JUST DO IT!

Sometimes it is what is simple that hits us the hardest and gets us moving towards our goals

Retailers Trimming The Fat: Is Weight Loss A Solution For Plus Size Gals To Remain Fashionable?

Just read an article online about the fact that a lot of clothing makers are scaling back on their production of plus size clothing.  The recession has been hitting all retailers and they are searching for ways to bring costs under control to ride out this storm. 

Everywhere you look, from magazines, to ezines, to blogs and list-serves, everyone is discussing some aspect of weight loss.  We are predominated by thoughts about how we look and what labels we are wearing.  If what you focus on grows, why aren’t we all thin?  I don’t get it- Plus sized people are the norm—just check out the stats at the Centers For Disease Control [www.cdc.gov] What I read there is that 62% of women in the United States wear a size 14 [or larger] and on average weighs 164 pounds!  So those size 2, tall thin Victoria Secret Models are NOT the norm!! Could have fooled me judging from most magazine covers!  It’s not just women either- 66% of all people over age 20 are overweight or obese, meaning the majority of us can benefit from some degree of weight loss.  Our kids are not faring much better, 19% of kids age 6-11 and 17% of those 12-19 years of age are overweight. 

This isn’t exactly great news for the plus size gal who wants to wear clothing suitable to the style of the moment and to flatter her figure.  I know, been there done that.  Back in the late 70’s—geez, fat preteens had NO choice—I painfully recall my first trip into a very frumpy Lane Bryant---and the polyester pants I had to deal with.  Per the New York Post June 1 edition, although people are cutting back on costs in all areas, those who are plus sized appear to be cutting back proportionally more on clothing than their thinner associates (8% vs. 3%).  Ok, so I am blessed with no longer HAVING to buy plus-sized clothing—I feel for my sista’s tho. 

Their (NYP) possible reason really made no sense to me, why would one believe that those who are plus sized might be more willing to cut clothing costs to help with family expenses than those who are not plus sized?  Are plus sized women more family oriented, less concerned about weight loss and fashion, or could it be that plus sized clothing simply costs more money, making this a purely economic issue??

Plus size clothing costs 10% more to produce although, in my mind, they more than make that up in added costs to the consumer-if you haven’t checked the price tags on plus size clothing, unless you shop at your local big box store, it’s a lot more than $2-$3 more for “extended sizes” they offer and with everything else, labels sell and the costlier brands are more fashionable.

Frankly I think these retailers are cutting off their noses to spite their faces.  America is NOT getting any thinner, despite all the education and information out there on healthy eating and exercise.  Our health care costs going through the roof attest to that fact and that we as a nation spend the most $$ healthcare and are one of the least healthy nations in the world.

It’s not reasonable to simply say that we all need to lose weight.  More than half the population in the US is in the “need for weight loss” category.  There are weight loss solutions out there, just ask me. Rant finished.

It's more then just a Garden

I came home today just exhausted and I promptly fell asleep for 90 minutes—got up and looked around and saw everything I still needed to do—and went outside to check on the garden.  Granted I physically didn’t feel better but as I was working on taming my spaghetti squash and training my cucumbers (or are they melon, I forgot where I planted them ) ) I started thinking about the therapeutic use of gardening—and how just caring for the plants brought me to a place of peace, gave me purpose without stressing me out and for a while I forgot about my physical pain.

 

I picked basil, parsley, arugula, lettuce and tomatoes—

My tomatoes may not be perfect and beautiful but like every human it is what is on the inside that is what is truly important - and these are delicious!

 

 

 I call this my Basil Parsley Bouquet- there is nothing more wonderful then the smell of freshly cut basil and parsley--I love the purple basil contrast with the green :)

I accidentally pulled up one of my potato shoots and to my surprise there was a tiny potato attached—smaller than a grape tomato.  Since it was in my straw bale garden it was clean, dirt free and after taking a picture, I ate it—a tiny raw potato that was so delightful

 Nearly every morning and evening I go outside, sometimes I work on the garden, water it, and sometimes I just take a survey of what’s going on—

  Like noticing that tomatoes in my straw bale garden don’t have the flower rot or cracking issue that the ones in my traditional raised bed have. 

