My health benefits were over February 28th. My husband's were to pick up where mps ended... however it is NEVER as easy as they say it will be. So, here it is March 31st and still no insurance. Our pills are running out slowly but surely and one that has run out is my sleeping pill, and it is too expensive for me to pay cash for. There is a reason I took the pill... for I do not sleep well without it.
Now there is a positive side to all this, and that is that I am fully awake at 6:42 am. I already am dressed, washed up, and clothes down the chute. So I'm thinking.... maybe it was the sleeping pills that kept me in bed all day. Maybe it was the sleeping pills that made me feel I couldn't move in the mornings til noon...
I'm going to work hard today, exercise too.... and we shall see if I earn my sleep tonight.
I'll post tomorrow for all of us to find out!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
One Step Back
It has been a long while since I have written. I did not mean to walk away from my commitment. I really do want my life to change, but I must realize that it takes awhile for such a change to happen. I have lived this poor life for way too many years.
I joined the YMCA to be with my daughter. She works there. It is good to be able to work out with her. We are exercise buddies. Unfortunately, I took her off course when I asked her to meet me at Culvers today for a burger and fries.... plus a sundae. That was not fair of me. I should be a better role model for her.
Tomorrow I plan to get up early and exercise, and then go at 7:30 after her lessons to swim with her. I owe her that. Friday she took off work. We will exercise in the afternoon.
Grant me the grace, Lord, to make this work. May I take two steps forward tomorrow...
I joined the YMCA to be with my daughter. She works there. It is good to be able to work out with her. We are exercise buddies. Unfortunately, I took her off course when I asked her to meet me at Culvers today for a burger and fries.... plus a sundae. That was not fair of me. I should be a better role model for her.
Tomorrow I plan to get up early and exercise, and then go at 7:30 after her lessons to swim with her. I owe her that. Friday she took off work. We will exercise in the afternoon.
Grant me the grace, Lord, to make this work. May I take two steps forward tomorrow...
Thursday, February 10, 2011
How can you gain 4 pounds eating salad and drinking juice?
Blue, the perfect color for me to pick for today.... why am I blue ??? I know, I weighed myself today, and found that I was up 4 lbs from yesterday. 4 lbs I gained.... and for what??? All I ate were veggies and drank juice. Two salads and two veggie soups with 2 glasses of fruit juice. Pray tell me how those choices pushed me up 4 lbs. All I can think is that something in there made me retain additional water???
What should PERK me up is that today is BellaRose's 2nd Birthday!!! My baby girl is all grown up. This is my female Samoyed. Now that she is two, we are ready to breed her. I am guessing her season is coming up in a month and a half. How exciting for us. Samoyeds of Snowy Lakes is about to be born! Taking reservations for championship bloodlined Samoyeds. Contact us at sewhoyer@gmail.com.
Today I am going to develop a menu plan for my Transformation Challenge. I am on my second day of veggies and juice today. I introduce protein tomorrow!! It is perfect timing. And, considering I gained weight eating veggies, I better get moving on joining Ballys.
Saturday is a dog match at the Waukesha Kennel Club. That is always fun. We will celebrate BellaRose's birthday with our friends at the club. I am going to go look for party hats, get some good dog treats, and bake a cake. I thought I would make a chocolate cake with chocolate icing, but then paint that silhouette of a Samoyed in white icing and sprinkle it with coconut. Chocolate chips for eyes and a nose. Wish me luck on that.
I won't have time to blog tomorrow or the weekend. I will see you all on Sunday, with results from the show.
What should PERK me up is that today is BellaRose's 2nd Birthday!!! My baby girl is all grown up. This is my female Samoyed. Now that she is two, we are ready to breed her. I am guessing her season is coming up in a month and a half. How exciting for us. Samoyeds of Snowy Lakes is about to be born! Taking reservations for championship bloodlined Samoyeds. Contact us at sewhoyer@gmail.com.
Today I am going to develop a menu plan for my Transformation Challenge. I am on my second day of veggies and juice today. I introduce protein tomorrow!! It is perfect timing. And, considering I gained weight eating veggies, I better get moving on joining Ballys.
Saturday is a dog match at the Waukesha Kennel Club. That is always fun. We will celebrate BellaRose's birthday with our friends at the club. I am going to go look for party hats, get some good dog treats, and bake a cake. I thought I would make a chocolate cake with chocolate icing, but then paint that silhouette of a Samoyed in white icing and sprinkle it with coconut. Chocolate chips for eyes and a nose. Wish me luck on that.
I won't have time to blog tomorrow or the weekend. I will see you all on Sunday, with results from the show.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
GO PACK GO!!! AND GO THEY DID!!!
It is Wednesday, and I took a break from blogging as the weekend hit, which brought on Super Bowl day! I personally am not a football fan, but who can't get into the hype of winning, and winning, and winning, and then WINNING!!!
