PART 3 - Cooking

I don't like cooking for myself.  I don't get any sort of gratification from it.  If I have friends/family over as guests, I will put all I can into making a superb and memorable meal....but for myself...a bowl of popcorn sometimes is it. 

When I first moved out to my own basement suite I was excited to grocery shop for myself...get anything I wanted, eat whatever I wanted.  That was over 10 years ago.  I barely remember what sort of stuff I made for my meals when I wasn't at work.  Did I make the proper 3 item meal at supper time?  How long into my independence did I enjoy grocery shopping and cooking?  I honestly don't remember.

I lived in 5 basement suites while in the lower mainland and I really don't remember what my thoughts were on grocery shopping and cooking while on my own.  For part of a year I had a female roommate. Did we cook together?  Did I cook for her or vise versa?  Why can't I remember?

So now that I'm in my 11th year of being out of the house (even though I've moved back home and live with my mom mainly), why haven't I've found a new enjoyment of the opportunity of cooking for more than myself? Here's my short theory of why:  I have been living in such an unmotivated lifestyle that my 'motivated' lifestyle hasn't been awaken yet.  How's that for a theory?  Actually I had a different word than 'unmotivated' that I wanted to use in my description but I couldn't figure out what I really wanted to say.  So what I did come out with is a bit of a BS version.

I think it would nice to try Weight Watchers again but alas, I'm just not gung-ho about making that effort right now.  I have more than one reason to make that change but probably more than two reasons to not do it.  Make sense?

Feel free to post your comments about this blog entry.

These Shoes Were Made for Walking...that's just what they'll do....AND Part 2

I received my Skechers Shape Ups in the mail this past Tuesday from an Ebay purchase.  I paid $108.00 Cdn including shipping/handling.  In Canada the shoes are $145.00 everywhere so I got a killer deal by ordering from the States. 

I've worn them all week to work except for today.  They are very comfy and I DO sense that a workout is had for my legs.  The first day I wore them around the house I felt a twinge of shin splints in one leg!!  What the heck??!!  The other days I wore them I wasn't doing  a lot of walking but when I did I could feel my legs getting tired as the day wore on.  My main reason for purchasing them is to relieve the pain in my heels.  I have diagnosed myself with 'heel spurs' or plantar facititis.....a painful condition involving the heel(s).  These shoes have been designed with minimal pressure on the heels when standing for long periods of time which I will be doing at work, depending on the shift I've been assigned.  Here's something really sad that's happened in the last month; I've started to feel calf muscles become more defined in my calves.  Shows how much exercise I DON'T when the majority of activity I do is at work.

I hope that these shoes will help my posture as well as the other types of toning that's advertised these shoes should help with.

Part 2 (as per previous post).  Last Friday I had an appt with a psychologist who I've been seeing off and on for the past few months.  I explained to her all that I posted in the previous post about lack of motivation to lose weight, feeling lazy and not making an effort, about my sister and friend's weight loss, etc.  What the psychologist said was interesting though.  She said she didn't feel I was lazy...instead she sensed that I felt more discouraged than laziness. For example, I would try many diets, they worked for a short time then they failed or I did so then I abandon the idea of diets = discouragement; lack of motivation to become active meaning I don't like walking, I never have and doubt I will ever like it in the near future....the gym costs money, there isn't a sport out in the community I feel confident enough to join, and I don't have the money to purchase a bicycle to get any sort of exercise from.  I'm not lazy in pursuing these things but rather I feel walls have been put up and I feel discouraged about not being able to do what I want in regards to activity.  If there was a badminton night at the high school during the school year, like in BL, I'd probably try to go.  Imagine playing a sport and wearing my Shape Ups at the same time???  What an impact that could be for me, but alas, not gonna happen.

