Starting Plexus!

Well tomorrow is the first day of my 30 days of Plexus!! My package arrived a few days ago, I promised myself I would wait till my birthday to start and it has been a long 3 day wait! I am excited to get started but slightly nervous about the water issue, I'm sure I can handle the initial 16 oz with the pink drink but the accelerator says to dink 8 glasses of water a day. I might could pull that off but I remember reading that you should really drink half your body weight in ounces of water, I just don't think I can do that one, not yet that is. Anywhoo I am just rambling cause I am nervous.

 I did the weight chart and now I have done a body chart with all my measurement which I have to say gave me a good chuckle. I went from a hour glass figure to a two hour glass figure! (hubby's joke that I thought was hilarious!)

I had to add the neck and on the back is a chart for my swollen feet and ankles which are currently .5 inches bigger than they were just 2 days ago.


Okay soo here we go... These are my big monster measurements and my start weight is questionable, yesterday it was 232 but with the swelling last night and today it jumped to 236.

Before Plexus...

I am challenging myself to 30 days of Plexus!!!

I have ordered the Plexus Pink Drink and waiting for it to come in the mail. I wanted to do a before testimony, a statement of who and what I am and what I want Plexus to do for me.

I have struggled with my weight all my life but only a few times. In general I don't really pay much attention to my weight, it is what it is and I am destined to be a big girl as I have all my life. Weight loss has always been a source of ridicule for me, yes I am ashamed to admit it but I am that person that shakes their head at those spending bucks for some weight loss program that they just quit or gain the weight back. Yo-yo dieting has never been my thing but then again when I think about it, it kinda is. Let me explain.

My brother did a chart of his weight gains and losses over his life and I thought that would be a good place to clarify things.

Now from this chart you would think that I know how to lose weight. I will be honest those 2 big dips in my weight are from bad choices in my life that I am nowhere near proud of. They mark the times that my diagnoses of "Manic Depressive" show themselves prominently. If your wondering what Manic Depressive means, it just means I lost my mind and for me it was through the help of alcohol and drugs. So as you can see I am not a dieter or a person to care about my weight or health.

Among all the changes I have done over the last decade... going clean (12 yrs) and sober (8 yrs) and now smoke-free (2 months), this is something I want and need to change as well!


So lets talk about my health. Pretty much I have been healthy, other than female issues and dental issues. I don't see a doctor nor am I on any meds, the last time I saw a general doctor was in 2000. I don't drink the proper amounts of water (unless coffee counts) and I'm not on any vitamins. I have been suffering with major acid reflux and heartburn for many years, I do take Prilosec (when I remember) and eat Tums (or the generic brands) like candy. For the last 8-9 months I have been suffering with swollen and painful feet and lately numbness in my toes and fingers. These are concerning me but not enough to pay a doctor to tell me I need to lose weight, I already know that!

Reasons I am trying Plexus: I have heard good news of folks having great success and not just in weight loss but in health benefits, feeling better and having more energy. Well I don't really need more energy, I don't have any young kiddos running around but I sure could use the "feeling better" part!

I want to do something different than your normal before pics. Normally folks post themselves in what they wear everyday and then when you get your after pic those clothes are baggy. I never understood this concept, it doesn't really give you a good view of the difference. I want to give you the ugly truth... these are the clothes I used to wear about 20 lbs ago, I want my after pic to be me in these clothes fitting properly.

(please excuse the mess, we just moved 2 weeks ago and the place is still a crazy mess)

Let the challenge begin, I'm ready!

Our little Secret...

So what has the New Year brought to us soo far....STRESS!

Not super bad stress like something bad happened but the good kind of stress where something wonderful will result from our moment of stress.

For those who follow me on Facebook might have noticed that I have been a little quiet lately. There is good reason for that. I have soo much to say but there are certain persons I don't want knowing whats going on just yet. Soo please if you leave a comment please leave it here on the blog and not through Facebook or private message me on Facebook. I just couldn't stand keeping such a huge secret from my closest friends (Sue, Peg, Grace, Angelia, Stacy...and soo many more) any longer. 
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We have been blessed with the opportunity to buy some land, not much but just enough to give us elbow room and a place to call ours forever. No more worrying about land owners dying and their children selling the property we sit on. Wonderful news right?!  Why should there be any stress?

OMG the hunt is mind boggling! Considering the budget is on the small side (but who is complaining, at least there is a budget at all), the listings are horrendous! At least 99% of them need a lot of work (which there is no extra money to do repairs) or sit on such a tiny piece of property the hubs would have a panic attack everyday and my dogs would drive me insane barking at every little noise! 

I suffered through the hunt, gave up on most days but managed to find some that met all requirements or at least most of them. It is not easy and the hunt does continue just in case things don't go as planned.

As of right now we are waiting to hear if we can move on to the next step for this one particular piece of property, apparently there are a lot of steps. This alone is driving my stress level almost to its max. My diet is blown to hell and the munchies have taken over. My creativity is being pushed aside cause apparently my brain can't function with all these numbers and percentages floating in my head. I always have been a "one thing at a time" kinda girl. Sad thing is, this process can take months!! What in the world am I going to do with myself for months?

