Sunday, August 30, 2009

A better week

This week’s accomplishments: - 8/24/09-8/30/09

A better week for sure, the Demerol fog has lifted, and the last 4 days I have been able to eat and swallow real food. Tomorrow is return to work. Hopefully the doctor will clear me Tuesday for a return to the gym Wednesday.
Wednesday was my first real food- thanks to Dawn who took me out for lunch, it took me about an hour to eat a 4oz chopped burger but it tasted very good.
Thursday I did work for about 3 hours at the office- I did payroll and got the stuff together for the practice management seminar we were attending in New Jersey.
Very early Friday morning we left for the drive to Jersey City New Jersey- despite some detours getting to my boss’ house to meet him, and some heavy rain on the way up the drive took only about 4 and half hours. The seminar was awesome the Hotel was lovely- many of the folks attending I had not seen since early November and they were all very shocked at how different I looked. Lots of compliments this weekend.
I did the driving up and back and really felt pretty good- other then I got tired out very easily, both Friday and last night I was in bed by 10 and out as soon as my head hit the pillow. But I guess being tired is just part of the healing process.
I have done some serious thinking this week- thinking how lucky I am to have an amazing boss that really does respect me, wonderful friends, and a great family and last September God blessed me with an amazing Coach. I have done so much and feel so incredible. I thought it was taking a long time to recover from the tonsil removal, till I talked with the ENT the other day and he was amazed at how well I was doing and feel so soon, so I guess I was just being impatient with myself again.
I cannot believe it is already September- where did the summer go? Next weekend is Labor weekend WOW- time is flying by…. Living life to its fullest …. Making the most of each day.

As always I really do appreciate each and every one of you that takes the time to read and or comment on my blog posts. Thank you so very much- your love and support really do mean a lot to me.
I want to wish everyone a safe and happy Labor day weekend.

This is an amazing journey- hold on its about to get better for sure.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

A week not as I had planned


This week’s accomplishments: - 8/17/09-8/23/09

No gym allowed till after September 1, no exercise allowed either. (I’d make a pouty face but that hurts the facial muscles too much)

This has been a very low key week for me. Monday morning at 7AM I checked into GBMC for my second tonsillectomy. My friend Dawn drove me; we were home by 12:30 or so. A few minor complications during and after surgery, but no big deal. The Doctor had a hard time getting the right side of my throat to stop bleeding because of the old scar tissue, and then when they were trying to wake me up my blood sugar had dropped down to 30. Both were a bit scary but completely handled by the hospital staff.

Of course my coach is going to groan when he hears that the way they brought my blood sugars up were to give me 2 regular ginger ales and a grape Popsicle.

Thanks to the Demerol prescription I have been sleeping a lot this week. My coach always tells me to listen to my body, it’s the best doctor in the world, and well this week my body has been saying “sleep so we can heal”. So I have listened and slept. I have been told that the body heals much more rapidly while asleep then awake.

Last weekend my Boss and I attended a Chiropractic meeting in King of Prussia PA, my coach was there, he told me afterwards that I had a glow, that it was the life energy radiating from with in... Well there is no glow this week. In fact everyone that has come to see me has commented on how pale and wiped out I look. Amazing how that changed so fast. In many ways I feel like I have let my coach and myself down this week. I was fully planning on being back to work by Thursday or Friday of this last week and feeling much much better than I do right now… In a nut shell this surgery kicked my a- -.

I have this wonderful cat- a year or so ago when I was first looking into getting a kitten I was told that cats were a source of unconditional love. Well my Ariel is just that. Late Tuesday night I got up sick to my stomach, I sent hours in the bathroom. Finally falling asleep early Wednesday morning. When I woke up Wednesday afternoon, Ariel had pulled both her blankets, her pink teddy bear, her white teddy bear, her squeaky mouse, her crunchy fish and both her jingle bell balls on to my bed, and had them laid out next to me. I am told that when cats bring you presents like this, it’s to show love and comfort. I am not really sure what I was supposed to do with all her toys but I thought it was a very lovely gesture. Ariel has been at my side all week long. She hasn’t left me alone long. That is her in the photo above.

This week has been made a lot easier by some of the wonderful friends in my life- Thanks to Dawn for taking me to and from the hospital, getting my medication filled and checking in on me all week. Thanks to my brother, sister in law and the boys for the lovely flowers, pudding, soup and slurpees. Thanks to Gina for the ice crusher I couldn’t have made it thru this week without it. Thanks to Vicki and Neil for the greatest chicken motzah ball soup I have ever had. Thanks to Margie for calling and coming by to check on me. THanks to Joe for seeing to Ariel's needs. Thanks to my boss for keeping the office running in my absence and for looking in on me. Thanks to my coach for the lesson “always listen to your body”- that has been an invaluable lesson this week, and for being my champion even when I am feeling down. And of course thanks to Dr. McCorkle and the staff at GBMC’s Sherwood surgical center for all their great care.

