January 2021 Update

It's been a pretty good month! I am going to try and check in at least monthly this year, to keep myself accountable, and to try and not disappear again!

Let's look at the goals I set for January and see how I did.

With regards to weight loss, I have been struggling with these last 15 pounds or so. I started January at 162.4 and I am ending January exactly as 160.0. I didn't lose the 4 pounds I wanted, but I did lose 2.4 so that is better than nothing. I think I might need to get even stricter with my keto to get where I need to, or add in more activity.

Speaking of activity, I have been adding in more steps every day. I also try and run/bounce on my mini trampoline whenever I walk by it. This has increased my steps from under 2,000 a day to over 5,000 a day. I know a lot of people do way more than that, but I am working on it. I am finding it very difficult with a sedentary job. This takes care of my move for 10 minutes a day challenge.

I did get around to cleaning off my living room desk so that was a plus, but I didn't get around to my office desk or my living room end table. Hopefully in February!

All my other goals for January I completed. I now read at least 10 pages every day, but usually it's much more. Sometimes I get so into my book it's midnight and I can barely still read through my slowly closing eyes. I set out to read at least 1 book in January, but I have finished 4! One was an audiobook (review on my review site), one was a physical book, one was a Kobo ebook, and one was a NetGalley ebook from the publisher (which has now been reviewed on my review site). To keep up with what I am reading and my reviews feel free to follow my review site and/or my Goodreads page.

I enrolled in, and completed, not one, but two virtual run challenges! I haven't received the medals in the mail yet, so keep an eye out for that soon. I completed The English Channel and The Inca Trail. I have just started Mount Everest. I am loving the motivation in the group and just having that goal to work towards. If you are interested in trying out any of the virtual challenges click this link for 10% off.

I have also been making sure to run the dog every single day, no matter what. Even if I come home dead tired I just look into those happy puppy eyes and I just muster through it. It just makes him so happy, and who knows how much time he has left.

I have also been meditating every single night. I usually do this right before bed and it helps me settle in and calm my mind. This has worked wonders for my anxiety and paranoia and wild thoughts while I try to fall asleep. I have been very happy with my progress.

I have reduced my social media time drastically. I no longer check Facebook during the week at work, and since I rarely turn my home computer one during the week, I rarely check in at all during the week, except for the odd scroll through my feed on my new phone.

So overall, a great month. I look forward to February and seeing the new goals I can achieve. 

What are your goals? How have you been progressing?

2021 Goals and Update

 

It's 2021! Finally!

I know it's been a tough year for many of us, some more so than others. My year wasn't great, but it wasn't horrible either.

So where have I been? Since my last post I have gone through so much. I had to take a year off work due to illness and chronic pain, I went to see multiple specialists and most couldn't help me. We almost lost our home. The last specialist finally helped me a little, and I was happy with that at the time. It was decided that I had nerve damage and with some medication and CBD oil I was able to manage the pain enough to go back to work. I started with a 6 month contract position to make sure I could handle a full-time job again before accepting a permanent position, which I am happy to say I have been at for just over a year and only missed 2 days due to illness, unrelated to my previous medical issues. (I got the flu.)

However, I continued to put on weight, even though I was barely eating anything due to the pain. It was very frustrating. My highest weight reached was 190.9 at the beginning of August 2020 and seeing that number on the scale crushed me. My clothing was tight. I was uncomfortable. I had pain everywhere. I had no energy. I felt old. My husband came to me and mentioned all the research he had been doing on keto and carnivore and suggested we try it. He said not only would it help with weight, but also physical and mental health. I was willing to try anything!

On August 9th of 2020 we started keto. My husband went more the carnivore route but I found I was having a very hard time eating enough food due to the past pain associated with eating, especially meat. I had been watching a lot of YouTube keto videos and had stumbled across a product called Keto Chow. This was my saving grace. I find that by having a Keto Chow at work for my breakfast/lunch and then eating one meal for dinner and also an after dinner snack I was able to get closer to my required calories, and I began to lose weight. I also started adding in 18/6 intermittent fasting, and that has been great as well. I just kind of naturally moved into it without even trying because eating keto keeps me satisfied much longer.

As of today I weigh 162.6 lbs, a total weight loss of 28.3 lbs! The most I have ever lost on any diet I have tried before. I don't even remember the last time I weighed that low. This is exciting. Low carb works for me! I haven't cheated in the 5 months I have been eating this way, and it shows. AND I don't really miss anything!

I plan on continuing this way of eating until I reach my target weight goal, which currently is 150, but once I hit that I might try for even lower! But 150 has always been my main goal. Once I hit that goal I plan to maintain by adding back more carbs, but still staying low carb, but just not as low as keto. I also plan on starting to work in some more movement and exercise. I have been looking into some virtual challenges to help motivate me, both in FitBit (I got a new FitBit versa 2 for Christmas) and with The Conqueror Events.

Anyhow, blah, blah, blah...here are my goals for 2021, which will also be tracked on my Goals page.

