Hi All,

The countdown is on, 13 days to the Women's Show. I have experienced the temptation to stray off my diet again. This last week I lost my Dad and grief sure tries it's best to think you need to eat and eat to try to fill the void. But I knew that my Dad was proud of my work so far and he would hate it if I gave in to temptation and ruined my hard work. So, I may not have worked out all week but, I did watch what I ate so hopefully it will reflect in the scale when I meet with David Dade from CoxHealth Fitness Centers. So now I have made it through a vacation and grief so I know that my thinking has completely changed. It is amazing when I realize how much I have changed in a year. I am looking forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks.

Ida Davis

Hi All,

I am so ready for winter to be over with. Now that I have lost weight and feel more energized I am so looking forward to getting outside to plant flowers and do yard work. I just finished reading the book Do I Look Fat in This and will be moving on to How To Change Your Life in 30 Days. That will take me up to the Women's Show. There, my time with the Lifestyle Makeover will be handed over to someone else. But my journey is not over. I now know this is a lifetime change. When I started this journey, I worried that when the support was gone that I would slide back into my "bad" habits. Now, because of the tools I have been given by the CoxHealth Fitness Centers, Rosie Laughlin, David Dade and Tom Stagner I can carry on from here. Plus, the fact that I got some wonderful smaller clothes from Tanger Outlet Center makes me want to lose even more weight.

Till next time,
Ida

Hi all,

I can't believe it is a little over a month until the next KGBX Woman's Show. It is amazing how time has flown. I am still hard at work changing my lifestyle. I am finding it is a day by day challenge. I made it through the holidays plus a week's vacation in Jamaica without blowing all my hard work. I put everything that David, Tom and Rosie have taught me up to this point into action and it actually wasn't that hard to stay on course. I had many opportunities to go overboard but didn't. I ate small portions of salads, fruits and meats and didn't feel deprived. It is amazing how once I stopped eating sweets that it doesn't bother me. I am still working my way through the book "Do I look fat in this?" I highly recommend getting this book. Because of what I have read so far, I was able to buy a swimsuit and actually be seen out in public with it on!!! I have not had my picture taken much lately because I hated the way I looked and because of that I lost a lot of opportunities to make memories with my family. Not anymore. I know now that I have to be able to look in a mirror and know that I am doing the steps to change my lifestyle and rejoice about how far I have come. See you in a few weeks. I’m looking forward to meeting with you at the KGBX Women’s Show.

Ida Davis

Hi all,

I did it. I made it through Thanksgiving without blowing my diet. I am so proud of myself. In the past I would stuff myself to miserable and then eat dessert! Not this year. It finally clicked in my head (and with Dave's help CoxHealth Fitness Centers) that this is up to me to make it possible. I ate small servings of dinner and had a very small piece of pie. I kept within my calorie intake with the boundaries I have set for myself. It is amazing how when you get it right in your head then it all comes easy. The eating right and exercising. Don't get me wrong, it is still hard to get up at 5 a.m. to go to the gym, but I do it.

Rosie has me reading a new book. It is by Rhonda Britten called "Do I look fat in this?" I highly recommend this book. I am really enjoying reading this one. It has helped me realize that my body is ok just the way it is. I do want to keep improving it but I feel better about going on vacation in January. I bought some clothes that are 1 to 2 sizes smaller than I am right now. I was thinking that would really get me motivated to get smaller by January so I can wear them. After reading just two chapters of the book, I realized I am putting unnecessary stress on myself. So, I am going to do my best to fit but if I don't then I sure won't be miserable on my vacation. I am actually going to buy a bathing suit also. I haven't bought one of those for years! It is amazing how much my thinking has changed since starting this journey. I hope that in some small way, I have been able to motivate you to make changes in your life. It just takes one step. Whether it is starting an exercise program or just cutting down on portion size.

