A Date with My Wonderful Daughter!

For my Birthday/Mother's Day gift Jennifer got tickets for us to go see the musical, Wicked. This is something I was really looking forward to. It is not often I get a chance to have a mother/daughter date.

Our day together was on Saturday the 29th. We started off with me meeting Jenn & Cary at the Vet's clinic to trade Brylee for Jennifer.(We had the pleasure of waking up with our blue-eyed sunshine. What a nice way to start the day) Then off we go to lunch at Cheddar's. We sat and talked and laughed about everything. Something I miss a lot. When the check came I said, I would pay since it was my idea. Well of course Jenn protested. She took out her Drivers License, Debit Card, Insurance card & Credit Card and put them on the table like cards & said, "I win I have 4 of a kind!" I picked up the cards & with a big SMILE, and said, "I win!" I think it shocked her that I was that fast & could think that quickly on my feet. It had been my idea to go to lunch before the musical because I don't get a chance to go to Cheddar's often and thought it would be nice. Plus it was a little more time with my girl.
So next we are off to Fair Park. Thanks to my Garmin we made it without any problems. I know, you would think I could find it since I have lived here all my life but down town Dallas is not someplace I go to often. Once we got there we walked around & checked everything out. It has been a while since I had been to a musical and I forgot how nice it was. There was a really cool shirt Jenn & I both liked priced @ 39.00. A shirt that would have been cute for Brylee for 25.00. No we did not buy anything, we just enjoyed our Playbill & each other. We talked about maybe doing this yearly & the day when we can included Brylee.
The play was great. It reminds you there are two sides to every story.

Thank you Jennifer for suggesting "Wicked". I hope we can have another girls day out soon.

3 Generations

Having a little one in the house slows you down to remember yours & your children childhood. You know not a lot has changed from our generation to Brylee's generation. Bryan & I wore the 70's style clothing. Jennifer did & today Brylee has on a pleasant blouse & blue jean shorts.The toys you buy for infants are the same as we had as children, remember the poppers & busy activity boxes & the plastic ring of keys? Brylee plays with her mother's. You heard the stories of our parents telling us we had oatmeal & rice cereals as our first solids? Well that has not changed either. This morning we were sitting at the table for breakfast & we were all 3 eating oatmeal. No, life has not changed too much in 3 generations.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy Birthday to Me!


As many of you know I have been working hard on my new life style change. It is working & not only do I see outside results but, I feel so much better over all. I have more energy. I'm not sure it is the life style change or Brylee but I do not seem to be as down as in the past. (Some call it depression)


I had my follow up today for lab results. I officially lost 65 pounds since July 5, 2008. My iron level is steady. My blood pressure readings are wonderful. So what does all this mean? No more iron tablets. My blood pressure medication has been cut in half. (This is wonderful news. My understanding is that you have to slowly cut the dosage when on blood pressure medication) So this is the first step to get off the medication. YES! So the life style change is working. It is not doing much for Bryan's pocket book right now.


Since the next battle is to keep me on my life style change I will need you to send me any encouraging or inspirational words you may have. Please feel free to call, or e-mail me.
If you need any support or encouraging on your life style change please let me know & you have it!

To a new year of adventure!

Brylee Trait

Well we have figured out one of Brylee's little personality traits. LACK of PATIENCE! Yep, Lack of Patience. Here are a few reasons why we think this. Remember her birthday was to be around December 15th. She was born on November 18th. When Brylee is ready to eat it is right now! No subtle warnings, no small hungry cries, NOW! The third one we are watching is her walking before crawling! Brylee has always loved to stand. Her & B-PA/Poppy have a game they play where she is standing and she will slightly bend her knees & he will push her off above his head like she is a rocket. This can go on for a good 5 mins. Yesterday I put her on the floor standing with her holding my fingers. She stood there & then took a step out with one foot, balanced & then again. Now I'm not saying she was walking but, she knew what to do with those little feet.
So as you see, Patience is not one of her strong points. So what else will we find out about this little girl's personalty in the days to come............ Stay Tuned.
http://zodiac-signs-astrology.com/zodiac-signs/scorpio.htm

The Jarvis FunHouse Yard

Spring is here! As many of you know I love to work out in the yard. It is my therapy. I have had many people say I've been doing a lot of therapy lately!

I was inspired by my grandmothers & then my MOM, mom Jarvis & Barbara. As each of us know we all have different Styles of gardening. I have chosen Mini Gardens. I have, I believe, 10 at this time. Now don't get to excited. The hedges count as one. The Crepe Myrtles count as one. Let me introduce you to the Jarvis FunHouse yard.


The Ring



























































































I can't wait to introduce Brylee to the yard. So much to explore. Respecting nature, bugs, gecko & snakes. Yes, the small garter snakes that help with the bugs in your yard.

