Getting Motivated!!

        I'm 3 months in from where I've been getting serious about solving my weight problem. This time around, I decided I wasn't going to jump in the deep end with both feet, but I was going to slowly wade in from the kiddy pool. Did well in November, but didn't loose anything in December, but I didn't gain any either. (SHOCKER!!) So I'm still counting it as a win, because I'm still on track. I also decided that it was time to see my doctor. Turns out, I have a hormonal imbalance and I have high cholesterol. My doctor believes that weight loss will definitely help both of those things without me need to stay on medication. However the hormonal thing does need meds. I've already noticed a difference in how I feel and how its affecting my weight loss.

Now I just need to stay motivated...so I :

• Joined an online weight loss program through work
• Taking advantage of the health guides from work
• Made a Vision Board (still a work in progress)
• Crochet a Wrap/Scarf to represent my weight loss
• Thinking of goals to help me stay motivated to workout

My Vision Board:

It's still a work in progress. I just wanted pictures of things that I want to accomplish and will keep me on track. 

My current weight: 253

The highest my weight has been: 263

10 lbs LOST!!!!!!

Loosing Weight Sucks!!

I'm horrible at loosing weight, absolutely horrible!!!  

So this year I have been up and down with my weight, more up than down. 

My major downfall with all weight loss programs is

after 2 months even one month, I give up and quit.  So this fall I wanted to focus on logging my food, and  keeping myself on a calorie budget. I did give myself leeway that I could eat whatever I felt like at anytime, only catcher was I had to log it. So after a month of doing just that and seeing my calorie counts soar way past the normal daily recommended of 2000. I realized I needed to focus on how much I was eating. So I've adjusted some of my habits, there are still days where I go crazy, but I'm finding that its becoming somewhat easier.  So I decided last month, November, that I would start setting monthly goals that would be achievable. November's goal of 5lbs, was not met. I did loose 3lbs though. With it being my favorite holiday ever (Thanksgiving) I'm gonna take it as a win! Now for my December goal I will be working toward a 4lb loss.  

My current weight: 255

The highest my weight has been: 263

It is very scary to see these numbers broadcasted, but I need to do it! It keeps me focused!

So here is to December!!! Yay to loosing weight DURING THE HOLIDAYS!!

Its in the small things

The smallest thing can have such a large impact if just seen from a different perspective.

The Power of Oil!!

So we cook with it, we bake with it, but have you ever thought of using it as a beauty product?  The idea to me seems so backwards. I'm trying to get rid of the oil, so why would adding more oil work?!!?!

Well it turns out, when God made us, he made us perfectly!! Meaning that the oils in our hair, and on our skin are a good thing, despite what we've all grew up believing that oily skin meant bad unhealthy skin, or oily hair meant dirty, unhealthy hair. Really its quite opposite. So get ready for a paradigm shift!  When we are constantly stripping our hair and our bodies of ALL oils, our bodies make more. Oil is what makes are skin smooth, silky, young looking. Its what makes our hair soft, silky and shiny. We NEED oil, and when we are stripping it all, we are left with ashy, dry, itchy skin. Sometimes our bodies over make oil, leaving us with oily skin, while other times it doesn't make enough cause we are constantly using chemical laden moisturizers.  Hair is the same too, we strip it of all natural oils, and it over produces. We're soo afraid of oils, thinking its bad for us, but really its not, its HEALTHY for us!!

So I DARE YOU!!!! Try using oil as a moisturizer or facial cleaner. Try using chemical free shampoos/conditioners that don't strip your hair of oil, and see if it makes a difference. But to give anything a chance, try it for 2 weeks before you throw in the towel, you will be surprised. I know I was!!

A good blog I found that had some info on making your own body oils: http://www.crunchybetty.com/homemade-beauty-gift-idea-nourishing-and-fragrant-body-oils#

The Oil Method as a facial cleaner:
http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/

Both of these sites are full of info, but really it just comes down to, DON'T KNOCK IT TILL YOU TRY IT!

Adventures With Addie!

Addie...my adventurous wiemaraner....constantly into everything and leaving nothing unchecked.

Exhibit A

She has an uncanny ability to take lids off of bottles with hardly any chew marks.See Exhibit A. The worst part about Exhibit A is it was a full bottle of ammonia, which, once she got the lid off, she punctured through the film on top and proceeded to dump the whole bottle on the couch cushions. What I learned from this mess, is if you have a smell you can't seem to get rid of, use ammonia, it'll take it all out!










She also can turn on or off the light switch when asked.

Addie likes to be the center of attention, and if she can't be that then she will try to be at the center of whatever has your attention.

