Monday, August 6, 2012

Life in the fast lane

Wow.....It's been over a month since I last posted.  I guess you know that means I haven't been "good"  That is changing starting today!!  Let me update you first on what has been going on....

On June 29th, my nephew was born 16 weeks early, weighing 1 pound, 10 oz, and 9 inches long.  Luckily for me, he was transported to Greenville.  He is still in NICU, has gained a full pound and grown 4 inches.  He is still in an incubator and on a respirator.  My lunch breaks have been spent at the hospital visiting with him.  It also means that my family has been in Greenville alot and we've been going out to eat quite a bit.  Not good for me at all!!

We had Vacation Bible School last week at church and I was the director.  It has kept me really busy the last 6 weeks.  Because of working full-time, I've had to work on VBS stuff at night and on the weekends.  Which has meant late nights and oversleeping most mornings.  Plus during VBS it meant waaaayyy to many cookies.  I am a cookie monster.  I am also a stress eater, so both of these have kept me eating more than normal.

I have not gotten on the scales in the last month, but I will do that tomorrow to get me at a starting point again.  Not looking forward to it at all.

Found me a new product that i really like....Blender Bottle.  I got it from Sam's Club - 2 in a pack for $12.  It's basically a shaker bottle but the neat thing about this bottle is after you put your ingredients in the bottle, it comes with a ball shaped whisk that you just drop right in the bottle.  While you are shaking the bottle, the whisk is working the shake into a nice mixture.  This morning before I left the house I put 2 scoops of Vi-Shape and one teaspoon of SF, FF Butterscotch pudding in my bottle.  I stopped on the way to work and got some skim milk.  At lunch time, I just poured some milk right in bottle and shook it up.  After shaking, I did go back and add a few pieces of ice and shook it some more.  I didn't like it as good as fixing it my blender with lots of ice at home, but I can do it this way for lunch time!

Last night my husband and I made us a "menu" for the week.  Hopefully this will slow us down some on the fast food restaurants for supper.  I did give us one night to go out to eat (we like to have a "date night") and even went ahead and wrote the name of where I want to go on that night.  As long as he and I can both stick to the menu, things will be getting better.  It was really hard having a shake for supper and him eating food. I am going to try having a shake at lunch and see how that works!!

I haven't been going to the gym in the evenings or getting up and walking in the morning.....going to definitely work on changing that this week too.  I know that I have to take it all in baby steps (the shakes, blogging regularly, & exercise) or I will just keep doing what I always do - get fed up and tired of it all and just quit it all over again.

I can do this, I can do this, I can do this.  I am going to do this, I am going to do this, I am going to do this!!

In June, I set a goal to lose 20 pounds by my birthday, which is in one month, and I know that there's no way I can make that goal now.  I've got 4 weeks, so I am going to shoot for 6 pounds and 10 inches.  I think that is feasible.

Time for me to get back to work....till the next rest stop!!

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Week 1 Results

I know, I have already have a post titled Week 1 results, but since I took a monthly long hiatus, it's week one again.......

I'm down 2.5 pounds!!!!!

Collectively between the bust, waist, and hips I lost an inch, but the thigh and arm combined for an inch gain....so overall no inches lost this week.

In the last post, I told you how down and out I have been feeling and I can already see a turn-around in my attitude and the way I feel about myself.  Despite not getting enough sleep last night, I feel really good this morning and even have make-up on!!  I know, you are probably thinking, what's the big deal about having make-up on, well here goes.....I have never been one that had to be all dolled up...I'm most comfortable in a pair of blue jeans, cute shirt, & a ball cap, with my make-up on.  I am also one that is usually 20-30 minutes early for work, but since I have gained weight and felt "frumpy" that hasn't been the case....I have not been wearing my make-up or fixing my hair for that matter, and I haven't been early for work at all....I would say at least 4 days a week I am 5-10 minutes late for work.  Today, I wasn't as early as I normally am, but I was 5 minutes early.  I didn't get up to go walking this morning because it was so late when I went to bed, but despite not getting enough sleep, I really do feel good....very upbeat and positive today.  I can do this, I will do this, and I am going to do this!!!

