clay/henry - 12 April 2007 01:57 PM

Emmi… as far as investing retirement funds, I would recommend checking to see if you have mutual funds available to invest in that are called “Lifestyle Funds”.

Basically, a lifestyle fund is a mix of investments that reflect a typical level of investment risk based on your age (more risky if you are younger, mix of investments progressively becomes less risky as you get older). I am very close to your age, and almost all of my investments are in a fund called “Advanced Outlook 2040"… with 2040 being the expected year I will retire. This is a perfect type of mutual fund for people like yourself who wants to stash money away for retirement without having to think about the best way to invest it. Just a suggestion.


I double dare you to talk to that guy, Emmi!!

Thanks for the tip, C/H. I did end up with a Lifestyle Fund. We’ll see how it goes.
Now you’re daring me????????? Come on guys!!!

What’s inside Emmi’s head today?

Goals. Goals are in my head. What do I want to be when I grow up? Seriously, what do I want for the long haul?

1. I want to reach my healthy weight. I’m 5’6” and currently 194 lbs. According to my height and large bone structure I should be between 130-140. I would like to get there by the end of this year, but if I lose only one pound a week it will take me a little over a year from today. I’d like to lose two pounds a week but I know that my body will fight that every step of the way since the losing slows down as you keep going. I’ve done this before and have hit plateaus many times.

2. I want to be able to stay off diabetic medications forever, like I am right now. When I was first diagnosed back in 2001 with Type 2 diabetes I was at my all time high weight of 248 lbs. In a little over a year’s time I lost 78 lbs. and was at 170. Since then I regained about 40 lbs and saw 210 this past January. My sugar levels had been getting above where they should be and I was very concerned that my doctor was going to make me take meds again. Since I re-started working out and dropping weight (lost 16 lbs. since Jan. 22) my glucose readings have returned to normal. One of my biggest fears is having to go through all of the scary diabetic complications that people face when they don’t take care of themselves. Diabetes is a frightening silent killer.

3. I want to have a more constant positive outlook on life. I’ve been fighting depression for so long. I have decided to change my mind and laugh in the face of life’s curveballs. Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes it lasts for a season sometimes it sticks with you for life. Roll with it....

4. I want to be able to make good healthy decisions without a second thought. I want it to be second nature. I am the boss of me. The only person I can truly count on to take care of me is me. I am responsible for my actions and how I feel.

5. I want to find a boyfriend and, in due time, a husband that shares my values. I want to have a family. I want a man that respects me and supports my decisions. I want a partner, a friend. I want true love. I know it’s out there. I see people falling in love all the time. I want it to be my turn! My clocks ticking.....

6. I want a job that I love and can’t wait to do every day- and get paid for it! I don’t think I need to elaborate any further here.

7. I want a real house with a yard so that I can have a green house, a garden and a little dog. I love fresh herbs, vegetables, fruit and flowers. I don’t mind getting a little dirty. My condo unit that I have right now is on a third floor and too small for a doggie.

8. I want to get back in touch with my creative self. I’ve been very unmotivated lately when it comes to my art. I have a second bedroom that I converted into my studio. I have all of my beading supplies, silversmithing tools, paints and easle in there. Everything is very dusty....

That is all I can think of right now. I wanted to come up with 10 goals but 8 is ok for now. Everyone have a great weekend. I’ll see y’all on Monday. TGIF!

Emmi,

What a great post! I think eight is a great number, we are too fixated on certain numbers like 10.

Once again, what a great set of goals!!!

Yeah… that’s right M… why do goals have to be listed in round numbers???

As a matter of fact, I have 6.762 goals!!

I love the goals too… I remember condo living and couldn’t wait to be in a freestanding house with a yard. We have been in our house for 8 years and perhaps I need to reflect back and realize how lucky I am to not have to share walls with someone else!

There is a reason why they call that the “American Dream”!

Hey Emmi, great goals. I know you can make them happen.

Bree

Sounds like the ‘secret’ is about happen in your life....your motivated, directed in knowing what you want...the universe just WANTS to give it to you!

Thanks, M, C/H, Bree and Tom. I can’t wait to see or read “The Secret.” I’m on the waiting list at the local library for the book, audio CD and the DVD. I saw a little of it on the internet but it’s hard to watch that while I am working.

What’s In Emmi’s Head Today?
Well, I had quite the interesting weekend. About 2 months ago I purchased a ticket, along with my girlfriends, to ride a Limo Bus on Saturday night to go to 5 different clubs and go dancing. I have been really cutting back on my alcohol consumption so I knew that this was going to be a challenging bus trip for me. There were 20 of us gals ranging from 21 to 40 and we were all dressed to kill. I felt very good in my recently shrinking body and was anxious to go dancing. There was so much booze on the bus. Since I didn’t have to drive and the bus dropped us off at our respective homes at the end of the night I allowed myself a few drinks. And I mean a few, not the dozens I would have had a few weeks ago. Well I can’t say that about the rest of the girls. They were all tanked. Our bus driver had strings of beads ready to pass out to anyone who wanted to “earn” them. It ended up being Girl’s Gone Wild. I was the first to “earn” my beads. I’ve never done that before in my entire life. It was so funny and I wasn’t drunk! I ended up with 2 sets of beads! Me! I can’t believe I did that. My poor mother would be horrified! LOL! The best part of the night was that we got to go dancing at some really cool clubs. I had a blast and I have no regrets and I woke up feeling great the next day! Everyone else was super hung-over. haha
BTW: Guys, no I didn’t take any pictures! What happens on the bus, stays on the bus! 

