I love getting things for free. It is said that "It is better to give than receive" (pretty sure a woman didn't say that, but that is for another post). On that note, I would like to be the first to announce the free giveaway of Nectar of Life Coffee. Check out the link below!
<a class="rcptr" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/aafd17541/" rel="nofollow" data-raflid="aafd17541" data-theme="classic" data-template="" id="rcwidget_4tytbbj1">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
The bag is VERY cool. It is roughly 12 inches high and kinda tapered at the bottom. It is made out of repurposed plastic grocery bags knit together. (I would like to explain that the process of making this took longer than pinterest said that it would, but at least it wasn't an epic fail). This bag is PERFECT to bring a book, small towel, chap stick, and sunscreen to the beach. Not too big, and you can hang it to dry on the porch when you get home. The handles are knit with the parachute cord stuff. (Is there a more technical name for it? I don't know. I just like knitting with it).
The coffee is our Whole Bean French Roast blend. The darkest one we do. This will be great for those trying cold brew coffee for the summer as you can add milk, sugar, and flavor without completely drowning out the delicious coffee flavor you want and need! (Especially if the kids are out of school-God help us all!) No coffee grinder? No problem. You can use a food processor, or blender and just blend until "coffee" consistency. (I have used this method a few times when SOMEONE-not naming names, of course-didn't bring the grinder on vacation).
If you have any hiccups with the process, please reach out to the Nectar of Life Facebook page. I respond to all of it, so you know who you are dealing with. Take care, and have a great rest of the week!
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Happy Wives are Great Lovers
Melatonin wore off at 1:10 am. So I laid there. Trying to close my eyes and relax to get back
to sleep, but the air in the room was warm, and my thoughts were running a
million miles a minute. I had way too
much to do in the morning. Then it occurred
to me that it wasn't just tomorrow.
Everyday had too much to do.
If you can picture someone in the ocean, trying to swim,
breathe and stay above the waves day in and day out, that is how I felt in that
moment. Frantic, anxious, and praying
someone would take the load off, for just a while.
I thought about my mother.
She tried to be all things to all people. She lost her health and her life. I thought about other women I know that tried
to do the same; be a wife, mother, work outside the home, and still keep a
1950's household standard. They are all
battling mental and physical ailments and weight issues.
I finally went back to sleep moving my dream from the dark
and stormy part of the sea, to the land where the waves gently lapped up on the
shore and frothed around my toes. The
sun was warm and inviting. I allowed myself
to stop thinking.
Tuesday, my husband went fishing with a friend while I drove
three and half hours, did deliveries, and sat in DMV to register the replacement
vehicle we had just leased. By the time
I got home I was done. I didn't want to
do anything else, but then my husband asked "What are you going to make
for dinner." I told him
hamburgers. He seasoned the meat while I
prepared the sides. One of the sides,
the brown rice, he was not keen on. He
let me know over the course of 10 minutes.
It occurred to me in that time; my mother figures lied to
me, all of them. They didn't have it
all. They didn't have a social
life. They didn't take care of
themselves. While he was giving me grief
about steaming things in plastic bags, I was breaking the notion I had to do
everything. "Oh, you don't like
what I cooked?" I asked. My eyes were
a mixture of white anger and vibrant clarity. "Good news! YOU can make
dinner tomorrow." He didn't like that at all. That was a classic case of "tough
luck" as my mom would say. What he didn't know is that it wasn't just
cooking he was about to do.
Previously, I had been petrified of breaking our marriage
covenant because I didn't want to be single, and I didn't want my kids to go
between households. Kids survive change.
They probably would be less okay if I became an alcoholic, or addicted to pills
that numb the depression that was creeping in. I decided that I am worthy of a
break. I am worthy of getting help. I
printed out the forms on-line just in case he didn't want to live with woman
that emerged from the cocoon after 16 very long years.
That night, I gave myself permission to fight back. And I did.
There are ways I would be spoken to in the future, and the little
incident earlier wouldn't be repeated under any circumstance. I let my family know that THEY were each going
to take over 20% of my work load. I am going to live. I am going to get to relax. I am going to
have a clean house. And I am not going
to be a slave to any decade's standards for women. If I am working the same number of hours as
my husband, I am sure as shooting not going to be the only one that knows how
to mop the kitchen floor.
