Yep, I'm still alive!

Goodness, it has been a while since I last posted.  I thought of just wiping everything and starting over, but I have some pretty awesome posts and motivational things on this blog, so I decided that I will just start over, but keep the posts!  My life has changed quite a bit this last year, I lost my 'full' time job and had to find a new one (owner retired and closed his location) I do like my new job, and it's still working with animals.  I dabbled in selling Park Lane Jewelry for a while, but because of my introverted personality and anxiety issues, I decided it wasn't for me at this time.  I am still battling the battle of the bulge and I would love NOTHING more than to get rid of it.  I am sick of splitting my scrub pants because of my thunder thighs, sick of being a chunky monkey, sick of being out of shape, sick of not having any energy....so 2012 it is!  I am going to watch what I eat portion wise, and try to drink more water than I normally do....I am a Diet Coke addict!  I drink AT LEAST a 2 liter per day...and would like to exchange that for water.  My goal by the end of 2012, is to lost at least 50#, which is about 1# a week, which isn't 'out of range' if I focus right.

My husband just recently had a couple of surgeries and the Dr really lectured him on his weight as well so we are definitely both going to be on this journey.  Stay tuned for updates, have to go finish 'FLYing' as we have company coming over tomorrow.  Have a great night!

My starting weight 233.4#  My 'goal' is 150# (we will see how I feel/look when I get there), but for now I am working to about 175#  I haven't been under 200# in a LONG LONG time (about 6 or 7 years for longer than about 2 days lol), so I am super psyched for this goal and I KNOW I can do it!

Wednesday April 21, Healthy Me Day 3

Food: Calories: High end of calorie range today
Breakfast, Left Over Spaghetti, 2 slices homemade honey whole wheat bread.
Lunch: Protein Bar
Dinner: Lasagna Pasta in a box
Snacks: Popcorn
Water: 110oz
Diet Cokes (Shasta Diet Cola w/splenda): 3
Exercise: walked on the elliptical 3.5mi on Apr. 21, 08:59 pm (Time: 20:00) Burned 347 calories
Today's Thoughts: Today was my day off, I normally blow it and blow it hard on my days off. But although I was on the high end of my calories I still stayed within my limit. Probably the most difficult thing today was exercise. It was raining/thunder & lightening so outside walking was out of the question. I slept wrong on my shoulder sunday night (I think) and pulled a muscle or something but my left shoulder/neck has been really bothering me since then, it still hurts, so was trying to use that as an excuse not to exercise, then my exercise clothes were upstairs in the bedroom and I didn't want to go wake Rob up to get them, then I just wanted to goof around with PSP/Incredimail on my computer, I have horrible gas (EVERYTHING I have been putting in my mouth lately is making me gassy) but I gave myself a swift kick in the behind and said to myself, "Heather, seriously who uses GAS as an excuse NOT to exercise? Get off your butt and go do it!" So I used my elliptical while making dinner, was only going to do 10 minutes but I pushed myself and went for 20 minutes. YEAH!

Stress..Stress...GO AWAY!

On Plan: Water: Exercise:
***Warning....I'm kind of verbose today*** :) Woot Woot! No frownie faces yet! I have had such an incredible amount of stress this week, I think it's a test to see if I will break my diet. Today I broke down in the bathroom at work and cried for 30 minutes. The business that I love and have put a lot of effort and my life into is struggling to stay above water. It breaks my heart. We are trying to turn things around but it's looking very bleak. Then we have a little adoption kitten who was pulled from the shelter with a fractured leg, we surgically repaired it (put a metal pin in it) and about 5 days after we got him he started getting sick, he has a respiratory infection, but it's extremely severe and with pneumonia, so he has been on deaths bed for a week. Here is his picture, these were taken the day we got him before his surgery. He has been severely dehydrated and hasn't eaten on his own since last Friday...we are giving him subcutaneous fluids, medications for his infection/pneumonia and putting drops up his nose to clear it out so he can smell so he can eat. He is also on a heating pad. He is improving today though, I thought we were going to lose him yesterday, he went hypothermic on us (temp 95) and was barely responsive. But he's looking better today, and even purred. Poor little guy has lost a lot of weight. Sorry for going on about him...animals are my life....next to my husband....I have a lot of compassion for special needs animals.




