Day one….

So today was my beginning. How did I do? Not bad at all if I do say so myself. I kept my calories under 1000 (yes that’s low, no it’s not forever…it’s just to get me past the sugar and carb mess I’ve made) and I walked 60 minutes. Not fast walking, just walking up and down all around but for a steady 60 minutes. It’s a beginning. I have planned my meals for tomorrow because I am working away from home for 12 hours.

My beginning weight is 225. I didn’t get to the measuring part yet but will soon. I just can’t wait until my pants are loose and my blouses fit comfortable. Than of course the next step of things just not fitting but for now, one step at a time.

I hope you all had a great Monday and are getting more and more into the Christmas spirit. This time of year is so amazing and wonderful. So much to be thankful for and blessed with.

I won’t be able to tell you about day two but I’ll be back for day three.

Blessings my friends!

Monday is the day….

So my plan for getting into shape for my 2015 adventure in 50 mile hiking and just getting into a shape that isn’t quite so round and mushy.

First, I love me. I always have. There’s parts of me that need help and those are what I’m going to be working on but really they (whomever they is) say you have to love yourself to help yourself. I am a believer in the Lord helps them who helps themselves so I’ve always been self sufficient and always ready to take on whatever this is to do. I need people to help me too when I just can’t do things on my own and I do ask at times. And I ask the Lord almost daily to help me through whatever is in store for me for the day. My life has changed tremendously in the past 3 years but I really haven’t rolled well with it even with the loving me, doing what I know I need to do, asking for help when I need it. So I’m taking charge again and this time going to work hard at obtaining my goal.

My goal is also not just the hike. You know my title…healthy wealthy and wise… well I have to work on those parts too. I am going to save for my hiking adventure. For the state sticker, to the new backpack, to a few supplies and to at least 2 pairs of good hiking boots. And I am going to read anything and everything I can about other peoples hikes, experiences and tips. Plus how to’s. I’m not a beginner by any means, I’ve been to the BWCA many times, I’ve camped tons of times but hiking without anyone, hiking for a few days….that’s all new for me and I want to be prepared.

It’s winter time and I am mostly going to do the reading and preparing my body. The big thing is, there is no 911 right there on the trail so being healthy, being strong, being in the right mindset is very important.

So part one: Getting into shape. I have a shape but it’s just way to round and soft to rely on out on the trail. So I need to lose 40 lbs. I have never wanted to be a skinny minny, a chunky kind of person is just fine with me but one that is healthy and strong.

Step one: start getting the miles in again. But I’m going to start right away with a backpack. Just a normal one but fill it with a gallon of water. That’s 11 pounds right away. I am going to be skiing this coming month also. The water in the backpack serves as two things, a bit of weight and also some movements to work with.

Step two: cutting and counting calories. The first two weeks will be a kick start, 800-1000 calories a day. I know this is low and it’s only for a week or two to get over the sugar carvings, the carb carvings and to get my head on straight and relearn the right way of eating. I chose these two weeks because I’m not driving bus so can put up with the headache and the crabbies that come with not getting the goodies I want. I will have a few days that will be super hard but I don’t fix Christmas dinner, we go out and I can preplan the eats. I don’t have daycare but one day so will eat before the kids come and plan a nice meal that I can have a bit of too. I have my home healthy care gentleman but I fix meals for him, I can bring a salad. So for the next 14 days I will be doing this.

On Monday I will weigh myself, measure myself and take a fat picture of me. I will continue to love me even though parts of me are terrible and I will work on fixing them.

I want to hike, I want to plan hikes all over the state of Minnesota. And than just maybe someday can plan hikes all over the USA. Now that’s exciting.

My new motto:

Joy on the journey, enjoy getting there.

I have the willingness to change.

Take care my friends and have a blessed weekend. I’m going to eat a few things that I won’t be eating any more….like cold cereal, cinnamon toast and crackers. And starting Monday morning it begins.

See you Monday.

New beginning….

 

So to start a new beginning you have to have a start so since I will be off during Christmas vacation……remember I’m a bus driver.

I do have my personal care for George that is two days a week and I have one day of daycare but otherwise it’ll be time to start. I’m not going to wait until the new year to start.

My weight is 225 lbs (not my highest but pretty darn close). I am back into my 18’s and it’s a good thing they have a stretch waist at times. I am back into 2xl blouses. I can’t reach my toes, I can’t stretch to reach everything I’d like, I can’t squat without falling over.

I could have a fit that I wasted two years of my life getting to a wonderful size and weight where I was happy but it’s not worth the effort because I am now here and know that I did it once, I will do it again.

Day one will be December 22nd. More thoughts coming. Hopefully a plan of some kind too.

Not even going to try to catch you up….

 

It has been a very, very long time since I have posted anything. I have kept up with a lot of you and am very proud that you all are either improving, working on or continuing your journeys in health and life. I don’t always comment but do know that I have lurked and kept tabs.

There is no way I can catch you up to where I am in life but I can tell you that life hasn’t been easy though I know it’s not suppose to be. After losing Cindy becoming an only child has been a challenge but to make the challenge harder is watching my daddy leave us piece by piece and watching a once quiet mom become angry and frustrated and hard to console. Along with that Mike has lost 3 very awesome jobs but none due to anything he’s done, one because of no money, one because the company laid off everyone and one because the promised position never materialized. We have pulled together as a family to make sure he’s still able to stay in his own home and keep his car and he’s worked many temp jobs to help too. But it has made the money issues hard on top of the mental issues. However, there is a silver lining and Mike got a new full time 40 hours a week job that starts next week and once he’s trained in things will be much better for him and us.

