Thursday, December 29, 2011
Ch-ch-changes
I've made some changes to the blog. Edited my About Me (which hadn't been updated since I created the blog, oops). I still plan on tweaking things over the next couple of days (weeks?). Any/all suggestions are more than welcome! Anything missing from the page that would make it more accessible, more informative, more inviting? I'm open to any critiques/praise. I want to know what's working and what isn't.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
The Fitbit Post
My lovely MIL got Husband and I each a Fitbit for Christmas.
I hadn't ever heard of such-gadget before, but I've been wearing it for the past two days and I'm pretty much falling in love with it. It's a little device you keep on you at all times (even while sleeping) and it tracks amazing things like calories burned, floors climbed, steps walked, level of activity exerted, efficiency of sleep, and several other things you can track on the accompanying website. Not that I'm a spokesperson for the product or anything, as I know there are several others out there that do the same thing. But I don't have all those other things, I just have this so it's all I can speak about. The only things I'm finding I don't care for about it are
1) you can't create recipes on the food tracker. You can make meals for one person and include all the ingredients, but you can't put in a whole meal for more than one person and then say I ate a single serving of this whole recipe (which is something I LOVE about myfitnesspal.com). So I'll probably wind up manually adding in the amount of calories per meal based on what MFP calculates.
2) I wear mine in the center of my bra, between the cups, right against my sternum. It's comfortable at all times and completely discrete so I don't ever have to worry about it. I love that, but at the same time a) I'm worried that I'll forget to take it off when I do laundry, and b) since it has to charge on the charging dock, I have to remove it at some point and then I basically have to stay sedentary or my steps don't count. Not that's a huge thing (at all), I'm just saying.
And that's it. A whole two (minor) things. Other than those, so far I love it.
It keeps me motivated and encouraged to complete my steps. Although I haven't yet... Today it got me moving much more than yesterday to try to get 100%. Yesterday I only walked around my usual route with the dogs and did no more. Today I tried to be more active. BDR and I took Leia on a walk into town to go to the Pet Shop (which ended up being closed, ha) and then after he left for work I walked from my home to a main street I've never walked all the way to before for a total of 4.7 miles walked today (out of a goal of 5 miles). I'm happy with that. Part of me wants to go walk around the block to complete the whole 5 miles, but I think I'll wait and just push myself that much further tomorrow.
I'm also excited about another gift my MIL gave us for Christmas: a membership to the local YMCA. It's located only 5-6 blocks away from us so I can walk to/from for a warm up/cool down, which is really exciting to me. I haven't ever had a membership to an actual gym before (only Tan & Tone) so this will be new to me, but I'm eager to get started! They have racquetball courts which probably shouldn't make me as giddy as it does. When I was younger I played racquetball one time at a gym in Lawton and absolutely loved it. It may have just been the novelty of it, but I'm hoping it's something I can still enjoy doing because it's a great workout. Not to mention all the other equipment they have there... I'm ready to start now!
So things are looking up. I don't have my diet 100% (or even 95%) squared away, but I'm trying to take baby steps. I'm hoping that going into it one step at a time will help me create habits that stick.
I am so ready and excited to see what 2012 has in store for my family and I! So many things to look forward to!!
 |
| Mine is plum and Husband's is blue. |
1) you can't create recipes on the food tracker. You can make meals for one person and include all the ingredients, but you can't put in a whole meal for more than one person and then say I ate a single serving of this whole recipe (which is something I LOVE about myfitnesspal.com). So I'll probably wind up manually adding in the amount of calories per meal based on what MFP calculates.
2) I wear mine in the center of my bra, between the cups, right against my sternum. It's comfortable at all times and completely discrete so I don't ever have to worry about it. I love that, but at the same time a) I'm worried that I'll forget to take it off when I do laundry, and b) since it has to charge on the charging dock, I have to remove it at some point and then I basically have to stay sedentary or my steps don't count. Not that's a huge thing (at all), I'm just saying.
And that's it. A whole two (minor) things. Other than those, so far I love it.
