2016: First Quarter of January 1 through March 31, 2016
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Jean..Congrats on your loss. If you could average a pound a week, you'd be to goal in no time. Whatever yu did this week, just keep repeating. I went to a party last night that my friend throws every year for 10 or so women friends.We regift a gift we can use. The gifts are all in plain paper bags and we do a Yankee Swap. It started to snow on my way over and we got about 2 inches. I didn't expect to get any snow so the surprise was on me.0
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Maryanne--Congrats upon your weight loss. I hope the storm doesn't come your way.
Helene--The party sounds neat, especially the type of gift exchange. Boo on the snow!
I cancelled today's and tomorrow's doctor appointments. There was no way I was venturing out in those temperatures plus bad driving conditions. There were cars all over and one tied up traffic for over an hour. It was 4 degrees when I got up but the wind chill was far worse.0 -
This is long but has good info. It is one of Linda Spangle's email communications.
Motivation Drop? 7 Keys to Revive It!
Today, I'll be helping you boost your motivation with 7 Keys to Successful Weight Loss.
As you go through these great ideas, think about your response to the questions or challenges. In fact, I'd suggest you get a piece of paper or computer file ready so you can record your answers right away.
By the time you finish with today's seven keys, you'll have fired up your motivation!
Key # 1 - Always move forward!
Your past does not affect your future. So it doesn't matter if you've fallen off your diet or gained weight back in the past. This is NOW! As of today, you are crossing the line to success.
Tell yourself that starting today, you are moving forward, and never going back. Pump your fist in the air and proclaim, "From this moment on, I'm moving forward!"
Then celebrate the beginning of reviving your life.
Key # 2 - Do what worked before
Think about times when you been successful in the past. What did you do? Was there a specific diet plan that worked? Did you get up early and exercise before going to work? Maybe you cooked more meals at home instead of eating at restaurants.
Make a list of specific things that worked for you in the past. Put a star or √ mark beside the ones you plan to use during the weeks or months ahead.
Key # 3 - No more excuses
Think about all the reasons you haven't been making progress. Whine a bunch about why you can't lose weight or exercise regularly. Write a list of your biggest excuses, then read your list out loud.
Listen to how weak they sound. Now tell yourself that none of them work any more. From now on, catch your excuses as soon as they come out of your mouth. Remind yourself they don't matter, and you have to do your program anyway. Then go do it.
Key # 4 - Create a finish line
Build a vision of how this project will look when you reach the end of your weight-loss program. How will you look, feel, and act when you cross the finish line? In addition to your new weight, picture yourself having confidence, energy and renewed zest for life.
Create an "artist's rendering" of the finish line for your weight loss efforts. Below are a couple of ways to do this. If you like, do all three of them.
• Make a collage of your new life
Get a large piece of poster board or blank newsprint. Paste photos, magazine pictures, words, cards, ribbons, etc. on the board. Add a photo of yourself at a healthy weight. Create a title for your vision--perhaps the "healthy happy girl," or the "strongman."
• Find an incentive
Pull out a favorite "thin" outfit or pair of jeans, and hang it where you can see it often. Try it on every week or two and see how the fit is changing. Look at it frequently and use it to remind yourself of where you plan to be in the days ahead.
• Paint a picture
Describe the new you in great detail. Create a message that describes how you plan to look and feel at the finish line. Write it, type it, record it or podcast it. You might even draw a picture, image or stick figure that shows you at the finish line:
Key # 5 - Kick the roadblocks
Think about what gets in your way when you are working on losing weight. What might keep you from success? Is it related to people, energy, money? When you've struggled with this in the past, what caused you to slip up or kept you from making progress?
Identify everything you can think of. Write them all down.
If you're brave, make a copy of the page you just wrote, then crumple the paper into a ball and kick it around the room for a few minutes. Picture every one of the roadblocks as being gone.
You can also type your list on the computer, then delete the roadblocks one at time. Cheer each time one goes away.
Key # 6 - Line up a support system
It really helps if you have someone who cares about you and your efforts to reach your goals. Get a buddy, hire a cheerleader, enlist your family members.
Perhaps you could treat this like a fundraiser event and ask people to be "sponsors" for your challenge. Even your children (or your neighbor's children) can do this for you.
