NYC Trip

I did talk to my X yesterday and I think he is going to go get our daughter in NYC. I was VERY nervous with all the ice and snow, as well as driving in NYC (she lives right by Manhattan). So, I will find out today for sure but he sounded very positive about doing this. As much as I would love to go get my daughter, the driving was really stressing me out.

I can remember when my children were little and we would declare it summer for a day in the middle of winter. I would put towels all over our living room floor (wood), bring in their little pool and put some water in it. We would play Jimmy Buffett, pack a lunch and pretend it was summer. The kids would run around in their bathing suits and have a great time. We forgot about cleaning the house, everything. except having fun @ the "beach".

I think I need an adult version of this. Idea's are running through my mind...don't worry, I will pack a healthy lunch! LOL. Doesn't that sound like fun? Especially with all the icy/snowy conditions.

Things are moving in a better direction. I have decided that I need more structure with my eating so I am going to join WW, the low carb thing is really great but I struggle with it. WW is something that does work for me, though I wish they weren't so expensive. I won;t be able to join for a couple weeks but that's ok, I will kick start my exercising, eat healthy, and join when I can.

Have a lot to do today; homework, cleaning, laundry, and getting ready for my daughter to arrive.

Have a wonderful day!

Award

I received this award from Lanie  and you can find her @ http://healthyschmealthy.blogspot.com/

Here are the rules!

Post and link back to the person who awarded you this award. Done! See above.


Share 7 things about yourself 

1. The commercials about abused animals break my heart

2. I struggle with depression/anxiety, especially after having my thyroid

    removed

3. I am currently unemployed but trying to keep busy going to school for my

    A.S. in Paralegal Studies. I am really enjoying school and am doing well.

4. I love to read

5. I have 2 wonderful adult children, I wish them the best

6. I come from a very large family, the older I get the more I realize how

    dysfunctional it is/was

7. I am trying hard to work on myself so I can truly enjoy the last half of my

    life

Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers (or as many as you can). Since I am new to this, I have a couple people I would like to award, these are people I have been following recently:

1. Natalia - http://nmburlesonweightloss.blogspot.com/

2. Ellen - http://www.fatgirlwearingthin.com/    This is an amazing blog!

3. Kristen - http://thefatchickweigh.blogspot.com/

4. Michele - http://www.healthycultivations.com/

5. Michele - http://ruminationsasiuncoverthewomanwithin.blogspot.com/

Contact the bloggers and tell them they won.

Lanie, I really appreciate this, I can't tell you how much I needed it right now! Thank you

U Turn

Wow, it's been awhile since I have posted and I have to say I haven't been exercising OR watching what I am eating either. Just a yucky time. Updates: I did not get the job, which turned out to be ok, because it  was more of a quality manager position AND because the company is interested in me for other positions. So, while I wanted to be the one picked (don't we all) I believe there is a reason why I wasn't chosen. I should know more in the next month or so...hmm is some TRYING to teach me patience at my age???? Thanks to all of you for being so encouraging and supportive.

My daughter has been going through quite a bit and I am driving to NYC to pick her up next Thursday after class. Hopefully we can load up her things and be back by Friday evening.

What I have learned recently:

• That I let stress (like the job) affect me, my diet, and the routines I have established. Yes, I am an emotional eater
• When my children decide they need me right at that moment, I drop everything else important to me. Yes, my children are important but not always at the moment they determine
• That I need to make sure I spend some of my time on the weekend preparing for the week ahead. Starting school really threw me for a loop and school was a good thing....I need to be prepared!!

So, while it hasn't been a very good week for me diet/exercise wise, I have to look at this as a learning experience and get right back on track and begin again. Hopefully this time I will have better tools when life throws some curves......

This week I restart my sit ups, squats and yoga and the scale!

Job Interview

I have a job interview today ~ after being off work for just over a year! I am trying so HARD to remain calm and not get so nervous (and eat). I keep trying to think that I just need to do the best that I can and leave the rest to Him. If I don;t get it, I will continue to go to school F/T. BUT, if I get the job I can go to school P/T while working.

I plan on doing some relaxing techniques before hand. Keep me in your prayers that this goes well!

Wrong Turn

Made a wrong turn this week as school started, thought I was better prepared than I apparently was. Anyway, I am getting back on track and will post more later.......

Cracket Pot

A friend sent me this in an email and I wanted to share it. It goes along with some of the discussion's we have had here...I hope you enjoy it.

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do. 

After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. 'I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.' The old woman smiled, 'Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.'

Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

So, to all of my "cracked pot” friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!

Uodate

A little frustrated that I am not making as much progress as I would like to in losing weight....I know...I always want things "right now"!. I'm kinda stuck on the same number. I have to say my exercising is coming along just fine. The sit ups and squats are going well, and I don;t even hurt as bad after the squats! I am still doing my yoga and am throwing in some Wii jogging for fun.

Started reading the book "She's Come Undone", have always wanted to read it and finally started. I am reserving judgement.

School starts tomorrow, excited and nervous. Gotta run, more later....

Weight fluctuation

Lately I have had a difficult time sleeping, which doesn't really bother a reader, I just get to read more. LOL But, I have been waking up really, really early and while I am up I weigh myself, then after I go to bed for a few hrs and wake up again, I weigh myself and it has gone up 3-4 lbs.....yes, I know I am not supposed to weigh myself but after having a good week I have been excited! This change in weight is confusing. Am I gaining weight while I sleep?????? OMG, I'll turn into an insomniac! I can see it fluctuating a Pound or two but 3-4? Confusing.

