ME ME ME ME ME TIMES THREE

Mrs.4444

Where is a Wizard when you need one? Lions, Tigers and Bears, oh my! Okay it's more like gophers, snails and lizards, oh my!  We cannot get rid of a gopher in our yard. We have smoke bombed him, poisoned him, gopher buzzer thingy in the ground him, given him gum, etc, etc, etc. and everyday he is back. Last year we had one and some of the guys from England told Mark to put urine the holes. He did leave so we are back to pee in the hole! (and no the guys are not standing outside peeing)

The snails are a challenge now because of my garden. Can't put out snail pellets because of the dogs. So we gather them up each morning and put them in the green trash bin to give them a home at the dump. I looked for some natural ways to kill them. (Like that's any better!) Anyway I read about oatmeal and it seems to be working. As far as the lizards go they don't bother us but they annoy Skye and in turn she will tear up a bush looking for them!

Since you may not see me on Facebook here are a few photos I have shared over the last few weeks.

 Skye during Spring break working on her tan!

 My patio vegetable garden.

Dinner at Literati Bar & Grill on Wilshire Blvd in LA. We finally celebrated Tristen's Birthday dinner. This is Scottish Salmon, Spaghetti Squash (a first for me), on top of green beans and mushrooms. I also had sauteed spinach.

Head on over to visit with Hilary.

This week’s statements:

1. I never sing when I shower.
2. I use to smoke but I stopped. (very briefly)
3. My favorite picture of all time is The Five Pennies (with Danny Kaye)
4. When it gets dark I think about the nighttime predators like coyotes. (that is why Skye goes out on a leash at night)

This meme belongs to Brandy

but she is not posting right now.

Starting weight: 216
(January 2012)

Last months weight: 196

Current weight: 193

Weight +GAIN / -LOSS: -3

Total weight lost: -23 pounds

Have a fun weekend!

FRIDAY FILL-IN + FAF

Feeling Beachie


1. I love _a berry smoothie_ when I need a pick me up

2. No matter how hard I try, I just can’t _get off my computer_

3. _A new baby or puppy_ makes me feel all warm and fuzzy

4. I can’t resist a sale on _just about anything_!

Starting weight: 216
Last reported weight: 199
Current weight: 196
Weight +GAIN / -LOSS: -3
Total weight lost: -20 pounds

DOING THE HAPPY DANCE :)

In case you haven't noticed I haven't gotten caught up yet with reading posts. I have been farting around on Pinterest, doing mosaic pictures in Picasa3, writing some pre-posts and pretty much avoiding my reading. I did notice over the last few days that posts I have read have appeared again in my reader. What's up with that? I still haven't unpacked my bag yet from my trip to Florida because.... I want to be back on vacation!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend :)

FAF + SUPER BOWL RECAP

Head on over to Brandy's to join in!

So what have I lost this week. Well with Super Bowl it doesn't make it easy but a lot of the things I made were low carb, not everything but I stayed away from those items. I still ate more then I wanted too but it was all really tasty. My weight fluctuated a lot this week but I managed to weigh 200 again yesterday when I weighed myself. It's time to add in some exercise which is not an easy task for me. I do have a Jane Fonda walk DVD that I should try and do what I can.

Starting weight: 216
Last week's weight: 200
This week's weight: 200
Total weight lost: 16

I was in my kitchen working on appetizers at 8:30am. It takes time to get things ready. I baked two dessert items and had 4 other items that were baked in the oven. Mark always wants me to have something new each quarter but that doesn't happen anymore. Nope, come fill your plates while it's hot! Watch the game and don't miss the commercials. (awesome that we can pause!) I did however wait until half time to put some things out. We usually have a football pool. (Mark puts in the money) Well this year I won $30. and Amber won $70. woo hoo! So it was a fun time. Food was excellent and we enjoyed the commercials.

