Let's Make a Deal!!!



Image borrowed from Google...

That's paying homage to one of the greatest gameshows (great costumes, money, and looking for nail clippers in one's purse...how can you go wrong?!?) ever!  I loved Monty Hall (even though I guess that I am showing my age by making such nostalgic references).  I have only caught the "new" version with Wayne Brady as a host, a couple of times...but he was equally good in the role of host (I do love me some Wayne Brady, though--so maybe I am not the most objective person to rate this particular show!  That show where he did improv was likely some of the funniest junk I have ever watched on television--ever!!!  Of course, the ensemble cast on that show was also to die for...but again, I digress!).  Anyway...let's get started with this...

Door #1:   I hope that you will take the time to cruise over to Danica's Daily and check out one of the most fabulous blogs that I have recently discovered.   Danica is a devoted Weight Watchers success story and always has fabulous pictures to support her blog.   She's hosting an awesome giveaway...Annie's Organic Snack Mixes...I so hope that you will hop on over there (I am so funny!) and check it out...but don't feel the need to enter the giveaway (this will hopefully increase my odds of winning!!!).  :)

Door #2:  Inside or outside (workouts)?  I am having a terrible time motivating myself to get to the gym...I would much rather be outside walking/running...not on a stupid treadmill that shows that I have gone 3 mi, but I am still in the same spot.  I don't mind the gym when it's freezing cold outside...but obviously, I shouldn't hate it when it's hot as Hades here in GA on a continuous basis.  How do you motivate yourself to do what you loathe  don't want to do?  I am seeking some guidance in this category obviously...

Door #3:  Well...I got nothing with Door #3...so this would be the loser door (so don't pick it!)--you know the one with the mule pulling a load of banged up furniture instead of the shiny new car.  I am suffering from the beginning of a migraine headache today...it's kind of been there waiting to surface...and well, it's almost here.   So, I will bid you adieu for now...(Hoping that someone will proffer the Goody's/BC Powders that they found in their clown costume pocket (not really--just another "Let's Make a Deal" reference!).

Until next time...

Halfway through July

Man oh man!!!!  Here we are halfway through July--and I am a wreck!!!  Work is killing me (though I realize that I need to be grateful for any and all work...and most days, I am...but working until 8p most nights is really becoming a pain in my (growing) tush!!!).   We are in the process of trying to convert over to a new accounting system (read:  a huge pain in the neck...back...hind end...you name it...it's painful!) in October--and the whole way that we do things will change...Isn't this just the way life is--constantly changing?   I am a little bit concerned for my job...only because with the new and improved system, a lot of the functions for Finance will be centralized in our Dutch (corporate) office.  Of course, no one is saying the clock is running down...but would they?   Let's just say that I need to get the resume updated and become proactive in this employment search.

As for exercise this month--NON-EXISTENT!   (See above paragraph for pointless explanation justification).  The half marathon in Savannah is 18 weeks away--which means I need to get moving.   On a sidenote, I got an email from the series (Rock 'N Roll Marathon Series) this week...and because I will have done 2 events in a calendar year, I am going to receive an additional medal.  I am so excited about that!   I am such a glutton for the medals and/or t-shirts from events...nothing does a heart good like a little swag!!!  Anyway...need to get on board with that training plan a.s.a.p.

I have been scoping out local runs/events...I do so much better when I have something on the calendar...and not having anything on the calendar until November...well, that's just not quite the motivation I need/want.  The walk that I have done on Labor Day (last year and the year before) has been canceled due to lack of corporate sponsorship for 2011...so I am looking for another to replace it...I will be diligently searching active.com very soon...

Wanted to share a picture of our newest family member, Newton, too.   He's the (new) light of my life!   We think that he's between three and four years old...and is just priceless.  He never fails to amuse us on a daily basis.   I am looking forward to being able to take him with me for my long(er) walks/runs...but first we have to complete obedience training (apparently, he was allowed to roam in his previous life...he does not walk well on a leash...and it's way too hot for me to fight with him...thus, the reason for obedience training!).   He's recovering from his neutering (now he's Nutty Newton...though it has a whole different connotation now that some things are missing...sorry--that might have been too much information!).  We adopted him from a local rescue group...and apparently he had superstar status in the clinic.   He's been back a few times (once for kennel cough, then his surgery, and then the follow up visits) and everyone there is chanting, "Newton!", "Hey, it's Disney dog, Newt" and finally the vet, Dr. Good (yes, that's really his name...and his son, also a vet, is Dr. Phil Good...hilarious!) met us last weekend and told us that Newton was a special dog in their program...and he was so glad that we adopted him (I am led to believe, based on the above, that Newt was in the program for longer than most...).  Anyway, we go back on Saturday morning to get the sutures removed (I guess that because his manly parts had been with him for way long (his whole life), surgical glue just wasn't enough!).  Anyway...I present to you, Newton...

 How freakin' cute am I?

July has been a very successful month on the weightloss side of things, though...I guess that there's something to be said for tracking your food and maintaining all of your Points+ Values...Amazing how Weight Watchers has all of that figured out --like it's scientifically proven or something (again, read that with all of the sarcasm you can muster!!!).  The holiday came and went...and I lost 2 lbs. that week!  I am hopeful that this week will bring good news again!

