NATIVE_ONE's SparkPeople Blog

The Great Scale Manipulator

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 09:22:10 EST

There are so many ways to measure our successes while venturing our way through SP and life style changes. So then why do we so often revert to what the scale dictates to us?

I am really having a difficult time getting past these last 10 pounds. Over the course of the last two months, I keep fluctuating up and down. I can get as close as 6 pounds from goal weight then right back to the 10 away. Needless to say, I am extremely frustrated about this.

And as I mention...

50 questions that I stole to answer :P

Wed, 4 Jul 2012 07:29:29 EST

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Yes

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
My daughter's graduation

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Yes

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Roast Beef very rare

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Yes

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Probably not

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Sometimes

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes ...

Embracing the Dance in a Storm

Sun, 1 Jul 2012 06:55:06 EST

A friend of mine posted on FB a quote that I read this morning, I couldn't help but feel how appropriate.

Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass,
its about learning how to dance in the rain.
~ Unknown

Though the only thing I have done differently during the month of June was drink much more water, I slowly am gaining weight. A pound a week. I knew there was always a deep reasoning why I never would award myself that next 10 pound increment of los...

Old lady, broken back and no safety net?

Tue, 15 May 2012 06:40:02 EST

Where did my safety net go? I went outside of that safety zone when I tried something other than my "tried and true" - walking in my living room.

I used my new kettlebell for just 5 minutes yesterday. All I can say is wow. I am not sure if it is the right exercise for me, broken back thing, but I put it into the cardio tracker and holy moly - 5 minutes of kettlebell is 100 calories burnt for me. Are you for real? Doing the math on that, from my research a typical kettlebell ro...

Rewarding myself for my 50 pound loss

Sun, 13 May 2012 08:48:37 EST

Last week started off poorly and continued to stay that way through the entire week. Needless to say, I was less than sparked when it came to getting in my exercise or eating. Some days, I had less than 600 calories intake and others within target range and I only walked 3 days this past week for a total of 15 miles.

The good thing - I treated myself to a present for having reached a 50 pound loss. Yesterday I purchased two new athletic tops, one bottom and a kettlebell. I n...

50 pounds gone....it's all good!

Sat, 5 May 2012 11:46:23 EST

Oh my, oh my, oh my! I can hardly believe I have made it to a 50 pound loss! I would never have gotten to this mark if it wasn't for SP! Thank you Chris and team!

It has been two years in the making. A slow process which given my severe back issues and limited mobility - it's no wonder. But it can happen. The phrase if I can do it, so can you really applies! I had a good portion of last year of no sparking at all due to the fact that I couldn't get out of bed most of the ti...

Could this be your blog?

Sun, 5 Feb 2012 08:17:17 EST

I have been back since the last week of December 2011. Going very strong in my humble opinion for 2012 so far. I have walked indoors with DVDs using various Leslie Sansone, Biggest Loser, George Foreman and Debbie Rocker. In total I have walked over 100 miles since Jan 1st. As well as strength training most days a week. To keep adding to that momentum, my January and few days of February are full of gold stars next to my calorie intake on my summary calendar.

So what am I do...

Experiencing Pain By Choice

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:10:09 EST

Most of you who know me, know that I experience a level 8 pain on a daily basis. As a testimony to my blog yesterday the George Foreman Circuit Walk, well it has me experiencing pain in my thighs more than what I am feeling in my back this morning.

This is where the choice comes in. I can not do anything for my back, the doctors can only give me meds to mask the pain. My thighs on the other hand...I chose to do those lunges and squats and I can feel it! Sitting down to the c...

IMHO - George Foreman Walk It Off

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:11:12 EST

So I was so excited this morning - I received 3 of the 4 new walking dvds that I ordered from Amazon. Walk It Off with George - Circuit Walk, Biggest Loser - Power Walk and Leslie Sansone's Walk Slim - 5 Really Big Miles. I couldn't decide which to do! 40 The 4th one is Denise Austin's - Blast Away the Pounds Indoor Walk

I ended up doing two of them this morning. George's and Bob's.

First it was George's turn to play. Oh My. I thought I was in pretty g...

Update To My Relationship

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 11:40:59 EST

Okay - so I really was having a hard time accepting a 10 pound gain and normally I would never get on the scale two days in a row. But... I had to make an exception today because of how unsatisfied I was with my gain.