Tonsil surgery is but a bump in the road on this journey.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Frantic week

This week’s accomplishments: - 8/10/09- 8/17/09



Monday I did an hour of deep water running

Tuesday I did 90 minutes of water aerobic, 30 minutes of deep water running

Wednesday I did 90 minutes of deep water running

Thursday I did 2 and ½ hours of aerobics, running and laps

Friday I did 90 minutes of deep water running and then 3 hours of swimming and sunning outdoors

Saturday I did 90 of deep water running

Sunday – Stretching and driving for 5 hours





This has been a busy week- well frantic as I have been really working hard at making sure everything in our office is done so my boss isn’t too stressed next week while I am out. I am really hoping to be back in the office by late in the week. My ENT’s note said off work till September 1, but I think I will go nuts being home alone all that time. We will see.



Today we had chiropractic Mastermind Meeting in King of Prussia PA.- which is about a 2 and ½ hour drive from here. It was amazing to be driving up I-95 this morning and embracing this great day.

My Coach was at the meeting and adjusted me so that the power is turned on in my body for tomorrow. THANKS DR. WOOD. All my doctors agree that I am healthier going into this surgery then I have been for any of the other 15 surgeries.



My boss took me for a wonderful dinner at Bone fish on the way home... I had mussels Josephine, Imperial Long tail which is a fish with crab, and scallops on it… Totally Yummy.



Tomorrow Morning at 7 I need to be checking into GBMC, for a tonsillectomy, for the second time..



It’s all part of the Journey, and it’s all good…



Again thanks for all your love and support- for those that live close feel free to stop by this week if you would like to visit..

Friday, August 14, 2009

11 monts ago

11 months ago today - a wonderful Chiropractor said to me - You can loss weight, you can teach your body to move without pain, you can live the life you want.....

I was secptical at first, the first few weeks were difficult, and then it was like a light going on in my head... I could..

The last 11 months have been an amazing journey for me- I have in fact learned to eat to live, and not live to eat. I have learned to move and love how my body feels when it is moving.

I have lost 133lbs so far, yes I have a lot more to go, but WOW I am personally amazed at that number.

I have tried all the other weight loss products out there- I'd loss weight- usually in the 80 to 90 lb range. But then the weight would come back with a vengance.

For a very long time I feared that I would fail at this, but I get that its not going to happen. This is not a diet this is a new way of live, an amazing way of living.

Life is great the Journey is fun and will continue to be fun.

Monday morning I am having my tonsils out, even that isnt really scaring me..

I have this wonderful Chiropractor in Langhorne PA to thank for it too- Dr. Joseph Wood- he has a book coming out soon called Miracles in Minutes. The book continues many of the exercises he has used with me to get me to where I am today. THANK YOU DR. WOOD!!


Enjoy the journey- is the best part of the destination.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

This week

This week’s accomplishments: - 8/3/09- 8/9/09

It was back to the pool at the Gym this week and still using my friend’s outdoor pool some.

Monday I did an hour of deep water running
Tuesday I did 90 minutes of water aerobic, 30 minutes of deep water running
Wednesday I did 90 minutes of deep water running
Thursday I did 2 and ½ hours of aerobics, running and laps
Friday I did 90 minutes of deep water running and then 3 hours of swimming and sunning outdoors
Saturday I did 90 of deep water running
Sunday – 60 minutes of Richard Simmons, 30 minutes of Band work, about 4 hours of swimming and sunning in the outdoor pool.

I am so enjoying the sun shine- I have a nice tan and feel so happy from the sun. I don’t totally understand what the sun does for the body- I just know I am happier being in it.

My shoulder is feeling about 80% better, thanks to my boss adjusting it almost every day, and the stretches Dr. Wood showed me. I am just that I can move and move so easily.

A friend of my parents is a nurse that runs patient support programs at a local hospital she asked me to go speak to the weight loss group. I was a bit terrified by the thought of it, but it turned out great.

I had to have a blood test done, well actually several, this week in preparation for the tonsil surgery. I was told not to eat or drink for 12 hours prior to my scheduled time for the test. My appointment was for 8:30 Tuesday morning. I had dinner at 7 Monday night, went to the gym and then to the office to shower, since we knew my blood sugars would be dropping my boss had agreed to drive me, when we got to the lab, they would not see me since they could not read my name completely on the form. I was pissed off…. I felt horrible, light headed dizzy and sick to my stomach. Once back at the office I had some fresh fruit and felt better. Rescheduled for Thursday morning at 8:45 with a new form. Thursday morning I worked out for 2 and half hours like normal, then went with my friend Dawn to the lab, then to breakfast, by the time we got to the restaurant I was pale, shaking and very light headed. Downing 2 glasses of fresh apple cider did make me feel better, and then a ham and cheese omelet helped a lot more. It makes me think that the day of the surgery is going to be NOT so fun. I won’t be able to eat from Sunday evening till after I get home. I had planned on going to dinner Sunday night with friends but have a meeting to attend in King of Prussia PA.

