tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204256037870351182024-03-13T06:56:45.001-07:00Seriously?JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-64466311479389899762011-03-07T11:25:00.000-08:002011-03-07T11:28:24.376-08:00IlluminationSo I watched a movie about this kid stuck in an underground cave with few supplies. When his flashlight went out it was pitch black, he coudn't even see his hand in front of his face, after all, he was underground, in a cave, surrounded by cold water. Do you ever feel like this kid? As a person of faith I do. Our communities, our work environments, the entertainment industry, all seem to be making us use all our batteries in our flashlight. Trying to shine above all the crude sexual references, foul and I do mean the crudest of language, not to mention the pure selfish motives people seem to have. It used to be a rule to be polite, not an exception, when you mentioned having a "swear jar" in the workplace the manager thought is was a good idea, he/she did not curse you out and tell you it was their preogative to swear! People did not make it seem like it was an inconvience to say hello or they were too tired to put an effort into asking how you were. Who would of thought just by showing common courtesy we would be sharing Christ? Sometimes being that rare little light can wear you down and you can't see your hand in front of your face. The kid could have given up but he kept hearing his fathers advice in his head and remembered his Dad had given him a little bone necklace that lit up when you held it. He got just enough light so he could make it to the end... a large well lit area to swim out of the cave into a beautiful blue sky full of tall green trees and singing birds. Thankfully we can follow our Father through the dark caverns of life. Honestly, sometimes it just seems easier NOT to shine and it can be exhausting in such dark places but I believe we can draw strenghth and triumphantly move toward a bigger illumination and hopefully some other cave dwellers will be attracted to our light and follow us out!JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-80607121833356513812011-02-20T16:56:00.000-08:002011-02-20T16:56:47.404-08:00Wait, What Year Is This?So, it has been over a year since I started this endeavor and I haven't blogged in quite awhile. I am not sure if it is beacause in terms of weight loss I have made little progress or I am just tired of talking about the subject that is always "literally" on my plate...pun intended. I have made some small strides in behaviors and I am still in the game, just a little battle weary. So in an effort to get back into my blogging I am going to start talking about other life issues, since there are so many other places my "Cosmic Bus" takes me. Hop on board and let's see where we can go!JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-12174464251753017562010-08-31T19:04:00.000-07:002010-08-31T19:18:10.194-07:00Bus PassUninspired is how I feel as of late and it is probably why I am not blogging. I started this to help myself and found with great joy it was helping others, I want to come to you with overwhelming numbers and tell you how great I am feeling, alas, still on the long journey but haven't yet arrived. Health issues keep knocking and I keep trying to send them packing. On the upside I was so happy to talk to a friend and reader and hear how well she was doing and to see pictures of her improvements. There are some small milestones for me, cholesterol is better, I don't get tired as fast and I have done well on my long days on my new job which I still love, love, love. I just wish my paycheck would love me as much! I see so many cool dogs and cats that come in and happy animals always make me feel better!<br />
Big life changes with my youngest starting high school and my middle one starting college. I have been missing my oldest who lives in another state. Life always seems to be moving at the speed of light and if you are not careful you just might miss your Cosmic Bus or be flattened by it!<br />
So ring the bell faithful friends, I've still got my teeth, my nose is just a little bloody and I am going in for another round!JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-78355035599383601392010-07-10T20:50:00.000-07:002010-07-10T20:55:43.756-07:00LoserWell I did not fall off the planet, just the blog for awhile.Major life changes.All good...all time consuming! I started this weight loss adventure in January and since then I have lost about 17lbs with PLENTY more to go. I have been on at least 3 different plans throughout this time period.For the past 12 weeks my daughter and I have been attending a spiritual based health program called "First Place" it has really been helpful and we have been exercising as a group and supporting each other,our next thirteen week session is coming up.Every so often I will let my self relax and then I have to put myself in check,I am finding this kind of venture really takes faith, patience and the big D...discipline.On this program you make healthy choices,count calories,exercise and particpate in a daily bible study and weekly meetings with the thought being that the main element missing weight loss is incorporating God and scripture. I am feeling better with more energy and enjoying my job,still losing...very slowly but still losing!JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-71255760527648551292010-04-28T20:40:00.000-07:002010-04-28T20:40:28.787-07:00Information OverloadIt seems like every time you pick up a magazine, go to the bookstore or turn on the TV, someone is talking about the latest greatest way to lose weight. There will be promises of "new" breakthroughs or eating whatever you want, with testimonials by people who swear this is the only program that ever worked for them. Here is just few examples of how they all can contradict on another and confuse us...<br />
