wolskimom's Xanga

39 Tips for Better Life - 2008

Wed, 07 May 2008 12:01:13 GMT

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'

5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.

7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.

18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

26. Forgive everyone for everything.

27. What other people think of you is none of your business.

28. GOD heals almost everything.

29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

33. The best is yet to come.

34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

35. Do the right thing!

36. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!!!)

37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.

38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

May your troubles be less,

May your blessings be more,

May nothing but happiness come through your door!

I know it has been a while - long posting (sorry)

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:22:26 GMT

I have been pretty overwhelmed here in the beautiful state of CO. School is truly dominating my life. I thought I was done with one class and all it's projects only to be given another major project for this same class. Talk about stressful.

We have been dealing a lot with DJ these past few weeks. I really want to pull my hair out because of all the mess that the school is creating for us. So last Monday DJ’s Para was basically trying to get DJ organized at the end of the day. She wanted to change some stuff in his planner and it was making DJ upset because it was going to make him miss the bus. He kept trying to tell her she was making him upset but she was not listening. So he was already at his breaking point when another one of the teachers (who we have MAJOR issues with anyway) came up to him and said that she was going to right him up for “scaring” a little girl that we seem to have big issues. (This little girl was walking and turned around and DJ was there and he said Boo…this scared her) So this teacher basically upset him even more!!! Well he got even madder and walked out to the hallway and when he did he pushed open the door hard. It caused no one any harm and caused no damage either. So the Para took a hold of DJ’s arm and said that he had to go to the counselor’s office. By this point he was (in his own words) on a scale of 1 – 10 a 42~! So as he was sitting in his counselors office he was saying that he hated the school, that he wasn’t listening, started banging his head on the wall, and was covering his ears. He was very upset. His whole structure of his after school routine was ruined. So they held him past the time for his bus and because they didn’t have a place to put him they put him in detention. Basically, they said they didn’t want to put him on the bus because he was upset. But if they hadn’t gotten him upset by messing with his afterschool routine then there would not have been a problem.

Then on Thursday DJ was being a boy – ie he and his 2 friends (and I do stress that number because that is all that he has) were playing around in the hallway. DJ and one of his friends were pushing each other into the lockers; they were laughing and cutting up. Then one of his friends was bending over and the other friends came up and kneeled down behind him and DJ pushed the boy over the other. It is called table topping. The two friends laughed and NO ONE was hurt. They were just playing around. They tried to get the boys to right a statement against DJ and they refused to do so. But DJ got written up and his punishment is in school suspension on none other but the day that he was supposed to go to the field trip! (And before you all ask – the other boys did not get in trouble at all) When I got the phone call I got so mad when I told the dean of students that I know what they were doing – they were working DJ up to the point of taking away the field trip. He told me that they have issues with unstructured time and that a field trip is nothing but unstructured time so they do have a problem with taking DJ. I told him that his Para should go with him them and that I want that to happen but he said that it couldn’t. So basically I got frustrated and said that they had upset me and that I no longer could speak to him, he needed to call my husband.

So while I was telling my husband what had happened at the school gathered everyone in a room. They had the dean of students, DJ’s counselor at school, his para, his principal, vice principal, the school psychologist, and the team counselor all in this room (can you say ganging up on us). Bill put them in their place and they told him they would call him back. Basically, I know they went back through our IEP and called the school district legal dept. They called us back and they basically said that because we signed the IEP stating that the school could discipline him for inappropriate behavior then they are going to give him the in school suspension and there pretty much isn’t much we can do about it.

So we take DJ to this other program that we want to get him into and he interviews with a teacher. Billy and I go in and talk with the program director and she told us that his current school told them DJ could not attend the program because he HAD to have the para and the program can not accommodate that part of DJ’s IEP. We told the director that the ONLY time that the para is around is to help get DJ organized at the end of the day. We told her about the getting in trouble with the “boo” and then him being a boy and rough housing with his friends getting him suspended. She was stunned. So needless to say we are battling a huge fight right now. And between school and DJ's school...I have no time for anything other than these things.

