Welcoming Change Wednesday

[MissBianca]

I hope it's okay to start a Healthinator thread! It is Wednesday where most of you live :D

Today I have two big milestones in the process of my big change: the first is a psychological evaluation which will help me identify aspects of my personality that have contributed to becoming so out of shape. I will embrace these hard truths and turn them into positive forces for change!

Then I will be meeting with a nutritionist. Now I think I know almost "everything" (cough) there is to know about nutrition but have too often taken the lazy path. But who knows? Perhaps she will be able to identify some things that will help. I am looking for a plan I can stick to between now and surgery! What a change sticking to a plan will be for me :oops:

I'm writing this now and will check back in after these appointments, okay?

The big appointment with the surgeon is on Friday...the waiting is coming to an end. BRING ON THE CHANGES! RAR! :fly:

[Ursulinda]

Best of Luck with your appointments today, Miss B. Although it may seem longer, today WILL be only 24 hours long!

At everu single moment, we are given the opportunity to choose our future. -- Iyanla Vanzant, The Value in the Valley

Today,
I chose to get up when I woke up at 4 am.
Core exercises - done
(ate pop-tart)
Eat healthy for the rest of the day
Drink more water than yesterday
Dodge the politics (and smile, so they'll wonder what i'm up to :wink:
Remember memory pills
Think on those who need support

Happy Day All! Let's Rock!

[Esmerelda]

MissB, I will be excited to hear about your appointments. I am really impressed with the process you are going through. I hope you are feeling better from that migraine!

JennyAnne, it was great to hear about the progress of that little boy. My daughter has accomplished things that we were told she would never do and it is an indescribable feeling. What a treat that you were there to hear it. Hmmmm, maybe this will steer you toward a job in special ed?

Sheryl, you totally amaze me. I think I'm going to have to recruit someone else to stay at the back of the pack at the half-marathon with me. I will use my stepometer today for the first time but it is a lazy day (well, actually I guess it is a normal day, lol).

Cinderella, the stepometer is a device I got from McDonald's in the new "adult happy meal" that measures the number of steps you take a day. We will see how long it lasts!

Ursulinda, that quote is a great one-but kind of overwhelming. Yikes, every single moment counts?

To the rest of my wonderful support system here, it is glad to be back with ya'll and each one of you makes it a little bit easier for me to set goals and try to get back on the right path.

My goals for today:

1. Drink lots of water.
2. Get an important letter sent off to the school.
3. Healthy eating.
4. Smile and be kind to everyone today. Try to focus on adding a little sunshine in other people's lives, and quit focusing on the few raindrops in mine.

[JennyAnne]

Good Morning Healthinators!

Miss B: I will be thinking of you as you attend your appointments today. I hope they are both a success for you!

Ursulinda: Yes, smiling IS a great idea! It will make everyone else wonder... :D

Esmerelda: I have a feeling you add sunshine to people's days EVERY day!! I hope others bring sunshine to yours as well! :D

I am off to my mom's school again today - long drive. I was up so late doing class reunion stuff last night, and I really didn't want to be up doing it. I am kind of tired this morning. AND, we had a really big thunderstorm come through at about 5:30, so I laid in bed and listened to the thunder. I loved it!! I have a busy day of running around but I really want to get into bed much earlier tonight. I have to be wide awake for the first day of my new job tomorrow!!

Goals:
1. Wake up, get rid of the headache and smile!
2. More water than yesterday.
3. Healthy eating.
4. Get errands done after school.
5. Try to get another load of laundry tonight.

I hope you all have a wonderful day! My class will be a bit rough today. The teacher knows me well so does not leave good lesson plans and the kids are WILD. (first grade) Hopefully they will be under control for me today!

Have a good one!!

[Ursulinda]

So often, we are discouraged by the setbacks in our diets and exercise programs (I ate that poptart - WHACK!) We CAN overcome them - look at this:


TAKE THIS EXAMPLE TO HEART: I know of no better way to illustrate the value of courage, persistence and perseverance than by giving you a quick overview of one man's life.