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Atkins = fruit, bread, sugar, potatos, bad. Fat,protein,good. Fat Smash = Fruit, all you want, yogurt, oatmeal, good! Susan Powter = Eat what you want like a big stack of pancakes with syrup just forgo the butter, very low fat, sugar ok. Gorge Cruise = fruit yogurt, bad, burger fries, good,very low sugar. Carb Addicts diet = eat whatever you like, potatos ,fruit, pasta ,dessert but fit it in only one hour of your day the rest of the day is salad, protein and diet soda. Gwen Shamblin's Weigh Down Workshop = eat whatever you would like only when you are truly hungry, pray through when you are not! Cabbage Soup diet = self explanatory plus a lot of gas! Some say watch only your fat, some say only your calories, others say get all of your food groups in, exercise till you drop, just walk, exercise is not necessary. Drinking 8 glasses of water a day is one most agree on, although I am sure I heard recently that is starting to be disputed! Only organic is also very popular right now. This is just the tip of the iceberg and some of these diets may have changed since I did them. There are thousands more to go ..based on body type, blood type, age ,hormones etc. Is it any wonder I can't decide what exactly to do? I can tell you that all of these have worked to some degree for me, probably because no matter what, you are eliminating something to cause a deficit in calories, some work faster than others but usually those are the one that the weight comes back on pretty fast with a little more tacked on. Oh, I forgot glycemic index foods like brown rice versus white, sweet potatos versus white potatoes and how about vegetarian? Does anyone have a headache yet? I kid you not... a bunch of hair just fell out of my head! Bald AND fat is the look most of us 40 something women pull off so well!JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-72344437550676205842010-04-21T09:58:00.000-07:002010-04-25T16:57:44.641-07:00Put One Foot In Front Of The Other...So it's my day off and I just don't want to step on the scale. It seems like I am seeing the same results...up 3... down 2,down 2... up 1 and I know it's my fault, behaving through the week and then loosening up on the weekend. Looks like I am not going to see an 8 lb weight loss like I planned this week.(Shocker right?)<br />
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I have a cool job and I am really enjoying it so far, it is as a Receptionist for a Pet kennel in an arty community near the water and I am a big animal lover along with being a people person so I am really blessed. I have talked about my health issues throughout this blog but some things I kept to myself because they are pretty personal and in fact are part of what make me change and try to refine my diet often. Two disorders that I have problems with effect my bladder and bowel function and what I eat and drink can make the symptoms worse or better, so a lot of times what is suggested as good for weight loss, is not actually good for these conditions. Take coffee for instance a low calorie treat that is actually good for you in many ways but the acidic content can cause problems at times, as well as citrus, yogurt, artificial sweeteners and chocolate, the times I eat can effect whether I am going to have tummy problems and of course drinking much of anything can cause a lot of issues for the bladder. Stress, nerves,(getting nervous about getting nervous) new things, good or bad, can wreak havoc on my immune system. As you can imagine, starting a new job even a fun one, has presented some challenges with this. My very first day I had such bad stomach problems due to nerves, I was in fact late... I chose to just be honest I basically just called and said I was so excited about the job, I got a little sick to my stomach and I was on the way. What else could I do? Luckily, my boss is really mellow and seemed ok with it, though a hundred different imaginary conversation scenarios between her and the co owner ran through my head about the new girl they had hired but I just dismissed them to my over active imagination. This is me ...this is who I am, it’s not who I want to be, it’s pretty embarrassing and a big pain but there must be a reason. Once again this calls for a diet change, one that I know to some is not considered that healthy but unless you have walked in my shoes... So this is what I have to do... lots of a pro biotic supplement, a small probiotic yogurt, peppermint tea,water,a few nuts throughout the day and a low calorie protein shake and banana equaling about 470 calories and then pretty much a normal sized dinner and dessert and coffee. My calorie limit to lose is supposed to be around 1900 so I am going to try to keep in mind calorie counts for dinner and not go under 1200 or over 1900.Do I get hungry and fuzzy throughout the day? Yes! But do I want to spend my work day camped out in the bathroom? NO! Sorry if this is TMI but quite frankly it is just another element of life for me and many others and learning how to deal. Soooo, my stomach has been on good behavior and I just can't imagine with the cut back in calories NOT losing, now as I adjust to working, I will add exercise and my goal is just 15 minutes a day of some sort of concentrated movement, doesn’t sound like much but it's more than I am doing at the present time!<br />
