Reality Check

Yesterday, I finally ventured down to David's Bridal to try on the bridesmaid dress. The size 14 was too big, and the size 12 was too small. So, I took a gamble and ordered the size 12. It can be altered down to a smaller size if necessary. I'm more dedicated than ever, knowing that the dress is too small right now.

"If you can imagine it, you can create it. If you dream it, you can become it."
William Arthur Ward

I am happy to say I'm down a total of 8 pounds. I am taking my medications for my PCOS and have cut out most processed carbohydrates. I am continuing to exercise when I can. I need more motivation in the movement category. But, I know as my weight continues to go down, I'll have increasing energy to move more. Stay tuned!

Progress

It has been almost two weeks since my upper endoscopy. My esophagus was not the shape it should be. They stretched it out, and put me on a prescription for acid reflux.

Since the procedure, I am back on my regimen of medications to manage my PCOS. I have also changed my diet to exclude most processed sugars. My friend KK and I have been walking regularly, both outside and in the mall. I finally dusted off my elliptical machine as well. I am happy to say that I'm down four pounds!

"I wake up every day with the realization that this is it, that there's only one shot at this life and I can either enjoy the ride and live it to its fullest and to my highest potential or I can stay the way I am." Author Unknown

I really appreciate all my friends who have been so supportive. The ladies I play bridge with weekly have been great about bringing healthy food choices. Supportive friends and family make all the difference!!! I thank God for them.

“You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” Christopher Robin to Pooh

P.S. My brother's wedding date has changed to July 30, 2011. The countdown continues: 189 days!

 "Never give up on a dream just because of the length of time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway." Author Unknown

Goal Dress

This week, I wasn't as focused as I had hoped. I ate donuts, Taco Bell, etc. Last night, I went out with some friends for a mom's night out and saw a movie. I ate popcorn, candy and had a soda. Afterward, we went to a local hot spot for their late happy hour, and had a BBQ sandwich, smoked salmon rangoons and two Guinness. Talk about bad choices! Exercise didn't happen either.


My big positive for this week was getting myself all set up on SparkPeople:

SparkPeople is the world's largest healthy living community with a free online diet and fitness program. SparkPeople is helping millions of people achieve their goals every single day!

Whether you want to lose weight, tone up, live a healthier lifestyle or reach other goals, SparkPeople can help--and it's 100% FREE!

My friend DB told me about it, and I have found it to be a great resource! I joined some teams that suit my needs.


At the end of the evening last night, I got a text message from my brother's fiancée telling me she had picked the bridesmaid dresses for their wedding. I finally got online this morning to take a peak. It's a beautiful, red, long, strapless, satin ball gown with a waist sash. I have never worn a strapless dress in my whole life. Mostly, because I've never had the chest to support it. I now have a goal dress. The wedding is December 10, 2011.


Today, I started my day with good food choices and I'm walking with my friend KK this afternoon. I will try on the bridesmaid dress this afternoon and get it ordered. It is my hope that it will have to be substantially altered by the time the wedding is here. I have 336 days to get my act together.

It's On!

My husband and I have been married for over 11 years. Since being married, we have always alternated Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays between the two families. So, it's always been either my parents or Jon's parents hosting the holidays. We lived in a small house, hours away from either family, so hosting never came up as an option.

March of this year, we relocated to southern Oregon to be closer to Jon's family. This also was the year we spent Christmas with Jon's family. We invited his grandparents to stay with us for five days over the Christmas holiday. The kids were especially excited to have their great-grandparents here.

Now that we live near family, and have a house big enough to have a gathering, we hosted Christmas. I was so excited to finally use my Christmas dishes! It wasn't until this year that I really appreciated what it meant to have someone else host Christmas, and at a distance from our house. Usually, we would go to visit my parents, or Jon's parents. It would be wonderful, magical and full of good food and family. A day or two after Christmas, we would pack up and head home, returning to our normal routine.

