A whole entire year!

The year to which I am referring, is that I have been going to the gym for that time period now, and to be super cliche- wow what a difference a year has made!

Last August 31, I went to Triple B because I knew that I needed to do something to help me keep my weight loss going. I knew that walking would not be enough, though it is the core of my calorie burning activities, that work and the weather would truly find a way to interfere with my ability to get outside daily.  So I decided to try out the gym, if nothing else for the cardio equipment, but I was interested in lifting weights.  I used to lift weights, sort of, at home.  I liked doing it, but I never felt particularly successful, mostly because I had no idea what I was doing.  I read a lot when I am interested in something, so I had an idea about proper form, but of course had no way of knowing if I was doing it right.   And when you are at home, it is just as easy to sit down after 15 minutes of randomly picking up and putting down a 5 lb weight in various ways, or drink more coffee, or get distracted by any other thing.......

So I got brave and went in to sign up.  Yes, that was a brave thing for me to do.  I like to know if I am doing something right, I don't want to feel silly or out of place.  I knew Lori from when she worked at our public library, I had the girls in art class, so that made it a little easier.  I had also gone in for a few magnificent pedicures before I started working out!!  So, I wasn't a total stranger, but had NEVER ventured into the "other side of the building".  That was a scary place for me- it was sort of noisy- lots of foreign clanging .... there were people I did NOT know and they are all way bigger than me!!  It was bright and GOD FORBID there are mirrors EVERYWHERE!  A year ago mirrors were not exactly my friend yet.  I had lost 30 pounds in the past 7 months, so I was ready for a little more, but oy, was that a step out of my comfort zone.  I did not feel exactly like I belonged, and I stressed out over whether I was doing something wrong.  I did not want to bother the people around me, did not want to get in the way....

Of course everyone there is super nice and very helpful.  I was given a tour, a primer in weight lifting and Lori was kind enough to show me the exercises multiple times when I asked for help.  I learn a lot by observing, so it was awesome to have all the family members working out among us.  It took me a while to feel brave enough to talk freely to everyone, I think it was a couple weeks before I said more than a word or two to Brian and Brandon!  (Now they can't get me to shut up!  LOL)  And the encouragement that I received was above and beyond what I ever imagined.  I do not know if they realize how it motivated me with the simple act of noticing my improvement and commenting on it.  I will never forget the time after I was coming regularly for about 6 or 7 weeks and Brian said to me that he could see the changes in me!  I was flabbergasted, since I could not yet see them in myself.  Or the time Lori said that she wanted to take a picture of my back, because I never see it and I would be surprised how much definition was starting to take place.  Or the way I was forced into the front row of dance class by Lori and Brianna because I obviously love to dance.  The things that they have done for my fitness and self esteem are immeasurable.  I can go on and on....  Bridget will stop her work out to hand me a weight to lift over head so i don't clunk myself on the noggin, Brandon will accuse me of having too many Red Bulls, when really I am just so glad to be there.....

So here I am 70 plus pounds lighter, and so much fitter to show for it.  And I have to give credit where credit is due.  Thanks you so much to the Duba family and also James, who also works there!!!  Triple B has been a big part of my life the past year, and it is a relationship I plan to continue for a long long time!  You guys ARE the best!  xoxoxox

(Pix to follow when I get time to find them!!)

Driver's License weight!!!!- and Happy Birthday to me!!

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!!!

After many many MANY YEARS of attempting and trying and failing and trying again, today on my 54th birthday, I have finally reached my driver's license weight!  

I remember filling out my probationary driver's license form as clearly as if it was yesterday- I remember being at school, I remember where I was sitting, who was sitting near me.  Apparently I was excited by this whole event.  I remember thinking to myself, even at the age of 16 that I wanted to be 150- and I thought that was a little much, but that was fine.  I was NOT 150.  I was more like 157 or 158- something to that effect.  And I remember planning to lose weight to get there.  Who would ever have thought that it would take this many years to get to this place.  

