LESSOFPMCD's SparkPeople Blog

Thank You for all the best wishes for my b`day

Wed, 5 Sep 2012 18:03:47 EST

Wow - can`t believe how many of you took the time to stop by my page and wish me a happy b`day.

Thank you! Thank you!

What a great community SP is - all are here to help each other - cheer each other on - support each other.

one year reflection on a life changing decision

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 15:13:16 EST

One year ago yesterday I had my last drink - so today is my one year anniversary of not drinking - my soberversary as I've seen it called.

It has been a difficult year but I have made it through without drowning my sorrows, my stress, my anger etc so i am now stonger than I was before.

Was it easy - NO! But I got through it with the help of my husband who is also celebrating his one year soberversary today. We were each others support and going through this together h...

never quit pledge

Mon, 6 Aug 2012 13:38:49 EST

Never Quit Pledge
Monday August 06, 2012

Today, I promise I will not quit.

I pledge that no matter, how many ups and downs I pass through, I will continue on my journey.

I pledge to make a NEW START today, and forgive myself for my past, and to stop being so critical of myself.

I pledge to take control of myself, to stop making excuses, and stop blaming other people or situations.

I pledge to treat myself as I would my best frie...

Losing a pet - harder than I thought it would be.

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 17:04:26 EST

Losing a pet is difficult - I think only those that are or have been pet owners can really understand this.

Our cat - Toonces - would have been 19 yrs old next month but age had taken its toll on her. My husband took her to the vet today and they didn`t even suggest we try anything - just said it was time to let her go.

It seems even harder this time (had to put down the brother of our cat 11 yrs ago) as we have been through a lot in the last year. The cat was always t...

Clothing shopping - an aha moment!

Sat, 30 Jun 2012 18:24:01 EST

The aha moment - when you realize what you have been working to achieve is now a reality.

I wrote previously about that even though the scale has moved down and you know you have lost weight you sometimes feel fatter now than you did before you started. You just nod and say thanks when someone says wow you`ve lost weight - you look good etc because you don`t really see it when you look in the mirror.

But then you have your aha moment - mine was today.

I`ve...

Sports/Exercise and children - great way to start them off (no matter their age!)

Thu, 7 Jun 2012 14:32:56 EST

My grandson will be 18 mths old June 12th - last week he started soccer. I think this is great - gets kids active and interested in sports from an early age. He doesn't actually play the game per se but he is running and kicking the ball - learning to interact with other children in this type of situation.

So many kids now just seem to sit in the house and play video games and that concerns me.

We have more overweight children now than ever before and it has been pro...

Why can't they package food to match serving sizes?

Thu, 31 May 2012 14:15:15 EST

How frustrated are you with the sizes of products and the servicing sizes they say they contain?

I know that since I have become more concious os what I'm eating - portion sizes etc I can see why many of are eating more than we think we are - getting more calories than we believe we are. Why many of us do not know what a serving size actually is by looking at something.

Hubby bought some individual ham steaks - thought they would be great because they were only 180 cal...

GETTING RID OF THE JUST IN CASE CLOTHING!

Mon, 21 May 2012 19:38:21 EST

Today I did it - I threw away my just in case clothes.

You know the ones - the ones you keep just in case you gain some weight back. The clothes that you start to wear when you start to regain. You tell yourself that you will just wear them until you get back on the diet again - next week - not to wear for anytime long etc.

Who are we kidding - I know I've been there and did that a couple of times - now I am saying no to this. I will no longer give into the cycle - kn...

FINALLY 25+ LBS LESS OF PMCD

Fri, 18 May 2012 08:32:21 EST

Woo Hoo!!!

I finally got off of the 1 pound lost per week cycle and I lost 2 lbs this week.

Have now finally reached 25 lbs lost goal - actually 25.5 lbs! Started at 196 and hit 170.5 BMI of 27.5 now at 23.8.

This started my day off right - especially since it is also the Friday of a long weekend in Canada and I booked 1/2 a vac day for this afternoon. Sunny - warm days ahead - all is well with the world today.

Off to see my FIL on Sat - taking m...

Mother`s Day - Bittersweet

Sun, 13 May 2012 14:14:07 EST

Mother`s Day - has not been the best day for me this year.

Just over two weeks since I lost my mom suddenly so still pretty raw. Have had to go through the last two weeks of Mother`s Day commercials in my face etc. Today would have also been her b`day - 82 - so adds even another layer to a difficult day. To add to that - it is the first Mother's Day without my BH's mom as well - difficult for both of us.