I made a comprehensive list of everything I do, from
household inventory to office and warehouse inventory. Even the prep work of meals, and vacuuming
were written down. If it took time out
of my day, I wrote it down.
Right now, my oldest is folding clothes, and my husband is
planning dinner. The kitchen is clean, the dishes are done, and the trash is
out. I loaded the washer, and started
the dishwasher. Everyone put in their
dishes, and picked up around them.
My husband said that he wasn't going to do anything on his
"long" days. I explained he
didn't need to worry; he could complete his chores on any of the other 6 days
in the week. He mumbled something about a "conspiracy against men." You have to laugh at that. The last 70 years have been a conspiracy against women. Keep us thinking we can "have it all" when we are really killing ourselves literally and figuratively.
I work with my husband. We put in the same hours. We work together 24/7/365. So, explain why I am doing all the housework again while he catches up on "his shows?" New rule, when I get to rest in the evening, so do you. No one gets more down time than the other. This is either a partnership in all things, or it is going to be nothing at all.
He chose the chore list over divorce papers. He made a great decision. I am going to be an even better wife, mother,
and co-worker now that I don't have as much to do. I can focus my energy and spare time (I am
getting that as of now!) on things that make me happy. Happy wives are great lovers. Just sayin'…
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Copyright August 4, 2016 in the United States of America. No part of this blog post is allowed to be translated, duplicated, copied, transferred, quoted, skewed, spun, repeated, or otherwise reworded for any reason without express written permission from the author. By using this material without consent, you agree to pay the author a use fee of $500.00 USD per occurrence. This will be billed and due immediately. Foreign transaction fees of $2,000.00 USD per use will be billed to the holder of the I.P. address the site is listed on. Any site that doesn't remove the content within 24 hours of notice will agree to a fine of $1,000.00 USD per 24 hour time period the material is not removed. The holder of the I.P. also agrees to pay any and all legal fees that the United States court system charges to enforce copyright infringement laws. This fee structure is valid and will be enforced for this post and all previous and future content. You have been warned.
Friday, November 13, 2015
Copyright Statement 2015-2016
This post is to notify all users of this site about a few "house rules."
I see the people from Europe, Asia, and the Islands, and I know what you are up to. So here is a few reminders about those of us that operate blogs in the United States of America.
I write this blog for a living. If you copy the blog, you are infringing on my right to make a living in the United States. That is a big problem. I will find you.
Under no circumstances are you allowed to copy any post in this blog without the consent of the author. No exceptions. All violators will be reported. The author charges a minimum of $250.00 USD and up to $1,000.00 depending on the popularity of the article, per paragraph. Google translate will be used to find any perpetrators. The offending person will be billed for the past use, demanded to remove all unauthorized content. The bill is due and payable upon receipt. By copying, spinning, rewording, translating, or otherwise using the content you understand these terms and agree to pay the author immediately. Payment is due in full and in USD only.
You may read the blog and site the blog as a reference. You must use the blog name, date of the article, and put the information in a proper format. Otherwise, again, it is considered copyright infringement.
I have had to crack down on a few people that have used the blog to spin the articles and repost them as their own in various languages. Good thing I know about how to look up i.p. addresses, spoofing, and find out who these people really are. The entire web site was taken down once it was reported.
This blog, all contents, and comments thereof are the sole property of H. Jennings in the United States of America.
I see the people from Europe, Asia, and the Islands, and I know what you are up to. So here is a few reminders about those of us that operate blogs in the United States of America.
I write this blog for a living. If you copy the blog, you are infringing on my right to make a living in the United States. That is a big problem. I will find you.
Under no circumstances are you allowed to copy any post in this blog without the consent of the author. No exceptions. All violators will be reported. The author charges a minimum of $250.00 USD and up to $1,000.00 depending on the popularity of the article, per paragraph. Google translate will be used to find any perpetrators. The offending person will be billed for the past use, demanded to remove all unauthorized content. The bill is due and payable upon receipt. By copying, spinning, rewording, translating, or otherwise using the content you understand these terms and agree to pay the author immediately. Payment is due in full and in USD only.
You may read the blog and site the blog as a reference. You must use the blog name, date of the article, and put the information in a proper format. Otherwise, again, it is considered copyright infringement.
