If You Wait Until . . . .

This is something I posted on the WW website back when I first started WW ~ I thought about it after talking to Nanci last nite ~ so much going on in her life but she's still trying to journal and 'do it'! So let me share "If You Wait Until . . . . "

They say if you wait until you can afford to have a baby (children) you never will ~ so true ~ it's kinda the same thing when joining Weight Watchers or starting a healthy eating plan ~ if you wait until the time is right you will never do it.

I was doing that ~ waiting ~ week after week ~ trying to do it on my own without much success ~ so ten days ago I just did it ~ and what happened the first week . . . . out of town family here for 4 days and having dinner at John's mom's house ~ she's the Paula Deen of Colorado you know ~ but I was determined to keep on track ~ journaled everything ~ watched my portions the best I could and I did succeed.

So now we are on week 2 and what happens ~ let's see, Thursday I ate out because I had a lot of points left in the day (weigh in day, I ate very lite before going to meeting) ~ Friday was John's birthday so we went out to dinner ~ last nite we decided to go look at new cars when John got off work so we ended up eating at Village Inn (veggie omelet ~ yum!) ~ and tonite we are going to (of all places) Red Lobster with his family for his birthday ~ OMG! ~ I guess I should be glad I'm on WW because I am far more aware of what I'm eating instead of just ordering and eating all without a second thought ~ AND as I start week 3 I'll be going to visit my mom and there will be even more eating out ~ yikes!

But I will keep on journaling my food and doing my best ~ it's hard sometimes because I just want to splurge and eat it all ~ but I remind myself that not only will that not be good but that overstuffed feeling sucks too ~ and I know I have the extra points but already using them little by little (and that's how I should be using them right?) ~ so wish me luck ~ off now to clean and hopefully get in a good walk (activity points!) before dinner tonite ~ why Red Lobster?? Why?? Oh yea ~ it's HIS birthday ~ lol!

Random Ramblings

As I've said before I always have blog topics in my mind but 'forget' to write ~ or rather I find other things to do or sit here at the computer and get lost in doing other things.

Trying really hard to get exercise into my routine ~ FINALLY broke the 200 lb mark at WW ~ yay!!! And now the scale (at least the home scale) is slowly creeping down ~ exercise would definitely help and I have gotten on bike & treadmill this past week ~ in fact when I'm done here today I plan on getting on the bike for at least 20 minutes ~ why does the weight go on so easily but it's such a fight to get it off?

Nanci is doing great on her weight loss ~ over 5 lbs already! Yay Nanci!! And this is despite all the good, bad & ugly going on in her life right now ~ she's a strong woman ~ I truly admire her ~ through out it all she stays strong in her faith ~ need to follow her example! 

Getting close to finishing Stephen King's 11/22/63 ~ such a great book ~ but I do wonder if I would feel that way if I was actually reading it instead of doing it on audiobook ~ probably ~ only a couple of hours left ~ can't wait to see how it ends!

John & I are starting to plan our 15th anniversary ~ it's trip time!!  Thinking about Florida this year ~ DisneyWorld, SeaWorld, Altantic Ocean (which I have never seen) ~ anniversary isn't for 4 more months but I'm already so excited!!  

And as my last little ramble ~ can you believe it's the last day of January already?!? What happened to the month??

Good Morning Monday

Monday comes way too soon ~ why oh why can't we have 4 day work weeks & 3 day weekends?  

The weekend was good ~ absolutely nothing exciting about it ~ but then I also wasn't running around like crazy either ~ peaceful & mellow ~ just like it should be.

Saved a little over $30 with coupons & store discounts ~ I admit I got $10 of that for signing up for the Denver Post ~ they were giving away $10 gift cards for signing up for Saturday/Sunday papers ~ get $10 plus abundance of coupons ~ yea baby!

No exercise this weekend other than walking while shopping ~ hey it counts!  But let me run now and get 20 minutes of bike time in before work ~ every little bit helps!  

Coupons

Let me just say . . . . . I love coupons!!

Now, I'm not one of those couponers on tv ~ I don't go into the store and buy $500 worth of groceries for $10 (I wish!) ~ I don't overstock up on stuff ~ I don't even go online to the coupon websites (although I probably should) ~ I just simply clip coupons from the Sunday paper or the Wednesday mail flyer ~ some weeks are very, very good and some weeks are nothing (which is very irritating!).

So, you say, what's the big deal ~ a lot of people do this ~ yes, but do they take that dollar amount they saved via coupons and/or in-store savings and put it into a separate savings account?  That's what I do ~ I call it my coupon account (catchy name I know, right?) ~ and my little coupon account has paid for our master bath redo, shopping sprees, trips ~ some weeks I can only put a dollar or two in there but others I've put away as much as $50 ~ why? Because I figure without the coupons or store card I would be spending that money anyway ~ so when I get home I just transfer it and pretend I spent it.  

