Weekend Warrior #11

Weekend Warrior #11

by | May 7, 2017 | Weekend Warrior

Yesterday was busier than I had planned it to be.  Also, I was still fighting an almost week long migraine and was still not feeling so good yesterday.  So I took a nap in the middle of that busy day, and it ran longer than I had planned.  When you fall back to sleep on a Saturday after you woke up and turned off the alarm, obviously the nap was a necessary thing.

In the morning, I attended the #BUTTBLITZ2017.  You can read all about it here: Butt Picking in the Rain It was my third year volunteering at this event, and I stayed dry by working at the event table and running the numbers.

Insert lunch and a nap here.

Then I woke up to the phone ringing.  I had an invitation to join some friends to play Cards Against Humanity.  They have mixed in 4 booster decks and a Kinderperfect deck. Hilarity, Margarita Moments, and the consumption of adult beverages were just what I needed to kick the migraine out of my head.  I am glad I decided to join in for a night of fun!

Today, I must scramble to resume the kitchen to its shape of last weekend.  When the dishwasher is running, I will also be prep cooking.  That is probably going to fill up my Sunday.  I need to be ready for the upcoming week, and today is when I have the time, and more importantly, I feel like doing it.  Soon after I publish this story, I will be making something to eat and heading into my kitchen.  Coffee will be consumed with the meal.

I think it stopped raining!  That sentence has an exclamation point because there is a flood watch here this weekend.  It happens every year, and they were not expecting it to be too bad this year.  It is bad for some areas, there have been evacuations and roads are blocked also.  I am staying home today, and my house and street are still OK.  If I get a chance, I may go take some pictures of the flooded areas, but that will be another day and another story.

What are you up to this weekend?

 

Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 11

Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 11

by | May 4, 2017 | Trust Your Gut

 

Trust Your Gut is a series of stories about real people with weight issues, and complications arising from those issues.  It will explain what the person is facing, what their options are, what they have decided to do to take action, and why they chose the path they are on.  Each person’s story will be based on truth, so it won’t all be happy, but it will be real.  The goal of this series is to get people talking about options that are available for people who have weight issues, on either end of the scale.  If you would like to contribute to this series, there is a contact form linked on my Homepage for this blog.  I know there are people out there that want to help people like them; as I do.

 

The names here may or may not reflect the person’s real name.  If someone wants to remain unknown, we will choose a different name for that person’s story.  The goal is to help people, and anonymity is a valid personal choice for contributors.  I will use a person’s name only if they give permission to do so.

This week I am pleased to share another of my own stories.

Here is  Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 11

I bought my first tankini. I went to one store and tried on the one piece swimsuits.  I was disappointed.  So I had to go outside of my comfort zone.  The people working there were helpful.  They told me that the best thing about a 2 piece was that if you had to go to the bathroom, it was a lot easier.  I thought about that and decided to try on a tankini.

The style I chose has a tank top and shorts.  Everything is still covered.  Just like a normal bathing suit.  The shorts are comfortable.  The top was a challenge.  I need support, but didn’t find the right kind in the first few tops I tried on.  Support in a swimsuit = constrictive.  It felt too tight.  So I kept trying on different tops until I found one that fit right in that area.

Then it was the wrong style.  Of course.  So the search continued.  I settled on a striped one that looks just like a tank top.  Then I went swimming.  The top floats!  I didn’t want one that did that, and I was assured that they don’t do that now.  That was my main reason for wanting a one piece.  I was a little paranoid at first.  There is a built-in bikini support in the top.  So I just fussed with it a lot but had a good time swimming.  It will be OK for Aquacise, I think.  It will take some getting used to but I think it will work better than my old swimsuits.  It actually fits and was a size smaller than the other ones I tried.  Yay me!

While travelling this past weekend, I let the plan slide a little.  I didn’t overeat.  I ate healthy choices when I could.  I ate, and I didn’t worry too much about it.  Sometimes life takes priority.  You do what you can, and let it slide a little.  Then you have to get back on track.  For me, prep cooking helps me to stay on track.  I have to do the work so that when I want to take the easy way out, the easy way IS to stay on plan.  I have learned this while on THM, and I am the only person that can make those choices for me, so ultimately, it is up to me.

A friend introduced me to spaghetti squash.  I was reluctant to try it.  I do like squash as a side dish, but I had never tried spaghetti squash before.

It sat in my kitchen for a week before I bit the bullet and tried it.

I was pleasantly surprised!  I now eat spaghetti squash a couple of times a month.  It is good with spaghetti sauce.  It is good in spaghetti pie.  It is good in casseroles.  The verdict is that I like it.