I have had to crack down on a few people that have used the blog to spin the articles and repost them as their own in various languages. Good thing I know about how to look up i.p. addresses, spoofing, and find out who these people really are. The entire web site was taken down once it was reported.
This blog, all contents, and comments thereof are the sole property of H. Jennings in the United States of America.
When Life Isn't Normal
Most of you know I lost my Mom to cancer. I also recently lost an aunt to cancer as well. It isn't fair. It isn't right. These women were in their early 50's, had children and grandchildren. They were loved. They were part of our Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year traditions.
After mom died, it was nearly February before I could take down the Christmas decorations. Every time I picked up a piece of the ceramic village, I couldn't breathe. I would set it back down and tell myself I would put it away as soon as I was able. Each day for a month, I would attempt the task. It never hurt less, but the repetition helped numb me enough to get these things put away.
Mom was in the hospital when I went to visit her after she moved to the Vancouver, Canada area. Although she had moved in late July, the passes across the state were dangerous to attempt, and it wasn't feasible until the weather started to clear in February 2013. Her house was just as she had described. Her touches were all over the exterior.
Once inside her house, the Christmas decorations were still up. She had become too sick and frail to put any of the decorations she lovingly put out, away. Every single piece: from the girl figure skating on the glass pond in the village, to the baby Jesus in the manager, was a reminder she wasn't going to be back. Normal was dead.
The second year (last year) was a bit easier. I decided to view life differently. It was an experiment of sorts. I decided I wasn't cheated out of a normal life with my Mom. I got to see her from the time she was still a teenager. I had been blessed with the most time. I had given her grandchildren. She loved us girls, but let's face it; she LOVED being grandma. I told myself that she would want us to be thankful. She would want us to be together. She would want us to be happy.
I pulled out her holiday silver and set the table with the nicest dishes I own. I sewed special napkins for people to write on. I decided that I would make new memories. I would forge new traditions woven from old ones.
This year, I will put those napkins back out. Life has changed a lot this year. I am not blind, nor ignorant to that. Families blend and change. People leave us and pass on. Those that are left here have an important choice: live in the past and fear the prospect of venturing out, or look to the future. My favorite song is by Danny Gokey (from American Idol). The song is called "Hope in front of me." If you have never heard it, here is a link to youtube https://youtu.be/O5GFiDdGGGM. It is my hope that you will choose to press on. I had to pick up the pieces mom left behind and integrate them into the future. You want to know something, it is working out pretty well. She was a pretty amazing person. The best part of having a future is this: by keeping her in my heart while pressing toward the future, is that there are times I feel her so strongly by my side that tears spontaneously roll down my face. Not from pain, or pity but from overwhelming peace and contentment.
I do not have a mother. But I do have two father figures. I do have in-laws. I do have my grandma. I have friends that love me. I have my siblings. I have my health. I have my kids. I have our neighbors, and the people we have collected along our journey. I have enough. It is not normal, but it is enough.
United States Copyright date November 13, 2015. No part of this blog post, nor posts in the past may be used, transferred, translated, nor altered in any way without express written permission of the author.
After mom died, it was nearly February before I could take down the Christmas decorations. Every time I picked up a piece of the ceramic village, I couldn't breathe. I would set it back down and tell myself I would put it away as soon as I was able. Each day for a month, I would attempt the task. It never hurt less, but the repetition helped numb me enough to get these things put away.
Mom was in the hospital when I went to visit her after she moved to the Vancouver, Canada area. Although she had moved in late July, the passes across the state were dangerous to attempt, and it wasn't feasible until the weather started to clear in February 2013. Her house was just as she had described. Her touches were all over the exterior.
Once inside her house, the Christmas decorations were still up. She had become too sick and frail to put any of the decorations she lovingly put out, away. Every single piece: from the girl figure skating on the glass pond in the village, to the baby Jesus in the manager, was a reminder she wasn't going to be back. Normal was dead.
The second year (last year) was a bit easier. I decided to view life differently. It was an experiment of sorts. I decided I wasn't cheated out of a normal life with my Mom. I got to see her from the time she was still a teenager. I had been blessed with the most time. I had given her grandchildren. She loved us girls, but let's face it; she LOVED being grandma. I told myself that she would want us to be thankful. She would want us to be together. She would want us to be happy.
