Glass of wine in hand, I raise a toast for a happy, prosperous, magnificent and magical 2009! A very happy new year to you and all your loved ones. Let's make some dreams come true!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by this little blog 'o mine and took the time to read it; I know how precious our time can be. I've received some very nice responses, and some questions, too, some of which I'll be answering here. Here's one:

How did you lose the weight? 

Well, now that's the big kahuna, isn't it?! Honestly, my answer is long and winding, because I have a lot to say about that subject. There was no one single thing--rather, there were a lot of lifestyle changes on just about every level: mental, physical, spiritual. I'm still changing: a work in progress, and I haven't reached my goal yet (though after a long plateau, I'm getting closer).

Plateaus suck, don't they? Sometimes they last a few weeks, sometimes a few months, sometimes many long months. But you just have to ride through them as best as you can. 

I plan to address weight issues a lot in this blog--today's post is only the beginning. I am more than happy to share my story as it continues to unfold if it helps someone else achieve any of her goals. Because I gotta tell you: it's like being free. Living fat is living in chains. Big bloopy chains.  I thought I was happy, and I was, but I didn't know how happy I could be. And it's not just the weight, it's the healthier lifestyle. Eating well permeates my entire world, my sense of self. I still drink wine sometimes (or maybe a good glass of Jameson), still each french fries occassionally, love to eat out...but things have changed.  I love feeling healthy! And if I indulge in too much rich or processed food, I no longer feel that healthy buzzy thang...I love that healthy buzzy thing. 

So what did I do? Many things. But it begin with what I think of as 'my miracle:' I Can Make You Thin by Paul McKenna. It's a book that comes with a hypnosis CD. Unfortunately, it's only been published in England, but the good news is that we live in the world of that interweb thing and it isn't hard to find online. 

I read that book. I practiced its suggestions religiously (and I swear they were simple things, like putting down your fork between each bite of food).  It became my talisman. I listened to that CD, and in a few days time I started to notice a difference. I was eating less. I was choosing different foods. Five pounds gone in one week! Another week of listening, another five pounds gone! Of course that rate was not sustainable, but I said goodbye to most of those pounds in 8-10 months.

Oh, that's another thing. I'd rather not say "I lost weight." It sounds like that weight will find you again, and I don't want it back! Buh-bye pounds. You are not longer needed. Consider yourself banished. Forever. And ever. Amen. Happily ever after. 

I'm not on Paul McKenna's payroll. I don't know the man at all. But he helped me. I still listen to that CD once a week or so. I'm not taking any chances! 

Will it work for you? I have no idea. But if you're ready for a change, if you want to approach things from the inside, maybe it's worth a try. But whatever path you choose, I can promise you that if you choose to make yourself healthier, you will be giving yourself the gift of bliss. Everything in life goes better when you feel good. 

I thought about posting a "before" photo on this blog from my fat days, but I hear those old bandstands still air on cable access for all to see. I'm grateful that I'm on a different cable system, and never have to risk flipping through the channels and landing on one of them! You know how it is, right? Why look back at who we were? Who we are is so much better. Yeah, again, we're works in progress, but I love that about life. We always, always have a chance to choose...

Please, if there's anything specific about this topic you'd like to know from my perspective, just ask.

Yes, exercise was and is essential for my well-being, and I've fallen in love with Kundalini Yoga. For years I thought I was too fat for it (had I only heard about big-ass-yoga!  Seriously! There's a website!), so for starters I used a rebounding machine. I could exercise and distract myself (kind of like tricking myself), anything to get through that half hour a day. Now I do about an hour of yoga daily, and it's turned out to be the best possible exercise for my body. Kundalini Yoga is profound, sublime...even on days when I don't feel like doing it, as soon as I start I'm so grateful. It has improved my mood, reduced my stress, expanding my ability to be open...yeah, lots more to write about that, too.

Time to go, because I think my sauerkraut is just about ready! I'm half Irish, half Italian, but I gotta have my mashed potatoes and sauerkraut  on New Year's! But now I make the taters with rice milk and a little safflower oil.

It's good! I swear!