Saturday, August 20, 2011

Day 400 - the journey continues

Well - it has been one hell of a year and I have learned a great deal about myself. But I have NOT given up this dream, in fact I am even more dedicated to it than I ever was before.

Today I joined Joel Therien in his 7 minute workout program and am enjoying a more active lifestyle than I have ever experienced before. In fact today I managed to walk 3.4 miles in 1 hour (which I could not have done 1 year ago). I am healthier than I have been before but I also know that I am still a very long way from reaching my ultimate fitness and good health level. I am still morbidly obese, only I am living life and moving one step closer to my dreams each day.

Today I also started reading Dan Kennedy's book "No B.S. Time management for entrepreneurs" and I have learned some incredible things already... starting with valuing myself through valuing my time. I know what my time is worth and it has changed my perspective on a lot of things.

I may not be at my dream weight or finances at day 400 - but I am feeling great and I am still watching my savings grow as my body very very slowly shrinks to a more healthier me.

Day 400 - 251 pounds, $15,000 in my savings account

this is one hell of a journey

Kay

Friday, June 10, 2011

Day 329 Starting over no surrender

This has been such a long process and every time I think I am getting somewhere something crashes in my life setting me back again and again.

Two weeks ago I hit 260 pounds again - talk about starting over - that is exactly where I started 329 days ago.

So why am I back where I started? Because I failed to balance my life. I am the kind of woman who devotes everything to the task at hand and the cost of everything else. I have never learned balance. I'm all or nothing... but that is the old me. These old habits will take time to replace with healthier habits but it is achievable.

Two weeks ago I re-confirmed my dreams and goals and started over from scratch. I signed up with a trainer at the gym for a few weeks just to get me back on track with my fitness, I replaced instant food with the healthy stuff I love anyway - healthy food takes time and it isn't convenient but I am changing my schedule to allow for that balance I never previously achieved.

Today is Day 329 and I weigh 255.5, my bank account is sitting at approximately $12,000.00 which is still a huge improvement from where I started. I have a daily schedule now (something I always previously avoided)

M-W-F
5:30am up
Work 7-3pm
Gym 3:30-5:15pm
Pick up fresh veggies next door to gym 5:15-5:30
Prepare healthy dinner for 6:30pm
7pm walk the dog (if I am able after the gym)
8-10pm quite time spent with my wonderful man

T-Th
5:30am up
Work 7-3pm
Pick up fresh food on my way home
3:30-4:30pm walk the dog
Early dinner 5:30pm
7pm-8pm dance class starting in 2 weeks - walking dog if no class
8pm-10pm working on my million dollar goal

Weekends get mixed up but are basically
7-10am - working on my million dollar project & domestics in between
10am - off to play (hiking, kayaking, canoeing, etc...) whatever I want
Sunday evening 7-9pm are spent doing laundry and final clean up for the week.

Obviously no one can stick to a schedule perfectly as life throws in all kinds of challenges... but I have stuck with it for 2 weeks and have gotten rid of 5 excess pounds of unwanted fat.

Bonus: I am now sleeping better - the work outs with the trainer seem to be a cure for insomnia - I usually go home and fall right to sleep totally exhausted.

So - my fitness is finally starting to move in the right direction and I am enjoying being able to move better. I am grateful that each day is a fresh opportunity to reach for my goals and obtain small steps of success along the way... but I have to make sure that I never get so busy with just one project that I allow everything else to fall apart.

It's all about balance:
work
exercise
eating right
play
relationship
family
quiet time off
social fun
pets
future progress

I'm learning to put all of it into my regular life through scheduling and conscious choice... leaving my computer OFF after work so I can spend time living too.

Today is day 329 - but to me, it represents all the lessons I had to learn the hard way over the last 315 days... I've been on track for 2 weeks and I am enjoying the change.

As for my personal financial goals - I have a product now ready to sell and it is guaranteed to help contractors achieve a higher level of success than what they are currently at. This is what I have done for my business partners business, this is what I did for the businesses I helped before that, so I know my systems work - now to spread it out to the universe so that those who are looking to improve their profitability in a service industry can do so without paying a fortune. My goal is to help others succeed and in the process earn enough to have that million dollars in charitable resources to help even more people....it's a win win for everyone.

Today life is good - today I am balanced and calm

Kay Kinder
1,000 days to health and wealth

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Jumping ahead to the future April 11, 2013

We are what we think and do...

As written in my last blog this blog will be my goal written in a completely different way that aligns my subconscious with my outcome.


Today is April 11, 2013 and I am really excited to be waking up to such a perfect spring morning. I jump out of bed with vitality and energy with my lean healthy body. I can feel the strong fit muscles move me effortlessly from sitting to standing.

Standing is such an easy thing to do and I am so grateful that I am fit and able to move with such amazing ease. Moving around the room I can feel the results of my success. I stretch feeling the thrill of movement. My arms reach up with ease, my long hair falls across my back and shoulders as I tilt my head from side to side and back with such effortless ease. I move because I can! I am strong and filled with endless energy. The air fills my lungs and I breath out a sigh of contentment.

Today I am running for charity and the weather couldn't be nicer. The sun is shinning and I couldn't be happier. My size 9 clothes slide on easily over my firm body and I love the way everything looks and feels. I am so energized with life and vitality. I bend forward gracefully tying my shoes so grateful that I am able to bend, to squat, to reach, to stand, to move, to run... tying my shoes is effortless. And running is the ultimate thrill.

