I stumbled upon “Can You Stay For Dinner” back in February of 2010. This was her first comment on my blog:
canyoustayfordinner.comx
canyoustayfordinner@gmail.com
76.28.109.192
Submitted on 2010/02/13 at 2:49 pm
My god I love your creativity with food! I’ve got to try that pizza dough, it looks perfect! Thanks for visiting my blog.
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She was funny, witty, had an awesome writing style and well, she made yummy food! Not only that, but she’d lost over 130 pounds and had kept it off. I loved reading about her life. Fast forward a couple years and I read that she was moving to Costa Rica to write a book! And that’s probably where I left her. You know how it goes – out of sight out of mind. But last week I was thinking about Andie for no particular reason and I went to her blog to find out what was going on in her life.
Well, I found out her book was finished! I was so excited. But here’s the deal. While I was an AVID reader growing up, well, let’s just say it’s probably been a good 10+ years since I read a book cover to cover. But on our way home from Virginia I downloaded the Kindle app on my tablet, and shelled out the $9.99 to download the book and I finished the whole book on the trip home. It was wonderful. I never got to the end of a chapter and thought “I’ll pick this up later” I just kept on wanting to read it.
So half way through, I realized I could highlight passages that spoke to me – duh. So I will definitely be reading this again. But here were a few quotes I wanted to share with you today.
Andie was reading a magazine article about a woman who lost 100 pounds and it was the first time she connected to someone who shared her struggle with weight and the grieving associated with eating less. This person was also a binge eater and she had a sponsor in Overeaters Anonymous that she contacted when she felt herself slipping off the edge of willpower. The sponsor said “Can you do it today? Can you make it through today without bingeing? Just today, and tomorrow we’ll reconsider?” That’s how she got herself to the gym. “Can you exercise today Andie? Not tomorrow, or the next day, not even a month from now. Today? Eat the best you can, work your plus-sized heart out . . . today”?”
That was her mantra . . . just do the best you can . . . today. And she did. But then came the part about maintaining weight loss, which those of you who have done it (Lori, Shelley and Lisa just to name a few right off the top of my head) is that maintaining weight loss takes just as much dedication and thought as it did to get it off in the first place. Someone she knew told her that losing weight was the easy part, it’s the maintaining that was the hard part. It made her mad that someone could diminish all the effort it took to lose the weight. “Yes, I get it, I wanted to tell them. It looks like I’ve just moved into a new home, a very desirable and thin one, and now you’re reminding me that I have to come up with the mortgage payments. I’m terrified too. But just so you know, I worked to purchase this house myself, and somehow I’ll figure it out.
Sadly I have to now get ready for work, but was wondering if you followed Andie’s blog and if you’ll read her book. I am going to contact her to see if I can purchase an autographed copy to give away on the blog, that’s how much I loved this book.
So my question to you today is, “can you exercise today? Not tomorrow, or the next day, not even a month from now. Today?” I got my steps in yesterday, and plan to do the same today. 
Thanks for reminding me about Andie’s blog! I haven’t visited in a while but have made some of her recipes in the past! Also? I just got a fitbit and started wearing it last night. I’m super-excited! XOXO
I’ll send you an invite on fitbit – woop!
Congratulations Andie. A published author! But better a healthy published author I applaud you. I love the mantra of “Can you do it just today?” So TRUE. I especially like the analogy of weight loss maintenance to buying a house and paying the mortgage. It made it so completely clear to me. Can’t wait to read the book.
And Biz, as for “Can you exercise today?” I hope you were asking yourself because you know my answer to that. giggle They tell you with RA that exercise is good for you – what they don’t tell you when your RA comes along with CHF is you are going to pay for the 15 minutes of yoga for a week.
[Years ago] I took my mother to a doctor’s appointment once [she didn’t have RA or CHF] and the doctor asked “Do you exercise?” and she replied yes. I looked at her, incredulous….then when I picked my chin up off the floor, the doctor, noticing my look, asked her “What kind of exercise do you do?” My Mom replied “I clean house and wash windows.” I couldn’t stop myself and said “Mom, are you kidding? You haven’t cleaned house since before I was in middle school.” ::DEATH GLARE:: The doctor laughed. The woman just didn’t exercise. Ever, but I guess it was her era? They were in to martinis and cigarettes. [Sorry for the extraneous story, but your question reminded me of that story and I thought it would make you laugh. My mom and I laughed about it for years afterwards. “Windows, yeah, SURE mom.” Besides which it also stands as a reminder that housework is all I am basically capable of and minimum at that on a good day. But I try – and I call that my exercise. 😉
Love you girlie. Off to check out the new book.
When we watch old movies that we have now had put onto DVDs – EVERYONE had a cocktail and a smoke! Definitely a different era for sure! Love you back 😀
I absolutely love the analogy of the thin house and mortgage payments. I am going to purchase this on my kindle right now!
I know you’ll love it Christina! 😀
Great!! Inspiring words to get up and move… Its all about finding that motivation and keeping it… Thank you!!! Love this blog!! Still saying prayers for you and your family
Thanks so much Dawn – I appreciate it! 😀
Hi Biz,
Yes I exercised last night! RIPPED and Zumba I did because I know it is helping me with my diabetes.
I went to my Endo and MY A1c went down to 8.1 . So things are good.. Glad your busy and working your butt off in the gym.