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This has become rather long, drawn out and definitely not amusing, so I am going to bid adieu. I have already picked my next topic and it's going to be about the information we are overloaded with concerning dieting and how they all seem to conflict and drive us crazy! Until then I am going to just keep trying, you never know when a victory could be right around the corner as I heard a recent speaker say(Joel Olsteen) and if you don't put one foot in front of the other. You won't arrive!JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-85634576838816723272010-04-12T19:45:00.000-07:002010-04-13T05:55:46.258-07:00VictoriesSo I am four months into this process and I am going to take a victory wherever I can find one. I would have hoped for more of a loss by now but I can say I am learning what works for me and saying no to foods that used to be my friend has not been so hard. I walked a mile with my dogs yesterday and didn't even realize it...Victory one! Pizza dinner at my church ...took my iced coffee and was fine without a slice, although I had to look at a beautiful piece of cake for an hour as the meeting progressed, it was set right in front of me and the only reason I did not move it is I thought the person next to me was going to eat it, the important thing is... I didn't...Victory 2! Going to the Doctors weighing in and actually seeing a loss on THEIR scale...Victory 3! I also was blessed enough to snag a job which I start tomorrow, I am sure that will offer new challenges, so I am putting myself on alert and taking healthy snacks. Technically with "The Fat Smash Diet" you are only supposed to weigh in after the first 9 days and then you are supposed to lose up to 9 lbs but I was back down those yo yo 3 lbs that keep coming back when I last checked. I did keep a few foods from the last plan that really helped me to feel less deprived…iced coffee and a little bit of dark chocolate but I haven’t had any meat in a week and I am a little tired of lentils and beans but I’ll live.<br />
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I am breaking down the weight loss into smaller goals. There is a big function 13 days from now at my husbands work, so my goal is to lose 8lbs by then. For me, that is a pretty big goal considering it has taken me 4 months to lose 15. I have been watching "Ruby" on style network and she inspired me by losing 13lbs on an Aussie vacation. It has been suggested to me before that I should take things a little bit at a time so I don't get overwhelmed with such a big task.<br />
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My new job is a receptionist position so it requires me to be the "face" of the company and look and feel good so maybe that will help keep me in line as I pull away from stay home "Mom" mode and add to my wardrobe. Hope you can find some "Victories" in your life this week.JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-67489750694469297442010-04-06T17:08:00.000-07:002010-04-06T17:12:13.564-07:00Never Be Afraid To Try Something NewNew eating plan Number 3 began as my oldest daughter wanted to do"The Fat Smash" plan, totally different from the last one which included lots of meat, healthy breads and dark chocolate. This one is all the fruit and veggies you need, low fat, no meat or bread and very low fat among other things in the induction period of 9 days. My daughter broke her foot and is in a cast, she has had a considerable difficult time getting around and is not messing around anymore she wants to lose,so I am willing to do whatever plan she is comfortable with. I did learn that artificial sweeteners of any kind really cause digestive problems for me after cutting them out this last plan so its only Stevia based sweeteners or a little occasional sugar I am using.<br />
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Did I behave during Spring Break ? No.Was it worth it? No,I am back up a couple of lbs. Trying on clothes is always a wake up call for me and I know if I get a job I need a new wardrobe. Just coming down a couple of sizes would make a big difference.<br />
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So to recap a rather boring update… I am in this since January 4th, I have lost a total of 12 lbs as of today and I am trying plan 3. I feel better, people say they can tell I have lost, now my daughter has thrown her hat in the ring and I am not giving up!JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-23053543946604795692010-03-31T12:43:00.000-07:002010-03-31T12:43:58.837-07:00SpringSpring has sprung and unless something momentous our terribly irritating happens I am on spring break; not from my diet, just from blogging. I am back down 2.5 lbs and seriously considering purchasing a new scale because I truly think mine is rebelling from all the times it has held my overweight body! Stay strong, be blessed and Happy Spring!JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-12952908970860308192010-03-27T08:20:00.000-07:002010-03-27T08:20:14.846-07:00Stress And SconesEver blink and a week had past? I weighed in Wednesday and was so aggravated, I couldn't even blog about it! Up 3 lbs! Seriously? Trying to remain calm and not turn aggravation into a binge...although after that, I made friends with a blueberry scone. The scone did not disappoint like my friend the scale but that kind of thinking is what helped get me here in the first place.<br />
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It HAS been a stressful week and I noticed that tends to make me go up or at the very least stay the same on the scale. First we had a tire blow while our daughter was driving alone, then that same daughter broke her foot while practicing for the Spring Musical, My dog got so ill he could hardly walk and I thought I was going to lose him, my other daughter's on again/off again boyfriend went into mean mode with her at school and she was pretty traumatized, then I got called in for an interview with a company I thought I was a little under qualified for (Shhh! Don't tell them I said that.) My understanding is stress causes cortisol levels to go up and that makes it harder to lose. What's weird about that is it seems like when you are young and stressed ...you tend to lose weight!<br />