 I marvel at how well my potatoes are growing in the straw—and I wonder why I am so attached to growing potatoes—I’ve had 2 years of failed attempts. And the corn—I can’t even eat it because I’m allergic to it but I have been fighting off rabbits and birds to get the few standing stalks that I have and they are hearty and healthy----

Why I wonder—why do I do these things—?? 

In my heart I do know why—it is in my blood, my heritage, my genetic memory as well as my conscious one.  

My father’s garden----I remember it SO well…it spanned an acre and we spent so much time there—planting, weeding, harvesting—row after row of tomatoes, peas, beans, peppers, squash---the cantaloupe and watermelon never did well for him—maybe that’s why I’m trying so hard.   

My Mom would can quarts and quarts of plum tomatoes, sweet banana peppers, watermelon rind pickles, pickles—sweet, dill... Refrigerator pickles----you name it….and the potatoes..

If my memory serves me correctly, the new potatoes were ready around the 4^th of July—and they were always so amazingly good---I associate the 4^th of July with New potatoes all the time—our town had a parade on the 4^th and new potatoes--—it makes me smile thinking about Triangle park, the garden, my Dad, the times I spent ( often begrudgingly at the time—for as a child on summer vacation, who wants to weed and plant and harvest?!)   

My mom taught me how to can and I still think that those are the best veggies ever—homemade plain sauce from home canned plum tomatoes, fresh basal, parsley and onions—can’t be beat.  I can still see the shelves in the basement with rows upon rows of canned goods—that allowed us to have amazing fresh tasting foods in the middle of the NJ winters.  

Corn—fresh Jersey Sweet Corn—in my 11^th and 12^th year, my Dad decided to plant acres of corn—his friend down the street had a tractor and a seed planter—those years I learned how to drive that green John Deere and keep the hopper on the seeder full—back then I had no clue I was allergic to corn—there is nothing more sweet then a fresh picked ear of Silver Queen raw… Summer days spent on the back of my father’s pickup truck after picking corn at Englishtown Auction selling a baker’s dozen for a buck….

 

All this was swimming through my head as I was lovingly taming my tomato plants, tying them up to keep the green tomatoes up off the ground and less easy fodder for bugs--- 

 

I kept staring at my potatoes—and I remembered—it’s not that I DON’T remember things but when you are looking at your 50^th year on earth, some things are filed away a little deeper because you don’t use it as often.  As if it were yesterday I had this vision of a potato field, row up on row of green potatoes, the huge irrigators and I was in NJ at my great grandfather’s home.  “Bampop” was a potato farmer—although the planting that I saw at this time were not his doing—he had farmed that land—I remember my mother telling stories of going to her Gram’s house—of her great grandparents’ home nearby—my memory is so faded, but it is just a good feeling---I have pictures in boxes of my Grammie, Delta Duncan McCarty and her sister Carol Duncan Pierson as kids…thinking about all that life and history that is back in NJ as I stand in front of my miniscule in comparison garden in Arizona…. I’ve read historical books on the history of Monroe and Cranbury just to get a glimpse of my family line and history—

 

All this came up tonight because of my garden…So many people in my life are now gone forever…their memories alive in my heart and mind--

I love my Garden--because it is more than "just" a garden....it is part of my life history ~JmF~ July 5, 2013

 This is my original raised bed garden which has served me well since last year and my wonderful husband expanded it for me so it's now twice as big---

  


Another View

I love this little plant--it is a Rutgers Tomato plant that the rabbits had chewed down to the stem and it has rebounded itself and has flowers now :)

A perfectly green tomato, no blossom rot, no cracks, can't wait until it's red!  If you haven't researched straw bale gardens, they are amazing!  You can garden anywhere!

Another view of my tomato plants going wild :)

An Ending and a Beginning

I ended my last challenge today-- and met all my goals!!!  I have increased my water intake to at least 64-80 oz a day, fit into size 14 jeans at least twice and I've lost 10 lbs and entered my video into the Project10 contest!!

