What A Pain!

In December, I broke my middle and ring finger of my right hand.  During that bad patch of icy weather, I slipped and as I fell, I did the splits.  Luckily, I do this in my Bar Method classes every day, so there was no pain from that.  I broke my fingers trying to break my fall.  At first I thought I had jammed them.  I figured that the pain would go away after a few days.  Let me tell you, the pain was exquisite. 

 I had a lot going on with Christmas and our youngest daughter's wedding, so I pushed through the pain.  An advantage of working at a hospital, is I can't flip a quarter without hitting a doctor or a nurse.  I finally consulted a nurse who said she could tell by looking at them that they had been broken.  Since time had passed, I was told to wrap it for a few days and it would be OK.

It is not OK.  It will never be OK again.  I now have a way to mark when things happen in my life.  Now things have happened either pre or post finger pain.  They hurt all the time.  They hurt while I type this blog.  I wince when I wash my hands.  Shake my hand?  Hell no!  Needing the right hand to lift something or stop a dog?  Not happening without a small scream attached.

For two months I have put up with this pain.  It isn't the pass out kind of pain, but an annoying constant ache.  The kind where you want to slap something.  Hard.  Then of course there are times when the sharp pain comes because I lifted a glass or something silly.

Why might I be writing a blog about my injured fingers?  Well one thing is that if you see me, please don't try to shake my hand.  I adore you, but lets tap elbows for awhile.  After all, it is cold and flu season.  The other reason is that I knew something was wrong, but I just pushed through the pain thinking that things would get better soon.  I didn't make time to take care of me.

I hear story after story of people who have had weight loss surgery tell me they are having issues but they know it will get better soon.  They are choosing not to take care of themselves.  They do not put their health first.  Then they end up having to have another surgery or are diagnosed vitamin deficient and must spend a year getting back to normal health.  Are you having issues?  When was the last time you checked in with your surgeon's office?  Might be time to pay attention to the warning signs. Make the time to take care of yourself.

By the way, I can now tell the weather by the ache in my fingers.  Oh what fun! 

Newlyweds?

My life over the last two months has been one of complete chaos.  My plate has been full.  If I told you everything here, you would not believe me.  I will be writing a screenplay as it would be a perfect Lifetime movie.

When the grand life lesson teacher decides to give you back to back term papers, pop quizzes and projects, you do them.  I kept thinking "This too shall pass".  For the most part it has or at least life is moving in the right direction.

One of the neat things I am getting to experience is time alone with my husband.  We have been married for over 8 years.  During that time, we have never really been alone.  Someone was always living in our home.  Sure, we would get a week here or a week there, but never any length of time without someone residing there.

I am not complaining.  I love my stepchildren as if they were my own, but never having time with your husband can be difficult.  The kids have boomeranged so often that on the day one moved out, another showed up and moved in.  There are many times we felt like we were running a hotel. A few weeks ago, our youngest got married.  Husband and I were looking forward to finally being alone.  With the exception of a kid moving in for 6 days in January, we have gotten our long sought for wish.

Currently it is just us and our two dogs.  I love it!  We have a family room that before now was constantly occupied by one or more of our children and their posse.  We really have never gotten to use that room.  Over the past two weeks, we have taken over!  We watch TV, read and work on the computer in our family room.  When husband wants to go to sleep, no problem.  I can stay up and do what I need to do in the family room.  It is almost like we added on a section of the house! 

We are having fun too!  We are trying to see if we can hold off going to the grocery store for any major purchases until we have cleaned out our pantry and freezer.  We are having some creative meals.  It doesn't matter as it is just us!  Whoop!  When I return home in the evening, the house is just as I left it that morning.  Well, except Molly the dog sometimes tries to redecorate, but otherwise the same.

I am remembering why I married my husband.  He is hilarious!  We laugh all the time!  It is so rejuvenating!  I would guess that this is what most of you experience when you get married, before you have children. We are finally having our newlywed moment.  What fun!  It is nice to have the precious time alone.  I will treasure these days and greedily enjoy each one.

Hopefully, we have entered the peace and quiet stage of life.  Oh and if you need a place to stay, please don't knock on our door.  The Inn is temporarily closed for renovations.

What You Allow Will Continue

Yesterday I wrote "What you allow will continue" on my status on Facebook.  This is my mantra for 2014.  Quite a few people emailed me privately or spoke to me in person about these 5 little words.  Think about it...    What You Allow Will Continue.

Eating fast food: what you will allow will continue.

People making comments to you that are a wee bit nasty, yet you laugh it off: what you allow will continue.

People taking advantage of your time: what you allow will continue.

Choosing to ignore your health: what you allow will continue.

Being the victim all the time.  It is always someone else's fault: what you allow will continue.

Sitting on the couch watching Real Housewives instead of working out: what you allow will continue.

Get it?  We choose our present. 

So let's turn this around.

