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ADLINS's Recent Blog Entries
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Sunday, March 31, 2013
Well, it's not like I didn't see this coming, but seeing it on the scale is a little depressing. Yes, I've gained weight. Since November, when I'd gained a bit. It could be worse, but I know I'm on a path to just keep gaining weight and well, after successfully keeping 25 pounds off for almost 3 years, I'm not willing to just slide back to where I was.
It's almost like starting over, but I'm going to have to use all the Spark tools I can. I know part of this is that the for the past month the only exercise I've gotten has been walking, which isn't bad, but it's not focused. Plus a conference with a lot eating out. This past week I got back on the exercise wagon and got in 5 workouts. Nothing spectacular, but way better than the past month. It's also a little sad to realize how much ground I've lost not being able to do the workouts I was used to and makes me a little disappointed that I didn't come with a workout alternative and let it just slide. However, I can't undo that, so I must just start from today and get back on track.
My goals:
* Cook more and get away from the frozen dinner. Now, given my commute and sometimes really long days, I'll keep a few on hand until I can get to where I've got some things I can freeze myself.
* Breakfast needs to be better. It'll be a little extra time in the morning, but should be worth it. Which leads me to -
* More sleep. I've been saying this for a couple of years, but it's gotta be done. I'm developing strategies, but it's hard to break a routine that's been going on for several years. I may even give the sleep tracker feature on my Fitbit a go.
* In addition to the SP trackers, I'm also going to learn how to make better use of the Fitbit trackers and information.
* And, of course, exercise! It feels good to be doing my Walk Away the Pounds dvds again and also adding in a couple of others with more aerobic content. I just need to make sure I keep it up.
Hopefully, these things will get me back on track and help me get down to my goal weight or at least lose what I've gained.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
I know I've kind of dropped off the radar, but hopefully I'll be back soon.
The move went well, but was harder than I thought it would be. While I love the peace of this place, the limited closets and storage have proved to be challenging. Adding to all of this, I'm not quite done. Super positive though is Kitty has done no hiding whatsoever in this new place.
The day my Mom left, I worked a full day (on a Sunday) and then took that Monday off. Well, that Sunday night I started getting a sore throat. So, I took Monday to take care of myself. Well, that didn't last too long, but then the virus took hold. By that Thursday, I could barely talk. So, I went to the Dr. that Saturday, who said virus, and gave some prescriptions to help with the congestion and coughing. I've since learned that codine (in the cough syrup) keeps me awake. It basically did nothing. So, for two weeks I've not gotten a solid nights sleep. I finally managed some last night, but that was with Benedryl and I'm still trying to wake up.
Aside from not being able to truly organize my new home, I'm disappointed because I've not been able to exercise. I know my body needs to recover, but honestly, this is week two and while it's better it's not gone. I know this too shall pass, but right now, I'm just muddling through. To add to all of this, I head to a conference tomorrow. I think I'll be okay and hope that I continue to improve while away. I'm looking forward to seeing friends, etc, but a part of me just wants to veg on the couch for a bit. But, such is life.
At any rate, more on the move (and hopefully some pics) after my conference.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
I have been sporadic here on SP lately and I miss it. I have a good reason though -- next Sunday I'm moving. About six miles up the road. Still that entails packing, which is just something I hate to do. Almost with a passion. It's weird. One can be totally psyched about a new place, but still the thought of what is involved in getting there is a little daunting. This weekend, I'm starting the packing process, but expect that I'll be pushing it up till the last minute. The saving grace is it is a local move, so I don't have to pack for moving something hundreds of miles away. Which makes it a little easier. I'll also have a little time left on my current apartment, which means I have a little latitude for getting some stuff there ahead of time or after the movers come. I am using a local moving company to do the majority of the heavy lifting and moving. They are the guys I used to swap bedrooms and they have been great.
So, the new place. It's a small, one story, townhouse. End unit. No one above me and no one below. Wood laminate through out (yay for the yoga practice) and I am super excited about getting my area rugs out of storage. While the kitchen isn't "open" to the living room, I will be able to view the TV, which is mostly background noise, while I cook or do dishes, so that makes me happy. It's two bedroom, two bath. I'm renting from a couple. It was purchased by the wife before she met her husband, so she lived there before he moved in. The both loved it and it shows. The walls all have colors that match my stuff or my taste and they are leaving behind the window treatments, which I like and which also match my stuff. There are just a lot of nice little details that I haven't got in my apartment. The laundry is in the garage, but I'm okay with that, especially since I get to keep my own washer and dryer. There are also three long shelves out there, which will be nice for extra storage. I'm going to move my stuff from my storage unit to the one car garage, which makes me super happy. The only downside is the closets are tiny. I think I can make it work though.
There is a small back yard, with a small patio and a nice wood deck with a canvas tent like cover. They also left me their patio table and chairs, and the tiki bar (which I'll probably put plants on). The odd thing is they stained the back patio (the concrete one) the same color I stained the patio at my first house. The woman I'm renting from and I have very similar taste; I like her and her husband. It's a win-win for everyone. (The two of them needed more space, so they bought a house in a close by neighborhood). Oh, and it's a gated community. My current city does have crime issues, though not nearly as bad out where I live as I don't live in the center of town, but out a ways.
