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Ball-Pythons.net Forums - Blogs http://ball-pythons.net/forums/blog.php Ball python care and information as well as community driven content covering all manner of reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates - from boas to ball and blood pythons to bearded dragons and brachys. Have questions? We have answers! Come join our unique community and create your own photo gallery, compete in monthly contests, classifieds, calendered events and so much more. Got balls? We got you covered! en Sun, 19 May 2013 13:49:52 GMT vBulletin 60 http://ball-pythons.net/forums/images/themes/default/misc/rss.jpg Ball-Pythons.net Forums - Blogs http://ball-pythons.net/forums/blog.php DIY 9 Tub Breeder Rack (lightweight plastic shelving unit) http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?78-DIY-9-Tub-Breeder-Rack-(lightweight-plastic-shelving-unit) Sun, 24 Mar 2013 21:59:52 GMT

Originally Posted by SlitherinSisters

I saw a video on YouTube on how to make this rack and I love it! It's very easy to make, fairly inexpensive, lightweight, and you can take it apart in minutes.

The finished product, it will cost just under $300 including the flexwatt. I'm still debating on putting sides on the rack, it's nice to be able to see any breeding going on without opening the tub.

What you will need to buy:

You will need two of these shelving units from Home Depot, they are 2x3 feet, and 5 shelves high, $50 each, link

2 sheets of 1/8th whiteboard/hardboard, $12 each. You will need to cut them down into 2x3 foot sections, you will use all of them and there will only be 2 small extra pieces.

9 plastic 41qt tubs, I got mine at Walmart, I think they are $8 each http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-...-of-6/10401039

9, 1 foot sections of 12 inch flexwatt $27, with connectors ~$50 (plus shipping), I get mine from Reptile Basics

2 packs of composite window shims, $2 each link to lowes

And of course tape/screws/etc.

Ok, now for the fun part, building!

Your whiteboard is already cut into 2x3 foot sections, now you need to cut out the corners, just enough to make room for the posts

We clamped several pieces together so it took less cutting. 2x2 inches should be enough, we did 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 to be safe.

Once you have those cut you put them on the underside of the shelf, remember the white board is the lid of your tub. You could put it where the tub sits as well, but it's really not necessary. The way I see it heat rises so there shouldn't be a lot of heat loss.

On the shelf

3 screws down the sides and 2 screws on the front and the back are enough. Just make sure you put the screws on the front next to the posts so your tubs don't rub on them.

Here you can see the screw next to the post on the front side of the rack, your tub will not be that far over, I was just measuring the width I needed.

It's always nice to have helpers

]]> SlitherinSisters http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?78-DIY-9-Tub-Breeder-Rack-(lightweight-plastic-shelving-unit) So I can keep track of my glowing/laying/oving timeline http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?77-So-I-can-keep-track-of-my-glowing-laying-oving-timeline Sun, 10 Mar 2013 16:03:13 GMT (I keep a blog of sorts on my site so I can keep track of dates) February, I have pictures of her head looking like this in January too Image: http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t47/enzoleya/Isis/2010-11%20Breeding/007-11.jpg Image:... (I keep a blog of sorts on my site so I can keep track of dates)

February, I have pictures of her head looking like this in January too

May, that means she was glowing for 1-2 months before she ovulated

Same girl another year

January

May

January

April, roughly 2 months of glowing before ovulation

Another year with the girl above, I call the neck glow the beginning of glowing, so far I've had 100% accuracy on whether or not they will lay if they have that neck glow. Granted I've only had 7 clutches, but still...

