Must Be Doing Something Right

Whoo Hoo! I lost another 3 pounds! After all of the ups and downs this past month, it's starting to pay off. I am down a total of 9 pounds since the beginning of the year. It took a while for me to re-learn everything I did a couple of years ago. The only difference now is I don't tell myself I can't have anything. That was my downfall before. If I was told I couldn't eat chocolate, I would sneak it and devoir it. But now, with a little self control, I allow myself the pleasures in life. My wonderful 7 year old neice offered me a Chocolate Kiss this afternoon. I took one and savored it. It was sooooo good. When she offered me another one, I told her "no thanks". Now that takes willpower! I have felt like crap for the past week now and maybe that has something to do with my weight loss. I haven't eaten a lot, but I have been getting my calories. I eat a lot of pretzels yesterday because they were settling my stomach. I know it was too much salt, especially this morning when my fingers were all swelled up. Apparently it didn't affect my weight any. I also had a good night sleep for once, even though I slept without my CPAP mask. Until this cold clears, I probably won't. It prevents me for having a productive cough because it is forcing air in when you want air to come out. Keeping my fingers crossed that I get all better soon. We start singing in church this week and all the way through Lent. We have 7 weeks of choir, then I plan to sing a solo in church. I'm a bit nervous, but I shouldn't be. I have been singing for 23 years and spent 6 nights a week in Karaoke bars for years. God will be with me and I will get through it.

Will He or Won't He?

Chuck and I have been together for 11 years. In that time, he has only bought me something for Valentines day once. That one time, he came home with flowers, candy (that I had to share with him) and a card. Nothing since. I kept the card because it was a very nice one. Plus it reminds me that he does care. So now the question remains.... Will He or Won't He? He was alone at Walmart on Thursday evening while I was at choir practice, but he probably forgot. I mentioned the card because I remember growing up my Dad used to give my Mom the same card every year for Valentines Day and the same for their anniversary. My Mom would read the card and say Thank You and put it away for the next year. I thought it was so cute. My Dad has been gone 10 years and Mom still has those cards tucked away. I'm sure she pulls them out from time to time, just for the warm memories.

DaniLynn

Sigh of Relief

I spent Tuesday and Wednesday fretting about the snow storm moving through. I'm used to the snow. I've lived in Michigan my whole life. I rearranged appointments and stocked the house with essentials expecting to be snowed in for a while. Last night I felt like an idiot. We got about 6 inches of snow over a period of 36 hours. No big deal for us. Then I'm watching the news and they are showing people completely snowed in on the east coast with businesses and even the Federal Government closed down. I heard this morning that the main highways going through Philadelphia were closed and they pulled the plows off the road because they weren't able to see. I guess I overreacted. I know better than that. I hate having this anxiety disorder that prevents me from leaving the house during snowy weather. A few years ago, Chuck and I were heading to the grocery store the morning after a big storm. We came upon an accident that had just happened. It was only a single vehicle that skidded off the road. That's nothing new around here. While we were waiting for the police to clear the road so we could get through, I looked over at the mini van and saw a man slumped over in the back seat. I read in the newspaper later that he had died on impact. That has stuck in my mind ever since. I think that is why I'm afraid to ride in the car when the roads are bad. I have been known to have complete meltdowns in the car, to the point where Chuck wants to drop me on the side of the road! I'm a lot better this year thanks to the meds that the doctor put me on. I also found out that the high dose of Thyroid medication I take also has something to do with my anxiety. Another "storm" is coming Sunday night through Monday. I promise I won't freak out about this one.

DaniLynn

Time to Get Back on Track

I had my first setback. I gained 1 pound at my weigh-in yesterday. I blame it on my carelessness with the pizza at our Super Bowl Party at my brother & sister-in-laws house. My sister-in-law and I had been accepted to host a Digiorno House Party from HouseParty.com. We each received coupons for free pizzas and $4 off coupons to share with our guests. The timing was perfect! We didn't have to figure out what to have for the Big Game. Of course, we had heathy choices also: Salad bar with all the fixings, lots of fresh fruit and cheese and crackers. My problem was I started eating about 5pm and didn't stop grazing. The fruit was sooo good and I wanted to try all the different types of pizza so I could report back to HouseParty.com. Now I need to do a couple of extra workouts this week to get myself back on track. I got to thinking... if I lose 2 pounds a week for the next year (52 weeks) I will lose 104 pounds. That will get me well on my way to my goal. I get excited thinking about it. I would love to be pain free (or even feel less pain), I want to get off my cholestoral and heartburn meds. If I can get my thyroid meds down some, I can probably get rid of the anxiety meds I'm on to counteract the side effects from the thyroid meds. I watch Biggest Loser every week and see how the people that are larger than I am with worst health issues lose the weight and make a better life for themselves. I want that for me too, just not to that extreme. I read in a magazine recently that the contestants on the show stop drinking water the morning of the weigh-in and take dieretics for water weight gain just so they can show big numbers. It's not healthy! They stress on the show the importance of drinking a lot of water and eating all the calories you are supposed to, but then the producers let the contestants risk their health for high numbers. High weight loss does not create ratings. The stories of these people and their lifelong struggle is why I watch. It's inspirational. When the show first started, I used to watch it with a bowl of popcorn or ice cream in my lap. Although I still have a snack from time to time, it is usually some fresh fruit, rice cakes, or lowfat popcorn. The show has changed my life. Anyway... time to work out and shed some more pounds!

It's Never Ending....

Saturday night we went to the World Championship Ice Racing event at our local arena. It was neat, but they had to keep the doors open because of the fumes and there wasn't much room to keep all of the bikes & quads. It was so cold. I'm glad I wore extra layers! We got home rather late and were worried about the dog being alone so long. As soon as we got out of the car, Chuck felt something bump him on the leg. It was Buddy, our beagle. My first thought was that someone broke into the house let the dog out. Boy was I wrong! Buddy had chewed a hole through the exterior door! We live in a mobile home, so the door was only fiberglass and Styrofoam. So we covered the hole with plastic, duct tape and an old rug. Sunday morning we went shopping for a new door. We had to special order it, so it will take two weeks to get to the store. UGH! We put a temporary fix on the door yesterday so we can use it. Maybe it will hold until the weather gets warmer so I don't freeze while Chuck and his friend are putting the new door in.

I finally got into the chiropractor on Monday afternoon to straighten my back out. I feel very good now. I feel a cold coming on. I hope it doesn't get too bad. I have church choir practice tomorrow night and I need to have my voice. I hope things calm down for us now. We definitely can't take anymore.

DaniLynn