Family Support

I know that I spoke of my husband in an earlier post. We have been married for over 25 years now and our relationship is getting better than ever. He is also with me on this journey and has taken to eating healthy in a big way. He has lost almost 15 pounds and I am so proud of him! He walks almost every night ( something I have a hard time doing when it is so cold out. I know, another excuse. I'm working on it). He is also making sure not to tempt me into bad behavior and for that, I really love him!!
My sons are also supporting this journey. They never knew their grandpa as he died before they were born. But, they do know how much I miss him and do not want to have me taken away before my time.

Good Morning!

I feel about 100% better. Yeah! Thank goodness for modern drugs. I had a great weekend and now am actually looking forward to a new week. I know, that sounds so Pollyanish, but after having so little energy for most of last week, feeling this good seems so marvelous.
I had one of those epiphany moments yesterday. I was thinking about how I have chosen this new lifestyle and almost started to feel sorry for myself and then, I though about living a long and useful life as a healthy, balanced human and my thoughts changed. Drastically! I do not want to die in my 60's and I will do anything and everything it takes to live. I lost my Dad when he was 61 and I will not put my family thru that. Not if it is in my control. And it is.

My other life

I live in a fantasy world. I really do. Actually, I am a 14th century English maiden that is from mid-England. My name is Katharine and I have the clothes to prove it! What I really do is play in the medieval group known as the Society for Creative Anachronism. I have been doing this for about 5 years and I love it! I have made so many new friends and many that I consider very close. And, my husband and I get to go camping together during the summer. It is a lot of fun. I love living out my "lust in the dust" fantasies and I get treated like a lady. Who could ask for anything more?

It's Cold here but...

Not as cold as it is in Western New York. Sorry Julie, but the case for me moving into the house across the street just got weaker! I grew up in Michigan, remember? And I can still feel the cold in my bones.
Well, being sick has not caused me to lose a great deal of weight this week. I am down 1.2 pounds, for a total of 11.2. I am NOT complaining. I didn't eat as much as I should have but I stayed on program and wrote everything down, so it is what it is. I am just happy to be feeling better. Tonight, I start back into walking, but just an easy few minutes, cause I am still not a 100%. I am not willing to kill myself for the big bang at the scales. One of the things that I have decided on is not to let the scales rule my life anymore. I have lived that way for too long. I want to be balanced in my life and live it to the fullest. The scale is just another tool. If I focus so much on how much I lose, I will fail to enjoy my life. Any fool can lose weight if they do nothing but count calories. I want to have enjoyed my life and not just be a skinny body in a box at the end.

Finally Feeling Human

I am finally feeling like I belong in this world. The antibiotics are kicking in and my face is not nearly as swollen. My jaw still aches some and is a little stiff, but overall, getting better.
I doubt if I will lose any weight tomorrow. Not because I have been eating poor choices but that I haven't been eating enough! I know, sounds like an oxymoron, but it is true. If you do not feed your body enough, it will shut down and go into starvation mode. I think I may even have gained some, because I have just been sitting around doing nothing. No PT, no walking, just resting. Oh well, this is also a part of living better. Life happens and we cannot agonize over it. I kept my food journal and I kept on plan, so it will all come off in the end! My body needed to rest and for once, in a very long time, I listened to my body. That, in and of itself, is a great leap forward.

Feeling a little better

I don't have the mumps but I do have an infection that is related to something going on in my teeth! And of course, the dentist office was closed yesterday so I have been at home, waiting for today to try and get in. The doctor at the clinic did give me some antibiotics and I have seen an improvement in the swelling, so that is a good thing.
All this has had an interesting affect on my eating. I only wanted soup yesterday, so I made another big pot of veggie soup to eat and ended up having a small bowl yesterday. Just not hungry. But, I did put in some barley and fat free cheese, which made the soup thick and rich, which was a good thing and helped me to feel all warm and cozy. I am trying some new grains in my eating, because I have read that fiber is more filling and a better souce of fuel for my body. I am all about filling up on healthy stuff.

