Higher Than A Kite!

Today was weigh in and I have to say I am flying high! I am down 15 pounds, so this is a good slow process for me, Years ago I could drop 20 lbs in a hurry, but gain it all back just as fast. I am planning on keeping this off, so thankyou everyone for all your feedback on the blog. You guys kept me going from day to day, forward and encouraging me as I go through this lifestyle change! I have just the best people in my life. Today is a very great day. I feel good, like I know that I should now! Let's see what results this month will bring.

One More Day

Tuesday is weigh in and I am quite excited about it as I think the results will be good. What I have noticed is my legs are not as swollen, my clothes are fitting a little looser and I don't look so puffy. Some of it is from my medications but lets face reality, it was not my medications that caused me to get to this point, they may have been a factor. So I think I have done pretty well this month, I will let you know the results on Tuesday. I see my doctor tomorrow and he was going to try and get me in to a program for weight loss where you see a nutritionist and I think they even have an exercise program. He said there might be quite a wait for this, but here is believing it will not be too long. I am already scared about going, because I would be by myself and I worry about having any cataplexy spells...but I can not just stay in my house, so as hard as it will be for me, I will do it, at least try it. I will have to take the bus to and from because it is 3 times a week, I might be played out by the time I get there, then I figure if I am well at least I am at a hospital right! I will never drive again, so I have decided to sell my car, it has taken me six years for that decision. How is that for procrastination. Actually this is good because I am not wishing anymore for who I was previously, but am now living in the now. Today is My Very Best Day!

Whatever Happened To Gilbert Grape?

First of all if you have never seen the above movie, I would reccomend you do. It is a movie staring, Johnny Depp and Leonardo Dicaprio, both of them much younger. It is a true story about a mother and her children and the hardships they deal with as a family. The mother struggles with morbid obesity, and one of the children have autism. It is an older movie. That movie haunted me and has lingered with me ever since. I won't tell you the rest of it. It was a very powerful, moving and touching movie.
So why would I mention it here, because since I have been ill and have gained some weight, I do not want to be that woman. Today I read a bloggers story and it was as if I had just read the story about my LIFE. It was a very brave, be real account of health issues and what to expect as we age and have to deal with all these things.
I like her wants it for health reasons, not to be a stick woman in a bikini, I want to have energy to walk longer, to not have sore legs, to help my present condition.
So far I have done fairly well, weighin is on the first of September. I have definately made progress and Joanna, the water hint is working for me, ice cold water with lemon slice and about 1 thin slices of cucumber. I drank more than I have in quite some time. So I hope all of you are well and on track, if your not,just get back on it. To our success

No More Pop

Well today it was a hot day and my legs swelled up and I thought, why they have not hurt for almost 3 weeks. The lights went on and you know what no more pop for me. Back to water again. So no more fun and games mr. pop your outa here...and no I did not drink it! Have a great day and a fabulous weekend.

ok cinner water, water, water, out with the pop, in with the water. It will take one day and I will feel better. I will get this, it is just not yet a sucess. Soon, today!

Better Days!

It's a New Day, I Shall Be Ever So Good! Until September 1, Weigh In. Be well!

What's A little Cake

Well I have to be honest, I have not done well for two days, why well lets blame my houseguests, no I am kidding, why is it so easily to fall into our old ways, cake, ice cream, etc, when in reality I had a fridge full of fruits and vegetables! so they left and well once again I am back on track. I don't want this to be a blog about my failures...so I am letting it go and just keep going. Summer is over, no more cake! That's all I have for today, I am played out from my visit. The above cake is actually made out of towels, toilet paper and ribbons! Won't be too tasty so it should be safe today. Take care, keeep your chin up and I will keep all four of mine up as well. lol. Have a great day.

