Doreen's Fresh Start & Success Story! (Welcome Friends!) [Archive] - Page 5 - The DIS Discussion Forums

DoeWDW

11-23-2005, 04:21 PM

I was having such a good time at work that I didn't post on my journal today! I know it sounds like I'm kidding, but I'm not. I'm loving what I'm working on and the time just flew by today.

This is a wonderful thing because when my depression is really bad, I tend to try to "escape" work by surfing the net all day. I've been feeling very upbeat and happy lately. I used to get to a lot more journals and I do miss visiting everyone but, honestly, it took a lot of time. Now I am actually being productive at work, so I just don't get around as much as I used to. So, if I don't visit your journal, please don't take it personally.

My day has been good and I'm happy about getting together with family tomorrow. :grouphug:

I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving. :sunny:

myhandd

11-24-2005, 12:42 AM

Have a great Thanksgiving Doe!

Dax

toystoryduo

11-24-2005, 09:00 AM

Happy Thanksgiving Doe! I pray that you have a wonderful day with your family today! :goodvibes

Blueeyes101817

11-24-2005, 10:07 AM

i hope you have a GREAT thanksgiving Doreen!

DoeWDW

11-27-2005, 06:26 AM

Wow! The time has flown by so fast over this long holiday weekend! It has been a wonderful time of relaxation and recharging, spending time with family and forgetting about the normal routines of my busy days. :goodvibes

The scale is steady at 160, despite my indiscretions. My mood has been excellent - no sign of my depression! HOORAY! I've had energy to keep going through the day. For those who don't know about my battle with depression, this is EXCELLENT!

Today's schedule is blissfully empty except for Sunday School. I'm sure we'll find ways to fill it. :) I already have laundry in and will plan meals and get things ready for the workweek ahead so life will be as smooth as possible.

I'm focused on doing all I can to keep my depression at bay. When I've gotten through the winter, I'll focus more on weight loss. For now, I'll just have to be content with keeping my weight steady.

DoeWDW

11-28-2005, 06:39 AM

I'm at work, at my familiar (and messy!) desk, doing my usual routine and I'm happy about it. Not hyper mania kind of happy but content and peaceful happy.

The scale is stuck at 160. I know it won't move unless I exercise. Sure wish I had a magic wand for such occasions but the truth is that I am not willing to put in the work needed to drop the weight at the moment. As much as I'd like to do it all, I must be content with working on my depression.

Breakfast is a PB and apple butter sandwich. Lunch will involve an apple with peanut butter. I may also get some soup from the cafeteria. I'll be drinking, drinking, drinking my water all day. I've taken my pills. I did my light therapy this morning (10 minutes at 20% - no glasses). I've got a good start on the day!

The only thing I haven't done lately is devotions. Hmmm, I knew something was missing! I think I'll head over to the Guideposts website for some inspiration before I start working.

toystoryduo

11-28-2005, 08:37 AM

The scale is steady at 160, despite my indiscretions. My mood has been excellent - no sign of my depression! HOORAY! I've had energy to keep going through the day. For those who don't know about my battle with depression, this is EXCELLENT!

Doreen,

This is EXCELLENT news! :goodvibes Praise the Lord! :Pinkbounc I hope you have a most wonderful week this week! :sunny: Take care! :hug:

DoeWDW

11-29-2005, 06:42 AM

I'm patting myself on the back today! I made it through yesterday with NO CANDY! Someone has a box of those fundraiser candy bars practically right in front of my desk and I resisted. Do you want to know the secret???? I just kept feeling the roll of fat around my middle!! Let's hope it works again today, because I know this will be an ongoing temptation.

I got lots done at work yesterday and will get more done today. I'm a happy camper at work! The time just flies by while I happily work away. Six months ago I would have never believed I could be so content at work. I know it won't always be this way but I'm basking in it for as long as it lasts.

