Well, I have decided to start a journal here at DT again. I have been keeping a hand written journal, but feel like I could benefit more from keeping one here.

This journal is to help me along in my journey to making life changes. I know that I can not change everything at once, but only a little bit at a time, and also that I need to be patient with myself. I plan to make small changes every couple of weeks, and keep building from there. I want these changes to be ones that I can live with for the rest of my life.

For Christmas, my husband asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I told him a gym membership. He said, done! So, beginnning the first of the year I will be going to the gym 6x per week. This is something I have wanted to do since we moved here four months ago. The town we used to live in did not have a gym or any facility to go to. I know I don't need a gym to go and work out, but for me and my situation it would be more beneficial to me. See, for quite some time I was getting up an hour early and doing exercise tapes, but everytime I did, it was like my 17 month old daughter had sonar ears, would wake up, and would NOT let me finish. Basically I just gave up on trying to do that. SO, anyways, I really feel like this would benefit me in so many ways. My plan is to get up at 5:30 a.m. 6x per week, be at the gym when they open at 5:45, work out for 1 hour (mix of cardio and light weight training), and return home. My husband goes to work at 8 a.m., so this would work. Someone has to be there for the children, so everyone will just be waking when I get home from the gym. I love working out first thing in the morning...I feel so energized!

So, as for eating plan, I am still working on that, but pretty much have a good idea of what I will be doing. I have been doing some research, and will probably be eating so that my carbs(fruits, vegetables, grains etc.), proteins(lean meats, animal products), and fats will be balanced so that insulin levels will stay at a constant. This will consist of 3 meals, and 2 snacks each day. Usually 3-4 hours between each. This is definitely something I can do for the rest of my life. Over the past 2 months I have already started cutting back my portions with things such as rice, potatoes, breads, sweets, etc. These are my favorite foods unfortunately. I will not be eliminating them just cutting back and making healthier choices.

My life tends to be quite busy as I have a five year old daughter, and a
17 1/2 month old daughter. They keep me very busy, and I have started doing some homeschooling with the older one. She is also in ballet, and we are active in our church as well. The little one keeps me on my toes all by herself. She is definitely a busy one. She loves to get into EVERYTHING!!

These past couple of weeks I have been using my spare time to make Christmas gifts, I am almost finished, but have one last project to finish. I will glad to get those done. Boy, does that save on money!

Well, I guess I had better go for now. I am looking so forward to my new journey into making life changes!

Hi AJ! Glad to see your journal! I have been working out 6 days a week too (I'm doing body for life), and I am feeling so much better!

I'm excited to hear about your progress!

Happy Holidays! :deer:

-Lindsey

Hi AJ. Your plan looks reasonable all the way around and you sound motivated and serious. I wish you the best of success, strength, and growth as you progress on your journey. Sue

Lindsey and Sue, Thank you so very much for stopping by my journal and sharing your kindness and support. I really feel like this is someting I can accomplish as a life time change. It is reasonable, and I too am excited to see my progress!! Thanks for stopping by and checking in on me! Hugs, AJ

Hi!! Good Luck with reaching your goals. I think your plan sounds great :)

BRRRR...It is cold! I can't stop shivering.It's a whole 10 degrees here right now, and frankly I wish it was at least 30! When it gets this cold I almost can't function. You would think I would have adapted within my 27 1/2 yrs of life. Oh well, I'll just wait for Spring! LOL

Well, the ballet recital went pretty well last night. My daughter started ballet about a month and a half ago, and had her first recital last night. All the girls looked so pretty! She loves it, I get to see the performance tonight, last night I was just a backstage mom. I really wouldn't care to do it again, but of course I volunteered for the second performance tonight. I think I need my head examined!! It was so hard to try and control so many hyper, anxious and extremely excited 5 year old girls!!

The little one woke me up a bit early this morning, but I guess that is my own fault for staying up so late. She has already gone back to bed...go figure!

I have a lot to get done, as I still don't have the last Christmas gift (project) finished yet! I need to get crackin on that! I have about 2 days to finish. I bought a wood plaque, and am carving some pinecones and pine needles into it, along my in-laws last name, along with adhering (sp?) a 5x7 tile on to it to be used as a dry erase board for messages. I also need to attach a string to hold the dry erase marker. I have about half of the carving done...so I am pretty far behind!

Eating will be easy for me today as I will be busy a majority of the day, with laundry, project, bathing kids, scrubbing kitchen floor, and vacuuming among other things.
I need to try and push a little more water today...I can tell I didn't drink enough yesterday. I had better be going for now...

Andrea, Thank you for your encouragment. I DO appreciate it!! :D

Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/nannerbanner/bow1.jpg
Just wanted to say thank you for your friendship here at diettalk and wish you a wonderful holiday!!!

Hi AJ, nice to have you back!!! Wow a gym membership, that is great, make the absolute best of it that you can. And so now you are a fellow homeschooler too, terrific. I am sure you will enjoy cuddling up and doing some school work in your cold weather.

Hey AJ!
Good for you for making your Christmas Gifts!!! I love getting homemade gifts, I can feel the love and effort the person put into making it just for me! I am excited for you for your weight loss journey! Your plan looks great! I bet once you start going to the gym, you will get hooked! I am starting to like the gym more...don't hate it...don't love it stage :o Take Care, Jess

Merry Christmas :)

Beth :peace:

AJ, I am wishing you and yours the healthiest and merriest Christmas ever ... I am as always, Monica :hug:

Sunday, December 26

Thank you so much for the wonderful Christmas wishes Nancy, Jess, Beth, and Monica!! We had a nice Christmas. We spent it with hubby's family. It was some great family time, and had a nice prime rib and shrimp dinner.