When we have spaghetti, I have spaghetti squash instead of the pasta.  I load the sauce on it, and the parmesan cheese and eat until I am full.  Without the tired feeling that I get when I eat pasta.  I call it SPAGHETTI SALAD! What a wonderful gift my friend gave me when she told me to take that spaghetti squash home to try it.  If you haven’t tried spaghetti squash, try it with an open mind.  It really is worth it for me, and if you like it, you can thank me for the tip after you try it.

If you don’t know how to cook it, I didn’t either.  Here is a link for cooking it in the microwave or the oven:

How to cook a spaghetti squash in the microwave or the oven

I found this link and the one below in my own internet searches, all credit goes to the authors of the instructional pages.  The other method I can recommend is the slow cooker.  You can find the instructions for that here:

How to cook spaghetti squash in a slow cooker aka crock pot.

So my tip for you this week is to try spaghetti squash if you have never tried it before.  If you already love it, maybe try it in a new recipe, or try another healthy recipe that you have been hesitant to cook for whatever reason.  Just go for it!  And comment below if you did.  Let me know how it turns out!

Do you have a favourite way to cook spaghetti squash or a favourite recipe for making spaghetti squash?

Weekend Warrior #11

Weekend Warrior #10

by | Apr 29, 2017 | Weekend Warrior

First thing is first.  I have washed all of the dishes.  ALL OF THEM!  With that being said, I am breathing a sigh of relief!  Now I can plan the deep clean of my kitchen with the basics being done.  I am far from finished in there, but I am back at 0 instead of starting from -1000.

I have been working on the kitchen in spurts.  I do have pictures.  It is NOT 100% clean and tidy, but the basic surface cleaning is ready for the deeper clean.

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The Kitchen Table is ready for meals.

I cleared off the kitchen table.  The plastic cover still needs to be cut, but I have it on the table to protect the tablecloth.  I have taken the leaf out, and I will be putting it back in to cut the cover to the right size.  I am really liking the turquoise or aqua colour that is popular right now.  The the new placemats are pretty, and they match the tablecloth.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The pantry still needs work

I have yet to go through the pantry.  It is closer to being something I can do, with the progress I have made.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Canned goods are now under the Island

The second part of the Pantry is under the Island.  This was a part of my kitchen shuffle I did a while back.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Pots and Pans

The pots and pans are now under the cook top stove.  I really like the pot cover organizer we bought at Bed Bath & Beyond.  It is a great space saver& organization tool.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Stove top cleared off.

It needs to be cleaned properly now that it is cleared off.  It won’t take too long, I bought a cleaner and some sponges to clean it with.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Counter beside the cook top stove, over the dishwasher is cleared off

The toaster was in front of the breadbox.  The electric stand mixer was where the toaster is now.  It is better this way.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The Coffee Station is still tidy

I  finished the dishes shortly after I stopped to take the pictures.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

My Kitchen Window over the sink

I am so happy I saw what my friend does with her scrub brush.  She keeps it in a vase.  Mine fit nicely in these vases, and they were in the windowsill before I put things in them.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The view of the table from behind the Island.

It still needs work, but it has come a LONG way!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

A place to store recipes ad extra K-cups, and G2 for Zumba days

This was another change we made recently.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

My 2 new signs I bought to hang when I finish the kitchen.

I can’t wait to hang them up!  I will hang them when I am done the deep clean in the kitchen.

Finally some pics of progress to share.  I have been working hard at my kitchen, and it will only improve with every hour spent in there.  How is your Spring Cleaning progressing?

Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 11

Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 10

by | Apr 27, 2017 | Trust Your Gut

 

Trust Your Gut is a series of stories about real people with weight issues, and complications arising from those issues.  It will explain what the person is facing, what their options are, what they have decided to do to take action, and why they chose the path they are on.  Each person’s story will be based on truth, so it won’t all be happy, but it will be real.  The goal of this series is to get people talking about options that are available for people who have weight issues, on either end of the scale.  If you would like to contribute to this series, there is a contact form linked on my Home page for this blog.  I know there are people out there that want to help people like them; as I do.

 

The names here may or may not reflect the person’s real name.  If someone wants to remain unknown, we will choose a different name for that person’s story.  The goal is to help people, and anonymity is a valid personal choice for contributors.  I will use a person’s name only if they give permission to do so.

This week I am pleased to share another of my own stories.

Here is  Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 10

Today is the day I have picked to start shopping for a new bathing suit.  Wish me luck!  I need it in terms of my requirements, but I am also looking for a sale and not hours of searching!

The good news this week is that I am hovering within two pounds of that twoville goal, still.  The bad news is that I have not crushed that goal yet.

