Trials of a Long Haired Girl

Happy Friday friends!  Finally, this has been a long and stressful week, but it's going to have a great ending!  My sweet husband is taking me to the Ultimate Willy Wonka party.  I am so excited!  Okay, seriously, this has been a ROUGH week.  With the end of the month and being down a person, it's made for a difficult week.  It hasn't been the best food week but whatever the scale says, it says and I just have to move forward.  I did listen to an interesting book this yesterday.  It's called Own Your Everyday by Jordan Lee Dooley.  She shares a declaration that I will share at the end of this blog.  She talks about being present. I found myself really hungry this week so next week, I need to focus on being more prepared with my food and snacks so that I know I have things I can eat.  Goals also include getting to the Rec Center this week so I can get some workouts in.   1. Water intake of at least 90 oz. per day. 2....

Happy Friday friends!  We've almost made it through another week!  Wow!  For a short week, this has been a crazy week!  Feeling good about taking time to prepare some meals and components were super helpful this week!  Now to figure out what to fix for next week.  I'm thinking a bacon breakfast casserole for next week.   This week I had a nuclear stress test scheduled for this week.  Initially, I was okay and then, as the time for my test got closer, the anxiety and stress started getting to me.  By the time that I checked in and was heading to the waiting room, I broke down and started tearing up.  I made it through the test and (Thank you, Jesus!) my tests came back normal.   This is my first week trying to double tracking my Freestyle SmartPoints and my net carbs.  Not everyday has been a win, but like I said to my husband, I am certain that it's better than what it might be if I were not tracking them. Foc...

Happy Friday friends!  Yes!  We finally got made it to Friday!  Is anyone else feeling like this year is just flying by?  No?  Just me?  I am feeling a little frustrated that I haven't made more progress, but I can't change the past, only the future.  Of late, I really have felt like I'm floundering and, honestly, I'm looking forward to the new changes WW is coming out with for the new year.  In the meantime, I've decided that I'm going to really focus on what my cardiologist suggested and I'm going to continue with WW with a low carb emphasis.  I know there are going to be times, like the meal I made on Wednesday and Thursday nights, both meals had rice.  Here are my goals for the month of September: 1. Water intake of at least 90 oz. per day. 2. Track, track, track!   3. Cardio, at least 3 days per week, and strength training, even if it's body weight, at least 2 days per week. 4. Take care of myself.  By this, I ...

Happy Friday friends!  Hope you have had a great week.  I have to say not everyday this week was a win Points-wise, but I tried to adjust and my body was definitely guessing.  I was trying to eat every 3 to 4 hours...that's wasn't a win everyday either.  Most days I managed to eat within that window except dinner.  Dinners are going to take some more work next week, but I feel like I'm making some progress.  We will see what the scale says on Saturday.  I have been trying to add some strength training into my days.  Some desk push-ups and some squats when I'm just standing around or filling my water bottle.  I took some time while we were slow to walk at my desk yesterday.  I'm trying to be intentional.  For the coming week, my focus will be to continue being intentional and fitting in workouts where I can. I will also continue to do the following: 1. 90-120 oz of water each day. I have not done well while on vacation. 2. TRA...

Happy Friday friends!   How has your week gone?   Mine?   Overall, I think pretty well.   I feel like I’m making some good choices and focusing on eating within my SmartPoints and focusing on the lower carb options.   I am not sure I will have an opportunity to weigh in on the official scale this week but we’ll see what I can work out.   I am feeling very positive about what’s going on with me.   I was reminded Thursday morning of how much more accountable I feel when my husband and I are working out together.   I was really struggling to get out of bed and my sweet husband said “aren’t we going for a walk?”   UGH, I really just wanted to stay in bed and we got a later start, but walk we did.   Honestly, some days are easier than others.   At the beginning of July, I was super motivated.   Then with the back troubles, not sleeping, etc. I felt a little overwhelmed by life getting in the way.   Here’s the thing, I refu...

Happy Friday, friends!  Hope everyone had a great 4th of July!  We had a great one.  I still got in a workout and enjoyed some family time.  The July challenge that I joined with Jess over at Journey to Healthy on YouTube has helped a ton with my level of motivation.  Focusing on that blue dot is even more important this month than it was originally.  I don't want to say it's the end all, be all, but I'm also focusing on getting in more fruits and veggies this month so that's going to help me as well.  I am proud of the fact that while everything didn't go exactly as planned, we rallied and ate some good food and I stayed within my blue dot range.  That's 4 days in a row and includes a holiday!   Because it was a holiday, my sweet husband and I waited until the evening before heading for a walk so we could "sleep late", which isn't really late for a lot of people, but we slept until around 6:30 or so and since he wanted to paint, we...