Several weeks ago, I made a deal with myself...I had to lose 10 pounds to get my hair cut....but I gained 6 pounds.  I have made myself a rewards chart several times, but never reaped a single reward....I guess I had it set too high.  So I am going to do my rewards in increments of 8 this time.  My ninth reward will be GOAL!!  My first reward is going to be getting my eyebrows waxed....which desperately need to be done.  So when I am 5.5 pounds lighter than where I am currently at they get done!!!  Baby steps, baby steps!  My birthday is in 10 weeks, so I am setting myself a mini goal of 20 pounds by then.  I know that every week will not have a loss and some weeks the loss will be less than others, so if I need to adjust it a little I will, but I think I can do it!!  Help keep my on track!!

Let's rock on out!!  Much love to all!!!

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Complete Overhaul

As you can tell, it's been a while since I have posted, so you know that means I haven't been following my Visalus and have gained weight.....6 pounds and 2.25 inches to be exact.

I really had a major epiphany tonight and hopefully this is just what I needed.  While at my aunt and uncle's house, in shorts, I noticed how long the hair on my legs was (gross, I know), but the truth of the matter is, that has become the norm for me.  I know with the weight gain I have become a little bit depressed, but at the same time, I have quit taking care of me because I just didn't feel like I deserved it.  I have only been shaving my legs about every 2 weeks, (again, gross, I know), but it's reality, I haven't been wearing any makeup or fixing my hair, I never wear any jewelry, or take time to make sure I look nice when I get dressed.  I feel frumpy, therefore, I have become frumpy.  I know I deserve better, but I also know that Aaron deserves better.  I was doing so well with getting up in the morning and going walking/running but it didn't take long before that stopped.  If it means that I have to drink a whole bottle of water before going to bed at night, so that I have to get up and pee and that will make go walking in the morning, then dammit that's what I am going to do.  The only way that my body is going to change is if my mind and heart changes.  I have to tell myself that it is occasionally ok to have a cheeseburger, but having one for lunch one day doesn't mean having a cheeseburger, french fries, and a milkshake the next day and the day after that and the day after that, etc.  You get the picture.  But that has been my reality, but right now starts a new reality.  Each and every day is a new day and yesterday's choices and decisions will not affect today's.  And that new reality and new day starts now!!

I just took a long shower, complete with shaving my legs.  Afterwards I did something I haven't done in a long time, but need to be doing everyday....putting lotion on!  I know, that seems insignificant to most, but it really is major to me.  I deserve to have lotion on my legs and arms no matter what my weight is or what I have eaten that day!  I deserve to be and feel beautiful about myself and I am the only one that can change that mindset!

With all that said.....it's time to go drink a whole bottle of water and an Advil so I can get up in the morning to go pee and then go walk/run.

Much love and hopefully this overhauled engine will keep on going!!

Monday, May 21, 2012

Week 2 Results & Updates

Week Two Results are in (I think I am on some kind of trend)......

Down .7 of a pound and .75 inches

Been suffering from PMS this week, which left me really bloated.  I would have lost more inches if not for that...I actually gained half of an inch in my waist, but lost everywhere else.  Yes that gain is reflected in the above number.  Week 2 was not consistent as far as shakes go.  I am really dreading week 3 numbers.

Can't remember if I told you in the last couple of weeks that I was planning a surprise 50th birthday party for Mama....well it was Saturday and despite needing a few more hours in the day to get ready, it went really great.  Mama said she really enjoyed herself.  Aaron and his dad have worked really hard getting the yard ready - the party was in our backyard.  I have been out there with them after work and we all went non-stop Saturday from  7 in the morning until 10:30 that night.  I am still recovering today....my body is really achy and sore.  Still dealing with a little bit of the PMS this week.  On top of the party - Sheri was on vacation last week, which meant I had her job plus mine to do all week.  Can you say tired and exhausted?!?!?!  With everything that was going on, I didn't do so very well with the shakes.  Most nights we were stopping thru drive-thrus or picking up pizza for supper and I was a lazy bones in the morning and didn't get up in enough time to fix a shake.  That's not counting the 3 pieces of cake and nutter butter banana pudding I had yesterday.  Half of the cake was left at my house, plus the banana pudding that Jan made Aaron and an Orange-Pineapple Cake from Aunt Shelby.   And that's not counting all of the Pepsi and Sweet Tea that I have been inhaling. 