It's not something I do all the time but have started again this month ~ emptied it down to $20.12 (there was only about $50 in there) ~ have about $60 in there now ~ what am I saving up for this time ~ not sure yet ~ we are planning a trip for our 15th anniversary so maybe spending money for that ~ the point is that you really do save money using coupons and you don't have to be a fanatic about it!

Note to yesterday ~ I got on the bike for 20 minutes ~ 20 minutes is better than no minutes ~ gave me 2 extra WW points ~ go me!

No More Excuses!

So I weighed in last nite ~ gained 0.4!  OK, so that's not a lot ~ barely a half pound ~ BUT I feel like I'm stuck now ~ will I ever weigh in UNDER 200?  Will I ever hit my 10%?

Well perhaps I would if I would get off my ass and move!!  I've been gently pushing (ok nagging) John to exercise but have I?  NO!  See the above for my excuses ~ I found that this morning and totally felt like it was made for me ~ and I could add more like "I'll start tomorrow"

One of my favorite sayings is "today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday" ~ so I guess today is my tomorrow ~ so excuse me while I go get on the bike for at least 20 minutes this morning ~ no more excuses!!

BTW ~ Happy Friday!!

And It's Thursday Again

Thursday again ~ weigh in tonite ~ praying for under 200! but will be happy if I lose ~ wait ~ if I lose I will be under 200 ~ unless it's only a loss of 0.2 which will be my luck ~ LOL

John & I talked about his weight last weekend ~ he's a very healthy guy and I love him just as he is but worry ~ he's a big healthy guy according to the "health standards" which makes him at risk for a heart attack or something ~ but seriously, aren't we all at risk?  Anyway, he's been watching what & how much he eats but this week he's been getting on the treadmill ~ yay!  And his motivation is motivating me but I have yet to get on the treadmill ~ bad Susie!

I admitted this week that my upcoming 50th is worrying me ~ not freaking me out like 40 did ~ but I'm going to be 50!  I look at my mom who's in her 70's and how she physically struggles ~ I don't want to be like that.  I already have back issues and sciatica ~ I know being at a healthy weight will help that tremendously ~ and exercise ~ I want to live and have fun . . . . with my husband ~ so we both need to be healthy ~ but I don't want to be a fanatic about it (ie can't eat this or that because it's not healthy) ~ I like food too much ~ I like that John & I are trying to do this together although he won't join WW ~ he has his limits ~ LOL

Have I mentioned how much I love my husband!! 

Let's Catch Up

In my mind I think of blog topics but when it comes to sitting down and writing them I go blank or not sure how to start.  Not that my life is that exciting that I have so much to tell anyone.  I just think about things and want to write.  But today I decided to 'catch up'.

About Me ~ I did an "about me" page ~ see the tab above ~ nothing exciting my you can see the pictures of my men there ~ hey now!  I'm talking husband and son ~ what were you thinking?

Weight Watchers ~ why can't we weigh in in the wee morning hours . . . . nekkid?  Seriously, I'm still doing good ~ this last weigh in was only a 0.4 loss ~ and I'm still not under 200 . . . . at the meetings!  At home I've weighed in for several days in the 198's ~ YAY!!  I had thought about doing the WW online so I can control my weigh in's but I really need & enjoy the meetings.  My goal will come soon and then I'll be frustrated about not getting under the 190's . . . . . right?

Home Life ~ finally took the Christmas stuff down and got the house clean again (with John's help of course)~ love being organized!  Still need to do the office/craft room ~ I had it so clean and organized once ~ but then we bought John the roll top desk he's always wanted and filing cabinets to match but never 'redid' the room ~ now it's just a big mess ~ a lot of it is because I go in and just pile things up ~ it's going to be a major project as I want to paint it and get new blinds or curtains in there too ~ have to remember to take before & after pics.

Work Life ~ I love my job ~ I do medical coding/billing at a surgery center ~ it's like doing puzzles everyday figuring out the right codes to use ~ and with the new year brings new codes, deleted codes, and a new fee schedule ~ work is not boring ~ but I did clean my little cubicle ~ they say we have cleaning people but after doing my little space I find that hard to believe ~ yuck! to the nth degree!!  And I was working in that filth!  I'm not a germaphobe or anything but YUCK!

Love Life ~ oh wait ~ I'm married ~ bahahaha!  Just kidding ~ I love my hubby and am very blessed to have him!  Love life is perfect!

