ERRRRGGGHHH!!!

OK! Most of you know I have had pain in my feet--mostly at the base of the toes, for quite awhile now--years! So finally I had the doc look into it further then just telling me to get different shoes! Had them x-rayed today and the doc assistant called later in the day to say they were "normal". OK--so what IS the pain from then? My guess..and doc did mention it..is some kind of bundled nerves. OK--so now I will probably see a specialist. The ERRRGGHHH is really about this though: She says to me, "Your cholesterol is high" I said, what is it? "Ummm, she didn't say, let me check...oh---it's 181. She wants you below 180" (I actually WAS the last time it was checked!) Me: what was my HDL, LDL and Triglycerides? Nurse: She didn't say, I don't know. Me: Well, I'll call on Monday or stop by and get a print out of all my bloodwork and tests. Nurse: Your glucose is holding ok. Me: what was my A1C?? Nurse: Ummmmm, hang on.......OH! A1C was 6.2. :-/ Got the picture now? LOL! I LIKE to know my numbers thank you! Oh--the kicker: "Dr. Frazer wants to know if you have been taking your Statins every day!" HUH? YES!!!!! OK--My eating has not been the greatest. I have not been eating oatmeal everyday like I did the last time, and I have had eggs..although sticking mostly to whites only. Taking fish oil...and here lays my thought---one other time when I took fish oil my numbers were higher. I stopped taking them for like 3 months cause we ran out and next test was lower. I start taking them again and numbers go up again! Maybe I will do what my MIL does...when she knows she is due for a Lipids test she cuts out the eggs and butters (yeah right LOL, but that's another rant) for 2-3 weeks. To me this is cheating LOL! Well, maybe not. BUT--it is nuts if you ask me! So for the next 4 months before the next bloodwork is due I will have to trim the menu a bit more....and maybe cut out the fish oil capsules! Hope everyone is having a better Friday!

Dr. Oz's Health Pledge

Today I watch the Oz and he had a health pledge you can print off his webpage and sign...I challenge all of you to make this pledge as well! Here is mine:

My Health is important to me and my family. That's why I, Valerie Brenneman, am making a commitment to take control of my health.
Because I'm responsible for my own health, I pledge to:

Make healthy food choices

Walk 10,000 steps every day.

signed: Valerie Brenneman date: March 16, 2010

I have a printed version but this is my online one. :-)
Today I weighed in at 237--yay! This is helping my mood alot. I went to visit a friend today also who is recovering from foot surgery. She is doing better and hopefully soon we can do some walking together. I'm sure it won't be very fast!
A reminder--go to Komen Columbus website and sign up under 'First SW Walkers & Friends" for the May 15th Race for the Cure!

I also heard great news that someone will be starting Praise Moves class at our church! Some of you already know I went to a class at another church for awhile and loved it! Finances made me stop.

Spring Fever

It has been really nice out this week! Warmer weather and sunshine (between raindrops!) Today I finished up the loose ends on getting ready for tomorrow night's dinner. I have my tablecloth, favors, place settings...all ready to go! I'll take pictures so you can all see what it was like! Last night was the Wednesday night meal at church. I helped man the dessert tables! :-) And yes I had a couple cookies but not what you would think. I was surprised that I didn't really feel like having many sweets. They ran out of green beans. mashed potatoes and salad before we could eat though. It wasn't a total loss...still had chicken and rolls and I made my own salad with the grape tomatoes, olives, onions and Italian dressing! I think I liked that better then I would have the other anyways! And I had a small cheesecake in a cupcake paper--you know the ones! The cookies I had was a Snickerdoodle and a white chocolate chip. But I was tired when we got home! We may eat there sometime when we are not serving. LOL! It is only $4 a person to eat and the food is really good! It will depend on what they are serving that week!
That is it for tonight. I hadn't done a workout, just alot of running around!

Looking back

Somedays you just have to look back at where you have been to know how much you have moved forward! This pic was taken ....umm...probably in 2005(?) Have to ask Jess when Aubrey was at Urbana. Anyways--this is one of those "Do I really look that bad???!!!" pics! LOL! A few months from now I will be saying that about how I look today :-) You've come a long way baby!

Here is March 2010 Biggest Loser type pic too! Improved me! I am at 237.5 pounds now so it is still coming off! I need to measure waist again too. Dr. Oz believes that is the better measurement. My new goal however is to be at 200 by Lisa's wedding in October.

