Weight Loss update #2: Slow and Steady Wins the Race

OK, it's been 8 weeks. It was a little discouraging to get a reliable scale that didn't offer a new option everytime I got on it. (Even 10 seconds apart) I think I actually 'gained weight' that first week with the new scale. But, I have adjusted to honest readings & accuracy... Total weight loss is 13.8 pounds. An average of 1.7 lbs/week. My clothes fit better, I feel better, I move better. These results aren't amazingly fast, but they are... slow...and... steady... :) In fact, I think that's my new motto...

Slow and Steady, Take it Slow and Steady...

My 5th grade classes performed a musical this year called 'Bebop with Aesop'. It includes 5 of Aesop's Fables complete with dialogue and songs. Here are the words to the song that goes with the Tortoise and the Hare.

Slow and steady

Slow and steady, take it slow and steady.
Slow and steady, take it slow and steady.
It you want to win the race, then try and watch your pace.
It’s better if you take it slow.
If you’re caught up in the crush,
There’s no need to rush
‘cause steady is the way to go!

Take one step and keep that focus in your eyes.
Step by step, you’ll find you’re gonna win that prize!

Slow and steady, take it slow and steady.
Slow and steady, take it slow and steady.
Take it one step at a time, you’ll cross the finish line
With no one breathin’ down your back.
‘Cause it’s really such a breeze when you move with ease,
You’ll be the leader of the pack.

Haste makes waste, that’s one thing we can guarantee
You’ll do fine, that finish line is plain --- to see.

Slow and steady, take it slow and steady.
Slow and steady, take it slow and steady.
We have one thing left to say before we leave today.
Take it at your own pace ‘cause slow and steady,
You’ll be ready, slow and steady,
grab the confetti, slow and steady,
Wins—the—race.
Slow and steady wins the race!

The tune is pretty catchy, if I was better at blogging, I could embed it for you, but alas, I excel at other things. To hear how the music goes with the words, click on this link and forward the cursor to the 9 minute mark.

https://www.popplersmusic.com/store/index.asp?dept_Id=978&ppf_ProductId=7496

Below is a link to an old Disney version of the Tortoise and the Hare. Great advise for all of us. By small and simple things are great things brought to pass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YubN1MPVN-4

I exercise at least 30 minutes/day. Sometimes 2-2.5 hours in a day if you count my 90 minute Hot Yoga class in the afternoon after 30-60 minutes on the treadmill in the morning. I have been averaging between 26-35 exercise points/week.
After a week like that, sleep comes easily. On Friday I was so exhausted, I slept for 10 hours!

At this rate, I'll see my final results sometime in the fall of 2010.

Update...Tom decided that he liked Hot Yoga enough to join the club with me. It's really helping his back! They say it's like being your own chiropractor.

Best of luck to all of you!

Seeds for Storage

The more I learn about genetically modified foods and what these products do to our health, and to the health of our farm animals that we consume, the greater my desire to avoid genetically modified products. To me, they're like Frankenstein Food, created by people who do not understand the consequences of what they're doing, and don't appear to care about the long term results in our food supply and it's effect on people's health. God's original plant designs have been modified with negative results. Part of the problem is that so many farms have converted to genetically modified seed. It can be difficult to find non-hybrid, non-genetically modified seeds &/or fruit/vegetables to buy. We found this resource and decided to include it in our year's supply of needful things. I so long for the opportunity to grow our own garden again. I love fresh produce, especially when I'm sure of it's origin and how it was grown.

http://www.non-hybrid-seeds.com/survivalseedvault.html

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/02/27/10-reasons-why-no-one-needs-gm-foods.aspx

Weight Loss update

Last month, 4 weeks ago, I joined weight watchers online. At four weeks I am seeing steady progress. I have dropped 9 pounds, with quite a few to go. I'm not sure where to stop, but it's somewhere in the 135-155 range, depending on where my body fat percentage is & how my clothes fit when I get down there.

I am also challenging myself to an exercise regimen that will help rejuvenate my body & support my weight loss. 30 sessions of Hot Yoga in 30 days. It's easy to do with an unlimited membership. Today, I'm doing 2 sessions, because I don't go on Sundays.

There are also a few other steps I've taken to support my activity level, which supports my weight loss, mental clarity & general sense of well being.
1) Replaced the old scale. It was 12 years old and frustrating to use. This morning I stood on it 10 different times, got 6 different readings spanning 6.5 pounds. It was time to toss it.

