A Family In Crisis!

I just wanted to share this cute photo.  Now my husband and son are in a health crisis.  My son is way over weight and my husband's BP is so bad, he could fall over at any time!  Instead of me falling apart, they are!  What's going on?
Well, I've been doing my best to warn my husband and son of the dangers of care-free eating with no exercise can do.  I've gone through the house and emptied out all of the pantry's and cabinets of salt.  I pushed for a soda-free home but it hasn't worked yet.  I've pushed for no pizza's on the one night Mommy doesn't cook and I have fussed about no one walking with me.  It has traveled through one ear and out the other!  What is up with that?  So I decided to try a new tactic.  One that's worked before but slowly died.

I began to cook things and not tell them what it is.  I would make hamburgers with ground turkey instead of a lower percentage of fatted beef.  I started making pitchers of flavored water instead of Kook-aid and as previously mentioned, I cleared out all the sodium in the house and replaced them with Mrs. Dash of all flavors!  Sofar it's worked but I can't be everywhere at all times.

When they leave me to go on their Boys Night, they eat whatever they wish to.  When I go to church, the eat all wrong.  I've caught my husband eating my son's veggies and they sneak things and hide the evidence in the garage trash can.  I find these things and get so frustrated.  BUT...

Then we went to our family doctor.  One of the advantages of being an at-home mom is that I can schedule all of our appointments at the same time.  I got to have someone other than myself fight against Mr. Hub.  Someone with more qualifications and information that I could ever come up with on my own and my tidbits of research!

It really opened their eyes... I think.  My son is on board.  My hub says he is but I still found an empty styrofoam cut in the garage yesterday.  I don't knwo what to do but keep trying.  My health has improved.  He didn't take me off of my BP meds yet but I'm doing great with the weening of Zoloft for my insidious menopausal rages.  I'm getting back on track and expect to see my weight going in the opposite direction at any time.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

So with that, I'm a happy camper who's worried
about the environment of my family.  Will they be able to follow me?  Will they pay more attention and do their best to be with me when I've reached the age of 88 or more.  I'll be happy if I can get that far.

I hope everyone reading this is seeing progress.  This year is almost over friends.  I know I haven't lost much weight- almost the same but you know what?  I'm happy because I've learned a lot about myself in this past year.  I've done some real work and although the blood work showed my body had yet turned against me, my pills have been adjusted and I'm on my way.  I am honestly looking to knock some pounds off before it gets cold outside.  Winder is not the time to be too big for my wardrobe.  I've got some cute sweaters and heavy dresses!

Anyway, Be Happy ❤Be Healthy!

Even When You're Sick

Even When You're Sick!

     You know, when I get sick I just want to stay in bed and mope.  I want to nurse myself back to health with no talking, questions or other home responsibilities.  But as a homeschooling house-wife that's kinda impossible.

     I still have duties that will go undone and that's just not acceptable.  My husband is a wonderful man but to work all day, then come home to teach, wash dishes, cook and clean afterwards is simply wrong.  I love my hub dearly and wouldn't dare subject him to such.  So I have to take care of myself.

     I do my best to eat right and plenty of good chicken soup.  Did you know cysteine, an amino acid that’s released by cooked chicken. It’s chemically similar to a bronchitis drug, acetylcysteine, and it works with other soup ingredients to reduce inflammation. Salty broth also helps thin mucus. {http://www.intelligenius.net/foods-to-eat-when-you-are-sick/}.  I just knew that it was good for colds but never knew why.  I love that.  I also leaned thatYogurt with active cultures, that are also know as probiotics or live healthy bacteria, can help fight colds in the first place. One, Lactobacillus reuteri (found in Stonyfield Farm yogurt) are very good. {same article, as mentioned above}.

     So when you get sick, take time to drink plenty of fluids, like tea- which helps your body fight viruses and inflammation.  Also, add a bit of peppermint.  It's great and helps with upset tummies and GERD.  

     I hope none of you catch anything too rough.  I am feeling much better but I am still under.  I got a flu shot yesterday but I don't blame it.... much.  LOL  I will be back with you late today.

Be Happy❤Be Healthy!

