Week 5

Can't believe the month of January is almost over. It sure does go by fast. I feel that it has been a very successful month for me and my motivation has not lessened as the month progresses. My Mojo is still intact.

I'm not seeing that so much else where on the blog. Some folks are really struggling. Change is hard and you really need to be in the right head space to make it successful.

For week 4, I did pretty good on all my goals. I still can improve on my exercising though and Christine's 100 days is going to help me there.

I also got to Hot Yoga this week, and although my back and hip give me grief, I did the best that I could. Baby steps... small adjustments, push myself more each week to get the strength back and the range of motion opened up again. I'm going to go 2x this coming week.

I did my month end weigh-in and measurements and I am happy to report I am down 10.2 lbs, and 6.5 inches. I knew the inches were going because the belt was one notch tighter.

This week I am going to continue the momentum:

1. Drinking all my water on the weekends.
2. Exercising 6/7 days. I plan on getting on the treadmill and going to Hot Yoga 2x.
3. Start organizing my gardening plans. I am now at the acreage full time (well except I work full time) and I am going to plant a garden. I start the seedlings in my grow-op in the basement so need to get that all setup and start reading the best way to get things growing. It's been a hit and miss for me the last year or so. I need to learn to do it better.
4. Still working on organizing my life.

I am busy as usual this week at work but hope to get around to as many blogs as I can and see how everyone is doing.

I hope you are having a fantastic weekend!!

ttyl

Sandra

Why do I want to lose weight….

Question Number 1 from Christine’s 100 Day Challenge is “Why do you want to lose weight?” Thought I would share with all of you my reasons….

1. I’m tired of not feeling good about myself. I was an insecure teenager and it went into adulthood until my 40’s. Even when I weighed 135lbs I thought I was fat. Oh how wrong I was.  I want to be comfortable in my own skin. I finally have accepted that outside approval is not necessary.
2. I want to be able to get up and just walk without pain. As it is, I am bent over like an old lady tenderly taking her first 30 steps until my feet, hips and back warm up enough to not give me extreme pain. Yes, it hurts that much… Once I’m up and moving I’m fine but after sitting for while, it’s ridiculous how much it hurts. I don’t want to have this anymore….
3. I’m getting up there in age and the last thing I want is to be an inactive retiree (and in a wheel chair if I don’t get # 2 under control). I’ve still got a huge amount of life to live and I want to live it moving. And while being overweight doesn’t entirely stop me from experiencing life to its fullest, it sure helps if I have more energy to get out there and get it done.
4. I love to dress nice. For years and years I hid behind baggy frumpy clothes. Mostly black. Lots of sweats and sweat pants…. the baggy type. Now I like to wear the more form fitting clothing and including jogging pants – like LuLu lemon clothing. But when you are overweight, they either just don’t fit right or not at all. I want to look fit and healthy.
5. I’m tired of thinking about calories, what I can or cannot eat but I also realize that I must continue to make good choices natural part of my normal day to day life. If I go back to not caring what I eat, then I will get back to this weight again.  I just want to be one of those people that just eats to fuel their body and not to nurture its emotions. Enough of the mind games.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Need I say more ?

I want to be fit, healthy and happy!

S

Why not….

Christine is hosting a 100 Day Weight Loss Challenge. I thought I would join it because she is planning on triggering one question every 10 days that the participants are to answer/journal. They can either post it publicly or journal it privately. So although I am doing my own little 66 day challenge, and the Spring “Chick” Challenge, I am joining in with this one as well.

I find Chris very inspirational and have been following her story for a few years now. She writes great stuff every single day but every once in awhile she writes something that resonates with me – like someone took a cast-iron frying pan and hit me over the head. So my goal is to answer her ten questions as honestly as I can and I will choose at the time whether I am going to post it or not. I am also going to spend the next 100 days focusing on getting in more exercise.

My 66 day challenge is turning out to be 66 days alcohol free. My SCC Challenge is focusing on maintaining small goals each week, and the 100 day is going to work on my mind.

All in all I think this is a good combination.

I hope you have a FANTASTIC DAY!!

S

Look who’s growing up. She had her first puppy training class last Saturday.

