Sleep Apnea

My mom went to the hospital last night to have her sleep test done...since they think she might have sleep apnea. My dad she would often slow down or stop breathing for short periods of time...and that she has been doing it for decades. She got the call that there was a cancellation...and she packed her bags and headed for the sleep center.

She said it was a little chaotic...and weird...but also fun. The nurse running the test said that she probably did have sleep apnea, but the doctor would have to call her and actually tell her if she did or not. She said the next step would be talking about oxygen levels and fitting her for a sleeping machine, if she needs one. They ain't pretty...but who needs to be pretty while you sleep?

I am so glad she went....she was supposed to have this done years ago, but she kept rescheduling and cancelling because she thought it would be embarassing to sleep at the hospital. One of the great things that came out of my mom having to be in the hospital...was that it got her to let go of a lot of that and realize that she needs to be do whatever she needs to do to insure that she remains healthy.

Other than that...no real news...except that I walked to work today. I have had enough of the gas prices. I figure...instead of just bitching about them, I am going to stop buying as often. I only work about 2 miles from home...so, I am throwing on my sneakers and hiking myself to work and back. Most people work far enough away from home...they don't have that option, so I consider myself lucky.

Week 16 Weigh In: Sneaks here I come!

Hi y'all...this week, I was either spot on or completely off. I had some mistakes...I ate out a little bit too much. The cute pizza boys convinced me to have a few slices midweek...but I said no to the free slices on Saturday, so all is not lost. And I also ate out a couple more times...Subway and a grilled cheese sandwich. Eating out is never good for a diet, but the positive is that I ate out and made better choices than I have in the past. I also ramped up my workouts in hopes of still making my weight loss goal of 3 lbs this week so I can get to my next mini-goal.

Here are the results:




That's right...I lost 3 pounds last week. I do think it is kind of a miracle. I think my days of paying attention and being override the days of being not so good. More importantly...the loss means that I got to my next mini-goal...and that a reward of a pair of new sneakers is on the way. (which is desperately needed btw since one of my pair of sneaks broke last week.) I think I know the pair I want...so I will head to the mall either today or tomorrow after work and get to shopping for them. Also...it's great to see on that ticker above that I have lost 30 lbs...and have only 20 lbs to go. I know this last 20 will be the hardest to lose, but I am committed to it. This is usually when I start to lose steam...I know I look better, etc...so it is easier to stop seeing the end goal at this point. But I am not going to...I am going to keep trucking on.

Goals this week:
1. At least 100 oz. of water daily.
2. Work out 4-6 times...at least twice using strength training (I didn't do any strength training last week either...it HAS to get done this week.)
3. Walk to work everyday that it doesn't look like rain.
4. Buy my new, fancy, well deserved sneakers.

Skinny Jeans Update!

Yes that is right folks...I am writing this post while wearing my skinny jeans. I was able to "fit into" them a few weeks ago, but well....my legs looked like packed sausages. It wasn't a pretty picture....trust me! So...today while I was cleaning and watching "When Harry Met Sally" for the millionth time...I decided to try them on.

And they fit...actually fit...and they even have a little give in the legs. I could wear these jeans out in public and feel like a normal person.

whoo hoo!

The dividends of hard work, eh?

we live in a free society???

Hmm...we talk about spreading freedom throughout the world, eh? Why don't we start at home. I am so sick of hearing how we want to liberate the rest of the world...while we keep limiting people's freedoms in this own country.

My new anger...at everything in the Bush Administration is at the reaction from the protester at the ceremony for Chinese President Hu. Here is an article if you didn't hear about it.

Does it upset me that she was taken out of there by secret service? Not really. She was there with a press pass and if she wasn't doing what she was there for...then fine, remove her. My problem is that she was arrested and now she is being charged with a felony. She was already charged with a misdemeanor of disorderly conduct. I didn't know speaking your mind and saying something to a political leader was disorderly conduct. Why isn't John Kerry in jail...he said a lot of things to a political leader. Why isn't Jon Stewart in jail? He makes a living off saying negative things about political leaders. But in reality, I am not as upset about that...I could see the other side. She was there for an alternative reason, so she was charged with disorderly conduct. Fine. I don't agree, but fine. I understand that freedom of speech doesn't allow you to say whatever you want, whenever you want....but there is a fine line there. She didn't yell fire in a theatre...she told political leaders that she wants their discriminatory policies to stop. *grumbles*

But now...she is being charged with a felony. Or at least the press says she should be charged with it sometime today. The official charge will be "Intimidating or disrupting a foreign official." Hmm...so that is something that someone can go to prison for? Really? Wow.

I am just so disappointed in our country, in this administration, in our President.

