Not Sure Of My Weight

Winter Sunset

Must admit it is sooo peaceful here at the moment. Just being able to do my own thing without getting growled at is quite liberating. I have still times when I'm really down but then I kick myself in the butt and perk up again. Getting out of the house will cure being in the dumps so as soon as the weather permits, I'll toss in my swag and go take some photographs, then I'll be great and raring to go again. No sense going whilst it is -6 degrees, raining and windy.

Not too sure how my weight is going as each time I weigh myself, I'm getting a different reading, (step on the scales, step of then back on again), and this is with my new scales. It was suggested that maybe the battery was flat from being in the shop for a long time. So I put in a new battery to no avail.

I got the scales book out last night, just to see If I was doing anything wrong,(really, what can one do wrong stepping on and off of scales, but I checked all the same). It actually says that if you should happen to get different readings, then your weight is between the two results so that's how I'll determine it from now on. If all fails read the instructions lol.

A bit ridiculous really isn't it. I know I haven't put on weight but just not too sure what I weigh at this moment. Will wait til my next weighin day and take it from there.

I've been sticking to all the correct foods throughout, except I had a heap of bread and butter pudding on the weekend, (using up older crumpets I found at the bottom of the freezer. Don't buy them now. Probably should have tossed them out but a sweet attack deemed I use them). Other that that, oh and some Italian Bread Sticks that a friend introduced me too a week ago, I've stayed on the straight and narrow.

Lack of exercising has been a big thing with me...my own fault, allowing my mood to drag me down and I stay in bed shutting the world out, but I'm back at it again now and in a happier frame of mind.


Keep Smiling...toy. xoxo

Winter Months

Sunrise over Little Yangie Bay

Coffin Bay NP

Yesterday the master left for warmer climes for the winter months. Traveling up to Townsville where he’ll stay for a week or so, then continue on to Cairns, staying there for the duration. He’s not sure how long he’ll be away, definitely 2 months.

I have decided to catalogue his trip via phone conversations and will present the finished product to him on his return. I think this will be a pleasant surprise for him.

The maid intends to utilize his absence to find beverlyann once more and regain a once positive outlook on life. I am resting up over the weekend with the intention of turning the house upside down next week steam cleaning and using my new ‘you beaut’ vacuum cleaner purchased last Thursday.
Once the house is sorted, I shall venture further afield for some full on camera clicking, weather permitting.

Looking forward to it…toy

Getting Back on Track

Little Yangie, Coffin Bay NP

The weather has necessitated me being on the computer for very short periods the past few weeks however, my journey toward a slimmer me continues.

Since the reported gain of 1.5 kgs in the last post which put my weight back up to 97.4kgs, I have been very slowly dropping back down to the previous 95.9 kgs again. The cause of the gain was indeed my blood pressure which had rocketed through the roof and water retention was at a maximum. This necessitated bed rest and my dissolving Nat Mur under my tongue again to settle my system back in order. I am in control once more.

Weigh-in 13/05/07 was 96.2kgs, a loss of 1.2 kgs.

Week 15:

Weigh-in 26/05/07 is 95.5 kgs, a loss of 700 grams.

This puts me 500 grams lighter than I was before the 1.5 kgs gain.

Total Loss since beginning my journey: 9.6 kgs.

Have to be happy with that hey? I am back on track.

My walking has been spasmodic due to a various factors but I have been compensating with other exercises both on days I haven’t walked as well as the days that I have.

Exercises Regime:

Walk = 1 hour.

Wall Push-ups, (joints won’t hold me on the floor), = 20

Bum Walks across floor forward and backward = 10 min

Elliptical Walker = As long as possible x 3tds at least. This ‘kills’ my knee joints so I get on it often for short periods. I figure it’s better than not doing it at all.

Can lift to shoulders, elbows bent, front = 20

Can lift to shoulders, elbows straight, side = 20

Gym Ball = Set of exercises which came with the ball. I also bought a book last week which was on special and is exclusively gym ball exercises so once I’ve had a chance to look at it I may add more to my session.

Thai Chi. I have a video: ‘Thai Chi for Arthritics’ which I have retrieved from the cupboard and am once again learning.

I have also pulled out a book dealing with stretching which I intend to utilize in the near future.


All is positive...toy

My Week or so

Red Banks

Situated north of Arno Bay and south of Cowell

on Eyre's Peninsila.

I climbed down and back up to get these photos.

The Cliffs are very high,

Varied in shape


Birdlife abounds
Pied Cormorants hunt for food


Colourful

With arches

Pied Cormorants

settle for a sleep

A whopping 1.4kg gain this week. Don't know where that came from. Didn't expect too lose much, if any at all. I was due for a 'stabilised' week but such a gain never entered my tiny grey cells. Don't 'feel' as though I've gained. Haven't jumped off the wagon as far as eating goes.

