In An Instant

Things can change in an instant.  For some it can be as dramatic and life changing as a tornado that destroys your home or worse, takes the life of a family member.  Or it could be a winning lottery ticket…

In my case I was walking home from work 3 weeks ago after a freak hail storm in our area.  I rounded the corner to my street and was probably 30 steps from the yard when my left foot hit a patch of mud that was on the sloped side of the sidewalk.  My left foot went out in front while my right foot stayed right under me as I went down.  I could hear crunching as I landed in the mud. 

It’s interesting to me that the first thing that popped into my head was I wondered if anyone saw me fall.  How silly is that?  I managed to stand, took two steps and at that point I realized that was hurt.  I could feel my foot and ankle swelling. I started hobbling towards the house and ended up hopping the last few steps.

I called my ds16 to see if he was inside..of course, he was at the library. He hopped on his bike and headed home. I called dh and he headed home. 

After maneuvering up the steps to get inside and slipping out of my mud covered clothes I slid my shoe and sock off to survey the damage.  Wow! My ankle looked like a tennis ball was under the skin.  This was bad.  Got on the phone to the doctor and was told to get to the emergency room.  Three hours later I was headed home with a temporary cast up to my knee, heavy duty pain meds and the news that I had fractured the tibia on my right leg where it connects the back part of my foot and a broken ankle.

I will be in a cast for the next 5 weeks. So much for the exercise/losing weight plans I had made for the summer….

Fitblogger Challenge: Week 8

Still hanging in for this challenge. I'm not adding on to my goals this week. I think I'm having a hard time with adding a new goal each week. It feels like too much.

My goals for this week are to make the past weeks goals into habits.

1. Eat a salad each day.
2. Walk one mile for 5 out of the 7 days.
3. Drink 64 oz. of water each day.
4. Get some balance back in my life.
5. Do two videos on Spark People each day.
6. Wear the MyTrak I won on the challenge. I love my Mytrak. It's helping me to keep on track. I know I have to get moving more if that circle isn't all green and it's telling me to step up my movements for my heart health.

Fitblogger Challenge: Week 6

Last week for the Challenge was a bit of a fail.  My goal was to do the exercise videos on Spark People each day as well as the previous goals I set (like drinking water, getting enough sleep and handling my stress correctly). 
Life happens however and things didn't happen the way I wanted. I didn't have access to a computer for 2 days, got sick one of them and went out of town for a funeral. We ate out too much, didn't sleep at regular times and rode in a car for too long. I feel like I still haven't recuperated from last week. I've been walking around with a major headache for the past 24 hours.
But, I know I need to get myself back into a routine to feel better.

My goals for this coming week are:
1.  Continue with the previous weeks goals.
2.  Do two videos on Spark People each day.
3.  Wear the MyTrak I won on the challenge. I think I finally figured it out. Tomorrow will be the first full day I'll wear it.

Here's to getting back on track!

Fitblogger Challenge: Week 4

So here we are already going into the 4th week of the Fitblogger Challenge.  I've been pleasantly surprised at how easy it's been to set a weekly goal instead of a bigger, long term goal like I usually do. I'm still eating the salad regularly and adding a significant amount of fresh fruit to try and replace the junk food cravings. The water drinking is easier because it's heating up here. And thankfully, the big review is over and my stress level is a little lower.

This week's goal is to move more every day.  I've joined the Spring Into Shape Bootcamp Challenge at Spark People. I'll be doing the exercise video each day (already did today's video).

Fitblogger Challenge: Week 3

It's week 3 in the Fitblogger Challenge and guess what??? I won the MyTrak!! Woohoo!  I'm pretty psyched about this...the hope being that using this will give me a boost in my losing this weight.

Last weeks goal was to drink 64 oz of water each day. I can't say I was 100% successful but I was very close.  One thing I noticed was that I had more energy and that I didn't feel as bloated as I usually feel.  Plus....I lost 2 pounds over the week!  Granted, it's probably water weight...but, I'll take it.

I'm still eating the salad...had some 5 days last week. I also was able to walk 4 days out of the week...I'm trying to keep that up.

Next week's goal:  I was reading Karen's goals at Waisting Time about getting a little zen in your life and I've realized that having some some balance...peace...zen...is something that's missing with me.  I feel like I'm in this constant state of stress.  I had an anxiety attack early Sunday morning...haven't had one of those in  a long time.  But, I've got some personal stuff going on and a big review of the center I work at this week and my stress level feels like a level ten. 
This morning I decided it's important that I get some balance back in my life.  So, I pulled out my Bible and did some reading. I think I'll start the day doing this instead of at the end of the day like I have been...and falling asleep in the process.
The plan also is to get to bed on time every night.  I'm trying for 7 hours.
I also have another way of chilling.  I love watching these guys!

I hatched them out in my classroom last Monday.  There is something very calming just watching them scratch around their cage and peep.

Here's to a less stress week!

Fitblogger Challenge: Week 2

My Fitblogger Challenge goal for last week was to walk a mile at least 5 days out of the week.  I managed to do it! 
On Monday I used our outside play time at work to walk/jog the playground.  I figured 15 minutes is what it usually takes me to walk a mile so I started moving around the yard...and ended up with small children following me. (The other teachers were cracking up at me!)  I spent the last 5 minutes doing races back and forth the big grassy area with the kids!  Pooped me out!
Tuesday I ended walking to and from work...twice!  I left some things at home I needed for work.
Thursday and Friday I walked at home in place with watching t.v.
Saturday was a big blow out.  It was open house for the university I live near and we were out there for 6 hours. Yep, 6 hours of almost non-stop walking around!  It's funny how I didn't really feel it until I got home and sat down.  Then my feet started throbbing.  By evening my hips were hurting and I could barely walk.  I took some Advil and went to bed.  Thank goodness I recovered by today. The feet are still a little sore but most of the pain in my hips is gone.