January

April, ovulation

]]> SlitherinSisters http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?77-So-I-can-keep-track-of-my-glowing-laying-oving-timeline A quick update on my collection http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?76-A-quick-update-on-my-collection Fri, 16 Sep 2011 23:24:11 GMT It has been a while since I have posted anything in here, and I would like to give a quick update. Life has just been crazy lately, and the collection just keeps growing. Right now I am up to 24 snakes. I have added to the boa collection, I currently own 3, and really have been enjoying them. I am... It has been a while since I have posted anything in here, and I would like to give a quick update. Life has just been crazy lately, and the collection just keeps growing. Right now I am up to 24 snakes. I have added to the boa collection, I currently own 3, and really have been enjoying them. I am sure that I will be adding one or two more in the near future. As I have said before, they are so much different than bp's. I have also added a few adult females to my collection. My best news to report is that my '09 female woma has finally started to eat for me again. In the last 15 days she has taken 3 small rats for me. Before this she had only eaten 1 rat in the last 7 months. I didn't think she would ever get large enough to breed. She had been sitting at 1100 grams for what seemed like forever. With any luck I may even be able to get started on my woma x pied project. Lets keep our fingers crossed. :D ]]> dragonboy4578 http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?76-A-quick-update-on-my-collection <![CDATA[Boa's behavior]]> http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?75-Boa-s-behavior Sun, 26 Jun 2011 22:35:49 GMT A few months a go I picked up my first boa. She is a beautiful coral albino. All I can say is that she is quickly becoming one of my favorite snakes. Her behavior is so much different than my bp's. She is always watching what is going on from her tub and is rarely hiding. The only time that she hides is after she has eaten. She is always ready for a meal, and never has refused to eat for me.Which leads me to today's post. I fed her today, and I knew she was going to shed soon. A few days ago she was in blue and yesterday she went clear. While she was eating she started to shed. It was a sight to see. I wish I could have gotten a few pic's, but I couldn't pull myself away from the sight. By the time she finished eating, a total of about 3 minutes, she was done shedding. I just really love Boa's....:D ]]> dragonboy4578 http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?75-Boa-s-behavior Just one of those days http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?74-Just-one-of-those-days Sat, 11 Jun 2011 11:48:10 GMT It was a great day today. My 1100 gram Female finally decided to eat for me after a 2.5 month hunger strike. The rat wasn't in her tub for 2 minutes when she decided to make her move. She had it completely gone in under 5 minutes. :D

The other great thing that happened last night was that I managed to get 4 more to eat f/t for me. I skipped last weeks feeding to these bp's hoping that they would be good and hungry, and it seemed to work. Only time will tell if they will stay on f/t. I have a few that keep switching between f/t and Live which can really be a pain. Getting the 4 to switch to f/t means that I only have 2 more that need to switch, and then I will no longer have to have live rats and mice on hand. ]]> dragonboy4578 http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?74-Just-one-of-those-days My mom and my snakes http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?73-My-mom-and-my-snakes Fri, 20 May 2011 03:48:54 GMT Today turned out to be a great day. My mother came over and asked if she could play with a few of my snakes. Well to be honest she really didn't ask. She just headed back to the snake room and started to pull open tubs. lol She has always loved animals of all sorts, I really think that this is where I got my love of animals. She was always bringing home different pets for my sister and I.

I was very proud of the way she just reached into a tub and pulled out the snakes that she wanted to play with. She showed no fear even when my spider mojave started to hiss at her. She said that she wouldn't let a little bp with attitude stop her from playing with it. She spent over 2 hours just playing with my bp's.

The last snake that she played with was my newest addition, a beautiful '10 Coral Albino. The boa has behaved perfectly since I bought her, but I am always concerned about someone handling one of my new pickups until I have time to work with them. I want to know exactly how they are going to behave. i really didn't want my mom to get bit handling my snakes. before I could stop her she pulled the boa's tub open, and reached in for the boa.... Well to my relief she wasn't bitten. My little boa behaved perfectly for her. Mom had her out for well over an hour, and the boa seemed to enjoy every minute.

My mom is going to watching my house for the next few days while I go out of town. The only question that she asked was if she could take the boa for a walk with her. I asked her to leave the snakes alone while I was away. I can hear it now. I don't know how it happened but one of the bp's is missing. lol She was having none of this. She told me to answer her question because if she is staying at my house she was going to have free reign to play with any snake that she would like. How do I argue with the free help? I can't is the answer. I am sure that they will be alright though.

