Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving. Remember all in Moderation. Allow yourself a couple extra calories today but do the work also. Walk a little further, do that extra thirty min in the gym. Enjoy but don't overdo it. This is one day that if left unchecked could become the spiral down.

On another note I am on my way to Denver for eye surgery. For some reason my retina is detaching from my eye and wouldn't you know the only specialist where I live is on vacation. So it is road trip time. Hope to be back next week,

Have a great day

May the Lord give us all safe journeys this week / end.

Tom

Thursday, November 17, 2011

A Message to Friends and Family

So every year friends and family ask me "what do you want for Christmas" and every year I tell them Nothing. They still go out and get something, So this year I am letting all know. If you are going to get me anything what I need most is a membership to the Gym. So if you want to you can donate to the cause. I am not sure of the prices but I know you can go together and get punch cards that are way cheaper. So there you are. If any of my new friends wish to help I do have a PayPal account. And believe me a dollar is a dollar closer to a membership. Hope you all not think this is tacky but we are talking about my life and getting it right the first time. Have a great T day. Easy on the desserts! LOL

Tom

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Checking In

So I do not have a lot of time. Getting ready for church. I just wanted to update and explain the weight ticker. The weight that it was showing was to my goal. But actually since Jan 2011 I have lost a whopping 126 pounds. thus the jump in the ticker. The reason I started calculating the entire year is I made it. As of this AM I was down 104 pounds. So we now submit to the insurance company, which will go through; and I have my follow-up with Dr Hanly on November 28. I will have a surgery Date then. Hoping for a Christmas present. Around the third week in Dec. Starting the New Year off with a bang!

So that is the news for today. Have a great night/day depending on where you live. 

Stress Reducers:
Exercise
Deep Breathing
Prayer


Words of Wisdom:
 It is precisely when we have suffered defeat that we can determine to win and open the path to future victory.




May the Lord Bless and Keep you all this moment in Your Life!

Tom 

(Do not know why the ticker is not changing yet?) (should read 126)

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Revalation


Why I am angry with myself?


So this took some very interesting turns as I thought about this question. First I had to get the definition correct in my head, I had always thought “anger” and “hate” were the same thing. Now that I more clearly see that they are not it has changed my attitude towards myself and those around me.

So why am I angry with myself:
I knew how to take care of the physical part of my but chose not to. My Mom worked at Russell Stover and would bring home boxes of candy. I would eat a lot of it and then deny doing so. I ate mostly then when I was afraid or sad. Of course being a southern based family everything was fried, fried, or refried. So that was the beginning I believe. But the knowledge was also not there either. The only education I really received was in the winter we had a health class that usually consisted of some 1950’s gov movie which taught us nothing and it seemed like the PE teachers then could care less unless you were a jock.

So that is the long way to get here. I started working in the food industry in Nursing homes where nutrition and healthy foods were the norm. I started learning what was good and not good.  So I now look at me and think what were you thinking. So yes I am angry with myself for getting here but I do not hate myself like I thought I did.

I was working laying flooring in the back bedroom this week and looked over in a full mirror door and thought Oh My! Are you really that big? I did not notice just how big I looked. It was a light bulb minute that reinforced why I have to, Yes have to get this done. No wonder Doctors freak out when they see me. I just never really noticed until this week.

So yes I am angry with myself but in a good way I think. In a productive way that keeps me motivated to not go back to the old ways, not tearing myself down. Coming to the realization that Life is worth living if you make it. This is more than why I am angry and may not even be what you wanted, but it what I wanted and needed to get out. I Am Worth Fighting For!

Stress Reducers:
Laughing when you want to cry
Crying just because you need to
Not holding back. Do Not Lie To YOURSELF

Words of Wisdom:
When you think your Doctor is crazy when he/she recommends therapy. Take another look. It may be exactly what you need!

May the LORD richly bless and Keep you and your Families safe during this Thanksgiving Holiday.

To my friends across the world, What holidays do you celebrate and how?

Your Friend Tom

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Days in Days out

Talk about losing yourself. It seems like I am doing so much that I can't get anything done. lol

Things are going great on the weight loss side. I am 3 pounds away from my surgery goal. That means I have lost 96 pounds since May 23rd of this year. 

