New You - May 28

DD10 mentioned wanting to swim on a swim team....so we've jumped on that idea and joined an (outdoor-only) swim and tennis club for the summer. DD14.75 will be taking tennis lessons at some point, too.

This is a "recreational swim team" (low-pressure, less-competative, "fun-focused") according to the literature, so that works for us. The swim team memebers practice 5 mornings a week...which will get us up and going every day! We hope to spend the biggest part of every day at the pool (with healthy snacks and drinks at hand, of course!)

Now, having planned all that....it's Memorial Day week-end....the start of pool season....and it's only about 50 degrees out! Not much swimming happening here this week-end!

It looks like life in general is going to take "extra" planning/organizing/managing this summer (kiddos, MIL, classes for me (through July 21) and DH's endless, unexpected travel, (he does a lot of "troubleshooting," and "tweaking," which can't really be "scheduled." ) I know that "health" really ought to be a priority....but right now it seems like one more TODO on a list that is nearly overwhelming as it is. BLEH.

Blessings,
Lenora
A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination."
~Nelson Mandela

Here's my original post:
Guys, I am doing something new. I ordered the 8 Minutes in the Morning Kit (cards and a DVD with a mini book rather than a big book) after a good friend of mine recommended it. I did a little online research and it sounds reasonable. (No you don't turn into Cindy Crawford -- or whoever is the current equivalent, I'm dating myself here -- in 8 minutes, you just jump start your day a bit.)

Anyone seen it? Any thoughts? I am excited to try it -- it sounds very manageable,for the most part.

The kit comes with cards with exercises for each day -- I think I will start on Monday, or else I'll get confused!

Sorry about that Shaun - took me a while to get back on here!!

and it looks like I don't have time now to be here either... a gazillion things to do today, and so far very few of them look like improving my quality of life in the short-term. I've had my phone beeping at me for nearly half an hour to take my tablets, but at least I just moisturised my hands.

I'm afraid that's it for now. Lenora, you sound like you might have found the perfect solution to those lazy holiday mornings!

Kerri.

I think I have heard of it....tell me more to jog my memory..............

Jana

I'm fine but my computer is not. I'm on a school computer right now. Eventually I'll have my own back and will be able to read and post again.

Shaun, one of my doctors used 8 Minutes in the Morning and liked it. She lost weight and said she felt very good.

I thought you were quiet, but considering how many of us are laying low at the moment and not feeling very social I hadn't thought as far as computer problems!

How's the eating going?? Any improvements yet?? Less of a struggle hopefully...

my main effort at staying sane centres around me doing my morning pages now, and I still haven't gotten to them yet this morning so I'm off...

Kerri.

ps. phone just beeped to tell me about my medication - at least that seems to be working most of the time, so I guess that's a small improvement.

Just a quickie....no New Me going on here.

I still have workmen hassles, at the moment I have to get the entire contents of my loft (attic) down into the house (and there is NO room) before the work on my roof starts this week. I was also told that I may have to move my shed. I am planning on refusing to (on the grounds it may well fall to bits!), so that should make for a nice row on Monday morning when the site manager arrives

We had the dog spayed last Thursday, and she is walking round in an Elizabethan collar bumping into everything, poor girl. She also can't be really be left in case she gets the collar off and bites at her stitches. I could leave DS at home with her, but I won't do that while I have workmen here. So basically I am confined to the house for a fortnight

Whine, whine.......

Sympathy for you and Star Honey!

DH's body has finally launched a major complaint at his workload recently and he's down with something like stomach flu. Also forced my poor old body to slow down since I couldn't get any work done while he was trying to sleep yesterday afternoon. DS had it perfectly understood... "oh you're sick Daddy. That's why you came home." Hmmm... and on a Saturday too! DH also looks like a panda and smells like a cabbage, so he may not be raring to go tomorrow. We ran out of vitamins a couple of months back and since we normally buy in the UK we decided to just leave it. Apparently that was a bad plan with all the stress floating around here!

I've been trying to squeeze one personal item onto my to do list every day. Don't get excited, these aren't exactly groundbreaking ideas. Either I soak my feet because they're so damn sore and dry, or I trim my nails because they're so long they're more like claws, or I give my face some attention because it's threatening to break out, or I moisturise my hands because the're so dry they're driving me mental. So I put them on the list to ensure I don't forget again for another day.

Eating depends entirely on what te cook can be bothered to do, and last night it was a ham sandwich. DH wasn't eating and the kids had been fed by my MIL, so it was just me. At least I ate something. And I had a bowl of yoghurt too! I won't tell you all about the junk I've been consuming in the afternoons!