Saturday my husband and I spent the day (and night) shopping. We needed to get some foods for the Super Bowl party. I did really well all day, but the fact that we were out all day led to the fact that I did not eat. I had my juice, but no veggies and protein as planned. I suggested a Mexican restaurant. I figured that there was my best bet of getting something with veggies and meat and at a reasonable price. I chose a burrito with shrimp, steak, and veggies like peppers and onions. It was awesome. I only ate half of the burrito, and half of the papas they offered me. Stephen very willingly ate the remainder, which I relished for then I did not have to stare at it and hear it call my name. So, I did well! Pat on my back.
Sunday, however, I took as my "day off" which is allowed on the Challenge. I started the day with eating Swedish fish. Somehow I managed to make myself believe that it was like eating Norwegian salmon. I had chocolate poptarts (2) and when I went to the Super Bowl party at my sister's.... well, I ate some of the snacks, a portion of lasagna, lots of the salad, bread, and red velvet cake. I enjoyed every morsel that entered my mouth.
On Monday, I started again with only juice. So, today I am at veggies. I plan to go downstairs after my shower and indulge myself in the left over salad I brought home from the Super Bowl. That along side a hot cup of veggie soup... wash it down with some apple juice, I'll be all good.
I really am focused on finishing out this weight loss. The parties are over, now that we're in the dead of winter - no holidays, no more parties.... just a few dog shows coming up. I can manage those, no problem. For I know I need this to happen. My life was in a rut, and I am shoveling my way out. Slow but sure goes the turtle.... but as we all can remember - the turtle wins in the end
Saturday my husband and I spent the day (and night) shopping. We needed to get some foods for the Super Bowl party. I did really well all day, but the fact that we were out all day led to the fact that I did not eat. I had my juice, but no veggies and protein as planned. I suggested a Mexican restaurant. I figured that there was my best bet of getting something with veggies and meat and at a reasonable price. I chose a burrito with shrimp, steak, and veggies like peppers and onions. It was awesome. I only ate half of the burrito, and half of the papas they offered me. Stephen very willingly ate the remainder, which I relished for then I did not have to stare at it and hear it call my name. So, I did well! Pat on my back.
Sunday, however, I took as my "day off" which is allowed on the Challenge. I started the day with eating Swedish fish. Somehow I managed to make myself believe that it was like eating Norwegian salmon. I had chocolate poptarts (2) and when I went to the Super Bowl party at my sister's.... well, I ate some of the snacks, a portion of lasagna, lots of the salad, bread, and red velvet cake. I enjoyed every morsel that entered my mouth.
On Monday, I started again with only juice. So, today I am at veggies. I plan to go downstairs after my shower and indulge myself in the left over salad I brought home from the Super Bowl. That along side a hot cup of veggie soup... wash it down with some apple juice, I'll be all good.
I really am focused on finishing out this weight loss. The parties are over, now that we're in the dead of winter - no holidays, no more parties.... just a few dog shows coming up. I can manage those, no problem. For I know I need this to happen. My life was in a rut, and I am shoveling my way out. Slow but sure goes the turtle.... but as we all can remember - the turtle wins in the end
Friday, February 4, 2011
Yesterday it crept on me. Like a cold wind swirling up my spine, and as it hits my brain a faucet turned on, the sobbing began. February 3, 2010 was the day my life as I knew it changed forever.
I had fallen back in December - a hard fall. The hospital and the doctors did not find anything. I went on my merry way, but day after day my pain got a little bit worse. Nothing the physical therapist did was helping. I started out "walking on the desks" where as I'd go up and down the aisles of my classroom, I'd use the children's desks to support me. Soon, I had to bring out my cane. I needed more support, especially going into the hallway. After winter break, I had to bring out the big guns - the walker. I needed even more stability. Then February 3 rolled around. A day as usual, using the walker, teaching the kids. The last hour of the day arrived. The children were particularly hyped. I had taught the lesson, and their were to be working with partners on the assignment when I noticed a boy up front agitated about his partner. I moved toward them when I saw what was happening was that the partner had a blade of some sort in his hand and was lunging it toward the boy's arms. Scratching the desk as the boy luckily got away from the threat.
I must have uttered something, probably OMG, and the partner jumped up and headed toward the door. Without thinking I just took off after him, my walker not in hand. As I went up that aisle, I felt something happen in my left upper leg. I can not put a word to the feeling except maybe "weird". Yeah, it felt weird. It did not hurt, as it happened... I just noticed "something" happened. I went back to settling the kids, and the day shortly ended.