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Spring break is here and my house is a wreck, so now I have to dig deep and get things back in order. Hmmm a blueberry scone sure sounds good right about now...JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-61518996868942406312010-03-22T10:35:00.000-07:002010-03-27T01:30:22.844-07:00RainIt is Monday and I slept in...I needed it, I stayed up to the wee hours of the morning searching sites that were hiring and sending out my résumé. I also had the joy of watching a horror movie on tv about people who wander into a town of wax to find that they will be the next on display! I am one of those people that has to see the end of a movie no matter how scary or stupid it is!<br />
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I forgot how demeaning it can feel to take all that time answering questions and sending out your resume to never even get a response and how patient you have to be when starting out. I am caught between a feeling of being blessed enough to not have an urgency at this time in finding employment to knowing that big house payments are around the corner and it would probably take some pressure off to have extra income coming in. It’s just like reading a writer so good, any prior pride you had in your work goes out the window. When I entered a humorist writing contest in February,<br />
I just believed I was going to be discovered as the next "Erma Bombeck" turns out I am not the only one who thought this, I did not place and that's ok. A little disappointing ,but still ok<br />
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I have to remind myself that my value is not wrapped up in my resume or whether I have success writing or even the weight loss I am trying to achieve. I serve a God that was willing to sacrifice His only son for me. I am of value to my Creator. He is the one with a distinct purpose for me and His ways are not my ways . It could mean that I end up flipping burgers and laying down fries at the age of 42 but what ever I do I know I am supposed to do as unto the Glory of God.<br />
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There is something so wonderful about a storm and rain beating down on the roof. Just the sound of it can be calming, when I was a kid I would take my dog outside and the rain would come down on us and feel so refreshing and smell so good. No matter what was going on in my life it would help just to "be." Weigh in is Wednesday, we have been feeling pretty good with our food choices. I am learning to identify times when I am at risk such as.....I am very tired or just tired of cooking or when my daughters have friends over and we order pizza, ANY time during the beginning of the weekend seems to trigger something in all of us.<br />
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I really feel like going out in the rain today and washing away some of this excess baggage... Care to join me?JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-89980717282996058462010-03-16T21:25:00.000-07:002010-03-19T09:49:37.767-07:00NumbersI have been waiting for inspiration to strike, I really haven't been feeling to witty or comical. As I stated last blog, I have been having a bit of a RA flare, so much so I can’t seem to get going until around one in the afternoon due to fatigue and stiffness. It can be really frustrating to want to have the energy to do things and yet making a phone call or getting a shower seems like work. Probably time to make a visit to my friendly Rheumatologist and get labs done but the thought of another Doctor's appointment is also exhausting. There are so many things that can get pushed to the side like school work, tweaking my resume and preparing for our move this summer. One good thing is I am usually doing better by the time everyone is home and able to keep the house straight and cook dinner. There is something called Raynauds phenomenon that can accompany Rheumatoid Arthritis, it causes very cold fingers and feet that can turn white...cold feet can make it hard to fall asleep so I am feeling very sexy in my double socks!<br />
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On a happy note, I am down another 2lbs for a total of 15.5lbs and we are still on the Jorge Cruise plan and even though we are not losing as quickly as claimed, it still is working and our digestive systems feel so much better when we stick to the plan. It also makes for much easier planning of meals. My youngest daughter(Slim)commented this evening on how she actually LIKED my cooking! It seems I would really feel a difference, maybe because it is small amounts over time, I can't notice it as much but my new jeans are really baggy and my face does seem a bit smaller, my girls say they can tell I have lost. One thing I reminded myself of today is even though this plan does not call for exercising to lose weight, it is still essential to at least walk to keep a healthy heart and lower blood pressure. Honestly, I would hate to step on any scale other than mine though, if it was a negative outcome, I would get discouraged. I was thinking how much we rely on numbers to make us happy...numbers on the scale, numbers in our bank account, test scores, lab results, I am glad I serve a God that is bigger than any number!JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-53182976746102027702010-03-10T09:50:00.000-08:002010-03-10T19:15:27.271-08:00Don't Want To Be A Debbie DownerDisappointment visited briefly at my house this week and it was in the form of a 1.5 lb loss for me and 1 lb for my husband and daughter...in all fairness we do feel pretty good and there has been no belly bloat this week but the promise was 4 - 9 lbs and we were a little hungry sometimes. My husband also mentioned that cravings for certain food just weren't there and that is true as well, we were just hoping for bigger results on the scale. We are going to go for it another week and see what happens. Any loss is better than none and I hate when people whine about not losing what they wanted but I guess it is just the fact that this plan was endorsed to lose at least 4 if not more and there is also the feeling of we MUST be losing. You know how the contestants from Biggest Loser step on the scale an get upset at a 6 lb loss...that always drives me crazy and I start yelling at my TV (yes I am one of THOSE people) Anyway I am always like "What is wrong with you? Be happy!" I get it now ,they have trainers shouting at them all week and they live and breathe weight loss so they want the results promised to them. I have a total weight loss of 13.5 and I choose to be happy with that!<br />
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The weather for Spring is here and that has allowed more time to walk at the park and get some fun exercise. RA has decided to rear its ugly head these last 2 weeks in the form of extreme fatigue and even while I type I have to rest my elbow on my leg because it is painful to hold up. One thing about Rheumatoid Arthritis or anything chronic for that matter, is that it's always with you, and no one wants to tell friends or loved ones "Sorry, I don't feel well...again." I am most certain my children and my husband try to be kind about it but after awhile it gets old. You must take care of you in these situations ,only you know how your body feels and you have to listen to it and rest or exercise or take medicine etc. Be mindful that there are those out there with conditions that don't always show visible signs on the outside but that doesn't make it any less painful or frustrating for them.JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-47611230260893217882010-03-08T21:08:00.000-08:002010-03-08T21:08:18.286-08:00You Don't Say...It has been an interesting,LONG week... I decided to try a more tailored plan that I found while searching out low carb foods online. Jorge Cruise has a new plan for women over 40 with very, very, limited sugar, veggies, proteins and whole grain carbs ,you are supposed to be able to lose between 4 and 9 lbs a week and weigh in is Wednesday but here is the kicker, my daughter wanted to lose weight for graduation and my husband thought he needed to lose a few, so they decided to follow along and I am not going to lie... it did make things 100 times easier, to plan meals, easier to stay on track. We started last Wednesday and one of the best results we have is physically feeling better, especially any chronic tummy problems we usually deal with. There were days we wanted to cheat and days we were really hungry but for the most part we have stayed on track and our grocery bill has been cheaper due to not eating out. My little Skinny Minnie pretty much ate her usual...whatever she wanted! I think my favorite comments of the week came first from my hubby when he picked up McDonalds for Slim and said he never realized how hard it was to smell french fries and burgers without the option of eating it, especially while hungry. The second comment came from my graduate who did wonderfully ignoring a table of treats (cookies ,brownies, etc.) at an awards ceremony and later proclaimed, "You have no idea how hard that was Mom!" You don't say...Catch you up later this week on our actual losses.JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-32254643031739527242010-02-28T21:43:00.000-08:002010-02-28T21:53:37.883-08:00Do OverRemember when you were a kid and you played games with a friend?, If you didn't get the results you wanted, you asked for a Do Over. The conversation went something to the effect "Hey, no fair, your legs are longer than mine..."Do Over" or "No fair I wasn't ready...Do Over." After awhile that person probably proclaimed "No Do Over’s!" <br />
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I am really glad I serve a forgiving God, who's mercies are new every morning, because after the week I have had...heck, after the past month.. I am not feeling so successful, I am at an 11.5 loss mark, so I am taking a week to regroup and analyze to see if there is something I could do eating wise to speed up results. I tried on pants this week and I really just don't want to talk about it... when you are considered a petite plus size(those words just don't seem to belong together)it is not an easy task to find clothes that fit, even in a petite they are long and baggy, but the next size down won't button comfortably around my belly.<br />
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I don't want to be like the person in the Bible who looks in the mirror, walks away and forgets their own reflection...not forget why I started this in the first place, my health, quality of life, being more comfortable in my own skin. There comes a point in life where there is no more time for Do Over’s.JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-48926195147901892672010-02-22T22:33:00.000-08:002010-02-23T10:18:31.197-08:00Run Away WagonIf I were an alcoholic I would classify this past week as "falling off the wagon." In fact, falling off and being run over by it would be an even better classification! It started with one small allowance of eating a regular meal from McDonalds which WAS delicious and I got right back on track but the past couple of days I have been doing something I thought I had pretty good control of at this point..."Stress Eating." I have a graduating senior this year and there are many things she has to do to prepare, my youngest is going through her first break up and is preparing for braces, I am taking a course and the scholarship that I am using was in question, my husband is working on his Masters and the biggest kicker is we are in the middle of a house purchase which is doable for us but it also means me preparing my resume as I work on weight loss, attend a class,continue with my writing and blogging,and packing(again) Along with keeping the rental house in pristine condition so others can look at it. Although mentally I know to take one thing at a time and spiritually I know not to be anxious, it all just seemed to hit at once. I just didn't want to be good, I wanted to eat what I wanted to eat. Trust me, between the heartburn and stomach problems it wasn't worth it. I will say... that I have gotten used to eating a certain way and for the most part the food didn't even taste that good, so I think I will try to remember this in the future. Please know that I am not using this thing called "Life” as an excuse, just recognizing an issue that I need to work on. As of this morning I have maintained my loss, so for that I am thankful. I am amazed even as I sit here with a full stomach and heartburn just talking about all that is going on makes me want to go to the kitchen and see what I have to munch on. Good thing I am blogging right now and calling myself to some accountability.<br />
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If you want to watch a really inspirational show about weight loss "Ruby" on Style is awesome, she started out at over 700lbs and is openly facing the many challenges that come with it.<br />
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I've got a wagon to catch!JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-55793721013949116312010-02-18T09:32:00.000-08:002010-02-18T17:51:27.608-08:00Drawing LinesDid you ever feel pretty good about he way you looked, or an item of clothing you had on, only to glimpse in the mirror or see a photo later and grimace? I was sitting at the computer...I know, surprise, surprise, and I had a new comfy gray boyfriend t-shirt on so I felt pretty good and as my reflection stared back at me off the computer screen, I was prepared to see some chub but what I saw was LOTS of it, just hanging forward like Buddha and dripping over the sides. What could I do but let out a sigh and remind myself this is a process and I could have the most expensive designer clothes on and a pair of Spanx ,sit up a little bit straighter and then I would look and feel better(except for my gut being squeezed in)but it would still be there. I still own it and I must persevere if I want results and it may be a whole year until I am sitting without a spare tire in my reflection but to give up is not and option. I realized something a little scary... I am 42 years old and in 30 years I will be 72 that sounds like a long time to people that are already in their 60's or like a (who the heck cares?) if you are 25 but judging how I feel as of late, I just blinked and my children are grown... it makes a person wake up a little.So I guess my point is we have no time to waste in this life and what is a year in the grand scheme of things, if it means a more healthy 30-50 years of my life?<br />
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I am aware this is a spiritual journey for me too and I am learning some life lessons, there are a lot of scripture about endurance not about instant, perfect success!<br />
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I have talked about this before but do you know what's hard about a weight problem? You can't hide it ,it is out there for everyone to see, everyone who has went before you and lost weight, everyone that has never had a problem with it and thinks they know what you need to do. Please be kind to those around you that are struggling and their family. I am always amazed how many people expect my family members that are thin to give up what they like to eat. It is nice to get support and I really don't want a Big Mac pushed under my nose but this is not THIER problem I will always be around something I can't eat and I will have to learn ways to deal with it but I don't think my 90lb (soak and wet) daughter should have to eat salad and oatmeal everyday ,she has problems keeping weight on…so I get happy when I see her eat a burger and fries occasionally or ice cream straight out of the carton! My other daughter struggles as well and like me she will have to learn where to draw a line and I will offer her support by having more healthy foods around and encouragement.<br />
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I will admit though, last night at church my husband handed me a bag with 2 boxes of Girl Scout cookies and told me to pay for them, I handed him the check book told him to pay... handed the bag back to the dear sweet man in the car and said "thanks a lot!" Where upon I was informed I didn't HAVE to eat the delicious once a year treat, that he had bought them for HIMSELF! He took one look at me and asked "This will be in your blog now, won’t it?" Sometimes drawing a line can be fun!JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-82424984098038893142010-02-16T19:07:00.000-08:002010-02-16T19:09:26.627-08:00GlitchIf you have tried to comment in the past,feel free to give it another shot. I have been trying to work out a glitch with the blog because several people told me they have made comments that didn't make it through...that way I will know if it worked. Thanks.JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-8600238240518028722010-02-15T19:04:00.000-08:002010-02-15T19:06:27.458-08:00Back On TrackAs I prepared to weigh in this morning my imagination got the best of me as I thought of my scale quivering in the corner and asking for a blindfold and cigarette, fearing that I may smash it with a sledge hammer if it did not give me the numbers I wanted and then breathing a sigh of relief as I discovered I was back down the extra lbs I picked up last week.<br />
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This week has not been a perfect week for me diet wise but rather than stay off course , I chose to get back on and move forward.<br />
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Hats off to a new reader and friend who struggled for almost a month after following Weight Watchers and exercising diligently... she had no loss and now it's kicking in and she has lost 6 lbs!We have similar goals and when they seem so big and you don't see results right away, it's hard to hang in there but I know it's going to pay off in the end.<br />
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Really feeling like it's time take the exercise up a notch this week and be even more diligent in what I am eating nutrition wise ...I feel a second wind coming on...JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-51569930128732519212010-02-10T14:12:00.000-08:002010-02-11T01:48:46.173-08:00HibernationWe are officially in the middle of a second snow storm of this winter in the state in which I live. I have resided in the South a big majority of my life so this is... different. My poor husband has shoveled so much snow, he is literally dreaming of never ending snow drifts that keep filling the more he shovels!<br />
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Cold is not always easy on you if you have RA,it causes a lot of stiffness and fatigue, so again I find myself frustrated that I can not assist him more. I know his shoulder hurts so I try to baby him with icepacks and hot drinks and by cooking.<br />
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You know something that sounds delicious in a winter storm? Chocolate chip cookies! Warm and fresh out of the oven, I feel a bit jealous of all my friends making posts about their baking, knowing that if I indeed baked chocolate chip cookies I would most definitely ...eat them!Temptation occurred yesterday when we managed to get out of the house before more snow hit. I had done well with my eating, we ate out and I had salad, broccoli and broiled flounder but my sweet husband had bought 1 whole pound of fudge in every variety for Valentines for the girls and I. I don't even like fudge anymore, my mom used to make it when I was kid and I would eat half the pan! Anyway I convinced myself I would cut the tiniest sliver off of each one and taste it...in retrospect I should have not tasted at all because my slivers ended up being larger and more than one piece and within ten minutes I had a stomach ache which is probably good because that has kept me out of the box since!<br />
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When it is cold, it feels like your body goes in "Bear" mode... let me store up some yummy fat so I can hibernate! Unfortunately my body has already done this for me, so I can not accommodate it's requests.JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-4442951520751822912010-02-08T18:40:00.000-08:002010-02-08T18:54:27.817-08:00What Goes Up...If you saw a square white UfO flying over your house don't be alarmed it was just my scale after I drop kicked it. I have put on 2.5lbs!If this were paper you would see the tracks of my tears.<br />
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Actually this is not that uncommon on my battle with the bulge,around six weeks my body goes into rebellion and I begin to question if I should be doing something else. I refuse to back down, I am not giving it in.Full speed ahead!If next year I do have to have some kind of gastric surgery, it will not be because I haven't tried everything else first.More water! More veggies! More fruit! Less fat! Bring it on baby...I am not going down without a fight.JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-58732448182928777952010-02-05T15:46:00.000-08:002010-02-05T15:53:44.366-08:00I 'll Take Middle Age For A thousand Alex!It's Thursday and I have tried to not mention any more illness because sometimes this blog feels like a tribute to the family medical records but I have had the flu this week and at any given time since Sunday I have wanted to ball up in the fetal position and cry (ok so I did once.)I think I am finally coming out on the other side though exhausted and weak. I am going to try my best to get some light exercise tomorrow.<br />
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When I write, I secretly imagine the responses of others...I guess it’s no secret now ...anyway, some of them go something like this..."Man she sure is sick a lot." "Do you think she is just using that as an excuse for not exercising?" “Do you want some cheese to go with that whine?"<br />
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When you have an immune system working against you which is the case of Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis it seems just when you start to feel normal... (cue the Jaws theme song) it finds a creative way to attack and any stress good or bad only adds to it, so I find being in the military, it take me about a year to recover fully and fight off whatever strains of illness I haven't had previously. That is usually the case of military kids in general, if they have allergies or asthma, they must adjust to the area and any strains they haven't dealt with so vitamins definitely become your friend. I usually know I am feeling pretty good when I get brave enough to take on a job or some other endeavor which means leaving my comfort zone at home. I don't like to commit if I can't follow through. It's also helpful to be at home to help the kids adjust. I really do tire of fielding questions right away from people about working and I try not to respond with sweet answers like "Give me a break... I just moved for the 50th time, sold a house and I am now putting up with moody teenagers on top of bones that feel like somebody beat me in my sleep!" I know they are just trying to make polite conversation but have we hit such modern times that I am required to feel guilty? I grew up with a single Mom who had to work her arse off to make ends meet so I get that some people have no choice and I do understand. <br />
