Lucky

When I lost the marketing assistant job I held in 2009 I was confused and distraught. I kept finding myself unemployed and I really didn't understand why. My girlfriend, Carmen -- rest in peace, said to me "Maybe you're not supposed to work in marketing. Maybe you're not supposed to work a traditional job." I thought, nonsense... I have a degree in Journalism with a background in Marketing Communications, and I like what I do. Fast forward 2012: Man, oh man Carmen was right!

Today, I do everything I love. There's no job description for what I do. I'm OUTSIDE of the Box. A typical day in the life of Chrisetta could include any combination:

- Blog
- Update Facebook (multiple times throughout the day)
- Work out
- Host cooking classes
- Facilitate groups
- Speak to crowds
- Author cookbooks
- Gather goods to create fresh meals
- Cook delicious meals for myself 
- Etc., Etc., Etc.

Everything I do is on my own schedule. I pick and chose the events I participate in. Most of the time I plan my events in my pajamas from the confines of my home. I can chat on the phone with my girlfriends while I work. If I get tired of working, I can take a walk, a nap, or close it down completely. I don't have all the stressors of working for someone else. I have time to take care of myself -- cooking from scratch, resting well, and exercising. What's more, I get to share with people. Help people. There's no greater feeling.

 "You seem to be having so much fun when I peek in there (kitchen classroom)!" Margaret a cashier at Chuck's  observed. A fellow workout buddy said" You are lucky to be able to do what you do. Most people don't get to do what they love."

I'd have to agree. I am lucky. I'm not supposed to work a traditional job. Instead, I'm supposed to have fun sharing my passion for good food, life, health and fitness with you.

What's Cookin' in November

For the past couple of months I've been out and about -- here, there, everywhere signing cookbooks like crazy and encouraging you to step OUTSIDE of the prepared food box.  For the month of November -- I'm going on a cookin' frenzy. It's time for me to show you how to whip up the simple, delicious meals from the cookbook.

I'm super-duper excited for this opportunity...I'll host PRIVATE store tours and cooking classes for 100! Clark College  Yes, 100! "Food and Your Health" students at Chuck's Produce & Street Market. This is the first class of this type for the college, the store, and me too. 

First up, I'll take the students on a grocery shopping tour and then we'll head back to kitchen for a cooking class featuring recipes straight from the cookbook. 

I'll host four private classes with 25 students each class -- two sessions on Friday, November 9th and two sessions on Friday November 16th. I'm honored to be a part of the college's efforts to "bridge the gap between theory and practice for the students." Stay tuned for more as the delicious fun happens.

I'm just warming up! I'll host my regular cooking classes at Chuck's. Back by popular demand I'll make my "To Die For Southwestern Chicken Soup" and Sweet Potato Bisque-- Sunday, November 18th, 2 -3:30 p.m. and on Friday, November 30th, 1- 2:30 p.m. I'll whip up my "Simply Unforgettable Tomato Soup" with Grown-Up Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. Check the class schedule and call the store to reserve your seat -- classes fill quickly!

There's more...I may need a fire extinguisher! Tuesday, November 13th at 7 p.m., I've been invited to host a Healthy Food On-The-Go seminar at the BEST training studio in town -- Northwest Personal Training.

On the menu:

• Cashew Whole Food Energy Bars
• Blueberry Banana Kale Smoothies
• Veggie Wraps

Register for this event here.

I'm so looking forward to creating delicious memories with you. Hope to see you somewhere in the mix this November.

Happy Shopping, Cooking, and Eating!

---

For those who missed it, I started November with a  LIVE appearance on talk radio. I was  promoting Shop, Cook, Eat: Outside of the Box on KBOO's Black Book Talk.  Listen to the PODCAST here. Warning: I was really high strung it must have been the chia seeds. 

Healthy Looks

Confession: For a long time my weight loss efforts were tied to me achieving a certain look, and I associated being healthy with that look. It wasn't until I started working out at Northwest Personal Training (NWPT) that my attitude changed. 

