Factual Friday ...

Well, I survived the week from H .. E .. double hockey-sticks. Had a crazy deadline imposed on me Friday afternoon, and worked like a dog, managed to meet that deadline by Tuesday!! 8 hours of sleep in 3 nights though ... I'm a hurtin' unit now!! NEED ... SLEEP ...
Anyway, here's my Friday tidbits:

1. I hate getting my picture taken. I am so critical of myself ... and the picture always seems to be from the wrong angle to show my chubby face at it's worst. Uugh ...

2. I love Doritos. I mean a crazy, gotta have 'em, lets go stare at the Doritos display in the grocery store kind of love. This has created somewhat of a challenge for me being on Weight Watchers. Thank goodness for those amazing little bags of 100 calorie Doritos ... I savour all 10 of those little chips that come out of that bag. It's so hard to stop at one bag ...

3. I am a major procrastinator. Big time. I work well under pressure, but I tend to leave things so late that the pressure to get them done is overwhelming. Every year I say I'm going to change ... but that has yet to happen.

4. I'm obsessed with paint. No matter what home improvement store I'm in, I always gravitate to the paint sampler section. So many cool colours! I'm having a very hard time choosing the new colour for my kitchen. I like so many! I think it will end up being a light shade of olive ...

5. I love Tim Horton's Timbits. A crazy kind of obsessive love. Another major downfall for my "diet". My son introduced me to sour cream glazed recently ... they are heavenly. I can't go near a Tim Horton's now ... not even for a small tea with milk ... just way too tempting.

Weigh-in day tomorrow again! Week #3! Wish me luck!

Thanks for reading!
Janet xo

The Twilight Zone ...

The topic of my WW weekly meeting this morning was "The Twilight Zone". Discussion revolved around getting into a "zone" where we just keep eating, having saved up points, but it just keeps snowballing. For example, a weekend where you have 3 functions involving food: Friday night - dinner out - extra points; Saturday, a party - extra food, extra points; Sunday, a bridal shower - extra food, extra points. Even though you've saved points for this, you can still end up eating an extra 30 points at least over those 3 days! I know how easy it is, trust me ... I used to eat enough food to fill an aircraft carrier, remember?! So this "zone" continues through the week ... until weigh in day is upon you and the scale is not kind. We discussed strategies of getting over being in a "zone" like this. I was so happy to hear fellow members discussing their own situations that sounded EXACTLY like mine. This past week I lost only 1.6 pounds ... for a grand total of 6.2 in 2 weeks. Not bad, but not quite the results I wanted. But I had a week of being "in a zone" ... I couldn't get satisfied. I would eat something ... it wouldn't feel right ... I'd eat something else ... it wasn't right ... this continued on from Saturday to Monday evening. Then I realized the scale wasn't moving FOR GOOD REASON. Even thought the food I was eating wasn't really bad food, I wasn't keeping track of what I was putting in my mouth. Not counting my points. So by Monday evening I had probably taken in at least an extra 10 points a day. Yikes! So I got out of the "zone" and started focusing on feeling satisfied, exercising and drinking lots of water. I worked darn hard! So I lost a little ... but I didn't gain!
This week I will faithfully "write what I bite" ... it sure does make a huge difference. Helps keep me out of the "zone" and a happy, kind scale!

Thanks for reading!
Janet xo

Factful Friday ... questionning my sanity

Can't believe another week has gone by! Tomorrow is weigh-in day again EEK! Wish me luck!

Today's tidbits:

1. I love tea. I have a whole cupboard full. My husband often questions my sanity (for many reasons) but specifically for the amount of different flavoured teas I have. I tell him they're healthy. He shuts up.

2. I love candles. I also have a cupboard full of wax and candle "decor". Again, my husband questions my sanity over this issue. I tell him it gets rid of the dog smell in the house. He shuts up.