Little Ms. Maggie

It's the way things are going....

Ingestible Microchip

Technology....

I hope you are all having a FANTASTIC Day!
S

Random….

This post has no rhyme or reason to it…. just stuff…

Video on YouTube I liked: I Believe

Facebook:

 

 

 

 

One way to get around in the winter

 

 

I found this at a farmers market this summer. With two dogs, melting snow, and muddy feet – this certainly is how it is at my home. Good thing I have hardwood floors but I feel like I am constantly cleaning them.

 

 

January is almost over – can you believe it? It has gone by so fast. My days are becoming the norm for me. I’m establishing new habits, new way of eating, new outlook on my life.

Bout time wouldn’t you say?

And finally, I do not like the Jenny Craig Southwestern Chicken and Rice or the Fish and Chips. So far those are the only two meals I haven’t liked.  Not bad considering..

Hope you all have a FANSTIC week!

S

Wk 3 Update & New Goals

I am darn proud of myself this past week. I did very good in eating well and not partaking of the golden stuff. When going on these business trips, where the company pays for all foods and drinks, it is very easy to over-indulge. I was not one of those people. Even for lunches, I took off the bread and only ate the inside fixin’s of all the sandwiches. And I didn’t eat any of the deserts, just the fruits and vegetables. I lead an example to the rest of them that you can eat healthy when traveling. Each of them commented on my success.

However I did not exercise. Since it was a two hour time difference for me, getting up any earlier that 6:00 just wasn’t going to happen. They were extra long days as it was with a lot of work and thinking. The result is that I have enough work for two people for the next 2 years. Guess it’s job security

So based on this, I did well on my last weeks goals, as my main focus was to stay on track and I did that.

Week 4 goals are:

1. Increase my exercise. I’ve been on the treadmill on the weekend and I’m just going to continue that momentum. And I am going to Hot Yoga on Thursday. Would do it a couple of times this week but Mr. Sandra and Ms. Maggie are leaving for a couple of days again and it’s me and Ms. Kate. Can’t leave her alone that long (being late after work isn’t an option). So it will be more treadmill work this week.

2. Eat my JC foods as programmed. So far I’m liking most of the food. I’ve got to learn to “volumize” them with veggies etc. to add new flavors and get my veggies in.

3. Get my exercise organized into a binder. I am really good when I have my exercise laid right out, scheduled in a calendar. So this week I’m going to work on getting my program together. I have a ton of magazines to get example workout programs from so I’ve just got to get it on my own paper. I like spreadsheets…

And of course the standing no drinking goal. I’m not going to list this any more as a goal as I feel I have accomplished it. I am still going to keep it a focus point, but not going to keep listing it as a goal. My daughter asked me yesterday what I was going to do at the end of the 66 days and I said I’d see when the time came. My goal is to only drink (if I should choose to) on special occasions and not make it a habit again. It has to be a once in awhile thing. Maybe date night ? Will see when I get there. Who knows… I may decide to not drink at all… I like how I’ve been feeling.

I hope you all have a FANTASTIC week!

S

Mid Week Check-In

Well I have to admit that I am darn proud of myself. I’ve been doing pretty good.

I met Melinda at the Airport at around 10:30 Monday morning – this is the one that was going to start the 66 day plan with me January 1st, then decided January 9th… well she was already into her first beer when I got there. I had a club soda.

It’s been like that since we got here. There were 13 of us for dinner tonight and I had a virgin Caesar (Canadian drink I think). It was salty, but oh so tasty. I get so bored with club soda and/or water, so having something with some spice was really a nice change.

Kyle (and everyone else), I’m sorry I did not mention which program I was on. It is Jenny Craig.

