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Riding the (Now) Life Style Wave

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This is my life now. Eating better and moving more.  I’ve befriended breakfast. I am eating regularly on a schedule whenever possible. I am mindful of my portions and measuring when in doubt. I am attempting to unprocess my diet. I am fighting to lose the way I label things, like “Oh well, I made a mistake so this whole day is shot. I might as well eat…” I have ditched the high calorie drinks. I am eating more mindfully, focusing on the food not distractions.

And yet I have resigned myself to the fact that losing weight quickly is a thing of the past for me. I am 63 years old, so I shouldn’t be surprised. Three weeks in I’ve lost nine pounds. Nine hard earned pounds. Just a drop in the proverbial bucket. But I feel so much better than I did three weeks ago. I mean, so much better. I have more energy. I have lost my sugar cravings. I am sleeping better. And I am moving more. Wins all around, right?

That’s where I am. Beyond the honeymoon phase and on to the hard-work phase. Now to just keep on keeping on.

Meet you at the Kingdom.

Donna

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Living with Peaks and Valleys

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My body is driving me crazy!! It’s never been this hard for me to take off some weight before. I’m nearly three weeks in, and I’ve only lost eight pounds. Eight freaking pounds! Being 63 years old and trying to take weight off is almost torturous. Argh!! So frustrating.

Here’s my current MO: I gain a bit of weight two days in a row, then I lose enough on the third day to put me at a new lower weight. Then it’s gain, gain, lose again and again and again.

There I needed to vent that. Now let me say how my life has improved in those same few weeks. My blood pressure is down to normal numbers. My blood sugar levels are so much better. I’m not exhausted after climbing a set of stairs. I have so much more energy. I’m not so depressed. And I just plain feel better. So…forget you scale! I am winning this battle ever so slowly, but surely.

This morning when I weighed myself, I was bummed! But after take my other stats, taking my daily walk, eating foods that actually fuel my body, and thinking and praying about it, I feel renewed.

I can do this. I can be healthier. And if I lose pounds along the way, that’s a wonderful side effect.  My focus has to be my health and wellness, not just my weight.

I want to be able to really enjoy walking around Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studio Parc is two years. And maybe even spend a couple days touring Paris. This is my goal. This is my journey. I’m claiming it, and I’m sending it out into the universe.

Meet me at the Kingdom!

Donna

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Delicious Day

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This morning I woke up with a craving. I wanted a bagel. I knew there were still two Thomas’s Everything Bagels in the bread cupboard, and some Philadelphia Cream Cheese in the fridge. My Noom app let me check out the calories, and it didn’t look bad. So I treated myself to a bagel and two tablespoons of cream cheese for breakfast. It was pure bliss! I used up all of my red calories for the day, but it was so worth it today.

Noom is structured in a red foods, yellow foods and green foods method. Red is not bad, but the goal is to keep those calories to 25% of daily caloric intake. They recommend 45% yellow foods and 30% green foods. Here’s what Noom has to say about red foods, “Red foods simply raise a red flag for foods that contain a lot of calories without filling you up. So while you can eat green foods in larger quantities, you need to be more mindful of how much red foods you’re eating.”

Noom does recommend a treat once a week, so that incredible bagel was my treat. Every time I put something in my mouth, I’m making a decision. Am I going to eat something that will build my body up like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins? Or am I going to settle for something that will excite my taste buds for a few minutes, but potentially sabotage my body like candy, cake, cookies, or the myriad or other sugary foods that I seem to prefer? Today I will choose the former. Since I had such a satisfying treat for breakfast, my lunch will be a salad, and my dinner will be baked salmon with a small portion of sweet potato and some fresh raw vegetables.

And today I will add five minutes to my walk. Five more minutes trucking to the sound of the JoBros. (I really love their new CD!) My body will thank me tomorrow.

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

P.S. My weight fluctuated in my preferred way this morning, down another half pound. A nice treat after yesterday’s weigh -in.

 

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Ebbs and Flows

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I had a perfect Noom day yesterday. I stayed in my calorie count. I exercised. I got my steps in. It was a wonderful accomplishment. However, when I weighed myself this morning fully expecting to weigh the same or slightly less than yesterday, I was .2 pounds up.

My first thought was That can’t be right. So I stepped on the scale again and again and one more time. It was right.

The body is a funny thing. the littlest things can make our weight fluctuate. I know this from previous weight programs: Weight Watchers, Tops, Jenny Craig, and many more. I have lost weight on all these programs, hundreds of pounds throughout the years. They all work. And I’ve put those pounds back on. But in all of them I learned that our bodies fluctuate. Sometimes we retain water. Sometimes we don’t. That’s why I’m not discouraged.

I’ve never been a fan of getting on the scale every day. It’s one of the rules for Noom. But I do think it is interesting to see how weight fluctuates daily, so I’ll keep hopping on that scale every morning.

