#16in16

A friend has challenged myself and others to accomplish 16 goals in 2016...now to come up with 16 goals.

1. Blog more ~ at least weekly

2. Complete 2 5Ks...official or unofficial...

3. Complete the 2016 Reading Challenge (details found here http://modernmrsdarcy.com/2016-reading-challenge/ but basically 12 books in 12 months from 12 categories)

4. Complete 5 tasks on my old 101 in 1001 dayzeroproject list (made the original list in 2011...my 1001 expired in 2014...most items are still items I want to complete though...so I continue)

5. Complete at least 1 of the daily tasks per week of Declutter 365 Home Storage Solutions 101 (https://www.facebook.com/groups/declutter365/) I know I will not do every daily task, but this way I will at least do 52 tasks toward decluttering this year.

6. Take back control of my body...weigh in at least every 2 weeks, measurements monthly, myfitnesspal tracking at least 7 days a month, wear charge HR and work on increasing steps

7. More family one on one time: 2 dates a month with mom/princess, 2 dates a month with dad/princess, 1 date a month with mom/dad

8. Memorize 12 Bible verses (1 per month)

9. Complete at least one hand/foot print canvas art for each kiddo

10. Do not load Starbucks card with more than $25 a month

11. Continue with the clothing purge by doing the hanger trick...all hangers currently facing one way...as laundry is cleaned and putaway place hangers facing opposite direction...every 3, 4 or 6 months purge the hangers that are still facing the original way

12. Have at least 1 overnight trip with hubby...even if it's only a 1 night overnight trip

13. Complete Yoga with Adriene Camp...whether I do all in January or not... https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFKE7WVJfvaHW5q283SxchA

14. Visit 2 or more new "touristy" things in Iowa...

15. Pay off 3 credit cards...2 are already in plan and will be paid off before February...added the 3rd for a little challenge

16. Do not overstock my pantry, freezer, etc. I didn't grow up food poor or anything but I have issues with free space in my pantries and freezer...which makes no sense because I live 2 blocks from the grocery store...if I don't have it and need/want it I can go get it. So first step in this is creating an inventory and then no major shopping trips until we have significant empty space.

Another year, another attempt at blogging

So it appears I haven't posted since 2012...it's 2016 now. Wow how my life has changed since 2012.  I'm now a mother of two. I no longer work. I attend college full time. I begin pharmacy school later this year, where is still up in the air...I have accepted a seat at Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy at East Tennessee State University. However, it would be easier for our family if I get offered a seat at University of Iowa. We are waiting to hear from UI...and that's an entirely different blog.

I'm on winter break right now. Lots is happening. It's a new year so there are lots of new resolutions as well. One of them is to blog at least once a week...So we shall see how that goes. I rarely have time alone, much less time to compose my thoughts...so welcome to my stream of consciousness, enjoy or don't, as you please.

And speaking of that never having time alone...that's all for now:)

Vlogging

I've got a Vlog y'all....snowywhite79 over on youtube. It's all about WLS so only bother if you're at all interested in that journey.  It's really rather therapeutic...I'm enjoying it.  I enjoy blogging too...but am finding vlogging a little less time consuming...so at the moment that's where most of my resources are going...plus I can vlog a lot easier than I can blog:) 

Lonely...

Agh who would have thought moving an hour away would mean I now have no local friends...there was an issue prior to moving that was causing me to question a relationship BUT I have such a hard time letting "friends" go...makes my heart hurt. *sigh*

Life update:)

So lots going on lately...got registered for fall classes...intro to biology w/lab and nutrition.  These are both anytime anywhere classes so I will be able to do them from home while I recover from surgery:)

Surgery...I was told approx 2 to 3 weeks ago that I should be submitted to insurance within a week.  Called insurance today to check status...and they haven't received the paperwork.  Called my financial advisor at the surgeons and left a message. No call back yet.

Tonight at work I was working, working working and then stood up to change tasks...about fell on my butt.  So I finished task I got up for while dealing with dizziness.  Then went up to have my bp checked...wahoo for 146/99...yep...stupid bp was high again...called my dr...she adjusted how I take my med and wants me to monitor my bp daily...if it doesn't improve in a few days come on in...*sigh* Checked it at the grocery two blocks from the house, figure I can go over there everyday, and it was 127/89...so better but still high.  Oh well just another comorbidity that will prove to the insurance I need this surgery.