Stress is not good for anyone and some handle it differently than others but for me I eat and sleep and struggle though each day. I work as many hours as I can and that means 2 part time jobs that add up to about 65 hours every couple of weeks plus home care for my parents that adds up to just about every other waking hour except after 7 at night I insist I am home for Jim and Mike (unless the phone rings and I’m needed). Yes, people say you have to take care of you to take care of others but that isn’t always possible no matter what others think or do. At least for me, it hasn’t worked. I have gained every single pound I lost back in 2012 and I’ve lost all tone. I am a big pile of fat.

However………….yep, it’s time to figure this out because there are some thing’s I can’t change but some thing's I have to.

I have set a goal for 2015. I am going to go hiking. I am going to take time each day to work towards a hiking trail I have already picked out. Heard of Tettegouche State Park? It’s north of Duluth. It has 23 miles of hiking trails, water falls and the Baptism River. I have been dreaming about the Baptism River for the past few weeks. When I was little my family and I use to camp, hike and fish there and I am being drawn there. So even though I am far from being in shape for this camping/hiking trip I am going to work for it. I will have to be able to hike for 3 days, carrying a 40lb backpack up and down very rough trails. Mike has said he’d join me as my partner as long as he’s able and even though I don’t think a person should hike alone, if he can’t join me I’m still planning on doing it.

I haven’t a plan yet on how to really prepare but I am an outdoor person, I have canoed hundreds of miles in the BWCA, walk/hike many miles and know quite a bit about outdoor life so am pretty sure this is something I can do and in the process find a place for me in this new life that has been bestowed on me. I can be an only child taking care of her parents and her grandma. I can be a wife that truly loves the man of her dreams and give him the love that he needs to know this. I can be a mom of an adult son that is really awesome and gives everything his all. I can be a friend to the most wonderful people in the world. Kim, Sally and Terri are my life line on days where I just can’t go on. They listen, care and love me no matter what.

So I am back, if you’ll have me that is. Healthy wealthy and wise …. still not but learning.

sharing....

My most favorite people in the whole wide world!!!

Wilbur….

I have had some long hours this past week or more and Wilbur has been missing me something terrible. He hates to ride but still goes with us when able. He hides his head under the seat and just pretends the world isn’t there. Anyways, today he bugged and bugged while I was doing chores and I knew what he wanted but I can’t take him to work with me ….. or can I. Mike was coming out to the house to do some business and it was about an hour after I got to work so I did what he wanted, he got to go for a ride and spend the first 45 minutes at work while I got everything done outside and ready to open. He enjoyed his time with me and I’m hoping that it eased his mind a bit when mama is gone so long.

My boy, my protector, my friend, my …. well just mine!!

Blessing my friends!

And the news….

And smarter they are ….. because they took a young man that knows a bit about lots of things and hired him in a position that they can teach him, mold him and inspire him. He has been hired as an Engineer and a trainee in robotics. He gets to use his many talents from college and other jobs such as welding, plasma machining, fabrication and manufacturing. His wages are that of a trainee but with great potential. This is what he’s been looking for, something challenging and exciting. It is the answer to his and our prayers. And we have your love and support to thank too.

Mike works 4 10 hours days but also has an hour travel both ways. He’s thought about moving closer but that makes him further from friends and family and that is not what he wants so he is selling all his extra things such as guns and equipment, his dirt bike and his very first car – a suburban, and whatever else we can come up with so he can get a good size down payment on a new to him 4 wheel driver or all wheel drive vehicle. There are times in life that I wish I could help him more than just being supportive but I also know that this is how we grow and learn and become the people/person we want to be.

I am very proud of Mike. He has picked himself up and dusted himself off a few more times than most people have too but we also know less than lots so for all of this he/we are very thankful. Life’s lessons is making Mike into the man he really wants to be. It is awesome being the mama and getting to be part of it and watching and learning also.

So there you have the update. Isn’t it really truly awesome?!!!!

Blessings my friends!!!!

My daddy and I went on a hike today…

And my camera died so I had to use my cell phone but for this one time the pictures turned out awesome. As you drive around the little lake you can see this white patch on our back hill. Last year Mike mowed it for camping and this year nothing has been done so the flowers took over. I love the fact they follow the path up the hill.

 

  

 

So enjoy the pictures my friends and I am going to get ready for bed. It’s been a long afternoon/evening at the golf course and now tomorrow I have daycare. No complaints from me, I’m loving it.

Blessings!!

Please pray for Mike…

It’s his turn for that gray cloud to move away and for some sunshine to flood into his life. He has given his all and it is time for him to be rewarded. Please pray for Mike.

Blessings my friends!!!

Getting the miles in….

Just walking but getting there. Going to start C25K maybe even next week. I have at least three 5K’s coming up in August that I want to try and do each one better than the last.

Hope you’re having an awesome day. I get my daycare kids today, I’m in heaven. They are just here to spend the day with me, when your 11, 12 and 14 you don’t need daycare, you just need Julie’s love and she needs theirs.

Blessings!!!!