It keeps me motivated and encouraged to complete my steps. Although I haven't yet... Today it got me moving much more than yesterday to try to get 100%. Yesterday I only walked around my usual route with the dogs and did no more. Today I tried to be more active. BDR and I took Leia on a walk into town to go to the Pet Shop (which ended up being closed, ha) and then after he left for work I walked from my home to a main street I've never walked all the way to before for a total of 4.7 miles walked today (out of a goal of 5 miles). I'm happy with that. Part of me wants to go walk around the block to complete the whole 5 miles, but I think I'll wait and just push myself that much further tomorrow.
I'm also excited about another gift my MIL gave us for Christmas: a membership to the local YMCA. It's located only 5-6 blocks away from us so I can walk to/from for a warm up/cool down, which is really exciting to me. I haven't ever had a membership to an actual gym before (only Tan & Tone) so this will be new to me, but I'm eager to get started! They have racquetball courts which probably shouldn't make me as giddy as it does. When I was younger I played racquetball one time at a gym in Lawton and absolutely loved it. It may have just been the novelty of it, but I'm hoping it's something I can still enjoy doing because it's a great workout. Not to mention all the other equipment they have there... I'm ready to start now!
So things are looking up. I don't have my diet 100% (or even 95%) squared away, but I'm trying to take baby steps. I'm hoping that going into it one step at a time will help me create habits that stick.
I am so ready and excited to see what 2012 has in store for my family and I! So many things to look forward to!!
What are you looking the most forward to? Any resolutions you've set for yourself you want to attain? Any milestones or upcoming events that you are excited about?
'Night y'all!
Monday, December 19, 2011
The Retrospect Post
I began this blog on November 3, 2010. The anniversary of the beginning of the blog came and went during my hiatus and I didn't even realize. I just read what I posted a year ago this weekend and it's alarming how much hasn't changed, when I feel like so much has.
A year ago today I was blogging about the weekend. We had just gotten back from Husband's grandma's Christmas party and were going to his great grandma's party the following day. We were eating out for every meal (and not ordering anything healthy). We were watching tons of movies and TV and our sleep schedule was completely ridiculous. My weight was on the rise because I knew once the New Year came we were going to start the 17 Day Diet (which we began on January 3, 2010) so i was eating everything in sight.
Basically read over that entire paragraph again, change the verbs to present tense, and you'll get what I'm experiencing currently. This weekend we had Husband's family's Christmas parties. Our current shows are Friday Night Lights, Switched at Birth, The Cosby Show, and anything else I have recorded on DVR. We literally eat out at least one meal (usually two meals) every day, and I super-size everything available. I've done zero exercise and make every excuse in the book not to start. I've gained 20 lbs in the past nine weeks (not an amount I'm proud of, by any means, but honestly I expected it to be more).
Somewhere in my mind I'm justifying this over-indulgence because we plan to start Day 1 after New Years Day on the diet and exercise again. I know we can do it because we've done it before. However, I know we can fall out of it because obviously we've done that before, too. I think it's dawning on me that this will not be as cut and dry as I thought it would be a year ago.
A year ago I thought "Oh yeah, we're doing the 17 Day Diet and if I lose x lbs a month, I'll be at my goal weight in x months!" Yeah. It really hasn't happened that way. I made a goal 3-4 months ago that I would be under 200 lbs by New Years. Yesterday when I weighed I had gone back up to 255.6. Again, not as bad as I feared it would be, after having not weighed in in at least 6 weeks, but still a pretty colossal difference from where I was in October. And no where near under 200 lbs.
This is going to take me a long time. A lifetime. I will always struggle. I will always make mistakes. I will always have moments of weakness. I think what I need to focus on is that I will always keep trying. I will always start again. I will always have moments of strength.
Though I may not be strong every day, I may not always fight every temptation... I am striving toward something and I haven't given up.
So much can change (and stay the same) in a year. I am excited to see what 2012 has in store for my husband and me. Who knows what will have changed and what will be the same. I do know that, though I may not be at my goal weight, I will weigh less than I do today.
And I will be better than I am today.
