Bariatric Surgery Information Session

I walked in the hospital last night with anxiety.  Not wanting to be there, but wanting to be there.  I found the room and checked in to get my paperwork.  I walked in the room and it hit me that this was me I was here for.  Me.  Not Pete.

I looked around as if to size myself up against the others in the room.  I'm not going to lie.  I felt small.  I was one of the thinnest, if not the thinnest person there.  I had a moment of wonder; wondering if I really needed this.  Then I started filling out paperwork.  They asked many health questions.  However, when I got the point about my weight and the diets and weight management programs that I've tried, I was reminded that this was something that I needed to do.  It was clear. 

My heaviest?  I found a picture of myself in 2000 at Christmas time.  My face is very full and from looking at my face now, both Pete and I think that I was around 275.  I was a solid size 24 pants and I remember buying them, thinking that I really needed new pants and wondering if the store I shopped at regularly had changed the fit of the pants because I needed such a large size.  I thought that my short hair fit my face well, but it only served to further fill out a full face.  I thought I looked good. 

Looking back, I remember that I never stepped on a scale.  Seriously.  I don't remember being on a scale (other than the doctor's office) until I lived with Pete.  Oh I'm sure that I randomly weighed myself on my Grandma's scale when I lived with her or was at her house.  But the point is that I don't remember doing it.  I knew I was big, but didn't think that I was THAT big.  And I wasn't interested in numbers.  I was defeated at that time, thinking there was no way I could lose weight and I was just meant to be that large.

I now know that I had a strange body image in thinking that I was smaller than I really was.  I know now that there are things that I can do to lose weight.  I know that exercise is important.  I have lots more tools at hand to help me.  But I really do need this additional tool to get me past my roadblock of the last couple years.

So my next step is meeting with the nurse.  I go in on 9/12/11 with my health history and some notes from my general doctor and see if I qualify for this.  If I do, I would start the same process that Pete went through earlier this year. 

Do I need to Justify?

When I posted about making an appointment for the gastric band a few things happened. 

1. I felt raw and very exposed.  Not only to Pete (the only one in my life who knows), but to the world through my blog.  More exposed and raw than I think I've ever felt.
2. I lost readers.
3. I gained more readers.
4. I felt like I needed to justify my decision to...everyone.

Why?  Why do I need to justify my decision to anyone other than myself? 

I think that part of it is my mindset from growing up.  I feel (this my only be my impression and I'm recognizing that) that I asked my parents for things many times.  To go places, see movies, be with friends, get new clothes...all the usual things that kids/teens ask for.  And many times I was shot down.  Likely there were good reasons for it, but to me it just felt like they were saying no all the time.  So I stopped asking for things.  I had been shot down enough times to know that the answer would be no.  Almost as though it had crushed a part of my spirit.

When I really did want something and thought it was worth asking for, I would develop a plan.  The plan was thinking about every reason in the world that it would benefit me or my parents or my family.  This isn't necessarily a bad thing.  But what happens in my head with likely every decision is that I think about the decision, think about all the obstacles first.  All of them.  Then plan around them.  In essence, I am not a spur of the moment thinker.  I am a planner. 

So before I even decided to tell Pete I came up with a plan in my head.  Before I talked to my doctor, I came up with a plan in my head.  Before I wrote the blog post, I came up with a plan.  What I realize now is that my plans are more justifying what I want to do, even when I don't need to do so.  It was a major realization for me.  Major.  It made me think about how I mentally process things.  I need to note that I don't need to justify myself anymore, I'm an adult. 

I'm going to be practicing this tomorrow night.  My appointment with the bariatric surgery center starts out with an informational group tomorrow night.  I went to it with Pete, but still have to do it again for me.  I learned that a co-worker will be there with her husband.  I haven't said anything to her about going through the process myself.  But tomorrow I'm going to practice telling her without it seeming like I'm justifying my decision to her.

My Worst Fear

Sunday I talked about my worst fear.  And like I said, it's not even really my worst fear.  My worst fear, the one that instantly brings tears to my eyes, is that something happens to Pete.  I am so tied to him in every way that the thought of not having him instantly brings me to tears.  I don't think about that very often.

My worst fear right now?

I won't qualify for gastric band.  Either the program or my insurance won't qualify me.  I'm anxious and nervous and left kind of in limbo for right now.  I almost feel like this is my last chance to get some of this weight off and get truly healthy. 

