I'm so happy and blessed to be celebrating my son's 8th birthday today. If you had told me where I'd be today 8 years ago, I might have believed you, but that day I was a bit out of it.... ;) So, happy birthday to CJ! I love him so much and always will. I'm so proud to be his mom. Especially since yesterday he won the "Citizen of the Month" award for his class!
And a small milestone to report. I am now officially OFF of the hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ). Translation: No more blood pressure meds for me. My pressure has been stable in the healthy zones for over a year now, there is no need to refill that prescription any more. I've been off of it for a month or so, but the doc just confirmed that there's no need for the meds yesterday. Very happy about that, and proud too! Oh, and I just got some rockin' hand me downs from my sister Kelly, and some of the size 8's fit. ????? Seriously? Did I just type size 8????? Hm..... interesting. Good, but interesting!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Some progress (fingers crossed)
I know it's only a tiny bit of progress, but when you've been stagnant for a while a tiny bit in the right direction is great. I'm down a good pound, and only a pound away from a huge milestone (weight in the 150's). I'm working out minimum five days a week (usually six and I feel guilty on the seventh when I don't work out LOL) and doing good on points and The Daily Plate. I'm loving the Daily Plate for tracking things like my exercise calories, my daily intake of things like protein and sodium, etc. It's a fun tool.
Otherwise I'm just keeping on, as they say. I can and will do this, I can and will finish this journey. I've had the opportunity in the last week to do two "intro" posts about myself for my new online classes, and I've noticed the sense of pride and accomplishment that radiates from me when I'm getting to talk about what I've done in the last couple years. That's just a beautiful thing.
Love and blessings, until next time!
Otherwise I'm just keeping on, as they say. I can and will do this, I can and will finish this journey. I've had the opportunity in the last week to do two "intro" posts about myself for my new online classes, and I've noticed the sense of pride and accomplishment that radiates from me when I'm getting to talk about what I've done in the last couple years. That's just a beautiful thing.
Love and blessings, until next time!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
12 weeks post op
Well, technically today is 12 weeks post release from hospital. ;)
I have been thinking about how it's been a while since I've blogged about this, and I needed to take some follow up pics for you all. Today CJ went back to school so I went ahead and took some. While they look odd/kinda bad, I'm actually quite happy with how things are going right now.
The doctor was quite clear that as things healed, I'd end up with a "pooch" of swelling that's close to the incision mark. That's what I've got now, and I'm not overwhelmingly concerned because it really doesn't bother me at this point. It means that things are progressing normally, and I'm happy with that concept LOL. I know it's swelling, and I know I'm doing the right things with my eating, etc. Post op I was around 168 pounds and Monday my weigh in had me at 161.8. I'll get to goal eventually, though I really more down on myself with the scale not moving down than I am about the silly little pooch you'll see below.
First, the clothed shot....
Now, the "good side" shot. You'll notice if you compare the "good" and "bad" sides that the bad side has a more prominent scar area, but that's fine by me. ;)
The front shot....
The formerly "bad" side shot. This is a good angle to show the distension of my lower belly below my belly button right now.
I have been thinking about how it's been a while since I've blogged about this, and I needed to take some follow up pics for you all. Today CJ went back to school so I went ahead and took some. While they look odd/kinda bad, I'm actually quite happy with how things are going right now.
The doctor was quite clear that as things healed, I'd end up with a "pooch" of swelling that's close to the incision mark. That's what I've got now, and I'm not overwhelmingly concerned because it really doesn't bother me at this point. It means that things are progressing normally, and I'm happy with that concept LOL. I know it's swelling, and I know I'm doing the right things with my eating, etc. Post op I was around 168 pounds and Monday my weigh in had me at 161.8. I'll get to goal eventually, though I really more down on myself with the scale not moving down than I am about the silly little pooch you'll see below.
First, the clothed shot....
Now, the "good side" shot. You'll notice if you compare the "good" and "bad" sides that the bad side has a more prominent scar area, but that's fine by me. ;)
The front shot....
The formerly "bad" side shot. This is a good angle to show the distension of my lower belly below my belly button right now.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Ugh, bloating....
Well, the goal of this is to show the good, the bad and the ugly. This week I hit some of the ugly. I'm having a bit of stress in my personal life, as well as lots of stuff going on with school and the kids and a new puppy, and other things too. Just hectic like usual. I did well at Disneyland over my birthday weekend making food choices, etc. My weight was only up a little bit after the trip (1 pound) and I was happy with that.