I did post pics of her with a few of my snakes though. [URL="http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?144995-My-mom-came-over-and-wanted-to-play-with-my-snakes....-DUW."]http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?144995-My-mom-came-over-and-wanted-to-play-with-my-snakes....-DUW.[/URL]

Now I just have to talk her out of wanting one for herself.......lol ]]> dragonboy4578 http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?73-My-mom-and-my-snakes The collection keeps growing..... http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?72-The-collection-keeps-growing Thu, 05 May 2011 16:25:51 GMT A few months ago I was happy with the three ball pythons that I had. I was enjoying watching them grow, and really didn't plan on getting any more in the near future. Well I guess that changed a little bit. I am currently up to 15 snakes. I have 14 Ball Pythons and 1 boa!!! There are days that I think that I may be getting a touch carried away. Lucky for me that my online support group tells me that I am still ok. By the way thanks everyone for the support....lol

I really have been enjoying spending time with all my snakes, and wouldn't change the path that I am on. All I know is that sometimes life is awful funny.... ]]> dragonboy4578 http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?72-The-collection-keeps-growing Wholesalers, Flippers and Breeders: The differences http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?66-Wholesalers-Flippers-and-Breeders-The-differences Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:57:04 GMT This one is for a friend of mine who asked me to touch on this last week (and to post on here). Let us go over what Flippers, Wholesalers, and Breeders are. Definitions are somewhat different, and sometimes overlap, but I will try and make it clear enough for you to determine on your own who... This one is for a friend of mine who asked me to touch on this last week (and to post on here).

Let us go over what Flippers, Wholesalers, and Breeders are.

Definitions are somewhat different, and sometimes overlap, but I will try and make it clear enough for you to determine on your own who you know and what to label them as.

Breeders.

You and I know what this means. These are the people who spend the time to raise their breeders, feed them, care for them, and breed them selectively (usually) to produce animals that they feel are good quality and healthy.

They tend to hold on to animals for future projects, and keep records as to who does what when, as well as what they intend to do with animals that they produced. It's a viscous beautiful cycle, and the breeder loves it. That's the passion and the drive that keeps them doing what they are doing.

Animals produced are produced for a reason, and the babies are what they know they are (usually, exceptions being dinkers).

These are the people making the snakes.

Wholesalers..

These guys are the ones that buy excess animals for whatever reason.

Breeders make 100 normals, and although it is awesome to see the babies pop out, they are not needed in future projects, so they are sold to wholesalers or pet stores to supply the pet trade.

Pet stores are somewhat of a wholesaler, but in a different category, in my opinion. They are the ones that are selling to Joe Shmoe, and can (if they have the resources) teach Mister Joe about the care and husbandry that they are familiar with.

Now wholesalers buy up whatever morphs or "leftovers" that a breeder or hobbyist wants to move and sells them for a profit. This is somewhat of a grey area, as this entails not knowing completely the history behind the snakes that they are selling. Some wholesalers care, some do not. The distinction is in the specific person wholesaling.

Do they back up the animal with a guarantee? Depends...
Pet Stores usually do, Wholesalers, it depends.

This is a not so clear area of sellers in the reptile trade. Some are good, some are not so good.
It is up to you to determine what you feel comfortable with.

Flippers...

This is a bad word in some circles of the reptile world. Why? Well, these guys are the people that take animals from breeders and flip them for profit. How quickly? It really depends on the person and the animal, but usually this is only a month or two, maybe even less.

If the animal is sick or not in optimal health, the flipper more than likely doesn't even notice. They are just out to move the animal quickly and for a profit. The longer they have the animal, the less profit they make. Flip it!

Now again, this is a grey area, depending on who you are talking about. Some people actually take the time to care about the animal and where it was produced, what the morph/locality is, etc... Most do not, which is why being a "flipper" is again, a bad word.

Now how do you tell who you are buying from and what you are getting?

Do your homework.

Do they have a good reputation? Have they been around long enough? Does the price seem too good to be true? Can they show you parental lineage? Can they vouch for the health of the animal and how long it has been in their care?

All things you as a consumer/customer have to determine in your own comfort zone where you want to be.

If you don't care that the person selling the animal can't tell you what the parents were, then by all means, buy from a wholesaler/flipper.

But remember this, these people are in it more for the profit than for the animal most of the time.
(I do not want to make generalizations because I know there are some people out there that are not.)

Money is always nice, but for peace of mind, would you rather save $100 and possibly lose the animal and your money, or buy from a breeder that can help you in the future if something goes wrong?

Again, things to think about.