So I would love it if you would share pictures of your yards & gardens. Who knows, you might inspire me !

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where
he lay. Mat 28:6

Happy Easter Everyone!

My Results

Okay as I promised I would give you my results of all my recent medical results.
I was almost laughing because I thought the doctor was going to fall off the stool he was sitting on reading the results. It was so funny!

I had lost 25 pounds in 9 months. He was happy but wants me to work on the weight . (I have now lose 60 lbs. total, since July 5, 2008)
Bone Destiny test 5 years ago the information was , 2 points above my age group. I had an increase in my back & my hips had decreased. This time it was, Spine +0.1 Left Femur -0.1 Right Femur -0.3 (Normal is 0 to neg .9) I put the great results to losing weight & working with kettle bells.
I have always had great LHD Cholesterol. My LDL has ran between 204-250 for years, but with the LHD being so good the doctor never seemed concerned with it. My LDL was 199. Okay not low but lower than it has been in a while.
The doctor is thinking of taking me off my High Blood Pressure medicine. My blood pressure readings have been great. Wish me luck in May.
Red Blood Cells, according to the doctor I have always had a very low red blood cell count. It was the highest it has ever been since I started seeing him. There is were he just almost fell off the stool!
I have fought being anemic all my life. I was low normal. We have to keep working on that.
Mammogram, I did not have any cysts for the first time in 5 years.
I also have found My IBS & Diverticulitis are not flaring up as often. I think that is due to eating less red meat. Bryan & I eat more chicken & fish than beef.
I have more energy & to my co-workers that is BAD!

So as you can see the Lifestyle Change has helped in many areas. Now my next challenge is to not lose much more weight or gain it back.

Yes we are taking supplements. If you want more information on what we are taking just e-mail me. If I get enough request I will post the list.

Again remember...we were under a doctor care while doing this. If you would like to know more please drop us a line or call.

TIPS

Okay as I told you in previous blog I would give you some tips to help you lose weight. I have written most of them down. I may have missed a few tips but I will add them at a later date.

Keep a log of what you eat each day.Write down everything including gum, breath mints, & drinks.
Read your labels:

Check the serving sizes. It will tell you what a serving size is.

Servings per package. Usually contains more than 1

Calories

Saturated Fat

Trans Fat zero is the best

Cholesterol

Sodium Watch this carefully.

Carbohydrate

Fiber

Protein

Eat 5-6 small meals today. 3 meals & 3 snacks a day.

Don't up size your meals.

If you can split a bag of chips, fries, slice of cake. Share with a friend.

Eat small portions. Chew your food. Put down your fork. Give your stomach time to signal your brain you are full.

If you are going out to eat pre-plan your meal. Go to the restaurants web site to get the calorie counts. If they don't have a counter go to Calorie King.

Plan your weekly meals. I usually plan my lightest for the evenings.

Do not deprive yourself of a craving. You can have it but in a smaller portion.You can use it as a reward. But try to reward yourself with maybe a shopping trip. I go between shopping for me or Brylee or a new plant for the yard.

When you are eating, eat your favorite food first. This way when you become full you will stop eating.

Cut out the Cold Drinks/Sodas.

Ask for a "To Go" box. Take home what you do not eat or half the meal. Not only are you saving calories but you have another meal.

Ask for your salad dressing, butter, BBQ sauce, etc on the side. I dip my fork into the salad dressing and/or BBQ Sauce then my food. I get the taste I want & not the calories.

Get yourself a support group. Spouse, friends, co-workers, etc.

Take supplements & vitamins. Be sure you talk with your doctor on what you need.

These are just a few tips to help with your new Life Style.

Again if you have any questions please feel free to call me. I would love to be part of your support group.

This is the Life

Brylee came & spent the night with us on March 6th. That morning I cleaned up all of Jennifer's baby's toys so that she could look at them. Let's see are we ready? Toy Box, check. Bounce sit, check. Gym Mat, check. Diapers & wipes ready, check. Looks like we are now ready for Ms Brylee.

That evening I laid a quilt down so we could do tummy time. Not one of her favorite actives. I put out a few toys in front of her to look at. Right now she has to wear mittens so she can not do a lot of touch & feel. Her nails are like her T-MA's and they are thin & sharp no matter how short they are. But we will deal with that task as well.

Brylee is so sweet. She has learned to watch movement & TV is one of the movements. I put her on the quilt and we turned on Happy Feet & Snow White. Believe it or not she enjoyed it until she got hungry & man did we have to move fast to get her bottle. It was a peaceful evening & fun watching Snow White.

