to sing in and I will find the right theatre group to act with so that I will be prepared to audition for an admission to a second degree as actress in 2014.
I’m a bit late to the party, but I’m here! I’ve already started my commitment, but I am going to stick with it. I am getting this excess weight off for good. I meet regularly with a dietitian to help me stay on course and I have monthly rechecks with my doctor. I have a walking/jogging group with some friends, and some day we’ll hopefully be a running group! I always kept my diets and whatnot a secret cuz I always knew in the back of my mind that I’d fail. I knew it was time to get other people involved because I clearly did not have the willpower to stick with anything on my own. I decided to stop hiding behind and take charge of it. So far, so great! My doctor is happy and, more importantly, I am happy. Thanks for kicking me in the butt and opening my eyes! I met you at a con last year and I hope to meet you again some day so you can see how well I’m doing and what a difference you’ve already made in my life.
Well…. I did it!!! I’ve stopped smoking!!! 🙂 And well before my Birthday. I stopped for many reasons. My mom is #1 ♥ She has been diagnosed with cancer again, this time in her lung so it’s a bad deal. I’m done with it. I’ll never smoke again. Thanks for helping in the motivation.
Jessica
Ok, here goes… Sean, I promise that 2013 fer me WILL BE MY YEAR !!
In which I WILL NO LONGER LET My Past Run MY LIFE !!!
In my 28 years I have been unkind to myself in so many ways. May 5, 2012 I quit my job, bought a one way ticket to Detroit from western Canada, and reclaimed my life. I lived with my best friend and gave all control of my eating and getting off the couch over to her. Before I left, I hadn’t told anyone that I was having daily blood-sugar crashes…if this didn’t work, I was in big trouble. So, I paid attention, made changes, and explored a city that stole my heart. I came home a completely different person – lighter and happier.
I am learning to love myself because I know I’m great, not because someone else says so. I am educating myself in all things that interest me, cultivating positive relationships, and evaluating what exactly it is that I want in life. I’m coming to terms with the scars from my past that have kept me from a future…which is much more difficult than having another drink or eating ice cream out of the container.
I believe in promises. But I have always been afraid to make one that I wasn’t positive I could keep. So, SPF, I’m taking a leap in the right direction with some inspiration from your words, and am going to challenge myself in 2013.
1) I resolve to not consume processed sugar. It simply will not happen this year. Fake sugar isn’t even on my radar.
2) I resolve to complete the work out plan my roommate and I developed together for me, each week, without fail. I am fortunate that he is a former professional athlete and I do not have the right to waste this opportunity to make my body healthier and stronger.
3) I resolve to not be upset that ** is no longer a part of my life. I deserve better. The end.
4) I resolve to never have a cigarette again. Not even the one a year I allowed myself to “get through something”. My health is worth more than anyone else.
5) I resolve to actively engage in a hobby I enjoy once a week.
Looking forward to positive progress to report when I go see you in Calgary in April. Thank you for creating all of this.
x
Lindsay
My three week update, I’ve quit coffee. This habit was costing me approximately $300 a month. The cost was insane but coffee controlled my day. Before I did anything in the morning I would run to the drive thru. When we go to the cottage in the summer my partner drives 40 minutes each way to bring me the crack in a cup. Me without coffee must not be too sweet for him to volunteer to go. I’ve also started to drink water, bleck. I hate water, oops… I mean I am learning to love water (power of words). During the last 3 weeks hasn’t been easy, I started to walk on a treadmill. However, I wouldn’t be going long and my heart rate would go super high. My thinking the object is to get your heart rate up to burn fat, heck I should be burning fat just by breathing.
Ended up consulting my Doctor, who’s taken a range of reading and I am now on blood pressure medication and scheduled for a stress test. I’ve been healthy my whole life my last RX was in 2001 so the thought of taking pills for the rest of my life unsettling. While this is going to slow my weight loss progress, I still plan on walking, just slower and shorter times until the stress test. I am down 8lbs. Thanks Sean, your blog made me take action. Until next time.
Hi Sean, I’m impressed. When did you get so wise? 😉
I like that you are making us commit.
1. First resolution is to get on the site notification thingy as I missed this one and am late to the party. That one should be nice and easy.