Bachloretting:  Last week for about 7 days I was home alone as my parents were on a vacation to Niagara Falls.  At first I felt lonely but after 3 days or so, I was liking the solitude and freedome to not have to push my chair in at the table, do the dishes right away, make proper meals etc.  Don't get me wrong, I did keep the house tidy while being home alone but I didn't have to accomodate someone else.  The one thing I didn't like about being by myself was the during the first weekend by myself.  I must have had the biggest and worst cravings ever!!  I ate McDonald's a couple times, New York fries, Dairy Queen, McD's McFlurries x 1, and I think that's it!  How bad was I???  Once Monday rolled around I had to make a proper lunch for myself for work so that routine cause my breakfast to be it's usual and dinner to be it's usual as well (which wasn't much in the first place).  I treated myself to some Starbucks as well............

It's been a number of days since I added my thoughts to this particular blog post and don't remember what else I wanted to talk about in it so I will just post now.

Finding motivation, bachloretting, and cooking PART 1

My friend, Diana, recently told me about this website called http://www.sparkpeople.com/.  It is all about nutrition, exersising, motivation, weight loss, calculating progress, joining groups for support etc.  The site also gives you the option to make your own blog.  I signed up (for free) and started, very little, making a blog.  I chose the colours, font etc....looks pretty.  I added my picture and wrote a little introduction.  My introduction basically says I'm lacking motivation (aka mojo) and I need help.

In the past few months my sister and Diana (not together) have been on a weight loss trek.  Diana has lost about 33 lbs so far and my sister lost an unknown amount and is now in regular sizes, not plus sizes.  She was involved in a "biggest loser" competition at work and I think she used weight watchers too.  I'm very envious of her achievement and, shame on me, I don't want to acknowledge it.  I am glad that Diana has been able to lose weight as her and I have many similarities in those areas.  I am also envious of her achievements as I don't have the motivation like she does.  I think she's a bit more mature than me in regards to eating well and being active, even just a little bit.  Yesterday my sister posted on FB that she's happy about her achievments and she thanked 2 people for their support.  That's one of my issues/problems -- I don't feel I have someone to support me fully in PG.  When I was in BL I woulda had a couple people there for support and it wouldn't have been a long distance support system either.  I would love to lose 100 lbs so I can wear regular sized clothing, and even wear the style I want to wear which I can't find in plus sized clothing; I'd be able to wear skirts/dresses without my thighs rubbing together, sit in a seat on a plane comfortably, perhaps feel better about myself, maybe even like myself so that I will be confident in myself and perhaps someone (a guy) will see that in me and become attracted to me and date me and then marry me.

All those reasons are definately good enough to be motivation for me to start trying to lose weight but the other issue I have is laziness and that comes into effect when thinking of what meals to prepare and getting off my butt to do something active outside!  Right now in my mind, if I had a scale with one side being 'laziness' and the other side being 'weight loss', the 'laziness' would be the heavier.

Before moving to PG from BL, I was thinking that perhaps I'd gain motivation to be more active....I thought one of my goals would be called "Conqueur Connaught", meaning being able to walk up this hill close to my parent's house. Connaught Hill Info & Pics I don't know how tall it is but I'm sure it would be a feat to accomplish.  Now in reality, the thought hasn't crossed my mind to do it.  Maybe when mom comes back from her vacation in Ontario that I can try to get her to come with me.  (fingers crossed)

Well that's the end so far of this particular blog....Part 2 and 3 to come soon.

Random Update

I haven't blogged in a few weeks, mainly because I haven't had much to blog about; so I thought I'd blog about a bunch of little stuff instead of each little thing being blogged seperately.

Two Fridays ago was the end of my first 2 weeks at my new job. I work in a pharmacy as a pharm tech in the PG hospital. I'm 3 weeks into my orientation with about 3 weeks to go.  Working in a 'real' pharmacy in a large hospital sure takes some getting used to.  I used to work in a small 13 bed facility with no pharmacy (long explanation). It's nice to be busy the whole day considering at my old job I was bored or had little to do on a daily basis.  Anyways, my co-workers are nice, the job is a totally new experience, and living in PG (a city) is great for the amenities being so close by rather than 2.5 hrs away.

