The Firm DVDs Arrived Today!

Thank you, Fed Ex, for delivering on a Saturday!

I immediately popped in The Firm: Power Sculpt, which is a 20-minute toning DVD.

I ****loved**** it!!!

Yes, me, who hates, fears and runs hiding from anything weighty, toning, etc--yes, I loved it!

I'm not in the best shape strength wise, and I did the tape without the bar--to learn the moves and get used to it. The instructor was cheery, the music was--well, elevator type but it fit the workout and was pleasant, and the workout, without the stick, had me pouring sweat immediately.

This is *just* what I was wanting and hoping for. It will take me awhile to build my strength up, so I'll be doing this awhile. I am happy!

I ordered two other The Firm toning DVDs which I have not watched yet. I will build up to those, but for now, I'm happy that I'm going to be able to move in the right direction without fear, allowing myself to be girly, and enjoying it!

~~~
I love my Richard Simmons cardio DVDs, but I have a sneaky suspicion I am going to be checking out The Firm's collection.
~~~

Oh, happy day!

Bootcamp Chili

I got this recipe from the Bootcamp Buddies years ago. You have to double-check the nutritional info on the beans you buy, because it varies by brand. I use Mrs. Grimes brand and it works out correctly points wise.

This has become our staple chili recipe, as we all love it, even when I wasn't doing Weight Watchers. Sometimes I add an extra can of tomatoes.

Chili


Makes 20 1-cup servings
2 POINTS per serving

Ingredients:

6 cans of Chili Beans in Sauce (15 oz can)
2 cans Crushed Tomatoes (28 oz)
12 oz cooked 90% lean ground beef (about 1 lb raw)
2 onions, chopped (2 cups or to taste)
chili powder to taste
salt, pepper to taste


Instructions:


Brown the beef and drain well. (I rinse mine, as it reduces fat content.)
Combine with all the other ingredients and simmer uncovered until the
onions are tender, stirring frequently. (I sometimes throw this in the crockpot and cook all day long.)

Week 29/30 Menus

I didn't post menus last week, but here's the plan for the rest of the week:

Saturday--Twice Baked Potatoes
Sunday-Chili
Monday-Aimee's Potato Soup/Baked Monte Cristo Sandwiches
Tuesday-Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, salad
Wednesday-Cheesy Crockpot Chicken, noodles, vegetable
Thursday-Chili
Friday-Hamburgers, baked fries, salad
Saturday-Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing, Yams
Sunday-Crockpot Cheeseburgers, baked fries, salad

The Orange Chicken I posted a couple weeks ago? AWFUL. We all hated it. It was just too sweet.

I bake my potatoes in the crockpot. I scrub them, dry them off, pierce them, wrap them in Reynold's foil wraps--**love** these things, I find them at my dollar store, and throw them in the crockpot. Low, 8-10 hour. High about 4 hours. To us, they taste just like oven-baked.

Dread

Awhile back, we took my son to the orthodontist. Well, he needs surgery to remove a baby tooth, get a chain put around an impacted tooth and a little flap of skin removed.

He freaked. I tried to calm him, but I kind of put this on the back burner, didn't call the specialist and hoped it would all go away without me dealing with it.

I was also afraid of cost, as we only have so much orthodontia insurance, and I questioned whether this would fall under normal dentistry or orthodontia.

Finally, I'll only admit this here, I freaked. Having my son go under? Eeeks. I get scared to go under, but him? It will be a Xanax day when this takes place.

Anyway, yesterday the specialist called here. They said we had been referred, and would like to set up an appointment. Sheesh, so much for me burying my head in the sand. They had an appointment open today, so we're going to head to the big city.

My son is not happy.

I am all about bribes, so I old him we'd go to the Olive Garden after the appointment. I did great last time I was there, but today I'm a bit nervous. I'm going to allow myself one breadstick, the salad with the dressing on the side, and get an entree. My fear is the breadsticks will call my name to calm my nerves.

The good thing is the scale moved this morning--finally. I'm hoping it wasn't a fluke, it shouldn't be as I've remained on plan. I don't want anything to mess that up. So while I'm eyeing those breadsticks, I'll keep that new secret number in my head. That should be motivation enough to stay on target.

So hopefully we can work in some fun in the big city today as well.

