Five Years Ago ~ What a difference!

 March 27, 2016

Went to a lot of places yesterday, first I went to an art exhibit that was put on by the Hart School District in Santa Clarita, Ca., I saw some amazing stuff, then went to view an apartment that we were accepted at and we were not happy with it, then we headed to Burbank and picked my mom up to take her out to dinner. Sadly she wasn't feeling well but she did enjoy herself. After we dropped her off we headed over to visit my little sister. We stayed there until 8:00pm. Then we went to The Americana in Glendale, Ca., and we had a great time. We stopped at the Cheesecake Factory for (of course) cheesecake. We left there around 10:30pm got home around 12:30pm and fell asleep around 1:90am. I will definitely revisit the Americana probably earlier in the day so I can see everything. They have a big beautiful musical water fountain. We all had a great time. Now back to packing and our continued adventure to find a place to live! Thank you for taking the time to read my blog! Keep Step'n & Spark'n ~Teresa aka NVRGIVINGUP

Happy 82nd Birthday MOM!

February 25, 2016

Today I took the day off to go visit my mom. Today she turned 82 and I love her so much. I don't get to see her much as I want to. I don't have a vehicle so I use my daughters when it's available. So it just so happens that my daughter had a test to take for a job opportunity in Valencia, CA and my mom lives in Burbank so we left early and picked up my mom and took her out to breakfast. Then we had to take her home. Our visit was short and sweet and I'll cherish what time I got to spend with her. Below is me to the left, my mom Judy and my daughter Jamie.

  

I don't know how much time I have left to make memories with my mom but I'm going to do my best to make as many as I can before she leaves this world. Have a blessed day! Spark-on

My Highest Weight

 

My highest weight 4/9/02 ~ 267 lbs.

The Beginning of my Keto Journey! March 2018

 

So my doctor recommends me doing the Keto Change of Life Plan...what are your thoughts about Keto?

This in my SparkPeople pictures and the beginning to my successful Keto Journey! I am so thankful to the doctor who recommended this lifestyle!

January 2021

 Happy New Year to me! Starting my year off in the GREEN!!! The scale is moving in the right direction! This is going to be my year to see more of the green! This lifestyle is not something you start off in the beginning of the year, it’s a lifestyle change that you live throughout your life!

Update:

This year thus far has not honestly been my year. I have flip flopped between 186-190 for the last 6 months. I honestly want to get back to this number and below.

 

There are just some things that are worth more in life!

Monday, January 11, 2016

 

How much I weigh: 244.4 4. 

List one thing I changed, gave up or lessened: I gave up my hot white chocolate mocha and 2 cheeseburgers to a lady who needed it way more than me. 

How I feel: I feel tired, irritated, exhausted, sore and a little discouraged.

 Say something positive: It is a good thing to give freely! 

Scripture: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬ 9. 

Did you learn anything new today: Yes, when I took the time to forget about all that was going on with me and I set out to give to some unfortunate soul, which put a grateful smile on her lips...stirred a renewed joy in my spirit. 

It Feels Good to Give!

 It Feels Good to Give!

Sunday, January 10, 2016

 T

How much I weigh: 243.8 4. 

my daughter and I went to Black Angus for lunch and we not only split most our meals but we saved enough from both our plates to have a second dinner. Also our meal came with a dessert and we had it fixed to take home and we took small pieces of it and we will have it for 2 other desserts for another day. 

It feels good to give. 

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:38‬ ‭KJV‬‬ 9

Learn To Stop Eating When Your Satisfied!

Saturday, January 09, 2016

 

How much I weigh: 244.4 4. 

I can live a satisfied life. 

“The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭22:26‬ ‭KJV‬‬ 9. 

Did you learn anything new today: To be satisfied with a little, is the greatest wisdom. People drive themselves crazy and stress themselves out wanting more when we should be satisfied with what we've been blessed with. I need to learn to stop eating when I'm satisfied and nothing more.

Don't Ever Quit

 Don't Ever Quit

Friday, January 08, 2016

 

How much I weigh : 244.4 4. 

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭19:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬ 

Did you learn anything new today: That red bell peppers are ripe green peppers and they are healthier for me. 10. Post a photo of myself or something that inspires me today!

I'm Still Going!

 I'm Still Going :-)

Thursday, January 07, 2016

 

How much I weigh: 246.2 4. 

“Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:” ‭‭Joel‬ ‭2:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬ 9. 

