I have started physical therapy for my frozen shoulder and though I hadn’t done much, I seemed to have developed pain in my chest it feels like there is a brick on it! It has subsided  but not gone away so I have a doctor’s apt today. At one point I couldn’t even lie on my back, now I can but  the more I move around, the worse it is. It was also suggested by my orthopedic surgeon that I go to U of M and see a rheumatologist and see if there is something ‘ internal’ going on since I am relatively healthy and all these weird ‘ joint’ issues keep happening with me; we are working on that and hopefully that it’ll be taken care of soon. Update, chest and lungs are fine, to quote my doctor ‘we are just all too stupid to figure this out, but I want to, give me a few weeks!’

I am also thinking of resigning from my part-time job. This has caused some friction at home,  because of medical bills and really me not being there very long. I also got a call back for another job while I was gone, Michael said she was very nice, I did call her back but she was not there, I will try again in the morning.

I am still ‘ pre-existing’, my PT is not covered but I hate my job, the stress is NOT good for me, but more than that between the frozen shoulder, the knee/thigh (they just told me they want to do another surgery) and now this, I hurt all the time. I told Michael I just needed a bit of time to try to heal, then I would get a job! It’s hard to focus on work ( I work in HR) when I don’t sleep well and I hurt so much) but also, I just hate it! understandably, he’s concerned for our medical bills could start to mount up and then what, and what about later, for really at this point, when will this end? It could be a year?  So much for me to think on. If I do, it will be for a brief time, just to try to get through some of this and then find something I am more suited for, everyone will be MUCH happier that way!

Either way, that is why I have been quiet, I haven’t blogged, face-booked, or anything I just haven’t been on here, so trying to keep up!

Off to the doctor today, hopefully, we can get into U of M soon and find out if something is going on! And that we find out today nothing is too serious!

I am still Eating Clean, broke the frustrating 150′s, whoot! 149 baby! Though Florida may have to wait till next year!

xoxoxoxo

Traci

First off, to answer the question about Beth’s Superman Muffins; the reason they’re called this is she wanted her boys excited to eat them and told them they would be big and strong like Superman if they did!

Secondly, as many of you know I have struggled with these last  ( cough, the holiday gain + 3 pounds) 18 pounds.  I asked Michael for incentive I didn’t want money, clothes or anything of that nature but I needed something. I know these last few pounds will be rough, so I need a push. He told me that if I could lose this amount, get down to (140) which is where I want to be by March he would take me to Florida. YES! I have never been and always wanted to go!  So, the challenge is on!

A friend has taken me up on my food journal challenge; which I have not done for many years I admit, but it was sooo helpful to me.   We will be doing this on my Facebook page every day till the end of February, so if you need the link, just let me know.

Now, I don’t work out.  I am on my second week of Cooler 1 of the Eat Clean diet plan. ( If you need this info pleases let me know, I will be getting to this later) PLEASE NOTE, I do have a tendency to eat less food then some-the reason for this is because I do not get the physical activity that most get even on a semi-regular basis. So please understand this when looking at my food.

I do see the Cardio Specialist this week,  I am not sure if physical therapy can be incorporated into my routine right now- we will have to see. I also see my knee surgeon on the 6th. I am hoping to add walking back into my life, but I am not sure we will be able to do that.

So, I will be back later in the week to do my  3rd installment of My Weight Loss Journey!

weddinglistco.com.au

Hopefully, this will be Michael and I in March!

Take Care and God Bless!

Traci

I apologize, and this shoulder injury is much harder to deal with then I anticipated, I  don’t get on the computer as much as I wish to. Working now and not sleeping well and I am worn out; we have found  that my tendon is torn, with tendonitis, arthritis, bursitis, etc.  I see an orthopedic specialist on February 2nd, hopefully we will have answers especially since it seems to have moved into my arm as well. I’m also having issues with my right shoulder now too???

I also see my knee surgeon on the 6th, it has been a year, can you believe it? And we are STILL having issues, more with limited bending and my thigh is still falling asleep, sigh! 

Please say a prayer! I had lunch with a dear friend today,  and mentioned how the Hubby was talking ‘ consequence’ and getting ‘legal’ thinking he was ‘off ‘ his walker’ lol! This was a bit ago-it has been some time since he mentioned this.  Thinking she would agree, but no she agreed with him. Her mother had TKR (total knee replacement) and didn’t have these issues, and had a lot more testing in the beginning than I! And my friend had a similar situation with her daughter’s school; she got all ‘mama bear’ on them, which is what prompted my friend’s remarks.  She said ‘ Traci; there are other surgeons, you do understand there is STILL a problem. He may be one of the best but you’re  still not fixed  that doesn’t mean he is ‘perfect’! And that though he may be ‘ the best’  that doesn’t mean to not look at other options or  someone else who may be able to fix you if they can’t or they keep  waiting for this or that’? Sigh, we will see. It just seems to be one long waiting game. I know some of this is me, my issues- just as I know some of this is because we couldn’t do PT as long as needed. Still; a year later, two manipulations and still having ‘ nerve like issues’? Guess we will see. I just keep praying!