When I got up to release the students, however, that "weird" feeling started to pain me. As I walked with the students as they filed out the classroom, that pain became more and more worrisome. After the students were all bundled up and out the building, I went to my computer to do some grading. I could feel the pain, now, just as I was sitting. I called Stephen to tell him about the pain. He reminded me that I was to stop at Sam's Club to pick up the cheesecake treats for dog training that night. We were celebrating a great win our BellaRose, who is our sweet girl Samoyed, had the previous weekend with our friends at the kennel club. I signed off the computer and headed to the car. With each step that pain worsened. I got to Sam's Club, took the walker out to help me get to a cart. Folded the walker and placed it in the cart and headed straight back to the frozen foods to get the frozen treats. For me to go straight back showed how much pain I must have been in for I did not look left or right as I stayed on course for the frozen foods. I grabbed the box, turned the cart around, eyes set on the cash registers. I could barely get my left leg to move. The pain was getting unbearable. The cashier saw it in my eyes, and asked if there was anyway she could help. "No," I said, my car is right out front. I just need to get to my car." Several people stopped and asked how they could help, but all I could think is, "Let me get to my car." And I finally got there. I took the walker and cheesecake out of the cart up by the front of the car. I managed my way back to the side door and put in my things. Closed the door.... and there it was, just a few inches from me... the driver's door. I could no longer move. I was dragged myself to the handle and got the door open, but now I had to move in closer to get into the seat...and I could not do it. In tears, sobbing, straining, I COULD NOT MOVE even those few inches. A woman was passing by and asked how she could help, ad this time I took the favor. "Please, can you help me get into my car?" She was able to help me up toward the seat. My right leg was able to hoist me, while the woman helped bring my left leg in.
"Will you be able to drive?" she questioned me with a very concerned look.
"I just need to get to my husband, he is just down the road at the kennel club," I said focusing my next step to get me home and out of this pain. I pulled off, like a robot. I no longer could think. I was going forward, toward the goal, just get me there, I prayed.
Before I left Sam's Club's parking lot, I called Stephen. Told him how much pain I was in and on my way. When I got to the Expo Center where the dog training was, Stephen came out the door with Sandy, our male prince's breeder. I was sobbing, "I don't know what's wrong with me!!" Now everyone is in front of my car door telling me to go to the hospital. I hadn't even thought about the hospital for emergency rooms have never worked for me. Heck, on the hardest fall of my life, they just x-rayed me and sent me on my merry way. I just could not see how a hospital could help me, but to give me pain meds and send me on my way.
We decided I should go to our Oconomowoc house that was closer. I put the car on auto-pilot while Stephen followed me home. I pulled into the driveway, put the car in neutral, and just broke down in fear. I was crying uncontrolably. Stephen stood at the driver's side door, dogs on leash. I rolled down my window and he asked,"What are you going to do?"
I kept saying," I don't know what to do," over and over again. It was as if those were the only words I could muster out of my brain. Stephen got fed up and decided to take the dogs into the house. Annelore came out. She jumped in the passenger seat and just listened. I slowly became to realize that there wasn't any way that I would be able to get into the house. Even if I could make it to the stoop, no way would I be able to make it up the step... and certainly not upstairs to the bedroom. Now, the decision was which hospital to go to....
I was told it had to be my back, in January when I saw my orthopaedic surgeon. The spine doctor was more than happy to take the blame. I was sent to physical therapy and basically told, "Come back again when you are ready for surgery." It was thought my leg issues had to be caused by a pinched nerve. So now, do I go to Froedert Hospital because that is where the spine doctor is??? Do I go to St. Luke's where my orthopaedic surgeon is??? Or do I drive around the corner to Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital??? I was all jumbled up.
Time was ticking and it was going on 11pm. Hours of sitting in the car crying. Stephen came back and took the passenger seat. I went over all my thoughts with him and it became clearer that I might as well just go around the corner than to drive 30 miles to the other hospitals. So I put the car in reverse, and down the driveway I went with my mind made up.... or was it? I got to the corner of hwy 67 and I still had to ask myself, "Do I turn left or should I turn right and go to 94?" The light turned green and I let God direct my turn and left it was. I was on my short drive to Oconomowoc Hospital.
I got there and Stephen ran in to tell them the problem. Two big men came out with a couple women. I just could not let myself out of the car. The pain was too great. One of the big guys just reached into the car, wrapped his arms around me as I S C R E A M E D in torturing pain! He got me in that wheelchair. My body wrenching in pain I entered the emergency. They took me back to a room and now I was to get up in the bed. I just looked at those big guys again, with tears running down my cheeks. I knew what would happen next, and it wouldn't be pretty. I had hit pain level 10. I felt as if I would pass out. I would have welcomed it....but no, I had to live it. Not even childbearing put me to that level.
The rest of the days were a blur, probably due to a lot of pain medication. I know they worked with me to try to walk, but it was not going very well. The day they forced me to take a step up, the number 10 pain shot through me again. So, it was decided I had to go to a rehab facility.
My great insurance allowed me to go to the Cadillac of rehabs, Wisconsin Rehabilitation Hospital. It is a wonderful place. Their focus is to work you intensely to get you home quickly. Exercise all day, breaking only for lunch. The doctors, nurses, pt people.... everyone very positive and effective. My time there was drawing to a close. Three weeks of being in this extremely expensive facility was adding up. Insurance was pushing them to make a decision. Everyone thought I was ready to go home. I could work on the rest of the therapy as an out patient.