2) Bought good sport bras to provide more even support. My chiropractor recommended the change to improve muscle spasms/aches in my back. He says it's a common experience for women.

3) Bought 3 new stainless steal water bottles. 3 for $14.99 at Costco 27 oz. adds up to 10 cups of water. They're small enough I can carry them with me into the classroom (at three different schools) and will help me maintain hydration throughout the day. My 40oz. bottle is great for Yoga, but really bulky to carry with school supplies.

4) Found an inexpensive source of fat free animal protein at Costco. $6 something for 48 servings of egg white. I add these to my morning smoothies to increase protein without 3 full fat eggs. Since milk, hemp, soy, rice & nuts milks/powders don't agree with my system, this was a great find.

I've invited Tom to go with me to Hot Yoga on Monday....more on that later. It's a gentle progressive class.

The Lamp Maker and the Ten Virgins

Last weekend, our stake performed the musical, The Ten Virgins. A narrator told the story of a lamp maker, who made individual lamps for each of the women in his village, especially for her, according to her needs, abilities and interests. Each of the ten virgins has a short narrative and sings a song that outlines her defining characteristics and struggles and modes of service. This expansion of the parable helps us to see ourselves in many different lights, as we work on the concepts of procrastination, prioritization, personal preparedness and service.

At the first rehearsal, when we listened to each other sing for the first time, there were lots of tears. The lyrics are powerful and speak to the heart.

This is a dress rehearsal. Heather is on stage helping us with our lamps.

In fact, my daughter Heather was the Lamp Maker behind the scenes. She made twelve large lamps and devised a way to use the electrical mechanism from battery powered tea lights to make the lamps flicker with light on stage.

She made the large lamps, and then designed and made over 200 small lamps. One for each sister attending the musical. This project consumed a lot of her free time. I was amazed at her perseverance and dedication. Her art instructor at school (pottery/jewelry making) supported her endeavors and helped her to learn new skills to accomplish this task. He gave her an A on her report card last week, but in the comments said it was really an A+. I'm so proud of her!
She has so many talents and gifts, it will be an adventure to watch what she chooses to do with them throughout her life.

Me as Leora.

Resurrection

6 weeks post surgery tomorrow.

My last post was three days before I went into surgery on December 17.

Before I went in, we became aware of a very bad outcome for a woman in our ward at church who had the same surgery I was going to have in the same hospital. She is still struggling and our prayers are with her and her family. Her experience motivated me to make prior arrangements to avoid a blood transfusion in the event of lost fluids. Needless to say, my stress level was heightened for a while. The Priesthood blessing I received before surgery was a tremendous help.

Tom stayed with me most of the time I was in the hospital. The nurses brought a cot in for him to sleep on both nights. Him being there made the whole process much easier. I was able to secure a hospital release about 44 hours after surgery. I really didn't want to go back very soon, so elected to remove the staples myself three days later. They came out almost painlessly.

Riding in the car as it goes over road bumps is right up there with laughing and coughing for things to avoid after abdominal surgery.

The struggle to get back into the routine of things, has felt like crawling out of my grave. 17.5 years ago when Heather was born by C-section, did not feel like this. My resurrection process has begun.

Jesse & Aleina came to visit for a few days in early January. It was so enjoyable to hold baby Orrin for hours on end. Newborn babies are good for the heart and soul. They have so recently left Heavenly Father you can't help but feel the influence of another sphere of existence.

Yesterday was my first day back at Hot Yoga. I felt weak and was unable to complete any of the balance sequences. I lost muscle tone during the recovery process. Vertical knee to chest movements were easier, however. Muscle tone & strength in my left arm are especially problematic.

I joined Weight Watchers last weekend, and decided to do it online to keep it simple. I got a reality check looking at my measurements. It appears that my body decided that if it was going to spend so much time sitting on it's backside during recovery, that it deserved some extra padding. It's time to send a different message.

After a while, watching movies and reading/listening to books begs for a change of activity. A future blog will contain a book list with a brief review.

I bought some yarn and began crocheting baby blankets. We have had 4 grandchildren born since May. So far, no new announcements. Back at work, I noticed that there are a lot of mother's to be. It's been fun making baby blankets for them. The count is up to five teachers who will deliver before the end of June.