Several X-Rays and Doctor Visits Later…

I know many of you had been wondering what happened to me, well, let’s just say that I have going through Hell and back and I am now back!

When you have problems with your feet, your world if completely altered and that’s what happened to me. I was having horrible, sharp pains in my right foot to the point that it drove me to tears. When you work in a casino like I do, you are on your feet all the time and this was a big problem. While standing 8 hours behind a gaming table I would often pull the “flamingo stance” as I called it. I would stand on my left foot and literally prop up my right foot like a flamingo would as this was the only way I could take pressure off of it.

Walking, standing, taking stairs… all of it caused pain. If I sat down for more than 10 minutes and got back up, the pain was even worse! I was basically SOL at this point and finally made it to the doctor. After several x-rays and many visits later I was told that I have multiple bone spurs, bone deterioration and arthritis. As you can imagine, I was not a happy girl.

I was set to a podiatrist for more x-rays and tests. Then to my surprise I was told that I also had Morton’s Neuroma. Could they add anything else to this list? No wonder my foot was killing me!

A few shots in the foot later, some bulky foot padding, pain meds, numb toes and lots of limping around, my foot was finally somewhat tolerable again! My foot is still not 100%, but I will take 40% over nothing any day! My next appointment is on May 8th and I am praying that they will tell me that things are looking better and that this will somehow heal. I know, not likely, but I can hope! :o )

I am going to go into greater detail on my foot issues in later posts. I have been doing some research and it does seem that these symptoms are common in many over weight people. Maybe my experience and the information that I have gathered along the way can help someone else out. :o )

After all of the previous issues, I feel like I can actually start to get myself back on track again. For the past few years I have tried every flippin diet, pill and fad out there to lose this weight. Final results… mostly failures. The ones that actually kinda worked always ended up in a plateau and the weight came back shortly after.

May 1st is the start of my new diet and way of living. I am hoping if I can stick to this that it will get me off all of my meds and maybe, just maybe I can kick all of the medical problems I have racked up along the way.

So here’s to a new beginning and a healthy me. :o )

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I Know I Have Said It Before, But I’m Back!!!

I know I have been saying I would be updating for a while now, but I have had several medical issues that I ended up having to deal with.  Looks like all things are finally on their way to becoming better and I will have the time to start updating again.  :o)

I decided that yesterday, May 1st, was going to be the beginning of a new me.  And so far, so good!  I will explain all the details in my next update or two.  I am also going to post about some of the problems I have had along the way to see if anyone else has had the same issues because I am kind of wondering if they are all somehow related to weight and weight gain.

Will post again soon!!!  :o)

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And Here I Go Again!

After many failed attempts at diets and work out programs, I took a nice long break and I am back again!

On January 20th I weighed in for the The Transform Your Body Challenge V: ABocolypse. This will be attempt #5 for me on the challenge. I plan on actually completing this one! LOL

Of course I am not all that excited with my weigh in weight since it is much higher than I weighed earlier in the year. My weigh in weight was 242 lbs, which I guess I am actually kinda happy about considering my scale showed 246 two days before that.

I have been making and testing out several recipes and cannot wait to share them with everyone! I love the fact that it does not taste like food that I would eat while I am on a diet. It actually has flavor!! You know the food is great when you cannot wait to make it again and do not dread the taste. :o )

I will be trying my best to update as much as I can. Between the traveling, spring cleaning and recipe making I am not sure how much I will be updating, but will try to as much as I can!

Welp, I am back home in Cross Lanes for the night so I better go spend some time with the family. :o )

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2012… A New Year and A New Beginning

Time to stop making excuses and start making progress!

I will be making my return in the next few days after a much needed break.  See you all soon!!

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Pumpkin-Oat Bread – Weight Watchers Recipe

Since it feels like autumn here in West Virginia, I am craving pumpkin! What better way to start off the fall season than with pumpkin-oat bread?!

This recipe will make 24 servings of this yummy bread! Each piece is 4 points for my Weight Watchers friends!!!

Here I will take you step by step thru the recipe:

Pumpkin-Oat Bread – Weight Watchers recipe

Ingredients

Cooking Spray
1/2 cup regular butter, softened
1 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
3 large eggs, beaten
2 cups canned pumpkin
1/4 tsp table salt
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, or more to taste
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups uncooked quick oats
2 1/2 tsp baking soda
24 walnut halves

I add a few dashes of cinnamon and nutmeg to mine!

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°. Coat a 10×15 inch dish with cooking spray.

In a large bowl mix butter and sugar until it becomes light and fluffy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not looking so yummy yet huh?

Add eggs and canned pumpkin to the above mixture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking a little better!!

Add salt, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg and cinnamon (if used) and mix well.

 

 

 

 

 

In a separate bowl I add my flour and oats. You can mix them all in one big bowl if you choose, but I found that it seems to be easier to mix the wet and dry mixes separate.

 

 

 

 

 

Combine the two mixes into one large bowl. This will take a good bit of stirring to get it all mixed well.

 

 

 

 

 

Next, pour the batter into your baking dish. I section mine off by making 4 lines long ways and 5 short ways so I have my portions already figured out before I bake. I just think it makes it easier for when you add your walnuts on top. :o )

 

 

 

 

 

Once you add your walnuts, pop this sucker in the oven and bake it for approximately 40 minutes. I have a gas stove so after 30 minutes I usually give it a peak and test it with a toothpick.