That A1C isn’t too bad – nice! Trying Zumba tonight for the first time – I am a bit nervous!
I’ve not seen the book or the blog, I will look for it.
However………. thank you. Just for today, I will exercise !
I’ve lost 98 lbs, and I have almost 100 more to go, the first 98 came off relatively easy, low carb, high fat,high protein. The next 100 won’t come off as easily, I need to exercise, i just joined the pool/gym and will start today. Thank you.
Just for today, that’s all I need to focus on.
Wow, great job so far Heidi! I love to swim, but haven’t been since it got cold outside, even though my gym pool water is warm – I need to do that soon!
good for her, wow. Happy Friday Biz! enjoy the heat wave 😉
Yep, no coat required for me! If it’s 20 degrees or above, I don’t wear a coat! 😀
You know how things sometimes just strike you at an odd moment and you get emotional for no rational reason. This post just did that to me. The last section where you asked if I can do it today. Wow. If that doesn’t motivate me I don’t know what will. Still struggling with getting my body in shape and shed some excess weight…I’ve been on my game this week. Every day I told myself “It’s one step at a time.” Thank you for sharing this!!
Well, we can struggle together Karli and hopefully motivate each other to do better – hugs!
I will have to check my Nook for that book – sounds great. I love the idea of just working out today and not worrying about any other day!!!
Well, I don’t have to worry about exercising with you – I keep telling myself I should incorporate some of your 46’s exercises – need to get on that. Happy Friday – hope you have a glass of wine tonight!
I have seen this book circulating the web and now I really want yo read it!
It’s a super quick read Ally – you can squeeze it in after the kids go to bed 😀
Thanks for the shout out! And no, I’m not exercising today…however I did yesterday, and I will tomorrow and Sunday. 🙂
Well, I’ll let it slide today since you are running a 5k tomorrow and a 1/2 marathon on Sunday! You’ll do great!
Oh yes, I was following her when she put her mother on a diet. I will have to look for her book.
I just finished her book this morning and thought it was great! She’s obviously a wonderful writer and I found myself being able to relate about many things she wrote about. Great read!
I know, I just would finish one chapter and go right on to the next. Who knows, I may become a book reader again! 😀
Yes, I follow Andie! And I’ll be reading her book when I finish the one I’m reading now. But those passages are powerful and really hit me today. Thank you for sharing!
WOW!
Glad it could motivate you Carrie – enjoy your weekend!
I love Andie’s blog!! I also downloaded her book to my kindle and will start it this week. That is a great way to think about diet and exercise – one day at a time!!
Absolutely! Hey, you’ll have to let me know the next time you are in Schaumburg, we should meet up for dinner!
Thanks for sharing, definitely going home to download her book and read her blog. her words are indeed inspirational, yet simple and doable because at the very least “yes, I can do it today”. I just know I am going to love her blog!
Yep, you will love her blog – so personable!
Biz, THANK YOU, my friend. Thank you so so much. This means so much to me.
Love,
Andie
No, thank you – your book really spoke to me and I’ll use it and refer to it when I want to give up – hugs!!
You have really been rocking the steps lately. I’m glad you found a book that kept your interest. I am a book junkie. I almost always have one in my hand if I’m not doing something else. My husband picks on me because I always have a different book. He ask “did you not like the last one?” I almost always say yes, I finished it already:)
I am just going to get in the habit of reading before bed – I’d love to have some of your book recommendations!
Thanks for sharing this, Biz. I like her mantra. It makes my goals so much easier to focus on what I can do today, not tomorrow, next week, or even next year.
It’s so easy to not be in the moment, isn’t it? Although when I read your blog posts they are usually thought provoking and make me slow down. Enjoy your weekend!
How inspiring! And what a great way to look at it – one day at a time! Thanks for that, and yes, I CAN exercise today. 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Thanks Christine!! Have a great weekend too. I thought of you today as I put a sriracha packet on my hard boiled egg this morning 😀
Thank you for this today! I already had the book on my mind and will definitely read it now. I must check out her blog too. Yes, I can exercise today. That is such a powerful message to me because I waste a lot of time thinking about the future and worrying about ‘what if I can’t’. I need to focus on daily positives, and think ‘what if I can’! For TODAY! Have a great Friday!
Thanks Lynne! No matter what anyone’s day is like, I think there is always one positive to hang your hat on. 😀
Yep, one of my favorite sayings is: “Every day may not be good, but there’s something good in every day.”
Wow. I am going to read that book. I think it will resonate with me. I need to remind myself daily to get through this life just one day at a time. I waste so much time worrying about the future that I miss out on the joys of today. Today I will get my steps in and relish the way it makes me feel. Hope you have a fantastic day!
That’s awesome! It’s 4:15 now, and I already have over 10,000 steps – woop!
Hi Biz, I hope you are doing well and I think about you all the time and how hard it must be to find a new life without your best friend. Hugs today and always! Yes, I can work out today. This morning when I got up I was thought, I am not working out tonight, it is Friday and I am just going to relax but you have convinced me that I can workout today so thank you! I am going to put that book on my library list right now!! (I have a Kindle too but only buy a book if I can’t get it from the library, I am cheap like that!)
Thanks Diana – do you know if you can get books from the library on the kindle app, not an actual kindle?
I had the kindle app on my computer and use to check books out all the time from the library to read on the computer (mainly cookbooks)