Whew! I feel so much better this morning. Today it was only reflecting a 6 pound gain. I can honestly say that is okay. I am not logging it into Sparkpeople as I didn't yesterday because I don't want to see my tracker go in the wrong direction but I am okay, real...

Relationship Problems

Thu, 5 Jan 2012 08:51:56 EST

My scale and me are having a really bad relationship right now. I know it is finicky and likes to fluctuate often. Never can make up its mind whether she wants to go higher or lower on a regular basis. However, this morning I am really upset with her.

Okay so we all know or should know that muscle weighs more than fat. And I am patting myself on the back for this past week.

1. I have given up on my diet soda. I was drinking 2 liters every day.
2. Drinking ...

Old Times and New Beginnings

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 10:52:45 EST

My blogs have been far and few this year. I just recently returned and well....let's just say 2011 wasn't my best year. I have had many medical issues this past year which kept me from living life. Since my departure from here I probably spent 90 percent of my time in bed.

On the 19th of this month I finally went for my thoracic shots which usually give me one week with out pain in that particular area. It was 14 shots instead of my usual 10. It didn't happen this time. My...

The Choices We All Make

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 08:40:58 EST

I just posted to a blog where this person was upset that they blew their day by eating something that wasn't their best choice. I can say the same. This past Thursday I was amped up a bit because I have been doing my cardio, miles and some strength training, still only one mile daily and still at 20 minutes, but I am still moving and I was down two pounds.

As the story moves forward, last night we did some final holiday shopping and I gave in to my daughter's request of having...

Week 1 of My Return

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 10:44:17 EST

I happy to report that I have walked a mile a day for the last 5 days. Though that doesn't seem like a huge accomplishment, it is more than I have walked in 9 months.

I will admit that it has been difficult, a few times it has layed me up in bed right after having to get to the heating pad and meds as soon as possible but I didn't give up. I was even able to do some weight lifting, lol, if you call 2 pound dumb bells weight , but I did them while in bed rest using my upper body. ...

Gone So Long

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:58:38 EST

Wow, it is hard to believe I have been gone for 293 days. The time really flew by.

2011 has been challenging in every aspect; mentally, physically and emotionally. I sank, I rose and I sank again just to repeat the cycle. I am not going to get into all of the in's and out's, not true; it has been all outs but I am also not going to let it ruin my 2012.

I took my measurements today, I saw some differences in them. Since 11/24/10, I saw a 7 1/2" loss all around and 13 ...

Twinkies and Root Beer

Sat, 29 Jan 2011 20:49:33 EST

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of Root Beer and he started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an elderly man. The man was sitting in the park just feeding some pigeons.

The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie...

To My Walk 1000 Team and Friends

Sat, 22 Jan 2011 07:25:30 EST

Well first let me say that I am sorry for my absence. I sure did not plan this at all. I have been bed ridden for the most of this past week and I am slow to get moving now. I am hoping that within the next week I will be up to par to continue my journey along with you all. Finger's crossed!

In the meantime, please know that I am missing you all, and I am confident that you are doing your best, walking strong and know that even though I am not present...I am cheering for you in...

Mish Mash

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 09:20:23 EST

A hodge podge of my last week...

1. A snow storm dumped 24" of snow. Left the kids out of school for two days this week, yesterday and today, and therefore is leaving me with out ambition to work out. When they are home it really throws off my schedule. It happened last week also. This will be something I have to work on this year! The extended forecast is predicting another storm for next Thursday too.

2. My teenage daughter has signed up for SparkTeens. Aptly nam...

First Blog of 2011

Wed, 5 Jan 2011 08:48:43 EST

I have been thinking really hard, like smoke coming from the ears hard, about my first blog of the year. I haven't come up with anything. Just a big blank. I am shooting from the hip here.

Long pause...

I thought about recapping my 2010 year of it's ups and downs, but then I thought... that year is gone, can't add or change it, I have no success stories to share and it is time to start anew - so why?

Long pause...

I don't make new year's reso...

Day 6 of 28 - Done Plus 2!

Wed, 8 Dec 2010 21:26:19 EST

DATE -------- MILES ----- REMAINING MILES ----- WEIGHT -- 2010 YTD MILES
3 Dec 10 ----- 10 Miles ------- 270 Miles ------- 241 ----------- 716.5
4 Dec 10 ----- 10 Miles ------- 260 Miles ------- ---- -------------- 726.5
5 Dec 10 -----10 Miles ----- --250 Miles----- ----- -----------------736.5
6 Dec 10 ------10 Miles ------ 240 Miles ----- ------ --------------746.5
7 Dec 10 -------4 Miles --------236 Miles -------------------------750.5
8 Dec 10 ------12 M...