3. I have always wanted to be a gardener. I mean an insane, gotta get out there every day gardener. Green thumb mania. Time just doesn't allow this. Oh I do make the attempt every spring and manage to get the front of our house looking quite flowery, but I dream of having our entire backyard filled with floral delights and a small pond. That I can swim in or at least dip my feet in. Someday ... my husband has not yet questionned my sanity over this. He's actually agreed. So he stays quiet.

4. I always wanted to be a veterinarian. But when my childhood pet cat died of old age I realized that I could never pursue that dream ... I have an awful time dealing with animal death, and hence, as a vet, I could NEVER put an animal down. I would end up with a houseful of sick or unwanted animals. I am crazy about animals ... another thing my husband questions my sanity over. I tell him it makes me happy to have pets. He shuts up.

5. I would love to be a race car driver. I have always loved driving a standard transmission "stick shift" car ... it makes me feel "free" and "cool". Going fast is another story with all the cops around here ... I can't get cable t.v. where I live but if I speed you can bet there will be a speed trap along my route. Day or night. My poor husband has been caught many times ... and I remind him of that often. He questions my sanity over this ... I tell him I've been driving for 25 years and never had a speeding ticket or an accident. He admits defeat and shuts up.

PS I really do adore my husband ... today's blog is just a little "marital humour". You gotta laugh everyday or you will truly lose your sanity!! But trust me, the humour isn't always directed at my husband ... it's more often directed at me!!

Thanks for reading!
Janet xo

A Few Steps in the Right Direction ...

Well, my first weigh-in at my new Weight Watchers group was this morning. Man, it's hard to drag myself out of bed at 5:30 and be on the road by 7:15 on a Saturday morning. At least I didn't see anyone driving the wrong way down the highway today (that I saw last week ... one of those moments when you're so tired you go "what the heck? That's not right?!")
Anyway, after an uneventful drive to the dirty 'Shwa, my weigh-in was fairly successful ... a loss of 4.6 pounds. Yay! Nevermind that I almost had to cut off a limb to lose it (jk). I have increased my activity ten-fold. I'm doing 45 minutes at least of Wii Fit Plus every night, and I'm also trying to walk at least 30 minutes a day. So it's working obviously. I also had 2 dine-outs this week, but I figure that's good, because you still have to live your life, right? I am tracking EVERYTHING I put in my mouth. I'm allowed 27 points a day plus 35 extra points a week to spread out or eat all in one day. Writing down what I eat is certainly helping. Man, I can't believe how much food I was eating before. Probably about 100 points a day or more. I've deprived myself on diets before only to crash and burn when my willpower wains and my cravings for everything I couldn't have take over and I binge and gain all the weight back. Not this time. No more deprivation. Lifestyle change, yes, but steps in the right direction to get over this hurdle and finally be a much thinner me!

Thanks for reading,
Janet xo

Factual Friday ...

Well, I'm completely brain-dead today ... exhausted, and after a trip home from Cobourg in a tow truck (T.J.'s truck had to be towed, emergency brake release broke so brake was stuck on) I'm pretty much done. Had my 30 minute walk this afternoon (YAY!) and will faithfully do my Wii Fit Plus tonight, and I'll probably crash after that!!
So thanks again to my wonderful friend Debbie (Pot Luck Designs!) I have stolen a blog idea from her!! Hee Hee I'll have to take you out for a healthy lunch or something, Debbie to make up for all the blog steals I've done! LOL

Here's today's tidbits:

MY ABC'S

A - Age: 42 (most days I act much, much younger than that)

B - Bed Size: Queen

C - Chore You Hate: LAUNDRY

D - Dog's Name: Sierra

E - Essential Start of Your Day: Hug and kiss from Terry

F - Favorite Colour: Lavender

G - Gold, Silver or Platinum: Silver

H - Height: 5' 1" and a half, pushing it (yup, I'm vertically challenged)

I - Instruments You Play: Piano

J - Jewellery You Wear Everyday: 5 rings, necklace, 2 pairs of earrings

K - Kids: Brittany (19), T.J. (18)

L - Living Arrangements: Large home in the country

M - Mom's Name - Gladys

N - Nicknames: Tumblenut

O - Overnight Hospital Stay Other Than Giving Birth - Miscarriage :( , D&C, Foot Surgery, Gallbladder removal

P - Pet Peeve - Bad impatient drivers, liars, braggers, flirtatious women

Q - Quote: "For Balance in Life, You Need a Dog to Adore You and a Cat To Ignore You"

R - Right-Handed or Left-Handed: Right-Handed

S - Siblings: 2 sisters, Debbie & Ellen, both older than me

T - Time You Wake Up: 5:30 a.m.

