Tag Archives: Magic Kingdom® Park

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12 Week Reward

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Well, after all the whining in my last post…IT HAPPENED! Twelve weeks and I made that 20 pound loss mark, 20.2 pounds actually. I am so beyond jacked!

I have four more weeks in my initial Noom registration. In that four weeks my goals are to lose five more pounds, to increase my two daily walks by 10 minutes for an extra 20 minutes a day, and to investigate some new diabetic-friendly recipes that are also calorie-friendly and Noom-friendly.

Anyway, today has been a very good day. Thanks for following along this journey, Dear Readers.

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

PS. I am booked at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort French Quarter for my 65th birthday. Finally plan to attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT. It’s something to plan for, and something to help me stay on the straight and narrow.

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19 Forever!!!!

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I have been stuck at 19 pounds lost for a couple of weeks now. Argh!!! I know I need to be happy with my 19 pounds. I’ve worked and fought hard for those 19 pounds. Yay, me, and all that, right?<SCREAM>

I keep telling myself that I’m building muscle, and muscle weighs more than fat. I keep reminding myself how much better I feel now than I did those 11 weeks ago. I keep reminding myself that I can walk upstairs without being completely out of breath now. I keep reminding myself that I am a strong, capable woman. I keep reminding myself that I can just keep doing this and eventually something, hopefully some fat, will shake loose. But this is frustrating!

So I ordered myself a Disney Halloween Spirit Jersey, to celebrate my hard work. It arrived today and cheered me up immensely. See the pictures? So pretty!

And so I’ll keep on keeping on to meet you at the Kingdom.

Donna

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Disney Dreaming

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Today I received a package in the mail. The return address showed that it was from Pixie Dust Delivery Service! My heart beat a little faster, my pupils dilated, and I let out an involuntary, “Woo hoo!”

A little over a week ago I messaged Amy at Pixie Dust Delivery Service and requested three, new Old Key West Resort things: a magnet, an ornament, and a shirt. (See photos below this blog.)

I really dig the new emphasis on the lighthouse, the palm trees and of course Mickey and Minnie Mouse! It was a real “treat myself” kind of moment and a much needed shot in the arm to my exhausted-from-working-out body.

You see, even though I’m being careful when I take my walks: knees slightly bent, rolling from heel through toes, tucking my pelvis under, staying as relaxed as possible, and above all breathing, breathing, breathing, I am tired! This is hard, sweat inducing, knees aching, ankles and hips protesting work! At my weight and at my age, a simple walk exhausts me.

This package today helps me to refocus, to embrace this new more active lifestyle, to savor healthier food choices. My trip to Disneyland Paris is ever closer to becoming a reality. And I am renewed in my determination to be a healthier me when I get there.

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

P.S. Thank you to http://www.disneyfoodblog.com for the photos! This is my favorite blog, and I check it out every day.

P.P.S. Thank you to Amy of Pixie Dust Delivery Service! I’ve ordered many time from Amy, and she has never let me down. Check her out at http://www.pixiedustdelivery.com.

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Halfway Through

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Today I begin my ninth week on Noom. It’s the halfway point as Noom is a sixteen week program. I’ve lost fifteen pounds in eight weeks, I am very happy with that result. My metabolism has finally kicked in so I am not gaining weight every other day like I was when I started. It’s a very livable program. The psyche tricks are good. The support is great. And it is exposing me to new ways of thinking about food and movement.

I’ve been having fun listening to some new music when I take my walks. Taylor Swift‘s new album, Love, has a couple of tracks that I’ve fallen for: ME! and You Need to Calm Down are very fun and poppy. The Jonas Brothers‘ Happiness Begins album is fantastic. I especially like Sucker, Cool, Happy When I’m Sad and Rollercoaster. The songs are great, and they are a good pace for my walk. And I’m enjoying the soundtrack to the movie Ugly Dolls. I mean, Kelly Clarkson, Janelle Monae, Bebe Rexha and Pentatonix all on one album? Yes, please!