A year ago today I was blogging about the weekend. We had just gotten back from Husband's grandma's Christmas party and were going to his great grandma's party the following day. We were eating out for every meal (and not ordering anything healthy). We were watching tons of movies and TV and our sleep schedule was completely ridiculous. My weight was on the rise because I knew once the New Year came we were going to start the 17 Day Diet (which we began on January 3, 2010) so i was eating everything in sight.
Basically read over that entire paragraph again, change the verbs to present tense, and you'll get what I'm experiencing currently. This weekend we had Husband's family's Christmas parties. Our current shows are Friday Night Lights, Switched at Birth, The Cosby Show, and anything else I have recorded on DVR. We literally eat out at least one meal (usually two meals) every day, and I super-size everything available. I've done zero exercise and make every excuse in the book not to start. I've gained 20 lbs in the past nine weeks (not an amount I'm proud of, by any means, but honestly I expected it to be more).
Somewhere in my mind I'm justifying this over-indulgence because we plan to start Day 1 after New Years Day on the diet and exercise again. I know we can do it because we've done it before. However, I know we can fall out of it because obviously we've done that before, too. I think it's dawning on me that this will not be as cut and dry as I thought it would be a year ago.
A year ago I thought "Oh yeah, we're doing the 17 Day Diet and if I lose x lbs a month, I'll be at my goal weight in x months!" Yeah. It really hasn't happened that way. I made a goal 3-4 months ago that I would be under 200 lbs by New Years. Yesterday when I weighed I had gone back up to 255.6. Again, not as bad as I feared it would be, after having not weighed in in at least 6 weeks, but still a pretty colossal difference from where I was in October. And no where near under 200 lbs.
This is going to take me a long time. A lifetime. I will always struggle. I will always make mistakes. I will always have moments of weakness. I think what I need to focus on is that I will always keep trying. I will always start again. I will always have moments of strength.
Though I may not be strong every day, I may not always fight every temptation... I am striving toward something and I haven't given up.
So much can change (and stay the same) in a year. I am excited to see what 2012 has in store for my husband and me. Who knows what will have changed and what will be the same. I do know that, though I may not be at my goal weight, I will weigh less than I do today.
And I will be better than I am today.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Nothing
Sometimes, it's just easier to blog than it is to try to deduce my thoughts down to a FB status update.
I don't know where to begin.
Well, I took another pregnancy test this morning. Negative, of course. And I continued with my day. Honestly, didn't even think about it much. For 12+ hours. Then tonight, as I was getting ready for bed... I sat down on the floor to play with my puppies for a bit before putting them in their beds. I was sitting on the floor, petting them, and they ran off into another room, leaving me in the bedroom. For some reason, it hit me in a rush. Nothing triggered it. I just... Didn't want to get up. I didn't want to do anything. Talk to anyone, close my eyes, move... Nothing. I just sat there. I didn't know what to do.
We bought a copy of What to Expect When You're Expecting a couple of months ago at a garage sale and I've skimmed through the first 2-3 chapters several times since then. I picked it up again tonight (as I do most nights) and was reading over several pages but had to put it down. It hit me suddenly that none of it applies to me. Even the preconception aspects. Taking pregnancy tests is a joke. I have only had one period in the past 21 months, and that was back in February. (This halt in menstruation was due to birth control)
It is a joke to continue taking pregnancy tests. Hell, I can't even use the ovulation strips I bought. None of it applies to me because my body doesn't work yet. I keep hoping that something will happen, despite every bit of knowledge I have that screams otherwise, and I need to just come to grips with it.
It's hilarious... You take birth control and are scared for years hoping to not get pregnant. Now that it's finally a possibility... What? Nothing?
Sometimes, I just want a good cry. The kind of cry that leaves you sobbing and snotty and looking like a fool. I don't cry like that anymore. I don't know why, it just doesn't come out. Tonight, I want to cry and... Nothing.
I promise I am not as mopey and outrageously out of proportion in real life (all of the time). I just need an outlet. I know my life is wonderful. I know our time will come, and that if it doesn't come it only means God has different plans for us. I know that we've only been "trying" for a short time and many people try for years and sadly never get positive results. I am incredibly selfish and have no room for complaint. I apologize if I've offended or upset anyone by this post. I should highlight it and delete it all, and maybe I will tomorrow.
