kande

Hello everyone,

It has been a really long time since my last post seems like the whole world has changed.  I see some old friends and some new.  I also see I am not the only one that has been missing for some time now.  Needless to say, we all disappear and come back for our own reasons.  I am back literally bigger than ever and looking very much forward to getting back into the swing of things.  I am ready to get the physical and mental back where it needs to be!  Nice to see everyone. 

Ok need some advice.  For those that read my blog yesterday, I am having some trouble taking in calories.  I received some excellent advice to try shakes and protein bars or meal supplements.  So I went to the store and this stuff is everywhere.  I don’t mean to sound picky, but i am not a fan of chocolate (would rather have something fruit based).  So any advice on what is good out there or how to tell what are the better options.  I am vegetarian so I would prefer something soy based.  Also can you provide some insight on the best places to shop for them?  Thanks

Ok this blog is going to be a little mishmash of thoughts emotions and all of that other stuff just running in circles.  Let me start with I have missed you guys.  I know there are no excuses for not posting or following along, but life is more than a little chaotic right now.  Ok so some of you remember the post about my brother.  He was supposed to have brain surgery again.  However, after they reviewed the tests, they said the cancer had advanced to far along and some of the sites were in the final stages thus making it to dangerous to perform the procedure.  It has grown into other areas of the brain and therefore, they are going to do localized radiation to extend his physical being with his family for as long as they could.  Time didn’t seem that long to me he is only 32.  He feels he has cheated death so often that his number is long past due.  Here I am the big sister and I have nothing I can do to fix this for him or his family.  On top of that my culture, we don’t show pain (hence the food issues and the being over weight).  I really feel like I am depressed over these issues.  I actually caught myself crying at work yesterday (majorly embarrassing).  Anyway we have been fed the news from the doctor’s obviously that is that (as far as culture is concerned) we don’t discuss it and we just deal and move on.  I am really struggling to do this???  Anyone with any advice it is greatly appreciated.  Other advice would be needed on what to eat or how to eat right now being that food is typically my comfort and I cannot even get hungry right now.  How do I stimulate hunger?

So for my entire life, I have heard we learn through trial and error.  You know your parents tell you not to do something….so you do it….something goes wrong….you get into trouble….you learn (or at least we should).  So how do we know when we need to move from weight loss to weight maintenance?  All to often I have seen people who start on a weightloss journey and carry it too far.  At one point in time, I did just that.  I went from a size 14-16 to a size 2.  I was a skin covered skeleton.  When I see pictures of me from that time, I realize how sickly looking I had become.  However, being that it was me, I also know that mentally at that time, I didn’t feel small enough.  So my questions to you guys today are how do we know when we need to move from weightloss to weight maintenance?  how do we successfully make the transition so that we do not gain, but maintain? 

I have learned from my journeys not to be on weightloss, but to be on healthy lifestyle.  I have not been able to successfully learn the maintenance side of the healthy lifestyle. 

Ok need some advice.  I saw a call for a workout group that competes with other groups.  I was really interested as I thought this would help keep me motivated as others would be counting on me and I wouldn’t want to be the one that let the group down.  So I said let me see how this would work for me and fit in with all the other gigs I hold. So I worked at it pretty hard and that is when I received a not so friendly visitor!!!  LACTIC ACID BUILD UP!!!

 Ok I have a very big threshold for pain.  However, I have spent about the last four days barely able to walk.  I mean cannot straighten out my legs.  NOPE CAN’T DO IT!!  I am sure many of you have been through the tenderness and soreness after good workouts just like myself, but I have never been able to barely walk.  I am serious it takes me about 5 minutes to get out of bed and I have to get out belly down.  It takes me about 5 minutes to stand up to move somewhere else.  Mind you the people at work look at me funny.  Yeah who cares!!!  We won’t even discuss the comedy show to get dressed!!!