Until next time, take care and God bless,
Ida Davis

Wow--can't believe it has already been three months since I started this lifestyle makeover. It has been a wonderful, exciting and sometimes frustrating adventure. To date I have lost 22 lbs. People are finally noticing and that is really nice but watching the scale go down so slowly can be frustrating. David Dade, my nutritionist says that is the best way to lose weight and keep it off. One to two pounds per week but that can be very disheartening also. I kept hearing I would have the "ah ha" moment. That came a few weeks ago when I went for my appointment with David at  CoxHealth Fitness Centers. I told him what I had for lunch the day before. My job brought in smoothies for lunch and I ate a healthy sandwich of Turkey and Avocados. I told him of having a smoothie and he looked me straight in the eyes and said "You know that smoothie wiped out a week's worth of exercise?" That stopped me in my tracks. I will be honest with you. I am not one who likes exercising. I get up Monday through Friday and go to the gym at 5:30 in the morning but if I could stay in bed, I would. But I get up and exercise because I want the results. To hear that I wiped out a week's worth with one bad choice really woke me up. That smoothie might have been good but wasn't worth that.

On a better note, I went and met with Nancy Merry at Derma Health. She is a wonderful woman. To hear her age and to see her, she looked younger than me!!! That got me excited for whatever they wanted to do with me. I told her "Do what you want, I am putty in your hands." This is just an exciting adventure.

I went to Tanger Outlet Center again last weekend to use another gift certificate. I visited Van Heusen and oh man, what a wonderful shop. Thanks to the sales girl who was so patient with me because I kept taking things off the mannequin.

I am looking forward to more adventures to come my way and to bring you along with me. Until next time, be safe and healthy.
Ida

Hi all,

I can't believe it has actually been a month now since I started this journey. I have learned a lot and hit a few speed bumps along the way.

Dave, my nutritionist, has taught me so much. He has put me on a 1300 calorie a day diet. When he first told me that I thought "oh that will be a piece of cake!!" Not literally but figuratively. Yeah right, that bubble burst really quick. It is amazing how you can hit your limits of carbs and fats very quickly. But I guess if this was going to be an easy journey, then there wouldn't be such a problem with obesity in this country. I am determined to get a handle on it though. Right now I am only losing about a pound a week, which he says is good. Better than gaining right? I try not to get frustrated with myself. Plus, I treat myself to a Subway sandwich after each visit.

I have been going to the CoxHealth Fitness Centers gym 5 days a week at 5:30 a.m. Didn't know before this started that there was a 5:30 in the morning! I know I should go to the gym in the evening but it just doesn't seem to work out well that way. I meet with Tom my trainer every couple of weeks to review my work out program. I know now that I need someone to be there to push me because I do the routine that he has me do but I am sure I don't push myself as hard as I should. It is all a learning program right?

I talk with Rosie, my life coach, once a week on the phone. She has taught me some good lessons. She has me writing down 5 acknowledgments and 5 gratitude's each day. It is amazing how hard it is to think of 5 acknowledgments each day. I am doing my best and hopefully will get easier as I go.

I went to Tanger Outlet Center in Branson today to use one of my certificates. I want to say a big thank you to Izod for providing it for me. Your store is awesome and I got some really cute shirts that I can't wait to wear.

I also wanted to give a big thank you to KGBX, CoxHealth and CoxHealth Fitness Centers. Thank you all for giving me this opportunity to improve my life. Matter of fact, my husband brought something to my attention Saturday that I hadn't noticed. He said "You don't take the naps like you used to". I realized how true that was. I used to work all day, come home fix dinner then I was so exhausted that I would just sit in the recliner and veg out, Now I am starting to have more energy and actually started getting back on my Wii Fit in the evenings. I can never tell you all how much I appreciate the support I have been given.

Until next time,
Ida

Hi my name is Ida Davis and I have the great pleasure to say I am the 2010 Lifestyle Makeover winner. My life was forever changed on 2-27-10. That is the day I attended the KGBX Women's Show and signed up for the Lifestyle Makeover contest. The next 10 weeks were awesome. I started a walking regime with my co-worker, Annette, and started attending the 4 courses offered through the program. The light finally came on that it was up to me, with the help of a lot of people, to make a change in my life. Through the daily food journals we filled out, I was able to see that I had to control what I ate. 

Now fast forward to July. I have met with Tom my trainer and David the nutritionist. They are both awesome and are helping me on this journey. I have met with Sandy the nurse at the CoxHealth Meyer Center. She is such a jewel and even now when she sees me she is so encouraging.

I hope you will come along on this journey with me and hopefully it will encourage you to take that first step. I want to thank KGBX, CoxHealth, the CoxHealth Fitness Centers, Rosie Laughlin, DermaHealth and Tanger Outlet Centers. You will never know just how much you are changing my life. Thank you all.

Ida Davis