Well for now I am focusing on going through things and determining whether or not this item or that item is worth moving with us. Which means I have a crap load of "NO's" sitting around waiting for me to have a yard sale. My house is a mess, which brings on more stress, I hate the house being out of control.

But I have to remind myself that in the long run it will be soo worth it or at least it better be!!! I am giddy with excitement at the idea that we will never have to worry again, the place will be OURS but there is that other side that is in panic mode. Surely someone understands what I am feeling.

Unexpected House Guest

Soo, on Thursday August 29th the hubby calls me. Okay that is not an unusual thing he calls every now and then but mostly just to let me know he is on his way home so I can know when to start supper. Those are calls I appreciate BUT this call was of a different topic and of one that I never thought my hubby would bring up.

His long time friend was in need of a place to stay for awhile, he is homeless and fixen to get out of the hospital for depression. Can he stay with us?

I was uttered speechless! In the 22 years of knowing my hubby, he has never asked such a thing. Yes, we have had visitors who have stayed with us for a weekend or even a week but never have we had a guest that had no leaving date. Honestly what could I say but sure, I guess that would be alright. I was thinking the hubs must really want to help him or he wouldn't be asking.

I got busy cleaning up the house a bit and was trying to figure where in the world are we going to put him. I thought maybe the old army cot that is hidden away in the closet or maybe rearranging the living room to accommodate the queen air mattress dad had given us just a month ago. Hubby got home and we talked. He was already regretting saying yes. Honestly he was hoping I would have said no and then the decision would have been out of his hands (yes, folks he wanted me to be the bad guy!). What was done was done and we were going to have to make the best of it. Where do you want me to set him up at? Don't set up anything, he can sleep in the recliner, I don't want him getting too comfortable that he wont leave.

His friend showed up the next day. I had met him a few times through out the 22 years but hadn't seen him in at least 11 years. I swear, I hardly recognized him. He looked so worn and sullen compared to the soft and lively person we had known back then. Alcohol had really done a number on him. I had my time with the stuff and know all too well how bad it can get. This was probably a 8 1/2 out of 10 bad.

I made it VERY clear to the hubs that there was to be NO alcohol in this house, PERIOD. As hubby and I are both recovering alcoholics, I didn't want that stuff in my house. He did relay my message. When his friend went to hug me as soon as he walked in the door, I was on the verge of vomiting, the odor of alcohol on his breathe and in his sweat was soo overwhelming, it was sickening. I guess he thought since he wasn't going to be able to drink he would get in a really good one before he got here. He pretty much slept the days away (in the same funk he walked in the door with for over a week!), just waking long enough to pee and eat. I was seriously grossed out, he only showered twice the whole time!

My living room is... 2 chairs and a couch, coffee table and our only tv. 13 x 15 room, not very big, just right for the 2 of us. I had been booted out of my chair, mostly stuck in my office/kitchen area. I think I watched maybe 6 hrs of tv the whole time he was here. Hadn't had any decent conversations with my hubby in weeks.

Yes, folks he was with us for 3 weeks! But the hardest part was the not knowing if or when he was ever leaving. When the 2nd week rolled around, hubby asked if so-and-so would come and get him if he asked. The response was yes but then nothing happened. Hubby was getting angry, apparently his friend misunderstood him or was blatantly ignoring his request for so-and-so to come get him. 2 days later I was taking him to the store and I asked when so-and-so was coming to get him and he declared it would be the following Friday. I called hubby from the store to relay the somewhat good news...

Hubby says... she is 2 days late!!! LOL!

Okay before you go thinking that I am being very harsh and uncaring, I assure you that is not the case. Hubby and I live in a (maybe) 2 horse town. The job opportunities are nonexistent without transportation. Hubby and I both were shocked and very disappointed to find out he didn't have a car or even a license, there is literally no hope of finding something in his line of work way out here. Thankfully he did have some money to pay for his own smokes and non alcoholic beer (I caved slightly after seeing him sitting there shaking, it seemed to help him psychologically), he did provide for himself. He did clean up after himself, which I was truly grateful. We just didn't see anyway for him to get back on the right path being stuck out in the boonies with nothing to do and no prospects.

All I can say is that we tried to help him as best as we could. I helped him file for disability but that could take years to finally be approved. He had to make his way back to the big city if he was going to have any chance of finding his footing.

Honesty... I am glad that I have my house to myself again, glad that I get to spend time with my hubby again, but feel ohh soo guilty for being glad. I know we did all we could but it just feel like it was enough. Oh well, I will get over it. You can only help a person that is willing to help themselves instead of drowning life away in booze. When he is truly ready to throw down the bottle, then he will be more willing to get his life back on track.

There are times when I do consider myself on the lazy side. I put some chores off, I stay home most of the time, watch tv, mess around on the computer, crochet...etc. NOPE, I'm not all that lazy at all, I have seen the true definition of lazy and it is disturbing! He slept, ate, watched tv, the most exercise he got was walking back and forth to the fridge for his fake beer and going to the bathroom a million times!

