November 3, 2025 • 30 mins
What if the fastest way to change your life is to take full ownership of it? We pull together practical money moves, simple wellness habits, a candid style truth, and a personal story that proves responsibility is a superpower—especially in midlife.
We start with three financial steps women can use right away: join investment communities that normalize ambition, run no-spend streaks that quietly stack cash, and use the backdoor Roth IRA if income limits block a standard Roth. Then we shift to health that actually fits a busy day—balance drills while brushing teeth, kitchen dance breaks, heel raises by the coffee maker—and food that supports energy and aging gracefully, like wild-caught salmon and sardines for omega-3s. A quick style note lands with a smile: wear the size that fits now. Comfort is confidence.
From there, we celebrate non-scale victories after a 169‑pound loss: deeper sleep without an incline, fewer colds, faster recovery from a back strain, and the joy of returning to regular-width shoes. We also share eight books queued for November—spanning Steve Chandler, Jack Canfield, Vonda Wright, Brianna Wiest, Martin Seligman, Paula Rappineau, Taylor Grant, and Dawn Tripp—to fuel mindset shifts and inspired action. Week one from Success Affirmations anchors the theme: take 100% responsibility. Not blame—choice. Choose your thoughts, your responses, and your daily reps.
The heart of the episode is a vulnerable story of single motherhood at 21, building a career step by step, finishing degrees, funding school without debt, and refusing the victim script. Ownership created momentum, resilience, and peace. That’s the invitation for you: find your people, stack small wins, nourish your body, read to expand your map, and claim the driver’s seat of your life.
If this resonated, tap follow, share it with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review so more women can find this community. Tell us: what’s one small action you’ll take today?
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (01:01):
Hello, everyone.
Welcome to the Midlife GlowReport.
So happy to be with you today.
I'm Jax, your host.
So today's podcast, episode 24,is a good one.
We'll be covering some financialtips, some lifestyle and
wellness tips, um, a style tipthat's a bit lighthearted and
funny.
Um, some of my non-scalevictories I've experienced since
(01:25):
losing weight.
Uh, some the five eight booksI'm reading for November,
actually listening to throughAudible app in November.
So the eight books that I'vealready actually started.
Uh, I am doing this one uh typeof book.
It's called 52 Weeks to aSuccessful and Purposeful Life
(01:46):
by Jack Canfield.
So I'll be covering week onetoday, and it's so good.
And then finally, I will betouching base on an owner
mindset versus a victim mindsetand the differences in applying
it to my life and my examplesand which is best.
So yeah, we'll get started then.
(02:08):
So, first things first, we'llget started here with three
financial tips.
Uh, first one is join women'sinvestment clubs or online
communities for networkingeducation and support.
I am part of three or fourcommunities on Facebook, some
Facebook groups.
Uh, I want to find a local uhhere in Cleveland investment
(02:32):
financial community for women.
Uh that's something I'm gonnatackle in the next 30 to 45 days
is research that and find oneand join it and hopefully go to
a meeting or two uh before theend of the year.
Uh, but the financial groups I'ma part of on Facebook um really
keep it in front of my mind umhow important finances are, what
(02:57):
women are doing, what they'restruggling with, um, what
they're accomplishing.
I mean, it's amazing so muchthings women are accomplishing
in in their financial um goalsand their financial freedom.
So it really keeps me focusedand helps me grow to see what
other women are doing and how,you know, what is possible.
(03:19):
So I highly suggest joiningwomen's investment clubs or
online communities fornetworking or growth.
Uh, the next tip is um havefinancial challenges, little
financial games or challengesfor yourself, such as a no-spend
day, a no spend week, a no-spendmonth, um, or a savings blitz
(03:40):
for 30 days.
It's for motivation and growthfor your savings, for your
bottom dollar, for paying offdebt.
Um, I always do these no spenddays, no spend weeks all the
time.
I will I will wake up themorning like, you know what?
I'll wake up in the morning andI'll think today is a no-spend
day.
And then at the end of the day,I'll say to myself, you know,
(04:02):
let's do it again tomorrow andlet's see how long I could keep
this going.
And then it's amazing how muchyou really can save and it's a
little game for yourself.
So I highly suggest that.
Finally, if you do make over150,000 and you're single, or if
you're married and you make over236,000 as a couple, um, you can
(04:25):
consider contributing uh to ordoing a backdoor Roth IRA.
So what you do is you contributeyour funds to a traditional Roth
IR traditional IRA, and thenevery year you convert it to a
backdoor Roth IRA.
So a Roth IRA, you convert it tothat, and you do it soon every
(04:45):
year to avoid taxable gains.
And so when you take out yourfunds when you're retired, you
don't have to pay taxes when youtake out your funds, you know,
at retirement age.
So that really is a good fix.
You know, if you can't get aRoth IRA regular, you could do a
backdoor Roth Iraq becauseyou're making too much money.
(05:06):
So that's my third and finalfinancial tip.
So next is lifestyle andwellness tips.
Uh, the first one is add balanceexercises to boost stability and
help prevent falls.
I do this by standing on onefoot and balancing on one foot
(05:28):
when I'm brushing my teeth.
Um, when I am at my office atwork and I have the stand-up
desk raised and I'm talking onthe phone or looking up things
on my computer.
I balance on one foot.
I also do heel raises.
I do that when I'm brewing a cupof coffee or making some um
(05:54):
protein coffee.
I will do heel raises while I'mdoing that, or even cooking on
the stove.
I'll do heel raises.
Um, and finally, I sometimesdance in my kitchen when I am
making dinner or meal prepping.
