Changes are in the air..........

I would be kidding myself if I didn't recognize the changes coming in my industry. I have worked for the past 10 years in an industry that's ever changing based on regulation coming from both Washington and Atlanta. Every time you get comfortable with how things are, it changes. I would have to be blind not to see the panic set in with those in my industry. Some are changing industries, some are waiting it out to see what changes come about and then make a decision. It is all about compensation. How will agents be compensated? Well, the way it works now- I find the best policy at the best price for you and am compensated by the insurance company we place you with. If the insurance companies pull all sales operations in house, then insurance agents will either go to work for the company or become a paid consultant. It will redefine our industry and create a whole new level of cost for the employer. I have no idea what's coming and anyone who says they do is lying because I've seen it change even since the new legislation has passed. Oh well. Am I worried? A little. But then again, maybe not. We'll see.

Body Gospel, Really???

Let me preface this blog post by saying: 1. I am a Christian, 2. I take my relationship with the Lord very seriously, and 3. I abhor those who use your relationship with the Lord to sell their stuff.......... for only two payments of only $39.95! Okay, let me explain myself. I was watching TV one Saturday morning, when what to my wondering eyes should appear? The hokiest commercial I have ever seen. "Body Gospel".....Beachbody's latest offering to those who won't do "P90X" or "Insanity" because it's perhaps too "worldly". Hey, do you have a relationship with Jesus? Do you want to be skinny? Are you willing to pay? Well, we have the program for you! I wonder how the marketing pitch in the conference room went? So, we need to have lots of clouds, perhaps a shot of her with her arms stretched out to the sky as if getting a divine word from God; don't forget about the "rays of light" coming down and shining on her for effect. Really? Wow. Her bio on the website says "Donna Richardson Joyner has starred in award-winning workouts, including the Buns of Steel^™ and Sweating in the Spirit series. " Really, from Buns of Steel to Body Gospel?? Ok, maybe I'm taking the making fun of this to an extreme, but really? I mean, their tag line when the website first comes up is this:

Body Gospel^®: Have faith in your weight loss success.

At last, you can combine the power of your faith with your desire to lose weight and get fit. Body Gospel is a first-of-its-kind program that includes workouts set to inspirational gospel music, breakthrough new resistance bands, and a complete nutrition plan created by fitness icon Donna Richardson Joyner.

She shows you how to combine this effective program with your faith in God to transform your body and your life. With glorious music guaranteed to get you moving, every workout is a “party with a purpose,” and the results will amaze you.

If you believe, you will succeed!

I wonder if the resistance bands are called.............resist evil bands, or resisting the devil bands. This is almost too easy to make fun of!!

Well, if you want to see said product/marketing material...........here it is:

http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/body-gospel.do?code=BBHOME_CONTROL_BG

You decide.

Old folks driving in cars.......sort of

Ok, I am CONVINCED that old folks who drive need to take a drivers test. Why? Well, let me enlighten you. I was at the stop light at the end of our cross street and directly behind a car with a "handicap sign" hanging off the rear view mirror. Occupant: 1 old lady. Ok, my first sign of trouble was the white "back up" lights were on. I gave her some room because I figured she'd gun it and hit me. Good call, cos that's just what happened (except the hitting me part, I gave her enough room thank goodness). Then, after recovering, she punched into D and took off. I was still behind her, and she and that Mercury Grand Marquis kept swerving between the two allotted lines. I felt like I was in the scene of Ferris Bueller's Day Off where his Dad is trying to pass the little old lady with the beehive hairdo. Scary. So my remedy? If you are of the "older" generation and feel the need/have the ability (so says you) to drive, you HAVE to take a test. No do overs either. If you fail, that's it, kaput! I know it sounds harsh, but c'mon! My daughter and soon my son will be on the road. I need to know they're not going to be run over by Grandma Moses in the Mercury Grand Marquis!!!

Schedule, precious schedule!

Routine. I love it. I have to have it to order my freakishly disordered life. Why? Because chaos usually rules our house in the summertime. I love order, and schedules, and the busyness of after school activities. I am not sure why this is, but even when I was a little girl I couldn't wait for school to start. Why? Not because I enjoyed school. No, I DEFINITELY didn't excel at any particular subject. I was marginal at best in History and Math (because I liked the subject). I was no Rhodes Scholar. No, it was always the routine of the day that I looked forward to. I crave it. I am not sure what I am going to do when Jonathan actually finishes High School. Perhaps take over for some overworked Mom and order their child's life. I complain about how busy we are but secretly I love it! So here's the schedule for this year: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday Jonathan has band practice after school and Friday is a game. Mostly home games this year, but there are some away games and a few competitions on Saturday. Slap in some meetings Mark has after school, Sunday activities and there you go with our chaotically ordered life. The funny thing is not everyone loves my precious schedule. I am a list person (see previous blog post http://wwoman2000.blogspot.com/2009/10/blog-check.html), constantly going through a "mental checklist" in my mind to ensure I haven't forgotten anything related to the next activity. Jonathan, on the other hand, could inevitably breeze in with just the shirt on his back and has a "whatever" attitude about most anything and everything. It's frustrating. I usually get at least 2 calls a week from said panicked boy wanting to know if I can fit in running a very important item to school before going to work. Yesterday it was a baritone horn. I expect at least another phone call before the end of the week. Welcome to my world, my preciously ordered, scheduled, chaotic world!

