Amy's New Start : Comments Welcome!

[toystoryduo]

to your DD! I can't believe she is 13 years old already! Where does the time go? I'm glad she is still a sweetie and that the teen drama hasn't hit yet. I keep telling my girls to enjoy the age they are at and not to try and grow up too fast.


Keep on keeping on, my friend. Remember, this healthy living journey that we are on is just that....a journey. We'll have good days and bad days. The key is to keep moving forward while doing the best we can. We CAN do this, Amy!


Good for you for getting that mammogram in! Those are soooooo important!



I hope you have a wonderful day!

 

[eyor44]

Happy Birthday to Amy's DD! I hope she has an awesome day.

and you too Amy, have a great day!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks so much Lisa and Tracy. Dd did have a wonderful 13th birthday. She had school that day but we went to her favorite restaurant that night (Olive Garden) and then I made her a carrot cake. My stepdad came over which was nice, we hadn't seen him since July due to our swine flu and his trip to Oregon and just being busy.

This week however was hectic, busy and just one thing after another. I had computer issues yet again, my dryer went out (amazing how that wrecked two days of my life), dd's birthday and then we had a camping trip on Friday night into Saturday followed by a bunch of stuff at church Saturday night. Today (Sunday) was nice, we saw a movie, had lunch out and just chilled. Until...

I talked with dh's aunt and I think I may be going out to Los Angles by myself for a few days in early October. Dan's dad is having open heart surgery and his aunt is going to go out there from D.C to be with him (she is fil's sister). I have been very worried about her making this trip alone, she's not a feeble old lady but its a big trip, in a stange city and the one person she knows there will be in the hospital in ICU. I found cheap airfare, I can stay in her hotel room and be with her at the hospital all day. We can only go into fil's room for five minute intervals, the rest of the days will be spent in the waiting room. She has a possible skin cancer on her leg, so if her dermatologist gives her the okay, she'll make her arrangements and I guess I will too. Its an expense we don't need but it can't be helped. I will know on Tuesday.

I plan to join WW on this Friday (due to a bunch of stuff last Friday I didn't make it in). I bought My Alli, still need to read the info on that and I am just at loose ends all over the place!

So that's my news, hopefully I'll have a computer that works now and I can get back to Wishing more regularly.

 

[eyor44]

Hi Amy
You have had a very busy past few days. Glad your DD had a good birthday. and camping. I hope you all didn't have the rain we did.

Prayers for DFIL. and if you can go with DH's aunt. having a second person there would be a good thing.

and prayers that Auntie doesn't have skin cancer and is cleared to fly.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Lisa, you always say the right thing.

Dan has decided he will go to CA to be with his dad as well. I'll stay longer but since the surgery is on a Friday, he can come out for that and only miss one day of work. I have already got it worked out with ds' best friend's family for him to stay there while we are both gone and hopefully dd's friend's mom will get back to me today as to if it will work out for dd to stay over there for a few nights. We have no family in town that can help us with this, its time like this I really miss my mom. But it will all be fine.

This is going to be a major budget cruncher, a week in a hotel, two plane tickets plus meals for a week. And the hotel is in Hollywood but it looks like its an okay area and only a half mile to the hospital. I can walk in the morning and take a cab back at night when its dark.

Fil is very happy we are coming and that's what matters most.

With all this expense, I may have to postpone joining WW since right now, every penny counts.

Food today:

Slim Fast
Rice and chicken bowl from Rumbii Grill
Dinner: Slim Fast
Snack: piece of fruit

Thats it for today, hopefully by tomorrow we'll have our flights in place and all our details worked out.

 

[eyor44]

Amy
I'm glad that Dan has decided to go out also. Yes, unexpected expenses always come up when we least expect them too. But it will all work out. You are doing a good thing and I'm sure it will bring comfort to Dan's DF to know that you are there and he doesn't have to rely on just strangers. I know it's hard not having family around at times like these. Hopefully you will hear back from the other mom soon and she'll be able to help you out. Here's a little bit of that you find some good airfares.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Lisa, yes unexpected expenses do always come when you least need them! Just when we were about to get our heads above water from the tornado and hail damage, this hit. But life doesn't always wait for convenience sake! What started out as me going myself and sharing a hotel room with ds' aunt, turned into both of us going and getting our own room for a much longer time (fil will be in the hospital including ICU for at least a week). But like all things in life, it is all working out. Somehow, airfare was dirt cheap. I got two rt tickets for under $400 total.