Glad you had a “real good time”, Emmi… and no, I wasn’t going to ask to see pictures!

Great job on moderating the alcohol consumption! Whenever I drink alcohol, I always hear Scott’s voice in my head stating “How do you want to feel?” I think to myself “I don’t want to feel like crud in the morning” so I’ll stop after a few drinks. (Well… I will most of the time, I am still working on improving in this area.)

Emmi

Just catching up on your post after my own girls gone wild vacation.  I love your goals, my only comment is to get the ‘want’ out of them.  Remember when you say that you want something, the Universe tends to bring exactly that, more want.  That can be one of the hardest parts of goal setting and getting the Secret to work for you.  You must see your goals as real and not just something that might happen in the distant future.  I don’t know how many times I’ve rewritten my goals over the years.  Sometimes to expand them, especially after reaching a milestone along the way, sometimes modifying them because my dreams change with time, sometimes because I’ve allowed myself to grow beyond some of the old goals.  You have a great start, and I’m sure that as you start your journey, there will be some minor adjustments along the road.  I’m still asking myself “what do I want to be when I grow up”.  That’s what makes life so much fun, if you never stop growing, you never really grow up. 

Congratulations on the way you managed Girl’s Night Out.  Dancing is lots of fun and a great workout.  I think you can have much more fun when you’re sober, and the bonus is feeling great the next day and remembering what you did.

Great job managing yourself like you wanted and having fun! Hang your beads somewhere in your office to give yourself a smile whenever the bickersome twins are at it.

Bree

Bree - 16 April 2007 07:23 PM

Great job managing yourself like you wanted and having fun! Hang your beads somewhere in your office to give yourself a smile whenever the bickersome twins are at it.

Bree

I’ve got my beads on my bulletin board! LOL!! And as far as these two “be-yatches” are concerned..... I refuse to let them bother me any more. I am doing my job and if they don’t like it, tough! I AM THE BOSS OF ME AND HOW I WANT TO FEEL!!!! That’s all that’s in my head today, folks. Time to get some work done and listen to my daily boost!

Thanks for pointing out to me about the “wants” in my goals, Paula. I will work on revising those. I guess that makes sense. I wish the waiting list for “The Secret” wasn’t so long.

Emmi,
Great job staying in control of yourself this past weekend!!  That has to make you feel really good to be able to go out, have a great time and keeps things in moderation as far as the drinks go!! GREAT JOB!!!!!  Also some awesome goals too!!  You are a woman on the move!! Watch out world here comes Emmi and she is ready to rock and roll!!!  Keep your head up and lets see how you can turn your goals into reality.  Thanks for keeping us posted on your progress.

Here is to healthy living,

Scooby

Watch out, world is right, Scoob.

What’s in Emmi’s Head Today?
Well something that Scott said recently to the effect of not losing your fitness level after taking a exercise vacation has been on my mind. I have been going to my gym for the past 4.5 years. The last two+ years I had been averaging about 2 times per week. Before that 5-6 times per week when I was at 170lbs. Now I’m back to 5-6 times per week and will probably average 6 times per week at the rate I am going. My point is this. Even though I slowed down, ate poorly, drank a lot more, and gained back 40lbs. of weight, I was still able to get right back on the gym-wagon and workout at the intensity that I had a couple years ago. I started out a bit slow but I managed to get back to where I was intensity-wise in about 2 weeks. I think that’s amazing. The human body is an amazing thing with an amazing memory. I even started running, something I stopped working on when I restarted smoking a couple years ago. (I’m 3.5 months quit now and never looking back.)

You’d think that the weight would be flying off faster. That is troubling me. I think I scared my fat so bad that it’s afraid to leave! But I see the difference. I feel the difference. People are noticing and talking. My clothes fit better. I pulled out an old pair of tan slacks that were way too snug before and I am wearing them today. Maybe I’m replacing my fat with muscle? Possibly? I’ve heard that can happen. I know that one of these days that scale is going to show me what I want to see. My fat can’t hang out that long. There’s just no way. Maybe my scale is broken? That would be too simple. HA!
Ciao!

The scale isn’t broken, just a little slow to catch on.  Actually it’s your body clinging to that weight until it accepts that the new lifestyle is for real, and yes, you are adding muscle too.  Once your body realizes that you are movin’ for life, it will be comfortable letting those pounds go.  Just keep doing what you’re doing and eventually the weight will come off.  It’s great that you have some other measures to gauge your progress.  The tan slacks, for example.

You’ll probably be down a couple pounds after your aunt leaves.  I thought I read that you lost over 10 pounds already? Am I mistaken?

Bree