Day 5 of 28 - didn't meet my miles

Tue, 7 Dec 2010 23:47:37 EST

DATE -------- MILES ----- REMAINING MILES ----- WEIGHT -- 2010 YTD MILES
3 Dec 10 ----- 10 Miles ----- 270 Miles ------- 241 ----------- 716.5
4 Dec 10 ----- 10 Miles ----- 260 Miles ------- ---- -------------- 726.5
5 Dec 10 -----10 Miles ----- 250 Miles----- ----- ------------736.5
6 Dec 10 ------10 Miles ------ 240 Miles ----- ------ --------------746.5
7 Dec 10 -------4 Miles --------236 Miles ------------------------750.5

Okay as I predicted, I di...

Day 4 of 28 - Done!

Mon, 6 Dec 2010 17:50:42 EST

Day 3 of 28 - Done!

Sun, 5 Dec 2010 22:45:54 EST

Short, to the point:

DATE -------- MILES ----- REMAINING MILES ----- WEIGHT -- 2010 YTD MILES
3 Dec 10 ----- 10 Miles ----- 270 Miles ----- 241 ----- 716.5
4 Dec 10 ----- 10 Miles ----- 260 Miles ------- ---- ----- 726.5
5 Dec 10 -----10 Miles -----250 Miles----- ----- -----736.5

I woke up being able to stand up straight and that meant I was doing some miles. My miles are getting longer in time. The first five miles I was still at 12 minutes per ...

28 Day Challenge

Sat, 4 Dec 2010 18:14:45 EST

Okay if you read my last blog, I addressed what my 28 day challenge is and why I am doing it. I will say that I honestly don't think I am going to make it. I will honestly do my best. Right now I can not stand up straight, again. I have taken my pain killers five times today already with some muscle relaxers but I am not getting much relief at this time.

Any way...I started my challenge on 3 Dec 10. 28 days of 10 miles for a total of 280 miles. I will weigh in on Fridays. ...

Unbelievable But Attainable

Fri, 3 Dec 2010 10:11:13 EST

Okay, so my team Walk 1000 Miles in 2010 is coming to a close. Of course I will keep the team going by changing the name to Walk 1000 Miles in 2011. That's a no-brainer. (Love to have new members) I am not even close to making this year's goal of walking but here's the catch...

If I walk 10 miles every day for the remainder of December, I will only be 10 miles short of making the goal. Could I do it? 10 miles every day is a really big challenge. Unbelievable challenge. Atta...

Have I told you I hate the rain?

Wed, 1 Dec 2010 18:02:40 EST

I have to make this short because I am creating more pain than I desire. I have not been able to exercise, nor can I even stand up straight for the last two days. Walking is a major major task for me and that is just walking from my bed to the bathroom. We have a rain storm with heavy winds passing through the state and that is when it started just about.

I am so depressed that this is blowing my great record of return as well as putting a damper on my goal of losing one pound...

Hurdle Week Completed

Sun, 28 Nov 2010 08:07:36 EST

My on again, off again Sparkpeople challenge has been made! I successfully made it through my comeback hurdle week and walked 20.5 miles. Those miles translated to 517 minutes of cardio and 6972 calories burnt. Small other cardio minutes in there too.

Yeah I am proud of my self. Coming back was a very difficult thing. I know I could of easily fell back to my excuses that I have been using for the last two months, especially since my son now is as sick as my daughter was just ...

Hard to conceive

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 06:15:42 EST

I know that I was doing really bad in just about everything. But being honest with myself and you, I posted my current weight.

It is so sad and hard to visualize that the weight ticker moved in the wrong direction as well as moving quite significantly. I was just a tad over my half way marker on 4 Sept.

Now, well, one could think that I just started this journey and website last week. I am still feeling motivated from yesterday. A plus. No, I am not talking abo...

Just not there

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 14:37:53 EST

I am sorry to all my new friends and team mates, however, I am just not ready to jump back on the rapid band wagon. My family life is still topsy turvy with my daughter who has been home for two weeks sick and my son's school has just called too.

I just wanted to let specifically my team know, since I am a very lousy team leader, that I am trying but it is a very slow process.

