Smoothies for Breakfast

 

Green Smoothies! 

I got on this kick in the mornings to have a fruit and veggie smoothie for breakfast. It isn't easy being green in the morning, but I have found that if you use blueberries the green kale disappears because all I see is purple in my glass. Since getting over the green shock I have also tried raspberries and strawberries with the kale or spinach. So far it's all worked for me.




Motivation WANTED!
Now, if I could just get up in the morning and get some exercise in that would make 2014 even better.  How do you motivate yourself to get up in the morning?


Go Get Greens! 
Mer   

Three years - how far have I gotten....

A brief update from that last post of January 12, 2014 - (wow, almost 4 months, I wish I was blogging more often)....my ex-husband has been declared cancer free, he is back to work and things are pretty much back to normal. The laugh one night was that he felt bad having me purchase him dinner (a Subway sandwich) and when I arrived to drop off my son and dinner I said "listen, we can go back to hating each other after you get better"....you have to know the hills and valleys we, or most people go through, in dealing with divorce - so you can just imagine the laughter coming out of us when I said that. I am grateful that he is better, a little leery when I think about what might be on the horizon, but thinking about that does not make one healthy.

I am still working fulltime - grateful that I have had the job for over a year after being unemployed for some 11 months. My son is growing up fast. Venturing into the teenage years and exploring the internet more then I wish he would. School is interesting for this 7th grader, and Mom is learning how to communicate with teachers that can't seem to communicate back to a hovering, but  not overbearing mother. As I sit typing this post my son is working on the final touches of a two week long project...one can hope he gets an A+++

I have been thinking a lot about this blog. How much I miss it. How much I really need to take the time to write down my thoughts. How much I miss reading others journeys and they then in turn give me the drive to keep going on my own weight loss path. How much I wish I was further in losing all the weight I need to lose.

My good friend, Mer, and I started this blog some three years ago. January 2011 to be exact. Where has the time gone?? I wish I could say that I have lost all the weight I wanted to lose by now - thus the name of the blog "we're losing it"....but alas that is not the case. I am still at the same size (okay, about 10 pounds lighter) that I was in January 2011. Now that is a sad state of affairs. I lost just about 40 pounds in 2011 and then for some reason it all stopped. I gained back 30 and I haven't gotten back on the "band wagon" in a very very long time. I contemplate it, I write a post, I have every intention of making good on losing the weight - and nothing. I even try to find a goal and that goal never happens.

Why can't I seem to just get up every morning and exercise???

I went to the doctor in December and I even told him that he was going to keep me accountable. If I had to go back to the doctor every few months or so to take blood tests, then he would see my progress. No progress as of today. I found out that I do have a thyroid problem and I am on daily medication - you would think that would help...no progress on my part. Well, actually - the last blood test I had was good, no real results, but I don't have to go back to the doctor for another 3 months, so that is a good sign.

I did, however, stop eating Fast Food. I have only "cheated" - if I can really say "cheated" once in the last 5 months. I have been proud of my progress on that part, but you would think I would be 20 pounds lighter by now - no such luck. Hey - and when I say no fast food, I mean no fast food. I have a growing teenager and we have done the drive-thru one or two times, but each time I avoid the temptation. The only thing that I have allowed myself to get is a drink, and it has been a small or medium. I think I have only had a drive-thru soda about 5 times in the last 5 months. Progress - right, progress.

I can sit here and tell you about the successes, but there are no other success if I haven't lost the weight.

My office is moving back to the main winery location and there are many people who are going to see me on a daily basis (not just the same 20 faces) - heck, maybe I will find someone to date - there's one goal. There is a wedding reception in July for my sister (getting married after 20 years of being with the same guy - very excited about that)...many relatives and friends to see -



I want to show off a new look. My son is going to be starting High School in just about 1 year from now and having your Mom come to school events looking good is a goal. There are camping trips, 'bucket lists" to fullfill and just the pure fact that I need to lose the weight to be healthy for me, my son and for my future - that is a huge goal all by itself. (but can I admit, in the back of my mind I want to lose the weight to find a date)

I want and need to do this. I want and need to blog

Looking for my Motivation MO

Slow Progress...sickness takes over

Just as I thought I had planned out my 2014 as being back on track 100%, the first full week of the year threw me for a loop. I was really good with my check-off sheet for the first two days, but on day three I was hit with a full blown cold (thank you to my little 12 year old - LOL) and I have been down coughing, blowing and taking medication since. I do believe I am on that road to recovery, for last night I had a full nights sleep without any issues. It does not help that I have been working full-time, all the while hoping that I could just stay in bed and get better.

