bracing myself . . .

So, here's a picture of one style of an Arizona brace. The tech who fitted me for mine said that there would be at least one, possibly two, velcro straps at the top of the brace, along with some eyelet lacing. It will be made with the custom orthodontic built into the brace. Isn't it pretty? LOL! Don't answer that!

I ordered mine in chocolate brown. The tech said most folks ordered them in black, but I really didn't want one in black -- especially since I'll be wearing it in the summer. It wouldn't be so bad, but I wear skirts/dresses--no pants--so it will be relatively visible! I should be getting a call to pick it up any day now. I'd be put off by the looks if I wasn't so excited about being able to take a step without pain!

Yesterday I talked about the possibility of joining a gym, so I could have access to a stationary cycle and get some much needed aerobic exercise. After a little online searching, however, I found this little baby . . .

This particular model was the most expensive of the ones I found, but it also had the best reviews. There was better control of the tension, the petals had straps, and it was more solid and didn't slide as easily as some of the others. And for less than three months at the gym, I could have one.

The thing is, I have so many unanswered questions! Like, is it really aerobic? Do I have to sit a certain height above it? Will is hold up? Ugh. Anyone?

Tomorrow is the first day of pickup for the BOM I'm doing with the local quilt store, Patches & Stitches. We'll do two blocks every month.

The small blocks around the center are the ones we'll be creating -- two a month for eight months. How the quilt is put together will be up to each individual quilter. I'm looking forward to getting started!

Tomorrow: finally FRIDAY!! Todd & I are going on a dinner date tomorrow night. I can't wait! I love my darling husband!

:)

double whammy . . .

Word up and weigh in. If that's not a double whammy, I don't know what is!

One of my lifestyle change decisions (not a resolution) was to become more healthy; to eat healthier and to find some way to manage exercise. I'd started this crusade last year, and was making definite headway, when the accident happened and rather up-ended my comfy little world.

I'm guessing that some weight loss would put less stress on the right ankle, and therefore make it a little less painful to bear weight on it. It's a little bit of a catch-22, though. I can't do any weight-bearing aerobic exercise, which limits me pretty much to swimming and cycling. Since we're in the RV, having a stationary cycle at home is out of the question, which means joining a gym. Ugh. It irks me not a little to have to pay for a gym membership to get on a single piece of equipment, but there it is. I need it desperately!

Of course, exercise isn't THE answer, it's only part of the answer. The other part definitely has to do with my eating choices. Ugh. LOL! What, how much, when . . . *sigh*. I wish this part was as simple as giving the gym a check and showing up daily. It'll definitely take more work and planning, but it will also bring the most benefit, too.

To this end, I linked up with A Ditchin' Time Quilts, and the Wednesday Weigh Ins! Accountability is good for me -- if I know I'm going to be recording a number somewhere publicly, I'll want it to be a good number!

So, on Wednesdays I'll be updating and getting that number over to Stephanie's blog. Yay! Lots of little steps, over a long period of time, equals progress!

I did say double whammy, didn't I? The Charming Chatter has it that 2011 will be the year of the 'word'. What word? Whichever word best suits you! The object is to choose a word that you'd like to see reflected in your life in the coming year - a word to visit periodically, and to focus on throughout the year!

Kelly, Charming Chatter blog owner/author, noted that coming up with a word was a little more difficult than she'd anticipated. She was told to be patient and that "the word would choose" her!

My word JUMPED out at me, I didn't even have to think twice about it.

C O N N E C T

I don't know the full connotations of it yet, but off the top of my head, I'm thinking . . .

. . . Connect to a healthier life style . . .

. . . Connect to family and strengthen those loving bonds . . .

. . . Connect to a deeper relationship with my Lord & Savior . . .

. . . Connect to my quilt guild by helping on a committee . . .

. . . Connect to my stitcher's group by attending more events . . .

. . . Connect to a gym. Ugh . . .

. . . Connect my ankle/heel/foot together better. LOL!

What word suits you best? Click on the Word Up graphic above to visit the Charming Chatter "Word Up" post! Everyone's welcome to join in!

:)

I know . . .

. . . I said yesterday that I wouldn't use this blog as a forum for new lifestyle. But hey, it's *what* *I'm* *doing*! And you know how when you start something like this, it pretty much occupies your thinking for a while? That's where I am.