Okay...my promise (okay, promise might be too strong of a word...should likely change to something like desire...hope...dream...) is that my posts will become more regular...and less sporadic.   I will rely on Newt to hold me accountable on all things...including my blogging.

Until next time...

Absence Makes...The Butt Grow Bigger?!?!?!

Well, if you read my most "recent"  post (written in May...posted in June), then you realize that I have already failed tremendously with the last item on my post...But how about letting me post twice in the same day...does that count?

Since the half marathon on April 30th, I have gained (yep, you read that right...GAINED) eight lbs.  I was up to 238 at one point.  As of yesterday's weigh in, I am down to 230.2...so I guess that it's a pseudo-success.  The other good news relating to my weight loss journey, is that my husband has joined Weight Watchers.  I will say that it's has been refreshing to have him conscientious about the Points Plus values along with me.  He was always very supportive of my journey--but now that we are doing this together, I am hopeful that we can lose this weight once and for all (so that neither of us will have to pay for our Weight Watchers memberships, although I am quite sure that my fees over the past three years are helping pay Jennifer Hudson's income from Weight Watchers...:)  (That being said, I still believe in the program...when I am on plan--I do very well...and now that J.J. is on it with me...I plan to be a success story sooner rather than later).

So, all is well on that front, I suppose...or at least getting better.

We had to make a hard (painfully, tearfully hard) decision this weekend.  My boy, Albert, returned for his three month follow up visit to the oncologist on Friday.   It was nothing but bad news...the tumor in his neck had grown and he had additional nodules of cancer in his lungs...more than before.  The doctor at Georgia Veterinary Specialists advised that we could do another round of chemotherapy treatments (more aggressive than the first round we went through) to buy us more time with him.   However, the potential side effects, if Albert experienced any of them, were more severe and these treatments would cost anywhere from $280-400 each.  The kicker was that there was only a 50/50 chance of limited success.  As much as I wanted, those odds just were not good enough for me to put him through it...again.   So, together (J.J. and I), we made the decision that we would do the humane thing.  We took him to the vet on Saturday one last time.  I know that I did the right thing by him...that he is no longer suffering, but I miss my sweet pumpkin.  He was a good boy who came into my life almost five years ago (we adopted him after my mother passed away after seeing his super cute mugshot posted on one of the boards at the hospital while my Mom was there.  J.J. just wanted to help ease some of my pain...so Albert was brought into our happy household).  For almost five years (well, four years, and 363 days, to be exact), he brought me much joy and such unconditional love...so I can't be all sad...just selfish, because I would have wanted five more years of that.  For any of you with four-legged family members, I know that you know what I mean.  I am sure that another four legged canine is in our future...but no one can replace my Prince Albert!  Rest in peace, my loyal boy!

Okay...let's move on to something not so depressing...

I did make it to the gym this a.m.  I did 2.5 mi on the treadmill.  I am going to look into the group classes...since there are three of my gyms in close proximity to home/work and see what new (mis-)adventures I can get into.   I will be doing this alone--as my husband would only consider doing the belly dancing class to watch, in his words, "the hot instructor".  (And just so you know, we exited the gym together this morning with him demonstrating all that he had observed in the class while he was doing his free weights...his demo was much funnier and less polished than the instructors, let me assure you.  (Again, I think that he's just trying to keep my mind occupied...I have been an emotional wreck this weekend.).

So...my goals for this week...

1. Track every single item that I put into my mouth...this is much easier since J.J. is doing this along with me.   My plan is to bring lunch every day this week to work, too...so hopefully the fast food temptation and crazy lunches will save me points plus values (not to mention $).
2. I will make it to the gym at least three more times this week.  I hope to be able to go in the morning before work at least twice...but I am NOT a morning person.
3. I will take Bally (our border collie) on a walk every evening, too.  Usually J.J. does this alone...but now we can consider this more family time together.

I think that I had better leave this list at just these three items.  I will update you on progress/completion...

Until next time...

Reality Bites...

NOTE:  I wrote this post back in May...the beginning of May...


Or does it?  (I happen to love, love, love this 90's flick...with Ben Stiller, Winona Ryder, and Ethan Hawke!  Just thought that it would be an equally captivating title to this blog).  If you are still around and reading...thanks!!!  I have had a horrible couple of months...and have started many blogs (at least in my head)..but have never actually gotten them off the ground or posted in cyberspace.

Reality:  I LOVE reality television.  I guess this is one of my guilty pleasures.  Why?  I guess that I love to think that these folks on these cheesy shows ("Biggest Loser", "American Idol", "Survivor", "The Voice", "Real World", "Judge Judy", etc.) are all real...how could any of this be scripted?  (That was completely rhetorical, by the way!).  I am a t.v. junkie...my DVR is constantly filled to dangerous levels...thus explaining the long periods of time spent on the weekend in a comatose state.  :)  What can I say?!?!?!?!

Reality:  I have been so super busy at work that eating on plan has been well...an afterthought.  I have been attending my meetings at Weight Watchers and weighing in...it's just that nothing has been, well, worth reporting.  I guess that it's "keeping it real" that when a blogger seemingly disappears, nothing good can come of it.  I guess that I am living proof of that!