But I needed something tonight.
I don't know where to begin.
Well, I took another pregnancy test this morning. Negative, of course. And I continued with my day. Honestly, didn't even think about it much. For 12+ hours. Then tonight, as I was getting ready for bed... I sat down on the floor to play with my puppies for a bit before putting them in their beds. I was sitting on the floor, petting them, and they ran off into another room, leaving me in the bedroom. For some reason, it hit me in a rush. Nothing triggered it. I just... Didn't want to get up. I didn't want to do anything. Talk to anyone, close my eyes, move... Nothing. I just sat there. I didn't know what to do.
We bought a copy of What to Expect When You're Expecting a couple of months ago at a garage sale and I've skimmed through the first 2-3 chapters several times since then. I picked it up again tonight (as I do most nights) and was reading over several pages but had to put it down. It hit me suddenly that none of it applies to me. Even the preconception aspects. Taking pregnancy tests is a joke. I have only had one period in the past 21 months, and that was back in February. (This halt in menstruation was due to birth control)
It is a joke to continue taking pregnancy tests. Hell, I can't even use the ovulation strips I bought. None of it applies to me because my body doesn't work yet. I keep hoping that something will happen, despite every bit of knowledge I have that screams otherwise, and I need to just come to grips with it.
It's hilarious... You take birth control and are scared for years hoping to not get pregnant. Now that it's finally a possibility... What? Nothing?
Sometimes, I just want a good cry. The kind of cry that leaves you sobbing and snotty and looking like a fool. I don't cry like that anymore. I don't know why, it just doesn't come out. Tonight, I want to cry and... Nothing.
I promise I am not as mopey and outrageously out of proportion in real life (all of the time). I just need an outlet. I know my life is wonderful. I know our time will come, and that if it doesn't come it only means God has different plans for us. I know that we've only been "trying" for a short time and many people try for years and sadly never get positive results. I am incredibly selfish and have no room for complaint. I apologize if I've offended or upset anyone by this post. I should highlight it and delete it all, and maybe I will tomorrow.
But I needed something tonight.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
The Lazy Days Post
Tomorrow I take my one and only final for this (last) Fall semester. After making an awful grade on the midterm (I'm talking failing status), I've really tried to kick my butt in gear the second half of the semester. I've gotta say, I'm pretty proud of myself. I don't think I've ever taken this good of notes in this particular professor's classes.. Or studied this much. I'm not going to make a 100%, by any means.. But I hope to at least make a B! We'll see. Pray for me!
The past few days at home have been uncharacteristically relaxed (aka lazy). I've only left the house to get food, and haven't driven out of town since I got home from school on Thursday. Which mean, it's been almost a whole week since I've been on a highway. I can sincerely say that this is probably the longest I've ever gone without having to go out of town since I've been in graduate school. It just dawned on me, too... But I've been able to tell a difference. I love staying home, I really do. The only problem I'm finding is that the longer I stay home, the more my desire to leave the house decreases. I don't want to go anywhere because staying home feels so nice! I know once I have babies and have to stay home, I'll probably be itching to leave, but right now when my only obligation is studying for one final... It feels good to stay up til 3, sleep in til 12:30... And not have any guilt about it. I know I should probably feel embarrassed to admit that sleep schedule and I guess a part of me does... But an even bigger part of me appreciates the fact that staying up and sleeping in that late is the only way I can talk to and share sleep-time with my husband. For now, this is working for us.
Now, it'll be a different story once we both start back to class schedules. But for now, yeah... I'm not gonna feel ashamed!
I love being at home during the day for another reason, also... I get to be here when the UPS man comes and brings more items we've ordered! In the past few days we've received a copy of The King's Speech (that I bought on Cyber Monday from Target.com for $7.99!!), a new peacoat for me (!!), and a mystery package from Macy's that I'm not allowed to open (!!!!!!!). I'm still waiting on our Christmas cards, a "conception kit" (15 ovulation strips and 5 pregnancy tests, all for $16.95!), and one of my lovely husband's Christmas gifts to come in... Any day now!
