Wednesday, April 17, 2013

My week in a nutshell, and why I miss Cape Breton today.

Okay, so I didn't post my weigh in results on Monday.  By Tuesday morning my inbox was full, and it was pretty funny, most thought I didn't do a post because I had gained.  Let me tell ya, it's not so!  Fourteen weeks in a row this mama has lost!  Pretty good eh?  And then came this week.
It has been nine months since I suffered with a kidney infection, it's almost a record for me, but on Sunday I was hit, and I was hit badly.  When I get them this bad, I have an upset stomach to boot, and when I get that I don't feel like eating anything...until I start feeling better, and then I get terrible cravings, that usually include a trip to McDonald's.  What is it about their grease and an upset stomach?

Today I am almost walking upright again, as a mom that has a hubby who is out of town, again, I don't really have a choice to be sick.  Kids have to be fed, picked up, dropped off, changed, and fed!  LOL...with such a variety of ages in the house, I am like a mom of all trades!

But here my bigger challenge as the weekend draws near, both my hubby and I share the same birthday, and this year a celebration is in order after the rough year we have had, not to mention that we are hitting the big 4-0!  I am hoping he has some dancing built into his surprise birthday plans so that I can burn off at least of the few extra calories that I take in as we celebrate.  It is also my niece's first birthday this weekend, but I am getting a bit better when I go to birthday parties to prepare to resist any treats that I might want.  But going out for our birthday supper, with drinks, well, it will be harder to resist letting down my guard.  I am hoping to add in some extra walks if the weather cooperates, as well as my back, lol.  But since I could barely walk Sunday, Monday or Tuesday, I have not been adding in my exercise as I promised.  What do they say about the best laid plans?  I should have no excuse tomorrow, as I am up moving about better today.

And one last note totally off subject, but like many people from across the country today, I was so sad to hear about Rita MacNeil's passing.  As the morning went by I found myself listening to some of her songs that I liked, and of course, I listened to Matt Minglewood's version of Working Man.  It wasn't until a friend of mine posted "Home I'll Be" that I started crying, and like many Cape Bretoner's who find themselves living away, I have been lonesome for the rest of the day.  It would have been nice today to sit in my mom's kitchen and have a cup of tea while we listened to some of Rita's songs together.  Last year I had watched a special just around Christmas time that Rita did about her book.  I was so moved by her life story, many details that I had never heard before, that I emailed her.  And we exchanged a few emails, which touched my heart then, and again today I thought of how kind she was.   And then I thought, I bet many will remember her for her singing, but I am willing to bet that many more will first think of her kindness, and isn't that a wonderful legacy to leave this world?  Rest in peace Rita, you were a beautiful soul, and today is one of those days that I am proud to say I am from Cape Breton, just like you.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Oh boy, what did I get myself into?

Wow, when I asked you all to challenge me, I was expecting a few people to send some nice suggestions of things to try as far as exercise go.  Two days later, I am still receiving emails about activities and classes to try.

And since I publicly made the commitment, I will be sharing over the next few weeks about all the classes that I attend right here in the blog.  So far I have been challenged with Zumba, water aerobics, yoga, group kick, jogging, aquasize, swimming, and mentions of roller derby and belly dancing...although the last two, April and Melissa did not so much challenge me, and I do not have skates for derby, or the belly for belly dancing, so those two are in limbo for now.  But I will even go one step further, so to speak, and I am going to post every single night what I did for exercise on that day, and a picture.  Now if you know me, you know I do not like getting my picture taken, so it will be a picture of the class, or the building, or one of the scenery if I am outside...lol.

So, I will post every day on my facebook in the morning which class I am attending, or what I am doing for the day, and if anyone in Fort McMurray wants to join me, I would love the company, just try to control your laughter for the uncoordinated moves during some of the classes.  And if you know any classes that I might enjoy, keep em coming.

The only thing that I am committing to more than one right now is yoga.  Angela MacDonald is a woman whom I have long admired, and over the last two years or so I have watched her transform as she has started her own business here in Fort McMurray teaching yoga.  I don't think she has ever looked so good, she is radiant, and says it has much to do with yoga, and eating better.  I have known her since our early days in Mabou, and I trust her enough that when she says that I will be okay in her Saturday morning classes starting in May at Holy Trinity as a beyond green beginner.  She also assures me that I do not need to be flexible, and that is a myth, but practicing yoga will give me more flexibility.  So that is the one major thing I am committing to, her class starting in May...that will give me enough time too to find some work out pants, lol.

In the meantime, since I did not put a schedule together yet, tonight I will start with a good walk some time after supper, even if it is at 10p.m. when I can finally get out.  Watch for the picture!  And thanks again for the support, everyone who is reading this blog and sharing it are becoming wonderful friends, friends I never expected to have when I started this sharing.

The one other project that I started that I wanted to mention is a special one.  I am a believer in showing gratitude, writing what I am grateful for, and laying my life out for others to examine so that they can relate in some way.  I have written several blogs about things and people I am grateful for in my life.  But last night while writing something else, I came up with another idea.  Every morning I am going to find someone in my life and tell them why I am grateful for them.  I am starting with people on my facebook, but will reach out to others in my life randomly as well.  And I am going to challenge everyone that reads this to try it as well, even if it is for one single time, you don't know how you might lift someone's spirits.  It might sound mushy...but imagine if someone you haven't heard from in a while suddenly sent you a little message saying that they were grateful for you in their lives, it would feel good wouldn't it?  Why not pass it on?  I am sure some of my friends, and definitely some of my family might think I am getting light in the head and not just the body, but that's okay, and yep, I will share some of the good reactions I get when I catch someone off guard, but I will respect their privacy while doing so, it is just another way to make life a little sweeter.