U - Underwear: I'm wearing some ... but not a thong, underwear's not meant to go up your butt

V - Vegetables You Dislike: asparagus, beets, wax beans

W - Ways You Run Late: Phone call keeping me from getting out the door on time

X - X-Rays You've Had: Facial, foot, stomach

Y - Yummy Food You Make: Amish Friendship Bread, Banana Bread, Turkey Dinner

Z - Zoo Favorite: Giraffe

Would love to read yours!! Please share!!

Thanks for reading!

Janet xo

Birth of a Beautiful Baby ...

What an exciting day it's been!! My niece and her husband had their baby this morning ... Kaylie May Taylor came into the world at 4:28 a.m. weighing a healthy 8 lbs. 5 ozs. She is a beauty! I haven't seen her in person yet as they live in Kanata, so it will be a couple of weeks before I get to meet her. I can hardly wait to hold her! And hug my niece and her hubby! It's so exciting to have a new baby in the family. I'm so excited to be a Great Auntie!

Congratulations Erin and John! Welcome to the world beautiful little Kaylie May! We love you!

Man, this is tough ... REALLY tough

It's really tough, this "dieting" thing. Ok, I'm not really dieting, I'm making a lifestyle change. I really am. It has come down to a necessity to improve my health. Now. Before it's too late. But darnit, this is hard! I'm obsessed with food. I think about food from the time I get up in the morning until I go to bed ... even when I've gone to bed if my tummy is talking to me saying "FEED ME WOMAN" I find myself thinking about what I can eat for breakfast. Pathetic, I know. At least I've never gotten up in the middle of the night to raid the refrigerator, I like my sleep too much ... but if I ever start sleep-walking, there could be a MAJOR problem ...

I've gone from eating enough food to fill an aircraft carrier to barely eating enough to keep a fly alive. Ok, that's an exaggeration, but I'm sure you get the point. I'm hungry! My WW pocket guide states that I need to eat more "filling foods" ... foods that keep me feeling fuller and satisfied longer. And guess what 3 are on that list? Asparagus, beets and wax beans ... my 3 biggest mortal enemies as I stated in last week's blog. Further investigation into the "filling foods list" does supply some good news ... apples! bananas! skim milk! sirloin steak! I just need to make a conscious effort, when I need to snack, to snack only on these "filling" foods ... and continue to add them to my meals so I feel less hungry.
So my WW pocket guide has become my BFF since Saturday's meeting. My BFF with my FFL to keep me from EBS (my bestest friend forever with my filling foods list to keep me from eating bad stuff) Man, I need to get out more ... WAY more ...

Thanks for reading!
Janet xo

Getting back to the old me ...

