tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364393193845689352024-02-19T05:19:08.919-08:00OMG...what if I don't have a pretty face?Rants, raves, revelations, recipes, ridiculousness, and the reality of just another fat girl trying to get healthy.Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.comBlogger152125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-45891120346416563632020-02-05T12:00:00.000-08:002020-02-06T14:05:47.392-08:00Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso (or Weigh-in Wednesday #3, Part 2 of the ongoing saga that is OMG...what if I don't have a pretty face?)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I woke up this morning just after 5.30AM without an alarm. I lay in bed scrolling through various apps on my phone designed to help me. For the last four years, these apps have indeed helped me...they have helped me feel bad about myself. This morning, like last Wednesday and the Wednesday before that, I was too excited to fall back asleep. Instead of rolling over and drifting off...I checked my exercise stats from the last week, I made sure I had inputted my latest meal in my food journal, and (even though I hadn't actually worked out yet) I put a very red, very large checkmark beside SUZIE CARDIO in my calendar. The apps have finally started doing what they were intended to do...as I had also <b>finally</b> started doing what I intended to do. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Starting weight - Jan. 17th, 2020 - 285.4 pounds (115 days until my 45th birthday)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1st weigh-in - Jan. 22nd, 2020 - 281.3 pounds (-4.1 lbs)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2nd weigh-in - Jan. 29th, 2020 - 277.0 pounds (-4.3 lbs)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3rd weigh-in - Feb. 5th, 2020 - 273.7 pounds (-3.3lbs)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b>The road to hell is paved with good intentions. </b></i></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoTM8yrA-aSGgzfhnB7Z77FedL0F5cT8jeCklI5QX5quzJGCgAKnDzPwTdzHUwB8IYeOTg-1EUevIcERtTo2rlQJibOXrq_QobyjV6L6XgZvpbGTs1EfgCLhPPR4xfulGZg97KRE_SyEn/s1600/SuzieWitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="513" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoTM8yrA-aSGgzfhnB7Z77FedL0F5cT8jeCklI5QX5quzJGCgAKnDzPwTdzHUwB8IYeOTg-1EUevIcERtTo2rlQJibOXrq_QobyjV6L6XgZvpbGTs1EfgCLhPPR4xfulGZg97KRE_SyEn/s320/SuzieWitch.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="ILfuVd"><span class="e24Kjd">"Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven"</span></span></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And gods know that I have had one hell of a lot of good intentions over the last four years. I have set them, written about them, talked about them, and half-assedly gone through the motions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In February of 2016, I wrote about how I had gained weight after knee surgery (2015) and then some more because of various dietary indiscretions/training delinquency. That was three years into my weight loss journey, I was 187 pounds. I was self-blaming for letting myself go while simultaneously trying to be all zen by letting go of blame and moving forward from a place of self-love. Well, that was my intention anyway. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fast forward to January of 2017 or 2018, it doesn't really matter, it's a whole lot of the same thing. Apparently, I was incredibly annoyed at being fat, and I wrote several repetitious blog posts about it. I even mentioned my weight a couple times - in the upper 200s at that point. That's a bit of progress - admitting that I had a problem, I mean. It was a step...step one in some cases. But, alas, instead of moving through the various other steps (of which there are generally twelve)...I just kept paving the road with idle hands. Incidentally,</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> paving a road is a seven-step process according to an asphalt pavement installation website I happened upon. That's a difference of five whole steps - no wonder so many of us are choosing the easier route. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVQYl0Dfgoh_NimoeepFNTJox_Whb-CHSsBDbn6QgnD8xS6vJAVy7e1DmzIJUqpvBbbxrReVOAZWPUoVWptdJ0ZfEiyVmXBDSnD1Qry-BRM33O06n7m3gGEwb1ygVeghKN0NepRtoGi0F/s1600/2018list2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="682" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVQYl0Dfgoh_NimoeepFNTJox_Whb-CHSsBDbn6QgnD8xS6vJAVy7e1DmzIJUqpvBbbxrReVOAZWPUoVWptdJ0ZfEiyVmXBDSnD1Qry-BRM33O06n7m3gGEwb1ygVeghKN0NepRtoGi0F/s200/2018list2.jpg" width="149" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then something happened in 2019...well, late summer 2018 really. I<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> was tired of being ashamed, embarrassed, angry, and bitter, of avoiding things, of isolating myself, I was exhausted from all the procrastination, and the fear. I was scared of who I'd become, and of what people thought of me. I was afraid that I couldn't change my situation, and I was uncertain of my future while simultaneously dwelling in my past. I was trapped in a hell of my own making, and I was doing absolutely nothing to rectify the situation...until I was.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In October 2018, I started walking. I paid attention to my apps and my pedometer, and I got more active. That month, I ate healthy foods in appropriate portions, and I journaled it all. Baby steps in the right direction. 308 pounds of baby at the beginning, mind you, but baby steps nonetheless. It was the first time in a long time that I took a good hard look at all the roadwork I had done...and realised that the street I had been working on was two ways. After pulling that U-ey, in February of 2019, I joined a gym, hired myself a personal trainer, and got ready to work my arse off. I will call 2019 the year of "girding my loins," because it wasn't until January of 2020 that I was fully prepared to go into battle. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">C. S. Lewis once wrote, "you can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." I guess this is just the next chapter in my epic saga of going from biblical proportions to the Devil wearing Prada. </span></span></span></div>
Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com1Victoria, BC, Canada48.4284207 -123.3656444000000148.3441262 -123.5270059 48.512715199999995 -123.20428290000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-62050302824417705432018-01-02T15:12:00.000-08:002018-01-05T15:30:46.934-08:00Yay! Homework.<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am a nerd. If you know me, then you know this to be true. </div>
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I like school and learning, I like raising my hand and participating. I will always aspire to be an A+ student, and I am not thrilled when I get anything less. So when the #allgooddays ladies were given some homework, I was all about it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ts1sJJ41OVSzwxcJuX5Z5XE4z1bQGeVbMlPaHIMhfK6lki6giYaqG8JDBsvzOb2zJjaUCS4asBUst8MvMcaTOVRIQ_eQBTfhG_szuTvtPlVHVdZ_bp4KqlTNzxJ5ae3y-NtnC2hd1ArM/s1600/Screenshot_20180103-004744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1216" data-original-width="1045" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ts1sJJ41OVSzwxcJuX5Z5XE4z1bQGeVbMlPaHIMhfK6lki6giYaqG8JDBsvzOb2zJjaUCS4asBUst8MvMcaTOVRIQ_eQBTfhG_szuTvtPlVHVdZ_bp4KqlTNzxJ5ae3y-NtnC2hd1ArM/s320/Screenshot_20180103-004744.jpg" width="273" /></a>We all have different reasons for signing up, we all have different backgrounds, situations, abilities, mentalities, and goals. As I scroll through the introductions everyone has written, I am inspired, motivated, and come to the realisation that I am not alone. I have spent the last 8 months trying to jump back on the wagon (oohhh...I hope it's the bandwagon! SEE: another blog post about how fun that would be!), I have not been comfortable in my skin, my head, or the world really. I've been closing myself off and losing myself in the process. I should have listened to my mother, she told me to get out and surround myself with people. Easier said than done. Anyway, homework...and community, that is what I am supposed to be talking about. <a href="http://theshorterapproach.com/" target="_blank">Michele</a> gave us an assignment as part of our commitment ceremony(?), and though I don't know any of these other women, they are my tribe. United in our quest to live our best lives. This community is all about action...we will quit, start, visit, accept, honour, make, see, learn, give, eat, have, be, act, grow, invent...and if I may add my own verb IMPROVE our lives in the process.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghn4QQ2cN9pbGnZerjj6GfiP_XYutMB5GY2SqXDXDOwF2m_whGESI0XWi1bSWlcOCNjEUyEPYfKbphBtPz2JR0z5lBgKTu5Ihbnor8ztyvYsnOwEOvqvcSJ6B0-mEtGI3hQgZB25esOYAK/s1600/20171224_141706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="120" data-original-width="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghn4QQ2cN9pbGnZerjj6GfiP_XYutMB5GY2SqXDXDOwF2m_whGESI0XWi1bSWlcOCNjEUyEPYfKbphBtPz2JR0z5lBgKTu5Ihbnor8ztyvYsnOwEOvqvcSJ6B0-mEtGI3hQgZB25esOYAK/s1600/20171224_141706.jpg" /></a></div>
<b>Day 2 of January badassery. </b>Day 2 of my commitment to the #allgooddays challenge, and day 11 (feels like one million) of this cold. I have no energy, I am coughing up a storm, and I have about 11 million 30 day challenge exercises to complete because of my level of enthusiasm yesterday. Honestly, I feel like a push-up may make my head explode. Can I delay for one more day without it sounding like an excuse? I WILL NOT QUIT. But, I may actually need to rest a bit...and keep eating a clean diet with lots of fluids.<br />
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Now, does anyone know the calorie count for cough syrup?<br />
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No seriously...are we talking like 35 per tablespoon or what?<b></b></div>
Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com0Victoria, BC, Canada48.4284207 -123.3656444000000148.3441262 -123.5270059 48.512715199999995 -123.20428290000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-46429571508061472492018-01-01T21:59:00.000-08:002018-01-04T12:57:30.879-08:00I'm feeling a little horse...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chomping at the bit and ready to go!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In addition the #allgooddays challenge, I set a bunch of goals on my food journaling app, and decided to start a 30 cardio challenge, a 30 day abs challenge, a 30 day arm challenge, a 30 day butt challenge, a 30 day pushup challenge, and a 30 day squat challenge (all of which were miraculously already on my smart phone from resolutions ago). Yes, that may have been overkill...but I am nothing if not enthusiastic. Planning is the fun part...and lists are great too, along with these apps, and lest we forget count down clocks! Ooohhhh...the excitement of it all! I may have over done the screen time. I seemed to be viewing the world through blue coloured glasses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Time to disconnect from all devices.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifM969LWrZlybdK-BQRt0TaGHt9HVdiNUygr43rjQayX5ct0bAG-zeGvMFoR8rtle9UeLE6UeTJoxWoZsJ-AwnkiRantoQVx6OqAsinOM_idPPBq3ZL9BSjoRKvuMjZ1ijY16lEZT3kckG/s1600/20180101_224509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifM969LWrZlybdK-BQRt0TaGHt9HVdiNUygr43rjQayX5ct0bAG-zeGvMFoR8rtle9UeLE6UeTJoxWoZsJ-AwnkiRantoQVx6OqAsinOM_idPPBq3ZL9BSjoRKvuMjZ1ijY16lEZT3kckG/s320/20180101_224509.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXWy2UULSCzS2s6XCfj0Z5yKScU4Zp-02-DzcFU_Iu-jpD59AeNQIIB7dR7W18XzD-TExxd6f91S2bzxpOvegCejUOX96gbrMagAaCVA3sx72mn3nAde7b-UVlzwTGlRsprh8E7rhzgR0/s1600/20180101_224509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>First night, Full moon:</b> Unplugged, I did what any normal person would do on this night and began to shuffle a fairly large deck of cards. Why? Because I didn't have an extra daruma on hand to wish upon and colour in an eye. And, because you have to forecast your spirit animal guides for each month of the new year, you know? Haha...maybe you don't. For me, it's a way to focus. It gives me an idea of what to work on over the next year as I </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">return to my healthy happy active place.</span> And also, PONIES! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.thewildunknown.com/collections/all/animal-spirit?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2KXA6cu92AIVyY5-Ch0aAw8ZEAAYASAAEgJEtfD_BwE" target="_blank"><i>All oracle cards are from THE WILD UNKNOWN ANIMAL SPIRIT deck.</i></a></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Horse </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">was the overall theme of 2018 and what an inspiring card it was! Horse represents momentum, freedom, expansive energy and force - I like the way this is going! A horse to ride through the rest of the year towards my goal. Also, I grew up riding horses...so hopefully, it's like muscle memory. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Building physical stamina (exercise) and mental focus (meditation) are the secret weapons behind the horse's legacy."</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> - All quotations from Kim Krans' THE WILD UNKNOWN ANIMAL SPIRIT GUIDEBOOK</span></span></blockquote>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilE5yQgzwV18bpDfffFEAYbfmd-t72FbU8vpB5WVuuJSZMtRzjCMTW_DVINxY82wKWbnmE1LUlZdRIn_il5-AnEOyhKhtFaNdcaZ_ML20X3THQU5lzSeqwiAhKHYJ2WkxU_503h0d5LxM8/s1600/20180101_224722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilE5yQgzwV18bpDfffFEAYbfmd-t72FbU8vpB5WVuuJSZMtRzjCMTW_DVINxY82wKWbnmE1LUlZdRIn_il5-AnEOyhKhtFaNdcaZ_ML20X3THQU5lzSeqwiAhKHYJ2WkxU_503h0d5LxM8/s200/20180101_224722.jpg" width="150" /></a>Oh, so everyone and their horse is telling me to get back to exercising. I guess I had better pay attention. But it's true, when's the last time that you saw a fat
horse? They are few and far between. Before I even started this
#ALLGOODDAYS challenge, I signed up for a <a href="https://hemma.ca/events/" target="_blank">SHE RECOVERS: Sacred Pause Saturday workshop facilitated by my yogini guru, Taryn Strong.</a> I used to go to Taryn's yoga for recovery every Tuesday night. It was my hour to disconnect and just be in my body. I remember loving it...and being surprised at what my body would do. I also remember joining up about a month into a pretty insane training regimen and about 15 pounds lost. So this time it's going to be different. It may just be my reintroduction to moving my body, but more importantly I am ready for the spiritual side of yoga. The side that has been sorely lacking in my life as of late. Since stopping regular exercise, I feel like I have gotten waaay more bitter and judgemental, and I don't want to be that way. I want to be more present and mindful...and you know...nice. When I don't practice self-love and self-care, I seem to stop projecting love and care towards others. Oh gods, all the clichés are true! Whatever, this is me trotting towards better place for my mind, body, and spirit.<br />
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As for January, I pulled the <b>bear</b>. The beginning of the year, a perfect time for waking from spiritual hibernation, and for starting anew. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">"At first the movement and effort is difficult, but the bear knows it's time to awaken and move toward the dawning light. The bear card represents an individual on the cusp of new directions and personal transformation." </span></blockquote>
I have already said that these cards are a way for me to focus, I see bear as a metaphor for my seeing the light. My recovery from unhealthy habits, mindsets, and self sabotage. Time to walk a different path, time to find my purpose again. I am a stereotype...here we go again.</div>
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Namaste on track this time.</div>
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<b>SIDE NOTE:</b> When I turned out all the lights and tucked myself into bed, there was this noticeable red glow around me. Oh my gods, I was seeing my aura! No, wait! I opened my eyes, looked up, and I had forgotten to turn off one single light...my red resin Buddha head. Buddha the enlightened one was shining down upon me. Coincidence? I think not. </div>
Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com0Victoria, BC, Canada48.4284207 -123.3656444000000148.3441262 -123.5270059 48.512715199999995 -123.20428290000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-4234390775767091942018-01-01T19:33:00.000-08:002018-01-03T21:15:26.123-08:00#ALLGOODDAYS<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If I weren't dying of whatever plague this is going around Victoria (and more specifically in that little dark cloud over my head that has been following me around for the better part of 9 days), I would most likely have posted more today than in all of 2016...but that didn't happen because I was in bed or resting or coughing so hard I thought my head would explode. So I'm behind, but I can catch up.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtgOlA7TqWIq29M33k3X0SKaS-SQqixuxWUtKnNkxSCfkrcz0jgxj1mRGGqzQJ7WsYLXwF365ljC5OwTkBfwjpjyH-UJWtSIa_HmINlGq1CwL2h3QcciaEj9MA5SbvaddMmGDBJ-TtXJx/s1600/sadsuziewhoop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtgOlA7TqWIq29M33k3X0SKaS-SQqixuxWUtKnNkxSCfkrcz0jgxj1mRGGqzQJ7WsYLXwF365ljC5OwTkBfwjpjyH-UJWtSIa_HmINlGq1CwL2h3QcciaEj9MA5SbvaddMmGDBJ-TtXJx/s320/sadsuziewhoop.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Also, I joined a #allgooddays challenge. I was impulsive and thought I should throw 50 dollars at accountability, and my former employee's mother (I wonder if she remembers me), because, like the foundation of all great ideas, I saw something about it on Facebook. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Those of you who don't know my history, here it is in a nutshell:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have struggled with my weight for the better part of 20 years. And have lost and gained what seems like a thousand pounds. And most recently I was a superstar health challenge participant, and then I wasn't....and I lost my ninja...and now I am fat and am getting stuck in sports bras again. This challenge is the reclamation of my badassery, if you will.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2013 - 294 pounds, blah blah blah health challenge, ninja-in-training, popped ACL</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2014 - 139 pounds, blah blah blah health challenge mentor, n-in-t, reconstructed ACL </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2015 - 165 pounds, blah blah blah h.c. mentor part 2, ninja-in-training, with & without ninja</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2016 - 200 pounds, blah blah blah ninja-on-and-off, belt test injury, no more ninja</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2017 - 250 pounds, blah blah blah work, home, food, wine, repeat, sleep, sleep, sleep...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2018 - 286 pounds, blah blah blah I gotta do something about this. Again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And today, I updated all the apps, tweaked the fitbits, unboxed the runners, squeezed into the sausage casing I call pants, threw on a Star Wars T-shirt, and donned a hoodie, and did a grocery shop for all the foods that when put into my fridge will really just be ingredients. Even if I lack energy because of the pox placed on my house...I can't wait to kick this challenge's ass...and my own in the process.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And go!</span> </div>
Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com0Victoria, BC, Canada48.4284207 -123.3656444000000148.3441262 -123.5270059 48.512715199999995 -123.20428290000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-57475886182792301762018-01-01T10:00:00.000-08:002018-01-02T21:04:16.000-08:00Blogaffair 2018<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8eqFTIKYRH5DkIKTZXAugBGu7jRG5nbIzLIb4lULPjna3q_hXUoJU52pCYiiqvddZfp0NC5kNRDLyoYlLJP2VDpSJoMlewb1GDMDy-2rpUbqw9xF5WWJiVI5vHR5ie1VHw9EwYtUUgHQ/s1600/jan1st2018bigassmoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8eqFTIKYRH5DkIKTZXAugBGu7jRG5nbIzLIb4lULPjna3q_hXUoJU52pCYiiqvddZfp0NC5kNRDLyoYlLJP2VDpSJoMlewb1GDMDy-2rpUbqw9xF5WWJiVI5vHR5ie1VHw9EwYtUUgHQ/s320/jan1st2018bigassmoon.jpg" width="256" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ah! Nice to see you, Bloggy Bloggertons. We have to stop meeting like this...under that big magical moon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The beginning is always so engaging and fulfilling. I get butterflies around you, thinking of what is to come. I promise to be true and you give me so much freedom...but sometimes I take liberties. Forget to check in. But when I wake up to you the next morning...with all those things swirling in my head that I want to say to you, well, you know me, I can't resist a little morning write. If I don't get to it early, sometimes I don't get to it at all. And I've been a bit fickle in the last couple of years...and I feel like I want to get to know you again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm sorry our rendez-vous have been few and far between as of late...but let's rekindle that old flame, shall we?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mama Spitfyre needs a bit of mojo. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy New Year</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">x</span></div>
Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com0Victoria, BC48.429219452433479 -123.3720760443969848.427902452433479 -123.37459754439698 48.430536452433479 -123.36955454439698tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-57229861013480782472017-07-28T11:03:00.000-07:002017-07-31T11:03:47.493-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I started writing this blog post, it was 9.05 in the morning and I had just gotten out of bed without making it, and put on our robot vacuum, Ashitaka. But first I wasted a bunch of time snuggled under the covers checking my phone and playing with Toothless, the cat. I have to decide what to do today. It's Friday. And, I haven't been out of the house in 5 days.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2DpG2S6uHC8yVJP3bllPOxD2iIeWfWXyF2dKMXpIUsdjlcun9gWNGDx8MZSoFibbOuY8oLtuRr1Wu50its7BbXeJ-1vWw3fIPgobcK0cCyX860qoA9tsVQUF5a3ikiRE68_iT5g8I8bm/s1600/IMG_2837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2DpG2S6uHC8yVJP3bllPOxD2iIeWfWXyF2dKMXpIUsdjlcun9gWNGDx8MZSoFibbOuY8oLtuRr1Wu50its7BbXeJ-1vWw3fIPgobcK0cCyX860qoA9tsVQUF5a3ikiRE68_iT5g8I8bm/s1600/IMG_2837.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My first big decision today is what to do about what I am doing. In 37 days it'll be Stéphane and my anniversary, in 57 days two of my good friends are getting married in Vancouver, in 95 days it's Halloween, in 134 days it's Stephane's office party, and in 150 days it'll be Christmas. One small step in the right direction could make all the difference when it comes to tackling all those events. Staying the same...won't lead anywhere. That's what's been going on for the last 3 months. Absolutely nothing. (With the exception of a fabulous trip to Hawaii...so I'm not really complaining, but I am a little...kinda.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Will today be different? That is the question. I have decided to not waste the day plopped in front of a TV screen waiting for my partner in crime to come home from work. Today I will do something that makes me happy. I will do something that will contribute to my future happiness and well-being. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I guess before I do anything I should write some of my goals down. Classic Suzie, plan everything. To say that I want to lose weight is an understatement...I want to be where I was in 2013 right about now...2014 would be even better, and where I was in 2015 was in a significantly better place than where I was in 2016...but 2016 wasn't bad at all...so WTF is up with 2017? Well, I have fallen off the wagon. There's only so much I can do to hide this weight gain before I just start hiding myself. Oh wait. I haven't been outside in days...guess I am in hiding.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, Goal #1 - do something, anything, healthy.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And Goal #2 - be grateful that you did that something/anything. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now the last thing I want to do at this moment is weigh myself, because that will cause me to break down knowing all the damage that I have done to this incredible body over the last few months/years. But, the pain I suffered yesterday from simply walking around the house doing a few simple tasks was somewhat of a wake-up call. If I don't do something about this weight fast, I'm going to live in chronic pain brought on by junk food and inactivity, and that sucks more than being a little bit hungry from time to time and getting sweaty every day at some point. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can do this...again.</span></span></div>
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Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-51258692530422129512017-01-30T13:11:00.000-08:002017-01-30T13:53:57.792-08:00Elephant relativism.<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaU7eODXbJYoWH5YxjVoJCbt4f8bs88LqgmvXrmP2uuMni0JVVxSPhBlvJgqysor7Esn2-I4zuBsa9Y9YWvn1HzDRT8ws5wVxc3er3ys2qzq2BKSvHjnCdAeimZPPtWhPFTcW_YudHG_Cz/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaU7eODXbJYoWH5YxjVoJCbt4f8bs88LqgmvXrmP2uuMni0JVVxSPhBlvJgqysor7Esn2-I4zuBsa9Y9YWvn1HzDRT8ws5wVxc3er3ys2qzq2BKSvHjnCdAeimZPPtWhPFTcW_YudHG_Cz/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>
I have always had very good memory. I remember random things that happened in high school a million years ago, and I'll also remember what everyone was wearing when it happened. Stored in the deepest recesses of my mind are completely obscure facts about ancient mythology from my years of studying Classics at Concordia University, modern cooking techniques learned by watching far too much Food Network, horticulture for balconies and window boxes via my mother, and strangely almost all of the lyrics to arbitrary songs from the 1990s. That's how my memory works...like an elephant, I remember things.</div>
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So why, oh why, did I forget what it was like to be fat?</div>
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Since the crunchy, poppy kneeness of June 2016, I have been eating and drinking myself into my former state of being. And I seem to have lost all recollection of how difficult it was to be overweight, and dare I admit this, obese.<br />
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The last time I was fairly regular with my workouts (other than going to taekwondo class) was in the autumn and winter of 2015. While visiting family in Montréal, I made arrangements to work out with friends, find a gym, find a yoga studio, and try and counteract the damage I was doing by eating out and drinking daily - and may I add, that I cheated a few times when it came to food on my trip, but I was pretty good about choosing healthy options. I was something like 170 pounds, and though I was annoyed that my weight had gone up...I remained confident and happy. <br />
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When I got back from Montréal, I started working a lot more regularly, and so I made sure to hit the gym before my shifts. At that point, I had joined the "5AM Club," and I managed to do at least an hour of cardio before getting gussied up to work the floor as a painter of faces. After Christmas break, I was off to Hawaii - I had gained a further 10 pounds, but it wasn't the end of the world, and there would be walking, exploring, hiking, swimming etc. Not to worry. Still content with life, I was in Hawaii, and there were all kinds of bodies out and about. Not at all concerned about my "beach body," I was just thrilled to hit the poke bars and body surf at Magic Sands daily. Good times.<br />
<div class="title-block">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h2>
<i>1 definition of relativism </i></h2>
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<ol class="definition-list">
<li><div class="definition-inner-item with-sense">
<i class="sense"></i><i><i class="sub sense alp"></i><span class="intro-colon"></span>a theory that knowledge is relative to the limited nature of the mind and the conditions of knowing </i></div>
</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>
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So what is elephant relativism?! The further away I am from a state of being, the less I remember what it was like to live that way. Which can be blissful or incredibly difficult. The problem (and elephant part) is, recently my memory has been jogged...the first time I have jogged in 2017, in fact.</div>
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Things I forgot about being obese:</div>
<ul>
<li>Always waking up in the wet spot (from night sweats, get your mind out of the gutter)</li>
<li>Shaving various parts of your body involves rigorous effort and training in contortion</li>
<li>Sometimes towels don't fit </li>
<li>Getting yourself into a bra is an intricate mix of origami and optimism (and you still get double boob, side boob, under boob)</li>
<li>Dress code is always back, with a generous helping of loose and leggings </li>
<li>Being overly effected by anxiety and depression </li>
<li>Low self esteem and a lack of confidence</li>
<li>The cycle of binge eating</li>
<li>Hopelessness</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCs8_RSQmMY07V2d7Y6TpujLtikAyaO6XFy6OyiKy9IYaiSfC0UkanSyesZNfQxnVXc5axKcP_nxMeL_9zJNsg9aapwBtZ-o0gR7Mk2_pO9DaPo54o0FPyiuKQK-z5BJS8GlSPfobhWQz/s1600/binge-cycle+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCs8_RSQmMY07V2d7Y6TpujLtikAyaO6XFy6OyiKy9IYaiSfC0UkanSyesZNfQxnVXc5axKcP_nxMeL_9zJNsg9aapwBtZ-o0gR7Mk2_pO9DaPo54o0FPyiuKQK-z5BJS8GlSPfobhWQz/s320/binge-cycle+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
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Wow, that turned pretty serious pretty fast. But, right now, it's how I feel. I am a hopeless, binge eating 250 pound woman who is again suffering from anxiety and depression which is leading to a lack of confidence and self esteem. I have 3 outfits, none of which I like. I would like to take off an article of clothing without being marked by it, and I would also like to sweat at appropriate times. Don't worry, I also remember other things... </div>
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Things I remember about being fit:</div>
<ul>
<li>Hitting the gym in the morning before I had a chance to think about it or change my mind, and then sometimes doubling up at night</li>
<li>Getting an endorphin rush part way into my workout and really enjoying the process </li>
<li>Constantly being sweaty (whether at the gym or on the dance floor) </li>
<li>Drinking insane amounts of water and being satisfied by smaller portions or healthy foods</li>
<li>There will always be boob origami (when they are smaller they still need to be folded into shape), it's a process</li>
<li>Being able to express myself through my outfits</li>
<li>Endless energy to do things </li>
<li>Feeling that there are no obstacles that cannot be overcome</li>
<li>Realisation of goals </li>
<li>Positivity</li>
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It's pretty obvious which state of being is my preferred truth. Though not necessarily mutually exclusive whilst experiencing the in-between, the latter is a much better option for which to strive. Going forward, I will mindfully go through the process of transforming myself so as not to lose track of where I came from and where I want to go. Ideally, be more like an elephant in mind, to be less like one in body.</div>
Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com4Victoria, BC, Canada48.4284207 -123.3656444000000148.3441262 -123.5270059 48.512715199999995 -123.20428290000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-10667627733095825192017-01-24T09:11:00.000-08:002017-01-24T09:11:08.457-08:00Forget about hiding the evidence...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can find it. Always.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqazctGLz7IKjF5NzF3V2yso8N6RgMHVTCeE2sR_LolqHVNHLzUxyMWaJuBQAC4kkk1nmep2GFa1y9n8ylYsIDc6tpH94i7-6vRUAXCVzc1waCwy44QLd-lL_6Qg0gzjW3K0l79Ax4tAF/s1600/hqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqazctGLz7IKjF5NzF3V2yso8N6RgMHVTCeE2sR_LolqHVNHLzUxyMWaJuBQAC4kkk1nmep2GFa1y9n8ylYsIDc6tpH94i7-6vRUAXCVzc1waCwy44QLd-lL_6Qg0gzjW3K0l79Ax4tAF/s1600/hqdefault.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In fact, last night, I ate and drank the evidence. In my attempt to rid my cupboards and fridge of all things unhealthy, I ended up consuming them. Luckily, there wasn't that much. A few chippies, a bit of <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">soda pop</span>, and some veggies that had an unmeasured spray of olive oil on them. Not the end of the world. Well, and that bottle of wine that was on the shelf.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What was that my Croatian conscience was saying about not wasting my calories on wine? Well, I assure you...they were not wasted. They were delicious. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And at one point he was looking in my fridge and commenting on how I only had ingredients in <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">in there</span> and no "real" food food. So there. I think they cancel each other out.</span></span></div>
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Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com0Victoria, BC, Canada48.4284207 -123.3656444000000143.0314602 -133.6927929 53.825381199999995 -113.03849590000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-88246208215354091792017-01-23T14:50:00.000-08:002017-01-23T14:50:48.628-08:00The sun will come out, tomorrow...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hey, remember when I had that epiphany on Epiphany? Well, I put off doing anything about my confessed weight gain...how about that?! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You know, the "I'll do something about that tomorrow," type of thing? Guys, it's been tomorrow 17 times since I wrote that post, and I still haven't gotten my fat ass to the gym, or revamped my eating habits. Well, that changes today. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Why am I so bloody scared?! I am having anxiety attacks about changing my lifestyle back to what it was 4 years ago, I am scared of giving up what I think is making me happy but is actually contributing to my weight gain and subsequently my depression.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">AND to top that off, my Croatian conscience has gone back to hurting my feelings...and not even in Croatian!</span></span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"You've put on quite a bit of weight. We need to turn that around.</span></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I don't mean to hurt your feelings but I'm not going to sugar coat things. It serves no one. Neither does enabling you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So have a good cry and get back to tracking your food, go to the gym, and don't waste your calories on wine." </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">*Crosses arms in front of chest and pouts* I hate it when he's right.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today I took a step towards my future. I decided to reset all my various fitness and weight loss goals on all of my many fitness and weight loss apps and websites. And you know that's a bit deal, because I had to try and go back through all the days that I did track all the shit that I did that was unhealthy and delete the evidence. Suzie means business.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRfYr1mknyCDLJPMDXk7IHthTkb7pDxjfAcgH4JABdWCNbfNH0RvATZopSZKz-eLALfQkAAebEN_C9kAVEQzIInRd52aKu4EJehPafch4vQutG7DFhSPn0dqFYFRl-g1MrA1v2LAMj5Im/s1600/16174515_10154078860466750_3298303189431900021_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRfYr1mknyCDLJPMDXk7IHthTkb7pDxjfAcgH4JABdWCNbfNH0RvATZopSZKz-eLALfQkAAebEN_C9kAVEQzIInRd52aKu4EJehPafch4vQutG7DFhSPn0dqFYFRl-g1MrA1v2LAMj5Im/s200/16174515_10154078860466750_3298303189431900021_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">SIDE NOTE: Damn you: Lose It, Bodybuilding.com, and Fitbit for making it impossible for me to reset all my information and make it look like I just recently decided to take control of my health. There's nothing more infuriating than being unable to wipe the slate clean, to make vanish the past that wasn't so perfect. But, I guess that's just like real life. It's hard to say that you are still committed to a healthy lifestyle when you have visibly gained a tonne of weight. I'm not going to go around and say that I have been really good with my eating, while also having kept on top of my exercising, because it's kind of obvious that that has not been the case. The jig is up.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today, I write down my intentions. Today I prep my meals for the week. Today I organise my schedule. AND, Tomorrow I go back to the gym.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow...</span></span></div>
Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com0Victoria, BC, Canada48.4284207 -123.3656444000000148.3441262 -123.5270059 48.512715199999995 -123.20428290000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-31772720538447044542017-01-06T10:09:00.000-08:002017-01-23T12:50:15.814-08:00e·piph·a·ny 2017<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">e·piph·a·ny</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>əˈpifənē/</b></i></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>noun</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>noun: Epiphany; noun: epiphany; plural noun: epiphanies </b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi (Matthew 2:1–12).</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>the festival commemorating the Epiphany on January 6. </b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>a manifestation of a divine or supernatural being. </b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>a moment of sudden revelation or insight. </b></i></blockquote>
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First of all, I am not religious. Not in the epiphany sense of religion anyway...so January 6th has always meant "take your Christmas tree down, the party is over." In actuality, a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away it was the day when the 3 wise men arrived to give Jesus his belated birthday gifts. In Shakespeare's era, Twelfth Night was a time of bawdy pursuits, merry-making, hard drinking, and lusty encounters - well, that one sounds much more fun, though presents are good too. For me, and this year, it is going to have to mean a sudden revelation or insight. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXpGkdBlLKp0nxCL3HfXwHfZRp-_I46wZhHq5_SPaBsoR0GlK5LZbt7ITN4iQe-kNmI74zOEIvE79SM8cnJiVxX2KiZe-hSHGz6b-lnuShRTAnR0UFhQI6xfyf6S80NpBXZBoK2nXsHvM/s1600/Suzie.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXpGkdBlLKp0nxCL3HfXwHfZRp-_I46wZhHq5_SPaBsoR0GlK5LZbt7ITN4iQe-kNmI74zOEIvE79SM8cnJiVxX2KiZe-hSHGz6b-lnuShRTAnR0UFhQI6xfyf6S80NpBXZBoK2nXsHvM/s1600/Suzie.jpg" /></a>I need to get back to my healthy lifestyle thing. That thing I started 4 years ago. Thanks to Facebook I get updates as to what I was doing on this day in the past. Last year I was hiking in Volcano National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii, 2 years ago it was 6 weeks after my knee surgery and I was able to get myself into a nice cross-legged position after having trained at the gym, 3 years ago I was a puffy-eyed ninja-in-training who went to the gym in the morning despite having put my beloved cat, Cobweb, to sleep in the wee hours of the that day. I was a trooper, a yogini, an explorer...and today, I'm sitting on the couch writing this and wishing that I were anywhere but where I am right now.</div>
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I am 100 pounds away from where I want to be...in the last 7 months I have pretty much given up on being healthy and happy. After injuring myself (again) in June, I stopped going to the gym regularly. I was scared to restart taekwondo because of what had happened yet again in class. My willpower dwindled, and I pretty much gave up on myself. Depression followed and I turned to food once more for comfort - I pretty much ate myself silly from September to January. I wish everything were as easy as getting fat!</div>
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Today, this is my revelation: I got fat again.</div>
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My insight on the situation: At the very least, I know how to undo it.</div>
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Time to wise up.</div>
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Now someone give me some prezzies and we can call it a day.</div>
Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com0Victoria, BC, Canada48.4284207 -123.3656444000000148.3441262 -123.5270059 48.512715199999995 -123.20428290000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-91123645872131693092016-02-01T09:32:00.000-08:002016-02-01T09:32:56.881-08:00Here we go again...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mine is a tale of perspiration, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">determination</span>, and inspiration...or at least it used to be...no wait, IT WILL BE AGAIN! And lemme tell you why...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It made perfect sense each year (2014 and 2015) that a couple of the Times Colonist running groups had invited me to speak to before their group run/walks. After all, I was the contestant in the 2013 TC Health Challenge group who lost 52 pounds in 3 months, and then used the next 5 to lose another 50+ pounds...eventually losing 156 pounds. At that point, I weighed less than than wha<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">t </span>I had lost. Inspiring, right?!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once upon a time there was a lady who let herself get to 294 pounds. She was always a good time girl, who could be swayed into going to the bar, sharing pints with friends, eating pub grub...and even going to Le Banquise (she was a Montr<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">éa<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ler after all<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">) </span></span></span>at 4 in the morning after the bar for some poutine, a Mae West, a<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nd an </span>'ot dog all dressed. But that was then...this is now...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Or is it?! I think I just described my last trip to Montréal. And, my recent trip to Hawaii.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And possibly just a couple days ago.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpNwLNnGlrpopnjw3wHfV2VOj5grYdrWxWR1PXJUBn181DfPx8e4lUOBg8G9ClJnZ1LnodE3odRGNnHV2vOyLQ09JnmU4h_GEXeUIxRoed44oUBq8Jk3YgbbXXLkjdHaIaUBBOvbG04lG/s1600/toinfinityhawaii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpNwLNnGlrpopnjw3wHfV2VOj5grYdrWxWR1PXJUBn181DfPx8e4lUOBg8G9ClJnZ1LnodE3odRGNnHV2vOyLQ09JnmU4h_GEXeUIxRoed44oUBq8Jk3YgbbXXLkjdHaIaUBBOvbG04lG/s320/toinfinityhawaii.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Okay, so a lot of things have changed...but some have not. I started writing about my plight to lose weight, get fit, and healthy in this blog 3 years ago, and it really helped me get through the tough stuff and see the humour in what I was doing. Luckily, for dramatic effect, I had a lot to lose.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Y</span>ou see, that makes for a good story. But what about now?! Do I still have it in me to make fun of myself trying to get fit and healthy after some <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">indiscrepancies</span> in the food department, exercise regime, and the healthy living area in general?! You betcha.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After all, it's exciting to learn about the 294 pound lady who, with the help of a ninja (Jonathan Carpenter)<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">,</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">whittled</span> herself down to a svelte 139 pounds from January 2013 to July of 2014<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> t</span>hrough a combination of eating right and exercise...because that's pretty amazing...but, I believe that it'll be even more inspiring to find out that lady is a real person. And, that three years after she started her journey, it <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">continues</span>. It has its ups and downs and ups (as the case is now)...and dammit, she can't even blame the knee surgery she had in November, because that was over 14 months ago now! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I remember stepping on the scale in front of hunky JCarps, the ninja, when I was 294 pounds and not really caring what it said...not even being embarrassed...because I was never going back there. Now, when I step on the scale, I'm watching re-runs in reverse and it scares the shite out of me. Am I slipping back into old patterns?! Yes. Am I becoming less active? Yes. Am I skipping meals and then binge eating later? Yes. Am I eating my emotions? Yes. What is <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">happening</span> to me?! </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It took me over a year <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to</span> "cheat" on my healthy eating plan...on the Super Bowl 2014 weekend, I <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">succumbed<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> to</span></span></span> junk food again for the first time...and, you know what!?! I got away with it. Lately, it's been a whole lot of junk food eating and not a whole lot of getting away with it. I just hope the ninja doesn't try and weigh me in at our next session...because I will care and be <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">embarrassed</span> at what I've done. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Luckily, half my wardrobe is stretchy and I seem to gain weight in all the curvy lady bits...but it's becoming a little more obvious now that its not just 15 pounds that I've gained since my knee surgery, it's more like 30. And at this point, I cant blame being laid up and limpy...I have to blame myself...AND I can't even do that because my yoga teacher (Taryn Strong) says that you have to let go of blame. </span></span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<b><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Letting go doesn't mean we don't care. Letting go doesn't mean we shut down. Letting go means we stop trying to force outcomes and make people behave. It means we give up resistance to the way things are, for the moment. It means we stop trying to do the impossible - controlling that which we cannot - and instead, focus on what is possible - which usually means taking care of ourselves. And we do this in gentleness, kindness, and love, as much as possible. - Melody Beattie</span></span></i></b></div>
</blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She's right<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">...</span>Mel<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ody Beattie a<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nd Taryn Strong</span></span>. Rather than getting all upset with myself and eating an entire bag of Doritos, which will only make the entire situation worse...I am going to let it go, and be grateful that I know how to do this, that I still have a ninja to help me, and that Illoana called to book me for a talk before her Henderson 10K Run Clinic...because that was just the kick in <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">my</span> significantly more voluptuous arse that I needed to get back at it!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And I should probably sign up and run that TC 10K.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here we go again.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Are you with me?! </span></span></div>
Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-8856544670482325262015-06-15T14:28:00.001-07:002015-06-15T15:00:30.967-07:00“We ought to get out more...”<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Zww4nV2eP_C1VkP0HSc5Njjc7ze5VTnRFixSpKMRHoXyMp_kfgdF4_3aakq0mQc9A17ru3rMO8Avqk5UoMyw6xliE868EgmvXseRAGcFTIWHeAv-oJ3eYqT85qNNu4HYclAE8W-Nydha/s1600/magazinearticleJune132015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Zww4nV2eP_C1VkP0HSc5Njjc7ze5VTnRFixSpKMRHoXyMp_kfgdF4_3aakq0mQc9A17ru3rMO8Avqk5UoMyw6xliE868EgmvXseRAGcFTIWHeAv-oJ3eYqT85qNNu4HYclAE8W-Nydha/s320/magazinearticleJune132015.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A few weeks ago, I was asked to write an article for the Times Colonist's Healthy Living Magazine...exciting...and the only parameter was that the magazine was centred on outdoor living. With all the sunshine we'd been having, and the fact that I'm stuck in a gym for workouts around 8 times a week, I thought I'd explore the subject of being active in nature. You don't have to be a ninja-in-training to do it, you don't need specialised shoes or clothing, and you don't even need any money, all you need is a sense of adventure and a fabulous cityscape to get the job done. Here are my thoughts on getting out more.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcMnjNPpXURtYcdSErd-_mYVhQhvzrNrOLd833ROgXY5b3Nphui_OtIS-I2adhFl9YJgUA33v9BXbdvQAGVQQ13PBnpiJbE6YSlBt5Nzl3_B5WO40b7krLkylkKFNRe7pIYqJqj7XHsDX/s1600/selkirk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcMnjNPpXURtYcdSErd-_mYVhQhvzrNrOLd833ROgXY5b3Nphui_OtIS-I2adhFl9YJgUA33v9BXbdvQAGVQQ13PBnpiJbE6YSlBt5Nzl3_B5WO40b7krLkylkKFNRe7pIYqJqj7XHsDX/s200/selkirk.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Exercise
in the morning before your brain figures out what your body is doing
- that has pretty much been my mantra for the last couple of years.
As much as I love Crystal Pool & Fitness Centring, there's
something to be said for playing outdoors. It keeps things
interesting, it's great for mind and body, it's free, it's fun, and
it's nearly impossible to find an excuse as to why you</span></span> can't fit a
little bit of nature into your day. So, when's the last time you
tried swinging on the monkey bars in Central Park or wandered through
the rose garden at Beacon Hill? When did you last take the scenic
route in something other than a car? </span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1U0WdioFZ4R-tHR-sJ-W3fjCTVro4m9vkqMdxKnV63OIrWK3nOSD0ovN5NmFGaXFkeBBWPzDxfrBxK-Ui4JwBF6b1-HnUciFjfu3EeVSs88I5QZbDtcV-Y7PQSQcugcq1FYjlekOR-Bt/s1600/gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1U0WdioFZ4R-tHR-sJ-W3fjCTVro4m9vkqMdxKnV63OIrWK3nOSD0ovN5NmFGaXFkeBBWPzDxfrBxK-Ui4JwBF6b1-HnUciFjfu3EeVSs88I5QZbDtcV-Y7PQSQcugcq1FYjlekOR-Bt/s200/gate.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Walking
or running around town gives you an entirely new perspective on where
you live. Go on, really listen to the music being pumped through the
Gates of Harmonious Interest, search out the sculpted bronze Hands of
Time - first a filigree fan, then the last spike, binoculars - can
you find all 12? Take advantage of pedestrian-only pathways, sneak
by Fisherman's Wharf on your way to taste the sea salty air as it
whips around you on the breakwater, wave at cruise ship tourists then
visit Emily Carr and other residents of Ross Bay Cemetery. Who says
exercise has to be a chore - hours of gym time logged under
fluorescent lights? I say, get out, and increase feelings of
well-being, activate your brain, stimulate your senses, raise your
serotonin levels, fill you lungs with oxygen, and get some vitamin D.
</span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKPvmib5Ljw0dRH35oDen-_zeFq9CxopXug4TdGuQxvdy9M2GzmsMyx_W2jc1e8QtPtHlMsDE5YIpmNssc22TjZnJ5dmQ4TSSFB8ty-t5Kjtv9LWrDwKYJUisshV-LartsT18Gq3f34Qm/s1600/fishart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKPvmib5Ljw0dRH35oDen-_zeFq9CxopXug4TdGuQxvdy9M2GzmsMyx_W2jc1e8QtPtHlMsDE5YIpmNssc22TjZnJ5dmQ4TSSFB8ty-t5Kjtv9LWrDwKYJUisshV-LartsT18Gq3f34Qm/s200/fishart.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Hop
on a bike and take a spin around the Inner Harbour, Dallas Road,
really see where you live, follow the coastline, climb up that hill
by the old observatory, catch your breath and then lose it again at
the viewpoint as you look out over the Strait of Juan de Fuca towards
the Olympic Mountains. Pedal your way through Victoria Golf Course,
keep going until Oak Bay Marina, buy some bait, feed a seal, don't
stop until you've immersed your feet in the frigid waters off of
white, sandy Willows Beach, then take a different route back,
explore. Healthy living is loving what you do in life, don't you
dare get bored.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDuDay9N9QATtRWrXBV4MV_4MZ6dq1gM4y0ihnojQSIkiA26aNSw_tvxe6ZJgNNZHfs9tfDnej-G-G3lY5V0DiNVoFh5qJLF6XVsKV1d1lwdUvXHPpxaDGJ-jbx27ecLR0_qlexXOjtYn/s1600/breakwater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDuDay9N9QATtRWrXBV4MV_4MZ6dq1gM4y0ihnojQSIkiA26aNSw_tvxe6ZJgNNZHfs9tfDnej-G-G3lY5V0DiNVoFh5qJLF6XVsKV1d1lwdUvXHPpxaDGJ-jbx27ecLR0_qlexXOjtYn/s320/breakwater.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">All
this spring weather and unbelievable sunrises have got me thinking
that I should venture outside with my yoga mat to salute the sun as
it illuminates this amazing city. It may be that I need to lay off
Googling fitspiration pictures of fancy asanas in fabulous places or
it may be that I need a bit more fitness freedom. Time to think
outside the gym, get active, and smell the roses simultaneously.