Did you learn anything new today: That I CANT fail if I'm still trying! 

Keep Your Eye On The Prize

Keep Your Eye On The Prize

Wednesday, January 06, 2016

 

How much I weigh: 248 4. 

New Beginnings

 

Day 1 ~ New Beginnings

Friday, January 01, 2016

So today is Day 1 and even though it is not over, I want to get this blog started. I may have to edit a few things before I go to sleep just in case I have something or do something that needs to be accounted for. I have to say it went pretty well and no major bumps in the road. 1. To blog everyday and include: 2. How many calories I ate: 1381 out of 1820 3. How much I weigh (I will report weight on Saturday mornings on my tracker): 250.2 4. How many steps I took: 7013 5. List one thing I changed, gave up or lessened: I didn't eat all my pot pie. (I'm a plate cleaner when I eat) 6. How I feel: I feel good in my spirit, tired in my body and full in my stomach. ;-) 7. Say something positive about me: You did a great job getting your steps in while staying at home. 8. One scripture: "...greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world". 9. Did you learn anything new today: no 10. Post a photo of myself or something that inspires me today! 

 

Good-bye 2015 Hello 2016

Thursday, December 31, 2015

So tonight I decided to spend a little time before midnight to finally put together a plan for 2016.
I have been struggling with my weight for long enough now to realize I can not go another year not doing something about it. I have attempted all kinds of ideas but never really set a plan, I would just wing it. That is not going to work for me or at least up to this point it has not worked for me.

Some notes to ponder as I put my plan together:

1. I know I am going to have to make some realistic goals that I am willing to stick with.
2. I am going to have to lessen or give up some things I like, a lot, or feel I'm addicted to.
3. Be accountable for my actions or the lack there of.
4. Be flexible because I may have to adjust some things along the way.
5. I am not perfect and I am going to make mistakes.
6. Learn to forgive myself and move on.
7. Realize that I can not do this on my own, that I need the strength of God.
8. Understand that there are going to be times of frustrations, hurts, pains and resentments.
9. Learn to love myself enough to help myself, in order to better myself.
10. Believe in me, trust in me, have faith in me that I CAN DO IT AND I WILL DO IT!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So my beginning plan for 2016 is:

1. To blog everyday and include:
2. How many calories I ate:
3. How much I weigh (I will report weight on Saturday mornings on my tracker):
4. How many steps I took:
5. List one thing I changed, gave up or lessened:
6. How I feel:
7. Say something positive about me:
8. One scripture:
9. Did you learn anything new today:
10. Post a photo of myself or something that inspires me today!

This is a new start for me, I've never done anything like this before so I am wanting it to change something in me to help turn myself around.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and if you have anything INSPIRING that you think would be helpful to me, by all means, reply and let me know or comment on my Sparkpage.

Tomorrow January 1st will be my first post for this new journey!
God bless you all and have a safe
 HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

 

Woo Hoo Moment

Monday, November 30, 2015

I feel I have conquered one of my enemies, Procrastination. I set out this morning to get in at least 15 minutes of exercise of some form before the end of this day. I didn't care if I had to do it just before bedtime. However I got home 30 minutes ago from dropping my daughter off at the college and decided I was going to do a 15 mile with Leslie Sansone. About 3 years ago, I would faithfully workout with her at least 3-4 times a day and I loved it. It made me feel so good when I was done. Basically, I just got lazy and quit. Sure I could come up with a number of excuses why I stopped but to be totally honest, I just became lazy and a little discouraged. I really, truly and honestly want to change for a healthier happy me.

I want to thank all of you that have recently been encouraging me. I don't have a very good support system. My daughter has been more involved with her school, work, and church. I will continue to try and encourage her to jump aboard but I'm not going to push her. I'm going to live it in front of her and let her see my changes. I'm also going to commit to journaling/blogging the rest of my journey so I have a way to look back from wince I came. So I can rejoice when I win this race.

Ciaro for now and know that I'm NVRGIVINGUP!

 

It's plainly the 'ME' that is in the way of my Journey!