It was a Friday, a beautiful day at the end of February, my daughter Krystal picked me up from the hospital. Her car filled to the rim with all my accumulated things, I was moving out. I got home. Annelore was there to greet me. Stephen was off to Virginia to get me his father's electric wheelchair. The thought was I could go back to work using that chair. I was anxious to get back to my kids. I missed them greatly, but I knew I needed to be faster than them... and that they knew that I could. My manual wheelchair just wouldn't do.
Annelore and I set out to fix me up on the downstairs futon. I managed to clean up the place with her help all from the wheel chair. We got the place looking good enough to invite my parents over Sunday, them bringing dinner. Things were going well. Mom asked how much walking I had been doing, afraid I was too complacent in the wheel chair. I agreed that "tomorrow" I would get up and practice walking, and I did.
Monday morning came and I still had energy after getting myself washed up and dressed. I got up and took the walker and went into the kitchen to start lunch. Annelore would be coming home for her break, and I wanted to be prepared. The visiting nurse would be arriving at noon to teach Annelore how to do the iv.
Annelore came shortly before noon. The nurse came promptly at noon. I met her at the door, walking. We celebrated my accomplishments, as we waited for the antibiotic to fuse in. The plan for the day was Annelore would help me into the car, I was going to drive to Milwaukee and pick up Stephen at the VA. Then the two of us were going to my school to set it up for teaching with me in my electric wheelchair. I was excited! Tomorrow I was to go back to school.
The nurse finished up with me and headed out the door. It was time for Annelore to head back to work, so she got my coat. I tried to get out of the wheelchair. I could not stand. The horrendous pain was back, and with a vengeance. What the ???? I had just been up, no pain at all, working in the kitchen just a few hours before. I had to give up, Annelore was late by this point. I took my phone and sadly called Stephen to say I wasn't coming. Even more sadly, I had to call my school and tell them I had a back slide, and would need to take a little longer to get back. I felt horrible. The kids would have been told I would be back on Tuesday, and I was not there.
As the night progressed, I stayed in the wheelchair. It came time to get ready for bed, and I still could not get myself out of the wheelchair. I tried and tried, and the pain was too much for me to handle. Stephen had to place me into the futon bed and bring me a bedpan. I could not even use the toilet. I was convinced all I needed was some sleep...some rest lying down, and I would be alright in the morning.
TO BE CONTINUED>>>>>>>
I
I had fallen back in December - a hard fall. The hospital and the doctors did not find anything. I went on my merry way, but day after day my pain got a little bit worse. Nothing the physical therapist did was helping. I started out "walking on the desks" where as I'd go up and down the aisles of my classroom, I'd use the children's desks to support me. Soon, I had to bring out my cane. I needed more support, especially going into the hallway. After winter break, I had to bring out the big guns - the walker. I needed even more stability. Then February 3 rolled around. A day as usual, using the walker, teaching the kids. The last hour of the day arrived. The children were particularly hyped. I had taught the lesson, and their were to be working with partners on the assignment when I noticed a boy up front agitated about his partner. I moved toward them when I saw what was happening was that the partner had a blade of some sort in his hand and was lunging it toward the boy's arms. Scratching the desk as the boy luckily got away from the threat.
I must have uttered something, probably OMG, and the partner jumped up and headed toward the door. Without thinking I just took off after him, my walker not in hand. As I went up that aisle, I felt something happen in my left upper leg. I can not put a word to the feeling except maybe "weird". Yeah, it felt weird. It did not hurt, as it happened... I just noticed "something" happened. I went back to settling the kids, and the day shortly ended.
When I got up to release the students, however, that "weird" feeling started to pain me. As I walked with the students as they filed out the classroom, that pain became more and more worrisome. After the students were all bundled up and out the building, I went to my computer to do some grading. I could feel the pain, now, just as I was sitting. I called Stephen to tell him about the pain. He reminded me that I was to stop at Sam's Club to pick up the cheesecake treats for dog training that night. We were celebrating a great win our BellaRose, who is our sweet girl Samoyed, had the previous weekend with our friends at the kennel club. I signed off the computer and headed to the car. With each step that pain worsened. I got to Sam's Club, took the walker out to help me get to a cart. Folded the walker and placed it in the cart and headed straight back to the frozen foods to get the frozen treats. For me to go straight back showed how much pain I must have been in for I did not look left or right as I stayed on course for the frozen foods. I grabbed the box, turned the cart around, eyes set on the cash registers. I could barely get my left leg to move. The pain was getting unbearable. The cashier saw it in my eyes, and asked if there was anyway she could help. "No," I said, my car is right out front. I just need to get to my car." Several people stopped and asked how they could help, but all I could think is, "Let me get to my car." And I finally got there. I took the walker and cheesecake out of the cart up by the front of the car. I managed my way back to the side door and put in my things. Closed the door.... and there it was, just a few inches from me... the driver's door. I could no longer move. I was dragged myself to the handle and got the door open, but now I had to move in closer to get into the seat...and I could not do it. In tears, sobbing, straining, I COULD NOT MOVE even those few inches. A woman was passing by and asked how she could help, ad this time I took the favor. "Please, can you help me get into my car?" She was able to help me up toward the seat. My right leg was able to hoist me, while the woman helped bring my left leg in.