Her little "Gift" to me for mothers day. I really didn't enjoy this, but its good to know that if I ever have to hunt for food I will have a dog who can help me out!

I was pet sitting a hamster, poor thing had Addie constantly checking on it. I'm pretty sure she just wanted to catch and kill it, not protect it.

Addie likes to get into the trash. I tried to be smart and put a lid on the trash can to keep her out. I come home one day and find this. So needless to say that type of lid did not keep Addie out of the trash can.



Even though she keeps me on my toes, I still love her dearly, and my life would probably be completely boring with out her. 

Springtime In The Desert

              

Zena's First Hiking Trip

Ok, so I just realized that I forgot to post about taking Zena (the Great Dane) hiking. We went to Shaw Butte on St Patrick's day. She was soo excited, after all this was her first hiking trip.








Since I'm still a beginner hiker, I walk pretty slow going up the mountain. Zena kept pace with me, although at times she'd get a little ahead of me stop look at me and wait, as if to say "come on you can do it, just keep putting one foot in front of the other see watch me" then she would take a few steps look back at me to make sure I was coming.














Zena doesn't like to leave my side or be too far from my reach when we walk so she was extremely patient with me up the mountain, she never once pulled or even dragged me. I tried to get good pictures of Zena, but it was rather difficult when I'd stop she would stop, and I couldn't seem to get far enough behind her to take a really good photo.

However some nice fellow hiker offered to take one of Zena and I, so I was thankful for that. 

The Dark Side of the Moon

Tonight was another last minute change of plans....and I'm glad my friend and I ventured to the other side of the world. Well maybe not the other side of the world but Apache Junction, AZ sure seems like it. I found that there was an astrology lecture and star gazing program at The Lost Dutchman AZ State Park. A friend of mine agreed to the spur of the moment idea to venture out towards the east side. We were a little late in arriving, but it was amazing...1) to get away from the city a bit and enjoy the cool sweet "campfire" air and 2) We actually learned a little bit about the stars and constellations. Now as to all the names, I don't remember them all or the proper names of them but to name a few, we found the Taurus, Leo, Gemni, Orion, 7 Sisters, Big Dipper, Little Dipper, North Star, Sirius, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, and of course the moon. Below are a few pictures of our adventure:

Waiting for the moon to rise over the Superstion Mountains seemed to take forever...

But as we were waiting for that tiny sliver to just come peaking over the mountains, we got to gaze at Mars, Saturn and two of its Moons, Jupiter, more stars I don't remember the names too, and Venus. Which I was able to take a picture of below.

Of course after all that is left is for the moon to rise, we are left waiting for it to peak up. I was glad for this wait because then I was able to mess around with my fancy digital camera and figure out what best setting and best way to use it would be. Then finally after much anticipation you could see it, just the tiniest sliver just slipping over the ridge. 

Now the moon has made her appearance and seems to be rising ever more quickly, and my poor little novice camera can't keep up, but I still manage a couple of good ones. I have determined that my little novice digital camera is still a good camera. I did enjoy staying out there with all the other experienced photographers and even had them admiring some of my handy work.Although next time I think I will invest in a tripod to help keep a more clear picture. 

Now I have saved the best for last.....I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them!

Sometimes instead of plans, you need guidelines...

So my plan today was an invigorating 6.4 mi hike on LV Yates (8) to Nature (304) to Ruth Hamilton (88) to Quartz Ridge (8A) then back to LV Yates (8) then back to my car at 40th st and Shea. It really did seem simple enough. I set out this morning around 7:30, determined to do 6.4 miles. I had chosen mostly easy trails, and then a couple more difficult ones for the way back to my car. Somehow though I ended up off of trail 8, not sure quite where I ended up, some fellow hikers said I was on Quartz Ridge. Wanting to stick to my plan, I turned around and headed back for LV Yates trail. 

Trying to figure out where I was on the map and getting my 6 miles in, seemed almost impossible. I kept finding other trails, that weren't blocked off, and didn't seem to be on the map. I finally just put the map in my pocket and decided just to hike, and enjoy the peacefulness and calm around me instead of worrying about sticking to my plan. At one point I was actually in the middle of the mountain preserve and everywhere I looked was the gorgeous mountain desert. 

At this point I knew I was no longer following my plan, so I did the next best thing, I stuck to trails that had been well traveled. Eventually I made my way back out on the north side, then headed back on trail 100 headed to my car.  Afterwords I looked at the map, and I"m still not sure how far Addie and I hiked, but it was great, and I'm glad that I put the map away and just enjoyed all the hike had to give. 