Sunday I woke up to her little noises. She makes noises at night but when she is getting hungry they seem to get a little louder. Well I got up & started her bottle & went to pick her up for her bed. I looked down & the Sun was shining @ 4:30 AM @ the Jarvis FunHouse! Let me tell you she had the sweetest smile on her face even if you are not a morning person you would have smiled. Well the morning was simple. Diaper change, bottle, nap, diaper change, watch cartoons, change clothes before mommy & daddy got here, bottle & nap. What a life!

NOTE: Yesterday (03/27/10) we added a high chair & an activity center for Ms Brylee. It's official, Ms Brylee has TAKEN OVER THE HOUSE!

Diet Plan

Okay I will tell you that everything I did & doing was under doctor supervision. I suggest that you talk to your doctor before starting any diet or exercise route.

There are several diet plans. The most recommended one by doctors & trainers is Counting Calories. Some of the others is the Diabetic Diet (carb/protein ratio). Weight Watchers. Jenny Craig. Nutrisystem, etc. Do your research. Pick the one that fits you & your new Life Style. Remember there are a lot of Fad diets out there so beware!

I picked the Calorie Counting because I have had success in the past with it. It again is the most recommended by doctors & trainers and there are no extra cost or fees.

I can eat anything I want. I just have to be sure to eat the correctly. No empty calories. I consider empty calories as cake, candy, certain soups, chips, etc.

Read your labels. Look for the calories, salt, fat, sugars, cholesterol, etc.

Proportion & size is important. Read your labels! Do not Upsize your meal. Choose a smaller portion. Example at Firehouse subs I choose the medium. I get the Wheat bread & no mayo.I cut the size, choose a better bread & cut out fat.

Chew your food. Actually taste your food. Put down your fork or spoon between bits. This allows the time for your stomach to signal your brain that you are full.

If you just have to have that bag of chips or some french fries. Share them.

The formula for the Counting Calories is: your 1st goal weight. (ex 200) add a zero (2000) subtract 200 from the total (200+0=2000-200=1800) When I was over 200 pounds I just set my first goal as 2000 calories a day.

You do this for each weight goal.

Remember if you are working out then you may need to increase your calorie intake slightly.

Eat 5-6 small meals a day. Most importantly talk to your doctor, trainer or nutritionist.

Bryan & I worked out with Wii & Kettlebells. Walking works too but remember you must increase your length and/or speed.

Calorie King & reading your labels are a good source to find your calories.There are others on the Internet that are also good, so check them out & choose the one YOU like best. Remember to that some restaurants have the information on the web, so check them out. I love What-A-Burger & Chipotle. They let you customize your meal.

Remember you are going to have a bad day. Just get back on track the next day. No need to beat yourself up over it.

Reward yourself once a month & have a day where you eat what you want. Ice cream, cake, Mexican food, etc. You will be surprised that you will not venture for from your new lifestyle changes.

Here is an example of what I eat in 1 day:

Oatmeal (This is Quicker Oats. with Splenda, a dab of I Can't Believe it is Butter, & a sprinkle of cinnamon). or 2 eggs with bacon bits.

A piece of Fruit or 10-20 Almonds or 2 Peanut Butter & crackers or Fiber 1 90 calorie Bar. (I try to keep my snacks at 50-100 calories).

A Smart one TV Dinner, Salad (low fat dressing or Salsa) a piece of fruit.

A piece of Fruit, 10-20 Almonds or 2 Peanut Butter & Crackers or a Fiber 1 90 Calories Bar. (I try to keep my calories for snack at 50-100 calories).

A 4oz piece of baked chicken, & a salad. or A piece of COD with green beans. or a can of tuna with a touch of sweet relish & onion, Apple, 1 slice of 2% Provolone cheese & 4 crackers.

Piece of fruit or almonds or sugar free pudding or jello.

I may add an additional veggie to my meal if I see I have not ate enough calories. You must eat & not skip meals.

I will try to have future blogs on my test results. Some tips. My progress.

If you would like some more information before the next blog(s) please call me & let's talk. I would love to help you with your Life Style Change.

Motivation/Inspiration

As I said in the last blog I was inspired by my neighbors. I have also realized I must stay inspired/motivated along the way. So how did I do it?
First was when Jennifer & Cary suggested we take a trip. We all decided on London. Well I have been on a plane before & to me the sits were too small. Thinking about being on a plane for 8-10 hours in a small sit was not my idea of how to start my vacation.
The second time was when I went looking for clothes for our trip. I had not worked to hard on losing weight with the holidays & birthdays so when I dropped a pants size I was re-motivated.
The third was in May when Jennifer & Cary told us we were going to be grandparents. Well I want to be in great health to be able to run & play with my grandchild(ren) and have the extra energy to keep up with them. I also hope that I have changed my eating habit that will be passes on to them.
The fourth was when I realized I needed to go to the doctor for my yearly test & check up in a couple of months. Well I got on it. Believe me it really was GREAT!
The fifth was when I went to the doctor and almost knocked him out of his chair with all the results. AWESOME!
I will be telling you more about the test results because it tells me my life style change really is working. I will let you know the results so you can see what My Life Style Change did for me & what it can do for you as well.