My MM (mighty man) is so encouraging and willing to do whatever it takes -- even going through these next two weeks without pasta/starches/whatever--to make life easier on me! Isn't he sweet? We sat down over breakfast this morning and planned out our menu for the next week, and then I made out my grocery list and hit the store. I believe this is doable, although I can see that there is going to be struggle with the sugar/bread thing.

When I got to the checkout at the grocery store, chocolate was ALL over the place! It was beckoning, calling, whispering my name!!! And before I could even consider it, a picture of my precious Sawyer popped into my head. I got to babysit him last night, and I was thinking of how important lifestyle change was, if I was going to be grandma to him for a very long, long time. Who needs chocolate? I've got my Sawyer!

Todd & I took a long walk/hike through the woods and over the streams this afternoon. I'm finding such wonderful treasures as natures blooms and grows! It's breathtaking. No, I mean literally, as I hike all over creation, I'm huffing and puffing, trying to catch my breath! LOL! This too shall pass!

Ah, and thank you kindly for all the supportive comments and e-mails over the past couple of days. It's so encouraging to know I'm not going the battle alone. I believe it really does make a powerful difference.

Cheerio!

:)

the battle renewed begins . . .

Over the years, I've tried almost everything. Most every diet, hypnosis, prescription pills, over-the-counter pills . . . I've tried Weight Watchers, Nutra Systems, LA Weight Loss, calorie counting, and the cabbage diet, to name a few. Oh, I could go on and on. Unfortunately, the weight came off, temporarily, but it, too, went on and on.

*sigh*

Enough is enough, right? I promise, I won't turn this into a painful, day-by-day (blow-by-blow) blog of a 'new journey', or anything like that, but I do feel it's worth a mention. Because I'm tired of the battle. I'm not willing (or able) to fight the battle with surgery. And I'm tired of the excess weight. I'm tired of it being a part of who I am!

So. Enough. New approach. Shock therapy (so to speak).

My dd is trying South Beach. I hate to say the 'diet' part, because I know it's not a temporary thing (which is how 'diet' always sounds). It's a lifestyle. Weight Watchers was also a lifestyle (one on which I did *very* well for a season), but it was too easy to cheat the system, if you know what I mean. I struggle really bad with a sugar addiction. I *know* that. I also know that the more sugar you eat, the more you crave. So it really needs to go.

I think--I hope--that perhaps South Beach may be the answer. It's *very* restrictive in the first two weeks, but then, once your body has been relieved of its cravings, it introduces foods back into your plan.

I dunno. All I *do* know is that something needs to change with how I eat, before health-wise, something changes that is out of my control . . . and has to be controlled with surgery or hospitalization or insulin.

So. I'm saying it. I'm changing. I'm taking charge.

I'm scared!

:)

ps. I hate exercise. LOL! :)

My New Attitude

Many years of my life I have fought with myself to be thin.  I am not a thin person by nature.  Every New Year I vow to lose weight and diet until I could be happy with the way I look.  A few years ago I even decided to reward myself for a large weight loss with a trip to a place I have always wanted to visit.  It didn't happen.  Disappointment, Diet, Despair.  No more "D's"....Time to rethink.

I studied nutrition in college.  I know what to eat and what it takes to lose the weight.  As a side note all my nutrition teachers were morbidly obese save one.  We all know what to eat.  I do eat well most of the time.  I am addicted to sugar and chocolate and do not keep those items in the house.  I have maintained the same weight with in 5 pounds for the last 5 years.  So what do I need to do to change? 

I have been having trouble remembering things and have little or no energy for a while now.  Don't get me wrong, I am busy all the time, but I am just not myself.  This needs to change.

This New Year I decided not to diet.  I will eat sensibly when ever possible.  I did not set an unrealistic weight loss goal.  

This is my new attitude...  I now exercise 20 minutes in the morning on a stationary bike.  I started with 3 times a week and have worked up to 5 times per week, first thing in the morning, no excuses.  I have decided to look at my weight loss one pound at a time.  My goal is to lose one pound per week.   If I didn't make it, I add an extra workout in the evening until I make my goal. I also plan to add yoga when my weight loss stagnates. No huge life change, just a little something to make me a healthier person.

The results so far...  I have lost a pound each week.  My muscles are stronger and my waist is just a bit more shapely from the bike riding.  I have more energy during the day.  My memory and my concentration are improving and I sleep well at night for the first time in a very long while.  

This year I am rewarding myself with that trip as a birthday gift to myself.  I will join some of my girlfriends on their annual trek to the AQS Quilt show in Paducah, KY. Maybe I will see you there!