Tag Archives: lifestyle

Life as it’s been

13 Tuesday Dec 2011

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Well, hello there! November went by in a hurry. Christmas will be here in a week and a half and our Christmas tree still isn’t up. It won’t be going up either. Nor will Christmas cards make the rounds this year. I know, what the heck right? I’m not sure what it is but the time has just gone in a flash. Ever since the end of October it seems like our household has been busy busy. Me taking on a life at the gym and trying to eat healthier, which means planning more meals and eating at home than just popping by a drive-thru. My husband, well, he’s been working on the hallway (new flooring, trim, doors and painting) and he’s had several overtime weekend days or extended hours during the week. Yup, we’ve been busy!

I made it almost the whole year posting at least once a week for the WordPress Post a Week Challenge and I’ve since bombed. As I said mentioned above everything’s good, nothing horrible happened, to explain for my departure.

At the end of October I met with my nurse practitioner for an appointment and she lit the fire to join a gym. I was hesitant since my previous romps at a gym didn’t last long and locked into a contract for a year the money went down the drain; however, I found a gym and I love the place. ::cough:: I enjoy going! Unlike the few gyms I’ve joined in the past that felt like a warehouse full of equipment, smelling like B.O. and music pumping through the speakers loud enough that you cannot hear myself think. This new place for me is great. I call it the Whole Foods of gyms. I also purchased several sessions with a personal trainer to work on my knee clicking issue, which still hasn’t improved but is only annoying and doesn’t hurt thank goodness. Oh, I didn’t tell you about the knee thing–my left knee doesn’t track well and only if I go up stairs does it click. Or if I do a good, decent squat.

Before I go, I need to pat myself on the back about Thanksgiving. Friends, we had a feast, and it was pretty much a healthy one! Jon’s parents came, my mom and her husband, my brother and then Jon and I were all present. Everything was ready to go, as much that could be prepped ahead of time was done but the morning of the bird was a tad still frosty in the cavity so I had to give it a “water spa”…

turkey_water_bath

I wasn’t happy about setting the turkey in my sink because then I had to decontaminate the sink with bleach, but oh well. It didn’t take long and I was able to finally mix up some softened butter and a variety of herbs where I rubbed it under the skin and all over the top. I started out grossed by the neck and other little organ gifts to pull out, but after that I got to know my turkey. I even made it wave to Jon while I was basting it with butter! <– dork

turkey_in_an_oven

Look at that pretty turkey!

Call me silly, but I was excited to use my new All-Clad roaster I bought for a great deal through CHEFS Catalog. My husband said the pan weighed more than the 19lb bird. Which he’s probably right but oh well, I’ll have this roaster forever.

The Menu:

  • Butter herb roasted turkey
  • Garlic mashed potatoes with pan gravy
  • Roasted veggies: Brussel sprouts, parsnips, carrots, new potatoes and sweet potatoes
  • Sautéed green beans with shallots, garlic and slivered almonds
  • Homemade stuffing with apples and onion
  • Whole wheat rolls

Dessert:

  • Apple pie – Jon’s mom
  • Pumpkin pie – My mom
  • Cheesecake w/ gingersnap crust & macerated cherries for topping – Me

No, the dessert wasn’t low-calorie but I had only a small piece of my cheesecake that day because I.was.exhausted. I have a lot to improve with my cheesecake making skills, but that’s okay, as long as it’s edible I don’t care how it looks right now.

gourds

thanksgiving_table

Note Chester’s tail in the last photo there?

I went with a simple dining table and a centerpiece that didn’t cost a ton. Everyone had a great time and next year I need to plan for some leftover stuffing waffles.

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving and the holidays have been merry and bright for you as well! So tell me, what’s new? I’m behind with the blogworld.

*All photos taken with cell phone.

Great choices feel good, now there’s a thought!

19 Thursday May 2011

Posted by in Health & Fitness

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Week 4, here we go!