Today's devotional talked about finding happiness in the everyday simple things of life. I know I'll be happy next June when we're on vacation but who wants to only be happy for a week or two out of a year?? I'm selfish enough to want to be happy a whole lot more often. Also, today's devotional reminded me that my life is a witness of my faith and beliefs. Who would want to be a Christian if all the Christians you know are miserable??? Being a Christian is about the joy of knowing that God is with you during this lifetime and that you'll be with Him when this life is over. I'm in a good place right now to enjoy the simple things in life and to find happiness around every corner. I spend a lot of time smiling and not much time complaining. Again, I know this may not last but I'm sure enjoying it while it does.

Enough deep thinking - I've got work to do!

keenercam

11-29-2005, 08:31 AM

Doreen -- I am so happy for you, sweetie! How joyful you made my heart today, knowing that you have found peace and contentment in everyday life. I have felt so sad at times, worrying about you and your struggle with depression, and it does my heart good to see you come out on the other side. I hope you continue to enjoy the positive results of the effort you have put into your life to find that serenity. Your journey has already brought you to such a wonderful place!

Congratulations on avoiding candy yesterday. What a wonderful accomplishment -- you should be so proud of yourself! :goodvibes: Don't worry about the scale right now. 160 sounds pretty darn good for living a normal life without huge DIET sacrifices. You are proving to yourself every day that you have found a strategy for maintaining a healthy weight. You can work on losing again later. Enjoy what you have accomplished and when you are ready to move the scale again, a new kind of motivation will manifest itself in you. (does that make sense?)

I am really glad that you are feeling good about work. Your attitude of being positive and joyful is the perfect witness of your Christian beliefs.

I hope you have a truly wonderful, blessed day! :hug:

Strings

11-30-2005, 10:10 AM

Hi Doe,

You sound like you are in a great space right now. I am so happy for you. Enjoy every minute of it. Enjoy this time.

The very first thing I packed was my princess hat. It is in my carryon, and I am putting it on as soon as the plane lands. You guys will be with me in spirit.

Take care of yourself,
Beth

DoeWDW

12-01-2005, 07:16 AM

So here we are again, for another workday. Life is good. I know some people may think I'm being sarcastic but I'm not. I'm thankful to have a job that is indoors, not too physically demanding, where my brain is engaged and the people around me are relatively pleasant, where I make a very decent wage and have benefits and a pension and get paid vacation. Many people are not as fortunate.

Last night went just as I had planned. We all got haircuts and enjoyed our visit with Peggy (the hairdresser) and Roxie & Sabrina (her 2 shih tzus). Then the kids and I came home and snuggled up on the living room floor with pillows and blankets and the puppy and watched Rudolph together. DH was helping our niece with her car so he missed Rudolph but at least he was doing a good deed.

Today will be uneventful (hopefully). There's nothing on the evening schedule - hooray!!

I have stayed away from the candy for a couple days but my resolve has been weakening. So this morning I put on a pair of pants that are just a little tight, to remind me that my waistline does NOT need any fuel for expansion.

Happy day to all!! :sunny:

toystoryduo

12-02-2005, 10:00 AM

Good morning Doreen! :sunny:

Life is going to be very busy the next couple of days, but I just wanted to stop by and say thank you. Thank you for your words of encouragement that have helped sustain me, thank you for your support, and thank you for being my friend. :hug: I will be thinking of you guys at WDW! ::MickeyMo

Have a blessed weekend! :sunny:

LAinSEA

12-02-2005, 02:46 PM

Doe:

It was so nice to read about your perspective on work. It is rare to see that and even rarer to feel it. There were times I absolutely loved my job and staff when I was managing at the track. But the time I had to put in on the job and the lack of management support caused me to leave it. What you feel is now what I am experiencing at the high school. I feel so alive there, I know I'm finally on the right path.

A reindeer fest sounds like it was terrific fun and a great family tradition. How nice your son and daughter are not "too old" to enjoy something so simple and wonderful for the season.

-Laurie :sunny: :sunny:

Cruise04

12-02-2005, 08:56 PM

Sorry - I got confused about whose journal I was posting in - I'm not wearing my glasses and my eyes moved up and down two lines at once (they do this when I'm tired) and I thought I was posting in Laurie's journal. Sorry Doe!!!!!