So when I whispered this to Pete and took a deep breath in...and he replied that we'd deal with it then, it was the best answer ever.  The most calming supportive answer.  The answer that I needed to hear.

Out of Hiding aka Where I'm At Today

I've been on this healthiness journey since November 2007.  Some months were on target and I was losing and feeling good.  Other months were filled with illness/injury and there was either no losing or gaining.  Admittedly, there were also months that I gave up and never worried about being healthy.  There were months that I was so consumed with life and all that goes on, that healthiness never entered my mind.

I've lost a solid 30 pounds.  Oh, I've lost more.  At one point I was up to losing a total of 40 pounds. But in the last year I've yo-yo'd that final 10 pounds more than the elevator in the Sears Tower.  I've counted calories, made meal plans, only shopped for fresh food, eaten more fish, cut up low-fat/low sugar items, eaten every 4 hours, only eaten 3 meals, 1200 calories, high fiber, had a trainer, been a gym rat, taken classes, tried new things, C25K, read books, read blogs, blogged myself, read recipe books, taken challenges...

Where I'm at:  I weigh 237.  I definitely have more muscle than I did 2 years ago.  I have more endurance with cardio.  But I can't get past this plateau.  Because of my weight, I'm at high risk for heart disease, diabetes and breast cancer; I have arthritis in my knees and issues with my feet; I snore and keep my husband and I from sleeping through the night.   I don't want to be here anymore.

Can you guess where this is going? 

I made an appointment with the bariatric surgery center for 8/30/11. 

I know it's not popular.  I know that people are going to tell me not to give up and that I can do it on my own.  But the truth is that I'm not giving up and I will do this on my own.  The truth is that I'm going to do with with another tool to help me.  Just like a calorie counter, the gym and my trainer were tools, so is the gastric banding.

Please don't judge me.  This is a decision not quickly made.  I've thought about this for about 4 years since one of my friends did it.  I've tried several things on my own and with the help of doctors, nutritionists and trainers.  I need more help.  I've discussed my weight at length every 6 months when I see my doctor.  I've discussed this decision with her and she agrees with me.  I hate surgery and fear it because of issues in the past with surgery.  But I'm willing to go through it for ME.  When it comes to medical issues, my motto is always to do the least invasive things first.  And I have. The gyms, the calories, the training, the meals, reading blogs, books, trying new plans.  It's not working.  I need to step up to something more invasive, but that I can live with.

So there.  I've said it. 

Did you ever tell someone your worst fear?

I did.

There was nothing either spectacular or earth shattering this weekend.  It was a normal weekend where Pete and I went to a motorcycle club campout.  Well, we did stay in a hotel because we knew we wouldn't get to Hayward, WI until 9pm Friday night.  Setting up the camper in the dark isn't fun and we usually fight.  And I guess you could say that it was unusually cold for August.  Well, there was also the fact that my music didn't work.

I had a good 7+ hours of riding on my bike by myself to do nothing but think and enjoy the ride.

When we got home I was wiped out.  Between the cooler temps, the running around, and the wind, I was tired.  Pete and I took the bag off the bike and settled in for a nap.  When he woke me up an hour later I felt more refreshed, but still tired. 

We lay, cuddled together in bed.  His back to my front, my legs and arms wrapped around his.  Then I told him my worst fear.  And when I did, tears started coming out, as though the words were the keys to release the floodgates.  As though my body had a instant response to my brain and my heart.  They fell silently down my sunburnt/windburnt cheeks and slid over the side of my face into my left ear. 

It's silly really.  Because even though I say this is my worst fear, it's really not.  My worst fear is something happening to Pete or my nieces/nephews or my parents; something happening to my job or Pete not getting a job.  Those things are my worst fears, but they're everyone's worst fears.  They're normal worst fears.  They're things things that everyone can relate to.  My worst fear is something that feels specific to me.  Something that if I utter out loud, then it becomes real.  If I say it, I then admit that it means something to me and I can no longer care that it doesn't.  It feels akin to me telling everyone I was happy when I was single, just so they didn't know how lonely I was.  It both breaks my heart and makes me smile.

But I said it.  And Pete responded the best way that he could.  Lovingly supportive.  Confident.  Calm and reassuring.  And encouraging.