My body is really pumped and ready for the challenge today and I am smiling from ear to ear. Life is so great - I have donated 10% of my million dollar savings today to this charity run - that's $100,000.00 to help cure cancer. The money will make sure that more people are able to get that cure for cancer and the preventative information they need to remain cancer free. So many people are helped and I am so grateful that I am able to contribute to this worthy cause.

My husband is so supportive and he loves doing physical activities with me. We have so much fun together whatever we do and our passion is still intoxicating. We are celebrating our 10 year anniversary together this year and it still feels like we are teenagers on our first date. We laugh and love with abundance.

My children have found their path in life and I have become a role model for them. They have so many dreams of their own and they know if I can do all the things I have accomplished they can too. We communicate daily and love the special relationship we have built over the last 3 years.

I am collecting $100,000 per month now in residual income and just completed setting up a trust fund for both mine and Dave's children so they will be financially secure in life.

I don't have to work but I chose to work part time from my laptop just because I love helping people. I find it very rewarding and I love that Dave and I can and do travel often meeting and sharing with people from around the world. We build joint ventures that allow others to also achieve the kind of success we have achieved.

I am so grateful for each day - grateful for this healthy body, grateful for this great marriage, grateful for this financial freedom, grateful for the wonderful relationship I have with my kids, grateful for my family, and grateful for my wonderful friends. Life is filled with laughter and love. Thank you God!

Kay Kinder
already where I want to be...

Day 238 Still learning

So today is day 238 in my 1,000 day journey and where am I... well to be perfectly honest, I'm not any further along in my health dreams than I was a few weeks after starting... I have asked myself repeatedly - what is my stumbling block, why can't I move beyond this weight issue... the answer, is because I wasn't ready.

I read this most amazing book called the Jack Rabbit Factor written by Leslie Householder (you can actually download a free copy on her website www.ThoughtsAlive.com) and NO I am not getting any money for promoting her site or her book - in fact she has NO idea who I am or that I am even blogging about this.

Getting back on topic, this book touched me in such a profoundly deep way I am still struggling to wrap my head around all the concepts, but my heart is singing out and I am so excited about it that I know in my gut that this has to be that missing piece of the pie. You see I have been working with the most wonderful people in my mastermind group who have been telling me very similar things for the last year, but it wasn't until I read this book that it all just "clicked".

There is power to words and an energy in the universe that I am only just beginning to understand - it is so difficult to explain that literally thousands of books have been written on this life energy. People know it is there, it is just beyond the normal scope of thinking to truly grasp what it is and how it impacts our life on a daily basis.

For lack of a better term - lets just say there is a "force" and we can use that force to open all kinds of opportunities that we previously denied ourselves.

In Leslie Householder's book she has this one section that really hit home for me personally;

A father is trying to explain this "force" to his teen son and the speech goes like this...

"Son, to help you understand this, let's talk about people that try to 'lose weight'. So long as they are focused on 'losing weight' they are setting themselves up for failure. Why? Because when our subconscious minds here that we've 'lost' something, it automatically kicks into gear in an effort to help us 'find' what we have lost. When it hears the word 'weight', it automatically associates the term with synonyms such as 'heaviness' or 'paper weight' or 'weights and measures'. So to set a goal to 'lose weight' a person is actually programming their subconscious mind to 'find heaviness'!"

"So what should they do instead?" (the son asked)

"They should write a date and then express how grateful they are now that they enjoy a healthy, energetic, slender body."...

"And they should spend more time looking at slim pictures of themselves than they do looking at themselves in the mirror. Doing so will help their subconscious mind eventually be in harmony with the results they seek, and the results will come more naturally, and more permanently. Looking in the mirror all the time and checking the scale every day only reinforces the heavy image they are trying to overcome."...

"Same thing goes for getting out of debt. People need to quit setting goals for getting out of debt because they're programming their mind to focus on debt. Doing so will only attract a constant supply of debt into their life. Not only that, but they'd be training their subconscious mind to constantly pay down debts. Do you know what that means? When their bills are finally paid off, their subconscious minds will panic. No debts to pay, but a well-established order to pay off debts. To solve this problem, it will automatically lead the person to create more debt."...

Like I said this book was really DEEP but it clarified things in such a unique and moving way that I was actually able to grasp the meaning behind it all.

We are what we think and do. Or as Leslie writes "your subconscious mind accepts anything we give it as truth. Then it kicks things into gear to make sure that what it believes to be true is your reality"

It is such a complicated concept - but it is also a simple one once you get your head wrapped around it.

We are what we think and do...

So on the next blog will be my goal written in a completely different way that aligns my subconscious with my outcome.

Kay Kinder
1,000 days to health and wealth

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Day 208 Feb. 8, 2011 My financial state

In these blogs I am suppose to share how I go from having almost nothing at 51 years old ($201 in my savings account) to having $1,000,000.00 in the bank in just 1,000 days. But I realized I have NOT shared with you HOW I am going to do that.

So in this blog I share the first part to becoming a millionaire and probably the most important part of them all... "compound interest"

I know, when I first heard that I groaned - I HATE math, finances, economy, etc... these were painful topics for me and things I really found gruelingly painful to read about. But it is a starting point that every person, regardless of age or financial status needs to be aware of because it really can and does change the future...

I read a book called "rich dad poor dad" (this should be mandatory reading for all school students and adults alike). It talked about how this man had a very intelligent dad who was absolutely brilliant with all kinds of educational degrees behind him but he was poor - and it is the story of his best friends dad who took him under his wings as a self made rich man without any educational degrees behind him. How both dad's brought important lessons to this young man's life, but how the rich dad taught him things that they simply don't teach in school.