Ok...but we did go to the fraternity's initiation dinner on Saturday night. Here are some pictures.

A group of lovely ladies!

One of my best friends Nicole

My other best friend Kelli

Hubby and I before the dinner started.

My $1.99 ebay dress!!!

Terms of Endearment

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:23:27 GMT

Ok...so as I was laying bed last night not able to sleep I was thinking about a blog I could right and I came up with an issue that I am facing. I have a friend who told me that it bothers him with I call him darling. Being from the South, terms of endearment are very common. Some commonly used terms of endearment are: Darling, sweetie, baby girl, sexy, handsome, girlie, and even missy.

I have no issue with these terms if they are used in the proper setting. For example, I worked with a lady (now mind you she was no friend just a lady that worked with the same company that I did) and she called every single person sweetie. In a business setting, terms of endearment are not appropriate. And I did get offended by it. I would purposely avoid her because I was sort of creeped out about it.

But when I am talking with a close friend, I have no issue using terms of endearment. I pretty much use them all the time. But then I am from the south...just translated here in the mountains.

So do you use terms of endearment when talking with friends? And if so...do they get offended?

Weight Loss Update

All my friends from the contest have not hit the gym this week. It was hard for me to get into the swing of things this week. I actually went on a bender Wednesday. I had all kinds of food that I shouldn't have - like a big bowl of Lucky Charms, and toast multiple times (with peanut butter and toast). I did eat some fruit but I just couldn't stop myself. So the lovely scale was not friendly to me this week. Oh well...I will get back into the swing of things.

Tomorrow the kids and hubby are going snowboarding. We are going to a small resort and getting lessons. I do not plan on hitting the slopes because of my knee but I plan on bringing my laptop and doing homework in the lodge all day. I am totally ok with not going. Maybe once I get my knee surgery I will be willing to do it - just not willing to risk my weight loss and working out.

Have a great weekend all!

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 12:21:58 GMT

TO ME!!!

Not going to do much today. The fraternity is going to tour a snowboard manufacture so I am going to go with them to check it out. I need to back to the radio station to get my tennis shoes. I forgot them there yesterday and I really do need them! And then tomorrow night a bunch of us are going to an Irish Pub for some fun. So...Not a very exciting b-day. But I do have some very exciting news....

Yep...I won the radio contest!!!! It was very close but I won with a total body weight percentage loss of 14.04%! Pete, the only male in the contest and the guy who pretty much didn't want to lose to a bunch of women, lost a total of 13.89% so it was close. I think what is so cool for me...is that for the first time since 2001 I am under 150 pounds! I am offically 149 pounds! WOW!!!! I am 9 pounds away from my goal weight. And to prove a point to everyone that it isn't over with yet...I hit the gym again last night. I went and did an hour of cardio on the elliptical and then did about 20 minutes of crunches and leg lifts. So...I still have 9 pounds to go.

And what was really cool was that we got lifetime memberships to the gym that we used! WOW!!!! That is HUGE!!! And to use a trainer (the ones we used during the contest) will only cost us $10 an hour! Man alive that is so cool!!! So a bunch of ladies will be using them still because so many of us want to keep up this journey and they guys there at Spectrum will help us reach and maintain our goals! They have changed their website as well and now you all can keep track of us on their website. It is www.spectrumwellness.org. and if you go to the Biggest Winner's tab you can track all of our progress.

Here are some pictures and videos of yesterday. There are a few more that I will be adding later once I get them off the net.

My getting my prize ticket.

A really cool picture of me in my workout clothes (that are so big on me now) and then my cute outfit that actually fits!

A bunch of skinny people...and I do have to say that they look pretty dang good!!

Marissa and I waiting to hear the totals.

It was down to just Pete and I. And that is DJ behind me.

Here is our final video that we did yesterday. We came out in the place that we were. So Renee was in 9th place. and I was in 1st place.

