Stress and Time to Get Going

Thursday, June 23, 2011

We are moving 18 hours from here and need to find a mover who will take our things to the new location and put them in storage for 10 weeks till we can move into our house. Last night we looked at the quotes for moving and storage. Gasp! $14,500! What? We got rid of so many things - sold, gave away, took to the dump.

There are lines of extra charges $850 northern charge, insurance, price per pound, etc. So I called my friend who moved from here last year, to find out what she paid, etc. She paid $6,000 and got rid of almost EVERYTHING! They bought a house that was the show home and paid $20,000 for the furniture, so she needed little, just the basics.

I need to have a serious look around the house and see what else I can get rid of. $14,500 can buy a lot of furniture, etc. We don't have a lot of options for movers charges. Because we live in the north they charge extra for everything. Uhaul for instance won't rent out trucks that will go out of town. Pods and things that might be available in other places don't exist here. It's crazy. I am trying to get it down to $9,000 and that might be the best I can do.

So I am stressed as I look around here and think what else I can go. Books - gone! What else?? I feel almost paralyzed when I look at the quotes and know I have to pick the best of the worst. Time to get going, I have to pick myself up and go pack a box, take a photo of something I can sell, just get going!

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Summer 5% Challenge - Time to Sign Up! Time to Lose the Pounds!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

The Summer 5% Challenge starts in July!

During the current challenge I caught fire and the pounds are coming off. I should reach my goal of losing 5% of my starting weight. That's 11 pounds gone forever!

weekly weigh ins

record exercise

do weekly special challenges to develop healthy habits



You are invited to join The Summer 5% Challenge to lose 5% of your body weight in 8 weeks. It's been a great way to keep on track with team mates who are here regularly to give support and share the journey. We exercise and do Healthy Living Challenges to learn new habits to improve our health and lose weight. Take the Challenge and accept a healthy nudge to lose weight. After joining the community team, read the thread titled """"Read This First"""" that explains everything. Any questions? Feel free to ask me. Challenge begins in July.

www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/groups_i
ndividual.asp?gid=50696

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Will Lose 5% by July 2nd

Monday, June 20, 2011

I am working hard to get my 5% weight loss in the Spring Challenge and there are only 12 more days till the final weigh in. With the wildfires and poor air quality I could not walk outside. It has rained and been overcast, but the air quality is good right now, so in the last few days I have got out walking. Today I walked 10K but normally walk 5K.

It's easy to think of other things I should be doing with my time, I have a lot of work around home too. But each time I step on the scale I have flashbacks to the health related good and bad things I did during the week. Whether it's a good weigh in or not, I always wish I did more of the good things. I want to live this week in a way that I will have fewer regrets on Saturday. I don't expect to be perfect but more consistent with my good habits.

I really enjoy our challenge this week of giving yourself a goodie. Sunday I gave myself sweet peppers for the Greek salad I made for dinner last night. This was the note - Thanks for staying in your calorie range today. Taking hubby out for brunch and loading on fresh veggies and protein was a good choice. You proved you control the food, the food does not control you! Big pat on the back to you, you did it!

Today I gave myself an MP3 player. This was the note - Thanks for walking 10K today. When you listen to an audio book you are living in the moment and can do anything you set your mind too. Love you!

As I am permanently changing the way I eat, I am trying to remember back to when I was a skinny picky eater kid. At meal time we never took seconds, you were considered greedy if you took 'more than you need'. I am sure more will come to mind, but there were definite rules around food. 'Snacks' and 'finger food' weren't invented then and gold fish were not a food group. The only time we ate after dinner was popcorn on Friday nights when we watched a movie on TV. I must sound like a dinosaur.

Starting weight 5/7: 219.4

5/14: 218.4
5/21: 216.4
5/28: 217.0
6/04: 214.2
6/11: 214.2
6/18: 211.8
6/25:
7/02:

5% Goal: 11
Weekly Goal: 1.4 pounds
Goal Weight: 208.4

I am looking forward to the Summer 5% already!

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It Never Gets Dull!

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Last weekend we were in Edmonton to visit family. While there we saw the Andy Warhol exhbit and the Gay Pride Parade. Today I went to Fort McMurray's first Pakistani fashion show with my friend. The dresses had a North American influence and the models were of all nationalities. The models, all local young women strutted down the catwalk accompanied by Top 40 music. Great fun and a wonderful to meet new friends.

