Brain Buzz

Do you ever have so much going on that you get brain buzz?  For me, I don't have a lot going on physically, but mentally, my brain is doing back flips!  Lately I find that I am busy worrying about everything.  I worry about my husband, my stepchildren, a job, my dog, my mom, my friends....  Phew!  I am exhausted.  In March I went to Miraval Spa and promised to stop worrying so much and to live in the moment.  I did pretty well for the month of March, but slowly my and some of April.  Slowly but surely, my old self has creeped back in.  Ugh!  All this worrying is stressing me out!

The good news is my weight is doing just fine.  I have noticed that I am toned and muscled.  I am strong and though I could lose 10 pounds, I am happy.  Just worried.

So for today, I will try not to worry about every little thing.  I will try to live in the moment.  Hmmm.  Maybe I will try that meditation thing.

Wish me luck!

June Cleaver, Julia Child and I are best friends!

You would think that while I am currently unemployed, I would be blogging like crazy.  I have found that I am very busy.  I clean the house, apply for jobs, cook and exercise. Take the exercise out of it and I have become June Cleaver/Julia Child!  Never thought I would enjoy cooking and cleaning.   Now I don't vacuum in pearls, more like exercise gear, but I do get excited when I learn how to really clean my stainless steel sink from Pinterest.

Yesterday, for the first time, I had my hand up a chicken's butt, pulling out icky stuff and putting in lemons and vegetables.  Never had done that before.  Ew.  I now understand why Julia Child would get pickled on wine while cooking.  It is hard work!  After spending over 2 hours prepping and setting off the fire alarm from smoke, I make a damn good chicken, but I was exhausted!  To think that I could get almost the same thing at Tom Thumb for $6.00!

The best thing about my time off is I am learning loads about myself.  I am happy.  I have been reading several books about directions I could take in life.  I know I want to do something, but just haven't zeroed in on what.  So, while I look for my next career, I will continue to find out how to get my whites, whiter and try to make delicious meals for the current main wage earner (husband).  So far, I have mastered chicken, meatloaf, pot roast and salmon.  I wonder what will be next???

Job Search? Blind Date?

Sorry I haven't written in awhile.  I was dealing with the closing of TLCEdge and am now deep into looking for my new career.  I hate looking for a job!  I have worked in the lapbanding business for over 10 years and have loved every minute of it.  I was hoping to continue doing so but so far, no go.
The hardest part of looking for a job is interviewing.  You spend time with someone and you chat, you get to know each other, you share a few laughs and then you get a thanks but no thanks email.

Sort of like a Blind Date.
Some dates you know it won't work out the moment you meet.  Other dates, well you are hopeful.  You kind of hit it off.  You are hopeful he will call.  Then you get the rejection.  Ugh!  I hated blind dates.  Eventually, I was able to turn it around and had loads of dates, some good, some bad and was not hurt when I got a rejection.  I did meet my husband through a blind date!  I need to toughen up that muscle again.

Weight wise?  Staying the same but I do plan to tell you all about the enormous amount of exercising I have been doing on a day to day basis in my next blog.

Everyone Needs Help!

As you all know, I love to shop!  I only wish I had great style.  I think people are born with the talent to put things together.  My friend Paige always looks stylish.  Everything she wears looks like she just threw it on with no thought and it is perfect!  I know Paige and I know there is thought put into her look.  She has the gift of style.  I need someone to put me together.  Those of you that are older and can remember, I want someone to ‘garanimal’ me.  Garanimals were a group of clothes that when you matched the shirt tag with the pant tag, you knew it went together.  The way fashion is today, it is twice as complicated.  You want to look like you are not trying to look put together.  The whole thing makes my brain hurt.

This is where Rebecca Rigby comes in.  She is manager of the Nordstrom Wedding Suite at Northpark.  She has great style!  She is also a personal shopper.  She is awesome!  I first met Rebecca when both step-daughters needed clothing for my niece’s wedding last year.  For each girl, Rebecca had pulled a nice selection of dresses for each to try on.  She has an eye for on trend items and was able to do jewelry and shoes in the same visit.  Both girls loved their outfits and we all had a happy shopping experience.  I met with Rebecca again when we were shopping for bridal dresses.  She was so patient with us!  Though we did not choose a dress at Nordstrom, it was for her lack for trying.

Lately, I have gone to Rebecca in search of the daunting Step-Mother of the Bride dress.  She did a terrific job!  I have a great long and short option that are both reasonably priced.  The best part is that she does not cost extra.  Through my multiple trips to Nordstrom to try on different items, we have added several other clothing items that I now wear quite often.  I am starting to look like I have style!  She can do this for you as well!  With weight loss, people need to learn what works with their new body.  They need to get to have items tailored to fit their body.  I would advise you to call and make an appointment with Rebecca.  Have her help you get a few basics and maybe a trendy item as well.  She is good.  I may not havegreat style, but I have a Rebecca!  I think everyone needs one.