I had my grandson overnight while my son took his wife out to di...

Dr`s Visit - BP of a teenager

Mon, 7 May 2012 13:43:36 EST

Went to the Dr`s today - just a regular visit to get my prescription renewals.
Weight on their scale is down 25 lbs since last visit Oct 2011 - which was great since I had running shoes on this time and not last time. Since I started seriously trying to lose weight in January I've lost 22.5 of those lbs.

They test your BP - machine does it 6 times and then gives avg. I was 96/63 - her comment was BP of a teenager. I guess exercise and diet really do make a difference! <...

Stress+ Food + no exercise = 1lb down?????

Fri, 4 May 2012 18:02:09 EST

This morning I went to do my weekly weigh in - positive I had gained. But that was going to be okay as I had been under a lot of stress all week. My mom passed suddenly last Friday morning (no condolences please) - as an only child and my dad not being mobile it fell on me to take care of everything.

So as you can imagine stress level was running high - decided I wasn't going to worry about what I ate or to do my exercises for the week. Was way high on the calories - 1,500 t...

Move that needle on my scale?

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 22:34:38 EST

Well - came to the end of an already pretty down week and what happens when I step on the scale for my weekly weigh-in? Only down .5lbs.

All week I stuck to my 1200 calories - worked out every night for about 20-30 minutes. Do 10 min cardio and 15 min either strength or stretching. Basically same exercies - one night with 5lb weights the next without the weights.

But... still only down .5. I was doing really well before I went away. Came back and lost almost al...

Go back in time - tell yourself what you know now?

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:26:58 EST

I was responding to someone's blog. About how they were looking through old yearbooks and when they saw their picture they realized they were not the person they remembered themselves to be. The person who always felt they weren't good enough - thin enough etc.

It made me think about how I always felt out of place in HS. I was 6 foot at 12yrs old and ahead in classes. Actually started HS on my 13th b'day. So by the time I was 15 I was in Grade 11 and 12 classes with girls that...

Why am I feeling like this?

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 11:31:36 EST

I haven`t blogged for a couple of weeks. Guess I just don`t know what to write - or if I even want to write anything.

Have found the last couple of weeks hard - a little down and not quite sure why. Haven`t been on the top of my game so to speak. Have been stayng with my diet/exrecise in the week - but the weekends have been another story. But I guess as long as I stick with it 5 out of 7 days it is better than not at all.

Weekend has been a busy one so far - off t...

Spark Streaks - back to 0 again!!!!

Tue, 3 Apr 2012 13:46:44 EST

Getting away is great except.... when I got home and back to SP I ended up having to reset all of my Spark Streaks back to 0.

I was on a cruise (work conference) and couldn't acccess the internet so I missed the 10 days and had to restart the streaks. 2nd time this year I have had to start again - also went away end of March.

Working to keep our streaks going is great incentive. Hopefully it will get me back on track again as I must admit I didn't watch what I was doi...

38 years and still my best friend

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:05:41 EST

At 16 I met a man that I knew was the one - everyone said it would not last - my dad would not allow him to call me or come to the house - so I moved out and in with him 3 mths before my 17th b`day. Just over 9 months later we got married - my parents even refused to come to our wedding so my husbands step-father walked me down the aisle (I was 17and he was 21) - 38 years later I still know he is the one and don`t regret my decisions for even a moment.

And if you are wonderning - y...

my willpower got up and went for a walk - hope it comes home soon

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 20:36:01 EST

Went to my Father-in-law's for the weekend. Mother-in-law passed away last July and she had made her daughters promise to make sure family and close friends got together now and then still. So - Sat it was decided to have a big sit-down dinner.

We went up Friday night so we could spend some time with him w/o everyone else there. Just one sister was there as well. Ended up having pizza - I did track the points etc but ended up going over my goal - hit almost 1600 calories.

Weigh in day - great results!

Fri, 9 Mar 2012 18:32:19 EST

Well today I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and got up on the scale.

When I opened them I broke out smiling - I`m down 2.5 lbs! I know I kept at it all week but I haven`t had that good of a week in a while.

Even though weather wasn`t great I knew it was a good day!

I`m going on a cruise in 2 weeks - so had to figure out what to wear. I`ve been putting it off - but today decided it was time. Went through my things and was relieved to find clothes that di...

who am I cheating? who are you cheaing?

Sun, 4 Mar 2012 20:46:10 EST

I had decided that I deserved at least one day a week that I could eat what I want - would still track the calories but not be so adamant of staying with calorie range etc. One day on the weekend would be my cheat day!