Hope to be back soon, hope life gets back to normal soon!

making small steps

Thu, 4 Nov 2010 12:54:04 EST

Well I did it. I didn't have any excuse yesterday for not exercising and I walked 2 miles. My hips and thighs hurt today and well, I didn't let that be an excuse for not exercising today. I walked another two miles.

I am hopeful that this turn about of small steps brings out the cardiomonster that I knew so well a few months back and drives these excess pounds downs by the end of the year.

I will never make my first long term goal this year so I am making it my 20...

Heerrrreee's Johnny....

Wed, 3 Nov 2010 08:32:30 EST

Not really, just me....It seems like forever since I was last on SP. I hope all of your are doing well and success is within your reach. I am sorry I have been gone for so long, but life got in the way. LOL 39

Today, well I think I am back. I may still be a touch and go for a few more weeks but I have no more excuses but to put myself back in place, back on SP and definitely back in the routine of getting my larger than life butt in motion. 40

...

Some time later....

Wed, 6 Oct 2010 08:28:45 EST

I know it has been some time since my last appearance on SparkPeople. Life has been hectic to say the least. The best part to share with you all is that my son is back in school and doing well. He has 3 more weeks of light duty but you would never know it.

Life is still very difficult right now and my appearances will still be spotty at best but I want you all to know that I have often thought of you all and miss being on this site.

I have my fingers crossed that...

An Update

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 09:43:39 EST

Hi All! I hope everyone is doing great. Things have been settling abit here. My son's surgery went well and we are going tomorrow for his post op check up. I am hoping another week and things will be back to normal. Well as normal as it gets here.

Keep up your great work as I am sure you all are doing fantastic!

LOA

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 08:15:13 EST

I hope everyone is doing great. I have to apologize for my leave of absence lately and unfortunately it will be for another couple of weeks. I have alot on my plate that I need to deal with. But know that I am trying very, very hard to keep my lifestyle changes still in place with my eating habits and exercising.

In the meantime, I am logging on and I get emails about some of the posts. Please know that I am thinking of you all and wishing you all nothing but the best while I a...

BIOB!!

Sun, 5 Sep 2010 18:58:20 EST

Okay, Okay, I know. It has been awhile since my last blog. And well I have no excuse for it. I let the computer bug win the battle that I last blogged about. Kelley thanks for the shout out. I think I needed to though. Just a small break because...

This past Tuesday I told myself I had only til the kids went to school and then, there...wiping my hands together as if I did a good job... no more excuses. I kept my word to myself. Now patting myself on the back. On Thursday,...

Monster or Bug

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:56:53 EST

I woke up yesterday in pain. I am surprised it took so long. We have had rain for 4 days straight. I usually have trouble the first cloud that rolls in. But not until yesterday did I begin to feel it. I credit that to the epis and my cardio monster. Losing 30 pounds has had a positive effect no doubt on my back pain.

Even with the pain, yesterday I put on my workout clothes, put my zune on and my water bottle was full. But then my son asked me to help him with a battle on ...

Not as planned.

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 22:37:58 EST

As much as I would like to go into my camping trip, let's just say since I lost 6 pounds in the three days, it was very stressful, not fun, and challenging. And I can count on one hand how many items of food I ate over those days. Heck, I can even count on one hand how many hours of sleep I got.

I am looking forward to the next one with less of what I experienced this past week.

Nothing exciting to you...

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 23:45:52 EST

but for me....What a day this has been. And I have more to come...

Today we went to the surgeon for my son. He will be having some out patient surgery twice this coming month. He is fine with it since it requires one week of complete bed rest for him. No school and plenty of Wii or Playstation for him provided he don't jump around. LOL.

Also we are leaving tomorrow to go camping for one week at our Rez. I am ssooo looking forward to this. A mini vacation/standin...

Keep going strong!

Sun, 8 Aug 2010 08:53:44 EST

So I have no cankles this morning, good step in the right direction. Another good step, I lost 4 pounds of what I gained last week. I really worked my rear end hard for that. I think I walked a little over 37 miles this past week. I would have to look back, but I think that is a personal best for me.

The down side and I am not complaining is that it might of been 5 or 6 pounds lost because I did a some late night muching last night, I wasn't sure why I was feeling hungry, but...

Short and to the point

Thu, 5 Aug 2010 08:37:45 EST

I forgot to do my midweek weigh in. I have been really busy with the Ex here visiting our son. But I did weigh in this morning and I am down 7 pounds of my gain.

Let us all hope that it stays that way or goes down even farther!!

Is this just life sending me a curve ball?