I wasn't able to walk on a couple of days in the past week due to a dicky, swelling knee and I've had to cut back to 30 - 45min walks the rest of the week, any longer and I'm limping again.

The only other changes have been that I've had a couple of stir fries with rice,(I usually have it without rice), I thickened a chicken and veg curry with Polenta rather than flour. used a pumpkin spread for my wraps and I've cut back on the water. For years I've been drinking up to nine litres a day. This is obviously too much so I made a concerted effort to cut it back and yesterday I was pleased that I only drank 4.5 litres. Quite a hard task actually.

Oh well, back at it this next week.

Haven't been able to get on line for ages. My ISP is absolutely useless, forever finding no connection then they just put their phone line on a 'busy' signal so you can't ring them.I'm connected with Active8 now so will cancel Dodo as soon as I can get them on the phone. They have stuffed up my email and active8 are still trying to sort out what the problem is, so for now, please use the yahoo addy I've sent. Raych and Vegie, haven't sent it to you yet, wanted to check the board to see if you're home again before doing so, which I'll do soon. It's bad enough having to turn the computer off due to windy or stormy weather without not being able to get on line when the weather is fine. mumble, mumble.


The Master is going away soon, Bairds Bay, western Eyre's Peninsula for a week or so then a couple of days home to pack up and off to Cairns for the winter. I've been told in no uncertain terms that I'm not welcome on either trip. He's sick to death of my condition. Wonder how he'd feel in my skin!!


Have had two great happenings in my world recently:

First of all Mary, (MARYB4), rang me a couple of weeks ago before she went away. Had a great chat and giggle. She's also sent me an SMS from a headland on the north coast of NSW in the vacinity of her farm and it sounds great in that area.

Also spent a great day out by the ocean with Vic, (VIC & TURT), on Anzac day. We talked, laughed, walked, lunched, laughed, talked, walked and generally had a great day. She and hubby were staying in Next Town South and she rang and asked if I'd like to come play the next day whilst her hubby was out fishing. After my walk and spending Anzac sunrise on the shores of the southern ocean thinking of all of the soldiers in my life over the years, I showered, breakfasted then into the car and off to play.

These two events did wonders for me just when I was about to slit my throat following a really bad few days with the master. Especially since both ladies were on holidays.
How wonderful of them to think of me at such a time.

Weigh In

Silver Eye South-Eastern Form

taken at Glen Forest

Small Regent Parrot

taken at Glen Forest

Rainbow Lorikeet taken at Yallunda Flats,

the same area as the toadstools.

Starting weight: 105 kg

Last week: 98.7 kg = Loss 6.3 kg

This week: 95.9 kg = Loss 2.8 kg.

9 g to 1st goal.

I am quietly pleased with my progress so far. Obviously the walking is doing wonders though disappointingly I've missed out yesterday and this morning...My right knee is playing up a tad and I find I have a small limp so deemed it prudent not to push it. This a.m. it seems to have improved and by tomorrow I'll be back out there.

As I can't afford to purchase any plan, I've simply returned to my good eating habits and cut out all of the foods that obviously don't agree with my system. I've stopped the comfort eating and have returned to fruit. I find that I am feeling better within myself and don't head for my hidey hole quite so often or as deep when situations occur that sent me there prior to beginning my journey.

With regards to my height measurement, I've come to the conclusion that the Doc must have recorded it incorrectly as I've always noted it as being 172cms...not 182cms, the shrinkage to 167cms though 5cms, is more believable and we do tend to shrink up to 4cms as we age.

1.4kg to 10% loss...YAAAY.

YAAY!!! Scales

Sunset at Little Yangie, Coffin Bay National Park

At Last my scales have arrived and they are the ones that I particularly wanted and not my 2nd choice. Wouldn't you know it, a pilot's license is required to drive them. However, my details are as follows:

Starting Weight: 105 kgs

Current Weight: 98.7 kgs.

1st goal: 95 kgs

2nd Goal: 10%

Initial Aim: 80kgs. Then I'll decide accordingly.

I've obviously lost a bit of weight since first arriving at the Boards as I was definately 105kgs a week prior. Weighed at the Docs.

I dug out my record book from 2004 and it's interesting to note that on 29/06/04 I weighed 80kgs...no more records after that. I tend to look skeletal below 80 ks. Sunken eye sockets, prominent, boney cheek bones, ribs poking out, boobs dripping like dangly earings down around my knees, stomach and butt even lower etc.
I'd begun my weight loss journey at 98ks in Feb of that year. My height was 182cms. now I am only 167cms. That's a huge shrinkage. The Master, (hubby), measured me this time whereas the Doc. measured me last time. I expected some shrinkage but not that much but the master ensures me he measured me correctly...and he's been a cabinet maker all his working life...so surely he's got it correct. Hmmmm.