There are no rules, you don't have to get up super early or even come
home when the street lights turn on, just take your time, enjoy, and
play in gratitude. There's no place like OM.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The article came out this past Saturday in the Times Colonist's Healthy Living Magazine's supplement. </span></div>
Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-72635441600738664252015-02-05T11:29:00.002-08:002015-02-05T11:29:26.828-08:00"Find your awesome."<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I always wanted to be an actress growing up...so, when <a href="https://twitter.com/paulbvic" target="_blank">Shaw TV storyteller Paul Beilstein </a>got my name from <a href="http://www.esquimalt.ca/parksRecreation/" target="_blank">Esquimalt Recreation Centre</a> and was interested on taping a story on me, I was obviously very excited...and at the same time, absolutely terrified. Hello, stage fright! Also, I had to let him know that taping a segment would have to be ASAP as I was scheduled for surgery on my popped ACL in four days. That was a little over 10 weeks ago. And the segment just came out this week on Channel 4.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiEgRAdxQGtxgG2B1rr7KCMyAtpVi9_0c4ibPBBXo7eM-mY_9mSWpQoEDLIim-YhFhEPPzCIOz8bLGXYDUl4yoV00_KB6TQ2rz2UG6KI-SiU7h3tEA33YGNc-RndtcgC0c-JvIvCMljqG/s1600/recoverycouch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiEgRAdxQGtxgG2B1rr7KCMyAtpVi9_0c4ibPBBXo7eM-mY_9mSWpQoEDLIim-YhFhEPPzCIOz8bLGXYDUl4yoV00_KB6TQ2rz2UG6KI-SiU7h3tEA33YGNc-RndtcgC0c-JvIvCMljqG/s1600/recoverycouch.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I called him up expecting him to pass on the opportunity, because who wants to do a story on the girl who lost a lot of weight and took her life back through healthy living, but was in traction because of a sports injury? Okay, maybe not traction...but I didn't know that in November. The <a href="http://mijosport.com/" target="_blank">Ninja</a>, internet, and my surgeon had warned of a long recovery and weight gain, and I was understandably apprehensive. But, I had a few things on my side. 1. I was fit. 2. I knew how to eat (even if I didn't follow my own rules ALL of the time). 3. My doctor was rumoured to be one of the best in Victoria. And, 4. I was steadfast in the belief that I wouldn't have sustained the injury if the universe had ordained it to be something I couldn't get through and/or learn from. Well, I learned this: a sports injury is a setback, but not something you can't get through. And for the record, do the exercises that are posted on the orthopaedic surgeon's website, they aren't there just for filler AND stay positive!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, he didn't look me over, he was surprisingly optimistic that we could tape something in the new year while I was in recovery from my surgery. Not only did this motivate me, but gave me something to look forward to in my rehabilitation. I had obviously been in the spotlight somewhat by being in the <a href="http://www.timescolonist.com/life/health/health-challenge-the-wrap-up-1.112951" target="_blank">TC Health Challenge in 2013</a>, and then featured again in the paper as the previous "biggest loser" and workout buddy to <a href="http://www.timescolonist.com/health-challenge/2014-health-challengers-still-committed-to-fitness-1.1731091" target="_blank">Troy Wilson, the Crystal Pool's 2014 challenger</a>, but this definitely kept me motivated after surgery. Propped up on the couch waiting for the pain to subside, is not exactly my idea of a good time. I had pain killers, of course, but I didn't want to take them for too long. I longed to get back into the gym before my muscle tone disappeared. The impending TV appearance was helpful in keeping my eating in check, though I hadn't realised that inactivity would largely affect my appetite. My body didn't crave what it craved before my forced rest period - well done body! I ended up losing 9 pounds after surgery, and went from 156lbs to 147lbs in 2 weeks.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I wanted to get back down to my lowest weight of 138 before the taping of Paul's healthy living piece, but let's be realistic here, I wasn't half the athlete as I was before the surgery. Heck, I didn't even have full extension in my leg...but eventually, I could walk, I could ride a stationary bike, and I could work my upper body. So two weeks after surgery, I went to my first <a href="http://www.tarynstrong.com/" target="_blank">yoga class</a>. It was ridiculous, I couldn't do most of it...but I went, and it gave my mind some sort of peace just knowing I was doing some sort of exercise. Shortly after that, I started going to the <a href="http://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/departments/parks-rec-culture/facilities/crystal-pool.html" target="_blank">Crystal</a>, and managed a bunch of workouts that took my disability into consideration. I even worked out with the ninja once or twice before Christmas. I gave it my all, and then accidentally gave in to cheddar, holiday baking, champagne, and lobster (because the Spitfyre's celebrate with crustateans not turkey). I, like everyone else, indulged over Yule...so I lost, but then gained. Not the end of the world. Maybe I'll just blame muscle gain? Ha!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHlYcJfnVvkPLptTWqoC-bS9tOzAQyaejDIXpRQD_qK7GJVm47SZEgKkkRqWcTFrZkKTq0bBiraiwdtxzfKauD5EDVWSpg1ikPI-wAAH7c1KOilYWPBlH7TxwL8RMsOuZmjx6Oz3Lv4mu/s1600/10931104_10152539922086750_3954434071600892027_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHlYcJfnVvkPLptTWqoC-bS9tOzAQyaejDIXpRQD_qK7GJVm47SZEgKkkRqWcTFrZkKTq0bBiraiwdtxzfKauD5EDVWSpg1ikPI-wAAH7c1KOilYWPBlH7TxwL8RMsOuZmjx6Oz3Lv4mu/s1600/10931104_10152539922086750_3954434071600892027_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A couple weeks ago I taped the segment, at 156 pounds, and though I felt awesome...I was also worried that I would be giving people the wrong impression. Eat clean and train dirty, that's what I always say...and here I was doing that but I was still 18 pounds up from my lowest weight. What kind of an example is that? Was I being too hard on myself? Perhaps. I biked to Esquimalt Rec Centre in the rain the day of filming, then promptly ran to the bathroom and attempted to fix my fringe. Yes, I have curly hair that likes to misbehave in humidity...and I was going to be on TV! When I met up with Paul, the ninja, and the camera guy, I was so nervous...even my hands were a bit shakey. Of course they wanted to tape the workout segment before the interview...do boys not know what happens to girls when they sweat?! Especially if they have curly hair?! No, no they don't...but it didn't matter...I had much bigger things to deal with, like a lens in my face, mounted on a barbell, and following my every move.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Camera shy. That's my, I guess. Who would have thunk it!? Perfect bangs and 138 pound frame gone...I resigned myself to do what I had originally set out to do 2 years ago when I started this journey and blog, motivate others to get healthy and get active. If two years ago I had worried what I looked like and how much I weighed, I would never be where I am now...so suck it up, Princess...do what the Ninja tells you, answer Paul's questions honestly, have fun, and tell your story. And that's exactly what I did.</span></span><br />
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Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-60063788096129642332015-01-26T15:11:00.003-08:002015-01-26T17:16:33.369-08:00All hail the new TIMES COLONIST HEALTH CHALLENGE PARTICIPANTS 2015 (of which Stéphane is not one.)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.timescolonist.com/health-challenge" target="_blank">Times Colonist Health Challenge</a> changed my life and subsequently changed the life of my husband. In 2013, he hopped on board the health and fitness bandwagon with me and thereafter got a gym membership at the <a href="http://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/departments/parks-rec-culture/facilities/crystal-pool.html" target="_blank">Crystal Pool & Fitness Centre</a> to support me. He ate the meals I prepared, honoured my extensive new rules...such as, "No junk food in the house!" Stéffi put up with my griping about delayed onset muscle soreness and being hungry all the time. And, without too much effort except for the grueling workouts he set for himself at least 3 times a week and our almost nightly walks through Victoria, he lost weight. He started 2013 at 217 pounds and by April he was down to a svelte 187 or so...he continued to lose, as I did, and managed to lose 40 pounds in the time it took me to lose 100. He was the perfect partner in crime, not only did he back me mentally, but he also took on the responsibility of assisting me financially. Throughout my weight loss he congratulated my success, but reminded me that it never really mattered how much I weighed because he had always loved me and would continue to love me no matter what the future had in store. That's just the kind of guy he is. Insert "AWWWWW" here.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In theory, the <a href="http://www.timescolonist.com/life/health/health-challenge-the-wrap-up-1.112951" target="_blank">2013 Health Challenge</a> afforded me 2 fitness assessments complete with skin fold tests (before and after the 3 months), a basal metabolic reading, a personal trainer twice a week for 12 weeks (though I saw Jonathan much more than that), 2 nutritional consults with a dietitian, a group session and a one-on-one with a psychologist/mental coach, and a free pair of sneakers - a prize valued at over $2000. Of course, there was also the accountability that comes with being featured from time to time in the paper - priceless! That, my friends, was a pretty good deal considering I was off work on unpaid medical leave (I'll share that story with y'all later, it's a doozy).</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After the <a href="http://www.timescolonist.com/life/health/health-challenge-the-wrap-up-1.112951" target="_blank">Health Challenge</a> was over for me...I kept going, kept up with my training sessions with the <a href="http://mijosport.com/" target="_blank">MIJO Sport ninja</a> twice a week, did at least an hour of morning cardio 6 days a week, and supplemented with once or twice weekly <a href="http://www.tarynstrong.com/" target="_blank">yoga</a> and <a href="http://mijosport.com/" target="_blank">taekwondo</a> classes. I dedicated pretty much a year and a half of my life to getting fit and healthy. And so did the man of the house, Stéphane. But, it wasn't only about getting into shape for me (and the weight loss that came from all that exercise and healthy eating), but it was about getting well-conditioned, mentally and physically. Over the course of a year, I regularly saw my family doctor, had a session with a psychiatrist, attended the <a href="http://keltyeatingdisorders.ca/eating-disorders-program-south-vancouver-island-region-victoria" target="_blank">Eating Disorders Programme </a>weekly, went to my usual <a href="http://www.arbutusphysiotherapy.ca/" target="_blank">physio</a> appointments, and pretty much took the best care of myself ever...full stop. Fabulous for me, not so fabulous for my partner-in-crime. Stéphane went a year and a half paying for absolutely everything. He took no vacations nor could he spend his money frivolously as he was now the only bread winner in the family (mmmmm bread). How do you pay a man back for that? Well, I can tell you how I tried. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have always
been proud and will always be proud of Stéphane. He is fun, hilarious, enthusiastic, handsome, goofy, clever, artsy, and a bunch of other adjectives as well. I have always seen him as "L'homme de ma vie" - he
and I are true kindred spirits...so how do I reciprocate? Well, hopefully my clever writing could do something, especially now when I am again on an unpaid medical leave (because of ACL replacement surgery). I decided I would fill in an application, on his behalf, to be a participant in the <a href="http://www.timescolonist.com/health-challenge" target="_blank">TC Health Challenge</a>. This is what I wrote: </span></span></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9ToPUjpZb033bMafwzNSpxgp5LN-Gp_jjQA3waWj7FlhfQPSVmu8a86gjGwKZiqpHr3Mb7_sQA6-WxnNYV6YFuTJ-l4K7Q7_4Q3BzDx8eEC7-UWVPYnci_zghjHuEvTmVialvevXJ8ni/s1600/TC-HC-2015.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9ToPUjpZb033bMafwzNSpxgp5LN-Gp_jjQA3waWj7FlhfQPSVmu8a86gjGwKZiqpHr3Mb7_sQA6-WxnNYV6YFuTJ-l4K7Q7_4Q3BzDx8eEC7-UWVPYnci_zghjHuEvTmVialvevXJ8ni/s1600/TC-HC-2015.tif" height="247" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My
name is Stéphane Gagnon. I am a mild-mannered project technician for a
local company by day: I get up way too early in the dark, drive to
work with a brown-bagged lunch, and begin my coffee drinking. I come
home (again in the dark) after
8 hours of sitting in front of a computer and have every intention of
going to the gym. Sometimes I make it, sometimes I don't. Sometimes I
just drive my wife to and from. And if that's the case, I know I can
get away with eating 2 packs of ramen for dinner before I have to pick
her up. I like noodles...a lot. Almost as much as I like poutine.
This is what my weekdays look like, for the most part. </span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad life. But, I feel like I need more...where's my energy, vitality, and joie de vivre? </span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Enter the weekends. </span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Come
Friday? Well, I shuffle off this weekday mortal coil and become Deejay
Cheeky Tiki - a garage punk spinner with an encyclopaedic knowledge of
music that you don't even know you like yet. Or I pick up my pen and
paper and step into the role of Stéffi G - a drawer of pictures and
writer of words for my own form of "bande dessinée" - I like to think of
it as graphic poetry. I read voraciously, I get up early on Saturdays
and Sundays to sit on the couch with the cat and pour over the countless
novels I have stashed in my E-reader. And then, batteries charged and
healthy breakfast eaten, I hit the gym. I attack the treadmill, the
elliptical, I do sit-ups, and push-ups. I give it my all. I return
from the gym high on endorphins and ready to conquer the world! I need
more of that in my life. </span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbtlkfEkjNDrIwAxT3uAIC9JDbDxbdelznxqByTxXK32EkEPD4prWXQvOp31Mw0Rm6f417Z-S0CF0pNLGj10pxslIhR7W_30lGdy7y7H2imB5ROZ34PeRzrK-WsCb8VFOAHFIwXK3744u/s1600/StephaneAdama.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbtlkfEkjNDrIwAxT3uAIC9JDbDxbdelznxqByTxXK32EkEPD4prWXQvOp31Mw0Rm6f417Z-S0CF0pNLGj10pxslIhR7W_30lGdy7y7H2imB5ROZ34PeRzrK-WsCb8VFOAHFIwXK3744u/s1600/StephaneAdama.jpg" /></a><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I
am the everyman. I am 47 years old, 5'7", and about 207 pounds, which
means I have about 50 pounds to lose, but don't most people? When I
look at myself in the mirror, I see a keg and not a 6-pack and as much
as I like beer, I know that has to change for my life to be healthy and
happy. I have it in me to transform from fat to fit, I am determined. After all, I lost 100 pounds years ago going from obese to manorexic in a
matter of months. But this time, I want to do it right. I want to eat
clean and train dirty, as my wife calls it. I need the accountability,
the resources, the community, and the guidance that the TC Health
Challenge provides - I know the effects this challenge has on its
participants first-hand, and I want in! I had a supporting role a
couple years ago in HC 2013, but 2015 is my time to audition for
something bigger than back stage! </span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Guess I should use my stage name for this one.</span></span></i></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote>
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Good afternoon. My name is Stéffi Spitfyre and I will be auditioning for the role of 'Health Challenge participant 2015.'" </span></span></i></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In my experience,
the <a href="http://www.timescolonist.com/life/health/health-challenge-the-wrap-up-1.112951" target="_blank">Health Challenge</a> is what you make it. Stéffi wasn't chosen, and he didn't expect to be, he told me later. Simply put, he didn't think he had enough to lose. Don't most middle-aged men have a few pounds to drop? I guess that doesn't make for as interesting a story, or does it? We'll see. In the weeks that follow, I'll post updates on Stéffi's progress...because, frankly, a lot of us out there are challenged with losing around 40ish pounds, and it isn't easier because the number is smaller. Sometimes it's harder, it's easier to take more liberties when you are faced with a smaller amount. I buckled down and lost 150 odd pounds in just under a year and a half, but trying to lose the last 10 pounds was the hardest, and it's easy to get complacent. My husband has regained the 40 pounds that he lost in 2013, and I am currently 20 pounds up from my lowest weight in June of 2014 - in the next 3 months, we will embrace the spirit of the challenge and commit to being losers again.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Let the countdown begin! </span></span></span></span></div>
Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-24712919175209245352015-01-08T09:21:00.001-08:002015-01-08T10:47:33.642-08:00Less toys than I expected in Surgical Day Care...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklwIS4AmaP0Qowdi5_GnwKt97gHePZSXMEzTRwlYHExrZzq30KeVznZdaiMZWq-nRHdnRkscUnc0WXKfr_eg9IcueShxh1jvXCNHEjAKw6y_P1fvhYc0QGWbCTVuskKaaS2Tfgm1TMSrE/s1600/hospitalgear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklwIS4AmaP0Qowdi5_GnwKt97gHePZSXMEzTRwlYHExrZzq30KeVznZdaiMZWq-nRHdnRkscUnc0WXKfr_eg9IcueShxh1jvXCNHEjAKw6y_P1fvhYc0QGWbCTVuskKaaS2Tfgm1TMSrE/s1600/hospitalgear.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am not fond of rules, I seem to always break them...nor do I tend to follow instructions to a tee, I improvise a lot...but after I printed off the ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION REHABILITATION PROTOCOL from the ReBalance website, I read the 20 or so pages line for line and took notes, used a highlighter, and bought the appropriate supplies. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I guess I should have printed them out a lot sooner, but I chose to do it the Sunday before surgery so as not go into full anxiety attack mode. The next day, I tried to do everything I normally do, I biked to bootcamp, bootcamped, biked back. Then I had a bit of a panic, not knowing what condition I would be in the next day, and I called up Mama Spitfyre and went emergency grocery shopping. We bought tonnes of veggies and I made a huge vat of Spitfyre Chipotle Chili. Okay, I may be ready to actually do this. There was food in the fridge and the freezer, my husband had the rest of the week off to play nursemaid, and all I had left to do was scrub my entire body with a rather scratchy sponge (with plastic nail brush neatly attached and pink surgical soap built right in)...oh and wash my hair. Done and done.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAQRsAVYvdYZ_PrvU5hFGXbzNfCdvXRsUm6erW9zEk0ta-nKHgAAqEVpPcht0TH1_Q61CpuIYFz5QLn5nBzFXt9b7zpLa3k0xF20fvSJeyhf0kbxkliDRoS2psSozGDULd-n3_n51XqCd/s1600/10374519_10152410910911750_1468141673430145277_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAQRsAVYvdYZ_PrvU5hFGXbzNfCdvXRsUm6erW9zEk0ta-nKHgAAqEVpPcht0TH1_Q61CpuIYFz5QLn5nBzFXt9b7zpLa3k0xF20fvSJeyhf0kbxkliDRoS2psSozGDULd-n3_n51XqCd/s1600/10374519_10152410910911750_1468141673430145277_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>The next morning, I had to do the same thing, save the hair wash...with a brand new hive-inducing rough sponge on one side and nail scrubber on the other, smothered in gooey, hot pink, antibacterial goodness. Great, I was squeaky clean...with an afro and a lovely red rash all over my bod. Did I mention no moisturisers, deodorisers, or hair products allowed? I tried to drip-dry my hair in ringlets, it worked...kinda. Anyway, that didn't matter, as I piled all my hair up on my head and threw it into a fun bun (using a rubber elastic with no metal), and I may have straightened my bangs. I can't relinquish all control, after all...I'm a rule breaker, right? So why not look somewhat presentable with just a hint of "lunatic newly escaped from the asylum."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1y8CLslt4kj8M0bTp7JJviyrekt7fkkQDz2SfxgkU3ZtR67tqX7eQiAhOTJ8BhSWf3QOKPbPzkD5EfzZlPID_CH4Fnry57-XY_2J7euUXERajcV6ug1-7ieSEjRIho5cXURKO1hDtys9/s1600/1544554_10152410946341750_1292508768590288746_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1y8CLslt4kj8M0bTp7JJviyrekt7fkkQDz2SfxgkU3ZtR67tqX7eQiAhOTJ8BhSWf3QOKPbPzkD5EfzZlPID_CH4Fnry57-XY_2J7euUXERajcV6ug1-7ieSEjRIho5cXURKO1hDtys9/s1600/1544554_10152410946341750_1292508768590288746_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>After a very quiet car ride to the Royal Jubilee, we parked the car on the fourth floor of the parkade, and I skipped down the stairs...relishing ever flight. I took Stéphane's hand and asked for the directions to Surgical Day Care. A lovely volunteer lead us up to a nondescript waiting room, gave my name to someone out of sight and instructed us to hang tight. In my INNA NINJA t-shirt, jeans and jacket, I waited. There were people with take-out coffees all over the place, damn them...damn them and their non-fastingness! I may have even fantasised, just a little, about Tim Horton's coffee. You know you're delirious when...and I have to say, surgical day care has far fewer toys than I expected.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After half an hour or so, Nurse Ratched called my name...I got up and followed her zombie-like to the door of doom. Then I realised I hadn't said goodbye to Stéphane, so I turned around and motioned for him to come over. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Oh my gods, I forgot to kiss you...and say goodbye, or see you later or whatever!" </span></span> </blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A rather dramatic Hollywood kiss ensued in the middle of the waiting room...followed by some sappy, lovely dovey words. I half expected the waiting room to erupt into applause, it was that good. The nurse then told Stéphane to go home and he refused, </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"I'll be here waiting until you're done." </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5-6 hours, that's what the surgical notes said...good luck with that, Stéffi. What a guy!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I passed through the door and was asked to take off my clothes. I told the nurse to at least buy me dinner first; to my surprise, she laughed, and gave me a very sexy blue gown and equally stylish blue robe to match. It's at this point that I realised I still had my purse which was packed with books, magazines, my MP3 player, phone etc. etc. etc. I put my clothes and purse in a blue drawstring bag, did up my robe, popped on my fancy blue foot bags (slippers) and threw back the curtain. To add insult to injury (literally), the nurse promptly weighed me in. What am I a jockey?! I'm short enough, maybe she sensed my horsey background?! Anyway, it wasn't weigh-in Wednesday, but she didn't know that. 156 pounds of nerve-wracked Spitfyre. Great, still up...despite my best efforts. And I'd been fasting since the night before. Now what?!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Deep within the bowels of the Royal Jubilee there are rooms upon rooms for waiting. I was asked to hop up onto a very generic hospital bed, then I was asked questions such as this:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Who are you? What is your birth date? Where do you live? Who is your doctor? What procedure are you having done? Which leg has the torn ACL? Do you have any allergies?</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wow, I thought that maybe they would have written all this stuff down. Okay they knew the answers, but I was asked these questions by no fewer than 4 different people. The original nurse, another nurse, the anesthesiologist, and finally the orthopaedic surgeon. I must have aced them all, because I wasn't sent home. The anesthesiologist asked if I had any other questions...I asked him if his accent was South African, he said yes and then let me be. Not a chatter, got it. Dr. Jacks asked if I had any questions, I said no, and he autographed my knee. Interesting. I wonder if it'll be worth something someday.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then I was moved...moved from waiting room #2 into waiting room #3. This one was without the privacy curtains and came with Christmas cracker style hats. NOOOOOO!!! I straightened my bangs! How am I going to look in this weird see-through blue gauzy shower cap? Well, maybe I can wear it like a beret. This room was much more fun than the last, people were coming and going and we seemed to be playing musical beds. The guy to my left needed more room so I was moved closer to the woman on my right, then they wheeled in someone else and I was moved into the middle, and he was put in my place. I think it was rather appropriate that we played a few games in Surgical Day Care, there were no toys after all. I shared my disappointment about the lack of toys with my neighbours, which I think lightened the mood. It ain't that much fun waiting in line to be put to sleep and sliced open. We all started talking after that, and when the nurse came back to wheel me away, he told me it was nice to see everyone in such good spirits. I'm not sure if it's appropriate to tell people to "break a leg" in the hospital, but I like the sounds of it better than "good luck" so as I was wheeled away I wished my bedmates well.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Next stop was the O.R. Oooohhh, the room where the magic happens. I wheeled into the brightest and coldest room in the world and was promptly parallel parked next to a thinly mattressed tiny table. Wow, I'm glad I lost all the weight, the last time I was on the slab I was sorta oozing off the edges a bit. Who knew one of the benefits of weight loss would be comfort in the operating room. I shuffled off the gurney and onto the platform and was introduced to two nurses. Ever the Chatty Cathy, after some small talk Laurie and Tyler asked how I sustained the injury and I went on nervously about my love of taekwondo, and how I couldn't wait to get back at it. Seriously, as much as I love front snap kicks, I could really go for a spin hook kick every now and then. Believe me, I'm deadly when faced head on, but move to the side...and well, that's why I'm about to get this operation. My BFF, the South African, then poked me in the back of the hand with a giant needle. Well then, I guess we're getting this show on the road. I was asleep before the surgeon even arrived from what I remember. No counting backwards, just a mask placed over my mouth (so I could breathe pure oxygen) and my coughing into it because I couldn't get any out. Breathe deeply? How? More like suffocation. I called for help, something changed, and I took a deep breath. Next came a giant shiver of medication that shot from my hand all the way up my arm, and I was out.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I woke up in tears and convulsions apologising for my shaking and crying. It made perfect sense at the time, the nurses just went with it. "Honey, you've just come out of anesthesia." Oh, right. This is where I wish someone had recorded my weirdness. Oooohhh look at those pretty lights! Sob, sob, sob. I started talking total nonsense, I was laughing, crying and complaining about the cold...and telling tales of my life as a ninja. They swaddled me in more thin blue blankets, and soon I was travelling down the hall again. Well, that was fun. Wait, I can't feel my leg. Quick check. Yep, it's still there. That's good. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lying in recovery room one, I started to feel the after effects of the anesthetic. The weird acrid taste in my mouth and up my nose, and nausea. My new nurse asked me how much pain I was in. Quite a bit but I'm a big girl, I can yoga my way out of this. I started practicing box breath, inhale for a count of 5, hold it for 5, exhale for 5, hold it for 5 and repeat. Apparently, it reduces anxiety, slows heart rate, and gets you smacked in the shoulder in this room. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"What are you doing?" asked the nurse. </span></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"I was attempting to control the pain with my mind...yogic breathing." I responded. Duh. I was still quite out of it obviously. </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Don't be a hero Suzie, we can give you more pain killers. Would you like some? Also quit that breathing, it's making it look like you're stopping breathing every now and then, which is of course what you are doing," she said thoughtfully.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Yes please, to the painkillers. I'll do yoga later." </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVnZHQKersOwmVxQF8cKjf4kc-T3pdJdYdiC5sDkRYaIAZa4EsRNm0M_zG163O1ZqcmaLNVyMxkhsCNCoOIYO4AvbAJAlqtElpLeB32rTtrtIa-J3YGGWwkG4y_xbrMhMiTQMIoZJ4rjU/s1600/10410605_10152411675201750_7562301535805587301_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVnZHQKersOwmVxQF8cKjf4kc-T3pdJdYdiC5sDkRYaIAZa4EsRNm0M_zG163O1ZqcmaLNVyMxkhsCNCoOIYO4AvbAJAlqtElpLeB32rTtrtIa-J3YGGWwkG4y_xbrMhMiTQMIoZJ4rjU/s1600/10410605_10152411675201750_7562301535805587301_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After all, it was going to be a long day, and this was only the first stage of recovery. Everyone told me there were going to be good drugs, but I guess I always felt like taking pain killers was a bit of a cop out. Why not figure out what is ailing you and fix it in a less medicationy way?! This is not how I feel about vaccinations or antibiotics, by the way, I do what the doctor tells me...I take my full course or get shot in the arm. But painkillers are different. After all, I didn't want to be anything like a celebrity addicted to prescription medication, slurring words on camera in some terrible reality show. But, I was in a lot of pain...so, fill 'er up please, nurse! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I can't remember exactly how long I was in that recovery room, all I know is following that dose of medication, I needed a quick dose of Gravol as I suddenly felt nauseous. I did not want a repeat of what had happened after my gallbladder surgery. No one likes projectile vomiting, especially not hospital staff. Come to think of it, I think they kept me overnight after that incident so they could torment me with Gravol suppositories. This time I was given the does via my IV, thank gods. After that, in and out of consciousness I went, wanting to sleep but also just wanting to get out of there. The drugs weren't helping. The more I took the longer I would have to stay, that I knew. And where was Stéphane anyway!?! A different nurse came over to me and told me I looked familiar. I told her I blogged for the Times Colonist, and did the Health Challenge in 2013...and this was the reward for my active lifestyle. Haha...okay, not really.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Being in recovery at the hospital is like waiting in line at Disneyland, as soon as you think you're nearly done, you go through a door or turn a corner and there is so much more line ahead of you. After stage one, I was moved to another area with beds radiating off a nurses' station. Oooohhhh...each bed gets curtains on either side for privacy...how fancy! When I was brought in, a nurse introduced herself and told me that they were going to administer some antibiotics through my IV. She propped my bed up so that I could take some pain meds orally, and then I never saw her again. I waited. I was now almost upright in my bed, so sleeping was out. I would have preferred to nod off, but instead I listened. I listened to the guy next to me giving a Tim Horton's order to a significant someone. I listened to other people in the room snoring, I listened to the tick tocking of the clock. It was after 5, I thought I was supposed to be done by now. Also, I was soooooo thirsty. I hadn't eaten or had anything to drink for 19 hours. I flagged someone down and asked for a little bit more water. There was a sippy cup left by my bedside that had previously delivered a 1/4 cup of water to wash down some pills. Um, do they know I can drink more than that? Afterall, I drink up to 4 litres of water a day normally!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">She gave me half a glass of water. I drank it in one go. I was parched! I tried to flag her, or anyone, down again shortly after and it took a while...eye contact was being avoided for sure. The guy in the bed next to me was happily chatting away to his friend and munching on his Timmy's. When I finally got someone's attention, I asked for more water and when I was going to get my antibiotics. More than an hour had passed since I had been talked to...and I was bored senseless, and THIRSTY! A new nurse brought me some water, went away, came back, and started administering the medication. Finally, I asked her when I was going to be released. She told me not until at least 7 or 7:30PM. Hmmmphh. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"When can I see my husband?" I asked.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"When you're released," she said. </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Seriously? All this lying around and waiting in an uncomfortable position for someone to give me antibiotics and another 6 ounces of water and I can't even see my husband who I told to go home, but he probably didn't, knowing him. Well, what about...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Excuse me...excuse me...(finally got her attention again) may I please have my purse?" </span></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Well, I guess I'm going to have to look up where it is then."</span></span> </blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Um, yeah, I guess. Why is this such a big deal?</i> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"It's in locker number 9," I told her.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span> </blockquote>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvym5DZBfaQybkb4-7LWvgdNl3IICfi41n3r9YacaH0g4EmzFkZUV-4NJrfadSqgv2ni1oQgwouZIiffixtC6FpsUMpXi8bNy3JJWlChUFBVSFMTbLQlt8xUzmBXUgNEWufRCWVuu2TJs/s1600/suziehospital.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvym5DZBfaQybkb4-7LWvgdNl3IICfi41n3r9YacaH0g4EmzFkZUV-4NJrfadSqgv2ni1oQgwouZIiffixtC6FpsUMpXi8bNy3JJWlChUFBVSFMTbLQlt8xUzmBXUgNEWufRCWVuu2TJs/s1600/suziehospital.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fortunately, I remembered the number I was told first thing in the morning...and after anesthetic and all those drugs. Woot! I may not have had any company, but I was about to have a mobile phone, 3 magazines, 2 books, and an iPod...let the games begin and let several hospital selfies be taken! When the nurse returned with my bag, she plopped it directly onto my right leg. At least the local anesthetic was still in full effect. What the heck is wrong with this place?! I will definitely not be making more reservations. Disappointing food and drink selection and terrible customer service! Luckily, it gets put on my country's tab when I leave. Is there a comment card I can fill out?!?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As it turned out, Stéphane did go home, after repeatedly asking when he could see me. Apparently he sat in the original waiting room until they closed it - I guess surgical day care is just that, once the kids are all picked up, everyone goes home. So he went home too, and at 7PM the nurse told me I could call him and get him to pick me up. Hoorah! Freedom! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I carefully climbed out of bed and into a wheel chair, easier written than done - oh so happy to have enough arm strength to be able to lift my body weight up without too much problem. The nurse wheeled me to the elevator, we descended 5 floors then crossed the main concourse. I could see our red Honda Fit (appropriate now, but ironic at first) pulled up right in front of the automatic doors and Stéphane's smiling face getting my crutches out from the back seat. He wasn't in shining armour, or on a white horse, but he might as well have been. I was so happy to see my Prince Charming. The nurse pulled me up right next to the car and I was able to shimmy myself into the passenger's side. I thanked her and we were off...I started to regale Stéphane with my tales of the hospital. He responded with his own side of the story. Then he told me that he had already bought the pain killers that I was prescribed. My hero, indeed! Even if parts of our experience seemed to be a total gong show, we were both well...and on our way home. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It had been a very long day. </span></span></div>
Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-91857432194887457622014-12-03T14:12:00.000-08:002014-12-03T15:38:13.676-08:00I was born without an OFF switch...<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGoStRjMYh5JelB0knvVmr1R3glhghu5wwhZV22cODQN6Xc6ONdW9ezL62a40ERl9SRd5VBd8IXJRi-x5vD8YbLenp5qeHg8p58OWHIFwt9Ba6xShRYuQNro6xASjuCNAYLo4g0xKdqH7/s1600/10710823_10152349731726750_1491196018031906971_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGoStRjMYh5JelB0knvVmr1R3glhghu5wwhZV22cODQN6Xc6ONdW9ezL62a40ERl9SRd5VBd8IXJRi-x5vD8YbLenp5qeHg8p58OWHIFwt9Ba6xShRYuQNro6xASjuCNAYLo4g0xKdqH7/s1600/10710823_10152349731726750_1491196018031906971_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or a STOP button....and I'm not even sure that I even have PAUSE. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a bit of a problem when it comes to working, talking, fitness, eating, drinking, and well, pretty much everything. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For example...when I'm at work, I blow through breaks and keep painting faces and helping people long after my shift has finished...I should really wear a watch, but I just get so stuck into what I do, I keep going. Same goes for talking, I go on and on and absolutely revel in conversation - especially good chats with old friends or new friends that have strong opinions or just anyone who enjoys life and shooting the breeze - dinner parties fly by, as do 3 hour phone calls to Montréal. As for fitness, well, I go all out on that to, when I have a day that I can dedicate to working out, it's not unusual for me to bike to my ninja training, workout with my ninja personal trainer, have a little break and a snack, do a MIJO bootcamp for an hour, then bike home...only to return to yet another gym later that evening to kick pads with a bunch of other taekwondo aficionados. Obviously, eating and drinking are the same...when I'm hungry, I eat (sometimes the wrong things and too much) and when I'm thirsty I drink (also sometimes the wrong things and too much), and I cook and experiment and bake and enjoy restaurants and bars. I am not a half-asser, when I do something, I always use my full ass.</span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4_nQ8Hs5D7QsLKdi45N_qbcdJ9S4VwpfZSYObMQxUE0fzi_vPESd8mn0_K6v2PQXxJAtrGpgM5Y8TpOF9ntr6RlciUe_-Le_T2PO4NfZaWi50xtsRxvLEdzPga3DDYB2sNC0qO1q9d7q/s1600/10365782_10152401092891750_5496485286597021200_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4_nQ8Hs5D7QsLKdi45N_qbcdJ9S4VwpfZSYObMQxUE0fzi_vPESd8mn0_K6v2PQXxJAtrGpgM5Y8TpOF9ntr6RlciUe_-Le_T2PO4NfZaWi50xtsRxvLEdzPga3DDYB2sNC0qO1q9d7q/s1600/10365782_10152401092891750_5496485286597021200_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, when I busted my ACL in taekwondo over a year ago and every doctor I spoke to said SURGERY...I may have freaked out, just a little bit. Okay, no...there is no such thing as a little bit. I fully freaked out </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(full-assed)</span></span> - I cried, had a hissy fit, I went silent, I retreated into the dark recesses of my mind, and I panicked. How could I take time off? I have a schedule! I have been working out up to 6 days a week most weeks and following an online eating plan that has me logging everything that goes in my mouth...even the junk...and since June, I've been struggling...bouncing up and down in the 140s and then settling back into the 150s. Which isn't the end of the world, I may have actually even accepted the fact that my body is more comfortable a little heavier. Shock! Horror! But, give up exercise?! NO WAY! How will I be able to de-stress if I can't hit the treadmill and rock out a run with my favourite workout mix blaring in my ears? I can't just turn off, I can't hit stop...not even pause. And then the date was set for surgery. November 25th, 2014.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2JTfqaTc81SARKA5ASG3Ng7nvHQjvwkLZsKJkdrnjhpL6AOgJTM-cIcY0X2d7bz7E5a_QTOLkzWrSZ7VH-jwUQsFeuagR0ZoKb_khbteUF7HE8owTqlmQFwG6Ny4WHx6OrbK4UyAs3NK/s1600/1557594_10152409440136750_3629831910732932500_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2JTfqaTc81SARKA5ASG3Ng7nvHQjvwkLZsKJkdrnjhpL6AOgJTM-cIcY0X2d7bz7E5a_QTOLkzWrSZ7VH-jwUQsFeuagR0ZoKb_khbteUF7HE8owTqlmQFwG6Ny4WHx6OrbK4UyAs3NK/s1600/1557594_10152409440136750_3629831910732932500_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My injury occurred October 2013, initial diagnosis with sports medicine doctor was in November of 2013, and I finally saw the orthopaedic surgeon in February of 2014, so in June when I was informed surgery would be in November, it seemed so far off that I just put it out of my mind. And like so many other things, November just crept up on me. At 3 months until surgery, I vowed to make a concerted effort to get in the best shape of my life...I even searched online for a 90 day whiteboard calendar. Then again at 2 months until my reconstruction I "recommitted" to getting into shape. At 6 weeks out, I did the same, then 4 weeks, 3, 2, and 1...same deal. Good intentions all of them, and I don't know whether it was fear of surgery that led me to eat the occasional bag of Doritos or hot dog, but for some reason, my eating was way off, though my gym time was not. I still stress eat, even after all this time. Like I said, I don't have an off switch...or a pause button...so I kept training like an athlete. Faced with the impending hospital time, I tried to get rid of the negative and indulged in good exercise, splurged on nutritious food, and let go of the doubts in my mind. What does my yoga teacher call it?! Self-care. I tried that out for a change.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Going into surgery I had a certain confidence about me. After coming out of a very good week of clean eating, optimal exercise, and just enough rest to prepare my body and mind for a routine but fairly involved operation, I took a deep breath, pressed pause...and a little voice in my head told me, "Everything is going to be fine."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it was.</span></span></div>
Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-20713622719630704352014-12-01T16:13:00.001-08:002014-12-01T16:15:36.424-08:00Stuck in reruns...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Though a lot has happened in the last few weeks, I feel like I've been stuck on repeat. Obviously, this blog is dedicated to my health and fitness journey...so why, oh why, do I rerun my least favourite episodes?! The ones normal viewers would glance at and then change the channel in favour of something a bit more exciting, fresh, edgy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's December 1st and I haven't blogged in over 2 months...it's almost like last season's programming went a little downhill and I'm trying to come up with an exciting fall opener that will have people raving about the clever writers that must have been hired to keep the show alive, even in it's umpteenth season.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have also come to the realisation that this programme may not be about weight. I am already the Biggest Loser, I have completed the Taking If Off component of this performance, and as the TC Health Challenge concluded in April of 2013 - the Celebrity Weight Loss component has certainly come to a close. Now, for those that want to see some reality TV...despite how terrible it is...let me rerun my Weigh-In Wednesdays for the last few months. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Starting weight - January 16th, 2013 - 294lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">53rd weigh-in - January 22th, 2014 - 151.8lbs
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">54th weigh-in - January 29th, 2014 - 144.3lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">55th weigh-in - February 5th, 2014 - 154.8lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">56th weigh-in - February 12th, 2014 - 146.1lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">57th weigh-in - February 19th, 2014 - 143.7lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">58th weigh-in - February 26th, 2014 - 145.7lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">59th weigh-in - March 5th, 2014 - 141.4lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">60th weigh-in - March 12th, 2014 - 145.1lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">61st weigh-in - March19th, 2014 - 149.4lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">62nd weigh-in - March 26th, 2014 - 143.3lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">63rd weigh-in - April 2nd, 2014 - 147.1lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">64th weigh-in - April 9th, 2014 - 147.4lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">65th weigh-in - April 16th, 2014 - 140.7lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">66th weigh-in - April 23rd, 2014 - 141lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">67th weigh-in - April 30th, 2014 - 149.3lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">68th weigh-in - May 7th, 2014 - 144.1lbs<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">69th weigh-in - May 14th, 2014 - 140.5lbs</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And
this is where I left you...fortunately, my programme continued over the
summer hiatus...but wasn't aired because of a writer's strike.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>It was shortly after this weigh-in that our protagonist returned to work. After a year and a half of living the life health and fitness, credit card bills and reality forced her back into the rat race. If only it were a race, she would have ribboned for sure</i>.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">70th weigh-in - May 21st, 2014 - 143.3lbs</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">71st weigh-in - May 28th, 2014 - 144.3lbs</span> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">72nd weigh-in - June 4th, 2014 - 157.8lbs</span> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">73rd weigh-in - June 11th, 2014 - 141.3lbs</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJeoBNFY4aCT3z4v-b3t40qSmkxNGpAtZ3UY8DyIvzSxslLMU5rSTUVG3CRFLFPEkAo8NP1LIzJuPbnPCj-clHTLpbWFQ56pNqHeEMJg85mM7qIYVOZLapv5vxHbWANfAzYmb02e-vS41/s1600/suziefrombehind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJeoBNFY4aCT3z4v-b3t40qSmkxNGpAtZ3UY8DyIvzSxslLMU5rSTUVG3CRFLFPEkAo8NP1LIzJuPbnPCj-clHTLpbWFQ56pNqHeEMJg85mM7qIYVOZLapv5vxHbWANfAzYmb02e-vS41/s1600/suziefrombehind.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>After moving from a management role and into an artist's position with her cosmetics company, Spitfyre was excited to show off all her hard work by donning a kick-ass outfit and making a guest appearance at a training session in Vancouver. </i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">74th weigh-in - June 18th, 2014 - 138.7lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On her 74th weigh-in, Spitfyre came the closest she had ever come to reaching her elusive goal weight. After 18 months of clean eating and training dirty, she celebrated her success in Vancouver with her Croatian Conscience. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">75th weigh-in - June 25th, 2014 - 143.9lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">76th weigh-in - July 2nd, 2014 - 148.8lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Success has it's consequences, after getting so close to her goal, Spitfyre indulged in old habits...</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">77th </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">weigh</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>-in - July 9th, 2014 - 150.3lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">78th weigh-in - July 16th, 2014 - 153.3lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">79th weigh-in - July 23rd, 2014 - 157.1lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">80th weigh-in - July 30th, 2014 - 149.4lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">81st weigh-in - August 6th, 2014 - 150.4lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZB3hbig9UvWUDplzYB5v7ibvfnNNfKmob-Pr2ZyycJ4UbbMpCiEy4zhkdRSBqmOI4W25oZD-w01rSDUcDyu9hKnzRUkaDjhtmDJHQFLBXKg5OOyl1Vg6TMATmoUxHE5y5VaVflg6FMThz/s1600/AIDS+Walk+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZB3hbig9UvWUDplzYB5v7ibvfnNNfKmob-Pr2ZyycJ4UbbMpCiEy4zhkdRSBqmOI4W25oZD-w01rSDUcDyu9hKnzRUkaDjhtmDJHQFLBXKg5OOyl1Vg6TMATmoUxHE5y5VaVflg6FMThz/s1600/AIDS+Walk+2014.jpg" height="319" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">82nd weigh-in - August 13th, 2014 - 153.3lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">83rd weigh-in - August 20th, 2014 - 155.3lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">84th weigh-in - August 27th, 2014 - 155.3lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">85th weigh-in - September 3rd, 2014 - 161.9lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">86th weigh-in - September 10th, 2014 - 154.2lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">87th weigh-in - September 17th, 2014 - 163.6lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">88th weigh-in - September 24th, 2014 - 154.4lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">89th weigh-in - October 1st, 2014 - 152lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">90th weigh-in - October 8th, 2014 - 150.8lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">91st weigh-in - October 15th, 2014 - 156lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">92nd weigh-in - October 22nd, 2014 - 149.2lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">93rd weigh-in - October 29th, 2014 - 152.9lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">94th weigh-in - November 5th, 2014 -156.7lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">95th weigh-in - November 12th. 2014 - 154.7lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">96th weigh-in - November 19th, 2014 - 156lbs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Twenty weeks of reruns. Up, down, up, down, up, down, up up, down down, same, down, up, this show is getting</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> pretty boring, I hope I don't get cancelled. Of course, that's up to me, isn't it?!? Not the cancelled thing, the boring bit. I need some more inspiration, I need to find my audience again, I need to stop my daytime soap opera saga and get back into writing dark comedy, drama, and sitcoms. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I never understood why people watch soap operas. The pace is so slow, something afforded to a daily programme. At least with weeklies, you see the episode and look forward to the next one. And time passes, but you're not witness to the mundane details of the characters' existence. The writers are lazy, but you can be when you are writing about the day to day minutia of life. Interest builds when you have an economy of air time, how do you tell the story completely in one hour a week? You need to be clever. If it's a serial, you have most likely established your characters and their back stories and you can focus on events and situations that intrigue, humour, and excite the viewer. So that's what I'm going to do...start this season with a bang! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-76748387136177389282014-09-18T09:35:00.001-07:002014-09-18T12:31:29.033-07:00Saddling up my unicorn.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoiXnG0HbVNjt6Uhk61TNZcXYGiTYvzxfrgUR_ysm_-bHuxz41YphdCQrpmP_TZFS0s2ZAQbonNAXImmyV2Czq5NVbCtEHfVVHKjRQeSBiXOulHxYpj4dq-lWsMHJmCqnt5xFUFEtFWQv/s1600/IMG_472311085981714.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoiXnG0HbVNjt6Uhk61TNZcXYGiTYvzxfrgUR_ysm_-bHuxz41YphdCQrpmP_TZFS0s2ZAQbonNAXImmyV2Czq5NVbCtEHfVVHKjRQeSBiXOulHxYpj4dq-lWsMHJmCqnt5xFUFEtFWQv/s1600/IMG_472311085981714.jpeg" height="196" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The best thing about a new day is that you can choose how to face it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Create your own destiny, follow the fourth agreement and do your best, live in the present, be mindful - every day is a gift, choose your attitude, and blah blah blah blah blah a bunch of other inspirational quotes with fancy backgrounds with stock photographs of beaches or forests or Buddha. I say almost cliché...because I am notorious for posting such things on my Facebook and Twitter pages, and they seriously resonate with me, sometimes. Whatever, it doesn't matter...what matters is that when faced with a new day, put your big girl panties on and kick its arse! Give 'er! Go for it! </span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoReT-2FEmzi-NL140h5xx9uHbakc8Z28A4zZ89uzBteEw2CaZNSSvvQzxRWX1g46kii-FWQ38TPaEdgoS6mhLydH8SYE3sRCbaAiO5zQ9TB4gK4LBrQFGpGFW29kcZlXvY9nXzeg6ajl_/s1600/IMG_472332398329127.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoReT-2FEmzi-NL140h5xx9uHbakc8Z28A4zZ89uzBteEw2CaZNSSvvQzxRWX1g46kii-FWQ38TPaEdgoS6mhLydH8SYE3sRCbaAiO5zQ9TB4gK4LBrQFGpGFW29kcZlXvY9nXzeg6ajl_/s1600/IMG_472332398329127.jpeg" height="84" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday I was riding a dark horse, so today I decided to saddle up that unicorn (with rainbow-coloured mane and tail and glittery gold hooves) and go on a joy ride.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are always only one sleep away from a new day, don't let your yesterday take over your today!</span></span></div>
Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-5902113072711058192014-09-17T15:07:00.000-07:002014-09-17T15:19:24.667-07:00High Maintenance.<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Q5QJQPwTzRPh3T_DwvN4dQ1EYe90fvfAX2v-TXTToM10qSDlfE5EnKKh9QrUxHbHGVFMVeMacN1Mi3opgj7hNZBaFWIiynAxSciQOfs2uDdAM206e9ZsU7coPkMs2cdiLvm2jJ0kjYkM/s1600/black_unicorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Q5QJQPwTzRPh3T_DwvN4dQ1EYe90fvfAX2v-TXTToM10qSDlfE5EnKKh9QrUxHbHGVFMVeMacN1Mi3opgj7hNZBaFWIiynAxSciQOfs2uDdAM206e9ZsU7coPkMs2cdiLvm2jJ0kjYkM/s1600/black_unicorn.jpg" /></a>It's
time to get off this dark horse and ride a unicorn or something.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At
least that's what the ninja said to me a while back. And, in all
seriousness, I have been in a bit of funk as of late. </span></span>
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</span></span></div>
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</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Why
in the funk, Suzie Spitfyre!?</span></span></div>
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</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I
don't want to talk about it. (Because
when I do I get weirdly emotional and cry. WTF!? Ninjas shouldn't
be all teary...and broken.) </span></span>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As
you know from previous posts, for the last little while I've been
bouncing around at about 145 pounds...I've come as close to goal as
138 pounds and gone as far away as 163. It is very hard for me not
to obsess about this. “Focus on how you feel, ninja,” if I feel
fit and strong, I'm cool. If I feel wildly out of control, I'm not
so cool. In fact, I panic, doubt myself, and fall a downward spiral
of junk food and other bad choices. Then I get over it, buckle down
and take care of business. I got this, I know how to do it...in
fact, I'm pretty good at it...when I focus.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqnoaSdtodygcxTBGZRWp6uP_I-6kXSKNjt5RA8Juo2sd89LXkWU7UFMz9aue53nYAmoyln1y5RgxjmH1qAfoTBMDUo6jegqMCGvweKGXQM9HuD92RhkaYynhcwjOYGMsitE-THEaC1ev/s1600/victoryismine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqnoaSdtodygcxTBGZRWp6uP_I-6kXSKNjt5RA8Juo2sd89LXkWU7UFMz9aue53nYAmoyln1y5RgxjmH1qAfoTBMDUo6jegqMCGvweKGXQM9HuD92RhkaYynhcwjOYGMsitE-THEaC1ev/s1600/victoryismine.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>That's
my resent history...no crazy drops in weight, but no huge gains
either. This is the boring part. No celebrating 7 pound losses, no
surprising victories over push-ups, no mayor wearing his chains of
office to congratulate me for being the biggest loser...just
maintenance. And maintenance sucks. </span></span>
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</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I
know, I know, I really don't have problems if these are my problems
right?! Nonetheless, this stuff weighs heavy (pun intended) on my
psyche. For the last year and just over a half, I have built myself
up by leaning myself down, so going in the opposite direction scares
the sh!t out of me. And the reason the scale is going in said
direction...well, it's because of me. But, just as I had decided to
give up drinking wine on the balcony, Bum Biter BBQs, and sneaking in
a bag of Doritos while watching True Blood on my Croatian
Conscience's couch...</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I
left the Shimmy Shack and embarked on a run along the Westsong
Walkway. The run I do is around 7K and includes the
stairs of death (there are 100 of them, and I try and do them at
least 5 times..and lately I've been doing them a few more times than
that...um...10 times, I'm a keener). So out I go on my merry little
way, feeling particularly strong and fit...running to the beat of all
these songs on my play list that are all obviously written
specifically for me...when SNAP! Limp, limp, limp. Oh crap.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My
little injury (ruptured ACL) has reared its ugly head yet again.