Happy Friday friends!  Anyone else really take a look at how they changed something in their life to help someone else and then realize that this may not be the best choice and you need to change things up for your own health?  Yep, that just happened.  My goal for the next week or so is to focus on finding myself some lower carb options for some of my favorite things.  Since my daughter decided to go meatless and our family has been trying to be supportive as a whole, I've been bringing in far more bread and pasta into our diets and it's really got to stop.  For the longest, it was really just an occasional, maybe once a week sort of thing, but now, it's getting way out of hand.  I bought some of the lower carb tortillas that I saw recommended, so I'm going to do some more research and figure out what I can do to make this work for me.  I will continue doing WW, but will definitely focus on the lower carb options.  It's going to be a little tri...

Happy Friday friends!  I have been feeling a little overwhelmed by life and my decisions of late.  Last night, I made a decision to put myself and my family first.  My health is important to me so I have decided to put it back on the front burner.  What does that mean exactly?  Well, I will get back into getting my workouts in, I will track my food, I will plan my meals.  Don't you do that anyway?  Well, I was, but then other things started stealing my attention.  I am feeling in a decent place and am hoping that I can get a meal plan in place for the next two weeks by Monday.  This weekend will be a little tougher as we are going out of town and there will be wedding cake involved.  Just a few weeks ago, I was so close to hitting 30 pounds lost again.  When I weighed in last Saturday, I found I was going the wrong direction again.  I almost feel like my body and I are at opposite ends of this battle.  I am proud to say ...

Happy Friday friends!  This week, overall, has been a good one.  I have been accountable for a lot of my food this week by posting on Instagram, but even more than that, I have been tracking.  I've been consistently hitting my step goal this week and drinking 120 oz of water.  I only got one 5 minute workout in this week, but it's better than weeks past. Quite honestly, I've been struggling with my breathing this week and I'm not quite sure why.  I've been to the doctor a couple of times in the last couple of weeks and my oxygen level is good (like 99 and 98, respectively).   Things I'm proud of this week?  Unlike many of my fellow Weight Watcher members, I do not do fat free and sugar free stuff.  I have still been craving some sweets like a crazy person.  So this week, I cut myself a banana and had weighed out 1 serving of Hershey's Simply 5 (I think that's what it is) Chocolate Syrup.  It was a tasty afternoon snack that curb...

Happy, Happy Friday!  February did not go quite as well as I'd planned.  Meal planning was better for the most part, but trying the "no spend month" was a bust.  However, a new month is upon us.  My birthday month.  Now is a real test for me to figure out how to continue moving forward with my weight loss and live life, which includes celebrations!  My goals for the year remain.  Figuring out to how to hit my ultimate goal weight and live my life is definitely a balancing act.  It is so important for me to prepare and plan ahead.  Some days it's just easier for me to focus on making sure hamburger meat is browned or that I have cooked chicken available.  I have been watching some videos and researching time blocking.  I think it will be very important right now so I can stay on top of everything.  My planner has become my ever constant companion and is even more important to my sanity at the moment.  My goal for the week...

Happy, happy Friday!  It was yet another stressful week.  I feel like I did better this week, but there were definitely days that I was not in the Blue Dot zone.  Some days it was a little over other days it was a lot over.  I was reminded that, again, it's about choices.  I need to decide what choices I'm willing to make for myself each day.  I am still not working out much other than walking as my rib seems to not be able to stay in place and is still causing me pain.  My process is slow, but it's definitely time for me to focus on food again and staying in those Blue Dot zones.  I have a little extra time on Monday since our office is closed for President's Day.  My plan is to take the extra time to prepare some meals, brown some ground beef and set myself up for easier dinners.   Focus for the coming week: 1. TRACK; 2. Walk when I can and incorporate some yoga; and  3. Set myself up for success by meal planning.

Happy, Happy Friday!  After a very busy week, I am thankful for this day.  I was reminded earlier this week that I really need to stop jumping head first into things before thinking about all that it entails.  This week, I've felt very distant from my family and I feel like my food has been all over the place.  It is, however, a new month.  I refuse to give up my goals for the year.  What I have realized after last week is that it is very important for me to prepare and plan ahead.  I have been watching some videos and researching time blocking.  I think it will be very important right now so I can stay on top of everything.  My planner has become my ever constant companion and is even more important to my sanity at the moment.  My goal for the weekend is to take a few hours and get some meal preparation done to prepare me for next week.  I'll post what I get done, along with my planned dinners for the coming week on Monday. ...