Updates

Cellulitis Update:

It's still there. lol The night after I had gone to the doctor, the itching started with a vengeance. Then it started throbbing and -- hard to describe, but it's like a burning sensation. It is better this morning, yet I am very aware of its presence. It doesn't look a whole lot better, but the swelling has gone down.

Body:
I don't know if it's antibiotics, the cellulitis, or what, but I am very puffy. Am planning on drinking a lot more water today.

Movement:
I got a lot of work done around the house yesterday despite the fact that I was walking like I just got off a horse. My son helped me a lot, and I delegated the task of cleaning the living room. Normally he does things like dust, pick up, run errands, etc., but yesterday he did a fantastic job on the living room, including vacuuming, a task he doesn't like due to the noise. Then he mowed the yard. Many hands make light work, and that was a huge sense of relief to me to have one less thing. Plus, I am moving more--I intentionally run my own errands through the house so I am moving my body more. It's the small things, right?

School:
Starts Tuesday. I need to spend about a half hour organizing our books, but other than that, we're ready. I am excited to be in a good routine, but I dread it starting because it is going to effect the way I read and comment on blogs.

Food:
Doing good this week! About to throw some chicken in the crockpot.

Exercise:
I just need to grow up. Period. I'm exhibiting too much of a diva mentality, a spoiled brat mentality. Granted, walking is difficult now due to the cellulitis. However, there are things I could do. I haven't. Will try something today.

I just placed an order for:

The Firm: Power Sculpt with Sculpting Stick
The Firm: Maximum Body Sculpting
The Firm: Total Body Toner

I spent a lot of time figuring out which toning videos to buy this weekend. My husband can't understand why I just won't go use our Bowflex. I've said it before, but it intimidates me. I want to spray paint it pink and make pretty floral slip covers for the bench. I just won't use it. I don't know what my problem is.

So, I'm forking out some money on videos. The first on my list is a very overpriced item. It is a DVD and a weight stick thingamabob. I showed it to my husband and he rolled his eyes. I really liked the preview, but the thing is: the whole workout is only 20 minutes. Not very long, huh? I have been resisting resistance my whole life, but in this journey since February, I've really been bad. So I want to start out short and sweet. That will get me going, and start to build myself up. If I don't do it that way, the odds are I'll remain a spoiled brat and not work my body. The other two videos I bought are for once I have my confidence up. I really like the looks of The Firm videos and am excited to try them. Of course for my cardio, I'll stick with my beloved Richard Simmons and walking. Maybe some day I'll buy one of the mixed The Frim videos. For now, I'm good.

In My Head:
I'm in a good place today. I was a bit weepy yesterday, but I've made my peace. I am, however, aware of the fact that my post about girdles was full of judgment, which I reflected on while thinking of Russ and judgment. Choosing heavier clerks over skinny? Whoa, Nellie, I have some reverse prejudice going on there. I hadn't realized it until I read over my post. I worry about judgment about my size, but yet I'm doing the same thing. Will get that in check and fast!

Otherwise, all's well!

I Stayed Up Late on Purpose...

...so I could wait for Sean's post! He did it! (I knew he would!) Congratulations, Sean, for your awesome 209-pound loss and reaching that monumental moment, getting below 300.

I just get so excited when my blogging friends reach fantastic milestones! It just makes me so happy!

Now I'll sleep well. lol

Death

I found out this morning a cousin of mine died this weekend of brain cancer.

He had just turned 69. He was the oldest cousin in the family, I am the youngest. My mom was 6 when he was born, so they were like siblings. Except she hated him. lol When he grew up, he went to work for the railroad with my dad. My dad hated him, too.

The first time I remember meeting him was when my dad took me on a train ride from Cheyenne to Laramie. We ran into him at the depot. He was the scariest-looking man I had met up to that point in my life. Dad introduced us, told me that he was my cousin, and I was horrified.

Two summers ago, dad and I were talking about him. He told me one time at the club where the railroaders stayed overnight on their runs, this cousin got pissed and drunk, pulled out his hand gun, and shot a toilet. No one was hurt and he got in big trouble. Because no one was hurt, I can say that as a then 42-year-old adult, I saw humor in it. Yes, I laughed. Laughing at him, not with him.

This cousin was the black sheep of the family. Everyone had issues with him. Everyone. So I judged a book by the cover, and accepted my parents' and family's view.

