Monday, May 27, 2013

Rain & Clouds

I was having a really hard time last week.  Feeling really down.  I wasn't sleeping - not sure if the lack of sleep brought out the emotions, or if the emotions caused me to have trouble sleeping.  Plus I got my updated driver's license with my maiden name, and now I am procrastinating about changing it back with my bank, work, etc

Last Monday (May 20) was Victoria Day, so we had a long weekend.  I loved having the extra day off of work, but last year was when everything started to go down hill with my marriage.  I broke my ankle on the May long weekend, and I was feeling crappy all weekend while camping with our friends (which we found out later was due to my gallbladder).  Either May 25 or the Friday after that (June 1), was when my ex cheated on me.  May 31 was when I was admitted to the hospital for my gallbladder. 

It's not a period of time that I really want to relive, but memories kept popping in my head.

Fortunately my BFF Kristine texted me on Saturday, and we ended up going shopping together.  Retail therapy made me feel better, plus spending time with an awesome friend.  I ended up buying a new spring/summer/rain jacket.  It was originally $120.00, already marked 50% off, and then it was an additional 30% off - so I got it for $42.00.  Score!  Plus it is pretty and blue and two sizes smaller than my fall jacket.  It's a pinch tight in the chesticle area, but the next size up was way too big.  I also bought a new swim suit, which was 50% off.  I love buying clothes on sale.  It makes me happy.

I have been trying to distract myself from over thinking the past, and doing the whole "what if I had done this. . . . " crap that also keeps running through my head.  My youngest brother fixed up my bike, and so I had taken it out for a couple of spins.  It was rainy and cool this weekend, but I am committed to getting out for a ride and some fresh air at least two times this week.

The other way I have been keeping my mind preoccupied is watching television.  Specifically The West Wing right now.  CTS started airing the episodes, but I have seasons 1 through 5 on DVD.  So I pulled out my collection and started watching.  I am now on season 3.  On the weekend I also bought seasons 6 and 7 because they were on sale for $40 for the two of them together.  I still find it intelligent and funny, I love the raid-fire dialogue, and the complicated & hard-hitting political story lines.  Plus the banter between Josh & Donna is extremely entertaining.  I even sucked my brother into watching the episodes with me.

Even though I am struggling emotionally, I am getting close to reaching some of my current weight loss goals.  Early 2011 was the last time that I was attending Weight Watcher meetings on a regular basis.  I lost almost 20 pounds before I let life get in the way again and stopped following the program.  So in March of 2011 I was 290, right now I am 291.8, so close to my first goal of being below 290.  Along with that, once I get to 289.8, I will have lost 25 pounds since I started back with Weight Watchers in November.  Then my 10% goal is 283.8.  After that my next big goal is to be below 273.  In August of 2010, right before the wedding, I got down to 273.  These smaller goals help me break up my weight loss so that it is not overwhelming.

It will only get better from here.  I know there will still be some more dark days, but there is more sunshine in my future.  




Monday, May 13, 2013

More Top Five: Pinterest Ideas I Would Like To Try

I came a little late to the Pinterest party.  I initially signed up over a year ago, and I pinned a couple of recipes and favourite places/things.  Then I kind of abandoned it.

When I started my new position in the Edmonton office on April 1, I found out that my two co-workers in the circulation department liked to have "pinterest breaks".  They re-introduced me to Pinterest and now I am on there almost everyday.

So, here is a list of 5 things from Pinterest that I wold like to try to make:

5.  Jewelry Organizer

I have a lot of necklaces and I like having them in an easy place to find.  I do have a jewelry armoire, but it only holds about 16 -20 small/short necklaces.  At one point I stuck a bunch of tiny 3M hooks on the inside door of my clothes armoire.  Of course this means that some of the necklaces hit the shelves when the door closes and so it is always open a crack.  I think something like this would be a better option.






4.  Covered Brick Book Ends

I love to read.  I do have a Kobo, but I also still have a variety of physical books as well.  Right now I have a bunch of black, metal, office book ends.  This would be pretty and an easy thing to change for different seasons/room decor.

 

3.  Weight Loss Jars/Anchors

My first go around on WW, I had two small jars, and one was filled with pennies.  Every time I lost a pound, I would move pennies over from one jar to another.  This is the same idea but in larger scale with something that looks nicer than pennies.  I also like that the jars are labelled. 







2.  Breakfast Quinoa

My go-to breakfast on work days is Special K Satisfaction cereal with 1% milk.  It's fine, but it does get a little boring.  I like oatmeal, and I like quinoa, so I thought cooking quinoa in milk and adding fruit would be delicious.







1.  Chicken Salad with Greek Yogurt

Most of the time for lunch I have a salad with mixed greens, chicken, apple, cranberries and nuts/seeds.  Then I add a fat free dressing (just a touch).  Very yummy, but I would like to switch it up a little.  I think that a low fat/fat free chicken salad in a wrap (whole wheat or lettuce) will be excellent.






I am not really a crafty person, but I do love using Pinterest to find recipes and quotes.

Check out Divulge With Dani and A Warm Cup of Jo for their Top Five Pinterest Lists.  


Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Top Five - Fitness Goals for 2013 and Beyond

Ok, ok, I have been a lazy blogger . . . I have three drafts waiting to be finished and published.  I am just going to do that over the next few days.

So first off, my friends Dani & Jo also have blogs, and they have been doing these "Top Five" lists on Fridays.  I am going to join them.

A couple of weeks back the topics was "Fitness Goals for 2013 and Beyond".  I made my list and now I am finally getting around to posting.


5.  Record my weight loss goals and progress

I have the WW app and Etools, and at each meeting on Saturdays I record my weight.  I also reset my starting weight to match what I weighed when I went back to WW on November 17 (314.8).

What I need to do now is take some pictures of me, and then continue to do this every month or two.  I also want to take my measurements and record those as well.



4.  Set up the Wii for my fitness related games

This summer, right before I broke my ankle, I bought two fitness games for the Wii.  The first was EA Sports Active 2 (which came with monitors/bands that you place around your thigh and upper arm) and The Biggest Loser Challenge.

I want to get everything set up so that I can actually use these two games on my brother's Wii console.







3.  Join a gym or fitness facility

When I lost the weight on WW the first time I walked to and from work everyday from spring until fall.  When the weather started to get cooler, about a year after I started attending meetings, I joined Spa Lady.  Every morning I would go to the gym for some cardio or weights or both.

When I moved to Calgary my hours had changed, and I found it difficult to work out my fitness schedule.  Then I got a bad cold, missed a couple of weeks, and lost my really nice gym shoes.  I ended up cancelling my membership.  I feel the lack of exercise played a huge part in me gaining back almost all of the weight I lost.

My aunt (and sometimes ride to work), belongs to Gold's Gym with my uncle.  We could go together in the mornings before work.  Dani and I also discussed membership at the Y so we could do Aquasize classes together.

I am just not sure what I want to do.  I don't feel ready to make a commitment.  Maybe I should just try out the different options for a bit and see what works.



2.  Use the recumbent bike while watching TV

I love watching TV.  After a long day at work, all I want to do is relax with my favourite characters.  My brother bought a new TV, and then he moved his recumbent bike out of his room and set it up in front of the new TV.

There is no excuse, I just need to get off my lazy ass and start by doing 15min every evening.  I even have my exercise shoes right there by the bike ready to go.



1.  Plan and track my exercise

Most of all I need to set up a plan to get moving, even if it is just a little bit each day.  I also want to buy the new WW pedometer so that I can track my steps.  Every small effort will help.