Yes, people, my driver's license STILL says 150!  I have never had to or did ever change it to a more realistic number, and I am so glad I never did.  That number- a stupid number- has driven me to this day.  So as I sit here bawling over it on the couch, I am very happy and very proud.  This journey has taken me since December 21 of 2010.  The day I decided I couldn't go through my life with my knees hurting any more.  With the rolls on my back touching each other when I sit on the couch.  That even if I could lose 10 FREAKING pounds, it would be better than nothing.  I knew I had to get going before the first of January, as we all know that New Year's resolutions do not work!  I don't do them, I start my adventures well before that!  

I HAVE to take the time to THANK my friends over on the loseit web site.  If it hadn't been for that community of people, people who really get it, who are uniquely familiar with this kind of journey, who are there to support you, to cheer you up, to laugh with, to MEET!, to give you advice and you get to do the same for them- I know I could not have done this.  Of course my family and local friends have been fabulous, too, I count my blessings daily,, but without that loseit support, I would not weigh 150.2 pounds today!  It is only a number but baby this is a wonderful one!

So here is to you- Allyce, Barbara, Marie, Samara, Gary, Richie, Leanne, Billy, Cheri, Connie, Jenny, Molly, Jenni, Phyllis, and the rest of my Mean Honey Badgers, Jamie, Bean, Petunia, Mark, Pif, Rudy, Kendra, Randy and a whole lot of others who I feel bad that I can't name all of you individually, but like I said, I'm sort of crying here. THANK YOU!  For putting up with my whining, for dealing with my perpetual good outlook on life, for letting me share small parts of your life.  

The other big factor in this is my dearest friends at Triple B Health and Fitness!  Brian, Lori and the kids have been so supportive, so helpful and so inspiring.  Triple B has indeed helped make me what I am today- way lighter than I was a year ago when I joined!!  Thanks to them, especially Lori and Brian for telling me what a great job I am doing, how I am making such fast progress, how they have seen changes starting way back when I only had a month under my belt!  Those little kind words motivated me hugely!  THANK you!!!!!  I'll be there in a while to give you hugs!  :) :) :)

Time for more coffee, to write another canoe blog post, to wait for the sun to come up so I can walk and to see if I have a picture on the Channel 9 weather!  Lol.  Then time for the gym, for lunch with my friends, for texts and emails, for a happy birthday to me massage!  Hopefully time will find the children calling their mother, and the MA taking me out for dinner!  Then tomorrow I will get up in a new month and with this new number and start things all over again.  145 here I come!  

Beautious night

I had a busy day on Tuesday! 

Beautiful yellow "flag" iris by Smith Lake

School was a mad house!  (Love finding these mad references- heh!)  However, the day went fast and I was relieved to be able to get on with other things.  I took a lot of pictures at several different locations, which was a pleasant surprise for a Tuesday.  In fact I have so many pictures that need to be dealt with, I am hoping that people aren't sick to death of my postings!  If you are please just smile indulgently and pat me on the head.  My art brain is in high gear in anticipation of not having it cluttered up with school events.  And my exercise brain is also in high gear to clear some of the goop that accumulated in me over the Memorial Day weekend......  Oy

I was SO excited to get my "Girls With Guns...... Courtesy of Triple B" tank top yesterday!!  This has been in the works for a few months and it is flattering that I was included in the initial group of recipients! We had such a good time getting these pics, the whole gym was watching us ham it up for the camera.  GUESS who always ALWAYS has her camera in her purse for just such incidences????  LOL.

I seriously think I should get in the sun more!  Lol

After a quick weight lifting session (can't wait until next week when I can spend all sorts of time lifting) I sprinted home to go to a little school gathering at Northern Pines for my friend Diane.  I got there a little later than I liked, but got to see people who I rarely get to talk to these days.  This crew of people here worked together for many years before most of them went and retired on me!!!  I miss them so much.  So I took a few lake pix as well as getting the bartender to take a group shot!