I pulled out her holiday silver and set the table with the nicest dishes I own. I sewed special napkins for people to write on. I decided that I would make new memories. I would forge new traditions woven from old ones.
This year, I will put those napkins back out. Life has changed a lot this year. I am not blind, nor ignorant to that. Families blend and change. People leave us and pass on. Those that are left here have an important choice: live in the past and fear the prospect of venturing out, or look to the future. My favorite song is by Danny Gokey (from American Idol). The song is called "Hope in front of me." If you have never heard it, here is a link to youtube https://youtu.be/O5GFiDdGGGM. It is my hope that you will choose to press on. I had to pick up the pieces mom left behind and integrate them into the future. You want to know something, it is working out pretty well. She was a pretty amazing person. The best part of having a future is this: by keeping her in my heart while pressing toward the future, is that there are times I feel her so strongly by my side that tears spontaneously roll down my face. Not from pain, or pity but from overwhelming peace and contentment.
I do not have a mother. But I do have two father figures. I do have in-laws. I do have my grandma. I have friends that love me. I have my siblings. I have my health. I have my kids. I have our neighbors, and the people we have collected along our journey. I have enough. It is not normal, but it is enough.
United States Copyright date November 13, 2015. No part of this blog post, nor posts in the past may be used, transferred, translated, nor altered in any way without express written permission of the author.
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Best Shoes For Women With Flat Feet
*Please note: I use this site to both review products and from time to time I earn money by the product links in this page which are affiliate links to Amazon. Full legal disclaimer per Amazon's request is at the bottom of the page.*
I have flat feet. Once upon a time I had high, glorious arches. Then I had children. Children really do change every single part of your body.
I will preface this review blog post with the fact I now wear orthotics. If you experience foot pain, even with the help of specialty shoes, then you should probably talk with a physical therapist and get fitted for an orthotic also. Feeling like you have grandma shoes beats pain ANY day of the week.
My first pair of running shoes were Ascis. They were not meant for flat feet, nor were they meant for running. I found them on sale for sub $40.00 and that should have been my first tip off that they were not good for me.
I started running on a treadmill, which cushioned the blow somewhat. However, the second I stepped outdoors, I had blisters and shooting pain up my leg. I decided to buy another pair of shoes hoping for a bit of relief.
I purchased Brooks Ravena 4. They were bright, purple, and were so much better than the other pair, I was in awe. However, after about four months of steady wear, they started to break down. This is the point that I realized that I had to see a doctor. With the orthotics, the Brooks Ravena 4 is now my #2 choice for those women with flat feet. <iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=writeonrunnermom-20&marketplace=amazon®ion=US&placement=B0089OQYTA&asins=B0089OQYTA&linkId=M2T2WXTWYR6KOMND&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>
About 6 months later, I decided to buy another brand. This time, I got the Pearl Izumi EM Road H3. These were billed as shoes for those with flat feet. The arch hit completely wrong. Even with the orthotic, I felt like my foot wasn't secure, and the toe box was just wrong. Perhaps if you are sub 100 lbs and have only slightly flat feet these will work.
<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=writeonrunnermom-20&marketplace=amazon®ion=US&placement=B00H0AZHUQ&asins=B00H0AZHUQ&linkId=TP6M5S6KR7UHZ5V4&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe> Finally, got a pair of Brooks Addiction 10's. I love them. I have worn them over a year and even though the tread is worn down, they are still very supportive. I have put on at least 200 miles. Even though I spent $125.00 on these shoes, they have been worth every penny. These are by far my top choice for shoes. The Addiction provides excellent value, very supportive, and even though they look like old lady shoes, and are a bit heavy, they are still going to be your best bet for long-term use.
Copyright November 12, 2015 United States of America. Unauthorized use of any blog, post or comment is forbidden without express written permission of the author.
*Legal disclaimer* “H.Jennings is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to http://www.blogger.writeonrunnermom.com.”
I have flat feet. Once upon a time I had high, glorious arches. Then I had children. Children really do change every single part of your body.
I will preface this review blog post with the fact I now wear orthotics. If you experience foot pain, even with the help of specialty shoes, then you should probably talk with a physical therapist and get fitted for an orthotic also. Feeling like you have grandma shoes beats pain ANY day of the week.
My first pair of running shoes were Ascis. They were not meant for flat feet, nor were they meant for running. I found them on sale for sub $40.00 and that should have been my first tip off that they were not good for me.