Princess is quickly approaching 7...7 years old!  And she's got drama camp coming up. And she's so full of sass and attitude, that's probably why my bp is high.

I'm addicted to One Tree Hill and getting caught up thanks to Netflix streaming:)  I've made it to season 8.

I'm reading Hunger for Happiness and have Fifty Shades of Grey on the nightstand.

I'm not taking summer classes but feel as if VSG and WLS journeys is my class. I'm reading lots of personal stories and listening/watching lots of personal journeys on youtube. Obesityhelp.com and vsgtalk.com as well as soulcysters.com have given me lots of info.  Then there's the 2 inch ring binder my surgeons office gave me.

In the last month we've moved and Princess and I have taken 2 trips. We went to a very good friends 40th birthday sesame street themed celebration in Minneapolis MN for a long weekend. Then we went for a week long trip to GA that was much fun.  We spent a ton of time with family and unfortunately very little time with friends. However, sometimes sacrifices must be made. We can't travel for as long now that I have a grown up job.

On the job front, I truly love it! I've had an issues with one particular co worker talking about me behind my back. I had a discussion with my boss and have moved on...thankfully with my shift I don't have to overlap too much with this person. I don't think I'd mind it if this person would at least attempt to get to know me...but oh well.  I'm developing some friends there and really enjoy the work. So I will continue to pursue my education to become a pharmacist. I will not delve into the fear Obamacare has placed on me and my husband about my ability to payback my student loans once I've completed said degree.

So that's my update!

Insurance hoops

This morning I met with the psychologist for the last mandatory session prior to surgery. I've completed my 6 month supervised diet. I've attended the mandatory support group session.  Now we wait.  First we wait for the dictation of all the appts to be complete. That should take 1 to 2 weeks. Then they will submit me to insurance for approval. That should take from 1 to 6 weeks.  So it's looking like I'm on track to have 85% of my stomach removed come the middle of August.  I'm excited and nervous.  I'm very excited that the majority of the Ghrelin hormones will be removed.

In other news I got my first pedicure last weekend...and yesterday I left the Drs office with a very strong antibiotic because I have an infection in my left big toe...sigh. No more professional pedicures for me! Will stick to the fun mom/daughter bonding ones we do at home.

And the nice surprise yesterday...I'm down to 279.  I went away last weekend and ate out and ate out, one place including The Melting Pot and I managed to lose a couple of pounds!  I'm super excited that the changes I'm making are working!

Those changes combined with the tool I'll be getting in August make me hopefully that there's a new life unfolding at my feet!

My history...

A quick review of my weight for the last 33 years...I don't remember being overweight when I was very little.  I see pictures of myself and I was a fairly normal sized kiddo.  Then puberty started kicking in...and it wasn't recognized that it was puberty because I was sooooo young.  However, once those lovely hormones kicked in I started gaining weight.  I was an active child...I played tball, softball, basketball, was in gymnastics and baton. I loved to climb trees and be outside.  I'd pretend my nap pad was a hurdle and try to jump it in preparation for my future as a track star.  I loved to ride my bike for hours at a time. I've always adored swimming so at any opportunity. Once we moved out of town I'd explore and climb through the woods. I eventually started being less and less active...and that didn't help the weight at all.

So key events/weights I recall: 5th grade leaving the clinic having weighed in at 164...and my mom's comment of "well I knew you were big but I didn't realize you were that thick as well."  That means in 5th grade my BMI was 28.4 and that's overweight my friends. (I was already the height I am now.)

Between 5th grade and graduation I gained up to 195. So when I graduated high school my BMI was 33.7 and obese but at least only moderately obese.

The first time I got married I was 20 and weighed 222. So my BMI was 38.4 and severely obese.

When I went for my first ob appt with princess I weighed in at 263.  BMI of 45.5 and morbidly obese...

When I moved to IA to plan my wedding and start my life with my amazing hubby I weighed in at 254.  I'd actually been able to lose some weight by living off of lean cuisine's and hitting the Y for Zumba 5 days a week and weights 3 of those 5. BMI of 43.9 and still morbidly obese.

