12 Years, the Quick Weight Loss Journey.

 Are people really reading The whole  tweet, Instagram or Facebook posts.  Many do, but an equal number do not.  Remember yesterday’s post.  The one right below this post.  The one saying that I started my lifestyle changes in 2009. This morning I got a Direct mail inquiry asking if I wanted to share my quick weight loss journey and secrets. I kid you not.  

My question is simple.  Is a dozen years, that’s right 12 years now considered a quick weight loss journey? In my most humble of opinions I am going to say it’s not.  I just might be putting myself a little outside the conventional thinking on this one.  

The next questions are do I answer? Do I ingore this one entirely.  Do I really want to put myself out there for random people to question my choices about my body and lifestyle? I have not even heard of this person before.  Is she trying to gain her 15 minutes of fame off of my work? If she was really interested in my journey, she would have gone back to my blog posts from 2009 and starting reading them by herself.  She would have done her homework.  If she wants someone to spoon feed her story material she should hire someone, preferably a professional with a degree.   

So the quick answer to a long post is no, I am not going to left her feature me in a story about quick weight loss.  I tried quick weight loss for years starting when I was 12.  My mom put me on a diet because I was 2 whole pounds over my “ideal weight “.  She taught me how to binge.  Explained how broken cookies had no calories because there was no way to measure out a cookie from a bag of broken cookies. Also explained that if you ate just a sliver of anything it did not count, because it was not a whole piece. How to eat couipous amounts of sweets.  Taught me that exercise was bad because it put on weight. I now know that muscle weight is better than fat weight. Muscle weight is also firmer. Muscle weight is heavier by volume.  How drinking  diet soda was better than milk or water, my preferred drinks at the time.  We are supposed to trust our parents to give us good information   

If you have children of any age all I can say to you is do not let your kids diet.  Have healthy foods around all the time.  Indulge them in the produce section of the store, even if it is a budget buster.  Teach them about walking and finding ways to stay active.  Teach them to live a healthy lifestyle.

Let them be like my daughter.  I once thought she liked cookies. When we went grocery shopping she would carefully pick out cookies to add to her lunch.  I did not find out until a couple of decades later that she would trade her cookies for fresh fruits and vegetables.  Certain cookies had a higher fruit or vegetable to cookie ratio. She was the sole reason her elementary school started  a no trade policy at lunch time.  

So if you like start your own lifestyle change journey..I will cheer you on.  Please remember it will always be your journey.  

The Shawl That Grew in the Closet

 It may not seem like it at times that I am making progress.  In 2009 I started making changes to my diet and lifestyle.  I cut out aspartame and all artificial sweeteners. As time went on I made more changes like cutting back on sugar and carbs.  Recently I cut out red meat and most fats. I also started moving more.  The more I move, the more I lost and the more I moved.  It’s a very slow cycle.  I was trying to to do anything to make my arthritis better. I did a lot of reading.  I was not even trying to lose any weight.  At about the same time I knit this shawl in the largest size.  It barely fit. I used a small knot to hold it in place.  I was a size 4X at the time.  

Fast forward to September 2021, I am no longer a 4X.  Depending on the designer I wear any size from medium to XL. I am on a lot less medication and don’t have to take aspirin all the time. This was my main goal.  Everything else was just a bonus.  The shawl that just fit, well just look at the way the shawl fits today. It’s down at my hips.   I know that my face is a bit square today, that’s what my Sjogren’s  looks like during a flare up. So no smiles today.  

My First Webinar

 I went to my first webinar today.  The first 2 hours were great. I learned so much.  The 3rd hour was all scientific stuff way beyond my level of comprehension.  I am sure that this stuff was for the medical professionals and the scientists that were on line. The 4th hour was all about raising a special needs child along with 504’s and IEP’s, which was been there done that for me.  I have not had to do an IEP in over a decade.  I have to admit I did a little knitting during the last 2 hours of the webinar. I have to finish the current top before the next one is started. I have about 12 inches of the 21 that I need to knit before the shoulders.

I did get up and move around. John brought my Cubii2 and spinning chair in so I could get my morning workout done.  Which was a fantastic.  After sitting for 4 hours all I was up to was covering my back with ice and not moving until the pain went away.  I was to sore to do my evening workout.  