Reality:  I completed the Country Music Half Marathon on Saturday, April 30, 2011.  So, while my eating and weight loss may have suffered over the past couple o'months...I stuck with it..and did it!  I am super proud of myself.  I rocked Nashville...and plan on doing this event again next year!  (And if you are wondering where my newfound "I am awesome!" attitude comes from, it's because I had every chance to bail out of this event...my friend that was doing it with me decided she couldn't/shoudn't/wouldn't be doing it...so that took care of our "free" place to crash...so I had to hustle to find a hotel room (nothing was available in Nashville for less than $225/night!) and figure out the logistics of how I was going to get to the event (our "free" place was going to be volunteering at the event, so we were hitching a ride w/him to the event and back).  I ended up spending a whole lot of extra cash...but it was SOOOOOO worth it!  (Truth:  I have always had a buddy (or two) at previous events when I have participated...so I was a bit nervous about doing this one on my own...but folks...I rocked the heck out of Nashville!!!!   I am ready to seek my next event out...with our without a buddy!  I have now completed my second half marathon...so can I say that I have done a full one?  Nah...I am only half crazy!  :)  Actually, to quote the aforementioned movie, "This girl is cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs!!!"  (Nah, not really...prefer real chocolate instead of a chocolate cereal.)

Reality:  I am baaaaaccccckkkkk!!!!!  I am going to make a concerted effort to post at least 3x per week...if not more often.  I realize that you may/may not be able to read that often (or that I may not have anything worthwhile to say in these posts)...but I seem to do much better when I am held accountable...and you, my dearies, are helping me through all of this.  I hope that my ramblings will, at the very least, not put you to sleep.  If so, just think of this as good bedtime reading.  :)

Until next time...let's all keep it real!!! :)

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly…

I debated whether to post about this or not…but I have decided that it is worth mentioning…even if ever so briefly. Let me say that by doing so, I hope that there’s no hard feelings. This is just my opinion about this particular subject. I welcome your thoughts, as well…but not to the point of being cruel. I guess that it's a fine line, actually...I can handle the truth...but I don't believe that one should be nasty or ugly about anything--no matter how truthful.  There's always a "better" way to say something, I guess...



So, if you have been reading this blog for any amount of time, you know that I am an active member of Weight Watchers. (And by active, I mean that I have never come close to my goal weight (yet)…but I do believe in the plan and continue paying my $39.99 membership fee every month. I believe that his plan works…I have seen it, and I think that it most closely mirrors what I am looking for in a weight loss plan (most especially now, with Points Plus!).


Anyway, my membership has always been active…though my actual participation has not. Late last summer, I thought that I knew best and could do it on my own…but then I began missing the members that I sit through the meetings with on Saturday mornings…I missed the leader’s pep talks…I missed being able to celebrate when another member reached a milestone or Lifetime…those sort of things. I think that it’s kind of like group therapy (no disrespect to anyone who actually is/has been/will be participating in group therapy…after all, therapy comes in a wide variety of forms. I certainly don’t mean to make light of any serious or deeper topics that are discussed in such sessions). Anyway…I am pretty sure that I have always been supportive of the members in my meetings (and even other meetings when I couldn’t get to my regularly scheduled meeting for one reason or another). I have learned a lot from the folks in those meetings…recipes, exercise tips, and just general points of wisdom. On Saturday morning, that came to a grinding halt!


One lady, I will keep her anonymity here, was talking to my friend (and co-1/2 marathoner), Kim when I arrived. It was just a lighthearted conversation and Kim just generally brought up the fact that we are signed up for the Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville, on April 30th and that we were starting to train for it…because we wanted to do well (and by do well, I just mean finish under our own power not on a stretcher and not crawling). This lady (and I use this term loosely, because really, my grandmother and Mom taught me that a lady would never do this…because a lady knows that if she can’t say anything nice, she shouldn’t say anything at all!) looks at Kim and says, “Aren’t you too big to do that?”. In all honesty, I think that we were so shocked by her response (and for the record, Kim will be your biggest cheerleader in whatever it is you want to do…so you want to start underwater basketweaving? She will help you find a location and be the one right there cheering you on…I know, because she’s done it for me on so many occasions!). So, with all of our own self-doubt and wondering what were we thinking…we now have this psycho-hosebeast who has decided to take the miles out of our Asics…the wind out of our sails. I sat through the meeting—fuming. I know that she had her own reason for saying what she did…and maybe it’s just curiosity (in her defense, if you can call it that, she is a tiny petite (maybe 5’1”, if that tall) lady…so maybe my 5’9” stature was too much for her to comprehend…I don’t know. After the meeting, heading toward our cars, we discussed that sometimes folks need a filter. I mean, I know that I might not agree with a lot…and we are certainly all entitled to our opinions…but I really think that the lady should have maybe just said something along the lines of “that’s interesting” or “wow” or whatever…And maybe that’s what her comment meant…but I took it along the lines of how are you going to get your fat a$$ 13.1 miles anywhere, if not in a car? Maybe I am a bit too sensitive…

So, for clarification…I am not too big to go 13.1 miles. If I set my mind to something, train and prepare, I can do it. No, let me correct that…I WILL do it!!! (And for the record, I did a half marathon in October of 2008…so I know that I can do it!).