The home made gifts that I made, it seemed that everyone loved them!! I had my daughter make a gift for her Grandpa (papa) We found a box at Michael's that was shaped like a book. So, we painted it and titled it Memories with Papa Joe. Inside we put pictures of he and my daughter, and she drew about 10 pictures of things she remembers doing with her Papa. He loved it. CHildren's artwork is priceless!

Well, I have a sick hubby, and am trying to get things going so I can get myself organized to start my new plan. I can't wait to start the gym. I am looking so forward to having some energy!

Well, I hope each one of you reading this had a fantastic CHRISTmas, with your friends and family. Until tomorrow....

Monday, December 27

I am working on getting my house back in order from the holidays. I have a dear friend coming to visit this weekend, and she is not in the best of health. About 2 weeks agao the found 6 spots on her liver. I pray that everything will be ok. We have had a conversation about what if it happens to be cancer, and she is taking it so well. She keeps telling me that if this is God's will, then she is ok with that. She has such love for our dear Lord. What admiration I have for her. But, she is right, God can heal us, but it does have to be his will. His plan is the ultimate plan, and He is in control. So, I am looking very forward to seeing her.

DH is sick, we think it may be turning in to a respiratory infection or bronchitis or something. He is at the doc right now, so I guess we will see what happens. The littlest one sounds like she may be getting the same junk. My 5 y/o and myself have started taking that Airborne. I hope it helps, so far so good.

Well, must be on my way for now. Thanks to all who come and read this and Thank you so much for your support!!

Hi there Aj,

I'm so sorry DH is under the weather, and it won't be easy on you if the baby comes down ill too. It seems this time of year the sniffles and all kinds of stuff is just floating in the air wiating for the first victim to grab. I do hope they are both doing and feeling much better quickly.

I also hope that things prove not so serious for your good friend as well. My best friend was just recently diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus too. And all these years I have felt bad about being bothered by Ortho Arthritis, it is still far less severe and damaging as what has now assailed her. It pains me when I know she is suffering, so I understand how you are so strongly wishing well for your dear friend too.

I was glad to read that you had a nice and pleasant holdiay with your family. That is a good thing. I hope that 2005 brings all of you good health and good wealth too.

Have a great week!

Sandie...Long time, it's so good to "see" you. I really appreciate you stopping by my journal. I probably won't be seeing my friend after all. Everyone in our house is sick...including ME. I am so bummed. The baby has an icky cough, DH has a sinus infection, and a bad cold, other daughter has been vomiting, and I have the chills and body aches! Talk about everyone getting their own thing!! This soon shall pass....hopefully sooner that later. I was so hoping to see my friend though. We haven't seen her since the end of Sepember. It's hard being that I used to see her everyday! I miss her! :c(

Well, as for eating today...I can probably say I ate nowhere near enough, but when you feel sick to your stomach it is kinda hard. Don't want to make things worse. I have been drinking lots of fluids, and just making sure I stay hydrated. I pray that we all get well soon. Because this stinks! X-(

well, I have had a pretty boring day...not much happened. Just sat home with a bunch of sickies! Including myself...haha

I hope each one of you who reads this has a wonderful rest of the week, and Happy and glorious New Year! May each one of you have good health and much success as we go into the new year......

Well, everyone is staring to feel better around here. Hubby went back to work this evening. Both girls seem to be on the mend, and as for myself, I am getting there, still feeling a bit of nausea, but definitely better. I spent some time this evening preparing a food list to go off from, and make choices from that, to plan a meal menu. Then from the meal menu, I can prepare a shopping list. I NEED to go grocery shopping. I cleaned out the fridge, and well...it is pretty much just condiments, milk, and a few pieces of fruit. Not much to speak of. The cupboards are quite bare also. I was going to go shopping this past Monday, but DH was sick. Then things went downhill from there. Oh well, I am just so delighted we are all getting better.

Ali got to go out and play in the snow today...she had so much fun! What a precious little girl, the first thing she did was drop over backwards, and make a snowangel! She is so sweet. She does love the outdoors! Poor thing has a bunch of broken blood vessels in her face from all the vomiting while she was sick.. I said to her ...did you see your face?...you have a polka-dotted face...she laughed, and said MOMMM...I'm sure!! LOL, it was so cute. It just looks like she has lots of freckles. They will go away soon enough.

I shoveled the driveway, I must say that is not my most favorite thing to do, but felt good to get some fresh brisk air in my lungs. I like the snow and winter as long as it isn't subzero temperatures. Those I could live without!

Well....eating has been a bit off again as I am still don't have the stomach to eat much. I am still going strong on fluids though.

As for now, I must be going....until tomorrow.....

AJ,

I WANT TO WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR ... :balloons: ... A YEAR FILLED WITH GOOD HEALTH AND MUCH HAPPINESS. I am as always, Monica :hug: :wave:

Aj: Happy New Year to you and yours ...and all the best for 2005...Health, Happiness, Joy..may they all be yours....

Hugs :hug:
Louise