I haven't been myself for many years. Physically, I mean. If someone I went to school with or knew when I was in my late teens were to pass me on the street, I doubt they'd recognize me. Or, my greatest fear is that they WOULD recognize me but in their eyes I'd see their shock at the weight I've gained. That would be mortifying.
Recently, as I mentioned in one of my recent blogs, I've been attempting to grow my hair long, back to the length it was about 20+ years ago. Not an easy task, after having a very short cut for years. I just feel like it's not the real me with that short cut. I get lots of compliments on it, but in my mind I just have that doubt that it's really me. When I look at picture of myself, getting beyond seeing the size I am is difficult, but so is looking at myself as a whole ... it's just not me.
And of course the weight loss. I mentioned in a recent Factful Friday that I used to be athletic. Hard to believe, I know. I really miss that. Any sport I attempted (other than high jump - I'm vertically challenged) I could pretty much tackle with some success. It was a great feeling ... being active, and being slim. I never had to worry about where to buy my clothes, or if they'd have it in my size ... anything I tried on always fit.
Of course, the years have changed me and my life. I wouldn't trade it for the world, don't get me wrong. I love the life I have ... I just don't love me. The physical me. Things are very different now, and I realize I just don't have the time to be that active anymore. But looking back at how great I felt, even though I've always had self-esteem issues, I know I felt better physically. And looked way better. I need to get back to that old me. I know I'll never see 18 or 20 again (personally, I wouldn't want to go back to that age) but I can certainly get back to that physically fit "old me", even though I'm in my 40s now. It's doable! I'll be back to the "old me" soon!! Just a much older "old me"!! LOL

Thanks for reading,
Janet xo

Factful Friday

Well, I finally hit the right day! I'm on time for a change! So here's today's tidbits:

#1 I am an Avon Representative ... ok, yes, ding-dong, hello, go ahead and make the silly joke and laugh, I'll allow you that. I've been selling it on and off for 22 years, I have always used Avon's products, love them, so figure why not keep selling it, make a bit of money, get my stuff free. They're a great company ... amazing guarantee, very affordable products.

#2 I have a new love ... travel. I have always been somewhat of a homebody, but in recent years Terry and I have had the opportunity to travel to a few places "south, sunny and warm" and I loved it. Not too keen on the flying part, but I'm getting used to it.

#3 I am very old-fashioned. I always knew I wanted to be a wife and mother, and a stay-at-home mom at that. I did manage to be home most of my children's young lives, I worked part-time, but have always been here when they needed me. I have always felt that home is where I belonged, it just felt right.

#4 I hate doing laundry. I am always stuggling to keep up with it. Unfortunately I think that has rubbed off on my adult children, as they hate doing laundry, too.

#5 After many years of "not having the time", I have begun reading again. I always took the time to read magazines or the paper, but hadn't read a novel in years. One of my New Year's resolutions this year was to start reading on a regular basis again. I love it. So relaxing.

Thanks for reading!
Janet xo

Four Times and Counting ...

Well, I've sucked it up yet again and I'm going back to Weight Watchers. Yes, this will be my FOURTH time in a WW group. I've been an online member for awhile, and it's a great website, but I feel I need to be "accountable" to an actual PERSON every week, not a computer. Back to the accountability thing AGAIN. Why can't I be accountable to myself? Tried that ... I keep saying "I can do this by myself" but it's so easy to just say "ah, what the heck" and another day slips by ... which leads to a week, which leads to a month. I'm down 5 pounds since I've started this whole blogging thing ... yup a whole 5 POUNDS ... shout it out, FIVE WHOLE FRIGGIN POUNDS. Am I proud of that? I'm sure you've guessed NO. I guess I can look at it that I didn't gain that 5 pounds at least.

I'm in the process of a complete lifestyle change as I stated in a recent blog. I researched and found some amazing information on Fibromyalgia and weight loss that tie in amazingly together. So slowly I'm making these changes ... it's just not enough quite yet to see the scale moving downward, but I know it takes time.

This food thing is an addiction, I know that. And an awful habit that's INCREDIBLY hard to break. I grew up this way!! A friend has sent along some amazing links to me about "Overeaters Annoymous" (thanks John!) and the stories of people who speak of their situations in this site are so similar to my situation. Obsessed with food. Eating without even realizing what they've eaten or what they've put in their mouth. Junk food addicts. Triple-triple coffee addicts (glad I'm not one of those!) So many people out there with the same issue I have ... it's overwhelming when you realize the statistics. Admitting we have a problem and taking the steps to deal with it, the best way we know how, is all we can do to make steps in a positive direction and overcome this obsession with food.

So back again I go ... one of Weight Watcher's biggest supporters and one big reason why they've stayed in business over the years ...



