Monday Weigh In No. 2

Today is my weigh in day, I was silly and nervous about it all night last night. I got up this morning and weighed before my shower and the scale said 329.0 YES!!! Happy Dance! I went in today for my lab results and they were great. Nothing to be worried about super healthy minus some, mental health and asthma.

I was trying to think of things to write about for this post and I have decided to share what has changed since I gained so much weight. This way I can look back and see what gets better as I lose the weight.

Shaving my legs for starters, I noticed that when I stand in the shower to shave my leg supporting all my weight gets extremely tired. Yes, I could sit on the edge of the tub, but that is something you just don’t think about first (or at least I don’t).

Pants are tight, yes this is common when you gain weight you grow out of your comfy clothes and have to buy bigger. I don’t like shopping, I really hate it. If I’m not shopping art supplies or journals I could care less to shop. This summer I had to buy size 26 pants. I cried. I had been a steady 22/24 with stretch. Nope I was uncomfortable and caved in and bought two new pairs. I am praying before it gets cold, since they were capris type pants, I can drop back to my 22/24 jeans.

The seat belt in my truck the passenger seatbelt to be exact. Last December we lost our wonderful Tundra to a car wreck ( not our fault). We had to get something afforadble and its a wonderful truck just a later model. The seatbelts are the type that come directly from the shoulder of the actual chair. Its a royal pain in the butt. I fight with it every time I get in the truck. It likes to lock up on the slightes move and just sucks me to the seat where I cannot reach for anything, no slack. I can’t wait to see that bad boy losen it’s grip on me.

SOCKS, I am a southern gal and love my bare feet or flip flops. Now that it’s fall and I’ve started doing more walking socks are back. My poor feet swell and socks are just ugghhhh. I can’t breath when I wear them, anyone else feel like that. Ha Ha. Any who, I will be happy when the swelling goes down and my socks are more comfortable.

I have several pants that are for “when I lose the weight”, and some shirts that I need to take pics of wearing now to show when they get loose. I just am so excited for the progress and how I am doing. I know it’s only the start of Week 3 , but I just feel like I really have this. I have my Carb manager app, and a new workout app I will discuss later once I give it a try. Long post over. Thanks for reading and remember do what brings you Joy! Stay safe out there!!

Pinwheels

I love sushi. I was sad to see one of my favorites not on the Keto list. Just for clarity, Yes, there are keto versions of sushi if you just google or search Pinterest. I am talking about my Favorite sushi. The kind you get at the restaurant or at the grocery store. Sushi is my No. 2 Favorite food. First place is forever in my heart Pizza (recipes soon to come). It is tied with a good steak though. Texas gal here got to represent. 🙂

So what was I to do? I was craving sushi and knew I couldn’t eat that. I went to Pinterest to see what caught my eye. Looking for recipes of snacks and I found Pinwheels. Okay so it’s not sushi, I know. They looked so very yummy and there are so many options to change them up to your liking. Here is the recipe I settled on https://joyfilledeats.com/turkey-bacon-ranch-pinwheels/ ( Link opens in a new tab)

My version of these pinwheels 🙂

Once I printed off the above recipe I tweaked it and made pinwheels like the ones above. I have to say they are a great lunch or snack ☺️. You can make them up ahead of time and keep them in the fridge. I just make a few and when I am ready I cut them up and eat. I do have to watch myself like today it’s very tempting to just eat them all.

How I do my Pinwheels, ( sorry it’s been a long time since I have written a how to)

First I lay down a piece of tin foil and a piece of parchment paper on top the tin foil. I take two ounces of cream cheese and heat it in a microwave safe bowl for only 15 or 30 seconds just to soften it. I take my choice of deli meat and lay them out one on top the other, but the second slice is over lapping the end of the first.

I then smear the cream cheese over my deli meat with the back side of a spoon. I spread the cream cheese all over leaving a bit of edge as a boarder. I take my Everything But The Bagel Seasoning and sprinkle over the cream cheese. YUM! I add a sprinkle of my favorite cheese and a few slices of avocado and bacon bits (bacon bits omitted in picture above, I was in a hurry). I gently roll and tuck the lunch meat to form a pinwheel. I roll it up in the parchment paper/tin foil and twist ends to close. I place in the fridge for later or if I want it shortly I will pop it in the freezer for a few minutes.

When ready to eat, open up and cut in small sections like sushi. I hope you enjoy this small snack and enjoy reading along. I will share more of what I find and actually like to eat on my keto journey. I have been surprised by many of the meals actually tasting great and not like cardboard. You don’t have to be on a diet, or weight loss journey to enjoy these meals. You can just be looking for a tasty treat.

Thanks for sticking around and always remember do what brings you joy.

*Next Monday is my Second weigh-in, hope you stop by and see how I am doing!!

Facing the Mirror

I have to say I dreaded the moment I needed to strip it down and see myself .

They say, people who go on this quest, that taking before photos is very important. I can honestly say it has been the hardest part of my journey so far. If you read my last post you would know that I had managed to avoid the mirror for almost the whole of 2020. I don’t advise this. However, it is what I did.

I want to have before pictures and I want to have progress pictures. Pictures like that are my favorite part of watching someone’s weight loss transformation. How can I see myself change into a beautiful butterfly if I don’t take any pictures? Plus, I may inspire someone else to take the first step.