Ok, so I'm a week into my new "lifestyle" plan. I choose not to call it a "diet" plan because mentally I think I have a block specifically about that word. I have lost 3 lbs! Mark and I are doing this together as a team, but even more than that we're involving the whole family. Jonathan has become our fruit smoothie gourmet (w/Splenda not sugar), and Morgan gets up at 5:30 am M/W/F to go to step class with me. Also, no more junk food in the house. We are making an effort not to buy things that are unhealthy. How are we doing it? Simple. Eat less and exercise. Keeping it under 1500 cal a day and going to the gym 3x a week plus a walk with Mark on Saturday (ok, so I try to keep up with giganticness's stride; to no avail). Plus he's already 40 lbs ahead of me in the process. Well, here it goes. Why will I be successful now when I haven't the previous times? I am changing my lifestyle, thinking and overall food habits. It has to be done. You know, it's amazing when you don't eat the usual "junk" filled with sugar you don't feel hungry all the time. This first week has been good. I've not been hungry in between meals, and no snacking at night. This is going to be a long journey. I will be 42 next year, and Mark and I will celebrate our 21st anniversary in September. We have to do this so we live to see our grandkids and actually enjoy our retirement someday. It's more about health and active lifestyle than quick fix diet. Of course, a lot of prayer helps too. I have been asking the Lord to help me make good choices and keep me from being hungry all the time. So far so good!

Self discipline, schmiscipline.

Well, I have to admit it. I lack discipline. I suck, admittedly. I make plans and don't finish, I started losing weight only to gain 1/2 of it back (like for the 50th gazillion time). WHY??? Well, I have come to the conclusion I am pretty lazy. No excuses, just trying to figure it all out. The sad thing is I get on my son for being lazy, lacking discipline and here I am, the queen of laziness. Ahhh..........so what shall I do, just give up? No, that's stupid. I guess it's never too late to start and as long as I take it a day at a time I can do it. I have come to the conclusion that "programs" "pills" and all the other myriad of things that can be purchased via TV or internet only work because you're letting them do all the thinking for you. Ahem, laziness. The only real way to come to a result is to make a determination that I'm going to eat less and exercise more. Simplistic I know.......believe me. It sounds a lot easier than it is. I ACTUALLY have to plan ahead and either get up early for work or go to the gym after work. I have to watch what I eat and ice cream is NOT on the diet........I know, completely sucks. I am a junk food-a-holic (if there is such a thing). I would rather eat fried than grilled, opt for fries and leave the friggin salad out of it. This doesn't even delve into my addiction to chocolate. That's a whole other blog for another day. Oh well. So, here I go ........AGAIN!!! Wish me luck, and admittedly I will need prayer. I will be doing most of the praying though. I have no discipline within myself and need all the help I can get.

Thank you Lord in advance for all the help you are giving me and grace you bestow!

Sorrow and Hope

Sadness. Overwhelming sorrow. It is a peculiar thing how this one thing can affect your entire body, mindset and health. My family found out that my sister in law has cancer and it is spread throughout her body. It doesn't look good for her, but no final answers until tomorrow. How else could one respond except overwhelming feelings of sadness? She is in a great deal of pain plus she has 5 children. Two of whom are 13 and 11 (my brother's biological children). The thing that escapes me is how someone can endure the pain (both physical and emotional) without God. He is such an ever present part of our lives and the thought of not being able to talk to Him, read scripture and gain comfort gives me a feeling of overwhelming sorrow. If I found out today that I have a terminal illness and was told I may die I would be sad. Sadness in the thought I would be missing my children growing up. Sadness in leaving those I love behind to endure the pain of the loss. But I would not fear death. Why? It is not the end. Scripture tells us it is not. We have hope! Hope that one day we will all fellowship again in Heaven! It is not a permanent end but rather a hiccup in our time together. As a follower of Jesus Christ I have the hope and assurance I will not only live with my Savior one day, but will reunited with our loved ones! I pray that if you don't know Him or it's "been awhile", you make a commitment to Him. He's waiting. Are you listening? I pray you are.