You might also consider doing coaching work with me. I'll help you feel very supported as well as challenged and encouraged all along the journey.
www.weightlossjoy.com/coaching
Key # 7 - Learn and grow forever
Boosting motivation today is only the beginning. For the months ahead, plan all the ways you could continue with your personal growth. Maybe you could read more books, take yoga or Pilates classes, or hire a life coach or a personal trainer.
Make a list of at least three things you will plan to do as part of your ongoing learning and personal growth.
From:
Weight Loss Joy: The Weight Loss Minute0 -
Jean - congrats on the weight loss!
I'm hoping I can keep my mind going on two tracks. Concentrating on "I can do this today" but also seeing where I'll be in a year if I persevere. Visualization I guess they call it.
Thanks for posting that email from Linda Spangle! Something I should hold onto for when my motivation dims (which it will unfortunately).
I DVR'd last night's Biggest Loser but haven't watched it yet. I did watch last week's first episode of the new season of My 600-Pound Life. In the first season they watched people over 7 years. Now of course they don't have 7 years in between seasons so they're doing a year like Extreme Weight Loss. When you start at 600 or 700 pounds you can only get so far in a year. I hope they do a "where are they now" special at some point.
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Maryanne--Last night's Biggest Loser was the first time I had seen it this season. I like the show this year. I like Bob's role this year; he said so many relevant things last evening. I missed My 600-Pound Life. I hope it is still on one of my channels I kept as I dumped one tier to save some money.
I am gearing up for the onslaught. Depending upon how the storm tracks, by Sunday evening we will have possibly two feet of snow. Right now, it is 3 degrees at 9am. I'll be venturing out today to mail a package to a friend for a birthday as well as mail new car insurance papers back to the agency. I was going to drop them off today while in Charleston to see the super cardiologist but I cancelled as I'm not venturing long distances in this weather. Call me chicken!0 -
Jean, I'd call you cautious, not chicken! And rightfully so. If you don't have to get out in this weather, it makes sense not to, especially with the type of roads you have to drive.
I've been absent a lot the past few days because I was really feeling pretty awful, but starting yesterday I think I'm on the mend. The pain meds were really doing a number on my GI tract, and it has been quite a battle to try to get back in balance. Yesterday I was finally able to eat somewhat normally and actually enjoy it whereas before it was a struggle to eat anything at all. I'm still having a lot of pain, too, but now I'm reluctant to take the pain meds if I don't absolutely have to have them. I'm trying to restrict them to nighttime use only at this point. I go back to the doctor on Thursday and I can't wait to get this splint off as it is the source of a lot of my discomfort. The leg hurts anytime I have to move it, but in addition, I'm getting these delightful little spasms of pain out of the blue when I haven't moved even the tiniest muscle. Those seem to happen more at night when I'm trying to find a comfortableish' position to sleep. I really don't recommend breaking an ankle. It's a major PITA!0 -
Pam--So good to hear that you are on the mend and are now able to eat more normally. I do hope that the doctor's appointment will result in your being more comfortable. We'll definitely take your recommendation under advisement but accidents do happen.0
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Maryanne--Since part of our state is near Baltimore, we also get the warnings for that area. Buckle up! Bottom line is that you will have a high impact winter storm: https://www.facebook.com/NWSBaltWash/
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Jean - it only makes sense to stay put if you can. 600-pound life is on TLC.
Pam - sounds like it's been quite a struggle. If they take off the splint, what will they replace it with - do you know?
DH is in his glory. He just loves to get all upset about an upcoming storm. Why? Who the heck knows.
My dad called. His cardiologist appointment went fine. After all the tests - and scares about maybe needing a valve replacement - the cardiologist was not concerned. I have NO idea why his primary care physician didn't send him to a cardiologist BEFORE the tests rather than AFTER.