Here is the video of them announcing me winning the contest.

So as soon as I find the news video and the other pictures that my friends took I will be posting them as well. Thanks again to you all for your support during this contest and my entire weight loss journey!!! I love you all!

Edit

Here is the news story about the contest and a picture of my trainer and I.

Click Here to see the video.

This is my trainer Aaron (at least one of my trainers but the one that pushed me the hardest!)

Friday, March 14, 2008

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:15:42 GMT

Wow...what a crazy week it has been for me.

I felt like dog do-do on Saturday and Sunday. Didn't even want to get out of bed! Then Monday went to school (after yet again sleeping in and feel like a train ran over me) but I still hit the gym and the trainers there killed me!

Tuesday went to school and took a mid-term which I didn't fair too bad on (got an 85%). But the best part was I got to talk to Christi on the phone and tell her all about LA Weightloss (and yes we do need to talk more!) but the coolest part of Tuesday was that I went to the BX and walked into the junior section and found an outfit that was a size 9. I told myself that if it looked good on me I would buy the whole ensemble (you know shoes and earings to match). Well needless to say I walked out of there with the whole ensemble! It was so cute and my hubby really liked it on me. I had to wear it on Wed at school and everyone was telling me how cute it looked on me so that was real cool. People who I haven't see in a long time even told me that I was looking really good. So thanks everyone for the boost on the self-esteem.

Wed night trip to the gym was a total killer! My trainer, Aaron, really worked us out hard and I was soaking wet for a good hour afterwards!

Then a weigh in yesterday at the station and guess who is in 1st place -

ME!!!

Needless to say I was totally shocked! I am waiting now to get the tv clip that shows my shock and awe and when I do I will post it. But for now...I wanted to post my "Thanks" video because I mention all my friends...so that includes you all as well!!!

So thank you all from the bottom of my heart!

When I talked with my counselor from LA, she told me that she was going to get me submitted to the People campaign as well - even though they are looking for people who have lost over 100 pounds. She told me that I was the true success story because I knew how to apply what I have learned with their help. So we shall see. But you might see my face on the cover of People one day.

Oh well...I guess I best get busy working on my homework since that is why I said I would work the lab today. Take care all!!!

EDIT - Video

Here is the news video that they showed this morning on the news. Ashlee (the girl being interviewed) is one of my workout buddies and she said such sweet things...

Week 8 Picture (click here for the video)

Another Edit

For Christi...here is my before picture. This was taken at the end of June almost a month before I started my weight loss journey.

Ok...it is long but I haven't updated for almost 2 weeks! Sorry!

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:22:36 GMT

EDIT Below - I have uploaded my new picture of me in my jeans below all the videos.

It has been a while since I have posted. Life in general is really keeping me busy!

Mom had her surgery and on Sunday Feb 24 I went to pick her up and by the time I got her home she had what appeard to be a stroke. Her right side of her face was sloping down, she had very little movement (if anything) on her right side. So I took her right back to the hospital. She had what is called a TIA. It is a stroke but there is very little perm. damage. (This is what happened this past summer as well.) They finally re-admitted her and kept her for 4 additional days. She did have a few more mild TIA's while in there but they did all the test you can possibly imagine and there was nothing that they could see. So the doctor wanted to put her on Cumadin (sp) but given her history of falling and stuff, it was not the best decision and her PCM and I have decided not to put her on it. She could have a stroke on it or off it so the cost of possibly bleeding out is far greater that the possible benefit from the drug.

Biggest Loser Update

This is my video from week 7

This is my video from Week 6

This is my explanation for all the "controversey".

Ok...I am (as of yesterday) in 3rd place. Not bad. I have lost a total of 15.3 pounds so far from this contest and a total of 67.9 total since July 23.

I went to the radio station yesterday morning and one of best friends Kelli showed up to offer me moral support. Wednesday night was not a good night for me. I seem to be having a major issue with my ear. I am getting REALLY dizzy so I ended up not finishing the entire workout.(more on that to come) I guess the good thing was that I did an hour on the elliptical and 40 minutes on the treadmill even before I started the workout.