Apparently, at the time of the MRI there were possibly two little strands
holding on for dear life, and what I just did took care of at least one of
them. Normally I wouldn't be such a cry-baby, but I was out on a
trail about 2 kilometres from home and I was sore. I walked back
along the pathway to my house...dragging my leg, ruing the decision I
made to leave my mobile phone at home. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhs4sS6BU3Nypsi7AJGuKqf7OiblajREPl5beSUawlhRInusASPJZ91OhNt-toPqJW0OyImUIbvTu1iMrW3sC-l9izfjzK9oC4e_FpLoAeiob-glqq0yKu9rabL0jlpZ70w4_7hZQa40vL/s1600/20140820_145836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhs4sS6BU3Nypsi7AJGuKqf7OiblajREPl5beSUawlhRInusASPJZ91OhNt-toPqJW0OyImUIbvTu1iMrW3sC-l9izfjzK9oC4e_FpLoAeiob-glqq0yKu9rabL0jlpZ70w4_7hZQa40vL/s1600/20140820_145836.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a>Realising
that walking home in such a gimpy way ate into my precious
get-ready-for-work-time, when I finally got home, I showered very
quickly...but how was I going to work a shift if I couldn't even walk
properly!? And to top that off, thou shalt wear heels on counter is
practically written in the MAC dress code. I called my manager. “I
don't think I'll be able to come into work today, I just felt
something in my knee pop and there's a lot of swelling. I should
probably ice it and keep it elevated, at least for today.” Damn,
someone beat me to the punch, so no sick day for me. Already one man
down. In pain, I put on my knee high combat boots, a skirt, button
down shirt 'n' tie, braided my hair into two tight French braids, and
took the bus two stops to town. Suck it up, Princess. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On
a side note: As I “toughed it out” on counter, one of the
department’s staff told me I looked less Wednesday Addams bad-ass
private school girl (the look I was obviously going for) and more,
well, how do I put this!? Nazi. Oh good. I wonder if that's why my
sales were so high...”Buy this make-up or I invade Poland!” I
know, I know, not funny...sorry.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
point that I am trying to make is this...when I feel out of control
or upset, an easy fix for me used to be to lose myself in food. And
now, it is to find discipline and focus at the gym...even if it's
after losing myself in food because I'm not going to lie and say
that never happens. It does. Still. So what happens if you take
the gym away?! Well, nothing good. I get a little down in
the dumps.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
gym is my meditation station, my decompression session, my
opportunity community. I </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">feel safe, and loved. Before embarking on
this journey, I regarded gyms as places where hyper fit and annoying
people hung out and tried to out-do each other. These gym-types were judgmental and exclusive. And then I walked through the
doors of the Crystal Pool & Fitness Centre...and I <span lang="en-GB">realised</span>, it was the
opposite. I was the bitter, annoyed person...I was judgmental and
exclusive. I was not looking forward to entering the gym, I didn't
know what to wear, how to do anything...and the people behind those
doors, well, they became a
huge </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBfHA77RRz4VppOUPErVg3p7dQ1SKP4ak-VxLbKKteUcH7wKqn3UPc417EIIhG-zHU4heOcYrnGouOgeJdgwNF9bh3LMpZDIYk-evXYFQS9VpKlFvyjDoj1sNUcT-1WekneXSzcdkW9QR/s1600/20140828_090550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBfHA77RRz4VppOUPErVg3p7dQ1SKP4ak-VxLbKKteUcH7wKqn3UPc417EIIhG-zHU4heOcYrnGouOgeJdgwNF9bh3LMpZDIYk-evXYFQS9VpKlFvyjDoj1sNUcT-1WekneXSzcdkW9QR/s1600/20140828_090550.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
support system, my mentors, teachers, my friends...they welcomed
me to the health & fitness community with open arms, smiles free
of judgement with a pat on the back for all my efforts. I had never
experienced such a sense of community. My knee, on occasion, takes
all that away, and I am left to stew. I start shutting down.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As soon as I was well enough
to start gymming again, the Crystal Pool & Fitness Centre closed for
maintenance. I told you maintenance sucks. But, at least I found my unicorn. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-16132161702359403782014-09-17T13:26:00.001-07:002014-09-17T14:26:35.653-07:00On balance, ballast, and bobbles.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am seated in half-lotus position, precariously perched atop the exercise ball that serves as a chair in front of my laptop. I suppose there's no need to tell you that my balance has significantly improved since that fatefull day in New Orleans in 2012 when I rolled my ankle and my 294 pound self came crashing to the ground.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But has it?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yes, I can twist my body into different asanas and hold them, I can jump from a plank to a squatting position on top of a Bosu ball, and I can even walk on top of logs at the beach without fearing for my life...but sometimes I can't find my balance. Coordination at the gym, studio, or in the great outdoors, no problem...but, trying to find equilibrium in life, well, that's just waaaaaaaay harder. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ironic, non?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How am I supposed to get up, go to the gym, workout, get home from the gym, shower, get ready for work, walk to work, get home from work, get ready for taekwondo, get to taekwondo (or yoga, or whatever), do taekwondo, get home? How am I supposed to eat 6 times a day, and find time to make those healthy mini meals? How do I get 8 hours of sleep a night? How do I find time to read, write, blog, paint, draw, create, play, perform, and participate in all the other activities that I love and that have been falling to the wayside? How do I do all the things I want to do?!?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just breathe.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I started this post with yoga, so I will continue it in that way...it all comes down to breathing. Deep breath in, deep breath out...I am feeling overwhelmed by everything right now. So I have to break things down and concentrate on the one thing I do without thinking. Breathing. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You know how they say you don't know what you've got until it's gone? The same thing goes for balance. Losing my balance only makes me want to find it again.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This Weigh-In Wednesday is brought to you by ballast. </span></span><br />
<div class="headword" id="headword">
</div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY95l5ftjgT2mFto5LhX_MiKlZFlfZs4iiVQHMMuV0y1bpWenbLy6SkuFafEpbX2S9hE5d-c5g77yg0SA9tgueRyuAryrmDkRpRhlBd-aqlGL13fmx2LSo0-d0_N9NgLQYxqzTqDVudVl0/s1600/20140903_073614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY95l5ftjgT2mFto5LhX_MiKlZFlfZs4iiVQHMMuV0y1bpWenbLy6SkuFafEpbX2S9hE5d-c5g77yg0SA9tgueRyuAryrmDkRpRhlBd-aqlGL13fmx2LSo0-d0_N9NgLQYxqzTqDVudVl0/s1600/20140903_073614.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1bal·last<br />noun \ˈba-ləst\<br /><br />: heavy material (such as rocks or water) that is put on a ship to make it steady or on a balloon to control its height in the air</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When
I stepped on the scale this morning, I was burdened by my heaviness.
But now I realise that the extra weight that I have put on over the summer is a reminder
that I need to find more equilibrium in my life. I choose to interpret today's weigh-in as a reminder that ballast can also restore stability of character and conduct. I will resuscitate, I will breathe, and I will regain my balance. This is just a bobble. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Namaste. </span></span></div>
Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-77323937233153450982014-07-23T08:52:00.002-07:002014-07-23T08:52:20.212-07:00Good morning, Weed Wacker!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm up, I'm up! </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5rSdndh22RV90RUQhAjOkH94t17lBMpmEXtbm-cAuJTnpRV-H9W734AL_BTJz2h0C1LUqmVN2LFIKn2EdytEkYcTdmZnbfEmmvVSgR4e2S6KzezF0ni-U-UgiUqRaEbkzmqbS6koG381/s1600/bluesuzie.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5rSdndh22RV90RUQhAjOkH94t17lBMpmEXtbm-cAuJTnpRV-H9W734AL_BTJz2h0C1LUqmVN2LFIKn2EdytEkYcTdmZnbfEmmvVSgR4e2S6KzezF0ni-U-UgiUqRaEbkzmqbS6koG381/s1600/bluesuzie.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, it appears to be that day in summer where the city sends people in orange suits to my front yard (or the grassy knoll directly in front of my building) to cull the overgrown grass, blackberry bushes, and other extremely dry vegetation. Great in the prevention of wildfires, also great in the waking of Spitfyres. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I know, they're allowed to start city works at 7:30 AM...but c'mon...can't I have another 5 minutes of sleep?! </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oh, wait...my lovely husband has just produced a skinny latte and placed it down on my bedside table. I suppose I can face the morning. I'm just happy I didn't get out of bed and walk around the place nekkid as a jaybird only to find weed wacking workers looking up through my living room window in disbelief. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's been quite some time since I have put fingers to keyboard and tapped out a blog post...why is this? Am I lacking in inspiration?! Quite the opposite, I have many an unfinished manuscript...or at least there are posts suspended in cyberspace describing situations here and there that have hindered, helped, hijacked, and heartened my journey towards health and fitness...so what gives?! Truth be told, I don't know. Perhaps I have just fallen out of the habit of writing. I certainly haven't lost my sense of humour about what goes on in my life...and I am always up for a good laugh, even if it is at my own expense. Ha! So, I will attempt to pick up where I left off. And...that was all the way back in May...wow.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">May was my birthday month...and the one good thing about getting older, is that I seem to be getting wiser, or perhaps become more of a wise-ass - you decide. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Birthdays used to always mean a bit of reckless
abandon when it came to diet and exercise, but this year I was
determined that May would be different. In the beginning, I made a
conscious effort to cut back on portion sizes and to stop capitulating
when I got a hankering for something savoury after dinner. Must remember to not eat all of
those peanuts in the fridge that are reserved for fancy salads and/or the
popcorn on the shelf that ended up there because I finished the last of
the kernels and then my lovely husband replaced it with a whole new
batch! Seriously, I need a locked cupboard that only opens when a
recipe requires it to, and not if I get peckish before or after dinner. Also, must remember to eat enough throughout the day so that I don't mindlessly eat dry ingredients in the pantry out of sheer desperation...dry soy beans, I'm looking at you. Seriously. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So
how'd my May go? Well, pretty much the same way the first 4 months of the year have
gone...it's been a bit of a bumpy road, but I'm learning to ride out
the rough spots. And...most of the time? I was comfortable in the saddle.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_EViUDn3aPOt1ElhOT6xAOc71m-S3k-uU-KVDxDSZTofyxPVNlgQWJA_py_6NgeDtdqxRd9f7k2AW7jo6RscVjPWhAJBsU8xDUziX2pdjSM4JC02fbQvIDFJswHZ6eRC4DvIu_swNnPw/s1600/birthdayselfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_EViUDn3aPOt1ElhOT6xAOc71m-S3k-uU-KVDxDSZTofyxPVNlgQWJA_py_6NgeDtdqxRd9f7k2AW7jo6RscVjPWhAJBsU8xDUziX2pdjSM4JC02fbQvIDFJswHZ6eRC4DvIu_swNnPw/s1600/birthdayselfie.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Starting weight - January 16th, 2013 - 294lbs</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">53rd weigh-in - January 22th, 2014 - 151.8lbs
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">54th weigh-in - January 29th, 2014 - 144.3lbs</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
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</span></span></div>
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</span></span>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">55th weigh-in - February 5th, 2014 - 154.8lbs</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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</span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">56th weigh-in - February 12th, 2014 - 146.1lbs</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">57th weigh-in - February 19th, 2014 - 143.7lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">58th weigh-in - February 26th, 2014 - 145.7lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">59th weigh-in - March 5th, 2014 - 141.4lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">60th weigh-in - March 12th, 2014 - 145.1lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">61st weigh-in - March19th, 2014 - 149.4lbs</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLCWIfAK4AcqmPIIa3ZCs5eg3HD7BnenDImY9qtAiGa7BRVuYWShvVha4caKNrmfYgSaBsp9kecsQ3eF-dwCfbbMRWufBh-yA6c_JEUQvVGx49X9BDqsiHk7gQAXZ1KTPAr7DE8gcBY_g/s1600/cupcakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLCWIfAK4AcqmPIIa3ZCs5eg3HD7BnenDImY9qtAiGa7BRVuYWShvVha4caKNrmfYgSaBsp9kecsQ3eF-dwCfbbMRWufBh-yA6c_JEUQvVGx49X9BDqsiHk7gQAXZ1KTPAr7DE8gcBY_g/s1600/cupcakes.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">62nd weigh-in - March 26th, 2014 - 143.3lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">63rd weigh-in - April 2nd, 2014 - 147.1lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">64th weigh-in - April 9th, 2014 - 147.4lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">65th weigh-in - April 16th, 2014 - 140.7lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">66th weigh-in - April 23rd, 2014 - 141lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">67th weigh-in - April 30th, 2014 - 149.3lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">68th weigh-in - May 7th, 2014 - 144.1lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And the weigh-in after my birthday week? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">69th weigh-in - May 14th, 2014 - 140.5lbs</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbPMG_pj4Q_3a1tJbD5uA2gc3cpKzf3Ssi0cU7yzwvHgm7xNjajicJUqsGx2-gzGxlbCngBYkz9dZenLx9HyngIeALuTDoE1vgGGLQTO6RJ-3PzeV7E5qkGzOwGVt5vNYsjKp5r_V52Je/s1600/ninjame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbPMG_pj4Q_3a1tJbD5uA2gc3cpKzf3Ssi0cU7yzwvHgm7xNjajicJUqsGx2-gzGxlbCngBYkz9dZenLx9HyngIeALuTDoE1vgGGLQTO6RJ-3PzeV7E5qkGzOwGVt5vNYsjKp5r_V52Je/s1600/ninjame.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">140.5 pounds!? That's a bloody miracle because after weigh-in Wednesday #68, I headed to
Vancouver for a couple days away with the folks. How did I approach
eating and exercising in a different city without my "normal" routine?!
