Monday, January 7, 2013

There are NO Excuses!!!

It's a decision I need to make! 

NO excuses!

It's easy to find a million reason why I didn't eat healthy today, why I didn't get any exercise today, why I didn't get this, that, or the other done.

I had a 2 day migraine over the weekend.

I donated blood last week. 
We went shopping late one evening last week. 
We ate out. 
I've been good so I deserve a treat. 
It's post baby weight. 
It's my thyroid's fault. 
It's my antidepressants.
I can't get to the gym cuz I don't have someone to watch the kids/there's no school and preschool.

Excuses can't be the reason anymore.  I always seem to find time to watch certain shows on TV or find time to read.  So I need to make the change myself.  I need to push myself because I know I can do it if I try. 

Sometimes I just need a little push to help me. 

Sometimes I just need a swift kick in the rear.

Tonight I was watching The Biggest Loser.  (I had given up on it before because of all the game play and voting people off or getting immunities and not earning them.... and now eliminations have been because they didn't do the work/lose the weight.)  I liked how they brought kids on the show too.  I got the new batteries out and loaded up my Wii remote and my Fit board.  Did half an hour of step while watching TV.

The best part?

Scrappy got his step stool out and was doing it right along with me.

Can't be a much better influence than that on the kids, huh?

I think I'm going to reward myself now... with a nice hot shower :)  (and both kids sleeping!!)

Friday, January 4, 2013

Back to TOPS!

So far so good with the new year!!  I have been working pretty hard on sticking to my resolutions.  Even though I haven't made it to the gym yet this year (Scrappy is still on winter break from school) I have managed to be a bit more active just here at home.  I have been making quite a bit of progress on my sorting and purging project also.  My kitchen is slowly but surely coming to order.  I'll post pictures once I get closer to being done with it.  I've been very persistent with keeping my counter tops cleaned off and getting dishes washed, which was usually something I would procrastinate on.

Yesterday I went back to TOPS for the first time in over 2 months.  I must say, in spite of everything that has happened since last time I was there, including my miscarriage the beginning of November, I'm happy to report I gained only 6 1/2 pounds where I had thought it was more like 10 or so.  I have also been recording EVERYTHING I have had to eat since Jan 1.  I'm still working on my plan to attend as many meetings as possible this year for TOPS.  We talked about officer positions, and I am the #1 choice for President.  However, I have a dilemma.  I no longer have child care for Scrappy.  My friend who had been babysitting for me has a full time job now so she can no longer watch him.  So now the search is on for a morning sitter.  I'm really hoping to get this figured out soon!!!

I'm kind of lacking in the energy department today.  I was told to "take it easy" for the next 24 hours because I donated blood last night.  My husband went with and tried donating for the first time, but unfortunately his blood pressure was a little too high, so he was rejected.  We ended up picking up supper on the way home since it took longer than we had planned.  We ended up eating out the night before too because we spent a couple hours trying to find new snowpants  and winter coats for the kids.  (Normally I pick up new coats for them in early spring when they are on clearance, but their coats were still big, so I didn't get them new ones.  Of course, they had growth spurts now and their stuff is too small :/  But their new stuff should fit this year and next too since they're each a size too big....)  Over the weekend, I need to be sure to cook healthy and plan out meals for next week.  Realistically, we could have had leftovers, but we decided dinner out was just easier (though not healthier).

I'm having some trouble explaining why we need to eat healthy to my daughter.  Beau, like most kids, would prefer chips and fries at every meal.  We got into an argument about breakfast this morning.  She asked what was for breakfast since we had muffins the last 2 mornings.  I told her there are leftover muffins, granola bars, cereal, or toast.  Of course, instead of having a granola bar, she wanted one of Scrappy's high calorie/high fat bars for breakfast.  Then she decided that if she couldn't have one, either could he.  Which started the argument about who is the parent in the house.  Hubby and I then explained to her - again - why Scrappy needs high calorie and high fat foods and she doesn't.  She is a little overweight already - not enough to be concerned about, especially since she's only 9 - but I don't want her to have to go through a lot of what I did dealing with weight problems.  If she can learn healthy eating habits now, it will help her in the long run.  I've been trying really hard to set a good example, including passing on junk food, limiting sweets, planning healthy meals, and being active.  I really don't know what else I can do to help her more....