Anyway…So I get weighed in and they bring us in to be on the radio. I lost 2.1 pounds – and now down to 155.1 pounds! I am the lightest contestant in the game. WOW! I did bump down to 3^rd place but oh well…the big thing for me is that I am down to 155.1 pounds! I am just a mere 15.1 pounds away from my goal! I just can’t believe it!!!

So Kelli was telling me that Macy’s had jeans on sale. I am in desperate need of jeans. Even Megan’s jeans are too big for me now. And her belts are way too big for me! I felt bad because I couldn’t wear one of her belts because it was too big. So Kelli and I went to Macy’s and I bought a pair of Apple Bottom Jeans for $34! And a real cute belt as well for $22! I just couldn’t believe the size that I had to get on the jeans – a size 9! WOW!!!! I have not been a size 9 since 2001! I will get the kids to take a picture of me in my new jeans and post it later.

Momentary EDIT

Here is me in my new jeans and Megan's shirt

Update on my dizzy spells

I went to the Acute Care Clinic yesterday. I have been having some major issues with my ear and have been getting dizzy a lot and so I figured it must have been an inner ear infection. Or the one thing that have dreaded for the past few years.

So the doctor gets to looking in the ear and she tells me my worst nightmare – it is in fact not my ear but my jaw! Back when I was in High School I had a kid cold cock me in the jaw and dislocated it. My mom never really was concerned about my jaw when it happened – just the braces on my teeth. So we never really did much about it.

As I got older I developed TMJ because of the dislocation of my jaw. And of course insurance does not like to pay for much of any treatment for TJM because they considered it self-inflicted. But mine was not.

In 2001 I actually had a great PCM and they referred me to an Oral Maxial Facial doctor to get treatment. I had to drive all the way from LR to Oklahoma City but the doctor there had gotten Tricare to pay for surgery before by wording the request the correct way. And since it was an injury that was the underlying cause and it was medically necessary they paid (I might add only 1/3 of the fees) for my jaw to be broke on one side only (he didn’t want to do both sides because of healing time and everything) and my PT afterwards. He told me that I would need to have the other side done in a few years as it would only get worse because of the strain on the jaw.

So…it seems it is now that time! YUCK! The doctor in the ACC couldn’t issue the referral so she wanted me to get into my PCM ASAP to get a referral to an oral maxial facial surgeon. I called as soon as I got out of the ACC and was basically told that I couldn’t get into my PCM until next week! WTH! So I have an appointment next week. I am going to call the doctor in OKC to see if he has any colleagues here in CO that might be able to help me. I have EVERY bit of my medical records from the last time where it was documented that the other side would need to be completed at a later date. I just really didn’t want this fight right now! I am in a ton of pain. It hurts to keep my mouth shut (because I use my jaw muscle to keep it shut) my ear is killing me because of the pressure that is on the ear, my headaches are only getting worse and now my arm is killing me because they game me a shot to help alleviate the pressure in the ear.

I did find a board certified Oral Maxial Facial doctor here in CO Springs and one in Aurora as well. But that is it for one within a 500 mile radius!

So…wish me luck all! I would like to get this done by this summer so that I can fully recoup by next fall!

Update on School

This would be the reason I am so far behind. I have mid-terms all this week and 2 huge projects due - one today and then one due next Wed. YUCK! I did really bad on my test in finance - a 64% but I had some extra credits so I used them to bump up my grade to a 72% but still...I am just not into school this sememster - Too Many Other Things To Worry About!

Friday, February 22, 2008

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 23:43:49 GMT

My Biggest Loser Update

Here are the latest videos...

Here are the introductions of all (but 1) of the contestants.

This is my update from last week...I swear I need to quit rolling my eyes. I totally look goofy!!

This is from the news station that keeps track of us. I swear it was funny telling the story about my movie adventure.