The book was actually easy to read and understand and wasn't painful at all... the most important lesson shared in the book was the latte factor - that if you put in your retirement account the cost of a latte a day you could be a millionaire in less than 30 years... it was so simple but it made perfect sense.

So I figured out how much money I spent eating out each week (lunches, the occasional dinner, breakfasts on the go, snacks, etc.) and figured if I made my own lunches and simply cut down a bit each day I could save $10 per day. This is my first step to becoming a millionaire in 1,000 days.

I put $50 a week in my retirement savings plan (my savings account).

I started on July 17, 2010 with $201.00 in my RSP bank account
I put $50 per week in the account direct deposit from my paycheck
I have gotten use to living on $50 less each week and it hasn't been a burden.

I did one contract for a webstore (rewrite of website and search engine optimization SEO) and put 10% of that contract money directly into my RSP bank account

I have an entertainment company that provides Christmas entertainment (the Dickens Carolers) that I have been running since 1979. I took 20% of that income this year and put it right into my RSP bank account.

That means I have put $50 away from my day job every week
I put a minimum of 10% of any side jobs income into my account as well

So where does that leave me today?
$8,200.00

Think about it... that is $7,999.00 more than what I had only 208 days ago...and it is earning interest!

In my next financial state update I will share with you my next step in growing that number drastically through online marketing.

If I can make this happen so can you... why not take the 1,000 day challenge to achieving your dreams and goals too.

Today I take action - letting every small step be compounded into my lifetime dreams and goals.

Kay Kinder
1000 days to health and wealth

Day 208 Feb. 8 , 2011 My emotional state

It is difficult to believe that I am already at day 208 - so many days have gone by and my progress has been painfully slow. I have been having emotional hurdles that have really been challenging me but I am learning from each and every experience and I am coming to understand myself better each and every day. I am learning what my triggers are and what drives me to eat, what drives me to avoid exercise, what triggers cause me to stumble.

I had said before that my 1,000 day journey was just that - a journey. On this journey I am becoming a better me, but sometimes looking in that mirror isn't easy. As humans we tend to avoid looking at the things that are difficult. We avoid pain in general and seek out pleasure... so self reflection and analysis is usually on the bottom of the list of things to do. But without it we never move beyond where we are now.

This past week my 20 year old daughter got evicted from her first apartment - we knew it would eventually happen as she hasn't had a job in 3 months and I cannot afford to keep helping her out without compromising my own dreams. So, after 3 months of battling and endless loans from the "bank of Mom" she got 24 hour notice to move out and Mom once again came to the rescue. She has moved back in with me and I must say my partner Dave has been incredibly patient and giving of his time to help.

There is a part of me that is thrilled to have my daughter home - but there is also a part of me that is really unhappy about it all. The first time she moved out it was on bad terms - she was trashing the house and not contributing to the family at all and I felt terribly used as the "drop in" point where she would leave her trash and belongings then take off to party with her friends. I understand this is normal behavior for a young adult but this isn't the way I needed to live, nor Dave's. We couldn't stand the mess and filth that followed her every action and eventually I was left with no other choice than to ask her to move out. So for the last 1 and a half years she has been living on her own. The first year she shared a place with a group of friends - the last 5 months she had her own place on her own.

During this time I managed to get her old room cleaned up and redecorated with new furniture too... my house was cleaner and more organized and I have been throwing out things that are no longer of value to me. It has been great and I finally have a living room that adults can enjoy - it is a calming ambiance without clutter and I love it. Now that she is back however the guest room is back to being trashed, the basement is worse that it has ever been, my garage is filled with things she has yet to put away or put into storage - and she hasn't done a thing to clean up after herself. I am so frustrated and I feel used. Monday and Tuesday nights I went straight home from work and went straight to bed. I simply couldn't face the mess or lack of effort.

I love my daughter and I don't want to fight with her - but this is simply unacceptable. Last night after work I went to the gym (the first time since moving my daughter home last week) - I put on my headset with calming music and hit the elliptical machine for 30 minutes, then did my floor exercises for 15 minutes followed by deep breathing meditation & gratitude for 15 minutes. By the time I left the gym I had my head on straight and my heart was at peace with my decision.

When I got home my daughter was just getting ready to leave the house to visit a friend for the next 3 days - she was going to leave the house trashed and all her moving unpacked and everywhere. She was also bringing groceries to her friends house, groceries that I paid for with my hard earned money... I could not have felt more used. But instead of exploding (which is how I use to handle pain) I calmly told her how angry and used I felt. I also told her that if she isn't going to put any effort into taking care of her things that they would be left on the curb in the morning for the garbage collector. It wasn't a threat - it was a reality check.

I am done being the dumping grounds for my daughter who is old enough to take responsibility for herself and her things. If she can't take care of her things then she doesn't need them anymore. It's just that simple.

This morning I woke up calm and ready to take on the world. Today is Wednesday which means it is my day to work from home on marketing (something I really enjoy).

I realize this is a very long post (and only part 1 of 2 for today) - but I also realize that I have not been sharing my journey on this blog - I have simply been using it to advertise what I am trying to achieve without any real substance on how I am getting there.

So here is me - laying it all out for the world to read.

I am a 51 year old mother of 2 girls (ages 18 & 20) both of whom live at home with me again. I have an amazing boyfriend who I am proud to wear his promise ring who has been the light of my life and my best friend for over 7 years now. We have an amazing relationship that has grown over the years into something profoundly deep that allows me to reach for the stars while remaining firmly grounded in reality.

