Finally Getting Fit

Thirteen Reasons I’m Looking Forward to the Doctor

1. I feel better than ever. There is nothing like going in for an assessment knowing that you are doing heaps better than you were the last time around.

2. Being told I don’t have to go on metformin. Yeah, I know I don’t have to, but I’m so looking forward to hearing it; to hearing that I’ve found something that beats the bloody PCOS weight loss stall.

3. Getting blood tests. Yeah, blood tests cost and they are a pain in the arse, but I am looking forward to getting them. I want to see how much everything has improved after taking off so many pounds.

4. A trip to inner Melbourne. That’s just plain hard to beat.

5. Seeing my dietitian. She is just an awesome, totally supportive lady. She never makes me feel bad about what I haven’t done; she just encourages me to improve.

6. Seeing my doctor and dietitian having lost weight. Yay! I didn’t think meal replacement would be as successful as it has been. I’m looking forward to what they have to say.

7. Clearer directions on where to go from here. I have heaps more weight to lose - I’m not even halfway to my goal weight yet - but I’m hoping we can start working on other things like improving my fertility and getting me off The Pill. (Yes, I’m back on. I had to unless I wanted to face another round of progesterone. No thanks.)

8. Talk about concerns. As it’s a check in, it’s a prime time to talk about any concerns I have. I don’t have heaps of questions, but I do have some things I’m eager to talk to them about.

9. The official weigh-in. I go by my own scales, of course, but it will be nice to see how I am going according to their scales.

10. Free samples? Hehe. I got a few free meal replacements before, and I’m not above accepting more.

11. Seeing all the preggy ladies. Yeah, I know, but they’re so cute wandering around with their huge bellies.

12. Having the dietitian right when I need her. I’m moving on to the next ‘phase’ of the diet and the timing comes together wonderfully. I can ask her about the foods I’m thinking about incorporating back into my diet.

13. Just because. I ran out of reasons.

***While the original site has been and gone, there is a new site for Thursday Thirteen! Woohoo!

If you’d like to join in with your own Thursday Thirteen - whether or not it’s health related - please leave a link to your list in the comments. I’d love to check it out.

Check out my other Thursday Thirteen at Write Anyway

Thirteen Reasons I’m So Ready for the Weekend

1. Even if I can’t go on holiday just yet, that just means I appreciate the weekends all the more.

2. The last week of July has Monday through Friday. This means that my usual ‘busiest weekend of the month’ isn’t as busy because I have more time next week to get things settled for next month.

3. The husband is going on a business trip on Monday. It’s not supposed to be an overnight, but it could very easily turn into one. I’m going to cuddle and all that good stuff this weekend.

4. Building Rome! I love computer games, and I have a new one I’ve been playing where you’re building areas of Rome. Love it.

5. Shopping. I still have a reward to buy and the husband wants things to, so shopping time!

6. Who doesn’t like the weekend?

7. I’m not quite as stressed as I was, but I’m definitely not relaxed.

8. Sleep. Sleeeeeep.

9. Catching up on blogs. I have a reader, but even that doesn’t give me time to read when I’m busy.

10. Work of love. I have a non-fiction book I am working on that I intend to put out as an ebook. So, while it is work, it’s something I’m enjoying working on.

11. Sunshine. It’s still winter here in Australia, but we’re getting some sunshine this weekend. I’ll take whatever I can get.

12. Movies. There are some movies I haven’t gotten around to watching yet.

13. Working less (in general) for two days. Aaaah.

***While the original site has been and gone, there is a new site for Thursday Thirteen! Woohoo!

If you’d like to join in with your own Thursday Thirteen - whether or not it’s health related - please leave a link to your list in the comments. I’d love to check it out.

Check out my other Thursday Thirteen at Write Anyway

I have been pleading with the vacation gods for a while now to grant me the sweet relief of a vacation. Lo and behold, a possibility has come up (that involves flying! I love flying!) but it’s not 100% confirmed just yet. I figure I might help my cause by stating my case to the vacation gods in a list-like fashion. What do you think?