I just love getting stuff in the mail. Feels like Christmas every day!
Night y'all!
The past few days at home have been uncharacteristically relaxed (aka lazy). I've only left the house to get food, and haven't driven out of town since I got home from school on Thursday. Which mean, it's been almost a whole week since I've been on a highway. I can sincerely say that this is probably the longest I've ever gone without having to go out of town since I've been in graduate school. It just dawned on me, too... But I've been able to tell a difference. I love staying home, I really do. The only problem I'm finding is that the longer I stay home, the more my desire to leave the house decreases. I don't want to go anywhere because staying home feels so nice! I know once I have babies and have to stay home, I'll probably be itching to leave, but right now when my only obligation is studying for one final... It feels good to stay up til 3, sleep in til 12:30... And not have any guilt about it. I know I should probably feel embarrassed to admit that sleep schedule and I guess a part of me does... But an even bigger part of me appreciates the fact that staying up and sleeping in that late is the only way I can talk to and share sleep-time with my husband. For now, this is working for us.
Now, it'll be a different story once we both start back to class schedules. But for now, yeah... I'm not gonna feel ashamed!
I love being at home during the day for another reason, also... I get to be here when the UPS man comes and brings more items we've ordered! In the past few days we've received a copy of The King's Speech (that I bought on Cyber Monday from Target.com for $7.99!!), a new peacoat for me (!!), and a mystery package from Macy's that I'm not allowed to open (!!!!!!!). I'm still waiting on our Christmas cards, a "conception kit" (15 ovulation strips and 5 pregnancy tests, all for $16.95!), and one of my lovely husband's Christmas gifts to come in... Any day now!
I just love getting stuff in the mail. Feels like Christmas every day!
Night y'all!
Monday, December 12, 2011
The Made Post
How many of you have watched MTV's show "Made"?
I used to watch it constantly when I was in high school, and have recently added it to my DVR list. Like so many other "transformation" shows I'm obsessed with ("Heavy", "Biggest Loser", "I Used to be Fat", "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition", etc.) it always gives me a sense of curiosity, motivation, and determination. "Made", in particular, begs the question... What would I be "made" to be, if given the opportunity?
I think, if expense was no issue and resources were readily available (trainer, facilities, materials, etc.) I would want to be made into a marathon runner. (Runner friends, is there a term for that?) I've always been amazed at my friends and family who participate in 5k's and marathons. It takes so much dedication, training, and skill. I've never (never ever ever) been a runner or at all enjoyed running. Having a trainer to teach me correct breathing patterns and to push me further than I push myself would be amazing. This may sound strange but a recurring theme in my dreams (this happens when I dream at least once a week) is that I run from one place to another. In my dream, it's always so easy... My chest never hurts, my knees never hurt, my feet never hurt... And it always feels like second nature. When I wake up from these dreams, I feel like I could run for miles. I feel like I want to run for miles. And then I really wake up and realize that it's not a possibility for me in the condition my lungs and body are in right now. To have someone recondition my body and teach me how to experience that freeing, conquer-the-world feeling I get in my dreams would be unbelievable. Maybe one day our budget will allow for me to have a personal trainer.
I used to watch it constantly when I was in high school, and have recently added it to my DVR list. Like so many other "transformation" shows I'm obsessed with ("Heavy", "Biggest Loser", "I Used to be Fat", "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition", etc.) it always gives me a sense of curiosity, motivation, and determination. "Made", in particular, begs the question... What would I be "made" to be, if given the opportunity?
I think, if expense was no issue and resources were readily available (trainer, facilities, materials, etc.) I would want to be made into a marathon runner. (Runner friends, is there a term for that?) I've always been amazed at my friends and family who participate in 5k's and marathons. It takes so much dedication, training, and skill. I've never (never ever ever) been a runner or at all enjoyed running. Having a trainer to teach me correct breathing patterns and to push me further than I push myself would be amazing. This may sound strange but a recurring theme in my dreams (this happens when I dream at least once a week) is that I run from one place to another. In my dream, it's always so easy... My chest never hurts, my knees never hurt, my feet never hurt... And it always feels like second nature. When I wake up from these dreams, I feel like I could run for miles. I feel like I want to run for miles. And then I really wake up and realize that it's not a possibility for me in the condition my lungs and body are in right now. To have someone recondition my body and teach me how to experience that freeing, conquer-the-world feeling I get in my dreams would be unbelievable. Maybe one day our budget will allow for me to have a personal trainer.