Okay...time to go and see if my filters need to be changed...

Have a great one!

Weekend Update

Let's start with the obvious question...I did record a loss at Weight Watchers this week.   Down 1.2 lbs.  (significantly better than last week's loss!).  I had a fantabulous week on Plan.  I ate out once last week...and made a great food choice for lunch on Friday.  I would have loved to see a higher loss...but as my husband says, "It's a cumulative effect". 

At our meeting on Saturday, our fearless leader said something profound..."If you are weighing more than once a week (at your weekly weigh in, for me, before the meeting), then your actions are saying that you do not trust the plan".  I thought about that statement long and hard--and realized that she's right.  I am paying a lot of money to help hold me accountable and do this plan...so why don't I trust completely--instead of halfheartedly?  So...I came home, took the battery out of the scale and put the scale in the closet.  It will take me a while to retrain my brain...but I have to say that it was pretty liberating to not get up and weigh first thing in the a.m. (and sometimes I weighed right before bed, too).   Anyway...stay tuned...just like everything in my life.

I have prepared several meals (including the veggie soup that likely helped me out way more than I even know!) for lunch next week.  I am also excited because I know that it has to be helping us with our budget.

Albert had a pretty bad week last week...he just look generally sad all week.  He went for treatment #5 (of 12).  They took bloodwork, so I anticipate that next Friday we will get some news.  Again...stay tuned.

Okay--off to bed...tomorrow starts the work week!

Until next time...be good to yourselves!

Living for the Moment...

Just heard this Jason Aldean song on my MP3 player at work (with my headphones of course…not everyone has an appreciation for country music mixed with some Kid Rock and some Black Eyed Peas…). Anyway…this song’s chorus, though it says “we”, in the actual song, I have altered to “I”…just so you know…”I was living for the moment…loving every second” (Bonus points if you can name that tune…not a JA fan? The song is “She Loved Me” from his first CD, “Jason Aldean”. Okay—I totally digressed there…hopefully impressing you with my country music useless information trivia…back on track (what a great segue to more country music songs…but I will leave that alone…for now! The words of this song really spoke to me…I do need to live every moment…and try (though it might be super difficult given several challenges as of late) to love every second…will make that a mission for this week!!!


So, I have signed up for the Country Music Marathon (see my previous post)...it’s 14 weeks away. Luckily, I have a 13 week training plan! How smart is that? Actually, I am hopeful that I can stick with the training plan (it’s a run/walk plan…we’ll see if it’s more walking than running (have never considered myself a runner…EVER. However, folks like Shelley totally inspire me…so I suppose that it could happen!). I started yesterday (after a about a 6 week hiatus from exercise). And I did all of my workout outside. Kyle Busch (my Garmin--thanks again to Shelley who named hers Ricky Bobby...I just continued on the race driven/NASCAR theme) showed dismal results (maybe I should rename it Jr...if you are a NASCAR fan, then you know what I am talking about)…but it’s all about the effort, right? I walked/run (way more walking than not) for 47:00 and a total of 2.62 mi. Please remember—while the weather has vastly improved in the ATL over the weekend, there was still lots of ice and snow…and parts of where I was killing myself exercising was still shaded and ice was prevalent. Not wanting to spend the next 13 weeks in an orthopedic boot, I exercised caution…extreme caution. So, I can only hope that those stats vastly improve as time goes on...(Fingers crossed).

I did lose this past week, according to the scale at Weight Watchers. A whopping .2 (that’s not two pounds…that’s 2/10 of a pound…but it’s still a loss, so I guess I will take it!). I am making a concerted effort to track all seven days this week (which I have done since Saturday…yay me!!!). I also bought the ingredients to cook at home and prepare lunches all week…including tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, and all of the ingredients to make a huge crockpot full of the Weight Watchers staple, vegetable soup. Hopefully, the scale will be good to me (or would that be me being good to me? Hmmmm…). I have also made a concerted effort to intake lots of water…lots and lots of water. Another thing that I did, at the recommendation of Joy (my Weight Watchers leader) and several other members is to take the Weight Watchers smoothie mix (didn’t think I would be a fan…but man, these things are awesome!!!) and add fruit (I added an overripe banana in lieu of tossing it into the garbage). This thing was so filling—I was stuffed. I do make my smoothie with the mix, fat free milk (counts as 2 daily dairy servings (Healthy Guidelines)!!!), ice, and the banana. Combine all ingredients into the Magic Bullet…and Tada! Magic Breakfast. Was so super impressed....a banana “milkshake” on the way into work…does it get any better than that? The other “new” thing I committed to this week was spaghetti squash. What you might not know about me is that I can be a pretty picky eater. I like most veggies (can only think of a couple that I loathe—and will not put into my mouth)…so again, at the recommendation of several at the Saturday morning meeting, I decided to buy one…a small one. After wrestling with it in the kitchen (totally not prepared to be taken down by a squash!), I was up and running…Unfortunately, I totally overcooked it…so my “spaghetti” resembled more like a pasta mush…I did taste of it (and was surprised there was no more taste than that…guess that’s why it’s a good pasta swap!). So, I will try it again…cook a little less, at a lower temp…stay posted!