2. I’ve had my fitness machine for a week now and already my jeans aren’t feeling so snug. I go more by how my jeans fit than the number on a scale. But to quantify 15lbs by June 1st would be ideal as my goal is to continue being fit and healthy for my 4 kids. I will do my best to significantly reduce chocolate and other sweet stuff which can only help.
3. The biggie – By my birthday in September I will have a completed screenplay. I have so many stories in my head and I need to actually do something about it for a sense of self accomplishment after so many backseat years raising kids. I have been labeling myself as a procrastinator but I’ve realized that in reality I have been educating myself for the past year reading lots of industry books. Doesn’t mean I’m still not a procrastinator though!
PS I have something of yours, maybe two. Remember your 21st birthday present from your Dad? Well somehow the book that came with it ended up with my husband. We’ve moved around a bit but I’m sure it’s still in a box somewhere. We never get rid of anything. Maybe that should be on the resolution list too.
I’m going to take losing weight seriously this year. I’m 366 lbs as of today. I have decided to take baby steps toward achieving my goal. I have already eliminated most sodas from my diet. I am limiting myself to two sugary drinks per day. This is down from anywhere from 6-10 each day. At the end of the week I will be rejoining the gym and doing toning/cardio. All the while I’ll be slowly reducing caloric intake. My first weight loss goal will be getting into an Iron Maiden soccer jersey I have. Once I meet a goal I will then create a new goal. I am even thinking of creating a blog to track my weight loss. Whether I do or not, I will be reporting over Twitter. Hopefully by putting my goals and achievements/stepbacks it will keep me more in line.
The list… To be frank, I’m a “Lister”, a person who writes lists… I guess they’re kinda my Letter-To-Me; and ever since my high school lit teacher said, “As a society, it appears we’ve lost the art of letter-writing,” well, I’ve been striving to keep the art alive. That, and I’m a stress-case; Lists help me keep it all in perspective.
OH, the point… I’m currently committed to one very long, very comely and desirable crumply generic-looking legal-sized page full of 100 nothing-even-remotely-generic bullet points – my Bucket List. I wrote it in the tailwinds of a miserable divorce, which was followed by a period of self-awareness, even self-administered-self-help… I started walking, eating well, breathing in my gut, no longer in my chest, feeling like I was a thing without boundaries or constraints… I started writing the list, standing straighter, discovering my depths and confronting my weaknesses. I wrote the list. I met me…
I wrote my list some four years ago, Sean. I committed to the woman I met in that moment. I became healthy – my mind and my body became better tuned, and these four years have been an exercise in proving my commitment to myself! The size doesn’t matter, really – it’s my strength that I admire. Indeed, I went from a size 12 to a 2/4 and I have stayed there for four years. But it’s the mental and emotional fitness that keeps me focused on this lifestyle.
As for the list – at the very moment you posted this blog, I was crossing #73 off my List. And in doing so, I’ve had an epiphany.
So much buries us, keeps us harried, keeps our brows furrowed and our minds waylaid; so many stresses and mind-weights keep us feeling powerless and drowning and wondering if and when and damn that half-empty glass… Working, supporting my son, the volunteering and the charities, the family commitments that they simply never feel have sufficed, friendships to maintain, bills to pay, chores, driving, creeps, villains and girl scouts peddling cookies!
Four years ago, I made a pretty superficial commitment to myself to take care of my heart, to cherish my mind, to love my body… As I’ve come to realize, it was a halfhearted promise, as I never had fully adhered to or even comprehended what that might entail. At the very moment – Very Moment – you posted this blog entry, I sat at a table in Sevilla, Credence playing behind me, writing an amendment to my List – an amendment it seems (based on the number of folks who gave the old thumbs-up on that silly old Facebook) we may all need a little bit of in order truly begin to live:
“2013 I resolve to: Not be angry, Not take things personally – to cherish the time I have with me!! To accept that it’s OK to be happy – I don’t need to feel guilty!! I will clear more off my Bucket List… without guilt!!”
I posted that resolution up there on Facebook, noting that in posting it for all to see, it’s a promise I can’t break! So, there it is… I’ve “testified”… ‘Suppose time will tell. But I’m pretty hopeful!
Shining Longer than You Suggested,
Torrey Stepp
Very nice!! Although “time” will not tell anything. YOU will. I have faith in you.