Since then I've been extremely bloated, and not sure why. I'm drinking my water, and my caloric intake has been under 1300 calories for the last three days and if you subtract calories burned I'm under 1000 (hit the gym every night...). I don't really understand what's going on and it's frustrating me physically. The good news (if you want to call it that) is that I'm not having much time to dwell on it because of all the activity in other parts of my life right now, but that activity is also making sure I'm staying on program.
I'm not sure if it's connected at all, but I'm having a fair amount of discomfort associated with my bellybutton. It's sore, like a bad muscle pull inside and the outside feels like it's tugging to stay connected inside. I'm wondering physically if this is because of the bloating I'm experiencing right now, swelling my stomach up and my belly button fighting to keep it's place. Laying on my stomach wasn't painful before but it is now. I think part of it has to do with the feeling returning in parts of my stomach at this point post op, but am not sure.
I'm just frustrated. The scale was up another pound this morning and I almost screamed. I know within my heart I'm working the program the right way. I don't think I've ever been more sure of it than I am now.
I guess this is just when we keep on keeping on, right?
Since then I've been extremely bloated, and not sure why. I'm drinking my water, and my caloric intake has been under 1300 calories for the last three days and if you subtract calories burned I'm under 1000 (hit the gym every night...). I don't really understand what's going on and it's frustrating me physically. The good news (if you want to call it that) is that I'm not having much time to dwell on it because of all the activity in other parts of my life right now, but that activity is also making sure I'm staying on program.
I'm not sure if it's connected at all, but I'm having a fair amount of discomfort associated with my bellybutton. It's sore, like a bad muscle pull inside and the outside feels like it's tugging to stay connected inside. I'm wondering physically if this is because of the bloating I'm experiencing right now, swelling my stomach up and my belly button fighting to keep it's place. Laying on my stomach wasn't painful before but it is now. I think part of it has to do with the feeling returning in parts of my stomach at this point post op, but am not sure.
I'm just frustrated. The scale was up another pound this morning and I almost screamed. I know within my heart I'm working the program the right way. I don't think I've ever been more sure of it than I am now.
I guess this is just when we keep on keeping on, right?
Monday, August 3, 2009
13 Reasons Why I Love My Husband
Today is the 13th anniversary of the day I married my husband. Honestly I don't think anyone thought we'd last nearly this long. Sometimes we both didn't think it ourselves but we've made it this far, I'm sure we'll make it even farther.
So, in honor of this occasion, I'm going to post 13 reasons why I love my husband....
1. He's loved me literally through thick and thin.
2. Though our family differences are vast, he has rolled with the punches as much as he could as they have rolled through our lives for the last 13 years.
3. Even though he felt a sense of duty to continue serving in the Marines after 9/11, he listened to me and my wishes and went through with his plans to leave the service shortly after the tragic events of 2001.
4. He's helped me learn to be a better wife.
5. He's supported all my recent efforts to keep myself sane so I can be a good mother and wife.
6. He's a great cook!
7. He always thinks I'm worthy of smooching -- even with crazy bed head and morning breath.
8. He's doing his best to make sure I don't feel guilty about not contributing to the household income.
9. He almost always knows when he's screwed up, and almost always does what he can to remedy it.
10 . Thirteen years later I honestly think he's more attractive than he was when we got married. And of course I love him more than I did then -- that almost goes without saying, even though we were crazy pseudo teenagers getting hitched.
11. His genes mixed with mine apparently make for crazy cute kids... though I am biased....
12. He doesn't give me grief for the side effects from my new diet and workout regime.
13. He's like a fine wine -- he's getting better with age.
So, in honor of this occasion, I'm going to post 13 reasons why I love my husband....
1. He's loved me literally through thick and thin.
2. Though our family differences are vast, he has rolled with the punches as much as he could as they have rolled through our lives for the last 13 years.
3. Even though he felt a sense of duty to continue serving in the Marines after 9/11, he listened to me and my wishes and went through with his plans to leave the service shortly after the tragic events of 2001.
4. He's helped me learn to be a better wife.
5. He's supported all my recent efforts to keep myself sane so I can be a good mother and wife.
6. He's a great cook!
7. He always thinks I'm worthy of smooching -- even with crazy bed head and morning breath.
8. He's doing his best to make sure I don't feel guilty about not contributing to the household income.
9. He almost always knows when he's screwed up, and almost always does what he can to remedy it.
10 . Thirteen years later I honestly think he's more attractive than he was when we got married. And of course I love him more than I did then -- that almost goes without saying, even though we were crazy pseudo teenagers getting hitched.