So…until next time…remember…”Every Man Dies…but Not Every Man Lives” (thank you, Jason Aldean).

January in Atlanta....Really?

This has been a dismal week for me…first all of the snow, which led to ice, which led to two days off of work (Monday and Tuesday). I am sure that it was out of boredom, but my eating habits were horrible…not sure if it was just the wrench in my planned week (I am a creature of habit, after all!), the cabin fever, or something else…but I just ate and ate. The food choices were not too bad (luckily, we didn’t have a lot of “junk” in the house), but I ate a lot! When I am at work, I am not sure if it’s just the planning that saves me, the lack of an abundance of food or what…but at home, I have no self-control…NONE! Needless to say, I was ready to go back to work by the end of Snowcalypse 2011…and by Day 2…I was looking for anything (and I do mean anything) that would keep me out of the kitchen and away from the fridge.


Anyway—back to work yesterday (which was an equally harrowing experience, driving into work with ice to complicate the commute!). I made it to and from work without incident…which was apparently a huge feat! Anyway…today was a bit more normal, thankfully! Of course, losing 2 days of month end close due to Mother Nature has provided its challenges..but we are on our way!!! Yay!!!

Then, I found out that we are likely not to get paid for Monday and Tuesday’s closure. I guess that in the grand scheme, it’s not a huge ordeal…but the company was closed!!! I understand that if you didn’t make it in when the company was open that perhaps one should have to use vacation time or something…but the company was CLOSED…should we have risked life and limb to get here? Apparently so. I know that it’s a bunch of whining…but I was not expecting that revelation. The decision hasn’t really been finalized…and it’s not my boss that is fighting it…but the VP of the company. I would think that morale would deeply be affected if they decide to stick with his decision. Oh well…will worry about that when it’s more of a reality, I guess.

Another big  massive step in the right direction…I have signed up for the Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville, TN! I am hopeful that this will keep me motivated (and help me undo some of this week’s damage) to train and do this the right way. One of my great friends (also named Kim…and the similarities in our lives don’t end there) has signed up for it…and since we tend to do better working together, we are going to do this! We completed 13.1 miles over 2 years ago. I don’t think that either one of us really trained the way we should have, but it didn’t help that Pottygate struck! Kim went to the port-a-potty at mile 2…and tripped when she came out and twisted her ankle. Against our better judgment, she trudged on (walking mostly, but at one point, I thought she might have to crawl)…and we did finish (won’t even begin to discuss the passive aggressive behavior study that she could have completed, too…”I can’t”…”I didn’t go this far not to finish”…). At any rate, we did finish…which was our only goal (okay, so we didn’t want to exceed the official time or be last, either…we met those goals, too (barely!)!). Anyway…the date is April 30…about 15 weeks from now. I have a 13 week training plan…that’s a “Beginner Walk/Run” training program. Stay tuned for details of how that’s working out for us…Anyway, I am looking forward to revisiting (hopefully not crawling) through Nashville.  I love that city!!!  (And am hopeful that I will get to see some country music superstars...okay, Chris Young! while I am there).  I think that I am equally excited about having someone at the finish line cheering me on (I have never had that...and always think that it's super cool...and am secretly envious of those that do!).  My mother in law has said that she will come down (from Louisville, KY) if it's after tax season (how quaint! It is!!!  April 30th is way after April 15th!!!).  Plus, Kim will have her kids and Mom there, too (and I consider those kiddos and Mom mine, too!).  Will be super exciting!!! 

Anyway--think that's enough big news for today!!!

Be good...and if you can't be good, then be good at it!!!

Not the best weekend ever...

Well...I went to my first Weight Watchers meeting of 2011...the weigh in was not what I had hoped for (though, I knew it wouldn't be pretty...was just "hoping" for a kinder, nicer number).  I was up three pounds for the week...some of this is explainable, as I discussed previously, due to my TOM (or is this TMI?).  I hope that I can shed some of that bloat next week...if not take it all away.

It is snowing furiously north of Atlanta right now...I cannot believe that the weather folks got all of this junk right this time.  It's pretty serious for those G.R.I.T.S (Girls Raised In The South) like me...I know that I need to be at work tomorrow, but am doubtful that I will make it (the company has not officially closed...yet!).  I understand that snow is drivable, but they are predicting that this junk will turn to sleet/freezing rain (wintry precip) by early morning.  That's where I draw the line...Just hope that if it turns from a snowy Winter Wonderland to a Icy Igloo that the power lines hold up...no heat, no way out...Kim is not a happy person (and begins to refer to herself in the third person, apparently).

If you get a change, be sure to visit Tammy (from Fat to Fab's) new site.  This is a new endeavor for her--and I think that there's real promise for a true niche here...Who doesn't want an Errand Fairy???

Well, off to bed...need to include a few extra blankets just in case the power goes...My furry friends don't always like to snuggle...:)

Have a great one...and power pending, I will be back tomorrow!

New Year...New Outlook...Hopefully!

I was told that it's too late to say "Happy New Year"...thus, the title of this blog.