I know mentally that I have done bad this past week, but I can tell it physically too....my jeans are getting too tight - not a good thing.  After being bad at lunch (disgusting burger from Hardee's) I'm drinking my water as hard as I can now.   Despite being tired, I'm hoping that Aunt Linda can go with me to the gym tonight....hopefully getting in the pool will work out some of the kinks in my muscles and joints.  Guess I better get back to work and continue counting down the minutes until 5.

See ya down the road.....

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Week 1 Results

Drum Roll Please........


I lost 2.5 pounds and 2.5 inches this week!!!!

Woo Hoo!!  Happy Dance for me!!  I see people posting where they have lost 5 - 10 pounds on week one, but you know what, I'm not going to let that get me down.  I did have one day where I didn't have a shake at all and one day where I only had one.  I am happy with my number....baby steps!!  As I told Rebecca (my friend, my mentor, my supporter, my cheerleader, my encourager, my butt kicker, my whatever -I-need-at-the time) this morning, I have to take it one day at a time, if I have a "bad" day it's ok because tomorrow is a new day and I just have to dust myself off and jump back on the train full steam ahead.  One bad day does not have to to turn into 2 bad days, which normally leads to 2 bad weeks and lots of gained weight and inches.  I have recently started fixing what I am calling a "peanut butter cup" shake using SF, FF Chocolate Fudge pudding and some peanut butter.  It is definitely good...have had 2 nights in a row for supper.

On to the homefront.....Aaron's grandma was moved from ICU at the hospital to a nursing home for rehab.  We were told the minimum stay is 10 days and Medicare will pay for 21 days, so as to how long she will be in there we really aren't for sure.  Aaron's dad is still with us, but that is going really good.  They are really enjoy their time together and Dixie loves her Pops.  I told Aaron I don't know what is going to happen when it comes time to separate them...they are both going to be pitiful.

My VBS training went really good.  I had one person from 2 other churches and some of the ladies from our church.  I was honestly disappointed that I didn't have more participation from some of the other churches, but for the first time doing this, it was great!!  It was a wonderful experience for me.  I told Aaron that if I do something like this again next year that I will definitely go ahead and have it at the end of February beginning of March.  There was just so much going on this weekend - most of the colleges had graduation, plus a lot of the kids are playing baseball/softball/soccer, and it was prom weekend for a lot of the high schools.  I will be more ready and better prepared next year.  Now to get thru next weekend....

Until we meet at the next rest stop......

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Big Sigh

Where to begin.....

This past week has been a crazy one for us.  We found out first thing last Monday morning that Aaron's Mammaw (grandma) was in ICU in Asheville with double pneumonia.  She still is as of today.  While she has been there, we have since found out that the artery that goes from heart to her stomach is 90% blocked and that has been causing a lot of her stomach pain.  Tomorrow she will get a stint put in that.  Because she has a pacemaker they checked her heart out....sometime in the past, she has a very light heart attack that went unnoticed and undetected.  She has minimal damage, but it does not look like it is going to cause her any future problems.  With Aaron's mom staying at the hospital round-the-clock, we made the decision to go get his dad and bring him home with us.  Because of his dad's history of strokes, diabetes complications, and falling; we just felt it was better to have him with us.  We were all set to leave at lunch time on Thursday and head to Morganton and come back on Saturday.  You know what they say about best laid plans.  A horrible migraine hit me late Wednesday morning causing me to leave work early.  Yep, I had to work all day on Thursday.  I walked out of the office at 650 Thursday night.  We got to Morganton at 1:30 Friday morning.  We made the trip to Asheville Friday morning and we came back home Friday night.  Saturday was a lazy day for us as we all recuperated from the long drive.  On top of it all, I was dealing with the after-effects of the migraine, and that is no picnic.

