Taking on my life.

I have taken on my whole self. I'm quiting smoking,, losing the weight and going through my entire house to get rid of the excess. In this world we just have too much stuff! don't get me wrong stuff is awesome. what with the doohickies, thing-a-ma-bobs, and whatchamicallits ohh what goodies! BUT Too much of anything is bad! and I have too much of alot in my life and I just woke up one morning tripped over the still packed boxes by my bed, stubbed my toe on the extra dresser in the living room ..(we had 6) sat down to have a cig and glared with discust at the over flowing ashtray, my bf brought home breakfast,( hardee's and lots of it) and I scowled at the greasy paper and then at my chubby belly. waddled into the bathroom and picked up a dusty scale (last time I was on it was a year ago) and saw the needle zoom up to 250. I didn't get upset or cry or pout (which I normaly would do) I got mad! At myself! I looked up from the scale and right into the mirror in front of me and said "This is not me!I don't want to be that!" Stormed out of the room and attacked the house, which was a mess! I had boxes and furniture everywhere. We moved in in July and I still hadn't unpacked! I hadn't hung any pictures or decorated any rooms. I have never spent more than 3 years in one house. And EVERYTHING in my life has been "I'll take care of that after I finish this but first I have to do that but I have to wait till after such and such" For the past 5 years everything has been turned upside down and inside out but now that everything has stopped and I can breathe I'm still there waiting for it all to screw up again. I'm getting married in May >crosses fingers< and we just bought a house! no more renting or landlords or roomates to kick you out or over charge you. no more living in my car! amen!

It's hard for me to let go and say -this is mine- that was even hard to type. This house is mine. I will no longer have to move. I actualy made myself cry tping that. I I can plant flowers in my yard if I want to! I have a porch!!

ok I'm better now. I had to go have a cry. It's just..I made myself say it out loud for the first time and I believed myself. "This is MY house. MY home" I have hit rock bottom too many times in my life and pulled myself back up. Sometimes with help sometimes on my own. But the other week I had a true look at myself and was ashamed and angry that I let myself get so bad. My health, my weight, everything- I had let it get out of hand. I have to take back control of myself again!

This is just the beginning but so far in the past 2 weeks I completed unpacking the LR, Kitchen, bathroom and computer room, got a new roof put on the porch and we're having the railing fixed, started planing gardens- lots of them all over the yard! I have 2 acres to play with!, I've lost 5 lbs, and I've went 2 days without a cig. Lordy don't the wheels turn slow and the first miles are the hardest! But I can do it!. I don't know why, I just KNOW I can do it! It's my life, it's my choice, and I chose to be different than I have been! I will lose this weight, I will remove all the clutter from my life and mind! I will be a better person! And I believe that you can do the same!

If you want to start over with me. Do it! You have to WANT this change in every part of your life. What you eat, how you think, what your holding on to. Everything bad that has been holding me back I plan to change, fix, or demollish! Sometimes I need a kick in the pants, a jump start, or simply a pat on the back to make it through the tough bits. And I'm sure you do too.

Please no Negative Nelly's, Grumpy Gus's, or Put Down Pam's! A positive change is what we want!

 Wow that was super long sry for that lol

WTG!!  An excellent beginning, and even though I'm not a newbie, I still got a long way to go.  You sound like I did when I started, and how I still feel today.

This is my problem and nobodys going to fix it but me.  I do get a lot of support here on CC+, and the tools are very useful.  But still, we have to own what is ours.  I'm the one who made myself 650ish pounds, and I'm the one who has gotten it down to 442.  And if I can do it, so can anybody else.

Great attitude I hear in your voice, and I don't mind long messages at all.  Feel free to drop me a line if you need to talk to someone.

Duke 

 

Thanks!

And bravo to you for owning your life! Keep up the great work!!

 

 

 

~^*^~ Nikki~^*^~

Changing my world; One pound at a time.

I'm with you, too! My motto in life - beginning August 18th - is MEDIOCRITY IS NO LONGER AN OPTION!

I am claiming my magnificence from this day forward, and I'll be happy to help you on your way (assuming you'll do the same for me.)

Way to take charge of your life Nikki!  Congratulations!

It is so funny how everything seems to be tied to gether.. stress... too much stuff... To much clutter  too much excess in food or what ever your poison may be..

It is liberating to take charge!  way to go!!!!

I made this thread in hopes of getting help and offering it. It's here for anyone who needs it! Everyone learns from everyone else. What one person may find easy another can't figure out. I'll be here for those who need me.

 

 

  ~^*^~ Nikki~^*^~

What Jo said-

 MEDIOCRITY IS NO LONGER AN OPTION!AMEN!

I'm going to start posting what I've accomplished daily/weekly that I've been putting off. Or an achievement I've starting and hope to stick to.

Today I cleaned out the "junk" shed and hauled off a whole truck load of crap cluttering my life. It took 5 hours and a lot of lifting. whew boy am I pooped! That shed was packed to the rafters with 50 years of junk. Another plus is I found an exercise bike, a treadmill, and some old Richard Simmons work out tapes lol

The bike is still good, retro 70's style baby, lol. The treadmill was an old manual one with a cassette player built in (classy) but the belt was too stretched out the tensioner couldn't pull it tight enough and every time I tried to just stand on it I'd wizz backwards. So it was bound for the dump! 