The plan is to keep up with each of the past weeks goals and add a new one.  So, I'll keep eating my salad each day and walking one mile 5 days each week.

My goal for next week:  Drink 64 oz. of water each day.  I have a 16 oz. Flylady water bottle.  I'll put on 4 of the different colored straps that come with the bottle so it will help me keep track of how many bottles I've had.
Wish me luck!  I like water...but, it's always been a struggle to drink enough unless it's really hot...

Fitblogger Challenge: Week 1

I signed up for the Fitblogger Challenge last week.  I need something to get me motivated again and I think this might be it.  Each week for the next 12 weeks I'll set a goal for myself and then write about your successes or failures.  You link up each week at Fitblogger for a chance to win  a very nice prize.

What was my goal for the first week?  I decided to eat a salad each day. 
How did I do?  Success!!!

I found that buying the bagged salad (spring mix was on sale at Safeway for only .99!) and having a container ready each day made it easier to remember to eat each day. 

Another added benefit might be too much info....but....irregularity was not an issue at all this week.

So.  The salad every day is one thing I'll keep as a regular thing.

Next week's goal:  My ds27 has asked if I will do a 5k run/walk with him on Mothers Day.  He can run further than that but he knows how out of shape I am.  I said yes so I have 4 weeks to get in a little better shape.  It will be walking for me only...not so sure I'll still be standing at the 2 mile mark. 

My goal this week is to walk one mile for 5 out of the 7 days.

New Challenge!

It's April and here I am again looking back at the goal of losing weight that I made at the beginning of the year and what do I see has happened?  The same thing as last year and the year before...no weight loss and feeling like I've dropped the ball again. :(
But, instead of crawling under the covers and feeling sorry for myself I've decided to get up and start over again. 
I saw this Step Into Summer Challenge at Fitblogger where every week you make a goal for yourself that doesn't involve specific weight loss (good for me because if there's any gain I get way too down about it). 
There's also a nice prize you have a chance to win that's some nice incentive.

So. My goal for the rest of this week is to eat a salad each day.....

I’m Back!

You know how you make big plans to do all these wonderful things at the beginning of the year? Then something comes along and just shuts you down? Well, that happened to me. I had all these great ideas for blog posts and the blog itself when several weeks back I turned on my laptop and was treated to this wonderful display of flashing lights and colors running across the screen. Not too long after that the screen just went black. Sigh…..

Of course, I've had it way longer than the warranty. And the repair costs? Too much. Not in my non-existent budget. It would actually make more sense to buy a new computer based on how much it would cost to fix it. Of course, that's not in the budget either.

So, here I sit borrowing my ds's computer when I can…and trying to figure it out… It has Windows Vista and a whole lot more bells and whistles that my old laptop didn't have. I also just found the usb cord for my camera. Now I need to figure out how to deal with pictures.

Weekly Weigh-In

                                
Down four tenths of  pound.  Not too shabby.  It could’ve been better, but my eating wasn’t the greatest this week and I still haven’t started exercising as much as I’d planned. 
That’s ok.  Next week will be better.


                                                     

Weekly Weigh-In

I’m off to a good start.  This first week I was doing a fast, so I didn’t eat any chocolate, cake, cookies…or any type of desserts.  I also tried to focus on making sure I was getting 8 cups of water each day.  This never has been easy for me during the winter. I just don’t feel thirsty. 
The scale this morning looked like this…
                                      
Yep!  That’s down 4.6 pounds in one week.  Now I know it’s not likely to be that much each week…this is definitely a nice way to start off the first week.
Next week the focus will be setting up an exercise routine.
                                     

SparkPeople

One of the wonderful things I love about the internet is the wealth of free resources out there.  You can find pretty much anything you need on the net.

SparkPeople.com is a wonderful website where you can create personalized diet and fitness plans.  It also includes calorie counters, a workout tracker and exercise videos.

If you join they have message boards where you can ask questions to dieticians or trainers.

But…the best thing about SparkPeople.com is SparkRecipes.  It is wonderful! It has thousands of low fat recipes as well as a recipe calculator. You can take you own recipes, type in the information and it will calculate the nutrition information for you.  I find that extremely helpful.

Guess what? It doesn’t cost a thing to join….

6 minute No Excuses Workout (link included)

Here is a link to to a free work out video that only takes 6 minutes.  I’m starting small because it’s been a long time since I’ve exercised and this is also a great way to get in very quick exercise before heading to work.

(For those of you associated with Flylady this video might look familiar.  Jonathan has been associated with her website in the past)

6 Minute No Excuses Workout

New Beginnings

It’s 2011 and time for a new start.  I turned 50 this past year. That's right. Half a century.  I know too many people who are having health problems because of carrying too much weight.  I know the aches and pains in my knees, hips and feet would likely go away if I take off a lot of weight. 50 pounds. How do I know this? My doctor told me.  After I got the injection in my knee (that didn’t work, btw).  I don’t want another injection again.  Never.
I started this blog because I want to start taking better care of me and I know that I will follow through if I start chronicling what I’m doing online.
In the past I’ve been more successful at losing and keeping the weight off while going to a gym or using a treadmill at home.  Finances are not going to allow for any of that this year.  So.  What to do?
Use the internet , of course!  And the library!  And my very own common sense! All of those things are free…..
I’m putting it all out there people!  My starting weight is 230 pounds.  The heaviest I’ve ever been in my life.  Even when I was 9 months pregnant.
Pictures may or may not happen…..
Exercise and eating right will…..