The Diary of a Fatty

30 Day Challenge: Day Seven

2009-11-08T15:05:00.000-06:00

Today was my cheat day today; I had two glasses of soda and that was it! I didn't even go crazy on my cheat day - one glass of rootbeer while eating lunch with dad, and then a half glass of cola at a friends party.

Go me!

30 Day Challenge: No soda, day six

2009-11-06T08:05:00.000-06:00

It's day six and I don't want to kill anyone; pretty impressive. I'm sure it's because I've been through this before and my body is also used to it. I also make sure that, for now, my blood sugar doesn't bottom out (I have hypoglycemia) from completely stopping sugar - I have a small juice box at break time.

I'm pretty proud of myself, I have not had one drop of soda at all this week... it's all been water and my body has been pretty tolerable. Sometimes my brain will make me nauseated if I drink more than one glass of water... my body doesn't like too much water (not saying I drink 40 glasses a day).

Last night I went out for a farewell dinner with my fellow coworkers; instead of four glasses of soda, I had four glasses of water! I also had a great meal and it was a treat - serloin burger with lettuce and tomato, a tablespoon of their special mayo (I think it has spices in it), french fries with honey dill sauce on the side. It was great, and I came under my dinner budget I had set too! A few of us are going out for lunch today because it is our last day today; I have a lunch budget too ($15) and hopefully I'll come under that including the tip. I will also drink water; I was thinking of treating myself to a glass of ice tea but I decided against it. If I have one, that can lead to two or three or four and I don't want that to happen.... I'll stick with water.

Now the soy milk challenge... that kinda fell. I haven't had any in two days but I can pick it up shortly.

Sammiches

2009-11-05T13:05:00.001-06:00

I've been on a sandwich kick this week and it's not good for someone who is trying to get back on track with eating; my sandwiches have been mainly for lunch, which maintaining a healthy meal for dinner. I had Subway on Monday and the rest of the week I made a sandwich at home to bring to work.

Sandwiches remind me of my childhood and when my mom would always make them for school lunches; mom's always make the best sanwiches and you can never make them right yourself. My mom always said, "they're made with love!"

Sometimes my sandwiches are made with guilt and hostile feelings toward weight loss spread with a heaping helping doubt. ;)

2009-11-03T14:42:00.001-06:00

Hey Starbuck addicts, it is that time of the year again! It is Red Cup season yet once again.

I went to Starbucks this morning to find out that my beloved red cup has joyfully made its return for the season; I even squeed right along with the barista. Good times!

They also have a new drink added to its lineup (well for Canadian customers that is) - Caramel Creme Brulee and it is as L.L. put it "sex in a cup" (her words, not mine). I will say it's a party in your mouth, absolute heaven!

That drink has 400 calories if you have it with whipped cream; if you drink this every day stay away from the whipped cream as without it it's 250 calories (no trans fat and very little saturated fat). Today I could care less about the 400 calories... this was a wonderful treat!

30 Day Challenge: No Soda - Day 2

2009-11-03T07:51:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I thought I was doing pretty good; drank water all day long instead of soda. However, I replaced my sugar cravings with Halloween candy. Major fail.

This morning I did stop at Starbucks for coffee (RED CUPS ARE HERE) and got it sugar free. It sure is heavenly - sugar free, skim milk creme brulee latte. Awesome.

I brought water with me to work; the taps here have filters but not too sure about that one! I dislike city water; we live close to a treatment plant and we always know it's Wednesday because that is when they clean the system and put more chlorine into the water. Yuck. We have bottled water service (don't start on the bottled water rant).

The one thing I forgot about replacing soda with water is you're constantly going to the bathroom! Well I guess that's a good thing... flushing all the crap out of your system!

Go water!

30 Day Challenge #2: Soy Milk

2009-10-31T15:03:00.002-05:00

I just realized there are only 30 days in November, so my two challenges will be 30 day challenges instead of 31.

Challenge #2: Drink one glass of soy milk every day instead of cow milk.