Eegads, well ya got me there.
Never really realized how self-defeating that whole “time will tell” idiom truly is. I suppose so many of them – figures of speech, alibis & excuses, loopholes – are, consequently. But that’s the crux of all this isn’t it; as we negate the culture of excuses, immediate gratification and indulgence and gravitate toward a praxis built upon the tenets of personal responsibility, self-governing and self-reliance the closer we are to attaining inner peace… And that’s the key to it all.
I just posted my proclamation about 1 1/2 weeks ago to increase my strength so that I can care for my adult disabled son as long as possible so I have no real updates to share yet. I did want to say that I’ve had the chance to read all the posts here, and you all have touched my heart. I’ve always been a really good listener, but I’ve never really felt comfortable giving advice, so even if I don’t reply much, please know you are all in my prayers.
Over the past 25 years, I’ve learned to have a positive attitude because I’ve almost lost my son due to his heart/lung medical issues many more times than I want to remember. (He had two episodes just last year where he almost drown from coughing up blood, so losing him is a constant possibility.) I’ve had to keep positive to make sure he had a strong mother to lean on. Since his father wasn’t around, it was up to me to help him through it all. To help with my attitude, I’ve looked for inspiration from others. This blog is incredible, and I’m very thankful I found it! Thank you to all who post and to Sean for putting it out there!
At work Friday we had a motivational speaker, Rick “Coach” Weinheimer, who left us with some awesome tidbits, and I wanted to share one with the group here. One of his athletes, Ryan Hutton, once asked him “It’s a great day to get better; now, how are we going to do it?” This is definitely one that I’m going to write out and put on my mirror so I can see it every morning!
Tammy! Thank you for sharing that – both your experiences and the advice you’ve passed on to us.
May I be so bold as to offer you a nugget? I mentioned in my post (just above yours) that I had been through a trying divorce… It was worse than trying – not nearly as difficult as the circumstances you must be facing day-to-day, but enough so that I was an absolute mess! Beaten, abandoned and lost! That’s when self-health and acquiring inner peace became my own primary objective. So, that said, may I offer this little practice I’ve engaged and embraced ever since:
Everyday, find and acknowledge one perfect moment… They come, but so often we don’t acknowledge them – laying in the grass with my pooch by my side, Hemingway in hand and the sun shining above… That split second when everything gets quiet and you hear, oh so perfectly the rustle of the wind in the leaves… A brief moment when your favorite song comes on and you sing out loud, you just don’t care if anyone hears or sees, and the grin spreading like wildfire across your face as you dance – whilst pushing the shopping cart at the grocery store… The feeling when a stranger opens a door for you or tells you a silly joke while you wait in line at the dry cleaner, and it feels so incredible to feel so alive that you want to do the same for the next person YOU see…
Perfect moments happen all the time, just acknowledge it daily, and spend a second completely devoured by it. Allow yourself to have that!
And stay amazing!
Torrey,
Thanks for the nugget. I’m truly impressed that you’ve managed to create a bucket list and are marking things off. I’ve never allowed myself to create one simply because of having to care for my son. He’s been my life for so long that I’ve not really taken time to think of a life where I’m able to do much but care for him. Don’t get me wrong! I don’t blame him for that; it’s just that this is the life I’ve been given by God for some reason, and I’m going to do the best I can to fulfill whatever purpose He has for me. I’ve thought about a bucket list, but it’s just completely impractical for me because the things I want to do aren’t compatible with my life.
As for finding a perfect moment every day….That’s definitely something I don’t do often enough. It seems I’m always rushing, always busy. Teaching special education is a constant keep you on your toes job with all the behaviors, problems, lessons, paperwork, and staff management, and then after work, I’m hurrying to get a few errands done before I get home to relieve my son’s nurse.