Thirteen Reasons I Need a Vacation

1. I have been working darn hard in all areas of my life and I could use the time off.

2. I am forgetting how to de-stress to the point I walk around with this tight feeling in my stomach even when I’m not working.

3. Because I asked so nicely?

4. The trip - if it happens - is to a place I have never been before and have been looking forward to seeing for a long time.

5. I just got paid not long ago which means it’s not going to put us into too much hardship or strife to go.

6. There are some hot deals going on with flights!

7. My husband has been stressed out, too, lately and he needs a vacation as much as I do.

8. The place has internet, so it wouldn’t be like a true, disconnected from the world vacation anyway. I would still get work done.

9. Flying! I love flying. Mmmm. The feeling of the plane first lifting off and the cabin seems to be at this impossible angle as the city below gets smaller and smaller… Huh? What? Sorry.

10. Where we are going is cold this time of year. Mmmm. Snuggle time.

11. Because we likely won’t get an opportunity like this again for a long while.

12. It’s winter, the best time to travel if you want cheap rates.

13. I just plain want to go.

***The original site for Thursday Thirteen is now gone and, obviously, no longer going. However, I like the concept enough that I would like to keep on with it here, even if I do so on a not-exactly-steady basis. If you’d like to join in with your own Thursday Thirteen - whether or not it’s health related - please leave a link to your list in the comments. I’d love to check it out.

****There is a NEW Thursday Thirteen site!

I have probably posted up something similar to this before, but as a self-confessed stress-addict, there is no reason a refresher can’t be useful…

Thirteen Ways to Beat Stress

1. Eat blueberries! I was reading about stress and guess what comes up… Blueberries! It turns out that eating blueberries can help counteract the nasty stuff stress does to you body.

2. Plan mental health time. When I go too long without a mental health day, my body/mind forces me to take one by way of panic attacks. Not nice. So, to avoid this, I try to take a mental health day once a week to be creative and have fun.

3. Bubble baths. Tried and true. Extra points for a good book and candles as well.

4. Exercise. I know that the thought of getting some exercise in can be stressful to some people, but it’s actually an awesome stress-buster.

5. A *little bit* of dark chocolate.

6. Sex. Yeah, I figured I’d just put that one out there. Y’all were thinking it.

7. Reading a good book. This can be paired with the bubble bath, but curling up on the couch with a good book is just as good.

8. Meditation. Deep breathing, peace and quiet… What about this doesn’t spell stress relief?

9. Massage. This is usually a case of it is better to receive than to give, but I do find that giving Mr. JM a massage is relaxing, too, because I know he enjoys it.

10. Music. Also able to be combined with the bubble bath, but make sure you don’t literally combine electrical things with the water, ok?

11. Gasbagging. That Strine for women prattling on about anything under the sun. Maybe you’re not a natural gasbagger, but talking things out or just having a nice talk with a friend can be great.

12. Write it out. Just don’t let a journal turn into a stress, too, okay? A journal is there for you - you write as often as you want.

13. Acknowledgment of stress addiction. It may seem silly to call yourself a stress-addict, but recognizing the problem can help you beat it.

Check out my other Thursday Thirteen at Write Anyway

You might think that almost two years of concentrated weight loss effort and half-hearted efforts before that adding up to me still being at about my starting weight would mean that I accomplished nothing.

However, I refuse to see it that way…

1. Maintained weight. When you have PCOS, just maintaining weight is half the battle. Yes, I’ve bounced around a bit, but I’ve always stayed in the same range.

2. Learned a lot. Knowledge is an amazing tool and the more I have learned about my health, the better I have become.

3. Identified food issues. Everything from binge eating to the events that caused the behaviours… The journey is a hard one, but I’m coming through stronger and more capable for it.

4. Sought treatment. Just the fact that I have cared about myself enough to seek treatment is a huge step.

5. Learning to cook healthy food! I could cook a bit before, but I’m learning more and more (and enjoying it!) about cooking healthy meals.