Debi, Nettie - the tattoo show-off , Diane (not a retiree!), Amy, Ginny, and Carol

Butternut Lake- at Northern Pines Resort

I REALLY want to still call this place Bob's Northern Pines!  :)

After a half of a mediocre Margarita, (I apparently have become a bit of a tequila snob!), I decided I needed to DO something.  I took a really fast walk back towards the cabin, discovered the MA cutting up some wood for his mother, and continued on to the creek farther along the trail.  It is so gorgeous and it was a great walk, in spite of the mosquitos that were pervasive.  No wood ticks, though!  After a short wood unloading session, we set off to the campground down the road, there were several photographic treasures waiting to be uncovered.  I hope you enjoy them, too.

Silhouettes

The trees are dead from the year plus that they were flooded by a beaver dam flood.

Changing seasons from spring into summer

wild flowers

Woods road- you can hear the mosquitos and the tree toads if you stand still and listen

Smith Lake beach

Evening at the flowage

A picture that frames itself

Like I said, I have a few posts left in me, so don't be surprised when more pop up!  :)

After all, they give me a lot of joy- and I sincerely hope you find a little in them too.

Accidental discovery...

I am so missing this blogging thing.  I have been woefully amiss in my posting and I need to remedy this!  So I was taking a little stroll down memory lane today.  One of the kids made a statement of some sort at school today and it reminded me of something I did last summer.  Totally immaterial what it was. (um, no, I don't remember, so just leave me alone!  :) )

ANYWHO, I was looking at my blogging history and I noticed how few I have done as of late and how I peaked out during BIRTHDAY MONTH!!  It is only a short time, really, to birthday month, so I am thinking about what I might want to do for myself.  I have a few things in mind, both before, during and after the fine month of July..... but I digress.

During my musings, and teaching art, and answering questions and cursing the darkness- oh wait -  not that.  It did become sunny today!  Anyway, during that time, I came across my actual Birfday post and scrolled through the pix.  I was somewhat surprised by the pictures from that day.  Intellectually I know I have lost about 45 pounds, but .....

July 31, 2011

At Triple B! (post workout hair!)

For those of you who have been following this blog for a while, you have seen the change happening I imagine!  If you are a new blogstalker, maybe you, like me, are amazed by this change.  I'm shocked virtually everyday when I look in the mirror.
Every.  Single.  Day.

It is a challenge to eat well every day, and it is important for me that I get some activity in as well.  I always feel like I am one Wheat Thins binge away from 65 pounds again.

Thank heaven for my Loseit friends who do their best to help make every day a green arrow day!  And thank heaven for Triple B!

This morning I found I had lost a little over a pound again, so I am only 10 pounds away from my final goal!  Not sure I will know what to do with myself then, maintenance scares the hell out of me.  I have a few new things going on right now, one of which is running.  I have a few 5K's planned for the summer, and might be able to swing a 10 K in the fall....  that will help when I hit that "rest of my life" time that will be coming.

But I am going to revel in the joy of the morning, and watch the first big thunderstorm of the spring that is going on right now!

Until next time, be a joy giver y'all!

What I did over my spring vacation......

What I Did Over My Spring Vacation

By Debi Oswald

So what did I do?  Oh yeah, that's right!!

CHAPTER 1  Snow Day!!!!

 We got an EXTRA day of spring break because we got dumped on by a huge snow storm!  That was awesome!!  The weather guys had predicted a big storm and then they backed off and said it looked like we would get 8 + inches, but not the 14 that was predicted at first.....  WELL, they under-forecasted!  YAY!  School was called off and I did lots of picture taking.....  you can see them here................ and also  here.....................  and to taunt the people who did have to go to work .........here.....................

Oh LOLA!!!  Your sinking!

Mystery of the disappearing mailbox

Snow shoes on the butterfly chair- they got a workout this weekend

Jacpot waiting for me!

CHAPTER 2:  SHOPPING BABY!!!

So, it was really nice of the weather to cooperate with my trip to Wausau to do a little shopping.  I of course like to shop with a friend, and Luann is the perfect traveling companion.  She and I talk the entire time during our travels, enjoy the same sorts of things and I have come to discover that Luann is a wonderful stylist and personal shopper!  After picking out lots of things to try on, she kept bringing things for me to try on!  