My body is looking forward desperately to getting ordinary exercise (as opposed to carting packing boxes and rucksacks around the house) in a better, less humid climate. That said, I notice the UK has just announced the first hosepipe ban of the summer in the south east, so it promises to be a warm dry summer. Better check out where I can buy decently priced fans since there won't be much air-con to offer respite. You win some you lose some.

Kerri.

Lame, I know, but I am "starting my diet tomorrow." (Flo came, couldn't find my weights, it was a holiday weekend, etc etc etc)

No really, I am starting the journal and the 8-minute moves tomorrow. Basically I'm combining the 8-minutes activity thing -- truly, 8 minutes in the morning focused on building muscle, since the more muscle you have the more calories you burn just sitting on your muscle-y a**! -- with the guys newer 3-Hour Diet, which means you eat every 3 hours. 3 squares, 2 snacks, and a little treat.

The 3 squares are all about portion control: take a 9" dinner plate and divide it in half. Fill half with fruit or veggies (imagine 3 DVD cases). Divide the other half in half again: one half gets a deck-of-cards worth of protein, the other gets a Rubik's cube worth of carb. And some fat -- forget how much but you gotta have it to feel satiated. Of course if you're me and you make meals where your macronutrients all mingle together in a single dish it gets trickier to figure, but I suppose it's the honest effort that counts.

So it's very sensible, moderate, etc. The main thing is that you eat regularly to keep your metabolism going and that you eat tons of vegetables.

My girlfriend is doing great -- she says the exercise and regular eating are giving her lots of extra energy during the afternoon slump, and she's lost 4 lbs. in 2 weeks. Not miraculous, but good. I don't trust miraculous.

So before bed I am going to sketch out my eating plan ( I like this because it is visual rather than counting points, though I think WW is excellent). Tomorrow is some upper body work. (You are supposed to use a weight where you are fatigued by 12 reps so that your 8 minutes really count for something. I think you do 2 or 3 sets of 12 reps, 2 exercises each day. Plus a quick minute of running in place to warm up and a few stretches to cool down.)

Weigh in for Week One is Sunday -- I'm nervous already!

Special hello to poor Honey! Hang in there!

Shaun
"Home is not the one tame place in a world of adventure; it is the one wild place in a world of rules and set tasks."
   -- G. K. Chesterton

Really I am!!!

Hi all . I am so far off new me that It could take some time to get back on track.

No, I have not started with my walking plan yet. I know....duh! I just feel soooo scattered right now. Like I have too many tasks on the go at one time.

I know what I want to do with my healthier living goals, but for now will just have to start small. I can certainly make the effort to get my daily quota of water. My other goal right now is 5-9 servings of fruit/veggies. That's a trickier one for me.

It's been rainy and cold for...well forever it feels like. Where the h*#l is summer?? I do not feel like going out and walking in this weather.

It's good to be back. I hope you're all taking special care of yourselves, and treating yourselves to some pampering.

Have a great day gals .

it's the best cure I know for scattered wits. Actually more of a help than a cure per se. I've been trying to add something pampering to my daily list too, even if it's only a reminder to trim my fingernails - I know I'll leave it far too long if I don't get it on the list.

lack of an established routine will make it harder for you to stick to anything at the moment Hope, so just be grateful everytime you remember or actively make the choice to do something that's good fo you in some way. That's the way I've been going for a while, and I know it's going to get much worse for a long time before it gets better. Maybe we can start our walking programmes together... probably when it's too damn hot to walk knowing us!!!

Kerri.

Hope, it'd be nice to see you around New You -- you're so good for accountability!

Speaking of which, I lost 2 pounds this week. Honestly, I was hoping to lose more on the first week, but 2 is still good.

For me, the 8 minutes is more like 20 minutes, but thinking 8 minutes helps. Maybe I'll be able to speed up eventually.

I am liking the 3-hour diet thing. I don't think I am doing it exactly right, but I do notice a difference when I have my snack on time in the morning (which I was quite late for today). Not so hungry in the afternoons, eating constantly while making dinner, and more energy without so much coffee. And I am doing way better on fruits and veggies, for sure 5 servings a day if not more some days.

We'll see what happens with week 2!

Shaun

ok....

Well, the doctor told me I've lost 8 pounds. That was six weeks ago. When I weighed myself at Curves last week, it seemed as though I've at least held my own.

Credit for the loss goes partly to the Wellbutrin, and partly to my habit of constantly eating in very small amounts. My bedtime bowl of cereal is very satisfying...almost dessert-like, and of course, helps keep things "moving".

I've got a great picture of Eva Longoria on the desktop of my other computer as inspiration...think it'll work?

Julie
"We must have patience for love, born of an accidental look." --Me

Morning all .

