A New Start

Can’t believe my last post was back in February….and it is now May!!!!  Boy, the time sure does fly……

What have I been doing since February??  Well, besides working and sleeping, not much else!

Oh, I did manage to read all 4 books of the Twilight series.  I’ve seen the movies but never read the books.  I started the first week of April and was done with all 4 within 3 weeks.

However, now I’ve been going through Twilight withdrawals. 

Anywho……

What with the beautiful weather finally coming around here in Northern California I’ve begun the depressing yearly unpacking of my summer clothes.  

Yes, they are tight.  I have gone out and bought a couple new tops but haven’t even begun the torture of buying bottoms (pants, capris, shorts, etc).  Buying the tops was bad enough. 

I have no energy.  I find every excuse not to exercise…..still. 

At work today one of my co-workers was playing with a little gizmo-thing.  I asked her what it was.  She said it was a points calculator from Weight Watchers.  She said she had just joined. 

Funny, many years ago I joined WW and got to my goal weight and became a life time member.  (Okay, to be honest my total weight loss then was 15 lbs.  Yes, only 15 lbs)  Over the years I’ve gone up and down the scale.  I’ve gone back a couple times, but my heart wasn’t really in it.  Plus, I didn’t have any support at home.  

I told her all of this.  And, I told her it was a good program.  As we were talking I realized that maybe I should join too and said something to that effect.  She agreed that it would be a good idea and that we could go to meetings together.  So, I agreed. 

So….after work this afternoon I headed over to the local Weight Watchers office and signed up.  They have a special ending in the next few days……no initiation fee and if you pay for a month in advance it’s only $9.92 per week.  So, I paid the month in advance….along with the Points Plus calculator ($7.50) and I am a member again. 

I’m both really excited and nervous.  I have lost any and all discipline I had a long time ago.  I don’t really have to account for anything in my life except going to work and paying my bills.  But anything having to do with me personally, I’m adrift.

Maybe having someone else to go through it with will keep me motivated.  At least I’m finally feeling a little competitive again.  Although not in a negative way….more in a motivational way.  If I know she’s doing it, it’ll keep me on track…..which is exactly what I need….some accountability!!!

So, I had to get on the “dreaded scale”.  I weigh 169.6 lbs.  Not my highest weight, but…..not exactly my proudest moment   Although, it could have been worse, right??? lol

My initial goal is a 5% weight loss which WW has listed as 8 lbs.   Then my target is a 10% loss which is listed at 16 lbs.  At some point after that I will have to figure out where I want to end up.  It’s a hard one because whatever weight I pick I will have to work to stick to.  I just have to figure out what is best and most realistic for me.

I keep looking at the BIG picture instead of the short term.  No wonder I always feel like it’s so unattainable. 

So I am trying really hard to remember it’s only 8 lbs I have to worry about right now.  Maybe if I keep telling myself that I won’t get overwhelmed?!

Well, that’s all for now…….

Oh, and Happy Cinco de Mayo to all!!

Until next time………….

Is it February already??

Happy Friday!  I can’t believe we’re almost mid-February.  But, there it is, the year flying by as usual.

The dreaded cough is finally gone.  It’s been about 2 weeks….yes, really!  But I am now taking my vitamins and trying to eat right.  I’ve also been trying to get more sleep.  That part helps in my not feeling so exhausted all of the time!!  And, I have–slowly–started exercising again!

I’ve done Zumba only a couple of times……yes I need to work on my time management skills.  And, today I finally set up my Wii fit and spent the afternoon trying out all 4 of the modes:  aerobic, strength training, yoga, and balance games. 

I’ve always said that I have no sense of balance, and it was confirmed today while trying to do some of the balance games as well as some yoga poses.   I never really thought of it as really important (why??? I have no idea!!)  but after today it has become all too clear that balance is of the utmost importance in all aspects of exercise and life!! 

So, along with trying to lose weight, get healthy and eat right…..I will add becoming balanced to that list of goals to accomplish.