I was really chuffed the other day. My WB and I walked 9.692ks, (according to our pedometers) and even taking the .692ks off for general jolting of the peds, it's still 9ks. It almost killed us but the good thing is, when one of us began to sag the other kept us going and we seemed to take it in turns. She hurts going up hill and I hurt going down lol, so there is always one of us going ok when the other is struggling...a good mix.

Had to make a trip to Big Town last week so haven't been at the boards much lately, riding out another detox period. Hope to head there today.

I only walked for 45 mins this a.m. and have given the pedometer the flick because I'm sure it's not working correctly, there's too big a discrepency between WBs and mine.

Fairyland for Ems

I know it's a fairy, couldn't find an elf.

The Elf and the Dormouse

by Oliver Herford, 1863-1935 (published in the 1800's)

Under a toadstool crept a wee Elf,

Out of the rain to shelter himself.

Under the toadstool, sound asleep,

Sat a big Dormouse all in a heap.

Trembled the wee Elf, frightened,

and yet Fearing to fly away lest he get wet.

To the next shelter--maybe a mile!

Sudden the wee Elf smiled a wee smile,

Tugged till the toadstool toppled in two.

Holding it over him, gaily he flew.

Soon he was safe home, dry as could be.

Soon woke the Dormouse--"Good gracious me!

Where is my toadstool?" loud he lamented.

--And that's how umbrellas first were invented.

Scales

Came across a field of Fungi in a beautiful little area not far from here which I frequent. There's a small creek which meanders for miles, lots of eucalypts and the bird life is abundant.

Today on the dot of 9 am I dialed the Harris Scarfes mail order line and ordered my, you beaut Digital Scales, a much needed Woollen Underlay for the bed and a Mattress Protector. Excellent prices, heaps off the normal price. Even so, I'll not be eating for the next couple of weeks. will have to live off of stored up blubber.

I'm told they'll take up to 14 days to get here and are subject to availability. I shall be optimistic that there'll still be some left, even though the mail orders department didn't open for three hours after the personal shopping sale started. I only had to wait about 3 minutes before being 'served'. I did give them a second choice of scales if the one's I ordered aren't available but they aren't as good as the ones I want.

YAAAY Em

Honey Eaters are abundant on the Peninsula.

After many attempts at adding links how I wanted them, I have succeeded. Thanks Em for your guidance the other day. It wasn't turning out how I wanted it so I kept going back to your instructions...Obviously I'm a slow learner...and suddenly ALL of your instructions clicked and..Woohoo... my list of links looks as pretty as everyone elses. In your directions, you specifically directed me to: 'then name them underneath in the new site name...ie...vegie's blog', but dumbo me kept missing it and couldn't work out why I was getting all of your addresses instead of your names...I was putting your names in the Title box...thick as a brick and umpteen times heavier...
By the way...this am my, 'can't make their mind up' scales told me I now weigh 87kgs. Oh wouldn't I be ecstatic if I did. Pipe dreams for now...one day I will but have to get rid of the other 574kgs first. I actually reckon I'd be around 105kgs at the mo.

Hope you are enjoying your Easter. xoxo

Sunrise Over a Dark Sea

The Morning Sky:

I set out for my morning walk before the sun gets up in the morning. That way I am always treated to the many different moods of the sky as she enrobes each day. This morning was quite overcast with rain-laden clouds, but ooh, what a performance was the awakening of the sun. I am so blessed to be living in Australia. Every day wears a new gown where-ever you are.

My journey is going well…I think…still no weigh-ins. Harris Scarfes have scales on sale from 6 a.m. onwards I only hope there are some left at 9 a.m when Mail Orders begin.

Back to my journey. I am feeling better physically in my body, my step seems lighter, stride wider and my joints may be a tad looser. Whilst in detox during the past week there was only one morning when I couldn’t get myself out of bed for my walk and when I was able to surface, I kept wanting to go walking then, but couldn’t due to all of the holiday-makers arriving in town for Easter. I did fleetingly think about driving out to a more distant beach but that would have been terribly irresponsible of me, to get behind the wheel when I’m not on top of things. I found it really interesting that I ‘craved’ all day for my walk. A step in the right direction. Got on the elliptical walker for many short periods throughout the day to compensate.

On my morning walks, I zig zag through the town which provides uphill, level and downhill giving great workouts for my legs and joints.
If I have my camera with me I step it out for the first half hour then take any pics which may arise then after sunrise, I step it out for another half to three quarters of an hour which is mostly uphill as I'm heading home.
If I don't have the camera and when my WB is with me, we zig zag through the town til WB has had enough then I usually zig zag a bit longer before heading back uphill to home. All in all, I am satisfied that my walks are helping. Following are some photos of this a.m's walk.