I like cow milk, I've had cow milk all my life. I've wanted to give soy milk a try for a long time; I am drinking the store brand from my local grocers versus the name brand because I've had name brand and I don't quite like it, the after taste is horrible.

I bought a carton today and I'm already getting a jump start; I think I will use it in my cereal, oatmeal, coffee, etc.

Who likes soy milk?

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-30T09:04:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I'm a day early but here at work it's Halloween.

What am I dressed as?

"The Real Housewives of Orange County", except because of where I live I'm a "Real Housewife of Winnipeg." My whip has snow tires, instead of a pool boy I have a snow boy who shovels the snow, WalMart is my Hermes. I like to socialize, shop for shoes and handbags, I have expensive taste in jewelery and I love money.

Picture to come soon....

Fatty's New 30 Day Challenge: Just say no to soda!

2009-10-29T09:06:00.000-05:00

It's back, and in a bad way. I'm hooked on soda and I need to get off of it.

I'm reinforcing the 30 day challenge! I have three days left to get all the sugar into my system, because starting November 1 I will no longer drink soda... only water!

I dislike water, but it needs to be done. The last time I stopped drinking soda I lost 4 pounds in one week just by cutting out soda alone. Diet soda included... that stuff is worse for you.

Wish me luck!

Workplace diet makeover

2009-10-22T09:42:00.000-05:00

Lifestyle from Yahoo Canada

How long has it been since you made (or at least thought about making) that determination to lose some weight and get healthier? Between the stress of a big project, the Tim Horton's timbits and double-cream coffee breakfasts, the 10-hour workday with your butt glued to your chair, and the homemade cookies and pies and chocolate truffles brought in by coworkers who moonlight as chefs and bakers, your chances of losing the weight and keeping healthy on the job may be, well, quite slim.

What you feed your body can have a big impact on how you feel, think, and move on the job and hours after you've left the office. And when you are super busy with work, one of the first things you compromise is your health and diet.

Not everyone can do a total diet makeover, but adding little health twists into your workplace diet is a good start. Here are some tips on how to get started.

Do the breakfast thing. Studies show that your metabolism works best in the morning, and by skipping breakfast you are signaling your body to go into starvation mode, causing it to slow down your metabolism. But eating breakfast doesn't mean 2 doughnuts and a chocolate éclair, which only provides lots of unhealthy fat and empty calories. Learn more about a balanced breakfast from Canada's Food Guide.

Balance a packed lunch with eating out. If you are eating out Mondays to Fridays, try to cut back and designate a few days during the week where you bring your lunch instead. That way, you can better control what you eat and ensure that you are balancing fast food or restaurant food with healthier homemade meals. And if you get takeout at the deli, they usually have a fresh fruit basket you can add to your meal.

Keep your snack stash away from your desk. Put your snacks in a cabinet or in the communal office fridge. Avoid having your snacks lying around on your desk so that you are not tempted to reach for it absentmindedly while you are focused on your work. On the same note, avoid eating your lunch at your desk while you work. Enjoy your lunch and give yourself a mental break.

Do frozen wisely. This is one of the easiest and most economic solutions during a busy workday - popping a frozen meal into the microwave. If this is your routine, take extra time at the supermarket to scan the nutrition labels and select healthier frozen options that are lower in fat and salt and smaller in portion. As tempting as it may be to pick up that no-name frozen chicken or beef pot pie for $1.99 sans nutrition label, it's not worth it! Add a fresh fruit to fill up your stomach if you still have room.

Hydrate with water. Water helps regulate your body temperature, keeps your skin moisturized, and helps your body flush out waste. Many people do not drink enough water while they are at work, and this would mean they do not drink much water at all during the waking hours. Being dehydrated can lead to fatigue and more snacking. More often than not, you see people toting a can of pop or a cup of coffee rather than a glass of water around the office. These other beverages may have high sugar content and empty calories that can affect your productivity at work. Caffeine-containing drinks such as coffee and tea in small amounts can increase your alertness and ability to concentrate, but in larger quantities it can cause headaches, irritability, and nervousness. Keep a large bottle of water by your desk and make sure you get up to refill it at least once a day.