6. Crossing barriers. There were little things like trying tuna (which I always refused to eat and now love) and big things like identifying binge eating behaviour. All of it added up to me getting closer to my goals.

7. Tried a gym membership. While it didn’t work out financially, I am still very proud of myself for joining a gym and going for about a year.

8. Bought an elliptical. The elliptical is not just a machine to me; it is a symbol of taking a good look at my personality, my lifestyle and what I needed to accomplish my goals.

9. Stopped eating a lot of crap. Sure, my diet still leaves a bit to be desired, but you couldn’t pay me to touch McDonald’s, I don’t eat crap from a can/bag/box and I actually read labels now.

10. I got into the habit of reading labels! Always a good thing.

11. Cut Gatorade/Powerade. I used to drink heaps of that stuff, which was kind of okay when I had a demanding, physical job. But, like many things, I just plain dropped it when I moved.

12. More at peace with myself. I have a while to go before I’ll be *happy* with myself, but I’m on my way.

13. Stuck to it. The most important part. I’ve wanted to give up plenty of times, but I have never once quit. I am extremely proud of that fact.

Check out my other Thursday Thirteen at Write Anyway

Like drinking enough water, positive thinking is something I forget about all too easily. I have my ’skinny me’ picture open and I’m envisioning what I/she is like…

This is is mostly a work of my imagination. Who knows if everything I put here will turn out to be the truth, but I think they’ll at least be pretty close.

1. FitJM likes being active. Of course, that is helped immensely by not getting winded so easily!

2. FitJM loves to dance! I have always loved to dance, but you can go much longer when you’re fit. Plus, you don’t feel as uncomfortable dancing in front of other people.

3. FitJM actually likes clothes and cares about how she looks. I kind of do now, but I imagine I will a lot more when I can actually wear fun, cute things.

4. FitJM doesn’t need birth control or other medications. She’s fit, so her body works the way it should.

5. FitJM is happy planning future children. Until I get my body straightened out, they’re not really a possibility…

6. FitJM can outrun Mr. JM. As it should be.

7. FitJM has sexy lingerie. Hehehehe.

8. FitJM enjoys food and no longer considers it her enemy. I very much look forward to that day…

9. FitJM is confident. To get where I want to be, I’ll have to work through some blocks I have. It’ll be lovely, though…

10. FitJM loves cooking! I like cooking a lot now, but I reckon part of my health journey will mean cooking even more.

11. FitJM works outside the home more often. I know that a big part of my problem is that I work from home (freelance writer). My goal is to work outside the flat more often (which involves finding free wireless…)

12. FitJM loves to run… In my better times, I’ve been able to do some sprint-type running. Were it not (currently) so hard on my knees and ankles, I think I’d be well and truly addicted. I’m looking forward to becoming addicted in the future.

13. FitJM is going to have fun sending pictures to people who knew her as an overweight child/teen/woman. The. Best. Part.

Check out my other Thursday Thirteen at Write Anyway

Next week is going to be such a good refresher. I can’t wait…

Thirteen Reasons I’m Looking Forward to Next Week

1. Holiday weekend! State mandated days off? Awesome. State mandated days off combined with a little bit of paid vacation days? Best.

2. Free hotel stay. I won a three-night hotel stay from another one of the sites I write for and we were lucky enough to find a place that would take us over Easter (the time when my husband already had planned for time off.

3. Road trip! The drive up there is going to be long, but my husband and I will still love it. We are never more happy than when we are traveling.

4. Friends! The place we picked is about five minutes drive from our dear friends and their kids. We usually only see them once a year - in October.

5. Relaxation. I have been stressed to unhealthy levels this week, no matter how much I tried to relax. Some time away from work and the computer is just what my inner doctor has called for.