This blog is not meant to sway you one way or the other, as I am trying to be as unbiased as I can under the circumstances.

Like I said before, I have sold to wholesalers, and I still would love to know that my animals, albeit not being sold by me, are getting good homes in the end.

So the final thing to take away from this is, do your homework, try not to just look at the dollar signs. If that is your only focus, you are in the wrong industry.

Have a fantastic day, my friends.

http://heathersherpsblog.blogspot.co...-breeders.html ]]> LadyOhh http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?66-Wholesalers-Flippers-and-Breeders-The-differences A New Start http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?61-A-New-Start Mon, 10 Jan 2011 04:41:38 GMT It is funny how life works out. Two weeks ago I was happily planning my wedding with my long term fiancée, we were together for 12 years. Now everything has changed. On December 28 I came home to find a note saying that we were through. This wasn't a complete shock though. We have been having difficulties for the last 6 months, but things seemed to be doing better. We had both agreed to work on our relationship, and it seemed as though it was working. The funniest part of the letter was the P.S. I will pick my thing up in the next week or two. I started to receive calls from her family telling me to keep the faith that all she needed was time. I just told them that this was her decision and that she could get her things when she wanted to. I said it was no rush. Well today I get a call from a friend telling me that she has been posting on her facebook page about her new boyfriend and that she has been seeing him for a while behind my back. This just made me sick, but I have had time to calm down. I realize that this is a blessing. Yes it hurts, but this definitely puts closure in our relationship. I called her family, and told them to pick up her stuff tomorrow, and even said that I would help. I just need this to be over. Now I need to focus on me, and work on getting my life strait. I am going to focus on the things that make me happy, and go from there. Luckily I have a great group of friend that will help me through. On a positlive note I will have more time to dedicate to my reptile, and with the money that I am going to save by not paying on her bills I should be able to really grow my collection.

Have a great day, and remember when life throws you a curve ball the way you react will help to define you.

Morgan ]]> dragonboy4578 http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?61-A-New-Start <![CDATA[Day Seventysix -- Haven't Given Up!!]]> http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?60-Day-Seventysix-Haven-t-Given-Up!! Mon, 15 Nov 2010 00:52:32 GMT

I know it's been quite awhile since I've posted here...but I can assure everyone that I haven't given up...not in the least. The last two weeks showed a significant slow-down in weight loss...only 1.5 pounds each week...so here's my little dancing guys for three pounds over two weeks. :dance: :dance: :dance: Because even though it's slower than I would like, it's still definite progress in the right direction!

I don't think it's because my eating habits changed...they haven't really. Maybe a little more whole grains in a given day...but I'm still very low on overall caloric intake and 100% healthy foods. I haven't slipped up even once during this last six weeks and I'm very proud of myself for that. I think the change came from a change in my activity level. The last two weeks I've been chained to my desk a lot more than I usually am and I haven't been nearly as active as I was the first few weeks of this endeavor. So...lesson learned. Get off my butt and move! LOL Took a nice long walk today, despite the significant chill in the air. It was still a lovely day.

So...today is the last day of the Six Week "cleansing period" of this program. My weigh-in day isn't until Wednesday morning. so I won't give a total weight loss for this part of the journey until Wednesday. But whatever the total ends up being, it's nothing to sneer at. I'm very proud. I feel really good. The cravings for junk are very much under control, and that is such a huge blessing, I can't even tell you! Not to say I don't still feel twinges of them...but I'm learning to shut those thoughts down very quickly and not let them escalate into a big issue. It's SO much easier to resist that first thought than it is to resist the mountain that thoughts can grow into if you let them. And if I'm truly longing for something sweet and dessert-like, I'll treat myself to some freshly cut melon...or a fruit smoothie. If I want something crunchy, a crisp tart apple does the trick. And for a salty snack, some toasted soy nuts are great. But all of that I still try to keep in moderation. I'm learning that I don't need to snack just for snacking's sake. All in all, some tremendous changes in my life, and I couldn't be happier. (Well...I'd be more thrilled if I could lose 8-10 pounds a week like the girls do on "Biggest Looser"... :P But I really am happy!)

