Girly issues?

So, for the last couple of days, members of the Angelman Connection on Facebook have been talking about our Angel girls and girly issues; i.e. periods. Its very interesting to see what all the others parents are thinking about, what they doing for it and how they are dealing with it.  Many of the parents have chosen at one time or another to put their daughters on either the pill or the shot - be it the shot that is like the pill or the one that suspends the period. 

We've long talked about it and I always said I would get Ronnie the shot that suspends her period.  I'm still leaning that way.  Partly because I don't want to deal with it but also for her own protection.  And cleanliness.  Most of the comments have been that it is no big deal, just like a poopy diaper but I guess I'll have to see that to believe it:)

And shaving.  Apparently the girls all find shaving fun and that it tickles the armpitts.  I hadn't really thought of the shaving aspect.  Knowing Ronnie she'll probably find it funny too.

On another topic, went to the gym today and managed to jog my way through 3 songs on my Ipod.  YAY ME!!!

'til next time.

Did I have a breakthrough?

So another day off from work and Emma and I went to the gym.  She did 20 minutes or so on the elliptical glider and I did 30 minutes on the treadmill.  But this is where I had my breakthrough.  After about 10 minutes of really quick walking, I put up the speed and managed to jog my way through one song.:); then I rested for about another 8 minutes or so and did it again!! Managed to jog my way through another song... I've never been able to do that.

In the past when I tried to work my way up to jogging, I managed to run for about 1 minute and then rest for a few; but I found it hard to pick up the pace and do it again.  That I was able to do it not once but twice today is huge.

Oddly enough, I think I'm happier about this than the 3 pounds I lost.  Maybe because its something I can qualify... I'm very proud of myself. 

'til next time.

How much does a pound of butter weigh, anyway?

So today was my first official 'post-joining' weigh-in at Weight Watchers and drum-roll please: -3.1 pounds.  Yup, I did say 3.1 pounds down.  I'm now only 6.9 pounds away from my first 5% goal (which tells you way more about my current weight than I really want to, but...).

I'm trying to figure out how I feel about that number: on one hand it's validatation for the work I have put into this during the past week and that the work has actually paid off; on the other hand, I'm a little disappointed.  Because of the work I put into it this week, I was sort of hoping for more.  It also feels a little disconnected.  Like its not really real?  So I'm thinking I'm going to be one of these weird people at the grocery store and pick up 3 pounds of butter and try to realize that this weight has been eliminated from my body.  Ewwww, that just sounds gross but you know what I mean.

We did go to the gym last night and rather than do yoga, I did the treadmill and some light weights.  I'm actually glad I didn't do the yoga - tells me how much I enjoy it:).  That's it for now.

'til next time.

Sushi anyone?

So today was a day off from work so I dragged Emma to the gym with me to do the Zumba class.  I have to admit the poor kid looked way out of her element but I am very grateful that she came with me.  She just needs to loosen up a little when she does the hip shakes but ...

On our way back she made a wonderful suggestion: how about we share a platter of Sushi?  So, despite my misgivings seeing as I'm trying to loose weight and all, we stopped and picked up a 16-piece sushi plate and shared it out.  We added some cut cucumber as well and it was wonderful!!  Figured out later that even with pasta for supper, I'm still below my 29 point target. 

You know, I'm going to be brutally disapointed if my first official weight-in doesn't have at least a 2 lbs drop... Hopefully all the hard work and food calculating will pay off.

'til next time.

Why track food?

So part of Weight Watchers is this food tracker thing where you have to write down everything you eat and it automatically calculates your remaining points.  I have 29 points per day and a weekly allowance of 49 extra points (which everyone has).  You can also track your activity and everytime you do something physical, you get points depending on the intensity.  Then you can trade your points for extra food points if you need it.

I kind of like the point value system.  It helps me to  evaluate what i want to eat within concrete parameters.  I have a limit which I have to aim to reach and not exceed.  It makes it easier for me to evaluate and choose my food.  Like today, I really want a hamburger.  So I've traded in a couple of activity points because I am over my limit (the burger is 8 points) and have decided not to have the glass of wine I wanted.  I'm over my target by 4 points but I have a crap load of activity points that I haven't touched and this barely skims the top of my extra weekly allowance of 49 points.

Anyway, I'm being very anal about it now 'cause its just the first week.  We'll see if I keep it up:)

I also went and did a Zumba class again today so I racked up even more activity points.  I even suggested to Emma that we go for a hike tomorrow... Wow, I wonder how long this motivation/intensity will last???

'til next time.

Sore calves and shoulder anyone?

So yesterday my hubby and I went to our Wednesday yoga class.  It was the first time in a couple of weeks for me as we were at Disney and somehow didn't make for a week or two before we left. 