OTOH the news is not good about the stepmother. Apparently her cancer has recurred and is once again blocking her intestine. She refuses to see an oncologist although she's seen every other specialist you can imagine. Wants to "let nature take its course". I had zero idea what to say. My MIL had multiple myeloma and refused treatment until she finally panicked and then it was too late. I have no idea how long you can live with a blocked intestine or what that life would be like. But I guess none of it is any of my business. I guess we're lucky dad kept his house.0 -
Morning, everyone. I am having the usual Quaker Weight Control oatmeal for breakfast. I was called to work but I declined. Yours truly went racing through the house yesterday to answer the phone, stubbed big toe on furniture, lost my balance and fell. Said big toe is swollen and painful. I hobbled out to put out the trash. I've had my new car for a week and it now has 103 miles on it. The weather has cramped my driving.
Maryanne---good news about your father but it definitely isn't with your stepmother. The small intestine is where most of the absorption of nutrients takes place with the unneeded food being passed into the big intestine or large colon. There isn't much you can say except to be there for your Dad when the going gets tough.0 -
Jean - OUCH! I've sort of lost track of how many toes I've broken. The price of going barefoot most of the time.
I had a pretty low calorie but quite satisfactory "packet day" yesterday. I do think the high protein items are worth it in terms of not being hungry.
I had JC cereal with 1/2 a banana for breakfast. I'm planning on JC the rest of the day.
The next two days I'm planning on a NS burger. I bought a slicing tomato because to me the tomato and a slice of FF cheese along with "fried" (PAM) onions just makes the burger. And pretty low calorie to boot. Chopped onions and FF cheese are staples in my refrigerator.
My van is at the shop today. They found numerous things wrong so my savings account will take a BIG hit. BUT if you add up what that van has cost over the years, on an annual basis it's been quite low.
DH is all twisted up about the upcoming snowstorm. I don't know why he gets so wound up. It's not like we need to go anywhere this weekend. I guess it's just that he has nothing else to do. The good news is that he really is good at disaster prep. We have (several) snow blowers and a generator. I've been encouraging him to hire a neighbor's son to do the shovelling part (what the snow blower can't do) since my back just screams when I try to shovel and he's been complaining about his back for months.
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Maryanne, I'll bet your DH gets anxious because he doesn't like feeling trapped at home by the weather. I know that's how I feel when we get iced in for a few days. We have plenty of food on hand at all times, a generator (2, actually), and gas heat plus all kinds of camping gear. I don't fear freezing or starving to death but boredom is another thing all together. Just knowing that I can't go somewhere leaves me feeling like a cornered wild animal, even if there isn't anyplace I need or want to go. Totally irrational, but most fears are.0
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Pam..Can you take things like Ibuprofen and Tylenol for the pain during the daytime. When I had dental surgery, the dentist told me to alternate the 2 of them every 4 hours. Like you, I saved the pain meds for bedtime so I could sleep. The timing during the day was important because the pain didn't have a chance to break through. He told me studies showed the 2 OTC worked better if you alternated rather than sticking to one or the other. I have to say it kept me pain free. it might be worth a shot. Doing this, I didn't develop and GI problems either.0
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We went to the hospital for DH's cardio test. It took less time than I expected but he was in Recovery all day sleeping off the sedation. The good news was the test didn't show anything major. There were two old and very small blockages which were there when he got the stents. They aren't causing symptoms and will be treated by medication. the good news is the stents are working well and he hasn't developed any new blockages. The doctor was impressed with how good he looks. He also cleared him to travel but since a big storm is being predicted, we'll wait until next week to leave. That should give us plenty of packing time.
Jean..I've broken multiple toes and there's no treatment. Sometimes it felt better if I taped it to an adjoining toe. I hope it feels better soon.
Maryanne..Pam is probably right about your DH getting cabin fever. The intestinal blockage can become fatal if stepmom doesn't seek medical treatment. She'll probably get a bad infection. I would think the pain would force her to go to the ER pretty soon. As you said, you can't do anything to make her go. Does she have children who might convince her to get treatment? maybe a phone clal to them might help. I hope it works out and that she's okay.0 -
Step mother has a daughter who is a nurse and one who's a P.A. and they were cited to me (by my father) as backup for her decisions. Anything but go to an oncologist apparently. I think I'm best out of it.
I substituted for my dinner choice. Finally opened a shelf stable dinner that was obviously past edible. First time I can remember.
Otherwise the day has gone as planned.
DH is having an insurance exam here tomorrow morning so I have to get up early and sequester the cats.