It was soooo hard to toss some of that stuff. Most of it was in the shed when I moved in. Stuff my Aunt and Uncle had packed in there over the last 50 years the other half was my stuff I just tossed in there when I moved. I found 6 sets of dishes from the 50's nice too. Ebay will be seeing some of those lol But you know what? tossing my endless stacks of magazines and christmas boxes and knicknacks made me feel good afterwards. I won't miss it. heck I haven't even seen any of that stuff for almost a year. There was two stacks of sheets and linens taller than I was in there! >breathes deep< ahhhh no more clutter. Atleast in the first shed..four more to go lmao.

 

 

  ~^*^~ Nikki~^*^~

Evicting my inner pack rat.

nikki, I applaud your attitude and the fact that you are deciding to take control over your life!

However, be forewarned and aware that if you take too many things on at a time it can be overhwelming and your likelihood of failure goes up. You know the saying "Jack of all trades but master at none" Sometimes it's better to take it one step at a time. I'm NOT saying it CAN'T be done just that it is more difficult.

My $.02

Nikki- I love your attitude.  I've come to many of the same conclusions lately and have decided to do some "house-cleaning" as well.  Stress has been my middle name lately.  I've got clutter driving me crazy, I'm tired of being fat and inactive, and I'm tired of smoking cigarettes.  Your post has made me realize that they're all connected, and I didn't even realize it.

YOU ROCK, GIRL!

 

caeribaeri- Exactly! everything is connected!

By attacking the clutter you are-dare i say- exercising! Getting more active and getting an uncluttered house all at once! Once you start being more active it gives you more energy! I am amazed by eating the right calories and getting my butt moving I've found I have so much energy! I was a major couch potato. I was tired all the time now I can walk across my 2 acres and not be too winded when before I'd stop 1/2 way for a breather. which brings me to cigarettes! They smell up the house clog you lungs quitting will make you feel so much better and breathing better is a plus! i'm still struggling with it but when your working, cleaning, or exercising you find you have less want for one its the watching tv or sitting idle that makes me want one badly ugg and the after I eat is the worst! I found that when I want one I grab a water bottle or find something to do!

I've spent years in this rut and no, taking it all on at once is not good but start with one thing like a table keep it uncluttered for a week then spread out. Clutter is a virus! It spreads! Be the anti-virus! If you start on a whole room you wont finish I've tried it never works. Pick a spot and start there. Example: my computer room. There was 4 desks, 2 computers, 5 chairs, 5 shelves of varying sizes, a couch, 2 end tables, a small chest, a china hutch and 3 vacuum cleaners all in a roughly10x 15ft room not to mention papers piled on EVERYTHING! I tried many times to "organize" that room. never worked. So I started with what do I need and what do I want. Figure ONLY what you have to have. If theres room left you can keep a few things you want. 2 computers I needed only 2 desks and 2 chairs. all else Goodwill! or find a friend who needs them. Once you move out all the unwanted furniture pick a spot and keep it clean, like the desk, do it everyday add one then spread to more things to clean that day not like the whole room just one thing in the room. You will be amazed at how good that clean spot looks that you will start adding more and more stuff and soon you walk in and say"OMG all I have to do in here is dust! woo hoo!" The computer room took me a whole week to finish! but it looks great and I can walk through it!

 

~^*^~ Nikki~^*^~

It starts with a ripple, and becomes a tidal wave.

You have an amazing attitude nikki.  It is very similar to some of the principals of Feng Shui.  Clearing the clutter from your home and allowing the energy to flow freely through it will invite a new, exciting, and positive change.  You have to make room for the new by clearing out the old.  My problem is trying to find the time.  Where do you find it?  I can't seem to get some of the basics into my day.  I'm know this will change as the baby gets a little older, but arg...  ;o)

It is easier for me that I work at home and that my daughter is in school most of the day. Like so far today I  took her to school, unloaded the washer, emptied out 2 cabinets in the kitchen and scrubbed the stove, talked with Jon about the pond I want out back, posted on here lol, oh and hand washed a load of dishes. and it's only about 9am(I was up at 6:30). I still have to empty the whole kitchen and go through all the dishes and stuff to figure what I'm keeping scrub all counters and cabinets, put in new shelf paper, sweep and mop, pick my kid up from school, help her with homework, put together some angels(my work), do some laundry, fix dinner(mm chicken and rice tonight) umm I  think thats about it for planned stuff today. See 3 weeks ago My day would be ---take kid to school, sleep in till noon, eat lunch, load dishwasher, watch tv, pick kid up, help with homework, get online, make dinner, go to bed and maybe if I felt like it clean something. You have to just start small and work your way up, like I said before just pick one thing, something small and just do it everyday and then it becomes a habit. See my mom was the same way she had 4 kids and 2 jobs no time to clean but she made herself  start one thing at a time and now she's got  a beautifully clean house and she can't sleep if the kitchen is dirty lol

this is totally what I needed to read right now.. im pms'ing, bitchy, tired, and unmotivated but then I come across this thread and It's like.. zap.. a light switch that comes on to remind me of the path Im on. (thanks for that)