Tomorrow I start my fourth week with Weight Watchers.  I’m excited every week to see how things are going to go.  Even the week I didn’t lose a single pound I wasn’t detoured!  No matter what happens each week when I weigh-in, whether it’s a gain or a loss, I just keep telling myself…

I.am.doing.this!

Before I started WW I knew I was eating too much food.  No my lifestyle changes I’m working on are not second nature or anything yet, but I recognize the correct way I should feel after I have a meal.  Again, not new information for me but somewhere along the way–long ago–I ignored that signal enough and lost it.  I would eat as much as I wanted on a frequent basis, especially emotional eating, and it was a disaster!  Of course after a large meal I would regret my actions because I literally felt miserable.  Stuffed to the gills kind of miserable.  I haven’t had that feeling in almost a month and I’m learning to listen to my body again.

Along with the food choices over the past several weeks I’ve found myself working out more than I have in a long time, well over a year actually!  With the introduction of C25K in my workouts I realize how silly magazines sound now when they say all you need are a pair of tennis shoes and you can workout.  Sure, but if you don’t have the best shoes then your feet will hurt like hell.  If you don’t have the right socks you’ll get blisters and irritation from sweat.  Don’t forget about the clothing for the important sweat wicking fabric and a supportive sports bra!  Lastly, if you need music then you might need an MP3 player, like, an iPod!

Source

Apple just marked their 10th anniversary for the first iPod and I have pined over one for ages.  My husband thinks it’s crazy a small little square like that costs $145.  I just tell him he doesn’t get it since he’s not that interested in gadgets…and I really wanted a colored one as opposed to one of the cheaper ones!  I know, I’m weak.  But I am certainly enjoying the abilities of the tiny multi-touch Nano and highly recommend it!

Last week, with the zero pounds loss situation, I didn’t have a single ounce of negative talk in my head.  That alone for me is huge!  I stepped off the scale, grabbed my WW Weekly (love those!) and smiled to myself when I realized I wasn’t phased by the lack of a loss.  Maybe it was water retention…ya know, us gals, so lucky and all.  That or, even though I tracked well, just didn’t make some of the best food choices and I canceled the good with the bad.  Who knows.  This week was a little different.  I figured what better way to celebrate my weight loss than to purchase a few songs for my “C25K” playlist to keep me motivated!  Heck, maybe next week I’ll have another spectacular weigh-in like yesterday, with a loss of four pounds!

Loss so far:  2.8
Loss this week:  4
Total loss:  6.8
Notes: Lost first 5lbs / fell into another 'decade' for my weight!

So far I think I’m living up to my promise to the month of May.  I’m owning it!

What was something you got to celebrate this week?  Big or small, celebrate it, because it all matters!

Who knew the gyno would be a good counselor?

04 Wednesday May 2011

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People are like sticks of dynamite.  The power is on the inside, but nothing happens until the fuse is lit.

- Mac Anderson

One week ago I had the pleasure of going to my annual girly appointment at the gynecologist’s office.  TMI?  Sorry.  For the past six and a half years I’ve seen the same nurse practitioner, Deb, for my yearly visit.  She’s friendly and puts me at ease so I’m not nervous to the point I’m stiff as a board, as some women have told me they feel like when they go for their annual.  This time was a little different though, but in a good way.  Come to find out my NP is great on mini-counseling sessions!  The last time I saw Deb was a year ago, which was before the wedding.

“Hello Sara!  Looks like your last name shrank in letter length!”

“Yeah, that’s one of the nice benefits of marrying Jon!” I said.

“How was the wedding?” Deb asked.

“It was good.  I loved the ceremony, we really put a lot of effort into making it our own and personalizing it.  Jon was so handsome and I used a lot of tissues before and during the ceremony, I’m a bit of a mush!” I told her.

“Uh, huh.  So what happened?” ::slight frown::

I could tell on her face that she knew I was leaving out a lot.  I thought I did a good job of acting cool about it all, but I failed apparently.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Well, Sara, your tone of voice says otherwise and I get the feeling you’re upset about your own wedding day,” Deb replied.

This is where I’m thinking, shit, shit, shit.  The tears started.