What changes after today? The last time I did this program, I looked at the first six weeks as a goal in itself...a finish line. And throughout that six weeks, even though I was successful in practice, I was not focused on a bigger picture or on the lessons my body was learning. All I could think about was the finish line. And once I got there...I began to allow myself to slide back into old habits. Not right away...but I paid little attention to my choices or the reasons behind them...and the good habits built in six weeks took only a few months to dissolve away completely. THIS time is completely different. This time, the first six weeks is just for "cleansing" and there is no finish line at the end of it. In part it is cleansing my body of the glut of unnatural chemicals and preservatives that our typical diet is loaded with. And also a cleansing of the mind and emotions...to detach myself from the emotional attachment of food, and to learn not just new rote habits, but WHY these habits are so critical to my life. And also a chance to learn how to use these tools to avoid the pitfalls of temptation, holidays, visiting relatives, stress, etc.

So after today, I'll allow myself a little more flexibility. Coffee...for starters. I have really missed that. And I'm not a huge coffee drinker...which is why I feel it is ok to let it back in. The occasional cup of coffee will be wonderful to experience again. And I will allow myself small servings of lean, healthy meats from time to time...but not more than 2-3 times a week, at most. But really not much changes other than that. I still have too much weight to lose to up the calorie intake even a little bit...and this program has been the absolute best way I've ever found to control my calories and be happy doing it. I'm sticking with it!! Eventually...when I feel I've reached a weight/size I would be very happy living with the rest of my life...then I'll add back in a few special treats...like pizza once in a while. According to the author of this program, a life-time style of eating 90% whole veggies, fruits and grains...and 10% of whatever else you want...is a very healthy, balanced way to live. I look forward to reaching that point. But I know I'll always have to be very careful about certain "trigger foods". Diet soda will never be a part of my lifestyle again. Fast food is off the list forever. Bagged chips and similar junk food (even the so-called "baked" stuff) will be off the list forever. I've decided that if I want chips badly enough, I can make my own. (Tried some home-made whole-wheat baked pita chips the other day...was yuuuummmmmy!)

Anyhow...that's a lot for one blog. I do want to touch on one more thing though. I have been somewhat discouraged by how little attention the blogs have gotten. Not just mine, but all of them...and all the unwritten ones, too. So I'm thinking that this will be my last blog here. Instead, I will start up a new "member's forum" and hopefully that will encourage people to feel more a part of the journey with me, rather than just a handful of spectators. It seems fitting to start something new with the next new phase of my journey. So keep an eye out for it. Maybe tonight...but more likely tomorrow, I'll get that set up...and then will continue my daily (well, ok....not "daily"...but certainly more frequent than as of late!) blogs within the forum format.

I'll miss my pretty green colors here...but my hummingbird can go with me. :D

And all things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.
- Matthew 21:22

Until then...
-- Judy

]]> JLC http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?60-Day-Seventysix-Haven-t-Given-Up!! Day Sixtytwo -- Anticipation! http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?59-Day-Sixtytwo-Anticipation! Mon, 01 Nov 2010 04:10:16 GMT

Soooo...Halloween has officially come....and is almost gone. The trick-or-treaters have all gone home...and we actually emptied out our candy bowl this year, which was a bit of a relief, let me tell ya. I've survived the gauntlet of candy sales...although for the next few days, it will be even more intense as the stores try to clear out the last of their stock and sell them extra cheap. :rolleyes: It'll always be something, won't it? The temptations have been a little bit stronger the last couple of days, but I've still managed to hold them at bay. I'm very happy with the overall success of getting through this holiday.

I told my husband the other day, "It's a good thing I've got curvy hips...cause look!" And I showed him my jeans...which are mega loose now. They're actually becoming a bit uncomfortable to wear because they're so loose and floppy and riding too low. But I refuse to buy new jeans until they're in real danger of falling off. LOL I can only afford so many new sets of clothes as I lose weight...but shopping in the future should be fun!

