New Years

To all and any one who reads this blog... A happy New Year to all of you.

My new years resolution is the same it has been these last few years, and that is, to be the best me that I can be. If you knew/know me you know this is a biggy for me. Most people don't like that I am forthright and honest. Frankly, I hate tiptoeing around everything I say and do, but somehow honesty is not socially acceptable, so, I guess I will try to be the most dishonest person around and once again fail miserably at it.

Actually I will resolve to not make a resolution and succeed. Happy New Year!

MFP? You don't say?

Just what is MFP? Okay it is a weightloss network. Yes it is Monday again and again my weight is up. Only 4 pounds but still up. So, last night in anticipation of this increase in weight I decided to join this site recommended by my friend Fran.

So, my new number today is 184 lbs. Yuk. I hate this. So, I got all my measurements entered into MFP and even started my very own weight loss ticker (when I figure out how to post it here I will do it for you). Hopefully this will help me to visualize my weight loss. Remember when looking at this that my original weight loss started in June of '07 when I weighed in at a whopping 250lbs. today I weigh 184lbs. So, now you know the history, shall we begin a new adventure into the future?

Some reflection....

This morning dawned bright and cold. The rain we had yesterday pretty much took care of any snow we had. Poor buggars in Vancouver got hit with yet another storm, so now it is my turn to chuckle a little. Alice (who lives in Vancouver) lamented over all the snow they have had in the past week or so. Instantly I recalled the various storms we here in Newfoundland experienced a year ago and how Alice seemingly took great delight in our misery, so, this is a strong case for turnabout being fair play. Anyway, yesterday was probably one of my most favourite Christmas'.

I have no immediate family here in Newfoundland, but I have Sean and his parents, and in some way I feel more a part of this family than my own. I am loved and accepted for who I am and there are no unrealistic demands put on me to behave or present myself in anyway but what is natural for me.

Sean, true to form, spoiled me rotten yesterday (I love it). It delights me to know that he took time to look for special things for me.

For the first time since about mid-November I am starting to feel semi human again. In the restaurant industry from November until Dec. 24 it is high gear all the way and the closer Christmas gets the faster, more frequent, more abundant and more intense the parties/bookings are. For the most part I was able to stay ahead of the prep work, but the last week it was all I could do to get the cooking part of my daily work done. From the minute the restaurant opened to the minute we left each day it was busy, busy, busy. Some days in the last week I clocked in 11 and 12 hour shifts with little but a fresh air break every now and again. My hips, legs, ankles and feet were killing me by the end of my shift on the 23rd. Luckily, this year, I had Christmas Eve off and was able to start my relaxation a day early. Now here we are on Boxing Day and I am starting to feel normal again. The pain that was so intense a few days ago is now down to a dull ache and I am feeling ready to return to work tomorrow. I don't mind the long days or the business, but it can get to be a little much when it is a constant day after day event. I really am getting to old for this kind of work. Definitely time for a new job.

YoYo anyone?

Well, this week I went back on "Traineo" and decided I would start to read some of their motivation stuff and stick with it.

So, I weighed in Saturday at 179lbs. (was I delighted or what). Today however, I weighed in at 181lbs. more like what I am used to seeing, sick of seeing, but used to it nonetheless.

And, upstairs in the kitchen, Joy is baking homemade shortbread, mmmmmm....now I have to be strong for sure, those are one of my favourite cookies. Thankfully for me she uses margarine ( I prefer mine, made with butter, but oh the calories). Anyway, this is Christmas, and although I am determined to be steadfast and maintain my intake, I know there is a good chance I will weaken, but for now I am resolved to fight tooth and nail not to over-indulge.

Monday Again...

Monday is weigh in day and today I weighed in at 180 down one from last week. I wish I could say I am excited but really, I am too tired to be excited about anything today.

I slept in yesterday and today and I feel absolutely exhausted. I need something(one) to kick start me.

Last thursday I had a job interview and thought I would hear by now. Alas, I don't think I have the job regardless of how well I thought I did in the interview and the fact my friends mentioned they called her for a reference. I don't know wether to be happy, sad, mad or indifferent about this whole thing. I guess I should be happy I have a job but in truth I am not, I hate my job, but until I find something else I will not quit. I need the money for other things like living.

Anyway, I hope next time I am here I will be a little more perky and a lot happier. Until then, happy dieting.

Christmas Shopping

In years past I looked forward to Christmas shopping but this year, well it just isn't any fun. I don't know what to buy people and am fresh out of ideas. Buying gifts for my lovely little grandchildren has been a delight. It's the older kids I can't figure out. Thank goodness for Megan. She gave me ideas for her, Evan and Sean.

Now Joy, Bern and Sean are next and if I could just come up with some ideas I would be laughing. I am hoping to locate a model of a ship or a train or something like that for Sean. Bern? I have exhausted any ideas I might have had and Joy, well a sweater, a book and a box of chocolate and she is a happy little clam.

