Amy's New Start : Comments Welcome!

[toystoryduo]

I'm glad to hear that you're feeling better, Amy! How is Dan feeling? I hope he is feeling better soon too.

I hope you have a nice evening!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Tracy, Dan is feeling almost back to normal, thank goodness he didn't have it nearly like I did. I really pumped him full of liquids, vitamin C and wellness tea. I also made him stay in bed most of Sunday and sleep! When I started my journey with this bug we were in DL and I couldn't do those things and then I flew on a germy airplane and I think that sealed my fate!

The kids have not had school for two days due to our extreme cold. It got down to 18 below at my house tonight, both yesterday and today were highs either below zero or just above. It was a nice break but I must say I am glad they are going back tomorrow!

I have done well with food, staying right on points. No exercise. The rec center was closed yesterday and today frankly I just wasn't up to getting out. Its so cold and icy, tomorrow will be better for that and I have already washed my gym clothes, charged my Mp3 and am ready to go. I also just didn't feel strong enough yet. Its amazing how weak and lethargic I have felt. But today really seemed to put me back to normal.

I hope I kept off my 8.8 pounds, its hard to know since often when I lose that much weight from being sick, its tough to keep it off. Still, I hope I did!

I know a lot of you are dealing with this same awful storm we had, I hope everyone is staying warm and dry. If that groundhog is right, maybe the end of winter won't be too far away!

 

[toystoryduo]

I'm glad to hear that Dan is feeling better too!

Great job staying on points, Amy!

I sure do hope the groundhog is right! I would love an early spring!

I hope you have a nice day today!

 

[eyor44]

Amy, I am so glad that the doctor finally prescribed you some meds so you could get better. Glad Dan is better also.
Are you all still freezing cold? Hope y'all warm up a bit soon.

Did you get to the rec center today? I hope you had a good Friday.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Lisa and Tracy. I have been a lousy Wisher lately! I have been spending way too much time on the Resorts board lately, its bitter cold, snowy, miserable and all I can seem to think about is my trip in June! I got a call from my brother yesterday, he and sil are toying with trying to come for a few days to WDW over our dates, its very iffy but I am hopeful. It would be so fun. Its just so hard for them to plan, my sil's mother is still doing very poorly in the nursing home and they just don't know how long she'll live. I am so sad for them. This trip would be so good for them, I hope it works out.

I lost 2.2 pound at WW on Friday, I was thrilled. My total loss as of last Friday is 10.4. I was very happy since that sort of makes me feel confident that big loss the first week will be kept off. I feel really good right now, long ways to go and a lot of work to be done but at least I am off to a solid start. Again. I didn't even bother to get my little 5 pound ribbon thingy, it almost makes me feel jinxed. I mean I have gotten enough ribbons, bookmarks, frig magnets and stickers from WW over the years to pave the way to WDW. Maybe less is more right now as far as their little reward system goes!

I have not worked out yet. Between being sick, the weather (another blizzard today) I haven't done a thing. I am okay with that though, right now I feel like I have gotten the food thing under control and in order, now its time to incorporate the exercise back in. I am really missing my treadmill. Some days, I just don't feel like driving to the gym, esp on a day like today. Maybe I'll Walk Away the Pounds later. In fact, I WILL do that at some point today. I just have to get some exercise in. Okay, so that is a plan now put in writing!

 

[goldcupmom]

Glad you are feeling better! 10.4 lbs is OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!

Give yourself time to recover. I hear you about the cold. Even UNM was closed most of last week. Are you getting the snow again today? We are supposed to, but so far, nothing....but wind, of course!

 

[toystoryduo]

Way to go on your weight loss, WISH sis!!!

No worries on working out, my friend. It sounds like you're still recovering from being sick. You don't want to push too hard too soon. Maybe some WATP or gentle walking...

Are you getting the snow that was predicted? We don't have snow here yet. Right now, it is bitterly cold though.

Hope you have a nice evening!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Julie and Tracy. We did get snow and bitter cold. Yesterday was a high of about 8 degrees, today we topped out at about 18, but at least it was sunny! We got about 6 inches of snow so not too bad. Now we get a warm up, praise the Lord!