I definitely need to slow down a bit each day and allow more of it all to soak in. It’s hard to tell what all I’m actually missing! Thanks. for the advice.
ahhhhhhhhhhh, yes… while I wasn’t a Special Ed teacher, I taught high school English (freshman… argh) and my son was a part of the ED program for a number of years before mainstreaming. I truly do understand that element and the stresses. But I still contend that a Bucket List is doable! Not all of the items on my list are of the caliber of #73, “watch flamenco dancers twirl in flashing colors to the clap of their hands and the pluck strings on an old wood guitar on a cobble-stoned street in Southern Spain.” Those ones seem a million miles away, I know. They seemed a long shot for me when I wrote the list, too. But many of the bullet-points aren’t so far-fetched: #26 – see all my nieces and nephews graduate from college; #34 – teach my son to successfully make all the mother sauces (cooking is a passion, my mom was a chef and I grew up in kitchens); #44 – learn to forgive myself; #46 – volunteer in the aftermath of a major natural disaster; #50 – learn to be comfortable in my own skin; #53 – strive daily to help a stranger find their smile; #74 – learn to tango! Tammy, Bucket Lists are not just about the places we want to go and the things we want to do, but they’re also about the journey within. You have an immense and emotionally trying journey, the sort reserved for only those that the good Lord sees fits. I’ll tell ya, that divorce I talked about, well… ok, I was attacked, assaulted while asleep in my bed by the brother of my former husband and the ex decided it would be a grand tragedy for his brother to suffer legal consequences. In the end, he sided with his brother and refused to offer testimony, told me it was my fault, the whole rigmarole, and suddenly 12-years of marriage came to a screeching halt. I ended up losing everything – marriage, house, dog… At the time of the assault, my friend’s 15-year old daughter was in the next room. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve told myself – if it had to be someone, I’m glad it was me. I’ve moved forward, garnered the lesson intended for me, and each day I praise happiness and the practice of living! I believe that God gives us the life, the purpose, the obstacles He knows we can handle! Must mean that He believes in me – sometimes more than I believe in myself! In the end, Tammy, WE ARE the road less traveled, because so many – when faced with adversity – choose to turn the other way. We have confronted our adversities head on and with the commitment of a saint and the strength of a titan! You said yesterday that your goal is to increase your strength – my dear, Tammy, I want you to know that I admire your strength. But, indeed, do increase it – do be strong enough to imagine a life that has YOU in it, do be strong enough to know that all those things that depend on you can wait one moment while you breathe deeply and respect the perfect moments – because just as God has found fit to give you the life you have, He also found fit to present you with those perfect moments too; it would be almost criminal to acknowledge one over the other, to pick and choose which moments you think God wants you to appreciate… ALL OF THEM, for sure! Take care!
I have struggled with my weight all my life. I Got called names and picked on by my sisters and cousins. My senior year, I weighed 170 lbs. I started riding an exercise bike, gradually riding it further and further every day. I lost 40 lbs. I felt great. Not long after that, I met the guy that would be my husband eventually. We started going out to eat and drank a lot of beer. Needless to say, the healthy diet and exercise went out the window and 15 years later I found myself weighing 282 lbs. I would diet, lose 40 lbs or so and then eventually gain it all back plus some. Well about 5 years ago, I started doing weight watchers with a friend and lost 60 lbs. I never exercised though. So about 2 years ago I hired a personal trainer. It has changed my life. I have lost a total of 105 lbs and I have never felt better about myself. I am 40 lbs away from my goal and my husband and I are renewing our wedding vows on the beach this summer. This is my story and I just wanted to share it with you and your readers! Thanks for the continued inspiration.
Tammy
Ok yet another update… I don’t know why but for once it feels like there are people supporting me on this, someone OTHER than my mother. but anyway, I’m working out again, slow start because my knees are so stiff, and the doctor is worried about my depression not getting better after 12 years of dealing with it, and has me going to a psychiatrist to get evaluated and make sure the diagnoses is the same as it was 4 years ago. and that’s it, it doesn’t seem like a lot but it sure feels like it.
Today, I promise to you, Sean, to my Heavenly Father, and to myself, that I will quit smoking. What turned from the “occasional” cigarette is now a daily habit (which the “occasional” was neverok, my daily intake is a horrible choice that is physically killing me). I also do solemnly swear to continue to loose weight. I am 5’11” tall & a year ago I weighed 287 pounds. I have restructured my diet, eating habits & my exercise had increased and I’m now down to 228lbs. I still have a ways to go, but it’s all downhill from here! I have you, Sean, to thank for getting my denial in check and kicking it out of my life. Now I’m thanking you in advance for helping me get the remaining weight off & for quitting smoking because I made a promise to you, my Lord, & myself. I always keep my word, never break a promise, so I promise you I will . I am a single mother (my ex-husband relinquished all parental rights so I’m a TRULY single mom!) so not only do I want to be here on earth for Cooper, I HAVE to be, I’m all he has. I fought hard to keep him safe (physically & emotionally) from my ex, now I have got to stick around so it’s so stupid of me to intentionally sabotage my health being overweight and risking physical damage by sucking down a cancer stick. So hold me to this, Sean. I promise I won’t let myself, Cooper, God, or you down.
