Wednesday, October 17, 2012

One Week In

I have been on the Medifast plan for one week now. During this first week I have been trying to stay on plan and on schedule for the six "meals" I have to eat each day. I am actually enjoying the food, for the most part. That is not a problem, which surprises me, since I am such a picky eater. 

Drinking the water is the hardest part. The first two days I drank about 6 glasses of water, then I slowed down to about 4 for the next few days. I have picked it back up and drank 7 glasses so far today. I have to keep it up. 

Drink water, drink water drink water!

I have lost 5 pounds in 8 days. That is really awesome as far as I am concerned. 

I am going on vacation to Michigan in two days, and I know I will go off plan slightly while there. I plan on eating a coney and hopefully go to a cider mill and have some fresh cider and a greasy donut. Other than that I plan on staying on plan as much as possible for a vacation. 

I also have to make sure I drink lots of water while I am there. 

Monday, October 8, 2012

de.ter.mined

I have made a re-commitment to be healthy and lose some of the weight I have been putting on over the last two decades. I signed up last week to use the Medifast System. I ordered my food last week.

Today my meals arrived via UPS. They came in the late morning and my plan is to begin with the meals tomorrow. I pulled everything out and found a space in my pantry for all the food. It takes up remarkably little space for a months worth of meals.

I choose some boxes to take to my workplace so that I will have the meals ready for me as I move forward. 

I tried one of the Dutch Chocolate Shakes in the cook "spring shaker". It wasn't too bad. I know one of my biggest challenges is going to be my picky taste-buds. But, I am determined to make this work. 

de.ter.mined: having reached a decision : firmly resolved

Another big challenge for me will be going without coke or chocolate. Coke has been my main drink for so many years. I imagine I will be quite the grumpy for a little while. There are chocolate flavored items that are included in the meals- brownies, shakes, cookies, bars- so that shouldn't be quite as bad. But not having a Kit Kat or M&Ms whenever I have the need, will be hard. 

So, today I drink my last Coke and eat these few M&Ms I have in a dish on my desk and tomorrow I move forward with a new and healthy me.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Healing Mass

My husband and I have just returned from a day out and about. 


We went to the Diocese of Phoenix Mass of Healing and Blessing of Caregivers at St. Theresa Parish in Phoenix. It was my first time at St. Theresa and it is a beautiful church. It was a good Mass and I am glad that I was able to take my husband and mother-in-law to receive the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. Unfortunately, it was not as nice as this celebration has been in the past. 


The last time we went to this Mass, two years ago, Bishop Olmsted actually laid hands on all of the caregivers who came forward for the blessing. This year, at the very end of the Mass, a blessing prayer was said. I have to admit, this year I did not feel comforted or receive any peace from this experience. It saddens me that such a beautiful part of this Mass was changed. 


I admit, one of the reasons I wanted to go to this celebration was so I could have that blessing and laying on of hands to help me to get through this year. With my husband getting worse all the time, my mother-in-law having more and more memory issues and my son preparing for a major surgery in the next few months, I could use all the peace and grace I can get. I guess I will have to find it in some other way. 

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Working on a New Me

Not really a new years resolution, just a decision to make some changes in my life. 


I am going to the Y three times a week with a friend to work out, two of those days will be with a personal trainer. I have gone for two weeks at this point, and begin with the personal trainer next week.


I have also decided not to eat fast food anymore. That means no more visits to my three favorite guys, Jack(in the box) Carl('s Jr.) and Mickey(D).


To make matters even harder on me, I am also not buying Coke to have in my house. That means I have limited my Coke input. 


So far, so good, tho.


Wish me luck.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

A New Year

What does 2012 hold for me? What does it hold from my husband, children, siblings, friends?

My hopes are for a happy, healthy, and successful year, as I am sure everyone's are.

(Missing Ian) Easter 2011
Some of the absolutes I am facing are...
  • My youngest son, Bob, begins his last semester of high school.
  • My middle son, Ian, begins his second (or fourth depending on how you look at it) semester of college.
  • My oldest son, Joe, is planning a wedding with his beautiful and wonderful fiancee, Andy.
  • My husband, David, continues to struggle with his health and well-being.
Some of the possibilities I am facing are...
  • Bob having surgery keeping him out of school for 2-6 weeks.
  • David spending more time in his wheelchair and less on his feet.
  • How to help my husband as my mother-in-law's dementia gets worse. 
How do I find time to keep me sane with all that I have going on this year? I hope to be able to spend more time creating in my (almost finished) newly cleaned out crafting room. I hope to stay committed to actually posting one blog each week for the rest of this year. Possibly more, who knows?

So, happy new year to me and mine and to you too!