The beauty of rain

Today I woke up to rain and thunderstorms. I immediately thought if I should reconsider what I laid out for my son to wear to school, what I would wear to work, how dark it would be outside, how messy it would be, how it would be hard to see,if I would get wet....and then I stopped and thought about it again.

I corrected my thinking, and considered the wonderful process of growing that would be able to take place, those things that were dirty would become clean,the renewing of the environment.

Look at the rain as an cleansing of your spirit, keep your attitude positive, stay focused, and anticipate your next move. Because it's a wonderful process of God.

The next time it rains see the beauty, not the inconvenience.

Love who you are and what you see!!

I had a moment today and I wanted to share. Lately, I have had alot of people I dont know state how pretty I am. I put it to the side of my thoughts said thank you and moved on. But on the way home from church I could hear the Lord telling me to just take a picture. I did so and when I looked I was surprised at what I saw. I looked free, happy and at peace.
With all I have been through it has taken alot for this feeling to come through. My inner spirit is coming loser and closer to the surface and it feels wonderful. The old me is disappering and I'm so excited about that.

When you are feeling low, think about what you have accomplished and look at yourself and love what you see!!

Fun on the beach!!!

To close summer out I decided to surprise my son with a trip to Florida. I gave him a kiss put him on the school bus and sent him to school on a Friday. What he didn't know, was that all week I waited until he went to sleep and packed our clothes, and made arrangements for our trip. It was special for me because he was turning 10 years old. It has always been my dream to take Malcolm to the beach. So once he was on the bus I drove to the rental car place rented a car and went to pick him up at school by 8:30am. He was shocked to see me it was great!!

We left the school and drove to Florida. We stayed with my sorority sister Shana and the next day drove to Tampa and spent the day at the beach. It was wonderful to watch my son put his feet in the ocean for the first time. He was nervous and a little unsure, but after about 3 minutes he was hooked!! He stayed in the ocean the rest of the day.

We also walked the beach, collected sea shells, talked and walked the pier. It was relaxing and I truly thank God for the opportunity to give him a birthday surprise he will never forget.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MALCOLM!!!

T.O.U.C.H. 52:11 Inc. Newsletter October 2010

Newsletter
“450 pounds to freedom”

The purpose of the T.O.U.C.H. 52:11 Inc. is to educate society on what it feels like to be obese in a society that doesn’t accept individuals for who they are. I speak on my experience of once weighing 450 pounds and all of the challenges I faced as well as, the challenges I faced after loosing over 200 pounds.

The purpose of T.O.U.C.H. 52:11 Inc. is to leave you motivated, encouraged and feeling as though it is possible to take on any weight challenge you may be experiencing. When creating T.O.U.C.H. 52:11 Inc. I was very cautious to make sure it is a safe place in which those suffering from the addiction of obesity can find a source of help not hindrance. I am a life coach and self esteem expert for those who feel as though it’s impossible to loose masses amount of weight. I ask you to join us in the fight to educate ourselves and saving lives through the power of self will and sheer motivation.

When Too Much Exercise Becomes a Problem Compulsive Exercise and Exercise Bulimia
Exercise bulimia is when compulsive exercise becomes more than a desire to get into shape or manage ones weight. Those who suffer use exercise to purge to compensate for eating binges and often work out multiple times per day three or four hours at a time. The difference between compulsive exercise v/s exercise bulimia:
Many use the terms interchangeably they truly are two different things. Compulsive exercises is when individuals build their lives around working out and are genuinely distressed if they can’t exercise as much as they feel they need to (or should be). Exercise bulimia is similar, but involves eating binges. People who suffer from extreme bulimia often binge on food and then exercise obsessively to make up for it. Exercise becomes a way to control calories, justify eating, and punish oneself for eating too much or eating the “wrong” things.
Both conditions are indicated by the following symptoms:

• Choosing to exercise instead of going to work or enjoying social activities with friends or loved ones
• Refusing to take any rest or recovery days, even when injured
• Continuing to exercise even when ill
• Exercising to the point of exhaustion
• Never exercising for fun
• Experiencing severe stress and emotional upset, including depression, if unable to exercise

