Its a new dawn, its a new day, its a new life for me!

[togatrackgirl]

After lurking around on these pages for the last few days I've decided to motivate and make getting in shape a priority and to not put it off any longer! So I'm feeling good.

I'm 33, 5'4" and after a lovely visit to the doctors this week, found out that I am now weighing in at 220 lbs. Holy cow! How did that happen?? I can make all the excuses I want...busy at work, too tired to exercise when I get home...husband has been ill the past few months with surgery coming up too stressed to exercise...easier with being so busy to just pick something up for dinner...what ever ...excuses are done.

Current Weight: 220
Pant size: 18/20
Bra size: 42D
Desired weight: 145 or pant size 8/10

I'm excited about posting a journal to help motivate myself and get my feelings out. I like the idea of keeping honest with myself.

This morning I got up and went to the local farmers market for some fresh produce when I got home I went out and mowed for an hour and a half!! I left the other half of our lawn for tomorrow. We have around 2 acres to mow and only have a push mower. So that was my exercise for today.

I found an ap for my Iphone called Lose It! and you can add in all of your food items and exercise for the day. So besides writing in a journal I'm going to keep that up every day.

A few years back I was successful at losing weight by counting calories, eating healthier in general, and exercising and that is my plan again. Also I found it very helpful to weigh myself daily. I find the most difficult part motivating to exercise. I just need to do the things I like best NOT walking, NOT the elliptical. I like riding my bike, boxing (well hitting the bags), and stair stepping to music. Plus if I add in outdoor work that should help as well.

So here is to a newer healthier me. Cheers!!

 

[VernRDH]

Welcome to WISH and good luck! I know how hard it can be, 2 yrs ago I was almost at 220 (well 215) and am now around 175, still needing to get down to 125. But I am training for WDW half marathon, and another half this fall.

I wanted to ask about your screen name-do you live in Saratoga? Thought maybe you did or had something to do with the track. Anywho, welcome again and good luck!!

 

[togatrackgirl]

Thank you so much for your support. And yes you are correct! I live in Saratoga and happen to love everything about our race track (its beauty, the horses, wagering...) so that's how I picked my screen name. We were just down Clifton Park way this morning to meet my family for breakfast at the Halfmoon Diner, delish!

Congratulations on your progress (I can't wait to weigh 175!!) and good luck with your training and the marathon!

 

[togatrackgirl]

Got up this morning and went to breakfast with my family. I had steak and eggs, a small glass of tomato juice, and a cup of coffee. Everything was delish. It was so nice to see the family and everyone was happy to see hubby before he goes in for surgery on the 5th for a chiari malformation.

I'm pretty sure that all the stress surrounding his illness and anxiousness about his surgery has not helped with my weight situation. I get stressed and I turn to my good friend food for comfort. I'm trying hard to curb that, I think the journal will help, in my moments of weakness I'm going to try to write instead.

When I got home I went outside to finish mowing. The lawnmower and I have some issues with each other for some unknown reason. Typically I can't get it started, yesterday one of the front wheels fell off (I was able to find the bolt and found an extra nut in the garage to fix it), and well today I didnt realize that a piece of one of the shepard hooks broke and when I went over it...WHAM and i saw it fly. The mower started shaking so bad that I couldnt feel my hands. So I decided to take a peak underneath. WELL...when I hit the piece of metal it bent the heck out of one of the blades. So I guess tomorrow during lunch I'll be heading to Lowes to get a new blade and see if I can figure out how to . I was still able to mow for 40 minutes so that was my exercise for today.

Now I just need to finish laundry to get ready for the week and make dinner. I took out a turkey from the freezer a few days ago so that will be dinner for us for the next few nights. House is smelling good already. In the voice of Homer Simpson "Yummm, turkey..."

Didn't step on the scale this morning, just rolled out of bed, threw some clothes on and went to meet the family so I'll check that out and report tomorrow.

