Well… I’m getting there. I’m down ten pounds since December 20th, which I can pat myself on the back for, for sure! It was really hard not to eat crap and indulge over the holidays, but the results are so worth it.

I know what my roadblocks are, which I need to look out for, that will potentially impede my weightloss progress. The big one… wine! I LOVE WINE. So, I’ve decided rather than feel left out and miss it so much, I’ll allow myself a glass or two each week. As I’m giving myself one day a week where I can indulge a little, that’ll be the day I can savour a glass or two of vino.

My second roadblock is sustaining activity that I can enjoy on a regular basis. I hate to state the obvious, but Calgary IS FREAKING COLD. It’s a rare day that the mercury has been above minus 20, these days. And, since I love to walk and hike, and absolutely can’t do it in this weather, I’ve embarked on EA Sports Active 2 for the Wii! One week in, and I can say without a doubt, I am out of shape!! There’s four of us in our workout group, so if you want to join us with EASA 2 for the Wii, let me know and I’ll give you the group details! It’s definitely nice having Barry and my cousin’s wife doing it too… It’s an extra push to get those 4 workouts in a week!

So, there’s my update for my weight loss journey.

YOUR TURN: Have you made any progress in your journey to health this week? Do share!

Mr. Deity and the Help Meet

What are you looking forward to, this weekend? Me? It’s poker night at our place tonight (can’t wait!), and we’re launching our new professional blog this weekend, so it’s going to be a work weekend for us both.

Whatever you get up to, I hope you have an awesome time!

Hey guys! It’s that time of the week, again… Time to socialize on the fly! (And, I’ll have one of those shots in the photo, please!)

Here’s how it works:
I’ll start with a question, and the first person answers my question, and then asks a different question for the next person in the same comment. Feel free to play as many times as you like!

I’ll start!

Have you ever taken a “snow day”? When? What did you do?

Welcome to my new blogger series — Every Tuesday I’ll be highlighting bloggers I read, and follow, through various social feeds. This first week, I want to highlight my friend, Derek K. Miller.

I’ve known Derek for years… I believe the first time I met him was at a friend’s social gathering just over four years ago. Not long after this, Derek was diagnosed with Stage Four metastatic colorectal cancer. In fact, two days ago marked his four year journey battling the brutal disease. I can’t believe it’s been that long.

Derek’s diagnosis, and the inimate journey he shared with us all through his blogging, while struggling with chemo and many other awful and painful medical treatments resonated with me. My Dad was going through a similar battle at the same time. Through it all, Derek has been an amazing pillar of strength, both for his family (Airdrie, his wife, and their two daughters), and his friends. I can honestly say I probably would have not been so thoughtful in my posts, struggling with such a horrible disease. We can all learn from him.

Recently, Derek shared with his readers that he has decided to stop treatment, after chemotherapy and various cancer treatments weren’t working anymore. A deluge of comments roared into that post… 128 at last count, many shared as understanding readers, and a few desperately begging Derek to reconsider and try other un-tested treatments lacking clinical evidence. I weighed in, too, lending only support, and understanding. My Dad had come to the same conclusion, and eventually lost his battle with prostate cancer. I saw the fruitless pain he went through with no results, and completely understood Derek’s decision to conclude his treatments.

But, the reason why I enjoy Derek’s blog the most, isn’t because of his blogging on cancer, but because through it all, he’s still living, and sharing his adventures and his knowledge… I’m so glad his daughters will have a small part of him beyond simply the cancer journey to look back on. And, my world is brighter knowing that I can count Derek, and his wife Airdrie as friends.

I’ve been living in denial for some time now. How can I expect real, long-lasting change if I’m not completely honest with myself about where I started in my weight-loss goals?

This is what I said to myself a few weeks ago, when I decided to start changing how I eat, and move. So, I stepped on the scale, and threw up a little in my mouth. I actually let out an audible gasp. I couldn’t believe what that glowing number was beside my feet. I. Can’t. Be. 200. Pounds.

I just can’t.

But, I was. Tears flowed down my face. What the hell happened to me in the past year? I’ve put on over thirty-five pounds? Seriously? I knew my weight was up, because I wasn’t fitting into my size 12 jeans anymore. And, my size 10 suit jackets? Uh, ya… they weren’t getting around my middle, either. This was horrifying.

This is the heaviest I’ve ever been, and that’s saying something. Ten years ago, before I lost nearly sixty (yes, six zero!) pounds, I was 195, and I thought that was extreme. Nope, apparently not. In these past 10 years, I’ve been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid, and my life has been upside down on more than one occasion, and the weight has slowly crept back on — this past year has seen the worst of it.

It’s time I take my life, and my health, back.

Since I started on my lifestyle changes about three weeks ago, and over Christmas and New Years to boot, I’ve lost nine pounds. I’m pretty happy with that change, especially over the holiday season, but, now I’ve introduced PGX info my routine (it’s doing good things!), and I’m anxiously awaiting my EA Sports Active 2 for the Wii that I ordered way back on Christmas Day (what the hell is taking so long Best Buy??) so that I can ramp up my activity even further.

So… There you have it. My ugly secret is exposed. I never thought I’d see a number like that on the scale, and here’s hoping I never see it again. Good riddance.

YOUR TURN: Have you made any positive changes in your eating habits or exercise level, lately? Do tell!

This hilarious video was sent to me by my Uncle Barney – I have no idea why he’d think I’d find it funny [grin]! Have an awesome weekend everyone!

YOUR TURN! What are you up to, this fine wintery weekend?

Hey kids! How’s your new year going so far? The first part of January has been pretty good to me, but I want to ramp it up a notch or two. Increasing my writing frequency on this, my personal blog, as well as the professional wealth blog that I contribute to (and am chief editor of), are a big part of that. More on my professional blog in another post…

And, what’s the best way to succeed at something you want? Why, setting achievable goals of course!

So, I am putting together editorial calendars for both blogs, and I thought I’d share what to look forward to here, for content:

MONDAYS: My personal weight loss journey updates — How did I do last week on the scale? What roadblocks did I run into? What successes did I see this week?

TUESDAYS: Each Tuesday I’ll be highlighting a blog(ger) I read, and what brings me to their site.

WEDNESDAYS: Don’t miss the weekly mid-week socializing game! It’s great fun and a great way to meet new people… All in a house-party-type setting online. Now, available each week here at “This Chick’s Life”! The game is also a great way to get new visitors to your own blog or twitter feed, too, as link-love is a big part of the commenting fun!

THURSDAYS: General content if there’s something noteworthy to blog about!

FRIDAYS: I’m bringing back Friday Silliness! And, of course, I’m open to suggestions! If you see something funny during the week, drop me a comment and let me know about it!

SATURDAYS: A day off blogging unless there’s something to report on in the life of Tanya… I might eventually bring back the Weekend Meet n’ Greet Commenting Game if there’s enough interest for it? Drop me a comment and let me know!

SUNDAYS: A day off blogging unless something earth shattering happens… I might fill this day from time-to-time with a meme-type post, if there’s interest!

So, what do you think? Although I do write this blog first for me, I also write for you, my most awesome visitors… Would you like to see other content here?

Here’s hoping you and yours have an amazing, and adventure-filled 2011!

Love,
Tanya