Like the four seasons, we too must embrace change.

It's that time of year. When we fall back and gain that hour. I love that we gain an hour but I hate that it becomes so dark at about 5pm. You have to take the good with the bad and I have learned to do that in the past couple of years. With the good things that have come about in my life with recent changes, the things that I always dreaded I now just look differently at in a good way and why those things are needed in life. Although I am a summer girl, I do love the fall as well. The changing leaves on the trees are so beautiful right now. I love driving into campus each day and seeing a new and vibrant color. It makes me happy and a sort of calm and peacefulness comes over me when I gaze at them. It was a good week. I had a bad week last week but like I said, I have gotten past it. The weekend was fun with Halloween parties, and the cutest trick or treaters in my neighborhood came out tonight. I hope to have an even better week coming up and I am going to try my best to make that happen! Until next week, stay tuned...

"Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts." Arnold Bennett

It has been a tough week for me. I had a heavy school and work load this week, and it has taken a toll on me physically and mentally. I caught a cold and am finally getting over it. I find myself eating more than usual, especially at night at the restaurant I work in which should be avoided in my case because of my history with emotional eating. I know I will get back on track with my exercise routine and with eating regularly instead of emotionally like I had done this past week. It is a never ending battle for me, but I remain positive no matter what kind of week I have had. I know there are going to be days in life where at times I will feel down, overwhelmed and aggravated with what may be going on at the time. I also know that I am strong enough to overcome these feelings with my optimistic side. Like my title states, even though I have changed for the better, it was a long road to get me here and at times there will always be some drawbacks and discomforts, but it is a new day, a new week, and I am feeling better already.

“Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.” Robert C. Gallagher

I found this quote and it made me chuckle. It reminded me of something funny that happened to me this week too. I went to one of the vending machines on campus to get a snack. I usually bring my lunch and snacks with me on my longer days in classes. Since I have learned how to eat properly now and the best way for me to maintain it is to eat many small meals a day. Well I was running late the one morning so I forgot to bring food with me. I ate breakfast as I always do (very important meal of the day) but when I realized I had forgot my lunch all I could do was get a snack. Of course what are in the vending machines are not a wide selection of healthy stuff. I have just enough money for Twizzlers, which at least it is a low fat choice. I think to myself the very thing that happened. Please don't get stuck, please don't get stuck as I am really hungry at this point. Go figure, it gets stuck! And it was the only change I had on me at the time. I wanted to shake that machine so bad! I luckily had some money in my car, but I had to wait til after my next class because at this point, I didn't have time. Food is your energy source. That next class I was in I felt as though I could not concentrate because of the little energy I had that day. Morale of my story is please do not go to classes on an empty stomach. It is what will keep you focused all day, especially if you eat breakfast, that is a biggie. Start now if you are not! I can promise you what a difference you will see by doing so. Bon Appetite!

"It's never too late to change your life, to be proud of yourself, and be who you really are." Valerie Bertinelli

This video still brings tears to my eyes when I watch it:



Valerie Bertinelli is a spokesperson for Jenny Craig. I admire her tremendously! I joined shortly after her, and I felt like I was following in her footsteps the whole way. She talks about a half marthon that she just finished in this video. You see tears of joy and how proud of herself she is and how it is so surreal to her, that she can hardly believe it. I too at times feel that way. I went from not even being able to do one wall push-up when I was overweight, to doing about 30 men-style push-ups when I work out, and I too sometimes can not believe how much I have accomplished. I plan to run the Broad Street this year. It is a 10 mile marathon in Philadelphia. I was unable to do it this past year as I was real sick at the time and I was really bummed about it. Well, May will be here before we know it and I plan to attend this year. It will be such a wonderful experience I am sure like this was for Valerie. I can relate to many things that she talks about in her video blogs. She is 50 years old and looks fantastic! I want to be just as healthy when that time comes as I am now. Following her blogs keeps me motivated! I recommend starting some sort of work out regimine now friends, especially now while you are still so young. It really is worth it, and it makes you feel great, energized, and happy.

We talked a lot about all the negative advertising out there in society today. I can honestly say that Jenny Craig never once had any sort of negative effect on me and has done just quite the opposite. It is so great to see what a positive impact Jenny Craig has had on their clients. I was so successful in my journey, that I got about 5 friends to join as well and they too are conquering their weight battle with Jenny Craig. The video above on Valerie's journey is so motivating to me. Here is another video on their newest spokesperson, Sara Rue:



Both these videos are the real deal to me. Sure they are both famous, but they are both human too. They both battled with weight for a long time, they both conquered that battle with the help of Jenny Craig and are proud to tell their story to the world. I feel the same way as these 2 wonderful, strong and happy women do, and I am not famous. I love my life just the way it is now and I do have Jenny to thank for getting me to this point, so thank you Jenny!! :)

"Keep Your Coins, I Want Change"

In my last post, I analyzed Jenny Craig's website and talked about the many sections that helped me in my weight loss journey. I still utilize the site and recommend anyone to visit this site as well for healthy lifestyle tips on diet and exercise. But I would like to talk about a totally different website in my blog today. It is another blog that I have been following and just love reading. I had mentioned that when I go to post other peoples blogs or websites within my own, I was going to post ones that make me feel warm and fuzzy inside and an example of one of these blogs is my fellow classmate Deanna's Blog. It is one of positivity, of inspiration, of a relationship with God. When I am having somewhat of a bad day I just go to her blog and it sets me straight realizing all is well in my little world again. My titles are always going to talk about change. My title here this week is from one of her pictures posted on her last blog as well. I just loved it and even told her I was going to steal it! Thanks Deanna! :) 

Another fellow classmate's blog I enjoy reading and that is also about change, is Nathan's Blog. Although our blogs are very different, they bring us back to the very same subject of change. Change effected us both in a very powerful and meaningful way. I find it is another positive blog that can inspire others and their relationships with God. It is refreshing to me to read these wonderful and encouraging blogs from such young students. I have read each and every one of my fellow classmates blogs and I enjoy them all. Not just Deanna's and Nathan's. Everyone has something worthwhile and extraordinary to say. I look forward to reading them weekly.