Yesterday I ate as I pleased because I knew that today was officially going to be my first day back on Visalus.  What better day to start day 1 than on May 1!  Started the day off with a banana pudding shake.  Snack was a piece of string cheese and lunch was left over spaghetti and a pepsi.  I haven't been drinking water like I need to today, but it's coming.  I weighed and checked my measurements this morning....talk about a depressing cry.  It was.  I've got my big girl panties on and I'm going to deal with it one day at a time, one shake at a time, one bottle of water at a time.  I didn't put this weight all on over night and I know that it is not going to all come off over night (as depressing as that realization is).  The weight/fat gain combined with fibromyalgia plus all of the other health problems I have are not good for me at all.  I have accepted this and I know that I am the only that can do anything about it and it's time for me to just do it.  So, that's what I am doing.

It really helps that we have Aaron's dad with us.  Because of his diabetes and shot schedule, he has to eat at a certain time, plus he has to be careful what he eats.  Which means I have to be careful what he eats.  Having to cook for him is going to mean less going out to eat for me.  Which also means that I can bring leftovers for lunch instead of going out to eat and hitting drive thrus so much.  It is definitely an adjustment for us having someone there other than us, but I think overall it's been a pretty smooth transition. 

I guess I better close for the day...still catching up at work and I have to get seriously busy on the VBS Training I am leading Saturday.  Oh yeah....read "Table for Five" by Susan Wiggs over the weekend...one of the BEST books I have ever read.  I printed off the list of all of her books to start reading!!  Started reading "The Rescue" by Nicholas Sparks last night....so far, so good.  Because it is set in Edenton it holds an even more special place in my heart.  Will let you know how it turns out for me.......

Much Love & Happy Trails!!


Friday, April 20, 2012

The Journey Begins

It's Friday....Woo Hoo!!  After the week that I've had, I am honestly ready for a little bit of R&R....don't know how much of that I will actually get done though.  Thankfully my darling husband done most of the housework yesterday.  I would like to work out in the yard some tomorrow on the landscaping.  And of course there is a book or two that wants to be read.  But then again, there is always a book or two that wants to be read.  I am a self-proclaimed "bookslut" and if you know, you know it's the honest truth.  My husband will tell you that I spend more money on books than I do on clothes and it's the truth!!  I am currently reading Nicholas Sparks' "A Bend In The Road" and I love it!!  I went to bed about 9:30 last night with the intention of reading about 10 minutes before going to sleep.  I turned over to look at the clock after reading for what felt like a few minutes and it was 11:30!!  Not good!!

Despite being a little tired today, it's been a good day so far.  Started the morning with a butterscotch shake.  My morning snack was a cup of oatmeal (I was starving).  Now I'm guzzling lemonade while trying to decide what's for lunch.  I've gotta get gas today, so I will probably grab a sandwich while I am at Sheetz.  I'm hooked on that place, it's my new lunch spot.   I'm battling a little bit of headache this morning, but I haven't had any caffeine yet.  Once I get lunch and  a Pepsi hopefully it will ease off some.

Time to throw a piece of gum in my mouth...got an hour to lunch and try to see what I can get done!  Hope everyone has a great.  Hope everyone has a great day and  I will check in at the next "rest stop"!

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Intro

In the past few years I have gained quite a bit of weight.  Every time I go to the doctor they are constant on me to lose some weight.  I lose some, but get tired of "dieting" and "eating healthy" that I go right back to cheese burgers, french fries, & pizza and the weight magically finds it's way back to my stomach, plus some extra that it picked up on the way.  I am a picky eater, but I also eat out of boredom, sometimes emotionally, and sometimes I just want something in my mouth.  I thought I would start this blog to see what in life triggers the different aspects of weight gain for me.  Join me for the ride on my highway.  Make you sure you've got your seat belt on tight, your running shoes laced up, and most importantly that you've got your "big girl panties" on, because we are going to tackle the twists and turns and the highs and lows!!  Let's rock it!!