Having Fun ~ the new year has been busy catching up on the house and at work ~ plus I lost two hours I will never get back getting tags for the car on Friday ~ but had fun yesterday ~ went to Buena Vista to visit our bestest friends, Bob & Karyn ~ soooo neeeded a Karyn fix!  We did nothing exciting but just spending precious time together makes me happy!  Next I need a Nanci fix!

So anything else . . . . . I have been reading ~ both on my Kindle and audiobooks ~ think I'll start me a book tab on here to share what I am reading and have read.  Oh and sadly the Broncos lost last night but I still love them ~ Go Broncos!

Football

Have I mentioned I like football?

Just "get over it"

A friend, Nanci's daughter Jaimi, posted this yesterday on facebook ~ I responded that I can relate ~ her own sister responded that "she was gonna keep her mouth shut" ~ seriously?

Now when I first read her response I thought to myself that I didn't know what her thoughts were but when Jaimi responded that she probably should, I kinda figured that she is one of 'those' people.

What is one of 'those' people?  Someone who just doesn't understand depression ~ who doesn't understand how crippling it can be ~ who doesn't understand the dark, dark place it takes you to, whether you want to be there or not.

Years ago when I was diagnosed with depression and put on meds, I figured it would be just a temporary thing ~ the meds helped, life got better so I figured I didn't need meds anymore and (with doctor's ok) went off the meds ~ within a mere few weeks I was finding myself back into that dark place and couldn't understand why ~ my life was so wonderful ~ why was I being dragged into this dark place?  That's when I learned (from my doctor) about situational depression and chemical depression.

Situational depression is just that ~ something has happened ~ someone has died, something bad has happened in life ~ it's a 'situation' in your life that has made you sad beyond sad and "depressed" ~ most people come out of it in time without medication but a little help is not a bad thing.

Chemical depression is totally different ~ life  can be so wonderful and blessed but yet you want to cry ~ you want to withdraw (usually into that dark place) ~ on the outside you may smile and appear happy but on the inside you feel that you just want to shrivel up and be left alone ~ but you don't want to be alone ~ you want to smile & be happy ~ but you can't ~ you can't just "get over it!"

Why is this?  Because your brain is chemically imbalanced. And it's not a bad thing!!!  Taking medication (happy pills as I like to call them) is not a bad thing!!  And no, the pills don't make you happy ~ they help your brain become balanced again.  Do I always feel happy being on anti-depressants? NO!  Do I still get depressed? Absolutely!  But I deal with it all so much better ~ things don't become the end of the world to me anymore ~ that dark place is still there (and I do still go there on occassion) but I'm able to bring myself out of it.

So the next time you see someone is depressed ~ please, please, please don't think they just need to "get over it" ~ they probably want to but honestly can't.

*Susie is now stepping off her soap box*

I Love Thursday!

OK ~ it may be a little strong to say I love Thursday but I really do like it!  Thursday is my weigh in day ~ a day I dread but yet look forward to ~ each week I certainly hope I did well but it's that anticipation ~ plus I love my WW meetings!

And on Thursday my WW week starts over ~ 49 fresh extra points I can use or not ~ a fresh week to journal my food and try not to overindulge . . . . . again ~ lol!  Hmmmm maybe this week I should try to get a few activity points in there ~ note to self . . . . that would mean actually getting ON  the treadmill or bike and exercising.

Since this is turning into a WW post I want to add that one of my bestest friends, Nanci, is starting her WW journey too ~ why is it we look at some people and see a fat person (why does WalMart come to mind here?) but others we just see a beautiful person ~ that's Nanci ~ a beautiful person ~ yes if I actually look  I guess she's a little heavy but I honestly don't see  it ~ I see Nanci ~ I see love and a beautiful soul ~ but back to her WW journey ~ I'm proud of her and hope I can be a good support and encourager for her!

Must run to get to office early today ~ another reason I love Thursday tho is that it's so much closer to Friday than say Monday!!

oh and I still swear this is not a weight blog ~ honest!!  LOL!!

Cleaning Fairies

There are days that there is so much in my head I want to write but when I sit down it's all gone ~ perhaps this is where the 'hole in the head' term comes from ~ HA!

So we are on day 4 of the new year and my Christmas decorations are still up ~ where is that dang cleaning fairy??  Normally I would have stuff put away New Year's weekend but Friday seemed too early and I had to work Monday ~ so this weekend it will be . . . . . maybe because I wanted to go to BV to visit my friend Karyn on Saturday and Broncos play the Steelers on Sunday ~ excuses, excuses!

But seriously, am I the only one who has thought about hiring someone to clean their house but has a list of excuses NOT to?  What?, you say ~ excuses not to get a maid?  Yup!

