1. Before I go to bed, I fill a water bottle and stick it in the fridge.  That way, first thing in the morning, I will be able to drink some ice cold water to wash all those toxins out and start a fresh new day.

2. Also, before I go to bed, I prepare the necessary ingredients for the the next morning’s breakfast.  Then, I will be less inclined to eat something un-healthy in the morning since the ingredients for the healthy breakfast are all ready.

3. Fill 3-5 sandwhich bags with healthy treats (like carrots, cereal, etc).  Whenever you get the munchies during the day, instead of going for a bag of chips, you’ll have those bags of yummy goodness all ready to go!

4. Make a promise to someone else that you’re going to work out at least 3-5 times a week.  That way, someone else is holding you accountable.  I promised my best friend and she’s been making sure that I’ve kept my promise.

5. Write out a work-out calendar.  For example: June 10th - 3 miles, June 11th - 1 mile+biking, June 12th - 4 miles.  Then, once you’ve completed your work-out “task” for the day, write down how long (or how much, depending on what you’re doign) it took you to do it.  This will be a great way to stay motivated to reach your goals.  If it’s written down, you HAVE to do it!

6. Join Buddyslim!  LOL.  This was one of the biggest steps that I took on my weight loss journey.  I honestly don’t know what I would do without you guys.  Thank you so much for your support, blog comments, messages, booster notes.  You’re all the best. 

Have a great Saturday.  Enjoy the sun (or in my case, lack there-of).

 ~Sarah Jade

In a world where people walk all over each other just to get ahead in life, I have finally found a place where people actually want to help each other!  A place where people will take time out of their busy day just to say, “hey, you can do it.”

So thank you, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for all of the kind and encouraging comments on yesterday’s blog.  It meant so much to me.  I wish we could all get together for one big Buddyslim reunion so I could give ya’ll a hug!

And HEY!  I ran 6.5 miles yesterday!  Not to shabby, eh?

I’m back on track, still smiling, ready to conquor, ready to make a difference.

Ah, what a beautiful day it will be!

~Sarah Jade

I know that no one’s perfect and that everyone slips up on their diet.  I know that you can get right back on track after messing up.  But I reaallllyyyy messed up last night!  And the problem is, every single bit of that colossal amount of food tasted SO GOOD!  I just want to eat more!  Oh what have I gotten myself into?  I’ve been trying so hard, and being so good, and now all I want to do is throw it away.  Not good.

…

I just need someone to tell me, “Hey!  Remember why you’re doing this!  Get it together!”

Does anyone else feel like this right now?  Like, “well…I’m not THAT much overweight, so I might as well sabotage myself and eat whatever I want.”

Anyway, life is still good, and I’m still smiling.  I just need help

~Sarah Jade

I’m in a good mood today.  My husband has off of work and we’ve been snuggling a bit.  It’s cloudy today (which means that when I run outside I won’t die of heat stroke this time).  God is good.  It’s a good day!  I hope you all are having awesome days as well.  I want to encourage you to eat some fresh fruits and veggies today.  YUM.

Well…as I promised, I have a video of myself to show you.  My friend and I were just being silly in the car on the way to one of our gigs. 

Here’s the link…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoW7Uy5DLjQ

Anyway…if anyone has any videos of themselves to show ME…that would be awesome!  I’ll put them on this blog and we’ll be one big happy video buddyslim family!

Have a good one

~Sarah Jade

P.S. - Put that McMuffin down.  You know you don’t want it

Ok…done with the jumping jacks?  Good.

I’m really excited today.  Yesterday one of my friends asked me if I wanted to be on her volleyball team for the rest of the summer.  Heck ya!  The first game is tonight.  Sweet!  Finally, I’ll be able to exercise and have fun at the same time.  Volleyball’s my absolute favorite sport to play, so I’m pumped.

Anyway, are any of you involved in some kind of organized sport?  Have you ever thought about it?  If not, why? 

That’s all for me today.  Have a good one

~Sarah Jade

I suppose you’re curious about the blog title.  It’s true…I DID go to the emergency room yesterday.  I woke up and my eye was all painful and puffy.  I lifted up the lid and there was this black spot on my eye that wouldn’t go away.  So my husband figured it would be smart to take me to the hospital.  Well…we waited about 3 and 1/2 hours to find out that I have a sty in my eye.  Go figure.  Haha.  We just looked at each other and laughed.