Anyway, the new semester starts on Monday. I am taking criminal law, civil law, family law, and law office technology. I am excited for the semester to start. I was hoping to have found at least a part time job by the time school started but I didn't. I am still trying....

Still having issues with the computer connection...

Have a wonderful weekend. 

Challenge of One

When I began the Challenge of One I had just gained a few lbs from the holiday. When I decided to join the challenge of one I decided to really make a commitment to being healthier and losing weight. The fact that I can no longer afford cable TV helps greatly. I have been doing my Wii, sit ups, and squats much more regularly. I have also been walking Kodi regularly.

Anyway, in about a week I have lost 5 lbs. I know this isn't going to happen each week but I am VERY happy. After researching I had decided on a low carb / GI diet because of my health issues. These first few weeks I am following South Beach to get accustomed to low carbs and will slowly introduce better carbs based on SB and GI.

I have been really trying to find a job...please keep your fingers crossed. With limited internet access I will be checking in when I can....
 

Hate-Loss Challenge

Since I am having computer issues I wanted to make sure that I posted my weekly update in case I wasn't on a computer tomorrow. I started the week with a rating of difficulty of 7-8 and could only compliment on attributes I possess such as strong. I looked up other words to help me and tried to get used to saying nice, positive things about myself...I didn't think it would be this difficult. I ended the week with pleasing (about my smile) and better about my commitment to my overall health.

I didn't think it would be as difficult as it was so I decided to read some inspirational books while doing this challenge, hoping it will become easier for me to see myself in a positive light.

Broke but not broken....

If anyone really thinks that people enjoy being unemployed, we need to talk! Unemployment messed up again and is withholding my weekly money. I will run down tomorrow and hope I can get this resolved so I can pay rent....UGH. I am wondering if this is another test? Well, I did get my 30 min walk with kodi done, I did my squats and sit ups AND even improved my reps on each one! With the stress I really want to eat but am trying not to. Not as easy task.

Money is tight right now so I was not able to go visit my Mom in the nursing home. I was able to get a smaller dose of my prescription which helped a little. What is the saying; that which doesn't destroy you will only make you stronger? Well, i am going to be so strong when this is over LOL.

I am trying to stay in a positive mood, the walk with Kodi helped. I have a list of places to submit my resume to and have made copies of my resume. I need to complete my "generic" cover letter. What I plan on doing is apply to the jobs then go visit each place and physically hand them a resume and cover letter. Wish me luck!

I am bound and determined that 2011 will be better than 2010. Staying on track with losing weight & getting healthier will help tremendously. In the spring there are some walking groups that I would like to check out, it may be a great way to start meeting some people here.

School starts in a week and I am excited to get going. It's going to be a good semester....

Another Hurdle!

Mexican food is one of my downfalls. My friend and I went to a movie and to get a bite to eat. At the movies I did NOT get any popcorn just a diet soda. After the movie the only place we found that sounded half way decent was a Mexican food restaurant. This was REALLY hard for me but I only ate 5-10 chips and ordered a hamburger, though I did not eat the bun. Instead of a side of french fries I got a side salad.. I have to admit that a part of me really wanted the chips & salsa and all the "good" things I usually get. BUT, a bigger part of me was so pleased with myself for being mindful all evening. I believe this was the 1st movie I have even gone too where I DID NOT order popcorn, and yes, I survived!! LOL

While I've been a little lazy today I am still on track with my food, I still need to take Kodi for a walk, do my Wii yoga and I was thinking about some boxing...get rid of some aggression???

I just wanted to share my evening of facing 2 very difficult tasks ~ a movie and a Mexican food restaurant, and feeling good about my decisions....I am looking forward to my weigh in on Wednesday.

As for Hate-Loss Challenge, I am trying to remember that words are a reflection of our thoughts, looked up some words to get inspired when I was having difficulty thinking of many, here are some that others may like: adventurous, amazing, artistic, attractive, authentic (I like this one), bighearted, brave, bright, calm, charitable, clever, courageous, creative, faithful, friendly, helpful, intelligent, kind, proud, optimistic, trust, and wonderful. I found it easier to comment on some attribute of my personality instead of a compliment on my body. I guess its a process....but a very worthwhile one!

Hate-Loss Challenge

Heard of this from a friend, definitely worth checking out @ Fat Girl Wearing Thin, I decided I was in...

So excited for 2011

Woke up this morning and weighed myself because I forgot yesterday. I thought with almost a 5 lb weight loss I would be in the 20's for my BMI, but no I am not. I thought I had reached it previously but must have done something wrong when entering the weight. Anyway, I will be excited when I get in the 20's for my BMI.

My thighs are killing me from my squats. While it's painful to sit down it's even harder to get up. If you hear of a woman in Indiana getting stuck on her toilet you know who is it.

It's another warm day for us so I am taking Kodi for a long walk, stretches and yoga today.

I am excited about this new year. My big challenges last year were quitting smoking in April, starting college after being laid off, being unemployed and broke, and starting my route to healthy. The great things is that I am still a non smoker, I may not have found a job YET but I am on the deans list, and I have started some positive steps towards being healthy. These steps included this blog, my diet, exercising, trying to live more organized, getting rid of the negative in my life (even if it means being lonely for awhile), and trying to be more positive. They were some difficult buy necessary steps.

This year (2011) I will continue to become healthier (spirit, mind, body) by continuing to watch what I eat, continue to exercise and blog. Being more positive and patient with others and myself. I WILL FIND A JOB =) and I will continue to do well in college. I want to reach my ideal weight by my 52 birthday in July.