"Will you be able to drive?" she questioned me with a very concerned look.
"I just need to get to my husband, he is just down the road at the kennel club," I said focusing my next step to get me home and out of this pain. I pulled off, like a robot. I no longer could think. I was going forward, toward the goal, just get me there, I prayed.
Before I left Sam's Club's parking lot, I called Stephen. Told him how much pain I was in and on my way. When I got to the Expo Center where the dog training was, Stephen came out the door with Sandy, our male prince's breeder. I was sobbing, "I don't know what's wrong with me!!" Now everyone is in front of my car door telling me to go to the hospital. I hadn't even thought about the hospital for emergency rooms have never worked for me. Heck, on the hardest fall of my life, they just x-rayed me and sent me on my merry way. I just could not see how a hospital could help me, but to give me pain meds and send me on my way.
We decided I should go to our Oconomowoc house that was closer. I put the car on auto-pilot while Stephen followed me home. I pulled into the driveway, put the car in neutral, and just broke down in fear. I was crying uncontrolably. Stephen stood at the driver's side door, dogs on leash. I rolled down my window and he asked,"What are you going to do?"
I kept saying," I don't know what to do," over and over again. It was as if those were the only words I could muster out of my brain. Stephen got fed up and decided to take the dogs into the house. Annelore came out. She jumped in the passenger seat and just listened. I slowly became to realize that there wasn't any way that I would be able to get into the house. Even if I could make it to the stoop, no way would I be able to make it up the step... and certainly not upstairs to the bedroom. Now, the decision was which hospital to go to....
I was told it had to be my back, in January when I saw my orthopaedic surgeon. The spine doctor was more than happy to take the blame. I was sent to physical therapy and basically told, "Come back again when you are ready for surgery." It was thought my leg issues had to be caused by a pinched nerve. So now, do I go to Froedert Hospital because that is where the spine doctor is??? Do I go to St. Luke's where my orthopaedic surgeon is??? Or do I drive around the corner to Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital??? I was all jumbled up.
Time was ticking and it was going on 11pm. Hours of sitting in the car crying. Stephen came back and took the passenger seat. I went over all my thoughts with him and it became clearer that I might as well just go around the corner than to drive 30 miles to the other hospitals. So I put the car in reverse, and down the driveway I went with my mind made up.... or was it? I got to the corner of hwy 67 and I still had to ask myself, "Do I turn left or should I turn right and go to 94?" The light turned green and I let God direct my turn and left it was. I was on my short drive to Oconomowoc Hospital.
I got there and Stephen ran in to tell them the problem. Two big men came out with a couple women. I just could not let myself out of the car. The pain was too great. One of the big guys just reached into the car, wrapped his arms around me as I S C R E A M E D in torturing pain! He got me in that wheelchair. My body wrenching in pain I entered the emergency. They took me back to a room and now I was to get up in the bed. I just looked at those big guys again, with tears running down my cheeks. I knew what would happen next, and it wouldn't be pretty. I had hit pain level 10. I felt as if I would pass out. I would have welcomed it....but no, I had to live it. Not even childbearing put me to that level.
The rest of the days were a blur, probably due to a lot of pain medication. I know they worked with me to try to walk, but it was not going very well. The day they forced me to take a step up, the number 10 pain shot through me again. So, it was decided I had to go to a rehab facility.
My great insurance allowed me to go to the Cadillac of rehabs, Wisconsin Rehabilitation Hospital. It is a wonderful place. Their focus is to work you intensely to get you home quickly. Exercise all day, breaking only for lunch. The doctors, nurses, pt people.... everyone very positive and effective. My time there was drawing to a close. Three weeks of being in this extremely expensive facility was adding up. Insurance was pushing them to make a decision. Everyone thought I was ready to go home. I could work on the rest of the therapy as an out patient.
It was a Friday, a beautiful day at the end of February, my daughter Krystal picked me up from the hospital. Her car filled to the rim with all my accumulated things, I was moving out. I got home. Annelore was there to greet me. Stephen was off to Virginia to get me his father's electric wheelchair. The thought was I could go back to work using that chair. I was anxious to get back to my kids. I missed them greatly, but I knew I needed to be faster than them... and that they knew that I could. My manual wheelchair just wouldn't do.
