Update

Hey all thought I would write-in for an update.

Projects: I have a couple of creative projects that I started working on. One is a huge canvas (I think I mentioned this a while back) where I want to paint something for my room. I am very excited about this. The place where I am living at now has had bare walls for waaaayyy too long. I just recently put up the prophetic painting in my room, and now it's time to start another. I was going to do this a week ago, but my back issues threw that out the window.

The second project that I started was painting the frames on a couple of pictures that I purchased in Gunnison last year. The frames are gold, and I am not too fond of gold décor, so I want to change it to black. I couldn't get the frames off, so I was trying to paint them with the glass--- Ya right! ;-) Paint was getting on the glass so I stopped. Sigh..... I need to find a way to get the frames off. Once I am done I will take pictures.

Oh, and I have to mention a couple of my birthday presents. Some of my bestest friends in Colorado (CAMA) gave me some beautiful gifts. 2 of which are cake, cookie and cup cake decorating books. I am so very excited about this. I might actually bake just to bake because these things are just too fun to let go to waste. I will post pictures of those also as I make an attempt. Tee Hee. ;-)

Weight Loss: Well, an attempt at losing weight has somewhat been pushed aside the last couple of weeks. I know I could have done better with eating, but I was just not into it. I guess when you are not feeling well, inspiration sorda goes out the window. It is a learning lesson for me though. I know that even though I don't feel inspired I need to try and push through it. So here is to a new start--again.

Back issues: The last couple of weeks have been a bit challenging, but I am crossing my fingers since yesterday and today seem a little better. I have been laid out with serious back pain, which of course does not allow me to do much. I have-thankfully-been able to hang out with friends and family a few times, but for the most part I have been going to the Chiropractor, to the gym (a few times) and then just hanging out at home. Tomorrow (Thursday) is a follow-up appointment to see how my back is progressing; more to come on that. In the mean time, I am continuing with my neck stretches (using the torture chamber) and occasionally going to the gym. That needs to get better.

Anyway, more later. Ta Ta.

Praises, praises praises

So, today I consulted with my boss as well as our building services guy and we worked out a deal for my desk. If it works like they think it should, I think it will be perfect for me.

They are going to raise a side of my desk and add a computer monitor with a keyboard, and it will be connected to my regular computer so that I will not have to do anything but stand up and turn on the monitor. Yipppeee. This transition should happen Monday morning. Wish it were happening today, but I guess I will just have to be patient one more work day. Sigh.....

So, yesterday I had my last adjustment, and this morning my lower back was out again. Ugh! I had to go in and get another adjustment. I am praying that God will give me a brand new back. Sheesh!

So, this weekend I am going to focus on walking, walking, walking. Instead of doing the elliptical and bike, I will just take it easy and use the treadmill or walk outside. Hopefully that will not throw my back out any.

It's me it's me it's me O' Lord, standing in the need of prayer

Hi all,
Sorry, long time in not posting, I know. This week has certainly been a challenge for me.

Dieting has been a yo yo thing for me last week, and also for this week as well. I have had a few setbacks that have frustrated me to no end. As I am writing this, I realize that making good choices even in the midst of my struggles will bring great rewards, so I need to keep that in mind.

I started my mini vacation last Thursday evening the 22nd and on Friday the 23 I cleaned, cleaned, cleaned and organized my room. I felt like my back was sore after it, but it felt really good to get it done. Then on Saturday the soreness increased and I realized that I probably did too much. Sunday it got worse and then by Monday morning (my last day of vacation) I could barely stand up straight. I was in so much pain it was all I could do to get up, eat, use the restroom and then lay down again. UGH!!! I went to the Chiro. earlier that day and got adjusted, which after that I was able to stand up straight and take a deep breath. Ever since then my back has progressively gotten a bit better but I am still in a lot of pain.