Curing The Junkie

Curing the Junkie

     I have found a new source to tap into.  I am finding that I am leaning into the Clean thing.  Have you heard of it?  It's where you only eat natural foods, free of added sugars, hydrogenated fats, trans-fats and anything else that is unnatural and unnecessary. Many people use this diet as a way to lose weight. Used as a way of life, clean eating can make you feel healthy and full of energy.  Now I have not switched over completely but I am transitioning and thrilled about it all.

     I know that I am not there yet, mostly because I still love to eat foods from Trader Joe's that's prepackaged.  I do it two reasons: (1) because it helps me keep my calories in check, along with my sodium. (2) is because I love to try exotic and new items that I can easily prepare for myself while still cooking dinner for my three boys.  It's a time thing.  I'm working on it and it's important because I am really seeking to change my way of life and theirs for the better.

     Also, I am making a confession.  I am on an unnecessary medication and I'm curing myself.  Before I was diagnosed as a victim of menopause, I was going through monthly tantrums.  For about a week, I would fuss, bicker and roar at my husband and son.  I didn't realize that the vicious emotions surfaced around the same time each month or that I was even being cruel- I would just Become.  

     When I understood what was happening to me, I asked my OB/GYN to put me on something to keep my family from leaving me!  LOL  I was an emotional wreck and taking it out on them.  So she put me on Zoloft.  It worked and I stopped man-handling my family... but at what cost?

     I tried to get off of the stuff and I don't know if you've read all of my blogs but I tweaked!  I was going spastic and didn't know why until I researched my symptoms on the net.  Rapid eye movement, flashes of light, jolts of electrical pulses,...Yup, I was hooked!  I didn't like it but I had to go back on the stuff.  I was highly upset but didn't complain.  But I did know that I wanted off that stuff.

     So  in the middle or end of September, I will be taking half a pill a day for a few months.  I will later cut that tiny pill in half.  I know I can do this, finally ending with taking a half pill every other day until I no longer need it.  Crazy?  yes but effective?  Absolutely.  I will get myself off of this pill and only be on my thyroid medication and my BP bill.  

     The BP pill is next!  Now remember that this Zoloft is not an actual med that I am required to take.  I wouldn't do this with my levothyroxine or my blood pressure med.  With those two, I will go through my practitioner to get that job accomplished.  He's all for it.  I'll have him in a few of my blogs later when I discussing that.

     Well, that's all for now my friends.  If you're interested in the eating clean thing, I've posted a link.  You can also join the team at www.facebook.com/eatingclean.  I hope you have a wonderful week and remember to 

Be Happy❤Be Healthy!

Read more: How to Eat Clean | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2049770_eat-clean.html#ixzz24l8K4E9s

My 5K Numbers...

For the Run For Your Lives 5K Obstacle Course, I finally received my survival numbers. Out of the 1229 Survivors, I was survivor #1167 with a finishing time of 1:21:18! The last survivor came in a few under 2 hours! I feel pretty good.

Considering how many obstacles they threw in there and that I HAD to hit every water station, I'm proud.  Hopefully October's marathon will go much easier.  Nothing will be chasing me and I won't have to jump walls and such!

I'm just proud I finished alive.  I'll do much better for Mercy Ministries.  ;)

Week 35: I Ran For My Life!

I RAN FOR MY LIFE

     I really need to shed these pounds!  LOL  I looked like a muddied baby beluga in the end but I had a wonderful time.  I'm even lucky enough to be paying for it all in aches and pains!  The best part is that I didn't get shocked one time!

     I ran, jumped walls, ducked underneath trees, attempted to jump leap muddied pits, walked through smoky, electrical mazes and boxes, crawled under electrical fences and slid down a huge slide into 3ft of muddied water!  AND dodged zombies the entire time!  The landscape was extremely difficult, going from rocky to dirty to boggy!  I've never experienced anything like it!

     All in all, I had a great time.  I was worn out, burned a lot of calories and met a really cool gal from StL but goes to school in San Francisco, in Knob Hill!  We talked/gasped with one another the time.  I even saved her a few times!  LOL  Get that, me saving someone!