It's better to ask than assume

Over time, I have learned that it's better to ask about things that to guess or expect them. 

Case in point.  This is my bathroom.  These are my hand towels hanging from the little cabinet.

The towel on the left I use to dry my hands after I use the bathroom.  The towel on the right used to be a decorative towel and a wash cloth and look pretty.  Then I noticed that those decorative towels were wet, messy and generally not pretty.  So I started hanging a regular towel.  I'd use the other towel for my hands or mouth after tooth brushing.

Then, one day, I was in the bathroom while Pete was drying off after a shower.  I watched in amazement as he used that right towel  TO DRY HIS BODY OFF after the shower.  So in other words, I was drying my hands and face on his behind....  I asked him how long he had been doing that and he said for some time.  Let's just say that I don't use the right towel any more.  For ANYTHING.

Then last night I came home to this:

For those that don't know, this is a dental tool used in cleaning teeth.  I have TMJ and cannot open very far.  Flossing is a a killer exercise that leaves my jaw tired and cranky.  I was given this my by dentist to use in getting stuck food out.  It's home is in with my toothbrush.

After the towel realization I decided that I needed to get to the bottom of this one right away.  So I asked Pete why it was out.  First he launched into how he was cleaning something and needed to get into a small space.  I was horrified.  Then I looked at his face and saw him smiling.  He actually used it on his teeth.

*sigh*  I'm not thrilled about it, but I can live with it.

It's better to ask, than assume.

I'm hiding

I'm hiding lately.  Have you noticed?

I'm hiding from working out, from counting calories, from losing weight.  And rather than rant on and on about it, or bemoan my inability to follow through or any of it...I'm hiding.  I'm still posting, but not about me. 

I'm good at hiding.  I've done it for years.  I can blend into the background with the best of them.  I was (am?) that person that would be at a party and the next day talk to someone who had no idea I was there.  I am the person that keeps all the feelings inside until they explode out of me in ways that are not healthy and sometimes hurtful to others.  I am the person who can pretend that it's all good on the outside as the inside is screaming.

To be honest, I didn't realize I was hiding until I looked back a the titles of the posts here.  For the last 24 hours I've thought and thought and thought some more about why I'm hiding.  I think I know.  I think I'm to the point of talking it through.  I just need to talk to Pete about it first.

So until I can talk and then talk to you, I'm still hiding.  I'm here.  Just hiding.

Taco Pie? Mexican Cornbread Casserole?

Last week when I was grocery shopping I found lots of great fresh produce.  And as I do a lot, I ended up shopping while creating a recipe in my head.  Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't...  This time it did.  Only I can't figure out what to call it.  Taco Pie sounds, well, not great.  Mexican Cornbread Casserole?  Really it's the best I can come up with.

Take these items:  can of diced chilis, can of reduced sodium black beans, small can of reduced sodium tomato sauce and your favorite salsa.

Add the corn from one large ear and 1/2 cup each of red, yellow and green pepper along with cornbread and some other things.  Here's the whole recipe:

Mexican Cornbread Casserole

• 1/2 pound lean ground turkey, chicken or beef.
• 1 tablespoon taco seasoning.  I make my own with the recipe here.
• 1 1/2 cup diced bell peppers - any color
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn
• 1 cup of your favorite salsa
• 1 can diced chilis.  I would have used jalapeno if I had a fresh one.
• 1 small can reduced sodium tomato sauce
• 1 can reduced sodium black beans

For the Cornbread portion:

• 2/3 cup wheat flour
• 1/3 cup cornmeal
• 2 tblsp sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 tblsp oil
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/3 cup shredded cheese



Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Brown crumbled meat in pan and add taco seasoning. 

In a large bowl mix the meat, the veggies, the beans, salsa and the tomato sauce well.  I added some other spices like cumin, chili powder and hot sauce to our liking. 

Spray a 9x9 inch baking dish with non stick spray and wipe most of it out.  Pour in the mixture and set aside.

Mix together the cornbread.  Drop by spoonfuls over the top of the dish.  Spread out as much as possible.

Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the cornbread is done.

Addiction Follow Up

Addiction Follow Up

Addiction is a chronic brain disorder and not simply a behavior problem involving alcohol, drugs, gambling or sex, experts contend in a new definition of addiction, one that is not solely related to problematic substance abuse.