Good going on the loss Shaun. I really should read back and find out what you're doing right. 3 hr diet? Sounds like you're eating lots of mini meals or something. I always did think that was a wise way to eat.

Hiya Julie . Hand clapping for you as well . I think Eva is beautiful, so if having her in front of you is inspiring then go with it. I'm not sure who I'd put up for inspiration, there are so many to choose from.

Yes Kerri, lets walk together . That buys me a little more time . It could take Kerri weeks(or months) to get to the point where she'll take that one on.

I'm out shopping for a dress today. Something summery and kinda fancy. Nephews wedding is being held at the country club and will be rather pooh-pah, so calls for some dressing up classy. There is not a dang thing in *my* summer wardrobe that fits the bill.

Tommorrow I get my hair colored. We're going with 3 colors this time, should be interesting. I'm not too sure I'm crazy about the last cut I had(tried a new hairdresser). I'm now thinking of going short again. If I do I'll get my old hairdresser to do it. The new one is going to do my coloring tomorrow. Why on earth can't I find a style to fall in love with?

We finally got our bbq hooked up and had our first official steak bbq here at the new house last night. It was soooo good(insert lip smacking guy)!! It's been a long winter and spring followed by the big move, which has made for a very late start to my bbq season. Oh yeah.....I overate last night.

Lots of exercise for me yesterday helping a pal sod his yard. I toted sod all afternoon.

Time I got ready to go shopping. Think I can drop a dress size in the next couple of hours???? HA!!!!

Is everyone getting enough water these days. Remember, the more you drink the easier it gets to drink. Water that is.

Later all....make a few wise choices for yourself today

by the time the house, school, cars and office are all sorted out and I've done some work on the unpacking it could be too damn cold and/or wet to walk (I'm more of a wimp than you, and haven't experienced much winter in the last 10yrs!) so if not now then next summer!!! But seriously, I will try to be walking the kids to school if that's at all possible. I don't know how far away the shops will be either, so I don't know whether that will be car or walking distance. I tend to walk out of practicality as much as anything, but I do hope we'll get in some 'proper' walking with my parents before the weather gets too bad. We're on the edge of North Wales and just above the South Shropshire hills so there's plenty of good walking nearby, and the kids love it. My cousin (whose kids are about the same age as my two) lives on the edge of the Peak District too, so there's more opportunity there, although I'd never keep up with her or the kids - they're serious walkers!

Anyone looking for something dressy for summer should aim for classic and simple that can be dressed up or down with cardigan, jacket, jewellery and footwear choices, especially anyone who lives where there isn't too much of a summer season! Sorry if that advice came too late for you Hope, but I'm sure you probably knew that anyway... just reminding everyone, and myself too. That's why I've picked up some nice plain t-shirts which will look quite smart with jeans and my nice slip-ons - enough for most occasions at least, at least as long as I iron them... they seem not to survive the wash that well. I'm looking forward to having a tumble drier to test them in eventually!

Good luck with the hair Hope. I'm not looking forward to having to look for a new hairdresser either. I've had the same one most of the time (or rather the same salon chain with similar standards throughout) so I can safely advise that if you find one that cuts well, stick with them like glue! Really good haircuts are few and far between. I have one now, but my fringe is getting a little overgrown.

Well done to Julie and Shaun!! That's gotta feel good going into summer - every little extra bit of space in those summer clothes is good, especially when there's BBQ on offer!

Kerri.

Eating still isn't going great (yesterday I ate all of about 1000 calories, today I've had nothing but a pack of Starbursts), but usually it's better than THAT. The baby is fine, and the correct size for its gestational age; I had an ultrasound on Monday. My alpha fetoprotein was a little high, and combined with a good-looking ultrasound that can indicate a placenta problem leading to possible low birth weight, so I will have to be monitored carefully starting around week 32; also I have to have another ultrasound at the beginning of July. But it sounds as though things will basically be fine as long as I do what I'm told. I tested positive for the cystic fibrosis gene, so Rob got tested for it and we'll hear about that at the beginning of the week. If he tests positive I guess we'll get an amnio.

We found out the sex of the baby at the ultrasound. What were people guessing again? I don't remember. Should I tell you now or when it's born or what? Hope, do you want to keep a tally here and on Flybabies?

I was just about to reply when the mouse batteries conked out for the final time. I have no idea where there are any replacements, so there's a good chance this may be my last post, since we were planning on packing up the computer for a test run today anyway.

So anyway... I believe I said girl, on the theory that you Becky are one of two girls yourself. I reckon that has to up the odds in favour of a girl. And I reckon that having girls first is probably easier in the long run.