Associated Health Problems
Exercise is usually a good thing, but rest and recovery are very important, too. Excessive exercise can weaken the body and cause a host of problems, including:
• Fatigue
• Suppressed immune system
• Lack of menstruation (amenorrhea) in women due to a lack of body fat
• Reproductive problems
• Heart problems (such as muscle wasting and rhythm problems)
• Dehydration
• Arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Stress fractures and sprains

Treatment Options
• Exercise bulimia can be a symptom of a much bigger problem. Studies have fund that suffers come from families where food was used as a way of controlling behavior and battles surrounding food. Treatments include support groups, cognitive behavior therapy, psychotherapy, and or medication such as anti depressants. Remember to allow exercise to serve a purpose in your life-not be the center of it.
To learn more about eating and exercise disorders and receive a referral to a health practitioner in your area, contact the National Eating Disorders Association at: 1-800-931-2237 or visit: www.edap.org.

Contact Info:
Sandra Kelley M.S. Education
Email: touch52eleven@gmail.com
Phone: (262)52TOUCH
Blog: 450poundstofreedom.blogspot.com
You Tube: Up close and Personal with Sandra Kelley (Press control and click below)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg0csTd8xQg

What does a Stop Sign mean to you?

This is how I saw an issue in my life that I couldn't face. We all have have things in our life that we try to go around, not address, and play as though it doesn't exist. I am no different. There was something in my life that I tried to remove emotionally for the last four years, yet I wouldn't let it go. I couldn't deal with the emotion, and I couldn't face the truth.

The situation was something that caused such hurt and depression that I never addressed it. It was a straight link to my over eating. To be sure I didn't over eat I would ignore the problem. It was also the elephant in the room, but I ignored it.

The stop sign represents where I am in my life now. My former thought process would have seen this stop sign and I would not have moved any further. But accepting that God has NO limits, I can look past the stop sign and begin to wonder what is beyond, what am I missing, what is out there for me that is waiting on me to explore.

In life if you have a "stop sign" in your life that represents excuses, bad relationships, hurt, pain, addiction whatever it is, make sure you look beyond and allow yourself to wonder what else is out there just for you.

Sometimes the stop sign is there to help you let go of your past so that you can move to your future!!

Holding on to the fire

How do you on to the fire when you are pulled in so many directions?

Well that is the question I am asking myself daily. I know the ministry God has given me. That is to educate society about the world of obesity as well as, encourage those who are going down that journey. I must do all of this while handling day to day life. Between work, working on my second Masters degree and trying to be the best mom I can, I can become stressed. But I bless the Lord that I turn to something positive instead of food when those feelings come. The last six months for me have been a whirlwind but I must keep my inner core calm while watching the tornado swirl around me. T.O.U.C.H. 52:11 Inc. always keeps burning within me. The fire is huge and buring brightly because I know my purpose.

This week think about your purpose. Are you living it? working it? encouraging others with it? or are you allowing your fire to be burned out daily by work, stress, no determination, self doubt?

Remember to always keep your fire buring.

Malcolm and Jasmine

They bring me such joy.

If you are a regular reader of my blog you know that I love my son Malcolm and I wanted to introduce you to my niece Jasmine (my nephew Samuel wasn't there the day they took this picture). I love seeing these two together. They remind me what joy truly is. The laugh, joke with one another and love on each other. I enjoy watching my son be a man, and make sure his cousin has what she needs, buys things for her, holds the door and her hand. It's truly sweet.

I wanted to be sure they are highlighted today as the "superstars for the week".

I ask God to cover them and all the children who are returning to school this week. May they have restful sleep, steady focus and determination. Cover the buses they ride on, the hallways they walk in, and cover the food they eat. Bless the teachers, staff and leadership in their schools and let them take time throughout the day and ask you for wisdom in all they do.

In Jesus, name we pray ....AMEN