It's the most wonderful time of the year

It’s the most wonderful time of the year

Well maybe- personally I dislike this time of the year. I think it brings out the worst in people. A number of years ago, when the oldest nephew was about 5 he wanted a down comforter for his bed , like I had given his parents the year before. Macy was having a sale, my husband who was still working at the time, had dropped me off at the entrance and waited for me. I was going into the store to get the comforter only.
When I reached the bedding department I found 2 older women fighting over the last king sized comforter. Seriously two 60+ year old women fist fighting over a comforter.

For me this is the most wonderful time of the year because JAMICIA Beckons.
Early the morning after Christmas I will be boarding an Air Jamaica flight to Montego Bay, from there I have an hour car ride to Runaway bay. Runaway bay is on the north side of the island. I love Jamaica.

IN 2003 (a year that was NOT a good one) I made my first trip to Jamaica- from the moment I stepped off the plane I knew I was in paradise. I know this will sound weird but for me- I experience GOD when I am in Jamaica. The beautiful, tranquil, sensual island feeds my soul. The sun is always bright, the Caribbean is always bath water warm, and the rum is always ice cold.
So have fun shopping and hanging the tinsel… I’ll be digging out my warm weather clothing, sun screen and bathing suits.
I hope you all had a Very Happy Thanksgiving and that your travel was safe.

This Journey takes us too many destinations each one holds its own surprises.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving



It’s the season of Thanksgiving- I have so many wonderful thing and people to be thankful for.



I am thankful that I can get out of bed on my own every day.



I am thankful that I can move around without excessive pain



I am thankful I have an amazing job that I love, that allows me to help people



I am thankful I had a wonderful husband for 20 years



I am thankful for the two wonderful parents, Bill and Barbara that brought me into this world



I am thankful for a Wonderful boss, Howard Lipman that constantly encourages my own personal growth- because he knows as I grow so does his business



I am thankful for my Amazing Coach Dr. Joe Wood- without who’s encouragement and support I would not have gotten thru the last year. He has had faith in my ability to lose weight and get healthy even when I didn’t.



I am thankful my wonderful brother Chris, he is my rock when I need one



I am thankful for my two healthy, happy, well adjusted nephews Nick and Hunter



I am thankful for my delightful sister in law- Deb, who is a support a friend and who takes incredible care of my brother, 2 nephews and me.



I am thankful for my “Clothing Police “friend Dawn and Gina who lovingly refuse to allow me to dress like a bag lady.



I am thankful for my Amazing friend Jeff, who’s so willing to share his own success and struggles with losing weight.


I am thankful to my friends Naomi and Dr. Steve for the amazing time in Florida, their continued love and support.



I am thankful for my friend Dr. Brandie- who is always willing to answer the embarrassing intimate questions for me, encourage and believes in me, even when I don’t.



I am thankful to my cat Ariel who fills my life with unconditional love



I am thankful for the staff and trainer at the Reisterstown Brick Bodies who encourage me daily



I am thankful for all my wonderful friends for you support and encouragement



I am thankful to be alive and healthier then I have been in years



I am thankful to God for all the blessings he brings to me everyday...





Have a happy, safe and healthy Thanksgiving.



God Bless



Terry

Time is flying by

Time seems to be flying

Wow the days and weeks are just flying by. It’s almost Thanksgiving – where has time gone? It was more or less a typical week. At Brick Bodies every morning, work, home and repeating.
My cravings for sweets have been really bad this week and I have no clue why. I even gave in early in the week and get a small mixed cone from the cow after lunch with my Boss on Monday. I eat a lot of fruit which should curb some of this but doesn’t to be helping. My blood sugars have been running a bit low so this maybe the cause of this.

I am also fraustrated that I seem to have slowed down the amount of weight I am losing. My coach says the more I am working out the more I need to be eating,yet the weight seems to be coming off slower and slower.
It seems hard to believe that at this point last year- we were running around crazy, trying to move into our new office. We have been in the new place almost a year; it’s really really an amazing place. The house itself is the oldest in Reisterstown, it was built in 1773. I love my purple and lavender office on the second floor, I had been so worried about those steps – but they are no problem, I go up and down them several times a day.
Life really is good. I am very much looking forward to my vacation in Jamaica the day after Christmas.

This journey is awesome….

Answering all the questions

Answering all the questions
Wow, so many questions after last week’s blog- here are all the answers.