There is no New Me now, but there's also no guilt over that. Hopefully when I come back here I'll be a lot closer to starting a New Me. Good luck to everyone on doing something, any little thing, towards a New You. Try to add one little thing to your list every day that takes care of you, your body or your soul. And if you're stuck, head over to ComfortQueen for the daily inspiration!

See you when I see you! And I'm gonna go stir crazy before I get back on here properly.

Kerri.

I'm resurrecting this thread, but I gave up on resurrecting the mouse. I'm on my SIL's computer, and her mouse has a tail! Mine was more of a hamster, which is quite appropriate for me really.

I have very little left to do and 3 1/2 days to do it in, so I'm gonna see if I can't find some toiletries to use up. I have to shave my legs, and there's some fancy papaya face peel left, and some foot soak... Hmmm... could be quite a good few days! I gotta treat my body right since it is kindly behaving at the moment. I haven't had anything else since my last kidney infection, whilst DH has had stomach flu and a terrible cough in two separate incidents. He's had antibiotics for the cough, but most of it is still there. I really don't fancy flying with that dreadful hacking sound. It sounds like he's about to throw up because fo the phlegm stuck in his throat! ICK! Feel sorry for our fellow passengers too.

need to take my tablets before my phone explodes trying to remind me... poor thing. No wonder my battery goes flat so quick!

Kerri.

Repeated from the Flybabies thread:

If I don't hear otherwise by tomorrow night I'm going to tell. I think I got three votes for boy and the rest said girl.

before I end up missing it!!

Kerri.

in just 10hrs I will be embarking on the second biggest New Me adventure of my life (after meeting DH and coming here in the first place). I hope you can all help me to really make it worth the effort everyone has had to make, and the upheavals. I won't be ready for walking just yet, but clearly with having seasons I will be looking at large quantities of new clothes and the chance to reinvent my image. It will probably be not that far different in reality - my dressy side tends towards the more classic, as does my casual in jeans and t-shirt! It'll be so nice to be able to buy gorgeous sweaters again - I've missed that so much. And I'll have to moisturise more probably with the lack of humidity, and find a shampoo that works, since my hair gets very tangled in the UK somehow. When I get up here I just run a brush through and my hair's perfect. Over there it ends up as a major birds' nest!

So lots of changes coming for me and the rest of my family. I've never really lived in the UK as an adult, so I expect things will be a bit weird for me to start with, feeling like I ought to fit in, but not actually fitting in! Hopefully I will also be more grateful for the things that I've missed all these years, includng daily encounters with nature, changeable weather and variety of activities available.

my mother's been investigating the local scene, and we already have a Tudor weekend and a dragon boat race lined up amongst others, and I'm hoping I can drag someone with me to hear a performance of Mozart's Requiem on traditional instruments too. I've just been looking this morning and there are so many different things going on - many of them free - that I just wonder what on earth people DO in Singapore. No wonder we're bored of shopping every weekend! This is the bit that's getting me excited, plus a report from Mum that the local fruit farm opened up a week or so ago. They have fresh peas too some years, and I haven't had fresh raw peas in years!!! This will be the first time I've been in the UK in July in 10yrs, and the first time every my kids have been there in July - isn't that exciting!?!

every thing NEW NEW NEW!!! Ok, so now I'm getting more excited. But that flight does tend to muffle the enthusiasm a bit. Mum and I will be alone in one car on the back from the airport (they took the seats out of her car to fit the luggage in) and Dad will be with DH and the kids. I expect Mum and I will babble non-stop for an hour, catching up and looking ahead to everything.

See you on the other side!!

Kerri.

I can't wait to hear all about it! I am soooo happy for you!

Jana

I hope your trip goes well, Kerri, and that your DH and kids love it too! I think it'll be wonderful to be back in the UK for you! Get you computer set up first thing!

On the New Shaun front, I'm down another 2 pounds but struggling not to gain this week during mom's visit. Yesterday she took DD out in the afternoon and brought home brownies, a cookie, and a cupcake. Today she went out and got the makings for root beer floats! Ack!

We had good news today all around. My father-in-law's pacemaker operation went well today, and he's doing fine. That's such a relief to me. I know this is just anecdotal, but after my grandmother got her pacemaker she didn't really have any heart problems, ever again; she died of complications from a stroke (something like her fifth stroke).

Also DH's test came back and he does NOT carry the cystic fibrosis gene. So even though I have that gene (recessive, obviously), the baby can never get CF, plus I get to avoid an amnio (I was not looking forward to that whole needle thing).

Okay, I haven't heard any objections, so-- it's a girl!

New me? Well, the current me is still having trouble eating enough but I'm doing my best.

New thread!

Jana