::sigh:: “Well, some of my family made a point to tell me that driving 5 1/2 hours to get here is an inconvenience and it’s costing them too much money, it kinda kills it.  My sister (who got married in ’08) was difficult throughout acting as though she were a jealous spinster type woman who would never marry and wasn’t all that happy for me.  She also apparently thought that the weekend before my wedding was a good time to bring up the topic she would probably have a baby before I would and she wanted to make sure I wasn’t mad or jealous but to also make sure we weren’t pregnant at the same time.  My mother wasn’t as involved as I wanted or hoped she would be, and tried to get her to be, but it didn’t happen due to our arguing because I wanted a non-traditional type of wedding and she couldn’t wrap her head around it,” I said in probably only two breaths.

“Oh my, no,” was all she could muster at that moment.

I sat there looking at the floor playing with the end of the cloth sundress type thing given patients to wear so we aren’t bearing all in a typical doctor’s office paper gown aka a larger toilet seat cover.

“Sara, I’m so sorry.  Is that the first time you’ve really expressed your feelings about the wedding and got that off your chest?” Deb said with a concerned look on her face.

“For the most part,” I said, “I’ve tried to explain to my mother how I felt during the planning and afterwards how I felt like it was a complete mess and very hard for me; however, she says I need to look at the positives and forget everything else.  But I can’t seem to do it.  When the main people in my family give me such grief, and they love Jon so it wasn’t a matter of not wanting us to marry, it just makes me so sad I’m not thrilled with the experience I had for such a wonderful time in my life!”

So we chatted a little longer.  I teared up, she handed me a tissue, and we talked.  I felt myself relax and it felt good to actually just spew what I had pent up.  Her recommendation, go see a counselor.  I need someone to talk about this stuff with and figure out a way to either work it out with my family (it’s an ongoing issue), let it go or keep my distance.  Right now I’m keeping my distance but if something comes up then it’s just a mess.  Deb also recommended I find a health coach/counselor of some sort to figure out what is going on with me because now my weight isn’t just about vanity and I want to look better when I’m naked (HA!), it’s a health problem now.  I told her I have an appointment to with my general doctor on the 12th of May and she encouraged me to really listen to them because the problems I could face are horrible, basically, and she doesn’t want to see me struggling with that too.  I would also like to mention that Deb made it clear I had every right to be upset and frustrated with my family, it’s my wedding and they need to can the comments.  She also thought it was horrible what my sister did and my sister knew what she was doing, of all weekends, right before the wedding…hello, high stress and emotions!

As Deb started to tell me of the issues I could face even trying to get pregnant or what I would deal with if I got pregnant in the unhealthy state that I’m in, wow, I was scared.  Like inside I was shaking just enough.  Deb was caring, yet blunt, and her wonderful bedside manner, which some doctor’s need to learn a thing or two about, really mattered and I know she is pulling for me.  We also discussed my previous success with Weight Watchers (WW) and she encouraged me to give it another try.

All of this talking seems now like it was a very long conversation but it all moved so quickly.  She took care of the reason why I was there after we were done talking and I finally was able to put my own clothes back on.  Which by the way, why do women (including me) hide their bra and underwear under their clothes for a visit such as this?  I’ve always done it and I don’t know why.  I mean really, the doctor/NP is going to see everything those items cover up so who cares?  Just a thought I had.

Once I dressed Deb came back in and gave me a few names of counselors her patients liked going to and encouraged me to stay on top of it and I could do what I needed to do.  A big hill I have for myself but just a little at a time.  She gave me a hug and left the room.  I let out a big sigh, sat down on the chair and just took a few deep breaths.

After I was ready I gathered my purse and walked out of the building knowing where I would be at 6:00pm, registering for a new run on my health at a WW meeting.  That was one week ago and I’m feeling good, I think I’ve lost some sort of poundage and tonight is my first weight-in.  Wish me luck!

Not a post for Nike, but little by little just do it!

04 Tuesday Jan 2011

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Another picture less post, forgive me.

This is late for the typical “New Year’s Resolution” post.  But I’m not actually calling it my New Year’s Resolutions, more like a lifestyle adjustment that needs to continue from here on out.