But... I couldn`t do it. I tried but then I would stop and think - who am I cheating? The scale, myself?

So I did go over but only by 100 calories from the lowest end of my calorie range - Still 200 under the top om my SP range. I just kept thinking...

Why am I so happy with .5 lb loss????

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 12:07:37 EST

i weighed in this morning and I'm only down .5 lbs over two weeks ago - but I'm very happy with this. You may ask why?

I was away on vacation for a week - an all-inclusive which means an all you can eat 24/7. I gained 4 lbs!!!!

But in the week I've been back I have lost those 4 lbs and and extra .5 lbs so I'm happy with this. I'm still on track - still seeing the needle on the scale go down.

That is the most I've lost in a week so I think some of that may ...

home again - but 4lbs heavier!

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 12:40:41 EST

Returned from vacation late last night. We had a great time and got lots of rest. I even tried snorkeling for the first time - loved it. Amazing to see the fish, coral etc.

Only problem with going on vacation (other than having to come home that is!) is that you don`t always stick to eating what you know you should.

Being at an all inclusive the food is laid out there - in front of you. Everything looks so good - how can you resist? You know you should - but..... ...

Vacations - eating a bite of this - eating a bite of that!

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:24:55 EST

The ultimate test of a dieter - going on vacation - and in this case an all inclusive.

The food - the food - the food - it is everywhere and it is in copious amounts. Will have to really work at reigning myself in and not eating everthing I see. Eating just a bit of this, just a bit of that - and oh yeah - just a bit of that too! All those little bits add up to a very big meal.

Only a small bite of high calorie foods is okay usually but when you are taking many of t...

Dad - still controlling my emotions at 55

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:59:43 EST

Sunday - wow - what a bad, bad day. Went off to meet my Aunt and Uncle who were in my dad's area for a couple of days (his sister). They haven't seen him since last August and had only heard about how bad he has become over the last few months from me. We had lunch - discussed the situation and then went to his house. It was intense to say the least - they are really pushing for him to give in and go to Long Term care facility - but he refuses. It was not a good scene. there were some r...

Saturday - having a better day

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:37:20 EST

Today i`m having a better day.

Yesterday`s blog was about how sick my grandson was I`m happy to now be able to say he is doing much better. Still in the hospital and they still haven`t figured out what caused the high fevers and racing heart. They are keeping him in isolation as they need to determine the cause. This is the 2nd time he has had this happen to him and this time was worse than the last time so they dont`want it to happen again.

He will be in the hos...

Bad week - but didn't let it get to me!

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:18:48 EST

What a week so far. Sunday night I got a call at 10 p.m. daughter-in-law taken to emergency - heart racing - couldn't get her breath etc. Took her for EKG - put her on a heart monitor and on oxygen etc. Hearing your 38 yr old son in tears - scared he is going to loose his wife - is there anything more heartbreaking? So I immediatley got dressed (was in my pjs) and off down to emergency. Luckily her heart calmed down - was able to breath again. It seems she may have arythmia - they are ...

b`day cake at work - again!

Tue, 7 Feb 2012 18:00:13 EST

Most of the time I`m okay without having the sweets - limit myself to my treat of 2 lifestyle cookies with my tea at night`and I`m good...

But... it was another staff b`day today - so we all gather in the boardroom for chocolate cake - or apple struedels for those that don`t like cake. I would have usually opted for the apple struedel but before I went in there I looked up the calories on-line.

Almost 400 cal for one so even half of one was way too many calories for ...

how come when I lose - I see myself fatter??????

Sun, 5 Feb 2012 11:36:33 EST

Today I did the dreaded - I went through my summer clothes as I'm leaving for a week in Cuba soon.

Even though I weigh less than I did last year the reflection in the mirror looked even larger. For some reason when I start to lose weight I feel like I'm even bigger than when I started.

Is it because I think the weight loss should show even more than it does - that I should suddenly look lke the person I want to look like? Instant gratifcation of a job well done? <...

you know you shouldn't... but you really, really want to

Sat, 4 Feb 2012 18:24:07 EST

Saturday - decided that today I would eat whatever i wanted for supper- have a splurge day. Hubby does all the cookng - gives him a night where he doesn`t feel bad about maybe not cooking something I can't eat - or eat very much of.

But - guilt kind of eats at you - you know you shouldn't but you really, really want to...

So I compromised... ate real light all day and for dinner - even though not really what I should be eating - so concessions were made to at least mak...

just wanted to say thank you!