Anyway…now on to the good stuff!

I didn’t do to great on my diet this weekend.  I didn’t really do to badly either.  I was kind of in the middle.  I had a show with my band partner in Winona, which is about 1 1/2 hours away.  We had a BLAST!  The place we played at gave us free food…which was absolutely delicious.  Anyway, today I’m back on the diet completey.

I do want to show you guys a video from our time.  Hopefully I’ll have it uploaded by tomorrow.

Question - have any of you gone to the emergency room only to find out that nothing was wrong with you?  Isn’t it embarrassing?

Well…peace and love to everyone!!!

Have a wonderful day!

~Sarah Jade

One question - aren’t you just SICK of all of the advertisements that tell us that there’s a new “secret” to losing weight…and that we NEED to buy their product in order to be happy?

I mean…come on, people.  Eat well.  Exercise.  The end.

~Sarah Jade

I have one thing on my mind today: Life is short. 

I can get so caught up in my daily routine of work, exercise, eating, sleeping, etc. that I forget how valuable all of our time here on earth is.  So I thought I would try to spice things up a bit. 

I dare you to throw out a pair of your jeans that FITS!  You won’t be needing them for long.

I dare you to talk to a perfect stranger and ask them how their day is going.

I dare you to walk backwards on the treadmill (yeah…just be careful.  It CAN be fun)

I dare you to try peanut butter on your turkey sandwhich.  Trust me.  It’s really good. 

Do something out of the ordinary.  Do something that you would never think of doing on a normal today, because today is NOT a normal day.  You’re losing weight!  You’re becoming a new person!  So why don’t you celebrate this new chapter of your life?  Why not put on a bolder, braver attitude to go along with that slimming body of yours?

And if anyone has a dare for ME…bring it on.  I might even make a video of it.

Have an awesome, out-of-the-ordinary, mind-blowing, life-altering day!

~Sarah Jade

 OK - I’ve had a couple of requests for these pictures.  So your final dare is to mess up your hair, go wild, and take pictures of it!!!  Here is a picture that my friend and I took for our band.  It was fun!

But there it was.  A passerby glanced in my direction, turned away, took a second glance and kept staring.  Yeah, it was a bit awkward, but hey!  I got checked out at the gym!  I guess that means I’m doing something right, huh?

So I looked at myself in the mirror…and there she was.  Her legs were showing some defined muscles.  Her arms and belly weren’t as wobbly as they used to be.  Her head was held high as she ran her five miles.  She was me!

I’m so thrilled and happy and proud of myself…I just thought I would share my joy with the rest of you.

Just keep going.  Whatever you do, don’t stop!  All it takes is a positive attitude, eating well, exercising regularily, and you can have that moment!  And most importantly…never, never, ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER give up.  So tonight, if your family decides to get ice cream for dessert…just pass it up and say you’re not hungry.  Go for a glass of water instead.  If you don’t feel motivated to go to the gym today, picture yourself where you want to be and go anyway!  If you smoke, try not to smoke for the rest of the day.  If you’re tired, drink some red bull (haha just kidding…that stuff’s bad for you) :P. 

What I’m trying to say is…

You can do it.  I know you can.  YOU know you can.  So keep it up.  Just do it. (courtesy of Nike) ;P

And hey!  I got checked out at the gym!!!

~Sarah Jade

I have a different question of the day today.  I have been thinking to myself lately, “What do I really enjoy doing?  What’s my passion?”  I had a boss once who told me to do what I love to do and nothing else.  That seems almost impossible, but I see her point.  If we are truly happy, we’re healthier, we smile more, and we’re all-around more beautiful.

So what is your passion?  Are you a dancer?  Do you love to cook?  Are you a writer?  How can you go about living out your passion every day?

I have 2 passions: Pursuing my faith and singing.  One thing I noticed, when I focus on these things, I focus less on myself.  Losing weight is something that just happens (rather than me forcing it to happen).

Anyway…that’s what’s on my mind today :)  I hope you all have a wonderful day.

~Sarah Jade