I had tried JC when I was in my 20’s and lasted about 2 weeks because I was a single Mom and not only couldn’t afford the food, I didn’t like how it tasted. 25 years later, I can afford it (at the discounted price I am getting) and they’ve improved on the choices and flavor of the foods. Their food choices aren’t something I normally would eat but I’m giving it a go for the next while. I have to be able to give this a full honest attempt for myself and for my cousin. I will be blogging about other challenges I am going to encounter with eating prepared food – it’s called – Mr. Sandra eating regular food and the fact that I still have to prepare it……

It hasn’t been easy to eat on track while travelling. I did bring some JC food with me, but mostly the snack bars, I brought some fruit and veggies (yes on the plane) and some canned tuna/crackers etc. But so far I’ve made the best choices I could for what meal was available to me. For example, today was huge sandwiches and a macaroni and vegetable salad. I took the chicken breast sandwich, took off the top and bottom bun and ate the good stuff in between – along with some of the salad. It was good thing because at about 3:00 p.m., everyone else in the room was getting dopey eyed, but I was still feeling good. Bread does the same thing to me (along with any high carb lunch) and today I was more alert than them.

I don’t expect to have lost much weight this week because of the salty drinks, the travel bloat, etc. but I am proud of not drinking and facing the challenge I was worried about. My entire team is also proud of me…..

I hope you are all doing FANTASTIC and I hope to read some of your blogs by the weekend!

ttyl

Sandra

SCC WK 3 Goals…

I am out of town for 5 days this week – two days of travel and 3 days in meetings. This was the week I feared to face with my “no drinking” challenge. This is the week where there is a lot of socializing after a long day of working meetings. Everyone looks forward to chatting over a drink or two at the end of the day…after all the company is paying.

Yeah … well not me this week I am on track!

I did join up with my cousins weight loss facility. I decided to give it a try. It’s totally not what I am used to eating but I have to tell you, it’s not as bad as I thought it was going to be.

I am eating 6 times a day, 3 meals, 3 snacks. The last snack is putting me past the 7:00 eating timeslot so I can’t use that this week. But they are controlled snacks and therefore I’m not feeling “deprived”.

But it is expensive and I can understand why it is not for everyone. One of the main reasons I am doing it is because I get the food at a discount. I can live with that.

My goals this week are:

1. Get in some exercise. At least 4/7 even if it is just walking.
2. Stay focused and on track all week. Eating out will be challenging so my goal is to eat as close to on plan as possible. Make healthy choices at all times.

Since starting this on January 1st, I’ve lost 7lbs. I can imagine how much better this would be had I been exercising as well…

I hope you all have a FANTASTIC week!

Sandra

Accepting Change and WK2 Results

I got this amazing comment the other day from Kyle in response to my post about an opportunity I have and an email my cousin sent me.  I wanted to share it with everyone because it is another great way of stating what a person goes through when experiencing a big change in their life. Of letting go of the past…..

He said:

“It’s the battle between bargaining and acceptance in our stages of grieving really.  Having our previous life die is no different than the passing of a loved one that forces us to go through all the stages of grief and until we get all the way through it, we are always at risk to return.”

I will never be going back to my normal, I am creating a new life. Waiting, hoping, wishing this diet was over so that I could go back to normal, will never happen. Change is hard but it is worth it…

On to my Wk 2 results:

#1 – no alcohol. This was and is a huge success for me. Day 14 and more to come.

#2 – No eating after 7:00 p.m. Did not do well here. Week was messed up with son and wife coming to stay late Sunday night until Tuesday. Each night dinner was late – so I ate late. Now that in itself is fine, but I did snack a couple of times. I really need to get this one under control.

#3 – Increase my exercise. My goal is to do 4/7 days this week. 1/7 – epic fail. I preach to other bloggers they shouldn’t use the term “failure” because I don’t think people themselves are failures – maybe the results of their actions are, but not them personally so depending on how it is penned on how I react to it . But this goal was a big fail for me this week.

I am out of town this coming week and I am not sure how much exercising I will be able to do. There is a two hour time difference (I will be up earlier) and getting up even earlier to exercise may not happen. I have plans though and hope to be able to get them in action.

My Week 3 goals will be posted soon.

I hope you are all having a FANASTIC week!

Sandra

I have an opportunity..

My cousin is a high-level Manager at a very popular weight-loss facility and she has offered me an opportunity to join and get the food at a discount.

She had made this offer some time ago but I didn't take her up on it as I didn't feel I was able to commit 100 percent. I wasn't sure I was willing to give up the beer.

And since she is high up there in this company, I didn't want to disappoint her or waste the time of the ladies at the clinic. Or my money and time on something I wasn't going to give all my attention to.