I was wrong.

Nine years ago, I was working hard at genealogy. I was stuck on my mom's side of the family. I knew that my other cousin, the black sheep's much younger sister, would be able to help me. I called her. We hadn't talked since 1986. When my grandma died, the family dissolved, and my mom never spoke to these two cousins again. She was cold, distant yet friendly at the same time. It was obvious she didn't want a relationship. She also had no interest in family history, didn't have answers. She shared with me that she only spoke to her brother once a year at Christmas.
That was that.

Imagine my surprise when two days after talking to her, my phone rang. It was the black sheep cousin. She called him to tell him I was very into our family history. He called me because he had something to give me. His kids were not interested in genealogy whatsoever. He had two trunks full of photos, bibles, silverware, a curling iron, baby shoes, clothes -- things dating back for certain to 1879, but more than likely well beyond that. It was of extreme importance that he give this stuff to someone that CARED. And that was me. I know every single family member on that side of the family going back five to seven generations. One line I am well versed with the family 14 generations back.

I was thrilled and told him I'd get back to him. He lived in Colorado, I lived in Minnesota, and my son was in kindergarten, I drove a small Subaru at the time and had to figure out a way to get the trunks here.

Well, imagine my surprise when one morning, three days later, my doorbell rang. He got in his truck, drove two days up here to bring me the trunks. We sat and talked all day long. I asked a million questions, he answered. He told me story after story--some not so good, some hilarious, some sad. We went through everything in the trunks. I know I had tears down my face many times that day. He took us to dinner and insisted on paying. He did not want to impose and stay with us and insisted on a motel.

He was kind. He was good. He was judged. I felt awful for accepting someone else's history and perception. Sure, I do know that he had troubles, I have the newspaper articles. Yet I saw something in him that I don't know that the rest of my family did. I know his mother was awful, and it's amazing he survived his childhood. He was horribly abused. People were so busy being hateful toward him, expecting perfection from him, that they could not see what a wonderful, good heart he had.

He was a gruff man. He was not someone you would want to mess with. He stood out in our family. Underneath it all, he had a very loving spirit. We shared a bond that he didn't share with anyone else in our family: A love of our history, a true compassion for our ancestors. We really connected.

My dad was rather perplexed that I liked him. He told me lots of stories to set me straight. I saw beyond that. I saw there was good in him.

We talked about once every two years after that. I sent him all my research, showing where we came from in Germany. I shared everything I had. When he was visiting, I was showing him a couple pictures my mother had given to me, and amongst them was a photo of one of his former wives (he had a lot) and his daughter. When he saw that, a tear ran down his face. He actually asked me if he could have that photo. He had no contact with the ex-wife or daughter, I could clearly see he had regret and love. He had only a memory. Of course I gave him the photo.

So when I found out he died, I cried.

This man gave to me the greatest gift I have ever received in my life. I do not know that anything can ever be better than what he gave to me or have more meaning. The trunks, the possessions, the photos--oh, to have faces to put with names. Many of the photos have been framed and are proudly hanging on my walls. All that plus the stories, the laughter, the tears--that bond that was amazing. We got each other.

I sent the nicest flower arrangement I could (would) afford. Dang, flowers are expensive. I did not call my siblings to go in together. This had to be from me, my husband and son. He was kind to all of us. My husband liked him, my son, who was very young, remembers him and liked him.

The flowers were for him, not his family. I wanted a piece of me to be there as he was lowered into the ground, I wanted to touch him with beauty. I hope his family enjoys them as well--usually I buy for family. These, though, were for him.

When I got off the phone with the florist, I spoke out loud:

Russ, these flowers are from me, hubby and son. They are also from my mom and dad, who I know are in a place where they are over their grudges and can see clearly. They are from grandmother and granddad, who did love you. They are from Great Grandma and Grandpa S, who loved you. The grandparents, who you loved with all your heart. I have photos of them with you, I see the love. This is from all of us.

Corny, but I'm very serious. He was the only person on the face of this earth that would truly get and appreciate why I said what I said. After that, my son and I held our own memorial service by going through the trunks together.

Russ gave me the greatest tangible gift I could ever receive. He also gave me a great mental gift as well: Never judge a book by its cover.

Rest in peace, Russ.