I'll put an 80s or 90s playliston, and I will dance, I'll sway
(06:16):
to sway, I'll step side to side,I'll do little turns, and that
really helps with balance andwhich will eventually, if you
keep doing that and beconsistent, that could help when
you're older to prevent fallsand helps with stability.
So that's one thing I suggestwith balance exercises.
(06:36):
Then um the next tip is maintainsocial, strong social
connections by participating inclubs, group activities, and
online communities.
Um, you know, this onlinecommunity I developed here has
really helped me and others.
I have a Facebook group, I havean Instagram channel, I have
(06:57):
this newsletter, I have, or Ihave a newsletter, I have this
podcast.
Um, so yeah, I really try tobuild up a community and all the
comments and people sharingcomments on social media posts.
So that's one thing.
And then I'm part of manyFacebook groups, all different
things I'm interested in, and Ibounce off ideas and ask
questions from other women, andit's more like a community.
(07:20):
Even at work, I'm on two teams,which is really um, really like
a community, and then I dovolunteer.
And the last thing I want to dois a Pilates community.
I want to join this Pilatescommunity at my old gym that I'm
planning on re-enrolling thisnext 30 days.
So I want to join the Pilatescommunity.
(07:40):
I also want to join a morningworkout community at this new
gym.
There's a lot of things to do.
Um, so yeah, I'm really gonnalook forward to joining this new
gym, and that'll be my final wayto gain some social connections.
Finally, the last tip is uh gofor hard, healthy, oily fish.
And I do this by purchasing atCostco.
(08:02):
So if a Costco membership, payattention.
I buy the salmon uh packed inthe frozen section in single
fillet packets that it alreadyhas the oil and herbs.
And I just thaw and bake.
My son and I love them.
So I buy the wild caught salmonin the frozen sections at
(08:22):
Costco.
And so I also buy the sardinesat Costco.
Um, the sardines that are wildcaught that are packed in oil.
So I buy the sardines and Iactually put them on crackers
with a mustard.
So that is my finely lifestyleand wellness tip.
Next, I'm gonna share a quickstyle tip that's kind of
(08:44):
comical.
Um, something I was totallyguilty of for several years in
my younger years.
So it I was reading a book thispast week, and this is what made
me really think of it.
And so I'm gonna read an excerptfrom this book.
Um, so it goes like this tootight.
(09:06):
Being elegant is wearing clothesthe correct size.
Clothes that are too tight donot make you look slimmer, but
we only serve to remind everyoneelse that you are too big for
the size you are wearing.
Please do yourself a favor andsteer well away from it.
If your blouse opens up overyour breasts, if your skirt
(09:28):
shows the outline of yourknickers, or if your trousers
give you a muffin top, yourclothes are too tight.
Get changed right away intosomething that is larger.
So I really thought this wasfunny.
I was so guilty of this,especially in my 20s and 30s
when I wore clothes that werejust too tight.
(09:49):
I really was a solid 910 in my20s and 30s, but I thought
buying and shopping for andwearing size 7.8 would help me
feel thinner in my mind.
So that's what I did.
Uh nowadays, comfort is just asimportant as style, and I know
back then um I did not look verygood when the clothes were too
(10:12):
tight, so I was lacking comfortand style back in my 20s and
30s.
I don't know if any of you wereguilty of this or still are, but
it makes me kind of gigglebecause I was super guilty of
this for several years in my 20sand 30s.
Um, I thought this was reallyfunny.
Hope I didn't offend anyone hereon this podcast.
(10:34):
But um, you know, don't wearclothes that are too tight.
It really doesn't look sexy orappealing.
So now I'm gonna share threenon-scale victories that I've
experienced in losing such amassive amount of weight.
I've lost 160 pounds, 169 poundsabout to this date.
Uh, it's been since um aboutJune, May, June of 2022.
(10:58):
I've been doing, um, been onthis mission.
Um, so first is I'm sleepingbetter.
I can sleep uh without my bed.
I have a raised raising bed.
Um, I can sleep it without beinginclined.
Uh back when I was super heavy,I had to sleep it inclined every
evening.
Um, and then I also can sleepwithout my sleep apnea machine
(11:19):
now.
I don't know if it's healthy oradvised to do so, but sometimes
I'll take little cat naps and Iwon't use my sleep apnea
machine.
Uh, before that, you know, abouta year ago or, you know, about a
year ago, I was not able to dothat.
Um, I would literally choke andgasp, but um, now I can do that.
(11:40):
So that's what a difference it'smade.
Um, and also I'm healing faster.
My immunity system is muchstronger with me losing weight.
I don't get sick as often.
I don't get colds before when Iwas super overweight.
I would get three to four colds,maybe five per year.
Now I'm lucky if I get one.
(12:01):
Um, I don't get the flu shotbecause I do have an allergic
reaction to it with my lymphnodes.
Um, but I haven't had the flu.
I had it once last year, andbefore that, um, I had it I had
about once a year, but when Iwas super heavy, I would get
about two to three times a year.
So my immunity system has reallyimproved.
(12:21):
And now lately I had a backissue about a week ago.
Um, and I did pull my back andstrain at putting groceries away
on a Friday evening.
Um, not this past Friday, butthe Friday before.
But I had a back issue aboutthree years ago, and I threw out
my back, and I literally was outof work for a week.
(12:42):
I was using a cane for about amonth and a half.
I couldn't use the gym.
I couldn't walk.
Um, but with me throwing out myback a week ago, I healed fairly
quickly.
Now, granted, I haven't hit thegym yet because I'm being
cautious, but I'm definitely notusing the cane.
I only miss work one day and I'mgetting up, moving, sleeping
(13:04):
okay, and it's just a littlesore.
So, really, my immunity and I'mhealing faster.