Monday and Tuesday

Another whirlwind week ahead people! Monday I walked around the neighborhood for about 45 minutes for about 5869 steps. Then I decided after lunch (meatloaf, baked potato and Brussels Sprouts) that I needed to go look for tea cups for the Amazing Love Dinner this Friday. NOT an easy task! I checked the following places: Garden Ridge, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Michael's (I had to get other things there anyways), Marshall's, then FINALLY The Am Vets Thrift store...which is where I found some decent ones at 30 cents each! YAY! The Amazing Love Dinner is a dinner at church where ladies will sign up to host a table and then decorate that table. You also get people to sign up for the dinner to eat at your table. I had to provide the place settings, tablecloth (which I need yet) favors, and centerpiece. This is the first I have even been to the dinner, let alone be hostess. Anyways--tickets were $8 and the guys act as servers and the meal is catered. Then tomorrow (Weds) it is our class' turn to provide desserts and to serve the Weds night dinner at church. So today I have been baking cookies to take for that. But back to Monday: my total steps for the day was 9559 which is 4.8 miles according to my pedometer. Dr. Oz recommends 10,000 a day! WHEW! I know on Friday it said I had 12245 or 5.6 miles! I have blisters on my feet LOL! But this is something I need to keep up DAILY!
So today I have scheduled strength training and walking. It is to get up to around 58 degrees today and sunny! I am thinking after lunch today is when I will go.
I seen a recipe on Betty Crocker website 9I get a newsletter from them) that I am trying tonight for Beef, Veggie and Brown Rice Skillet Dinner. Here is the link:

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/skillet-beef-veggies-and-brown-rice/62edcbb2-7fe8-453d-b75c-54679ce0f4ed?wt.dcsvid=mje3mjkxnzywoas2&rvrin=7f844943-52e7-4b44-82bc-242e15279eef&wt.mc_id=newsletter_dme_03_07_2010

A little higher on the carbs but will probably cut back on the brown rice and up the veggies. Still, not a bad choice!
I still do not have my beginning of March pic yet. I will work on that later when David gets home. For now--I need to be Domestic Diva! LOL!
HUGS! More to come!

STRESS!!!

The last few months I have felt stressed. Actually this started last year when David's OT was cut and for a few weeks, his regular hours. Then no pay raise. Emotionally I don't feel I can go back to a full-time job anywhere. So that leaves me the wedding business...which I am trying to figure out the best way to go forward with it. I need to change some things to well, make it less stressful! LOL! My heart has been palpitating alot the last few days and it is very annoying..and all the more STRESSFUL! I open bills and...more stress! When does it end? I am sure most of you can relate. National City Bank gets bought out and well, now we are PNC and whole new account numbers, changing the autopays, etc and that makes more....STRESS! Once it gets straightened out we will be fine--I hope! We are still paying on medical tests and doctor's visits etc. Somedays I feel so lost. No one seems to want to work with you. Just pray for us and me---I have prayed about the job thing in the past and really felt God was saying to stick with the wedding business from home. Does anyone have any ideas? Maybe I need to sign up and sell from Etsy.com? Sorry this is not my usual weight loss blog but it is mutterings!

Biggest Loser is Back!!!!

It was a long two weeks for me with no "Loser" fix! I do enjoy taking in some of the Winter Olympics but I missed Bob and Jillian and the gang!
Today I did not drink the green stuff. I had an omelet of one whole egg and a white with peppers, onions and a few bacon bits and cheese. Also a 100% whole wheat toast. After the Oz was on I walked over to the next street to visit my friend Lori who is laid up right now from some major foot surgery. She can't get around much and I went to visit and take her some homemade banana muffins. I keep a few for myself *wink*. I make them with whole wheat flour and oatmeal, canola oil. Didn't use Walnuts today as I couldn't remember if her kids have allergies...found out they don't LOL! I also borrowed her "YOU The Owners Manual" to read. I would like my own copy someday though! OH---and she said I looked like I had lost weight since I seen her 3 weeks ago! I think I had only lost a couple pounds but it was nice that someone noticed, aside from David of course! I walked up to Lori's stayed a couple hours just chatting and doing alot of laughing, then walked back and had lunch. Today I had leftover "Ba-sketti" and a pecan, apple, spinach, mesclun, raisin salad. I could have just eaten the salad to be honest! I was stuffed for hours afterwards! Dinner was Chicken, carrots, Green Beans, Corn and homemade noodles all cooked together. It made a sort of stew! Tomorrow I will have to make sure I get a good workout in! I feel like I slacked off today. My next goal date is Oct 8th when my niece gets married. I want to be in better shape by then! Short term is May 15th for Race for the Cure! If only the snow would melt away I might be able to get outside more for the walking!
Everyone have a great evening! I may go have a little popcorn!