Monday, December 31, 2012

Pain Relief!

On Friday I had gone to the dentist.  I lost a filling in one of my back teeth, and then the tooth broke even more.  I had been playing phone tag with one of the dentists in town for a while, but they stopped returning my calls.  Of course whenever I tried calling them, I always got the answering machine.  After talking to hubby, we decided I should just take a little bit of money out of our construction fund to pay for my tooth since we don't have dental insurance.  Fortunately I was able to get into a different dental clinic a few towns away.  I had been there before and they are VERY good!!  I called Friday morning and was able to get in Friday afternoon.  Because of the break, the dentist recommended I have it pulled because a crown and root canal would not have been worth the expense.

As my luck has it, I ended up getting dry socket over the weekend :(  That made for a very crabby mom considering it acted up the worst at night, so I got very little sleep.  This morning I called at 8:02am and was able to get in at 9!!  I checked in and had literally just sat down when the nurse called me back.  Of course it hurt like crazy when the dentist stuck the packing in my socket - it's basically gauze with medication on it and a wire running through it.  But after a little bit, the pain started to dull.  Now I can barely feel it.  I have to go back on Wednesday to have the packing removed and to see if it needs to be repacked.  I was told it is possible the packing may fall out in the meantime, but hopefully it doesn't!!

I still can't believe the year is over!!!  In another month or so, hopefully the addition will be done.  A couple friends of mine said if I provide beverages, they would come over to help paint.  (I think that's why hubs said we should paint before we put the flooring or trim in! haha!)





There's not a lot to see on the inside yet.  The bathroom, closet, and half wall are framed, but I don't have pictures of all that yet.

I am also looking for more ways to save some money this year.  I have been reading a few blogs.  This one is by far my favorite for ideas and inspirations for everything and anything you can think of!  I also like what I've found on this one so far too.  It helps to break the daunting tasks associated with minimalizing into small steps to add into your daily routine.

Well, since it IS New Year's, I suppose I need to get ready to celebrate with my munchkins.  They just informed me they are having a slumber party in the living room :/  I told them they needed to clean up the living room before we do anything.  Daddy is on snack duty and is hitting up the store for some sparkling grape juice and chips for the kiddos, and hopefully bringing home a bottle of wine for us to share.

Have a safe and happy New Year!

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Another Year

As the year is coming to a close, I look back and came to a realization.  I really didn't do anything this year.  Nothing memorable really.  Basically a year wasted away, days blurring into one another. 

I'm back where I started with my weight loss.  I haven't been to TOPS in 2 months because lack of motivation and because I don't want to deal with one of the nasty old ladies there.

There have been a lot of decisions made.  Now actions need to be taken on the decisions. 

Our house is currently under construction, as we are adding on to the back of the house.  But I don't want the new part to be overrun with junk and crap.  All the chaos has been greatly contributing to my anxiety.  That is why I have taken a little time to find some 'tools' to help me control the chaos.  I'll share more on the specific websites as I apply some of the methods, and report on the effectiveness of the methods.  I know, not everything works for everyone.  I need to figure out what works for me.

Since tomorrow is New Year's Eve, I've already made a list of what my resolutions are for the new year.

1) I am going to give myself designated time to update my blog at least 2x per week.

2) I am going to have office hours at least 1x per week so I can get some work done with my businesses.  Even if it is just filing or sending emails!