Which means that this is a perfect week to write about another THM concept.  I really like this one.  It is called NSV.  That translates into a Non Scale Victory.  So what is an NSV?  It is anything you can celebrate OTHER than the successes you fight to see on the scale.  The weight on the scale is a number, and it can be depressing if you obsess about it especially if it is not moving in the right direction or moving at the speed you want it to change at.

I wrote about twoville, and it is looming on my horizon again.  It is a Scale Victory when you have a happy dance on the floor after you weigh yourself and see a good number. Don’t think too hard about that.  Yes, that would be me,  first thing in the morning, after a trip to the washroom, in my birthday suit, having a happy dance.  Not the thing you want to focus on here.

The NSV is something that doesn’t relate to the scale, directly.  I have set my first official NSV as a small one.  The blog will help, for sure with this.  I want to be able to comfortably wear both my wedding band and engagement ring together on my finger.  I have the engagement ring on a lovely gold chain, that I wear from time to time, but it belongs on my ring finger.  I have fluid built up in my fingers, and you may think this is funny, but when I had a cashier job in the past, I noticed that my fingers were less puffy when I had that job.  I was using my hands a lot when I was a cashier, and it helped my fingers to lose weight.  Not that there is a lot of extra weight in my fingers, but it was a really good experience to look at slimmer hands and fingers.  As I blog, I am exercising my fingers.  It might not seem like a big thing to other people, but it matters to me.

When there is fluid built up in my fingers, wearing my ring causes an indentation.  I have short fingers, and the fluid doesn’t stop me from wearing the rings together, but it is painful to wear them both at the same time. I can get them both on, but it does block circulation in the finger, and it is painful to take it back off, because of this. So I am working on my health, and trying the rings on together from time to time.

It doesn’t have to be about the number on the scale only.  It can be about fitting back into an old pair of jeans, having to buy new clothes because the ones you have don’t fit, changing the size of clothing you wear, or measuring your inches and seeing that the shape of you…r body (Shout out to Ed Sheeran, love that song!)  is changing when the numbers on the scale are not.

As we all struggle with weight together, whatever our issues are, we all have them.  It is good to set reasonable goals to go along with making changes to live a healthier lifestyle.  I know it helps me to check in from time to time with a measuring tape and my rings.  It can even be as simple as the clothing you wear fitting better, or that you can climb that annoying flight of stairs without needing to take a break, or losing your breath.

Pedometers are wonderful because they can help you increase your daily step count by challenging yourself.  I will write a Zumba post about this soon, we are talking about steps at Zumba class since I am sharing my steps after each class.  I am also involved with a group 100 Coffees, and they are challenging members to start healthier habits. Drinking water is necessary for life.  In this group, one of the admins is asking us about how much water we drink each day, as a way to hold those who choose to do this accountable for drinking enough water every day.  It is great to have a support system for healthier lifestyles, and encouragement is a wonderful thing.  100 Coffees is a group of women entrepreneurs, so if you fit that description, go check it out!

I am looking forward to the day that I can wear both of my rings comfortably at the same time as my first official NSV.  What is your NSV?  Any comments might help you figure out what small goal you need to work on, give you a place for your own accountability, or help someone else find a reasonable NSV to start working on.  I look forward to seeing what other people are setting as their own goals.

 

Weekend Warrior #11

Weekend Warrior #9

by | Apr 24, 2017 | Weekend Warrior

 

Well, the Weekend won this round.  I must confess that waking up to a snow covered car and lawn in April is not the most energy inspiring sight to see.  This weekend I had the Blahs.  There is no other way to say it.  I made progress in the early part of the week and let things slide this weekend.

The good news is that I have another three day work week ahead of me, and will be very busy next weekend.  I will be writing the next Weekend Warrior in draft mode all week in order to have it be published bright and early next Saturday morning.

I am promising you now that there will be pictures next weekend.  I am promising myself, also.  Because the bottom line is, I need to set goals and achieve them in order to move forward in this battle.  I know that, and you know that if you are reading.

This past week I cleared the table and lost it again.  I moved around the items from their old storage places to try and configure a more organized storage solution for my kitchen items.  I discovered that the plastic tablecloth protector I purchased was way too big, but decided that I will cut it to fit the table with and also without the leaf in it so that I can cover the table and protect the tablecloth fully, either way. I absolutely did make progress, and it is progress that I can be happy with.

I also wrote a new piece of fiction on my medium page.  I wrote about a fictional conversation that I would like to have with Mother Nature about the lingering effects of winter.  If you would like to read it, you can follow this link:

Fictional Conversations: Tea Time With Mother Nature

So although I didn’t quite make the amount of progress in the kitchen I wanted to this past weekend, I was busy with other projects, and sometimes that is what you have to do. I hope you had a productive weekend, and most of all, I hope it was fun!