Now I am not so sure I still feel the same (10 days people) :)

This is a segment of the email she sent me yesterday:

"The number one way for this to be successful for you is to think of it as a lifestyle change. Beer is a part of your lifestyle so we can work around it when the time comes. Keeping clear of it right now (66days) will help get a good jump start to your weight loss but know that when things get into a routine and beer once again becomes a part of it, please don't stop. You can still lose weight! And manage your goal weight easily while incorporating beer.

The only way this wouldn't work is if you stop. Just don't stop, keep going no matter what. You just celebrated New Year's at your start weight. Now you will be able to celebrate next New Year's at your goal weight!

A lot of people make the mistake of starting something like this with the thought, "I can't wait until I am at my goal because then I can get back to 'normal' and not have to think about this". However, this is the start of something that will not have an ending: conscious food choices, moderation, exercise and proper 'mind management' (otherwise known as how you think about food, diet, exercise, your body, body image,  the scale, etc) will be a part of your day every day. So, while it is going to be such a tremendous milestone when you reach your goal weight, enjoy the process too. "Sit back and enjoy the ride" as they say because it's fun (to feel light), it's empowering (to overcome challenges or cravings), it's a confidence builder (to fit into smaller clothes and look great) and it's energizing (to be able to go farther longer or faster while you exercise)."

I wanted to share what she wrote because it doesn't just apply to me but everyone else who reads this blog. After all the New Year's excitement wears off, it is so very easy to go back to the same old habits and routine. The ones that got us to why we want to lose weight or get fit. The key is to not STOP.

She is so right there.

For me, beer is what got me to where I am (it is not the sole reason but a big part) and therefore incorporating it back into my life style may not be a good idea. Maybe once I am at goal the occasional beer during camping (Kelly I'm with ya) or our Mazatlan trips it may be acceptable but I don't want it to become a part of my lifestyle again.

So hard to say right now what is going to happen.

I think I should give it a try. What do you think?

Hope you are having a Fantastic day!!

S

Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

SCC–WK 1 Results & W2 Goals

1. Exercise daily. Get some type of activity in once a day. Well I did not do well here. I exercised 2/7 days. 

2. Drink lots of water Aced this one

3. Eat mindful and healthy food all week. I tracked everyday at MyFitnessPal but I did not eat 100% on track. Wasn’t even 80%.

4. This is the most important goal for me this week – no alcohol at all. 7/7 I did great this week

Overall I think I did OK. I certainly could have increased my exercise. I didn’t make it to Hot Yoga because Mr. Sandra was away from the home for a couple of nights and I couldn’t leave Ms. Kate alone too long. As it was on Wednesday, I came home, let her out, played with her, fed her, and then left and went back to the city for dinner. It was extremely windy that day too and driving was interesting.

Food wise, I did great during the day. Got the munchies a few times and on the weekend, I could have made better dinner choices, but overall (other than the face feeding frenzy I experienced Tuesday night), I did OK.

Week 2 Goals

#1 – no alcohol. I’m moving this to the top of my list as it is very important for me to keep it in focus and successful

#2 – No eating after 7:00 p.m.

#3 – Increase my exercise. My goal is to do 4/7 days this week.

Focus point for week: I am going to continue to keep track of the food in MFP. But make better food choices. Last week I focused on goal #4 the most – no drinking. I’m pretty confident now that I’ve got that under control. Now I’m going to focus on the food and making better choices. This week it will be goal #2 that is going to be my main focus for this week.

I hope you all have a fantastic week! I’m in all day meetings so my blogging is limited to evenings this week.

ttyl

Sandra

Doing it on my own…

Back in December, Melinda and I decided that starting January 1st, we would do 66 days of no alcohol. Hence my post here where I talked about my plan. You all know how this week has gone for me because I’ve been quite open about what I’m doing and how I’m tackling things.

Well on Friday, Mr. Sandra called and said that since we didn’t have the young man this weekend, can we meet in the city and get together for a game of Golden Tee Golf?

This immediately set me into a bit of a panic – really wasn’t sure if I was ready to meet him at the bar. So I sidled down the hallway to Mel’s office and told her what was going on – that I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle things.