Food has been really good yesterday and today. I did not work out yesterday, but I did get into the gym today. I did 45 hard minutes on the treadmill and it was really hard. But I was really proud of myself, it felt good to get back. Tomorrow may be tough to get to the gym but I am determined. My car needs its 60K check up so Dan will follow me over to the dealership and then I'll bring him back home so he can work (Thursday's he now works from home) and then I'll drive back to the gym. I have an appt. at 11:30 so I will have to book to get the kids to school, all the way across town for the car, then back here, then back the same way I came to the gym. We'll see. If one person runs late, its all over before it begins!

I am pretty proud of that weight loss. My goal is to be to 13 pounds by March 4th, obviously I will make that early unless something happens like me falling apart! Which will NOT happen!

 

[toystoryduo]

Way to go on your weight loss, Amy!!! You are almost at your March 4th goal!!! Keep up the good work!!! I know you CAN do it!

Hope you have a wonderful week ahead!

 

[eyor44]

You can do it Amy! You can do it! Way to go on your loss! March on sister!

Please be careful with all that snow. Blizzards! I say a small prayer every time I see another storm come you alls way.

I hear you about dreaming of Disney. I am still 9 months out and you would think I have never been before. Let someone mention going, or ask a question and I am all over it with tons of advice.

Happy Valentine's Day Amy! I hope you have a great day.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Ladies for sticking with me. Once again I seem to be MIA way too often around here.

I have been struggling with my food and exercise. I have been so down on myself the last two days, feeling like a failure, feeling blah, depressed and just not myself. I think my recent re entry into the world of TOM is to blame for that. My hormones are wacked again, it was so nice for over a year to not have this worry! Now its back. I blame the whole darn thing on dd and the start of her "womanhood", her cheesy little hormones found mine and got them all fired up again!

I also had to do some soul searching last night at 2:00 a.m. when I couldn't sleep. I had to almost talk to myself in third person and ask "why are you floundering". I really thought and came up with hormones, and dh's new job. He works from home two days a week and it frankly drives me insane. He's on the phone, he's HERE, he distracts me and for some reason its made my own routine just go to heck and back. I have decided that some of the things I normally do on Tuesday will now be done on Thursday. That way, I am gone a lot of the day! I love him dearly, but I am just not used to this.

I also realized that I have a tendancy to allow one little thing to bring down the whole ship. So I need to work on that. Challenges, stresses, drama, kids, husband's, blizzards, will all happen. I just need to not let anything or a few things get in the way. I need to stay focused. I can do this but its a lot of weight to lose so obviously it will take time. I can't very well put life on hold for the 18-24 months this process will take.

These are all things that are nothing new or that unique but I do realize its so easy for me to just shelve the things that make me do unhealthy things and then sit around and wonder without really thinking what the root issue is.

Today has been a good day, feel back on track, went to the gym, did well with food so maybe I am getting back on track before I got too off!

I'll visit journals later, dd needs her computer. Her computer as in the one I bought for her. Now mine is dead wouldn't you know it!

 

[toystoryduo]

Sending a gentle your way. I have struggled with a lot of those same feelings myself. Please know that you are an AMAZING woman, Amy, and you WILL get this through this and be victorious!!! I know you CAN do it!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Tracy!

Food was really good on Thursday, yesterday and today not as much. We had friends over last night, and then today my stepdad and his girlfriend came over and having company is always a challenge.

Today, as soon as I saw stepdad I asked "what's wrong". Apparently his nephew was taken to the ER last night with a severe headache. They did some tests and realized he had accute leukemia and was having a brain bleed. They couldn't get it stopped, and they turned off life support a few hours ago. He was only 53. I only met him a few times, but I do know his mother very well and I am heartbroken for her. And for stepdad. This nephew is also a minister and stepdad was very close to him. No warning, no symptoms until yesterday. Life is scary sometimes.