So, now that I see it in writing, I guess my dilemma is not so great but still a problem when I only have a couple hours and just as many stores to look in. Ahhhh the joys of living in a small town, grrrrrrrr. So, it is now to the net I go in the hopes of finding something for Bernard. Wish me luck, this is not the easiest hunt. I always find buying for Bern a challenge and this year is no different. He has taken up candle making as a hobby and of course there isn't a thing here to get him started let alone information on the craft. That leaves me with only one option, the net.

Good luck to all who are Christmas shopping and hard up for ideas. Take comfort in knowing you are not alone.

It's Monday....

Well, on top of being weigh in day, I had to work today.

So my magical number this week is 180 lbs. not great. Down one pound from last week. I wish it were more but alas it is not. I can't seem to get motivated to get out and walk or yoga or anything. I am so darn tired all the time lately. Maybe this week I will get out and walk again.

As for it being Monday. I cut the end of my finger so bad I can't type with it in a band aid. After waiting over 2 hours in emerg I decided I would risk tetnus and go home. I hate waiting for most things and being in a hospital with nothing to read, nothing to do and no one to talk to is about as interesting as watching grass grow. So, I left. I get home and find my internet not working. After an hour or so of fiddling around with this and that I got it to work. Two computer savy people at the house all day and neither of them thought to turn off and on the modem, duh! But, both complained the net was terribly slow. That was all it took, a flick of the switch and all systems go.

So, that is another day in the otherwise lackluster life of me. Watch for another post next week or later this week.

My Democratic Right?!

In Canada right now we are not just experiencing a recession like none other in years/decades, but we have the most political unrest that I can remember since being able to vote.

We have (in my opinion) a dictator in the most coveted political seat in the country (the Prime Minister). His government is, at best, like a fish out of water. Indeed himself the Prime Minister, Steven Harper, seems to be more concerned with his job than the welfare of the economy of the country. Weeks before the election Mr. Harper did not seem to be aware there was a recession. Now that the entire world is in economic upheaval the Prime Minister has finally admitted that Canada is in recession. WHAT!!??? Only now does he admit it? What was the idiot proving by hiding his head in the sand? Was he trying to show us how wrong the voting public was to have elected him? I can only say I am sorry he was elected. He did not then nor now have my vote.

Now, the opposition has combined forces and wants to present a non-confidence vote and form a coalition government. I am not sure the coalition government is the answer but I am sure that Mr. Harper should not be allowed to continue as Prime Minister. Do I have an alternative, sure, the Liberals have screwed things up in the past, the Conservatives (Mr. Harper's Party) have screwed things up now, why not an NDP government? I mean they can't make things much worse than what Mr. Harper is proposing. And just what is Mr. Harper proposing? Who knows, after watching him talk onTV last night he made two things apparent. 1. He has lost a lot of weight over this. 2. He still has his head in the sand. He has brought nothing new to Canadians. No hope, no plan, no strategy.

Mr. Harper you have lost any shred of confidence I might have had in you. I did not vote for you in the last election. I felt then as I do now that you want to control the people of this country and you seem to be proving that in this last underhanded scheming you are doing. To have your ministers contact other ministers of other parties requesting support, even asking ministers to cross the floor and sign an allegiance with the Conservatives to me is underhanded, dirty and desperate. If that is not the move of a desperate man what is?

Canada needs a leader with strength, wisdom, patience and leadership. We need a Prime Minister to lead us through this economic crisis we are in. We don't need a limp noodle solution or a wet blanket statement. Mr. Harper we need action, step down and let this country move forward. Stop thinking about yourself and start thinking about "we, the people".

Weigh in Day...

Well, a year or so back I reconnected with an old high school friend, Fran www.blogger/ifyoubelieveit.blogspot.com and was so happy to do so. It turns out we have gone down very different paths but with a few common threads between us. We both want to lose weight and we both have families, jobs we hate (to some degree) and we both remembered each other and friends from school. So, we tried for some time on our own with our own methods to some success. Fran lost and I lost (only I didn't reach my goal) while Fran achieved her goal. That was almost a year ago. Now, Fran wants to lose again, and I want to lose still.

We are both still on the weight loss kick. I want to be 155 by the end of June but will settle for 160 while Fran wants to be 160 (I think that was it) by January of 2009. Fran has had some difficulty getting her weight to drop, me I have had difficulty in the same area, only my weight seems to be going in the wrong direction until last week.

This week I am happy to report both Fran and myself are down. Fran had to be down a pound (it would appear she has done it almost) and me so long as I didn't gain I would be happy. Today I weighed in at 181 down 4 pounds from last week. I am very happy. Now that I am going in the right direction again, maybe I will actually see that elusive 160 by June. Wouldn't that be nice?

Well, until next week, when you will hear me say "WOOHOO FRAN! and "THANK GOD I AM DOWN AGAIN!" Happy weight loss and keep up the good work!