My immunity has so improved withme losing weight, and I'm
definitely healing faster.
Finally, I can wear regularshoes.
Uh, when I was super overweight,I had to wear wide shoes and a
larger size uh because of justthe puffiness, you know, and the
(13:27):
fats.
But now I'm wearing a regularsize and I'm back down to an
eight and a half regular sizeshoe.
Before I was wearing a nine anda half wide, that's how inflamed
and fat and puffy my feet were.
So um I have gone down a wholesize and I'm not wearing wide
(13:48):
anymore.
So that's my third and finalnon-scale victory.
Now I'm gonna share the eightbooks on Audible.
I'm planning on listening to youfor the month of November.
Um, so I'm pulling up my Audibleapp on my phone as we speak, and
I'm gonna share the titles andthe authors.
(14:12):
And uh, this is what I'm tryingto tackle.
I actually listened to oneearly.
I just finished it last night.
Um, so yeah, uh, we'll getstarted here.
Um so the one I finished lastnight was Reinventing Yourself,
20th anniversary edition bySteve Chandler.
(14:32):
Um, it's really a good book.
It's really enlightening, lotsof tips.
Um, really more like coaching,coaching your life.
Um, so uh just things, how tohow your perspective, how to
look at different things.
So that's book number one that'salready done.
And then I'm listening toSuccess Affirmations by Jack
Canfield.
(14:53):
Um, I'm doing that um uhthroughout the year, and I'm
sharing a post every week, andI'm gonna cover that in the next
segment here on this podcast umof each week from the success
affirmations.
It really is a great book.
Um, and it's how to have asuccessful and purposeful life.
That's the purpose of the book.
(15:14):
Then I want to listen toUnbreakable by Vonda Wright, MD.
Um, I've heard great reviews.
It's a recent release.
Um, it really is a health, uhhealth book, um, wellness book,
especially for women over 40.
And then I want to listen to TheMountain is You.
Um, I started it and I want tocomplete it.
(15:35):
That's by Brianna West.
Then I want to listen toAuthentic Happiness by Martin E.
P.
Siligman, PhD.
Then Mindset Shifts for aSustainable Healthy Life by
Paula Rappineau.
Uh, then Change Your Mindset,Change Your Life by Taylor
Grant.
And finally, I want to listen.
(15:56):
Uh, those were allself-improvement books.
I want to listen to kind of afun book.
Uh, for me, it's fun.
It's called Jackie.
It's by Jackie O'Nass.
It's her biopic or bio um bookby Dawn Tripp.
Um, so I want to listen to that.
I'm really interested in oldhistorical.
(16:19):
Well, not they're they're notold, but they're past historical
uh style icons like uh CocoChanel, Jackie O'Nassis, Audrey
Hepburn, Catherine Hepburn.
Um yeah, so I'm listening todifferent biopics about those
those amazing women who arestill I uh I style icons today.
(16:40):
So Jackie by Dawn Trip.
So those are my books that I'mgonna be listening to.
Uh when my website getscompleted and updated uh in the
next 30 days, I will be givingrecaps of these books, little
recaps.
So you could read the recap on ablog post.
If it's something you'reinterested in, then you could
purchase the book and and listento it.
(17:01):
So um I'll be doing that on mywebsite.
I used to do that as well, butmy website is down because it's
getting redone and it will be upwithin 30 days, and I will recap
these books.
But that is my segment about mybooks for November.
Next, as promised, I am going tohighlight week one from the
Success Affirmations by JackCanfield.
(17:24):
It is 52 weeks to a successfuland purposeful life.
I did highlight this on mysocial media and got a lot of
interest.
Um, and so I'm going tohighlight each week on these
podcasts and uh it will createthoughts in your mind and how
(17:44):
you know how to create the lifeyou want.
So I'm really enjoying thisbook.
I highly suggest this book,Success Affirmations by Jack
Canfield.
So week one, um, the concept forweek one is take 100
responsibility for your future.
You are in control.
(18:05):
It's not magic, it's not fate.
You are 100 100% responsible foryour future.
So I'm gonna uh touch on threeuh quotes from the book and the
three affirmations that go alongwith the quote.
So first one is we don'tnaturally want to take
responsibility, we want to blamesomeone else or something else.
(18:27):
When you do take 100% 100%responsibility, you have total
control on your journey toabundance and success, taking
100% responsibility for yourfuture is the starting line.
And here's the affirmation thatgoes along with that excerpt.
I am easily improving my life,moving with ease from where I am
(18:52):
now to where I want to be.
So the next excerpt is positiveenergy will get your day off to
a great start.
Set a few moments aside andrepeat affirmation with
intention.
Do also the night before yousleep.
(19:13):
You are training yourself tothink differently, to learn to
put with positive opportunityand action.
Regardless of circumstances,placing blame on events doesn't
matter.
It's how you respond to thatcircumstance, whether thoughts,
behaviors, or actions, it'stotally up to you.
(19:34):
You don't have to settle, changeyour response to the
circumstance to get the resultyou want.
And here's the affirmation thatgoes with that thought.
I am confidently creating bettercircumstances and expanding
better opportunities frommyself, responding with
intelligence to events as theyoccur.
(19:58):
Now, the final step process forthis is start paying attention
to signals, internal andexternal alerts, the news or a
gut feeling.
This will help you change yourreactions and responses when you
become aware of them.
Life becomes much easier whenyou take control of your own
(20:23):
destiny.
Don't accept that things justhappen to you.
Choose to create the life youreally want.
And here's the affirmation thatgoes with that final step.
I am choosing to change mythoughts, images, and behaviors
to respond differently andproduce better outcomes.
(20:45):
So that was week one of thesuccess affirmations by Jack
Canfield.