On another note, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner.  I’ve never thought much of this day……even when I was married I didn’t like celebrating it.  So, now that I’m single I really think the day is ridiculous!! 

It’s a day for couples only.  What, so I’m supposed to feel bad for myself because I am not half of a couple???  I refuse!!  I am single by choice……and I do not feel bad about it!  So there cupid!!

Honestly, even if I were part of a couple, I wouldn’t be doing anything because I am working that day….2 shifts to be exact!!  From morning til night I will be serving food to whomever sits in my station at both my jobs!!  So, while all of the couples of the world are out drinking and eating……I will be making some $$$$!!  I like that much better!!  Haha

Well, that’s all for now.  It’s now time for dinner.  I got so wrapped up in the whole Wii fit thing that I forgot that I was supposed to go to my parents for dinner……oh, well….another day!!

Belated Happy New Year

Yes, it’s been a month.  Exactly! 

3 days after my last post I got very sick.  It was a bad bad cold but it left me incredibly exhausted.  I forced myself up every day to go to work, but other than work I did nothing else but sleep. 

I was sick through Christmas and New Years.  On both Christmas Eve and Day, after working both all day, I headed to my moms house where I could barely even talk or function.  I don’t really remember much of either day, sadly.  On New Years Eve I was in bed WELL before midnight because I had to, yes of course, work New Years Day.   I was finally able to shake the cold right after New Years.  Yes, I was sick almost 3 weeks. 

But then I was left with a hacking/phlegm-laden cough. The constant coughing hurts my whole body.  That’s right, I still have that nasty cough, although the phlegm isn’t quite as bad……

I’m trying to get myself back on track.  In the 3 weeks I was sick I actually gained 5 lbs.  I haven’t exercised since the last time I posted and I haven’t really kept track of my eating.  My body hurts and I feel bleh from the extra weight on me.

I desperately want to exercise but this cough is killing me.  It’s a drier cough now, but it’s pretty constant…and annoying!  And the worst part is that if I don’t catch it in time it becomes an asthma attack!  Sometimes, especially at night, it causes me to vomit (sorry TMI) so even though I eat (and am gaining weight) I am not always able to keep food down  

It will eventually go away but until then I have to be careful.  I’m trying to rest and since I weighed myself last week, have decided that since I can’t exercise like I want I can at least get myself back on track with eating. 

Have I “fallen off the wagon” sometimes?  Of course.  But I’m trying to eat better each day and before I know it I will be back to doing my Zumba…….

 

 

Zumba, Zumba, Zumba!!

Hello!

It’s been a long week so far and it’s only Wednesday (actually it’s midnight so it’s Thursday).  But anyway…..

I borrowed my parents WII system and bought the Zumba 2 “game”/dvd/whatever you call it.  After finally getting everything set up and the disc installed, synced up, etc…..I finally was able to try it out today after work.

I did a full hour of one of the routines.  I couldn’t find how long all of the routines are for full, short, etc.  I was assuming a full routine would be 60 minutes but after 60 minutes it just kept going on.  Since it was my first time, and I was sweating and breathing heavy, I figured an hour was sufficient?!  We’ll see how I feel tomorrow as to how long I can keep going…..

Monday was my only day off.  I didn’t get a chance to exercise at all.  I hung out at Starbucks with a friend for a couple of hours.  Then did a little shopping and ran some errands.  Then I headed over to my parents house for dinner.  And that’s when I got the wii system.

I had a hard time setting it up because the instruction manuals weren’t that complete (IMO).  One of my friends sons actually told me what I needed to do after he heard me tell his mom my “electronically challenged” story!lol

Tuesday I worked a double (one shift at each job).  It was a long day because we were busy at both places.  After work last night I was supposed to go out for a friends birthday.  But I was so exhausted (as well as having to work the next morning) so I went home and went to sleep.  Needless to say I didn’t get any exercise in.