Earlier this year I hit my all time high of 297 making my BMI 51.4.  Well at least it almost matched my waist size...? Seriously that's ridiculous! And yes that means I was yet again morbidly obese...but is there a super morbidly obese category, b/c I should so be in that one.

I'm currently 281 with a BMI of 48.6 so at least I'm below the 50s...still morbidly obese.

Plenty of comments I remember from my life of being overweight:
6th grade from a boy desk mate that I won't name though I remember...and I don't think he was attempting to make me cry myself to sleep that night..."too bad girls can't play football you'd be a great defensive blocker"

Many times over the many years from friends to my face or behind my back "try Jenny Craig" "try weight watchers" "put the fork down" "just walk away from the food."

From middle school through sophomore year I was bulimic.  This didn't help me lose weight but it did help me not gain. It helped me feel in control of my life when I felt so out of control in so many other areas.

I'm definitely an emotional eater and that began way back...like 4 or 5.  I'd go to my dad's for the weekends and be miserable.  One of the perks was going to the grocery store and picking out ice cream.  I'd fix a big bowl and then I'd sit and mix the ice cream with a spoon until it was a nice milk shaky texture. It would take hours for me to eat one bowl of ice cream.  However, this allowed me to not not interact with my dad or his parents. It helped me escape.  I warned my husband when I first met him that if he ever caught me swirling ice cream to rip the bowl away from me and force me to talk.

When my grandmother fell and broke her hip. When she didn't pull through the surgery, when she was in icu and coding, fighting for her life...the time frame was approx 36 hrs...I ate 3 big bags of peanut m&ms...yep that's right...3 of the biggest bags you can buy.

I've begun to recognize my bad behaviors.  I'm learning to realize food doesn't offer comfort. I'm learning to accept my emotions and deal with them when they happen...I've got a long way to go both in the lbs I need to lose and in the growing I need to do.  I'm excited for my surgery because it will be a huge tool to help me, force me, assist me, encourage me to continue to grow and become healthy and whole.

Through the years I've tried many diets, many work out routines, etc. I would lose just a smidge...but then hit a wall...whether it was emotional or complications from the PCOS I'd give up.  With this surgery there is no giving up, it's irreversible!  The last therapy session I had I made a casual comment that I've thought about almost constantly since..."PCOS isn't the reason I got to almost 300 lbs.  It didn't help, but it's not the only reason." For the first time in my life I quit leaning on that crutch...and over the last month I've repeated that to myself...I believe it.  Now I'm starting to embrace it...I am the reason I got to almost 300 lbs...PCOS is only one of the many reasons.  It's the one reason I cannot change...but this surgery will help me fight it.  Therapy will help me fight myself. God will give me the strength.  The love and support of my friends and family will help me stay encouraged to win this battle that I've lost for 33 years.  I want to be whole. I want to be healthy. I want to be the lady God created me to be...I want more. I want to give more. I want to be more.

So NOT the easy way out...

Many years ago I recall making the comment..."oh that's the easy way out."  Now I'm a lot more educated and preparing to take that way. I have two more insurance hoops to dive through and then I will be submitted by my surgeon for approval for vertical sleeve gastrectomy surgery. 

My OB/GYN suggestes bariatric surgery to me 2 visits ago...at the time I looked into it.  I learned a lot at that time.  BUT I decided that I had never really committed 100% to a weight loss regimen. So I signed up for Weight Watchers.  I followed the plan and worked hard for a year...and I lost a whopping 9lbs.  Frustration of course sat in and I went back to bad habits. Which led to reaching my all time high of 297 lbs...That's right...I was 3 lbs from 300...I went to my Dr and said HELP!  So we tried this med...I took it for 3 weeks at which time my blood pressure got higher and higher but I lost about 15lbs. She wouldn't let me stay on the meds in spite of the weight loss because of the high blood pressure. I've been off the med for over 3 months now and we're still trying to get my blood pressure back to what it was before. During the 3 weeks I was on the med I saw my OB/GYN for my yearly...we talked about many things, my pcos, how we'd been of birth control for over a year and weren't pregnant, how I really wanted to loss weight, how I'd done WW for 1 year and lost 9lbs...she brought up weight loss surgery again.  I promised to do more research and seriously consider it.  And that brings us to here. In approximately 2 months I'll have 75% of my stomach removed. I've researched all 3 options my insurance covers and through long discussions with my hubby and surgeon feel this is the best option for me.