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) just released this new definition of addiction after a four-year process involving more than 80 experts.

.."At its core, addiction isn't just a social problem or a moral problem or a criminal problem. It's a brain problem whose behaviors manifest in all these other areas," said Dr. Michael Miller, past president of ASAM who oversaw the development of the new definition. "Many behaviors driven by addiction are real problems and sometimes criminal acts. But the disease is about brains, not drugs. It's about underlying neurology, not outward actions."

The new definition also describes addiction as a primary disease, meaning that it's not the result of other causes, such as emotional or psychiatric problems. And like cardiovascular disease and diabetes, addiction is recognized as a chronic disease; so it must be treated, managed and monitored over a person's lifetime, the researchers say.

Two decades of advancements in neuroscience convinced ASAM officials that addiction should be redefined by what's going on in the brain. For instance, research has shown that addiction affects the brain's reward circuitry, such that memories of previous experiences with food, sex, alcohol and other drugs trigger cravings and more addictive behaviors. Brain circuitry that governs impulse control and judgment is also altered in the brains of addicts, resulting in the nonsensical pursuit of "rewards," such as alcohol and other drugs.

A long-standing debate has roiled over whether addicts have a choice over their behaviors, said Dr. Raju Hajela, former president of the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine and chair of the ASAM committee on addiction's new definition.

"The disease creates distortions in thinking, feelings and perceptions, which drive people to behave in ways that are not understandable to others around them," Hajela said in a statement. "Simply put, addiction is not a choice. Addictive behaviors are a manifestation of the disease, not a cause."

.Even so, Hajela pointed out, choice does play a role in getting help.

"Because there is no pill which alone can cure addiction, choosing recovery over unhealthy behaviors is necessary," Hajela said.

This "choosing recovery" is akin to people with heart disease who may not choose the underlying genetic causes of their heart problems but do need to choose to eat healthier or begin exercising, in addition to medical or surgical interventions, the researchers said.

"So, we have to stop moralizing, blaming, controlling or smirking at the person with the disease of addiction, and start creating opportunities for individuals and families to get help and providing assistance in choosing proper treatment," Miller said.

Interesting, no?

Food Addiction

There are times when I wonder if the food I crave is really the food I'm addicted to.  Ever wonder the same thing?

First Minnesota Food Addiction Treatment Center Opens

The "COR" program uses the Twelve-Step principles of Alcoholics Anonymous to help people beat their addiction to processed sugars and food additives.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly one-fourth of Minnesota's adult population is obese. Burt Nordstrand and Michelle Goldenberger founded and run the new "COR" program as a non-profit agency with volunteers.

It opened this week and offers week-long treatment programs based on the Twelve-Steps of A.A.

COR is a 5 day retreat to help understand addiction and how to overcome it.  It's based on the other models of addiction and how to overcome it.  There's mediation, group work, individual work, study groups, support groups, homework...  $650. 

So what do you think?  Part of me thinks that it would be information beneficial to anyone on a healthiness journey.  Part of me thinks that all the information is there for me on the Internet and in blogs and in books for much less money.  Part of me thinks that I'm not an addict, but isn't that what every addict thinks?

I wanna do a 5K and get sparked

Ever since I met Ann last fall at the Prior Fat Girl event, I've been thinking about a 5K.  Strike that, I've been fascinated about a 5K.

My family used to do the Susan Komen Mother's Day walks and would do the 1K family walk.  I was always fascinated with the people in the other races.  Awed really.  How could they do that?  Why would they want to run like that?  I could never do that. 

When I started at the gym almost 2 years ago, I was again awed by the people who would hop on that treadmill and go.  Go at at 5, 6 or 7 for 45 minutes.  In fact there was one woman who would be there when the doors opened at 5am and rung at an 8 for an hour with several layers of clothes on, hats and weights in her hands. 

Still I'm fascinated by the 5K.  I want to feel what it's like.  The distance, the weather, the ground beneath me, the surroundings, the other runners...  My guess is that the fascination will last the first 1K and then it will change to, "Why the hell did I decide to do this?"  I'm hoping that it will spark something in me to 'train' for it.  I'm hoping that it will spark something in me to continue training for other ones.  I'm hoping that it will spark something that makes me want to better a time.

I want to do a 5K and get sparked.