The other deciding factor has been the fact that I am dealing with a heavy family issue. I have been divorced for more than 8 years, I have known my ex-husband for close to 28 years and well, when something happens to him it can throw one for a loop. Over the Christmas time my ex-husband was sick. I shuttled my 12 year old to the hospital on Christmas Eve and Day to visit his father. We had hoped that it was just a diabetic episode gone bad, but we are now dealing with liver cancer. Surgery came much sooner than the January 22nd planned date and I can be happy to say that they found all of the cancer and have removed it. However, complications will require further treatment, still to be determined as of this afternoon.

One can say that you just curl up in a ball and try to forget all your other worries, but I have a 12 year old to take care of, work to deal with and  getting into a minor fender bender has been keeping me on the my insurance toes. However, in the last 10 days (has it been that long) - I have -
drank all my water each day
my follow up doctors appointment for my "wellness" check is next week
I only ate after 8 pm twice (that is an accomplishment)
I have not had fast food - even with a few temptations
Only had about 3 sodas (that is a major improvement for me, but when I am sick I grave 7-up and gingerale, I huge weakness for me)
And I have packed my lunch each day for work - that I love!!!

Being sick is hard, as you always want to exercise, but have to take it easy so your body can recover.
Back to it tomorrow morning and I am so excited for it! Excitement about exercising  - what a marvelous thing.

Hoping the next 10 days are much better. My goal is to drop close to 10 pounds before seeing my doctor on the 23rd - he would be so proud and I am doing my best to be accountable to my medical file!!

Wishing all of you a blessed January and hoping that things are going well for you too!! Obstacles or not - you need to keep moving forward on the healthy trail so that you can be healthy in mind, body and soul!!


Motivated MO

Prepared for 2014

I love this 2014 sign - it has everything I am looking for this year. Especially the one at the middle below the 2014 - GOOD HEALTH.

I have been preparing for 2014. I know that sounds silly - having to prepare, but if you read my last few posts you know that I have been dealing with a bone pain in my foot. That is being taken care of with shoe inserts, and I have been able to start preparing for getting back to exercise and making this a year of GOOD HEALTH!!

I went to my "wellness" check up a few weeks ago. My company encouraged us to do this, then we get entered into a drawing to win money. I don't have to win money, I am winning for the pure fact that I am now accountable to myself and a doctor - ever had to be stared down by a medical chart that hasn't changed??

I had my blood taken the other day - waiting on test results.

I asked my FB friends for things that rhymed with 2014 - the one input I really loved was - 

2014 - the year for Queen Maureen to be a lean mean fighting machine!! 

I added 'lean" and fighting (just had to)

I made Daily Check Off lists  -

Water (8 glasses)
Exercise 20-30 minutes
Get up from desk every 30-45 minutes
5 fruits and vegetables
No Fast Food
Healthy Choices
No Soda
10 minutes of stretching
Packed your lunch
No eating after 8 pm
Daily Vitamins
Walked twice at work - 15 minutes each
No Sweets

There is more I could add to this list, but I think this list alone is a daily accomplishment!! I have this list on and 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper, cut into 4's - I will carry a list each day, from the start of the day to the end of my day. I am even tracking my water intake at work - I did it on Monday and Tuesday and I will keep it going. I am trying everything to keep me on task and motivated.

BUT, already Day One and I know I didn't do very well. (blogging is about being honest - right??) I will admit it. I slept, or stayed in bed almost all day. I had some caramel corn that should not have been left over from Christmas. There has only been 2 cups of water, and well, I will admit that 2014 is not starting off good. I will not get down on myself, but I will not let a day off control my laziness!!!

I will say, however, that I did a great hour of cardio at the New Years party I went to last night. I danced and danced and danced. That is a HUGE accomplishment for me in my recent foot issues. I even wore shoes that I knew would hurt at the end of the night, but they only hurt because they were a bit too tight. My tarsal bone is issue in my right foot it NOT hurting today (in fact, since I got my inserts I have had very little pain - I am very grateful for shoe inserts!!!). The dancing was so good for my legs and I can feel the impact today - I am going to keep that momentum going!!