I hope you'll support me with your prayers and encouragement.  I need help, I need a tool.  I don't want to die early from cardiac or diabetes complications.  I want to have more adorable babies. I want to grow old and gray with my amazing husband! I want to see my baby get married and have her own babies.  I want to live a life I've only ever imagined because I've always been over weight. I want to feel in control of my life, health, pcos and fertility!

A completed pinterest project!

The beginning...













The our week one...I will occasionally update the upper left with a new verse for our family to focus on. The days are to note princesses activities or any special event we need to remember.















And this one is for our weekly menu. Maybe we'll start cooking more if we plan it out ahead of time?

YAY I completed a pinterest project:) Now to convince hubby to hang them:)

The tutu project begins

Going to look great! I'm very excited...can't wait for the tulle I ordered to arrive...4 to 7 business days is all I have to wait.

















My tulle all cut and pretty:)















I'm only a little excited that the project is under way...lol

I've measured out the length I want and doubled it...then I found something that I could cut into that length...now I've wrapped my entire spool around this 36" board to get my 72" length of tulle...I bought the 6" tulle versus the bolt b/c I figure the less cutting I make the less mistakes I can make:)

A new year a new blog...

now hopefully I will update before another year passes:)

I've become a serious pinterest addict...and in that vein I am attempting to be more crafty. Preparations began a week ago and tonight I made the first of many cuts and ties...I'm attempting to make princess a tutu empire waist dress...I will post pics here of my progress thus far...I had 51yds of tulle and that proved to be far less than it will require. So placed a nice fat online order tonight for approximately 600yds of tulle...I'm hoping that will finish this one and make a Valentine's one. We shall see:)

Well I attempted to upload pics, but it's not really working. Any advice? I'd like to pin my photos to my pinterest account...

A change in focus

So I'm really putting effort into WW. There are various reasons for it...a lady not much older than I am dying of a heart attack, finding out I can't skydive at my current weight at many places:(, and a wager my mom made with me.

The lady was sweet and funny! She was outgoing and a mom. She called and told her hubby she wasn't feeling quite right. He urged her to go to the ER. She didn't. She called him later and he called 911. She was dead before they arrived. Now her kids don't have a mom. She wasn't to much older than me...She wasn't heavier than me either...

My mom had a heartattack at 47...I'm not there yet. I don't have the same stress in my life that she was going through. I do however have her genes and am very over weight.

One of the items on my 101 in 1001 is to go skydiving with my husband. We have a place just down the road...Hubby is just within their weight limit at 220. Me I'm not eligible for skydiving. This started me rethinking the weight loss goal I'd but on my 101 in 1001 from 10% to being below 220.

I'm worried about pharmacy school admission interviews b/c of my weight. Because of this and a comment from my ob/gyn about having more babies, I've looked into weight loss surgery. I've talked with my doctor. I've made an appt to attend an information class. I have friends and family who've had various surgeries and seen great success with them.

While waiting for the info class I mentioned to my mom and sister that I'm considering it. My mom is not thrilled with the idea. Honestly, I'm not thrilled with the idea. BUT I've attempted to lose weight in the past and haven't been successful besides about 10%...of course then it comes back on and a little more.

I've been challenged by many different things while waiting on this info class...finding out there's pretty much no way no how my insurance will cover the surgery, time and again being reminded of my past bulimia, being reminded while I don't binge/purge that I never dealt with all the emotions that led me to bulimia in the first place, realizing I need to deal with those issues and my emotional eating before even considering surgery...it would just come back on after the initial loss.

My mom called and offered me a wager...if I lose 100lbs in 14 months she'll treat me and dd to WDW. We'll still need to cover DH's part but hey that's a pretty good deal. And if she does it and I don't then we'll buy her two round trip airline tickets to us or just give her $500. We're currently debating what the punishment will be if neither of use does it.

