Easier to read copy of the National Enquirer article. Feb. 17, 2014

Theresa Borawski - National Enquirer magazine. 2.17.14

Be grateful today.

 

Good Morning my friends! Yes, indeed today is a new day filled with new possibilities and opportunities to do good.

 I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed this morning trying to comprehend the events of the past few days and to get caught up from a weekend away. Sometimes the price for taking a day off is costly, not in terms of money, but in terms of consequences. It kind of reminds me of the high price we pay when we “take a day off” from our lifestyle change.  The immediate satisfaction of that candy bar, splurge, or shopping spree quickly gives way to a reality check when we realize that we have to face the scale and the credit card bills.  Sometimes it’s just not worth it. 

For me, it definitely was worth it to take a much needed day off to spend with friends and family. I’ll get caught up with my homework and I’ll get the EBay packages packaged and shipped, and all will be well in a few days.  The whirlwind of the National Enquirer story is another thing completely. I just keep shaking my head every time I think of it.  This latest article has spurred other opportunities this week. Last night after work, I did an interview with a feature writer for the local paper for an article to appear in this week’s paper. I have a Skype podcast interview with someone from a fitness website on Thursday and last evening I began a discussion with a woman regarding a speaking engagement in May for ….get this….1800 people!  YIKES, YIKES, YIKES!  That is an awful lot of people and I will need a couple of days of prayer and reflection before I commit to something like that. Who on earth would have ever thought???  Certainly not me!  But, I learned a long time ago that GOD can do all things and we cannot limit His incredible goodness; we must merely be open  to it and all times and be willing to cooperate.

Please remember that I am absolutely no different than you. Certainly I recognize that I have been blessed with a miracle and I have a privilege and responsibility to use it for the good of others, but you, too, are blessed and have the ability to do the same thing. You must not give up hope that God can help you change your life. Notice that I didn’t say, God will change your life….I said that God will give you, He already has given you…what YOU need to change your situation, to walk in freedom and gratitude, to feel happy and healthy in your mind and spirit, regardless of your physical shape, size, and issues. Miracles don’t always mean massive weight loss or physical healing; they don’t always involve financial freedom or perfect relationships. Miracles happen in one’s heart and mind. True transformation, true happiness, true well-being results in a life of gratitude and contentment, of peace and joy, of LOVE.

I encourage you today to embrace all that this day holds…the good and the not so good…the busyness and the rest….the triumph and the defeat…..and make the best of every minute of this day. Share your story, share your love, share you time with all who crosses your path today and above all things…SMILE…even when you don’t feel like it. Your smile this day may change someone’s life…..but mostly, it will be a step in changing your own!

Don’t give up on yourself….or God.  You’ve got this!

Yikes.....My story hit the National Enquirer

My head is kind of spinning this morning as I try to process the events of the past couple of days. My too-short visit with my family is coming to an end and I’m a little apprehensive about my return trip later today because it is snowing and the news is saying the roads are slippery. I’ll just have to take it slow and easy.

 On top of the weather, I’m still reeling from finding out last night that my story hit the National Enquirer! Yikes!  I never even talked to anyone from the magazine, but as I read bits and pieces of the story, I recognized that some of it was taken from the Woman’s World magazine article and other publications. The picture in the purple dress was taken by the Woman’s World photographer when he came to the college for a photo shoot. I never got to see any of the 200+ pictures were taken that day except for the one published in the magazine, and now this one in the Enquirer.  I guess if my story and pictures are “out there” then anyone can run them, even without my knowledge.  Oh well…as long as the truth is told and God is given the glory, I’m going to have to be okay with that.  I just never in my wildest dreams thought I’d end up in a tabloid!  I just don’t even know what to think about all of this. It will take time to adjust to all of this, I suppose.  In any case, the story is on the inside back page of the Feb. 17^th issue. Something tells me that car is heading back up the roller-coaster!

Last night 24 of my family members gathered at Olive Garden restaurant to celebrate my aunt Kathy’s birthday. It was great to see everyone all together. I am blessed to have a close knit family that gets together as often as possible. Because I live up north, I don’t get to see them as often as I’d like so I enjoy seeing everyone when I’m able to. 

Going out to dinner can be challenging for those on a weight loss journey. I rarely do it, but this was a special occasion and I planned ahead of time what I was going to order. The waitress was very accommodating, and brought me a bowl of salad without the dressing. I had packed my own dressing discreetly in my purse and simply used that instead of that wonderful Olive Garden dressing .My vinaigrette only has about 5 calories in 2 tablespoons so I used it freely and without guilt. I passed on the breadsticks. I was surrounded by delicious looking pasta dishes drenched in sauce and cheeses, but those types of foods are a definite no-no, even at this stage of my journey. I just can’t give in; it’s too easy to slide down that hill.  For my dinner,  I ordered apricot chicken but had them put the sauce on the side and just used a small amount when I’d occasionally dip a piece of chicken in it. The entrée included grilled chicken, steamed broccoli and asparagus. I’m certain that the entire meal was easily under 500 calories because I didn’t eat the sauce.  Not bad for a rare meal out. 

Eating out was one of the biggest habits I had to break when I started this journey. I very rarely went into restaurants because of the mobility issue and the fact that I couldn’t fit in most booths, but I was a drive-through junkie. I would go to the fast food drive-thru and order as much food as I want without risk of judgment. The person delivering my food didn’t know that all 3 cheeseburgers were for me or that I was going to eat all the super-size fries myself. So, I ate it alone in the privacy of my car. The same with a pizza. I would order an entire small pizza and eat it myself in the privacy of my home.  Being a closet eater and eating alone is a sure way to sabotage your journey. Hiding food, sneaking snacks, stealing treats…..all former practices that contributed to the obesity.