Get moving. While your company may have rules about how many 15-minute breaks you get and how long your lunch time should be, there are ways that you can make healthy use of that time. Keep a pair of walking shoes by your workspace and partner up with a colleague to go for a walk during your lunch hour - getting some fresh air can also help release some of the pent-up stress of a hectic work day. Take the stairs instead of the elevator if this is an option for you, and opt to park your car further from the building entrance. Another easy thing to do is to get up and walk over to talk to your coworker rather than email when he or she is just down the hall.

People, no!

2009-10-21T10:47:00.001-05:00

Courtesy of People of Wal*Mart

Again, what is wrong with people?

Off The Deep End

New Blog

2009-10-20T19:03:00.000-05:00

Don't worry, this one isn't going anywhere.

I am keeping this one solely for weight issues and having a new one to talk about other issues.

Check it out: Belle in the North

H1 No 1

2009-10-19T14:50:00.000-05:00

Got the test result back from the doctor today, and it's what I suspected... I don't have H1N1.

Thanks for playing!

Gobble, gobble: Happy Thanksgiving Day!

2009-10-11T17:00:00.002-05:00

For us here in Canada, it is our Thanksgiving Day long weekend with tomorrow officially the day.

I am unsure as to why we celebrate it a month earlier than our U.S. counterparts, but I do know it is every second Monday in October.

According to Wikipedia, this is why we celebrate Thanksgiving a month earlier:

A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed … to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October.

I love Thanksgiving; not just for the great food (not a big turkey fan, but I will eat it) but for all the family members that come over and celebrate with us. I've been big on family since I was a kid, and this and Christmas is the day when we get together and enjoy each others company.

I'm thankful for a lot of things: friends (especially those who love me for me and my quirks), family (always being there when I'm in trouble), the experiences I've had and the many opportunities I've been given.

Thanksgiving is also a day where we can forget about eating healthy and pig out on all the good food that has been given to us. Nom, nom, nom.

To my American friends... Happy Columbus Day!

Putting It All Out There

2009-10-10T21:23:00.001-05:00

Photo Courtesy of: People Of WalMart.com

Putting It All Out There

Attention Fat girls! This is NOT how you dress! I don't care if you think it looks good on you. I doesn't, and it won't. People will just laugh at you and you cannot and will not get mad at people for laughing at you.

No, no, no, no, NO! This is ALL kinds of WRONG!

Up your nose with a.... cotton swab!

2009-10-06T14:53:00.000-05:00

I went to the doctor's office yesterday and was tested for H1N1 just to be on the safe side... even he said he doesn't think I have it, but did it to err on the side of caution.

The test is flipping torture! They need to do this on locked up criminals. Honestly.

They stick a cotton swab way up your nose until it gets into a sinus cavity... I swear, I thought it touched my brain. Then the doctor stuck one in the back of my throat for a sample.

Once that is done the doctor put it in a small vile marked "VIRUS TRANSPORTATION" and then it is sent off to the local disease control lab for testing. It takes two-three weeks to get the results back. I'm already starting to feel better. LOL.

By the time I went to bed last night, I still felt like I had a cotton swab up my nose. It hurt.. Man did it hurt.

Also... if I want a flu shot, I have to pay for it. The province isn't pick up the tab this year because they want everyone to get an H1N1 shot because they think the regular flu shot will make you more susceptible to the H1N1 virus. SORRY! I am not getting an H1N1 shot. The regular flu shot has been out for years and I know the side effects of it (I get a red sore bump because of the silver needle, I also get an upset stomach because of the egg base in the shot); what are the side effects of this new shot that has been out for two months? Flu shots don't prevent you from getting the flu, they help make it more tolerable to have the flu if you happen to get it.