I am not going to make this a post about crazy resolutions (because let's face it, we already know what we are supposed to be doing...and how to get there...yada, yada, yada).  So, I have to say that I am not going to change the resolutions (that have likely been the same for the past 5 years (if not longer)...but to expand on those.  Yeah...that's it!!!

I ended 2010 on a positive note, as far as weight loss is concerned...from the week of Christmas Eve through New Year's Eve, I lost a whopping 6.8 lbs.  I could not believe it!  I officially weigh in tomorrow at Weight Watchers--so I will post after my 9:15a meeting...good, bad, or indifferent.  I was quite pleased with myself (although I was sick for part of the holidays...so that counts for part of the loss).  The week of Christmas Eve, I lost four pounds....and then the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve, I lost 2.8 lbs (I was sick from Christmas Day forward).  Anyway, I have kicked the crud...but this week was TOM, so I am expecting some gain (happens every month...dang bloat!).

But it's not all glitter and glam for me (as if weight loss signifies glitter)...my (canine) boy, Albert, has been diagnosed as of late with some pretty serious issues.  Last summer, we noticed that he was panting excessively (as if he were in hot temps and high humidity all of the time)...so we took him to the vet.   Our vet, who is exceptional, ran a battery of tests, including bloodwork and the like, all of which came back "normal".  We didn't panic (although in hindsight, isn't it funny how everything is crystal clear AFTER the fact?) but we noticed in October (when temps were significantly cooler in GA) that he was still panting--so again, we were concerned.   We took him back to our vet, who took a chest x-ray this time along with more tests.  This time, because they noticed something suspicious on the chest x-ray (could be something...could be nothing), we were referred to an Internist...Yes, my dog has an Internist (I do not...but my dog does...how bizarre is that?).  So, she looked at the x-ray (says that the spot on the x-ray is nothing to alarmed about) and suggests one of two diagnoses...laryngeal paralysis or Cushings Syndrome.  Both of the tests were costly..but the scope was a bit less invasive and we could get an answer to confirm/rule out the laryngeal paralysis almost immediately.  Turns out my boy, Albert, did have laryngeal paralysis.  This was treatable with surgery...so we got a referral back to a surgeon that had previously done work on Albert (he had TPO surgery, basically replacing parts of his hind legs due to a congenital defect, about 2.5 years ago).  So, the surgeon looks at Albert and does a preliminary exam on him...and notices that there's a lump on one side of his neck.  He re-refers (is that a word) to the Internist, so that she can verify that it's nothing or that it's something.  So, we go back to the Internist...who performs an ultrasound.  (Note:  I have never met this lady at this point...only know what my husband has relayed to me about her).  She comes back and the first words out of her mouth were, "I feel so badly"...Well, that was nothing compared to what I went through the next few days.  Albert has a huge thyroid tumor that not only consumes his thyroid but has grown and "wrapped" itself around parts of his trachea, his carotid artery and his jugular vein...it's massive.  She recommends surgery to remove it immediately--that week (did I mention that this was the week of Christmas?).  So, we (husband and I) discuss...and decide that we will do the surgery (she said that if we didn't remove it, he would die within three months due to the tumor growing and cutting off the respiratory function...horrible!).  So, the next day, I take Albert (after no sleep, worrying obsessively about whether this was the "right" thing to do for him, was he suffering?) back to the surgery center, I am just supposed to be dropping him off ...and the surgeon wants to meet with me.  Again, my  husband has always been the one dealing with the doctors (his schedule is a bit more flexible than mine, as he can work from home), so I knew this was nothing good...He tells me that he can/will do the surgery but wants me to understand all that's associated with it...due to the massiveness of this tumor, he knows he will not be able to get all of it (I get the feeling because of this, he doesn't want to do the surgery); there's major risks associated with infection and morbidity and it would, in all likelihood, leave Albert disfigured on the left side, due to nerve damage.  He says that he is willing to refer us to an Oncologist who will be able to give us a better treatment plan for Albert. I ask about numbers...how much and the odds of this working out for Albert...he refuses to give me either, telling me that he's a surgeon that canine (and other animals, most likely) oncology is so specialized...he's not qualified to speak on such matters.  (Nice...).  So, we get our referral to the oncologist (by the way, in the state of GA, there's only one local place w/in Atlanta...otherwise you have to send your family member to UGA's vet school or Auburn's vet school.  I am sure that either of the last options are superb in what they do...but it's just not geographically desirable).  We go with the local option...They do a terrific job on December 23...they took another chest x-ray, did a full work up and met with the husband (again, I wasn't able to go...).  Unfortunately, the news wasn't so great...the cancer has moved to Albert's lungs.  Radiation (which was the surgeon's suggestion) is not an option.  We are doing a 12 week round of chemotherapy with two different meds (we travel once a week to the local facility) in hopes of prolonging Albert's life.  There's a 50/50 chance that this will "help"...by "help", I mean keep the cancer from growing, as we all know that lung cancer is not one of the treatable ones.  Luckily for me, the side effects of chemo in dogs is minimal (the oncologist has been practicing for over 22 years and says that the vast majority has no side effects)...Albert's not losing his fur or his appetite...and truthfully, if I didn't know he was such a sick boy, I would never guess it...he still wrestles with his brother, runs upstairs at bedtime for his nightly treats, and is still wagging that tail like a madman.  I can only hope that he is truly not suffering...and if/when he starts showing signs of pain that I know it and can make those tough decisions in life.  Yep, Albert has taught me a lot (that's another post for another day, as this one is way too long...)...but most of all, I have learned (again!) to tell those around me what they mean to me...to not wait for a special occasion or holiday.  Albert and I have our (new) nightly ritual.  I lay on the floor with him and assure him that I love him with all of my heart...and good thing for me, he loves to be hugged and cuddled...otherwise, I just might be a basket case!