Age 22: Failed in business.
Age 23: Ran for legislature and was defeated.
Age 24: Again failed in business.
Age 25: Elected to legislature.
Age 26: Sweetheart died.
Age 27: Had a nervous breakdown.
Age 29: Defeated for Speaker.
Age 31: Defeated for Elector.
Age 34: Defeated for Congress.
Age 37: Elected to Congress.
Age 39: Defeated for Congress.
Age 46: Defeated for Senate.
Age 47: Defeated for nomination of Vice President.
Age 49: Defeated for Senate.
Age 51: Elected President of the United States.


That's the record of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln's deep conviction that God had given him a commission to fulfill accounted for his deep humility and ability to push on in the face of difficulties and failures that would have discouraged most people.

No matter what difficulty you are facing today, I want to encourage you to persevere. Hold on and never, ever give up! As long as you are headed in the right direction, even the baby steps count.

Happy Day All.

[DrDolphin]

Good morning Healtinators~~

I wish I could say I started this morning on a good note. I had a training session scheduled for 6am since I have a conference that starts at 8am today. I woke up at 430am with MAJOR CRAMPS!! I have not hurt that bad in a very very long time. I managed to get some drugs in the system to make them calm down - but at 530 - I still hurt too much to go to the trainer. I called and cancelled. I still have my appt for tomorrow at 7am. I have to go to the conference today - and will be there all day - just like yesterday.

Goals for today -
1. Drink water and only water at the conference - avoid the sodas
2. Avoid the cookies and brownie table
3. Laundry and House cleaned tonight
4. Trainer tomorrow morning at 7am.

I hope everyone has a great day!!!

[Bookwood]

Good Morning Healthinators!!

JennyAnne- I have no doubts you will have them in shape by recess (ok if you don't have recess- midmorning). Usually classes that find they can't get away with things will stop trying.

MissB- Good Luck with all your appointments this week! I'm intrested to hear what nutritionist has to say.

Esmereldagood luck with your day it looks like a "lazy/normal" day here too! I have a job for Middle School Choral Music- I'll punch buttons and listen to the kids sing- (which is sometimes very taxing- but burns no calories)

Ursulinda- It's true- every moment we make decisions that effect our lives and the lives of those around us!! (think I'll crawl in a hole today and not make any life decision- oh I guess that's a decision in and of itself- guess I'll get on with the day at hand)

Goals for today:
School- try not to visably cringe at the "klinkers" they hit
Curves- go
Run
Eat smart
No snacks
Water
remember Vitamins and Calcium

Now go out the Healthinators and Make it a Magical Day!!!

[LimeGreenCheri]

Good morning All!!

MissB Of course you can start a thread! I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers as we wait. We are all waiting with you!

Ursulinda you always seem to come up with the perfect quote for me! I thankyou!

Esmerelda let us know how many steps you do today.

Dr. Dolphin I hope you feel better today. And if you run out of laundry, I've got some extra. :wink:

Bookwood I like your "eat smart" I think I'll adopt that too.


I did 4 rounds at Curves yesterday, and I'm feeling it today! But, I've got to get my legs in better shape, so onward and upward. Goals for today:
1. Curves
2. Eat Smart
3. Work on laundry some more
4. Clean out the fridge (half done already)


Have a good day!

[Esmerelda]

Cheri, 4 rounds?? WOW! How long did it take you to build up to that? And how long does it take?

Let me know when you are tired of my relentless questioning!

[Sheryl]

Holy Cow! So many of you gals are checked in already! Sounds liek your doing well.

Today is Era Day at school, which means you have to dress from the 50's, 60's, 70's or 80's. We're wearing capri's, sleevless blouses, pearls, our hair in a scarf, and cat's eye glasses. Oh and keds sneakers. The kids get such a klick out of the fact that the lunchladies participate, they love it. And we have fun too. Tomorrow is formal day, and there is no way I am going to wear a gown to serve lunch in. :?

Todays goals are:
drink water
make healthy choices
walk again tonight.....come on 15 miles
get to bed early

I started dating Terry 19 years ago today. It was one of my luckiest days ever. :wink:

Hope you all have a wonderful, successful day! :circle:

:mickeyWalk: Sheryl :minnie:

[TwirlerGirl]

Not so good morning!

