Over the last couple of weeks my mouth has been sore...more specifically, it feels like the muscle in my cheek on the right side is just exhausted...this week, it got swollen and I started talking like Sean Connery...off to the dentist I went!
After describing the soreness, numbness, and overall tired feeling I was relieved when she said it was a spasm, not an abscess forming or TMJ! She squeezed my cheek gently and touched the muscle that I felt and said THAT was the spasm. Well heck, if I had known THAT was the problem, I would have tackled it sooner! Apparently I talk too much.
So, muscles relaxer, ibuprofen, a temporary night guard, and a soft food diet for about a week or so should fix me up....the only problem is that I can stay OP with my WW plan (that means on plan, doing what I'm supposed to be doing). But, I'm having trouble figuring out how to exercise.
Do you know how much you use your face? I've had to consciously adjust mine about seven times since I started writing this 5 minutes ago. I need to run, I want to run....I have a race in 4 weeks--FOUR! But running requires me to move my face a lot to breathe correctly, and even without meaning to, I tighten the muscles in my cheeks when I run. Yoga! In yoga, I still tighten my face, but I'm more aware of it because, doing gentle yoga, there is a constant awareness of the muscles and you're always trying to find something to relax in a pose...for me, its almost always my face! So, I'll be yoga-ing a lot this week I think...Free weights! I can do a little bit of cross training, but even then I'm scrunching my face. Did I mention the muscle relaxer makes me feel loopy?
So that's whats going on this week....soup, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, mushy roasted veggies, and milk....that's my diet! All I want is steak, thin crust pizza, a crusty piece of bread for my soup....crunchy food! Hopefully this will all be over soon :)
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Thankful Thursday & Happy December!
Happy December! My favorite month for the other 11 months of the year, and then once its here I feel panic...like all the rest of the world has found out how awesome Christmastime is and they're trying to steal it away from me! I love Christmas music, the spirit of giving, the love, the whole shebang the most January-November ♥
This year is different though. I feel like this will be the most amazing, special Christmas ever....no big plans, no secret surprises, I just feel like I've been SO blessed this year and that a blessed Christmas is coming for my loved ones.
Onto Thankful Thursday:
Today, I'm most thankful for knowing what it feels like to be a blessing to someone who will never find out! I'm so overjoyed and blessed to be able to bless others this season that my heart wants to burst out in song. David's office adopted an Angel Tree child--a child within our community whose family cannot afford to buy Christmas presents. As we've been picking things out for her, I feel so blessed, that, even though I'm far from rich, I am able to buy a couple of outfits and some art supplies, a pair of shoes, a warm blanket...for this child I'll never know and who will certainly never know me. I don't need to know her, I don't want recognition...I'm blessed to know that all over the country there are people like me doing the same thing for children they'll never meet. I'm so thankful to be part of something so good, and loving, and selfless. I'm thankful that I've been put in a place to give with a faithful heart. I'm thankful that this child will not wake up Christmas morning and feel left out or lonely, and that her parents won't feel ashamed to have nothing under their tree.
The tree, the presents, the songs--that doesn't make Christmas--the blessings do! And you never know who you're being a blessing to at any given time...
I'm thankful that even when I don't always know where I'm going, God puts me exactly where I need to be! This is truth in health, relationships, with strangers, with friends, at the grocery store...every day! I'm thankful that I'm blessed and able to recognize it and I hope to pass it on.
This year is different though. I feel like this will be the most amazing, special Christmas ever....no big plans, no secret surprises, I just feel like I've been SO blessed this year and that a blessed Christmas is coming for my loved ones.
Onto Thankful Thursday:
Today, I'm most thankful for knowing what it feels like to be a blessing to someone who will never find out! I'm so overjoyed and blessed to be able to bless others this season that my heart wants to burst out in song. David's office adopted an Angel Tree child--a child within our community whose family cannot afford to buy Christmas presents. As we've been picking things out for her, I feel so blessed, that, even though I'm far from rich, I am able to buy a couple of outfits and some art supplies, a pair of shoes, a warm blanket...for this child I'll never know and who will certainly never know me. I don't need to know her, I don't want recognition...I'm blessed to know that all over the country there are people like me doing the same thing for children they'll never meet. I'm so thankful to be part of something so good, and loving, and selfless. I'm thankful that I've been put in a place to give with a faithful heart. I'm thankful that this child will not wake up Christmas morning and feel left out or lonely, and that her parents won't feel ashamed to have nothing under their tree.
The tree, the presents, the songs--that doesn't make Christmas--the blessings do! And you never know who you're being a blessing to at any given time...
I'm thankful that even when I don't always know where I'm going, God puts me exactly where I need to be! This is truth in health, relationships, with strangers, with friends, at the grocery store...every day! I'm thankful that I'm blessed and able to recognize it and I hope to pass it on.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Thankful Thursday
Every day is Thanksgiving...or it should be...I read something once that said, "what if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?" Wow. Powerful stuff...it is important to have a thankful heart and an attitude of gratitude, especially when things aren't always in your favor or going the way you want.
"Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude."
I haven't been feeling so grateful lately...in fact, I've been a little more of the whiny six-year-old who didn't get the super deluxe Barbie she wanted for all of five minutes and will forget by tomorrow. Now more than ever, its important for me to remember what I'm thankful for. Even my worst days are days some people would fight for and call their best.
This starts what I hope will become a weekly staple in my blog: Thankful Thursday!
I'm thankful for:
- Family, friends, and a boyfriend who make up my close-knit and very valuable support network everyone should be so lucky to have.
- Sammalamma because she doesn't care what I weigh, what I wear, or what I eat (as long as I share).
- Health!
- Two legs that stand strong, run hard, get me where I'm going, and keep my feet firmly planted on the ground.
- Hope. Because one day will be today.
- Weight Watchers and my boardies, without that I would still be carrying around a small child.
- Blogs! To remind me that I'm not alone and people with more weight to lose are losing, people with no legs are running, and people with worse circumstances are living with a grateful heart.
- A God who loves me even though I don't deserve it.
- A safe and happy place to live, there's no place like home.
- Imperfect relationships, because they give me opportunities to grow.
- Finding a peace in my PCOS and weightloss journey and knowing that people love me for who I am, not how I look
- Farmers ♥ No farms. No food.
The list goes on and on...
So, here's to wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving, and hoping you remember that Thanksgiving is every day!
Here are some links to my favorite blogs, starting with the one that prompted this post:
http://www.itsuxtobefat.com/weight-loss
http://www.emilybites.com/
http://skinnyjeans-fatwallet.blogspot.com/
http://www.theboskyblog.com/
"Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude."
I haven't been feeling so grateful lately...in fact, I've been a little more of the whiny six-year-old who didn't get the super deluxe Barbie she wanted for all of five minutes and will forget by tomorrow. Now more than ever, its important for me to remember what I'm thankful for. Even my worst days are days some people would fight for and call their best.
 |
| I'm thankful that this doggy didn't go to the Humane Society and that she's now 50 pounds of puppy love! |
This starts what I hope will become a weekly staple in my blog: Thankful Thursday!
I'm thankful for:
- Family, friends, and a boyfriend who make up my close-knit and very valuable support network everyone should be so lucky to have.
- Sammalamma because she doesn't care what I weigh, what I wear, or what I eat (as long as I share).
- Health!
- Two legs that stand strong, run hard, get me where I'm going, and keep my feet firmly planted on the ground.
- Hope. Because one day will be today.
- Weight Watchers and my boardies, without that I would still be carrying around a small child.
- Blogs! To remind me that I'm not alone and people with more weight to lose are losing, people with no legs are running, and people with worse circumstances are living with a grateful heart.
- A God who loves me even though I don't deserve it.
- A safe and happy place to live, there's no place like home.
- Imperfect relationships, because they give me opportunities to grow.
- Finding a peace in my PCOS and weightloss journey and knowing that people love me for who I am, not how I look
- Farmers ♥ No farms. No food.
The list goes on and on...
So, here's to wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving, and hoping you remember that Thanksgiving is every day!
 |
| I'm thankful for just enjoying the ride! |
Here are some links to my favorite blogs, starting with the one that prompted this post:
http://www.itsuxtobefat.com/weight-loss
http://www.emilybites.com/
http://skinnyjeans-fatwallet.blogspot.com/
http://www.theboskyblog.com/
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Whoa.
Its no secret that I hate pictures of myself...like...I cringe a photos of me...I have almost no photographs of myself after the fall of 2007...yeah, its fall of 2011. Sad.
Last weekend I went to my dad's for his early birthday festivities and my step-mom took pictures as normal. Last year, she took similar pictures and I cried alone in my room in the dark when I saw them on facebook. I was just shocked and uncomfortable and embarrassed (and now I look at the them and wonder what the heck was I wearing!?) I, embarrassed, asked her to delete them because I was so appalled, and loving me, she did. These are the closest things I have to "before" picture...and now that I can laugh about what I was wearing, all I can think is whoa.
This year, I kept the pictures! I actually like most of them! I knew I've lost four pant sizes, but I didn't realize I looked so different! I guess I've found what I needed to keep moving forward : )
Last weekend I went to my dad's for his early birthday festivities and my step-mom took pictures as normal. Last year, she took similar pictures and I cried alone in my room in the dark when I saw them on facebook. I was just shocked and uncomfortable and embarrassed (and now I look at the them and wonder what the heck was I wearing!?) I, embarrassed, asked her to delete them because I was so appalled, and loving me, she did. These are the closest things I have to "before" picture...and now that I can laugh about what I was wearing, all I can think is whoa.
