measurements, check

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whew..
So, I think I have been saying for a month or so now, that I would indeed take my measurements.  I could see the difference in my clothes and in the mirror, but those pounds are hanging on for dear life.  Damn them...
I think I had to get to a place of comfort, in knowing this is in fact working and my hard work and commitment to the gym is paying off.  So much of the credit I do feel, goes to yoga.  The part that makes me "see" the changes.  Yoga is hard work...sure some of the benefits are the resting poses and de-stressing...and finding your spiritual side....but those strength poses...are hard core.  And when you can go to the next level in them, you find you are sweating up a storm.  So going into this commitment, I might have gasped at the numbers.  I WOULD have...but now, I do wish I measured first.  I would be smiling at these numbers from today.  Knowing I am getting there, made me say today...go and do it!!!
It is a bit daunting to get that tape measure out and do it...but I finally did.  I have my numbers recorded and next month I will do it again.  I did step on the scale again, and lost 2 pounds since the last time...but that was weeks ago.  So for now, I will look at the numbers next month and go from there.  It took a few years to collect these pounds I now carry, so I will not expect them to come off quickly.  As long as they are coming off.  Doing my best each day, with no expectations... that's all!

today's thoughts...

Morning Sunshines...
I think I needed all day yesterday to unwind, and just let it all sink in.  You know how it feels when you are anticipating something exciting and you are just waiting for the day to arrive.  And then you have the day or the event and it is over so fast?  Well that is how I felt as I said goodbye to my friend Sherry Wednesday night.

I have a very, very happy heart. (Sherry took the photos, and I don't have them yet to insert , so these will have to do.)  When I saw her in person and we hugged...ahhh, yes, she IS for real.  I could go on and on, but I will say this.  We had a fabulous day of doing nothing really special, as far as filling the day with places to go and see.  She wanted to see a few of my junkin haunts, and we did, but mostly we talked, and talked, and talked.  So many things to say.  So we went to the lakefront and sat in a little gazebo, the day was beautiful and the sun was shining...and my heart was so warm.  We talked for a long time, had lunch, swept her thru the Drive-Thru daiquiri place and we came back to my house to chat more over our cocktails.  Later her husband Al, I call him Al-ster, came by and we went to dinner.  Fabulous day and memories I will hold close to my heart forever.  I am so humbled that they would drive out of the way, to see me before going on their planned trip.  Now I can say, I laid eyes, and hugged deeply one of my "trues"...(stealing this word from Melody at BG.)  Sherry,  love you and thank you for making this happen.  I will see you again, this I know.

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Now, onto this...I will say that I am so happy that I have been 94% on track with my healthy eating/fitness lifestyle.  I wont say diet, because as we know, if this is to stay, we don't stop...that much I know for sure.  I have lost the taste for sweets, WHAT?  I might every once in awhile, crave sweets a bit and I will buy something...most of the time, I don't finish it.  I am satisfied.  Now some of this credit goes to Cymbalta, this time taking it I have no appetite really.  Now that may be because the eating had been altered way before I began the drug again.  Who knows... But I think it is more, I know what I want to do, how my body now feels and I am taking in all I can from Body Restoration.  My anxiety is so much better, I still have those days, but we all do!  I eagerly go to the gym, again WHAT?  I know how much "lighter" and better I feel when I go and afterwards.  I can't tell you how this effects my mood and my feelings of self.  I have lost weight yes, and I do have a ways to go.  But by "lighter" I am not only talking in terms of weight-loss.

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I love the days when I go to yoga, today in fact...at noon.  I have come to appreciate not just the class, but the instructors and what they have taught me.  Not just the poses... the serenity and calmness.  There are few ladies who go regularly as I do, and we had a wonderful chat the other day, it was one of those "God things" for the lessons I took away.  Every day I am seeing that nothing is by chance...
Wow, didn't expect this to be a chapter...but these words were on my heart and I wanted to share them.  Have a wonderful day, and weekend.  It is Mardi Gras in these parts...we have some local parades this weekend, weather is a bit cool...and spotty rain.  My friend Bridgette invited me to the parades this weekend...so we will see.  I don't do rainy parades any more.  But I know I would have much fun with her.  Steve is offshore, so her hubby might not be so happy...xo *evil grin*

walking the walk

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Hello friends...
I have been taking a break, and just being...
I am happy to report a few things, I am feeling so much better...side effects are so much better, dare I say gone?  I feel a twinge from time to time.  My anxiety is in a good place for the most part, I have seen been seeing better days.  It is a good thing, when you can reflect day to day and say, oh, I didn't do this, or I don't feel this way....a blessing.  It makes the side effects of the drugs, much easier to accept.  Thank goodness we have drugs to make us feel better.

I also, have spent hardly no time on Facebook.  I will check in from time to time, but my FB time is usually spent within the groups I am part of there.  I have my Brave Girls, and my La. Artisans, and now I have a small group of fitness/mind/body chica's and we share our days, workouts, feelings...challenges.  These are the important things.  I did spend much time on FB and I do miss chatting with my friends.  But right now, I like it this way.

I have worked on my art classes.  Mainly Brave Girls, Body Restoration, wow...am I learning things.  We as women are so hard on ourselves, and how we think about friends and strangers, and compare ourselves.  My o my...I have seen the light.  I am into week 4 as of tomorrow, I am enjoying this course and I am in love with my art journal, my Body Book.  Amazing stuff going on there.

I have been very active with my yoga practice.  Going 3-4 times a week.  It is easy now, I am not working outside the house.  So I am taking advantage of each and every class I can attend.  I feel like a relaxed, energized, spiritual Kathy, when I walk from that studio.  I love it.  And the cardio and weight machines are happening regularly as well.  I am pretty darn proud of myself for these things.  All of this is good for my body and my soul...  I am so close to the 150's I can taste it... even if it is 159.5...I will squeal.  As I said before, the weight is coming off slow, but some inches are gone.  Going...go...go... But the funny thing is, this time...I am not in a hurry.  I am OK with doing my best every day and seeing the big picture.  So different for me.

I have missed checking in on your blogs and seeing you all on FB, I will soon be ready to jump in again.  I do want you all to know, I am thinking of you.  And as always, wishing you the very best.

to whom it may concern....oh, that's me

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 Dear fitness God...I noticed that I am finally shrinking...hips down. Now do tell me, when might I expect to see some shrinking in the belly region? I faithfully come to the gym, mostly 5 days a week... and have pretty much given up my beloved wine, unless a special occasion creeps up!!!! Work with me here, not touching that scale, going by inches...I have come to far to get pissy over a number on the scale. Next we will talk about my flabby arms....