Feature Friday With My Mom!

 

1.  Your name:

Carma

2. How long have you been married?

32+ years

3. Do you have any words of wisdom for newly married brides or couples?

Pick the right man! After that… pick your battles, don’t nag about the small things, talk about the things that matter. Talk often, share a lot, and laugh a lot. Be willing to give up things and compromise on things that cause unnecessary stress. A friend once said about her marriage “Sometimes I know we are still together because we love each other, sometimes it’s because we are committed”. In the tough times, stay committed because the love and fulfillment for the rest of the time is so worth it. Just ask Russ!

4. Your Occupation:

Human Resources

5. Do you have any specific advice you could give to people who are looking for a job?

Jobs are easier to get if you currently have a job so, if possible, stick with a job while you look for another one and don’t burn bridges when you leave. Keep your resume up-to-date and accurate. Referrals are a great help, so spend time networking. Feel free to follow up on your applications you’ve submitted.

When you get a job offer, use your accurate resume to provide employment history for the background check. In my job, I sometimes have to rescind (take back) a job offer simply because someone didn’t take the time to make sure their employment history was accurate, i.e. the verified employment dates are dramatically different than what the candidate provided, or the candidate decided some jobs weren’t important and didn’t disclose them (this can be considered falsification of an application).

6. Yesterday was the one year anniversary of a goal you had set.  What was that goal?

I decided to stop eating sugar and sugar substitutes which included desserts, chocolate and Diet Coke.

7. Can you tell us what it was like to not eat any dessert for one year?

At first, I just thought I was just giving one more diet a try. But, unlike all the other diets I had tried before, the longer I avoided sugar the easier it was because I no longer craved things…not just desserts or chocolate but a lot of other foods. It took about a month to get rid of the real sugar cravings but after that it was so much easier. I have sat in all day meetings with chocolate sitting in front of me and was able to easily resist. For me, the hardest thing was giving up Diet Cokes. I have never drank much water, but now my fluids have become water, unsweet tea and black coffee. I’m still not a huge fan of unsweet tea so I have become a much better water drinker, which is so much healthier.

About three months into it, I was battling with myself over a piece of carrot cake. Britney looked at me and said “You have done so good, will one piece of cake really be worth it?” That was all the encouragement I needed to resist the urge. After that, every time I was tempted I could hear that voice say “Is that one little piece of chocolate, cake, Coke worth risking not being able to get back on track?” And the answer was no, it would only satisfy me for a few minutes and it could make all the food cravings come back full force.

After I was able to stick with this for 6 months, then my personal goal became to make it a year. I’m glad I had that goal out there because it helped get me through Thanksgiving, Christmas and a cruise, and it has been those last 6 months that has helped solidify the life-style change. As I started getting close to the one year mark, I decided that I wasn’t going to celebrate by having the foods I had worked to overcome, but to continue to improve my eating habits.

8. Were there any life changes that came with it (mood, weight, energy, etc.)?

Over the last year, I have very gradually lost 15 pounds. While that doesn’t seem like a lot (and I definitely want to lose more), the good news is that I have not had to worry about gaining weight, and I definitely feel better.

9. Do you have any advice for people who are thinking about a lifestyle change?

Be realistic, do it for yourself, plan ahead and find something you like that can substitute when you are tempted to go back to your old habits. For me, it was Lays plain Kettle Chips. The plain ones don’t have sugar and they don’t make me crave other foods like sugar does. Just a few chips would do the trick…yes, I tried carrots…it’s just not the same.

10. What’s next?

This year, I am adding White Bread to my list of foods to eliminate. Yes…that means Sister Schubert’s hot rolls… But, I need to do it for my health right?? It will make me healthier, won’t it??...

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My mom is one of my heroes.  She is a truly amazing person.  There are time when I’ve gone the extra mile for someone and I’ll stop and think, “I learned that from my mom”.  I love that I look like her and that I have so much of her in me. 

She is super smart, she is business savvy, and when she puts her mind to something, nothing can stop her…Just ask my dad about the time he came home and she had taken a sledge hammer to the wall under the stairs to start the process of making a deep closet. 

Last little FYI:  I’m starting month 4 of no dessert.  Thanks Mom!

And, thanks for letting me feature you.  I LOVE YOU!!!