I work full time for Francis Plumbing & Heating with my partner Dave - helping to grow his company through my marketing expertise. Through the changes I have brought to the company I have watched all kinds of sales records being broken and the profit margins have skyrocketed. Dave values me and allows me to take full rein on the marketing and management of the business and he and I are both reaping the rewards of that trust.

I still own a few small businesses on the side (some are seasonal, some are simply ongoing projects that bring in the occasional income). You see I had to raise 2 children with almost no financial support over the last 7 years, so I did whatever I could to make sure they never went without the necessities of life nor the fun activities that kids need when growing up. We all have to have dreams and I devoted a great deal of my resources to make sure they got to experience the things they wanted within reason of course.

There is so much to share - but for now, this blog represents my emotional state and the calm serenity that comes from putting myself first (by giving myself permission to go to the gym and giving myself time to reflect and write).

Like they say on the air planes - put your oxygen mask on first then you can help others. My personal time is my oxygen mask - it feeds my soul and gives me the calmness to tackle the hurdles that life throws my way.

Today I am calm.

My card of the day is "imagination"
My affirmation for that card is
"The image in my mind today has the potential to change my tomorrow"

The three things I am grateful for today:

1. My mentor MaryAnn D'Ambrosio who showed me how starting each day with 3 things I am grateful for changes my disposition from frustration to appreciation for each day... what a huge mindset change that has really impacted my life. Thanks MaryAnn!

2. My mentor MaryAnn D'Ambrosio who created the most beautiful deck of cards she calls "Just Be Boundless Energy - The art of being cards" that make me spend a few minutes each day just reflecting on my own goals and dreams - my oxygen so to speak.

If you haven't seen these cards they can be found at www.LeapWithoutLimits.com (my best investment in myself so far). Thanks again MaryAnn - You really are helping me leap without limits dear friend!

3. My beloved Dave who is incredibly patient with me when I am struggling and who is actually taking a more active role for the first time in dealing with my daughters. What an amazing support he has been and I am eternally gratefully!

Today I leave my knee jerk explosions behind and take leaps forward in calm assertiveness letting my imagination awaken to new possibilities...

Kay Kinder
1,000 days to health and wealth

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

joining the gym

Today (Jan 22, 2011) I joined a gym!

I realize that most people who are trying to loose weight join gyms, but for me it isn't just about the weight - it is about simply being able to walk.

It is very cold and icy in Ottawa right now and it is expected to stay that way for another couple of months. I just got back from the most amazing cruise (internet marketing cruise) where I lost 8 pounds simply by being very very active enjoying endless summer weather. I was walking every day extensively. I loved the way all that walking made me feel and when I got back to Canada realized that I was now stuck indoors with no way to continue the exercise I was enjoying.

I've included a short video as I realize I need to share more about myself.



By the way did I mention that my bank account is now sitting at over $8,000.00 - not bad for my first few months and well on my way to my 1 million dollar target.

I can't wait to share with you my successes and how I got there along the way.

Kay Kinder
www.KinderPromotions.com
1,000 Days to Health & Wealth

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Backsliding again

I realized today that I have stopped keeping a food diary, I stopped writing in my blog, I stopped living and am now filling every waking hour with work & food... the reason - I am sad.

I have been sad ever since my 50th birthday last December - when my boyfriend proposed to me only he didn't want anyone to know (he is trying to protect the feelings of his kids). I knew I couldn't go through life being secretly engaged - for me engagement is the public proclamation of a couples love for each other. It really hurt my feelings that he feels badly about the idea of getting engaged. This was suppose to be a happy day in both our lives but with the dark cloud and shame he feels about his failed previous marriage - it turned into a very sad day. The engagement was put indefinitely on hold - and it is now 11 months later and no steps have been made towards moving forward in our relationship.

So I am filling every waking hour with work and food and I am overwhelmed every day because I can't delegate some of this work and I don't know how to move beyond the emotional pain. I need to let go of this dream and move on with my life but this emotional wound runs very deep.

I don't blame him - he isn't trying to hurt me and he does love me. The issue is a conflict with my moral/religious beliefs and some old self esteem issues around not being good enough. These are MY issues and I take full responsibility for them. I can wallow in self pity or I can let go and move on - I have just been struggling with the moving on.

I realize that the death of a dream requires time for mourning and healing - just as the death of anything else of major importance in someones life. And I have truly been grieving.

But at some point you have to move beyond the grief. To move beyond the pain and start taking active steps towards a better future. Today I take that ONE step forward knowing that I may slip and fall in the future but those slips will become farther and fewer with each positive step I take today.

I want my life to change - it is 100% up to me how successful in life I will be. Success in life isn't measured by the money in the bank - but by the contentment I feel at the end of each day knowing I have done my best, loved as deeply as I could, learned something new, remained true to my core beliefs, and lived as honorably as I could. Just knowing I did that each day is enough to set my heart to rest at night with that sigh of contentment.

Life isn't easy - it would have no value if it was easy - it is the things we struggle with that build character and create the strong self confident adult we become.

Today I am grateful for being self aware enough to recognize my triggers so I can begin changing the learned negative behavior patterns. I don't have to react the way I do - just being self aware gives me the choice to choose a different response and thus a new outcome.

Today I am grateful for this blog - I am a very private person and it is very difficult for me to share this. I don't want people to know about my personal life - but perhaps this too is part of being true to myself. To be an open book. A real person with feelings and struggles just like the rest of the people in the world.