11. His genes mixed with mine apparently make for crazy cute kids... though I am biased....
12. He doesn't give me grief for the side effects from my new diet and workout regime.
13. He's like a fine wine -- he's getting better with age.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Being Overweight, Hindsight version
I've always always always been overweight. At least it seems that way. Technically according to my BMI I still am.
This morning I saw a headline about people thinking that President Obama's new pick for Surgeon General is a bad one because she's overweight. And it made me sad. If I was unhappy with myself for some reason when I carried more weight than I do currently, that was my own issue, not one for public consumption.
Those who care about me are allowed to be concerned because they love me and want me healthy, but I feel as though people pick out any person to target. In this case, yes, she's a doctor. But I worked for Jenny Craig, and I did Body 4 Life. I KNEW how to lose weight. However, I had other things in my life that needed more attention. This is common for MANY of us. We need to address other aspects of our health, or we have children that need our attention 24/7, or we're just not used to taking time for ourselves, or we're single parents who CAN'T take time for ourselves.
I'm thankful for the transition I've made, but it makes me angry when others posit that all overweight people are failures at controlling their health. Probably every other thought I have now centers around what to eat, when to eat, how to work out, etc. This is very self-centered, but as I've posted before it's okay because I'm still doing everything I can to take care of my kids and my family. Other's aren't able to make this choice for a plethora of reasons, and I'm certainly not going to be in line to cast any stones, seeing as how I live in the glass house, too.
This morning I saw a headline about people thinking that President Obama's new pick for Surgeon General is a bad one because she's overweight. And it made me sad. If I was unhappy with myself for some reason when I carried more weight than I do currently, that was my own issue, not one for public consumption.
Those who care about me are allowed to be concerned because they love me and want me healthy, but I feel as though people pick out any person to target. In this case, yes, she's a doctor. But I worked for Jenny Craig, and I did Body 4 Life. I KNEW how to lose weight. However, I had other things in my life that needed more attention. This is common for MANY of us. We need to address other aspects of our health, or we have children that need our attention 24/7, or we're just not used to taking time for ourselves, or we're single parents who CAN'T take time for ourselves.
I'm thankful for the transition I've made, but it makes me angry when others posit that all overweight people are failures at controlling their health. Probably every other thought I have now centers around what to eat, when to eat, how to work out, etc. This is very self-centered, but as I've posted before it's okay because I'm still doing everything I can to take care of my kids and my family. Other's aren't able to make this choice for a plethora of reasons, and I'm certainly not going to be in line to cast any stones, seeing as how I live in the glass house, too.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
The new plan
Okay, so I've been working on this project to change myself since October of 2007. By the end of October 2009 my goal and the new plan is to lose this last 15 pounds. I am at 163 right now. The high end of my Weight Watchers "healthy weight" is 148. That is my goal. I'm really happy where I'm at, which is clear because I've been here so long. Now it's time to get down to business and get to goal.
So, there are a few steps in my plan. Training is essential. I'm going to start with some weights, and I think I'm going to look up the Body 4 Life guidelines for weight training and follow that program where you do cardio one day, weights the next, taking one day off a week. This seems very feasible for me and having a specific guideline for working out would be helpful. I intend to have this research done to start Monday or Tuesday at the gym. That gives me a day or two which I think is good -- no time to dwell on it! ;)
I also submitted for something -- a local "extreme make over" and that offers personal training. I'm really hoping they find my story interesting, because I could use that soooo much! It also offers a life coach which I think could be a very cool thing for me right now.
BUT, even without this help, I'm gonna get it done! I know how to do this. I'm motivated, I'm encouraged, and I'm absolutley positive I CAN do this. It amounts to essentially 5 pounds a month, July, August and September. I will be using this forum to keep myself honest! ;)
So, there are a few steps in my plan. Training is essential. I'm going to start with some weights, and I think I'm going to look up the Body 4 Life guidelines for weight training and follow that program where you do cardio one day, weights the next, taking one day off a week. This seems very feasible for me and having a specific guideline for working out would be helpful. I intend to have this research done to start Monday or Tuesday at the gym. That gives me a day or two which I think is good -- no time to dwell on it! ;)
I also submitted for something -- a local "extreme make over" and that offers personal training. I'm really hoping they find my story interesting, because I could use that soooo much! It also offers a life coach which I think could be a very cool thing for me right now.
BUT, even without this help, I'm gonna get it done! I know how to do this. I'm motivated, I'm encouraged, and I'm absolutley positive I CAN do this. It amounts to essentially 5 pounds a month, July, August and September. I will be using this forum to keep myself honest! ;)
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