I will then touch on week two,or you can check out my social
media that was posted yesterdayon Sunday for week two.
Um, if you want to see acarousel, if it's easier to read
than me reading over thepodcast.
(21:07):
But um, I'll be doing this everyweek for the next year or every
year, you know, every podcastfor the next year, touching on
one week per podcast for the uhSuccess Affirmations book by
Jack Jack Canfield, which is 52weeks to a successful and
purposeful life.
So that's that segment.
(21:28):
Finally, for a closing segment,I want to touch in uh on a
mindset practice, an idea.
I really never realized I wasdoing this all these years since
I've been a single mom since Iwas 21.
But um I carried this certainmindset, and I'm proud that I
did, and I'm gonna explain itwith my own personal story.
(21:52):
Um, having an ownership mindsetversus a victim mindset, and how
I personally have owned up andhad an ownership mindset for
years, and I'm gonna share mystory right now.
So, how it goes is you don'tjust walk away like a victim, be
(22:15):
an owner, not just wanting toknow how to get through
something, but what you canlearn from it.
Every circumstance has somethingto learn from.
Um, when I was 21, I was facedwith a very difficult climb.
Um, I was uneducated, I didn'thave my college degree, I was
(22:35):
unemployed, I had no savings, Iwas 21 years old, I was single,
and um, I was very um veryimmature for my age, and I was
pregnant.
And um I didn't I decided tokeep my son.
I didn't use the excuse to havean abortion um or give my son up
(22:58):
for adoption.
I didn't continue an abusiverelationship with his father,
who was an alcoholic and a druguser.
I didn't get on welfare.
Um, I had my son and I workedhard.
Um, when I was went into labor,when I was pregnant, I went into
labor.
It was just me, my parents, andmy sisters at the hospital.
(23:21):
I did not call his father.
And at that defining moment, Idecided to do this parent thing
on my own with the help of myfamily.
Not because I should do it, butbecause I wanted to do it, and I
accept ownership.
From that point on, everythingrevolved around my son, his
(23:42):
future, and my own.
Um, I started, I got areceptionist job at a mortgage
company, and then I moved up toa loan processor.
And during that time, I finishedmy bachelor's degree in business
and finance and became a loanofficer.
I got my real estate licensealong the way, and I sold real
estate part-time with my momwith a team.
(24:04):
Um, I became a mortgageunderwriter and I got my notary
license, and now I'm back tooriginating mortgages.
Um, I never bothered datinganyone significantly this whole
time since um I raised my son,uh, since I was 21.
I never received financial helpfrom his father.
(24:25):
Even to this day, my son hasnever spoken or met to his met
his father.
Um, I worked hard, my son workedhard, I educated myself, and I
put my son through private gradeschool, private high school, and
college financially all on myown.
I did not play the victim.
I did not pull the single mom,poor me card ever.
(24:46):
I was proud to be able toprovide for my son and myself,
and I learned not to give up, tobe self-reliant, and that that
hard work, anything is possible.
Um, I am glad that I did this onmy own.
My son is so happy.
He is educated, he'sself-reliant, and he's very
proud of me and of himself.
(25:08):
We went with no vacations, wewent with less name brand
clothing.
Um, but we were proud and ittaught us the value of
commitment and hard work andlove.
Um, my son has alreadysuccessful in his career,
advancing quickly.
He's in a master's program.
He's paying for all out ofpocket, no loans.
(25:30):
And um, he has a great group offriends all the way.
I mean, his friends, hisfriendships are from grade
school.
He hangs out with all his gradeschool buddies, and we have a
loving family.
Um, I learned and grew from thatseason in life, and so did my
son.
I own my decisions, and I haveabsolutely no regrets.
(25:51):
Having my son and doing it on myown was the best thing that ever
happened to me.
I think that why I'm not afraidof getting older and I'm not
depressed from get becoming anempty nester, and I'm not afraid
to age.
I'm grateful and excited forthis next chapter.
And um, to be able to now poureverything into me and my
(26:13):
future, I have a growth mindsetfrom everything I have
accomplished, and I look forwardto every day with positive
energy and focus onaccomplishing new goals.
Um I feel there's nothing that Icannot accomplish because of
everything I have overcame, andI have accepted ownership for
all my decisions in my life.
(26:35):
Um, I own my past and I'm owningmy future.
I am happy and I am not a victimof circumstance.
My thoughts are not in a victimmindset and never have been.
I didn't make all my decisionsbecause I should have.
It was because I wanted to.
Um, I'm not a martyr.
(26:55):
I wanted to live this life.
I want to grow and in life andlearn from all my experiences
and all the ways.
This has always been my choice,and that's what I've been doing
and I intend to do till the dayI pass away.
So I do have an ownershipmindset, not a victim mindset.
(27:15):
And I highly suggest you youlook into yourself to see what
kind of mindset you have andwhat is helping you for your
future and your story, the storyyou write about yourself.
Um, so it gives you freedom tohave an ownership mindset, it
(27:36):
gives you perspective, it givesyou happiness, and it gives you
a sense of accomplishment andpeace.
So I highly suggest you try tohave an ownership mindset, not a
victim mindset in your life.
So that is the final segment.
(27:56):
That is my podcast episode 24.
I hope you enjoyed it.
It was a little bit all over theplace, but I came up with ideas
throughout the week and I wantedto touch on different things
that I read or that I thought ofand I made notes throughout the
week.
So that was um my episode.
Uh I uh, you know, if this ifthis brought joy to you, if you
(28:21):
enjoyed this podcast, if youlearned something from it, if it
made you think, please leave apositive review.
It helps women like us find thispodcast and helps it grow.