I didn't work out today, I was so busy. I got started on getting things organized for the trip. I had made several appts the week I will be gone and those all had to be rescheduled. Then I got started making out lists of what needs to be done and what needs to go to each respective house where the kids will stay. I did hear back from my friend (her dd is my dd's best friend and the mom is a good friend of mine) and they can keep Maria with them for the five nights. I am bit worried, dd really doesn't do that well away from home and she also needs a lot of hands on attention with her school work. Her friend is a straight A gifted student and I know dd will feel self conscious about her work vs. her friend's. I am not worried about ds at all, he's doing great right now and is always happy to be away from home and at a friend's!

This will be the longest I have been away from my kids, it will be eight nights total. Dan will be gone just five nights though so at least he'll be back sooner.

Tomorrow I plan to walk at the rec center. And I may still go ahead and join WW this week. I shouldn't spend the money but I watched Biggest Loser tonight and I am pumped and want to get going on this. I'll be eating hospital cafeteria food for a week, now for most people that would be a sure fire way to lose weight, but knowing me, I'll find something fattening and greasy to eat while there. I could probably gain weight in prison if I put my mind to it!

I am off to bed and I need to read that My Alli stuff, I still haven't done that and I don't want to take it until I know all the info. This is the first time I have taken a diet pill in about 25 years. I normally don't like to take pills of any kind but I am going to make an exception. I see some of the women on BL who look huge and guess what, they weigh about what I weigh. Very sobering. I do love that show and love these contestants and I am so glad its back on again, I have missed it!

Food today was so so. I need to post better what I eat. And I made out my grocery list tonight during the 100 commericals during BL so I can get some good stuff in the house for me.

 

[eyor44]

Glad everything is working out for your unexpected trip Amy. How is DH's aunt? Has she heard anything from her doctor yet, if she can travel?

Okay hospital food is one of my big complaints about hospitals. You would think they would only serve "healthy" food. Ours serves fried chicken, fried fish and pecan pie! On a regular basis. Hello people! that is what put a lot of people in the hospital in the first place. Just don't get it.
You will do fine. I have faith in you. Perhaps your hotel will have an exercise room where you can work out each day. Remember to take time to rest and clear your mind each day. Waiting rooms can be very tolling.

I don't watch TV much, but I have seen the BL a few times. I always feel really sorry for the ones who have to leave. Its like they try so hard and then are sent home. Do you think they still provide them help and support, just off camera?

Have a good day and I hope you get everything done you need to.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Lisa. Dh's aunt got the okay to travel, they burned off the think on her leg and told her to come back in six weeks and that they miight biopsy it then.

Dd is sick yet again. I called the nurse yesterday and told her I was really worried about her being sick so much, she asked me to recount how many times in the past six months, what she had had, etc., and I did and she said "that actually sounds about right for a kid her age". She looked back through dd's file and informed me that all the years dd was rarely sick, in fact many years she only went to the doctor for her anuual, was not the norm! So that made me feel a bit better. She's better today but I kept her home since she was running a fever all day into the evening and she is still not feeling well. She also told me Colorado has been really hard hit with the flu for the past two years and that they are noticing a lot of kids missing more than usual.

I got it too, but not as bad and I feel much better today. I slept most of yesterday which was good but it made me feel groggy and depressed. Hate that!

So I have changed my dates to go out to L.A. during fil's surgery. I am going to come back a few days early. I had a meeting at dd's school to go over her learning plan for the year that was going to have to be postponed until November and that was making me nervous, I really wanted to be able to go over what they will be doing as far as her special ed sooner rather than later and also it just became more and more apparent that for me to be gone for eight days was going to be tough.

The biggest factor of me being there the whole week was to be there to support Dan's aunt but I simply cannot make this whole thing work. She'll only have two days on her own and I know she'll be fine. In any case, I made the change with the airline today, it only cost me $50 and since my airfare is so cheap overall, that was really not a big deal and having three less nights hotel and meals will certainly more than make up for that. I feel like I am letting her down, but it just cannot be helped.

So I am hugely relieved and so is Dan. The important thing is that both he and I will be there through that weekend when fil is in ICU.

Stilll have very little appetite but that's not a bad thing I suppose! I hope that Dan and I can take a walk this evening, I really need to get back on that.