As 2013 came to an end I was informed of a family issue that could derail me. I am not fully ready to share, but I do know that I am grateful that I have been working on my plan for 2014. I am committed to taking care of myself, my son and giving support where I can give it.

The Greatest Resolutions are the Ones You Keep

Wishing all of you a most wonderful 2014!! What words above motivate you in making 2014 awesome!! 

LEAN IN 2014 - MOTIVATED ME 

(AKA MO)

A little bit of cheese, and some Whine!

I realized that my last post was filled with a little bit of whine. I was in pain from my foot, and I had a whining moment?? Maybe?? Not a good Cabernet Sauvignon, or Red Zinfandel, or even a terrific Chardonnay, but I just had this very loud whine moment!!

I finally got my inserts into my shoes and wouldn't you believe it, the pain is not as bad in my foot anymore. It does depend on how long I wear the insert, as I need to wear them a little bit each day until I can go for the full day. I continue to switch on my walking boot to give my foot a break. My "recovery" (or way of life with my foot) is going to be a long road and something I just need to adjust to.

The same thing goes for losing all that extra weight I am carrying around. I need to adjust to a new way of life. I need to be working out on a daily basis. I need to cut back on the bad, concentrate on the good and before you know it I won't need to have the cheese, nor will I be looking to whine (okay - maybe a good glass of wine once a month maybe).

When you reach for your goals, whatever it might be, then you will eliminate the whine and you will be able to have more WINNING moments!!!


MO

Waves of emotions

Wow - I knew it has been a long time, but I am the worst blogger in the world. I have all these "followers", but I am sure they are wondering what they are following - a blank wall, a silent blogger...

I have been dealing with an injury. Well, I guess it really is not an injury. For more then a year I have had this pain in my right foot. Sometimes it comes and sometimes it goes. At times I have been limping and then the pain goes away. I just figured it was the shoes that I was wearing, so I changed shoes. But, then I would only have this pain and limp at the end of a very busy event where I was walking, carrying and doing tons of stuff while on my feet (no rest for the busy).

Well, this July as I was closing up my Scout Day Camp boxes I had this pain again. I was hoping it would go away. I tried ice, I stayed off of my right foot when I could. I still wanted to do my two daily 15 minutes walks with my co-workers, but the pain got worse. Yep - now I was really in trouble.

I called the orthopedic, thinking it was a torn something....what was it??? One doctor told me "tissue" damage, I had to wait another 1.5 months to be told that  - wait for it - I have a Tarsal Coalition. What - a what??? A Coalition - is that something political? Nope, (insert many questions). I am the happy recipient of this Tarsal bone issue in my foot that happens to about 1% of us. Woo Hoo!! NOT

For the time being I have been wearing a removable "boot" for the last three weeks. I actually got that fancy thing on my birthday. Talk about feeling OLD!!!! I finally have shoe inserts and am hoping that will help. My other option is surgery, and I don't know about you, but surgery on my right foot (driving foot) is not my cup of tea.

I know that I will never be the same, not at 100% as this Coalition is restricting mobility, and yes, I feel really overweight! I want to work out, but have no motivation to do so. I need to workout, but this foot is causing me so much pain - more then you can imagine.

At the same time I am dealing with this most annoying foot issue I am still getting used to a new job. I am grateful to be working after being out of work for just about 11 months, but boy - I have never dealt with an office like this one. I can't be myself at this job - as I have been told that certain things are not allowed (don't send out emails to the whole office unless you are a manager, don't talk too loud, oh and for certain don't be too helpful at the copier). I am going to keep the job, because I am getting paid really well, have great benefits, have already gotten two bonuses and yes, my 401K is growing!!! Struggling to find my voice outside of my office walls is on my agenda! Hoping to see what new experiences are in store for me!

I am also dealing with a 7th grader - tons of homework - and doing it as a single parent....sigh!! The good part, I have stepped back from many of my volunteering duties. I am taking the time to take care of me, when I am not dealing with all that homework support (LOL)

I am still holding my own on the weight loss issue. Haven't lost more then 5, haven't gained more then 5...but I can't get past that 5 pounds.

Wondering where I go from here????? Many things to think about -


MO