My year-long journey

On January 3, 2011 I started my journey to better health. I weighed in at a whopping $%# pounds, the most I've ever weighed, but that wasn't the biggest reason for joining a gym.

Joining a gym on January 3rd. So cliche', right? YES! I was almost embarrassed to go gym shopping, but I happened to have the day off, so I used it. I knew that it had to be convenient and easy access or I wouldn't use it.

As former residents of Nampa, we were so spoiled having the wonderful Nampa Recreation Center. If there is one thing that local government can do for it's citizens, it's to provide them with a gathering place such as this for better health and keeping families active together.

Upon moving to Utah county, one of the first things we did was go to the American Fork Rec Center and purchase a family membership. While it was a nice rec center, it had nothing on the Nampa rec center. Being an avid walker, I had to walk 14-15 times around the track to reach a mile. Well, you aren't going to do that very many times if you get dizzy, and that's what was happening! In the one year that Jon and I were members at the AF rec center, I went 5 times and Jon went 0 times. I'm just glad that Connor used it and eventually got a job there as a life guard. And, the lazy person that I am, I felt that this rec center was too far out of my way and so I didn't go very often.

Next step was the major purchase of my beloved treadmill. Living up on the mountain like we do, sometimes winter's can be pretty harsh. Even my poor dog doesn't get walked if there is snow on the ground. So for the next two years I used my treadmill quite a bit in the winter.

Then comes the annual check up. I go in, get my blood work done, I get weighed, they test my heart rate, and I fail everything. My A1C and triglycerides are way too high and I get sent home with a blood sugar test kit. The doc gives me 6 months to bring everything down on my own before he reports it to the insurance company. The last thing I want to be right now is high risk, especially in an area that I should be able to have control of. So, I go home, I somewhat change my diet, and I kick up the exercise. 6 months later, I am down 9 pounds (not very much), but my numbers were down enough that he said I was out of the woods and to keep continuing what I was doing. I didn't. I took that as permission to cheat; daily. Finally, in October of 2010, the doc said he was going to put me on medication if I didn't change my lifestyle. Hence, January 3rd, I am gym shopping. Why did I wait that long to get proactive? I was busy blubbering and feeling sorry for myself; oh, and we were in Europe for 2 weeks. However, during this time I was doing yoga 3-4 times a week in my home and daily walks with the dog, which really wasn't enough.

Side note here: while I totally believe in doctors and all the good they can do for us, I am a firm believer in getting a diagnosis and then taking action into my own hands - most of the time. Whenever a doc implies medication is in my future, I do everything in my power to keep from having to take it, without risk to my health. That's why my primary doc is a naturopath first, a medical doc second.

So begins my journey to getting control of my health. January 3, 2011, the day i join a gym. For the first several months I was so consistent in coming, that the gym management even commented that for a New Years resolution membership, I was only one of 3 people that were still consistently coming to work out. I was constantly getting encouragement from management and other members for my hard work. It was a big part in what kept me going, even through the summer and warm weather. Then in April, I signed on with a trainer named John, who really pushed me to my limits and way outside of my comfort zone. I worked with him twice a week for 2 months and in that time I lost 6 pounds, which to me was very discouraging. But he kept telling me that I wasn't eating enough protein. "You've gotta eat more protein!"

I'm not a huge meat eater, but not a vegetarian. I don't like chicken, turkey or hamburger. But I DO love steak, roast, salmon and halibut. I instantly became a high maintenance foodie, and in this area, Jon didn't complain! So, from May to July I lost another 20 pounds by adding more protein and eating more vegetables for a total of 26 pounds lost.

And then, my Dad passed away.

For 4.5 months I had been living a pretty sugar free lifestyle with very few simple carbs. I come from a big family. We are a family of comfort food eaters. Going home to be with my family during this time, and all the wonderful meals that were prepared for us by some amazing people, I threw caution to the wind and no longer cared about my own dietary needs. Immediately following my Dad's funeral we left for my family reunion, which dietary-wise, was no better. Instead of going armed with my own foods, I ate what everyone prepared. If you've never had my brother's dutch oven German chocolate cake, it's enough to stop a war long enough to eat it. I chose not to get up and have a piece, because I new if I sat long enough it would be gone, and then my decision would be made for me. But then some idiot, (said lovingly) put the lid down on the table I was sitting at, with all this yummy frosting and cake remnants stuck to the lid, and low and behold, I had a fork. I sat there and scraped at that lid until it was clean.

