Psychme's Blog

So last time I lost..... without having it revisit, was May 26. I am see-sawing 179-183.

Stress is definitely part of the equation, my mom started getting sick then I started Hospice 6/11 and she passed 6/17/12 (96 y/o). That necessitated a trip to Vermont and some wild eating and drinking but only gained 3# over my current "range".

Now it is 7/8/12, still at 183 but the 3# from Vermont are gone. I have decided to shake it up by joining the neighborhood gym (I have no interest in 24h fitness now, just not my thing) Doing weights today made me realize that I NEED to do more than cardio and diet. 

I know I may have some initial gains in the scale and that is fine as long as my body gets stronger and tighter. I know the fat will decrease as I strengthen the muscles and the more my muscles are strengthened the less joint pain.

So 7/8/12 is a new "start date" in my journey, let's get a move on!!

That may not seem like a big deal to most folks but for me to walk 3 miles straight is awesome. Last year I could barely do a block without needing to rest, I couldn't stand for more than 10-15 minutes. It's my arthritis, I have bad knees...... Well I still have bad knees and my arthritis kicks into high gear during the cold, rainy days but now I am carrying less weight and my leg muscles and core strength have improved along with 98# less to carry around.

So start small, eat well and just move cause every day it will get easier and a year will go by before you know it. Then you will be doing things you haven't done in years or maybe even ever before.

Tried to post pic but they are all in my profile for folks to see....

 As I get closer to goal I lose slower and slower. I know it is natural but it is frustrating. Then I look back at my journey, people show me pictures from a month ago, 6 months ago or even now...a year ago. 

 People are calling me skinny, being shocked when I say I stlil have nearly 30# to go.

I am 187# and a size 12.... I definitely have room for more improvement!

You know how when someone starts calling you names cause they didn't like something you did or whatever??  It's been "fat b" for a while but yesterday I got called a cripple so I must be doing something right!!!

 It was the Target parking lot and this older woman did one of those things of just stepping out from her car without even looking and then is yelling at me because I drove around her vs knocking her grumpy a$$ down and going over her. So with her grand daughter in tow she is yelling at me and calling me a cripple and my crippled legs. The checker in the lower entrance was laughing his a$$ off cause she was so crazy..... I should also say that I have a Prius which does make it worse cause we are fairly quiet but come on people look for traffic in parking areas!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52267033@N00/6602590791/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/74745547@N00/5490060308/in/set-72157626171276412

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52267033@N00/5632169844/in/set-72157626401279667

2011 has been good to me. I went to Scotland.... I had to use the seatbelt extender, I had terrible cramps in my legs and could not do eveything I wanted to do.

I came home and started up with My Fitness Pal. I had lost  close to 30# by the time I went to Coachella. Each  concert event has seen me lighter and in better shape. I dance, swing and sing!

It is now time to go into the new year.... in "ONDERLAND"! Gearing up for a Coachella return and possibly Scotland or Ireland or maybe someplace warmer???? Will 2012 be as good as 2011? Will it be better?? I am in control of my life again so I say it is going to be mighty darned fun!!!

As we hit the holidays it is the best time to remember what we are blessed with and not worry so much about what we don't have or what might have been.

When I was younger and a single parent I had very little money but we had lots of love. Being new and without close family in California was exciting and scary at the same time. One year I came home to find a Christmas tree left on my doorstep by a secret angel, it was one of our best Christmases ever. We had nothing but hand me down furnishings for a few years, ate Spam and Mac' n Cheese but we did make do.

Now I am a fairly well paid RN, my daughter is grown and thankfully has a very strong sense of caring for the environment and the concept of paying it forward and charity.  

A gift to others may be taking out their trash, washing a car, money or cooking meals. View the world in terms of what you can do for others and your own load will be lighter, it isn't always money but time and being in someone's thoughts that matters more.

Enjoy the holidays folks!

I have been so happy to see my work buddies getting into the gym and eating better. At least three other girls at work have told me that my success prompted them to get going. They are doing things that work for them and not starving themselves!!

 When I started here I wasn't looking for MFP friends but I got them! I was hoping to get thinner and healthier and now my tolerance is 10 times what it was when I started and my cholesterol and BP are getting better all the time. 

But the best thing that came from this is the inspiration of my friends here and in my "real" life that I was able to promote and the inspiration I get from folks here!! 

Truly a community!

Numbers on a scale, a tape measure, a birth certificate, statistics.....

 On October 5th I will be 55 and I could not be happier to be able to say that. I was one of 5 children for my parents, the last one. 

• Joan was my oldest sibling, 17 years older to be exact. She died of metatastic cancer at 54
• Bill was 8 years older and died of bone cancer at 18
• Matt was 9 years older and died of a sudden heart attack at 41
• Deborah (that cause some issues when I was younger) was stillborn. My folks tried for another three years to have me (Debra).

 Life is the most precious gift we have. Being here and being dedicated to making our lives richer by being healthier is the best thing we can do for ourselves and those in our lives. Birthdays should not be shunned or hidden from, they are a badge of courage and endurance.

So I hit my halfway point, got my tattoo as my "reward"........

My true reward though was meeting MFP pals. My true reward is dancing through at least 2 bands at a music venue. My reward is not shopping in the "woman's" section. My reward is having space between my belly and the steering wheel. My reward is not having my knees kill me. My reward is looking in the mirror and being happy with what I am seeing.

 There is a long way to go before I get to my goal. My ultimate reward is new life, active life, seeing relief and pride in my daughter's face. I see MFP as a lifelong committment for a long life.

 Just feeling goofy tonight!

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/diet-crutches-what-works-what-doesnt-2533620/#photoViewer=17