Here are a few things, some I did buy and some I did not.  It was so much fun to try clothes on that fit well and looked good on me.  

Lunch at an awesome little cafe called Becca's! 

Debi and Luann at Becca's in Wausau

 

Size 10!!!

Hot new boots on SALE!!!  

Nice, but did not get

MINE!!!

Also mine!!

Vegetarian Mediterranean Salad- lunch!!

CHAPTER 3: PAMPERING DEBI DAY

Seriously, if you don't know why Debi had a pampering day you have not been paying attention!  

I planned for this day a couple weeks ago!  I spent lots of time at the gym today, in many various rooms!  It was so much fun.

No pix of the 2 hours I spent working out (awesome) or the HOT STONE MASSAGE!!!  (even more epically awesome) - It was a wonderful way to spend the morning!!!

The massage was followed by a nice little poor man's  lunch at my favorite diner- The Pal.  While sitting there with the MA and Joe the Builder, there was some activity out on the sidewalk nearby.  There was a massive snowpile right on the sidewalk, which I guess wasn't too much of a surprise.  But what WAS a surprise is the fact that a guy was  shoveling the snow off of the sidewalk into the street- right in front of my car!!! And I was parked in!  Fortunately, the vehicle behind mine left before I was done.  You just never know!

WTH????

At any rate, this wasn't the end of my day, I went BACK to the gym and had a glorious little pedicure later.  ahhhhhhhhh!  It was a good day to be Debi!  :)

Best little seat in the house!

Hot pink baby!!!  with sparkles

CHAPTER 4: Company for the weekend

Saturday brought Number 2 son, his wonderful gf, Sarah Jane, and of course Ruger and Toby!  What a nice time we had.  Lots of goofing around, outdoor hiking through the snow, shooting of catapults through the house.....  Lol, all kinds of things.

Checking out the snow depth and tiring out the dogs!

Target practice and scope sighting in

Ruger and Toby

Action shot!!

Mikey and Ruger

Sunday found us hiking back to the cabin where the MA and Bob the Barber are working on the spiral staircase.  Next step is the railing to tie the whole thing together.  

Debi and Greg

They had so much fun!

CHAPTER 5:  Homemade pizza

So a great friend of mine on the loseit site gave me a recipe for an awesome, different pizza!  It is a pizza without tomato sauce and it is a bit unconventional in it's ingredients.  So I made a whole wheat crust, then used the second crust to make a more conventional pizza plus the White pizza!

They were both really good!

I'll put in the recipe later.....

Wheat Pizza dough

Rising!

Heat that pizza stone!!! for an hour at 450

Prebake pizza crust for about 5 minutes

OOOPS forgot to take a photo of the finished pepperoni pizza!  It went fast

White pizza- sliced cooked potatoes, sauteed mushrooms and onions, crumbled bacon, thyme

Add mozzerella cheese

OMG, good!!!

This is all I needed! Well, there might have been a beer involved!

CHAPTER 7: BENCH PRESS!

I have been working on this for a while!  I was told that I could bench press over 100 pounds, so I have been trying that.  A month ago, I attempted and didn't quite make it.  3 weeks ago, I had been sick and had an epic fail.  So after working really hard including freaking pushups (drop and give me 50!) I finally accomplished it!  Not only that, but I went beyond the 105 to 115!  I am so happy!!
I went on to finish my chest and tricep day with some adrenaline (and am feeling the effects of it today) and then ran again.  I have been working on running for several months. It began with little spurts in my walks, every 2 weeks or so.  Then I progressed to once a week.  Well, lately I have been on a streak, so I planned to run 2 times a week and work up from there.  I have skipped that completely and am running (intervals) every other day now!  If you knew me from before, which many of you did, running and I were not on speaking terms.  Maybe to the phone!  But that's about it!

The amazing thing is how good it feels.  Who knew???

105

115!!!!

I finished off the day later with a walk in the snow, and had a 1200 calorie burn day!  I have never done that before either.

And that is what I did on my spring break!!  And I found a lot of joy.......

Until next time, be a joy giver!