For the past many years I have been a hermit.  I like to stay home.  I like to watch TV/movies.  I like to collect magazines out the ying-yang to “read” them eventually and I sometimes never get to them and I’ve wasted my money.  I like to say I’m going to do something and never do it, because it’s too hard.  Or I start it and then never finish.  I like to not workout because in the past my neck breaks out in a horrible rash from the heat of just working out and apparently my body doesn’t like my own sweat—how is that possible?  I’ve been pretty damn lazy folks.  And it’s not that I like that I’m this way but I’ve fallen into a pattern.  I get comfortable and don’t want to get off my duff!

When Jon and I first started dating back in September 2008 I was about 35 pounds lighter than I am now.  35 pounds.  I mean really, how does one just pile on the weight like that?!  Lack of self-confidence, lack of motivation, lack of effort and a lack of a lot of things.  I was happy with our relationship but not with myself and I have been like this for awhile.  When I gained more weight after we started dating my lack of self-confidence in much of anything became worse.  I thought that once I started planning my wedding I would find the holy grail of motivation and kick my butt into gear and slim down and look and feel fabulous for the wedding—hehe, not so much.  I don’t think I looked horrible but I don’t think I looked my best at all and that really bothers me.  Now my problem is if we want to have children my doctor wants to see me 40 pounds less before I even think about trying.  Great.

Plus there’s the clutter I have.  I own so much crap!  I have boxes of picture frames that have sat in boxes and I haven’t used them.  Uhhh, why not?  So if I don’t use them in the coming months to fill up our blank walls then they are going to Goodwill.  I’m going to cut out my magazine collection and recycle them.  I’m going to make a larger effort to cook and bake at home, I like to do both but never find the effort to do it since going out is “so much easier”. 

I know all this sounds like so many changes at once, but I will take one thing at a time.  My plan, dip my toe into each aspect little by little.  If I even workout once in a week I will consider that a success and keep that up before I try and do more so I don’t become overwhelmed.  Cleaning out our house to rid our closets of mostly my junk that I don’t really need—little by little I will attack it. 

My motto for this year is little by little just do it!  I just need to DO more, period.

So, now that I’ve revealed my lazy, cluttered, un-healthy lifestyle that I hate, what is one “lifestyle adjustment” you are going to make for this year that we will not call, a resolution. 

That word is forbidden.  

I honestly believe the word, “resolution”, has lost all meaning because of the popular New Year’s tradition.  Nowadays I think the dictionary should read:

res·o·lu·tion : the act of planning a change but it fails by January 5th or earlier!

Health at Risk! I’m only 26!

20 Thursday Nov 2008

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This morning I made the decision to get a free health screening through work in an effort to try and work on “me”.  The results were very upsetting and I need to get my ass in gear, pronto.  From this experience I strongly urge all of you to get your numbers checked (i.e. blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, blood glucose, body mass index and measurements).

I know I’m overweight.  Technically I’m sure the actual doctor charts consider me obese, but I definitely don’t look like it but my weight is too high for my 5′ 4 1/2″ frame.  I’m going to share with you my numbers but I’m keeping the whole weight part to myself…I’m sure you understand.  If I’m going to be truthful here and share it all, I might as well tell you, I weight 209.  Yup, I’m over 200 pounds.  For my height I technicially should only weigh around 135-140 or so.  I haven’t seen those numbers since the 7th grade.

The process of preparing for the screening was simple.  Fast 12 hours before you come and make sure to drink at least 40 ounces of only water (nothing sweetened, flavored, etc).  It was quite a bummer I could not have my banana, yogurt and sometimes a little granola this morning.  By 8:45, when my test was to start, I was starving and had already peed three times that morning.  I felt good with all that water running through my system, maybe even woke me up a bit more, but running to the bathroom so much made me feel like someone on a water pill.