So, this is where I am at right now. I am dealing with serious back problems, trying to go to the gym and maintain movement to work out the kinks as well as stay in some sort of shape. I am extremely frustrated right now because for many years my back has kept me from doing what I love (Sports, hiking, standing for long periods of time, etc.). My prayer is that as I do the therapy, my back will begin to heal and I can move forward with my life. Right now I am stuck. Even house work is a challenge. Ugh! I so wanted to start a new painting while I had a break, but that didn't happen because of the pain.

So, here is my plan--I need to get a mechanical desk at work that allows me to either stand or sit (depending on what is comfortable at the time) but in order for me to get this, I have to have permission notes from my doctor. I already received one from my Chiropractor and now am waiting for my physician’s office to fax me theirs. This will help with some of the sublaxation in my back as well as take off a lot of the strain from my lower back. Sigh....hope they will let me have one. My job does not want to get one for me because they are so expensive. Also, I will try and maintain my exercise to 3-4 times a week and hopefully get back on counting my calories again. I do not want my physical issues to bring me down. They can so easily bring on depression and the “feeling sorry for myself” attitude, which I hate!

So, here is to praying away the pain and wishing for a brighter tomorrow. ;-)
On a happier note--I and my greatest friends/former roommates (CAMA) celebrated our birthday's together on Sunday. I was given 2 cake/cup cake/cookie decorating books that I am super excited to try out. I will post pictures hopefully from that fun celebration, as well as post updates on my future attemps and decorating deserts. Yippeee!!! ;-)

Setting goals and being inspired

Today is my first day of my summer "short" vacation. I am a bit sad because a friend of mine is getting married today in California, and I took the time off so that I could go. Alas, finances are short so I wasn't able to attend. But, I am still taking the time off for me, because I desperately need it.

Today, I had a fabulous hour of cardio at the gym. I did a little over 30 minutes on the elliptical and then 30 minutes on the stationary bike. I tried out the normal (sit up bike with the seat so small.....need I say more?). It hurt my Gluteus Maximus so badly I had to do the stationary. I guess my pelvis still needs a lot of work at the chiropractor before I can try out a spinning class. Ugh!!!

Anyway, I came home and decided I needed to set some goals. I know that healthy weight loss takes time, and a good weight loss is between 1.5 to 2 lbs per week. So, I took out my handy dandy purse calendar and set goals for myself each Friday. By December 31st, if I stay on plan then I should have lost 47.5 lbs. ;-) Wouldn't that be exciting? My journey is long, but that's OK. I want to get it off and keep it off--the right way.
I am going to start setting goals for each week as well. I want to maintain a 3-5 workout per week, and step it up a notch like I did today. It's more likely to look like a 4-5 workout week if I maintain good resistance training. I will add in daily goals of calorie maintenance a long with homework assigned by my chiropractor. I have to use this weird neck stretching contraption that we in my house like to call the "torture device". I will post picture a bit later. Right now I can't find the cable to connect to the computer.

On another note: I am going to start painting another picture. I really want to paint a picture for my room. My walls are completely bare and I have lived in this house for almost 2 years now. NOT ACCEPTABLE. ;-) I might paint some kind of floral pattern. I might even paint a prophetic picture that I have had in my head since being in YWAM. We will see. More to come on that.

Have a great day everyone.

Great news

Ok, so yesterday I wrote about starting fresh--I weighed myself this morning and found that I am right back to were I was when I first lost the 7.5 lbs. So exciting!!! So, my goal this week is to lose 2-3 lbs.

Also, I was talking to my mom last night who works at Weight Watchers, and she finds these great quotes for weight loss. Thought I would share.

A plateau is like a pebble.

Hold it too close to your eye and it fills the whole world and puts everything out of focus.

Hold it at a proper viewing distance and it can be examined and classified.

Throw it at your feet and it can be seen in its true setting – just one more, tiny bump on the pathway to success.

Another Day....

So, today is Wednesday, and I have been thinking a lot about where I am and how I have been doing. Unfortunately, as far as the eating and exercise go, I haven't been doing as good as I would like.