Fri, 3 Feb 2012 18:26:00 EST

thank you to everyone that read and commented on my blog - Cancer - a very, very ugly word.

Your kind words and thoughts really help. And to those that are going through this in their lives - my thoughts are with you.

cancer - a very ugly, ugly word!

Fri, 3 Feb 2012 11:54:00 EST

Cancer was not been a word in my life for many years but it has come back in the last years with a vengenance.

Could there be an uglier word in the English vocabulary than cancer? I really can't think of one. I know this blog may not be very uplifting - really is quite depressing in fact - but it is something I need to write - to vent/release and I know you will understand the need for me to do this. I do not need or expect any replies/comments - just needed to vent!

...

10lbs down - how to see it - feel it - remember it!

Fri, 3 Feb 2012 11:39:04 EST

weighed in today and was down another 1.5lbs. Slowly coming off but it is coming off. Down a total of 10lbs!

Went right out and picked up my two 5lb dumbbells and walked around with them for a few mintues. Cemented in my brain just how much 10lbs feels like.

Wish we could do something like this to remind us when we have the urge to not eat healthy - to go back to our old ways. But wouldn't we look a little bit strange to others.

Can you imagine seeing som...

Lesson well learnt - will be remembered!

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 09:15:00 EST

Not only was yesterday a great day weatherwise but it was also a good day for keeping to my goals.

Both my kids came over for dinner last night - hubby made a big pot of beef chilli. I love his chilli but know it really isn't health/calorie friendly but I did it. I just measured out one cup for myself. They all ate tortilla chips with it - I had a small piece of toasted pumpernickel bread. Just put a tbls of grated cheddar - just enough so I could taste it - not the usual hand...

hopeful - inspired - ready to challenge myself!

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 08:53:06 EST

Wow - woke up this morning to see 47 F - no rain etc. What a beautiful way to start the month of February. it is supposed to get cold by the end of the day but who cares. It's how you feel when you start the day - hopeful - inspired - ready to challenge myself.

February is also a short month - as SparkGuy says - set yourself short term goals - so getting through the month of Feb and eating healthy and getting exercise is a goal that is even easier to meet.

On the esca...

Jan 31st - what a great day!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:07:29 EST

here it is the last day of January - and what a beautiful day it is. The sun is shining and it is warm - 5 degrees celcius (approx 40 F). For our area that is downright balmy.

It's the first day of sunshine in many days and everyone is out enjoying it. It is supposed to last a couple of days - lets hope they are right. I know I'm going to take a walk around the block right after I finish typing this!

February is usually such a blah month - nice to see it start wit...

Using others as an excuse to eat - yet again!

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:19:02 EST

Well - what can I say.... I did it again. Used other people, circumstances etc as an excuse to go way over my calories for the day. To forget about taking care of myself!

Was at my father-in-laws last night - still a little uncomfortable as mother-in-law passed in the summer. Hard to get used to going now - house seems so quiet - different. Really feel her absence.

When we are there it falls to me to make him a big bkfst as he doesn`t do when he is by himself. So ...

Going visiting - what a challenge!

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:26:48 EST

Off to see my father-in-law tonight and will be staying overnight.

Not sure if I blogged this before but BH and I quit drinking back in August (after his mom passed). Everyone in his family drinks (some quite a bit more than others) so it can be a challenge when visiting. They just don't seem to get it - that we have quit driinking - they keep asking when we will be starting to drink again.

Hopefully they will soon understand the answer is NEVER and will remain NEV...

what is keeping you honest?

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:47:08 EST

I have decided it is time to get back to posting what I eat. When I was succesful with SP 3 years ago I was posting everything daily and I lost the weight.

Thought that I could do it this year without posting. But realizing if I don't post what I eat what is keeping me honest? You can always forget what you ate or how much of it you ate - or maybe pretend you didn't really eat the whole thing.

But who is fooled? Not my scale that is for sure. And in the end - I'm ...

stressful day so far - but didn't cave in to food!

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:58:24 EST

Attended our bi-monthly management meeting today which can be very stressful - it is held with the 4 managers/directors (incl myself) and the 3 owners.

They had snacks there for the break at 11:00 but I made myself opt for the fat free yogurt and a fiber one bar.

Then we didn't get back to the office until 3 to have lunch. I was starving but didn't allow myself to use the stress and the hunger as an excuse to go off the diet as I certainly would have done in the past...

motivation on a wet dreary day!

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:12:04 EST

I find it hard to have motivation when it is so grey, wet and dreary outside. A window office is great when it is nice out but when its dull and grey it just makes the day seem to last forever.