I had signed up for WW online back in March...I'd been using it to track my weekly weigh ins:) LOL great use of $18 a month right? So this past Thursday I starting logging what I ate...thinking I'll just see how I'm doing. I don't know if it was the seeing it all written out or what but I have stayed OP the last 3 days. Honestly I've struggled to eat all the points my large self needs to eat. I'm working on that. I don't want to get to points by having a candy bar, kwim? But I'm working on it. I thought my weigh in was Saturdays...and weighed...down 0.8. I was happy:) Then couldn't log my weight...realized at some point it had gotten changed to Sundays. So I weighed this morning and I got to log 2.2lbs lost...thrilled I am!

So for now I want to lose at least 100lbs...but am said to say I can probably lose half of myself and not be too skinny...though I haven't weighed that little since elementary school.

Oh and I'm changing my 101 in 1001 from losing 10% to losing 100+lbs...figure even if I don't get the WDW trip there's no reason I can't do it in approx 2 1/2 years(time left on my 101) :)

And for now I'm cancelling my attendance at the information class for the surgery.

101 and other stuff

So I've finally gotten around to creating a 101 in 1001 and am tracking it here http://dayzeroproject.com/user/sthiessen08

Hmmm, getting that webaddress entered was more difficult than I imagined. I really should learn how to use this blog more effectively.

I'm exhausted but felt like updating so this will be random and stream of consciousness I'm sure.

Our dog passed away this past Sunday. She was an amazing dog...9 years old. Her name was Molly. She was my hubby's first roommate and he'd had her since she was a pup. She developed diabetes and went blind this past winter. We will miss her! But we are glad she's no longer sick. We're going to make her a pretty stepping stone for her marker and we put her in her favorite part of the yard near a pretty wild flower bush.

My mom, sister and sister's boyfriend were up visiting this past weekend as well. It was great to see them! And nice to get to know pip'em's boyfriend better. I miss them!

My princess turned 6 a week ago today! I'm still not use to the idea of being the mom to a six year old.

She was in her second stage performance the day of her birthday! She loves Drama Camp! She was the 6th goat, Bashful, and had to faint! She was adorable!

She had a wonderful birthday celebration Saturday night. We rented the pool for two hours for her and her friends.

She's getting to the age where I'm starting to be concerned about her friendships...some I'd like to foster, others could fall by the way side and that would be good as well.

Summer classes are kicking my tush...I'm so tired and we are covering so much material so quickly...but they will be over soon.

Then I get an entire week off! A week of NO school! And a week of no work as I took it off...I plan to read and swim, sleep, rinse, recycle, repeat.

As for the 101 I've gotten many of my tasks underway. But they days are clicking by fairly quickly already. I already have ideas for things to put on my next 101 list...

I started researching one of my tasks tonight. Skydiving...and realized I need to lose some weight first. The limit is 220 for the locations here in Iowa is 220. There's a place in Chattanooga that does 300...might be skydiving in Chattanooga instead.

And there, that's my current update...:)