So she said “Ah don’t worry about it, start out with a couple of club soda’s, and then have a beer or two. With the guys coming next week and dinners out, and then us going away for the week to Ontario, well let’s just start in February!”

Ahhh… excuse me?

How about “No, not for me”.

I decided right then and there that I’ve done well this week and am noticeably seeing a difference in a couple of things:

• I am sleeping much much better – which in turn ups my energy
• I have not experienced any night time heart burn – again aiding in a better sleep.

I wasn’t going to stop and start again with her because I don’t need her support to keep me in line. She hasn’t started yet, and it would be day 7 for her as it is for me . I’m doing good all on my own. I did not have any booze at all – I caught the waitress before she automatically brought our drinks to our table and told her I’d have a club soda. Yeah, we go to this place way to often, and we just walk in, sit down, and get served before we actually say anything. So it was important I catch her before we sit.

Being home this weekend has been fine. We (as in Mr. Sandra) and I are modifying our habits – because that is exactly what they are. Instead of having a baileys/coffee sitting outside in the sun (yes I live near the mountains, in Canada, where it SHOULD be cold and snowing) watching the birds feed and dogs play.

And after a busy day, I was fine having my club soda with lots of ice. Club soda on it’s own is pretty bland – carbonated water would be – so I add flavored soda’s. I found them at my local grocery store awhile ago and they come in some pretty cool flavors. Pomegranate and Elderflower (haven't tried that one yet), Lemon, Cranberry and Orange. Since I’m only putting in about 2-3 ounces with my Club Soda, the calories are not that high.

OK, enough blabbering for today…

I hope you are all having a great weekend!

S

The real test is here…

Yahoo it’s Friday!! My head hurts and I’m looking forward to spending time at home. After having 10 days off, coming back to work for 4 days is tiring. And I keep thinking about all the work that is about to start up – ouch.

My head hurts because our weather is so strange – we have hardly any snow left because we are experiencing all time record high temperatures for January. I suffer from headaches as the air pressure changes and since we live so close to the mountains, when the warm weather comes over them from the West, the warmth gets pushed down and we experience a Chinook. This fluctuation in air pressure causes my brain to hurt. I’m a walking barometer – I can tell you when the weather is going to change.

So again Yahoo the weekend is coming but this is going to be the true test for me for not drinking. It is the time when I do drink the most. During the week is a synch. And everyone was right yesterday – it was/is a habit – wanting to have a beer with Mr. Sandra when he got home to discuss his adventure. We breezed through it, I had a club soda, he had a diet coke – worked out just fine.

But the weekend has me stressed, it is a time that in the afternoon, after working out, cleaning my house, doing laundry….. I crack open a beer about 4:00 p.m., maybe think about relaxing, and then the evening is on. Habit, habit, habit…

I will make it through just fine – I may just whine to you fine folks about how miserable I am… aaah just kidding. I’ll be a happy camper and breeze right through it by keeping myself busy, and not busy by stuffing my face – but busy by moving around and maybe getting that office completely painted. Would LOVE to show you another before and after picture of that sucker – it’s gross right now….

I feel like I did when I was quitting smoking – trying to find other things to do during the times the habit craving kicks in…..

I hope you all have a successful, FANTASTIC weekend!

ttyl

Sandra

p.s., why do people think that when you are seated on a train seat, as far over as you can, that sitting practically on your lap is going to make you move over more?? I don’t know what they are thinking – my wide butt isn’t going anywhere…

Hmmm I wonder why….

Mr. Sandra has been away from the house for the last couple of days. It’s just been me and Ms. Kate hanging around at night.

Well he just texted me that he is on his way home and will be there shortly after I get home from work.

You know what one side of my brain said?

It said “It will be nice to sit and have a beer with him while talking about his adventures the last couple of days”. (He was out snowmobiling)

My other side of the brain said “no freakin way are you breaking your 66 days”.

But I’m wondering why it was the first thing I thought about when I thought about him coming home…..

Weird…

Hope you are all having a fantastic day!!

S

What was I thinking??