I know I just have to keep on keeping on. Keep making healthy food choices within my calorie budget, keep getting my daily steps in, keep exercising, and keep believing that this change is possible. I can become a healthier me. I’m on my way there right now.

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

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Jasmine 2.0

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I went to see the live action movie Aladdin, yesterday. It was fantastic! This version of Jasmine is much stronger than the Disney cartoon version. SUPER SPOILER ALERT: She is so strong, and she actually becomes the Sultan by the end of the story! Yay, for women’s empowerment, and yay, for Disney, for letting a princess be more. She is by far the most qualified for the job. The realization that things had to change in the kingdom is a slow burn throughout the movie. I left the theater in a great mood. The music is amazing. It always has been, but the new songs are a perfect fit for the new story. I want to see it again. Maybe I can talk Mike into seeing it. 🙂

Meet me at the Kingdom

Donna

P.S. Thank you to Screenrant for the fantastic photo above.

P.P.S. I am six and a half pounds down since restarting Noom.  Since I am 63 years old, and have been on the program for a little over a week, I am pretty happy with that result.

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Disney’s Sequoia Lodge?

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Today’s featured image shows my sweaty, but happy, face after my walk. After being so sedentary for so long, it is a real challenge for me right now to take a 10-15 minute walk. But hope springs eternal, right? So each day that I take a walk is another milestone on the way to Paris. Step by step, I’ll get there.

And when I do get there, I hope to be staying at Disney’s Sequoia Lodge. I’ll use my Disney Vacation Club (DVC) points to stay there, so it’ll be like the hotel is paid for before I even get there.

Here’s What Disney has to say about it:

“Patterned after the classic inns of the American West, Disney’s Sequoia Lodge is a rustic retreat at Disneyland Paris Resort in France. Here, you’ll be surrounded by natural beauty—including lush pine trees and the shimmering waters of Lake Disney.

Stay Close To The Magic

From here, the theme parks are only a 15-minute walk away—and quicker by free shuttle. Disney’s Sequoia Lodge is also located conveniently close to Disney Village.

Dining

  • Hunter’s Grill and Beaver Creek Tavern, serving country-style cuisine in a log-cabin setting
  • Redwood Bar and Lounge, a cocktail lounge with a large, open fireplace

Recreation

Discover fun for everyone, with activities and recreation to delight all ages.

  • Indoor pool with waterslide
  • Seasonal outdoor pool
  • Sauna and steam bath
  • Fitness center
  • Boutique
  • Kids play area

Services & Amenities

Enjoy an array of comforts and conveniences to help you feel carefree and cared-for during your stay.

  • Wi-Fi Internet, available at no extra charge
  • Safety deposit box
  • Currency exchange
  • Room with access for Guests with disabilities
  • Disney and international TV channels
  • Dry cleaning (fees apply)
  • Concierge services
  • Shuttle service to the Disneyland Paris theme parks and Disney Village, available at no extra charge”

Sounds great, right? I am very excited at the prospect of visiting Disneyland Paris after all these years. I was last there in 1999. At the time there was only one park (now there’s two), and there were only three hotels onsite, now there are eight. It will be a whole new adventure.

Meet me at the Kingdom!

Donna

P.S. Hey, I just discovered that there is a whole new possibility for our DVC points. Villages Nature Paris would offer us accommodations with a kitchen. And we would have a bigger living space to all hang out together.

Hmm…three hotel rooms at Disney’s Sequoia Lodge, or one two-bedroom and one one-bedroom villa at Villages Nature Paris? Stayed tuned for more details.

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Motivation

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As you can see from today’s featured photo, I have a clear image of my goal. Disneyland Paris in March 2021. My eye is on the prize, and I am currently very motivated.

I have two other very important motivations to keep on keeping on. First, my blood pressure is higher than it should be. Second, my blood glucose levels are higher that usual. (Don’t worry; I have an appointment with my Doc soon.) Neither of these facts is surprising. From October through May, I ate every sweet that came my way, and truthfully, I went out of my way to get my hands on sweets.

Candy and bakery are my personal crack. Sugar has been my favorite friend for way too long. Our relationship has been a rocky one, and I now realize that I must say goodbye to this friend for awhile. Even though we may enjoy spending time with a friend, sometimes a particular friend can have a very negative influence on us. So bye-bye for now sugar. I will miss you, but I won’t miss the way you make me feel!

I know I’ve talked about it before, but I am a mean sugar consumer. I grew up with someone who could be a mean drunk, so I recognize the signs. Crankiness, over-reacting to situations, lashing out, and just general meanness. I don’t want to live my life in that space. Not at all.

So, Dear Readers, I look to the future, not forgetting my past, but remembering it so I can build toward a more positive tomorrow.

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

 

 

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Taking the Good Grains Path

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Today has been a wonderful Saturday. I started out my day with Stay Steady Cereal; I had their Original flavor. It was very tasty and sweeter than I expected with no artificial sweeteners. I found it on a Facebook ad. Here’s what they say about it:

“Eating on a low to no-sugar diet is tough. Plus, there simply are not a lot of convenient or tasty choices. That’s why we made The Steady Box!