Um, check out my Facebook group.
I am posting in there every day.
It's becoming more active.
Um, I would love for it to growwith membership and community
(28:43):
and support for women, a placewhere we can go to bounce off
ideas and acknowledge our winsand our losses and find help
from women like ourselves.
Um I'm glad you followed thispodcast.
Expect my website coming soonand the new branding for my
podcast newsletter and website,expect that in the next um two
(29:06):
to three weeks.
But I hope you guys have a greatweek ahead.
Thanks for following along.
DM me on social media if youhave questions or if you have
suggestions of what I shouldcover.
I am I welcome all that withopen arms.
And even um if you havesomething negative to say about
this podcast, DM me.
(29:28):
I uh I love to learn, I takecriticism well, and um I welcome
all thoughts and all questions.
So you guys just have a greatweek ahead.
Thanks again.
Love Jax.
Hello, everyone.
Welcome to the Midlife GlowReport.
So happy to be with you today.
I'm Jax, your host.
So today's podcast, episode 24,is a good one.
We'll be covering some financialtips, some lifestyle and
wellness tips, um, a style tipthat's a bit lighthearted and
funny.
Um, some of my non-scalevictories I've experienced since
(01:25):
losing weight.
Uh, some the five eight booksI'm reading for November,
actually listening to throughAudible app in November.
So the eight books that I'vealready actually started.
Uh, I am doing this one uh typeof book.
It's called 52 Weeks to aSuccessful and Purposeful Life
(01:46):
by Jack Canfield.
So I'll be covering week onetoday, and it's so good.
And then finally, I will betouching base on an owner
mindset versus a victim mindsetand the differences in applying
it to my life and my examplesand which is best.
So yeah, we'll get started then.
(02:08):
So, first things first, we'llget started here with three
financial tips.
Uh, first one is join women'sinvestment clubs or online
communities for networkingeducation and support.
I am part of three or fourcommunities on Facebook, some
Facebook groups.
Uh, I want to find a local uhhere in Cleveland investment
(02:32):
financial community for women.
Uh that's something I'm gonnatackle in the next 30 to 45 days
is research that and find oneand join it and hopefully go to
a meeting or two uh before theend of the year.
Uh, but the financial groups I'ma part of on Facebook um really
keep it in front of my mind umhow important finances are, what
(02:57):
women are doing, what they'restruggling with, um, what
they're accomplishing.
I mean, it's amazing so muchthings women are accomplishing
in in their financial um goalsand their financial freedom.
So it really keeps me focusedand helps me grow to see what
other women are doing and how,you know, what is possible.
(03:19):
So I highly suggest joiningwomen's investment clubs or
online communities fornetworking or growth.
Uh, the next tip is um havefinancial challenges, little
financial games or challengesfor yourself, such as a no-spend
day, a no spend week, a no-spendmonth, um, or a savings blitz
(03:40):
for 30 days.
It's for motivation and growthfor your savings, for your
bottom dollar, for paying offdebt.
Um, I always do these no spenddays, no spend weeks all the
time.
I will I will wake up themorning like, you know what?
I'll wake up in the morning andI'll think today is a no-spend
day.
And then at the end of the day,I'll say to myself, you know,
(04:02):
let's do it again tomorrow andlet's see how long I could keep
this going.
And then it's amazing how muchyou really can save and it's a
little game for yourself.
So I highly suggest that.
Finally, if you do make over150,000 and you're single, or if
you're married and you make over236,000 as a couple, um, you can
(04:25):
consider contributing uh to ordoing a backdoor Roth IRA.
So what you do is you contributeyour funds to a traditional Roth
IR traditional IRA, and thenevery year you convert it to a
backdoor Roth IRA.
So a Roth IRA, you convert it tothat, and you do it soon every
(04:45):
year to avoid taxable gains.
And so when you take out yourfunds when you're retired, you
don't have to pay taxes when youtake out your funds, you know,
at retirement age.
So that really is a good fix.
You know, if you can't get aRoth IRA regular, you could do a
backdoor Roth Iraq becauseyou're making too much money.
(05:06):
So that's my third and finalfinancial tip.
So next is lifestyle andwellness tips.
Uh, the first one is add balanceexercises to boost stability and
help prevent falls.
I do this by standing on onefoot and balancing on one foot
(05:28):
when I'm brushing my teeth.
Um, when I am at my office atwork and I have the stand-up
desk raised and I'm talking onthe phone or looking up things
on my computer.
I balance on one foot.
I also do heel raises.
I do that when I'm brewing a cupof coffee or making some um
(05:54):
protein coffee.
I will do heel raises while I'mdoing that, or even cooking on
the stove.
I'll do heel raises.
Um, and finally, I sometimesdance in my kitchen when I am
making dinner or meal prepping.
I'll put an 80s or 90s playliston, and I will dance, I'll sway
(06:16):
to sway, I'll step side to side,I'll do little turns, and that
really helps with balance andwhich will eventually, if you
keep doing that and beconsistent, that could help when
you're older to prevent fallsand helps with stability.
So that's one thing I suggestwith balance exercises.
(06:36):
Then um the next tip is maintainsocial, strong social
connections by participating inclubs, group activities, and
online communities.
Um, you know, this onlinecommunity I developed here has
really helped me and others.
I have a Facebook group, I havean Instagram channel, I have
(06:57):
this newsletter, I have, or Ihave a newsletter, I have this
podcast.
Um, so yeah, I really try tobuild up a community and all the
comments and people sharingcomments on social media posts.
So that's one thing.
And then I'm part of manyFacebook groups, all different
things I'm interested in, and Ibounce off ideas and ask
questions from other women, andit's more like a community.
