Sorry so late. The day didn't go as planned, we actually threw in some fun this afternoon (a long walk) and that messed my regular exercise up, plus it's supposed to sleet/storm tomorrow so I had to go to the grocery store for the weekly groceries tonight instead of tomorrow, plus then I had to get my regular workout in, plus when that was done I had to drink a gallon of water and cool down, plus then I was sweaty and stinky and had to take a shower...
Love my run-on sentence?
So I wrote all the names down. I used my Cathe hat that I just got myself (which I love!) instead of a pretty vintage bowl because it was handy. I then had my dear husband pull a name.
Oh, and before I announce the winner, I now remember why I don't like give aways: because it always makes me feel bad for the people that didn't win. I wish I were rich so I could do for everyone...but I'm not.
Okay, no more putting it off. The name that Hubby pulled out of the hat? Katie!
I will email you, and when I hear back, I can get the gift certificate all lined up!
Thanks for entering, everyone, and celebrating my blogiversary with me!
2.19.2011
2.16.2011
My Official Anniversary Today
Two years ago today, I started my "diet." I use the word loosely because I knew it was not a diet, yet I didn't want to call it a lifestyle change because I find that term too pop culture. I call what I've been doing my journey, my health journey and/or my fitness journey.
Yes, I've lost a lot of weight. I've whined wishing it were more. It is what it is. My general health has improved greatly. I settled down into a good, um, lifestyle. Then the rug got pulled from my feet.
Finally, the diagnosis delivering me from the years of pain. Pain I now know is called renal colic and by some accounts the most painful thing the human body can endure, and by other accounts, it's in the top four compared to heart attacks, gunshots, and something else, I forget. So get the surgery, get shocked that the recovery was pure hell, and look forward to the day that I get the stent removed.
The day the stent was removed was actually the day the rug got pulled from under. The new kidney stone prevention diet. That diet went against everything I believed: Anything in moderation. When I say anything, that doesn't mean I'm going to eat garbage all day--never did. However, I never felt guilty of I wanted something "not clean" or a little naughty. Overall, my eating had improved vastly.
Until the kidney stone prevention diet. Oh, how I have struggled. The last few weeks I have been severely depressed. I was so bad I spent most of my time in bed, throwing out "I don't cares, "f*ck it," and other comments. I'm pretty ladylike, although I do swear in real life, but my attitude was anything but.
Kept trying to remain cheerful and positive, but I was burst out into tears and the drop of a hat. I was really bad off and was contemplating a phone call to my doctor.
And then it struck me. The thing I've said all along came to mind, this is mostly a mental journey. I was in a mental fog. I just kept thinking about that, the mental journey. Then I used my noggin and asked myself what was it that would make me feel better. My immediate answer was a big bowl of bran flakes and almonds. lol (Yes, seriously!) But then I stepped out of the food box and asked again, what would make me feel better. Exercise. Getting my step count up to 20,000 again. Moving forward. DOING. I thought about that long and hard. Yesterday it came to fruition.
DOING. Just do it. I've used the phrase just do it long before Nike did. Moving. That would make me happy. So yesterday, I set out to do that. My goal was to get 10,000 steps. I did a Leslie DVD and I thought, this is NOOOO fun. This is my sickly workout and I'm tired of walking with Leslie. I want to really work out. So I dusted off my step bench and popped in a short step DVD by Gin Miller. It was short and easy to ease me back. That was all it took. My spirits soared. I was highly active the rest of the day and ended up with 22,900 steps.
Yup, I'M BACK. I had to clear the fog, the stinking thinking, and I had to dig deep and find what it was that would really make me happy.
There's nothing I can do about the fact that I now have a kidney disease. Oh, those two words I was never going to use here. Did you know that if you produce kidney stones, you have kidney disease? When I think of kidney disease, I think of dialysis. However, there are many diseases of the kidney and kidney stones is one of them.
And those two words, kidney disease, are also what put me into a tailspin. This journey had been about saving myself from disease, hoping that it wasn't too late, that I hadn't screwed up my body and could save it. So having a label hurt and hurt bad. However, once I got to thinking about that, I realized that I had had that kidney disease for years but it had not been diagnosed. So that made me feel a little better. Just a little, because the likelihood is that I did it to myself through obesity and dehydration.
And so here is my anniversary, and I've learned a thing or two just in the last few weeks--earth shattering. I'm not a positive person by nature. I'm very black and white and a perfectionist to boot. If I can step out of my shoes when I'm struggling, though, and really think out a problem, I can find a solution.
