HealthandHappiness

I’m getting myself in the right frame of mind to stick with my New Year’s resolution. I really want to get the weight off this year. I’m tired of feeling bad about myself all the time, and I want my blood sugar readings to come down. I also know that exercising more will help with my fibromyalgia pain.

Here are my short-term goals:

Eat less than 100 carbs a day. (My doctor recommended this)

Exercise at least 4 days a week. (Will change this as I progress. Have to start slow with fibromyalgia or I will be in even more pain.)

Lose five pounds a month. (May not make this one every month. When losing before I didn’t do five pounds each month, but I think it’s a reasonable goal to set.)

Overall Goals:

Lose 50 pounds

Like myself in a bathing suit

Fit into a size 8

What are your weight loss goals? What is your plan to achieve them?

I have tried to lose weight in the past. I actually managed to lose 20 pounds after being diagnosed pre-diabetic. It took me 8 months of lowering my carbs and exercising regularly to lose the 20 pounds, and one month living in a motel and eating fast food to gain it all back.

I’ve tried off and on to lose again, but only half-heartedly. Starting New Year’s Day, I am going full force. I NEED and WANT to lose fifty pounds within the next year. Losing the weight will definitely help my diabetes and fibromyalgia. I will also look better which will help my self-esteem.

Losing 50 pounds will put me in the acceptable weight range for my height according to several medical charts I’ve checked out. I’m only 5 feet tall, so I can’t weigh much and be in range. I’ve seen anywhere from 96-126 pounds as the limits for a healthy weight for my height. I am aiming for someone in the middle of that range.

It’s not going to be easy. The only way I lose weight is by lowering carbs and exercising. Those are both things recommended for diabetics anyway, so it’s all good. I just have to make myself DO IT!

I would love to have some people join me in the quest. Are any of you making weight loss your New Year’s resolution? If so, would you care to join me? I will be updating the blog here with my progress to help keep myself accountable. I have some friends on the writing board that are doing it with me, but you can never have too much support where weight loss is concerned!

If weight loss is your New Year’s resolution, I wish you all the best!

My dad died in March of this year. He was buried at the Georgia National Cemetery. We were so thankful to find the cemetery. He had a very nice military ceremony that honored his service to the country during Vietnam.

Better than the ceremony, was the fact that we knew his grave would be taken care of respectfully. Veteran’s cemeteries are well maintained and they have certain rules and regulations that must be followed. The rules make everything work well.

I put flowers on his grave for Christmas. The cemetery had already put wreaths on every grave. It was very nice to see that they cared enough to do this for each veteran buried there. The little touches really do matter.

If you have the chance for a loved one to be buried in a national cemetery, take it. You won’t regret the decision.

How long do you leave your holiday decorations up? We usually leave ours up until New Year’s Day. I don’t really know why we do this just that it’s a tradition now.

Do you have a set day that you take all the Christmas lights and tree down? Do you take it all down right after everyone leaves Christmas day?

I love having the Christmas tree up and hate when it has to go. My husband says I’d leave it up all year long if people wouldn’t think I was crazy. He is probably right!

Tell me about your holiday decoration traditions.

My husband made it home on Christmas. It was late when he got home, but he was here. They weren’t supposed to be done with storm duty in time, but they were released early. I was so happy when I found out.

He’s been in the Army, and now is an electrical lineman. Both these occupations require travel and time away from home. It’s not fun, but I’ve learned to live with it. This would have been the first Christmas he wasn’t home though, so I’m glad things turned out differently.

Sometimes the unexpected blessings are the best ones! Be thankful for every blessing you receive.

Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope you’re all nice and warm in your homes with loved ones, unwrapping presents and eating too much. Don’t forget to say a prayer or two of thanks for the season and all the blessings in your life!

Make Christmas magical this year. Spread joy and goodwill. Teach your children the true meaning of the holiday. Show them that giving really is more important than receiving. Share the truth about doing for those less fortunate.

It’s so important that we teach our children what Christmas is all about. Santa and presents are fun, as long as we don’t neglect to teach that there is more to the holiday.

Enjoy the fun of the season, and explore the spirit of the holiday!

Do you open any presents on Christmas Eve? We usually open one a piece, but I know some families that do all their unwrapping on Christmas Eve and then spend Christmas day just being together. I think either way is great.

What are your Christmas Eve traditions? Anything special you do every year. We don’t have any rituals except opening the one present Christmas Eve night.

Whatever you are doing, I hope you enjoy the company of family and friends and remember the true meaning of the holiday! Be thankful for loved ones still with you, and reminisce about those that are gone.

Make Christmas Eve a special day!

Sometimes life gets in the way and loved ones can’t make it home for Christmas. This is the case for our family this year. My husband found out today that they are not going to finish up with storm work in time to make it home for the holiday.

I am disappointed that he won’t be with us, but I’m proud of the work he does. I can’t imagine families being without power and heat over the holidays. All the power crews that are sacrificing family Christmas’s are truly appreciated.

We will still celebrate when he does come home. The tree and lights will stay up, and some presents will still be wrapped. The holiday won’t pass us by completely, just be postponed.

I hope all of you enjoy the holiday season and get to spend it with loved ones in warmth and joy!

I had a doctor’s appointment today. I changed doctors because my last one didn’t want to spend any time with me. I guess he had too many patients, and just wanted to rush through each appointment. I don’t really know the reason, and don’t care. I only knew that I wanted a doctor who would spend enough time with me to at least know what I was talking about.

I liked the doctor I saw today. Only problem is, he said I need to see a different doctor because he isn’t qualified to treat my various conditions. His office gave me the name of another to check out. I will call and see how much it costs for a new patient visit.

Having no health insurance makes picking a doctor a chore. Some won’t take you at all and other’s cost excessively much. I hope that I can find one that knows how to treat me and is reasonable.

The only thing that made today’s appointment worthwhile is getting blood work done to check my thyroid so I can get a new prescription. I hate paying doctor prices just to get a little slip of paper!

Let there be light!

The sun is shining here today! I am so glad. All these gloomy days in a row really get to me. There are only so many head and body aches I can take! I hope the sun sticks around for a while.

It’s cold out here, but that doesn’t bother me. My spirits lift just seeing the sunshine.

Are y’all like that? Do you feel better when it’s pretty and sunny outside? Or do you prefer rainy days? I know some people like dreary days. I might if they didn’t cause pain.

I might just have to take a walk today! Get out there and really enjoy this respite!