Winter Wonderland Warriors Update! Week 5

My picture of the week is a veggie filled dinner :)

Yummy! Turkey burger, streamed carrots, crock pot white beans, raw bell pepper and salsa :)

Week Five {January 31, 2011}:

1. What have you done this past week to help you achieve your goals? Even though it was a crazy week in terms of medical issues, I feel like I did a good job with all of my goals. I am about 30 miles behind where I want to be in terms of my foot mileage, but I have formed a plan to conquer that and get back on track hopefully but the end of February. I am going to deviate from my original workout schedule I started the year with, but feel that will help me reach my goals.
2. January is coming to an end! How do you think you did in the month of January? Review time! I think January was a good month overall. I think I had some great workouts, and have hopefully figured out my weight loss barrier (thyroid). I am most proud of being consistent with my weight training in January which is something I have struggled with in the past.
3. Do you feel like your motivation is tapering off now that a month has passed, or are you just as motivated as the beginning of the challenge? Actually I feel even more motivated right now. I hope February will be awesome!
4. Who/what inspires you to keep going?  I inspire myself. I am doing this for myself. I have to choose to work out, to eat healthy, and to thrive. No one can make me do it. But you guys do a great job keeping me motivated with your stories of success.
5. Fun Question of the Week:  What is the first thing you think of/do in the morning? Take new meds and potty :)

Three Things Thursday

1. Thank you guys so much for all the support you have shown me during the last week regarding my thyroid condition. Your sweet words on here and in personal email meant the world to me! I am so thankful for my blog buddies :)

2. I started medicine for the thyroid today, but was told (by pharmacist)  it could take up to 6 weeks before the medicine starts working. I have to take the medicine on an empty stomach 1.5 hours before eating breakfast. This could be interesting because I get moody if I don't eat as soon as I get up! LOL Today I set my alarm, woke up long enough to take the med, and then went back to bed until my usual alarm time. That worked, but having to get up early for the meds could lead to a good time to get in a little extra working out :)

3. I think I have decided on a new GP. I looked at reviews online and they were all favorable. I have three months of prescriptions so I figure I will wait until med February and then call to get an appointment. I am a little nervous about seeing someone new, but I think it will be for the best.

Just Meds and How the Doctor broke my heart!

Hooray! I went in for my scan this morning and the nodules were not solid, so I did not have to have another biopsy. I will start synthroid tomorrow, and hopefully in a month or so I will feel better than I knew I could feel. And for this I am so grateful!

BUT!!! I will no longer be seeing my general physician and will soon begin the process of finding a new doctor. I am so glad that Tommy went with me this morning, so that he could verify that I am not crazy in how I feel this doctor treated me. When I went in to talk to her after the scan, I could tell she was in a hurry. She had already written out the prescription for the new meds, and basically threw it at me and said that we would check on things in three months. I asked her if this medicine could possibly help with weight loss, and she said yes, and then said she wanted to put me on a diet plan and diet pill. I was all fine with a diet plan, but told her that I really didn't want to take a diet pill. She then handed me a diet plan (which honestly I feel is not as healthy as what I currently do), and told me that I should try to briskly walk around the block once a day if I really wanted to lose weight. I was soo confused!!! I quickly looked at the diet plan, and tried to tell her what I was already doing as far as diet (counting calories). She then said, that I should throw in some 100 calorie packs! (WHAT???) She said they were a great low calorie snack. (What about some fruit?!)  At this point I figured I was getting no where with the diet discussion and began to tell her that I work out six days a week for an hour. The look she gave me broke my heart because I could tell she didn't believe me.  I again tried to tell her that I didn't want to take the diet meds and she told me to just try them for a month because if I saw some weight loss I would be more likely to stick to a diet and exercise regime. WHAT!?! GIVE ME A BREAK! I HAVE FOR OVER A YEAR! I see her every three months because of my tachycardia, and I have told her multiple times about my exercise and diet plan. Granted I have only lost about 7 pounds in the past year, but I am putting forth the effort...there has to be something else ( I am hoping thyroid) that is keeping me from losing this weight. I don't want a stupid pill. It was like everything I was saying she wasn't listening to, or didn't believe I was being truthful. When we left the office I was heart broken and crying. My husband told me not to be so upset because he knows what all I am doing, and that I just need to find a new doctor that would listen to me. This is not the first time I have left this doctor's office upset, but it will be the last time. I am hoping to ask around for info on other doctors and find one that will truly listen and want to help, not just throw another prescription my way.