Annelore and I set out to fix me up on the downstairs futon. I managed to clean up the place with her help all from the wheel chair. We got the place looking good enough to invite my parents over Sunday, them bringing dinner. Things were going well. Mom asked how much walking I had been doing, afraid I was too complacent in the wheel chair. I agreed that "tomorrow" I would get up and practice walking, and I did.
Monday morning came and I still had energy after getting myself washed up and dressed. I got up and took the walker and went into the kitchen to start lunch. Annelore would be coming home for her break, and I wanted to be prepared. The visiting nurse would be arriving at noon to teach Annelore how to do the iv.
Annelore came shortly before noon. The nurse came promptly at noon. I met her at the door, walking. We celebrated my accomplishments, as we waited for the antibiotic to fuse in. The plan for the day was Annelore would help me into the car, I was going to drive to Milwaukee and pick up Stephen at the VA. Then the two of us were going to my school to set it up for teaching with me in my electric wheelchair. I was excited! Tomorrow I was to go back to school.
The nurse finished up with me and headed out the door. It was time for Annelore to head back to work, so she got my coat. I tried to get out of the wheelchair. I could not stand. The horrendous pain was back, and with a vengeance. What the ???? I had just been up, no pain at all, working in the kitchen just a few hours before. I had to give up, Annelore was late by this point. I took my phone and sadly called Stephen to say I wasn't coming. Even more sadly, I had to call my school and tell them I had a back slide, and would need to take a little longer to get back. I felt horrible. The kids would have been told I would be back on Tuesday, and I was not there.
As the night progressed, I stayed in the wheelchair. It came time to get ready for bed, and I still could not get myself out of the wheelchair. I tried and tried, and the pain was too much for me to handle. Stephen had to place me into the futon bed and bring me a bedpan. I could not even use the toilet. I was convinced all I needed was some sleep...some rest lying down, and I would be alright in the morning.
TO BE CONTINUED>>>>>>>
I
Thursday, February 3, 2011
The Aftermath of the Blizzard
The Blizzard of 2011 has hit and is gone. Two days of sitting indoors watching the snow blow and the world freeze. Not the best of days to start a new lifestyle where food is limited... But what a great feeling, for I made it! Yes, I stayed two days on juice only. I feel pretty good, too. Today I add veggies to my menu.
I worried about the jeans I put on yesterday. I wanted to stick to my larger jeans so I would not feel how much I allowed myself to gain. However, I did not want to go down into the basement to find those larger jeans, and put on a pair I had upstairs. As it turned out, those jeans were SOOOOO baggy!!! YEAH!!!! Made me feel fab-u-lous!
Yesterday I did part 2 of Bill Phillip's Transformations. It consisted of committing to an exercise plan. I knew I was not going to get out to the gym, but I wanted to be ready for when I did get to go. It looks like everything is a go for me to go today. I got some of my exercise wear out and ready. I know where my goggles are. I found my gym bag. Now all I need is my swimsuit, swim cap, and a lock.
I will stop at the grocery store and get that juice that is a full serving of fruit and veggies today. I also plan to pick up some soups that are all veggies for lunch. I'll also stop at the hardware store and get a lock...oh yeah, I need a towel, too.... don't forget that. Oh, and soaps and shampoos..... and oils and creams.... I got some packing to still do.
I want this to happen, oh yes I do. I want to be able to walk my dogs... I want to be able to play with them out in the dog park. I want to show our new dog when we get her. I want to enjoy life like I've never enjoyed it before.
I want... a lot... and I deserve it!
I worried about the jeans I put on yesterday. I wanted to stick to my larger jeans so I would not feel how much I allowed myself to gain. However, I did not want to go down into the basement to find those larger jeans, and put on a pair I had upstairs. As it turned out, those jeans were SOOOOO baggy!!! YEAH!!!! Made me feel fab-u-lous!
Yesterday I did part 2 of Bill Phillip's Transformations. It consisted of committing to an exercise plan. I knew I was not going to get out to the gym, but I wanted to be ready for when I did get to go. It looks like everything is a go for me to go today. I got some of my exercise wear out and ready. I know where my goggles are. I found my gym bag. Now all I need is my swimsuit, swim cap, and a lock.
I will stop at the grocery store and get that juice that is a full serving of fruit and veggies today. I also plan to pick up some soups that are all veggies for lunch. I'll also stop at the hardware store and get a lock...oh yeah, I need a towel, too.... don't forget that. Oh, and soaps and shampoos..... and oils and creams.... I got some packing to still do.
I want this to happen, oh yes I do. I want to be able to walk my dogs... I want to be able to play with them out in the dog park. I want to show our new dog when we get her. I want to enjoy life like I've never enjoyed it before.
I want... a lot... and I deserve it!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The Second Helping
I did it! I managed to stay true to my goal of only fruit juice on day one. I spent all the morning and some of the afternoon on the computer. I fixed up this blogging site and then went to Google Bill Phillips. Bill Phillips is widely regarded as today's most successful fitness author - Body for Life - Eating for Life - and now an updated version titled Transformations. In his dedication to his book "Eating for Life" he writes: I am happy to dedicate this book to anyone and everyone who, like me, loves food and also desires to live a healthy life, in a fit body. Those words encompass my goals so eloquently.