I guess it just goes to show that the best laid plans aren't always going to have the best adventures! Next time I think I will  just give guidelines as to where I will be. 

Saturdays...

Saturdays....No longer are they going to be the lazy day, where I sleep till noon, and then lay around the house and do nothing. I'm tired of saving all my house cleaning, grocery shopping and weekly cooking for Monday.  I'm tired of feeling like I never get all my weekend list done, tired of playing catch up during the week, leaving me feeling frazzled and feeling unorganized! I'm fasting from TV right now, and I figured it would open up more time for me, it really hasn't. At least none that I have been able to use wisely. I definitely need to be a better steward of my time.

Last Saturday, Zena and I went to Thunderbird Conservation Park and hiked H-2. We had fun and I was totally exhausted. Today, I took Addie hiking at North Mountain, and we did the full trail, up the paved path and down the rock on the other side of the mountain. She practically pulled me . I know she had fun, but I have a sneaky suspicion that if she were given the option to run up and down, she would be ecstatic. She was still full of energy so I took her to the park to run it off a bit more, then we headed home.

After my hike with Zena last Saturday, I came home and slept for 4 hrs. Today  I refuse to sleep all day so busying myself with chores, first I gave all the dogs a bath, then I got one :). They are not fans of this change, but they smell lovely!

Hope you enjoy the pics of our adventure today. Addie didn't really want to stand/sit still for a pic, and well me, I've never been photogenic.

Fun in the Sun

Sitting here, getting ready for bed, I realize I had too much sun today. I was at a friends house visiting and we had pool time. I was a little hesitant playing w/ the kids in the pool, but within a minute of them constantly jumping off the step to me, I realized that my body was just fine. We spent a good 2 to 3 hours playing and swimming. I did put on waterproof sunblock before we got in the pool, however I forgot to reapply halfway thru. After getting out of the pool, I wasnt' thinking about my skin, I was thinking about my body. With the surgery 2 months behind me, I was worried that I might have overdone it. As the day went on  I realized that my body felt fine, actually  better than fine, I felt awesome!! Then I started to notice that I was a little pink, then bright red and now its a bit painful. All in all I had a great day, and I didn't over due it other than spending too much time in the sun.

Excessive Talking!

Rant: People who talk EXCESSIVELY!

I know a few people who talk a lot, I really don't mind it because I still felt like they let me speak and they listened when I did. Recently I met a woman who does nothing but talk, for me to get a word or two in I have to interrupt her. I seem to always walk away from our conversations iratated. Partially because I can't really walk away, she constantly talks, there is no breaking point to end the conversation, so I have to just walk away. I feel so rude when I do this. I've let her know that I have to go, she acknowledges and still continues to talk. I don't have the time to give her my undivided attention. There are times that even after I walk away she will continue like I haven't even left. Due to her excessive talking I don't think she listens to what I say because she just will continue the same  conversation over and over. I don't like being rude and am trying to find new ways to communicate to this woman that I'm not an excessive listener.

For those out there that talk excessively, please beaware of your audience, know and understand that they would like to participate in the conversation too. Listening isn't just where you are quiet and contemplating what you will be saying next, but its where you actually pay attention to what the other person is saying and responding appropriately. Finally, not everyone wants to have their thoughts finished for them, this is extremely annoying.

I guess now that I have laid this all out, I know why I  have walked away feeling extremely irritated. I don't feel like I'm being heard or respected in the conversation. Overall I think people just want to be heard. Want to feel like they are important to the people that are in their lives, no matter how brief
the encounter.

Final thought: Stop, be still, embrace the quietness and enjoy the simple sounds that are missed with the noise of the world.  

Changes and New Directions

Everyday things change, everyday our lives take on a new direction. Most of the time though these changes and these directions are so minute that we hardly notice. Other days, however it is quite obvious that things have changed and that your path in life is going in a new direction. Today has been one of those days. Death can be overwhelming and lately it seems that I have been surrounded by it. I  look around and realize just how much my life has changed in the last 6 months, year, 5 years and 10 years. Loosing someone you love or watching someone you love loose someone seems to make you evaluate your life and the path that you are on. The last couple of months I have been reevaluating my life, making changes and setting things in motion to get myself back on that straight and narrow path that I strayed away from so long ago. My life hasn't ended up the way I had planned, nor has it taken the path that I thought it would, but it all led me to where I'm at now and I wouldn't trade that for anything. I know that God has been near even when I didn't want him to be . Knowing that God never changes and will ALWAYS be here no matter what helps me to realize that no matter the changes big or small, I will always have Him to lean on.