texasgidget

With Thanksgiving behind me now, I must admit that I had several realizations.  This year has brought me so many blessings.  I have started a wonderful job in a field that I totally didn’t expect to ever be in.  I work with a wonderful group of people.  I have met and fallen in love with a wonderful man…again, something I didn’t expect to happen this year.  I have really been working hard to rebuild my relationship with my son and I feel that is slowly but surely coming together.  It’s not been the best year by any means of the imagination…I’ve been put on blood pressure meds within the last month or so…definitely a reason to get back into my workout routine.  The important thing is to take care of me so that I can take care of other people in my life…including my precious son and this wonderful man that has come into my life.  I have been amazed to find that Chris’ family has been good enough to include me into their family events.  I actually spent Thanksgiving with my family (as did he) and then with his family.  How much more special could I feel?  Not even my ex would manage to eat 2 Thanksgiving dinners on Thanksgiving day.   Now, if I can figure out what to get him and his family for Christmas, I’d feel so much better!

I was starting my new threads on WW.com.  I was responding to one of the girls that posts on there regularly.  I was explaining to her that for years and years I’d had a distorted self image.  To be honest, I know it’s still a little distorted because of what I’ve been through.  Until 3rd grade, I was so thin that other kids didn’t want to play with me too much because they were afraid I’d break.  Once I hit 3rd grade, things changed and I gained quite a bit of weight rather quickly, so I went from kids shunning me because I was so thin to them making fun of me because I’d gained weight.  My self image was so distorted that even when I lost down to a size 3 between my junior and senior year of high school, I still thought I was FAT.  I wasn’t, of course, but I thought I was.  Looking back on that now, I was never really fat, I was normal.  I was wearing a size 7 throughout most of high school.  The fact is that because of my height, any extra weight looks much worse on me.   I realized a year or so ago that I didn’t necessarily want to lose weight to be skinny or someone else’s impression of what a woman should look like.  I started on this weight loss journey because I need to be healthier…weight loss is a pleasant side effect.  I am truly blessed.  I have a wonderful son…who will be graduating this upcoming school year.  I have met a wonderful man that could not possibly be more special to me if he tried.  He accepts me just exactly the way I am now.  He’s told me since the beginning that I don’t have to be a little miss skinny mini to make him want me.  He has 2 wonderful children that I adore.  I’ve told him this before…he’s everything that I thought I didn’t want.  I didn’t think that I wanted to date a man with younger children…that was younger than me, etc.  If I would have made a list of all the things that I wanted in a man, he would be most all of that.  He amazes me…even after us having dated for only a matter of months…he’s still all the things that amazed me at the beginning.  The longer that I’m on this journey, the more things change…with my body and in my mind!  Thank God that things can change!

how things fall into place at the right time?  I have found the most wonderful man to support me in my weight loss journey.  We are heading down the right path.  I’m getting back on track…and things are falling into place.  What could be better?!  Now, if I can just get motivated to get all of my workouts in again like I was before I’d be doing much better.  I’ve emailed a personal trainer who actually taught several classes at the gym I joined last year to see if he’d help me get back on track there again.  I know he won’t cut me too much slack and will expect me to do what I say I will do.  I did go to Zumba on Friday and remember that as much as I enjoy it…it’s just been FAR too long since I’ve done it!  Not sure I’ll get to do it every Friday, but since Friday is date night after all…and I’m down there anyway…I might as well get a workout in!

This week was not entirely on plan, but I did have smaller portions of the things that were not so good. And, to be honest, it’s not entirely intentional! My stomach has shrunk so much that I just can’t eat too much! Definitely not as much as I used to. Sometimes, to be honest, it can get frustrating! My usually Friday night date with my boyfriend, he orders Chinese. So I had just a small amount. Then I went to have girls’ night out…we had a wonderful time out…but it was so MUCH food! And, sadly, I split a plate and STILL couldn’t eat everything! It was a great night out!  Rascal Flatts put on such a good show!