Blah Day

I am having a blah day. I have honestly been on the verge of tears all morning. Yesterday was pretty blah too, and I skipped working out last night. The heat was out at the library yesterday, and I had been freezing all day... I just wanted to go home. When I got in, Tommy asked what I was making for dinner and I just have a complete come apart because I didn't feel like cooking. Instead we had Spaghetti- Os (so much for non processed foods) and I was in bed by 7.  I was just exhausted. This morning, I called the doctor's office to confirm the thyroid scan, and was told that they didn't do the scan at that office, that they would just set up an appointment at the hospital. My GP will do the scan in her office and it was at her office that the blood work was taken showing that there were issues, so I called and got an appointment for the scan at 8 and then I will have my yearly physical at the OBGYN at 10:30. These two offices are an hour from each other (and they are calling for MORE SNOW) so hopefully I won't have any problems getting back and forth.

I usually try not to get too involved on the internet when it comes to medical stuff, but I have googled information about the thyroid and found that alot of the foods that I LOVE can affect the thyroid. Cabbage, broccoli, and soy are major offenders, and foods that I eat everyday. After finding out more from the doctor, I will do more research and will possible have to change alot of the things I eat.

I think I am just feeling overwhelmed right now. Hopefully, everything will be okay and with some medication and slight diet adjustments I can move past all of this worry. Please say a little prayer for me in the morning.

Winter Wonderland Warriors Update! Week 4

My positive picture of the week :)

Getting ready for a jog at the end of winter last year. 

This week's Questions...

1. What have you done this past week to help you achieve your goals?  This week I really tried to stay focus during the weekend. I do well during the week, but struggle with the water and veggie goals on the weekend. I passed with flying colors this week. 
2. How are you feeling about the goals you set for yourself? Overwhelmed? Too easy? Just right? Honestly, I am a little worried about the 150 miles foot goal. When I set the goal, I wasn't really thinking about the time it would take to get in my Strength training, Wii, and Bike goals each week. I am struggling with the mileage on foot. Hopefully, when it gets a bit warmer, I can use part of my lunch break to take a walk and earn an extra mile each day.
3. Do you prefer to exercise inside or outside? Inside... I like to run outside when the weather is cooperating :)
4. Are you a self-starter or do you need a little push? I need a push :)
5. Fun Question of the Week: Why did you decide to start a blog?  I actually read blogs for a year before I started blogging myself. Unfortunately, most of the blogs I first started reading are no longer in existence. I liked the sense of support, and knew I needed that in my own journey.

Yummy Yummy in my Tummy - Banana Soft Serve

I have a confession to make... I LOVE ice cream. LOVE IT! But I don't keep it in my house. I know that if I purchase a carton of ice cream I will not have the will power to stop after one 1/2 cup serving...I probably wouldn't stop after a  full cup serving either.
Because I know I can't keep it in the house, I only allow myself ice cream as a special treat and buy it by the cup or cone. I have my treat and I am finished. No constantly hearing the ice cream calling my name from the freezer :)

A couple of months ago I started reading Alissa's blog. I love her blog because she does picture posts of the food she eats each day. It is great for getting new food ideas. One of the things she mentioned on her blog was banana soft serve. Then I noticed she had the recipe listed in her Weight Watchers Recipes tab. The recipe seemed simple enough and I had all the ingredients...bananas :) Well, I tried it and fell in LOVE! This was my ice cream fix! I love banana ice cream and this is so yummy!

