Changes are now happening and I am excited!

The biggest change for 2015....I left my full time job. Once I realized that I was sitting at my desk wondering what I was doing there and feeling that 95% of the day I knew it was time.
At first it was as an adjustment. That first day I was home I didn't know what to do with myself. As time goes on though you get in a routine and you start to do the things you never had time for. Time with friends, longer trips to see our family in Maryland, reading, knitting and now a new excursion into health and wellness.
And now our next big adventure. My husband and I have decided to start Isagenix. I know if you just read this you rolled your eyes like I first did. But then I researched it, for days and I liked what I read. I watched videos on why people succeed and why they fail.
I love the paleo diet and my husband and I have been eating that way for a while. However with having celiac disease, our ages and our excess weight our systems and metabolisms are shot. We are not taking off the weight and our health is suffering.
So not only do we have a plan to start this next week, we plan on staying on it long term. Combining Isagenix, paleo and exercise seems like where our lives are heading.The people that have success have been on it for years. Its a way of life.
Yes its a multi level marketing company but if it truly is a great product then who cares. Whether you buy products at the store or through Isagenix then what difference does it make. If the products do half of what I am hearing then I am100% behind it.
I will blog our success, our challenges and overall our journey into health. It's time. 

Changes are a coming

There are so many exciting things on the horizon. I don't think I have ever felt so happy.  I can't really say much more except that I feel very lucky and so blessed. More to  come soon!

Weekend day two

Plans for today:

Coffee: check
Relaxing on sofa listening to favorite radio station: check
Knitting: check
Minimal time outside due to frigid temps: check
Missing the bunny slippers shown below as well as the sweet girl that wears them: check

Winter surprise

Nothing cheers up the cold of winter as much as a surprise peek of color.

Friday night-so underrated

Friday night I start to have the dream of the possibilities that two days off will provide.

I of course never do all the things I had hoped. But I know there will be coffee, relaxing, surfing the internet and my current favorite thing knitting. It has become my escape, my solitude, my meditation. Mostly it makes me happy, makes me feel like I have a purpose.

So with a forecast of frigid temps and maybe some snow you know where to find me. I have a date with a cozy chair and some great squishy yarn.

Really MIA now

Well somehow I have lost an entire year. 2015 is looking to bring lots of changes that I am so excited for.

I hope to have more time to blog again. More time to knit.  More time to visit Maryland. More time to just breathe.

2014 was a great year but it wore my soul down. I feel I lost myself a little. As much as I am not big on resolutions I do want to find myself in 2015. Or discover myself for the first time.

Been MIA

Well I have been MIA for a long time and I think it is because I felt I was sounding so boring. Maybe I posted too often and you run out of things to say. I think Hattie is the most amazing thing on the planet but reading about every little thing she is doing probably gets old fast. But let's face it. One, I don't think there are many people reading this except for good friends and a few relatives and they will tolerate my Hattie rambling and two, this was always meant to be a Grandmother diary mostly for me to put updates and pictures.

So to update, I am headed out to Maryland on Friday. I just couldn't wait until Christmas. I just miss her. I want to kiss her little face and hold her and read her a book. Pictures help but it doesn't compare to seeing her in person. So off I go for a few days and I will so make the most of them and then we are back for a whole week five weeks after that!

Running is unfortunately on hold. The same issues that always plague me when exercising are starting in. I guess I have lower crossed syndrome which means I have weak glutes and other things that cause hip, hip flexor and low back pain. So before it got horrible I stopped and started doing glute strengthening to see if I can't get them to start firing better when I run so my psoas stops screaming at me. I am very sad about this as I just loved running but I felt it coming on for a few weeks and hoped I could run through it. Oh well I'm still hoping with some time I can get back to it again.

That's about it. As always, especially with Thanksgiving coming I feel so grateful for a wonderful family, great friends and this sweet girl that has come into our lives.

 

 

 

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A great week!

So I just typed up a whole positive post about what a great week I had and went to post a picture and I lost the whole thing. It was still a great week though with great things happening and it just makes you realize how thankful we should be.

My weight loss continues and even though it's slow it is coming off. I have started exercising and I feel great and I am very motivated to continue. I want to be around a long time but I also know how important it is to be healthy during that time. So no more excuses and I will keep doing what I am doing!

Work though still crazy busy should get better when three new people start tomorrow. Once they are trained in it will help a ton and maybe we won't be so overwhelmed.

My son in law just got a well deserved amazing promotion at work. We are so proud of him and know this just adds to an already great year for them.