Happy Friday Friends!  I hope everyone has had a wonderful week!  Last week, I mentioned that I was really focusing on my food since I wasn't working out.  I really haven't worked out this week, but have been hitting my step goal most days this week.  I didn't get as much done on Monday as I originally hoped, but I still got quite a bit accomplished.  Eggs boiled, two loaves of bread made, roasted Brussels Sprouts, roasted potatoes, made meat pies, made 2 lunches for my husband and I for Tuesday, smoothies made for 2 days and did multiple loads of hand dishes.  I feel like I had a "win" over the weekend as well.  My sweet husband and I go on a breakfast date on Saturday mornings.  I was so excited by the number on the scale and the fact that I have been doing pretty well in my Blue Dot Challenge that I didn't want to let my Saturday morning date de-rail my progress.  My husband and I had discussed and I knew he wanted to go to IHO...

Happy Friday friends!  My apologies for being a bit absent this week.  With my allergies knocking me for a little, I wasn't feel up to doing too much writing with my head in a fog.  This week has not going the way I planned.  Well, let's be honest, January is not going quite the way I planned.  Am I throwing my hands in the air and giving up?  That a big ole NO!  One of the big things that I have learned on this journey is that I can re-group and re-focus and things start clicking back into place.  Between blowing my nose constantly,  sneezing my head off  and  hacking up a lung, my food hasn't been horrible, but it hasn't been the most healthy choices either.  Workouts have been non-existent.  Since I wasn't feeling up to working out, I have really been focusing on my food.  I've come in with blue dot days most of the days this week.  I decided since I'm off on Monday, I'm going to use this day to do a li...

Happy Friday!  I hope everyone had a great week!  It's been a little crazy for us with the holidays in the middle of the week.  My sweet husband messaged me on Wednesday asking me if I was sure what day it was.  Sadly, I think it's just thrown so many people off.  I will say that I enjoyed the holiday, even though I probably waited too long to try to make candy this year.  Next year, I need to try to start earlier.  I was listening to Jon Acuff's Finish today.  I have to say that he said quite a few things that really hit home with me.  I really need to focus on progress rather than perfection, but it also reminded me of a conversation that I had many years ago with my husband and with my uncle.  I think part of the reason that I have struggled with my weight loss journey has a lot to do with fear.  I know it may sound a little weird, but I think after some things that happened when I was younger, my weight became a mode of self p...

Happy Friday friends!  I think I mentioned not long ago that I purchased a new planner for the 2019.  After receiving it and will admit to being excited to start the new year with this great planner.  I can't believe I didn't invest in this planner sooner, but I am not sure I was ready for it before now.  There are so many great features to this planner.  For me, having the goal setting sections in there are going to spur me to hitting my goals this year!  Another big plus is the budget sections.  As of today (12/28/2018), The Living Well Spending Less planner is currently on sale for it's lowest price.  Additionally, the fine folks at Living Well Spending Less have offered a $5.00 discount if you use a referral code.  Here is mine:  http://livingwellshop.refr.cc/ tracey     This makes this planner a fantastic deal.   You can see the unboxing from their Facebook Live  here .  I am not sure I've been thi...

Hello friends and happy Friday!  It's been a bit of a crazy week for me.  All those last minute tasks and doctor's visits that need to happen before the end of the year.  Although I am happy to report that I have keep my word to myself that I would focus on taken better care of myself.  This year, I have maintained my relationship with my allergy doctor, found a new cardiologist and seen a pulmonary/sleep doctor to make sure I have a handle on things this year.  I have a game plan for my goals for the coming year and some additional blog ideas.  I know sometimes it's a bit scattered and I'm working on that as well.  If there's anything you would like to see or see more of, please let me know.  On to meal planning for the coming week!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Happy Friday!  I hope everyone is having a great week!  Mine has not been the best, but I've been trying to stick with my meal plan and focusing on getting my blue dot, my steps and my water in.  Going into next week, I feel like I need to focus on my meal prepping for myself and for my family.  I know it helps when I have a plan in place and I can do a few things ahead of time to make that happen.  I have been inspired by some of the vloggers that I follow on YouTube to give myself a time period (i.e. 90 minutes) to see what I can get done cooking, chopping vegetables, etc.  I really think this will help me.  I think I often get overwhelmed with all the things that I want to do that I wind up just throwing my hands up in the air and giving up!  That doesn't serve anyone's purpose and certainly doesn't put food on my table.  It also can leave me scrambling for the week.  This week, with a little help from my sweet husband and my oldest...