So as I keep eating better and moving more, I am encouraged by my energy level and the feeling of well being that I have. This journey is really tough. Some days I drag myself out the door for a walk. Some days I fly out the door. Some days I wake up feeling strong and empowered. Some days I drag myself out of bed and struggle to put one foot in front of the other. But my resolve to stay the course is strong.

Thanks for hanging in there with me, Dear Readers. I truly appreciate your support and encouragement.

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

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merry christmas in july!

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Today I picked up a Disney Princess Musical Dancing Palace by Little People second hand through a local online marketplace. I brought it home then played with it with my youngest granddaughter. So fun! It felt like Christmas wrapped in Disney, wrapped in family fun.

In today’s featured photo you can see how much fun the baby was having with the palace and the figures. As soon as we would set the characters up to dance, she would pull them off of their places and bang them together while smiling and chatting.

At Christmas my oldest (3 years old) granddaughter will be here. I’m so excited to played with it with her, too!

Anyway it’s been a fun day. Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

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Christmas in July

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Ok, so here’s the deal. I love Christmas! When I say that, people usually say, “Oh, I like Christmas, too.” They do not understand. When I say, “I love Christmas,” I mean, I LOVE Christmas!! As a matter of fact, I love the whole month of December.

How could I not? My birthday is the first week of December. My brother’s birthday is the second week of December. My other brother’s wedding anniversary is the third week of December. Christmas is the fourth week of December. And then the month is capped off with the celebration of the New Year.

Party, party, party, right? And that’s pretty much the way it was at our house growing up. We had something to celebrate every single week, so who cared if it was cold and super snowy outside? It was a golden month.

So maybe you’ll understand why I celebrate Christmas in July. I watch Christmas movies on Hallmark. I drink my coffee in the morning out my favorite Christmas mug. And I make it a point to greet the people I see. Rather than “Merry Christmas”, I say, “Hello, how are you doing today?” No slipping by people with eyes averted. No being stuck in my own shell. I make a concerted effort to engage people.

It feels good. My mood is elevated. All seems right with my nearby world.

So “Hello, Dear Readers, how are you doing today?”

Meet me at the Kingdom!

P.S. I’m still Nooming and still watching the scale move slowly down. I’m getting in more steps each day, and I’m selecting foods that are good for my body. “I feel good, da da da da da da da. You know that I should now, da, da, da, da, da, da, da…”

P.P.S. Today’s featured photo is my son-in-love placing the tree topper on our Christmas tree. I love it!

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Turning 65 at Walt Disney World

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I’ve been thinking about turning 65 years old and becoming eligible for Medicare. It’s a year and a half away for me, but I’d like to celebrate it at Walt Disney World. I turned 60 there, and it just seems like this next milestone would be fun to be there, too. We wouldn’t be using our DVC points, because we’re saving those for Disneyland Paris in 2021. but I’ve always wanted to stay at Port Orleans French Quarter, and this may be the right opportunity to do so. Here’s what Disney has to say about it:

Revel in the romance and pageantry of New Orleans’s historic French Quarter at this Moderate Resort hotel, where cobblestone streets, gas lamps, wrought-iron balconies and fragrant magnolia blossoms evoke the Antebellum era and colorful Mardi Gras characters and jazz keep things lively.

We would take in the holiday sites, and go into EPCOT for one day so we could experience the Candlelight Processional.

A candlelight processional at Holidays Around The World at Epcot

Hear the stirring story of Christmas as told by a celebrity narrator, and accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and massed choir. 

The rest of the time we would wander our resort, walk around and explore Disney Springs more thoroughly, book dining reservations at places we’ve never been before, and chill.
Sounds like fun, right? It’s something fun to think about anyway.
Meet you at the Kingdom.
Donna
P.S. I finally reached the 10 pounds off mark. It took nearly four weeks. It’s a hard win. This is the toughest weight loss ever for me. Perhaps in the long run, it will be the best. Here’s hoping.
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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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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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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