Helene - great news about your hubby's condition!!!!0 -
I am just hunkering down and awaiting Jonas. We are in the direct path of it as it heads for DC and Baltimore. I have no comfort foods in house, but I do have my emergency supplies ready to go.
This is another humorous school closing message by one of our school superientendents. The link to the actual message so you can hear him singing it is in the write up:
http://wchstv.com/news/local/listen-wv-singing-superintendent-at-it-again-calls-snow-day-with-eagles-take-it-easy
Take it easy!!0 -
We woke up to a dusting of snow this morning. No biggie. DH had scheduled someone to come do an insurance exam at 8:30. She lives close to us. She showed up at 9:30. I hope they send us an evaluation form. So I was quite late starting to work today.
Of course the BIG stuff doesn't come until tomorrow. DH is busily working away on his preparations. Keeps him busy anyway. I just hope they get my van done today as promised so I can make a last supermarket run and we can hunker down and await the storm.
Jean - it's called Jonas???
I'm glad we aren't signed up for the horse expo this weekend!
I'm enjoying a cup of high protein hot chocolate. For breakfast I had this Think Thin hot cereal I found at Giant. Sounded intriguing - high fiber/protein - Madagascar vanilla, walnuts, pecans. I added raisins. Sounded better than it tasted.
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I got bad news at the doctor's office this morning. The skin around my ankle is breaking down instead of healing and the doctor and PA were very unhappy with its condition. I'm scheduled for emergency surgery tomorrow morning at 6:30 am so they can go in and clean out the incisions and insert a vacuum sponge to promote healing from within. The pump has to be changed daily and apparently this is very painful the first couple of times it is done, so I'll be staying in the hospital three nights so the first two can be done with heavy drugs. If this doesn't solve the problem, we are looking at skin grafts.
DH was supposed to fly to Phoenix on Sunday to attend the funeral of his aunt, but has now had to cancel his trip. I hate that he won't be able to go, but he insists that he won't leave me. My sister was willing to come and stay until he got back, but he refuses.
Jean and MaryAnne, I hope you are able to stay warm and dry during this storm, and that you don't lose power.0 -
Pam--I so hate to hear this news. I do hope the emergency surgery takes care of the problem and that healing will take place.
Maryanne--I'm watching 600 Lb. Life trying to resist watching The Weather Channel. Nothing I can do will make the storm go away. I just hope there is no power loss. I hope you do well in the storm.0 -
Pam..I'm so sorry this broken ankle has turned out to be so hard and painful. The skin condition sounds dreadful. I'm glad the doctor caught it before it got worse. I hope the time in the hospital sets you on the road to recovery. I'm sure DH's family understand his place is with you while you're in the hospital.
jean..I didn't know this storm had a name. What happened to A-H?0 -
Oh, Pam I'm SO sorry! I'll be thinking about you. I'm sure your husband's family understands.
Everyone else, stay safe! The amount of prep in this household is a little funny. Right now DH is dithering over which snow blower to put "up front" and where to place it.
The good news is that maybe he's finally listened to me and to his back (well maybe if we're honest more to his back) and is at least thinking about making deals with some of the younger neighbors - he'll lend his snowblowers (he has three of various sizes) to their efforts if they do the shovelling that has to be done after the snow blower goes through.0 -
Helene--I guess the passage of time with "minor" storms and their names never registered on our memory. I've been hearing "Jonas" for several days. I just got an alert that the snow is expected to start falling here about 11am. It is already in the Southern part of the State. https://www.facebook.com/WVDOT/videos/1029572327099505/?pnref=story
Maryanne--I have an electric snow blower which does a decent job but the expected snow might be a challenge for this one as it is a lightweight one. It is good that DH is finally listening to you. I can't wait for the town to try to plow the side street....and often pushing the snow up against my driveway.
I am having the Quaker Weight Control oatmeal for breakfast. I have enough of this around that if I run out of other food that I can eat it. Now, if the electric goes out, it may not be the best tasting but then the other food won't either.0 -
I insisted we replace our gas stove with a gas stove. For at least the first 25 years in this house I always assumed when we finally bought a stove it would be electric but after the power outages in the last few years it was darned nice having four burners. So I changed my mind. If nothing else I can heat water and soup. I have TONS of packets of high protein foods here if worst comes to worst.