Number one on the list is I don't trust a stranger in my home ~ I fear I will come home and we will be cleaned out (pardon the pun!) ~ ok, so be home when the cleaning person is there ~ well then I would probably be helping her clean because it would be too weird to just sit there right?  

On to number two ~ I'd be one of those people who would feel they need to clean the house before the cleaning person comes because heaven forbid they see my house dirty ~ uuummm yea ~ that kinda defeats the purpose.

Number three ~ I'd worry about my little Jackson ~ he's 100% an indoor dog ~ would they let him out?  Lock him in a closet?  Take him home with them because he's so darn cute??

*sigh* And yes of course I have my list of why I should get a cleaning lady ~ give me more time to do other things ~ come home to a clean house ~ plus physically it's hard for me to do some cleaning things (mop, vacuum) as it tends to flair up my sciatica ~ come home to a clean house . . . . . 

Ever feel like Charlie Brown ~ you know, wishy washy!

Back to the Real World

Heads up! This will probably be one of those blah, blah, blah posts I told you about - don't say I didn't warn you!

Anyway, today was/is a holiday for most but a few of the surgeons decided that despite their offices being closed they still wanted to do surgery. So Mandy & I volunteered to work today - it was actually a fabulous day! Very quiet because hardly anyone called thinking we would be closed and since the doctor's offices were closed they weren't calling - got so much done. Wish everyday could be like today.

So went back to work and back to my better eating habits - not that I did bad during the holidays. Actually I lost weight (yay!). I have struggled with my weight for forever - haven't we all? And no, I don't intend this blog to be a weight loss blog but have to talk about it some because it is a part of my life. I rejoined Weight Watchers in October - in the thirteen weeks (so far) that I've been back I've lost almost 17 lbs (yay!).

I know, I know - big deal - a lot of people go to WW and lose weight - well it is a big deal - as I've stated I've struggled with losing weight - I've (like a lot of people) have tried to lose weight, lose a few pounds, stall and then give up and regain plus some. Well, shortly after I rejoined this  time I found out that I've been taking my thyroid medicine wrong - I knew not to take it with my multivitamin but no one told me not to take it with calcium, magnesium and prevacid. So I started taking it in the morning all by itself and BAM! Suddenly I can lose weight. It's not dropping off or anything - I still have to work at it - but it's a winning battle now instead of losing battle. So you know how they say to 'consult your physician before starting a weight loss program'? Well I would like to add to be sure to discuss your meds and how you are taking them with your doctor too! I had always told the nurses how I was taking my meds and they never said a word. My doctor would review my labs and everything was good so I didn't think to talk to him too.

And may I brag? My New Year's goal was to be under 200 lbs by New Year's - I weighed in on Friday at a meeting and didn't make it but was good with it. However, I weighed myself at home yesterday (my scale weighs me the same as the WW scale) and I did make it!! 199.6!! Can't tell you how long it's been since I've been under 200. Now I should say that this morning I was over 200 again but I SAW IT! And I will see it again!

A New Year ~ A New Blog

Happy New Year!  And with this new year I decided to try my hand at blogging again ~ this blog is for me ~ a place where I can laugh & cry ~ brag & bitch ~ and if my words are found by anyone that is ok ~ if they bring a smile or makes one think, that is good ~ some days I may be thought provoking ~ most days I'll probably just blah, blah, blah ~ it's all good.

Why 'Simply Aging' ~ simple ~ I be aging ~ rather quickly too I might add ~ I'll be 50 in just a few short months!  Uummmm wasn't I just 20?  What happened?? And I know that in this day & age 50 doesn't seem old anymore.  Well it kinda does to me ~ so I guess I need to live life to the fullest before it's really too late.

But I must say my life is pretty darn good ~ gonna try to do an about me page on here.  But I'm a wife & mom ~ both I love and am proud of ~ waiting to become a grandmom . . . . . and waiting . . . . . . and waiting . . . . . and waiting!  I'm a dog mom ~ love my little Jackson!  I'm a weird person who actually loves her job and what she does (medical billing) ~ and the people I work with . . . . . well, most of them ~ ha ha!  I'm an only child ~ ok so I'm not ~ I do have a sister ~ may write about her later.  I have the bestest friends in the world ~ not very many  as I have social phobia (google it ~ it's real!) ~ but the ones I have are such a blessing in my life and I try to be one in theirs also.  And I'm one of those women who is forever trying to lose weight (love Weight Watchers!) ~ this time around I think I'm actually succeeding ~ *gasp!*

So again ~ Happy New Year ~ here's to hoping 2012 and the age of 50 (*sob*) is going to be the best yet!