I don't know if I've licked this depression or not, but my gut is telling me yes. I know myself pretty well. I tend to be an overachiever and I do have my eye on the prize, and it's time to go get it.
So happy anniversary to me. Two years ago I started my "diet" and quest to improve my health. I've done just that. The added bonus has become mental clarity.
I hope next year I'll be at goal. If I'm not, so be it, because I will be the next year. While I want it all yesterday, I'm happy with my new normal--a normal which is always changing.
Yes, I've lost a lot of weight. I've whined wishing it were more. It is what it is. My general health has improved greatly. I settled down into a good, um, lifestyle. Then the rug got pulled from my feet.
Finally, the diagnosis delivering me from the years of pain. Pain I now know is called renal colic and by some accounts the most painful thing the human body can endure, and by other accounts, it's in the top four compared to heart attacks, gunshots, and something else, I forget. So get the surgery, get shocked that the recovery was pure hell, and look forward to the day that I get the stent removed.
The day the stent was removed was actually the day the rug got pulled from under. The new kidney stone prevention diet. That diet went against everything I believed: Anything in moderation. When I say anything, that doesn't mean I'm going to eat garbage all day--never did. However, I never felt guilty of I wanted something "not clean" or a little naughty. Overall, my eating had improved vastly.
Until the kidney stone prevention diet. Oh, how I have struggled. The last few weeks I have been severely depressed. I was so bad I spent most of my time in bed, throwing out "I don't cares, "f*ck it," and other comments. I'm pretty ladylike, although I do swear in real life, but my attitude was anything but.
Kept trying to remain cheerful and positive, but I was burst out into tears and the drop of a hat. I was really bad off and was contemplating a phone call to my doctor.
And then it struck me. The thing I've said all along came to mind, this is mostly a mental journey. I was in a mental fog. I just kept thinking about that, the mental journey. Then I used my noggin and asked myself what was it that would make me feel better. My immediate answer was a big bowl of bran flakes and almonds. lol (Yes, seriously!) But then I stepped out of the food box and asked again, what would make me feel better. Exercise. Getting my step count up to 20,000 again. Moving forward. DOING. I thought about that long and hard. Yesterday it came to fruition.
DOING. Just do it. I've used the phrase just do it long before Nike did. Moving. That would make me happy. So yesterday, I set out to do that. My goal was to get 10,000 steps. I did a Leslie DVD and I thought, this is NOOOO fun. This is my sickly workout and I'm tired of walking with Leslie. I want to really work out. So I dusted off my step bench and popped in a short step DVD by Gin Miller. It was short and easy to ease me back. That was all it took. My spirits soared. I was highly active the rest of the day and ended up with 22,900 steps.
Yup, I'M BACK. I had to clear the fog, the stinking thinking, and I had to dig deep and find what it was that would really make me happy.
There's nothing I can do about the fact that I now have a kidney disease. Oh, those two words I was never going to use here. Did you know that if you produce kidney stones, you have kidney disease? When I think of kidney disease, I think of dialysis. However, there are many diseases of the kidney and kidney stones is one of them.
And those two words, kidney disease, are also what put me into a tailspin. This journey had been about saving myself from disease, hoping that it wasn't too late, that I hadn't screwed up my body and could save it. So having a label hurt and hurt bad. However, once I got to thinking about that, I realized that I had had that kidney disease for years but it had not been diagnosed. So that made me feel a little better. Just a little, because the likelihood is that I did it to myself through obesity and dehydration.
And so here is my anniversary, and I've learned a thing or two just in the last few weeks--earth shattering. I'm not a positive person by nature. I'm very black and white and a perfectionist to boot. If I can step out of my shoes when I'm struggling, though, and really think out a problem, I can find a solution.
I don't know if I've licked this depression or not, but my gut is telling me yes. I know myself pretty well. I tend to be an overachiever and I do have my eye on the prize, and it's time to go get it.
So happy anniversary to me. Two years ago I started my "diet" and quest to improve my health. I've done just that. The added bonus has become mental clarity.
I hope next year I'll be at goal. If I'm not, so be it, because I will be the next year. While I want it all yesterday, I'm happy with my new normal--a normal which is always changing.
2.13.2011
Blogiversary Give Away--$35 Cathe Gift Certificate!