(07:20):
Even at work, I'm on two teams,which is really um, really like
a community, and then I dovolunteer.
And the last thing I want to dois a Pilates community.
I want to join this Pilatescommunity at my old gym that I'm
planning on re-enrolling thisnext 30 days.
So I want to join the Pilatescommunity.
(07:40):
I also want to join a morningworkout community at this new
gym.
There's a lot of things to do.
Um, so yeah, I'm really gonnalook forward to joining this new
gym, and that'll be my final wayto gain some social connections.
Finally, the last tip is uh gofor hard, healthy, oily fish.
And I do this by purchasing atCostco.
(08:02):
So if a Costco membership, payattention.
I buy the salmon uh packed inthe frozen section in single
fillet packets that it alreadyhas the oil and herbs.
And I just thaw and bake.
My son and I love them.
So I buy the wild caught salmonin the frozen sections at
(08:22):
Costco.
And so I also buy the sardinesat Costco.
Um, the sardines that are wildcaught that are packed in oil.
So I buy the sardines and Iactually put them on crackers
with a mustard.
So that is my finely lifestyleand wellness tip.
Next, I'm gonna share a quickstyle tip that's kind of
(08:44):
comical.
Um, something I was totallyguilty of for several years in
my younger years.
So it I was reading a book thispast week, and this is what made
me really think of it.
And so I'm gonna read an excerptfrom this book.
Um, so it goes like this tootight.
(09:06):
Being elegant is wearing clothesthe correct size.
Clothes that are too tight donot make you look slimmer, but
we only serve to remind everyoneelse that you are too big for
the size you are wearing.
Please do yourself a favor andsteer well away from it.
If your blouse opens up overyour breasts, if your skirt
(09:28):
shows the outline of yourknickers, or if your trousers
give you a muffin top, yourclothes are too tight.
Get changed right away intosomething that is larger.
So I really thought this wasfunny.
I was so guilty of this,especially in my 20s and 30s
when I wore clothes that werejust too tight.
(09:49):
I really was a solid 910 in my20s and 30s, but I thought
buying and shopping for andwearing size 7.8 would help me
feel thinner in my mind.
So that's what I did.
Uh nowadays, comfort is just asimportant as style, and I know
back then um I did not look verygood when the clothes were too
(10:12):
tight, so I was lacking comfortand style back in my 20s and
30s.
I don't know if any of you wereguilty of this or still are, but
it makes me kind of gigglebecause I was super guilty of
this for several years in my 20sand 30s.
Um, I thought this was reallyfunny.
Hope I didn't offend anyone hereon this podcast.
(10:34):
But um, you know, don't wearclothes that are too tight.
It really doesn't look sexy orappealing.
So now I'm gonna share threenon-scale victories that I've
experienced in losing such amassive amount of weight.
I've lost 160 pounds, 169 poundsabout to this date.
Uh, it's been since um aboutJune, May, June of 2022.
(10:58):
I've been doing, um, been onthis mission.
Um, so first is I'm sleepingbetter.
I can sleep uh without my bed.
I have a raised raising bed.
Um, I can sleep it without beinginclined.
Uh back when I was super heavy,I had to sleep it inclined every
evening.
Um, and then I also can sleepwithout my sleep apnea machine
(11:19):
now.
I don't know if it's healthy oradvised to do so, but sometimes
I'll take little cat naps and Iwon't use my sleep apnea
machine.
Uh, before that, you know, abouta year ago or, you know, about a
year ago, I was not able to dothat.
Um, I would literally choke andgasp, but um, now I can do that.
(11:40):
So that's what a difference it'smade.
Um, and also I'm healing faster.
My immunity system is muchstronger with me losing weight.
I don't get sick as often.
I don't get colds before when Iwas super overweight.
I would get three to four colds,maybe five per year.
Now I'm lucky if I get one.
(12:01):
Um, I don't get the flu shotbecause I do have an allergic
reaction to it with my lymphnodes.
Um, but I haven't had the flu.
I had it once last year, andbefore that, um, I had it I had
about once a year, but when Iwas super heavy, I would get
about two to three times a year.
So my immunity system has reallyimproved.
(12:21):
And now lately I had a backissue about a week ago.
Um, and I did pull my back andstrain at putting groceries away
on a Friday evening.
Um, not this past Friday, butthe Friday before.
But I had a back issue aboutthree years ago, and I threw out
my back, and I literally was outof work for a week.
(12:42):
I was using a cane for about amonth and a half.
I couldn't use the gym.
I couldn't walk.
Um, but with me throwing out myback a week ago, I healed fairly
quickly.
Now, granted, I haven't hit thegym yet because I'm being
cautious, but I'm definitely notusing the cane.
I only miss work one day and I'mgetting up, moving, sleeping
(13:04):
okay, and it's just a littlesore.
So, really, my immunity and I'mhealing faster.
My immunity has so improved withme losing weight, and I'm
definitely healing faster.
Finally, I can wear regularshoes.
Uh, when I was super overweight,I had to wear wide shoes and a
larger size uh because of justthe puffiness, you know, and the
(13:27):
fats.
But now I'm wearing a regularsize and I'm back down to an
eight and a half regular sizeshoe.
Before I was wearing a nine anda half wide, that's how inflamed
and fat and puffy my feet were.
So um I have gone down a wholesize and I'm not wearing wide
(13:48):
anymore.
So that's my third and finalnon-scale victory.
Now I'm gonna share the eightbooks on Audible.
I'm planning on listening to youfor the month of November.
Um, so I'm pulling up my Audibleapp on my phone as we speak, and
I'm gonna share the titles andthe authors.
(14:12):
And uh, this is what I'm tryingto tackle.
I actually listened to oneearly.