Great, So SO & BAD

Okay so how did I do? Let me just say it was not as good as I should have, but better than before. Now did I figure out why, a little stressed about my company coming...not a good enough reason...but I know that is why , I just had to get things done, had a quick grab the wrong easy food. So in the ams after my company leaves I have to get my meals ready for the whole day so I can keep doing what is working. We did walk the dogs today, they were pleases as punch that I actually could go a little further than before. So I do know I am going in the right direction. Last week I had a pair of Capris I could not wear, and on Friday they fit me. So I had lost about an inch and a half on my waist just in a week. Note to self...get it together with the water. I carry one around with me all day. Very seldom do I drink from it. No logic there. I will try to post over the next couple of days. I have company from out of town, so very excited about their visit. I know better than to make the wrong choices. And it is not a free for all just because I have company right! All I can do is my best and water,water,water. I hope you are all well and doing great in any of your lifestyle changes or goals.

Wheres The Bunny

Well I have to report that I am fasting as I have to have some tests done in the morning. Lucky me, I can't sleep because I am hungry. I though I had eaten enough at supper...But I see now I really should have had more salad, even though I am feeling a little like a rabbit these days what with all the vegetables I have been eating. I will make good choices when I get back home tommorrow, because sometimes when I am overhungry I will just grab the first thing. Good thing I have thrown out all chips, chocolate bars, etc. I will be making a salad, some protein and one slice of brown toast for croutons. It is good to have a plan! Have a great day.

Get Your Body Movin...Head onto the Higway!

Today I am having trouble uploading pictures with blogger, so after various attempts, I decided we would just have to wing it today. I excersised this am, The sun is shining and it is a beautiful day and I am in a wonderful frame of mind today. After I am done this I am going to spend the morning outside drawing or reading. See we are so lucky to have choices in our lives and I am feeling so much in control with this lifestyle change. I have the choice to make it work or not, same with the exercising, and with the mind as far as positive or negative go. What I have found that is working for me is the importance of eating a healthy breakfast. I never used to but then I made up for it in the evening. I remember I heard once That with no breakfast was like driving a car with no fuel. The body needs fuel to get going and I can already start to notice the difference. Little by little I like a tortoise is slowing making my moove towards a better quality of life. That's it for today. Hope your day is great!Live well. note to self find out who played that song, !

ROYGBIV

What a very strange day today, it absolutely poured this evening, very dark, then the sun came out and it was still raining. My husband and I went out in the rain to see if we could spot a rainbow...none to be found, there is a slough in my back lane as there is a low spot there, I think the city will have to come fix it. It smelt so fresh outside, still sprinkling and all I have for color is this picture. I was very tired today, did too much yesterday! Now I feel refreshed after the rain!
Surprising what a little water can do for you. My dilema has been trying to drink 8 glasses a day, I am really starting to notice a difference. No troubles with swollen feet for almost 3 weeks, I think my skin even looks a little better, maybe its dark and I can't see well, but let's put it this way I feel better and always around 3 weeks is when I sabatoge myself...but not this time! I am going to be a no show just like the rainbow! Today was a good day!

Walk the Walk,...

Photo is courtesy of FreeFoto.com

How does the saying go, if your going to talk the talk, then you gotta walk the walk. I don/t know why I have never enjoyed walking, Once I am out there, no problem,,,but man sometimes to make myself get out there is very hard. When I say I am tired, it means that I will be lucky sometimes to get across a room. Mornings are always best for me. After 1 it will not happen, so I am really trying hard with this first thing in the morning. So if your here and I am not around, well I will be out walking the walk. Have a great day...Note to self, take waterbottle due to the heat. one foot in front of the other!

It's All How YOU See Things

Challenges can be stepping stones or stumbling blocks. It is just a matter of how you view them.
Author:unknown I am just going to stay on course, Today the water is fine!

Two Doors!

Life is all about choices, which door to go through, what path to take, what happens if you go through the wrong door, but wow if you choose the right one. Right now I am choosing the door for a better lifestyle, so I have more energy. So I can either make healthy choices or not. I am the one with the power! This is one of my favorite pictures. It reminds me of life and choices, and changes, of goodbyes and hellos. You have to see the beauty in all things and in ourselves. I hope you and I make the right choices today! Have a great Sunday.