Today I worked at my 2nd job only.  It was crazy busy…and quite the madhouse!!  I was never so happy to leave work….my feet still hurt from the pounding they got from work today.  Hopefully they feel better because I have to work at my main job tomorrow……and I have a feeling it’s gonna be another busy day. 

Fortunately, my main job is more organized and we all work together more easily.  So, I am always happy to go to work each shift

As for food, I’ll give the short version.  Monday:  1 banana, Venti eggnog latte, Trenta unsweetened black iced tea, bowl of homemade vegetable soup (no meat with clear broth)–at my moms, piece of tiramisu–also at my moms!! haha, oh and I forgot I had a mini bbq chicken/rice/macaroni salad from l&l hawaiian.

Tuesday:  2 eggs om, 2 sausg, 2 pancakes (4″), & grits all for breakfast. for lunch I had a Trenta unsweetened black iced tea and for dinner I had a fried chix wrap with dinner salad and 2 oz of honey mustard dressing. Oh, yeah also a cupcake for lunch with the tea

Wednesday:  we were so busy at work I never got my break so never had breakfast/lunch.  I left work at almost 3pm.  Ran some errands and did some shopping.  All I had today is a Venti eggnog latte from starbucks and a beef enchilada/beans/rice from Vasquez Deli…..seriously….that’s ALL I had all day…….I have drank 8 glasses of water and am still drinking it as I’m now getting ready for bed.

That’s all for now.  Until next time…….

TGIF…or just another day???

Happy Friday Everyone!!

Tonight will be a short post since I have to be to work early tomorrow and am totally exhausted! 

As I said in yesterdays post I eat what I like.  I do not believe in diets.  I believe everything in moderation. 

Right now I have bad eating habits.  At this point I am just listing what I eat.  As this process goes forward…..my eating habits will improve.  They probably won’t be perfect…..but much improved!! 

So, here goes:

FOOD:

breakfast:  Yoplait fat free yogurt (raspberry cheesecake)…the day STARTED out good

snack:  Venti Eggnog Latte (Starbucks) and a Chocolate/Banana cupcake

lunch:  Tina’s bean and beef enchilada (frozen) and 1 cup of garbanzo beans, red kidney beans, diced red onions and Good Seasons Italian dressing

dinner:  Tina’s bean and beef enchilada (frozen) and 1 cup menudo

dessert:  1 cup Carnation milk chocolate hot chocolate (made w/water) with Redi-Whip whipped cream and 1 Lemon cupcake

EXERCISE:

walked 2 miles in 30 minutes (Leslie Sansone’s walking dvd)

The walking is already helping a lot!!  I noticed immediate extra energy and I was in a great mood all day   This all helped at work tonight.  I am a server and we were busy tonight!  Also, I wasn’t in pain while at work and even now I am in a lot less pain then I normally am at the end of the day.   These are all good signs and only after 2 days……to me it’s amazing!!

So…TGIF to those who have the weekend off.  I, on the other hand, will be working. 

Until next time…….

Loving Myself Fit

Hello my Blogger Friends….

I haven’t blogged for months, I know.  I’ve been working 2 jobs since September and it’s taken me this long to get used to my new schedule. 

On top of that I keep getting sick because I’m not taking care of myself.  I am tired, overweight, and in pain physically.  My eating habits suck and I haven’t exercised in quite a while.

I haven’t been to a doctor since 2009 since I no longer have health benefits.  But right now I think my health is at risk, and since I don’t have benefits, I cannot take any chance of really getting sick!! 

The realization of my health being at risk hit me last week at my main job.  I bent over to tie my show lace and then straightened up.  A co-worker came up to me a minute or so later and asked if I was okay.  I said yes, why?  She said because my face was red!!  Really?  I don’t think that’s a good sign. 

It’s funny.  I’ve read books on health and nutrition.  I read magazine articles and watch shows on these subjects.  I know what needs to be done to be healthy.  But do I follow my own advice?  Uh, no would be the answer to that question.