Thanks for reading!

Janet x0

As Promised (continued) ...

(please read "As Promised" blog first ... this is a continuation!)
So over the next year and a half our friendship blossomed. My "relationship" with the "other guy" was very rocky, at times heartwrenching, but Terry was always there with a listening ear or a shoulder. He treated me better than "the other guy". He always bought me gifts, especially when "the other guy" wasn't being so nice ... but I was TOO DUMB to clue in and dump this "other guy" (I'm being very kind here ... I am a lady and my mama taught me not to call people nasty names). So from May 1986 to July 1987 I stayed in that "other relationship" and it finally ended when the "other guy" was going away to University and confessed that he couldn't be faithful in a long-distance relationship (I later found out he hadn't been faithful at all over the year+ we'd been together, but that's water under the bridge). However I on the other hand HAD been faithful, and boy, it had sure been hard, with hunky Terry right there by my side. Terry had dated other girls over that year+ but we always kept in touch.
The day after that "other relationship" ended I went out drinking with my gal pals to drown my sorrows (or to celebrate, actually). Terry found out that night via Sherry that my boyfriend and I had broken up, and he called me the very next day and asked me to dinner. He listened to all my woes, anger, frustration for those next few weeks, hanging out with me every night with the patience of Jobe. I finally smartened up and realized everything I always wanted was RIGHT in front of me. Then things got serious real quick. For my birthday in October he gave me a beautiful ring, called it a "promise" ring, and told me he wanted to marry me someday, whenever I was ready. How sweet is that??!! I thought it was too good to be true. But in December of that year I finally had an AHA moment. It was like cupid had smacked me in the back of the head with his bow and arrow and said, "girl, give your head a shake ... snag this hunk NOW". So I called Terry (it was very late, we had already been out for the evening and had said our goodbyes) and asked him if he was busy next November ... when he confusingly asked why, I asked him to marry me. Point blank. Of course he said YES!!! LOL
So our wedding was planned for November, 1988. I chose November as we were both in jobs that had typical "slower" times in the late fall (he was a builder of custom homes, I was a real estate secretary - yes I chose the full-time job over going to business college). So I knew a week off for our honeymoon wouldn't be a problem. We bought a little "fixer-upper" house in north Oshawa (ah, the Dirty 'Shwa, my hometown extraordinaire), married November 12th, 1988, and the rest is history. 2 beautiful children later (Brittany 1990 and T.J. 1991), a house-build of our own in 1994 relocating us to Newcastle, numerous pets, and of course some rocky times and struggles, we are still together 22 years later. And I just adore him ... I think even more! (if that's possible) We have both changed (matured actually) as we were a young bride and groom (21 and 22) but I can't imagine life without him. I just realized that next month it will be 24 years since we met on that blind date to the hospital ... WOW. What an amazing journey it has been ... wouldn't trade it for the world!
So yes, our 2 children are doubly-related (is that a word?) to Ron and Sherry's 2 children ... through my side and Terry's side. Kinda cool.
Oh, and the "other guy"? He lost out big time. Just wish I had spent that year+ with Terry instead of him. But it was all a learning experience. Hindsight ... you know. But I'm so grateful Terry was there all along and never gave up on what he believed in ... I guess it's called LOVE! LOL

Thanks for reading!
Janet xo

As Promised ...