All you do is find a couple of bananas (I used one that was about to be too ripe to go in my morning breakfast bowl). Then peel them, stick them in a zip lock bag, and freeze them. I let mine freeze overnight, but you can let them go a couple of days in there too. When you are ready to make your soft serve, take your bananas out of the freezer and throw them in the microwave for about 15 seconds (this is very important, I tried it without doing the slight thaw and it is not nearly as "creamy" and yummy. Then you put them in a mini food chopper and pulse it a few times until it starts to look like ice cream. Then ENJOY! :) I have also added a tablespoon of peanut butter *SO SO GOOD*!

Honestly, I would have never imagined this being as good as it is. It totally takes away any cravings I have for ice cream. Plus you get a fruit in for the day!

Thanks to Alissa for letting me share this with you guys. And if you don't already read her blog, get over there and take a look. I think you will enjoy her :)

Three Things Thursday with an Award

1. I would like to thank Moving Mertle for the Stylish Blogger Award. If you don't read her blog you should, she even inspired me to clean out my fridge and pantry a couple of weeks ago after posting pics of her organizing :)

The rules for this award are simple:

Post and link back to the person who awarded you this award!

Share 7 things about yourself!

Award 5 bloggers who have "Stylish" blogs!

My Seven Things...

1.  I have naturally curly hair and love it! During my teen years, I tried to tame the curls, but these days I just let them go :)

 

2. I am itching to go to the zoo. My husband and I have Zoo memberships and love to visit different zoos through out the year. In fact, I had planned to participate in a 5k at the Nashville Zoo this weekend, but I am afraid the weather is not going to cooperate for us to make the two hour drive...it is suppose to be snowy and icy again this weekend.

 

3. I LOVE candles and burn them all the time. I really enjoy the Wood Wick brand during the winter. It is nice to hear the crackling. I am cheap and would never pay full price for the Wood Wicks, but sometimes I get lucky at get them for under $10 at TJ MAXX.

 

4. One of my New Year's resolutions this year is to not buy any books. *Unless I find an awesome Children's Vintage Christmas Book. I have access to books all the time because I am a librarian, and yet I spend 100s  of dollars every year on them, so in an effort to save money I am restricting my purchases.

5. I collect vintage children's Christmas books and display them with my Christmas decorations each year. I have over 30 books and love finding them in little antique books stores when we are traveling :)

6.  I won a karaoke contest at a party I went to this weekend! The party was so much fun and I had a blast! PS...I can't carry a tune in a bucket, but I had fun and am excited about the gift card I won! ;)

7. I would really like to like to cook, but I don't. I cook alot, but I just don't enjoy it the way some people do...maybe one day I will enjoy it. 

I am passing this on to...

Ann @ 12 in 12

Kim @ All About the Bottom Line

J @ For Real this Time

Jennifer @ Weight Loss Journey- Getting Healthy

Rusti @ Texas Girl Getting Fit

I tried to double check and make sure you guys have not already received the award :) Thanks again for the Award Moving Mertle! :)

2.  I am super excited today because I bought the game Rack-O! Did any of you guys play this when you were a kid? Basically you are dealt cards and have to order them numerically in a rack. (That sounds kind of lame but it is a fun game!)I had forgotten all about it until my Mom mentioned it the other day...and today I found it on Amazon.  WOOHOO! and it was only 10 bucks :) I know it will be worth my money LOL

 

3.  Last Friday I had my regular 3 month check up for my tachycardia. Monday the doctor's office called and said that my Thyroid levels were severely low along with some blood counts being wacky and wanted me to have an ultra sound and biopsy done next week. In the past my levels were "borderline" and I had an ultra sound but things seemed fine and I was never put on any kind of medicine. I am a bit nervous with all of this and am curious if any of you are currently taking thyroid meds or have had the biopsy.

Winter Wonderland Warriors Update! Week 3

This week was wild with all the snow and being off from work. Because I was unable to get to the gym for most of the week, my foot mileage is behind, but I am hopeful to get caught back up in the next few weeks. I am on target with my bike miles. This weekend, I also missed two days of 7 fruits and veggies. I got about 4 servings on both days.

This week's positive picture is from my first 5k. I was so excited about running that race!  I am looking forward to running that same race again this year..and hopefully shaving some time off.