So, I made the decision last night after another day of total physical pain to where I was having difficulty walking after work to make some changes in my life…….and THIS time actually stick to them!! 

I AM ALL I HAVE……IF I DON’T LOVE ME ENOUGH TO IMPROVE MY HEALTH AND LIFE, THEN WHO WILL?? 

The answer to that……NO ONE

So, each and every day I must make a conscious effort to make good decisions to improve my health. 

It’s my choice…..do I finally stop procrastinating and take care of myself??  Or do I just keep going down this road I’ve been on and get even less healthy then I am right now?

Let’s do this thing!!! 

I’ve decided to use this blog to track my journey to being a healthy and fit person.

So, I weighed myself this morning.  Unfortunately it was AFTER I took a shower, but whatever, that’s the number I’m going to start with.  It’s a number I haven’t been at in quite a while and am cringing at the thought of posting it online for all to see:

169 lbs

There…..I posted it.  I am ashamed of that number.  How? Why? OMG!!! 

Okay, now time to get over it and move on.  It’s time to bring that number down…..way down.

Each day I will list all that I’ve eaten and any exercise that I’ve done.  My food choices won’t always be what people think they should be.  I don’t believe in dieting, per se.  I am a realist.  I like what I like and I don’t like what I don’t like.  I won’t eat something I don’t like no matter how good for me it is!!  Luckily I do like A LOT of good, healthy foods. 

Like I said before, I will take this day to day.  It will be a process that I hope will be successful for me. 

FOOD:

breakfast:  Venti hot chocolate no whipped cream from Starbucks (Oh, and Starbucks is my weakness)

lunch:  Farmers Scramble (w/2 egg whites & vegies & topped with a little jack cheese), fruit cup and 1 piece of wheat toast.  This is what I had for my break at work today.  It’s about 270 calories

snack:  Venti Eggnog Latte (yeah yeah I know….whatever)

dinner: Tinas beef and bean enchilada (frozen), Tinas beef and bean chimichunga (frozen), 1 cup of menudo, and 1 cup combination of garbanzo beans, red kidney beans, diced red onions mixed with Good Seasons Italian salad dressing.

I’ve had 6 cups of water so far and will drink a couple more before bed tonight.

EXERCISE:

The weather is soooo cold but I wanted to walk.  Since I’ve been in physical pain and am having a hard time walking after working all day, I didn’t want to walk and be far away from home and not be able to get back.  Luckily for me a couple of years ago my mom gave me a Leslie Sansome walking dvd (thank goodness) and so I found it among my exercise dvd’s….dusted it off and away I went!

I walked 2 miles in 30 minutes.  I’m embarrassed to say that it was hard since I used to power walk and I’ve even run a 5k  a little over a year ago!! 

But I need to let that go…… I walked 2 miles and even though it was hard I felt great when I was done!!  That’s better!! haha

So, that’s my day.  After work I met a friend for my Eggnog Latte at Starbucks.  I even had time to read!!  The book is Valley of the Dolls.  It’s a classic but I’ve never read it.  Very interesting!!

So, now that I’m done with this post, I am going to use my foam roller on my hips and legs and then head off to bed.  Good night!!!

Sunday Wrap-Up

Here I sit in front of my computer on a Sunday night.  I’ve been trying to catch up on reading blogs and just realized that I haven’t eaten dinner.  Actually I haven’t eaten since 9:30 am!!  I am starving and need to eat ASAP!!  It is now 11:24pm

I worked all day and we were pretty busy.  After work I was supposed to play softball but due to injuries I sat today’s game out and hopefully will be recovered by next Sunday.  Our team manager wasn’t too happy….but sorry, my health comes first!!

Besides being a terrible blogger as of late, I have been out of sorts for quite a while.  A co-worker suggested I do a cleanse to rid my body of the nasty toxins lurking in my body.  I am supposed to feel so much better afterward.  We’ll see about that.  But since I don’t like how I’ve been feeling, I’m willing to try it out to see what happens.