I started running on a treadmill, which cushioned the blow somewhat. However, the second I stepped outdoors, I had blisters and shooting pain up my leg. I decided to buy another pair of shoes hoping for a bit of relief.
I purchased Brooks Ravena 4. They were bright, purple, and were so much better than the other pair, I was in awe. However, after about four months of steady wear, they started to break down. This is the point that I realized that I had to see a doctor. With the orthotics, the Brooks Ravena 4 is now my #2 choice for those women with flat feet. <iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=writeonrunnermom-20&marketplace=amazon®ion=US&placement=B0089OQYTA&asins=B0089OQYTA&linkId=M2T2WXTWYR6KOMND&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>
About 6 months later, I decided to buy another brand. This time, I got the Pearl Izumi EM Road H3. These were billed as shoes for those with flat feet. The arch hit completely wrong. Even with the orthotic, I felt like my foot wasn't secure, and the toe box was just wrong. Perhaps if you are sub 100 lbs and have only slightly flat feet these will work.
<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=writeonrunnermom-20&marketplace=amazon®ion=US&placement=B00H0AZHUQ&asins=B00H0AZHUQ&linkId=TP6M5S6KR7UHZ5V4&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe> Finally, got a pair of Brooks Addiction 10's. I love them. I have worn them over a year and even though the tread is worn down, they are still very supportive. I have put on at least 200 miles. Even though I spent $125.00 on these shoes, they have been worth every penny. These are by far my top choice for shoes. The Addiction provides excellent value, very supportive, and even though they look like old lady shoes, and are a bit heavy, they are still going to be your best bet for long-term use.
Copyright November 12, 2015 United States of America. Unauthorized use of any blog, post or comment is forbidden without express written permission of the author.
*Legal disclaimer* “H.Jennings is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to http://www.blogger.writeonrunnermom.com.”
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Are you READY to lose weight?
Advertisers for weight loss drugs drive me crazy. "Do you want to lose weight?" They ask knowing the answer nearly everyone has is, "Why, YES I do!" They give you the name of a rep, or sell you samples, get you hooked into protein powder that is twice what it costs in the store, and you lose, for awhile at least. Then, the weight sneaks back on and then some.
Everyone wants to lose weight. But are they READY to lose weight? As the question implies, you have to do some soul searching. Do you want to budget your caloric intake? Are you ready to stop buying things that do more harm than good? Wanting to lose weight is one thing, being ready to move into a different lifestyle is a different one entirely.
As of two years ago, I had in my shelves EIGHT weight loss related books. I knew how to lose weight. Negative balance of caloric intake after exercise with healthy, balanced eating. Piece of cake, right? You wouldn't be reading this post if it was THAT easy.
You can lose weight alone. You can download free apps, menu's, and work really hard. You can do this for years. I did this for seven years. I incorporated running, numerous apps, and watched everything I ate. And then, I realized I could not lose weight like this alone. The running wasn't working by itself. The eating wasn't right. I couldn't figure out why those pesky 20 lbs I regained after Mom passed would not go away.
I walked into a Weight Watchers meeting on October 30, 2014. A bright, chipper blonde woman greeted me when I walked in and said she was happy to see me there. Weird, but okay. I was weighed by another very nice lady who asked how I was doing. I told her I was frustrated. I told her I was ready to give up eating right and exercising, because as my weight could attest, things weren't going so well. That night I weighed in at 171.4.
The leader of the group asked why I wanted to lose weight. My reason is the same as it has been for the last five years, "so that the doctors never glaze over my medical complaints because I am overweight." She looked at me puzzled. I told her Mom died of lung cancer. Mom was overweight. She couldn't breathe so the first doctor she went to told her to lose weight. They gave her weight loss pills instead of listening to her lungs."That is a heck of a reason" she said when I was done.
As the weeks went on, and I started following the advise clearly laid out for me, a weird thing started to happen, the pounds began to come off. By the first of the 2015, I was down 12 pounds. Then, not another ounce for one month. Two months came and I had to do something. The weight loss competition I had entered through Fleet Feet Sports was not going as planned.