It is warmer out today than in a long time - but not nice enough to go out and enjoy it.

I don't know about you but when it is sunny out I have more motivation to keep to it - diet / exercise etc. Just makes me feel a lit bit more optimistic I guess.

end of the weekend - challenges ahead!

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:52:05 EST

Well it`s Sunday evening - 6:50 p.m where I am. Back to work tomorrow and the challenge of keeping on the path to get healthy.

Have made my salad for tomorrow - and have packed healthy snacks to keep me going through the week.

Have to look at each Monday as a challenge - just think to myself I can do this.

weekends are always not that far away!

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:03:59 EST

My normal weigh-in - that I record - is on a Friday a.m. This a.m. decided to weigh myself - at the same weight as I was on Friday.

This isn`t bad - I`m happy with this. As long as I don`t gain back anything I lost through the week I`m happy. Weekends are so much harder to watch what you eat so simply not gaining is doing well. Especially since I had pizza on Friday night. I allow myself to have the extra on the weekends - watch - but not to any great degree.

This...

Sometimes losing ='s winning!

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:24:48 EST

By losing weight we are really winning. Winning the battle to become healthier and with the added bonus of also becoming slimmer and feeling better about ourselves.

My weigh in was this a.m. - down 1.5 lbs and feeling pretty good about it. It may only be 1.5 lbs but over a week that is a pretty big chunk when you think about how long it probably took me to gain that 1.5lbs in the first place.

We have to remember any weight loss - no matter how small or even just not ga...

How do I stop the cycle?

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:59:18 EST

I keep telling myself that I can't keep doing this. Stress out over something and turn to food. It doesn't change the problem - in fact, it actually causes more stress because I'm then stressing out about eating too much!!! How do I get out of the cycle?

Yesterday I met with my father's dr - not very good news and what did I do when I got home - I ate. Then because I had already broke the diet I decided - what the hell and kept eating for the evening.

Now I am stres...

I'm back again - 3 x lucky?

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:12:02 EST

I'm back. Have been here, gone and then back again. Keep trying. I guess the fact I haven't given up yet is a good thing though.

Hopefully this time will be the charm. I tried last year but there were so many outside stresses I let them be an excuse to not keep at it. I always seem to blame other things - circumstances - people etc for not keeping with it - not getting healthy.

I have come to realize that the choice to keep with this is mine to make - mine to wor...

why are things that are bad for you so good?

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 12:17:58 EST

Hubby didn't feel like cooking last night and wanted to order in chinese food. I know I could have/should have resisted but I didn't. Could have ordered the lighter dishes but if I'm going to eat chinese I'm going to eat what I like.

Which brings to mind the question - why are things that are bad for you are so good?

First time I went over my calorie count since start of January - bad - yes, but oh so good.

friday - weigh in - fat vs muscle??

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 11:51:30 EST

another week where I didn't go over my calorie count - even stayed around the minimum mark and have only lost 1 pound!!!!!

But looking at the bright side - maybe I'm changing some of the fat to muscle - clothes are a little looser and I lost 1/2 and inch off my waist. I walked a lot more and have started exercising for about 20 minutes each night.

I will keep at it - can only hope next week is a better one. It took a long time to put it all on so I really shouldn't be ...

thursday - day before dreaded weigh in

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:54:40 EST

Every Thursday I start to dread Friday - not because the weekend is coming (yeah!) but because tomorrow a.m. is my weekly weigh in.

Will I have done enough to lose some weight - will I gain (horror of horrors) or will I have lost and if so will it be enough to make me happy?

I know that as long as I don't gain I should be happy with any weight loss no matter how small but that beach in Mexico is getting closer and closer.

Hard enough to be in a bathing suit ...

Dr couldn't believe height of grandson!

Mon, 7 Feb 2011 18:08:36 EST

My husband took my son, his wife and my new grandson for his first shots.

He is growing so fast - the Dr couldn't believe how long he was - said he was the tallest he had seen for 8.5 weeks old. He's got a little more weight than usual but that is because he is so tall.

I guess he comes by it naturally. My husband is 6'4", daughter is 6'2", son is 6"1" and I am the run of the family at 6'. I wonder just how tall he will get. Just hope he didn't inherit Marfan's sy...

weigh in = frustration!

Fri, 4 Feb 2011 10:56:58 EST

Weekly weigh in - only down half a pound and I never went over my calorie count even 1x.

It is so frustrating - but I'm even more determined now. I am going to do this!