​Navigating weight loss and a healthy lifestyle is indeed complex.

Gather a group of dietitians, personal trainers, wellness coaches, and doctors, and you'll receive a myriad of opinions on effective strategies.

For me, the journey began with addressing my mental health rather than my challenges with declining unhealthy foods, back in 2002.

Currently, I'm contending with menopause and hypothyroidism in my pursuit of better health and life quality.

I'm applying the same methods that worked for me previously:
- Improving my diet
- Intensifying my weight training
- Committing to self-care and wellness, including meditation
- Remaining positive and appreciating my current place in this journey.

The effort must be consistent,
The commitment must be daily,
Every day presents a new chance to improve.

And why make this effort?
Because you're worth it.

This article was not about making anyone feel bad.  It's about taking a good look at yourself as a whole and not just about your weight.
I liked this article:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/voices-like-james-corden-i-also-had-to-give-up-taking-ozempic-here-s-why/ar-AA1rgn7Y?ocid=socialshare&pc=HCTS&cvid=2e930bd95eee4068829c79207d72d8c3&ei=19

1. Confidence
Believe in your sufficiency.
There's no need to alter yourself for others; any change should be for your own growth. Recognize your worth and value yet remain modest.

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I know how hard it is to lose a parent. My mom lived with us for the last nine months of her life. She had a lot of health problems and needed more care than I could provide. She was the one who suggested moving in, but it was still a tough choice for me and my siblings. We took turns visiting her and making sure she was comfortable. It was heartbreaking to see her fade away. My brothers helped out occasionally, but it was mostly me and my sister Terry. The last two weeks, she didn't eat or drink anything. She had already left us in spirit.

We were exhausted. We had neglected ourselves.

When she passed away, we felt relieved that she was no longer in pain. She could finally rest and be with her loved ones.

Since then, we have all been trying to take better care of ourselves. I've been eating healthier, working out more, and focusing on my studio and dancing.

Life is full of bumps and bruises. Sometimes they are minor, sometimes they are major. But at the end of the day, you can look at yourself and be proud of what you did. You can forgive yourself and move on. When you have a goal, you have to be kind to yourself. It's just a small setback in your journey.

Work, Play, Family, Friends, Special Events....you name it!  It's hard to keep all of these in balance.  Sometimes life takes over and we become overwhelmed.  The stress of meeting deadlines might cause us to just stop dead in our tracks.

How do we fix it?  

- We prioritize what is important and what is not. We learn to say no to things that are not essential or aligned with our goals. 
- We carve out some time for ourselves to relax, meditate, read, or do whatever makes us happy. 
- We focus on the task at hand and avoid multitasking or distractions. 
- We take care of our physical and mental health by getting enough sleep, eating well, and moving our bodies.

Need a little help on achieving balance? 

We do an on-line "Chat with Pris" on Zoom once per month.  In this chat, we share our challenges and successes, we learn tips and strategies from Pris, a wellness coach, and we motivate each other to keep going. Check out our fitness calendar for the date & time.

Wouldn't it be great if we won all the time? That's what some people think. They think that success is everything and failure is nothing. They think that if they don't achieve their goals, they are worthless. They think that failure is something to be avoided at all costs.

But they are wrong.

Failure is not a bad thing. It's a learning tool to help us deal with life. It helps us understand how to do things better the next time. It allows us to grow and become stronger humans.

The next time you fail, be thankful. Because you have another opportunity to do it better!

I will share with you some of the benefits of failure and how you can use it to your advantage in our "Chat with Pris" Zoom meetings one Saturday per month. I will also give you some tips on how to cope with failure and overcome it. You will see failure as a friend, not a foe.

​Are you ready to dance your heart out at the Midwest Dance Festival? This is the ultimate event for all country and ballroom dance lovers! Whether you are a beginner or a pro, you will find something to enjoy at this amazing competition.

The Midwest Dance Festival is held every year in June at the beautiful Hilton Hotel in KC Airport Hilton. You can choose from a variety of categories, such as American Smooth, American Rhythm, International Standard, International Latin, and Country Western. You can also compete in solo or team events, or just watch and cheer for your favorite dancers.

The competition is open to all ages and skill levels, and you can register online. The registration fee includes access to all workshops, social dances, and awards ceremonies. You will also get a chance to meet and learn from some of the best instructors and judges in the country.

Don't miss this opportunity to have fun, make new friends, and show off your talent at the Midwest Dance Festival. It's a weekend you will never forget! For more information, visit www.midwest-dance.com or follow us on Facebook.
See you on the dance floor!

It's just difficult sometimes to say "NO!"  We work on our boundaries, but we always have a few people in our lives that make it difficult to tell them no.  

Maybe we need to look at this in a different perspective?
Change the word from "no" to "I'll pass" or maybe "I will try one bite".

It doesn't offend the person and it won't kill your good eating behavior.  No is a harsh word at times.  Easing the blow will keep everyone a little happier!

Kindness never goes out of style....

We never know which path to take.  If we take the one to the left, will it lead us to the success we are wanting?  If we take the one to the right, will it lead us to a longer path to get to the same success?

Either way, we have to keep moving forward and learning as we go.

Ted and I have both been down both of those paths.  Each of them have given us a lesson that we use on the next path.  

We look at life as a wonderful journey that we are taking together.  It has its great moments as well as those trying moments, but how boring life would be without them.

Be kind to yourself and to others
Look for the positive in each journey
Stay focused on what is important to you or the partnership
Keep moving forward