January 2021

• lose 4 pounds (1 a week)
• clean off my main home office desk
• clean off my living room desk
• clean off my living room end table
• read 10 pages at least a day
• move for at least 10 minutes a day
• read at least one book
• start a virtual challenge (more info to come later)
• attempt to meditate at least 5 minutes a day
• work on paying down debt
• run the dog in the yard daily

2021

• read 10 pages at least a day
• read at least 15 books
• move for at least 10 minutes a day
• complete at least 1 virtual challenge and receive medal
• blog more
• review books
• work on meditating daily (Waking Up or something similar)
• learn to kayak
• lose at least 15 pounds (goal weight of 150 or less)
• buy new clothes that fit
• work through anxiety book(s)
• knit more from stash
• finish more WIPs
• knit a pair of socks
• clean off hutch and file paperwork
• clean of dresser
• sort and clean out old clothes
• clean the house more 
• work on paying down debt
• run the dog in the yard daily

Lifetime Goals

• visit Costa Rica
• visit Machu Pichu
• visit France
• visit Scotland
• visit Greece
• go on the October Vampire Tour to Transylvania
• visit Stephen King's house
• finish a novel
• publish a novel

Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead

Life has gone to shit.

Anyone following my blog knows I have been dealing with health issues for many years now, the most recent issue having started after a very bad gallbladder attack April 30th of last year. I started to get this pain in my sternum area, and it would progress down to a squeezing burning type pain under my breasts. This pain mostly came from eating, and sometimes if I had not eaten for a long time.

I ended up in the hospital in the summer and they found an ulcer and gastritis. This was treated, and follow-ups showed no further issues. But yet the pain continued.

In October I had my gallbladder removed. This helped with the intense attacks I would sometimes get in the middle of the night that were so bad I could barely breathe and almost always cause me to vomit until relief finally came. But, this did not help with the pain I experienced after every meal.

The pain got so bad that even with liquid and soft meals it would come. It got so bad that it was constant. Yet no one can seem to figure out what it is. I wake up with a sore throat every morning. I get super nauseous when I lie down. Sometimes I wake up abruptly as what feels like hot acid comes up my throat and out, sometimes this even happens when I am sitting reclined in my chair relaxing! We have tried every stomach medicine and nothing works, often it makes matters worse.

I have another specialist appointment in August. This doctor specializes in the liver, pancreas, sphincter of oddi, etc. I really hope he can help me, but after already seeing so many doctors related to this issue, (at least 7), I am not holding my breath.

The pain is so bad currently that I can barely sit up in an office chair for more than a few minutes. If I recline it back I can at least get comfortable, but then I need to move my keyboard and mouse closer to me. I have a setup in my living room right now with a wireless keyboard and mouse with my laptop.

I had to leave my job. It was busy tax season and I obviously couldn't keep up, and they needed someone there that could. I might be able to return if I ever get better, but there is no guarantee.

I remembered a movie I saw once called Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, by Joe Cross. I searched on Netflix and it was there. I immediately watched it again. This was it, this could be the answer! A 30-day juice fast to "reboot" my system. I remember the first time I watched this I said to myself, I could never do that, that's crazy! This time when I watched it something Joe said hit a nerve, he said that people often say they can't do it, without even trying, but that all changes once you get to your breaking point. His breaking point was at age 41. I am also 41.

We already owned the book as well so I flipped through it, picked my plan, and prepared to start. I dug out the juicer and made sure it still worked. It's an oldie but a goodie!

The next thing I did was weight myself. The day before I started transitioning I weighed in at 183.5 pounds. I certainly wasn't happy about that!

I decided to transition in slowly since I had been eating pretty badly. After already trying soft foods, and liquids, and it not helping, I had pretty much given up caring what I ate. I was still gluten free so I didn't have to worry about transitioning that out. Day one I stopped chips. I had eaten the last I had and refused to but more. The second day I did the same with chocolate. The next day I went down to one tea with sugar. The next day no tea or sugar. The last day before my transition I was only drinking juice and eating fruit.

Today, Thursday, April 5th, 2018, is my first all juice-only day.

Let's hope this helps! And even if it doesn't, at least it will reboot my system and my taste buds and I will crave healthier food instead of junk. Joe said he sometimes feels lucky that he got sick, that a dramatic change was what he needed before he killed himself with his unhealthy lifestyle. Hopefully I will one day feel lucky that I got sick as well...

A Rough Week

This week was not nearly as good as the previous week.

Let's look at the goals and compare.

Week Ending January 14, 2018

• visit the gym at least twice (no visits)
• participate in at least one group class at the gym (no visits)
• visit the ROM at least once - COMPLETED
• work out at least three times (none)
• get steps goals at least three times of 5K or more (only once)
• go to work all five days (missed Friday)
• complete SBK up to June 2016 (no)
• complete HSKBK May 2017 (no)
• put 5% of received pays into my savings account (gross) (no pays this week)
• practice Spanish every day - COMPLETED
• pick up a new phone (delaying)
• cut out gluten (mostly)
• make a smoothie for breakfast at least two times this week (no)

I was having such a tough time this week with pain that I didn't want to push it so I didn't go to the gym and didn't do any workouts. I am upset about this, but I know forcing myself would have only made my body worse.