It seems to be becoming illegal to speak your mind these days...if you disagree with what the President has to say. He arrested numerous protesters who came to his campaign events during the election. Freedom of speech, eh? He had Cindy Sheehan taken out of the State of the Union address and detained because he didn't like the political message on the shirt she was wearing. She was released and a quiet apology was given after the fact. Freedom of speech, eh? And now this...a woman who was there as a newsperson for Falun Gong, a banned religious group in China, ended up having something to say. She was removed, detained and now is being charged with numerous crimes. Freedom of speech, eh?

I had better stop this post right now...before my freedom of speech ends up with my being detained and possibly heading off to prison.

Week 15 Weigh In: a little bit of everything...

Hello kiddos....it's officially been 15 weeks. This week wasn't the best week for me.

One, I tried an experiment...and didn't really like the result. I decided to not count my calories this week...cause I might be too OCD about counting them. I decided to just try to eat well and then see how I did. Well...since I wasn't writing it down, I over-indulged.

Two, an had an attack of the peanuts! I bought a can of peanuts and just couldn't stop eating them. It is a healthy snack...but eating a whole can over the span of just two days is just not right. I am not going to buy those cans of peanuts anymore.

Three, it was Easter this weekend. I ate well...had veggie soup, salad and some homemade bread, but I still ate more than I usually do. It was yummy...and on the positive, I didn't eat tons of candy or anything.

Four, I didn't workout as much as I usually do this week. I had a HUGE migraine on Friday, so I skipped that workout and I rested on Saturday since the headache just wiped me out.

All in all...not the best week, so I wasn't looking forward to this weigh-in.




And the results are...I lost one pound this week. I was imagining a maintain this week, so I am happy about the one pound. The fact that I lost anything at all seems like some sort of miracle given all the negative aspects of this week that I listed above. I plan on doing a lot of things differently this week.

Goals for this week:

1. Go back to counting my calories...don't fix what ain't broke!
2. Workout at least 4 times...hopefully six.
3. Drink at least 100 oz. of water each day...aim for 128 oz. (that's a gallon)
4. Do at least 2 strength training workouts this week. I did NONE last week. Bad Shelley!!!

That's it...wish me luck this week. I would LOVE to lose 3 lbs this week and get to my next mini-goal...which would be buying a new pair of sneakers. I know which pair I want to get...I think, I just need to lose those 3 pesky pounds and earn the reward of buying them!!

Food Review: Soy Crisps

Hi everyone! I went shopping with the family on Saturday and we ended up at BJ's...you know...the wholesale/warehouse place where you can buy 8000 crossaints at a time. Yep...that place. I usually don't buy a lot there since I live alone, but I did buy these lovely snacks....the Soy Crisps.

Now most people think of soy and the reaction is often not positive. People think of dry, tasteless soy like rice cakes. I fully expected these to taste a lot like that...but with a little sweet flavoring on it. It would be a healthy snack, but nothing to write home about, you know?

Let me tell you...I think this is best snack I have ever had. I bought the box that packages them in 100 calorie servings. They come in 3 yummy flavors....Cookie Dough, Rich Coffee and Pretzel Crunch. They taste like really good candy too. The Rich Coffee one is my favorite...and the little bag of them is pretty filling too.

mmmmmmmm........

Seriously....dude...if you ever see them in the store...buy them!!! I shared the box with my mom which means I have 10 of the small little bags. I don't think these bags are going to last me very long. I might have to go back to BJs stat and buy some more!

scrubbed the kitchen floor....

So, if you have been reading...you will notice that I have been on a cleaning kick lately. I spent a good deal of my day off from work yesterday taking a once over the bathroom and kitchen. Things in the kitchen were clean...but the floor hasn't been mopped since I don't know when....probably since I moved in.

So, I got down on my knees and used a sponge and just hand mopped the whole thing...I used some serious elbow grease when cleaning it. I finished and wanted to see a sparkling, clean kitchen floor....and to say the least, I was disappointed. It looked a little better, but not much...it still looked dirty because the tile is so old and just has some "will be there forever" stains. I want my kitchen to look like I spent all this time on it...pouts...I guess knowing it is clean is good enough.

*pouts*

Good news for BoSOX!

I can't believe I haven't mentioned this already....baseball is upon us! A lot of people are talking about how Boston is set to have a less than stellar year.....that there are too many question marks and that they don't have that strong of a line-up.

Well...things seem to be starting well for those who love everything Boston. Boston's record is 6-1, which places them atop of the East. And who is sitting right down there at the bottom...hmmm....could it be the Yankees? I know...I'm petty. I accept it.

And...I can't be happier that David Ortiz signed a new contract that extends his stay in Boston to 2011. I am glad to see that Big Papi plans on staying in Boston since Manny seems to change his mind every other day.

I know there are so many games left in the season...so this nice start doesn't mean a heck of a lot, but I sure like the way Boston is starting the season.

LET'S GO RED SOX!