Today I am grateful for this new day - this new opportunity to choose a different response to the struggles I am facing.

Today I commit to take action:

Dickens Carolers - Today I will make the phone calls necessary to make sure I have singers for our upcoming performances since I cannot delegate this responsibility this year. (1 hour)
Francis Plumbing - Today I will correct the links on the website that have been bothering me (1 hour)
Your Plumbing Success - Today I will edit the new auto responder with the updated (2 hours)
Home - I will get 1 load of laundry done and the house vacuumed (30 minutes)
Family - I will cook a healthy low calorie dinner that will benefit my entire family (1 hour) & spend time after dinner playing a new board game to give us some fun time together (1 hour)
Exercise - I will walk the dog for 1 hour (benefits me & the dog).
ME - I will allow myself 1 hour for just me - to do my nails and read a bit from an amazing book I will tell you more about tomorrow.

The rest of the day will happen as it will... but I will rest tonight knowing I have given what I could, learned what I could, and accomplished what I could without guilt.

Today is a new day... time to walk the dog

Kay Kinder
Entrepreneur, Mom, Teacher, Student, Woman & so much more...

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Day 81 Poor pitiful me

It seems we all have excuses why we don't do the things we need to do to succeed. I'm also guilty of this. For the last 5 months I have been dealing with a frozen shoulder that has been causing not only immobility in my primary arm (left) but also extreme pain especially at night. This has pretty much eliminated my exercise which is my personal Achilles heal. I HAVE to exercise or I remain stuck where I am while I loose more and more mobility each day.

So this past weekend I decided that pain or no pain, I wasn't going to let my body continue deteriorating. When life throws limits in your way you can chose to hang on to them as excuses for failure or you can choose to overcome them as temporary hurdles.

For the last 3 days I have gone hiking each afternoon for a minimum of 45 minutes. Where I live in Canada is some of the most beautiful scenic trails although they can be quite challenging due to the rocky terrain. Although my shoulder still hurts like a bugger - my sore legs are now taking over in the uncomfortable ache areas. But the discomfort only reminds me that I am one step closer to my dreams - one step closer to better health - one step closer to better balance - one step closer to the fun me who loves the outdoors.

I choose to step outside my comfort zone, I choose to embrace the discomfort that reminds me I am still alive. I choose to live.

No more poor pitiful me - there is nothing to pity here - only a woman who after 81 days of being stuck finally said - enough is enough. I'm off to go hiking once again this afternoon and the weather couldn't be more beautiful.

Each step I live

Kay Kinder
1,000 days to health and wealth

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Day 61 plateau broken

I am now on day 61 of my 1,000 day journey to health and wealth. I have had endless health set backs but I refused to quit. Instead I kept getting up each day looking forward to the achievements I will make through simple personal choices made.

Today I finally broke my 253 plateau - I have been fluctuating between 253 and 254 for the last 3 weeks without being able to break below that. Due to health issues my exercise had to temporarily stop and this also stopped my weight loss.

I have not gained, but I have not lost either. I know from this experience that I can easily maintain without having to give up the things I love simply by keeping portions reasonable & adding vegetables to each meal. Simple small changes that keep me on the path to health without the drastic yo yo weight loss that is actually harmful.

Today I am at 252 - down 8 pounds from my starting point 61 days ago. I also have my new business website up and running and it is already receiving inquiries and traffic although I am not promoting it yet. At this stage I am now creating training materials for my future customers and well on my way towards my financial goals for having the resources for helping others.

So all things considered - today is a great day as I am 1 pound closer to my goal.

Today I am grateful that my daughter is now on the mend and back to school today
Today I am grateful for my partner who encourages me
Today I am grateful for being alive and having one more day to love my family, laugh with friends, achieve personal goals while dreaming of a better tomorrow.

Kay Kinder
1,000 days the health and wealth

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Day 54 Sept. 9, 2010 tracking & healing

Today is day 54 of my 1,000 day journey to health and wealth.

As reported yesterday I finally found an app that works for me for not only tracking my food intake each day but it also tracks my activities (including things like typing, laundry, driving, and all the other activities that I do most days). It has been interesting learning what small changes have in my overall results for that day.

My health however is anything but good right now due to the extreme pain associated with this frozen shoulder. Sleeping is nearly impossible as the pain seems to be much worse if I lay down. This is leaving me emotionally raw and exhausted and it seems my major cleaning job on the weekend has really taken a toll on my shoulders. My left arm is all but useless and my right arm aches from over use to compensate for my left. In addition my back seems to be affected by this tightened shoulder muscle too as everything is trying to compensate for the pain and reduced mobility. It is certainly taking it's toll on my spirits.

Today I am working on creating a proposal for selling one of our businesses. It is legal document so it is incredible tedious but it has to be completed before tomorrow as I am meeting with a potential buyer. With the sale of this business it will free up even more of my time (and my partners time) to focus on our new business venture full time.

It is certainly a step in the direction that we want to take (my partner and I) but it seems to be happening so fast that I'm not sure if I am ready for it yet. My issue is my new business venture hasn't reached marketable product stage - it's like leaping off a cliff before you have attached the harness for your hang-glider. My safety net isn't in place yet leaving me feeling insecure about the future.

I know this too is a step that must be completed before I can achieve my financial goals - I'm just tired and thus emotionally wired today.

Today I am grateful for this new potential buyer who could change my plans drastically speeding me towards my future dreams.