Time for the Big Girl/Boy Panties

This week I have been thinking about the people and things that help me be me.  We all have a ‘staff’ that helps us in our day to day life.  For instance, I am challenged when it comes to height.  Even petite pants are too long for me if I am wearing them with flats.  For a few months now, I have been turning the hem under because I have not had time to get to the tailor.  I did that Saturday.  Though I don’t see him very often, I am very grateful to my tailor because he uses his skill and helps me look my best.

I also consider my LapBand part of my ‘staff’.  It helps me be me and not a huge me.  If I follow the rules:

Go slow

Chew well

Drink 64 oz water

60 grams of protein

Exercise 5 times a week

No drinking and eating at the same time

I can maintain a healthy weight and feel really good.  When I do not use my tool, I tend to feel sluggish and gain weight.

Do you make good use of your ‘staff’?  Are you following the band rules or are you making excuses?   Sometimes people will ask me why everyone is not successful with the LapBand.  Some people refuse to use their tool.  Something keeps them from success.  A year ago, I ignored my LapBand for about 6 months and gained 30 pounds.  Ugh!  It was hard to look in the mirror and finally own up to the fact that I had become lazy in my maintenance.  I had to put my big girl panties on and face the music.  I did and lost 32 pounds!  Through the holidays, I ate lots of chocolate and fritos and gained back 3 pounds.  Big girl panties are back on and I am using my ‘staff’ to loose those pounds and help me to be the thinner healthier me..

It is a new year with new beginnings.  Are you helping you be you?  Are you making good use of your ‘staff’?    Grab your Big girl/boy panties and join me!

Stop for the New Year

I so wish I knew exactly where I got this so I can give proper credit, but these 30 STOPs are wonderful.  I am reposting as I am truly going to try to stop doing some unhealthy behaviors.  It is not short, but well worth the read.

1. Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you. You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot. Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth. And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.
2. Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on. No, it won’t be easy. There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them. We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems. That’s not how we’re made. In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall. Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time. This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.
3. Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself. Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves. Read The Road Less Traveled.
4. Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too. Yes, help others; but help yourself too. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.
5. Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you likeeveryone else. Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you. Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.
6. Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.
7. Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing. Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success. You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.
8. Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us. We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future. Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.
9. Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive. But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.
10. Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either. You have to create stability in your own life first before you can share it with someone else. Read Stumbling on Happiness.
11. Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place. Evaluate situations and take decisive action. You cannot change what you refuse to confront. Making progress involves risk. Period! You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.
12. Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.
13. Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely. It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company. There’s no need to rush. If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.
14. Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you and some will teach you. But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.
15. Stop trying to compete against everyone else. – Don’t worry about what others doing better than you. Concentrate on beating your own records every day. Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only.
16. Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own. Ask yourself this: “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”
17. Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you. You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough. But reflect back on those negative curveballs thrown at you in the past. You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation. So smile! Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.
18. Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate. Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.” It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.” Forgiveness is the answer… let go, find peace, liberate yourself! And remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too. If you must, forgive yourself, move on and try to do better next time.
19. Stop letting others bring you down to their level. – Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.
20. Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway. Just do what you know in your heart is right.
21. Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.
22. Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things. The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.
23. Stop trying to make things perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done. Read Getting Things Done.
24. Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile. Don’t take the easy way out. Do something extraordinary.
25. Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while. You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well. You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears. The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.
26. Stop blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life. When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.
27. Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out. But making one person smile CAN change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world. So narrow your focus.
28. Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy. One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time? Three years? Five years?” If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.
29. Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen. Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.
30. Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing.

Shopping Like a Fat Girl

I love to shop!  If I could, I would make it a career.  Walking through stores and smelling the new clothes, seeing how they display them, and seeing what flies off the shelves gives me a thrill.  I adore it when I find a solution to a problem.  It is fun to see the newest thing.  The cream that will make you look younger.  The jeans that will make you skinny.  I love it when I get together with my girlfriends and we all tell of the newest thing each of us have seen.    My problem is that when shopping for myself, I tend to buy the first thing I see, instead of being more picky.

I believe this comes from my pre-band, fat past.  When I was big, there wasn't a huge selection at the stores.  If I found something that fit and didn't look totally awful, I would get one in every color.  Now I can afford to be picky.  I have lots of choices in clothing, but I still operate with the former fat girl attitude.

I do not need grab the first thing because it fits.  Go for getting something because it makes me look fantastic!  Less clothing with more substance.  One perfect pair of black pants instead of 10 pairs of black pants that just look ok.  I need to make sure I take everything I buy to my tailor to make it fit my 5'1" frame. 

Lots of us when we lose enough weight to be in regular clothing, kind of go crazy with the shopping.  We buy entire wardrobes of size 14 clothes, when we are only going to lose more weight.  Since we "settled" for so long, we tend to forget that a tailor can do wonders with fit.  A tailor can help you transition through sizes during yoru weight loss.  We also tend to buy some age inappropriate clothing.  I did it when I got to goal too.  It is great that you can wear a size 6, but at 55 years old, you do not need to wear a halter top and mini skirt.  Just sayin...

So, what do I want you to take away from this little rant?  First of all, don't buy out the store because you can fit into it.  Go for quality over quantity.  Dress for your age.  Finally, when you go shopping, take me with you!  Let me live vicariously through you!