Week Three {January 17, 2011}:

1. What have you done this past week to help you achieve your goals? Even though I didn't hit the gym like I normally would this week, the snow did allow for some extra activity. We played hard in the snow sledding, having snow ball fights, and just having fun. It was a nice new way to get in activity :)
2. Do you find that your motivation/mood changes in the winter? If so, what do you do to help/avoid it? My motivation always slacks in the winter. When I get off work I am so tempted to just go home and hide under the covers, instead of hitting the gym. Making fitness goals for myself really helps keep me motivated to go to the gym even when I don't want to go :)
3. Do you have any advice for your fellow challengers on staying on task? I like making lists and crossing thing out as I accomplish them.
4. What day{s} of the week/month do you find it difficult to stay on task/motivated? I always have a hard time during PMS..Thursdays are my week day that I usually have to fight myself to stop at the gym...I am not sure why...maybe because it is usually a busier day at work.I accommodate that by allowing Thursdays (instead of Friday) to be a rest day occasionally.
5. Fun Question of the Week: If you were going on a road trip {longer than a day} who would you take with you? Where would you go? I would take Tommy...and I would love to road trip again in the Smokie Mountains of Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

Three Things Thursday

1. I am back in the land of the blogging after the "Great Southern Snow of 2011." LOL We got 11 inches of snow at my house ...honestly the most I have seen in my life. I loved it! We had a blast playing in it! Tommy and I played like little children. Today was my first day back to work, but most of the schools are still closed. I will try to post some pictures of the snow this weekend :)

2. Today, a lady that my mother used to work with came in the library and was asking about my mother's boyfriend. My Dad passed away 3 years ago and this is still a very touchy subject for me. She started by asking if my Mother was still dating "that good looking man." I said yes, and tried to go back to my work...she then asked something more about him, and I gently told her I didn't know that I had only met him a few times (and honestly those few times weren't wonderful..) and she said, well I thought you liked him. I told her I really didn't know him (at this point, I was blinking back tears)...and she ended the conversation by asking if I thought they would get married soon. I honestly wanted to scrape this woman's eyes out. Or scream at her... or something! I was obviously uncomfortable with the conversation and she just kept on... not only that, but I was at work...and though I could have excused myself, because of the weather, I had no one else working in my department, and hated to leave because we were somewhat busy. * I think I just needed to vent about this*  I still feel like I could break into tears at any moment.

3. I have been trying to cut out alot of the processed foods, but during the snow,I didn't stay firm with this. I can totally tell a difference. Hopefully, I will get back into the swing of the more whole foods in the next few days :)

Winter Wonderland Warriors

** I am typing this up on Sunday and setting it to post Monday morning, in case we are without power with the snow storm. (They are now saying we could have 11 inches!! Ooh I am so excited! It is supposed to start Sunday night :) Woohoo! Amy- I will link up as soon as I have Internet again!

I have all of my Winter Wonderland goals and my updates on the goals on my sidebar, so you check out my progress there :)

This week's positive picture!

Getting ready to workout...

This week's questions:

1. {This will be a weekly question} What have you done this past week to help you achieve your goals? My workout schedule that I posted last week really helped, I also got up in the mornings to do my Wii. My new water bottle (you can see it in the pic above) made drinking my water seem easier because it has a straw, and I journaled food to make sure that I got in my fruits & veggies.
2. Are any of your goals repeat offenders (i.e., have you made them before and not succeeded)? I have been working on the 2miles in 24 mins for awhile now... I am a slow runner...some day I think I could walk faster, but I keep putting forth the effort and know that one day I will achieve my goals. Because of my tachycardia, I keep a check on the Heart Rate constantly, and don't let myself get too fast if my HR is getting high.
3. Do you have a support system in place to help you achieve your goals? You guys are my biggest support! But my hubby is great to cheer me along!
4. Are you a planner when it comes to meeting your goals, or do you tend to “wing it” and hope for the best? I am definitely a planner.
5. Fun Question of the Week: Who knows about your blog? Are you on blogger lockdown or do the “real” people in your life know about your blog/read your blog? My husband knows about my blog, and a few friends...I don't think I really keep it a secret, but I don't tell everyone I meet either :) If I know someone that I think blogging could help, or that could gain support from the blog world I always tell them!