So, I leave you tonight with a few photos of my Great Pumpkin...

 Until next time...(which will be tomorrow...with my weigh in results)...

Day 3--In the books...

Today started off the most dreariest of all days...Mondays are usually hard for me, because I spend the weekend doing all of my fun stuff..and Monday is just back to reality for me...back to the beginning of a long work week...and five whole days until the next weekend of fun.  Today was no exception--in Atlanta it was rainy and dreary most of the day...and since it gets dark at 5 p.m. now...by the time I left work (near 6), it seemed like it was 10:00p already.  Enough of my complaining...hey, at least I am that much closer to the weekend...:)

So, Day 3 workout consisted of cardio endurance training.  I was to do 35 minutes of any activity--but I had to push myself to my limit for at least 10 minutes of that.  I decided that I would get on the Stairmaster for 35 minutes...something that I have never done.  (In the past, when I was working out regularly, the most I had done was 20 minutes without stopping...and that was on a manual mode...where everything was the same...same resistance, speed, etc.).  So, tonight, I decide that I am going to embark on the cardio burn program...level 4...for 35 minutes...What was I thinking?  I think that at one point, I thought I was going to die...is what I was thinking.  I now can somewhat imagine what those folks at the Biggest Loser feel the first week or so that they are there and Jillian and Bob are pushing them outside of their comfort zone.  (Sidenote:  Luckily, I didn't have Jillian jumping on my back and cursing me...though in my mind, I was just as vocal as some of the contestants I have seen on there.  I am pretty sure that was only in my mind, anyway...).  So, I had my new Zune up and running (pun intended...because if I am running...okay, slow stair climbing...someone had better come with me!).  So, we were off...luckily the stairmaster shows a graph (what looked like a big bar chart of highs and lows...maybe my motivational scale...or worse my weight??? Oh dear...good thing I didn't think of it while I was on it...because I would have stopped then and there) and it breaks each "bar" down by the total time that you are working out and counts backward on the clock...I am so engrossed with the timers and all of the numbers that are shown...completely fixated.  Anyway...the first ten minutes went off without a hitch--then things got a bit more difficult...and it was only uphill literally (though my emotions were steadily going downhill) from there.  I pushed through it...and made it to minute 35...and then the 2 minute cooldown.  Personal best on the stairmaster...37 minutes!!!  I climbed 98 flights (need to do the research to ascertain what a flight is...), a total of 2.25 miles and burned almost 350 calories...I was also drenched in sweat...as I wore a long sleeved technical shirt because it was raining when I left home for the gym...How stupid!  I am pretty sure that no one in the gym would be marveling at my stats...but I was super proud for pushing myself...for not stepping off and saying...well, 25 minutes is good enough...I did it!!!

So, here's a photo of my post-workout...just before I started writing this post...nice 'do, I know...:)

 Have a great evening...off to bed very soon!

End of Weekend Post...

Well, to follow up on Saturday morning's post...I did make it to my weigh in at Weight Watchers...and I had gone up a pound since my last weigh in (over 2 months ago).  While this was not the best news...it could have definitely been worse with the lack of activity due to my ankle fracture.  So, while I was not jumping for joy--I was not completely devastated either.  In fact, likely due to my due diligence at the gym last week and having my head in the right place...well, I was likely better off on Saturday morning.  Anyway--my magic number was 226.0...So, I hope that the only place I can go from here is to a lower number...:)

What else???  I did attend a Tupperware party (last second decision) and bought my very first Tupperware--ever.  I guess that it's kind of astounding...but it is what it is.  I bought a handy dandy food storage (really...from Tupperware?) container to take my lunch in...it's one that is microwavable with the vent doodad on the top.   Tupperware has some amazing products...Definitely was not in the budget to spend the money that I did...but I am hopeful that I will continue to stay motivated to keep cooking and taking the leftovers in my new bowls...when I get them.

I did make it to the gym for Day 2 of my new workout plan...today was to be spent primarily on weights...upper body strength training.  I did modify the plan a bit--as I hate (almost more than anything in life) doing weights...of any kind.  WGH did help me out...which was nice...but still did not make me love the weight training any more.  I did 15 minutes on Fat Burn on the stationary bike and 5 minutes on the stairmaster (calorie burn) before doing the weight training.  Today's workout was all about Hammer Bicep Curls, Bicep Curls, Tricep Curls and Isolation exercises...Yuck, yuck, and yuck!  Hopefully I will be able to move my arms tomorrow...

Anyway--tomorrow it's back to work and everything that entails...However...take note here--I cooked enough this weekend to take my lunch most days (if not all) this week.  This is a huge step forward for me--and hopefully will show that a little planning goes a long, long way!!!!