So starting today, my new challenge goals are as follows:

In the next 90 Days I will do the following:

lose 3# on my hips
lose 32# of fat
Drink between 80-100 oz of water every day
Cardio 4 times a week
Weight train/Cross train 3 times a week

Teasing The Positive Out Of A Negative Situation

The last several weeks I have been somewhat distant and less transparent/vocal in the social media world.  I just finished up my last 90 day challenge, not with the results I had hoped for but results none the less, of those I have written about in a previous post.  

For now, I feel as if I am on my back-and as Les Brown says (paraphrased), if you are on your back, your eyes are open, then you can get back up. I have been pondering my "getting back up" physically and emotionally.

For the last month I have not felt my normal, usual self.  I had a relapse of the Iritis in my right eye, I have had laser vein ablation (that was the least of my issues LOL), I developed a wicked case of what symptomatically was lateral epicondylitis (Tennis elbow) in my left elbow, and multiple and increasingly frequent aches and pains in my joints.  For example, right now my left index finger is swollen and sore and my right big toe feels like I have a cactus spine in it...I checked, nothing there.  Every joint hurts, I'm tired and I've had a headache for a month now (thought it was sinus but not).  And then there are my bowels... Because of the Iritis, my eye doctor wants me to follow up with a Rheumalologist...me I'm thinking maybe some of this is related to the side effects of the only medication I take....

Anyway I am not writing this down to complain or look for sympathy, just background information.  It is so easy to fall into a pattern of "Poor Me" or "Why Me" and get negative and depressed, I know it's easy, I am battling doing just that every day.  Instead I am focusing (refocusing when I get angst-y) on what positive I can tease out of this current temporary situation. 

I confess I am a driven person who doesn't allow pain, fatigue or illness to stop me from what I'm doing until it flattens me on my back.  I also confess that I have little tolerance for people that allow every little ache and pain to derail them from what they are doing.  In many ways I am empathetic but what I have come to realize is that the empathy I exhibit is shown but I sure as heck don't feel it.  The situation I am currently in physically is teaching me that it's ok to slow down, to not do everything, that it's ok to sometimes just cry in frustration and the fear of the unknown--but not to allow those feelings and emotions to effect my thoughts and beliefs about myself--and in this journey I can then be more authentically empathetic to others who have chronic pain or whatever.  We all go through trials in life, life wasn't meant to be easy (I'm re-reading The Road Less Traveled), it is what we take from those trials, what we allow to happen within ourselves, that determine if you move past the issue or you forever hit re-wind and stay stuck in that place. 

I was pondering my new 90 day challenge, what I should do, what would drive me.  Weight loss is always good however at this point in time I have been thinking that I am focusing too much on the number and not enough on health and wellness.  In my mind I would love to be at the gym everyday working out, building lean muscle, getting more fit-in my head I would love to run-my body doesn't cooperate at this point.  

SO  I am torn between setting goals for myself that are pushing me and that I may not reach (as in my last challenge) or to choose a goal that is pushing me a bit ( at this point a 1/2 mile walk is pushing it) that I can build on.  I am scheduled for another Vein ablation on 11/5/12 after I come back from St. Louis, I go back to the eye doctor on the 13th and he'll probably refer me to the Rheumatologist...my 90 day challenge starts tomorrow..so this is it for now and will increase/update as my physical health dictates ( struggling with how "wimpy" this challenge sounds BTW--another area to work on in my personal growth)

My Challenge begins 10/22/12 and ends 01/22/13, taking me through the holidays and all the glorious food, events and distractions of the season.  