Yesterday was overall a pretty good day… during the day! I was hungry though. Not sure if it was because I was back at work and I was “munchy” or if it was real hunger because of the extra activity first thing in the morning. In the past I remember getting a bit more hungry on the days I did the Jog/walk program. I drank a ton of water so that wasn’t the issue.

But man, when I got home…. I did the ugly jig. It was just me and Kate and I made sure I got home by 4:30 so that I could get her out and get her some exercise. She was kenneled which is a small space for a big active dog but since getting Ms. Maggie, Ms. Katie has taken it into her mind that it is OK to get into things when the MR. and MRS are away. Anyway, it started with a handful of ripple potato chips. Mr Sandra had left a few ounces in a bag on the counter. They aren’t there any more.

Then I had my sensible dinner of homemade chicken/vegetable soup. Cleaned up space along another wall in the office as I want to continue painting in the room.The office became a bit of a dumping ground when we moved in and I still need to unpack some stuff that is in there.  But at 6:00, the Biggest Loser Season 13 started and I wanted to watch it. The 9:00 show is on too late for me. Well while watching it I was dozing off, so I got up and made myself some popcorn. Yup – just to keep me awake…. and I love popcorn.

Now all in all it wasn’t a bad day per se but I felt like I ate for the sake of eating last night. I used food, instead of beer, to keep me awake and occupied. That’s not going to work long term but for today I am OK with what happened last night. I have to make sure that food isn’t a replacement for the boredom/tired days.

It is my baby’s 29th birthday today and I’m going to have to go home to let out Ms. Katie (I did leave her out of the kennel  and loose in the house this morning) and then head back here to the city to have dinner with him, his spouse and my Grand daughter. That’s going to keep me occupied beyond normal and I won’t succumb to the mouth stuffing incident again (for tonight anyway).

I am feeling good though….. I’m heading in the right direction folks – it’s about time!

I hope you are having a FANTASTIC day!

S

Isn’t she getting big

I snuck by the puppy

Good day folks, hope all of you are right into your New Years resolutions, goal setting, plans, hopes, dreams – or whatever it is you are doing for 2012. I certainly am…..

I planned on spending yesterday getting my stuff ready for the work week – kind of like my Sunday cooking spree, but Mr. Sandra had different plans. I had gotten up and got right on the treadmill (after attending Ms. Katie, and Ms. Maggie) and spent 45 minutes walking then 15 minutes stretching. I really really need to keep stretching, everyday, all day. Anyway, after my walk, I put a second coat of paint on the feature wall in the office and Mr. Sandra walked in and asked me to go shopping with him. I so didn’t want to go, I wanted to stay home and organize my days, but I went anyway.

He was planning to go away for a couple of days snowmobiling out in the mountains (he told me the night before) and needed some gear (he left today and he is such a last minute person – not organized at all). So we went and bought helmets and he got pants/gloves to hopefully keep warm. We have purchased a snowmobile from his son, but due to the lack of snow we have here, it is still in Fernie, BC with his son.

So today, I left for work and he left to play in the snow (can’t wait until I’m retired).

I had a good day overall eating and was happy I got some exercising in. I actually slept pretty good last night for once.

This morning I got up at 4, got dressed, snuck by the puppy (like she didn’t hear or see me …) and went downstairs. I did a slow walk/jog of C25K session and then stretched. When I was done, I snuck back past the pup, and went upstairs and showered and then from then on it was the same routine she is used to. She didn’t bark once. I was so happy. So having successfully done day one, she will get used to me going by without talking to her or letting her out and that eventually I will come get her. I am glad I can get my routine going again….

Since Mr. Sandra is away for two days, he took Ms. Maggie with him as she is still too young to be home alone for 10+ hours (which is the amount of time I am away from the house). Ms. Kate is 3 yrs old and can handle the wait. So it’s me and the big girl for a couple of days. But this means I won’t be going to Hot Yoga tonight because that would make it 13+ hours for Ms. Kate to be alone and that’s pushing it.

Mr. Sandra’s timing is perfect because this is day 3 of completing Goal #4 100% and it is usually day 3 he wants to go out for a beer and a game of golden tee golf. And I ALWAYS give in. This time I won’t. While out shopping yesterday he wanted to stop by before going home and I said no. He pouted but didn’t say any more. He can have some fun with his son and leave me doing what I need to do right now.