I am still in 3rd place. But I plan on taking over 2nd place next week. I found out how the only male in the contest is bringing in big numbers - he is sitting in the sauna before weigh in! So...I plan on doing just that! I am only 1 pound behind the 2nd place person!

Update on school

I am really stressing on school. It seems like every single project that is due this semester is due next week! WHY!!!! I am trying to write a team paper and I haven't received one person's part. Frustrating!!!

Update on Mom

She went in for surgery today and she did very good with it. But she is still having issues with her blood pressure. They have her on meds to try to get it under control. And her blood sugar is way too high as well so they have given her insulin to try to control that as well. She is still in ICU tonight and hopefully she will be able to come out of ICU tomorrow and maybe get to come home. I just don't know. So...prayers please!

Well...I am off to bed. Have a great night all!!!

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:05:28 GMT

My Biggest Loser Update

Hello all. This week has been very hard! The trainers have really worked us hard! Here are the latest videos from the radio compeition.

The younger girl in this video (below) is Megan! I took her into the radio show with me on Thursday.

Here are some pictures from this past week as well. The last one is way too funny!!!

This was taken right before we went in to be on the radio

This was us after our "last chance workout" Wednesday night. We had just finished our last set of crunches.

Here we are doing our crunches. I am the one in the Green and White outfit.

Ok...this was way too funny! We told Pete that we could hold him and to jump into our arms. So he did...It was way too funny!!!

I am in third place after this week with percentage lost so far. YEA!!!

Ok...on to other things. Mom goes into the hospital next Friday for her surgery...so please keep her in your prayers. Megan is driving now (legally and all insured now) I am scared to death so please keep her in your prayers! (and me because I swear every time she leaves the house I am all tensed up)

I am really tired lately and have been sleeping very hard. Hopefully I can get over this tiredness soon!!! Got to get to bed all! Have a great weekend!!

Friday, February 08, 2008

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 09:07:31 GMT

My Biggest Loser Video's

These are some of the videos from the contest that I am in here in CO Springs. This week I was the second highest weight loser this week with 2.8 pounds! YEA!!!! Remember to come visit the website often and leave me some love! I was told that I am not getting a lot of hits and they were wondering if I even had friends! I just told them I am not willing to do shameless plugs for their station.

EDIT

This is the first week video from the news station that is also keeping an update on us.

Saturday, February 02, 2008

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 00:19:25 GMT

Ok...I know I am slacking again. Things this week have been busy! I have so much stuff I am doing - yet again! But then...what would my life be if I didn't keep myself running ragged!

So my mom went in for her surgery today but for some reason she was running a fever and the doctor was a bit concerned about it. Plus her pulse oxygen was down as well. All of this basically killed the surgery today. I felt really bad for my sister...since she flew in from OKC. The doctor gave her some meds and a lung thingy ma bob (I know...such technical terms) to help with her pulse oxygen and they have rescheduled the surgery for the 22nd of Feb now. I guess the nice thing about this is I get to see DJ's taekwondo tournament up in Denver. and Tammy will get to spend the day with mom! Very nice! I know this will make my mom very happy to get to spend time with her.

Biggest Loser Update

So I have been hitting the gym everyday and today I think I might have pushed my knee too much. It was really killing me and I end up not being able to finish some of the circuits. But my trainer found something else for me to do but I still wish I had not hurt my knee. They have scheduled an appointment to see what is going on with the knee and I hope that it isn't going to hurt the competition.

When I weighed in on Thursday at the radio station I was down 2.4 pounds...but when I went to LA Weightloss right afterwards I am offically down to 165.4! OH WOW! That is 25 pounds from my goal weight! I am so excited! I have a mini goal of being down to 160 by the 15th of Feb. I really hope I can reach that goal as well! I am not sure were I am with the HB biggest loser challenge...but I know that I am only about 3 pounds away from my goal that I set. That is very good for me!

Oh well...I am need to get to bed. Got to get up very early! Have a great night all and a great weekend!!!