Well, I tried to get in at least 3 square a day and walked all over town for cardio. Despite eating at Vij's, downing a cocktail or two whilst on "vacation," and eating mini cupcakes for breakfast on my birthday, skipping lunch in order to clean the loft, and having wine for dinner that night, I survived. And, lost 3.6 pounds...woot...back to 140 point something!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Happy Birthday to me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But that was then...and this is now. So how am I faring at this point in time?! I don't want to talk about it. But, I also don't want to make excuses and gripe about how I have gone back to work and it's harder to find time to exercise now that I'm back to being gainfully employed...because it's not been the exercise that's been the problem. It's been the food. In fact, making excuses as to why it is impossible to get off the couch and head to the gym, is just that...and excuse, and I haven't got time for those. I haven't really slipped on the exercise thing, still working out with <a href="http://mijosport.com/" target="_blank">the ninja (Jonathan Carpenter of MIJO Sport)</a> twice a week and still heading to the gym 5-6 days a week with other activities thrown in...one of my favourites being <a href="http://www.tarynstrong.com/" target="_blank">yoga with Taryn Strong</a>. Om. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And, speaking of om...as in "om nom nom"... that's what I have been doing a lot of lately. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is said that to achieve a healthy weight it is 20% exercise and 80% diet...and I believe it. It doesn't make a difference how much I exercise if my food choices thwart my weight loss efforts. That is not to say that a distinction should be made between acceptable and unacceptable foods, but that I, Miss Spitfyre, need to rein it in a little Oh summer, not only do you come with weed-wacking-workers, but you also bring with you backyard barbeques, burgers n' buns, and a whole lotta beer.</span></span></div>
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Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-92108157703997543592014-05-07T14:53:00.000-07:002014-05-07T15:01:39.999-07:00Confessions of a foodaholic...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My name is Suzie Spitfyre and...after all this time (68 weigh-ins!)...I am still a food addict.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaALGGTYrV0kopSI_33w0k3IJC8EogegPijxEtVGbGMSu9OJVrkBbQv3Ku3V_g2rI4Q8wXTAr0gGjuI4_YK0u33G7BxDcovpOCjKIw5Fy0xe5YZ4Y44SOSAyLxok5rFHByX0KHZ4J7W2eH/s1600/morningconsternation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaALGGTYrV0kopSI_33w0k3IJC8EogegPijxEtVGbGMSu9OJVrkBbQv3Ku3V_g2rI4Q8wXTAr0gGjuI4_YK0u33G7BxDcovpOCjKIw5Fy0xe5YZ4Y44SOSAyLxok5rFHByX0KHZ4J7W2eH/s1600/morningconsternation.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Starting weight - January 16th, 2013 - 294lbs
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">53rd weigh-in - January 22th, 2014 - 151.8lbs
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">54th weigh-in - January 29th, 2014 - 144.3lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">55th weigh-in - February 5th, 2014 - 154.8lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">56th weigh-in - February 12th, 2014 - 146.1lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">57th weigh-in - February 19th, 2014 - 143.7lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">58th weigh-in - February 26th, 2014 - 145.7lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">59th weigh-in - March 5th, 2014 - 141.4lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">60th weigh-in - March 12th, 2014 - 145.1lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">61st weigh-in - March19th, 2014 - 149.4lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">62nd weigh-in - March 26th, 2014 - 143.3lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">63rd weigh-in - April 2nd, 2014 - 147.1lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">64th weigh-in - April 9th, 2014 - 147.4lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">65th weigh-in - April 16th, 2014 - 140.7lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">66th weigh-in - April 23rd, 2014 - 141lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">67th weigh-in - April 30th, 2014 - 149.3lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">68th weigh-in - May 7th, 2014 - 144.1lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After losing 5.2lbs this week...and the mandatory happy dance that comes with...I looked back over my food journals to see why I had such a gain the week before. I knew I'd taken in a lot more refined carbs in the last few weeks than usual, but what else was going on? I'll tell you. Denial. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And here I thought I was just indulging a little bit, turns out it was a bit more than a bit. So I scrolled back through weeks of online food and exercise journals (my exercise has remained consistent BTW) only to see that, yes...I'd been overdoing it in the food department...and for the most part, getting away with it. Month after month I was eating healthy nutritious food during the week and then indulging on weekends or special nights out. Oftentimes, imbibing alcohol lead to a loss of resolve to eat healthily and liberties were taken in the form of potato chips, yaki soba, and ginger cookies. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Interesting. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Check it out, my first real binge on junk food (since starting this whole thing on January 16th, 2013) was Superbowl Sunday, and February 5th to the 11th is the last week that I ate only nutritious food and stuck to my portion sizes without going over my quota calorie-wise. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">54th weigh-in - January 29th, 2014 - 144.3lbs - The week before Super Bowl Sunday</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">55th weigh-in - February 5th, 2014 - 154.8lbs - Popped up 10.5 pounds</span></span> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">56th weigh-in - February 12th, 2014 - 146.1lbs - 1 week of controlled clean eating and exercise</span></span>, and the result is a loss of 8.7 pounds.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And then here's this past week compared to the previous 2 weeks...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">66th weigh-in - April 23rd, 2014 - 141lbs - I went up a bit from the week before, but no big deal (less than a pound)</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">67th weigh-in - April 30th, 2014 - 149.3lbs - See what happens when I over eat and over drink?</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">68th weigh-in - May 7th, 2014 - 144.1lbs - Re-visited portion sizes, didn't skip any meals, didn't over drink, and </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="quote"><span class="qword">voilà</span></span>...lost 5.2 of the 8.3 I gained the previous week. I'm cool with that.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Let's talk denial now. How is it possible that I haven't looked back and compared my last week to week before and to the week before that etc.? Maybe I couldn't face what was written out there in cyberspace...or, I am a good Buddhist and I followed what I wrote about on Saturday, February 15th. 2014:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://whatifidonthaveaprettyface.blogspot.ca/2014/02/do-not-dwell-in-past-do-not-dream-of.html">"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."</a></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I would like to think it's the latter, rather than the former...but it may just be a bit of both. And, here's the thing, it doesn't really matter. The point is, I know what I've done, and I know where I'm going. And right now, I'm just loving life...I just have to learn to not celebrate it with copious amounts of food and wine. That way history will not repeat itself.</span></span></div>
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Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-85344681574329036982014-05-01T08:36:00.000-07:002014-05-01T08:42:56.312-07:00Congratulations, it's a food baby!<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggL90ToS5xkzGdyzKBgLgZuRj6XkuFosXTUqqN1aiK_yMkgczPYbCSHr5WzBY-u6o9ouT9X23qA7PpQ9EdIdBQCzlf915t8_gw-pNiuqjbV4-yq6j-v8VAXx_o4140J16WtX9-LNmlXAsY/s1600/Sushi+Spitfyre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggL90ToS5xkzGdyzKBgLgZuRj6XkuFosXTUqqN1aiK_yMkgczPYbCSHr5WzBY-u6o9ouT9X23qA7PpQ9EdIdBQCzlf915t8_gw-pNiuqjbV4-yq6j-v8VAXx_o4140J16WtX9-LNmlXAsY/s1600/Sushi+Spitfyre.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sushi Spitfyre</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My tummy. My stomach has been relatively flat (considering all the excess skin) for the last few months...but lately, I have noticed something. Something that happens after a big meal or after a weekend of indulging...the food baby. I remember when girls at MAC would complain about their "food babies" and I would have no idea what they were talking about, except for now. You see, at 294 pounds, if you eat a big meal, there's no way to notice any sort of difference in your physique...other than the mild discomfort that comes with overeating. Now, I get it. When I have larger portions, or if I have a weekend of indulgence, then I am inevitably blessed (for lack of a better word) with a "food baby." This is not something that I can take a pill for, nor can I utilise any sort of contraception to negate any unwanted consequences...the only way to avoid this procreation is abstinence. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Is it time to revisit correct portion sizes?! I think so.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the last few weeks, I have been with child. One that only becomes apparent after eating too many potatoes and sometimes, to my chagrin, after fabulous weekends of imbibing. Mondays and Tuesdays are when I get some serious bloating and the telltale swollen abdomen that comes with progeny begat of wine and rich fare. Am I preggers? No. Does my husband notice? No, not if he knows what's good for him. BUT, someone else does. Someone I see regularly and who apparently looks me up and down a bit more than I thought he did. Sneaky <a href="http://mijosport.com/" target="_blank">ninja</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have been fighting the good fight for about a year and half now...and looking down at my cereal bowl the other day, I think perhaps my portions are creeping up on me. Breakfast means 1/3 of a cup of high-fibre, sugar-free cereal, 100g of fat-free, sugar-free yogourt, 1/8 of a cup of nuts, and some sort of fruit. So, how could I possibly let this get out of control?! Well, I was free-pouring the cereal, I was scooping the yogourt with a giant spoon, cutting up however many nuts I wanted, and then adding A LOT of fruit...not just 1 green banana, more like 2 bananas and possibly a bunch of strawberries too. Is this bad? No, none of that black and white thinking for me...but perhaps I was being a bit too generous with the free-stylings of this dish. And, I'm not going to lie, I have also been eyeballing a lot of other portions as well. Is this okay?! Yes, of course, intuitive eating is something I wish I could do. Am I ready for it yet?! Possibly not. Not if I want to get to my goal of 137 pounds.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yesterday was my weigh-in day, and I was up...up from last week...up to a February/March weight...up the most I think I've ever been up actually. What am I having? Twins!? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Starting weight - January 16th, 2013 - 294lbs</span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">53rd weigh-in - January 22th, 2014 - 151.8lbs</span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">54th weigh-in - January 29th, 2014 - 144.3lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">55th weigh-in - February 5th, 2014 - 154.8lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">56th weigh-in - February 12th, 2014 - 146.1lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">57th weigh-in - February 19th, 2014 - 143.7lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">58th weigh-in - February 26th, 2014 - 145.7lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">59th weigh-in - March 5th, 2014 - 141.4lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">60th weigh-in - March 12th, 2014 - 145.1lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">61st weigh-in - March19th, 2014 - 149.4lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">62nd weigh-in - March 26th, 2014 - 143.3lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">63rd weigh-in - April 2nd, 2014 - 147.1lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">64th weigh-in - April 9th, 2014 - 147.4lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">65th weigh-in - April 16th, 2014 - 140.7lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">66th weigh-in - April 23rd, 2014 - 141lbs</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">67th weigh-in - April 30th, 2014 - 149.3lbs </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Time to get down to my "pre-pregnancy" weight of 140.7...that's the lowest I've been so far. I know I can get there, I've done it before, and this is how I'm going to do it: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Clean eating: I will eat well balanced, appropriately portioned meals. I will not eat processed foods (or as few as possible), only whole grains, lean proteins, and fruit and veg. For extra accountability, I will also blog everything I eat...enter <a href="http://whatifidonthaveaprettyface.blogspot.ca/p/see-food.html" target="_blank">SEE FOOD!</a> A photographic journey of accountability. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Clean drinking: No more alcohol! At least not until my birthday, I may have a sip or two then, but for the next 10 days I will be drinking loads of water, and a whole bunch of tea. All will be featured in <a href="http://whatifidonthaveaprettyface.blogspot.ca/p/see-food.html" target="_blank">SEE FOOD!</a></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dirty Training (that sounds a whole lot better when I say #eatcleantraindirty) Haha...how about just "training:" I will follow the <a href="http://mijosport.com/" target="_blank">ninja's</a> instructions, I will double up when I need to, and not go into over-training mode because I feel guilty for something or another. </span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I know you're not supposed to eat seafood when you're "with child" but I am going to <a href="http://whatifidonthaveaprettyface.blogspot.ca/p/see-food.html" target="_blank">SEE FOOD</a> it up so that I am held accountable...nothing like laying it all out there. If I eat it or drink it, you will see it...which is kinda the way I feel about this food baby that I have strapped to my front right now. No more whining (or wining) about this, now is the time for action! </span></span></div>
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Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-30059795770808266272014-04-29T09:13:00.000-07:002014-04-29T09:13:13.466-07:00Reality bites...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Considering my last blog post...I thought this was rather hilarious. Why get all philosophical anyway, eh?</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8yW_oPsZXo-FQR7Wq1A4us17J_wPGBNK1hT7ZC8TfgYJnK8jTeL7-_qv2yrVg8S37-SVHJauayQb8mHvHaZgZctCufxXHrpImRyvGGWZmPlWCP9c0Et_oPS9DQlXeEVLg4wqckRHBFdN/s1600/truth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8yW_oPsZXo-FQR7Wq1A4us17J_wPGBNK1hT7ZC8TfgYJnK8jTeL7-_qv2yrVg8S37-SVHJauayQb8mHvHaZgZctCufxXHrpImRyvGGWZmPlWCP9c0Et_oPS9DQlXeEVLg4wqckRHBFdN/s1600/truth.jpg" height="312" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Life is short, make fun of it...haha.</span></span><br />
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Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436439319384568935.post-20919286462871973742014-04-27T09:14:00.001-07:002014-04-27T09:25:29.759-07:00Instant karma's gonna get you...<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPTuW7LtR5IJlrjzZIY0Q_9x5Jrd7qn8LqGfLj_4aTSK64Ymx_0ddFhX1Fiuo3pyyVH8EzDsQVDcn30MZjJ2YYIIQpAyIL8vnha_5lzQn3jDs1niAG7q4hU_1uejk4HL0UdVp35nplizQ/s1600/snarl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPTuW7LtR5IJlrjzZIY0Q_9x5Jrd7qn8LqGfLj_4aTSK64Ymx_0ddFhX1Fiuo3pyyVH8EzDsQVDcn30MZjJ2YYIIQpAyIL8vnha_5lzQn3jDs1niAG7q4hU_1uejk4HL0UdVp35nplizQ/s1600/snarl.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Gonna look you right in the face<br />
Better get yourself together darlin'<br />
Join the human race<br />
How in the world you gonna see<br />
Laughin' at fools like me<br />
Who in the hell d'you think you are<br />
A super star<br />
Well, right you are</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- John Lennon</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Satya - truthfulness - was the underlying theme of my <a href="http://www.tarynstrong.com/" target="_blank">Yoga for Recovery class on Tuesday</a>. It made perfect sense to me, <a href="http://www.tarynstrong.com/" target="_blank">Taryn</a> has this knack for creating content in her classes that totally aligns with what's going on in my life. Or, it could just be that weird coincidence thing that happens when I listen to music at the gym. I start to think:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Hey, this song was totally written for me! How did INSERT ARTIST'S NAME HERE know? My gods, it's almost karmic, you put something out there into the universe and it comes back to you in song and winds up on your playlist! Oh, no wait, I guess I chose this playlist...and this song, and it has nothing to do with the universe, except for maybe it does?" </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I suspect that in yoga, it is just that I am always up for a good think, I enjoy eastern philosophies, I am a student of the cosmos (or at least a space cadet some of the time), and I believe that all things happen for a reason...so if <a href="http://www.tarynstrong.com/" target="_blank">Taryn</a> decides satya, or truthfulness, is what we are focusing on in class, then I had better pay attention...because I could learn something...and perhaps I need to face my truth or something. You get out what you put in, right? Well, I'm all in.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Satya, one of the 5 moral restrains that yogis practice, means truthfulness...but it's so much more, which is the case for all of the yamas. Honesty isn't as easy as going around telling the truth, it's as complicated as living honestly in conformity with fact or reality...being true to yourself as you exist within the universe. This leads me to speculate that satya may also correlate with my perception of reality.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">re·al·i·ty<span class="main-fl"><i> </i></span></span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="main-fl"><i>noun</i></span> <span class="pr">\rē-<span class="unicode">ˈ</span>a-lə-tē\</span></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">: the true situation that exists : the real situation</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">: something that actually exists or happens : a real event, occurrence, situation, etc.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So that means...</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieu1T0L2reLMzR9ZXi9G8fYYrW4C8zmTH0b5eHG3thgIwIQNYyCvcUk5TQprf4xQf3CPRsx7iYtH7m1wPsd6o-Vyvd_6veizuLhrUw_boKNl54CbWLegDwNqZdF3nrP5iqJtaEHnT8WElK/s1600/edgar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieu1T0L2reLMzR9ZXi9G8fYYrW4C8zmTH0b5eHG3thgIwIQNYyCvcUk5TQprf4xQf3CPRsx7iYtH7m1wPsd6o-Vyvd_6veizuLhrUw_boKNl54CbWLegDwNqZdF3nrP5iqJtaEHnT8WElK/s1600/edgar.jpg" height="185" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That satya has a direct correlation with cognition. Which makes me think...do I really know what's going on? Really? I am confident in the knowledge that I do not. Am I seeing the world as it truly is, or am I looking at it in a way that is dictated by my cognition of it? This is some pretty heavy shit. So how does this relate to my ninja training, healthy eating, lifestyle change, </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">emotional well-being, </span></span>eating disorder etc. etc. etc.? What does it have to do with my sporadic return to binge and restrict behaviour? How is it affecting how I deal with things? Well, I reckon that there's something that I don't really want to deal with or acknowledge...and that's what's pushing me towards my self-sabotaging ways. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now, about those coincidences...a mere 5 days before yoga, I went to my <a href="http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/find/resource.asp?First=1&country=Canada&sp=BC&county=-1&city=Victoria&org=53965&agencynum=17640204" target="_blank">Thursday group session (Eating Disorders Programme)</a> on distress tolerance and discussion was largely focused on acceptance and awareness. Acceptance = I don't like it, I can't change it, but I accept it. In order to practice accepting reality, it is important to be aware that it is in fact a choice to accept it. Satya, or truthfulness, plays into this big time. In my case, regarding the binging and restricting, I accept the fact that in times of distress I have the choice to capitulate and enter eating disordered behaviour or turn my mind. Easy peasy lemon squeezy, right?! Well, no. Difficult difficult lemon difficult. But, by turning the mind I go from, "The only thing I can do in this situation is use food" to "hey, there are other things I can do in this state." Being aware that I have more choices, well that's accepting reality. And, what of satya? Well, satya is making decisions that align with my true self. After all, I am a changed woman...one who has waaaay too many skills to resort to eating disordered behaviours. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What seems to be the trouble anyway? What is leading me down that very familiar slippery slope?</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-UifBc3xjtMh31tuoRBkP6fsHrAzqqEjWd3LqWAQ3GmY8ROIys8r3qZrjoJKyaqB8uPsJNixh8MgNDv4l_7BVJ_97rUW8vBYFGDJ3Fx9nr31QhcA4Of8g1v7rIsyYK-lrdHMalqsCp2q/s1600/walls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-UifBc3xjtMh31tuoRBkP6fsHrAzqqEjWd3LqWAQ3GmY8ROIys8r3qZrjoJKyaqB8uPsJNixh8MgNDv4l_7BVJ_97rUW8vBYFGDJ3Fx9nr31QhcA4Of8g1v7rIsyYK-lrdHMalqsCp2q/s1600/walls.jpg" height="316" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After yoga...things always become clearer. It's similar to when people say, "maybe you should sleep on it," I guess savasana has the same affect on me. It's a mindfulness thing. I go in being mind full...and leave being mindful. Yoga is all about awareness. Consiousness of breathing, of positions of the body, and of connection to the universe. Of course, it helps that <a href="http://www.tarynstrong.com/" target="_blank">Taryn specialises in yoga for recovery</a> - the woman is nothing short of amazing. Her talking points are relevant, enlightening, and always eerily timely, as I mentioned before. Satya.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What is my truth at this very moment? This entire blog is based on my journey from fat to fit, and now that I am nearly at my goal...I am obviously afraid of what happens next. What if my train goes off track, am I trying to prolong the trip, what happens if I get delayed and miss my connection?! In my last post I spoke of letting go of fear and enjoying the ride...well, I am...I guess, I just don't want get off when I get to the station. Subconsciously, I see everything passing by...consciously, I have hurried along to reach my final destination...and now I'm realising that Robert J. Hastings was right all along, it's not all happily ever after when you get there. The terminal is an illusion, true living is found in the the voyage. Ain't that the truth!</span></span></div>
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Suzie Spitfyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439631899232284892noreply@blogger.com0