I will be going to the Bariatric reunion at St Mary's tomorrow night. looking forward to meeting some of the people I have talked to over the phone but have never gotten to meet in person. 

My therapist says she is going to write my clearance letter for surgery next week so it should not be long before I can announce a concrete date for the surgery. It has been a while. But the journey thus far has just been the begging. Just wait and the great stuff is yet to come. 

Since Jan 2011 I have lost a total of   118 pounds. Now with the added tool and a completely different attitude I am on my way to success. 

May the Lord continue to Bless us all in are daily walk!

Tom

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Sunday Recipe

So I have a new (to me) recipe. Low caloric and pretty good if I do say.

I guess you could call it Asian chicken  Salad:


Ingredients:
3 oz Baked Skinless-boneless chicken breast
2 cups green salad
1 oz Roasted Pinion Nuts
1 small apple
Asian style Dressing


Directions:
Take and cube your 3 oz chicken. add to salad (lettuces 2 or 3 kinds for variety, scallions, radishes, and bell pepper). Mix then add nuts. (can use almonds or any nut you enjoy) Dice Apple and add to salad. I use the spray dressings so it is 10 sprays. For a little to a lot of heat you can add creole seasoning but watch out it gets hot fast. 


Thats it. Serves one. a very nice meal. 


I hope you try and enjoy it. 


This dish is approx 365 Calories (depending on what you use for dressing and nuts)


Tom


















Saturday, November 5, 2011

Review

Formal Definitions:

res·o·lu·tion  A formal expression of opinion or intention made, usually after voting, by a formal organization, a legislature, a club, or other group.
VS

re·solve

to come to a definite or earnest decision about; determine (to do no matter what) I have resolved that I shall live life to the fullest. .

How many of us have made those New Years resolutions? I will quit Whatever it is or I will be nice to, or Still yet my FAVORITE I am going on a ["DIET"]!!!!! Talk about four letter words! If I was lucky it lasted until the first gas station I stopped at or the first fast food joint that pop-up, and how that always seemed to happen, Yes you all know what I am saying. The problem I see with resolutions are they are usually made with good intention but never seem to get off the ground.  However when you MAKE the decision to do something and get determined about it, that is resolve. So I say throw the resolution out the window and get that characteristic feature called resolve. When you do you will actually feel the difference physically and you will overcome. Will it be tough? Absolutely. But resolve will see you through. :)



So today being Friday in a lot of work places it may be casual Friday.  So I have decided to watch through the week and post some fun stuff here. I do not know what yet but I am sure I will find something.

Stress reducers:

Meditation

Prayer

Walking

Well a little about me:
I was born in a very small town in Sothern Missouri called Caldwell. Do not ask me about it because at six (6) months old I was on my way to Beautiful Colorado. Well there were times it was not so beautiful but off and on it has been home for 50 years. There were instances that I was elsewhere. Like college in Washington (state), US Army at Ft Benning GA, let me tell you that is not the place to be in July. Arizona, Tennessee, Texas. But I always came back. I am glad I had those opportunities. They are all learning experiences, good and bad; but that is what makes you who you are. Well we will stop there hope this shined some light on your life today.

The following is a small article published by the Mayo Clinic. Thought it was worth notice:

Weight loss basics

By Mayo Clinic staff
Your weight is a balancing act, and calories are part of that equation. Fad diets may promise you that counting crabs or eating a mountain of grapefruit will make the pounds drop off. But when it comes to weight loss, it's calories that count. Weight loss comes down to burning more calories that you take in. You can do that by reducing extra calories from food and beverages and increasing calories burned through physical activity.
Once you understand that equation, you're ready to set your weight-loss goals and make a plan for reaching them. Remember, you don't have to do it alone. Talk to your doctor, family and friends for support. Also, plan smart: Anticipate how you'll handle situations that challenge your resolve and the inevitable minor setbacks.
If you have serious health problems because of your weight, your doctor may suggest weight-loss surgery or medications for you. In this case, you and your doctor will need to thoroughly discuss the potential benefits and the possible risks.
But don't forget the bottom line: The key to successful weight loss is a commitment to making permanent changes in your diet and exercise habits.



May the Lord continue to Bless and Keep you all.

Tom