Am I Hungry?

Now there's a question that I didn't start asking myself until recently. For years it was more of a statement, "I am hungry.". I never gave it much thought. I ate when I wanted to, what I wanted to and as much as I wanted to...never letting the over stuffed feeling stop me. Shoot, I love food and for the love of Pete, you only live once, right?

Times have changed for this girl! No, I am not on a diet and I never will be. I will never fork over money to Weight Watcher's again nor will I ever be one of these people who constantly watch what they eat or are watching what everyone else eats, and passing judgement. Those days are over.

If you have never heard of Dr. Michelle May, I suggest you google her right now. In my opinion, Dr. May is the Dave Ramsey (don't know who is? Google him too then!) of instinctive eating. Dave Ramsey encourages you to take your financial life and get real! No more excuses and his advice is truly common sense. Dr. May, she basically teaches you that food is fuel and once you learn that and learn to ask yourself, "Am I hungry?" and learn to only eat when the answer is yes, then you will in turn be a happier person.

I signed up for a support group/class called "Am I hungry?" and the first thing I discovered is that I ate because it was time to eat, I was bored, mad, stressed or unhappy. And I often ate foods I didn't like! It isn't easy to change and it is a long process but the power behind it is amazing.

I figure between Dave and Dr. May, I will find lots more reasons to be happy and rather than filling my mouth with food, I will become more productive and my to do list will be longer. And after I finish with Dave, I will have more money to spend and can then shop rather than eat! :-) Just kidding!!!

Another birthday

Today I got an email from some birthday reminder program reminding me that "Mom Keeven's birthday is coming up, don't forget to send her a card!" Really?

March 19th is my Mom's birthday. While I can't spend it with her, I am lucky enough to be with my incredible Mother-in-Law on that day. Another reason to celebrate that day!

Each milestone that passes, I expect it to be easier. In some ways it is yet my heart is still a bit heavy from missing her. I often, more often than I admit, see someone that will remind me of my Mom in some way. I find myself doing double takes to make sure it isn't her. A family member will do or say something  or pull a "that's so like mom" habit or something and my heart aches for her. There are so many things I want to tell her and share with her. Jonathan still carries around a teddy bear she got him for his first Christmas.

Every time I hear the Toby Keith song, "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue",  I can't help but think of Mom and smile. I remember sitting with Mom in their kitchen and she had that damn boot on her foot and was sitting in her wheel chair listening to the radio. She loved country music and she was singing right along with Toby and when Toby sang "And the Statue of Liberty was shaking her fist", Mom shot her fist up in the air but when Toby sang, "Cause we'll put a boot in your a$$"...Mom's boot came up and I couldn't help myself but laugh. She looked so serious and was extremely into it. Too bad they didn't send her after ole Osama...cus that was a big boot she had!

Because of Facebook I am in touch with more of her family and I love it. We talk about old times and its nice. My mom was a lot like my Grandma...a spit fire. Yelled at the TV when their soaps were on. Well I do that and the funny thing is it's the same soap they watched! I remember Grandma talking loudly and having that "yelling tone" to her voice. Mom had that and yep, I have it too. But that's okay because Mom was wonderful and I am glad to be like her and love that there is a little bit of "Momism" in me and each of my sisters.

I miss you Mom. I love you and I look forward to seeing you again some day. Until then, keep protecting all of us...you are doing a great job!