The doctor I consulted through the weight loss challenge asked what medication I was on. I told him anti-depressants, metformin (to manage PCOS), and one other. He asked how long I had been on the metformin. I told him six years. He explained that over time, metformin needs to be adjusted and as you lose weight, you should be lowered or taken off it all together. This was never discussed by my doctors.
I went off metformin in the following two weeks. The next month I was down another five pounds. (Are you seeing what I mean when I say weight loss is a SLOW process?) I increased my protein, and decreased my carbohydrate intake. In May, I made the Lifetime achievement through Weight Watchers. I held the gold star charm, and I was ecstatic.
I was still 10 pounds from my "wish" weight. You know, that number you "wish" you could get to? It was a realistic number for me. I had weighed that in 2005. The "wish" weight was 142 lbs. I was still "healthy" 10 pounds above that, but I wanted to keep pressing.
Yet again in June I hit a two month stall. Medication wasn't an issue. My eating wasn't an issue. I was constantly hitting at or below the points I was allowed each day. My body constantly felt tired, heavy, and bloated for seemingly no apparent reason. I would get cramps once a month so bad that I was scheduled for complete hysterectomy in February. I cancelled the operation, hoping that with weight loss would come some relief.
Then in early August, my fingers started to hurt. It was painful to clinch and release my hands. My scalp began to turn bright red and flake. I knew it was psoriasis patches that plagued my entire family. I spoke with a doctor who mentioned how some people found relief from eating a Paleo diet. He told me that it was a long shot, and most people could only stick with it a few weeks at most.
I could continue to eat pizza, bread, rice, pasta in moderation, take medication to treat the beginning stages of arthritis, or I could give up gluten, and most grains and try to see if diet made a difference. I still followed the Weight Watchers diet, but used gluten free Paleo options (sweet potatoes, spaghetti squash, quinoa, etc.). In one week, the red patches were completely gone. In ten days, I had lost two pounds, and the pain in my fingers. I could run with a clenched fist and still move my fingers later.
Yes, it could be a coincidence. I am not celiac. I do not have a wheat allergy. However, what I discovered after starting a Paleoish diet is that my body turned grains into sugar and stored it. Once I stopped eating wheat, and non-organic dairy I stopped gaining weight. I stopped having to fight to keep off weight. I could eat all the lean protein I want, vegetables, and low sugar fruit. I can eat seeds, nuts, and gluten free bread. I started tossing the meat I cooked for dinner on a salad. I had coconut yogurt layered with berries, and a banana for breakfast.
As I write this, I am only two pounds shy of that "wish" weight. I can get there. I am dressed and ready for my meeting tonight. Just because I made "Lifetime" doesn't mean I will ever not need the accountability. In the meetings, I find ideas, recipes, and make friends. Friends you make on the journey are like gold. They keep you reaching for the next goal, and then the next, and they hang with you. They want to see how far you can reach perhaps more than you.
In the last two months, I have had no nausea from pain. I have clearer skin than I have had in a decade. Like I said, it could be a coincidence. I'm not a doctor. I can only speak for my body and myself. I know I don't lie awake at night with gas pain and bloating from dinner. I don't wake up starving. I wake up and after a cup of coffee, I feel great. Like, REALLY I could do a commercial awake. Annoying my kids with my bright, chipper attitude great.
I ran a 10K last weekend with ZERO joint pain, muscle aches, and I ran the entire way. Maybe you can do 6 miles without an issue, but up until this point, I would have a few problems at night, or the next day. I ran the entire distance in one hour and ten minutes. Then I walked three miles the next day.
So, yes, you can try another diet style. You can do the Paleo thing for a few weeks and find a measure of success. Or you can realize doing it on your own doesn't make much sense. You can join a group and be READY to make a change forever. I can't tell you how much better I feel. I have a leader that checks in on me, balances every crazy change I make, and encourages me like you wouldn't believe. I am blessed beyond measure to have finally found what works for me. Perhaps it will for you to. You won't know until you are ready.
Copyright October 5, 2015 United States of America. No part of this blog, nor contents of the comments may be used, transferred, copied, translated, altered in any way, shape or form without the express written consent of the author.
Everyone wants to lose weight. But are they READY to lose weight? As the question implies, you have to do some soul searching. Do you want to budget your caloric intake? Are you ready to stop buying things that do more harm than good? Wanting to lose weight is one thing, being ready to move into a different lifestyle is a different one entirely.