NO- I am not afraid or concerned leaving my apartment at 5 something in the morning.
YES- it is very dark at 5 Am
NO- I am not the only car on the road at that hour, actually there is more traffic at 5:15 Am during the week then there is at 7:15 on Saturday mornings.
Yes-Believe it or not Brick Bodies is open and busy at 5:30 in the morning.
Yes- Brick Bodies does have a life guard on duty, Personal Trainers and other staff working at 5 AM- and they are all very nice and helpful.
Yes – it is quiet outside at that hour of the morning.
No – I am not the only 1 in the pool – actually there are usually 7 or 8 other people in the pool at that time.
No – Joining the gym was not easy for me, it took me months to actually join and then for a long while after I joined I would sit in the car in the morning and have to give myself a 20 minute pep talk to just go in. I felt I didn’t belong there. The more I went the more I liked going, the more I got to know other members and some of the trainers and staff, and now it’s like going to Cheers- everybody knows my name….
Yes – I drink A LOT of water a day- somewhere between 150 and 200 ounces a day- how I do this is simple. I always have a water bottle with me, I have a number of bottles plastic, stainless steel and aluminum ones, I prefer the aluminum ones because they keep the water colder longer, they don’t have the supposed toxin plastic does and they are lighter to carry, but I use all the bottles in my collection. Most of my bottles are 20 or 24 oz bottles , I refill these bottles often thru out the day- by day’s end I have consumed 7 to 10 bottle full of water. Here at home I have one of those pitchers with the filter on it, I keep it filled and in the fridge at all times. At the office I have a filter/purifier on the tap I keep a container of water in the fridge there too. I prefer cold water for several reasons - #1 I have suffered with throat problems most of my adult life, I have had my tonsils removed twice and the cold just feels better. #2- The body must burn calories to bring the water to body temperature before digesting it, burning calories is a good thing.
Ariel’s story – Ariel adopted me when she was a 9 week old kitten. She has been with me since; she will be 2 on April 15, 2010. She is incredible spoiled, and some of that isn’t my doings. Ariel was the runt of the liter of 5, she has 4 brothers, and the Mother Cat rejected her, so she was bottle fed by the Mother cat’s owner and then the Vet that gave her to me. Oh yes I have spoiled her more, but she come with that already started. She is a wonderful source of love in my world. Nothing makes a bad day turn good then her curling up on my chest and purring herself to sleep at night.
Organization- Well yes I guess I am organized. I already know what slacks, shirt, under garments, shoes and earrings I will be wearing tomorrow. They are in fact already packed in my gym bag, along with my towel, and other stuff for the gym.
Sleep- It’s an important factor in any healthy lifestyle- usually I go to bed around 9 or 9:30 and get up at 5 AM. Up until just recently I had been sleeping thru the night, lately I have been suffering with Restless leg syndrome- which is where the legs seem to take on a mind of their own and twitch and jump all night long. I am working with my boss and a few other Chiropractic friends to get this to stop.
What is a chiropractic lifestyle- A chiropractic lifestyle is one of natural and holistic healing. Chiropractors believe in the body’s own innate ability to heal itself. This is done by keeping the central nervous system in alignment so that signal flow correctly from your brain down to you organs. Medications and surgeries should always be the last resort. I believe in this whole heartedly.
I believe everyone should have a Chiropractor as part of their health and wellness team.

H1N1 Vaccine- I am going to start this answer with this statement- THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS BLOG OUR MIND AND MIND ALONE, THEY ARE MY OPINIONS THAT IS WHY THIS IS MY BLOG-
I will not be getting the H1N1 vaccine or any other vaccine for that matter. I do not believe we need them. If your body is in good health (see above about chiropractic lifestyle) then your immune system will work correctly. These vaccines contain chemicals and toxins that just are not good for human beings. Don’t believe me- do some research on the guadisal vaccine and what is happening to young women when some of them get it. Look at the Red skins Cheerleader who after receiving the season flu vaccine is now hasving unexplained untreatable neurologic issues. That vaccine by her own words has destroyed her life. Again these are just my opinions, but I will not be getting any flu shots this year, or any other year.
SODAS- I don’t drink them anymore. I used to drink between 6 and 12 cans of Ginger Ale a day. The first week I was working with my coach and he had me cut out sodas I dropped 12lbs in 1 week. Sodas are full of chemicals and sugar. Neither are good for you. On August 17 I had my tonsil removed for the second time. As they nurses were trying to wake me up my blood sugars dropped to below 30 - very dangerous levels. They gave me ginger ale to bring it up quickly. Yes with in 15 minute my blood sugars had gone from below 30 to 84. SUGAR. By the time I got home from the hospital that afternoon, my stomach hurt so badly from the gas in the soda- I think it hurt more than my throat. I do drink about 8oz of Orange Juice every morning with my medications and vitamins. I buy the no sugar added kind. Occasionally I will have a cup or glass of tea, and sometimes even a cup of coffee or a glass of Iced Coffee. I never put sugar in them.
Cravings- Yes I still have them. I have a 3 day rule for cravings. If I have been craving something for 3 days or more I go out and eat it. IE- 2 weeks ago I was craving Mint Chocolate chip Ice cream, after 5 days of this craving- I had a single scoop Ice cream cone of this. Not the greatest thing in the world but it satisfied my craving.
Over doing it- Yep I have done it and have hurt myself, this past summer I was trying to do a 1 armed pushup in the pool and tore a muscle in my shoulder. I had done other things that have injured me. I try not to but it happens. I work for a chiropractor so he can usually fix me, because I live a chiropractic lifestyle even when I have these injuries they heal pretty quickly thanks to the great Adjustments I get from my boss.
Indulging- This is something I try not to do too often, but it does happen. Last week some friends and I were at Golden Corral- the buffet place. I had done really well until I heard the dessert bar calling my name- then I lost my head, some soft serve ice milk, a chocolate cupcake and a chocolate truffle and OH MY did I get sick…. Yep my coach laughed. It happens, we are all human, and I got up the next morning recommitted to eating right.
Men- Most of my really great friends in life are guys, I have a few great female friends but they are outnumbered by the males. I love my all my friends. My male friends are just that FRIENDS. About a year and ½ ago I decided I had sufficiently mourned my husband passing and was ready to start dating and hopefully fulfill on the promise Edward (late husband) made me make to him. Well so far that quest is not going so well. I am open to it, but so far the dating game isn’t too much fun.

