During the month of November I was doing a positive thinking 30 day challenge. One of the more important realizations that I had during that time was "a healthy mind cannot operate happily inside of an unhealthy body."

Over the last three years I have been steadily gaining weight, I would say that I am probably about 50 lbs over weight right now. I have been ignoring it for a long time because it was easy to do. I carry the extra weight very well and most people would never guess that I am the weight that I am at, but the fact still remains and more importantly, I know.

So to cut a long story short I would like to publicly say that I am changing my lifestyle in order to live in a healthier way. I already feed my mind in a healthy, positive and spiritual way, now its time to do the same for my body.

I would like to ask you all for your support, tips and guidance whilst I transform my body. Here's what I am doing so far...

1. Combining my food correctly, i.e. eat only fruit until 12pm, no protein with starch
2. Incorporated 1 raw food day into my week
3. Incorporated 2 vegetarian days into my week
4. Quit dairy products
5. Quit caffeine
6. Replaced sweet and alcoholic drinks with water (still drink the odd glass of wine)
Doing these 6 things have enabled me to loose 12 lbs during November.

And here's what I intend to do as soon as my tooth is healed (next week).

1. Go for a 30 minute walk every evening
2. Brush body with exfoliating gloves each morning (promotes detox-ing & healthy skin)
3. Add more organic products to my diet i.e. Stevia, cold pressed olive oil, low sodium salt.

My goal is to loose 10lbs per month until I reach a weight that I am comfortable at. If you have any suggestions on living more healthily I would be very happy to hear them or if any of you would like to join me, please do.

BTW I was inspired to begin proper food combining after reading a free ebook by Rob Cooper. In this highly informative guide Rob discusses how he went from 475lbs to 187lbs in two years. If you are looking for inspiration and a detailed plan Rob's free ebook is a great place to start. You can get it from his website www.formerfatguy.com

Dear Blessed,

This is an amazing post! You have said some really amazing things and set some really wonderful goals for yourself. I noticed that you wrote this a while ago and wanted to know how it was going for you? Are you sticking to what you said here?

I think the first thing positive thing you did was to admit what you want to change. Even though you say that no one really notices the weight you have gained, YOU have noticed it and want to make a change so that you can feel good about yourself.

The second thing is that you wrote it publicly for people to read and even though people may not have responded yet, they have read this as you can see recorded here.

The third thing you did great was that you wrote things down in black and white and that is important to do in order to begin the commitment.

I truly hope you have stuck to things and really would love to know that you have. If not, there's always TODAY to start. And I promise you that I will be here with you the whole time as you need me. I promise I will keep in touch.

I know I have been missing for a while and I'm sorry about that. Things have been tough as I'm still out of work, but I'm trying to stay positive. For me and for others.

Love ya, my friend.
Erica

Hi Erica
Thanks so much for your reply.

I started my healthy eating plan the end of November last year and I was 208lbs. I have done really well during that time and I have stuck to my plan. I have lost 24lbs so far and I am looking to loose another 25.

I have been recording my progress on my blog along with pictures of some of the healthy meals that I make. You can read all about it here...http://positive-thinking-life.blogspot.com

Erica I hope you will find a few minutes to visit my blog and thanks for your offer of support, you are the only one who offered and I really appreciate it.

Blessed!

WOW! Congratulations on your amazing progress. I'm so proud of you and I will continue to follow you and cheer you on!! Not many people can truly stick to their guns and do what you're doing! Brava to you!

There are so many people willing and wanting to be supportive. I wish there was a way to get this site out there to more of us. It's such a shame that people don't participate enough because support groups (like I see this being) are so amazing and really pull people together and help them through hard times. I personally am thrilled to have met you and some really special others who I email here with, but are too shy I guess to post in the forum. And without GLCzone, I would have never met any of you.

I know this site was started with minimal resources, but the very thought that someone or some people got together to make this site for those interested is truly selfless and wonderful and I thank the administration here for doing it. I'm still going to do what I can to bring people together here so that we can all help each other.

Erica - thank you for your support.
I understand what you say about many members not feeling like they want to contribute, but it seems as though even our regulars are no longer posting here in the forum. I think its time for another shake up to get people back here again.

Any Ideas???

I had an idea that maybe we can go into "Yahoo answers" into the mental health or emotional health categories and/or any other place you know of and talk about the group here. People ask all kinds of questions and we can say there is a group on GLCzone.com and they can come and support each other on a daily basis here. I would do that. It's late now and I'm tired, so I hope that makes sense. We can introduce this site to people there. Do you think that might be a good idea?

I know if there were more people here to share ideas and our issues (good and bad) with, I would personally be here more too.

Love ya, Sweet friend.

P.S. We can also send some private emails here to check on our friends. But personally, I think this site has SO much to offer and something bugs me about having to "beg" people to participate. But I'd still like to check on our friends.

Dearest Erica - I certainly know what you mean about begging people to participate. It does get a little tiresome after a while. Another thing I find strange is that I get so many private emails from people telling me how much they enjoy what I write and how much them miss me when I absent for a while, but yet when I do start a topic only a few such as yourself respond.

However I will keep coming back her because of folks like yourself Erica who always make an effort.

I think your idea about promoting GLC on other sites like Yahoo Answers is great, anything we can do to breath some life into this place would be worth while.

It is beginning to feel like a tomb around here.

I know what you mean. I think maybe some people are really shy or just don't want to share with others in a forum type setting, so I try to understand as much as I can. Or they sometimes just don't kno what to say.

I'm going to try to go into Yahoo and introduce GLCzone there. Can you think of any other ideas?

xoxo
P.S. Happy Valentine's Day!

Sounds like a good idea, let me know how you think it went.

I only write when I have something to contribute - not all that often. I don't really do chatting much, on line or off.

Fora seem to require large numbers to keep them happening.

I do understand what you are saying Evan. Many do not like to comment they just like to read, listen and learn. I guess I fall in the middle of these categories.
But, true that a wise man speaks when he has something to say!

I'm here to support you in your efforts, Blessed as well as to support GLCzone!

Thanks Rebecca I appreciate your support.

My pleasure! Can you give an update? How much weight have you lost up until now from where you started?

Are you enjoying the process?

Hi Rebecca thanks for asking about my weight loss. Two great things have happened during the last couple of weeks.

Firstly I set myself an intention to loose the last 25lbs by Easter Monday. That gives me six weeks to achieve this goal.

In total so far I have lost 33lbs. You can read all about my experience on my blog @ http://positive-thinking-life.blogspot.com

The second thing is I received inspiration to write an ebook outlining a new way to loose weight fast using the law of attraction. Writing this book has been a wonderfully effortless experience, its almost as though it is writing itself.

When I have successfully complete my weight loss challenge I will then look at setting myself the goal of finding a publisher for my book.

I am having an exciting year so far and I believe it is going to get better and better.

We are so very proud of you, Blessed! You have no idea! You are an inspiration!

Erica - thank you for your continuing support and ever kind words. I am happy to be an inspiration to you.