Dinner was great, we had filet of leftovers.  No cooking involved.  

A Typical Bad Body Day

 I had a very bad body day today.  It took about 3 1/2 hours to get semi functional this morning.  I really hate that. A scattering of chores were started , then just as quickly not finished.  Small bits of headway were made.  Things seem to be slipping out of my hands with regularity lately which makes more work for John.  I am truly sorry about that.  I guess I will have to figure that one out soon.  

The good news for today is that for a couple of chores, more made it to the trash or recycling bin than stayed.  I got a few rows knit on the hat I am working on and about 4 inches done on the scarf.  I am really trying not to over use my hands.  

On the Cubii2 front I found that as much as I love Neil Diamonds music, it just does not get me up to the pace I need for fat burn or cardio workouts.  Although it was perfect for my one workout today.  Sometimes my body and mind do not always agree on the same things.  

Taking Bets

 I started a new summer hand knit t-shirt in cotton a few months back.  When I started the t-shirt I took my measurements and started knitting to my then current size.  Even though I had the measurements perfect when I started the t-shirt appears to be growing.  It matches the first half exactly.   Will it fit or will it be too big.  If it’s too big shall I steek it or should I make someone else very happy? These questions will be answered soon.  I am almost done with the second half.  Then will block both half’s stacked so they are perfect. Then the sewing will commence.  

I have had this problem since 2009 when I started adjusting my diet.  The scale is steady for now, however the inches are departing. Even faster with the Cubii2.    What do you think will happen?

Risky People

 It seems to be becoming a very bad habit. After a mad dash through the grocery store. Yes today we masked up and went to Trader Joe’s.  I was like a crazy lady dashing around the store filling my arms with what we needed. Finding John and the cart and dashing off again.  We got stuff for dinner and a few extras.  I did however in the mad dashes forget the dates.  Oh, well there is always the next time  

My reason may sound as flaky as a croissant.  There is this thing that is happening in Tucson and as I tend to be a magnet for the crazy people, it happens to me often.  Unmasked and most likely unvaccinated come up to people wearing masks and tend to get as close as possible without knocking us down or shoving us.  I really, really hate this.  I really don’t know who raised this selfish, ill mannered people, but this has really got to stop.  Don’t they know after a year what a safe distance is. I find it hard enough to leave the house on a good day.  No, I don’t have a fear of being outside.  I have a fear of getting sick.  Yes, and please stop trying  explain to to me what an autoimmune disease is.  I think I get the picture on that one.  

Most of the time after the stuff is put away I tend to crash into a solid 2 to 3 hours of sleep.  Stress makes me tired.  I could have done so many things.  I hear it’s not going to get better any time soon the county health department said that vaccine rate for first shots has slowed to a dribble. With the stanch Opposition to both the masks and vaccines it is going to be a long road to recovery, not months but maybe years.  

I feel we should do what parts of Europe are doing. No vaccine equals no dining out, no theater, no travel, no in person shopping and the list goes on.  The only exception to the rule are medical requiring a doctors signature and paperwork to back that up. No religious, political party affiliation, or hair brained excuses. We have to work together as a world to solve this.  Please be part of the solution.  

Life with Sjorgrins

 I am a little shocked that none of my older friends have had a 3rd dose of the COVID19 vaccine yet. Nor are they currently eligible.  I really feel like the odd woman out. My goal is to be as healthy and active as possible. To push the limits where ever possible.  I know it’s not always possible.  Just the fact that it was recommended makes me feel a bit fragile. I really don’t like to feel weak in anyway.  “I am woman, hear me roar”.

Yet here I sit at the kitchen table after midnight waiting for the aspirin to kick in. I know I should have taken it with dinner, but I wasn’t in any pain then.  My left shoulder is sore, the one I got the vaccine in.  All the while thinking as long as I am up I should be cleaning.  My other inclination is to go knit, but it’s past bedtime.  But what I really want the most is to be in bed sleeping.  I am starting to get sleepy so it is off to bed with me. I still hurt but the pain is getting duller.  

P.S. I did manage to get in 2 30 minute workouts today.