In the three years of this journey, I probably have eaten out less than a dozen times. It’s just not conducive to healthy choices UNLESS you plan ahead. For many people, eating out is a way of life and it’s something they do on a weekly (or more) basis. It presents a real challenge but you can make good choices if you think ahead. Check online for menus. Bring your own salad dressing. Be prepared. Ask for a nutrition guide with calorie information. Don’t be afraid to ask the chef or waitress to go steam or grill your food or put your sauce/gravy, etc. on the side. The restaurant is there to serve you…..don’t pay good money to sabotage yourself for the sake of pride. It’s just not worth it. Plan ahead….and find ways to “live” your life in a new, healthier way. It can be done and you can enjoy many of the social events that have part of your life. Remember…this life change is FOREVER and it’s unlikely that you will give up dining out, going to parties, celebrating birthdays completely for the rest of your life, so you have to find a way to make it work.

I’m going to be extremely busy when I return home trying to get caught up on work, homework, EBay, etc. Trying not to stress about it now, but certainly will have to pay for my short time away. But…all is well…God is good….and I am blessed beyond measure!

Make it a happy day today…..Rejoice….Be grateful….and Stay motivated! You can do it!!!

Meeting a new friend!

Good Morning! I hope you are all staying motivated, feeling happy, and committed to improving your well-being and health!

Yesterday was an awesome day. As you know, I took a vacation day because I was already downstate for a work conference earlier this week and wanted to stick around a few extra days. It’s been great to see my sister and her family, although I was on the road most of the day yesterday, but she had to work yesterday anyway.

I headed to the Monroe area to the Salvation Army Thrift store to meet up with a beautiful young woman, Nikki Shaver that I met when I was downstate on Christmas break. At that time she was working at the Salvation Army thrift store in Taylor, MI. I had never been in that store before and it really was a fluke (well, for me it was God’s providence) that I even went there in the first place. I didn’t even know the store existed, but there was an accident on the freeway so I had to take a detour to get to my destination. It was during this unplanned detour that I found the store, and then at the check-out a casual conversation with the check-out girl, Nikki, led to a new friendship and a new member of our Facebook group. I shared a bit of my story with her as she was bagging my items, wrote my name down on a piece of paper and told her to Google me, and the rest is history!

 I didn’t even know her name a few weeks ago, and now she is a Facebook friend and a fellow companion on this journey. I was so thrilled yesterday to visit her store and meet her for an extended conversation. She is delightful and I look forward to sharing her journey. She said that I am her inspiration…when actually, it’s the other way around…she, and all of you….inspire me to be a better person, to try harder, to stay motivated. So, today, I thank Nikki, and I thank all of you!!!

By the way…her Monroe store is great….very clean and organized….AND… I came home with some awesome items.  I scored four more 100% cashmere sweaters and several new blazer jackets for $1.00 each! You can’t beat that! I can’t even dry clean these items for $1.00!  For those of you that are losing weight quickly and outgrowing sizes, don’t’ be afraid to check out a thrift store. You may be pleasantly surprised to find out that they have wonderful, very high quality, name brand items, many still with tags on them. You need to spend a few hours there if you going, especially if you go to a Salvation Army store (which by the way I have found to be the best).  I went down 14 pant sizes when during the course of this journey and there is no way that I could afford to purchase new clothing each month to keep up with my shrinking body. Now I’ve been pretty much stable for the past year, but I’m addicted to clothes and shoes! (better than sugar?????)

From there, I went to the IHM motherhouse to visit my nun friend, Sr. Therese Michael. I know I write about her every time I come downstate but I just absolutely love visiting with her and the other wonderful sisters who have impacted my life over the years. Therese Michael was my algebra teacher 37 years ago and we’ve been close friends ever since. Life-long friendships are a real gift. Although she is confined to a wheelchair and has slowed down mentally and physically, she is still quite alert and a true delight. My only regret? There is never enough time and a six our visit just flies by! When I left, she just kept thanking me for coming. I couldn’t convince her that SHE is the one who inspires me…who blesses me…and I get WAY MORE out of our visits than she possibly could.

Both of my encounters yesterday…with Nikki and Sr. Therese Michael, are perfect examples of how I feel about all you and all those people from around the world who contact me regularly via email. You are always saying such kind things to me, thanking me, telling me that I give you hope and strength, etc…. when in reality… I get more from you, from reading each email, from hearing your story, from seeing your before-after pictures, from sharing your struggles and your triumphs, than you could possibly ever get from me.  We are a team. We have been brought together by divine providence to be companions on this journey; to support each other; to motivate and inspire each other; and to share the ups and downs involved in changing one’s life.  SO...THANK YOU!!!!!

One final thought….I would never have met Nikki had I not had a quick conversation at the check-out. Several of our new group members found us because of a blurb I had on one of my EBay listings. We never know how what we say and how we treat someone, even unknowingly, may affect his/her life. So…ALWAYS…and in ALL WAYS….be kind, be compassionate, and be willing to share your story….whatever that story entails….because not only is God helping you to CHANGE YOUR LIFE, but He is using you to CHANGE SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE as well!

Make it a wonderful day today!