Between the limitations imposed by the apartment on my workouts (I'm on the second floor and it's really not built well) and the move, my workouts have suffered. And, I miss them. So, I'm hoping that the packing and moving will burn a few calories and I'm looking forward to being able to do any workout DVD I want to. I think having the variety back will help reinvigorate exercise for me.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Tomorrow we'll welcome 2013. This has made me a bit reflective. It's been quite a year for me, both good and bad.
The good -- I accepted what has turned out to be a good job opportunity. I attended not one, but two, very good professional conferences, one in Austin, one in Anaheim (which made me a bit nostalgic for the days I lived in central CA). I got to make one more trip make to tiny town in Illinois, and stay one last time in my father's childhood home, before we sold it. I'm still a little sad about that and will miss my summer visit there, but it was totally the right thing to do. Christmas in Louisiana was particularly good this year (especially the food), even if the weather was bit dreary and rainy.
I'm cooking more, which I'm finding I enjoy. For a variety of reasons, I've been experimenting with dairy free cooking, which has led to some vegan cooking, and vegetarian cooking and I've found I like it. I've gotten a couple of cookbooks and found some blogs and have made some changes that have turned out very positive. I'm trying to blog my adventures in cooking and I'm trying to ramp up my food photography as well, though not always with my anticipated results.
The bad -- well, on some levels, the job hits both lists. Wonderful opportunity and every day I know why I took it. However, the organization, not so good. It could be worse and I'm super grateful I have a job, especially in today's economy, but unfortunately, it's not a job I want to keep till I retire. And, while I'm getting used to my new town, it isn't where I want to live forever either. Sometimes you just connect with a city and sometimes you don't. I've been blessed. In all of my moves, this is only the second time I haven't really connected with a city. So, I guess that's a positive of sorts.
The other huge negative is my apartment, which is fixable. I had only two days to find a place to live (I will never not take a house hunting trip again). I actually like the apartment itself, however, it's the poorest built place I've ever lived and the noise from above is just something I'm not going to be able to handle long term. I don't really blame my neighbors -- they are young and they have a puppy and well, the apartment building is not well built. I hear every bump and thump and they make a lot of bumps and thumps; it's more than just walking - it's not uncommon for the ceiling to shake due to one of their bumps or thumps. So, I've been looking and have just about decided on a place. I have a couple of things to ask the property management company and am not sure it will work out. But, I have seen a few places that would work. The thought of moving again makes my teeth itch, but the lure of quietness is too much. Oh, and a solid surface for working out and doing yoga.
All in all, while this has been a somewhat disconnected year for me, I can't say it's been a bad one. Just one full of learning about me and what makes me tick. I'm looking forward to what will come in 2013.
Best wishes to everyone for all good things in the coming year.
I leave you with a picture of kitty enjoying the mild weather:
Sunday, November 18, 2012
It's been a while and Thanksgiving is almost here. I've decided not to move. A variety of reasons, but I just didn't want to give up the open floor plan as it's just me, I didn't want to take trash to a dumpster at the end of the street, and I wasn't sure what to do with no outside storage. There was another one that had all of those things, but in the end I just couldn't gear up to move again. I also did the math and in the end, with the purchase of a fridge and moving, I would actually not save money. So, I'm staying put.
I may regret this decision. I've got new neighbors. The male half (he and wife moved in) stopped by yesterday to let me know they were moving in, so I was prepared for a little extra noise in the worlds worst built apartments. Didn't get bad until 1:30 this morning. Then, bumping, thumping, yelling, screaming. I had a migraine yesterday and was dog tired. I finally went into the guest room, but still, sleep for the night was ruined. The plus side of this is I got in the guest bedroom today and organized the remaining boxes and got it ready to be the bedroom in case this is common with these folks. In fact, I think it might make a better bedroom. So, I'm going to call some folks to help box up the second mattress set and put it in storage and get them to move the bedroom furniture to the other bedroom and the furniture from there to the master. The irony of this apartment is that the second bedroom is actually better than the master and it's in the back of the apartment where the master is off of the walkway right by the front door.
Adding to this, my stomach issues have returned (we'll just say digestive issues and not go into a great deal of detail). I did make a doctor's appointment and he was worthless. Did not listen to me. Gave one Rx that actually made the problem 10 times worse. Did find out that my vitamin D is low, but not near as low as it was several years ago. So, got an Rx for a super dose once a week for four weeks.
In the meantime, I'm experimenting. No dairy. Which has helped on several fronts, including my skin and when I'm really vigilant I sleep much better. I'm also doing some gluten free but am not totally gluten free. So maybe gluten light. Not sure how that's doing. Given this, last week my severe itching returned. I was stumped. Then I realized I was doing more egg centric meals (easy protein right?). So, for the past week no egg centric meals. And, no itching. I'm kind of sad, but I think it's eggs straight up. I don't think there's a problem if they're mixed with something. I may find out soon as there is a baked oatmeal recipe I want to try that has eggs. In the meantime, I'm experimenting with vegan recipes where I can. Today's involved making my own oat flour for the first time. It was kind of cool. I hope to post pictures of some of my cooking adventures soon.
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Member Comments About This Blog Post:
on your new place it sounds great and so much better than where you are . happy packing 