Sunrise at the Jetty:

Dark Clouds at Sunrise:

Eyes in Sky:

Shannon

Shannon 28 yrs, my youngest son, has profound cerebral palsy. He loves his keyboard, music, thinks vehicles of any type have been put on this earth expressly for his enjoyment and prefers the outdoors. He lives in community housing within the town he was born, along with three friends and wonderful carers. He attends day options each day.

My heart breaks at not being able to see him very often. The town that best serves his needs makes me very ill.

A couple of hours there and I'm useless to anyone. This is when I hate my condition the most. It was a great shock to me when I had to admit that I won't be able to visit him as often as I intended after moving down from Cairns. When I was well, I used to fly down three times a year, pick him up and we'd head off somewhere together for a couple of weeks.

It was devastaing to have to place him in full time care in the first place. He'd become too strong for me. He used to almost choke me when he gave me hugs... Arms around my neck, he'd pull me into his shoulder and hug me really tight. It'd block my wind-pipe. When he was small I could just reach around and unlock his hands but as he grew, his arms became so long and I couldn't reach back to his hands.

One morning my friend from across the road happened to walk straight into my house and found me almost out of it and was able to unlock Shan's hands for me. It was uncanny. She never walked in without knocking but this morning she did, thank god...which was when I was told that it was too dangerous to keep him home as it was just the two of us by then, (Dion and Corey were off about their lives, after me 'pushing' them out the door and the boys father had taken off when they were little) and it had occured three times in all, thankfully I was able to get away the other two times. It took another 4 years before I could bring myself to let go of Shan.

To keep myself from going and getting him home again all of the time, which was doing neither of us any good, I was burnt out and he was confused, I moved to Cairns totally shattered. After 6 months of burn out and total despair, I pulled myself together enough to get a job during the days at the Cairns Special School and worked nights as a chef at the Taj, (Indian), resturant, so I didn't have any spare time to think. This seemed to do the trick and after two years of this I was able to stop working nights.

By the time I became ill, which actually began with three different mosquito bourne viruses, Ross River, Glandular and Barmer Forest, one after the other which shot my immune system to pieces and left me with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I had left the Special Ed. system, ( due to injuries aqquired over years of working with the disabled including Shan), and had moved across to oncology where, over a period of 4 years I got the Multi Chemical Sensitivities which resulted in being bed ridden for years and putting a stop to any flights to see Shannon. After not seeing him for another 4 years, I was suicidal and obviously something had to be done to change the situation. With my condition worsening my specialist said I had to move near the ocean where I the sea air can help me heal. Hence moving back to S.A. so I could be nearer to Shannon. The other kids can all come to us, if they chose but Shanni doesn't have a choice, so I was going nowhere else. I was happier than I'd been in years so, as stated above, it was a BIG shock to realise I wouldn't be seeing him as often as I thought I would. Back into the dolldrums I shrank for months, then thought, at least I'm in the same state and not at the opposite end of Oz and I do get to see him more than when I was in Cairns, just not as much as I want to.

Shannon is very happy with his life...I am the one who despairs at the situation. He is over 6 feet tall and is such a gentle young man. I love my three young men to distraction.

This pic was taken in 2004.

Moving pics. I Give Up

My Photos and added comments won't stay in order so you'll have to view them as they are. I've tried to sort them out several times but they just keep on going right back to how you will be viewing them. toy.

Memories 3

Caught the memory lane bug. So here are more pics for your perusal. Haven't seen these photos for years. Have fun. toy.

Mother and son tripping the light fandango at the Wellington Hotel Country and Western night. Shannon loves music. Was more of a wrestle to keep the lad from 'joining' the band. S.A.1991.

Young mum of two 1978.

Toy as a baby

Wedding Day 1996

On the grand staircase .

Dion Giving Mum away. When passed me to Des they shook hands and

Dion said to Des,"She's all yours. See if you can do anything with her.'

Easter hat day at Cairns Special School with one of my students. 1992

A night out at Charlies Seafood resturant in Cairns where we lived for 13 years. I was already ill at this stage but didn't know what was wrong and still working. 1997.

Toy ready for a girl's night out 1989.

The Master's Birthday. I was ill here but still working 1998.

Toy loved her deep sea fishing 1993.

Big Mouth Nanaguay 1992

Not long before leaving work due to illness.

Sporting a skunk stripe. 1998









Just friends1991

With my mum. Cairns Anzac Day 1998.

At the end of the S.A. Woodville Spastic Centre Super Walk 1989. Shannon's plasters had only been off his legs for three weeks following Double Grice procedures on both ankles. We almost lost him post op. He was a very sick young man for a long time so this day was a day to celebrate.

A tipple or two 1990.

Party time at a friend's suprise birthday party we had planned 1989.