I look at Dan and I feel so lucky. Each day is a gift not to be taken for granted. It is a blessing that this man was able to baptize his new grandbaby recently but he will be sorely missed. He took many trips to Africa on outreach/mission programs, he didn't live a long life but he definitely lived a full and valuable one.

I am pretty beat, I may take a nap today. I kept waking up in the night for some reason and then got up at 5:45, ds went downtown to pass out donuts and coffee to the homeless with his youthgroup. He came home and said "Mom we are so lucky". He is so right. He said there was one little boy with his mom, they were so thrilled to get a donut. Stuff like this is good for him, for all of us to again realize how lucky we are. I must say, ds is really evolving. Sometimes with teenagers, its hard to see beyond the whole teenage thing, but lately he is really coming into his own. He has so much direction with wanting to be a marine and his church stuff. I feel like every day he is on the straight and narrow is another step towards staying that way. Kids have so many pitfalls to overcome. And I am thrilled to say, this semester he is at 6 A's and one B! He needs to do this overcome a very poor freshman year. Even though he wants to go right into the Marines, he still needs to keep those grades up so his options are wide open.

Now I need to do well tomorrow on food, weigh in will be Wednesday from now on so weekends have less recovery time once they are over! Ruth (stepdad's girlfriend) always brings candy to us. I tried to be good but this time it was toffee, my favorite. Wonder how many calories that had, I am afraid to look! I must say, it was very tasty. I love it that she does this though, it makes the kids feel like they have a grandmother who dotes on them again. My mom was always bringing them candy and they love having Ruth do it. I just wish she'd bring licorice because I hate that!

Hope everyone is having a very nice weekend.

 

[eyor44]

Amy, please don't be too hard on yourself. You have had a lot going on in the past year to handle and changes on top of it doesn't help. How you have handled it all without going bonkers is beyond me. You will get there, you will.

I am so sorry to hear about Step-Dad's nephew. How absolutely awful for his family and congregation. Yes, life can change in a split second. I am learning this lesson.

Happy to hear that your DS is doing better this year. Does he drive yet? Good grades help with insurance discounts on some insurances. He is a good young man to be willing to get up so early to help others. A good show of character for him.

Please don't tell me that your DD beginning TOM has started yours back. I was thinking that mine should end before DD's begins. Now you say maybe no.

I pray you are able to sleep better tonight. Maybe the full moon has you off. Does it shine in your window?

DD is sitting here and wanted me to tell you that she thinks this is me. She thinks this is what I do all day long. Not sure where she gets that idea from.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Lisa the full moon, as it gets further in the sky does shine in my window! Maybe I need to draw the blinds and shut the curtains!

Yes, it was funny. DD started up TOM in November and for the first time in around 18 months I got one too, exactly a week after she did. Same thing in December. So far January and February have been all clear (for me at least)!

So today I walked for one hour. Not bad considering it was 36 degrees and so windy it made it bitter cold. While I walked, I hatched a plan. Dan and I will have our 20th anniversary in July of 2012. I have been thinking the past few years it would be nice to renew our vows. Our wedding in 1992 was largely ruined by Dan's mother's antics and drama with his dad (they had only been divorced for about three years and she hadn't moved on yet and our wedding brought up a lot of anger and drama between the two of them) and in some ways, I'd like a do over. I don't want a big to do, just close friends and family and I'd like our pastor to sort of officiate. Dan is all for it, and really wants to do it. Now since I have to always find a way to weave my weight into all things in life, I have been thinking, hmmm, I'd have 17 months to lose a good deal of weight. I hated the way I looked at my wedding, I was a size 14, about 170 pounds (I long for those days now lol) and it would be sort of full circle to be thinner at the renewal! We'll have to think about it, but I must say, I find myself getting excited.

Food over the weekend was okay and today was good. I had lunch with friends from Alzheimers Support and I got on Dottie's site first, picked what I wanted and came out very well. Preplanning never lets me down!

 

[eyor44]

Sounds like a good plan. Gosh I hate that your wedding was messed up. Families can really show out at weddings and funerals. Wonder why? Sounds like a great idea to renew. I weddings.