6. Reading. What better way to relax than to get comfy and do some reading?

7. Spa bath. Need I say more?

8. Sidewalk shops. I can’t afford to buy much, but I do like looking at all the bits and bobs.

9. Beach walking. There are plenty of gorgeous beaches where we’re going. Sure, it’s too cold to go swimming, but breathing in fresh ocean air is good for you as well as romantic. Speaking of…

10. Romance… Time alone with my husband? Always appreciated.

11. I don’t have to make the bed for three days. Hehehe.

12. Fresh seafood. We get high quality seafood being so close to the coast, but on the coast it’s just a smidge better.

13. Spa bath. Worth a second mention. Mmmmmmm.

Check out my other Thursday Thirteen at Write Anyway

While I don’t want to ‘curse’ it, I am starting to feel much better than I was. Given that Monday should be the end of TOM and I should be feeling well enough to get back to a normal routine, I’m planning on getting back to things on Monday as well as adding in some new things.

Thirteen Things I’m Going to Do on Monday

1. Get back on the elliptical. While I haven’t left it completely alone while I’ve been ill, I’ve been getting puffed too fast to put any good time in.

2. Start doing my Yogalates DVD. I want to start getting in (at least) an hour of exercise a day and I think incorporating yoga/pilates is an excellent way to meet that goal.

3. Food diary. I was doing a food diary and then I stopped being interested in food… Haha. Honestly, I got lazy and didn’t like writing down that all I ate during the day was a cup of yogurt. (Hey, when your throat hurts…) So, yes, going to get back to proper eating and proper keeping of a food diary.

4. Belly dancing DVD! How fun, huh? And I found it super cheap, too. I might actually alternate this one with my Yogalates DVD so I don’t get bored, so it might be on Tuesday when I start this one…

5. Cooking more. With how I’ve been feeling, cooking food or even doing the dishes has not left me feeling enthusiastic, to say the least. I’m going to find some yummy recipes so I can get back to cooking. I was really getting into it before I got sick.

6. Call the doctor. (If I’m not feeling better.)

7. Clean. Cleaning is a great way to make me feel less stressed as well as get me moving.

8. Scheduled eating. That kind of went out the window when I couldn’t even bring myself to think about eating anything.

9. Water. Yeah, I slacked on all the usuals, didn’t I?

10. Start working on the mental side of weight loss. It’s obvious I have some things to address and I’m not going to get anywhere until I do.

11. Create a healthy groceries list. We’re pretty good at the moment, but we have to do some shopping soon and it’s always best to think ahead. (And not shop hungry!)

12. Take a lunch break. I am SO bad with this! No doubt it’s contributing to my stress (and my waistline) to work the whole day through and not take any ‘me’ time.

13. Get up and stretch more often.

Check out my other Thursday Thirteen at Write Anyway

I’ve been to the Women’s and I loved it…

Thirteen Reasons I Love the Royal Women’s Hospital Victoria Australia

1. Everything had that shiny, new thang going on.

2. Women! I saw only female doctors. There were guys wandering around, but the whole thing was more comfortable talking to women.

3. PCOS Specialists There are entirely too many doctors out there who don’t have a clue about PCOS. It was nice to talk to people who specialized in the area.

4. Helpful people. Everyone was really nice about directing me where I needed to go.

5. Waiting is a no-no. No long waits there. If you’ve been there for more than… maybe ten minutes, someone walks around and checks who you’re waiting for, etc.

6. Very nice doctors. My doctor is a no-crap kind of lady, but it’s only because she cares. And all the other doctors I talked to are extremely nice.

7. Everything in one building. I went to reproductive services, but there is everything there you could need from the moment you start even thinking about having a baby.

8. Doctors who listen! Doctors who don’t listen are a huge pet peeve of mine.

9. A lot of documentation. They didn’t give me heaps to look at, but they gave me good, useful documents to take home.

10. Understanding. I’ve kind of said this already, but it’s worth noting again how nice it is to have people who specialize in what is going on with you.

11. Close to the tram stop. Just a short walk from the tram and you’re in the hospital. Easy.

12. Easy to get to. Trains and trams can be intimidating, but it took all of one train and one tram to get there.

13. Cafe! I had to wait for the husband to pick me up and I enjoyed a (my last) chai latte at the nice cafe.

Check out my other Thursday Thirteen at Write Anyway

My husband and I rent, and a few months ago our landlords switched to a new real estate company. Last week they finally got around to calling us for an evaluation (to estimate how much the place is worth). My husband and I are anything but neat freaks. We’re not slobs, but we both get very busy and things ten to pile up.