Coming from a place of morbid obesity at the onset of my weight loss journey, I was losing the weight to save my life. I was so big -- 388 pounds, so miserable. I could barely walk, barely breathe. I was taking meds to control my high blood pressure and I was on the verge of developing a slew of other health problems. Once I started shedding the pounds and working out regularly my focus changed. I seemed to be skewing health and looks together. 

In retrospect, I now realize that working out in a corporate gym environment contributed to my skewed outlook. Sure, there were your average looking folks who were concerned with their health and fitness who worked out at the corporate gym, but mostly there were a lot of model like men and women. I started wanting to look like them. Be like them. I was pressuring myself to get to goal weight, obsessing over the scale, and trying to achieve a look. It was so superficial. So unreal. So unhealthy.

When I first started working out at NWPT in April, I had the same mentality -- get to goal weight, wear a size x and be healthy, fit. That wasn't happening fast enough and I was beating myself up. It was a conversation that I had with Sherri McMillian owner of NWPT that really started changing my focus. She told me that she wanted me not to worry so much about losing weight, but instead concentrate on getting stronger.

Months later, working out beside some of the strongest, healthiest folks at NWPT, I realize that healthy isn't about looks. Healthy is a way of life. Exercising. And not just exercising at the gym, finding physical activities that you enjoy and making them a part of your life. Eating well. Resting. Loving yourself. I'm proud to say, I no longer am focused solely on the way I look. Rather, I'm focused on putting all the pieces together -- it's a holistic approach. Sure, I still want to get to goal weight and by doing so inevitably my looks will change.  But now my focus is about truly being healthy and strong I'm not sure that really has a certain look.

Celebrating Chrisetta | Shop, Cook, Eat: Outside of the Box

Just when I was coming down from the amazing shoot a few weeks ago...

From Lydene Robertson Photography's blog:

When I met Chrisetta Mosley at a local women’s networking meeting, I knew I wanted to photograph her instantly. Her story is so extremely inspirational and her energy…contagious!

Chrisetta is a survivor of childhood obesity. When she started her journey in 2004 she was nearly 400 lbs and has lost over 170 lbs. She is now inspiring others through her blog, For Once and For All Farewell Fatso, is the author of not one, but TWO cookbooks, holds a monthly support group for women and teaches cooking classes at Chuck’s Produce here in Vancouver, WA. I tell you she is everywhere! The week before our session I pulled a local newspaper out of the mailbox and there she was, on the front cover!
Although her journey isn’t over yet, through this process she has learned to love herself and it was such a pleasure celebrating how far she has come. Be sure to check out her full story on her blog, pick up her latest cookbook, Shop, Cook, Eat: Outside of the Box and follow her journey on her facebook page.

Chrisetta: Thank you so much for spending time with me and allowing me to capture your beauty, both inside and out!

Hair and makeup by Camille Saari at Posh Skin and Hair.

Please follow the link to see all the photos:

Celebrating Chrisetta | Shop, Cook, Eat: Outside of the Box

Thank you Lydene!

Dream & Believe

We've covered a lot of ground over the past few months in our "5 or 50" Women's Sustainable Weight Loss & Lifestyle meetings: Sustainability, incorporating more fruits and vegetables into our diets, thinking outside of the box (doing things that make us a little uncomfortable), and speaking and thinking more positive thoughts. Wednesday evening as a natural progression we started creating vision boards.

DREAMS do come true when you visualize them, when you believe them.  So we spent sometime talking about our dreams. Then Lisa headed a vision board discussion where she showed us her awesome, thoughtful board that she's been working on. After our discussion we went to work -- creating, envisioning, believing. Here's some of the photos! 

I am super proud of the ladies! They are really stepping outside of the box and trying different ways, different things.


Join us for the last meeting of 2012 -- 
Wednesday, November 28th
6 - 7:30 p.m.
Cascade Park Community Library
Family Room
600 NE 136th Ave
Vancouver
360.256.7782

Make sure to "Like" our new Facebook page -- "5 or 50" Women’s Sustainable Weight Loss & Lifestyle Group

Read more about creating vision boards:
Jack Canfield
Oprah Winfrey
Christine Kane