What do you want to be "made" into?
Sunday, December 11, 2011
The "Have a Little Faith" Post
I recorded a movie on ABC a week ago called "Have a Little Faith". There was an episode of Dr. Phil about it and it looked interesting, so I DVR'd it. I finally got around to watching it tonight and was really impressed. Well, impressed doesn't seem like the right word. Ya know those moments of conviction, as a Christian (or probably a person of any religion) when God speaks when you didn't even know you should be listening? That's what I loved about this movie. Rabbi Louis was (and is, even in death) an inspirational man. At the beginning of the movie, Mitch Albom (author of the best-sellers Tuesdays With Morrie, 5 People You Meet in Heaven, and For One More Day) is asked by his childhood rabbi, Albert Louis, to give a eulogy at his funeral upon his death. This prompts years of visits between the author and rabbi so Albom can get to know the person he will be speaking about. My favorite parts of the movie are these visits. Rabbi Louis has a light-hearted and warm spirit and the way he explains his beliefs are so eloquent and simple (sound familiar?). Here is an example:
(As Rabbi Albert Louis and Mitch Albom pass a Hindu woman in the grocery store, she waves and says, "Hello, Rabbi.")
Louis: Nice young woman. Hindu. Fascinating religion. Such customs.
Albom: Aren't you supposed to cheerlead your own religion?
Louis: OUR own religion. I do. I think ours is an infinitely beautiful faith.
Albom: Well, if our religion is so special, how can you be supportive of others?
Louis: Did God make trees?
Albom: What?
Louis: Did God make trees?
Albom: Yeah.
Louis: Why trees? Why not a tree? I mean, he's God. What He makes is perfect, so why not one perfect tree for the whole earth? Instead, he gave us the oak, the spruce, the elm, the redwood. So maybe faith is the same: Many trees, the branches all going to him.
Albom: Have you looked at the world lately? The trees are attacking each other.
Louis: That's not faith. That's hate.
Albom: Engaged in the name of religion.
Louis: And wrongly. "Thou shalt not kill." "Honor thy neighbor." If I mean these things and the other guy means these things... What do ya get?
Albom: Peace on Earth.
Just a little something to think about, as we go into this holiday season.
Night y'all!
P.S. I highly recommend finding a way to see this movie, and I fully intend on purchasing and reading Mitch Albom's book Have a Little Faith, upon which the movie is based.
(As Rabbi Albert Louis and Mitch Albom pass a Hindu woman in the grocery store, she waves and says, "Hello, Rabbi.")
Louis: Nice young woman. Hindu. Fascinating religion. Such customs.
Albom: Aren't you supposed to cheerlead your own religion?
Louis: OUR own religion. I do. I think ours is an infinitely beautiful faith.
Albom: Well, if our religion is so special, how can you be supportive of others?
Louis: Did God make trees?
Albom: What?
Louis: Did God make trees?
Albom: Yeah.
Louis: Why trees? Why not a tree? I mean, he's God. What He makes is perfect, so why not one perfect tree for the whole earth? Instead, he gave us the oak, the spruce, the elm, the redwood. So maybe faith is the same: Many trees, the branches all going to him.
Albom: Have you looked at the world lately? The trees are attacking each other.
Louis: That's not faith. That's hate.
Albom: Engaged in the name of religion.
Louis: And wrongly. "Thou shalt not kill." "Honor thy neighbor." If I mean these things and the other guy means these things... What do ya get?
Albom: Peace on Earth.
Just a little something to think about, as we go into this holiday season.
Night y'all!
P.S. I highly recommend finding a way to see this movie, and I fully intend on purchasing and reading Mitch Albom's book Have a Little Faith, upon which the movie is based.
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