Never say never...

So Saturday, my friend Michelle invited my boy over to play with my boy. This meant I had an afternoon free and clear to spend with my daughter. I thought we could go and see a movie, as Addison has never been to the movies. Guess what she wanted to see? Justin Beiber! So out we went! I didn't really want to go, but I made it her choice so I away we went. What an awesome movie! How hard that boy has worked to get to where he is today! I have to say, Justin Beiber of all people, is a motivator! Now I know there are a million pre-teen girls who want to be the next Mrs. Beiber, but I am in awe of him.
I have goals I have set for myself, and sometimes I think I may not meet them. But I am motivated to meet these goals. To succeed, get a head. I will NEVER SAY NEVER!

Before and after...Can you spot the difference?

The Working Woman...

Most of us women have a job outside the home. I have been off on sick leave since November, and I have to say, yes I have been sick and had a few surgeries, but I have enjoyed being home with my family. I am very fortunate to have a full time job and a husband, who works opposite shifts and picks up the slack around our home. We don't see each other a lot, which means the time we spend as a family is quality time. Some people don't have that. I was watching the news the other night and they say there are quite a few people (the 40% range) who work two part time jobs to make ends meet. Which means more hours then full time, and less time at home. Not to mention, part time job means less tax taken off of their income, which isn't enough to begin with. So when you are hoping for a little extra cash after doing your taxes, you generally have to pay in. It is difficult to juggle work and family, but it is getting even harder. My friend is a victim of this. She hasn't had a weekend off for over two years, she makes sure she takes as many shifts as she can so she isn't perceived as unreliable. And if she is lucky she gets to work both jobs on the weekend. Sometimes I wonder how they cope. I look at our beautiful city and think, wow, Barrie is a nice place. But then I think where are the jobs. Other communities have it way worse.
You think back to generations before, and women stayed home, men went out and worked. They would show up with a lunch, see if there was work and be at the same job 40 years later. Sometimes, I think it would be nice to have both generations (past and present) co mingle. A little from each time, and all of our children would have a better world!

Extended family...

I have been very blessed in the past 5 years. 5 years ago, my dad and I started talking after a small rift. Getting know my dad again was awesome! But the group of close friends he has, just took my family and made them their own! They didn't have too. But they did! And what a group of people. Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of this world people put themselves out there as they are better then everyone. Not these people. These people are salt of the earth kind of people. The kind of people that if you have one dollar or a million dollars, they accept you at face value. They don't judge you by the clothes on your back, shoes on your feet, or car you drive. There is always room for one more at their table, or in their home. We just spent the weekend with my dad and the extended family! What a wonderful time we had! I have never been more grateful for them, and miss them already!

Chapter 18...

So I weighed in today, 260.2lbs! Yahoo! On Saturday I decided I had better buy a few new clothes, because most of mine don't fit! Firstly, what a sale! Secondly, I couldn't believe I got into a size 20! What a wonderful feeling. Even bras, sizes are down!!! It was such a great feeling, putting clothes back because they were to small! I also wanted to thank everyone for all of the questions and concern in the past week. I thought I may answer a few tonight.
Q: How have you been feeling since you have dropped some weight?
A: At first I didn't know if the pain was from my gastric bypass or from my gynecological issues. Come to find out that it was from my gynecological issues. Since my ablasion on Friday, I have been feeling so much better. Now that the cramping is gone, I feel so much better. I am having a lot more energy, and my legs are feeling better.
Q: What are you eating?
A: I have been sticking to the guidelines set out by the dietitians. I really never feel hungry, but I do eat. I find that if I skip meals I don't feel well. I have been trying also to prepare myself for going back to shift work in less then three weeks. So I have been trying to maintain consistent meal times. Most importantly breakfast. I find if I skip breakfast, it sets the tone for the entire day, which is not a good thing. I cook according to what I can eat, so my family is eating the same as I am, but I am just eating from a smaller plate, like a side/salad plate.
Q: Are you still drinking eight glasses of water a day?
A: Yes and no. Most days I am drinking between 6-8 glasses of water. I use to drink so much water a day, just gulp it down. But I can't drink like that anymore. So I am always walking around with a glass of water or diet kool aid. I am really making every attempt to drink as much as I can, because it does help me keep my skin clear! lol!
Q: Are you or have you experienced dumping syndrome?
A: YES! It friggin hurts!!! If I don't chew my food enough, I call it getting stuck. Or if something is too rich. I have low tolerance for dairy products as well. Dumping sucks! So I do what I can to avoid it. AT ALL COSTS! I am comfortable enough with food to know what I can and can not eat, so I am getting better with dumping. Still not attempting white bread or pop! Don't know if I ever will.

Being healthier is what it is all about!

Dream a little dream...