Good for you Kisha 🙂 I have also quit smoking and we all know how hard it is to do,but well worth it. I have only quit for about 2 weeks now so not long at all. But I have my Beautiful Mother on one shoulder and Sean on the other helping me to stay focused on my personal goals. Tho Sean has many followers I like to think that he is my “friend” too. It might be Silly 🙂 but it helps me stay strong so Im cool with being alittle silly. So if you have those pesky feelings of Giving Up ( I know I do) lol Dont hesitate to contact me to talk or anything I’ll be your Quitting buddy 🙂
Jessica @jesican
Better late than never… I am an emotional person and a very with in my own head person, unless I am challenged, you Sir have challenged me. I am over weight due to the fact I am an emotional eater due to why me’s due to the past. I looked at myself yesterday, this note has come at a very cosmic time for me, and I did not like what I see so here it is I promise myself that I will lose wight by eating better, no more junk food fast food and sodas. Instead more healthy veggies and meats. I will ask myself am I hungry? when I reach for food. I will subdue anger and sadness by singing, painting, dancing more. I will choose to walk instead of siiting on my a**. It is strange how someone I have never met could be an answer to a prayer. I thank you Mr. Flannery for your words and Hell, if I can quit Cigarettes I can do the above mentioned!
Every January, I always come up with resolutions for the new year and as the weeks go by they slowly fade away. But this year, writing them down on this blog and knowing people are reading them, it really makes a difference. So here’s my update. One resolution was to eat healthier, so everyday I take snacks like carrot sticks, celery sticks, apple slices etc. to work and eat during the day. My other resolution was to get more sleep. I do still have a problem with going to bed earlier on the nights when I don’t have to get up early to go to work. I have to force myself to go to bed. But I did put in a request a few weeks ago to have my hours cut on my night shift job. I found out yesterday that they are going to let me work just 4 nights instead of 5. I know that means less money and that’s going to suck but I’m no good to anybody if I’m not around.
update, the hubby and I joined a 24 hour gym today, so we have NO EXC– USE for not going. And the great thing is the price is right 40 dollars a month for both of us. Verses 50 a month for just one of us. Ty Sean for the blogs and being our inspiration. And to all my new internet friends here. Together we all can meet our goal. Yes I am very happy right now. I see that shiny light at the end of the tunnel. But so far we have been doing more drastic portion control, trying to eat more healthy. And one thing that has been helping alot is Sean’s word “CHOICE” I choose what I eat and don’t eat, no one else does it for me. And when ever I get the munchie feeling in the evening. And I go rooting thru the fridge or cupboards. I hear Sean in my head saying “Choice” make the right one. And believe it or not, it is helping. Sometimes I just say I don’t need any thing and skip it where before I would of found something. Times I do get something to munch on I ask my self first am I really hungry, is my blood sugar low {I am diabetic} so depending on my answer to my self is what I find to eat. If just plain hungry, I go for celery sticks lol or even plain lettuce. curcumbers. minus the dips I used to put on em . Cuz I am looking for what I call mouth food. That crunchy feeling. If blood sugar is low, I will add a cup of orange juice to the mix. I know these are just small steps on the long stair case. But got to start somewhere. Thanks to everyone here. This blog is gonna help keep me on track. I am not hiding alone trying to do this. Brightest Blessings to all. Hugs.