I still think the government and media's response to this virus is making everyone paranoid.It's the flu... just a different strain.

Mo Money, Mo Problems

2009-10-03T15:24:00.000-05:00

L.L. just posted a blog about budgeting and it's got me thinking.... it's time I actually do that. While living on my own I haven't really budgeted, persay, it was more like pay the bills and buy groceries and here is what I have left over.

Now that I am moving back to my parents house I am going to actually start budgeting so that I can get my finances in order. I won't have household bills which is great, but I will be chipping in to pay some of the Hydro (water and electricity) since I will be using some of it; my parents and I came to an agreement of $75 bi-weekly. I will also chip in for groceries as well.

I'm meeting with my bank to discuss budgeting and consolidating. I just found out that Manitoba Student Aid no longer has the extra six month grace period so I actually have to start paying them back in December alongside the Canada Student Loans. It sucks but it's only $80; I am definitely going to talk to CSL because they want me to pay close to $200 a month and while on Employment Insurance looking for a job, it might not be feesable to pay that much. They can extend my loan period to reduce the amount I pay.

I also have to set aside $250 for the movers on my next paycheque; they were the most afforable and it's a good company. There isn't much they have to move (sofa, recliner, bed, dresser, desk, and television); the rest are boxes which myself and my sister and her fiancee can help me with. My dad is contracting 1-800-GOT-JUNK to clean out the basement of old furniture so my sofa, desk and recliner can go down there. You point to what you want gone and they move it.

It will be nice to have money now that I don't have rent or household bills; but it's also nice to know that I am going to be saving money to put the debt down. Being 27, I shouldn't have debt like I do (minus student loans). I need to get back on track and fix it.

A brief pause

2009-10-01T12:48:00.001-05:00

Hello readers.

Just a note to say that I am cutting my internet tonight as I cannot afford it anymore and I'll be moving back home with my parents at the end of the month. So between now and the 31st I'll be packing and moving. Now I gotta find some movers... I just need to move furniture. The rest can be piled in my car and my dad's car.

Ah never mind! I am able to keep my internet connection until I move! Huzzah. But, between now and the end of the month posts will be sporadic as I am getting ready to move!

Brrr....

2009-09-29T13:50:00.000-05:00

That is 9ºC for all those who cannot read Fahrenheit.

I've got socks, warm cotton pants, and a sweater on. I love fall, but not when it's this cold!

Purging

2009-09-29T13:47:00.000-05:00

I'm going to start to get rid of a lot of things. I am going to go through cabinets and closets and start tossing things out; things that can be donated (clothing), will be donated. I'm also going to go through the stuff at my parents house and decide what needs to be toss and donated.

I have too much stuff that I no longer use; clothes that are too big or too small and cannot be worn anymore. What is the point of even keeping them if I cannot use them?

My desk is also going to get a major cleaning - papers that no longer need to be used, organize the items that I do need to keep. I also need to eventually buy a filing cabinet to sort out items such as student loan documents, bills, etc. My little file folder is bursting at the seams.

Blank

2009-09-27T11:24:00.000-05:00

It's not that I am lazy, it is just that I am in a funk where I don't feel like blogging.

I'm thinking about a lot of things lately and I only have a month to figure everything out. I'm hoping something good happens relatively soon, but if not I will have to make some major decisions and I don't want people to judge me on it. I don't like it when people make comments (especially mean ones) on decisions I make. I'm an adult and I've made them for a reason. You make your decisions for a reason, and I don't judge.

We'll see what transpires in the next six weeks.

Can you believe that there are only six weeks left in my contract at work. I'm scared and nervous. L.L. has been encouraging me all the way and I really appreciate it. It's great when you have an amazing friend who also works for the same company as you do, sees the same crap as you do and can talk to you about how to handle it.

Put yo back into it!

