It happens.  Even to me.  A little pitty party.  Perhaps a seed of entitlement?

I eat well as far as healthy most of the time.  I enjoy something yummy, we occasionally go out to eat, Some of my favorite foods are chicken wings, Beef Briscut, Apple Crisp, Berries, and Pumpkin pie.  I don't drink soda except super rare treats, I eat at least 2 pounds of vegetable most days, I eat the same breakfast, snacks, and lunch 5 days a week.  (sometimes weekends too).  

Here's the thing I don't "LOVE" all that food.  I eat my eggs and veggies as cold bricks in the morning.  I eat a dry boring head of romaine lettuce on my way to pick up Anna from school.  I drink 1 or 2 protein and water shakes a day depending on if I'm too busy to chew something.  I nuts and fruit make up the rest of my day until I get home.  Sarah does up dinner most of the time.  And we eat some sort of chicken 80% of the time with a huge vegetable serving....

When does self-care goes too far…or not enough?  Some people become a shell of a person in service of others (mom’s are a large category).  Some people fall in love with self-care so much that their personal happiness becomes the chief aim.  “I’m just not happy anymore” is a common reason for divorce. 

I believe you can do self-care and others-care at the same time.  There will be ebbs and flows but I’ve seen many people do this beautifully. 

Here’s a couple things I want you to know:

• Happiness research is pretty clear on this…the way to find happiness is not to seek it for yourself. When you serve others, do useful work, and enjoy moments with others…these are some of the peak happy moments. 
• If you don’t take care of yourself I’ll bet there are a dozen people worrying about you. When I was a young dependent I did worry about my Mom and Dad. 
• ...

I am one to jump to anxiety and fear before faith and perseverance.   YEP. True story. 

I think we have been given this idea that we can get anxiety to go away.  That we can go forward in life without feeling anxiety again if we just master our minds enough.  Personally, I think this is HOGWASH.  Aren’t I a ray of sunshine J

Life is hard.  For every single person on this earth.  In no way are we promised to have an easy life.  Even if we pray hard enough, do the most good possible and save the turtles LIFE WILL BE HARD at times. We are NOT a weak human if that hard causes anxiety. 

What we CAN do with anxiety is realize it will come and go and we can learn to REST in the ANXIETY (that sounds silly doesn’t it). But knowing I can rest in anxiety gives me such peace and ability to keep moving forward.  It takes away the paralyzed inaction because I think I am weak. 

When we stay stuck in...

Are you looking for ‘just a gym’ or are you looking for a place that has the potential to change your life?

The people at Tall Trainer have literally changed my life.  Yes, the nutrition lessons and exercise are critical, but it’s the support of like-minded people that has been life changing for me.  And it’s not just about weight loss. 

While physical health was my main reason for joining, I have found that the benefits related to overall health – including emotional, spiritual, relational, recreational, and financial health have been invaluable.

How could one place touch so many different areas of my life?  I am excited to share my journey, in hopes that it will help even one person make the decision to ‘just try it.’

I have struggled with chronic headaches and thyroid disease for many years and suffered from severe bouts of anxiety and depression even longer.   I was overweight and in constant pain. There...

I’ve always been a thin female usually around 135# until I hit my late 30’s early 40’s where no matter I couldn’t get below 145. I joined Feb 9, 2021 with a weight loss goal of 45# just to be at 145 again. I am just .6 shy of that goal.

I have always enjoyed working out mainly because of stress and I LOVE food and certain beverages. Though I have an elliptical and a treadmill I found having the support through classes at gyms were indeed needed.

When I came to TT I had gained a good 45# prior. It was the combination of divorce and Covid that lead me to fall into a slump. However, when I reached 175# I started walking 8-10 miles a day but didn't change any other habits such as my increased drinking, grazing throughout the day or being active any other time.

My knees? Lol think you mean needs. With the weight gain over the past 2 years I noticed I was having leakage issues. So bad to the point I am having surgery to correct what gravity and weight gain...

[Written the day after William B. Foster of Fairport, NY passed away]

I woke up today for the first time in a world without Bill Foster. 

Bill married my grandmother the year after my parents married. 

He’s been in our family since well before I was born. Bill insisted that he be called “Bill.” He didn’t want to be grandpa or any other title.

Eventually, we settled on GrandBill. And for those great grandkids that had trouble with their B’s, GrandPill - which I think was his personal favorite.

He was such a sweet man who had lived a colored and interesting life. A life that was hellbent on his own personal destruction. For the first half anyway.

Bill was an alcoholic and if he had maintained his lifestyle there’s no doubt in my mind he would have been gone before age sixty. Probably before age fifty. At age 42 (?) he took his last drink.

He gave it up. And he gave it up for something beautiful. He gave it up to God. He gave it up for...

This is Bill…

He’s my step grandpa.  Here he is playing my wife down the isle at our wedding. 

He’s dying…

Aren’t we all?  Yes.  But, he’s been told it’s terminal liver cancer. 

Jeremy, why are you sharing this?  It seems like a big downer. 

Because, I think his story will provide inspiration to us all that we CAN change!

The Story:

Bill has always been called Bill by us grandkids.  They were married before I was born.  In my heart he’s grandpa but we all call him bill because he didn’t see himself as a grandpa type perhaps. 

Before the blessed moment that he met and married my Grandma.  He was an alcoholic.  Not like a functional alcoholic either like a stumbling alcoholic.  The first 30-40 years of his life were a mess.  I’m sure on more than one occasion he said.  “This is just who I...

I need to let you know something....

 

I gained weight back 3 times.  20-30 pounds after losing 60 lb.  I say this to you not ashamed or not to scare you but to offer you hope and to help you find grace in the journey if you are sitting in that spot right now. 

 

Here is an interesting little tid bit.  Did you know that RELAPSE is PART of RECOVERY!  Yep, truth.  You don’t just decide to change and boom you change.  It’s a process of highs and lows and boring in between.  Relapse is expected in the initial recovery period.  This does not make you a failure this makes you HUMAN.  No one starts something and the first time – ta-da you’re perfect at it.  Think of how many times a baby falls learning to walk.  Your journey towards health is a lot like that – you just have to keep getting back up.

 

THIS YEAR HAS BEEN HARD!  So much pain, loss,...

We’re smiling with our eyes, can’t you tell. Super hard with a face-mask right! Trying to smile extra with your eyes is a new 2020 skill we are trying to master.