This July I will be driving down south to the lower mainland to visit friends, family, shop, explore new things perhaps, like river rafting, eat, drink and be merry.  I'm quite excited about the trip.  Earlier this year when my whole job life changed I had to cancel my April trip to the lower mainland and cancel my plans to go to California in the fall because my new job in PG is parttime.  I won't go bungee jumping this summer as my enthusiasm had changed regarding doing it since this whole change has happened and to be completely honest, I had totally forgotten about my potential plans to do so.  My friend, Melissa and I are going river-rafting this summer.  That will be another item to cross off the bucket list this year.  Her husband, Nathan, is joining us as well.  We'll be doing the combo trip (paddle and power) down the Thompson river starting in Lytton.  I can't wait!!!

My mom's dad drove 8.5 hrs last Saturday to come here for a visit.  He's staying for a week and it's great he finally came up.  Last time he was here was Sept 2008.  He met his great grandson for the first time so that was cool.  Corbin didn't play strange or anything.  Saibry, his great granddaughter, was a bit shy at first but gave gpa a 'high five'.  It's great seeing that sort of bond since grandpa isn't around very often.

My parents are still quite serious in buying a new house.  There is one house that my parents have checked out 5 times but the only thing really hindering them from putting in an offer is the amount of taxes to pay/year; over $4000! 

So today (May 15) my parents, grandpa and I will be looking at 5 houses with the real estate agent.  Who knows, maybe this will be the day my parents put in an offer???  We already have a buyer for this house too.  It's a co-worker of my dad's and he loves the house.  He really wants it.  My parents haven't even listed the house for sale....this guy wants it so that would be great to sell privately and avoid real estate fees.  I think we'll find out soon enough.

Today I'm going out to find some Skechers "Shape ups" for work.  My feet are in constant agony cause I'm on them ALL day, sometimes doing lots of walking too, not just standing.  My heels are throbbing by the end of the day so I need to relieve the pain.  The Skechers will do that but at the same time I will need to get used to walking differently as these shoes don't let you walk on your heels....it's a different way of walking along with toning muscles too.  They're $144.99 up here so will have to really think about spending that money and really try out the shoes in the store before buying them.  My poor feet need relief!

Anyhoo, that's all for now.  I need to get ready for the day.  I got  up at 7 am, it's 9:07 am now so need to get decent.  Grandpa took my parents out for an anniversary breakfast this am so I'm home alone for a little while.  House shopping will start at 1 pm today.

My Singing Niece - 2 videos

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Spring 2010 on the Southside

Diana and I went for a drive and ferry boat ride to the Southside yesterday to take pics of baby cows.  They're so small right now that I thought this would be the perfect time to capture them.  We had perfect weather too....perfect timing forsure!  Here are the sights I captured....

The baby cows were far from the road....a bit timid.

This white cow constantly stared at my friend and I.  This llama was on it's own with the cows at another farm.  He looked so proud.

This little guy was the "rebel" of the bunch as he was outside the fence. 

We came upon Cheslatta Falls on our drive.....I didn't even know they were there until Diana pointed them out so I drove backwards to the site to get a good look.

Here's Diana with her favorite animal and her being goofy in this little shack on the side of the road.

Diana and myself....our last wknd to hang out before I leave for PG.  After travelling back over the lake via ferry we drove north a bit and found an alpaka farm.  These little guys are so funny to look at.  I approached the fence and at first they walked away until I started talking to them in my funny "animal" voice and they came a bit closer.  This brown one is named Cashmere Cassy.  To me, these animals almost don't seem real; kinda like there's someone dressed in a costume....they have a comical face.  I wondered if they spit like camels do so I didn't stick my hand out to try and pet them....ya never know.

Here are the last animals we saw.  The deer along with 2 others scampered down the highway with their white tails standing up.  This one stayed to look at us and we snapped the picture.  And one last pic of the baby cows we sought out to find.

The weather was fantastic, the company was great and the memories will be never forgotten. 

Thanks Diana for being a great friend. I'll miss you when I move.