I said let me do some research and get this stuff fixed.  So research says increase water, sports drinks, and potassium.  So I drink a gallon of water a day (almost every day, slip rarely), don’t like sports drinks, but have drank at least 20 oz for the last three days, I eat at least one banana (most days 2) daily.  So as we are all well aware, the answers are not always on the internet.  I am in need of BS expertise!!!  Send it all, I am to the point I will try most anything.  If I thought my arms were strong enough, I would walk around on my hands all day

Ok I am sure this belongs somewhere else, but I had to get it out to all of those that love push ups.  First let me start with they are not my favorite, but I have learned they are necessary.  Ok so here it goes.  Some of you may remember my honey is like a fitness all the time man.  He is in the gym every day and has done so for years.  Anyway, I tried this the night before I got sick and loved it.  Push up stairs and push back down the stairs.  I have 14 steps in my home.  Starting at the bottom, I would do 14 push ups, then stepping on the bottom step, I would use the stair closest to chest level with my hands in diamond shape in the center of the step and do 13 push ups, move up a stair and place hands about shoulder width apart and do 12 push ups, move up a step and go back to diamonds and complete 11 push ups, you have started to see the pattern.  In between each step stop for 15 to 20 seconds, when you get to the top of the stairs continue the cycle flat on the floor. 

Ok now down the stairs, Yes you place head first, but you are not doing push ups, you are doing push backs.  This is working the upper shoulder and you also rotate the arms to the center and then shoulder level. 

Going back up you do the bench incline push ups (the ones where you are facing backward).  Make sure the fingertips are facing forward. 

Going back down rotate squats and plie’s. 

Anyhow if you are looking for something a little different, this really worked me out.  I completed one cycle of the up, down, up, down and did some ab work.  Then silly little me went back for more.  By the time I was done I completed three full sets.  I should have probably done more, but that was all I had that night.  Be safe enjoy and stay healthy.  Have a great weekend everyone.

OMG!!!  So sorry for the last two days.  I have been really ill.  I am able to stay awake and have actually made it in to work today.  I am trying to catch up on blogs and buddies.  Hope all of you have done well and stayed healthy. 

Many times  when we extend support groups we often get use to supporting each other and taking our roles in that arena.  I think it is one of the most important roles we can ever hold in life personally.  I do want to take a moment to say thanks and express some appreciation for all of you.  I haven’t been with BS very long, but I feel like I have grown by leaps and bounds.  This site is truly amazing to me.  The way I have seen others poor out their hearts and souls.  How quick the responses go back to let everyone on the site know that they each hold a role in this forum.  Each person is thought about here.  At the same time I have seen the ability for all of us to get a little more comfortable in our online skin.  It is my hope that this site do nothing, but become more active.  It is my hope that everyone get what I get from this site.  It is my hope that we all continue to smile, support, cry, laugh, and most importantly share healing efforts and growth for many days to follow.

So hear is the question I am struggling to understand today.  Why is it that men love the body parts we struggle to fix?  Yes, men love the booty and the big legs and all of the stuff we work desperately hard to make smaller.  I don’t get it.  I wonder if they understand that typically we ok I put weight on in these very areas first and it is the last area (seems like) that wants to come off?  What this should tell them is they like fat….yes that is right fat not phat!!!!  So any men on the site that can provide some insight or any ladies that have received a better understanding of this, please shed some light.  Remember to stay healthy and smile the struggles are only as hard as we make them.  Let’s have some fun  on our journey’s together!

Ok so I won’t claim that I have been completely angelic since starting on the site.  However, I have been really really good.  I have always pretty much been on the eat healthy side of life, but have down falls with a couple of not so good items.  I typically have trouble with consuming the appropriate amount.  So I have worked really hard to try and focus on appropriate intake and have increased my workouts and really trying to focus in on them good.  Oh yes, I have always been a big fan of water.  I drink about a gallon a day.  So please help me understand why my brain and my body are miscommunicating.  My brain is making me be more attentive to all of those things, but my body is so totally ignoring what direction it should grow in!!!  Any suggestions?  Typical activities are light target aerobics with weights 5 nights a week, biking for 5 miles 2-3 times a week, walking about 3 miles 2 - 3 times a week, not to mention all the running to keep up with the kids.  My biggest down time is honestly at work.  Your thoughts and suggestions greatly appreciated.