Feeling blue

No, really I am ill today. It started yesterday afternoon at work and now, I am home, not going in today. The whole left side of my face and jaw is swollen! I thought it might be the mumps but it is only on one side and I do not think I am running a fever. I have a doctor's appointment at 10:45 this morning, so hopefully I will get an answer. I had a bowl of veggie soup yesterday for dinner and went to bed at 7. It's not like I feel horrible, just tired and icky.Someone told me it may just be an infection related to a viral thing. If so, there is not a lot I can do for it other than keep pushing fluids and stay warm. I have a paper due for my online course today, so I will finish it and get it posted before I go back to bed. Must maintain my school status ya know?!

Selling thin

Have you noticed how many commercials there are for diets, diet products, get thin quick stuff? It is obvious a big income business or advertisers would not be bothering with it. But, the ads come right next to ads for fast food eats. And these ads are gross! I hate to see someone gulping down french fries like they were the last food available on earth. And people eating the residue off of paper wrappings makes me ill. There has to be a better way to market these things. I just have to wonder what consumer these are aimed at? Listen up ad agencies; I will not eat at your restaurant and neither will my firneds because you make the food look so unappetizing!! I know in the grand scheme of things, this isn't much, but it is to me.

I didn't go to the gym. I slept in and that means that I will be going this afternoon, after work. No more excuses, just do it!

My 10 greatest songs list

Okay my friend, here is my list of 10 greatest songs, according to Laura:

1) The Marine's Hymn - Makes me feel all goosebumpy and proud
2) Beethoven's 5th - sorry, can't beat the classics!
3) Turn the Page - Bob Seeger - again, can't beat the classics :)
4) Black Water - The Doobie Brothers
5) I Believe in You - Il Divo
6) You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban version
7) Amazing Grace - Anybody's version
8) Notre Dame Fight Song - Hey, no rules here
9) Hotel California - The Eagles
10) Anything by the Beatles

My music list is very eclectic, but that's okay. I am a child of the 70's and we are known for a wide range of thoughts. I have a lot more favorites and my list might change from day to day, but the first 3 on the list will always stay the same. Being a former Marine, the song always makes me stand and be proud. That is why my work out music contains running chants from the US Marine Corps women Marines. I get so motivated when I put on my MP3 player with these chants playing. And at 250+ pounds, I can still get my feet to pound out a short running stint when I get going. Of course, I don't run very far, but hey, I am running! Hoo-Rah! And, my goal for the end of 2007 is to run in the New Year 5k run at Camp Lejeune. I will do it!

Imade it to 10!

I lost 1.2 pounds last week and I made it to 10 pounds gone! Yeah me! I feel so much confidence that I can do this, because I was out of town last weekend and the pickings were not the greatest. I even went to a Mexican restaurant for lunch on Sunday, ate well, and still lost. I am happy because I can be normal and eat well. I am not on a diet, but a new lifestyle.

I don't think I mentioned that my husband is also on Weight Watchers now. He has lost 8.8 in 2 weeks. I am proud of him and it makes it so much easier to be on program, cuz he now understands what I am doing. He is on core which I equate to an Atkins like plan. He eats mainly lean meats and veggies. Any starches that he eats he counts as points. I love him dearly because he has gone thru our pantry and pretty much labeled the point values on everything for us. It makes it so much easier and convenient to know before you eat something how many points it will cost.

I am going to start going to the gym this Monday. I figure that the only time I can fit a workout in is early in the morning, like 5:00 am. I know, sounds like a nightmare, but I want to make exercise a habit and I really detest working out after work. I just want to go home. So, I will get up, put on my gear, go to the gym, work out and then come home to eat and get ready for work. We'll see how this works out.