Plus every day I still feel so thankful that Hattie is here and our family is growing. I wish her a happy four month birthday and send just tons of love to her and our Maryland family.

 

 

 

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Not much new here!

I feel like life is kind of boring right now which is probably fine. Everyone is good, healthy and yes I am even another 1 1/4 pounds slimmer this week!

I have started the couch to 5k app. Not because I am going to run a 5k but it just sounds cool don't you think! I had fun with it the first day even though when it said to me "start running" after intervals of walking/running for 20 minutes I yelled "shut up" and maybe muttered a few choice curse words before I just kept walking. I found it to be quite a work out but my idea of exercise is having to pick the remote off the floor so I might not be the best judge.

I am missing Hattie's cute face as I always do as the weekend approaches as I know if I lived there I would be seeing her. Luckily I just got some great pictures which made me about die from the cuteness.

 

 

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"Fall"itis

I will admit it, I am crazy bonkers over fall this year. I can't get enough of mini pumpkins, pumpkin candles and I keep craving pumpkin lattes.

I love that football is starting (even though I don't watch), new fall TV shows are on, there are books I want to read, movies I want to go see and have you smelled bonfires in backyards recently!

I know every one will say that horrid Mr Winter will be next but somehow I am just in a fall coma and loving every minute of it and refuse to think about what will come next. Maybe this will be the year we just have fall weather until April and we never have the dreaded "S" word. It could happen. Maybe climate change will never let the temps get below 40 and a big storm for us consists of a half inch that closes school for a week.

I know I am not thinking rationally but a girl can dream. Plus realistically we still have two full months before we should have to think about winter and until then I am going to soak up every second of this glorious fall that I can!!

 

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Love is the title

I will be honest, I have been too sad to blog since our Maryland family left a few weeks ago. Our house was so filled with laughter, baby noises and love for those days and that it was so horribly quiet when they left and I hated it.
I can look at pictures and video of Hattie for days but it doesn't even come close to seeing her in person and kissing those cheeks and making her smile. When we were riding in the car together I would look over at her and she would be staring and smiling at me like she was saying "it's ok Grandma, I love you and I will see you soon" and it would melt my heart.
But it is what it is and they live in Maryland and we live over 1,000 miles away and what do you do. You make the best of it and you count down to your next visit. So now we wait for Christmas which is three months away. If I can't stand it I could fly there for a three day weekend sometime soon.
I guess I just didn't realize what was missing in my heart and it was Hattie. And even though I don't get to see her often I am so blessed that she is in our lives now. I am a Grandmother now and I get it. I get when people would say "it is a love like no other" as it truly is.

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Quiet house, sad heart

It seemed like our Maryland fam had just gotten here and now they are gone. It is so quiet in this house after having laughter, talking and baby giggles for a few days.

We had an amazing time and getting to kiss and hold Hattie for four days just warmed my heart. She had changed so much but she definitely has her own personality that is sure to still be there when we see her in December.

I fell off the paleo wagon two of the four days but I am definitely back on track and hoping I didn't do too much damage. It sure was fun but honestly by Monday I felt awful and realized this isn't just about weight loss it's definitely about health and feeling good.

So back to work and back in a routine we all go. I sure do miss waking up to this every morning though!!!

 

 

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Weigh in day!

My guess is I stayed the same or lost a tiny bit this week but that would be fine as I had such a big loss last week. My clothes are so much looser so I am course thrilled about that!

One more crazy day of work to get through before everyone gets here tomorrow. Of course I left a ton to do for last minute so tonight and tomorrow morning I will be running around like a maniac. Oh well, everything always gets done.

I really have no other news, thoughts or pictures to share so I will keep this short. So let's get this day moving and over!

 

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Four more days!!

This four day weekend is certainly flying by and I can't believe in four days our Maryland family will be here!!!

I just can't wait to see what Hattie is doing now that she is 3 1/2 months and just how big she has gotten since I last saw her. My husband hasn't seen her since she was born so he will be blown away with how much she has changed.

We don't have a lot of plans other then a wedding reception Friday night and that's ok as just being with everyone will be enough. I just so love the idea of our family being together as honestly that hasn't happened since Hattie was born.

So that's about it. I don't want to wish the week away as it will go so fast once they come so I will enjoy the countdown this week knowing on Friday I get to kiss Hattie's sweet little face.

 

 

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Paleo success

My weight loss yesterday was............4.2 pounds!!!!!!! I am beyond thrilled and I am amazed at this whole paleo concept. I am finding the 30 day challenge not only simple but doable for life. I know how easy it is to get derailed though so I am trying to do this from a total health standpoint and not from a "I want to fit in a size 8" standpoint.