I just finished it last night.
Um, so yeah, uh, we'll getstarted here.
Um so the one I finished lastnight was Reinventing Yourself,
20th anniversary edition bySteve Chandler.
(14:32):
Um, it's really a good book.
It's really enlightening, lotsof tips.
Um, really more like coaching,coaching your life.
Um, so uh just things, how tohow your perspective, how to
look at different things.
So that's book number one that'salready done.
And then I'm listening toSuccess Affirmations by Jack
Canfield.
(14:53):
Um, I'm doing that um uhthroughout the year, and I'm
sharing a post every week, andI'm gonna cover that in the next
segment here on this podcast umof each week from the success
affirmations.
It really is a great book.
Um, and it's how to have asuccessful and purposeful life.
That's the purpose of the book.
(15:14):
Then I want to listen toUnbreakable by Vonda Wright, MD.
Um, I've heard great reviews.
It's a recent release.
Um, it really is a health, uhhealth book, um, wellness book,
especially for women over 40.
And then I want to listen to TheMountain is You.
Um, I started it and I want tocomplete it.
(15:35):
That's by Brianna West.
Then I want to listen toAuthentic Happiness by Martin E.
P.
Siligman, PhD.
Then Mindset Shifts for aSustainable Healthy Life by
Paula Rappineau.
Uh, then Change Your Mindset,Change Your Life by Taylor
Grant.
And finally, I want to listen.
(15:56):
Uh, those were allself-improvement books.
I want to listen to kind of afun book.
Uh, for me, it's fun.
It's called Jackie.
It's by Jackie O'Nass.
It's her biopic or bio um bookby Dawn Tripp.
Um, so I want to listen to that.
I'm really interested in oldhistorical.
(16:19):
Well, not they're they're notold, but they're past historical
uh style icons like uh CocoChanel, Jackie O'Nassis, Audrey
Hepburn, Catherine Hepburn.
Um yeah, so I'm listening todifferent biopics about those
those amazing women who arestill I uh I style icons today.
(16:40):
So Jackie by Dawn Trip.
So those are my books that I'mgonna be listening to.
Uh when my website getscompleted and updated uh in the
next 30 days, I will be givingrecaps of these books, little
recaps.
So you could read the recap on ablog post.
If it's something you'reinterested in, then you could
purchase the book and and listento it.
(17:01):
So um I'll be doing that on mywebsite.
I used to do that as well, butmy website is down because it's
getting redone and it will be upwithin 30 days, and I will recap
these books.
But that is my segment about mybooks for November.
Next, as promised, I am going tohighlight week one from the
Success Affirmations by JackCanfield.
(17:24):
It is 52 weeks to a successfuland purposeful life.
I did highlight this on mysocial media and got a lot of
interest.
Um, and so I'm going tohighlight each week on these
podcasts and uh it will createthoughts in your mind and how
(17:44):
you know how to create the lifeyou want.
So I'm really enjoying thisbook.
I highly suggest this book,Success Affirmations by Jack
Canfield.
So week one, um, the concept forweek one is take 100
responsibility for your future.
You are in control.
(18:05):
It's not magic, it's not fate.
You are 100 100% responsible foryour future.
So I'm gonna uh touch on threeuh quotes from the book and the
three affirmations that go alongwith the quote.
So first one is we don'tnaturally want to take
responsibility, we want to blamesomeone else or something else.
(18:27):
When you do take 100% 100%responsibility, you have total
control on your journey toabundance and success, taking
100% responsibility for yourfuture is the starting line.
And here's the affirmation thatgoes along with that excerpt.
I am easily improving my life,moving with ease from where I am
(18:52):
now to where I want to be.
So the next excerpt is positiveenergy will get your day off to
a great start.
Set a few moments aside andrepeat affirmation with
intention.
Do also the night before yousleep.
(19:13):
You are training yourself tothink differently, to learn to
put with positive opportunityand action.
Regardless of circumstances,placing blame on events doesn't
matter.
It's how you respond to thatcircumstance, whether thoughts,
behaviors, or actions, it'stotally up to you.
(19:34):
You don't have to settle, changeyour response to the
circumstance to get the resultyou want.
And here's the affirmation thatgoes with that thought.
I am confidently creating bettercircumstances and expanding
better opportunities frommyself, responding with
intelligence to events as theyoccur.
(19:58):
Now, the final step process forthis is start paying attention
to signals, internal andexternal alerts, the news or a
gut feeling.
This will help you change yourreactions and responses when you
become aware of them.
Life becomes much easier whenyou take control of your own
(20:23):
destiny.
Don't accept that things justhappen to you.
Choose to create the life youreally want.
And here's the affirmation thatgoes with that final step.
I am choosing to change mythoughts, images, and behaviors
to respond differently andproduce better outcomes.
(20:45):
So that was week one of thesuccess affirmations by Jack
Canfield.
I will then touch on week two,or you can check out my social
media that was posted yesterdayon Sunday for week two.
Um, if you want to see acarousel, if it's easier to read
than me reading over thepodcast.
(21:07):
But um, I'll be doing this everyweek for the next year or every
year, you know, every podcastfor the next year, touching on
one week per podcast for the uhSuccess Affirmations book by
Jack Jack Canfield, which is 52weeks to a successful and
purposeful life.
So that's that segment.
(21:28):
Finally, for a closing segment,I want to touch in uh on a
mindset practice, an idea.
I really never realized I wasdoing this all these years since
I've been a single mom since Iwas 21.
But um I carried this certainmindset, and I'm proud that I
did, and I'm gonna explain itwith my own personal story.
(21:52):
Um, having an ownership mindsetversus a victim mindset, and how
I personally have owned up andhad an ownership mindset for
years, and I'm gonna share mystory right now.