First Pie

Cary's birthday was recent. When I asked what he wanted he said a Cherry Pie! I said since I have never made a pie can I do a store bought one? He in his very nice way told me no. (Something like Store bought!?!?) Well if I love you I will step outside my comfort zone & do what ever I can to make your wish come true.

I used Cary's family for the crust & pie. I took a good nap before hand. (I do this to any task that I want to be done just right. NO I DO NOT TAKE A LOT OF NAPS!) Mind you I have a store bought crust in the freezer as back up. It is still there.

Well I did it. It was not a pretty pie but I did get it made. All from scratch. No store bought crust. No Cherry pie filling. Cary said it was good & had, I believe 2 pieces. Bryan who is not a fruit pie type person even said it was good. I did it! When I told a relative about it she told me, well you topped me. What!?!? You make pies all the time. She told me, well I use store bought crust & cherry pie filling. So thank you Cary for wanting a Cherry pie. I can now cross that off my list of things I need to learn. Well now I need to plan my next pie. I think we decided it would be Pecan. Yummy!

The Years of Trying To Lose Weight

I have been trying for 4 or more years to lose weight but just as I get to the 160 mark my health would get really bad. I would go to the doctor(s) and be checked out & nothing be found. I take that back due to some test we were able to remove pre-cancerous polyps. 3 different times. What a blessing!



I finally sit down and came up with a common denominator for the cause of my problems. I talked it over with Bryan & Jennifer & we all agree it's the SIT-UPS! Yep, good old fashion sit-ups. So now no sit-up or crunches for me. Problem is now I have to find another way to trim the abs area. Not to worry I have that solved as well.



I always started trying to lose weight but could not stay motivate. Well On July 4th a neighbor came to my door saying something was burning in her house. Call 911! Well when you get equipment in a neighborhood everyone come out to see what is gong on. We all come out to see what we can do to help our neighbors, our friends.



Jayne is about 9 years older than me & works out with weights 2-3 times a week. Because of this her bones are very strong even after chemo treatment. Yvonne is 4-5 years younger & looks great. She and her family have joined a gym & she had slimmed even more since her daughter's wedding. So then why do I look the worst for wear??



That night I knew it was time to lose the weight & this time I would succeed...........

I'm Finally Normal!

OK, OK, what were you thinking? Normal in the Head!?!? What ever, that is a long lost cause. I mean my weight! I did it! I have lose 56 pounds since July 5th 2008. I know that seems like a long time but Rome was not built in a year & I did not gain all the weight that fast either.

In a few post tucked in here & there I will tell you about how I lose the weight. Bryan & I call it a Life Style change. I will have it labeled as Life Style Change so if you want to read about it you can, if not you know to past it up. This is really for me to help me keep on track. I do hope that is will inspire someone out there who needs to lose weight, that they too can do it.

I want to say thank you Bryan for being my partner in this new life style. Thank you Dawn for the encouraging words & answering questions that I had. I still have the sweater!! To Jennifer, Cary, Jeff , Donna & Donna and all my family and friends that encouraged me and cheered me on. And I can not leave out Jayne & Yvonne for inspiring me!

THANK YOU!

The Ring

Well I guess I need to start with where I left off last. I believe it was with the missing ring. As you remember I lost my ring & Bryan was trying to help me find it. We knew we were going to have to replace my ring due to my weight lost. So while doing some Christmas shopping we stopped at a jewelers to see what size ring I would need.Well I went from a 7-1/2 to a 5-3/4. Wow, no wonder I lost my ring.

I know, I know why was I wearing it? One, rumors were going around that Bryan & I were having problems since I was not wearing my ring. NOT TRUE! We are very much a couple or a couple of couples. Bryan & Tressia. Ashes & Petunia. The other is I really miss wearing my ring. Why not have the ring sized? The ring design is solid & can not be cut down. So sadly we had to order a new ring. :(

In the mean time we still was without a washing machine. This was bad timing since I needed the washer that week for washing up a few things for Jennifer while she was in the hospital. Well the repair man finally made it on Friday. After he got to the inside of the washer he found a small problem. My Ring!!!! The only thing I can think of is when I was pushing the towels into the washer the ring just slide off my finger.

The ring was damaged even with it being made of titanium. So now my ring is sitting in the typesetters case. Thanks for the memories. Now on to the new ones.