I only went over 5,000 steps one day, and that was the day I visited the ROM. However, I did get very close on 4 other occasions (4,968, 4,883, and 4,617) so I don't feel too horrible about this when taking into account my pain levels. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were almost complete washes however during the highest levels of pain those days. Saturday I spent pretty much the entire day in bed.

I did get a new Fitbit badge though! Not too shabby having only received the Fitbit on Christmas day!

I ended up missing work Friday due to the pain levels. I am hoping my body is slowly getting used to working regularly again and will actually be able to make it through an entire 5 day work week this week.

I visited the ROM on Tuesday and chose the Wildlife Photographer of the Year as my first exhibit to visit. I really enjoyed it. I was happy to have at least one wolf picture in the exhibit and even picked up a postcard as a memento.

I have decided to delay my phone pickup for the time being until I see how my health hopefully stabilizes. No need for a new phone if I end up losing my job due to illness.

The gluten I did cut out, but then my loving husband made dinner one night and completely forgot and made something with gluten in it, and I had no idea until it was too late. Poor guy felt so horrible when we figured it out. Oh well, at least he will remember next time!

I have been enjoying learning Spanish with Duolingo. The program says I am 15% fluent now, but I highly doubt that. But I do know how to say the cat eats ducks in Spanish...although I have no idea why I would ever need to say that!

Let's hope for a better week next week, although it's not looking good at this point as the pain levels are still incredibly high... I am going to reduce them a bit for the coming week.

Week Ending January 21, 2018

• visit the gym at least once
• participate in at least one group class at the gym
• visit the ROM at least once
• work out at least three twice
• get steps goals at least three times (5K or more)
• go to work all five days
• complete SBK up to June 2016
• complete HSKBK May 2017
• put 5% of received pays into my savings account (gross)
• practice Spanish every day
• cut out gluten
• make a smoothie for breakfast at least two times this week
• study at lunch at least twice this week

I think that's it for this week! Hopefully much better results next check in!

A Good Week

This has been a good week!

To start with, this is my second blog post this year already! That's a good way to start!

Secondly, I went to work every day last week. Due to my illness and pain levels recently it's been rare when I could say that.

Thirdly, I actually went to the gym this week (today in fact) and did a full 60-minute step class!

Let's check out the weekly goals list and review:

Week Ending January 7, 2018

• get a gym membership - COMPLETED
• get a ROM membership for lunchtime walking - COMPLETED
• visit the gym at least twice
• participate in at least one group class at the gym - COMPLETED
• visit the ROM at least once
• work out at least three times
• get steps goals at least three times - COMPLETED
• weave in ends on Andrea's cowl - COMPLETED
• soak Andrea's cowl - COMPLETED
• block Andrea's cowl - COMPLETED
• go to work all four days - COMPLETED
• complete SBK up to June 2016
• complete HSKBK May 2017
• frog at least one project - COMPLETED
• put 5% of December and January received pays into my savings account (gross) - COMPLETED
• finish at least one WIP
• practice Spanish every day - COMPLETED
• complete clue #1 of the CK New Year's MKAL - COMPLETED

A few notes:

I only visited the gym once, but I am OK with that because I had to start somewhere. I almost didn't go today either, but I forced myself. This is where it needs to start!

This week getting back to work and staying at work all week was my main goal. Due to that being my main focus, and the severe cold this week, I didn't push myself to go out and visit the ROM on my lunch breaks. Hopefully this week!

I didn't work out three times this week, but I did work out twice! I am OK with that as well. One time at the gym, and one time on my elliptical in the basement.

For the steps goal I realize I didn't actually set a goal, so can't really say I met it. But! This week I hit over 2K twice, over 3K twice, and over 4K the other three days, so I am calling that a win! Today, thanks in a large part to the step class, I hit over 8K steps! They gave me a nice little badge for completing over 5K steps in a day. Working towards the 10K one!

That step class was a super awesome workout. I love how my Fitbit tracks everything and rewards me with cute little badges like the ones above. Below is the impact image from my class. Love it!

The bookkeeping goals have been a complete wash because I have been too exhausted and working on getting the right amounts of sleep. Fitbit helps me track that too!

I also didn't finish and WIPs, but that's because I have had to put them aside for a timed brioche test knit. I will go back to the WIPs after the test knit is completed and submitted.

Goals for this week!

Week Ending January 14, 2018

• visit the gym at least twice
• participate in at least one group class at the gym
• visit the ROM at least once
• work out at least three times
• get steps goals at least three times (5K or more)
• go to work all five days
• complete SBK up to June 2016
• complete HSKBK May 2017
• put 5% of received pays into my savings account (gross)
• practice Spanish every day
• pick up a new phone
• cut out gluten
• make a smoothie for breakfast at least two times this week

That's about it for this week! I hope to see everyone again next week for a new update.