Triggers

Do you know what your triggers are for eating?  I'm not talking about the growl in your tummy.  I'm talking about external or even internal things that send signals to your brain to get you to eat. 

I'm an on again off again coffee drinker.  For a long time a few years ago, I'd stop a the local Starbucks, Caribou or Dun Bros for that large cup of coffee each morning.  My usual was a caramel macchiato or s a variation thereof at the other stores.  The largest size of course, with soy.  280 calories, 6 grams of fat, 48!grams of carbs.  Then I'd figure that if I was getting coffee, I needed breakfast, right?  Banana loaf was my regular or something similar at the other places.  490 calories! 19 grams of fat, 75!grams of carbs.  So there was my breakfast - 770 calories, 25 grams of fat, 123 grams of carbs.  One meal. 

One meal was half of what I should be eating every day.  When I started working out and logging all my food I realized that the morning coffee was sabotaging me.  So I went back to drinking tea.  The process of steeping my loose leaf tea was calming and I enjoyed the tea with a teaspoon of honey or agave every morning.  I was sure to choose ones with caffeine and ones without and that's what I drank all day.

Then I got away from tea and it was water all the time.  But summer starts up, motorcycle trips start and coffee is present at ALL of them.  So then I decided that I'd skip the fru-fru coffee places and drink gas station coffee.  Not bad, right?  Just the coffee and a shot of cream from the stand.  Oh, wait...they have donuts.  I need breakfast.  330 calories, 17 grams of fat, 40 grams of carbs in one small plain donut.  They're small, I'll take 2.

See a pattern here?  I do and I did. 

If I stop in the morning at a store for any reason, I end up buying fru-fru calorie high coffee and a totally bad for me breakfast of pastries.  It's my trigger, these morning stops.  I know NOT to do them.

See what I had to do this morning?  It was either this, or park my vehicle and walk the 10 miles from the station to work and then back again this afternoon.  I ended up with gas, 2 bottles of SoBe 0 Calorie LifeWater, Twix Peanutbutter and small apple fritter.

*sigh*

This is definitely something I need to work on.  But I'm glad that I recognize this trigger.  It's like piece number 46 in the huge jigsaw puzzle that is my life and I'm glad that it's in place.

This past weekend I wanted...

This past weekend:

I wanted red velvet cake with fluffy white frosting...but I had cantaloupe, blueberries and strawberries with a bit of light whipped cream.

I wanted comforting creamy mac & cheese...but I had 1/5 elbows, 1/5 cauliflower, 1/5 broccoli, 1/5 red peppers and 1/5 grape tomatoes in a cheese sauce (homemade).

I wanted a cold beer at the concert we were at...but I had water with lemon and unsweetened ice tea.

Last night i wanted yellow cake with fudgy chocolate frosting.  Instead I found a recipe for zucchini bread and altered it a bit to make it healthier, but still leave me feeling like I was getting something sweet.

Altered Zucchini Bread

2 eggs
1 egg white
2 cups shredded zucchini, loosely packed
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cut white sugar
1/4 cup oil
2 tsp vanilla
1 2/3 cup unbleached wheat flour
1 1/3 cup unbleached white flour
3 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

In a mixing bowl, whisk together flours, spices, baking soda, baking powder and salt.  Set aside.  In another bowl, add eggs and mix well.  Add in sugars and mix until light and fluffy.  Add in oil and applesauce and mix well.  Add in zucchini and vanilla and 2-3 minutes to break up the shreds of zucchini.  Slowly add in the flour mixture, one third at a time and only mixing each addition until it's just mixed.

Spray 2 non stick loaf pans with non stick spray and lightly dust with wheat flour.  Separate 1/2 batter into one pan.  Add the chips to the remaining batter and mix well.  Pour into second pan.  Rap pans on counter to remove air bubbles and level out.

Bake 350 degrees for 60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Now I gotta admit, I need to tweak it a bit more.  I love moisy bread and this was a little dryer than I'd like.  Not horrible or bad, but just not as moist as I'd like.

Each loaf cut into 10 pieces has the following:  95 calories, 2 grams of fat, 17 grams carbs and 2 grams fiber.  When the comparison is several hundred calories in a piece of cake and frosting...this is pretty good.

So what do you switch out, change up or redo for yourself?

Are you missing a step in your journey?