We had Savory Spinach Bites, Artichoke/Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms, Bacon Wrapped Shrimp, Low Carb Scones, Raspberry Muffins (it's what I had in the house), and Crispy Parmesan Asparagus Sticks. We also had pretzels with dips, a veggie tray, nuts, M&M's, cheese pretzel bites and some rolled meat with cheese that mark found at Costco. I also made some fresh whipped cream for the desserts. There were also 3 new ice creams in the freezer for those that wanted some. (Drumstick, Mud Pie and Butterfingers)

So you can find the recipes on my Pinterest Boards under Things I Have Made - check!(click on the board and then click on the picture you are interested in, the link will be in the right upper corner)

FAF - BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN

Head on over to Brandy's blog and join us.

So I am calling this one Back in the Saddle Again! First of all I waited until I got back to a weight that I had posted before which was my best weight last year. That was probably right before our trip to Europe last June when I was right around 200. Then after Christmas I got on the scale and I couldn't believe I was up to 216. It crushed me. So technically I am back to square one which is 200 pounds. I was happy to lose the 16 pounds but to me they don't really count!

So I am back to doing low carb which we did about 8 years ago when I got down to 147 and stayed that way for a few years. Then we got lazy in our eating. I don't care what diet you are following you can't get lazy. You have to stay with healthy eating all the time. One thing I know for sure, the more carbs you eat the more you crave them! I am also watching my sugar intake, nothing special other than limiting the sweets. So far so good. I am working really hard to be creative in meals and it certainly helps to have Google, Blogs and Pinterest on my side.

As far as back in the saddle goes, Mark and I bought a Groupon to take a wine tour through the vineyards on horseback. Getting some weight off is definitely going to make that easier for me. (and the horse) We also found out we have a family wedding coming up later this year and I would love to look better for that. So say a prayer, cross your fingers and wish me luck!

I made low carb Chicken Parmesan last Saturday that I found at Food.com. It was absolutely delicious. We will be making this one often!

New post over at Debby's Tree today!

Hope everyone has a nice weekend and enjoy the Super Bowl Sunday. I am working on a feast of low carb appetizers!

UPDATE AND FAF

MAMMOGRAM UPDATE:

If you don't have time to read this or are here for Fat Ass Friday I want you to know that all is well and I do not have breast cancer. Thank God for the blessing he has given to me. I talk to God each day but I was truly being a pest the last few weeks with this recheck hanging over my head.

Normally my mind is writing blogs in my head each day. The last few weeks I have gone from being dead & buried to being a breast cancer survivor who had a double mastectomy with reconstructive surgery with new smaller perky breasts. I am not making light of this, I know several people who are breast cancer survivors, those who lost their lives and those whose cancer has recently returned. My heart aches for them, I pray for them all the time. I also support several cancer research centers with donations.

Maybe 15 years ago my MIL and I were talking about breast cancer and other female cancers. We were actually talking about medication for menopause at the time. She mentioned to me that the first thing they do is take woman off of birth control pills and hormone replacements pills. (I'm not sure if this is still true) I often wondered if these diseases are more prevalent because of the use of these medications. Maybe, maybe not. I also thought that maybe I wouldn't get breast cancer because I was only on birth control pills for one year. I had reactions and at that time, 40 years ago, they didn't have the options of all the varieties available today. Also I did not use hormone replacement therapy to go through menopause. I am a firm believer that if our ancestor could do without it so could I! We also do not have any breast cancer in the family but I also don't know my mothers history after age 56 since she passed away.

So when I went on Tuesday for the mammogram I was really nervous. Yet in my head I knew that I most likely would not know anything for at least a week. I hate that! So I got called in and the mammogram was done on my left side with more intense/close up pictures taken. The woman said I will take these to the doctor to make sure we don't have to do more, just wait here. So I waited, then she came to get me telling me that my ultrasound would be next and that the doctor should have the results in about one week and they will send me a letter also.