 

[VernRDH]

We don't eat out too much, but you can never go wrong at the Halfmoon Diner. 175-don't worry you will get there. It took me 10 months to go from 215 to 165, but I have regained 10 and I am trying to get those pounds off PLUS the other 50 I still need to lose.

I will be running the Palio Half in Saratoga in Sept. Plus once the track opens this week, we will be up there quite a bit. DH and I got married in Galway and had our reception at the Springwater on Union Ave (12 yrs ago).

Hear ya on the lawnmower-its a love/hate thing. But I did that too when I got back from my 8 mile run. Can you say sweaty???

Hope that things with your DH go okay and his surgery goes well. Keep up the good work. Remember, you didn't gain the weight overnight, it doesn't come off overnight. I'll keep checking in on your journal here to see how you are doing. I have one too, check it out if you get a chance.

 

[togatrackgirl]

Every other day, every other day,
Every other day of the week is fine, yeah
But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes
You can find me cryin' all of the time The Mamas and The Papas

I hate Mondays. I swear I can never sleep on Sunday nights, always anxious about going back to work, projects that need to get done, thinking about the week ahead. Last night was no different on top of it hubbys pre-op tests were scheduled for this morning. We are a week and a half out and he is very anxious which makes me anxious. We have read, and read, and read and the neurosurgeon that he selected is supposedly the best around according to the support group that we have joined online. If it was his arm that they were cutting into it'd be one thing but its his head. The what ifs come into play...what if the surgery doesnt work...what if they cut too deep and he can't do this or that any more...I'm sure everything will be fine but when you sit in their office and they say ok we just have to go over possible risks you cant help but think ok what if he is in that small percent of things going wrong. As next Wednesday gets closer I'm sure its going to weigh on us both more.

We are both not acting normal. Typically during this time of year we are out hiking, and I'm at concerts. The neighbors called tonight to see if I wanted to go to the Coldplay concert for FREE, I thanked them for thinking of me, but this year I don't have the concert going spirit in me. What is wrong with me?? Turning down Coldplay...I'll regret it tomorrow...In my place, in my place...

The highlight of my day...stepping on the scale to see 217! I had rice krispies for breakfast, a peanut butter and jelly sammy for lunch, tons of water, afternoon snack of a jello pudding cup, and then our leftover turkey dinner. Delish.

Tomorrow is another day, just happy that Monday is over and done with!

 

[VernRDH]

Good job on the loss!!! 3 lbs is 3 lbs take it. The stress of your DH's impending surgery may not help your efforts, but MAINTAINING is a victory!!

Where is the surgery? I will be thinking of both of you next Wednesday.

 

[togatrackgirl]

You are right, I'm so taking the 3lbs and running with it! I am shooting for 215 by next Monday. Baby steps.

My husband's surgery is going to be at Glens Falls Hospital. We went to Albany Med for a second opinion they were also great but they wanted to do a more invasive procedure which carries with it a higher risk of infections such as menengitis. After talking with many people on the support boards that had been through the less invasive procedure successfully my husband made his decision. If this procedure does not work then we would go ahead with the other procedure.

 

[togatrackgirl]

Today was a good day all around. Productive at work and at home. Paid all of the bills for next month so I dont have to worry about them or even worse forget about them! Started cleaning up my desk at work and tying up loose ends before I take time off over the next 2 weeks. Finished figuring out our ADRs for our late October trip or so I think anyways We are hoping that hubby will be fully recovered by that time.

I maintained the 217 on the scale. I really need to add in exercise but honestly dont think this is the week to begin with heavy exercise, maybe a nice walk but not full blown workouts. So I'm just watching what I'm eating, cutting the calories. I promise I will kick it into high gear here, I'm just thinking that this is just not that week. Still moving forward though!

Today I had a late breakfast, actually lets call it brunch around 11:30 and had a turkey sandwich, baked cheetos. That kept me pretty full so I had afternoon snacks a string cheese, a jello pack. For dinner our last night of turkey, gravy and stuffing...still yummy!