You know, I really do look forward to the yoga class but hate the skinny witch while I'm in it.  When I'm done, I usually feel like I've really accomplished something difficult.  And don't let anyone tell you yoga is some kind of Zen-like thing: its damn hard work.  Anyway, not long into the class we did our first downward facing dog (pose that makes you look like an upside down V) and my shoulder started to burn.  This is not the first time this has happened so today, I went on WebMD and self-diagnosed it as shoulder tendonitis:)  According to WebMD, I have to rest the shoulder and strengthen it using light weights.  Oh, and one of the backward poses while I was on my knees (can't remember what it is called) pulled both my calf muscles - they are really tight...  I guess for the next little while I'll have to keep to Zumba or the treadmill. 

Also today, I decided to join Weight Watchers.  My weight was what I thought it was but hoped it wouldn't be (and no I'm not going to tell you).  I think for me to be successful, I have to change how I perceive and choose my food.  Overall I don't think we eat badly, we just eat too much of it.  Anyway, I'll let you know how it goes.  Night off from the gym and didn't walk the dog 'cause my calves were freaking aching;)

'til next time

Zumba anyone?

So last night, I tried my very first Zumba class. It was absolutely crazy - people were dancing and yelling and getting very excited.  It was like being at a party.  It was a little wild.  I have to admit that I've never sweated so much in my life.  Did I like it?  You betcha (as Sarah Pallin was fond of saying).  It was alot of fun and there was a really good vibe to the class.  There were so many people and everyone was sweating; fat, skinny, young, old; it didn't seem to matter - everybody was sweating.  Will I go back again?  Just for the sweat factor, you betcha.  I felt like I sweated off about 10 lbs and was utterly exhausted by the end of it.

Tonight is yoga.  I hate downward facing dog... Yoga is one of these things that I look forward to but I hate it when I'm doing it.  When the class is finished I feel like I've accomplished something hard.  Weird... Actually yoga is very hard.  You are using your body as resistance and frankly, when you're no skinny minnie, that's not easy.

Anyway, survived day 3 of our new fitness routine but I have to admit I'm looking forwad to actually eating a meal tomorrow night.

'til next time

Healthy routine?

So today is the 2nd day of a new fitness routine; at least I hope it will be a fitness routine.  Although since its day 2, it might be too early to call it a routine but one can always hope.  I'm going to go to the gym tonight and try a Zumba class.  It looks kinda fun so hopefully it is.  And on Thursday, I'm going to weight watchers to see what the deal is.  We're bringing the dog on brisk walks and trying to avoid too much junk food. 

I'm actually really worried about setting a goal.  There is only been one time in my life that I was successful at losing weight (and I lost over 50lbs) and I didn't really have any expectations with it when I started.  Anyway, I'm going to try to take it one day at a time (which is not my forte) and see what comes.

Wish me luck:)

Oh, and Disney World.  We did all four parks and stayed for the fireworks at all of them except Animal Kingdom because they don't have fireworks (it would scare the animals) so it made for very long days - out by 9am and back at the hotel by 10:30.  After walking around all day it was exhausting...  Poor Ronnie was so funny.  We'd get back to the hotel and put her in bed and because of the tight hotel sheets, the poor kid couldn't move.  The only part of her that could move was her eyes...  On our last day there she was useless... Kept waking up then falling back asleep.  She actually slept through about 1/2 the flight which was great.

I'm having a very hard time deciding which was my favorite park.  We also went to Universal Studios which was really cool.  Hogwarts is definately worth it and the rides there were phenomenal.

Oh, and the shows... next time I talk about the shows.

That's it for now.

Its been a long time

So I haven't written in here for a long time and part of it is because I just didn't have anything worthwhile to share.  But I'm coming to the realization that by trying to make it worthwhile to potential readers, this blog has lost complete meaning to me.  So, here is my resolution:  I will write for me and hope others find it interesting.  If not, then maybe my kids will one day find it embarassing:)

Almost two weeks ago now, we came home from our very first family vacation.  I should specify that it was out of town family vacation.  Actually we went to Disney World.  And you know what?  It was amazing.  Going into this trip I had absolutely no idea of what to expect but evertime we turned a corner, we were surprised and pleased.  Take the accessiblity:  we stayed onsite at one of the resorts (Port Orleans French Quarter) and it was very nice.  Each room had its own door from outside and we had a view to a wonderful little garden.  Very peaceful.  There was one bus stop and every ten minutes or so a bus for a different park would arrive to pick people up.  As we have a wheelchair, we were the first on the bus.  It was actually kind of funny because at first I didn't realize that being loaded on first was the way it would work.  I was apologizing to people because we were getting on the bus before them but my husband finally said "stop - look at the sign.  It says wheelchair access first...".   

Once inside the park it was the same thing.  We had a guest assistance pass which basically let us into  what they call the FastPass Queue and we managed to do most of the rides.  Ronnie and Emma loves them all and for Ronnie, the wilder the better.  My favorite ride was The Tower of Terror.  Scared the crap out of me but it was fun.

'til the next time.