In true procrastinator fashion, we left off cleaning until yesterday. The day before the evaluation.

I took the day off to haul right into the cleaning. I spent hours cleaning and then my husband came home and helped me finish the rest off, which took another hour or so. The flat is looking incredibly nice and tidy now…

…and my body is aching.

I’ve decided - because I have the authority to decide such things - that cleaning house, really cleaning house, is the ultimate workout in thirteen ways…

Thirteen Steps to the Ultimate Workout

1. All that walking! Before the night was through, my feet were quite sore. Mind you, I work at a desk, so I’m not used to being on my feet for hours at a time.

2. Vacuuming. Just one excellent form of weight training if you have a vac as heavy as mine is. Moving that thing back and forth all over the flat was a great workout for my arms and other areas.

3. Dusting. It may not be that work-intensive, but it can take a while. Plus, repetitive movement definitely counts in the burning calories arena.

4. Mopping. Similar to vacuuming, but it can be more intense if you have to really scrub at the floor.

5. Moving furniture. More weight training. Just be careful not to strain yourself.

6. Cleaning webs and ceiling corners. I’m not all that short, but I still have to stretch to get in all the corners.

7. Doing the laundry. Talk about an all-in-one workout. Especially if you don’t have a dryer and have to add in all the hanging things on the line movements.

8. Filing and organizing. Give your arms (and your feet in some cases) a nice workout with a lot of filing and organizing.

9. Making the bed. It’s not a lengthy workout unless you have to do it many times over, but it’s a nice stretching and lifting section of the housework workout.

10. Dancing. How does dancing work in? By having music on while you’re cleaning, of course!

11. Taking out the garbage. We didn’t have a large haul to take out, but we did make a few trips!

12. Regular stretching. Always a good idea. I should have done more of it yesterday…

13. Feeling great when it’s done. You have results internally and externally, which always makes me feel great.

Check out my other Thursday Thirteen at Write Anyway

I’ve been feeling nauseated off and on pretty much all week and now that the weekend has come - of course - my body has decided to really let me have it. I have a bit of a head cold thing going on. Grr. And it’s a long weekend here, too! GRR! My husband has pretty much told me to get in bed and stay in bed, but I really want to take advantage of the long weekend and do something… Sigh.

This sucks!

Thirteen Things I Hate About Being Sick

1. Plans that you have made needing the change.

2. Getting sick on the weekend means you get to be miserable all weekend…and then go right back to work. Ugh.

3. I hate being head sick. The further away the ‘ill’ is from my head, the better I can handle it.

4. Missing out on the sunshine…

5. Having no energy.

6. Medicine.

7. Running out of iced tea (which is all I want right now. Pout.)

8. Going to the doctor. (Thank goodness I don’t need to.)

9. Being crabby. I don’t like being crabby, but I tend to be when I’m sick.

10. Not wanting to eat anything healthy.

11. Sore throat just plain sucks all around.

12. Medicine that puts you to sleep.

13. Not being able to cuddle for fear of spreading the germs…

Check out my other Thursday Thirteen at Write Anyway

My Thursday Thirteen lists certainly don’t always have to be related to health and fitness, do they?

Thirteen Things I Want to Do This Weekend

1. Fix the elliptical. (I’m so behind on my exercise minutes…)

2. Get ahead on work so I reduce the potential for stress next week. (Monday is a writing day, Tuesday I’ve been asked to come in and volunteer, Wednesday is a possible trip…)

3. Play some computer games. Mwahaha.

4. Finish the novel I’m currently reading. Start up the next one in line… I doubt I can finish that one this weekend as well.

5. Finish up some (all?) of the other things on my to-do list.

6. After having fixed the elliptical, get to some elliptical exercising! I’ve been walking, but that doesn’t get counted into my minutes.

