Monthly Check In

 A month ago I said I would do a monthly check in on how my weight loss journey and getting healthy was going.  I have lost 32 pounds and am walking 4 miles a day.  I have quickened my mile pace from 20 minute miles to 18 minute miles.  This may not seem that great but for me this is a big achievement especially when you think that 10 weeks ago I was doing nothing and just walking upstairs would put me out of breath.  So I am accepting this check in as a win.  I am motivated to keep going and I truly can feel the difference of being 32 pounds lighter.  The walks have been amazing and really energize me.  I hope you will continue to follow my journey and encourage me along the way or at least maybe say a little pray for me.  Thanks for checking in on my checking in.  I will post my progress in another month!

What A Week

 This past week started out great with a wonderful Easter service at church then followed by spending the rest of the day at our County fair.  Monday afternoon we got some bad news that Rory was exposed to COVID in her classroom.  She had to quarantine for 10 days.  Well, that affected the whole house.  I am fully vaccinated but in order to return to work I had to go get a COVID test...I am negative.  I ended up taking the week off and staying home with Rory.  We had fun despite the reason she was home.  On Thursday we got a call from the Health department saying Rory can go back to school on Monday but will have to wear a mask for four days.  Right now 1st graders are not required to wear a mask at school.  So, today will be her last day of school missed.  

I was successful in losing another couple of pounds this week and I have kept up with my walking and not eating between meals.  So, that was good!  I will miss my morning walks next week when I return to work and hopefully it won't get too warm so that I can get my walk done in the evenings.  I guess I will see! That is is for now.  Hope you have had a wonderful week!

Weight Loss Update

 I have just started my third month with WW and I have added walking as I am doing a StepBet right now.  The combined has allowed me to lost 30 pounds since I have started.  I am very happy with the results but I also know I have a long way to go on my journey.  Right now I am highly motivated and I am hoping to keep this feeling going along my journey.  I have started to tell people because it will make me more accountable.  I NEED the accountability.  So, now I am sharing my goal here to make me even more accountable.  I have about another 100 pounds to go.  I am giving myself 18 months, starting two months ago, so I have 16 months to achieve this goal.  If, I do it earlier...Great!  I will be using WW and will continue to walk (it really energizes me) and will eventually add more activities.  To my friends and family or anyone else following this please call me out when I am being stupid or wanting to give it up.  I can do this!

Have You Seen "Outlander"

 I have been obsessed in binge watching "Outlander"  a series on Starz.  Oh my gosh, for the past 6 weeks I have watched all 5 seasons and enjoyed it so much.  The 6th season is being filmed now and it has been renewed for a 7th season.  "Outlander" is based off the books of Outlander by Diana Gabadon.  I have ordered the books because after watching "Outlander" I now want to see what was not covered from the books.  If you are looking for something to binge that has romance, adventure and a little sci-fi then check "Outlander " out.  It definitely is not boring and it will keep you entertained and wanting more.  If you have Netflix the first 4 seasons are on it.  I will be rewatching this series soon.  For now, I am going to watch "Men In Kilts" on Starz.  It is starring two actors from "Outlander".  Good stuff!

A Bit Of Success

 The last two weigh ins have been good and I have been fortunate to actually lose some good weight.  I am now taking my weight loss a lot more seriously and plan on continuing on this journey for quite a while.  It will take some time to lose the amount of weight I want to lose but with every pound I shed I know I am one step closer to truly getting healthy.  I have now lost 28 pounds and I can feel the benefits already.  My energy level is wonderful, my coordination and balance are great, I am controlling what I eat and only eat when I am truly hungry.  I know this will be a 12 to 18 month process but with two months done and 28 pounds lighter I am on the right track.  My daughter did this same thing over three years ago and has kept it off.  She is one of my inspirations for doing this.  Another is my granddaughter; I want to be healthy enough to do things with her with little limitations.  My final goal is that my husband has been gone for almost two years and I think it is time for me to start dating again and maybe I will be lucky enough to find love again.  I know I can probably do  an online dating site but first I would like to try it the old fashioned way and just meet someone along the way.  I am in no rush and I have a lot of work to do to improve me first.  

Side note, I got my second COVID shot so in two weeks I will be ready to start enjoying life a bit more and maybe even go to the movies.  I did have a reaction with my second shot.  I had the Pfiser vaccine and I ended up with a sore arm for about three days and total tiredness for about 20 hours.  Two hours after my shot I felt as if someone took a straw and stuck it in on the top of my head and sucked all the energy out of my body.  I was dead dog tired!  I am back to my old self and ready to get today started with a long walk. 

Walking has become a way to clear my head and just seems to make me feel better.  Each day I walk a little longer and even though I may get tired I keep going because in the long run it is good for me both physically and mentally.  Have a great weekend!

Working On Getting In Better Shape

 A month ago, when I finally got fed up with the pictures of me and how heavy I had gotten during this COVID time, I got me motivated again to start losing weight and get in better shape.  I joined WW because I know the program and find it easy to work with.  I had joined NOOM in 2019 but never understood the program or received any help from the program on how to get started and how to use it.  I cancelled once I could and thought that was it for NOOM until this January when I got charged (this is two years from when I first joined and the first charge in two years too).  So, I got on and cancelled but since it was a few days from the charge they could not refund me the money.  So, I have NOOM until September and I may try and figure it out.  Meanwhile I also joined StepBet; my daughter Jen sponsors games.  I decided since I had been on WW for a month that this would be a good time to start some exercising and walking is something I can do.  So, here I am, trying to get thinner and stronger.  I will update my progress monthly.  So far, I have lost 18 pounds and have made my step goals.  I am hoping I can stick to it.  The problem is I LOVE food!  I love the good and the bad and am trying to work with both.  I know under my current WW program that I can have anything I just have to account for it.  Is it altering me with anything?  No!  Is it making me make better choices?  Yes!  Still, I LOVE food.  This will forever be my struggle but I am ready to go to battle and hopefully I can win the war this time.  Wish me luck and say a prayer for me!

A Lot Has Happened In the Past 30 Days

 I did not realize that it had been almost 30 days since I have posted.  I expected to post more often but life got in the way.  I had some interviews at work that I was asked to participate in which meant I had to work a couple of my normal days off.   I found out when I don't have a Friday off it really throws off my week.  I did get to visit a good friend for a weekend in Daytona.  We didn't do much but we sure had a great time.  Just being together for an extended period of time was great.  It was a very relaxing weekend and I guess I needed it.  

I got my first COVID shot.  I am not eligible but I did find out that at the end of the day, if there are any shots available, then anyone can get it.  I went, checked it out and had to draw numbers to see who gets the shot.  I was one of the lucky four who got their shot early.  I am very happy to get the shot and get a step closer to being normal.  In a couple of more weeks I will get my second shot.  I am ready!

Today was my granddaughter's first soccer game of the spring season.  It was rainy and cold but we were out there cheering her on.  I am still not 100% warmed up yet but I am getting there. I know with the COVID shot getting disbursed we are getting closer to normal or whatever the new normal will be.  With that said, I know I will going back to a fairly busy schedule.  The one I had a year ago when everything came to a stop.  In a few months we will all get closer to normal and even though I did enjoy the slower pace I think I am ready to get busy again.  One step at a time of course.  I will be back sooner than later with my next update.  Enjoy your life, it is the only one we get!