Weight Loss | BulgingButtons

July 15, 2013
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Oh the Joy!

It’s good to be home. I loved being on vacation and spending time with friends and family, but I’m happy to be back in my own house with my sweeties. I kept itching to write while I was away, but didn’t have the resources to pull it off. Oh sure, I could have used a pen and paper, but what fun would THAT have been? No, I wanted, but didn’t have, internet. But oddly, being disconnected (aside from the Facebook feed on my phone) was a good thing.

While I was gone I made good on my vow to have a fun, active vacation. I was playing soccer with the kids, taking long walks (and some short ones), and working out in the pool. I also found and purchased my pink boxing gloves. I LOVE them. I’m not entirely sure what to do with them yet, but just wearing them and jabbing at my teenager’s palms (making him laugh) was enough to have me hooked. I also got outfitted with a slick new pair of sneakers, so naturally I want to use them.

My vacation saw me down six pounds in spite of having every delicious thing I wanted. Yay, me! Now I have to take that attitude back to everyday life. My keys were fruit for breakfast, trying to be active everyday (I missed two days and felt like a slug), and eating what I enjoy, just less of it. So far, so good.

July 3, 2013
by BulgingButtons 2 Comments

Challenges for the Upcoming Year

Ok, I will give credit where credit is due. I totally stole this idea from the Goddess. You should read her blog, she’s awesome. You should especially read her Forty Challenges for My 40th Year post. She inspired me, and I told her I would be stealing her idea. Little did she know I would do it so soon! Now I’m a little older than the Goddess so I get a few more challenges than she does. I’m not really sure how to handle these. A spreadsheet seems like a good idea, but I wonder if I would ever get back to it. The Goddess has really pushed herself with her challenges. Mine will be smaller things, but still, I’m writing them down and letting you all see them. That’s a little scary all by itself.

Here goes in no particular order:

1. Get at least one piece of writing published, in print, not via internet

2. Commit to eating home cooked meals at least four times a week (eMeals is helping with this one, check them out!)

3. Leave the house in plenty of time to not rush every morning

4. Read 47 books

5. Start a writing group

6. Reconnect with old friends

7. Take my meds everyday until I no longer need them

8. Use the treadmill at least once a week (hey, you have to start somewhere!)

9. Try Zumba (even though I have two left feet)

10. Finish the charity quilt on my sewing table

11. Finish one UFO (unfinished object) per month (this would mostly be quilts)

12. Eat more fruit

13. Eat more vegetables

14. Drink less soda

15. Teach my son to drive (eeeeeeek!)

16. Take the dog to the dog park at least once a week

17. Finish the office to make it a nice place to work (clear out clutter and organize)

18. Donate unused items (just dropped off a bunch of items today but there’s more to get rid of)

19. Leave work at a reasonable hour each day

20. Limit pinterest addiction (it’s embarrassing, really)

21. Keep on blogging! At least once a week share thoughts, ideas, challenges, triumphs, etc through this forum

22. Learn how to be a better blogger (and a more widely read blogger)

23. Learn to box, really, I want pink boxing gloves and something to hit

24. Try to improve sleep habits

Ok, that’s enough for now. I’m nowhere near Goddess level, but for me it’s a start. Baby steps, that’s what I’m all about.

June 27, 2013
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A Toe in the Water

It’s hot here. Extremely, exceptionally, terribly hot. Not only that, but the polished, glossy weather men and women keep telling us that it’s only getting hotter. How does 118 sound, folks? Move your weekend plans inside. Don’t leave your pets out. Drink plenty of water. Yup, it’s hot.

Yes, I have air conditioning. Living without it would be like winter in the Great Lakes without heat. In fact that is exactly what I tell my mother when she calls from that region in summer and asks me if I have the air on. Does anyone ask if you have the heat on when it’s 4 degrees out? Didn’t think so.

Still, even with the air conditioning on, it’s hot. After all, I’m not made of money so I don’t keep it set too low. It’s usually somewhere between 80 and 82, depending on the time of day. It’s also quite noisy as it’s doing its best to keep me comfortable in my little slice of Hades. I don’t want to overwork it because I don’t want to kill it. And did I mention how much it costs to run that sucker? My electric bill in summer is a couple hundred bucks. Not being an heiress or hip hop star I do feel the pinch.

Long story short, I was hot last night, sticking to the leather sofa, and unable to cool down from the inside with a nice refreshing Fresca. Ugh. But then I remembered… I have a pool in my yard! I insisted on it when I bought my house two years ago. I spent a ton of money on it to get it up and running properly, and I dump in pricey chemicals to keep it pristine. It takes up virtually the whole yard, leaving just a slab for a couple of chairs and an umbrella. Why would I NOT use it?

Now it sounds like I never use it, which is untrue. I’m in there a couple of times a week (on a good week, anyway), but not nearly enough. I feel like I have this wonderful resource at my disposal and I need to take advantage of it. Once upon a time I used to be a lifeguard, complete with cute mesh shorts with the word “guard” emblazoned across my then size 14 butt. I loved the water then and still love it now. I need to use that love to my advantage. While the water’s warm (and it will be for a while) I need to get in that pool and GO!

For me it’s a little like this blog. I know how to write and share ideas, but I have to figure out the best way to do it and learn the ins and outs of blogging. I have to become competent with this platform, so that I can move through it easily and efficiently to achieve my goals. I’m not expecting perfection right away, just a toe in will do for a start. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m heading back to the pool.