I do wish him the best of luck and I am glad he was appreciative of us putting him up for a few weeks. Too bad it wasn't a life changing  3 weeks. It definitely was for us!!


 

Unexpected House Guest.

Soo, on Thursday August 29th the hubby calls me. Okay that is not an unusual thing he calls every now and then but mostly just to let me know he is on his way home so I can know when to start supper. Those are calls I appreciate BUT this call was of a different topic and of one that I never thought my hubby would bring up.

His long time friend was in need of a place to stay for awhile, he is homeless and fixen to get out of the hospital for depression. Can he stay with us?

I was uttered speechless! In the 22 years of knowing my hubby, he has never asked such a thing. Yes, we have had visitors who have stayed with us for a weekend or even a week but never have we had a guest that had no leaving date. Honestly what could I say but sure, I guess that would be alright. I was thinking the hubs must really want to help him or he wouldn't be asking.

I got busy cleaning up the house a bit and was trying to figure where in the world are we going to put him. I thought maybe the old army cot that is hidden away in the closet or maybe rearranging the living room to accommodate the queen air mattress dad had given us just a month ago. Hubby got home and we talked. He was already regretting saying yes. Honestly he was hoping I would have said no and then the decision would have been out of his hands (yes, folks he wanted me to be the bad guy!). What was done was done and we were going to have to make the best of it. Where do you want me to set him up at? Don't set up anything, he can sleep in the recliner, I don't want him getting too comfortable that he wont leave.

His friend showed up the next day. I had met him a few times through out the 22 years but hadn't seen him in at least 11 years. I swear, I hardly recognized him. He looked so worn and sullen compared to the soft and lively person we had known back then. Alcohol had really done a number on him. I had my time with the stuff and know all too well how bad it can get. This was probably a 8 1/2 out of 10 bad.

I made it VERY clear to the hubs that there was to be NO alcohol in this house, PERIOD. As hubby and I are both recovering alcoholics, I didn't want that stuff in my house. He did relay my message. When his friend went to hug me as soon as he walked in the door, I was on the verge of vomiting, the odor of alcohol on his breathe and in his sweat was soo overwhelming, it was sickening. I guess he thought since he wasn't going to be able to drink he would get in a really good one before he got here. He pretty much slept the days away (in the same funk he walked in the door with for over a week!), just waking long enough to pee and eat. I was seriously grossed out, he only showered twice the whole time!

My living room is... 2 chairs and a couch, coffee table and our only tv. 13 x 15 room, not very big, just right for the 2 of us. I had been booted out of my chair, mostly stuck in my office/kitchen area. I think I watched maybe 6 hrs of tv the whole time he was here. Hadn't had any decent conversations with my hubby in weeks.

Yes, folks he was with us for 3 weeks! But the hardest part was the not knowing if or when he was ever leaving. When the 2nd week rolled around, hubby asked if so-and-so would come and get him if he asked. The response was yes but then nothing happened. Hubby was getting angry, apparently his friend misunderstood him or was blatantly ignoring his request for so-and-so to come get him. 2 days later I was taking him to the store and I asked when so-and-so was coming to get him and he declared it would be the following Friday. I called hubby from the store to relay the somewhat good news...

Hubby says... she is 2 days late!!! LOL!

Okay before you go thinking that I am being very harsh and uncaring, I assure you that is not the case. Hubby and I live in a (maybe) 2 horse town. The job opportunities are nonexistent without transportation. Hubby and I both were shocked and very disappointed to find out he didn't have a car or even a license, there is literally no hope of finding something in his line of work way out here. Thankfully he did have some money to pay for his own smokes and non alcoholic beer (I caved slightly after seeing him sitting there shaking, it seemed to help him psychologically), he did provide for himself. He did clean up after himself, which I was truly grateful. We just didn't see anyway for him to get back on the right path being stuck out in the boonies with nothing to do and no prospects.

All I can say is that we tried to help him as best as we could. I helped him file for disability but that could take years to finally be approved. He had to make his way back to the big city if he was going to have any chance of finding his footing.

Honesty... I am glad that I have my house to myself again, glad that I get to spend time with my hubby again, but feel ohh soo guilty for being glad. I know we did all we could but it just feel like it was enough. Oh well, I will get over it. You can only help a person that is willing to help themselves instead of drowning life away in booze. When he is truly ready to throw down the bottle, then he will be more willing to get his life back on track.

There are times when I do consider myself on the lazy side. I put some chores off, I stay home most of the time, watch tv, mess around on the computer, crochet...etc. NOPE, I'm not all that lazy at all, I have seen the true definition of lazy and it is disturbing! He slept, ate, watched tv, the most exercise he got was walking back and forth to the fridge for his fake beer and going to the bathroom a million times!

I do wish him the best of luck and I am glad he was appreciative of us putting him up for a few weeks. Too bad it wasn't a life changing  3 weeks. It definitely was for us!!