As of two years ago, I had in my shelves EIGHT weight loss related books. I knew how to lose weight. Negative balance of caloric intake after exercise with healthy, balanced eating. Piece of cake, right? You wouldn't be reading this post if it was THAT easy.
You can lose weight alone. You can download free apps, menu's, and work really hard. You can do this for years. I did this for seven years. I incorporated running, numerous apps, and watched everything I ate. And then, I realized I could not lose weight like this alone. The running wasn't working by itself. The eating wasn't right. I couldn't figure out why those pesky 20 lbs I regained after Mom passed would not go away.
I walked into a Weight Watchers meeting on October 30, 2014. A bright, chipper blonde woman greeted me when I walked in and said she was happy to see me there. Weird, but okay. I was weighed by another very nice lady who asked how I was doing. I told her I was frustrated. I told her I was ready to give up eating right and exercising, because as my weight could attest, things weren't going so well. That night I weighed in at 171.4.
The leader of the group asked why I wanted to lose weight. My reason is the same as it has been for the last five years, "so that the doctors never glaze over my medical complaints because I am overweight." She looked at me puzzled. I told her Mom died of lung cancer. Mom was overweight. She couldn't breathe so the first doctor she went to told her to lose weight. They gave her weight loss pills instead of listening to her lungs."That is a heck of a reason" she said when I was done.
As the weeks went on, and I started following the advise clearly laid out for me, a weird thing started to happen, the pounds began to come off. By the first of the 2015, I was down 12 pounds. Then, not another ounce for one month. Two months came and I had to do something. The weight loss competition I had entered through Fleet Feet Sports was not going as planned.
The doctor I consulted through the weight loss challenge asked what medication I was on. I told him anti-depressants, metformin (to manage PCOS), and one other. He asked how long I had been on the metformin. I told him six years. He explained that over time, metformin needs to be adjusted and as you lose weight, you should be lowered or taken off it all together. This was never discussed by my doctors.
I went off metformin in the following two weeks. The next month I was down another five pounds. (Are you seeing what I mean when I say weight loss is a SLOW process?) I increased my protein, and decreased my carbohydrate intake. In May, I made the Lifetime achievement through Weight Watchers. I held the gold star charm, and I was ecstatic.
I was still 10 pounds from my "wish" weight. You know, that number you "wish" you could get to? It was a realistic number for me. I had weighed that in 2005. The "wish" weight was 142 lbs. I was still "healthy" 10 pounds above that, but I wanted to keep pressing.
Yet again in June I hit a two month stall. Medication wasn't an issue. My eating wasn't an issue. I was constantly hitting at or below the points I was allowed each day. My body constantly felt tired, heavy, and bloated for seemingly no apparent reason. I would get cramps once a month so bad that I was scheduled for complete hysterectomy in February. I cancelled the operation, hoping that with weight loss would come some relief.
Then in early August, my fingers started to hurt. It was painful to clinch and release my hands. My scalp began to turn bright red and flake. I knew it was psoriasis patches that plagued my entire family. I spoke with a doctor who mentioned how some people found relief from eating a Paleo diet. He told me that it was a long shot, and most people could only stick with it a few weeks at most.
I could continue to eat pizza, bread, rice, pasta in moderation, take medication to treat the beginning stages of arthritis, or I could give up gluten, and most grains and try to see if diet made a difference. I still followed the Weight Watchers diet, but used gluten free Paleo options (sweet potatoes, spaghetti squash, quinoa, etc.). In one week, the red patches were completely gone. In ten days, I had lost two pounds, and the pain in my fingers. I could run with a clenched fist and still move my fingers later.
Yes, it could be a coincidence. I am not celiac. I do not have a wheat allergy. However, what I discovered after starting a Paleoish diet is that my body turned grains into sugar and stored it. Once I stopped eating wheat, and non-organic dairy I stopped gaining weight. I stopped having to fight to keep off weight. I could eat all the lean protein I want, vegetables, and low sugar fruit. I can eat seeds, nuts, and gluten free bread. I started tossing the meat I cooked for dinner on a salad. I had coconut yogurt layered with berries, and a banana for breakfast.