I'm looking forward to my haircut on Thursday night. There is just something so relaxing with someone else doing my hair!! I swear I could fall asleep in the chair.

Finishing watching a movie with hubby then heading up to bed. Sweet dreams!

 

[togatrackgirl]

Maintaining 217. Breakfast today was some melon, 4 whole wheat crackers with goat cheese; lunch turkey sandwich on white bread w/ a little mayo, snack banana; dinner a chicken gordita.

I think I did pretty good, typically I have 3 gorditas and tonight only 1 so that was will power!

The Lose It! Ap for the Iphone is sweet! It has everything in it EVEN the gorditas!!

Man this week is flying by!! Tomorrow I'm giving a tour of the gardens at my work to the interns I volunteer with at our local Preserve so I'm brushing up tonight on my facts. That should be fun and help the day go by. Friday, my boss is taking me out to breakfast at the track which will be a nice start to the day.

Saturday we are supposed to be getting a delivery of our new bed and frame that was supposed to arrive weeks ago so we are psyched and hubby decided that since he feels the worst after working all day that we would put off going out to dinner until Saturday. Just a short 5 minute ride to restaurants. Whatever he wants is fine with me. I can really tell he is getting nervous now, all I can do is reassure him everything will be fine and tell him I love him.

 

[VernRDH]

How are you doing? Haven't heard from you in a few days, I expect things are getting more nervous with DH's surgery coming up.

 

[togatrackgirl]

Hi there, thanks so much for checking in on me, it means so much. I've been so busy the last few days I just haven't had the time to post. Down to 216. I haven't really exercised unless you consider moving furniture and house cleaning exercise but I can tell you I was sweating like crazy!!!

Jim has been feeling really sick the past few days so even the little he was doing around the house has now completely ceased. His left sided weakness has gotten worse and he complained all weekend of horrible headaches. He's slept most of the weekend. I'm nervous yet so happy that the surgery is happening this week I'm just hoping it "fixes" his symptoms.

We received our new bed yesterday so I rearranged the furniture we had in a sitting room we have downstairs and brought the old bed downstairs all by myself, feeling pretty proud of the work I did. So now we have a guest room downstairs. I kept the recliner in the room since that is probably where he'll feel the most comfortable sleeping until the staples come out, or if he can sleep in a bed he'll have that option as well. That way he won't have to worry about going up or down stairs.

I'm going to go in early to work to try to get everything in order there, I'm guessing that I'm going to be useless at work on Tuesday. I still need to go to the mall or somewhere to get him some button down shirts that he won't have to pull over his head and some comfy sleeping pants.

He needs light meals for the next 2 days so i'm thinking of hitting up Panera for soup tomorrow night and making breakfast the following night.

I'll try to check in even for just a sentence the next few days. Thanks again for checking in on me!!

 

[VernRDH]

Good to hear from you!! What a lot of work you got done, you go girl!!

Again, sending good thought to you and hubby, hope he is feeling better soon.

 

[disneymomof1]

I was looking through the journals and your title spoke to me, are you a Michael Buble fan? You are doing great, today I started to watch food intake and cutting out the sugar and bad stuff. Hubby and I really need to lose weight so we are going to start this together. You are doing great, it is so hard, I broke my ankle last month so exercising right now is out but I start physical therapy today so I wil talk to them about what I can do. I will check on you again !!

 

[togatrackgirl]

Hi Disneymom,

I know of Michael Buble but don't know many of his songs, but the few songs I do know I do like. I love all music but am a rocker chick at heart although my favorite is Dave Matthews Band. Out of all things I dont think that I could live without music. Anyways, I remember hearing the song of my journal title one day on the radio, not sure who even sang it, thought it was a woman though for some reason and fell in love with it and when I started this it felt like the perfect title!