I just LOVE telling this story. Any family members/friends who know the in-depth story of how Terry (my hunky hubby) and I met you might as well skip reading todays blog for fear of being bored to death or going blind from rolling your eyes. Hee hee ... for those of you who don't know the story, here it is!! (keep the "gagging yourself with your finger" to yourself, please)
My cousin, Sherry, was married to Terry's cousin, Ron (they are now divorced). Now I know this immediately conjures up thoughts of incest, but trust me, there's absolutely NO blood relation between Terry and I ... I want to make that clear right from the start.
My older sister and her then husband Tim hung around Sherry and Ron alot in the mid-eighties as they were very close in age. I was in my final year of high school, a completely wasteful year of Grade 13, undecided as to whether to go to business school or work full time. I had just begun a new "relationship" with a nice young man (or at least I thought he was nice) around May of that year (I believe, if memory serves me correctly, it was 1986). My sis, Ellen, kept talking about a male cousin of Ron's who had moved up to Ontario from Nova Scotia in March to work and was looking to meet people ... in particular, looking for a "lady friend". I agreed to meet him, I thought that he would be welcomed into my easy-going circle of friends with open arms. So my "boyfriend" at the time thought it a little unusual, but agreed it was a good idea for me to meet him, and the evening was planned by my sister and Ron. Coincidentally, Sherry had just given birth to their first child, and was in hospital with the baby in Toronto. So the plan was to ride up with Ron & my sis to visit Sherry and see the baby. Yes, a BLIND DATE to the MATERNITY WARD of a hospital was our first meeting.
So the day came, and I have to admit, the thought did cross my mind as to whether this fine young fellow, who had come all the way from the other side of Canada, would ultimately be the right one for me, even though I was in another "relationship". I decided to let fate take it's course and just relax and have a fun evening.
Well, he turned out to be a hunk. Ooo la la. Ellen and Ron made us ride in the back seat together so we had no choice but to strike up a conversation about anything and everything. I was so uncomfortable and nervous, I'm sure it showed. Our trip to the hospital went well, and I must say I was so impressed when he donned the scrubs to go in to see the baby.
Our evening continued back at my sis's apartment, where the 4 of us played one of those beer guzzling boards games, and I was losing horribly and decided to quit whilest I still had my dignity and my stomach contents were intact. From there we went to Ron & Sherry's, and Terry expressed interest in taking me out for a ride on Ron's motorbike (to this day he says it's because he wanted to feel his arms around me ... perv!!!)
So other than almost killing me on the bike when he popped a wheelie, the rest of the night went well ... he drove me home and we agreed to keep in touch. OMG he was sweet. But I knew I couldn't back out of the other relationship ... that just wasn't me.
(continued in a 2nd post ... see "As Promised continued" over to the left in the list of my blogs ... I'm too wordy and this website won't save anything bigger!! LOL)

Factful Friday ...

Oh, I'm a bad, bad blogger ... missed another Friday blog AGAIN. I do have a good excuse, I have been under the weather all week, and Friday was my worst day, spent most of the day on the couch with what seems to be the flu. Anyway, I cooked Easter dinner for 10 today and am feeling I'm on the mend, so here I am with my "late" Friday blog. I think I'll change the name to Random Day Facts ... much more suitable!
Here they are:

#1 I used to be very athletic ... ok, now you've picked yourself up off the floor, it's true. When I was younger (like ALOT younger, I'm talking age 8-17) I loved sports ... in the younger years I joined every sport I could, running was my favorite. Older years I played soccer and loved it.
And I think I was pretty good. But now? Can't even run to the phone without going into cardiac arrest. I could kick myself for getting so out of shape over the years.

#2 I was an aunt by the time I was 12. My oldest sister, who is almost 11 years older than I, married when I was 9 ... hence, me being an aunt by the age of 12. I am now a great aunt!

#3 I love writing poetry ... I used to write it regularly, but time doesn't allow for it much anymore. I have kept every poem I've ever written.

#4 I love being near water. (I'm talking bodies of water here) I find it incredibly peaceful. Terry and I hope to retire "on water" someday.

#5 It's obvious how much I love food ... but the food I probably dislike the most? ASPARAGUS. I was force-fed canned asparagus as a child, it's beyond mushy and gross. So now I can't even smell the stuff, I gag.

So that's about it for this week's random facts ... somewhat dull, I know ... my brain is still in sick mode, I guess!

I promise to tell the story of how my hubby and I met, in my next blog. I know I left you all hanging when I mentioned we met on a blind date to the maternity ward of a hospital. So the story will be revealed soon!!

Thanks for reading!
Janet xo