Speaking of shopping...we were out earlier today doing some birthday shopping for my middle son. We saw lots of really cute clothes and there are some very spiffy jackets and coats that I'm wishing I could wear as the weather turns cold, because they're so cute. And it hit me....that if I continue this trend...and even if it slows down some, but still stays steady....by this time next year I WILL be buying those cute little jackets and pretty clothes!! It's still so early in the journey that the end can seem very far away when looked at from the wrong perspective. But looking at it from the RIGHT perspective, it's so very exciting! This is the last winter that I'll feel embarrassed to wear big bulky coats (because they make me feel even bigger than I am). Come spring, I will be looking at whole new wardrobe shopping! Come summer, I may even be happy to wear a swimsuit! These things are seriously just around the corner...it's not far at all!

Sometimes, when I let my mind slip into the wrong gear, this whole thing feels like a marathon...and I'm tired. But such thoughts don't last long. It's not a marathon...it's a journey that will carry me through my entire life (which stands a much better chance of being a lot longer than it would have been on the other path!). I think what really gets me feeling the most tired is not the journey itself, but simply the anxious anticipation of some of its more titillating rewards. :D Shopping! (I love to shop!) Sexy clothes! I seriously can't wait to truly feel sexy for my husband again! The surprise on an old friend's face when they see me for the first time. The fun activities and adventures that I've shied away from because I've felt too fat or too slow or too tired and achy to be a part of. It's like being a little kid again, anticipating Christmas. I haven't felt anticipation this keen in years and years. Even when we were planning our trip to Disney World last year...I certainly looked forward to it....but it never had that child-like wonder of anticipation. (Once I got there though, the child-like wonder did take over...and one of the first things I plan to do when I reach my goals is to go back there and enjoy it as a lean, healthy, energetic kid!) What I'm trying to say is.......I just can't wait! LOL And sometimes, that waiting can make a person tired. But it's not a bad thing, I don't think.

I'm certainly experiencing some of the rewards now...they're just not as big and flashy as what will come. My husband is proud of me, and that is always a wonderful feeling. My energy levels are way up. My overall health is much better...rarely experiencing stomach upsets, headaches, or the other general aches and pains of eating a consistently unhealthy diet. And, of course, my pants are awfully loose. :D

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
- Matthew 6:13

-- Judy

]]> JLC http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?59-Day-Sixtytwo-Anticipation! Day Fiftyeight -- Great Googely Moogely! http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?58-Day-Fiftyeight-Great-Googely-Moogely! Wed, 27 Oct 2010 22:04:11 GMT

Three and a half more pounds flushed down the drain!! :dance: :dance: :dance:

It's not nearly so hard at this point as I was afraid it might be. Certainly, it gets OLD sometimes. And occasionally painful...like last night when I cooked sausage for the boys...ohhhhh, the smell of it and look of it was driving me nuts! That's probably the hardest part of all, is simply when I have to fix "real" food for the guys. :rolleyes: Driving past fast-food restaurants...walking along aisles of junk food in the grocery store...these things I can let my eyes skip over and refuse to contemplate. But it's danged hard to do that when you have to stir and turn and stand there smelling and hearing something cool :irkd: But.....so far, I've not given in to the urge to so much as nibble a taste! And it really is getting easier. Like, right now, I'm hungry, but it's not a desperate feeling anymore. When I'm done typing this, I'm free to get up and go satisfy my hunger with a yummy banana or something along those lines. It's very satisfying to know I don't have to STAY hungry to satisfy some stringent diet routine....I just have to choose the right foods to satisfy my hunger.

oops....kids called and need to be picked up "right now"...so gotta dash!

-- Judy

]]> JLC http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?58-Day-Fiftyeight-Great-Googely-Moogely! Day Fiftyfour -- All the pieces... http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?57-Day-Fiftyfour-All-the-pieces Sun, 24 Oct 2010 06:40:08 GMT

...are finally coming together for me. A question I asked myself the other day (and intended to answer sooner here but hadn't gotten to it yet) is "If all this is 'so easy' then why didn't you do this years ago?" There isn't really a simple answer for that, but I will do my best to try to define what makes me tick.

First off, we're talking about a lifetime of bad habits...multiple decades worth. :oops: :P Such habits are not easily broken, even with the best of intentions. One of my favorite things to do as a kid was to get a bowl of M&M's and snuggle up in bed with a good book...I could read and slowly relish the candy for hours.