My co-worker gave me 2 options for a cleanse:

1)  10 days of drinking nothing but water with fresh lemon juice, cayenne pepper and 100% pure maple syrup.  Actually, what she said was “as many days as you can do it up to 10 days”

OR

2)  A boxed cleanse using pills that you can purchase at a nutrition shop or certain specialty stores. 

I opted for option 2.  I know me, there is 100% NO WAY I can survive even 1 day on that water-only cleanse.  So, after work I checked out the vast array of cleanses (I had NO idea there were so many choices!!) at my local specialty grocery store in my area.  I decided on one called First Cleanse by ReNew Life.  It is a 2 week cleanse using all organic ingredients and the best part is that I can eat REAL food!!!  Not just vegies and fruits…but also organic/free range chicken or turkey, fish, whole grains, eggs. 

I’m excited to finally try a cleanse.  I’ve played with the idea for a few years but have always been afraid to do it.  I’m tired of living with these ridiculous fears so I’m going to go for it.  Also, I will blog about my cleansing experience.  I won’t get too graphic….we all know what it’s supposed to do so there’s no need for me to go into detail. 

Oh, I ran for the first time in a very very long time this past week.  I ended up running for 3 miles.  It felt great, although my foot hurt during the run and I had to walk a little bit but overall it was a good run.  I didn’t bother to time it.  I just wanted to see what I could do. 

I finally got new orthiotic inserts for my work shoes to help alleviate the arch pain and that should clear up the foot issues I’ve been having.  Then I will start running regularly again.  I have truly missed it and would like to start training for another 5k.

Well, that’s all for now……I will blog again tomorrow for Day 1 of my journey into cleansing!!

My cousins wedding

I know I haven’t been a very good blogger for a very very long time.  There are no excuses….I just haven’t had good time management skills.  That’s the plain and simple truth.

The weekend before last was my cousins wedding.  I was told there were originally 15 bridesmaids.  However, there ended up being 4.  Don’t know what happened to everyone else. 

I flew in the day before the wedding.  I had worked the night before and didn’t get out of work until almost 11pm.  Then I had to finish getting ready to go.  Luckily I had packed most everything else the week before!  I ended staying awake until almost 2am.  My flight was at 7:50am, it takes an hour to get to the airport, and you know you have to get there early!!  Soooooo, you know I didn’t get much sleep that night   My uncle picked me up at the airport and it was a struggle to stay awake.  They were nice enough to take me to Starbucks.  But, I was afraid to lay down to take a nap because I might not wake up for hours!!  So I suffered in silence.  Also, I didn’t want to miss hanging out with my relatives since I don’t get to see them much.

The day of the wedding started at 6:30am.  The wedding was at 4pm.  But we had hair and makeup.  My aunt and uncle hired professional makeup artists (they live in LA) to come and do our makeup.  It was the first time I ever wore false eyelashes.  When she first put them on they felt like weights on my eyes.  It took a looong time to get used to them.  Now, I can’t wait to try them again…but I can’t believe girls wear them every day!!  It was a lot of makeup but it really did look great. 

Then it was time for hair.  My cousin and I picked a style for me the night before.  It took the stylist a couple of hours or so to do my hair.  Actually I kept dozing off and my cousins kept waking me up!! lol  But they did a great job!! And my hair stayed all day and night!!

The wedding was fantastic.  During the wedding rehearsal the day before the air conditioner was on and the church was nice and cool.  However, the day of the wedding, the air conditioner was NOT on (and since the wedding was on a Friday, the ceremony didn’t have too many in the pews) and I was sweating so bad it was terrible!!  Plus, the entire ceremony was in Spanish…..uh, I was the ONLY one in the bridal party who did not speak Spanish.  On top of that, the ceremony lasted over 1 1/2 hours…….although in the contract with the church (yes, seriously) the cerem0ny was only supposed to be 45 to 60 minutes TOPS!!  Apparently, the priest added a whole bunch of stuff my cousin didn’t know about.  Nice………

After the ceremony we walked out and around back into the church.  The church co-ordinater was there directing us back into the church and then told us that we needed to “hurry up.  You only have 10 minutes to take pictures and then you have to leave.”  Yes, she was that blunt and rude!! 