I am sooooooo happy for you!!!! I KNOW the toll that depression can have on a person and you being able to work on being happy and enjoying life is the BEST thing you can do!!!! I'm so glad you are happy and enjoying things right now - I hope it stays that way. Sounds like the light therapy is doing good for you and that's great because that's the whole idea behind the light boxes. AWESOME!!!! Concentrating on feeling great is more important, and should be, than the weight loss right now. Once you get to a point, you will be able to concentrate on both but don't push it until you are truly ready!

:grouphug: :grouphug:

I loved what your devotions said!

Keep on :banana: :banana:
Chris

DoeWDW

12-03-2005, 02:33 PM

http://www.boomspeed.com/icerakurei/doe/Reese_first_day.gif

If that pic doesn't make you smile, nothing will! :D
Yep, that's my daughter! I had a great time watching her for her first half hour of work today. I was laughing at the little kids and their reactions to her. She said she was smiling the whole time and loved it! I stuck around and bought her lunch. We ate with her guide - a very nice lady. Now I'm back at home. We'll go back later to pick her up.

Nothing else to report - just wanted to post the pic and say I'm having a great weekend. :sunny:

keenercam

12-03-2005, 04:07 PM

Hi, Doreen! What an awesome picture! I am sooo glad your daughter is loving her job! What joy and pride she must bring you!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, sweetie! :hug:

Blueeyes101817

12-04-2005, 10:22 AM

That picture did make me smile! Im glad that she is enjoying her job!

Enjoy sunday :)

DoeWDW

12-06-2005, 07:15 PM

I was summoned for jury duty for criminal court for our county. That means I show up (with about 200 other people) for 3 days. Once you are picked to be on an actual jury, you stay as long as the trial takes - 5 minutes or 5 days or 5 months. Then you're done. If you are not picked for one jury then you go back and wait to be in the pool for another jury. The court has 41 criminal trials this week. Most of them will settle or plea bargain. There have been 4 juries chosen so far. I'm on the fourth jury - I was chosen this afternoon. When the trial is over, probably tomorrow or Thursday, I'll be finished. Should be an interesting one but, of course, I'm not allowed to discuss it until the trial is over.

Lunch today was from the local farmer's market. I had soup and a little dessert. Dinner was pizza - not healthy but I didn't have to cook it. I was a little (read a LOT) stressed from the 45 minute drive home in the dark. They kept us late, hearing testimony.

Tomorrow is another day at the courthouse. I'll make it around to journals eventually. Hugs to all!

DoeWDW

12-07-2005, 04:52 PM

The good news is that I got to drive home while it was still daylight. The bad news is that I have to go back tomorrow. Both attorneys have finished their closing arguments. Now the judge has to "charge" the jury. That means he has to explain the law pertaining to the charges. Then we get to deliberate on the 3 different charges that the defendant is accused of; possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, and endangerment of the welfare of a child. The jury has to unanimously agree on each charge. The judge let us go around 3:30 today because he didn't want us to feel rushed during our deliberation - a wise idea in my mind, so while its inconvenient, I totally agree with his decision.

I'm off to figure out how I can avoid cooking dinner tonight. DH had to drive 4 hours to Pittsburgh, attend a meeting and then drive home today. I'm sure he'll be tired - he isn't home yet. Maybe I can get DS to run out and pick something up......hmmmm.

keenercam

12-08-2005, 08:03 AM

Hi, Doreen! Well, hopefully you are home at a reasonable hour and the deliberations were interesting and fruitful. Not sure how I'd do on a criminal jury. That and family/divorce law are the two areas I always swore I'd never practice.

Sorry DH had to drive to Pittsburgh and back in one day. DH's family is out there and he has done that (5+ hours in each direction). We will be making that trip next week to celebrate Christmas with his family and bring our furbaby home. I hope your DH had great music to listen to on that very long, boring stretch of PA turnpike! :teeth:

Have a great day, kiddo! :hug:

DoeWDW

12-12-2005, 08:06 AM

I'm back to my routine, which isn't feeling very routine after a week away from the office. I'm still catching up on email and voicemail.

