Updates!

Since its been over a year since my last post, here is an update:

Ryan and I got married! Everything went off without a hitch and it was the most wonderful week of my life. Im a huge advocate of destination weddings because you get to spend a week with the nearest and dearest to you, instead of just one day.

Work has changed a lot. I am still with the O&G company, however I had moved projects and now I am in the corporate side. This role is a new one for me and Im still spending time figuring it and my new team out.

The weight loss was a losing game for me so in July 2014, I made the decision to have a Vertical Sleeve Gastronomy (VSG) performed. This is when they remove a portion of your stomach to aid in weight loss. I paid privately and had my surgery preformed in Mexico as the wait in Canada is almost 4 years! Since then, I have lost a total of 86 pounds and have another 50 to go before I reach my first goal.

The decision to have such a drastic surgery was not an easy one. My husband was unsure of it, along with many friends and family members but I knew that if I didnt do this for myself, and now, I may not be around much longer. My depression and physical ailments were getting the best of me and despite being newly married, I couldn't find joy in anything. I felt like my life was a dark tunnel that I just kept going further and further down. I will admit that the surgery and weight loss associated have been amazing and lifted my spirits, there were a lot of counseling and therapy sessions to ensure I was making the right decision, but to also help my find my spark in life again.
Being 86 pounds down is fantastic and I am so thankful every day that I was giving this second chance at life.

Just keep going

Right off the cusp of my good month of losses in January, I've started to lose motivation. I don't know why, I was seeing great results and with the number on the scale slowly decreasing, it would keep anyone's head in the game. Except mine. 

Those old, sneaky habits were coming back. I missed one workout for a late dinner with Ryans family and then I had a migraine another day and next thing I knew, it had been 3 days without doing anything physical! This was definitely NOT what I signed up for and I needed that reminder. In comes my coach like a fairy godmother to remind me of how bad I wanted this and while I thought she would be pissed, she was supportive and wanting to know if there was something she could do. Her pep talk got me back into it. It seems like a common theme for me though. I make great strides in the right direction and then just stop. I'd like to figure it out one day but I think it will include more therapy and right now, I'm just trying to find 25 minutes to work out in my day!

So... If you're like me and need a little

Motivation, feast your eyes on these...

Tuesdays with Shaun T

Due to my raging migraine yesterday I didn't start my T25 Alpha program. I was super bummed because I was looking forward to adding something else into the mix. So today, after laying in a dark room taking migraine meds, I decided I felt well enough to pop that DVD in a give my all for 25 minutes. 

A few realizations: 

1) the cardio I was doing pales in comparison to the cardio that Shaun runs you through!

2) I am very uncoordinated. I always thought I had a grace in the way I moved, fluidly for lack of a better word, but that is wrong!! My balance/coordination is horrible!

3) I need to invest in a serious sports bar. Between the lunges and jumps, I almost knocked myself out! 

4) I am stronger then I thought but I have a long road ahead. And while I was doing the workout, I was watching the clock, but now that I'm done, I feel great! It's only gunna get better and easier, right?! 

That's a wrap!

It's finally Saturday! It feels like it's taken forever to get here!! 

My week was crazy busy at work. My counterpart is on holidays so what is normally busy became chaotic. I think I clocked in about 55 hours!

I picked up my wedding dress yesterday (!!) and it fits and it's beautiful. Being able to see myself in a dress that fits properly and that is mine really made me feel like a bride. It's starting to hit home that this is real and it's happening soon!

On to the good stuff! Down 3.4 lbs this week which puts my total loss at 6.7 since the beginning of January. I'm so close to my 10lb goal for February 1st. I just gotta keep going. 

So, 2 NSV's (non scale victories) I had this week was wearing a dress a size smaller and it being loose and wearing a pair of jeans I had banished to the back of my closet!!

Here's to another successful week!

Sunday funday?

The weekend is on its way out and for me that means doing all the chores and errands for the upcoming week. It is Sunday but I wouldn't necessarily call it a 'funday'. I don't understand how people can go out and drink while watching football and still make it to work the next morning? Maybe it's just me but the consumption of alcohol does not go with Sunday. To each their own!

First off, I'm down 3.2lbs this week. I haven't taken measurements yet but I'm excited! Another push to stay focused and motivated this week!!