So I scooped up my nerves and marched in my bathroom and took several pictures. Taking the photos was just a blur of this way and that, a side angle or a frontal. I just wanted it over fast. I managed to get the job done and I needed to decide what to do next. I waited before I looked through them. I actually didn’t look at them till I made this blog post. I was scared. Would I see the damage and be ashamed? Would I get so discouraged that I just give up? Just fall into a despair and let it spiral out of control? Would I cry? No, I wouldn’t let any of that happen. I want this so bad. I can see a finish line. It may be a long road and there will be bumps and turns. I know I will fail and struggle, but its a learning experience . I will take it day by day. I believe that I can do this. Now what?

Do I just keep them in my phone? Do I share them somewhere? Where? Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, or …here?!?!?

I decided here was the best place. This has been my safe place all along to share what is going on in my brain and daily life. I have shared my artwork, my readings, and even my mental struggles. I’m sharing my weight journey here, might as well put the photos here too.

They say no one will judge you aa harshly as your own self, but that saying was before the Internet and social media. The only way I feel okay, truly at ease about putting my before photos out here is because soon I will not be that same body in the mirror. I’m on a journey to change and my body is a huge part of me that will. There will be other changes like exercise, mental wellbeing, and diet. I am excited to make it. I want it. I REALLY want it. I plan on keeping this going and posting whatever I discover along the way. I will share my ups and my downs with you. I will find strength in this journey. I know this is tough now, but maybe in my change and my journey I may get some new friends along the way.

So please be kind and watch me find my wings. Thanks for reading as always stay safe and do what brings you joy.

This was difficult to face, but I have embraced my Journey!

A New Journey

So its been brought to my attention I have gained some serious weight. I knew I had put on the weight and was just doing what I normally do … avoid the mirror. However, it was brought to my attention by someone I love and truly care for what they have to say. They were very concerned and kind, but my feelings never the less were hurt. Not because they pointed it out, but because it confirmed what I was already trying to deny.

So I jumped up and started to do something about it. I started Keto. Most have already heard of this diet and there is a division of who thinks it’s good or bad. I tried it a few years back and had success. I later gave into temptation (damn those red hots candies) and fell off the wagon.

So I have downloaded the app Carb Manager to my phone and added it to my computer hot bar. I have been on it a little over 2 weeks. I weigh in on Mondays and take measurements on the 14th of each month.

I have a bullet journal I just started to take down information and keep track of what is going on. I lost 8 pounds my first week. I drink water all day everyday and I feel fairly good so far. Today I went to my doctor and did my fasting lab work. I am concered with type 2 diabeaties being an issue since so much weight has been gained. Hopefully I will remedy it with the Keto diet.

Today I took my before and after photos! Yikes! I knew I had gained weight, but I really was NOT prepared to see the person in those photos. I cried. How could I let it get that bad. Sure the number on the scale is heartbreaking, but for a person who has avoided a mirror for almost a year I was broken to see the lady in the photos. I am glad I am taking charge and doing something about it.

People on the keto diet say photos are the way to measure progress. You are more likely to see a difference in a before and after photo than going by the scale alone. I am a daily scale stepper haha I know it fluctuates and you should not step on the scale everyday, but my mind needs to see it. Humans we are so funny at times right? I feel that my site is a safe place to keep track of the progress..journey… I really want to stay with it and reach my goal. I may get brave and share photos here.. I am not sure if I want to just yet. I need to get over the initial shock. I plan on taking progress pics when I do my measurements.

So wish me luck and if you are needing so inspiration or motivation hang around and we can do this together. Stay safe and do what brings you joy.

Changes

Changes, they are tough right? I’ve had to make so many changes in the last, I don’t how long, that I feel LOST. Maybe I should title this Looking for Clarity, but Changes works for now.

2020..YIKES

Am I right? This whole year has just been all wrong in so many ways and to so many people, myself included. I’ve made so many changes this year I’m exhausted. Talk about staying on your toes. I’m ready for 2021 no matter what it brings. I hope many of you have been safe and doing well throughout this crazy year. I have managed to keep my family safe and remotely happy.

So what changes have I had to face or make this year… for starters wearing a mask every place I go. It sucks with asthma and panic attacks jumping out to scare the what what out of me. I can honestly say it is not that big a burden, so I don’t mind.

Speaking of panic attacks I have gotten some great meds that have been working wonders for my depression and anxiety. For a long time I was just flip flopping back and forth through so many medications that I can’t even keep them straight. It seem this last round I have the right mixture. I have struggled with anxiety, depression, and PTSD for a long time now and it’s nice to actually see the sky for once instead of dark sad clouds.

I picked up the paint brush again, so very happy with that. Instead of Inktober I have decided to make it Drawtober for myself. My goal is to try and draw one page a day in the month of October. I was doing okay at the beginning, but I need to pick it up again. Practice, practice, right?

My husband became ill again and unfortunately he has lost the other big toe. It’s sad to think about I know if it was me I’d be hurting. He is so strong though and just carries on, it’s what makes him a wonderful man.

The kids had to take up the virtual program set by the school. I want to say they are doing great, but reality the oldest one is the massive headache I have. HaHa. The other two are doing great and for that I am so happy.

That seems enough of a catch up for today. Stay safe out there and do what brings you joy.