Sorry to hear about your broken ankle but I think that watching intake is a good start. I really think that keeping track of everything I put in my mouth is very helpful. Helps to keep me in check and realize where I'm going wrong. 3 gorditas=all of my calories for a day...what?? What am I doing to myself? I also find what keeps me fuller longer. For example eating a bowl of rice krispies doesn't keep me as full as a bowl of oatmeal. Eating a snack around 3 helps me keep from being starving come supper time.

Plus having everyone's support here is great. Knowing that I'm not alone in this, that I'm not the only 200+ pound woman trying to get into shape. We'll all get there if we keep supporting each other. One pound at a time!

Once hubby is out of the hospital, which we are hoping is by next Monday I'm going to kick it up!

 

[togatrackgirl]

216 still, fine with me!
Today flew by!

Had Panera You Pick 2 for dinner tonight Broccoli Cheddar Soup and 1/2 Chicken Salad sandwich didn't finish all of the soup, I think I'm super stressed so I just wasn't hungry.

I had a late breakfast/early lunch again today a small piece of my lasagna left over from the weekend and a meatball. After that I ran out to the mall during my real lunch to get hubby some lounge pants and a button down sleep shirt. Check it off the list!

Tomorrow night I plan on keeping busy to not lose my mind worring about his surgery on Wednesday. So I'm going to deep clean the bathroom, pack his hospital bag, pack some books for me to read while at the hospital (on the final book of the Twilight series and just started the Harry Potter books as well). We need to call the hospital tomorrow afternoon for his surgery time. Let the countdown begin...

 

[togatrackgirl]

216

I'm surprised I dont weight 225 though honestly. I think that in the face of all of this stress that I've done really well! Normally I would have eaten everything in sight and I'm going to give myself a pat on the back for not heading to McDonalds each night for comfort! Yay me!

House is cleaned, all is set for tomorrow, have to have hubby at the hospital for 6 tomorrow morning. I joined an online chiari support group and they have been wonderful offering insight, tips and over all support for not only his time in the hospital but also for when I first take him home.

I'm hoping that I keep up my good work once at the hospital tomorrow and don't give in to eating for comfort.

Not sure when i'll check in next it may be a few days so TTFN. Wish us luck!

 

[VernRDH]

I told you maintaining is a success in the face of stress!! Sending good thoughts for hubby and you too.

Check in when you can and let us know how hubby made out.

 

[VernRDH]

Just popping in to see how DH made out. Thinking good thoughts for both of you.

 

[togatrackgirl]

Still maintaining 216 after 5 very stressful days. I must say that the care that my husband received at Glens Falls Hospital was outstanding, the nurses were kind, caring, attentive and overall wonderful.

Hubby's surgery went very well. His incision looks great, I'd say its 6-8 inches long and goes from about mid of the back of his head down his neck. The doctors sucessfully took out a small part of his skull and grinded down his C1 vertebre. He was in the critical care unit for a day and a half and was transferred to a regular hospital bed.

He was having a hard time resting in the regular hospital wing and because we successfully managed his pain with pills I was able to take him home on Friday afternoon! The car ride home was horrible for him even though the hospital was only 20 minutes away. When I got him home I wondered if we made the wrong decision because he was so uncomfortable and in tons of pain on Friday night and Saturday. It was exhausting on the both of us.

Yesterday I had to lie down in the afternoon or I was going to pass out standing up. I have been getting up with him every 4 hours to give him his meds and in the night I jolt awake to check on him to check on his comfort level and position. He has to stay at a 45 degree angle to avoid pressure build up in his head. The recliner wasn't comfortable so I ran out to get 2 wedge pillows and have him propped up in bed with those along with 10 other pillows.

I'm too exhausted currently to exercise but am making sure that we do both eat 3 meals a day. The doctor said that his pain should begin to go away after 7-10 days. So I'm hoping by Wednesday to really get some rest and to start exercising.