Yesterday we crossed more wedding stuff off the list (Ryans suit and the groomsmen's outfits have been picked and ordered!), started getting everything together for centerpieces and started working on music selections. We capped the day off by going to The Laugh Shop with one of our good friends and then hit the casino for an hour (everyone left with money in our pockets!) before calling it a night at 10.30! 

I have a double ear infection which has definitely put a damper on how I'm feeling today so once I get all my tasks done, I may try to wander over to the health campus for something to help. 

I'm also going to make our favorite protein balls! They are simple and consist of PB, honey, oats, and seeds and are perfect for that afternoon slump! 

I have a feeling this week is going to be crazy busy with lots of OT since my counterpart will be out of the office so I need to prepare as much as I can so I'm successful! 

I'm Backkkk!

I've been MIA for awhile because I needed to focus on getting my life in order. Work got nutty and I started feeling a little crazy so I dropped everything while I tried to get back to my happy place and here I am!

2014 was very welcomed in my life as I just wanted 2013 and all the ups and downs to go away.  A new year doesn't mean nothing can follow you from the previous one, but something in me always feels like I get to start over.

So... speaking on 2014 and resolutions, I've decided not to make many as I always give up by the second week in January but instead, I've decided to focus on a few small things that are achievable. The first being my tendency to procrastinate. I've downloaded an app and set small goals with the time lines being a few days and I get reminders. I've can also add comments on why I should complete those tasks in a timely matter so when I don't feel like doing it, it pops up with reminders on how I will benefit by getting it done right away.

Second, I've got a coach and signed up for T25 (similar to P90X and Insanity) and I've changed my whole diet to eating clean. I wasn't doing too bad to begin with, but I feel this will give me the extra push I needed. My coach is awesome and holds me accountable for everything and on my first week, I feel way better and more focused. I'm super excited to start the work outs and start seeing some changes.

Wedding plans are coming along as they should since the wedding is only 111 days away! My dress is in and we've booked our marriage commissioner and I'm starting to work with the resort for all my appointments and spa visits. Ryan and I are still debating on whether we will stay an extra week or not but that depends on whether we have the money to do so. If not, we'll take a late honeymoon in the fall and base it around my trip to Washington in October.

Work is going well. Lots of changes are going on which is great and my role is ever changing and bringing more challenges and learning experiences. I'm happy which is very important since I spend so much time there!

Where did October go?

Life has been crazy lately! While I am extremely happy at work I am also busy beyond belief. My new role is going well but without a replacement for my old position and personnel changes, I've found myself picking up a lot of pieces and ultimately doing 3 jobs. A regular 8 hour day is a thing of the past and I've been working more like 10/11 hours a day! My life feels like its work, home, eat, sleep and back at it the next day. I know this will only be possible for a short while so here's hoping we get some good candidates and I can start interviewing soon!

With all the craziness going on, October seems to have come and gone as quickly as the leaves on our pathetic little tree! 

Tonight I have my work Christmas party which seems premature but a reminder that the holiday season is just around the corner!

Wedding plans are coming along well. My lovely bridesmaids ordered their dresses yesterday so all that's left are playlists and the small details. It's hit me that it's only 6 months until we are boarding that big jet and being whisked away to our paradise! Eek I'm so excited!

So, with the wedding and the holiday season quickly approaching its time to find some healthy alternatives to all the noshing and drinking that happens. I'm going to start off by having one month dry starting tomorrow (tonight is my Christmas party and I'll need wine to get through that!) 30 days of no drinking is sure to help me kick my nasty smoking habit and shed a little of my booze butt!

What are some of your holiday health habits? 

Sorry, we're friends off for awhile...

Weekend Wrap Up

Well this weekend went by with the blink of an eye! 

Friday afternoon/evening I had an appointment at the Aveda Institute with a student near graduation. With the wedding only 6 months away (!!) I've had to scale my budget back which means no more expensive trips to salons. My stylist took me from my blindfish brown back to a rich brunette and I love it! By the time I got home I was tired and just spent from the week. 

                        New hair!!

Saturday was wedding dress shopping day. I was nervous which always makes me feel sick and I was not looking forward to it at all. I enlisted the help of my bridesmaids and managed to say 'yes' to a dress and put my deposit down and ordered it. It should arrive by April 1 which means operation shedding for the wedding has to get kicked into high gear!! 

We also managed to find the bridesmaid dresses so those will be ordered within the week and I have officially finished all the big wedding things!