I’m back on the losing side of the scale! On the official WW scale I lost 5 pounds…it’s 5 of the pounds I gained back, but, hey, at least I’m losing again! According to my weekly weigh in here, it’s like a little over two pounds, but I’ll take what I can get! This week was another stressful one and I’m thinking that pretty much allergies just suck! I have fought a headache all week! We had some family drama this week, but thankfully, it’s been resolved now! DG (aka “Decent Guy” and my boyfriend) is so sweet, he talked to me for 45 minutes the night it all went down. I did get to spend some time with him last night though. I am VERY proud of myself this week! My goal this year was to try some new things…and DG knows this. He asked me if I liked German food, I said I don’t know, I’ve never had it. He asked me if I’d try it. To be honest, I didn’t think I’d like it…I couldn’t get geared up for it at all. Let me assure you though, it’s all about attitude! I decided I would buck it up and try harder to open my mind. Guess what?! I LIKED IT! I had some pasta with peas (and some other veggie) and black forest ham. It really was good and DG let me try a bite of his Weiner Schnitzel (sp?), which was also good. I’m so glad I went. Now I just have to make him take me back so I can try more new things! He, much to my surprise, suggested a road trip…but said he’d drive since I drive too much already. I can definitely say that I’ve tried several new foods this year so far…I had Hibatchi (wonderful..can’t wait to take my family back)…I had a bite of sushi while I was there (my friend, Aimee, wants to take me for more). I told her I’d try it…I have also tried Thai food this year…and now German…sounds like it’s going to be a good year! Seriously, I wonder sometimes just how I was so lucky to meet such a wonderful man. It’s like we just click…he knows what I need him to do and he just does it…even when I don’t say it. Am I blessed or what?!  I almost forgot to mention the new gym!  My dear mother had gotten a two week trial membership to a local health club.  She and my dear son went down to check it out…decided to join us all up!  We got a 17 month membership for less than $1000 which is just awesome, I think, for the three of us!  I still need to go down for orientation, but I’m getting excited!  Even though it doesn’t have all the classes I had become accustomed to in the big gym…I’m still excited because I hear they put together a workout routine and all for you…not that you have to follow it, but it’s a guide…and I’ll do it, if it helps me hit goal faster!  DG want even realize that he’s dating the same woman when I hit goal!

Well, I definitely figured out this week that a leader can make all the difference at a Weight Watcher meeting!  With my new position (which is closer to home and saves on gas), I had to give up my Bally’s membership and find a new WW leader.  I hit the first meeting on Monday thinking that it would be so convenient because it’s earlier and right up from the office.  Unfortunately, this leader was about as interesting as a box of rocks.  I decided I’d hit the meeting on Thursday, to my surprise, this leader had a wonderful personality and was a little more like the leader that I was used to.  Even though it’s not as early as the other meeting, I think in the end, it’ll be worth it to wait because I’ll be more motivated!  It makes it a little easier because my new boyfriend (who is commonly referred to on the WW boards as DG because he was the first decent guy I’d dated in many years) doesn’t seem to care about my weight…he says that’s NOT why he is dating me.  I’ve been very blessed to meet such a wonderful man.  We’ve been together for a couple of months already…and I hope that we’ll be together for many more…just one step at a time!  I hope everyone is ready to have a GREAT OP week!

I hadn’t really done a lot with those fitness bands…but I had bought the WalkSlim Series by Leslie Sansone when they had the big sale on QVC.  Not that I really needed it necessarily, because for those of you that know me…you know I have a lot of Leslie to choose from…I decided that tonight I would try the new Fast Firming.  That was 27 minutes of FITNESS let me tell you!  It may not sound like much…but let me assure you as a fitness band virgin, I was certainly feeling it!  I’m a woman on a mission.  I have 6 months to hit goal this year.  I decided that I have to get off my behind…and DO SOMETHING to get back to the all important “ME” because the only person I fail when I don’t reach goal…is “ME”.  So I am taking matters in my own hands and getting back to my Weight Watchers meetings…although I’ve changed jobs and I’ll now have to go by myself…I have to do this!  Just call me DETERMINED!

I just realized that it’d been quite awhile since I have posted a blog on here! There are a few people on here that I’m in contact with almost every weekend…so I forget to post from time to time to keep my other buddies informed! Well, it’s been a roller coaster ride thus far this year. It will get better though, I have faith. It has, however, thrown me completely off plan…so although I haven’t gained all my weight back, I’ve definitely gained back some. I do love the way I feel when I work out…and I’m actually getting muscles! I knew it was something when my DS told me that I have calves! I guess it’s more my eating I have to get back under control. I think Core will be easier for me this round. I know my stomach has shrunk because I can’t eat nearly as much as I used to! Which I assure you is a good thing! Even a splurge like a Whataburger Jr. or a Whopper Jr., especially if I get fries is too much at one time! 8-D Let’s see…I have been dating a really great guy for the last month or so. He’s been great with everything that’s going on. He’s a single dad with 2 kids under 10. It seems almost odd to me because my baby will be 18 in a few more months! He has told me that he doesn’t care how much I weigh…it’s not about my weight for him, it’s my personality…but he does support my efforts to be healthier. Well, I guess that’s pretty much all the news to get everyone updated on me…

I haven’t gotten to make it back to my WW meeting yet!  But I am back on plan!  I’ve joined Bally’s with a couple of friends that I’m in WW with!  I think we are going to change meeting days/times so we can make the water aerobics class on Tuesdays and Thursdays!  I’ve got until about the 15th until I can do any of the classes, but I’m really looking forward to them!  I’ve got big plans this year!  I want to hit goal this year (the personal trainer thinks I can be there in 6 months), I want to study for and take my certification test this year, I want to find someone decent to date this year.  Just to name a few things!

Everything seemed to go well.  I had an awesome surgeon!  He told my Mom that my gall bladder was chronically inflamed.  Well, I guess that explains my pain and nausea!  I’m on pain killers trying to fight the pain, but I’m managing thus far.  At least the constant pain and nausea is gone now!  That’s a huge relief.  The fact that I can actually eat something and now want to be sick is going to be a definite plus!  Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers!  I’ll be back to losing and feeling great in no time at all!