Thank you for asking

I am doing well, thank you. I have, to date, lost 17 pounds and gained a bit of self confidence.
I walk a little taller, smile a bit more, have more of a pep to my walk. I am still following the gall stone diet - that's what I call it. Very limited to no fats, greasy foods and or cheese. And, even though it wasn't part of the problem, I eliminated diet cola from my diet as well. I drink ice tea or water.
It's odd, but I feel like I am on the right side of something. You know, like a log roller? I feel I'm actually on the log, not hanging on or falling off.
I am still doing well with the 5K training for May 22 and am on track.
Oh, don't get me wrong, it isn't all perfect. After I walk, my feet hurt till I walk again. Thanks to a great suggestion via email, I will be getting new shoes this week. I wanted to go last weekend but Easter and all that goes with it got in the way.
And, yes, eating out is hard. Went to lunch today and couldn't have my usual sausage omelet, gravy and a side of hash browns. I settled for salad bar and a cup of turkey vegetable soup. Thanks to what I know about salad bars, I successfully avoided fat traps. But that macaroni salad did look good.
You know, lately I've been making outward changes too. I wear jewelry now and sometimes makeup.
I do believe life as I know it is slowly changing and evolving. For the better.
Oh yes, and by the time this is sent out and some of you read it, I will be getting that massage and my hands dipped in parafin.
Treating yourself is nice. Very nice indeed.
Thanks for following - I really don't think I could do it alone!

weirlosingit@gmail.com

Be careful what you wish for?

My mother always told me to be careful what i wish for, it might come true. I'm sure her mother told her and so on.
Ahh. Let me explain. For the last two weeks I have been praying for guidance and help to stick with a healthy eating plan. Holy cow - or should I say Holy prayer answered.
Last Tuesday I took quite ill while at lunch. This painful sickness really took hold of me and continued through Wednesday on and off and Thursday. When the pain proved to be too much to bare, my son and husband encouraged me to go the the ER and get checked. I won't draw out the suspense.
Gall Stones. Yep. If you have never had them - the pain absolutely takes your breath away.
I saw my surgeon yesterday. Depending on the results of a more thorough ultrasound, I may not need surgery.
I have however, eliminated high fat, greasy foods, soda (I thought it may have been kidney stones) and all things unhealthy. Prayer answered. I guess.
You know, I have always been the one who didn't respond so much to a subtle nudge as to a shove from behind. So, I am considering this my shove.
And, I would like to say, yes I am still focusing on May 22, 5K. With the exception of a few days, I have been walking.
Even if you aren't focusing on a 5K, get out and walk (well not so much today, today I am looking at 6" of thick wet snow.) But, get out there when the weather changes - next week I here - and walk. If you can go 5 miles, great, if you can only get around the block or to the end of your driveway, fantastic. Just, well to steal this I guess from a big shoe company who may or may not send me a cease and desist letter ( and how cool would that be?), just do it!
Thanks for the emails. I enjoy reading them and they are packed with great advise!

weirlosingit@gmail.com

Hey Hey Hey it's a 5K!

So. Weight Watchers is bringing a 5K to Alpena. The Walk-It challenge is towards the end of May and I have decided beyond any last bit of sanity that I have left that I am doing it. My head is telling me no. "You're crazy! We'll never be able to do this! Feet will give out - you know how they are!" Too bad, I tell it - I may be crazy, but I'm crazy walking! My body is telling me no. "It's too cold to start!" I tell it we will warm up when we get going. My feet are telling me no. "Look, we hurt after the first 15 minutes!" I tell them I'm sorry to hear that because we are walking 18 minutes tomorrow then I tell them what my brain said about them. I think my feet are with me now. My husband is also a negative Nellie... or is that Nels... "You won't make it with that heal of yours." I will admit I have a heal spur and, well, it hurts. But darn it - I'm doing it. I don't care. I am starting my second week of training tomorrow. I have lowered my carb intake and upped my proteins and fruits and vegetables. Note: I did not eliminate carbs - I lowered them. They make me tired. This is my goal. To get to May 22 and walk a 5K. That's all I'm asking of myself right now. Get to May 22 and walk a 5K. May 22 - 5K. I can't look at the big picture - too overwhelming. I can't say - hey my next Alumni Weekend is in 6 months, I want to be 75 pounds lighter. That's too far away. But, this, this I can focus on. This is an obtainable goal. May 22 - 5K. Two months of work. Two months I can do. However, I think I'm going to need new shoes! Any suggestions on this would be appreciated! weirlosingit@gmail.com

Failure is Not an Option - though my will sometimes says otherwise

I thought about writing a very short piece today - something to the effect of "This is so hard." Sometime between Fat Tuesday and April Fool's day (the irony of that arc doesn't escape me) I started to feel the cold hard face of failure staring at me. And about a week ago I thought 'the heck with it'. I thought my Spring Resolution would help - but I just didn't feel recharged or successful. What's the point of doing this if I can't be happy? Did you hear that sound of breaks squealing? That is what my brain did about a nano-second after I had that thought. Really? I'm going to be happier heavy? Not really, I'm not going to be happier, and while I think, and others trying to be healthier may think, life would be easier if we could eat all we want of whatever we want any time we want, the reality is this - we are all going to pay for it later. I don't want to be one of those people that has to be carried out of the house by a backhoe after they've torn a wall down because I can no longer get through my doors. Because let's face it, if a large person doesn't go down in weight, they usually go up. I mean, if we knew how to 'maintain' our weight, we wouldn't be in this boat, would we? I don't really know what to do to keep me inspired. I've heard you should reward yourself after a small loss. I thought about Pandora - nice bracelets they are but if I bought a new charm after each, I don't know, 10 pounds, well the reality is, that money probably could have gone to new windows or carpeting for the house. I have become more pragmatic I guess. But you know, I don't have to reward myself after each weight loss. But after a good month? Well that deserves something. At the end of this month, for example, if I stick to my guns (and oatmeal) I am treating myself to some massage therapy. I have a friend who owns a local massage center/spa. She hosts an after hours event at the end of each month so I made an appointment. They are going to focus mostly on my hands and forearms which is nice because I keyboard 40+ hours a week so it is less an extravagance than jewelry but it is a bit better than a necessity. And I have to admit, you all, whoever you are that reads this, you are keeping me accountable and I appreciate that - I think, well I hope, some of you are hoping for a positive ending to this journey. I thank you. And if you have any ideas to keep me motivated or ideas for an end of month 'gift' to myself, I'd appreciate the input! weirlosingit@gmail.com