Leaving you with a picture from our Friday night adventure...we went to see Lady Antebellum at the Fabulous Fox Theater in Atlanta.  (Was a great show...and my pictured pal actually got to meet them!!!  How cool is that?).  

Say it with me...OMG!!!!

Well, I did it...Day 1 of my new training plan...and Oh. My. Goodness. (or that should read OH. MY. GOODNESS!!!!).  I don't think that I have ever pushed myself that hard...or if I did, I didn't realize it...I have done interval training before--but nothing like that...or maybe I am just too out of shape.  I did the 30-minute workout from the plan...and did 2.25 mi in 30 minutes (that's less than the 15 minute mile I had been doing for 45 minutes...so yay me!).   Then, when I was done with that because WGH was still only halfway through his workout, I got on the stairmaster for 10 more minutes...for real.  So, while I am covered in the cardio department for the day (burned 473 calories total...so that's 4 activity points on WW for my new week)...still need to stretch and go weigh in at my WW meeting.  

I will go to weigh in and post an additional post with the results (not expecting a stellar performance...but it is an accountability issue...:)).

Have a great Saturday!!!

My New Plan...

I am going to try and adapt a new exercise plan…simply getting to the gym is apparently not enough for me…I need some structure and some sort of plan…I don’t typically do weights on my own…but maybe if I have some guidance through this plan from Calorie Count, I can make it work. (Special thanks to Katie J. for finding this plan and posting on her blog…HOPEFULLY by having the plan and someone to hold me accountable and that I am accountable to(you, my readers, if there are any of you left), I can work it out!!!). So, all of this is for tomorrow’s workout…since Saturday is my weigh in day at Weight Watchers (oh my goodness…will be officially on record again)…then no time like the beginning of my week to start Day 1 of this plan. The plan seems to be equally easy to follow with lots of options. I look forward to posting all of the happenings that tomorrow brings…Be warned...I will be posting the good, the bad, and the ugly!!!


Note:  I learned some new terms on this plan...for example, RPE refers to the Borg Perceived Exertion Scale (see below for description of the scale as it relates to the workout plan). 

• Level 1: I'm watching TV and eating bon bons
• Level 2: I'm comfortable and could maintain this pace all day long
• Level 3: I'm still comfortable, but am breathing a bit harder
• Level 4: I'm sweating a little, but feel good and can carry on a conversation effortlessly
• Level 5: I'm just above comfortable, am sweating more and can still talk easily
• Level 6: I can still talk, but am slightly breathless
• Level 7: I can still talk, but I don't really want to. I'm sweating like a pig
• Level 8: I can grunt in response to your questions and can only keep this pace for a short time
• Level 9: I am probably going to die
• Level 10: I am dead

For the most part, longer workouts should be kept to an intensity of 5 or lower and for the interval training...there will be short spurts of activity that is level 7-8.  I am sure that I will feel like everything is a Level 9...:)

Day 1...Cardio and Stretching  (All of this is courtesy of Calorie Count (Exercise Plan). 

Duration                     The Workout                                RPE

5 Minutes                             Warm up: Start with a moderate pace to gradually warm up                                3-4



2 Minutes        Baseline: Increase incline/resistance and speed to slightly higher than comfortable pace.             5


2 Minutes                 Pyramid Up: Increase the incline/resistance 2% every 15 seconds                                      7


2 Minutes                 Pyramid Down: Decrease incline/resistance 2% every 15 seconds                                       7


1 Minute                          Sprint: Move as fast as you can                                                                             8


2 Minutes                                            Baseline                                                                                                  5


2 Minutes                 Pyramid Up: Increase the incline/resistance 2% every 15 seconds                                          7


2 Minutes                 Pyramid Down: Decrease incline/resistance 2% every 15 seconds                                          7


1 Minute Hill Sprint: Increase incline/resistance by 8-10%, keeping speed moderate until you reach Level 8        8-9


2 Minutes                               Baseline: Decrease incline/resistance to baseline                                                      5


2 Minutes                              Sprint: Move as fast as you can                                                                           8


2 Minutes                   Baseline: Decrease speed to recover back to baseline                                                          5


5 minutes                                             Cool down                                                                             3-4

Total Self Inflicted TourtureWorkout Time: 30 minutes

(Sorry about the formatting of that info...obviously user error here...copy and paste was not my friend and I couldn't get the stuff lined up...YUCKO!!!)...Hopefully you get the drift...
 
After the workout, I will complete a series of stretches...I am only listing below the stretches.  The website has pictures and descriptions of how to complete each stretch.  (Note:  This is a very good thing for those of us (ME) that might not know the technical terms and do better with a visual diagram/photo!).
 
Stretches
Hip/Glute Stretch
Hamstring Stretch
Inner Thigh Stretch
Lunge Stretch
Kneeling Hamstring Stretch
Piriformis Stretch
Knees to Chest
Knee to Chest
Calf Stretch
Kneeling Calf Stretch
Spine Twist
Quad Stretch
 
 
So, this looks like a full workout Saturday for me...Stay tuned for weigh in results (scary...and it's not even Halloween...but there were some Halloween treats ingested!) and my workout/stretch results...