I did something today.  Scheduled my twice a year mammogram for later this month. 

Yes, twice a year.  I have a regular mammogram and then 6 months later have an MRI mammogram.  I've been getting mammograms since I was 27.  That was the year my Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Not only she was diagnosed, but her mother had it (twice) and her grandmother also had it, all about the same age of onset (47-48).  I talk about how my family decided to go through genetic testing here, here, here,  here, here, here, here, here, here, and finally here.  About the emotions and thoughts and the jumbled up thinking during the process.  I'd forgotten how emotional I was during that time.

At any rate, I have a high chance of getting breast cancer, or ovarian cancer.  So every 6 months I go in for a mammogram and monthly I do self exams. It's part of keeping me healthy.  Healthy.

So I was sitting here thinking, I wonder how many people on a healthiness journey to lose weight are missing part of the journey by not seeing a doctor regularly for check ups.  You know, those fun paps (not) and routine blood work, blood pressure checks, updated shots...  When was your last mammogram?

If you're one of these people, I challenge you to take some positive action and schedule an appointment.  After all, it's part of your journey.

Friday Fun Day

I did something yesterday that was either going to make my husband very happy or very mad.  There was no middle ground with this one. I washed these:

Now I know what you're saying, why would he be mad?  Well, in order to wash his bike I had to move it out into the driveway.  I'm not allowed to ride his bike and honestly I wouldn't attempt to ride it when he wasn't home.  And he's not being mean when he says that I can't ride his bike.  It's about 850 pounds versus my bike's 570 pounds.  It's a big difference.

But he came home to his bags off and a shiny bike and was happy.  (whew)

Then we left and went to Dulano's Pizza.  Every first Thursday hundreds of bikes show up to see and be seen. 

Picture from my cell phone using the Instragram app from iTunes.  Very cool filter!

This is Pete in the tiny little parking lot looking at some bikes.  But the streets surrounding the place fill out with rows and rows of bikes.  Crotch-rockets, Harleys, Hondas, Can-Ams, Indians, mo-peds...basically anything with a motor and 2 or 3 wheels is there.  It's very cool.  If you live in the Twin Cities, you should check it out.  The people are as varied as the bike styles.

Then, because Pete has this thing with ice cream, we headed home to stop at his new favorite store.  And guess what I found?

ELIVS!  He's ALIVE and as of last night he was playing in the park in downtown Elk River.  Elk River puts on music in the little park on the river downtown every Thursday night in the summer.  Pete and I have stopped down there before to listen.

And guess what?  Tonight we're going to see Travis Tritt!  Otsego Jam Fest starts tonight with Travis Tritt.  I was way into his music in the 90's and love his voice.  Tomorrow we'll head back over there for the car/motorcycle show and the festivities.

What's on tap for your weekend?

Intuitive Eating

I'm slowly wondering what this is.  Because my intuitive eating right now is eat what I want, when I want it.  But I'm guessing that it's more complex than that and a bit less like a free-for-all than I imagine.

I've been researching books to read and there are lots.  Most seem to take this Zen like approach to eating and being mindful about it.  I'm not sure I'm there.  On the Zen part.  While I like some of the ideas of Buddism, I'm not fully sold and I don't want to be confused by the aspects of it while trying to read a book about eating.

I'm thinking of this book:  Normal Eating For Normal Weight.  Anyone read it?  Anyone read any other books that are similar?

Jen from Prior Fat Girl posted on Facebook about going to a class at Sky Zone next week.  Immediately I sent Pete a message asking if he'd want to do it and that it sounded cool.  He sent me back a response asking if I remembered him telling me about this very thing a week or so ago?  Nope.  No memory of it at all.  (I'm sure he was shaking his head as he said it...)  Then he reminded me that our new neighbor teaches classes at this facility.  He started when he was trying to lose weight, lost 80 pounds and loved it so much that he started teaching the classes.  Very Cool!  I'll let you know how it went next week.

3 hours at the Y

Remember how I said I was going to be at the YMCA for 3 hours exercising on 7/25?  Well I did it!

Me before all the working out.



Setting up the gym at the Y for all the participants.

During one of the classes.

900 calories. 

Sweaty, red me afterwards...

