Week 2

The diet has gone well this week...except for yesterday when I totally freaked and stress ate everything in the house. Not exactly sure what set me off but I wish I would learn how to cope with that part of me. However, every other day I have managed to stay with the plan and lost a few pounds.

I am still struggling with the exercise part of this new me. I really enjoyed it when I was running but for some reason I cannot make myself start again. It would be nice now with the cool crisp evenings. Maybe I will try that once this week and see how it feels.

Work is getting crazy, and I know I need to have an outlet for the stress. I am trying to figure out how to balance work, home, family and me. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn't. I love my family and I love my husband very much.

Hopefully this week will be better.

September..my favorite

So..here we are. In september, fall, my favorite time of the year. I love the smells, the activities, and the colors. Sad that summer is over but happy that this season is here.

The empty nest is going well. Some minor decorating changes has made the house feel more family friendly and I love walking from room to room smiling at the changes. Tomorrow is the first family gathering since the changes so we will see how it all works out. Unfortunately we will be without David and Dakota, Alex and Sean.

The new normal didnt work out so well for Jeff and I. Some minor set backs in healing has required the continued bedrest for now. However, with the decorating changes, it is easy for me to sit comfortably at his bedside and blog or browse.

I am starting the fall life plan on Tuesday. some diet changes and some exercise will hopefully get me to where I want to be soon. The wedding and all the activities took a toll on my diet and my exercise. I plan to begin again with those things that made me feel good and look good. I did re-discover that carbs are not my friends.

Lots of changes in the future.....excited to see how things all work out.

Roller Coaster week

This is my roller coaster week. My baby son got married on Friday. Today is my first wedding anniversary and my oldest son and grandson returned to florida today. Tomorrow my next son returns to connecticut. My daughter and all the grandkids start school this week and next. And my stepson leaves for college on Friday.

WOW...as a friend commented.  I am sad, I wanted so much more for the summer but things happened and it didnt work out the way I planned. I have plenty of happy memories to keep me going until David comes home in December.

I also have lots of projects around the house to do. After all, the empty nest needs a little redecorating...lol

The new Normal

The New Normal

The summer is almost to a close. I have had a very interesting summer. My adult son came home for the summer to live with us. My grandson came up for 6 weeks to stay with us. My youngest son got married. And my step son graduated from high school and is moving away to college. So needless to say, grocery bills were higher, expenses were through the roof and sometimes tempers flew. However, I would not change a minute of the summer. I got to know my son better. My grandchildren are growing up very quickly and my husband still loves me.

So..as the summer comes to a close, my husband and I face the question of what is our new normal. My husband has been on bed rest for much of the summer and since things are healing well, we are considering increasing the time up to something that resembles the old days. Fall is my favorite time of the year and I want us to enjoy life again.

The new normal includes lots of different parts to our lifestyle...new eating habits, new exercise routine, new social events and a return to those things that meant so much like our church and our friends. I am hoping that the "empty nest" will be the beginning of a wonderful time together for us.

So for the next week we will be determining the new normal in our lives. Cant wait to see how that works out.

Next...exercise

So.the past year has been spent on losing 70 pounds. I am at a weight and in a size that I have not seen for over 35 years. However, I continue to struggle to lose anymore and must continue to watch everything I eat. This is not fun. Then suddenly it hit me, (thanks to a friend)...maybe this is where my body is comfortable. And after all..I have an entire wardrobe of very nice size 6s and 8s.

So, if I am going to be happy at this weight, do I have to be happy with the limited foods I can eat. Another lightbulb moment!! If I exercise, not only will I tone this thin body, I will build muscle which will burn more calories. For those of you still not following, this means I can eat more!!

This year will be focused on actually getting fit and toned. I am excited to find an exercise plan that will work for me. With my busy schedule, I have a hard time fitting in classes. So I am going to spend the next couple of weeks seeing what is around and how I can develop something that will work for me.

I will continue running...I love the feeling that gives me. Maybe next summer, I can beat my 38 minute 5k time.

Crunch time

The wedding is in one week. That means that I, as not only the mother of the groom, but also the officiant is very stressed. And one thing I know about myself is that I am a stress eater. The other thing I know is that there is a very clingy black dress in the closet that I am going to have to look good in in one week.

I am hoping that all the activity and things to do to prepare for the wedding will give me little time to eat. Yeah right!

Well i will at least try to stress eat the healthy stuff and stay away from totally bad things,,,wish me luck.

Working well

So my get healthy plan is working well so far. I am finding healthy recipes and have even bought some gluten free products. My daughter is being tested for celiac and regardless of the outcome, I do not think gluten is my friend. I am eating healthy while I follow the 17 day diet, or my version of it, and have lost 8 pounds this past week. And all without being hungry. Yesterday was the big birthday party and I did it without cheating much. I was up a bit today but the protein shake day fix has already gotten rid of the swelling and I am back down.

The countdown to the wedding is on. I am so excited for Dustin and Becca. This wedding will be unique and I hope special for everyone involved. The kids are going to look so sweet and adorable and I cant wait to have some pictures. I will like these pictures better than the ones from my wedding because I am 40 pounds less and I wont have the foofoo princess dress on.

So..here it is the first day of the rest of my life. What do I want to do with it. What are my goals and dreams. My husband asks me this question often and rarely do I have an answer. My husband and given me the love and the life I was always afraid to dream of.

So now that I have found the love of my life and am the happiest I have ever been...what do I do now!!!

My current plan is to become as healthy as possible so that I can live this happy dream for as long as possible. How do I become healthy. I have adapted a very healthy diet and now am adding...wait for it...exercise. I am running and lifting light weights to tone up the "bingo arms" as my son calls them.

I can use support and suggestions, recipes and workouts. So...lets get going!!

Now what?

 A little over a year ago (when I couldn't zip  my wedding dress) I started on the exciting journey that has been the past year. I have lost 70 pounds and have maintained that weight (within 5 pounds). I now have the task of finding a dietary lifestyle that will help me maintain (maybe even lose a little more) but be more real than actual dieting.

My youngest son is getting married in a month and my very slimming black dress would look much better with a few less pounds. I am currently trying the 17 day diet to see if I can lose more. The diet is easy and appears to be very healthy. I am struggling with recipes right now but I think I can adapt some of my old favorites.

I started running this summer. My son and daughter wanted to run in some 5k runs this summer. So, not to be outdone by my kids, I decided to try too. I placed second in my age group in my first 5k. Unfortunately, I have not run much since so I don't think I will be competing next weekend in the 5k we had registered for.

So..now how to make the lifestyle changes that at 58 years old, I should have made years ago but didn't. I am well on the road to being the healthiest I have ever been.

So..I am going to try this blogging thing.  DIET.  EXERCISE. Those 2 words need to become my best friends. I am trying to figure out how to incorporate those into my life permanently. This diet some and exercise some is just not doing it for me. I need something to commit to.