I'm feeling low and I don't know why. My eating is semi- out of control, darn leftovers from party have got me. I guess that's why I feel bad. I've lost my control, I stopped thinking before eating and eat the wrongs things. I feel miseable and my tummy hurts - how bad it that? Pity party is over -I ned to do something good for myself and my health.

Todays Goals:
Drink 86 oz of water. I've been really bad with this since last weekend.
Eat healthy on SBD.

My heads feels cloudy but I'm fighting back.

Where's the magic when I need it? Here at Tag's Healthinator's sancturary.

Sandy

[Tinkerbell]

:tink: Afternoon Healthinators! It's a nice :sun: day today 8) I already had a job interview this morning for a job that I don't really want. It's in a SNF (nursing home), and it requires weekend work which I don't like. Plus, they advertised for a day shift & she's going to have me on 3-11 to start & then doing both shifts & getting full time. :? I told her that I ideally would like the day shift as that is what they were advertising for. She then said she had just offered that job to someone else. Find that a little hard to believe as she knew she had someone else coming in for an interview for that position. They commonly do that in nursing, in fact routinely. And then they wonder why nurses leave the profession. Another red flag is that the interview was very rushed & she didn't even look at the test I took regarding nursing judgement & skills & offered me a job! I know they can check references by Monday when I'm supposed to start, but humor me a little. I asked why I didn't have to wait for them to do the cory check for my background & they have a couple of weeks or something after :shock: you're hired! :shock: It's always scary when they hire you on the spot. Something is wrong. BUT it has motivated me to come home, print out 20 more resumes & I'm going down to the medical buildings I saw on my way there & drop off resumes. I'll need some PD for that. Pounding the pavement :walk: looking for a job. :mickeyWalk:

MissB, good luck w/your appointments.

Ursulinda, I loved today's quote & then the next bit about Abe. Wow.

Continue drinking my water & eating smart. It felt very good to be wearing a suit w/a skirt & having nice legs for a change instead of my Hilary Clinton tree truck legs :rofl: I used to have. I never thought I'd get rid of those! :rofl:

:D Have a nice day all & remembe to smile. :D

[LeiasMom]

Wow. I'm late in the day.

Tough day at work. Lots going on. Hardly breathed during the day. However, things are going good on the health front. I'm down 8 pounds from when I started the diet. Clothes are starting to fit better. I'm still hoping to fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans (that were a little tight before pregnancy) by the 4th of July. I am looking forward to wearing a bathing suit on the cruise (in September) without feeling awful about myself.

Had a working lunch today. While everyone else had subs, chips, cookies, and lemonade, I had a bowl of lettuce with fat free dressing. Followed it up later with a slimfast meal bar. The cookie was tempting, but I just thought that the immediate reward wasn't worth impacting my long term goals. I hope I can keep this up.

I am going to take a long walk tonight. It is a beautiful day. The walk will help me destress.

Miss Bianca -- Way to start the thread. You have the most amazing attitude. This is going to work for you. It is such a drastic lifestyle change; however, it sounds like you are very ready for it. Congrats.

Ursulinda -- I need to take a page from your book. Getting up early and getting exercising out of the way before you have an opportunity not to do it. That's wonderful.

Esmerelda -- Hope your goals were easily met today. I don't know that I could meet your fourth goal. Bravo.

Jenny Anne -- Sounds like you are exceptionally busy. Remember to take time for yourself. You are very important.

DrDolphin -- Hope you are feeling better. Tell us how the trainer is tomorrow (assuming you are well enough to go).

Bookwood -- Curves and running? Way to go. I know exercise is the true key to being healthy. It is always a challenge.

LGC -- Sounds like you are kicking it at Curves. Way to go! I'll try to use you as motivation as I'm slowing down tonight.

Sheryl -- Congrats on the anniversary. Sounds like you know what is truly important.

TwirlerGirl -- Sorry you are having a rough day. Controlling your diet is easier said than done. Try to take it one moment at a time and, if we can help, let us know. You'll be great!

Tinkerbell -- I haven't seen "SNF" in a while (skilled nursing facility). I used to work with healthcare companies in my previous employment. I'm thinking good thoughts for you on the job front. You deserve something great. Nursing is such a hard job. My mom did it for many, many years.

Off to finish my salad. Check in with you again tomorrow!