The scale is up to 162. My goal has always been to weigh less than my husband and he weighed in at 161 this morning. I have some definite incentive to behave today! I winked at him and told him he's in charge of creating an intensive "exercise program" for the both of us <wink, wink>. He's such a sweetie and reassured me that he loves me.

My eating has been out of control over the past week. Looking back, I think a big cause was the stress and being out of my routine. Change really affects me hard and last week was chock-full of new experiences and stresses that were new. Just for the record, I'm happy I did the jury duty thing but I am so so glad it is over!

Today, it's back to business. I've taken my meds. I've started pushing water. I've brought healthy food to work. I did NOT get my light therapy in this morning but I spent lots of time yesterday in the sunshine. I'll have to get up a bit earlier tomorrow to fit in my morning dose of light. The kitchen is filled with healthy foods and I've got several options to make for dinner tonight.

Doe is back and ready to be healthy and drop a pound or two in the process!

DoeWDW

12-13-2005, 07:13 AM

:sunny: day, chasin' the clouds away
Find my way to where the air is sweet
Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street

Singing that song always reminds me of how I yearn for a simpler life, a simpler and more uncomplicated time, when life was filled with more smiles and less stress. I'm getting the urge to pitch things at home, to unclutter and simplify. Anyone got a spare dumpster laying around???

I'm slowly getting back to my routine, although it's still feeling a bit strange. I still didn't get any light therapy in this week - this must be a priority for tomorrow.

Last evening we ran to the mall to get something for DS' English class. I have learned, yet again, that coming home late, making dinner and then eating at 9 PM when I'm starving does NOT make for thoughtful food decisions. On the upside, I avoided overt sugar yesterday, except for my sweetened yogurt in the morning. It was tough but I know it will get easier.

The scale was up a pound, to 163. This is breaking my heart to see, but not enough to keep me away from food in the late PM, which is the time of day when I'm weakest. No wonder I'm yearning for simpler days.

I'll do all my usual stuff today - take meds, drink water, eat sensibly, avoid overt sugars (except for my yogurt). These things don't even require much thought. My true goal is to make dinner and eat by 7 PM tonight. I'll bake chicken breasts covered with cream of chicken soup, make some long grain wild rice and find a non-starchy veggie to make. That's my goal for the day.

Moving step by step through the day......

DoeWDW

12-15-2005, 07:05 AM

Last evening I had zero energy so I did nothing. Everyone fended for themselves for dinner - I had oatmeal with a tablespoon of overt brown sugar. That was it, though - no drinks, no sweets, no junk!

This morning I was determined to get my light therapy in. I managed to get 10 minutes in before I left the house. We'll see if it helps to improve my energy level over the next few days.

It will be another routine day. We're expecting snow starting mid-morning and then changing to sleet / freezing rain later in the day. I'm hoping the drive home will only involve 1-3 inches of snow and no ice. Cross your fingers!

I've got all my food with me again today. I haven't spent any $$ on food at work this week! It really saves a lot of $$ when I bring stuff from home.

I almost forgot - the scale was steady at 161 this morning! YAY!!

I'm ready to take on the day!

DoeWDW

12-15-2005, 07:06 AM

I've started a journal on another site and I post there daily. I only make it here every few days.

LAinSEA

12-15-2005, 02:12 PM

Doe:

I'm glad the scale is heading back in a good direction for you. I have too much fear to go near mine. My clothes are all tight (even my fat clothes). I'm really watching what I eat, but no exercise to speak of...

I've been stuck on jury duty several times and usually I have to stay longer than the service requirement. We have to do two weeks but if you get seated for a case on your last day, you have to stay. I've always had to stay. DH and I are joking that just as soon as I get a teaching job, I'll be called up again and there are very few excuses that get you out of service. I was on federal duty two years ago, though, and I never did have to go in. They contact you in the morning if you are needed.

Keep your sunny attitude up...it sounds like the light box is making a difference. I sure could use one, we've been in fog for over a week now.

Have a very Merry Christmas and nice winter break.

-Laurie :cat: