Apr 30, 2010

Coaching

I decided to begin working with a life coach because I want to feel better than I have been feeling physically and emotionally. Last year I lost ten pounds and maintained that loss over the holidays. For me lifestyle changes have taken time.

Most recently, I've taken advantage of Weight Watchers meetings and Weight Watchers Online. My group is an amazing support system to me. We meet weekly and in between for birthdays and holiday celebrations. My WW girls are a network of wonderful women who have enhanced my life enormously. The youngest member of our group is Sam - He will be a year old soon - the oldest is in her 80's. We call each other, email, and hang out together a lot.
Even with such an amazing support system, I find that I have not been very good at following a healthy routine. I have lowered my cholesterol by a 75 points and the doctor is pleased. Changing what I eat and quitting smoking are gifts that came to me by grace and through determination. After the December holidays I frightened myself with an eating spree. It started out slowly -- a bite here, an extra snack there - you get the picture. Momentum built and by February 6th I was in a full fledged binge. I caught it and while it did not net added pounds, it did prove to me that something was out of whack. I was heading for trouble.

Experience has taught me to listen to the inner voice that guides me - and then to spend quiet time seeking guidance for the next step in life. I asked for serenity, courage & wisdom. I began setting aside 20 minutes each day to read and then taking whatever time needed to journal my response to the reading afterward. Answers came, in the writing - via an email - and through a phone call.

In the autumn of 2008, I was in a professional Entrepreneurial Women's Master Mind Group led by @JanePollak of http://www.janepollack.com/ where I met Cynthia. She and I hit it off almost immediately. I was drawn to her warm character and gentle strength. We have been in contact with one another several times building a friendship over the next 17 months that ensued.

Cynthia's newsletter arrived in my email Inbox. I put it on my to do list to make a call to her to say hello. Before I had a chance to do so, Cynthia called me. I do not believe that is a coincident -- rather a God Incident Cynthia and I have been on the same wave length many times of our 17 month friendship. This time I knew I needed to make a commitment to making changes in my routine. I know that having a coach will make a difference because I am a trained life coach and have experienced several life-changing coaching relationships.

I began a new coaching relationship with someone whose style I respect. I decided to work face to face with my coach because I prefer the personal interaction. We will meet monthly -and we are going to meet in a delightful retreat center on Long Island Sound in Darien, CT.

Apr 29, 2010

Rose and Crown Guest House

Blue at the Condo

This is our first visit to the condo since we finished painting the living room and installing new blinds last month.  It was Baby Blue's trial run here. 
Historically, Blue - our eleven year old Blue Merle Collie -  has been a pain about visiting anywhere.  When she was 2 we took her with us to a pet friendly hotel .  After that trip, I swore I'd never vacation with her again because we'd spent 2 long and sleepless nights with our pacing, drooling, panting, whining dog.  We did not try an overnight with her again after that. 

To say I wasn't optimistic about  bringing her with us to the cape this weekend is an understatement.  When we pulled up in front of the condo yesterday afternoon Blue hopped out of the van and headed to the front steps.  It seems she  instinctively knew where to go.  Blue brambled up the front steps and came inside.  Blue has a herniated disk and doesn't climb steps easily.  In fact we chose this condo in part because the back entrance has no steps and the entry is level.  To my pleasure and surprise, Blue settled right in.  When I started dinner, Blue sat down in front of the sofa and promptly fell asleep with her head on her right paw waiting for it to be her time to eat.  After which she went out the back door for a walk and came back in again as if she'd done this routine dozens of times.  Once inside Blue was content and fell fast asleep. Vinny and I marveled at this.

Yesterday morning, Blue had begun to panic while Vinny and I packed for the trip.  By the time we were loading up the van, she was in her usual near frantic state which comes on her any time we leave for a trip.  This is a dog who is sedated when there are severe thunder storms for her own safety.  Once we found her trapped behind the waterheater in the basement and another time she rearranged sofas,chairs, beds and end tables when we could not get home to her in time during a summer storm.  Yesterday, when we brought her outside with the last piece of luggage, Blue's relief was clear to us.  She hopped into the van with the help of a piece of cheese to entice her and we headed North on I95 for the 5 hour journey to Provincetown. 

Blue loved the car ride which was uneventful except for when she tipped over the water dish.  We stopped twice to walk her.  Once at the Mystic Seaport Overlook and the second time in Hyannis off of route 6. I was showing signs of wear from being cooped up in the car more than Blue was.  When we reached our destination we all were glad to get out of the car.

It was a bit unnerving when Blue did not come to the table looking for scraps from our meal .  I figured she was worn out and too tired, even so, it was unusual.  She went out one more time before we retired for the night.

This morning it was business as usual.  We fed her, walked her and brought her back inside.  She started to nudge us for attention and was her usual self. I guess we have a home away from home that we are able to share with our beloved dog, friend & companion, Baby Blue. 

Now if we could just get the dishwasher to work and find out why the cable isn't connecting......

Apr 20, 2010

DIAGNOSIS - DIABETES TYPE 2




I was working on my computer editing photos when the doctor phoned me to say that my blood work was in.  Happily, the cholesterol screening showed improvement and normal numbers.  Unfortunately the glucose numbers were high and so the doctor ran a second screening called A1C which takes the average of the blood sugar levels in the body for the previous 2 to three months. My A1C reading was 8 - diabetes.


This childhood photo of me after cleaning out my mothers homemade fudge from the pan shows evidence of my early and abiding love of all things sweet.  I love this photo.  It speaks volumes to me and reminds me to treat my adorable self with great care and compassion.  The worn linoleum under my feet shows the modest background I come from.  My dirty sneakers show previous use. The clothes are hand me down and so is the pot for that matter.  It originally belonged to my grandmother -- who had acquired adult onset diabetes as well. 


I have a lot to learn about my new diagnosis.  I will be writing about it and sharing what I learn as I digest the information.  While the news is a surprise, it is not entirely unexpected.  I have diabetes in my family.  I am over 45.  I was a smoker for many years.  I did not exercise enough in my life and I always enjoyed sweet, salty, starchy foods.  I believe that over the course of my life, I have worked hard to improve my fitness and health.  When I was 33 I was diagnosed with high cholesterol. It took more than 20 years to receive a "normal" range.  But I did it.  Diabetes is not welcome here but it has made itself a home in my pancreas.  I will do my best to help this body improve - one day at a time.  


http://www.diabetesstories.com/stories_blog/

I have a wonderful group of friends who support me on this journey.  Thanks to them, I know I am not alone.  I love you guys!