     Enjoy the video, laugh a lot too but please, pay no attention to how horrible I look!  lol
Be Happy❤Be Healthy!

Week 34: I Can Handle It!

I Think I Can Handle It!

This Saturday I am running my second ever 5K.  This one is different though.  I'm afraid and not because of the zombies.  I'm afraid I may have made a mistake in running with this.  I know I am a zombie lover and I am a fool for getting the crap scared out of me but to be chased in front of thousands of people, getting muddy, wet and chased after AS BIG AS I AM!  What the heck was I thinking!?

Apprehension is knocking at my door and my nerves are hot.  I've been working on my final reading of my manuscript before I hand it in to the production department and I can't keep focused!  Funny.  I was going to give this Zombie 5K obstacle course run to my daughter but she'd never have survived.  She can barely take a walk without limping and whining.  So, I kept it for myself.  Not only that, it cost $75 bucks to register!  That's a lot of money to watch someone quit on.

I know I won't quit.  My husband, who's a HORRIBLE photographer is going to catch me in action...I hope!  I am going to do this but I am so nervous it's not even funny.

I'm ready.  Come on Zombies!  I can take you!


I think...☠

"Fake It Till You Make It!" - Week 33

Fake It Till You Make It!

     So, am I a supermodel?  Nope.  But I play one in my blog this week!  As you can see, I've been taking photos for a long time, since I was about 16.  I have been all over the world and have seen many beautiful places and people.  None as beautiful as myself, mind you.  I can be on any cover I so choose.  but I choose to be sharing information with you today.

     This week, I was asked to take time from my precious catwalk to share with you how to make it.  Yeah, I am to tell you about how, if you don't feel good about your situation, like when I was in Milan.  I asked to have all red roses about my room and to only give me blue M&M's and to even make sure that when I arrived, there were cotton balls set to my toilet seat- I have a tender bottom, they didn't do as I requested!  I had red roses, blue M&M's and a vinyl-covered toilet seat!  I was outraged that I threw the chaise lounge out of the twelve story- Oh!  I digress...  As I was saying before getting sidetracked, it is about how to be what you are not until you get there.

     When I was in elementary school, Halloween popped up and all students were invited to wear their costumes.  Well, my parents hadn't purchased our costumes yet, so my brother and I asked if they could get them the night before.  My parents said no but we could make costumes instead.    Now my brother and I didn't like the idea but decided to try it out.

     Well, my dad got those large, brown paper bags that are in the grocery store and he cut a hole in the bottom of the bag and holes for our arms on the sides.  Then told us to decorate the bag to look like a robot.  Needless to say, we were pissed to all get out!  No matter what we drew on those freaking paper bags, we didn't look like freakin' robots!  We were so made and I remember walking around the playground in the Halloween costume parade in that stupid paper bag.  I was so embarrassed.  I was laughed at.  I was angry and I wanted to go home but I wore it and made the best robot I could!  

     Now later that evening, my parents took my brother and I to the store and we got our costumes.  I don't remember what my brother was but I was Wonder Woman.  A little brown girl with pigtails and a white face with black, plastic hair.  It was hilarious, now that I look back but it was everything to me then.  I got to be what I wanted to be and not that freaking Bag-Bot!  (Momma, I know you remember- stop laughing!)

     Anyway, I got to be one of my favorite heroines that night.  I did tricks and cartwheels for candy - everything!  It was the best.  The point of my story is, we have to remember that we aren't always going to be who we want to be.  There are times when we want to be in that size 'whatever' jean or dress.  Men, you want to be able to wear that tuxedo when you get married or when you walk your daughter down the aisle.  We've all wanted to be who we aren't at one time or another.  We just have to be who we are IN THIS BODY until we get the weight off. 

     We have to do all we can to be as healthy as possible and get to our goals.  Doing it right the first time may not always work out.  It may take a few times but don't give up!  Pretend to be who you want to be until you get to be who you really are!  Now, if you will excuse me, I have to get back to my modeling.  PLEASE!  Enjoy some of my modeling photos below.

Be Happy❤Be Healthy!

I had so much fun making these but my husband didn't like them.  Huh,... no sense of humor!