It's Friday

Friday is my weigh in day. Now, in the past, that would have scared the heck out of me, but I am so much calmer now. And yes, it was a good weigh in this morning, as I lost 1.2 pounds, making it to my second 5 pound goal. Workin on 5, dontcha' know? So, now, I have 5 pounds to lose. Doesn't seem like much and I will do it. I have realistic goals in that I am trying not to think about when this will happen, only that it will happen.
It is Friday and the weather is still rainy and cold. For North Caroliona, that is not a normal thing. It is normally very pleasant here ( unless it is in the middle of summer, then it is just hot and humid) but overall, not a bad place to live, climate wise. Being a Northerner by birth, it has taken me some time to get used to the climate in the South. I must admit, I miss my snow and I especially miss the colors of Fall, my favorite season. And yes, I would love to live across the street from my bestest friend ever, Julie, but that is still a dream for the future. Don't give up hope, I may show up on your doorstep one day and ask to watch a movie and maybe share a cuppa.
It's Friday and I have a weekend to look forward to. Don't we all. Happy Friday!

It's Raining and it's Cold

Now, that title sounds a bit whiney but it is not meant to be. Our weather here is not bad compared to other places and I really do not want to complain. We were supposed to have ice, so rain is a good thing.
Thanks to those who have already responded and commented on my blog. Garsh, I didn't realize that there were so many neat people out there that cared about a stranger! Thanks folks, you have made my day.
As I have stated, this is about the millionth time I have started and stopped a diet. My life has always been a battle with weight. I remember being on some type of diet when I was about 8 and diet pills were all the rage. Thankfully, my mom decided that controlling food was better than medicating me, but it didn't work. It was just controlling and it made me sneak eat. You know, hiding what I was eating from my folks, maybe waiting until I got to school to eat something sinful in the cafeteria ( Oh, those cinnamon rolls! I can still taste them). I bounced up and down with my weight and always felt like the "fat girlfriend" to all my skinny friends. You know, the one who couldn't wear all the cool clothes but hey, I didn't care, right?! I provided comic relief.
Back in the late 70's, I graduated from college and decided that what I wanted to do was get out of Michigan and see the world. How could I do that, you ask? Well, my crazy brain said "join the military!" So, I decided to join the Marine Corps! Yup, the Marine Corps. Of course, they didn't want an overweight (by about 75 pounds) college graduate, so I went back to Weight Watchers. 75 and 1/2 pounds later, I was in! And the real fight began. The Marine Corps will stay on you about your weight every day. And, in Officer's Candidate School ( the equivalent to boot camp) I was weighed pretty much every day! Horrors!!! But, I did okay. To make a long story longer, I survived enough to make it through 3 years. Although I loved the Corps ( and still do) I couldn't take the constant focus on my weight. I married me a Marine though, and as the story goes, "lived happily ever after". More on this journey in later issues. Thanks for staying with me during this journey.

Good Morning

Good Morning! Another busy day ahead for me and I find that these kind of days present specific challenges for me. I have to plan very carefully to ensure that I have enough to eat during the day and that I not get caught without something to eat. This is what has caused problems in the past. I get so hungry that I eat asnything that is available. This is bad! I am trying not to be so focused on what I eat though. It is a delicate balance for me.

Presenting my life on-line is very interesting. I know that there are many folks out there that are blogging their weight loss efforts and this is not a novel concept. But, it is for me. I have a few close friends that I have always counted on to provide support but I think that I am looking for a broader base to gain support and encouragement. Weight Watchers offers a lot of in-house support and great ideas, but somehow, I think I need validation. Strange concept.

My blogging mentor, Julie, has already seen my blog and that was a suprise, as I only started yesterday. But, a great suprise! I can only hope to make my entries as interesting as hers.

The battle begins

Yes, this is the last battle I plan to fight in this war. I have fought the weight lose battle for so many years that I just don't ever remember not being on a diet. Now, I am stepping off of the yo-yo cycle. This is my last yo folks! I have it in my brain and in my heart that I need to be healthy and "dieting" doesn't do it. What does do it is a lifestyle change and I have gon back to Weight Watchers to start this new concept. My weight started at 267.8 and so far, over 2 weeks, I have lost 8.8 pounds. I will take this thing 5 pounds at a time, cuz anyone can lose 5 pounds.