I took before pictures which hopefully someday I won't be too embarrassed to show especially if my after pictures are incredible.

I have continued the exercise plan which so far has flared up my hip pain a little but it's manageable so I will plunge (or lunge) forward. The weight watchers leader had a stunned look when she asked how I lost the weight this week and I told her it was paleo and I gave up dairy! I probably will continue with WW as I like the accountability of weighing every week and the shared success with my co workers.

So onto the next week!!

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Weigh in day(again)

Wow didn't I just weigh in? How crazy is that. This week flew by and since I am off tomorrow it's my Friday today.

So today is weigh in day and I think I did pretty well. This paleo diet seems to be working so we will see if the scale agrees today.

Pretty glad to be have a four day weekend coming up as there is a ton I need to get done before my daughter, SIL and Hattie come next week. Every time I think about seeing Hattie I go crazy. I mean look at those cute rolls on her ankles!! Can you stand the cuteness!!!

 

 

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Dairy withdrawal?

So I woke up feeling crappy today. Headache, sneezing, fatigue and I am wondering if it is dairy withdrawal. Or I am getting a cold and it has nothing to do with dairy!

I do feel better without it and someone at work even commented the other day "well you are sure in a good mood today" and I was! The normal stuff that bothers me really didn't. I just felt lighter somehow.

So after a pork chop, blueberries and some walnuts for breakfast I am ready to start the day (and Advil for my headache). I have actually done paleo before (except for the no dairy part) and this amazing thing starts to happen after a few days. You start to feel leaner and you start noticing your muscles. I know it sounds crazy but it's like your lean self starts to come out or maybe it's your real self that was always there.

Either way it is fantastic and I will just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

 

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Paleo week one

So I started the 30 day paleo challenge yesterday. What does this have to do with being a long distance Grandmother?

Everything.

I not only want to be around a long time, I want the time I am around to be the healthiest years I can possibly have. When I was in my 20s I could cut back on my unhealthy eating and lose weight really easily. I remember doing Weight Watchers after my daughter was born and I lost 40 pounds in four months. Once you turn 50 however the weight just is so darn stubborn about coming off.

But it isn't just the weight. I lost two parents to cancer. My dad ended up with diabetes as he got older and high blood pressure runs in my family and I have been on meds for it for years. So honestly I don't have great genes so I have to do the best I can as that clock is so ticking. Is it super easy, no. This morning I want a creamy iced coffee so bad I could scream but I am going to look at pictures of Hattie to help get me through.

I also want to be a good example to not only Hattie but to my kids also. We all need to take care of ourselves because what we do now so affects us down the road and I am tired of rolling the dice and hoping for the best.

So here I go. It's 30 days and I can't wait to see where I will be at in a month. Hattie will be my inspiration.

 

 

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30 day challenge

As I mentioned in my last post I have decided to shake up my eating plan as once I thought about how I was feeling, I realized I wasn't feeling that great. I felt bloated and just plain clogged (how's that for TMI). I am going to attribute that to the extra dairy.

I have read lots of information that since celiac disease damages your intestines you end up not being able to tolerate lots of other foods and dairy can be one of them. I actually tried giving it up once before on the advice of a nutritionist and it was so hard as I was going gluten free at the same time. So I was a fail on giving up dairy but I want to try it again.

So for 30 days I am doing a Paleo challenge. It's not much different than WW SImply Filling but there is no dairy allowed. I will also be adding in some healthy fats such as avocado and nuts as I have never believed in the low fat lifestyle.

It just makes sense. The artificial sweeteners, gluten, beans, dairy all make me feel terrible. My damaged stomach cannot handle them and I feel that I over eat as my body is screaming for nutrition and always has been. So back to real food it is and sadly always should have been.

So here we go, I do wish I could shame a family member into doing it with me but this is something you really have to believe in to do. Wish me luck!!

 

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It's all in how you look at it

Well I only lost a 1/2 pound. Could have been better but it could have been a ton worse too.

It did make me think about what I ate and what I feel good eating and what I don't. So I will change it up this week and cut back on dairy. I just haven't felt that great since I have increased it so I will cut back and increase protein such as eggs, chicken etc and see if that makes a difference.

In the big scheme of life if I lose a 1/2 pd instead of 2 it doesn't matter. What does is what I do next so I will change things up and hope for a better week.

But it's Friday and the weekend is upon us. Enjoy!

And BTW two weeks from today we will drive to the airport to pick up this sweet thing and her Mom and Dad. I am so excited!!

 

 

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