 

 

 

 

 

Ta-da!!! All done! Doesn’t this look amazing?!

 

 

 

 

 

If you give this a try at home, please come back and let me know what you think! I am currently working on a print out version so check back for it!

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Please Help Nick The Cat! He Is Currently Accepting Donations!!!

Now how could anyone stand to see this precious little face in pain??

This hit kinda close to home for me because my kitty went through the same thing just a few months ago so I can totally understand the worry that is being experienced here!!

Nick’s mommy and brothers would love to have him back home instead of stuck at the vet.  :o(

Please, if you can donate a dollar or two!  All you have to do is give up that big mac for one day!!  ;o)

To visit Nick on Facebook please head over here:

If you would like to make a donation, please follow the link below:

http://www.chipin.com/widget/id/1cec84855ae5a26b

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My Weight Watchers Update…. IT IS FINALLY HERE!!! LOL

Alright, so I am finally back!! The past few days have been a tiny bit rough, but you know what? Screw the dumb people that seem to try to go out of their way to hurt my feelings. Karma is a bitch people and she is one of my bestest friends! ;o)

Back to the Weight Watchers update that I have been trying to get together!

My first goal weight for WW is 228 lbs, or 5% of my beginning weight. I have been literally hanging around 229 for the past 2 weeks and it is really starting to piss me off! LOL That last pound of this goal has been the biggest pain in the butt… I know that it probably does not help that I get those little cravings for certain fast foods, but all in all I have behaved compared to where I was.

My weigh in is tomorrow and I honestly would not be surprised if I am not back over 230 after the past few days I have had. Let’s just say a girls night out was much needed and Applebee’s was calling my name!

I intend to get back on track starting Wednesday, figured I better wait until after we hit the state fair. Mmmm… funnel cakes….. :o )

I have all of my recipes gathered and am going to start baking some of the breads and other things that I know can be kept for longer periods of time tonight so they will be ready to go when I am ready to get back on track.

When I am at work I have been hitting my frozen meals and I am not gona lie… the Smart Ones meals are REALLY good! Usually I hate frozen dinners, but these do not taste like cardboard! And their sundae snacks…. OMG. WOW… yeah, they are great! They are only a few points and you feel like you are having a cheat day with them! So if any of you get that sweet tooth and want something chocolate, I suggest the chocolate chip cookie sundae!

Most of the meals run around $2.00 each at Walmart and hit the $3.00 mark if they have more meat in them. Most of your breakfast meals are right around $3.00 as well. I adore the mini pizzas! The great thing about them is that they come with 2 servings per pack so you are getting 2 meals in the box instead of one! Yay!!!

If you are a big fan of these meals or just wana try a few and save some money, I have some coupons for you! Always nice to be on a diet and be able to save at the same time. ;o)

Buy 5 meals and save $1.00

Buy 10 meals and save $3.00

Buy 12 meals and save $5.00 (Yes, this is the one I use all the time!)

You can usually print these 2 times, sometimes more!

If you have trouble printing these, please let me know and I will help you out the best that I can.

Alrighty, I am off to do some cooking! Will post the recipes and some photos shortly!!

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Weight Watchers Update!!!!

Coming later tonight!!  I have been a bit distracted lately, but will be back in gear tonight!

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7.5 lbs And Dropping!!!

It is official! After my 1st week of Weight Watchers I am down 7.5 lbs!

I have my weigh in date set for Tuesdays since that is technically my “Saturday”, so I was a little afraid to step on the scale that morning. Boy was I shocked when the scale read 232.5 lbs! Wooooohoooooo!!!!

Only 97.5 lbs left to my target weight! I know, that is a lot, but at least I have less than 100 left to lose now!

I have lots and lots of recipes to share and lots of how-tos coming up. Cannot wait to share all of this with everyone so you all can give it a try as well. :o )

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I’m Baaaaaaacccccckkkkkk!

I know that I have not posted in quite a while, but I am back!

A few months back I switched to day shift and I am beyond glad that I did. I have been able to stop all of my medications, but decided to go ahead and keep taking the B-12 shots. I am also getting a full nights sleep which was not possible on swing shift. I cannot even begin to explain how much better I feel!

Even though I am not on meds anymore, my weight has returned. Bit of a down side, but I am starting a new battle against it. I weighed in at 240.6 lbs on July 12th which is very depressing since I was down to 203 a few months back. July 12th is also the mark of my new beginning! I joined Weight Watchers and so far, I like what I am seeing!

The tools on the site are amazing and I think they are going to help me much more than just keeping my food diary like I was before. I am the type of person who has to constantly track and see progress and I think this is just what I needed! It was only $55 to get signed up for 3 months so I figured it would not hurt to give it a try and if at the end of the 3 months I have no progress I can at least cancel my plan.

Within the next few days I will be posting my start photo, measurements, my progress through this first week and what I have done to prepare for this new chapter in dieting! I will also share the recipes that I will be preparing and all that kind of fun stuff!

This whole blog is going to have some new additions added as well to go along with another new step that I am getting ready to take. It is one that I am hoping will allow me to come to terms with my body’s present state and allow me to have a positive self image again. Details soon!!!!

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