Despite the fail on my eating habits during that time, upon my return home from a funeral and a reunion, I was amazingly still down 26 pounds, and the blood work I had done would show that I was doing everything right. At my next appointment, my doc told me I was officially off the type 2 watch list and to keep up the good work. This time I went home and kicked everything into high gear.

A few months earlier we had purchased a Blendtec blender which has completely changed my eating habits. Because of this one purchase, I have increased my vegetable and protein intake by about 3 times. All good things. I learned the importance of drinking protein shakes after working out, and then a few times a week I make myself a green smoothie for breakfast.

My workout level has increased. I do a HIIT training about 2 times a week; started training for a run, (went from being able to run for only 1.5 minutes to now 20 minutes, and still climbing)circuit training 2-3 times a week. And last month I completed a barre class that I really think was harder than any of my training sessions.

There are only two areas that I can think of, that I could improve upon in my dietary corner: eat more protein and cut out soda.

So, yesterday, I had my follow up appointment with my doc; new blood work results to be discussed. I was so excited for this appointment because I had made so many improvements I was sure they would show through my blood. Wrong.

While my blood pressure and cholesterol are good, my A1C and triglycerides had shot up quite a bit. All the things that are controlled by lifestyle. I thought I had made some pretty significant changes to my lifestyle that have now become habits. How could this happen?

My hope going into this appointment was that I would be taken off of medication, and instead, he is upping the dosage of one and adding another. I was so upset getting this news that I cried on the drive home while having my own little pity party. I didn't know what else I could do. Here I was, hoping that I had worked hard enough to get off pills, to find out that I was just put on more.

After the storm settled, I decided to hit the gym, burned 300 calories doing some intervals, spent some time in the weight room and went home and fixed myself a protein packed green smoothie.

This morning I went and had a metabolic test, found out that in order to lose a pound a week, I need to consume a maximum of 1500 calories. I also learned that I'm not eating ENOUGH carbs. Go figure.

My proactive decision? I rejoined SparkPeople to help me with my eating, and I will continue to work out as I have been doing while mixing things up here and there.

To my female friends and family members, if you are under forty and out of shape or in less than good health do something about it now. Don't wait until you are my age as achievements come so much harder after 50. So much harder.

Take a lesson from me. Take care of yourself when you are young. And if you feel guilty for taking the time away from your family while you go exercise, you are doing yourself and your children a HUGE disservice. They need to see that your health is important to you. Your children learn their healthy habits from you. And on the plus side, unless you get run over by a deer while out on your morning run, you will be around to enjoy your family for a much longer time.

What? It's time to shave again? It's only been a year....

This time every year, I get the itch. Not the wintery skin itch, but the itch to do something different. To expand my knowledge, broaden my interests, to do something new.

I don’t think it has anything to do with New Year’s Resolutions but the anxiousness to get out from under the dark, short days, and see green grass and flowers again. I love spring; where everything changes from drudgery to beautiful.

This is the time of year I get the itch to go back to school, read more books, take more classes, commit to organize my house and my life, and generally become a better person.

This is also when I want to move, go on a trip, buy a new car, start my own business, and I start looking at trailers. Restless, restless, restless.

This is the time of year when Jon cringes every time he hears, “I have an idea.” Or “I was thinking.” Or “What would you think if….”

He’s learned to be patient and supportive, and he knows to nod his head in all the right places.

However, this is the first year we haven’t had kids around to take up my time and attention. That leaves Jon all alone, with just me and my ideas, and my mind is racing to come up with things we can do together.

I understand now why a lot of men go out and buy their wives puppies when their kids leave home. Not as a companion, but as a deflection device!

Since I really dislike cold weather and snow, and I want no more pets, I have to find something we can do inside. My big ideas for this year are: cooking lessons, join a gym, take Zumba classes together, turn off the TV and sit on the couch together reading and then discussing what we’ve read. Kind of like a husband/wife book club.

What I’d really, really like to do is take Zumba classes together! What do you think, Pop? Do we have a date?

I bet that new house is looking a lot better right now, isn't it?

Bigfoot Sighting in Utah! Really???