So, how it goes is you don'tjust walk away like a victim, be
(22:15):
an owner, not just wanting toknow how to get through
something, but what you canlearn from it.
Every circumstance has somethingto learn from.
Um, when I was 21, I was facedwith a very difficult climb.
Um, I was uneducated, I didn'thave my college degree, I was
(22:35):
unemployed, I had no savings, Iwas 21 years old, I was single,
and um, I was very um veryimmature for my age, and I was
pregnant.
And um I didn't I decided tokeep my son.
I didn't use the excuse to havean abortion um or give my son up
(22:58):
for adoption.
I didn't continue an abusiverelationship with his father,
who was an alcoholic and a druguser.
I didn't get on welfare.
Um, I had my son and I workedhard.
Um, when I was went into labor,when I was pregnant, I went into
labor.
It was just me, my parents, andmy sisters at the hospital.
(23:21):
I did not call his father.
And at that defining moment, Idecided to do this parent thing
on my own with the help of myfamily.
Not because I should do it, butbecause I wanted to do it, and I
accept ownership.
From that point on, everythingrevolved around my son, his
(23:42):
future, and my own.
Um, I started, I got areceptionist job at a mortgage
company, and then I moved up toa loan processor.
And during that time, I finishedmy bachelor's degree in business
and finance and became a loanofficer.
I got my real estate licensealong the way, and I sold real
estate part-time with my momwith a team.
(24:04):
Um, I became a mortgageunderwriter and I got my notary
license, and now I'm back tooriginating mortgages.
Um, I never bothered datinganyone significantly this whole
time since um I raised my son,uh, since I was 21.
I never received financial helpfrom his father.
(24:25):
Even to this day, my son hasnever spoken or met to his met
his father.
Um, I worked hard, my son workedhard, I educated myself, and I
put my son through private gradeschool, private high school, and
college financially all on myown.
I did not play the victim.
I did not pull the single mom,poor me card ever.
(24:46):
I was proud to be able toprovide for my son and myself,
and I learned not to give up, tobe self-reliant, and that that
hard work, anything is possible.
Um, I am glad that I did this onmy own.
My son is so happy.
He is educated, he'sself-reliant, and he's very
proud of me and of himself.
(25:08):
We went with no vacations, wewent with less name brand
clothing.
Um, but we were proud and ittaught us the value of
commitment and hard work andlove.
Um, my son has alreadysuccessful in his career,
advancing quickly.
He's in a master's program.
He's paying for all out ofpocket, no loans.
(25:30):
And um, he has a great group offriends all the way.
I mean, his friends, hisfriendships are from grade
school.
He hangs out with all his gradeschool buddies, and we have a
loving family.
Um, I learned and grew from thatseason in life, and so did my
son.
I own my decisions, and I haveabsolutely no regrets.
(25:51):
Having my son and doing it on myown was the best thing that ever
happened to me.
I think that why I'm not afraidof getting older and I'm not
depressed from get becoming anempty nester, and I'm not afraid
to age.
I'm grateful and excited forthis next chapter.
And um, to be able to now poureverything into me and my
(26:13):
future, I have a growth mindsetfrom everything I have
accomplished, and I look forwardto every day with positive
energy and focus onaccomplishing new goals.
Um I feel there's nothing that Icannot accomplish because of
everything I have overcame, andI have accepted ownership for
all my decisions in my life.
(26:35):
Um, I own my past and I'm owningmy future.
I am happy and I am not a victimof circumstance.
My thoughts are not in a victimmindset and never have been.
I didn't make all my decisionsbecause I should have.
It was because I wanted to.
Um, I'm not a martyr.
(26:55):
I wanted to live this life.
I want to grow and in life andlearn from all my experiences
and all the ways.
This has always been my choice,and that's what I've been doing
and I intend to do till the dayI pass away.
So I do have an ownershipmindset, not a victim mindset.
(27:15):
And I highly suggest you youlook into yourself to see what
kind of mindset you have andwhat is helping you for your
future and your story, the storyyou write about yourself.
Um, so it gives you freedom tohave an ownership mindset, it
(27:36):
gives you perspective, it givesyou happiness, and it gives you
a sense of accomplishment andpeace.
So I highly suggest you try tohave an ownership mindset, not a
victim mindset in your life.
So that is the final segment.
(27:56):
That is my podcast episode 24.
I hope you enjoyed it.
It was a little bit all over theplace, but I came up with ideas
throughout the week and I wantedto touch on different things
that I read or that I thought ofand I made notes throughout the
week.
So that was um my episode.
Uh I uh, you know, if this ifthis brought joy to you, if you
(28:21):
enjoyed this podcast, if youlearned something from it, if it
made you think, please leave apositive review.
It helps women like us find thispodcast and helps it grow.
Um, check out my Facebook group.
I am posting in there every day.
It's becoming more active.
Um, I would love for it to growwith membership and community
(28:43):
and support for women, a placewhere we can go to bounce off
ideas and acknowledge our winsand our losses and find help
from women like ourselves.
Um I'm glad you followed thispodcast.
Expect my website coming soonand the new branding for my
podcast newsletter and website,expect that in the next um two
(29:06):
to three weeks.
But I hope you guys have a greatweek ahead.
Thanks for following along.
DM me on social media if youhave questions or if you have
suggestions of what I shouldcover.
I am I welcome all that withopen arms.
And even um if you havesomething negative to say about
this podcast, DM me.
(29:28):
I uh I love to learn, I takecriticism well, and um I welcome
all thoughts and all questions.
So you guys just have a greatweek ahead.
Thanks again.
Love Jax.
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