Some fun for today

A little bit of light entertainment to fill your day creatively.
Take a minute and do this. It is the cutest thing ever and how on earth it works - I can't imagine.

                               Draw A Stickman
                                Try this, it is cool and fun.
                               You won't believe what happens after you draw a stick man!!  I wish I knew how this works!!!
Click on site below                                 http://www.drawastickman.com/
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FMM

FMM: Have You Ever?

1. …traveled outside of your home country?  If so, where?  

Yup, I love to travel.  I've been to Greece, Turkey, Punta Cana and Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), several places in USA and several places in Mexico!

2. …performed on stage in front of at least 1,000 people? If so, share some details!  

When I was a kid, I was in the choir and did the Festival of Trees performances often.  Never did get over my stage fright though!

3. …watched an episode of Jersey Shore?  

Unfortunately once.  It was a mistake I regret to this day.  That's an hour I'll never get back of my life.  It was like a train wreck, I couldn't look away.

4. …baked a cake from scratch?  If so, what’s your specialty?  

Many times.  Banana and carrot are my favs I'd say.

5. …worked in a grocery store?  

Nope.  I never ever wanted to work in the food industry in any way.

6. …dated someone who was your best friend first?  

Sort of.  Hubby and I met and tried dating for awhile and it was just the wrong time.  So we became best friends instead.  3 years later, we decided to give it another try and here we are married now 1.5 years :)

7. …made a difference in someone’s life during Christmas?  

I donate, I've worked at Santa's Anonymous wrapping presents for kids and stuff.  That's about it.

8. …been on TV?  

Yup a couple times.  Once for a troubleshooter thing because my ISP was screwing people over and they decided to interview me.  Another when I was a kid, they did a Christmas special for several families called "Yes there is a Santa Claus" as our parents were both union workers and had been on lockout for 18 months on strike.  The other unions and donations made it possible for us to have a pretty amazing Christmas for 6 kids!

9. …had cosmetic surgery?

I've had lasik surgery and weight loss surgery.  I don't really know if either are considered "cosmetic" to others so I've noted them but to me they were absolutely necessary and I wouldn't change those decisions for a second!

10. …learned a second language?  If so, what else do you speak?

All Canadians (pretty much) learn French in school.  I speak it haltingly and can understand it mostly.  I'm also teaching myself Spanish :)

Now it’s your turn.  I know it’s a busy week, but I hope you’ll take a few minutes to share your answers on your own blog.  And if you do, don’t forget to come back here to link up in the comments.  

Happy Monday friends!

My vitamin ritual

Everyday I take:

1 - B12 tablet (melts under your tongue)
2 - Vit D drops 1000iu each
2 - Adult chewable multi vitamins
Bio-Strath Liquid mineral supplement (30 drops)   http://www.nationalnutrition.ca/detail.aspx?ID=971
Calcium Magnesium Citrate liquid
1 packet - Pro-Biotics

Now I am adding 150mg 2x/day of Feramax to the mix

Bathroom post... don't read if you aren't interested... lol

TMI!!!!!


So....Interesting. I started the iron (half the dose recommended just to see how it was going to affect me) and instead of making me constipated, I've actually had normal bathroom times every single day since I started taking it. I haven't had a daily BM since I was on mushies after my surgery until now. I would go sometimes a week with nothing and then just rabbit turds. So far, I'm liking this iron supplementation! Giving it a few more days and then I'll move to the full 300 mg dose/day, hopefully this continues!

Doctor's orders....

Went to see my doc on Wednesday for follow up after my last blood work. I'm teetering on anemia apparently. She said the range for women is 12-300 (quite the range IMO!) and my level was 17. She said that it can cause depression, anxiety and fatigue being low in iron so that might be my problem! So, now I'm on daily iron supplementation and I have to get re-tested for blood work in 3 months and she said she wants to see it above 50 by then. I've never had iron supplements before, I hope they don't make me constipated MORE. I have enough trouble with the bathroom since my surgery!

Also, she said she didn't want me losing any more weight. She thinks my weight is fine where it is. I think I can do another 10-15 lbs and still be healthy so we'll see. I told her that I feel pretty good, other than fatigue mostly. My anxiety is up and down depending on stress. I don't handle stress well and find myself easily overwhelmed. She wants me to really focus on getting my exercise in which will also help with all of the mood and fatigue too. I know I need to exercise, and actually I have a trainer that called me so I will get going on that too.

At long last...

My pictures from the "during" weight loss phase of my photoshoot done when I was 50 lbs down.  So around 175 lbs.  I'll have another shoot when I'm at my Ultimate ultimate size :)

I can definitely see that I'm thinner now.  I'm not a huge fan of the makeup either.  It looks cakey IMO.

Lots of the same pics over in different poses... sorry!

http://photobucket.com/cherylscott

151 lbs!!!

The lightest I've been in over 15 years!  I really didn't think the scale would be showing a loss as I've been hovering over the same few pounds for a few weeks... and I've been having some issues in the bathroom..TMI I know!

I'm so happy I had this surgery.  Best decision ever.

Today, I'm going to work the Health & Lifestyle Show for Weight Loss and Beyond.  I'm a little nervous someone I work with will see me and find out I've had the surgery.  I'm still keeping that on the down low at work.  It's a hard line between wanting to tell people I know and keeping some personal privacy as well.

Last night was my company Christmas Party.  I rocked a sweet dress...

Wahoooooo!

We got the phone call this morning! We have a year extension from the military for our final move!!! That takes a HUGE load of stress and time constraint off of us. We felt very pressured to make a decision and get the move going regardless of the issues with selling our houses, now we have some leeway. A whole years worth!!

The plan now is to move to Vancouver around the summer time or early fall. By then we will be able to LEISURELY sell both houses (although that's a WHOLE OTHER source of stress for me right now), have our house hunting trip and move at the nicest time of the year. It feels so much better knowing that we have that extension.

I'm looking forward to moving to Vancouver. Hubby thinks he's forcing me to move but honestly, I'm ready for the change. The adventure. The no snow. lol

Now we need to call Relocation Services to find out how early we should be looking for a summer/fall move there so we can use those dates to work backwards to selling the place we're in now, getting my transfer done at work... etc.

It's exciting and nerve wracking all at the same time. I am going back to the doc on Wednesday to find a new anti-depressant/anti-anxiety med though I think. There's been so much stress and I'm not dealing with it well. I constantly worry, over prepare and think catastrophically about everything. It's not good for me or my marriage.

Weightloss has slowed right down.

I would say I'm averaging about 2-5 lbs a month now as I get nearer to my goal.

First major goal is 149lbs, next Ultimate goal is 135 lbs

I'm sure if I got off my ass and started exercising that might happen a little sooner but ...meh. I have no desire and I really need to find some because I know that I've lost alot of lean muscle over the last year. I can feel it in my strength.

NSV!

I've hopped on the scale a few times in the last week because I'd noticed my Size 8's getting loose.  Looks like I'm on to Size 6 now!  Also.... I can wear knee high boots.  WITH ROOM TO SPARE!  No acrobatics to get into or out of boots that previously would have taken up shop at my cankle and refuse to move an inch further. 

I'm also nearly "NORMAL" for my BMI!