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| November 2010: part of me really can't believe I'm posting this here... |
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| November 2011: Still not an awesome picture of me, but look at the difference in my face! |
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| November 2010: Again....cringe.... |
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| November 2011: Not too shabby! |
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| Family :) |
This year, I kept the pictures! I actually like most of them! I knew I've lost four pant sizes, but I didn't realize I looked so different! I guess I've found what I needed to keep moving forward : )
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Visual Reminders
Your Weightless Equals.....
When I look at it this way, I realize I've come a lot farther than I thought! I may have a small bale of hay left to go, but once I reach my total of 79 pounds lost, I'll be SUPER excited to make that visual post : )
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| 1 pound = a Guinea Pig (so, 32.4 guinea pigs!) |
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| 1.5 pounds = a dozen Krispy Kreme glazed donuts (or about 22 dozen donuts--259 donuts total!) |
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| 2 pounds = a rack of baby back ribs (x16--that's a rib eating contest!) |
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| 3 pounds = an average human brain (ten--almost eleven--brains because I'm thuper thmart!) |
 | ||||
| 4 pounds = an ostrich egg (or eight) |
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| 5 pounds = a Chihuahua (just more than six barking chihuahuas!) |
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| 7.5 pounds = an average newborn (about four of my actual nephew, seen here!) |
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| 10 pounds= chemical additives an American consumes each year (times 3--gross!) |
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| 11 pounds = an average housecat |
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| 15 pounds = 10 dozen large eggs (I know there are only 10 here, but these are from my stepmom's chickens!) |
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| 20 pounds = an automobile tire (literally, a spare tire! By the time I'm done, I will have lost all 4 tires!) |
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| 23 pounds = amount of pizza an average American eats in a year (yummmmmmmmmmmm!) |
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| 25 pounds = an average 2 year old (again, my nephew!) |
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| 30 pounds= the amount of cheese the Average American eats each year |
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| 33 pounds = a cinder block (allllllllllmost a cinder block--those things are heavy!) |
When I look at it this way, I realize I've come a lot farther than I thought! I may have a small bale of hay left to go, but once I reach my total of 79 pounds lost, I'll be SUPER excited to make that visual post : )
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Not Getting Overwhelmed
As of this morning I've lost 32.4 pounds or 129.6 sticks of butter or almost the weight of a cinder block. Sorry Paula Deen, that's a LOT of butter! That sounds amazing!! ...until I realize I have 47 (or 188 sticks of butter or two average two-year-olds) more pounds to go...Wow.
Yay! 32 pounds gone :)
This is the part where I have to focus on how far I've come, not how far I have to go. The weight on my driver's license was correct last month when I renewed it, but now it's got me listed at 2 pounds heavier than I actually am! Who didn't lie on her driver's license? This girl! I was soooo proud of putting my actual weight that day, and I was even more proud that the number didn't start with a "2" : )
Anyway, I digress, this is the hard part. I'm 2.8 pounds away from my New Year's Resolution to lose 30 pounds in 2011--how awesome is that?! But I'm 47 pounds away from being in a "healthy" weight range according to that ridiculous BMI calculator. This is the "it takes a village" part of my journey. This is where I need oodles of positive thoughts, written down goals, and consistency to keep myself from becoming overwhelmed with the remainder of the journey.
This is why I love Weight Watchers! The support I get there plays a huge role in my success or failure, but it doesn't depend on anyone but me! In WW World, there are people working to lose 20 pounds and people working to lose 200 pounds and every one of them encourages their peers through every single step of the way--from the first step, to the first 20 point burger, praise, and tough love--it takes a village!
I'm glad that I love, love, love what I am doing because I'm going to be doing it for a while : )
"Success is not the key to happiness.
Happiness is the key to success.
If you love what you are doing,
you will be successful."
- Albert Schweitzer
Yay! 32 pounds gone :)
This is the part where I have to focus on how far I've come, not how far I have to go. The weight on my driver's license was correct last month when I renewed it, but now it's got me listed at 2 pounds heavier than I actually am! Who didn't lie on her driver's license? This girl! I was soooo proud of putting my actual weight that day, and I was even more proud that the number didn't start with a "2" : )
Anyway, I digress, this is the hard part. I'm 2.8 pounds away from my New Year's Resolution to lose 30 pounds in 2011--how awesome is that?! But I'm 47 pounds away from being in a "healthy" weight range according to that ridiculous BMI calculator. This is the "it takes a village" part of my journey. This is where I need oodles of positive thoughts, written down goals, and consistency to keep myself from becoming overwhelmed with the remainder of the journey.
This is why I love Weight Watchers! The support I get there plays a huge role in my success or failure, but it doesn't depend on anyone but me! In WW World, there are people working to lose 20 pounds and people working to lose 200 pounds and every one of them encourages their peers through every single step of the way--from the first step, to the first 20 point burger, praise, and tough love--it takes a village!
I'm glad that I love, love, love what I am doing because I'm going to be doing it for a while : )
"Success is not the key to happiness.
Happiness is the key to success.
If you love what you are doing,
you will be successful."
- Albert Schweitzer
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