6 StaySteady Cereals – included in every box… you pick the pack of flavors you want.

Plus, a changing mix of low-to-no-carb snacks each box. This box includes:

  • 6 Keep Healthy Bars – Low Net Carb
  • 2 SmartCakes – only 38 calories each and 0g sugar
  • 1 Bada Bean Bada Boom – yummy broad bean snack
  • 1 SmartSweets Sweet Fish – only 3g sugar for the bag 

FRIENDLY for…
Folks looking for diabetic friendly diet options to explore, weight management, and fitness diets.
Please note that we’ve included a fun mix of low-to-no-sugar snacks…”

The price is reasonable, and I had my first bowl of cereal today. As a diabetic on Metformin, I am always looking for low to no sugar choices. So far, so good. I’ll keep you posted as I go along to see if I think it’s worth it. The prices are actually pretty reasonable. Check them out at: goodgrains.com.

Well, Dear Readers, I’ve got to go. There’s a ten minute walk waiting on me. Disneyland Paris thought for the day: “Disneyland Paris is a magical holiday destination with two Parks filled with endless attractions, restaurants and shops for Guests of all ages.”-Disneyland Paris Website FAQ. Gosh, I sure hope so. I like aiming for a magical holiday destination, don’t you?

Thanks for reading, Folks. Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

 

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Routine and Surprise

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This morning I officially restarted Noom. So I weighed in (I hate that part), I’m logging my food, I did my ten minute lesson, and I started walking. Since I am retired, I can sustain the routine pretty easily. But I’ve got to tell you, I only walked for ten minutes, and it totally kicked my butt! (See the red, sweaty face in today’s photo.) The weight that I’ve regained in the last eight months is mostly in my belly and butt. Yugh! Moving around is so exhausting! That fat used to be more evenly distributed; now it’s concentrated in my mid-section. I’m not discouraged; however, I realize that I have  a long road ahead of me. I am not at all defeated, defeat for me is defined by quitting. I will not quit!

In 21 months we hope to vacation at Disneyland Paris. As Disney Vacation Club members, we can trade our points for five nights at Disney’s Sequoia Lodge in Marne-la-Vallee, France. We’d like to go Paris rather than Orlando next time so Emi (my daughter who lives in England) and her family don’t have the expensive flights for one vacation. So we’ll spend five nights there, visit the parks for two or three days, and head into Paris for a day or two.

This trip is my long term motivation for sticking to better food choices and for keeping more movement/walking in my daily life. I have 21 months to do this, and I want to focus every day of those 21 months on a healthier, more mobile lifestyle.

Now for the surprise: we had a short, but very sweet, drop-in visit from our dear friends Wayne and Caleb. They swung in for a cup of coffee on their way to a conference. What a delightful treat! It was a slice of Yooper heaven. Mike and I grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, so we are Yoopers born and bred. This visit was such an unexpected blessing!

Thank you for you faithfulness, Dear Readers! Meet me at the Kingdom!

Donna

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Starting down the Road Toward Disneyland Paris

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Hello Dear Readers,

Well, I finally decided to face the music. Ever since our trip to Walt Disney World in October of 2018, I have been completely off the rails.  Eating every sugary thing in sight, and sitting all day long. I’ve packed on over 30 pounds, and I feel pretty lousy.  Low energy, cranky most of the time, isolating myself. And frankly, I’ve been a bit depressed.  Wow! First world problems, right??

I restarted Noom, an online weight management program, today. It worked well for me before, so I re-upped. Tomorrow I start my daily walks again. And I will choose less dense foods, foods with more water content. For example I’ll choose a cup of grapes over a 1/4 cup of raisins. I’ll pick 1/4 pound of salad over 1/4 pounder from McDonalds, a hard-boiled egg over a fried egg, lettuce rather than a tortilla for a wrap, and a baked potato over fries.

I’m also going to start some self talk when I walk. “Heart, this walk is for you, to make you stronger. Legs, this walk is for you, to build more muscle. Brain, this walk is for you, to get more oxygen to you.” Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

My ultimate goal is looking toward March 2021, when we hope to meet up with the kids and grandkids at Disneyland Paris for 6 days/5 nights. Lord willing and the creek don’t rise…  We make plans and God smiles, right? But this goal will help to keep me on track. They do not have ECVs there, only wheel chairs, so I want to be able to get myself around the parks. I want to enjoy every minute of our time together there.

So here we go again, dear friends. One foot in front of the other, one healthy meal at a time. Will I sustain it forever? I believe I can. Mostly I believe I can do it today. And tomorrow is a new opportunity to do it again.

Join me on this road to Paris. The possibilities are so exciting. The road is mine, with the help of God, to create and choose.

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

Pilgrimage to better health to meet Mickey. A 14 month Quest.