2009-09-23T17:06:00.001-05:00

For years I have suffered from lower back pain; at age nine was at a local park swinging away with my best friend when the seat broke and I flew halfway across the playground. I was paralyzed for five minutes and then miraculously my best friends mom massaged the area so well that it got me walking again. The next day Xrays revealed that I had two slipped disks. My doctor said that time and physical activities would put them back into the proper place... 18 years later and it's still an issue; and with the recent back injury, it made it even worse.

Today was my very first chiropractor meeting and let me say... I want to cry. I want to cry because there is hope and she is going to do everything she can to fix this problem.

As I entered my twenties, my posture became really bad (the weight is also to blame); I started to walk hunched over and I looked like an 80 year old. Today after the assessment she said the reason I was walking like that is because there are now three, yes three slipped inverted lumbar vertebrae(disks) and this is the reason why I have sciatica.

Quick Anatomy lesson: The lower vertebrae in your spine are called the lumbar vertebrae and you have 5; the last three of the five vertebrae in my back are inverted. The sciatic nerve runs very close to these vertebrae and it can be pinched if the vertebrae are slipped/broken, etc, depending on how you hurt yourself.

My next appointment is on Monday and I am looking forward to it. I actually feel pretty good after my first treatment; I'm a little sore, but she said that is normal. I am also walking properly! You don't know how good that feels! I also have bruises. She uses a biofeedback machine to set the bones instead of doing that manually; the machine looks like a gun and on the "gun" there is a round head (almost the shape of a hammer head). It pulses/hammers the bones back into place; because of my bruising issue, I will have bruises and she said that the more treatments we do the bruises do have a possibility to go away but because I bruise easily, they may not.

I was just able to get through washing the dishes without lower back problems!

Letting go

2009-09-22T22:44:00.001-05:00

This year has been about changes - I moved out and in to my own place, I've learned to say no and now I am letting go a little piece of rebellion that I had attached to me for 11 years.

My cartilage piercing.

Sure, some of you may think that it's not a big thing and it's just a piercing.... but to me, it was my little piece of rebellion.

I was 16. My mom wouldn't allow me to get one even though my friends all had them; I wanted one so bad. By law (at the time) I didn't need parental permission to get my ears pierced, since, I was 16. I was so mad that she wouldn't let me get one, it's not like I was putting a gigantic hole in my body... it was just an ear!

So I went out and got it done. I felt so rebellious and it felt so good! My mom was pissed, but I didn't care.

Two weeks later it became infected. My mom said, "I told you so!" and I still didn't care. I didn't care if it was infected and it hurt and a huge round thing grew from the hole... I was so proud and felt so rebellious.

I've had it for 11 years, and now it is time to let it go.

It feels weird now that it's no longer in my ear. It feels like there is a huge hole in my ear, but I'm glad I took it out. I actually feel like the grown up process is done. Sometimes letting go the most minuscule thing makes a world of a difference.

Cartilage Piercing: 1998-2009

Le sigh

2009-09-19T20:20:00.000-05:00

The events of the last two days have finally caught up with me. I'm exhausted; like, really exhausted. Plus I pinched the nerve again today so I'm trying to relax. Sitting on the couch relaxing and watching CSI. *yawn* I think I might head to bed soon, so tired!

!@#$%^(%#@

2009-09-19T01:29:00.001-05:00

The last two days have been hell... pure hell, and I rarely use that narrative to describe anything. I've been wanting to cry, I've been wanting to scream, I've been wanting to get underneath a blanket and hide. Quite a few people share the same feelings and it is a little comforting, but not entirely. I hate seeing myself like this, and I hate seeing my fellow peeps go through it too. What did we do to deserve this? It's depressing, really it is.

I'm not going in to details but I will say this... when you've given your all and you get crap thrown on you after all that you've done, you feel worthless.

*sigh* I need to spend a day in an ice cream store.

Sunny September Morning: What's for Breakfast

2009-09-15T11:39:00.001-05:00

Bagel and Cream Cheese

Instant Coffee with 3 sugar cubes, Coffee Mate

Skim Milk

Daily newspaper crossword