I have been thinking about everything that I have been going through in the past 2 weeks, and it is a bit overwhelming. To start off, I was doing great with my eating--counting my calories, focusing on the food pyramid, etc. I also started focusing on my water intake--drinking 60-100 ounces of water a day and taking daily vitamins every day. On top of that exercising 3-5 times a week. Oh, I guess that's not all. ;-) I started going to the chiropractor last week, and now have to do that 3 times a week, as well as use this weird neck stretching contraption every day that I am not in the Chiro's office. Goodness!!!!!

Have you ever felt so overwhelmed when you try and do everything at once? They are all certainly very important. I cannot live my life without any one of those things I just listed. But here is the deal. I got overwhelmed, stressed out, exhausted. I kept up the practice with good water intake (with the exception on last weekend) and taking my vitamins daily. I go to the Chiro. when I have to and get messages every week (which are quite painful but necessary).

Tomorrow is going to be my "Friday" since I am taking 4 days off, so I decided to weigh myself on Thursday. I am going to be intentional and write down my "new weight" in a little book. I am going to consider it the start of my weight loss journey. I know it's really not the start, but in regards to keeping things on paper, it will be. I know I will fail, but I know I will pick myself again too. That's ok. With everything I have been reading and watching from peoples blog posts, to magazines and watching Losing it with Jillian, I know it's a journey. It is a mindset change. It is learning to live and start loving myself and becoming comfortable in my own skin. I am tired of being stressed out over losing weight. How is that going to help me get the pounds off? From what I hear, stress is a BIG factor in weight gain and I certainly cannot afford to have that be a factor in my life. So here goes. I can't expect perfection since I am trying to change MY ENTIRE LIFE all at once. Literally. But, in time I will see progress.

Have you ever watched Losing it with Jillian? Man o’ Man is that show good! I want to cry every time I watch it. It motivates me, and show’s me where I would be at if I didn’t take charge of my life. With God’s divine intervention, and the skills that He has given me to survive, I will master this and be successful.

On another note: My dad was admitted into the hospital yesterday evening for a possible heart attack. They thankfully ruled out heart attack, but he has been experiencing dizziness, tunnel vision, nausea, sweats and very very low blood pressure for the last 3 weeks. Of course it got so bad that finally he went to the Dr. Yesterday and they sent him to the emergency room.

This makes me so sad. I have watched my dad, my entire life, be stressed out and overly anxious about everything. I have had to live with a father who didn't know how to handle things properly and apparently still does not. Now, it's taking a toll on his body. I on the other hand notice that I do much of the same thing. I am a worrier, stressed out and highly anxious. I can't stand it and totally do not want to end up in the same place where he is right now. I see all of these issues show up in my body in regards to: High blood pressure, pre-diabetic, acid reflux etc. You name it!!!

So, here is to a new start tomorrow. I plan on doing everything I can to do a good job and try try try to not let myself get overwhelmed and stressed out. I will be victorious in Jesus’ name! Amen!

Weigh in Day

Today is July 16th, 2010-- Weigh in day. Well, if you read my post yesterday, I mentioned the what if's. Today, I think I might have gained a little. Not by much, but still a bit disconcerting. Sigh.....

Well, I am learning, and like my cousing Cindie said-- weight loss is learning about eating and it is a life long process. I am dissapointed in myself, but at the same time it's not the end of the world.

This week is a new week. I am heading to Gunnison with my roommate. I won't have complete control over everything I eat, but I am going to try and be mindfull of my portions and water intake.

On that note, for those of you who do not know what Gunnison is, it is a small little town about 3-4 hours away from Colorado Springs. My roommates parents live there, and that is also where Monika went to college. I love going with her to visit because it is so quiet and peacefull. This is called "Cattlemen's day's".


They have a rodeo and other events. We are also going to go to the lake and swim, maybe do some fishing at some point.

More pictures to come later.