The detoxing of my body is on track, so today's focus is on setting up my exercise goals. Unfortunately, and maybe fortunately, yesterday and today has brought Wisconsin one of the worst blizzards in history, or so they say. No one should be going anywhere. Schools and some work was closed early yesterday and closed for today. My husband Stephen was up at 4am to blow out the drive way to get to his work at the VA Hospital. He was to pick up a doctor on the way. He got stuck on the exit going to that doctor's home. It is that bad, and Wisconsinites are not known to give up easily in the snow. So here I sit for two days now, unable to go to the fitness center I am planning to rejoin. But the good of that is it gives me time to think out my goals and organize my exercises so that when I do get to the gym, I will be able to ask the right questions and just slip in the name of the machine, etc.
I love to swim. Always have. My mother tells a story of me at only 2 years old going swimming in Lake Michigan at Bradford Beach. Funny hearing that story, for in my teen years I loved riding my bike down to that beach and sitting on the lifeguard benches trying to figure out the meaning of life. I introduced my own children to the water as infants by joining "Mommy and Me" swim lessons at Shorewood High School. "Blow bubbles, my sweet babies." And how they blew those bubbles, right into being on swim teams, becoming swim coaches, and lifeguards - all three of them. Krystal, my oldest, at age 31 still works for the county running the pools in the summer and training the lifeguards all winter while coaching both girl's and boy's high school swim. My youngest daughter, Annelore, has made a career out of lifeguarding as well. I guess those swim lessons paid off, huh?
Well to get back to MY goals, my favorite part of exercise will be swimming. I doubt I can get my heart rate up for long enough swimming at first, but I definitely plan on starting to build on it. I begin with stretching in the pool first, as I am getting use to the temperature. I reach high, I do side bends, pull and push out my back, and stretch out my legs. The swimming routine begins with breast, free, back, breast. My first 3 days in the pool will be 3 sets of that routine. I will build by adding one more set every 3 days until I get my stamina back and my heart rate up.
Also for cardio I am planning to bike. My husband loves to bike and enjoys going on the MS150 for years now. I would love to accompany him this August on a bike, and not in the car. I will start on a recumbent bike and build myself to a regular bike. My knee replacements have made me a bit weary of regular bikes. My balance seems to be off. Now that I also have a new hip, I do not even know how that will complicate matters. But as they say, it is like riding a bike - so let me get on it and take a spin!
For weight training, I will be using Bill Phillip's succession. He has a journal that goes with his book "Body for Life where he has workout worksheets already set up. I am planning on getting a little notebook that I can easily carry with me as I go from machine to machine and verify my weights and sets. I look forward to tomorrow when the roads will be cleared and I can get to that gym! I get a free week and I plan to make the most of it as I set everything up and begin my being "fit for life"!
Run down, today is day two of detox - water and juice only. Tomorrow I introduce vegetables. I look forward to salad, carrots, and mixed veggies. Always nice to have something to look forward to...
The detoxing of my body is on track, so today's focus is on setting up my exercise goals. Unfortunately, and maybe fortunately, yesterday and today has brought Wisconsin one of the worst blizzards in history, or so they say. No one should be going anywhere. Schools and some work was closed early yesterday and closed for today. My husband Stephen was up at 4am to blow out the drive way to get to his work at the VA Hospital. He was to pick up a doctor on the way. He got stuck on the exit going to that doctor's home. It is that bad, and Wisconsinites are not known to give up easily in the snow. So here I sit for two days now, unable to go to the fitness center I am planning to rejoin. But the good of that is it gives me time to think out my goals and organize my exercises so that when I do get to the gym, I will be able to ask the right questions and just slip in the name of the machine, etc.
I love to swim. Always have. My mother tells a story of me at only 2 years old going swimming in Lake Michigan at Bradford Beach. Funny hearing that story, for in my teen years I loved riding my bike down to that beach and sitting on the lifeguard benches trying to figure out the meaning of life. I introduced my own children to the water as infants by joining "Mommy and Me" swim lessons at Shorewood High School. "Blow bubbles, my sweet babies." And how they blew those bubbles, right into being on swim teams, becoming swim coaches, and lifeguards - all three of them. Krystal, my oldest, at age 31 still works for the county running the pools in the summer and training the lifeguards all winter while coaching both girl's and boy's high school swim. My youngest daughter, Annelore, has made a career out of lifeguarding as well. I guess those swim lessons paid off, huh?
Well to get back to MY goals, my favorite part of exercise will be swimming. I doubt I can get my heart rate up for long enough swimming at first, but I definitely plan on starting to build on it. I begin with stretching in the pool first, as I am getting use to the temperature. I reach high, I do side bends, pull and push out my back, and stretch out my legs. The swimming routine begins with breast, free, back, breast. My first 3 days in the pool will be 3 sets of that routine. I will build by adding one more set every 3 days until I get my stamina back and my heart rate up.
