My Orthotics

I am so happy! Today my orthotics came in the mail! Yippee!! I don't think I mentioned this, or maybe I have, but this will be my third pair.

I had a pair when I was 12 or 13. They were this ugly, bitter yellow color. I got these to first "force" an arch into my left foot and help correct and alleviate some of the pain that I was feeling from walking. At the end of the school year one year, I left these hated shoes in my locker and they were thrown away. Boy was my mother pissed when she found out.

After my first surgery, it was deemed necessary for orthotics again. Luckily I was off the hook about losing the last ones, because my doctor said they wouldn't work, since they were designed for my pre-surgery foot.

These too, lasted a few years before I fell out of favor with them.

My knee wasn't really an issue during the times I was wearing them but it was because they forced an arch out of my right ankle.

I think that while I will probably always loathe orthotics, it is now painfully clear that I need them. It's either that or surgery. Let's go the non-invasive route this time, shall we?

My orders are to start out wearing them 1 hour today, then 2 hours tomorrow, and then 3 on Friday, so on and so forth, and basically wear them whenever I put shoes on. Since I work at home, however, I rarely have shoes on, but I will make doubly sure I wear them each day, and try and wear them while I am working. I will have to pretend its an office job, I guess :)

Have I mentioned how lucky I am to have insurance and a health savings account to pay for this? It'd be really expensive otherwise. Thank you, husband's employer, for having such great benefits. Thankfully I have a job that is extremely flexible so I can take the time to take care of myself, both medically and in my life style.

What exciting thing made your day today? Share!

Is This My Life?

I had a "what the hell am I doing" moment last night.

I was installing Ubuntu, which is Linux, on my computer and while waiting for the installation to finish, I waxed my eyebrows. Geek and Diva all rolled into one? Am I truly "that person"? Well the short answer is no: Not only did it take all night for Ubuntu to install on my laptop, I freaked out that I lost Windows Vista and all of my data (no backups were created prior- dumb move) and my eyebrow waxing went.... sort of ....bad.

I mean, I only ripped off half my eyebrow. Quite literally.

Only 8 short weeks until they grow back :(

Seriously though, it doesn't look too bad. They are just shorter- much shorter- and lesson learned. Pay the $10 to go get it done professionally.

All I can say is thank God I didn't try and give myself a Brazilian.

Reflections.

Since September 29th, the day I joined Weight Watchers, I have lost 14 lbs on the program and a total of 21.5 lbs since my highest weight on my wedding day.

May will be here soon, and that will mark my 2 year anniversary to start getting healthy and back to my former "dating" weight. I am only a mere 31 lbs away from achieving this goal- which is my most important goal for the year. I want to end 2011 at least 31 lbs lighter and back into my former hot body.

I thought about my short journey on Weight Watchers so far, and I have discovered that I do have a lot of work left to do but also that I am doing great at the same time!

I lost 14 lbs in 3 months
I eat fruit on a semi daily basis
I eat veggies on a semi daily basis
I switched from ground beef to ground turkey
I cook even more at home
I took a Zumba class, went bike riding, and bought new hand weights, bought a Kinect (with Dance Central, Zumba, and Your Shape)
I went for a bike ride on New Years Eve because it was almost 60 degrees! Just a year ago, or even a few months ago, I would have wasted that precious day.
I started taking care of my body. Drinking water/tea instead of soda most days. Going to the doctor/chiropractor instead of putting it off, etc.
I started looking in the mirror and really seeing who I was. Not some fat chick, or someone who needs a shower that day. But seeing *me* and noticing all the little changes.

In 3 months I have changed a lot. I still need to work on certain things, such as trigger foods, eating more fruits/veggies, and exercising more regularly. I also need to track more.

I am so pleased with my progress. I know I could have "tried harder" and got where I wanted to be by the end of the year, but it's also a journey. I like the ups and the downs. The hills and the valleys. If it were easy, then it wouldn't be as rewarding.

What's the theme of this year? This year, I want to appreciate every day, because you never know when it's your last. I also want to live life to the fullest, trying new things and enjoying old favorites.

What is your theme for the new year? What are you most thankful for? What were your biggest accomplishments? What were your smallest?