I will do some sort of exercise 6 times this week: what you allow will continue.

I choose to get more sleep and not let the distractions of work or home get in the way: what you allow will continue.

I drink water over high calorie liquids: what you allow will continue.

I have no time for toxic people: what you allow will continue.

I choose to put myself first so I can be a better person for my family and friends: what you allow will continue.

I make healthy food choices: what you allow will continue.

I am the person I want to be: what you allow will continue.


You have the power to make a difference in you and in the people around you.  I challenge you to move forward and make a difference in your life.
 

What You Allow Will Continue!

Dreams Do Come True!

Last week I started a new job!  Actually it is my dream job.  I had always wanted to be head of bariatrics for an entire hospital.  I am the Director of Bariatrics for USMD Hospital of Arlington.  Yippee! 

 

Lots of changes going on in the O'Kelly household.  Change is good, but change is change.  It is hard.  I have been out of the corporate world for almost 2 years.  Getting back into the swing of things is going to take some time.  I am used to having a fluid schedule and now things are a bit more rigid.  I do a lot of driving and am truly exhausted when I get home. 

 

People ask me what am I going to do about working out?  I tell them that my days have gotten longer as I now have to take the 6am class.  Trust me when I say that it would be so easy to let it go and sleep in but my health is a priority.  Exercise is important.  I don't compromise on that issue.  At least that is what I tell myself every morning when that dang alarm goes off!

 

Chores did not change nor did the needs of my family.  Husband has been great at picking up the slack.  We are a team and he really has stepped up to the plate.  I have had to become a better manager of my time.   No longer can I surf the internet and get lost for hours.

 

The positives?  I am making a difference!  They like that I am a weight loss coach!  It is going to be awesome!  Happy dancing all the way to Arlington every day! 

 

 

 

Problem Solver

I am a problem solver.  That is why I am a good life and weight loss coach.  I have the ability to see the entire picture and can help people move forward.

At times I have someone who says they have a problem, and wants to solve the problem, but they are clearly happier not moving forward.  They like being miserable.  They are living a lie.

Life will always be hard for liars.  They choose not to look in the mirror and accept the truth and move forward.  It breaks my heart when I come across one of these people.  They are the eternal victims.  They can't catch a break. 

What they don't seem to see is that they are the ones who can give themselves a break.  It is all up to them.  Their choice.

Each and every one of us has the power to change our own lives.  If you are a doctor and you don't like being a doctor, you can be something else.  You limit yourself, no one does that for you. 

So grab a mirror, look in and have a chat with the one who is looking back at you.  Make some decisions.  Solve some of your own problems.  Once you do, life can be amazing!

Confessions of the Band!

Lately I haven't met a carb I haven't liked.  For the past 6 weeks, I have had every kind of bread, potato and sweet I could find!  Why might you ask?  Well, I got some fluid out of my lapband. 

My band has always been stress reactive.  The moment I am dealing with something tough, my band gets even tighter.  No big life changing events here, but a bunch of little events caused my band to tighten up and I wasn't getting sleep.  You can't go without sleep...it can quite literally make you crazy.

So, I did the smart thing and went to get an unfill.  Then I decided to have a little more taken out than normal.  I wanted to take a holiday.  I developed my taste for carbs again.  I loved every minute of it...until my pants got too tight. 

Reality check.  I don't want to gain back all my weight.  I can tell not only in my clothes, but in my breathing and in my workouts that I have too much weight on my body to be healthy.  So, I made the call and by the time you see this, the fluid will be back in.

I have had my band for almost 15 years.  I have been successful and of normal weight for 13 of those years.  I have worked in weight loss in one form or another for those 13 years.  So, why am I confessing this bump in my healthy weight and not just losing it and being 'the success story' without you ever knowing about this?  Because I am human.  I needed to do what is right for me.  The point I am trying to make is that it is ok to deviate from your path once in awhile, but always keep it in sight and be sure to get back on.  Don't get lost and lose your focus.

I am getting back on the bandwagon.  I am also paying attention to my hunger scale and only eating when I am hungry. 

Do you need to re-focus?  Let's do this people!  www.losinggracefully.com

Polyanna? Why not?

Since I have become a certified coach, I have really noticed a change in me.  I have made a conscious effort to lift people up.  I don't really see the good in being negative.  It is a waste of time. 

My husband says that I am becoming a Polyanna.  What is wrong with that?  I would rather look for the good in someone than focus on the bad.  For as long as I can remember, I have had an inner mean girl that hangs out in my head.  For the last few months, I have told her to go *%#$ herself.  She has been quiet and I have not been happier.  Coincidence?  I think not!

I put this picture with my post because it shows love.  That's what it is all about.  Take a moment to find the fabulous in everyone you meet.  Sometimes it may be a bit hard to do, but trust me, you can find something in every single person that walks this earth!  So, get on it!  Join me in Polyannaville.  It is a beautiful place.