Drs visit

So I finally had my appt with my Dr today to discuss surgery. We're still definitely sitting on the fence. She's not opposed to my pursuing it and will help me prove to the insurance company that it's a medical necessity IF I decide that's the course I want to pursue. So basically she agrees with me and my ob that I need to lose weight. However she agrees with me that maybe I haven't pursued all avenues on my own. It's been about three months since I joined WW and I'm not really working it. I have lost 0.8 pounds...so at least I haven't gained weight. I am using the food tracker about 3 days a week. So I definitely need to increase that to daily tracking. As a family we're working on moving more...we've bought a basketball and walk the couple blocks to the local elementary school and are working on teaching princess to dribble and shoot. We're also teaching her to ride her bike...so we're either walking with her or watching her ride up and down the block. If we stay in the yard to watch her we've started getting the ladder ball out and playing that while she practices pedaling. I need to find my pedometer and get back to wearing it and keep steadily increasing my steps. She also agrees with me that some counseling wouldn't hurt. I never was treated for my bulimia when I opted for binging/purging as a method to control my weight. And while I don't binge or purge anymore I still have the same thought processes that lead to that...So I will be looking into that. And I know if I can get my emotional eating under control it will have a drastic impact on my weight as well as my life... I don't want my eating habits to create problems for my daughter. She's healthy and happy now. I don't want to teach her to eat when she's sad, mad, happy, frustrated, ecstatic, etc. I want to be able to teach her proper coping mechanisms for life...so I must get this under control before it impacts her. My A1C was high, 7.9, but that doesn't surprise me. My kidney and liver function tests will be back on Monday. And I return in 6 months for a full blood work up...which will hopefully show improvement in the A1C. She said there are diet pills I can take if I want...but I can't risk getting pregnant if I take them so no thanks. Then she asked if I'd heard of Alli which is a class B for pregnancy, so relatively safe. And I'd quit taking it as soon as I found out I was pregnant so shouldn't be harmful. So I'll be looking into that as well...she warned me that if I have a high fat meal though it could be embarassing...it prevents the small intestine from absorbing as much fat so the grease will literally pass straight through. She also lectured me to be consistent with my metformin. This will help my A1C. It will also help control my PCOS. And could help me lose weight. She also recommended a program called Light for Life they have in the town to the west. It's $900 so cheaper than surgery but more expensive than WW. But it hooks you up with a counselor for one on one sessions and a tailored diet. They cut out all sugars though...and I don't want to give up chocolate or fruit...so it's an option and definitely something I would pursue before surgery. However I want to really give WW, where I can eat fruit and have small portions of chocolate when I want them, an honest try. I have to make more honest choices...I need to prep on the weekends for the upcoming week so we aren't taking whatever we can get our hands on but eating healthy as a family.

Life moves on

So I signed up for Weight Watchers and I tracked my points came really close to meeting them and didn't surpass them and even earned activity points a couple of days...had one day where I had ice cream at stone cold and what do I have to show for my first week...a gain of 1/5th a pound...that's right folks I get healthier and get fatter? I know I'm sure it's water weight but ARGH! This this is the exact reason I am finally researching weight loss surgery...this is the story of my life! All the way back into high school. I fnally get the bulimia under control rather than it controlling me and start hitting the gym with some guy friends and start living off of salad...and I gain 40lbs in about 3 months...I visit the Dr and they attempt to explain again about my PCOS and how it can mess up my metabolism, um gee ya think?! But they have no answers as to what to do to control it at that time... Oh and of course I was diagnosed with influenza A w/h1n1 symptoms yesterday so I'm stuck at home until Thursday...so I'm missing class and feeling horrible and it's just a horrible, terrible no good day so far. I'm super grumpy as well. But I am still tracking my points...

First Step in the Millionth Journey

Okay so I've picked back up the weight loss journey. I've made two steps this morning. Step 1 I set an appt with my Dr to discuss various options and get blood work. Of course since I'm not sick I can't see her for about 3 weeks. So step 2 I have officially joined Weight Watchers. I also weighed so I have a start weight. Some how I've managed to drop a few pounds from my all time high. We'll see what I can manage between now and the appt. I've set the appt cause it is time for my A1C and because I'm also looking into weight loss surgery...I'm at the point where I need to lose half of myself and I need help. I've talked to several friends who've had this that or the other surgery. I realize it isn't an answer but it is a springboard. I've tried so many things over the years and they just never last. I've done weight watchers and seen short term success with it before but I've never joined. So now I've joined and we'll move ahead. I figure the WLS will take forever to get approved for anyway...so if I manage to be successful for more than a month and am making significant progress on my own then I can always not move ahead with the surgery.

Extravagance gives me a kick in the rear

So we totally splurged this morning and went to an outrageously priced brunch...But then we got there and it was definitely priced appropriately for all they offered. We went to P.H.A.T Daddy's and YUM! We've been there for dinner before and the dinner is priced about the same as the brunch:) I've never paid that much for a "breakfast" before. But ya know it was fun to splurge!

Of course that was until we were wandering our way home through the back roads and I remembered last night was the first night of 1000mg of metformin...so yep splurging this morning was NOT the smart gastrointestinal idea. LOL We made it home, I thought I was going to die, and went back to bed.

So I enjoyed the brunch but we'd already decided we probably wouldn't be back except for maybe something special. And now I think we might just call one visit good enough:)

Anniversary, Smokey Eyes and Provera

Happy anniversary, happy anniversary, happy happy anniversary to me:) It's our 3rd:) And we had a wonderful, relaxing, long dinner at Outback. My fantastic MIL watched the princess so we could take our time and actually talk!