I was so depressed about the business, and the kitten, I was having an incredibly hard time, Hubby told me that I should pray to help take some of the 'doomsday' feelings away, and I did, it helped throughout the day. Now mind you I am the one who served 18 months on a religious mission, not my hubby, he is a convert to our church, and he is such a strong man, he is always the one who has to remind me to talk to my Heavenly Father. I was able to stay more focused on positive aspects of the business and get work done better, I was efficient this afternoon...depsite everyone deciding to show up at once right before my lunch break. I am quite proud of the fact that I was able to stay on plan as usually at the first sign of stress, I start eating badly. So far so good. (It helps that we are broke beyond broke right now so I can't rush to walmart to pick up junk food.....lol) I think I have 2 more days on the detox drink, my tongue is still slightly white, that's what they say to use as an indicator. I am proud of myself though instead of coming home and sitting on the couch with my laptop I did some cleaning in the kitchen and organized the 'dog' corner (where we keep all their stuff etc.)
Food Intake: B Green Smoothie, Detox Drink, 1 Apple
L: Detox Drink, Green Apple, Garden Salad w/tuna, carrots w/low carb dressing
D: Detox Drink, Garden Salad (Grilled Chicken, Cucumbers, Olives, Cheese, Romaine Lettuce) w/low carb dressing, Steamed Broccoli
Snacks: Green Bell Peppers, Cucumbers, Detox Drink, Celery
**Detox Drink Lemon Juice/Maple Syrup/Cayenne Pepper
**Green Smoothie: Parsley, Ginger, Pineapple, Honey, Water, Splenda
Exercise: 30 Minutes Walking with my dog

Am I concerned enough?

I work for a veterinarian, and we have this sweet client who owns beagles, anyone who has worked for us over the years remembers her and knows her well. She is very concerned about her pets, she has no skin kids, so she calls us numerous times a day with every little thing that is going on in her pets lives. She lost her older beagle (16 years) back in December just before Christmas, she has a new little one and she calls with questions and concerns about her as well.

This got me to thinking today, am I concerned enough with my health, my wellness, my weight? I have little to no willpower and need to improve. Yesterday it was a struggle for me to walk up to the mail box, which it was about a year ago when I started this journey, sad to say I haven't been exercising like I should, I have been in a mega slump when it comes to exercising and eating right, but I am pulling myself up, getting back in the saddle and am going to do this! I have done so well, I started at 250#, and am now at 214.6# which is a gain from my lowest, but at least I have lost. I have lost 35.4# (14%) that is definitely something to be proud of. I have been invited to several challenges, and I'm still debating on whether or not I want to join them, I feel so overwhelmed sometimes keeping up with everything, I have a lot going on in my life right now, so I am considering them.

So my challenge to myself for this next week is to get off the couch (I am addicted to TNT shows) and exercise, either that or use my Elliptical Machine while watching TV, that I can definitely handle...just have to declutter it...it's collected a lot of things on it! I will do this! Today at work I am doing doggie daycare so that is keeping me somewhat active. YEAH! Every little thing helps.

For a cool weight loss percentage calculator: http://www.fitwatch.com/qkcalc/calculate-weight-loss-percentage.html

Making Excuses

I think I have found EVER excuse in the book this week as to why I can't exercise. Lets see
1- Gas because of Sugar Free Candies, so my belly hurt
2- Got home late (had dog class so that was sort of exercise)
3- Too tired because I didn't get to bed on time
4- It was easter, why exercise on a holiday?

Well I am SICK of my own excuses. I am NOT going to let the excuses win ANY more. Here are my 'combats' to my own excuses
1- Gas becuase of Sugar Free Candies...that's easy...DO NOT eat the sugar free candies
2- Got Home Late, I was still up for 2 hours, that is PLENTY of time to get in a 30 minute WATP DVD, it was just an excuse to get me not to exercise
3- Too Tired, exercise gives you energy, so that would have helped with the tiredness. As for the getting to bed on time, Hubby right now works Swing shift so gets home at 10:00pm and I like to spend time with him. He is switching to Graves in 2 weeks, so therefore I won't have to stay up to see him
4- Who says you can't exercise on a holiday? What a way to celebrate it by blessing my body with loving movement.

So my goal for this next week is to get at least 5 days of exercise in.