Also for cardio I am planning to bike. My husband loves to bike and enjoys going on the MS150 for years now. I would love to accompany him this August on a bike, and not in the car. I will start on a recumbent bike and build myself to a regular bike. My knee replacements have made me a bit weary of regular bikes. My balance seems to be off. Now that I also have a new hip, I do not even know how that will complicate matters. But as they say, it is like riding a bike - so let me get on it and take a spin!
For weight training, I will be using Bill Phillip's succession. He has a journal that goes with his book "Body for Life where he has workout worksheets already set up. I am planning on getting a little notebook that I can easily carry with me as I go from machine to machine and verify my weights and sets. I look forward to tomorrow when the roads will be cleared and I can get to that gym! I get a free week and I plan to make the most of it as I set everything up and begin my being "fit for life"!
Run down, today is day two of detox - water and juice only. Tomorrow I introduce vegetables. I look forward to salad, carrots, and mixed veggies. Always nice to have something to look forward to...
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Today is the First Day of the Rest of My Life
I've journaled before. I've promised myself a new life before. However, today is different. Today I say it in firm voice, I am going to change my life. Time and time again, I have let life just pass by me. I have lost my chance over and over again. I would tell my students, "Today is the only today you get. After today, it will be tomorrow. Do not let today pass you by without making it count, for you can not go back and do it over." Today I am going to make a difference! Starting today, starting this moment, I am going to grow into the me I have always wanted to be. I know it will not happen overnight. It has taken me 54 years, 5 months, and 14 days to become who I was. I will have to be vigilant at this makeover, for I know I do not want it to take 54 plus years for me to change into who I want to be, who I need me to be.
First and foremost I want to be healthy, I want to FEEL healthy. I will accomplish this by putting only good foods into my body. I have researched and read all the ingredients in dog food, wanting only the best for my Samoyeds... and yet, I have deluged my own body with crap. What was I thinking? I begin today with drinking water, hydrating me. I will drink juices, not soda. I will eat fruit, not candy. I will eat vegetables, not chips. I am starting with water and juice today and tomorrow. Thursday I will introduce vegetables. Saturday I will introduce fruit.
I am going to Bally Total Fitness in Brookfield today. I am going to look into what it will take for me to get my contract with them back. I will be doing cardio fitness and weight training to exercise my heart and my muscles and get me walking again. I have let my body linger too long. My muscles have atrophied to the point that even thinking about getting up overwhelms me. I brought out my Bill Phillips books. I believe in his Body for Life information and know it can be a tool to sculpt my body and offer me the strength I need.
I weighed in yesterday as the old me. On my scale I was 272.8 lbs with 48.5 % body fat and 37.5% water. My BMI was 41.5. My size 26 jeans started feeling tight again. I looked bad. It made me sick to see that I let my weight creep back up. What was I thinking?
NOT ANY MORE.... From now on I will look at myself in the mirror and be proud of what I am doing. I will know I am doing myself right. I will feel good about myself. Every day will be a step closer to who I really am to be. Every day I will feel better as I get stronger. I can feel it already within me. This is good.
I have had a quote on my emails and in my ims from Ghandi... We must become the change we want to see in the world. I am becoming that change...do you see me world?
First and foremost I want to be healthy, I want to FEEL healthy. I will accomplish this by putting only good foods into my body. I have researched and read all the ingredients in dog food, wanting only the best for my Samoyeds... and yet, I have deluged my own body with crap. What was I thinking? I begin today with drinking water, hydrating me. I will drink juices, not soda. I will eat fruit, not candy. I will eat vegetables, not chips. I am starting with water and juice today and tomorrow. Thursday I will introduce vegetables. Saturday I will introduce fruit.
I am going to Bally Total Fitness in Brookfield today. I am going to look into what it will take for me to get my contract with them back. I will be doing cardio fitness and weight training to exercise my heart and my muscles and get me walking again. I have let my body linger too long. My muscles have atrophied to the point that even thinking about getting up overwhelms me. I brought out my Bill Phillips books. I believe in his Body for Life information and know it can be a tool to sculpt my body and offer me the strength I need.
I weighed in yesterday as the old me. On my scale I was 272.8 lbs with 48.5 % body fat and 37.5% water. My BMI was 41.5. My size 26 jeans started feeling tight again. I looked bad. It made me sick to see that I let my weight creep back up. What was I thinking?
NOT ANY MORE.... From now on I will look at myself in the mirror and be proud of what I am doing. I will know I am doing myself right. I will feel good about myself. Every day will be a step closer to who I really am to be. Every day I will feel better as I get stronger. I can feel it already within me. This is good.
I have had a quote on my emails and in my ims from Ghandi... We must become the change we want to see in the world. I am becoming that change...do you see me world?
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