I continue to be amazed at the weight that seems to be just melting away. As I write this I am wearing a pair of jean shorts that last summer I could not get to zipper or button, today I need a belt to keep them on my hips.

My tonsil surgery is in a week. I am really nervous about this. I am planning on taking the week of the 17th off, and will see about the following week. For those of you that live close you are welcome to stop by for a visit and keep me from going insane from boredom.

Life is good and getting better every day.

As always thanks for your love and support. God bless
Relax and enjoy the journey

Sunday, August 2, 2009

The week of 7/27/09-8/2/09

The week of 7/27/09-8/2/09

The pool at the gym has been closed all week for repair- so I opted to workout in my friends outdoor swimming pool and enjoy the splendor of the sunshine and God’s creations…. It’s been fun and I have the starts to a great tan too.

Monday I did an hour of deep water running
Tuesday I did 90 minutes of water aerobic
Wednesday I did a 30minutes of Richard Simmons, 30 minutes of a band work out and 20 minute o f hula hoop
Thursday I did 2 and ½ hours of aerobics, running and laps
Friday we had thunder storms so I did Sweating to the oldies for 40 minutes, a band work out for 30 minutes and worked the hula hoop for 20 minutes.
Saturday I did 90 of deep water running
Sunday – 60 minutes of Richard Simmons, 20 minutes of hula hoop and 30 minutes of Band work

This has been a fun sort of week. I really enjoy being out in the sun shine- it seems to make the happy juices in my body flow, seriously the gray, dark days of January and February make me feel very depressed. Being out in the sun this week has made me feel really good.

My shoulder is feeling about 70% better, thanks to my boss ultra sounding it every day , and the stretches Dr. Wood showed me last weekend. My whole body feels better when I move it; this used to not be the case, but sure is now.

On Saturday my friend Gina asked me to come over and tell my story and weight loss success to a couple of her friends that are also struggling with their weight. I hope what I had to say and offer them was helpful to them. Perhaps I don’t want to see it, but I just don’t get why folks are so amazed when they hear I have lost nearly a 130lbs in 10 months.

Saturday night Gina and Dawn came over again and helped me clear out the coat closet in my living room. I seriously nearly cried when I had to part with me long black leather coat. In February when I last wore this dress coat it was HUGE on me and could easily have been made into a double breasted coat, last night it was soooo huge I could have button each side in each arm. That coat was something very special to me- I am not one to spend a lot of money on myself- about 5 yrs ago I had gotten a nice bonus from work and saw this coat (something I had wanted for a very long time) on a 75% close out sale and bought it for myself. I had to keep telling myself last night that there will be more stylish long black leather coats in my future. I now have 15 bags full of clothes that Purple Heart will be picking up tomorrow. My hope is that many people will be able to get use out of my pretty things.

My tonsil surgery is two weeks from Monday- I am getting anxious about this one. I know I am healthier then I have ever been before going into a surgery, but it only takes once of waking up in the middle of the surgery because the anesthioligst didn’t give you enough to keep you out- to be forever worried when you have to have surgery. I have a great ENT- Dr. McCorkle is one of the best so I know he will do a great job. I am planning on take the week off from work, and will see how I feel the second week as to whether or not I go into the office. I can always work from home.

Last weekend my boss and I were at a seminar in Philadelphia- it was awesome. On Friday night we went to my Coach’s office and then to dinner with him. When I told people this week that I had dinner with my coach – they all asked if I had been nervous or anxious about that , and then looked at me like I was retarded when I said NO I had not been. I never really occurred to me to be anxious about having dinner with him. Maybe it was because I know his story, but I ordered like I normally would have, enjoyed my fish and shrimp and really enjoyed the conversation which was far more interesting then when I put in my mouth.

For those of you that have asked about how things are going on how things are going in the dating arena- well they aren’t. I continue to have several online dating site profiles up, I do occasionally get hits, mostly from 19 till 25 year old men- which I have no interest in. I know that when and if God is ready for me to have a mate, a loving and wonderful partner, he will put him in my path. But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be interested in meeting any gentlemen age 40 or older you think I might enjoy the company of.

Life continues to be great. I find I have more and more energy every day; I am moving and enjoying living so much more than I ever have. It seems like every day I discover something new or different about myself. A few months ago I discovered I had collar bones. I have always slept on my left side, lately there seems to be something hard on the left hip area- I am going to say it’s a bone that has been there all along. The steps are no longer a challenge for me, chase the cat is now fun and I still dislike shopping.

As always thanks for your love and support. God bless

Enjoy the day to day twists of this Journey.


Terry