Have you ever set goals, but thought them to unattainable? Have you ever dreamed you would have a dinner date with Josh Lucas, Hugh Grant? Ok, so I have the same unattainable dreams! Insert laughter! Actually, I had a friend message me, I just want to add that my friend is a little Oprah obsessed, last night and said I should submit my weight loss journey to Oprah, as Oprah has a call out for her show, about incredible weight loss journey. Now, I didn't really consider what I am doing as an incredibly journey for anyone else except for me. I know people like to read my blog, and I know that everyone is routing me on, but still for some reason I didn't think my journey was incredible. So last night, I went back through my posts on my blog. I have has some incredible accomplishments, if I do say so myself! I have given up my diet Pepsi and bread addiction, I have managed to drop 80 some pounds, and found out that it doesn't matter how people perceive me, it is about being a good person and having a good perception of myself! Now would I love for Oprah to pick my story, YES!! But if she doesn't, that is ok too! I would rather be me then just about anyone else! I have an incredible support system with my family, and a wonderful life full of ups and downs. Yes, definitely a dream to meet Oprah, but if it happens!!! Enjoy your evening!

Chapter 17...

As I laid in bed this morning, recovering, I had an epiphany! I am only 17 lbs away from the 100 lb mark! How awesome is that! For me, this is huge! I had the ablasion on Friday. Recovery has been pretty good! Who ever thought I would own a heating pad, and openly admit to it! I have been promising a simple, low calorie recipes for everyone. So here is one! My friend's parents gave it to me, and this is delicious!

Diet Coke Chicken
I make this in a slow cooker!

4 boneless skinless chicken breast or 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
1/2 C of ketchup
an envelope of onion soup mix
1 can of diet coke

Brown chicken in a frying pan. Arrange chicken in slow cooker. Combine soup mix and ketchup and spread evenly around chicken. Pour can of diet coke on top of chicken. Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.

Enjoy :)

chapter 16...

I am at the hospital today to have an abalsion done. It is suppose to be the answer to my problems! I am hoping so!!! As I am sitting here waiting to be called I decided I would find a scale and weigh in, as I have been forgetting! Drumroll please! 264.4 lbs!!! How great does that sound! I am loving it!!! I have been trying to almost avoid the scale. Sometimes it is an anxiety thing! What if I don't lose any, what if I lose to much! All the what ifs were making me crazy! I read something one time about what if'ing our lives away. Most of our what if are negative, and feed our mind with negative thoughts. To make that small change to change your what ifs to positives, can change our entire thinking! So what if I have met my goal! What if I stay the same! Bring it on!

Chapter 15...

And so the battle continues... This week has not been too bad. I am really struggling with lactose intolerance thou. I cook with milk, I love cheese. I have been able to have small portions of cheese this week. I actually made a lasagna, with whole wheat noodle (and no one noticed) and used low fat mozzarella and found I tolerated it quite well. I really need to get motivated thou. I need to increase physical activity and get my butt in gear! I didn't weigh myself last week, because, well I forgot! lol! So this week I am going to post some low fat recipes that I have been making for all of you! Once that I am able to tolerate, and that have become staples! I tried a small salad this week as well, and I was able to tolerate, as long as I chewed well. One of my biggest staples is oatmeal. I can't do cream of wheat any more, but plain oatmeal has been good! I am going to keep my sugars under 25g, and it will be all good!
Hope everyone enjoys their week!!!

Bullying is such a serious issue...

I was on facebook this morning and was checking out what everyone was up to, when I came across my friend's status saying that her son was being bullied at school (I hope she doesn't mind I mention this!). This boy firstly, would never hurt a fly, and is always happy to see everyone and feels very differently about himself because of his conditions (tourettes Syndrome and a SEVERE allergy to nuts). His family has taken every precaution to ensure that his allergy or illness doesn't rule his life and the education to know what he can and can't eat or do. He has been bullied at school by a fellow student for months, my friend with no avail, has talked to teachers, principals, etc. The bully went so far as to put a cookie in the the child's face and say "eat this and die". WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TOO! I have always taught my children acceptance, and I hope that that lesson assists them through life. My son has been bullied through out his school life, he had a knife pulled on him in first grade! Where are the limits in the school? When Tanner was in junior kindergarten he was a victim of bullying by a grade 4 (a lunch helper). Tanner would be fearful when it was time to go to school, he would flinch when you attempted to hug him. It was just plain sad. After several visits to the school to speak with teachers, principal and parents, still nothing changed. One afternoon, I received a phone call asking me if I could come to the school right away, there had been an altercation. When I got to the school, there was my boy crying and another boy holding his nose. I went into the Principal's office, first thing she said was, "Mrs. Money, I am very sorry. Tanner is being sent home today, but not suspended." I was taken aback, I asked what happened. What had happened was, this bully took Tanner's lunch, then began a tirade on him and his friends. Threatened them with a broom, and then when getting ready to go play outside, he threatened Tanner's friend, who was a girl. Tanner went to the door, and then asked the kid to come outside and beat the piss out of him. Broke his nose, and that child was suspended for 3 days. But why did it have to get to that? Lack of supervision, horrible home life? When I met with this child's parents, you could tell. I felt horrible for what my son went through, but my heart went out to the other child in this situation.
I guess what I am asking is what do you do when your school is ignoring your pleas to keep your child safe? Please comment below. I know when the knife was pulled on Tanner in grade one, we weren't even informed about it. I contacted the school and then the media. Now that school knows I don't play. I take my child's word, because he doesn't have a reason to lie about being bullied! Every child has the right to go to school and feel safe!