Today I am grateful for my heating pad that makes it possible for me to type.

Today I am grateful for being able to work from home today as I am far too tired and sore to be out driving around the city.

Fall is coming and I am so looking forward to some serious outdoor time walking and enjoying the fall colors and scents of the season.

Kay Kinder
1,000 days to health and wealth

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Day 53 Sept 8, 2010 Fall cleaning & new app

Today is day 53 of my 1,000 day journey and although it doesn't seem like I am getting anywhere - I am actually making good headway. Results however will take more time to start showing.

My home life was turned upside down this past weekend as I tore my house apart for some serious cleaning. The goal was two fold - to get my house as dust free as possible (my partner is allergic to dust) and to start going through old things to be thrown out making space available so I don't feel so cluttered.

One of the things that slows people down from being successful is clutter. Clutter is distracting, it makes it more difficult to find what you are looking for (which consumes valuable time), and it simply an eye sore. By eliminating clutter I have made my home more welcoming, I have a place for things now, and I am no longer distracted by the piles of unfinished projects that will never get done.

I made good use of my work cleaning system - reapplying it to home cleaning:
Do it (finish it)
Date it (to be done)
Delete it (throw it out)
Delegate it (give it to someone else)
Deliberate (things I am not ready to throw out, kept to one small box for review later)

If I really couldn't decide where to put it - then I threw it out (garbage or charity bag).

It is a slow process cleaning out 50 years of living - but the results have been very rewarding so far. I can breath easier (and so can Dave) and I am finding places for things. My goal is to finish this "life cleaning" of my main floor & second floor by the end of this weekend.

Of course this is only ONE step towards my success - but it is an important one as it will allow me to stay more focused on my goals.

The second success I had was finally finding an app for tracking my weight, food diary, and activities. After spending the last 4 days fussing with apps that did not work I finally found one that DOES WORK.

Live Strong (www.Livestrong.com is the website) has an app that tracks it all and is easy to use from my iphone.

I know tracking my meals, weight & activities is all part of the process and is a vital part of achieving my personal health goals. So with my new app and my cleaner surroundings I feel like I am ready now to take on the challenges facing me.

Every step I make counts - so I am stepping into my healthier life filled with abundance!

Today I am grateful for being able to work even with the limited mobility of my left arm. I was still able to tackle my clutter one armed!

Today I am grateful for my new app which allows me to track my progress with ease from my iphone.

Today I am grateful for this day - another chance to make a difference, another step towards being the best me that I can be, another step towards having more to share with others.

Today is a great day and I am truly blessed!

Kay Kinder
1000 days to health and wealth

Friday, September 3, 2010

Day 49 - lesson learned the hard way

Yesterday I was reading something that reminded me of an important lesson that I seem to have forgotten. The dreaded food diary.

It is a fact that 75% of the people who lose weight and keep it off keep food diaries - the reason why this is such a successful tool is because it makes you consciously aware of everything you eat and in doing so it makes you accountable for everything you eat.

I have been so buried in work and building my millions that I forgot to incorporate this very important tool that can drastically change my chances of success and since I am committed to succeed this tool is not optional - it is a necessity.

So as of yesterday I started keeping a food diary.

Life isn't about making wealth - life is about living, sharing, staying healthy so that I can live longer and do more, the wealth is simply a tool to use to help others while allowing me to live a lifestyle with the freedom to choose what I want to do each day - instead of being forced to work in order to survive.

So once more I am reminded of my priorities - health leads to wealth - wealth without health leads to death... Health first.

On the plane they tell you to put your oxygen mask on FIRST then help whoever is with you second - There is a reason for this - you can't help them if you pass out or die because you put your health second.

Today I give myself permission to put my own health first so that I may serve others as a result of that health.

Hard reminders - but I also knew this wasn't going to be an easy journey. It is a change in learned behavior patterns, it is a change in beliefs (doing what I know is right instead of doing what I usually do which is put myself last on the list of importance).

Today I am grateful for the painful reminders that keep me accountable each day.

Today I am grateful for my health - that I am still able to do things even with this bad shoulder. No migraines today - nothing to slow me down!

Today I am grateful to God who watched over the people in Hatteras NC moving that hurricane so that it only brushed the small towns as a tropical storm - another reminder of how fragile life is and how grateful we must be for each day given to us.

Today I am alive and well and looking forward to the small steps that will lead me to my dreams while never forgetting that today is to be celebrated and enjoyed too.

Kay Kinder
1,000 days to health and wealth

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Day 41 Aug 26 Falling behind but not defeated

Well the last two weeks have really be chaotic. My partner Dave decided to build an additional room in our office so I can have a private office and room to hire a new receptionist/dispatch person (part of our company growth plan & giving me room to work on our other projects at the same time). With this new office came a need for furniture and we couldn't find anything that would fit in the space available - so I made the decision to move my home office into my new work office... furniture, files and all.

It was a huge adjustment because it meant turning my home upside down - my home office WAS my open dining/living room... so now I have boxes everywhere with no place to put everything... so we bought a new bookcase for home, moved my old entertainment unit back upstairs from the basement, moved my office furniture to the office and I am now just beginning to go through boxes to reorganize which includes throwing out older stuff that is no longer useful and finding new homes for important things I will not be bringing to work.