There was a nip in the air that morning. The clouds were low and the sun was nowhere to be seen. As I listened to the traffic report for the morning drive in to the city and heard that the freeway was stop and go, I decided to take the back way over the mountain. This was on the edge of Utah/Salt Lake County. Rural, somewhat deserted, the houses being 20 feet apart instead of 10, it had a lonely feel to it. I love that drive. Even in the harshest of weather, I take that road because of the isolation. In a snow storm or dense fog it can be very lonely, but I love it.
On this particular morning as I started to make the climb, my mind was on particularly nothing. I was listening to music, but I couldn’t tell you what it was. I was relaxed and enjoying the drive. As I rounded the corner, I saw something out of the corner of my eye that immediately registered in my brain. I’m embarrassed to say what it registered as, but I immediately put my hand on my phone prepared to call the first person in my favorites. My mind was racing as I imagined calling at least a half a dozen people in those first few seconds.
Me. I. Had just seen Bigfoot. Yes. Right there on the other side of the road, climbing up the side of the hill. No other cars were around to witness this with me, but I was sure of it. I imagined what I would say to people when I called them, or if they would believe me. Then I thought to pull up the camera on my phone when, still driving the car, I come upon the site where he stood, and there it was. Unmistakable. A pine tree, lying on its side half covered in snow.
Immediate embarrassment. You know that feeling you get when you do something stupid? The first thing you do is look around to see if anybody else saw you making a fool of yourself? Well, that’s what I did. Right then, and the rest of the drive to work I felt completely silly and embarrassed.
But then it hit me. It takes people like me who (1 – are pretty much blind and wearing my old contact lens prescription and (2 – I have a very active imagination. We are the ones that help keep the legend of Bigfoot alive.

Side note: on my drive home that day, taking the same route, I slowed down when I got to the “sighting” point. I discovered that not only was it not Bigfoot, I discovered that it wasn’t a pine tree either. It was a clump of sagebrush half covered in snow. I can only imagine that when the snow completely melts, or if I were to walk right up to it, it would probably end up being a pile of someone’s garbage.

Sending off the boy

I’m not the first or the last mom to send a child off to do military service, but that doesn’t make it any easier.
Our first son went in to the Air Force with a wife and a baby on the way, and we knew because of the career path that he chose that he would always be stateside. Because of this we got to visit some parts of the country that we probably wouldn’t have otherwise. We are very proud of him for his service and the skills that he learned along the way.
Sending a young man off to the Navy. Wow. Even though we are very proud of Connor’s decision to join the Navy, and while we are excited for this new adventure coming up in his life, it doesn’t come without some fears.
Did we teach him what he needs to know to be out on his own?
Did we teach him to respect authority and to listen to the still small voice?
Did we teach him to pray in times of darkness and loneliness?
Did we remember to tell him that he is never alone?
Does he know we love him even though we get after him for leaving his scrambled egg pan on the stove every morning?
Does he know that all of the many talks and lectures we give him (where he rolls his eyes and acts totally bored) are because we want him to be safe and happy and that we would never steer him wrong?
Will he remember that while his Sergeant is yelling at him and making him feel small and inferior that his Heavenly and Earthly parents love him and know that he is a valuable member of society and of our family?
Will he remember that he is a child of God?
Does he know that his family will love him no matter what?
Is he ok with the fact that he will always be our baby; our 6’2” tall baby?
My prayer for him is that he will be the strong force that keeps himself and others in-line. That he will remember and respect his heritage. I wish for him to be respected by his authority figures for his high standards and integrity and moral values.
I want him to be happy, safe and strong.
Will I miss him? Terribly. Am I proud of him? Terribly. Do I love him? Terribly.
We send you off with our love and encouragement, and we will always be here with a listening ear and a soft, kind heart, and words of advice.

Till we meet again,
Love, Mom and Dad

Progressive doesn't neccesarily mean open minded

If you have read any of my past posts, you know I am not in favor of political correctness in most forms. I don't know who ever came up with the idea, or who sets the standards, but I have seen PC'ness sometimes cause more damage than good.