7. Give my husband a massage. He deserves it.

8. Do a bit of cleaning and organizing on my desk. It’s a bit chaotic at the moment.

9. Type up and send an official complaint about the 36 unit building they want to construct across the road.

10. Write up the book reviews that need writing so I can put the books away already.

11. Catch up on sleep.

12. Spend some quality time with my husband.

13. Relax.

Check out my other Thursday Thirteen at Write Anyway

It’s time for Thursday Thirteen… I thought it only appropriate to start off the year the right way: with a list of things I’m going to do!

Thursday Thirteen Plans for 2009

1. Do 6,000 minutes on the elliptical in 2009. I’m a little behind if I use the 16.5 minutes of elliptical per day, but I’m catching up!

2. This isn’t an absolute goal, but I’d also like to do 400km on the elliptical. (At the same time - not in addition to the minutes.)

3. Get my rear end to the Royal Melbourne’s and start getting my hormones straightened out!

4. Work more on recognizing my emotional eating urges. (I’m doing pretty good so far, but I have given in a couple times.)

5. Get back to eating smaller meals on a schedule. (I’ve been a bit off with my scheduling.)

6. Be able to go thirty minutes on the elliptical without stopping. (Twenty seems to be my limit at the moment, but I know I can improve.)

7. Keep up with keeping a food journal. (I’ve been doing well so far! I’ll have been keeping one for a month come Saturday.)

8. Learn better stress management.

9. Incorporate more strength training and flexibility exercises into my life.

10. Learn how to make more yummy healthy meals.

11. Encourage my husband on his journey to get trim and terrific.

12. Get outdoors more!

13. *Hopefully* lose some pounds this year and bring back my fertility.

Check out my other Thursday Thirteen at Write Anyway

After my doctor’s appointment to get the results of my blood test, I have cholesterol on the brain.

I am fully willing to admit that I knew nothing about cholesterol. I knew it was something that could affect my life right now, but it was still one of those things that I thought mostly people double my age deal with.

I guess not. So here is what I’ve found so far…

Thirteen Ways to Lower Your Cholesterol

1. Exercise, exercise, exercise.

2. Stay hydrated.

3. Severely limit the dairy products you consume. If you must have them, go ‘lite’.

4. Eat a lot of fruits and veggies.

5. Grains are also beneficial, so oatmeal for breakfast is great.

6. Things like nuts, seeds and beans are also good.

7. Pack in the foods with omega three fatty acids - like fish!

8. If you don’t cut it all together, limit your drinking to one or two glasses per day.

9. That being said, the occasional glass of red wine is good for you.

10. Eat smaller meals regularly to avoid indulging.

11. Check with your doctor about any vitamin supplements that could be beneficial to you.

12. Learn how to manage your stress.

13. Look around for heart-healthy recipes.

Check out my other Thursday Thirteen at Write Anyway

Oh, you had to see this one coming, didn’t you? I may live in Australia, but I used to celebrate Thanksgiving…

Happy Turkey Day to those ‘Up Over’!

Thirteen Reasons I’m Grateful

1. As ever, I am grateful for the love and support of my wonderful husband.

2. I am grateful for the lessons learned over the past year.

3. I am grateful for the progress I have made in the physical realm as well as the progress I have made in becoming the woman I know I can be.

4. I am grateful for writing. It is how I earn my income, how I express myself, how I’ve made many friends, how I let my imagination play and my stress relief. (And much more.)

5. I am grateful for the opportunity to do the things I love to do.

6. I am grateful for the friends who, while they cannot be here physically, send all the love and support they can via the internet.

7. I am grateful for healthy food that tastes yummy like sweet potato and mushrooms. Haha!

8. I am grateful for the beautiful music I listen to that takes me through all my moods.

9. I am grateful for being able to live the kind of life I enjoy.

10. I wish I could just go ahead and make this list one of all the ways I’m grateful for my husband…

11. I am grateful for the opportunities I have to help people.

12. I am grateful for the people who help me.

13. I am so, so grateful to be living in a country that provides excellent health care to everyone even if you have no insurance.

Check out my other Thursday Thirteen at Write Anyway