Thursday I went to buy a new battery for the old Camry we are giving to our daughter. As I am driving home, a truck T boned the car. I can still drive it, but likely it will be a write off, which it too bad because it runs so well.

I had a good weigh in on Saturday and attribute that to the Plate Method. I am loving it so much I am thinking of starting a Spark Group for people who want to do it or maybe a 5% challenge team. Yesterday I hiked 10K in 120 minutes. Today I took hubby out for Father's Day brunch, went to the fashion show, unloaded the china cabinet, packed up board games, had long phones visits with the kids, made hubby a delicious and nutritious dinner. There was not enough time to hike. I should have done it when I woke at 4:30 but I would have woke hubby when I got the dog up. On Father's Day I couldn't risk waking him.

I think I am over feeling sad about leaving this house. I've had years to make the house just the way I wanted. There is nothing wrong with the house, it's the location. I have to remember I am going to something not leaving something. I know I will miss my friends but I really do plan on coming back each spring to visit.

This week I will

walk 10K daily (yikes I can't believe I just wrote that!)
continue with the Plate Method - love the Corelle divided plate
plan our goodbye house party
keep planning the move, packing, etc.

This week our Living the Good Life – Thank yourself everyday!

Do we treat our friends better than we treat ourselves? Think about when we congratulate or thank someone or give encouragement. Sure they lost a pound or started a new diet, exercised or were nice to us. Do we do that for ourselves? Have you exercised, stayed within your calorie range, made a nutritious meal, walked the dog, tidied your home, drank your water, tracked your exercise, got rested, set a new goal, read a motivating article, had some 'me time', watched your sodium, are a good team mate, kind to yourself and any of the other good things you do in a day. Treat yourself with love this week. Be your own best friend, and that means giving yourself a little gift too. Each day give yourself a Spark goodie with a loving note telling yourself why you are giving/getting the goodie.

Yestereday I gave myself a Spark goodie – Thanks Sweetie for making time to go out for a walk. Also, I really liked the dinner you made, it helps keep me within my calorie range. You are taking good care of me today. Love from your best friend Lynn

It should help us recognize and appreciate the positive things we are doing to improve our health. Have a great week and treat yourself well.

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Time to Make My Life the Happily Ever After

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Last night the family that is buying our house came over. They have 5 children and not all of them had seen the house. The purpose of the visit was for the kids to get their bedrooms assigned. We offered them some pieces of furniture – sofa and chair, 3 bookcases and a large desk, so less to pack.

However knowing they were coming over again, I worked around the house making it look like a show home, hid the dog in the car, lit scented candles, etc. After they left I had a scoop of chocolate yogurt and cone, and then another. Yes it stressed me and I ate! I really need to address how to handle this type of stress.

I know I have the biggest challenges of the year behind me. We got the house ready to sell and we did sell it. Mission accomplished! The things I am dealing with now should be easy. I have to sell and give away more furniture, pack, book a mover and storage, and relocate to our RV for a couple of months. Then we leave town and move into our next house Oct 1st or thereabouts.

The wildfire is growing and the wind was blowing into the city. This morning, I could smell smoke in the house and likely it’s always here, just at times my sense of smell is better. In the afternoon the air quality was fair, so I decided I would go out for a walk and pretend it just campfire smoke and if it was really bad I would do a very short walk. I did 90 minutes. Along the way it started to rain, but it was only a few drops.

As I was walked I thought about when I was in high school and ALL the kids were in the normal weight range. We all walked to and from school. I went home for lunch – no school cafeteria for me. That was a 20 minute run each way so 80 minutes a day of running.

I am doing well with the plate method and was pleasantly surprised to see it become the new icon for U.S.D.A. Each meal is it`s own thing - what am I putting on my plate for this meal, and does it look `balanced`. I love it!

I may go back to university and study a new field - social work, with the idea of helping people who WANT to lose weight. I met with a social worker in May and talked about behavioral changes, it was like a light bulb moment! I pretty much stopped eating when I awake during the night, and I seldom have an alcoholic beverage just because other people are. Being a social worker would be quite a change from business!

Now I have to focus on my diet and exercise. I should be able to prepare for a move and pursue my other goals. It's time to start living 'the happily ever after'!

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