At the same time my daughter has asked me to build her boyfriend a baroque style lace ruffle shirt and velvet & brocade coat for his birthday which unfortunately is very labor intensive. I use to own a historical costume business (with over 300 historical costumes in stock) and taught history of costumes at the local college over a decade ago but long since gave up sewing due to problems with my neck. So for the last two weeks between moving, boxing, still working full time and sewing added with the shoulder issues (torn rotator cuff & frozen shoulder) it has been a very rough time for me.

I was also scheduled to take an online course with a very dear friend, but I found trying to pay attention after 8pm near to impossible (I was exhausted and my arm was in really bad shape) - so I still have the recordings of the training and plan on listening to them next week when the worst of the dust settles.

Today's update - the shirt is done, the coat has about 6 hours left of labor (which I should be able to complete tonight if all goes well), the new office is done and my furniture is now functional at the office (even if there are still 6 more boxes to unpack), Dave built me some new book shelves and CD shelves and has started unpacking boxes in my dining room and although there are still 20+ boxes left to unpack at home - my new living room furniture will be arriving early next week and we can finally get the last of the old stuff out once and for all - so there IS light at the end of the tunnel.

So the good news:
weight 254 - (down 6 pounds from my original weight but a very long way to go to my goal)
bank account hasn't changed but the new business is now up and running and our first 3 potential customers have received our information package. I will be doing a follow up with them over the next week.

The post cards I ordered to promote the new business have arrived and I already have a list of 100 potential customers to do my first test market mailing campaign with. I will be doing 10 of these test markets over the next 8 weeks (1,000 in total), modifying the promotional material as needed to see an increase of leads to paying customers. Because this is a very specific niche market each of the 100 mail outs are already pre-qualified leads.

My target - 2 paid customers in the next 4 weeks - 4 more paid customers in the next 8 weeks, 4 more in 12 weeks. Total of 10 paid customers within 3 months.

My work target (beyond my daily job tasks) is to complete module 1 of the 4 month training program that I am selling (yes I am selling something that isn't completed) within the next 4 weeks (sooner if I get the paid customers as that will make module 1 a priority to completion).

To hire an additional staff for the new office space (to free up more of my time to work on the modules and promoting both businesses), to hire another technician (or 2) as I am now booked solid and need additional technicians to handle the work load. To listen to the training materials from Leap without Limits. And to get my home and office in order (meaning no more boxes).

It has been an insanely busy time - but I do have this weekend scheduled OFF to socialize with friends and enjoy some down time at the cottage. Even in the chaos there are still moments of joy, laughter, affection, and playfulness that make all of this worth while.

Today I am grateful for my partner Dave who is really pitching in to make my home less stressful for me
Today I am grateful for my job that allows me the freedom to accomplish so many tasks on the side.
Today I am grateful for my dog who loves me unconditionally even when I am too sore to pet her.

Once more I move forward with purpose - each step taken a conscious one in the direction I choose to go.

Kay Kinder
1000 days to health and wealth

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Day 26 Aug. 11, 2010 Falling behind

Today is day 26 of my 1,000 days to health and wealth and I am quite disappointed. Like all journeys some days will see progress other days will see set backs - this week has been a set back for me on my health quest.

For those who didn't know, 4 months ago I tore my left rotator cuff (again) and ended up with a frozen shoulder. Now my left arm is pretty much useless and has been for just over 4 months. The problem is I am left handed so this is really compromising my ability to do many things. The worst of it isn't the restriction of movement, the worst of it is the endless pain that will not allow me to sleep at night. On average I sleep for 15 to 20 minutes before the pain in my arm wakes me up and this gets repeated all night so that by the morning I am averaging maybe 3 to 4 hours sleep spaced out over the entire night.

In other words - after 4 months of this I am absolutely exhausted and the lack of sleep is having a negative effect on my ability to burn calories, not to mention I am so tired I can barely walk my dog to the front yard let alone the dog park. It has reached a point where I am not comfortable driving because I know my concentration is impaired to some extent.

Today my weight is 256 (still 4 pounds under my starting weight, but NOT where I expected to be at this stage).

All that being said, I still know that I can achieve my 1,000 day goal even with this set back. So today I am going to call my doctor to see if there is anything I can do to help with the pain so I can get some much needed sleep and I am going to double up my physio & massage sessions to see if I can't get this shoulder fast tracked to manageable pain levels.

As the crazy song says: "I get knocked down, but I get up again, your never going to keep me down" - this stupid song plays in my head every time I hit a set back and it pumps me up to move forward again.

So today I am grateful for the music that moves me to continue even when I am exhausted.

Today I am grateful for my partner Dave who's patience & efforts with me is so appreciated. I'm sure I can't be much fun to be with right now but he is still here supporting and encouraging me.

Today I am grateful for my job that allows me the flexibility to choose which tasks I want to pursue each day and where I want to work (office, home, cottage, anywhere...).

I still believe that everyday above ground is a good day - even if that day includes discomforts because this too shall pass.

Kay Kinder
1,000 days to health & wealth

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Day 20 August 5, 2010 giving back

Today was an especially good day for me, not because I made money or lost weight but because I dedicated today to serving others - giving back for all the times that people helped me along the way.

Today I got to share with my mastermind team what I know about search engine optimization and how to find just the right keywords to build a website that is not only easy to find on the search engines but is specifically written for those markets where people are actually paying online for the services that are being offered. I created a pdf document for my mastermind team and the outline of what was shared will also become a part of my training program for my own online business so once again I benefited even when my goal was just to help others.

Today I also got to enjoy speaking (on Skype for free) with my favorite Englishman from London England Bob Lampard who was looking for ways to monetize his websites. It was especially rewarding for me because he is such a giving soul with a heart of gold and it was great hearing him turn his hurdles into options. All he needed was someone to walk him through some SEO tips before his mind was running ahead with ideas.