I hope you all have a FANTASTIC day!

Sandra

SCC–Wk1 Goals

The Spring Chick Challenge starts today and my goals for this week are:

1. Exercise daily. Get some type of activity in once a day. Tuesday/Thursday I will attend Hot Yoga, M/W/F/S/Su  I will be walking on my treadmill. I have to ease into it because of the shape my hips are in.  They are so tight and sore that I don’t want to hurt myself and not be able to do anything. So baby steps for this one.

2. Drink lots of water – I used to be so good at this. Being on a spring well at home, I’m finding I’m not drinking as much water because I am very very fussy on the taste of my water. We purchased a water cooler when we moved in but the unit makes the bottled water taste like metal. I seem to be the only one that can taste it but if I can taste it, then I’m not drinking it often because I don’t like the taste. So I’ve been using the Brita filter for the tap well water and so far I’m drinking it. Once back to work I drink lots there.

3. Eat mindful and healthy food all week. I decided to track on MyFitnessPal because I can add the app to my Blackberry and it will be easier to keep up to date. I LOVE the FitBit program for the reports etc, but I have to write my food down, then enter them if I am not right in front of my computer. FitBit states it will soon grab the data from MyFitnessPal so I will get the same results in both places. One program says I need to eat 1200 calories, the other one says 1400. I’m just going to enter in my exercise, and food and go from there.

4. This is the most important goal for me this week – no alcohol at all. I’ve asked Mr. Sandra to not have any beer in my presence and he has agreed. Not that he drinks much at all but why flash it my face when I might be wanting one. NOTE: I must get a bit personal here and admit something publicly so that you understand that this goal is going to be a struggle – I am not an alcoholic but I did drink beer to keep myself occupied at home. Sounds sad I know but if I get bored, I immediately want a beer. Stupid habit to get into. And I like the taste on a hot summer day, out camping, sitting by the fire, or on the deck at the end of the day……. blah

If I can get through this week with 80/20 on 1-3 and 100% on #4, I will be a very happy person. I am bound and determined to make this work people.

I hope you have a fantastic week!

S

#1, Happy New Year

Happy New Year Everyone!!

I hope all of you had a fantastic holiday. I know I did. I took the entire week off more or less. I worked a bit but I worked from home. I have the luxury that I can do my job anywhere there is an internet connection and although I have one at home, and it isn’t reliable, I can still get some work done. But most of all, I enjoyed time with my Grandson, my family and my home…. Even got some painting done (renovations will be on-going for some time I think).

I have this feeling that 2012 is going to be different somehow. I don’t know what it is but it’s like I’ve been waiting for this year to come for some time now. That this is the year of change for me. I am going to see some good stuff in the coming 365 days.

Today was day 1 of my 66 days of clean and I will rate it at about a 80/20 success. I had a couple of Pepsi's today, which is against my future plans but I had them instead of the other “pop” so I’m OK with that for day one. I ate good, healthy food and only a few crackers which isn’t “junk” per se but is still a carb loaded treat I didn’t need.

One of the things that I’ve noticed since I’ve gained this weight back is that my night time indigestion came back. I wake up frequently with heartburn and that was the first thing that went away as I lost the weight I was carrying around my stomach. I’m looking forward to that again as it is difficult to get a good night sleep when you are uncomfortable.

Admittedly I don’t get a good night sleep regardless because of the pain in my hips, but I don’t need the extra burden.

I didn’t get any formal exercise done today but I did get my Christmas decorations etc, taken down, boxed up and put away. And then cleaning in between all that. Then I painted a couple of walls in my office. I know I didn’t get my heart rate up in anyway, but I was moving all day long and now I’m tired…  Well my feet are sore for sure.

I’m still working on my plan for attacking the battle of the bulge but in the meantime I’m going to just make the best choices I can. I was going to start out with a cleanse and although they are good for you, I think stopping too many things all at once is a recipe for disaster so I’m going to do this one day at a time and when the time is right, I will get to the cleanse. I’ll post on that when I start it.

Talk to you all soon.

S