When my turn was up I went to Station 1 and had my pointer finger pricked (should have asked for the non-dominant hand!) and they collected some blood to run through their portable machines.  My name was written on a slip of paper and the machine accessed my blood within 10 minutes to determine my numbers.  Once I was done there I was off to Station 2 for my blood pressure screening.  My BP was 133/80.  That’s high for me.  Normally I’m much lower so I couldn’t understand why it was so high.  Maybe I was just nervous for the outcome of my test, who knows.

Station 3 made me go behind a screen and have my waist and hip circumferences measured along with my weight.  Due to the fact I drank the necessary amount of water they asked I drink to help with the results coming out correctly, the nurse deleted four pounds to account for all the water and clothing I was wearing.  Yippee!  I asked if she could add a ’0′ to that four and she just chuckled and said I was wasn’t the first to ask.  Damn.

The next station (#4) was there to explain my blood test results.  My name was finally called out and a lady hustled over to provide my results.  I about fainted.  I wanted to go home.  I didn’t want to return to work, especially with the way things have been there lately, and I really just wanted to snuggle up with Jon and Chester and hide from the world.  My numbers were insanely high.  Granted high cholesterol runs in my family, so does the high BP, but this was nuts.  To make matters worse, I wanted to speak to the younger of the two women about my results instead of the old pudgy hag who kept breezing through the people in line.  I know people of all shapes and sizes can have different numbers, but please don’t lecture me and tell me what I need to change if you aren’t doing it yourself.  Just as the old pudgy lady was about to motion me over, the younger woman looked up and said “next”—I bolted for her.

This gal was so friendly and asked how I was doing this morning.  I told her my morning was fine until I got my results.  She just patted the top of my hand as I sat there with my head hanging low.  As the gal looked over my numbers I got a little upset.  I knew what she was gonna say.  “Sara, you are young, this can be fixed, you need to just make some lifestyle changes and definitely start exercising more….”  I placed my elbow up on the table and rested the side of my head in the palm of my hand.  I was bummed.  Her tone of voice was very caring and I was so glad I didn’t go to the old pudgy lady—I even told her I didn’t want to go to that woman.  As she was telling me what the numbers meant and how my heredity will effect my numbers more than I’d like, no matter what I will need to be especially careful with myself.  The woman told me that even if I ran everyday and ate well, there was a good chance I would still be on medication and not have stellar numbers due to the heredity.  That’s just swell.  The woman provided me with a form to take to my doctor so I could discuss either trying exercise and food changes first or if I wanted to possibly address medications right away.  {My heart sank}  I promised the kind woman I would call my doctor and set up an appointment.  As of 11am today, I am scheduled for an appointment at 1:45 this coming Monday.

So would you like to know my numbers?  I’m going to share because I would like to be held accountable and hope you will ask how things are going for me.  I need your help readers, you of course don’t have to if you don’t want to, but just by asking will keep this problem at the front of my mind.

Blood Pressure:  133/80   {Recommended < 120/80}

Total Cholesterol (TC):  347  {Should be < 200}

HDL Cholesterol:  21   {Women:  > 50}

LDL Cholesterol:  262  {Should be < 100}

Triglycerides:  323  {Should be < 150}

TC/HDL Risk Ratio:  16.5  {Should be < 4}

Blood Glucose (Sugar):  84  {Between 60-100}

Body Mass Index:  34.78  {Between 18.5-29}

Waist Circumference:  37″  {Women: <35″}

Hip Circumference:  45″

So there you have it.  My numbers.  Looking at those numbers makes me feel like an extremely unfit woman who is a cow.  I don’t look like one.  I do look like I could stand to lose some weight, but I guess I hide it well in most areas.  It’s very strange.  Just goes to show you could look at least “normal” and be as unfit as they can be.  Scary.

On a brighter note, I got my work ID photo card redone because I still had my old job title listed.  Thankfully they allowed me to retake the photo and I think it came out pretty good!

me

Just ignore the shiny areas and some redness.  The flash was too close and I forgot my compact to touch up.  Considering I had teared up a little just less than an hour before at the screening, I think I look pretty good.  My hair is all over the place though.  Needs a trim horribly, which is happening next Tuesday.