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

So I have decided I am just going to take this journey one day at a time. It doesn't seem to matter whatever course I try to do, I'm not being very successful. What I have learned through all these ups and downs is that, even though it was a very slow process, when I would keep my calorie range from 1300-1600 and I did some walking 1-2 miles a day for 4 days...I would show a drop; however, life happens. Walking even a half a mile hurts now. It's either my feet or my hips so I am looking into doing more indoor exercises. It's plainly the 'me' that is in the way of my journey. The get up and go in my life has staggered greatly. Not that I am depressed or discouraged...I am plainly tired of starting something and not fulfilling it, whether it be my health or studies (I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up ~lol). The two just look like the light at the end of the tunnel is soooo far away.
I am not giving up nor the thought of quitting comes to mind...hense my name NVRGIVINGUP however I feel a since that this is it for me...gain a few lose a few.
Maybe blogging could help me change something.
Thanks for listening have a blessed day and a fantastic Thanksgiving Day!

You never know what's inside until you look!

 You never know what's inside until you look!

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Clay Balls.

A man was exploring caves by the Seashore. In one of the caves he found a
canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had
rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn't look
like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave
with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls
one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could.

He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it
cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone!


Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each
contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of
jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left.


Then it struck him. He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown
maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean
waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken
home tens of thousands, but he had just thrown it away!


It's like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and
we see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the
outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it.


We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or
stylish or well known or wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find
the treasure hidden inside that person.


There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to
get to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way
He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem
begins to shine forth.


May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown
away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of
clay. May we see the people in our world as God sees them.

I am so blessed by the gems of friendship I have with you. Thank you for
looking beyond my clay vessel.

APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE

THING YOU HAVE, ESPECIALLY YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS!

LIFE IS TOO SHORT AND TRUE FRIENDS ARE TOO FEW!

My First SparkPeople Blog

 

My First Blog!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Well today is the beginning of a new fresh start. I know I have been a Sparks member for a while now but have yet to become committed. I am so tired of this yo-yo life with my weight. As of December 2010 I began to see a nutritionist. I weighed-in with her at 244lbs.. I thought to myself at the site of the scale that I was only fooling and hurting myself if I thought I wasn't in trouble. So just as the majority of the population does at the beginning of the new year I decided I was going to make a serious change. Along with that I also changed my screenname from ApostolicRose to NVRGIVINGUP. I am purposing in my heart that I will not give up on this temple just as I will never give up on my Creator.

My walk with God is very important to me. He has led and guided me through every test and trial. He promises to never leave me nor forsake me so I am going to hold to that promise and lean on Him to led and guide me through this newness of life.

I am going to strive to continue to blog on my page as often as I can...in hopes that it will keep me inspired to keep keep'n on!

THE OLD PHONE ON THE WALL.. HELLO

 SparkPeople Blog

Some times you just need to mix it up....

Thursday, March 03, 2011

I read a lot of messages, whether from my personal emails or sparkpeople, but I just had to put this story in a blog so I will have it to reflect on later.

I am on a Journey...

THE OLD PHONE ON THE WALL.. HELLO

When I was a young boy, my father had one of the first telephones in our
neighborhood.. I remember the polished, old case fastened to the wall. The
shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to reach the
telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother talked to it.

Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an
amazing person. Her name was "Information Please" and there was nothing she did
not know. Information Please could supply anyone's number and the correct
time.

My personal experience with the genie-in-a-bottle came one day while my
mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the
basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer, the pain was terrible, but there
seemed no point in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy.

I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at
the stairway. The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the parlor
and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver in the
parlor and held it to my ear.

"Information, please" I said into the mouthpiece just above my head.

A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear.

"Information."

"I hurt my finger.." I wailed into the phone, the tears came readily enough
now that I had an audience.

"Isn't your mother home?" came the question.

"Nobody's home but me," I blubbered.

"Are you bleeding?" the voice asked.

"No," I replied. "I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts."
"Can you open the icebox?" she asked.

I said I could.

"Then chip off a little bit of ice and hold it to your finger," said the
voice..

After that, I called "Information Please" for everything.. I asked her for
help with my geography, and she told me where Philadelphia was. She helped
me with my math.

She told me my pet chipmunk that I had caught in the park just the day
before, would eat fruit and nuts.

Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary, died. I called,

Information Please," and told her the sad story.. She listened, and then
said things grown-ups say to soothe a child. But I was not consoled. I asked
her, "Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all
families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?"

She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, " Wayne ,
always remember that there are other worlds to sing in."

Somehow I felt better.

Another day I was on the telephone, "Information Please."

"Information," said in the now familiar voice. "How do I spell fix?"
I asked.