3) I'm going to focus more on my weight loss.  I have 3 steps to this:
  1. Going back to TOPS weekly - even if it's only for weigh in and I can't stay for the meeting
  2. Tracking all of my food and water (since I know I don't drink enough water)
  3. Do some sort of exercise every day, even if I can't get to the gym
4)  Organize and PURGE - get rid of stuff!!!  I am already starting on this one.  I have a box started for garage sale stuff, a box for the Epilepsy stuff, and a tote with clothes for my favorite consignment store (the last time I bought stuff there, I paid $0.13 for 2 pairs of like-new jeans for Scrappy since I had money on account from previous sales.)  I've also learned what items she likes, so when I took the last batch in, she kept it all :)  I will definitely be posting pictures!!

5) Spend a little more Me-Time - I want to set up morning and evening routines for myself because a lot of days, my personal stuff is waylaid because of something or another of the kids'. 

The dishes are calling my name and the cupboards aren't emptying themselves.... so onward I go!

Monday, September 10, 2012

Surviving

I survived the weekend.  It was very difficult though!  At TOPS I was down 3 pounds this week, which is encouraging.  When I see progress on the scale, I have more motivation to keep it up.  I've been trying to push myself to get more motivated and exercise more too.  

And now that I have the motivation to go to the gym, I can't.  They are closed for remodeling until Wednesday :(  And I've also found out that a friend of mine goes to the same gym, and we've been missing each other just by an hour out there.  We're going to try coordinating to go together for accountability and motivational purposes.

I have a confession to make.  I had been down a total of 27 pounds not too long after we had lost Baden.  But because of the stress and depression I've been fighting with, I have gained almost all of it back.  As of last weigh in, I am a total of 5 pounds below my starting weight at TOPS, which is my highest weight ever.  And I'm not happy about it.  I do know that being on the 'diabetic diet' does have significant weight loss effects just from when I was on it when I was pregnant.  However, unlike when I was pregnant, I have been able to incorporate exercise into the mix.

Hitting the gym has also helped to deal with more of my stress too.  All the pent-up energy from being angry or frustrated I redirect to my workout.  Since the weather is a bit cooler now, I'm going to try to get out walking in the neighborhood.  Unfortunately I won't be able to multitask and do my reading while I'm walking, so I'll have to make up for that somehow.

I've been trying to plan out my meals to help with keeping my carbs in check.  Saturday I had class and packed a lunch of stir-fried veggies and a little rice to take with me.  For supper we were invited to the campground to eat with my parents and family.  Unfortunately most of what was being served was not on my menu.  I brought my own pork chops and a summer squash since, in addition to the low carbs, the dietitian said "low salt and low fat."   They were serving ribs, corn, potatoes, and cornbread.  I can have potatoes, but I didn't realize they were being served in a creamy gravy.  I took some anyway and scraped most of the sauce off and also had a half ear of corn.  I did take a little bite off of my husband's cornbread, just so I could have a taste.

I'm very proud of myself for not giving in and breaking down.  I did it again on Sunday for lunch when we went to the family reunion too.  I'm still amazed I was able to peel off and give up my crispy chicken skin (my FAVE!!) to my husband.  A few tablespoons of tater tot hotdish, some applesauce, some musk melon.  Like I said, I'm surviving.  It's amazing how easily I've been saying no to some of the things I really love.

The hard thing to give up is my Coke.  If I don't have any, I end up with a horrid migraine.  So I've allowed a compromise:  I use one meal's carbs toward one can of Coke, usually in the morning because I have that and some eggs for breakfast.  My doc has suggested that giving up caffeine will help with my fluid retention problem.  But fall is coming and I love my coffee. I just can't bring myself to drinking decaf.  I think I should be OK as long as I don't add a bunch of carbs in sweeteners/creamers to it.  I'll have to check my Coffeemate, since I have 2 bottles of it.

I suppose - I need to try to get motivated for the day.  Scrappy has preschool orientation tonight and starts preschool on Thursday.  I need to get some laundry done, maybe throw him in the tub, and I really should get my house cleaned up and catch up on dishes.  I can't wait until we start (and finish!) construction so I have a place to actually PUT things!  And I can't wait to get my new office since our contractor has decided to put another room on the 2nd floor!!  This just isn't moving fast enough for me :(  Oh well, good things come to those who wait, right?  Right?