Sun, 1 Aug 2010 10:37:49 EST

I still have no real explanations why my tracker moved 8 pounds to the left today. Official weigh in day. That is an eight pound gain just since Wednesday.

I have tracked all of my calories with the exception of yesterday when I said Who give a S@#$! and had a sinful grilled cheese for dinner and a late night snack of blueberry pop tarts. I regress. My calorie intake was all in line. I burned my required calories for the week. Everything was in place for either a maintain ...

Low Fat Zucchini Bread

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:29:30 EST

It has to be water weight or something else. Two days ago I got on the scale. Woo Hoo for me I was down two pounds. Last night me and my daughter and niece were talking about weight. We all took turns getting on the scale. What?!? I gained 12 pounds in two days!! Nah, that can not, can't, no way be right.

Well this morning I got on the scale again. I haven't been exercising this week because my back has been hurting and it has been hard, physically hard, just to stand up...

No four letter word...

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:44:57 EST

...stopped me today. PAIN.

I haven't made it a secret that I have been in a great deal of pain these last two days. This morning was no better. On a scale of one-ten, I was probably at an eight this morning and a seven by this afternoon. My normal pain level is a four or five on a daily basis.

Well I did not let that four letter word prevent my cardio monster from making her appearance today. Once the sun set, I managed to do 9.5 miles tonight.

Woo ...

If life is a bowl of cherries, I am getting all the pits!

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:44:07 EST

I know that some of this is a repeat of yesterday's blog but I have to get it out of me before I start crying again.

I am covered in band aids all over my back, My son counted them and there are 10 holes from the needles yesterday. Each one of those shots is equal to 3, first prick was lidocaine, then the second was a hard tube and the third was to put the steroid meds in. That is 30 freaking shots in my back. Let me say that the lidocaine did not work on me, so I felt every pr...

Back Pain

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:39:50 EST

This is going to be short and not so sweet.

I had some epidurals done on my thorasic part of my back for the first time today. What was suppose to be one shot (takes 3 to make one) turned out to be around 10 (probably 30?). I stopped counting after a few times of "its not going to work here". I have bandaids all around my back evidently I was bleeding a few times. This is my third time having epidurals and not one time has it turned out the way it was suppose to.

S...

My catchy title is ... ????

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 20:34:15 EST

37 Things to do in an Elevator

1. Crack open your briefcase or handbag, peer inside and ask "Got enough air in there?"
2. Stand silent and motionless in the corner facing the wall without getting off.
3. When arriving at your floor, grunt and strain to yank the doors open, then act as if you're embarrassed when they open themselves.
4. Greet everyone with a warm handshake and ask him or her to call you Admiral.
5. Meow occasionally.
6. Stare at another pass...

An unscheduled program

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 10:16:40 EST

Well I have managed to drop 2 of the 4 pounds to almost make it half way to my weight loss goal. It seems that this is an elusive goal. Never to happen. I have been so close to this number now for almost 2 months. Why is it that I can not attain it? I am sure I do the things I am suppose to, I am also sure that there are times when I have cheated but only to work out harder the next day or cut down a few hundred calories to make it work it self out.

I know that I still hav...

One Word Answers

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:34:43 EST

Not as easy as you might think! Copy and Paste into your own blog, change the answers to suit you. It's really hard to only use one word answers.

Where is your cell phone?
Purse

Spouse?
Non-existent

Your hair?
Red

Your mother?
Passed

Your father?
MIA

Your favorite thing?
Camping

Your dream last night?
Creative

Favorite drink?
Coors

What room ...

I am looking for the dark chocolate caramel

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 09:25:48 EST

I want to thank those who gave me encouragement to complete my last small term goal. If it wasn't for that encouragement and some other's inspiration, I don't think I would got my fanny moving.

I walked/jogged 23 miles this past week, I used my elliptical, I Wii free stepped for a few hours, played out side with the kids, cleaned like crazy in and out of the house. All of this was done is weather that was hot enough to fry an egg on my head. Seriously, my house was 100 degree...

Not making the grade...

Sat, 3 Jul 2010 11:44:42 EST

My first short term goal was to lose 30 pounds by summer. (My definition of summer was when the kids got out of school). Well it didn't happen so hence why I did not make the grade.

I had a huge set back when I thought I herniated another disc. It would of made a 9th disc herniated on top of all the other issues with my spine. As it turned out it was not another herniated disc, but they are not sure what has happened to my right leg. It swelled up to about 3 inches wider then...