As I write this, I am only two pounds shy of that "wish" weight. I can get there. I am dressed and ready for my meeting tonight. Just because I made "Lifetime" doesn't mean I will ever not need the accountability. In the meetings, I find ideas, recipes, and make friends. Friends you make on the journey are like gold. They keep you reaching for the next goal, and then the next, and they hang with you. They want to see how far you can reach perhaps more than you.
In the last two months, I have had no nausea from pain. I have clearer skin than I have had in a decade. Like I said, it could be a coincidence. I'm not a doctor. I can only speak for my body and myself. I know I don't lie awake at night with gas pain and bloating from dinner. I don't wake up starving. I wake up and after a cup of coffee, I feel great. Like, REALLY I could do a commercial awake. Annoying my kids with my bright, chipper attitude great.
I ran a 10K last weekend with ZERO joint pain, muscle aches, and I ran the entire way. Maybe you can do 6 miles without an issue, but up until this point, I would have a few problems at night, or the next day. I ran the entire distance in one hour and ten minutes. Then I walked three miles the next day.
So, yes, you can try another diet style. You can do the Paleo thing for a few weeks and find a measure of success. Or you can realize doing it on your own doesn't make much sense. You can join a group and be READY to make a change forever. I can't tell you how much better I feel. I have a leader that checks in on me, balances every crazy change I make, and encourages me like you wouldn't believe. I am blessed beyond measure to have finally found what works for me. Perhaps it will for you to. You won't know until you are ready.
Copyright October 5, 2015 United States of America. No part of this blog, nor contents of the comments may be used, transferred, copied, translated, altered in any way, shape or form without the express written consent of the author.
Summer Recap 2015
When I was eight years old, summer seemed to last forever. I would help my parents, read, build forts (my grandpa was a lumber hoarder so I had plenty to work with), and ride my bike to my friends house. It was the 80's and I had until 7 pm to be back at home.
Being an adult during the summer isn't as simple. Owning a business, having kids, and taking care of a home means that there is a lot more work and very little time to read. (I purchased "Eve" and have yet to get beyond the first chapter due to being so rushed the last couple of weeks).
On the last day of school for the kids, my husband went in for surgery. We spent the next four weeks in recuperation mode. It was hard, and the kids spent way too much time in front of their video game console. There wasn't much I could do about that.
Two weeks before they went back, we managed a trip to a theme park, went fishing, visited the beach, and shoved the entire summer into a short window. It was bliss.
The first leaf twirled on the deck in a brilliant red. We have been racing around in an effort to beat the seasonal clock. Decks to paint, leaves to rake, gutters to clear, it is a long crazy list.
Thank goodness, my husband is fine. The surgery was successful, and we are glad to be back on a "routine." Boys are back in school, and coffee orders are picking up. Life is back to normal.
United States Copyright October 6, 2015. No part of this blog may be used for any purpose other than reading. You may not spin the context, translate, or use the post for any purpose without the express written consent of the author. The author maintains all rights to the material in this post and all future and past posts. We check google translator for those that violate the terms. If you are caught, you will be reported. The author charges a minimum of $250.00 US dollars per paragraph for any unauthorized use. This includes translations.
Being an adult during the summer isn't as simple. Owning a business, having kids, and taking care of a home means that there is a lot more work and very little time to read. (I purchased "Eve" and have yet to get beyond the first chapter due to being so rushed the last couple of weeks).
On the last day of school for the kids, my husband went in for surgery. We spent the next four weeks in recuperation mode. It was hard, and the kids spent way too much time in front of their video game console. There wasn't much I could do about that.
Two weeks before they went back, we managed a trip to a theme park, went fishing, visited the beach, and shoved the entire summer into a short window. It was bliss.
The first leaf twirled on the deck in a brilliant red. We have been racing around in an effort to beat the seasonal clock. Decks to paint, leaves to rake, gutters to clear, it is a long crazy list.
Thank goodness, my husband is fine. The surgery was successful, and we are glad to be back on a "routine." Boys are back in school, and coffee orders are picking up. Life is back to normal.
United States Copyright October 6, 2015. No part of this blog may be used for any purpose other than reading. You may not spin the context, translate, or use the post for any purpose without the express written consent of the author. The author maintains all rights to the material in this post and all future and past posts. We check google translator for those that violate the terms. If you are caught, you will be reported. The author charges a minimum of $250.00 US dollars per paragraph for any unauthorized use. This includes translations.
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