So Pete and I got to the Y early and we watched them set up.  People were going by telling us we were nuts for signing up to do all those classes at once.  The schedule went like this:

• 5:30 - Welcome & Intros
• 5:45 - Turbokick
• 6:05 - Kettlebells
• 6:25 - Kickboxing
• 6:45 - Core & More
• 7:05 - BodyStep
• 7:25 - Yoga
• 7:45 - Conclusion/Prizes

Whew, right?  So having only done kettlebells before, most of this was new for me.  My favorite was the Core & More class.  My feet were still hurting so I had a hard time with the Kickboxing and Body Step and didn't do much of them, but watched.  Yoga really isn't my thing.  I'm amazed at how the instructor lists herself up on one big toe and her fingertips and swings her other leg around her hip and balances - but I can't even get close to balancing on my fingertips and toes. 

Pete did the Turbokick with me and then realized that he wasn't cut out for classes and ended up going to the treadmills.  So I did most of it on my own.  I'd like to try out the Core & More and the Kickboxing classes.  While I'm not very coordinated, I think that I can get the hang of the kickboxing after a few tries and the Core & More really worked on core and balance and that would help me a lot.

I have to say that this was an awesome way to meet new people (I did that!), try new classes (I did that!), ask questions of staff in a relaxed environment (I did that!) and burn calories (I did that!).  I'd love to see this offered up every so often.

Food Review

We have a full sized fridge at work that 5 of us share.  It's one that I found and brought here so we'd have more space.  Admittedly, it's also become a place that I store more than just a day's food.  I'll bring in a week's worth of breakfasts or lunches and store them.  I also keep a couple of 'emergency lunches' in the freezer.  Yesterday, my first day back, I had one.

My meal along with the picture of it on the box.

I had Amy's Light and Lean Black Bean and Cheese Enchilada.  I give it a B-.

• The food inside was very similar to the picture.
• The food portions were similar to the picture.
• It was only 240 calories and 44 grams of carbs.
• It tasted rather good.  Not exceptional in wow flavors, but good for Mexican food.

The back of the box.

What I didn't like is all those ingredients.  Granted, a lot of them were organic and all those "organic" words added a lot to the ingredient list.  But it had things like cane juice and enzymes that I'm not wild about.

Would I but it again?  Probably.  It's an okay go to frozen meal for lunch that I can add to with a small salad and fruit for a complete lunch.

I'm Back!

Ahhh.  Sometimes it's good to unplug from the interwebs while on vacation. 

Since Pete and I couldn't go on the motorcycle trip as previously planned, I planned other things for myself while on vacation.  I spend a day tearing everything out of my kitchen and cleaning it from top to bottom - scrubbing walls, floors, counters, appliances, cupboards...  In the end it looked like a brand new kitchen and my goal is to keep it that way for at least a week (lol) even if it means I'm following Pete around picking up after him.  I spent another day tearing apart both bathrooms and doing the same deep cleaning.  Again, I'm determined to have them look that way for about a week.  The only rooms that I didn't get deep cleaned were our bedroom and the living room.  Soon though...

2 of the days I spent with my niece/nephew.  It was a tradition that I always took Alison out for a day with me around her birthday.  Only I slacked off the last couple of years.  So this time I took Alison out for a day and Grant out for a day and let them pick what we did.

Grant and I in the car.  We were going to breakfast.

Grant wanted to see where Pete worked so we headed over there.

Angry Bird was a hit.  The bird did everything that Grant did that day.  EVERYTHING.

Grant put my riding boots on and got on the playground motorcycle that someone gave Pete.

Grant was easy.  We went to breakfast and then headed to the bookstore to pick out some books.  He chose activity books and a big coloring book.  Then he found the angry bird and was in LOVE.  It was comical how much he loved that thing from the start.  The rest of the day was easy - he wanted to lay in our big bed, on Pete's side and watch the big TV.  Did I mention that I really hate Spongebob?  I watched 2 hours of it...  Then we played at the park and it was time to go home.

Alison wanted a pedicure - so we both got one!

In the car after our pedicures.

Painting ceramics - the other thing she wanted to do.

Alison was harder in that there were specific things that she wanted to do and they all cost lots of money.  We talked about picking one thing each time, not several and she also got to choose some books from the bookstore.

I love spending time with them.  But I gotta admit that they wear me out physically and mentally.  After the second day with a kid, I fell hard asleep about 9pm and slept for 12 hours.