We have the portable generator and if worst comes to worst two small propane heaters. Those don't sound that safe to me but I guess if we get desperate.
I'm still lobbying for a whole house generator but so far DH still thinks the portable one is okay. I can't see him doing that at age 80, say, so it's something I'm still going to bring up. If the portable generator fails at a critical time, say, that would really give me some oomph to my arguments.
I'm going to have Hearty Grain Cream of Wheat for breakfast.
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Maryanne--I thought about a generator but I don't have power failures enough to justify the cost. Yes, there was that one of a week long but that was years ago and I survived. I'm debating electric versus gas range. I so rarely use one that the cost of the gas range might no longer be justified.
The snow started just before Noon, so it has been a long day. Days like this give me munchies so it is good that I didn't buy "snow foods."0 -
We've had an increasing number of power failures over the last few years and with the infrastructure aging - and no money going into it - it's only going to get worse around here.
The snow has started here now. DH is doing a running commentary on everything he can see out the window such as neighbors salting their driveway, where they are putting their cars, etc. I'm trying to work!
I've got lots of high protein hot chocolate, decaf cappuccino and chicken noodle soup all of which should sound good when it's a winter wonderland outside.
I have my heated bird bath up on a styrofoam cooler but it may not be high enough if the worst happens.0 -
Jean..If you go out a couple of times, maybe the lesser depth will be okay for your blower. Better to do it 2-3 times with the blower than to wait until it's too deep and get stuck doing the whole thing by hand. And I'll bet you're not supposed to shovel by hand anyway. I had DH call the guy who's going to be doing our snow. He thought we left for FL a month ago so I was sure we'd be at the bottom of his list. Of course he should do the people who are home first. We told him we're still here so that should bump us up the list a bit. I still have errands to do once the storm ends so I want him to us Sat. or Sunday.
We've done better with power failures lately. we used to get a lot and the power company caught hell for the number and duration. They've done a lot of tree trimming the last 2 years and I think that's helped. Most of the ones now are because a crazy driver hit a pole. We have a gas stove so we can cook if the power goes. I hope it's daylight if we lose power. The nights are so long and boring with the power out after dark.
Stay safe everyone.
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We have about a foot of snow since it started snowing about 11:30am or about ten hours ago. It is still snowing big time. I'm ready if the electric goes out. In addition to the traditional items, my entertainment needs will be met by two different Kindle e-readers which hold a charge for a long time, a small Kindle Fire, and a 10.1 inch Samsung Galaxy Tab 4, plus traditional paperback books and the adult coloring book.
I didn't venture out to "play" with the snow because I'm still babying the foot. It is better but is still painful at times if I use it too much.
Helene--I hope the person is able to do your snow removal and that you don't lose power. It definitely cramps your lifestyle and habits.
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If the power went out we wouldn't have tv even with the generator but I have enough unread books here to last me for months and we have plenty of lanterns and batteries so even after my kindle's charge died I should be fine even if the generator didn't work.
I did a bunch of extra billable work the last few days so if I don't get much done this weekend I still won't be too far behind.
I would be a little po'd that my scheduled shows weren't being recorded (not that I'm a whiner or anything hee hee).
We took down the two smaller bird feeders because of the high winds but left up the bigger two. The heated bird bath seems to be covered in snow. I need to venture out after awhile and do something about that. We have several squirrels and several cardinals out there right now. I have a bunch of stale bread to put out once it stops coming down.
The cats are happily ensconced on the heating pads and heated throws.
DH was out with the snowblower early this morning. He did our one neighbor's sidewalk and front walk (she's a widow maybe 10 years older than we are). I'm hoping he can hire another neighbor's son to do shovelling. Save my back. I always feel like I should be pitching in but my back just screams. I started taking aleve on Thursday in hopes it would help a little.0 -
Pam - I'm thinking about you - I hope you're doing okay!0
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I had 17 inches in the backyard. I tried to open the back storm door and found it hard to do because of the snow piled up. I finally removed enough snow to open it enough for me to squeeze out. It is still snowing some but tapering off. I guess in the afternoon that I will try to do something with it. If it is to be done, I have to do it usually.0
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