Amy

[cshore]

WOW!! So many of you are really kickin it up a notch. Congratulations. Thanks for being a constant source of motivation for those of us who are still struggling. The first thing I am going to do when my vacation is over is to check out Curves and get started with Ali to shed this weight, but more importantly to get healthy.

Looking forward to Monday!! Celebrating Ali's first successful year at college. Talked to her today and all her finals are over, term papers handed in and she can kick back and enjoy some time with her friends before coming home Friday. She also got a part in the fall musical!! YAY!!

Continue the great work everyone!!

[Cinderella]

Just got online for the day. Sorry I'm so late. Been taking the house apart (again) and cooking for company tomorrow.

Drinking water
Ate very light today as I just had no time to eat much
Went to gym this morning

That's about it for today.

Cinderella

[Tinkerbell]

:tink: Well, I went out & dropped off in person 19 more resumes & my tootsies are really sore... :? When I came home I got a call right away from the administrator of the nursing home. He had come out to me when I was leaving and asked how the interview went. I had told him it was rushed, they advertised a day position and did a bait & switch for the 3-11, which I told him is not cool or right and I didn't appreciate it. He said he'd see what he could do. I didn't think I'd ever hear from him again after that. People don't usually like how I shoot from the hip. It's right there...period. Like it or not. If you ask for my opinion, you might not like it. :shrug:

When I got home he called me as soon as I came in the door. He told me that they had left a message on my phone earlier & I hadn't yet had a chance to hear my messages. Well, he said another job might be available & it's the case manager AND infecton control nurse. This would be a really good opportunity for me as an LPN or LVN in CA to have & have on my resume. He also said that an in-house employee was interested in the job also. If that person takes it, a full time day position would be available for a medication nurse. He wants me to think about it overnight & call him first thing in the morning. :confused2: Now, it seems that he should be calling me once the "in-house" nurse makes that decision. :confused2:

Then I listened to my messages & the message actually offered me the other job, as the case manager. It's my understanding that once a job is offered, it's out there on the table. I have a feeling that there isn't another nurse looking for this position, as it's a tough one. On top of that, he added the infection control nurse, which is another major job. So, I'm going to think on it. :idea: AND I'm going to negotiate a decent salary from this place. They're trying to pay less than western MA & that isn't going to happen. So, I'm giving myself PD for making a good decison for my DH & I. Also, that I can negotiate a proper salary.

I did good w/my staying on the straight & narrow today & got tons of water in. It's a gorgeous evening. Thanks for listening. :tink:

[MissBianca]

Hi all!

Wish I could have checked back in earlier. I was so exhausted after my appointments that I collapsed and only woke up a little while ago.

First a small grumble--I was on time for both my appointments and both of the pros were not. Both left me hanging without any word of when they'd be ready until 20 minutes after my scheduled time. I know everyone is way busy but I was so nervous that I really could have used some word!

Okay, psychologist. I seem to have chosen really well here, a lovely woman with over 25 years of specialization in working with eating disorders and obesity. She seemed warm, flexible, loquacious, and very sharp. I've got tons of forms to fill out for her and more to come! She made me feel really good by pointing out that I've got several excellent advantages (like Bernard :hug: ). Psychologically, the removal of one's support system (food) is pretty hard on people. Hugs to you all, I know you'll be the best support ever! I go back to her in a week for some of the more serious stuff.

The nutritionist on the other hand was not what I expected. She was very young and appeared to be quite inexperienced. She wasn't very familiar with the material she was giving me (mostly on the eating right after surgery). And she practically ran me to the office which was all the way across the hospital. I tell you I was puffing so hard I almost couldn't talk. And coughing. I count that "walk" as my exercise today. Ah well, it reinforces the need for the surgery doesn't it?

I did feel like the adventure is beginning though! Maybe tomorrow I'll walk that distance at my own pace!

[Tinkerbell]

I'd look into another nutritionist right away. That is a very important part of your recovery & recovering correctly. I know of two people, friends that had the same surgery, about 2 years apart & the one w/the best nutritionist has done the best. The first one lost her weight too fast. It's fast at the rate it will be coming off, but I strongly advise you to get another nutritionist. Good luck. Maybe the current nutritionists supervisor? Or your doctor could recommend someone else?