Brighter Days!

I see this picture and have to laugh. It is from last year, Someehow or other in about 95% of my photos I end up having a power line in them. And there at the bottom, sure enough! So today was results day and I am glad to say that since August 1, I am down 8 lbs. The dance of joy, and I have cheated a few days, but overall the choices I have made are good ones. I believe the extra water is a big thing...and what I notice is just a bit easier for me to get around, a bit more uumph in my step. So this should keep me motivated to keep up the good work, By having this blog it keeps me accountable and it is right there in my face. I can't ignore it until tommorrow. So I am very pleased, and well forward and onward to brighter days! Have not had any creamer in my coffee, cut back on my bread intake, more fruits and vegs, and a little morning exercise. I am a happy girl.

The Importance of Exercise!

So I promised a friend of mine yesterday that before I get on the computer in the morning I would do some exercise. Yipee I did, I would like to imform you that the above picture is not of me, I have an ankle bigger than that. I did find the picture on the web I believe so do not want to take credit for it. I would also like to know how they can make it look so graceful and easy! Anyway I did about 25 minutes of exercising and both my dogs came and sat in fromt of mean with their inquisitive eyes wondering, I am sure thinking, hey whats this, she never did this before! Anyway they got bored with it pretty quick when they realized that there were no treats involved. So I feel good, I have James Brown running around in my head! And I am drinking my water. Thanks Holly for getting me started with this. I greatly appreciate your help, and love our little support system. Until tommorrow.

Quit Clowning Around!

I really do have to Quit clowning Around, I know I am doing okay, but not super good like I could if I was going great guns at it. It seems like I am going to have to schedule in some time for exercise for first thing in the am. What I am finding is that I can get on here and easily lose a few hours of my day, if not more, Usually after a couple of hours I need to lay down because of my headaches as well as some of the side effects of the Cataplexy. So realisticlly it just will not get done if I don't do it in the am. So I have decided when I get up in the am tommorrow, first thing for me is to do my Tai Chi., it limbers me up, is not too hard on my knees. Looks simple enough, but yet you do still get a good workout from it. Now I am not graceful like others that I have seen doing it...... I used to go to the park and there was a group that would do it outdoors, I would watch from one of the picnic tables and really just marvel at how graceful they were. It was as if time was standing still and I was just drawn to them, all syncronized in thier motions, breathing, bending, lunging, Out with the Old Chi, In With the New. Tai Chi also has a very calming effect. So that is my new goal in the am, I am going to weigh myself on the 15th to see if this has been working on not! So just like in a Circus, I am really trying to get my act together and decided if I was going to do this, I may as well have fun with my blog about it, thus the reason I changed to the clowns. The clowns I like are Usually Much Happier,,so I hope the first one does not scare you. Lord Love A duck, now I have that circus tune buzzing around in my head, da,da,da,da,da. Every afternoon at 4 o'clock the ice cream truck goes by, it reminds me of the circus too. I wonder how much money they make per day!..I Will never know as I would probably eat the profits....that was the old me....! Be gone with you,Chocolate Ice Cream! Welcome Water and more Water. ..all kidding aside my legs have not been swollen since I started drinking my eight glasses a day. Take Care, Be Well to Yourself.

Dancing to Bob Marley

Today I decided the word of the day is Motion. I have to force myself to do some walking or some form of exercise today other than my normal moving around. I must have a very low metabalism. Thats my goal for the day, Move, maybe later I will put on Bob Marley and dance, and I will dance like it is my last one...I guess there could be some shakin going on at my house, reminds me of a little fellow whom was with his Mom in a clothing store I worked at. The little boy was watching me, everywhere I went, I could feel him watching, finally he said, "You shake just like Elmo", I think my heart skipped a beat. Out of the mouth of a child. Luckily Elmo was so darn cute, or I could have been highly offended! Kidding it would take way more than that...So I leave you with the vision of Elmo dancing to Bob Marley later today in my living room...Maybe the Muppetts will show up too, Have a great day!