It's celebration time here. I started my blog February 19, 2009. I've gained much through my journey: the friendships and support, better health, lost a few pounds along the way, a diagnosis for my mystery pain finally, and a love of fitness. There have been ups and downs on this journey, but my blog has been the perfect outlet for me.
So to celebrate, I wanted to share my passion: fitness. What to give away? I love my Benson-era Firms, I love Jari Love, and I love Cathe. They're my favorites, although there are many other instructors I love as well.
Since I've given away Firm videos in the past, I decided to give away a gift certificate to Cathe's store. I will never forget the night I sat down at Collage Video's website on the lookout for strength training videos that weren't manly, that were appealing, and would help me on my fitness journey. What I bought were Firm videos. What I was captivated by were the Cathe workouts. I knew I was a beginner and not ready for Cathe. I'm not saying my Firm videos were easy--they weren't. Cathe is different, though. I watched several of Cathe's and knew that I would buy some one day.
And I did. I now own many of her workouts. I'm even good at some of them! lol She is polished, she is highly professional, and she is safe. She has excellent form and is a top-notch instructor. She's Cathe, after all. Her workouts are tough--most are an advanced level, but they're good. They're even fun.
Her step workouts are very enjoyable. I started out with Basic Step, which is her beginner step video. I felt so accomplished when I got that down. Then I moved on. I'm still working on some of her tougher stuff, but it is such a thrill to get through her workouts, to finally perfect a move, and to be dripping in sweat when finished. It's also a great rush to do her weight workouts and be able to up my weights, to feel my muscles working and getting toasty.
Anyway, I want to share the Cathe love with a $35 gift certificate. She runs great sales, and if you sign up for her newsletter, you may be able to find terrific deals.
Here are my give away rules:
First of all, I am not responsible for any injuries sustained when you use your winning DVD. Just had to get that out of the way.
1) Comment here to enter.
2) One entry per person.
3) Leave your email address in your comment so I can contact you.
4) Tell me why you want to win--just curious!
Entries will be taken until February 19 at 12:00 central time.
I will write out all entries and put them in one of my pretty vintage bowls then draw a winner.
I will announce the winner sometime in the evening of February 19, which is my blog anniversary. I will also email the winner.
Winner has until Monday, February 21st, 2011, at 8:00 p.m. central time to respond to me. If I do not hear from the winner, I will draw again.
I think that's all I need!
Happy working out! Work work, as Cathe would say.
So to celebrate, I wanted to share my passion: fitness. What to give away? I love my Benson-era Firms, I love Jari Love, and I love Cathe. They're my favorites, although there are many other instructors I love as well.
Since I've given away Firm videos in the past, I decided to give away a gift certificate to Cathe's store. I will never forget the night I sat down at Collage Video's website on the lookout for strength training videos that weren't manly, that were appealing, and would help me on my fitness journey. What I bought were Firm videos. What I was captivated by were the Cathe workouts. I knew I was a beginner and not ready for Cathe. I'm not saying my Firm videos were easy--they weren't. Cathe is different, though. I watched several of Cathe's and knew that I would buy some one day.
And I did. I now own many of her workouts. I'm even good at some of them! lol She is polished, she is highly professional, and she is safe. She has excellent form and is a top-notch instructor. She's Cathe, after all. Her workouts are tough--most are an advanced level, but they're good. They're even fun.
Her step workouts are very enjoyable. I started out with Basic Step, which is her beginner step video. I felt so accomplished when I got that down. Then I moved on. I'm still working on some of her tougher stuff, but it is such a thrill to get through her workouts, to finally perfect a move, and to be dripping in sweat when finished. It's also a great rush to do her weight workouts and be able to up my weights, to feel my muscles working and getting toasty.
Anyway, I want to share the Cathe love with a $35 gift certificate. She runs great sales, and if you sign up for her newsletter, you may be able to find terrific deals.
Here are my give away rules:
First of all, I am not responsible for any injuries sustained when you use your winning DVD. Just had to get that out of the way.
1) Comment here to enter.
2) One entry per person.
3) Leave your email address in your comment so I can contact you.
4) Tell me why you want to win--just curious!
Entries will be taken until February 19 at 12:00 central time.
I will write out all entries and put them in one of my pretty vintage bowls then draw a winner.
I will announce the winner sometime in the evening of February 19, which is my blog anniversary. I will also email the winner.
Winner has until Monday, February 21st, 2011, at 8:00 p.m. central time to respond to me. If I do not hear from the winner, I will draw again.
I think that's all I need!
Happy working out! Work work, as Cathe would say.
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