Here is my story I am a 42 single mom of there with there grandchildern and I want to live long to watch them grow I am over weight and a smoker I have try to quite many times but have no will power until today sean u have insipered me big time. I am going to quite and loose the weight this year plus on top of that I am a doormat I do lots for others but not myself so I am going to start thinking of me from now on and to say no to the need to hear it my plan is to start walking every day so when summer getshre i Ian heredo that hiking that i Iove to do I will cut sweets out of my life and eat healy I knows it going to be hard but I will do it I have to for ma and my childern I am all they have in life because I am taking care of them so I would love for u to inspire meyou to keep moving you are a amazing men tell I say I want to marry everone laughs at my joke
After 25 years of ignoring myself and my health,I have committed to making myself matter.I am a wife,mom to 4 Daughters,2 Stepsons and Gramma to 9.I am also 5 foot 2 and weigh 225 lbs.OBESE.Since November 15,2012 I have started to lose inches and weight.I made a choice to eat better and get healthy.I now measure my portions,and have cut out wheat products while adding more vegetables and fruit.I already feel better and have more energy.I have been doing well enough to decrease my insulin dosages! This is my committment to myself and my Family…to be a healthier and happier me.
Sean, thank you for inspiring me to make a change and take back control of my health. I had the thrill of meeting you in Austin with my 11 month old. I had told you about having just had two kids in under a year. I was one of those people who were unhappy with not only my weight but also my low energy level. I was just generally unhappy with where I was with my health, but felt discouraged because of an issue with an excelerated heart rate I have to be very careful not to over work my heart. The slap in the face moment for me came when I got my comic con pictures and realized here I am next to three of my all time favorite characters in a movie and I was so unhappy with my weight I literally wanted to hid the picture. Then I started reading your blogs and each one did more to light a fire under my but to get back into shape. Yet, being my pessimistic self I waited to comment to this one til I had been able to share a small health update.
I am four weeks without a cigarette and have started walking and dancing daily, whether I feel like it or not. I am also 8 lbs lighter and already seeing an improvement in my energy level. I can honestly say meeting you has made a big impact in my life. I’m a pastry chef and am now playing with ways to offer more health conscious baked goods to my customers. This new outlook has spilled over into every aspect of my life, even what I’m feeding my kids. Than you for helping me realize that, “You must make a choice to take a chance or your life will never change.” I plan to continue on this path and hopefully next time your in the area I can get a picture with you I actually want to look at, and I’ll show you the old one so you can see how far I’ve come. Oh and what’s you favorite dessert?
Congratulations!!!! …and I remember you well.
I’m so excited I have an update for you. I have broke thru that 200 barrier. For the first time in years I am under 200 lbs!!!!! I also have been smoke free for four months. I bundle the babies and pull them in the wagon. Bad weather… dance central. I may look like a retard but I’m a retard who can now walk three miles without feeling like I am dying. I’m loving the energy I have gained. I haven’t reached my goals yet but every step closer feels amazing. I feel better, look better, I’m healthier and happier. And in two weeks I’m going to see you in Dallas, maybe get another picture one I’ll actually like to look at. Its only eleven lbs but It feels like I’m working to a new life.
Sean, thank you for inspiring me to make a change and take back control of my health. I had the thrill of meeting you in Austin with my 11 month old. I had told you about having just had two kids in under a year. I was one of those people who were unhappy with not only my weight but also my low energy level. I was just generally unhappy with where I was with my health, but felt discouraged because of an issue with an excelerated heart rate I have to be very careful not to over work my heart. The slap in the face moment for me came when I got my comic con pictures and realized here I am next to three of my all time favorite characters in a movie and I was so unhappy with my weight I literally wanted to hid the picture. Then I started reading your blogs and each one did more to light a fire under my but to get back into shape. Yet, being my pessimistic self I waited to comment to this one til I had been able to share a small health update.
I am four weeks without a cigarette and have started walking and dancing daily, whether I feel like it or not. I am also 8 lbs lighter and already seeing an improvement in my energy level. I can honestly say meeting you has made a big impact in my life. I’m a pastry chef and am now playing with ways to offer more health conscious baked goods to my customers. This new outlook has spilled over into every aspect of my life, even what I’m feeding my kids. Than you for helping me realize that, “You must make a choice to take a chance or your life will never change.” I plan to continue on this path and next time your in the area I’ll show you the old one so you can see how far I’ve come.
Can we put our progress reports here? I’m supposing so. Correct me if I’m wrong.
As annoyed as I am at the setbacks caused by my bronchitis bout over the holidays, I’m also happy I didn’t lose as much ground as I thought I would. I’m working my way back up to where I was—5.5 m.p.h. for 3 miles—with my eyes on my dream goal—6 m.p.h. for 3 miles.