Not Cake

Well I have to say I was doing swimmingly well, until someone left birthday cake in the house. So I had done really well for 9 days, and today I let myself down and ate it for breakfast....why do I let myself fall into bad habits. I am writing to remind myself that I don't have to wreck the rest of the day. So I am not going to beat myself up about it, I am responsible for myself, so I am drinking water, water, water, and off to go for a walk...Note to self....No more cake allowed in the house. Take care, I hope all is well with you today.

I am so excited , that I just can't hide it....Yesterday I went to the dog park with both of my dogs. My sister in law picks us up and away we go! What I noticed is how much easier it was this week than last for me to walk. Even though I had to stop at the benches for a rest I was able to go almost twice as far. It felt so good. I have not been able to do that for so long. So this little headway that I have made so far is like a miracle to me! It has been so hard being so limited as to what I can do. Did I hurt after my walk? Yes, Was I extremely tired? yes, but I had a walk in my step that I have not felt for awhile. I am going to step on the scale on the 15th, but I do know I am doing the right thing, making better choices, smaller portions, water...As a matter of fact I am going to ride my new hotpink bicycle and see how I do with that, first I want to go buy a helmut, ...so I can look cool like the other kids....Not! Life Is Good!

Rock On

Well one thing I have decided is that I have to keep myself busy so that I am not tempted to find something to munch on. A few years ago I got into carving rocks and I like the look of just the black on the rock. This is one that I did a few years ago. So i think I will dig up my dremel tomorrow to use on the weekend when my husband is home...nothing like having someone to supervise me. I had an excellent day for making the right choices and finally managed 8 glasses of water...it is getting easier. Have a great day and remember persevere and we will meet our goal.

Getting With The Program

Hello, This is a picture of one of my newphews trying to eat his supper at my house. I feel like those dogs...please, puhlease, please just another bite. Come on you know you wanna, come on. puhleeze...OK so the fun and games are over. I actually did pretty good today but I am starting to have cravings and I might have been a little bit grumpy today. I guess it is a good thing I am by myself, because I can only argue so much and then one of us will win. That is the Me or I, anyway I behaved myself. At my Doctors yesterday he talked to me about sending me to this weight Smart program through the Health System here. He did not know how long the wait would be , so I told him yes I would sign up for it. I figure it won't hurt right and maybe it would do me good. I know people have to take this before they have anything like gastric bypass or lapband procedure. Now I am not going to do that as I am sure I can do this on my own. So I am drinking water and eating salads and you know it has been only 5 days but I am already feeling a bit better. I have hurt my back, not sure what I did and no I did not overdo it on any exercises as I have started with the walking for now...One day I will run. Take care.

Two Nasty Girls

Well I hope everyone is doing okay and had a healthy day. I was pleased with myself today, I made some very healthy choices, portion control was awesome, a little short on the water. Man oh man, that is a tough one for me, I know that if I can get in the habit with it , I will start to crave it. I had my physical today and weighed exactly what I did two years ago. So He was pleased that it had not gone up and yes so was I, however not pleased it had not gone down....But how can something go down if you have not been working on it....Maybe it's one of those miracles that i want to happen overnight! SO anyway everything went well, The day had cooled off so my feet actually had ankles today....when it's really hot, let me put it this way I have tree trunks with round balls of dough for toes. This is freeing to tell it like it is....The more comfortable I get with my body the more real I can get with myself.Picture me with hand on my hip saying Large and in Charge baby! Today I got into the elevator, my husband had just gone to the post office. I told hin dont worry about me I will be fine. There was an older lady, 2 girls that I swear were as high as a kite, and when I stepped on they started laughing and giggling and whispering. There was a young guy with them and he was embarased...So when the older lady and I got off, I turned to the girls and said, Ladies that was really quite rude, and the one said no not really! I then said well ladies have a great day and continue on bringing joy to others around you. I know it hit home for just a moment.'
If as children we had ever veen rude to anyone we would of had the lecture from my parents....anyway enoough time spent today on them! So I will be back on track tomorrow. Have a great day. Until tomorrow.p.s. I can not get any pic to post tonight. wait till you see then on Thursday.