On the way we went car shopping...so many balls in the air right now. I'm just not sure if it's the right time to entertain a car payment...but Honda's 0.9% interest is making it awfully tempting. We are prayerfully considering the purchase...

Hmmm, gave smokey eyes round 2 tonight. Not sure I'll entertain a 3rd round. Think I'm just going to call it quits...I apply the shades properly but I just don't like that much makeup on my face...hubby says he could care less about "smokey" eyes, so I think I'm done attempting to have trendy eyeshadowed eyes:) And will stick to my usual...nothing or when I do bother just attempting to highlight the natural looks God gave me:)

Provera....OHHHHH MYYYYYY Goooooooooodnnnnneeeeessssss....I just took the 5th pill so 5 more to go and I'm already a weeping puddle and walking around with bouncing bruises in place of my breasts. It is good to have a regular cycle but waaahhhhwaaaaahhhhwaaaahhh. So far I'm managing to control the short fuse and minimal patience all that lovely progesterone is stirring up inside my body. I've never reacted so strongly to the provera...I really hope being back on the metformin helps regulate my cycle and I don't have to do this monthly...Oh and on the metformin front so far NO gastrointestinal side effects:) Hip hip hooray for not being smelly or tied to the toilet:) Of course I'm on the lowest dose and need to move up to two pills with tomorrow nights dose.

Too much sugar at dinner I'm all bouncy, LOL....hmmmm....I had Alice Springs Chicken with Aussie Cheese Fries and Coke, yes they do serve Coke at a select handful of restaurants here in the MidWest! My GA raised self just can't resist fountain Coke! I think if it were more prevalent it wouldn't be an issue...but it's so rare to find it here I had to indulge:) Hubby had the New York Strip w/garlic mashed potatoes and french green beans. Of course we shared bites and I brought home half of the chicken:) We shared a house salad, the yummy brown bread and then ordered the dessert sampler. We each had a bite of the carrot cake, won't be eating that again, yucky! We had chocolate and raspberry sauce for the cheese cake but probably only ate about 1/4 of it...brought the rest home for the princess...cheesecake is her favorite. She will get it tomorrow:) And of course we ate all but about 2 bites of the 1/2 chocolate thunder from down under that comes on the sampler...it's my favorite! Yes we were right little piggies...oink oink...lol

As to why Outback on our anniversary...we ate there on our honeymoon...during a blizzard in Madison Wisconsin...it was Outback or Wendys. Hubby had never eaten at Outback and we wanted a sit down restaurant, so there you have it...Outback by default is special to us!

Off to Facebook games to relax and then head to bed!

A new high, a new start

So I met with my ob/gyn yesterday for my annual visit. We've been off the pill since May. However, in August things went wonky...period in July just on time then not again til October then not again until January. So she sent me home with provera to get things started. And to help make me more regular, control the PCOS, and make me more fertile I'm back on Metformin. That's the good news and the positive comments.

Then there's the fact that my weight has reached a new all time height. Granted it's only by 1.8lbs, but seriously a new high. So depressing. I can't seem to get back into Thrive! It limits things and I don't do well with that. So here's the plan...

Back to journaling on sparkpeople.com and keeping track of the calories and fat/protein/carb distribution of my foods. As for how I'll be eating...well low calorie of course, I plan to follow Thrives! timing guidelines, and combining all the good things I learned from Thrive! combined with all the good things I've picked up from weight watcher friends. This way I can still have a little chocolate without feeling totally deprived. We'll see how it goes.

I will start wearing a pedometer then working on accomplishing 12,000 steps a day.

I will start playing the Biggest Loser Wii game I bought a year ago.

Those are the starting plans. I weighed in and recorded my weight this morning. I'll get measurements later today. Then every Saturday I'll be weighing in and doing measurements once a month.

Now I'm off to work on laundry and dishes.

Bombshell casual comments

So I don't know if it's because he turned 42 this weekend or what but my hubby says casually like he's commenting on the weather, "I think we should have two babies and wouldn't it be great if we had boys."

*dead silence*

I have my yearly on Friday...told him if his comment has more than pipe dreams he should plan to attend with me...