How can we help? Pray, encourage, kick butt? just let us know and we are there for you.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Lisa, I do always wonder why weddings and funerals seem to bring out the worst in people. I did have a lovely wedding and my mom tried and succeeded in still making it wonderful in spite of Dan's mom's antics. But I have been thinking the last few years that doing a vow renewal would be special and sort of wipe out once and for all the drama that happened years ago. I just wish my mom was here for this event too.

So Monday and today I did get walks in. Monday was an hour, today was only about 40 minutes. Its been nice and sunny but very windy, however the wind really serves as good resistance when I walk against it!

Best part of today was extending our June trip by two days! Now we have 14 nights which will be really nice. Its very iffy for us to go to WDW in 2012. We really need to get the outside of our house painted and we need to hire it out which will not be cheap. So I want this upcoming trip to be really fun and plenty of time to enjoy the parks and our resort. We also will be meeting up with friends for the first few days, then my brohter and his family for five days so by extending that gives us four days on our own after everyone else goes home. Thank goodness for Southwest, I love the fact they don't charge change fees, great for people like me who are always scheming to get more time at Disney!

Food was very good today, I heated up a frozen pizza for the kids before I left to teach my class but I did make myself fish and some broccoli. Dan is out with the guys tonight so he ate there. That pizza smelled so good but I only had a two bites.

I did decide to keep Friday as my weigh in. Wednesday's are just too jammed packed and I decided not to switch to that day to go to WW. I have two friends from aquasize that weigh on Wednesday's, but in a way, I sort of like going by myself anyway. I really hope to have some sort of loss this week. Its been a lot of up and down with food lately. But come what may, I am feeling really good right now and very motivated again so that's good.

 

[toystoryduo]

I love the idea of doing a vow renewal! Maybe you and Dan could plan a second honeymoon or Disneymoon as well!

Great job getting your walks in! Remember that EVERY minute counts!

Woohoo for adding 2 days to your Disney trip!!! Two full weeks in Disney =

Sending for tomorrow's weigh-in. I hope it goes well for you!

Have a wonderful day, my friend!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Tracy, I would love a disneymoon! We do have two free plane tickets on Frontier but I am betting they'll be blacked out during the summer. But maybe someplace else, we'll see.

I did decide today I want it to be just Dan and I, the kids and our best friends Scott and Angela and maybe stepdad during the vow renewal. There is an observation deck up at the spot where Dan's dad's and grandparents ashes were scattered with a magnificient view of the continental divide. They allow people to marry on that deck and I am thinking maybe we'd do that on our actual anniversary and then have a small party that weekend.

Today was busy and sort of stressful, I got really snarky and in meltdown mode with Dan. As we settle into this new salary, its definitely adjustment time! We both realize that a lifestyle change like this will take some growing pains but I truly feel this is what God is calling Dan to do. Less stress, less hours means more time with family. He found out that one of the jobs he considered would have had him leaving for Moscow this weekend for a two week trip. He is so glad he's not working there, he is simply not interested in travelling internationally if he can at all avoid it. Sounds good to me. After him workinig in San Diego for the better part of two years and only being home on weekends, we had our fill of him being gone and then some! In any case, I did see a job in the local paper and called on it but it was filled. Bummer. The hours would have worked, it was an afternoon receptionist at a law firm. Dan could have picked up dd on the two days he works from home and the other three days our friends could have (their dd goes to dd's school). Oh well, if it had been meant to be, it would have happened I suppose.

I walked an hour today bringing my walking total up to 2 hours and 55 minutes this week. I feel like I am finally on board with exercise. I came in right on target with points, weighh in is tomorrow and I am pretty sure I have gained a bit. I am not too worried though because in spite of a very iffy start this past week, I really recouped. Its a journey so one weigh in isn't going to affect the whole process.

I'll post my weigh in tomorrow, now its off to get dd to dance!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Here is the view off the observation deck where I'd like us to renew our vows next summer:

Its actually more spectacular since only part of the mountain range is shown here but you get the idea!