 

[Amy&Dan]

So yesterday was a day spent feeling really weak and miserable until early afternoon when I finally got smart and took a nap. Dd was also home yesterday again (and today) but I managed to feel almost normal by late afternoon after my nap. Other than still feeling a little tired, I feel pretty normal today.

Well I finally made it into Weight Watchers today. I had really waffled with this all summer but with the "get one month free" promo decided I should go for it. I am so glad I did. I was up 14 pounds from my last weigh in in late May. I simply cannot believe I gained back 14 of the 16 pounds it took me four months to lose. But I have no choice but to just start over and I guess be happy I didn't wait longer and gain back more.

The meeting was very good today, all about red light foods and how we let our moods and thought process rule our relationship with food. Lord knows I do!

I kept dd home again, she woke up feeling much better but since she was still running a fever last night, there was no way I was having her go back. No idea what she had, I suppose it could be swine (never had her tested when ds had it back in August) or just some viral thing. But she was one miserable kid for two days. Seeing her wake up feeling like herself was a really nice way to start the day.

I got her and I Subway for lunch, I haven't grocery shopped yet but plan to go tonight with dh. I have a lot of healthy things planned for the next week for my meals and snacks. Last night I ate Taco Bell for my version of the Last Supper and it was tasty but I am ready to get back to some better habits. I only walked once all week, but I was sick along with dd, so I am not going to beat myself up about that.

Here is today's food:

Breakfast: Slim Fast
Lunch: Subway club with spinach, tomato, green pepper and pickles (no cheese or mayo). I split a bag of chips with dd which was better than eating my own bag.

Dinner: Spaghetti with meat sauce (93% lean ground beef), salad with balsamic vinegarette.

I plan to start Alli on Sunday. I didn't want to start when I was sick. It also said to have a day or two of healthy, low fat eating before you begin. Last night's Taco Bell needs til Sunday to be out of my system! I am really hopeful that by double hitting this with the Alli and WW I can get a good start. Not sure how long I'll do this Alli, if my results are no better than what I normally do on WW, I won't do more than this month. Its really expensive and I still have some qualms about taking a diet pill, even one that is FDA approved.

 

[eyor44]

Hi Amy

How was your day today? Did you get your walk in? Glad you got your trip worked out. and I'm glad to DH Aunt gets to go to. I hope her spots are nothing. FIL will get a lot of comfort at having all of you there. I hope DD is getting better. My oldest DS was sick at the beginning of the week and today I got a call from the school first thing that DD was sick and I needed to get her ASAP. She spent the day on the couch watching TV. Still there.

I'm glad you got back to WW. You seemed to enjoy when you went before. Don't worry about the lbs. Your summer has been really busy and kind of out of whack with your trips and the kids sick and all. You'll do, just watch.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Lisa, I am glad dh's aunt's skin cancer wasn't something they thought was a big deal that needed something more serious than to be burned off.

Wow, this weekend was busy! I had several things at church that I enjoyed. Its funny, we have been going to this church for around 7 years and yet I never got fully involved in too much besides attending worship until more recently. Of course when my mom was alive I simply didn't have the time to commit to much and its taken me this long since her death to get back to the things that were such a big part of my life for so long. I feel really good about that and feel like its helping me put some positive energy back into my life.

The Alli is helping with my food choices. I had to really watch my fat intake yesterday (knowing I was going to take it today, you need at least two lowfat days before you start to take it) at lunch. Dan and I went to On the Border, I had a chicken taco and a salad with dressing on the side and had I not wanted to start that Alli today, I probably would have not done as well as I did. Also, at church before our service project they had a breakfast, sausage, eggs, cinnamon bread and some fruit. I ate fruit only, again, just knowing I had Alli on my horizon kept me behaving. Its a lot to keep track of the fat grams per meal as well as my points. I think that will get easier and more second nature as I get used to doing both WW and alli simultaneously.

Today I took the kids to a movie and brought my own popcorn and a mini luna bar. I did sample some of the kids fully leaded popcorn and ds' nachos but very little. Because I had actually taken the alli today, and knowing what would happen if I overdid the fat, well it wasn't worth the risk. So far so good. We'll see.

I haven't walked yet, but have plans to do that tomorrow. Its supposed to be cold and rainy the first three days of the week so I am very glad I have my rec center membership.

My biggest focus over the weekend was covering my bases and planning. Something I have completely not been doing alll summer. I have my menus planned out for the week and have made a promise to go to the rec center Monday-Friday.