Snow :)

If you don't see me for a few days, it is because I am SNOWED in :) They are calling for a possible 6 inches of snow for us...and if that happen my sweet town in ALABAMA will shut down! LOL Hope y'all all have a great weekend!

Three Things Thursday

1. This has been a great week so far in terms of food & fitness. One thing that I have really enjoyed is playing Wii Fit in the morning. In trying to figure out a time to do the Wii in order to complete my weekly minutes for my WWW goal, I decided that a couple of morning a week I needed to get up and log some minutes, because I didn't want them all to be earned on the weekend (in case other things came up), and after I do the gym after work it is nice to just veg with T. I LOVE doing this in the morning. I have never liked going to the gym in the morning because of having to pack up everything and showering and dressing for work there (coming back home is not an option). This is a great way to get in some morning exercise. My favorite is Hoola Hoop and the 10 min session wears me out! But I love it :)

2.  They say we are in for more snow this week in BAMA :) I love this...did I tell you guys that we had a white Christmas? It was beautiful, but melted the next day. Maybe this snow will stick around a bit longer :)

3. I have noticed some new followers lately, and have tried to return the blog love, but if you are a new follower and you haven't seen me around your blog let me know so I can show you some support :)

Winter Wonderland Warriors-- Week 1

I am so excited about the WWW Challenge and ready to kick it off!

First off...Positive picture of the week!

My positive picture of the week is my new workout schedule. I am keeping this schedule in my car so that I can see what my workout is first thing in the morning...I also have a copy of the schedule at home. This schedule makes me excited...it is the Hal Higdon 10k training schedule...I am not sure that I will actually participate in a 10k, but loved the schedule because it incorporated several of my WWW goals...Running/walking, cross training, and strength training!

Now for the Questions!
1 &2. What are your ten goals for the WWW challenge and why did you choose them?


1. 150 miles on foot (A combo of walking, jogging, and running). I usually try to do 10 miles per week...in order to complete this goal I will be upping my weekly goal to 13 miles.

2. 150 miles on Bike (This will be at the gym). When I get in running mode, I tend to neglect other areas of cardio...this will encourage me to change things up.

3. 2 miles in 24 minutes. I have been working on this for awhile, and really want to mark this goal off my list!

4. Participate in an official 5k. I haven't done one in a while and they are fun!

5. Do 100 minutes of Wii Fitness a week. I read about others using there Wii all the time, but usually only use it when I can't get to the gym...I want this to be an extra component. I plan to use Wii fit, and have borrowed Dance Dance Revolution...I may also reward myself after the first month with a new game to keep my motivation high!

6. Save $100 per month. This will be tough, but I think I can do it...things are often tight financially but I want to try to make saving money a priority.

7. Strength Train 2 days per week. Strength training is very difficult for me, but I know how important it is...maybe if I add this as a challenge goal I will be more consistent.

8. Eat 7 fruit/Veggies per day. In general I think I do this...but it will be more planned now, and I hope to incorporate more fruits and veggies as snacks!

9. Drink at least 64oz of water per day. By making this a challenge component I will be more consistent, I am bad about "forgetting to drink" anything. I would really like to do 64 oz before lunch! but Baby steps :)

10. Do something FUN once a week. (This could be a movie at home with Tommy, a Girl's Night, or taking Humphrey for a hike...just something fun) Sometimes I get in a funk during the blah winter months so this will cause me to plan fun things!

3.Are you making a New Year’s Resolution beyond the WWW challenge? I just want to live life the best I can!

4. What does this challenge mean to you? This challenge is a way to keep myself motivated during the winter. I honestly feel challenges are key to keeping my motivation high in regards to diet and fitness.

5. Fun Question of the Week: What did you do when the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve?
I kissed my sweet hubby! It was a quiet night at home that included movies and watching the ball drop.  We actually watched the ball drop eastern time together and kissed...then he went to bed and I waited for midnight Central time, gave him a quick kiss while he was sleeping, and then crawled into bed myself.