All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest . When I was
nine years old, we moved across the country to Boston . I missed my friend
very much.

"Information Please" belonged in that old wooden box back home and I
somehow never thought of trying the shiny new phone that sat on the table
in the hall. As I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood
conversations never really left me..

Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense
of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and
kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy.

A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in Seattle
. I had about a half-hour or so between planes. I spent 15 minutes or so on
the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then without thinking what I
was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and said, "Information Please."

Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well.

"Information."

I hadn't planned this, but I heard myself saying,
"Could you please tell me how to spell fix?"

There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, "I guess your
finger must have healed by now."

I laughed, "So it's really you," I said. "I wonder if you have any
idea how much you meant to me during that time?"

I wonder," she said, "if you know how much your call meant to me.

I never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls."

I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if I
could call her again when I came back to visit my sister.

"Please do", she said. "Just ask for Sally."

Three months later I was back in Seattle ... A different voice answered,

"Information." I asked for Sally.

"Are you a friend?" she said.

"Yes, a very old friend," I answered.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this,"She said. "Sally had been working part
time the last few years because she was sick. She died five weeks ago."

Before I could hang up, she said, "Wait a minute, did you say your name was Wayne ?" "

Yes." I answered.

"Well, Sally left a message for you. She wrote it down in case you called.
Let me read it to you."

The note said,
"Tell him there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know what I mean."

I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant.

Never underestimate the impression you may make on others..

Whose life have you touched today?

Why not pass this on? I just did....

Lifting you on eagle's wings.

May you find the joy and peace you long for.

Life is a journey.. NOT a guided tour.


I loved this story and just had to pass it on.


I hope you enjoy it too.

RIP ~ PERSISTENTTIM

I will forever keep him in my thoughts...Tim was very encouraging to me and always tried to motivate me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Hi Teresa,

Feel free to vent or just blabber on. I have contact daily with one person offline so I enjoy having people to exchange messages with now and then. I know you're right, at 40 I know I'll have to put myself out there to make friends.
I'm sorry to hear about your past drug problems but it's so encouraging to know you trusted God and he led you out of that life. I struggle everyday with my weight and like you've I've had ups and downs, mostly downs until the last year. I know the best in life is yet to come and if I can get healthy and spend it witnessing for The Lord I will be a happy man.

Good luck and write anytime my friend!


---------- NVRGIVINGUP wrote: ----------
Hello Tim,
I just wanted to stop by and see how things are going today? I don't have someone that I am accountable to, except for myself, and know what it's like to wonder if anyone really cares out there. I am not by any means trying to be negative, I just want you to know that, when I ask how you are doing, I am being sincere. They say if you want to have friends you need to be friendly so I'm striving.
This last week I made a commitment to myself that I was going to do some form of exercise for 30 minutes a day and so far I'm doing it, I just pray that I can keep it up. I have this bad habit of starting things, do good at it and then stop. I hate that. I don't have a miraculous story such as yourself but I have always struggled with my weight all my life. It sincerely got worse for me when I quit using drugs back in 1996. Speed/Meth was my thing only because I enjoyed being uppity except I sure didn't look pretty lol. I got into picking my skin and I don't know if you've ever experienced seeing someone on speed, just trust me its not pretty. But I am glad to say that the good Lord delivered me from drugs and an immoral lifestyle and now I choose to serve Him.
Why I went off on all that? I do not know. I guess I just wanted to share something with you that is not really on my spark page.
So my highest was 267 and I'm only 5' 3" tall, a couple of months ago I got down to 239 and I was so excited, last week I went back up to 246 ;-/ and said, enough is enough. I dream of getting under 200 one day and I really want to do it in 2015. I had tried to lose 50 by 50(Dec 29) last year but didn't attain that goal. So I'm trying again. I'm praying to at least lose 45 by June. I believe with the help of the Lord I will make it.
Well so much from my jabber jaws....sorry to have gone on and on. I really take you as an inspiration and I will follow you on your journey.
God Bless you!
~Teresa Dickey

How to attach a link to a post

1.When you copy an email address put it down on something , like an email,

ex: https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=AWkpjGMZFjc&list=PLfk
ai3VjAvfR2KrEhSImyjd_LVVOUOrDK&index=2

2. then take out the http://

3. then it looks like this:
www.youtube.com/watchv=AWkpjGMZFjc&list=
PLfkai3VjAvfR2KrEhSImyjd_LVVOUOrDK&ind
ex=2

4. copy and paste it into the link button

5. now you have an actual link, that works,=. relisa taught me that. www.youtube.com/watchv=AWkpjGMZFjc&l
ist=PLfkai3VjAvfR2KrEhSImyjd_LVVOUOrDK
&index=2

My Side by Side Photos

 

My Sparkpage from Sparkpeople

 Today I will begin to transfer my content from my Sparkpage from Sparkpeople because they are closing down the site on Aug. 17, 2021 and everything on there will be deleted. 