My cousins wedding started at 4pm.  Well, because we were waiting for the priest the ceremony started at 4:10pm.  Add in that he added more things into the ceremony…..the ceremony ended up finishing AFTER 5:30pm!!!  Apparently they had booked another wedding afterward that was supposed to start at 5:30pm.  I’m sorry……that was their fault and NOT ours!!

Well, then it was on to the wedding reception.  It was FANTASTIC!!!  The room looked fabulous, there was a great band, great food, great guests!!  Lot’s of latin music and a lot of the guests could really dance!!  Made me want to take dance lessons ASAP!! lol  The reception ended at 1:00am and I had to wait around until everything was packed away in the cars (I was staying at my uncles).  All the relatives who were staying with my aunt and uncle all congregated in the family room so that the new bride could open all the gifts!  Uh, really??? At 2am???  OMG!!!  I tried to stay awake as long as I could, but I finally caved and went to bed around 2:30am.  As I climbed the stairs to my room…..I saw my uncle who said he was done and was going to bed too!! lol  So the 2 of us went to bed and everyone else stayed up til whenever!!

The next day I slept in til almost noon.  I was EXHAUSTED!!  I finally emerged and the rest of the family came over.  My aunt and uncle hired a taco cart to come and serve us tacos:  beef or shrimp or fish.  Can I have one of each????  They were delish! Well, the day flew by and before we knew it 2 of my cousins and I had to fly home.  I was sad to go home and cannot wait to visit my relatives again.  They are the best!!!

I am back online!!

Long time no hear….right??!!! 

The reason I have been so quiet on my blog since November (although I could have sworn it was October) is that I haven’t had a computer.  It went kaput the day after my last post!  And, since tomorrow (friday) is my birthday, I finally went out and got myself a new one. 

I finally gave in and got myself a laptop…..welcome to the 21st century.  But it’s very different and it’s taking some time to get used to using the keyboard and getting used to not having a mouse, etc…..it’s a very sensitive instrument!!!

Anyway, I’ve been working as usual and since it’s been raining almost nonstop all winter (it finally stopped this week) I have been hibernating like a bear when not working.  For those of you who do not know this…. I truly hate cold weather and never want to do ANYTHING when it’s cold or rainy.

I did agree to play on a co-ed softball team for the spring.  The season was supposed to start the beginning of March but what with the non-stop rain we’ve had here in California all of our games have been cancelled.  It looks like the weather is starting to get back to normal here in Northern California and it’s been beautiful this week.  Once the fields dry out the games will start again.  I haven’t played softball in about 5 years….and I haven’t yet been to the batting cages or anything so it outta be a lot of fun. 

Also, I strained a muscle in my arm over a month ago,  It’s starting to feel better but I’m a little nervous to play softball…..well, at least the hitting part.  It’s  made it difficult to carry the heavy plates at work and I’ve been wearing an wrist guard for added supposrt.  Fingers crossed I don’t do any further damage.

Well, that’s it for now.  I’m just happy to be back online and do something useful with this blog.

Playing Catch-Up

It’s now October…….where has the year gone?  I’ve spent most of this year unemployed and am now very happily back to work.  Unfortunately, since then I haven’t had much time to blog.  I actually have missed it but have been so very exhausted.  I have today and tomorrow off, then go back on Wednesday and then don’t have to be back until Sunday so I think it’s time I catch up on posting and finally figure out what I want this blog to really be about.  It’s just been so random, and for that I am very sorry!!

At the beginning of this year I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish by the end of 2010.  As usual many haven’t yet been started, some were semi-started and one I actually followed through with!!  I am very proud of the fact that I ran a 5K back in May.  It’s something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time and finally was able accomplish.  I have been wanting to run another and made lots of plans but several things have happened to not make it a reality as of yet.