Our Christmas tree

The thing about hosting Christmas, and especially about having guests, is that all the food is at our house. Which means, the leftovers are at our house. I hosted a potluck, to make it easy on myself to host a meal for twelve people. I feel like everyday since Christmas, has been Christmas all over again. THE FOOD. There's been ham, potatoes, sweets...you name it.

We never repent of having eaten too little.
Thomas Jefferson

As you've gathered from the title of my blog, I'm a bit of a sweet tooth. Dessert is a weakness for me - like a drug. I need a 12-step program for my sugar addiction. My endocrinologist tells me that this is one of the horrific symptoms of having PCOS. I am insulin resistant, meaning that my body doesn't process sugar correctly. The more I eat, the more I crave. It's a vicious cycle.

What I need to do, is cut down my sugar intake. I did this once before, last spring. I lost 20 pounds in two months, almost effortlessly. I need to be conscious of what I'm putting in my mouth. I'm a boredom eater, and a stress eater...so I'm going to have to find some new vices for when I'm bored or stressed. I'm thinking that reading, exercising and writing this blog will be a good start.

Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow ye diet.
William Gilmore Beymer

So, here we are, on New Year's Eve. Tomorrow is a new day, and a fresh start.

Frustration

I feel as if I live at the doctor's office sometimes. Between my bad knees and PCOS, I frequent the doctor often. I see a reproductive endocrinologist in Eugene, Oregon for my PCOS. He has been a breath of fresh air for me. He understands the syndrome so well, and has helped me understand it better too. He has me on several medications to manage my symptoms, but I have found it difficult to take some of the larger pills lately.


Last week, per his suggestion, I visited a Gastroenterologist. I now have an appointment on January 11th to have an upper endoscopy. Hopefully that will help. In the meantime, I'm going without some of my larger pills and am feeling the effects.


Now, with Christmas over...I have managed to get a cold, complete with pink eye. I am feeling like a hermit. This social butterfly needs to spread her wings! What I need to do is rest, but with kids that isn't always an option. I think there will have to be naps or at least quiet time today, so we can all be well by the weekend. I think my New Year's Eve plans are looking dim.

Movement Goals

So, my friend sent me an invitation on Facebook to join the 100 Days Challenge. The premise is to exercise for 30 minutes per day for 100 days. I suppose that the 'event' being on Facebook is just the incentive that some people need - me included. I was skeptical to accept the invitation, because accountability is a scary thing sometimes. But, I figured if I'm putting myself out there enough to do this blog, I could certainly accept an exercise challenge on Facebook.


My husband and his brother fixed the horrendous squeak in my elliptical machine a few weeks ago, so it's time to get on and conquer that beast once again. I also have one exercise DVD, and several Wii games...so no excuses! You can see my list of resources along the sides of my blog page. I also plan to start walking Old Military Road. This is a steep, country loop.

Stay tuned for updates...

Why am I here?

Well, it's coming time for New Year's resolutions. While I'm not a big fan of that whole tradition, I can appreciate where a new year can be a fresh start. So, here I am.

Summer '07

In September of 2006, I rejoined Weight Watchers for a third time, determined to lose the excess weight and get in shape before I turned 30. I joined a gym and started working out for 1-2 hours, 3-5 times per week. I was on track with my eating, even through the holiday season. I kept a blog of my progress on my MySpace account. It was encouraging, and my friends were supportive. I got down to 140 pounds, and a size 8. I was in the shape of my life for my 30th birthday, April 2007.

I graduated fall '09

That next fall, feeling renewed and invincible, I returned to Oregon State University to complete my bachelor's degree. Between the stress of school, and the lack of time juggling my whole life, the gym fell to the wayside. My food choices started to fall back into old habits of bad choices. Here I am, a few days away from the start of 2011, and I'm dreaming of being healthy and fit, once again.

So, this blog is dedicated to keeping me focused on reaching my health goals, once again. It won't be easy, and it won't be quick...but I know I can do it!