Week 14 Weigh-In: downward trend

The last 4 weeks...have really been nice to me in terms of my weight loss, etc. I put in the work...and I got the reward. It's nice though...since for about a month I didn't do a damn thing to help my weight loss goals and in fact did a lot to sabotage them. So, it's nice to see my life centering around being healthy and around making good choices. Oh yeah...and it's nice to see the scale going down too. So, let's get to it...here is the result from last week:




That's right...I lost three whole pounds last week. I was somewhat surprised when I stepped on the scale. I thought I would lose 1 lb...maybe 2, but I didn't think I would lose 3! I am so excited for a couple of reasons. One...obviously...because I lost three friggin pounds. And secondly because I have lost a total of 26 pounds. I am more than 50% to goal for the first time since I set out to lose 50 lbs. It feels great to see that ladybug closer to the finish line than the start.

*does the happy dance*

Now that I have done half the work...it's time to stay focused and keep on until I get to that finish line.

My goals for next week are:

1. Drink at least 100 oz. of water every single day.
2. Workout at least 4 times this week...aim for 6.
3. Keep my calories between 1500 and 1800 each day.
4. Starting shopping for sneakers...since in 4 lbs I get to buy a new pair of sneaks. (I need to know what I want to buy).

*singing*

Today is my big brother's birthday...he's the wise age of 31 years old. It's still strange for me to think that my brother is over 30.

So...wish my brother a happy birthday.

*sings*

Happy Birthday to you....
Happy Birthday to you....
Happy Birthday Shelley's brother....
Happy Birthday to you....

the cleaning continues....

Did the kitchen get cleaned on Tuesday???

CHECK

Did the bathroom get cleaned on Wednesday???

CHECK

Today I am scheduled to clean the utility/workout room. That one shouldn't be too tough to clean...I just need to organize my pile of recycling, etc. And then I need to take the recycling out on Saturday instead of just letting it pile up.

Friday..I am cleaning my living room. That one will be a bigger job since I live in that room most often.

You know...if I stay motivated...and that is the key...this just might work.

And it is a nice feeling. I loved walking into a clean bathroom this morning when I woke up. And...having a clean kitchen yesterday made making my dinner so much easier.

clutter-rama!!!

Anyone who knows me...in real life...knows that I tend to be on the messy side. Yes, I know...that was a huge understatement. I clutter...I don't through anything away...I put things off. And I get in the same cycles over and over again...I let the apartment go into it truly becomes a hole...and then I spend a whole weekend cleaning and vow never to let it get like that again. A few weeks later...the apartment is once again a hole.

You know...I am quite sick of this cycle. So, I have a plan. It's a simple plan...probably one that a 5 year old could figure out, but well...never too late, eh?

Yep, you guessed it...my apartment is once again a hole. So...this week I am spending an hour a day cleaning a different room. Today, I cleaned the kitchen. Tomorrow, I am cleaning the bathroom. Thursday, I am cleaning the living room. Friday, I am cleaning the utility/workout room. Saturday, I am cleaning my bedroom and sorting laundry. Sunday, I am bringing some laundry to my parents house and GETTING IT DONE.

And after this week...or spending time everyday cleaning. I am keeping it up. Each day, I am spending a little time cleaning that one room. So, if every Monday I clean my kitchen...then it can't get all messy and dysfunctional in a few weeks time. And the same for the bathroom...living room...bedroom, etc.

You see...then I know what needs to be tidied up because I made a schedule out of it. And knowing me...I am making a poster telling me which room I should be cleaning on which day and posting it on the fridge.

You know I think this might just work...and if it does, I would be so happy. I would love to turn myself into the type of person who has a clean, neat apartment. I want to be proud of my apartment when I walk in...and not just immediately roll my eyes. That's not too much to ask is it... And yes, sadly it has taken me to the ripe old age of 28 to figure out how to make a cleaning schedule. *shrugs*

Week 13 Check-In: Good news all around....

It's week 13 and things are still going well. I kept on track really well this week...and didn't allow eating and hanging out with friends to totally mess up my weight loss game. So, here are the results:




That's right...I lost 2 pounds this last week. I am almost halfway to my goal....wow, that really hit me for the first time when I wrote it down. And the kicker...I completed 7 workouts this past week. I did two strength training workouts and 5 cardio runs on my elliptical. I ended up going 14.35 miles on my elliptical this last week.

And..I can fit into all my jeans now. I used to be able to fit into my "fat" size 12 jeans, but the other size 12s still didn't fit. I tried on the rest of the size 12s and they fit. They are snug and make me look like a stuffed sausage, but well...they fit! Yippee...

Life is good folks, life is good!

good news

Yep...good news. My mom came home from the hospital on Thursday afternoon. She is very happy to be in her own home again....and so are my dad and I. She still has a nurse come in once or twice a week, draw some blood and check on how everything is going.

She really is in great spirits and is motivated to do some of those changes that she knows she needs to make.

I couldn't be happier. It was terrifying to think of how badly this could have gone.

I *heart* my mom.

Enjoy the weekend y'all!