First, as I stated earlier, I have been out of work until August so money has been tight.  I wasn’t sure how long I would be out of the workforce so I didn’t want to spend unnecessarily.  Running in races cost money not only in entering the race, but good shoes, gas money to get there, etc….  It wasn’t a necessity so I didn’t pursue it like I wanted.

Also, my many foot injuries.  I have run off and on since 2005 without incident.  2010 has been a series of injuries that I finally figured out were my shoes.  Unfortunately, good running shoes for me are about $100.00 which I haven’t been able to afford, so…….

However, since I’ve been back to work I have continued to be plagued by foot injuries.  I have been in constant pain in both feet on a daily basis since my first day of work (I went back to being a server).  That’s 6 weeks of foot pain.  After trying different things I finally figured out it was my shoes (again with the shoes).  After doing research I found a great pair and about a week ago I ran (well, actually, hobbled) over to Famous Footwear to get them.

And, yes, my feet thanked me!!!  My ankles and feet no longer swell up and I am able to get through my whole shift without wanting to cry or scream out in pain.  However, I think because it took me over a month to figure it out, I did damage which may take a long time to actually heal.

The inside of both feet right above the arch are painful to the touch.  But my left foot is in the worst shape.  The top part of my foot hurts and I have a hard time flexing or walking properly.  I can’t really bend the foot when I’m walking.  I do stretching exercises daily and that helps for a while.  Also–you know that little knot on the inside of your ankle??  Right below it is a little swollen area where the muscle is super tight and I have to massage it to make it go away and feel better.

I have had to give up my beloved flip flops and wear my athletic (non-running) shoes when I’m not at work. I’ve tried wearing my regular shoes but there isn’t much arch support without inserts.  Unfortunately, there has recently been a heatwave here where it’s been in the 90′s and 100′s!!  Luckily this week fall has finally arrived and I don’t look totally ridiculous in heavy closed in shoes!

So, I am overall just trying to baby my feet until they heal.  When I’m at home I am staying off of my feet as much as I can.  I’ve done lot’s of research and I believe I have plantar faciitis (I’ve had it before many many years ago–although NOT this bad) and a tight achilles, along with other things I’m still researching out.  Yes it’s all self-diagnosed.  I told my mom that after doing so much research every time something happens, I’ll be able to call myself “Dr” soon!! LOL

In August I didn’t really feel like running so I didn’t.  This is a yearly thing with me in August.  I don’t worry because I know that come September I am always ready to get back out there.  And, like clockwork, when September came I was ready and willing, but just not able.  I am hoping by the end of the month to start again.  Right now I couldn’t even WALK a mile let alone run.  I am more than disappointed, but what can I do??  That’s how life goes sometimes.

So, there is a little over 2 1/2 months left of 2010.  I have that amount of time to see how much I can accomplish from my to do list.  Last night I was asked to be in my cousins wedding next summer.  I was both touched and honored to be thought of and I happily said yes.  I was given a general idea of what the bridesmaid dress will be like and am excited but at the same time apprehensive because I am definitely NOT in bridesmaid dress shape of any kind.  Happily I have indeed lost 7 lbs since I started this new job–going from 174.5 lbs to, as of this morning, 167.5.  This is all from eating less and drinking a lot more water!  It has been NO problem drinking at least 8 cups of water a day now.  And, because I’m on my feet working all day, I am not sitting around eating or grazing.  So, I haven’t changed what I eat, just how much.  Go figure?!

My cousin told me the dresses will be ordered by the end of January so I have until then to see how much weight I can lose.  I am thinking 10-20 lbs is all I can safely lose in 3 months.  And that’s fine.  It’ll put me in the 140′s-150′s.  Not ideal, but tolerable.  Then I will still have until July to lose some more weight.  Hopefully that won’t create a whole new set of problems for the alterations of the dress?!?!

That’s all for now.  Here’s wishing everyone a Happy Monday and a great week!!