• By 01/22/13 I will fit into size 14 jeans or smaller
• By 01/22/13 I will lose 10 pounds
• By 01.22.13 I will be exercising 5 days a week 

I will be reducing my intake of Dairy products, especially cheese and focusing on proteins and low glycemic vegetables.  I have looked at the Paleo eating and for whatever reason I 'm having problems wrapping my brain around it although I believe it would be a good way for me personally to eat considering my food allergies to Wheat and Corn.  I may incorporate this into my challenge when I understand it better. 
I will also be more consistent with my water intake, I am working on drinking a minimum of 120 oz a day.  I will also be posting more to be more accountable to what I 'm doing and what I am going through.   Feel free to follow my journey, call me out, encourage me etc. 
 ~JmF~

90 Day Challenge Wrap

Giving up is the easiest thing to do-that is what separates those who are winners, those who are successful, those who meet their challenges and goals, from those who do not.   

Never Give Up~sometimes it is easier to say, to grasp, to share the idea~and more often then not, it's a lot harder to follow through and not give up~ It is in those moments of struggle, when you look at both paths, that pivotal point ( whether it looks pivotal or not) when you make a choice and a decision-

90 Days ago I started a challenge, to lose weight, lose inches/body fat and to exercise both my body and my mind.  I usually would make a video but decided to just write it out this morning.  My challenge "officially" ends on Monday October 22~this one anyway, the joy of a 90 day challenge is that I can start all over again =D  

The last 90 days has had it's share of ups and downs emotionally, physically and financially.  I did not allow these life events to derail me for any substantial length of time~ never give up~  I did not meet my original challenge goal in it's entirety, however I did meet parts of it and regardless, I am better off today then I was in July.  

I lost an overall total of 6 pounds which was my revised goal from September, for a total weight loss of 30# since I originally started on the challenge.  I have read through and started practicing principles of 2 personal growth books and have a few more I am in process of reading. I am down  another pants size which is always great.  My exercise was not what I had planned to do, I still need to focus on that aspect of my life.  Having had surgery in the course of this challenge with another one scheduled the day I return from St. Louis, has had an impact on my exercise routine~ this is only temporary as I anticipate that the pain and discomfort are temporary and that with these procedures, the pain I experience with exercise will diminish =D

So this weekend I will take an "after photo", I took before photos but want to compare them, I am interested in seeing if I can see any difference.  I KNOW I can see a difference in my daughter, who has been doing the challenge along with me. Sometimes it's easier to see changes in other people rather then on yourself, hence why taking photos is so important~ they give you a difference perspective, I can look at the photo and be more objective rather then subjective.  

Although my challenge isn't officially over until Monday I am starting to think seriously about what my next challenge will entail.  The Challenge Showdown is over but I have found that making videos is a good way for me to keep myself accountable so I will continue to post videos and pictures of my progress.  I believe that this next challenge, which will take me through the traditionally "fattening" time of year, will focus on health, exercise and water intake.  Losing weight is great and fits into those areas for sure but focusing on it as the main "goal" is often self defeating and frustrating~  I don't want to be sick and skinny anymore then I want to be sick and overweight~ it is the health issue that is paramount~ I have been pondering my health and my goals~ maybe it's partly due to my age--50 is not far up the road, there are changes in me and in my body I don't really appreciate or like that really are awakening me to the fact that I must get my act together or I will wake up one day and wonder where my life went....

Here's to the Future!!!
~JmF~

On Relationship Building

From Marc  and Angela Hack

In Twelve Years----

People won’t remember what clothes you wore, which car you drove, and maybe not even your full name.  

But----

In Twelve Years----

They will remember how you made them feel and the positive memories you gave them.  

The true impact you make on people will depend on the time and attention you give to teaching those who know less, caring for those who have less, supporting those who are striving, and tolerating those who are different than you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As I read this morning, I came across this "truth" and it made me stop and ponder why I do what I do, why I pursue the things I pursue....what drives me.....

I strive to help people, to help others better themselves, to share information and knowledge with other people so that they can have a better life if they choose.  I think that people don't always get the"WHY" I do things, it just looks like I am a workhorse and I don't always "care"--my why is good but I think I need to work on my execution of it better, to really let others know how much I care regardless of what choices they make in the end.  That is key in building relationships, as that saying goes, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care".  

I care a lot--it doesn't always come out in a way that people may find accepting...so that is why I go on, working on myself first--to be the person I would like to be around..to be mentored by....JmF