Bob is another member of my mastermind team and I count my blessings that he is such a supportive member to myself and the rest of the group. I think he is going to do great things with his writings and can't wait to read his next blog.

Today I also did endless laundry between the emails and phone calls - washing every last piece of laundry from the cottage clean up (linens, beddings, clothes, etc...). Each load required running up and down stairs which pushed me to exercise even more today - although I have to admit I am starting to feel it in my legs. But it is a great feeling seeing everything clean and nicely folded
ready to take back this weekend.

Busy day but a good day filled with endless thoughts, endless moments of thankfulness, and laughter with special friends.

Today I am grateful for Bob Lampard that he let me into his life a bit more growing our friendship in the process.

Today I am grateful for MaryAnn D'ambrosio who allowed me to do some research for her to help grow her business online.

Today I am grateful for a working washing machine - isn't modern technology a blessing - I can't imagine how my granny would have gotten all that done one piece at a time scrubbing her knuckles raw... instead I made light work of a huge mountain.

Life isn't the destination - life is the journey and today I enjoyed each step of the way.

Kay Kinder
1,000 steps to health and wealth

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Day 17-18-19 Work, work, work

I just spent the last two days buried in work again once more putting my personal goals on hold. This is my personal hurdle and the one I struggle with the most... making time to make me a priority too. In the past most of my dreams just died a slow painful death because I didn't feel I deserved to live my dreams. I work hard for others to succeed, but I don't give myself permission to succeed on my own. I have literally made people millions of dollars over the last 10 years alone but didn't give myself that success.

Today on Day 19 of my 1,000 day journey I recommit to this dream
981 days to reach 93 pounds weight loss (total loss 100 pounds)
981 days to reach $999,779.00 to earn in my savings account to be used to help others (total savings 1 million dollars).

I still believe I can do this - I still know I can do this. All I need to do is give myself permission to put time aside each day for me. I deserve the right to choose a good life for myself and my children and my sisters and parents... these are the steps I am taking to take that life and live it one day at a time.

Today I am grateful for waking up this morning with the whole day ahead of me waiting for me to choose my steps.

Today I am grateful for the opportunity to give some time to my mastermind team as they have freely given of their time to me.

Today I am grateful for a working computer that allows me to share this journey with others.

Everyday above ground is a great day!!!!

Kay Kinder
1,000 days to health and wealth

Day 15-16 the weekend cleanup

This weekend was devoted to helping my partner Dave clean his cottage getting it ready for next weekend for hosting our company picnic. Everything needed to be done from cleaning mouse dropping out of old dressers from the winter storage to building new stairs going up to the doors. All this plus helping my daughter with a sewing project - it was a very very busy weekend with no time for myself.

No changes in weight or income on the weekend - but that was to be expected. I'm still on track and looking forward to working on my project again.

Today I am thankful for the time I got to spend with my daughter Lila (we have had a rough relationship the last 2 years so this was really appreciated).

Today I am thankful for the time I spent raking and pulling weeds (nothing like hard physical labour to remind you that you are alive)

Today I am thankful for the cool evenings that made sleeping at the cottage a bit better.

Kay Kinder
1,000 days to health and wealth

Friday, July 30, 2010

Day 14 July 30, 2010 on my way to millions

Today was an exceptional day as finally all the little pieces I had been working on came together beautifully. My new business venture website is now up and running live, the opt-in for my site is now functioning properly, and I have my information guide completed. The only thing left to do is attach the payment button - then start building the products (which are simply a matter of documenting what is already being used since I created these systems).

Dave said I should have all next week to work on this but the reality is with the holiday weekend I will only get 3 days at best - but in 3 days I can create a weeks worth of training modules so it should work out perfectly.

My weight is still the same
My bank account is still the same but my ability to earn more has grown with the website completion.

Today I am grateful for the time I got today to get the website up
Today I am grateful for aweber for making autoresponders so easy to use and impliment
Today I am grateful for moving one step closer to my 1,000 day goals

It was a great day!

Kay

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Day 13 July 29 - Finally a step forward

After what seemed like endless delays today I am working from home. I have a radio ad to write for my day job business but once that is completed I can start working on my new business venture again. I know it will take time for me to get working on it as I will have to re-read everything again to get myself back into the mindset and flow of the material, but I have some time to do just that today which is encouraging.

My goal today - to create the small pieces that are needed to supplement the information package I am writing. Just 2 should be enough for now and I can always revise later as Bob the Teacher says (TARL - Take Action Revise Later). Today I TARL.

My weight this morning 252.5 - a half pound but certainly in the right direction. Walking is certainly a big component in my ability to loose weight and I am looking forward to my walk this evening after physio with Dave - we have so much to talk about that we never seem to run out... even after 7 years my time with him is just as fresh as the first days we started talking.

Today I am once again grateful for Dave who understands me and loves me in spite of myself.

Today I am grateful for my physio therapist Heather for helping me move forward through this pain so I can once again have a life with physical activities.

Today I am grateful for MaryAnn from my mastermind group, although we haven't talked lately her words still bring me encouragement and comfort. She is truly a blessing and one I am grateful for.

I'm off to be creative now - and I know I will succeed. Not because I am brilliant, but because I know beyond a doubt that I can do it. I have no doubts about my skills and I am in the right headspace to make it happen.

Kay Kinder - aging daily and loving each step along the way