Today was a productive Sunday. Normally I spend my day in my sweats on the couch but I managed to get up and run errands and be home just as everyone starts getting out of Sunday mass and starts their grocery shopping. 

I baked Ryan chocolate chip skor cookies and did all my meal prep for the week. After dinner with did the house chores and now I'm relaxing before calling it a day!

This week is definitely going to he busy and I know I'll be working long hours because I have so much on my plate! 

How did everyone else's weekend go? Anything exciting happen to you?

Successes

I have huge news!! I survived a 5 day weekend without gaining a single pound! To those who have never fought with their scales and spent their Monday's feeling bloated and wanting to wear sweatpants to work wont quite understand the excitement this statement brings.
It means, that instead of letting my good efforts all week be derailed by alcohol, irregular eating times and snacking, I managed to keep it under control, enjoy a delicious thanksgiving dinner, went to a surprise birthday an enjoyed a few drinks and did not gain a single ounce! I didn't lose anything either, but I'm focusing on the good right now!

I'm starting lunch time yoga at work with some coworkers. I've never really been one for yoga but with the crystal my coworker gave me and this power hour session, I should start feeling more at one with myself and peaceful. Or so they say anyways...

Kilo's blood work came back great, except for his kidneys. We now have to collect a urine sample for them to run before he can go on his Prozac. Ryan has nominated himself as the collector and I cant wait to get a video of him attempting this. I have a feeling Kilo will not let it go that easily!

Not much else is going on. I cant tell if this sore throat is from choking on a hunk of pineapple this morning or if that cold/flu virus that has been lurking is finally getting the best of me. I'm hoping it's the choking because I'm going to try on wedding dresses and its hard to feel like a beautiful princess when you have a fever and the sweats...

Week in review

Happy Saturday loves!!

Part of my job at work is reporting on the weeks activities so it seems only natural that I give ya'll an update on what I've been up to. 

Firstly, I hit a 3lb loss this week!! Things have been plateaued for a few weeks so it's awesome to see I'm a loser again!!

Second, I got to spend some QT with my little niece and sisters. They are fantastic people and what better way to spend Friday the 13th than with baby cuddles and good conversation?

I took a vacation day on Friday and actually missed not being at work. (I guess Friday the 13th did have some affect on me!)

And last night I had a dream it was our wedding and not only did we end up camping at the resort, I almost got attacked by a bear, sprayed by a skunk and didn't buy a wedding dress so I had to use one of the resorts spares. Then Ryan left the next day to go to the Superbowl. 

I woke up with two realizations, I need to start dress shopping ASAP and confirm there are no major sporting events on May 8th!

The sun is just starting to peak through the overcast and the coffee is brewin' so I should make a move and get ready because today, I'm going to check out a show home with my besties as one is possibly going to buy!!!! Then we have an end of summer sizzler to say good bye to what was one of the best summers! 

Enjoy the weekend kids!! 

A little deeper...

To everyone who read my first post yesterday, thanks!
Today I figured I would give you a little more insight into my life because that's what blogs are for, are they not?

I'm 28 years old working in the booming oil and gas industry in Calgary. Its a'ight. Nothing to really write home about though. When I was younger I always looked up to my Mom, who was a big mover and shaker in the oil world (or at least thats what I thought when I was a kid) so part of my dream career was to wear business suits and sit behind a big desk, attend important meetings and come home and discuss aquisitions and mergers over cocktails with my husband while our two children quietly read with the nanny in the next room a la Mary Poppins.

In reality, I sit at a cubicle (although with a window), shlep to work entirely too early to enjoy cocktails during the week, attend meetings only to document them and I have never owned a business suit. My long time boyfriend just became my finace and the only child we have is an special needs, overactive American Bulldog who has a script for xanex. Picture perfect, it is not. Although, I dont mind the view.

My fiance is Ryan. Hes a man's man. Hes hilarious and kind and spends his day outside and often smells like dirt and I love it. The real kicker though is that he wants to spend his whole life with me because the silly boy loves me and when he finally asked last Christmas, I was floored and relieved. 

So now we (and I mean me) are planning our wedding for next May in Mexico. Do I love weddings? Yes! Do I love the idea of love, being in love and all things romantic? YES! Do I want to plan a wedding? HELL NO! So since we got engaged, we've been going back and forth with my nutty ideas of what to do, until my darling sisters stepped in a made the decision for us. I love em' for it!

I promise this will be the last 'get to know me' post and the next one will be something much more entertaining!