I too have lived a unstable rocky life of constant moves, living on couches and out of boxes for too long, oh and absolutely filled with clutter. 5 months ago my awakening started when I quit smoking and quit drinking (with a little help from a 12 step group) I lost 13lbs so then I looked hard at myself in the mirror, all the 12 step stuff had me examing myself pretty hard (im on the 5th step for any who know what that is...) and I was just sick of it all - plain disgusted with myself. so i waited till i picked up my 90 day chip and then tore off in a new direction. I started dieting, exercising, I cleaned out my closet (that was a 3 hour event) cleaned my car out, got all the clutter out of my house, and dusted everything. (i wasn't sure i knew what my furniture looked like w/o that lovely film of dust all over it) Now i did hold back a wee bit.. my office is still a shameful wreck and I have done practically nothing to work on my business either so i think that was the perfect little reminder of what my goals are, adn what i need to do to achieve them - so much for the salsa class tonight,  Im going to clean my office :)

Isn't it funny how you have no idea how to "decorate" a house after living in boxes for years? It's like what's wrong with my milk crate end table huh!? lmao  I was so bad at one point I still had my mattress on the floor not because I had to but because I just never but the frame together as it leaned against the wall beside the bed for over a year.

 

~^*^~Nikki~^*^~

Can you say PROCRASTINATOR? I know that you can.

yea, i only have 2 flower arrangements and my paintings on the walls, thats not very much deco for a 3/2..  i just emptied my last box and put all my books on a shelf a few weeks ago. (ive been in the house for 2 yrs now) I cant wait till I feel the way you do about a home though. i still dont have that stability feeling yet. Hopefully with all of the changes im planning for myself I can create that reality down the road.

We got our first family pic made last month my grandma had it framed and after hanging it on the bare wall I started looking around and realized every wall in my house was empty. every wall in my last house was empty. I don't have profesional paintings or matching anything lol. but I do have the things that matter to me put up now. The painting my Dad+ Mom gave me. our family pic, and a print I had in my room when I was 12(put that one in my daughters room) Sometimes you don't need everything to match just so long as it's displayed well. I help decorate friends houses and my grandmas and they all say my style is Shabby Chic/retro lmao I say it's junkyard hunt n find fabulous. lol

I have a beautiful 50's kitchen in turquois and chrome. so pretty but I have 200 different kinds of plates cups and bowls lol. I had 4 sets in the kitchen and found 6 more in the shed! Goodwill got a big truck load this afternoon and I got a less cluttered kitchen. I started at 9 and didn't stop till 4pm I'm beat! tomorrow I will be soaking my tired little feet and taking a much deserved rest while I cross stich something pretty. >wonders to self<could I get the man to make me dinner tomorrow....hahha yeah right he'd just burn me some toast. Maybe I can make him get me a big chef salad from subway. mmmm subway >drools<

 

~^*^~Nikki~^*^~

Dang it! Now I want subway!

That's so funny - I just finished Subway cuz dh had a few "issues" with dinner.  Sweet onion teriyaki ...mmmmmm.  Congrats on all the work you've accomplished.  My jealousy has made me realize that this weekend has a Domestic Goddess feel to it, I can tell. ;o)

uuhhhh chicky teriaki >whines<   so not fair    >pouts beautifully<

yay! a fellow Domestic Goddess. lol. When ever I have to fill out stuff I always put Domestic Goddess under occupation lol 

For taking on you life start here>>>

http://www.flylady.net/index.asp

Remember baby steps

OK so yesterday was my "day off" lol. But back to work today I cleaned off the porch tons on sawdust and wood chips. but the porch roof is finished yay! It looks so pretty, Big THANKS to grandma for getting that for us. Today is Bathroom day. scrubby all the nasties out! I found a hamper out in the shed I'm going to put in there and pray the family figures out how to USE it lol. I found 3 hampers out there so our room, Rose's room, and the bathroom all get one. First thing I did to help the clutter in the bathroom was pour all the almost empty but I can't seem to throw it away or use it shampoos into one bottle, squish all the tiny slivers of soap into a one big ball, and put all my daughter's bathtoys in a mesh baggy that hangs over the faucet so I don't keep stepping on them in the floor or the bottom of the tub when I go to take a shower.

 

~^*^~Nikki~^*^~

::sings:: Oh The bathroom bluuuuuuues baby....

Nikki, way to go. I am working on similar issues. Weight loss is the number one but i also want to declutter my life. We are remodleing the bathroom right now so I have a huge mess and no bathroom. When it's done the next priority will be to get rid of junk. My goal is to have the house looking good by Christmas. Every year we have Christmas in the middle of the rest of the mess. This year I want to have the house cleaned up and enjoy the decorations.  YES YES YES I will do it.
I have been doing a lot of walking and working out on my trampoline. It does make me feel better