Monday, April 8, 2013

Oh, I have a wicked idea!

Okay, so I may be a food addict.  I started thinking tonight, that I usually have my weekly suppers in my head at the beginning of the week.  I look up recipes, and read cookbooks just for fun.  I love having people over and cooking for them and I often feel like I have let the entire family down if someone does not like what I make, or heaven forbid I run out of time and make something quick and easy.  I can honestly say without a doubt in my mind I have never put kraft dinner on the table for Tim in our 18 years of marriage, and I don't think bologna is a meal.  LOL....no freaking wonder I had gained weight the last few years!

But tonight ladies and gentlemen, I am once again happy to report that for the 13th week in a row, I have lost some weight.  Over the course of the last week I lost 2.8 pounds!  And if you have been following this blog, you know what that means.....I am back in the 180's!  Officially the terrible number is still high, at 188.4, but I am just passing through the 180's, I don't intend to stay.

This last week, I tried to eat less bread, or substitute things like my crackers and cheese with fruits and gluten free products.  I still have not found time to start doing a regular routine of exercise, but on the warmer days(lol, not many lately!) I have been taking the younger two kids for walks.  But I am really starting to feel I need to find a class to take, or maybe even just go swimming a few times a week(although I am a terrible swimmer, I love the water).  Send me some suggestions of fun things to do, and don't say rock climbing because I cannot haul this large butt up the side of any wall, never mind that I am terrified of heights and would be dangling on a rope at MacDonald Island while someone called Tim to talk me down.  I am so beyond willing to try a yoga class, but that would entail shopping for an outfit, and then getting everyone to sign some kind of waiver that took the class that they would never repeat what they say me trying, and not able to do during said class.  Cheryl Arsenault, who hails from Mabou and now lives in Calgary has been a wonderful supporter of my blog, and tonight she made a comment about trying a class as well...maybe I will try one to match the one she takes....oh, yeah, that is a wicked idea, send me your idea...but you have to do it once as well, and I will match it!  Oh, I love it!  Again, no rock climbing, lol...or running 10km either, something that will not put me into a coma or heart failure...something doable!  Bring it on!

And I have another quick confession, I am still not making time with any friends for even a coffee.  I am a pretty organized person as far as my kids are concerned, but I lack motivation or the skill at taking time for myself.  This has been an ongoing issue for me since, oh, Mitchell was born.  Did I mention Mitchell is almost 16?  I found myself telling a mom tonight at Tops that she should take time for herself, she deserved it.  And on the drive home I was thinking, how can I give that advice, and then not think that I deserve the same?  Told you it was an ONGOING issue, lol...but I am taking some baby steps, and am challenging myself to blog some more about it this week, through some rants and one book that I plan to tell you about to see if anyone is interested in doing the things in this book with me, and I will once again, post everything of my experience here.  I think it will be fun, but for now, I better hit the sack as my new addition is challenging me with sleep deprivation the last few nights.

And if you read all the way to here, I thank you, and ask that you click on the "Mommy Blog" symbol to the top right...you guys made me number one for a full week in my category, and I moved to #55 overall on a list of 4500 bloggers!  And I can't believe the emails that I am getting from all over the world from people who are a) trying to lose weight or b) are going through a bone marrow transplant.  We can connect with so many, and it is always so astounding to find out that someone else feels the same way about things that they are going through, even when you think that you are all alone in your own little world....and it can be so comforting.

Thanks again, and here is a picture of me and Tim from when we got to meet Rick Mercer on the weekend...and yep, I will tell you all about that in the next day or two!  And yes, I know I look like I am in pain...I really am starting a countdown when I see my doctor tomorrow for when these GD braces come off!


Monday, April 1, 2013

So Excited!

This was a very, very hard week as far as weight loss goes.  I am at week 12 since I really started to pay attention to my body, and what I was putting into it, and this week I wanted to lose so badly I could taste it, and I did.  It was only .6 of a pound, but let me tell ya, I'll take it!  It was a stress filled week, as hubby was out of town, again, the hot water tank broke, and I was getting everything ready for Easter, by myself, again, lol.  Add in that we had friends over for a big meal one night, with wine, and the night that the hot water tank broke was definitely a pizza night.

I have also started making some subtle changes to my diet, and my body went into a massive craving, headache, just yucky all over kind of feeling.  I am hoping that the worst is over as far as that goes, except that I am still craving cheese.  I am trying to cut out dairy and white flour...to start, and have dramatically cut back on my sugar intake.  Years ago I had seen a naturopath and he had done several tests and had highly recommended that I give up dairy.  I did, for a while, but with kids, and a great love of cheese, I just could not keep it up.  But now that I want to be healthier, I want to give it another shot and see if it makes a genuine difference on how I feel physically.

Tonight, I feel strong, and ready to take on a new week, and a new month!  I am sitting at 191.2 tonight, and next Monday I desperately want to see that scale hit somewhere below that 190 mark, cheer me on and wish me luck!