The big challenge will be to keep this motivation and momentum going. I have nobody but myself to rely on to make this happen and I just have to do it. I saw my reflection in a full length mirror yesterday and since I rarely allow that to happen, well it was a shock and not in a good way!

 

[eyor44]

Hi Amy
You certainly have a full plate going right now. You will have to keep us posted on how you feel with the Alli. I don't think I know anyone who has tried it. But you did good with your food knowing you wanted to start it. Glad you have the rec center to go to in bad weather. Then no excuses like I have used this week. You have a much, much stronger will than I to avoid the popcorn. I just love me some movie popcorn. But I have a feeling I know what the fat will do with the Alli and you were very smart to avoid it.

Still praying for DFIL and his surgery.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Lisa, I'll keep you posted on my experience with Alli!

OMG it is snowing here today! If I lose tree branches with this, I will be so majorly upset.

It was 80 degrees yesterday. Gotta love Colorado.

I'll post for real later but just had to get that off my chest. I wonder what its doing in WDW today? Probably sunny and 85.

 

[toystoryduo]

Hold the phone! Did you say it is snowing outside?!?!? Please don't send it our way.

I'm glad to hear that things are working out with your schedule and DFIL's surgery. We will be praying for him.....

I hear you on the weight loss thing...Just got back from WDW (where it was 85 and sunny ) and I gained 4 pounds and that is with a ton of exercise and watching what I ate despite being on the free dining plan. I need to re-commit to this healthy living journey once things settle down post vacation here.

I'm looking forward to seeing how WW + My Alli works for you. Add in some exercise and I bet those pounds will melt right off!

Hope you have a great day!

 

[eyor44]

Snowing!?!?!

Amy, it is September. Yes, you live in Colorado, but it's September. Someone needs to have a talk with your weatherperson.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Tracy (welcome home, I missed) and Lisa. You ladies stick by me even when I don't make it on here like I should!

Our altitude is what makes it snow even in months like September (and May and June and etc.). We were supposed to get two inches last night but thankfully it just stuck with rain.

It has been rainy and cold (down to 38 last night) for three solid days now. I know for sure, I can never live in a rainy climate!

I did walk on Monday but woke up with a cold yesterday and so didn't walk. But stayed home and cleaned out my basement and got all our camping stuff packed up for the winter. Tomorrow I have to wait all morning for the Direct TV guy to come and should be able to walk in the pm. Then Friday is dd's birthday party (no school that day) so I doubt I'l walk. So much for my "I will walk Monday-Friday" this week mantra. But if I do three times plus once on the weekend, I am okay with that.

Alli still going well. I am dying to step on the scale but have resister. TOM showed up for the week so that may not bode well for the scale. We'll see.

So other than my cold (which is so much better) I feel great. No ill affects from the Alli so far, but I do know it helps me to stay behaving since those advertised side affects do NOT look appealing!

 

[goldcupmom]

I thought you might be getting snow, Amy! Wish I was there!! (yes, I know I am crazy, but I LOVE cold & snow!) It was 38 at my house this morning, but dry. Supposed to snow in the Sandias tonight.

Sorry you have to make the trip to CA for FIL, but glad you found decent air and are able. The unexpected really sucks the money most of the time.

Glad Alli is not treating you poorly. I have thought about it, but just can't bring myself to take anythng I don't have to. I haven't been to WW lately & don't want to as I'm sure I"m WAY up. oh well.....

Hope you have a good rest of the week and that the snow passes you by. Have a safe trip if I don't get back before you leave. I'll be praying all goes well there and at home.....

 

[eyor44]

Hi Amy. I hope it is warming up for you a bit. Y'all are talking about so much cold and we can't even get out of the 70's at night.

Hope your cold is better and that you have a good weekend. Get out and get some walking in......even if it is just around the block. Way to go with the Alli. Maybe that is it's trick. It makes you afraid to eat the bad stuff, so you lose weight.

 

[traceycooper]

Hi Amy - just been catching up
glad DD had a great birthday
hope all goes well with fil's op, thats great that you will be close by.
I cant beleive you have snow, made me shiver just thinking about it!!
I'm soooo jealous your seeing the new BL i see bits on E news, so sad the lady who lost her family
hopefully wont have to wait to long till it gets here! in the meantime i'm coping with Australian BL
hope all goes well with WW and the Alli