Let Your Spirit Soar

This picture is of Hilda from somewhere areound the 1920s if I recall correctly. I found it on the net awhile ago and can not remember the site so I am not claiming this as my own...I think this picture says it all for me...I want to feel good, I want to run in the fields and fly a kite, I want to have curves....I know the truth, there is not a pencil thin Cindy inside of me. I don't want that for me. All I want is to be able to do....You might be wondering what on earth I am talking about, I want to do everything I have not done for six years. I believe I am in the best time of my life. Obviously I don't give a darn what anyone thinks of me or I would not have put my weight on my post. I think I got scared when I saw my Dad die this past May and I realized that I better take care of myself. I was grieving for my Dad and that gave me all the more reason to eat...For what , I could not bring him back. Then I wwould have a good day and well the weather was hot, good reason to barbecue, and on and on it goes. So this blog so far is keeping me on track, going forward, and one day I am going to soar. I already have the kite. I am posting this early as I have a physical tomorrow. Such fun, not...I have had my fill of doctors enough to last me a lifetime...This is how it will go down. Weigh me, lecture me, take bloodpressure, go for bloodwork, xrays etc. I guess I am grateful I have a doctor. About a month ago a couple of the busiest medicentres were closed due to shortage of doctors...But that is a whole other story for another day. When I start to feel better I am going to dye my hair red...always had more fun as a red head....but I will never be in a swimsuit like Hildas!

Lord Love A Duck!

Good Morning, Well I posted one of my favorite pictures of myself. That was last summer, drum roll please, at 275 lbs. I can't believe it. Today I found my scale, so being in a great mood and knowing it was not going to be good...I slowly stepped on it, do you ever realize you go slower thinking you wont weigh as much...So first it was like, step away from the scale and take all your friends with you....No,no,no, I am not going to think that way! So instead I could hear me thinking, LORD love a Duck...My Mom always used to say it. Odd I would think of it today! So I could keep rambling, but I have to be real with myself and just own it. 295, not bad if I were 8 feet tall, but I am only 5 feet three, and as you age you get shorter so probably
five feet two....I was going to say I always took care of myself, but obviously not, what I meant was always fixed up, makeup on, nails done, looking my best...Always the short, round, cute one. I have always been happy, had boyfriends, on my second marriage, outgoing,lots of friends and acquaintances, coached ball 7 years ago, played all the high school sports...and here I am today where almost every physical activity is an effort. Part of that is my illness, my doctor said maybe three quarters of it. I know if I lost some weight I would have more energy, how can you not right! So it is only getting better from here. I will not let this number discourage me or ruin my day....off to get my water, trying for eight today! I hope this finds you all well and motivated!Until again.

Get off the couch!

Check this out, this picture is evidence of a specific problem in my house. No it is not the fact that both my pets are mooches, okay that is a story for another day, but did you notice where I was eating. On the couch, in the livingroom, in front of the T.V. I admit that I am guilty. Very seldom do my husband and I eat at the table inside. Usually we sit out on the patio in the summer and eat together out there. I have to admit in the winter, well we just plop ourselves down,,,hey it is our home, we can do what we want, right? Wrong, if we could I would not be in the situation that I am in. As for my husband, tall,thin,lanky, sport lover, high metabolism, can eat whatever he wants and it all comes straight to me. He always says, "I don't understand, you don't eat very much, honey just do the best you can!He is a dear, but the fact is that I have been eating too much for someone that only has any level of physical endurance for approximately 1 to 2 hours in the morning, and I usually am only up for about 3 hours before I have to lay down due to my Cataplexy. I am not making excuses any more. Today I did fairly well with the eating, the physical work was weedwacking around my flower beds...about 5 minutes, rest, 5 minutes, rest....but I am taking this to a new level which is that of being consistant everyday. I have a vision of whats at the end, energy, joy in not watching life pass you by from the sidelines....I think I have said enough today.