So I am sitting in this long hallway, only one chair, waiting for my ultrasound. I hear the doctor in the room with a woman telling her that there is nothing to worry about at this point, we will check again in six months. I was sitting there thinking that that was pretty good news, wonder if I will be so lucky. Doctor went back to his own office and the technician went in to drop off some paperwork to him. (Yes, they keep a doctor on staff so no one has to go home and wonder. Whether it is good news or bad news they tell you on the spot what they know according to what they see) So as the tech is closing the door to the doctors office I hear him say "I don't see what they think they saw on Pucci." I got a little excited but knew that the I still needed to have the ultrasound.

So here I am like I said, all alone in this long hallway sitting in the one and only chair when Wendy the technician came out. I had to laugh because she asked for Deborah Pucci like she was speaking to a large waiting room full of people. I kinda waved my arms and said here I am, in a joking way. So the ultrasound was done and I was so worried. It seems like it took forever and I kept feeling some pain as she pressed over certain areas. I thought this is going to show something. So she was done, took the pictures to the doctor and then they both came in the room.

He said you have a very tiny cyst that is benign and it is nothing to worry about. I told him that I had a cyst removed from my right breast 25 years ago. He said they have learned a lot since then and don't remove them anymore. He told me just follow up with my yearly mammograms.

I thanked him, he left the room and I started to cry. I could not believe the gift that God gave to me. I do believe things like this give you a different look at your life and what you need to do to improve it so you can live longer. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.

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I haven't been around in awhile. I am not really working as hard on this weight loss as I should be. I was a bit disappointed when I got home from my 3 weeks in Europe. I thought after being so active each day, walking an average of 4 hours a day I thought I would have lost some weight. I didn't even eat that much while I was gone, food just wasn't a priority for me which is unusual. I did have a dessert with dinner on the days that I was actually out having dinner. Remember I was alone a lot and often just grabbed something quick to eat. Well I weighed exactly the same thing when I came home.(206) Maybe I lost some inches! So I am trying to watch what I eat and make better choices since I've been home. I have managed to drop 6 pounds!

Starting weight ~ 212
May 13th ~ 206
July 22nd ~ 200
_______________________
Total lost ~ 12

FAT ASS FRIDAY

Don't be afraid to be accountable.
Push on the button and join us.

I didn't show up to this party last week because I did my Disneyland post and I also didn't have anything to report. I had stayed at 206 which was actually a good thing since I had gone out for lunch twice and ate a lot of birthday cake. (carrot cake in the bakery at Walmart was very good) I guess that maybe with the 14 hours of walking around Disneyland I must have burned some calories. (and what is it about Disneyland that makes me have energy that I haven't seen in years?) If I go for a walk outside my house I get winded right away. They must have special magical air!

So as of Thursday afternoon (I get my best weight in the afternoon) I have gone down 2 pounds putting me at 204. Total lost -8!

Have a great weekend everyone.

Happy Memorial Day!

New post today at Debby's Tree.

FAT ASS FRIDAY

Head on over to Brandy's and join in.

I've been following Brandy for a long time now. I just love reading her blog and seeing her son Grayson all the time. He is so darn cute. Brandy is so much fun to read. Click on the button and visit with her, check out her new Etsy shop!

I really don't want to admit my weight but I think it's time for me to be accountable. You might see me here each week or maybe never again. Hopefully the first will hold true. I think I am finally in the right frame of mind. That doesn't mean I won't cheat from time to time but hopefully I will make better choices.

I have to do this for my health. I was recently put on an additional blood pressure medication. As you know I have COPD. (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) I have been on oral steroids for almost 20 years now. I got off of them about 2 years ago and stayed off for a year. I had to go back on them but am working hard at weening off of them again. I can't do a lot of exercise because most days I am lucky to just be breathing. I am doing a lot better then I did about 4 years ago.

So I am normally around 200 pounds. I got down below that before my trip to Florida in February but I put it back on with some extra pounds. I got to my highest ever at 212. How I wish that was my bowling score! I have been working really hard on this for two weeks now and I have lost 6 pounds. So as of today I am 206.

New post at Debby's Tree today!