I’ve also seen people who claim to be “progressives” be more closed minded than a sealed vault. In my opinion a person who is open minded looks at all sides, hears all opinions, considers all aspects, and then makes a judgment or opinion based on what they think is the absolute best for all. Instead, I see them leaning and only leaning to the PC side and that’s the end of it. However, they will listen to what you have to say and then tell you what you’re saying is wrong, all while skirting the issue.
Some things are just wrong. Call them hunches, call them cautious, call them gut feelings, and then call up the facts to back up all your feelings and you still get people who tell you that YOU are the one being close-minded.
I, again, am talking about Cordoba House being built so close to where the World Trade Towers used to stand. If you go back and do some research, the name Cordoba is a city is Spain that was conquered by Muslims in the Middle Ages. Shortly after conquering the mostly Christian/Roman Catholic city, the Muslims built a mosque called the Great Mosque of Córdoba right on the site that the Catholic cathedral once stood. Building the Mosque at that site was a sign of victory to the Islam religion. This is a pattern that would repeat itself throughout the rest of history.
I listened to an interview with Timothy Brown yesterday. He was a NYPD firefighter who was there at the World Trade Center the day the towers were attacked by terrorists. He is currently in a support group for the families that lost people in the attack. He is also friends with many American Muslims. He said that most New Yorkers are opposed to the Mosque being built in this location. Let me emphasize that no one is against a Mosque being built (there are currently over 100 Mosques in NYC), just not at this location. At one point, there would be a distance of 300 feet from this center to a corner of ground zero. He has had many American and Canadian Muslims contact him and tell him that they believe that this Mosque is being built as a sign of victory. In fact these people have already nicknamed it Islam’s Victory Tower. These are Muslims, people! And they fear for themselves and their families against retaliation from Islamic radicals. Open your ears and eyes to what is going on under your nose and give a crap!
So, my question for all of you out there who think that building this “bridge of peace” at this very location is a good thing because that is what you have been led to believe or because you think it is PC to believe so; why are the Muslims behind this project vehemently refusing to relocate? USA Today reported that 3 out of 5 New Yorkers are against the building of this center at this location. There has to be a purpose/agenda for this Imam to build at this spot and to ironically want to dedicate it on 9/11. If he is truly a peace builder, as he claims to be, he would have taken this project and immediately moved it somewhere else. Somewhere that didn’t evoke this much emotion from American citizens.
If the American/Canadian Muslims think this is a victory tower for the terrorist attack in NY, then a lot of people are having the wool, or something worse pulled over their eyes.
OPEN THEM!
Seriously, I would much rather question the actions and motives of this project and be WRONG, than be open armed and giggly warm with diversity and PC’ness and be RIGHT about there being evil intent behind this project.
Nothing wrong with being cautious, everything wrong with being clueless.

Perfect imperfection

It has taken me 35 years to hone this body to the imperfect state it is in. So, why am I surprised (and dissapointed) that it won't bounce back 4 weeks after ultimate loving care? I bought a 10 DVD work out set that came with a 5 pound weight. The secret here is to work cardio with weight training in order to maximize your workout. It comes with a $ back guarantee after 6 weeks. I am beginning my 5Th week today. While I have lost 6 pounds, and I am no longer so sore that I can't walk without agonizing pain, I have not achieved my dream body. I have 2 weeks left where I can call up and say "this workout is a load of crap!" But, I digress, it isn't crap. I really do feel better. My legs are getting to be rock-hard, I am seeing definition in my shoulders, but hoo-yah, that's not where I want to see changes! I want defined arms and 6 pack abs! (currently my arms and abs resemble molten lava.) Other than my treadmill, this is the longest workout I have ever stayed with and I think it's because it makes sense to me, and that if I give it time and continue to be consistent, I will end up with my dream bod again! If nothing else, I do feel better.
I find that I am my biggest nemesis because I want to eat everything. I like food. Don't try to tell me I have emotional issues that cause me to eat (Oprah would), I just like food. In a perfect world I would be able to eat whatever I want and just burn off the calories, right? Well, it hasn't been working that way for me so far. Maybe if I increased my workouts to 3 hours instead of 45 minutes a day I would get somewhere. But no, I can't do that, because then it would cut into my eating time.

A Few of my Favorite Things!

I have a great family and extended family.
-Starting from my parents, my 4 brothers and 4 sisters, we surprisingly love to spend time together. My parents have instilled in us the importance of family and have helped us to cultivate good relationships with each other as adults.
-My husband, Jon. What can I say. In so many ways we are so different. He likes to watch the "Military Channel," while I like to watch "What Not to Wear." He is a news junkie, while I can't run far enough away from it. Give me a fantasy world!
While we like a lot of the same music, we dislike about as much of each other's taste in music. It about balances out. We both love the outdoors and going out to eat. Jon cleans the kitchen better than I do, but I think I'm a better cook. At least it shows in our tummy's.
I'm a dog person, he's a cat person, but we have ended up liking both.
-My kids. I have the greatest kids. I am always learning from them; to be a better person, to be more spiritual, to question things, to not question things. Watching them with their kids has made me realize what bad parents we were! Luckily they turned out fine regardless. Whew!
They are fun to be with, to talk to. We look forward to visits from them and their children, and we love that they have given us opportunities to travel to places we normally wouldn't have gone.
-I love where we live. I love that in 15 minutes from leaving our house, we can be in the mountains sitting around a campfire roasting hot dogs and smore's. We have great neighbors that have become good friends. I love looking out my front window and seeing the mountains, and standing on my deck and looking out over the valley.
-At this very moment, I am loving my Kettle Worx workout. It is the only exercise I can do for 20 minutes that makes sweat run down my body. My treadmill is a second close.
-SONIC ICE!