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

A whole new life...

is going to be starting tomorrow.  I went to meet with the dietitian today.  Exactly what I thought would happen was confirmed. 

I got a phone call from the doctor's office last night.  When he ordered the blood draw, they measured my A1C, which has to do with blood glucose.  My results came back at 6.1, which they told me is at the top of the normal range. 

Today the dietitian told me that it puts me into the classification of 'pre-diabetic.'  I already knew that my chance of Type 2 is higher because of having gestational diabetes with my last pregnancy.  Now, being pre-diabetic, I'm back on the diabetic diet.

Except it's not a diet.

It's a permanent change.

Goodbye pasta, mac and cheese, and instant mashed potatoes :(  Only a total of 45 g of carbs allowed per meal.  But the carbs add up quick, considering there are carbs in milk.  I need to start looking up recipes that are low carb/no carb.  This is going to be HARD!!!  And giving up most of my soda too!  Just one can a day.... better start stocking up on the Mio and generic brands of it too!!  (Can't have Crystal Light cuz it has aspartame, which gives me migraines.)

Well, gotta get some homework done now.  Did some canning today - 21 quarts of spaghetti sauce!  Lots more tomatoes to do tomorrow after TOPS too!!  Gonna be a BUSY day :)

The End of Summer

Today marks the first day of school here.  I don't know where the summer went, but it seems it went by too fast.  It's also canning season.  We seem to have more tomatoes this year than we did last year, and unfortunately I am low on jars and on freezer space, so freezing isn't an option.  I've put off doing any more applesauce for a while because we have been doing salsa and one batch of spaghetti sauce (so far).  Use up what we raise before we do what we buy, right?

I finally went to the doctor last week - saw a new one since I'm not too happy with my normal one.  He hasn't been listening to me, which is what a doctor is supposed to do.  I explain why I'm there, and he only addresses one concern and sends me on my way.  This one listened and addressed my concerns.  One was about my blood pressure since the last 2 times I was in the ER it was higher than normal.  He recommended I meet with a dietitian, which I already have an appointment scheduled for.  He also recommended I ease up on both caffeine and salt.

I can't believe I just sent Beau off to 4th grade!  She is growing up way too fast.  She decided she was ready for a new style, so last week she had her hair cut SHORT.  I think it looks really cute on her - she looks like a pixie :)




Next week my Scrappyman will be starting preschool.  We have orientation on Monday, then he starts next Thursday.  I can't believe he's already 4!!  Where has the time gone?!?!? (He thinks he's old enough to shave, too, since his uncle bought him a play shaving kit.)



Friday Scrappy had a doctor's appointment.  After his appointment, we went for lunch, then Daddy went to get some ink done and I took the kids to Silver Lake Park to chase the geese for a while.  The geese are pretty aggressive and kinda scary!! 


His 4th rose for Cystic Fibrosis - one for each birthday Scrappy has

Saturday we took the kids to the Minnesota Zoo as our last "hoorah" before school started.  The dolphins are going to be leaving next week, so we got to see them one last time.  They have a new penguin exhibit, which we liked.  Scrappy loved it too because one of the penguins was chasing his shoe laces along the side of the glass.  It was super cute!!  There is a new black bear exhibit that is in the works and not open yet, but we could see the black bear behind one of the other cages.

I'm starting to wonder if Scrappy doesn't get motion sickness.  Most of the time he does pretty good in the car, but when we went to St Cloud, several times when we've gone to Rochester, and on Saturday when we went to the zoo, he got sick in the van.  This time he did have a fever when we got home, which lasted through Monday, but not the other times.  I'm going to ask about that next time I talk to his nurse...  As a result of his fever, we spent the rest of the long weekend just hanging out...