Second, I had long ago developed a need for food as a source of comfort. It was like medicine, almost. This probably began in my teen years, but really became an issue for me after I married an Air Force man and began moving around the country and having little-to-no social roots to connect me to my surroundings. I remember when my oldest kids were really small and my husband was frequently deployed for months at a time...I'd get sooo stressed out...until I could go grocery shopping and fill the cabinets and 'fridge with all my favorite junky comfort foods. Only then could I begin to relax and calm down.

Third, I'm horribly lazy. Especially when I get hungry. I don't want to have to clean, chop, and prep veggies for a salad or actually have to cook something. Not when there's a perfectly good bag of chips sitting right there...or restaurants right around the corner with people that will happily fix my food for me.

Fourth, I'm an eternal optimist. You'd think that would be a good thing, but actually, it's just a powerful springboard for procrastination. Tomorrow was always going to be a better day. Today I can allow myself to indulge or give in or outright fail, because I know...I just know...that I'll get it right tomorrow.

And lastly, I'm a person who believes in God and the power of His Spirit to overcome all obstacles in my path. This knowledge has been all that has kept me going through the hardest times of my life. But when it came to THIS obstacle...or "these" obstacles, if we look at each one separately...I couldn't figure out how to apply that power to my life. I kept waiting for God to "fix" me. And when I continued to fail, I could lay it on His shoulders because He hadn't "helped" me enough yet. :no:

SO.....the Eternal Optimist would start many a diet...and each time I just knew that this time would be "the one." I could muscle Bad Habits out of the picture and even trap Lazy behind the door with him....for so long as life stayed relatively smooth and calm. But the moment a storm hit, the Source Of Comfort would swing that door wide again. Some diets could feed Comfort...so long as his "points" were carefully counted. Bad Habits could be counted, too. Counting the cost of Comfort and Bad Habits will leave one mighty hungry by the end of the day...which sets up the classic opportunity for Lazy to come along and wreck everything. And I prayed, and pleaded, and wondered why I had to be so broken in this way.

I could find work-arounds for one or two of my issues, but another one always seemed to rear its head. After spending all my energies fighting off one and another...I had no strength left for a new battle....and I'd lose...again. But my Belief in God would never let me give up entirely. While I couldn't understand His seemingly distant ways, I never doubted His promises to me. And over the years, I've worked very hard to learn how to battle the voices of Habit and Comfort and Lazy, as well as many even more destructive voices that whisper to me constantly. I've learned not just to "love" myself (whatever that means) but to appreciate myself. I've learned to appreciate the person that God chose for me to be. He made me...very specifically me...with all my quirks and strength and wit...down to the very last freckle. I may not always understand me...but I'm finally beginning to LIKE me.

Which brings me to today...

First off, instead of trying to desperately to break bad habits....I'm simply focusing on building Good Habits. The old habits are still lurking and whispering, but I'm finding it much easier to simply not listen to them than it ever was to try and fight with them. Already, even after just a little over two weeks, they are a little quieter and a little more distant....and I do believe in time, they'll be almost entirely gone. So long as I continue to build those Good Habit muscles.

Second, I will always need comfort, but it need not be food. Instead of trying to find comfort in food, I need to seek out Peace. Peace within myself...peace within my surroundings...peace in the simple, quiet Love of my Lord. I can find Peace in a nap, if I need one. Or a walk outside on a beautiful day. Or listening to calming music. Comfort is just a bandaid to a wound. Peace is the cure.

Third, Lazy just needs to be shown the door. This is where the greatest Discipline comes into the picture for me at this time. Good Habits and Peace help make this possible. By only allowing myself certain options to choose from, and by being at peace with those choices, I find it much simpler to do what is necessary to create each healthy meal. There is always time for Rest when it is needed. Rest is refreshing and energizing. And feeding myself is NOT the time to rest.

Fourth, I'm still an Eternal Optimist. And I'm glad of it. But I will no longer use that as an excuse to procrastinate. I can believe that my feet will take me where I want to go...but if I never take that first step, I'll never get there, no matter how optimistic I am. I'm now stepping out...moving forward....and am just as confident (and even more so!) that I'll reach my goals and excel!