Hello and thank you for stopping by my page. My name is Teresa, I am 55yrs old and I live in Lancaster, CA. I have 2 adult children and 2 grandchildren. I work as a Para Professional with the school district and I love working with children. I started my journey with Sparkpeople back in 2006 and have yo-yoed up until March 2018. I have finally found what works for me and I am not ever going to give up not even when I reach my goal.This I found is not something that you do and then stop, it's a lifestyle change. My daughter, Jamie (j_mcc_85) was told by her doctor last year (2017) that she is type 2 diabetic and was put on medication. I knew I needed to do something to help her along with myself. She topped the scale at 301 12/2016 and in 1/2018 she was 297. Today she is 256 and the weight is basically melting off. For myself it has been a little slower however it's going down and not coming back up (ever). So in March we started implementing the deletion of sugar, flour, rice, potatoes, starches, all non-healthy and high carb fruits and within a week we began to see, feel and notice a change in our bodies. It was amazing! Inflammation -gone, swelling - gone, hunger - gone and cravings - gone. However our minds can play a little trick on us especially during the time of the month when we think we have to have CHOCOLATE but keto bombs are there to save the day.      

I have to admit that we do have our cheat days when we just want some pizza (with crust) and our favorite Parmesan potatoes from Vince's Pasta & Pizza. However now we order a personal size pizza and small order of potatoes to share and we eat one slice of pizza after we top it with the toppings from the other slices and dip everything in ranch.      

I have done a lot of research on the Ketogenic diet and I strive to stay as honest to it as I can. You have to make sure you keep up your electrolytes and you can do that by using Himalayan salt (pink salt). It doesn't affect high blood pressure like table salt and it is extremely good for you.      

Also neither one of us have done any extra exercise than getting our 10,000+ steps a day and you can simply do this by getting up out of your seat and stepping in place, watch a Walking with Leslie or just go for a stroll. We will be implementing other exercises as we get our weight down.      

If you would like to learn more about what we are doing please feel free to leave me a commit, add me as a friend (and my daughter j_mcc_85), read and subscribe to my blog.      

Also if you are following a low carb/keto lifestyle please share with me your tricks and inspirations along your healthy lifestyle.      

God bless you!      

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy New Year to me! Starting my year off in the GREEN!!! The scale is moving in the right direction! This is going to be my year to see more of the green! This lifestyle is not something you start off in the beginning of the year, it’s a lifestyle change that you live throughout your life!

My Goals:

My ultimate goal is to become a healthier happier ME!   

   

Weight progress:   

0. 250 - 240 ~ 11/2014   

1. 240 - 230 ~ 3/2016 ~ 3/01/18   

2. 229 - 220 ~ 6/2016 ~ 3/21/18   

3. 219 - 210 ~ 6/26/18   

4. 209 - 200 ~ 9/17/18   

5. 199 - 191 ~ 1/19/19 ONEDERLAND   

6. 190 - 181 ~ 7/17/19 I am still stuck in between 185-189lbs. (3/25/20) - 182.6 lbs. (1/1/21)  

7. 180 - 171 ~   

8. 170 - 161   

9. 160 - 155   

10. 150   

maintain it, live healthy and free from what has held me captive for over 20 years!   

   

199 is my first goal (1/19/19), 150 is my second goal however 130 is my ultimate goal!   

   

It's not 'if' I achieve my goal however it is 'when' I achieve my goal because I WILL REACH MY GOAL!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

10,000 plus steps daily (averaging 13,000)   

   

60 minutes of activity   

   

To consume no more than 50 net carbs a day! (Staying between 20-40 most days)   

By following a #Keto #lowcarb lifestyle.   

   

To keep a log or journal of my journey to healthier happier me.

~Teresa Mae~ 

"STRENGTH...A river cuts through a rock, not because of its power but its persistence". 

Jim Watkins 

We are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 

1 John 4:4