In addition, I weighed myself this morning for the first time in a while—158 lb.! That’s 18 more to go before March 20th.
Very happy to say my hourglass figure is slowly becoming more defined now, too. However, the most notable difference is in my arm measurements. At this rate, I won’t be embarrassed to wear tank-tops this summer, yuuuusssss.
Measurements Progress–because they mean more to me than even the numbers on the scales–
*[Mid-summer] 41 3/4” – 38 3/8” – 44”. Right upper arm=12 1/8”. Left upper=12 3/8”. Right thigh=23 1/2”
*[10.16.12 (after watching “Boondock Saints” I & II, finding who Sean was (!!!), and when I got serious about losing weight)] 41” – 37” – 43”. Right upper=11 3/4”. Left upper=12 1/8”. Right thigh=23.
*[1.19.13] 41 1/8” – 37” – 41 1/2”. Right upper=11 1/2”. Left upper=12 1/4”. Right thigh=22 3/4
So yeah, that’s what’s happening with me. 🙂
Darn…I had those numbers in a nice bullet-format list but now they’re harder to read. Murr. 🙁 Sorry y’all.
Sean, Thank you so much for giving me inspiration and faith in myself for the first time in a long time. I’ll probably never meet you in person but you are changing my life with your inspiration and wise words. I grew up with a verbally and mentally abusive father and have always seen myself the way he does, A stupid, fat, ugly person. For the first time in a long time, I have been able to look myself in the eyes and be happy and proud of who I am. I still have a long way to go but I’m happy to say I’ve lost 10 pounds this month. It’s a small step towards my overall goal, but still a step in the right direction.I’ve cut soda out of my life and have been drinking vegie and fruit smoothies for breakfast every morning. I’m eating healthier, which yes means I’ve had to say goodbye to my confort snack- reeses. I’ve got a long raod ahead of me but I can see a curvy healthy me in the future=) And I can’t wait until the day, I can look my father in the face and show him how wrong he is. Thank you so much Sean, I am forever greatful to you!!!
Hey Sean. I just wanted to check in. Since the new year (and finding your blog) I eliminated a lot of food from my diet. Now I only eat meat (protein), eggs, friuts and veggies, milk, lots of water and dandelion root tea (highly recommend it BTW). Unfortunately I haven’t been able to excercise regularly due to some wicked sinus headaches, but I’ve manage to lose 6 pounds. I started the year on belt hole #1 and am now on #3. Getting rid of carbs has made such an impact. I sleep better, have more energy, am more productive in daily activities, and am just generally happier. It’s incredible how I’ve changed in these last 30 days. I see myself in a better light. I can’t thank you enough for your words and encouragement. I can’t wait till my b-day in August when I go to the comic con and meet your friend Reedenstein. I’ll feel more confident! @liane810
Great to hear this Liane!! Amazing all the things you’re doing, I’ve wanted to comment your post because i also drink lots of herbal teas, we could exchage experiences if you like; dandelion tea is amazing, specially for purify the organism, it’s great for liver and kidney issues. Hope you can feel better soon, so you can enjoy the excercise, which is so helpful to feel better in general; may be you should consult with a doctor about those headaches. Best wishes 🙂
Seeing as it’s February 1st, I wanted to check in with all of you and say that I hope you’re doing well with your goals! The first month of the year is already down, so let’s try and knock the pants off of February – this’ll make it easier for it to really count when we kick the rest of the year right in the balls. 😉 I’m reevaluating my goals today. I don’t think I’ll be tweaking anything, just maybe adding some stuff here and there. I’ve decided to crack down and start myself on a gluten- and dairy-free diet. At first I was very reluctant, because I love lots of delicious dairy products, but the last straw was when I found myself on the bathroom floor last night, curled into a ball in extreme stomach pains, due to my painfully obvious intolerance to lactose. I was groaning in disgust at myself for going for that second slice of pizza, knowing damn well that the cheese and bread would cause the rest of my night to be utter hell. I’ve also discovered that gluten doesn’t sit too well with me either. I’m tired of feeling sluggish and in pain after consistently feeding myself crap my body doesn’t respond well to, so here goes nothin’. I’ve decided to begin the diet today, so we’ll see how that goes. My main goal this yea