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It really comes down to feeling comfortable in your own skin, which is something most of us find difficult. It’s funny, just when your mind starts to feel more comfortable with who you are; your body turns on you a bit, there is hair growing in unwelcome places and falling out of the welcome ones...little wrinkles hold up(or down) the skin around your eyes like curtain ties...freckles are replaced by age spots...your hands look like they belong in a Vaseline Intensive care commercial ...clothes don't hang the way they should and no matter how cool you look, it end up looking like you are trying too hard.<br />
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I am hoping I get my birthday wish of a three pound weight loss but right now I'm not feeling it...”Name a time period when weight loss gets even more challenging?” “Uh, what is Middle Age Alex?”JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-36613599675544682662010-02-01T21:41:00.000-08:002010-02-01T21:41:03.140-08:00I'm Giving It A Third Of What I've Got Cap'n !It’s Monday and I have no big scale news, unless you call kicking the scale across the floor big. I own one of those electronic scales and occasionally I find I have to get on it, move it, and get on again, usually the third time’s the charm and whatever number comes up and sticks… is the correct one. Today it said a 1Lb,1.5, then.5 loss then +1,which is when I decided to step away from the scale...I will take comfort in the fact I am feeling slimmer and my clothes feel looser and just call it even until next week.<br />
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Ok so it's truth time...eating wise I have been doing pretty good, exercise...not, water...not and getting to bed early definitely... not. My most successful week was when I was doing all those things. Time to shake off the dust, February is a new month and I am thankful for a 10lb loss. I am learning this is about so much more than weight,its hokey sounding but it's a journey. I did accomplish sending a writing piece off to the Erma Bombeck competiton, I finished yesterday and I think I used all 450 words allowed in the word count, I will keep you updated.<br />
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Speaking of February...it’s my birthday… it’s my birthday this Sunday so I think for my goal this week, I would like to see a 3lb loss, that would be a nice present. So hopefully next week I can say; I'm giving it all I got Cap’n!JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-29071416749514728702010-01-29T18:42:00.000-08:002010-01-29T23:34:52.686-08:00Faith LeapingNow that I am exploring the writer in me, I am reading and watching things pertaining to this endeavor. Finding that many very famous writers are "angst" ridden is not very appealing. In light of J.D. Salinger's death and studying about him a bit and watching a movie on the poet Lord Byron . Hello? Can anyone say Edgar Allen Poe; I am finding notoriety may not always be a good thing. Then again, you want to be noticed as a writer, being noticed means being read and being read may lead to being published which may it turn lead to an income which would mean more writing! We Humans love a good drama soaked life don't we, the kind filled with torrid affairs and reclusive behavior to which we say "Ah she was just a tortured artist, too good for this world." That is not my intent here. I had my share of difficulties and injustices early on in life like many others I know and I may chose to expose those to be cathartic and to help others. I am thinking I am more a humorist, an Erma Bombeck type which brings me to this...a leap of faith. I was looking up information pertaining to Erma and the first site I found was looking for submissions, there is a writing contest for humorist type writers; the participant gets a little exposure, 100 bucks and free entrance into one of the weekend workshops. Coincidence? I think not. The thought came to mind I would use something from this blog but it has to be new, I will admit I went blank…writers block for about 10 minutes and then the floodgates opened. I don't know which was scarier but I think I choose blank. There is not much time, it closes on Sunday night. A deadline, you've got to love that. My heart is actually pounding a bit faster at the thought. That's good right?<br />
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Tune in Monday for an update on my health quest. As of this morning I am down another pound, I just had to get on the scale because I have been so (put your own version of a strong word for emphasis here!!) HUNGRY, sensitive and grouchy. Planning to drink more water and do some major grocery shopping…on a good note, my jeans are falling down!JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425603787035118.post-71242420961745699322010-01-26T17:19:00.000-08:002010-01-27T11:21:25.615-08:00You Don't Want To Know What I Would Do For A Klondike Bar!I would like to tell you that Funky Monday turned into Terrific Tuesday but as you know I hate lies but I am finding a little melancholy makes for a lot of inspiration. When you are in a pit sometimes you must find something to pull yourself out, you may end up doing some soul searching in the process, soul searching I find, makes for good writing if you go deep enough but that's for another time, not for this blog, maybe you will see it on a bookstore shelf someday.<br />
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Something else happens when you feel a little funk, your guard can go down, in this case it's been my food guard but so far I am still fighting the good fight. My girls did not make it any easier by wanting McDonalds for dinner, when you are fighting the fight and HUNGRY a Big Mac and french fries does sound (and smell) really, really good, did I say really? One of the things I can do is remind myself of the benefits later, such as slipping that beautiful engagement ring back on my chubby little finger, new clothes, oh and of course avoiding a heart attack!JAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00806879228152768537noreply@blogger.com0