This journey is amazing; I am meeting new people and gaining a new confidence in myself.

Enjoy the journey- you never know who you will meet on it.

How I make it work

How I make this work

I have been asked a lot how I do what I do and make this work. Well the answer is this- I DON’T know….
I was asked the same question the whole 3 and ½ years I cared for my bedridden Husband and the answer was the same- I don’t really know, I don’t think about it l, I take 1 day at a time and do what needs to be done in the course of that day.

Being organized helps I guess, so here is a typical Monday – Friday for me

5Am- Alarm goes off, I brush my teeth, comb my hair, put in my contacts, ect- slip into my bathing suit, put on a sweat suit over it, make sure Ariel ( my cat) has food and water and head out for the 2 mile drive to the gym. I usually have an orange or banana on my way- I have found that eating these potassium rich foods lessens the muscle cramps during my workouts.

By 5:30-5:40 I am in the water at Brick bodies in Reisterstown, I do a variety of exercises in the water- from simple stretching to deep water running, swimming, water aerobics, etc. I usually am there working out between 75 minutes and 2 hours.

I then head to the office where I shower, dress, have some breakfast, and start our day working. I typically work till somewhere between 6 and 7 sometimes later. I try to eat every 3 hours or so- I eat small meals consisting of about 200 calories at a time. Usually its fruit, nuts, fresh veggies, lean proteins.
One of my favorite lunches is Chinese food- my favorite place it China Moon, I have lunch there at least once a week, usually more.

After work I head home, throw my bathing suit and towel in the washer. I fix some dinner, by then my bathing suit and towel are ready to go in the dryer. I play with Ariel, read my emails, maybe watch a bit of TV, read a book, play with Ariel, and by 9:00 I am feeling tired.

Before I go to bed- I pack my gym bag. When I joined Brick Bodies they gave me this nice black backpack. So each evening I decide what I am going to wear to work the next day. Pack that outfit, my towel, whatever accessories I want for the next day into my gym bag, and place it by the front door.
By 9:30 PM I am in bed, getting ready to fall asleep- typically I read for about ½ hour and then can usually not keep my eyes open any longer.

For those of you reading that that have been in my life for a long time- YES those night owl ways are long long gone. Now the only time I see 2 AM is if Ariel has woke me up or the alarm company is calling about the office alarm.

Saturdays the gym doesn’t open till 7 which makes getting to work by 7:30 difficult, so I either go after work, or work out with my bands, Richard Simmons sweating to the oldies DVD or one of the other at home work outs I have.

Sundays I don’t go to the gym at all. I usually get up and do the Richard Simmons DVD, I sing and dance while making my bed, cleaning the apartment and doing laundry. I work out with my pro gym bands, I take a walk. Sundays are also food shopping and any other errands I need to run.

It’s not the most exciting but it works for me.
This week has been a good one- most of the clothing I ordered last week has arrived and amazingly it fits, smaller sizes then I have seen in my closet in years. But most of it is warm and will keep me from freezing this winter.

As I have spoken of before I have this story that I am worthless. I have worked hard to eliminate it from my life but its still there- I see it in how I purchase things that are just for me- I only buy clothes when I absolutely have to, but I don’t buy frivolous things for myself usually. I have been wanting a pink sapphire ring for a while now. I kept telling myself that someone day I would meet a man and he would put one on my hand. Well my luck with dating has not been that great- well more like nonexistent. Last weekend while shopping I found a very pretty pink sapphire ring that I really liked, and decided on the spur of the moment that yes in fact I was worth it. The ring is lovely and being worn on my left hand ring finger. Surprisingly it’s a full size and ½ smaller then my wedding ring was.

As for the meeting a man- I am still hopefully but not having much success. Frankly- I am ready to give it up. But alas if any of you know a nice man between 40ish and 60ish, who actually likes and respects females, please give him my name and email address.

As always have a great week yourself. Enjoy the journey we never know where it’s going to take us.