And lastly, I still Believe in God. But I now realize that He has already given me all the tools I need. His strength has been with me all along. Have you ever been looking frantically for something, only to discover some time later that it was in your pocket all along? All you had to do was to reach for it and it would have been there for you to use so much sooner. It's kind of like that. The strength I need to overcome bad habits, false comforts, and laziness has been there all along. Reminds me of an old joke I know....a kind of sad joke more than a funny one...

An old woman was trapped on her roof in the middle of a horrible flood. She prayed and prayed for God to rescue her. Some men came by in a row boat and offered to help her. She said, "No thanks, I'm trusting God to rescue me and He will." Later, some men in a power boat came by and asked her to get in. She said no and that God would save her. Late that night, a helicopter flew over and a man lowered down on a rope to reach her, but she refused to go with him as she was still waiting for God. In the night, the waters rose up over her roof and she drowned. When she stood before the Lord she asked him, "Father, I prayed and prayed and trusted You. Why didn't You rescue me?" And God answered, "I sent two boats and a helicopter!"

So there you go. I've stepped into my rescue boat....found all the right tools....and stopped waiting for some "miracle" to make it all easy.

To God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen
- Romans 16:27

With love to all who read...
-- Judy

]]> JLC http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?57-Day-Fiftyfour-All-the-pieces Day Fiftytwo -- Three more... http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?56-Day-Fiftytwo-Three-more Thu, 21 Oct 2010 08:43:03 GMT

...pounds...down the drain! :dance: :dance: :dance:

It's crazy late...but I wasn't able to sleep and didn't want to let the day go completely by without sharing my good news!

I hope I can maintain about a 3 pound loss per week. I don't know how realistic that is, especially at my age...but I'm hoping even so. Even at that rate...I have to be careful not to get discouraged at "how long" the journey still appears to be. Looking ahead that way makes time stretch out like taffy. :rolleyes: But if I consider how fast a school year goes by with the kids...or how fast our time in each house we live in goes by...a year or two doesn't seem like much time at all. Still....I truly hope it doesn't take that long. But even if it does...even if it takes longer...I'm committed to eating healthy for my body's sake, primarily. Health is the primary goal, not some number on a scale.

This one will be short. It's so very late and I'm finally starting to feel a little sleepy. Gonna take advantage and go catch some dreams...

-- Judy

]]> JLC http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?56-Day-Fiftytwo-Three-more Day Fiftyone -- Hold the Course http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?55-Day-Fiftyone-Hold-the-Course Wed, 20 Oct 2010 05:32:53 GMT Image: http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/files/1/0/5/2/journey-div.jpg I totally spaced on writing yesterday. And almost did today, too. :cool: I go through....phases...I guess...not sure what to call it....where it seems like my brain just flips off and stress levels rise for no discernible...

I totally spaced on writing yesterday. And almost did today, too. :cool: I go through....phases...I guess...not sure what to call it....where it seems like my brain just flips off and stress levels rise for no discernible reason. Could be hormonal? I'm hoping that the frequency of occurrence will decrease over time as my body's overall health dramatically increases. But until then....guess I still have to endure them from time to time...which is what the last couple of days have been. I can't tell you how painful it is even to write this little bit...to force my brain to actually work for me. It can be very frustrating, especially when I have important tasks that need to be done. People think it's just "being lazy"...but it's not. There are some genuine mental blocks, and physical issues going on as well. As I said, the feelings of anxiety and stress go up, and often severe fatigue. It can last anywhere from 2-4 days. I'm feeling a tiny bit better this evening...so hopefully will feel more on top of things tomorrow morning.

A phase like this makes temptations particularly insidious and difficult to resist. I was sorely craving fast food at lunch today, in a bad way. In the end, I allowed myself a little compromise and went to Subway. They don't have any true whole-grain bread there, but they do have a nice 9-grain bread with lots of fiber. I got that, with just vegetables...no meat or cheese...and just a splash of vinegar for dressing...no oil. And no chips or soda or anything else like that. A veggie sandwich that I brought home so I wouldn't be tempted by anything else out there. That, and a big glass of ice water hit the spot and seriously helped ease the worst of the cravings.

But now I know...even in this bad phase...I can hold the course and not give up!

I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
- Psalm 16:8

-- Judy

]]> JLC http://ball-pythons.net/forums/entry.php?55-Day-Fiftyone-Hold-the-Course