Ok here in installment 2….

Yep; after finding out I weighed  245 pounds, I joined Weight Watchers. I had no choice, I was terrified, I had NO idea what to do, where to go and how to start. I learned a lot from them, and even still have my card…

WW Membership

There are 2 I learned from them which I am going to share-1.) journal- that is SO important!  You just can’t believe what all you put in your stomach during the day- I couldn’t believe it. I learned so much so much by writing down my daily food intake.  In fact, if anyone wants to take up this challenge with me, for 30 days I will do it with you, I will write down EVERYTHING I eat if you will!  Come on–everything including weekends!! t really does help, and it keeps you honest…who will do it with me? I need to get my butt in gear too? That is going to be my next post; we should make set up a challenge for our selves- even us old timers need help too!

Food Diary

Above is my journal in which I faithfully wrote EVERY day.

The other thing I really learned in Weight Watchers was to drink my water. I HATE drinking water, I will tell you! Never been my thing…so what I learned to do was drink tea (decaf).  I LOVE tea, and they told me that decaf tea could count as my water so, I drink it hot, cold, whichever, whatever to get my water in!

Weight Watchers Cup

I now try to drink two to three of these a day (cup), which I never did before.  helps that this is a cup with measurement marks to guide me. I wonder if they still give these out? I actually won this for losing 5 pounds one week!

My last thing I am going to share is Beth Downey’s ( you will hear more about  her later when I talk of joining the Brickhouse) Superman Muffins with you! THESE are amazing!  I have TRIED to  put a recipe section on here but could NOT get it to work, sigh, will have to work on it.  But these babies SAVED me after my surgery!!! And this was the first time I made them Vegan ( I don’t use eggs or milk) and they were just as yummy!

So, here goes!

Thank you BETH!

Beth and I

Now I add about 1/4 a cup more flour and 1/4 a cup more oats,

I don’t like them wet ( I mix this to  make the batter thicker)but do it to taste-

I also add dark chocolate chips to mine per the notes…. Enjoy, I love them!

Also- I have never used pumpkin spice, I know people have used oatmeal instead of oats and what not,

I have not tried that.

Here is the calorie content:

Plain muffins have about 125 calories but adding the below increases the calorie count as stated;

Then I usually add the following:

• 1/2 cup finely chopped nuts (I usually use pecans) (158 calories per muffin with this addition)

OR

• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (170 calories per muffin with this addition)

OR

• 1/2 cup dried fruit (147 calories per muffin with this addition)

                  “SUPERMAN” MUFFINS-Per Beth Downey

Basic recipe:

Ingredients

* 1  cups whole rolled oats OR wheat bran

• 1 cup nonfat milk
• I used rice milk
• Info for rice milk below
• *  cup unsweetened applesauce

• 1 egg
• I used 1/3^rd cup almond milk, 1tsp lemon juice
• Calories for almond milk below

  * 1/3 cup brown sugar

* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

* 1 cup whole wheat flour

* 1 teaspoon baking soda

* 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
• I used ground Jamaican Allspice

* 1/2 teaspoon salt

* 1 ripe banana (mashed)

• 1 small zucchini (peeled and finely grated)
• I used half a large zucchini

* 1 medium carrot (peeled and finely grated)

then add (1) of the following:

* 1/2 cup dried mixed berries

* 1/2 cup finely chopped nuts

• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
• I used vegan dark chocolate chips-sorry, don’t still have the bag for them, 
• but you can get them at amy whole foods, just note they need to be 7o% or greater

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Spray muffin cups or use paper muffin liners.

Mix together whole rolled oats and milk, and let stand for 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, mix together mashed banana, applesauce,egg, brown sugar, zucchini, carrot, and vanilla.egg, brown sugar, zucchini, carrot, and vanilla.

Sift together whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.

Stir into rolled oat and milk mixture until just blended. Fold in dried berries, nuts, or chocolate chips.

Scoop into muffin cups.

 Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes to 20 minutes,

or until toothpick comes out clean. Makes 12 full size muffins.

Mini muffins cook for 12 – 18 minutes (makes 48 mini muffins)

I will try to add more entries to this blog more often, perhaps twice a week; sorry I’m so late with this one.

Thanks for stopping by and God Bless!

xoxoxoxo

Traci

One pound at a time…

Update, I added some audio to my video! I am still sick, so please note that if it doesn’t sound the best but I tried… Hope it helps anyway!

I’m  sorry, I have been really sick with a bad  head cold, fever, throat and ear issues. My Husband was trying to help so he published my blog ( Thanks hun for trying ) and it really wasn’t  ready so I  came  back and made some changes. I’m sorry, my video was not on here ( and has no sound, that wasn’t an  issue I haven’t been able to fix)  and it wasn’t edited yet! Still not feeling very well and somewhat medicated so hope this is ok, lol!  I’m sorry  ya’ll are getting this twice,  and hope you don’t mind reading it again.

xooxoxoxo

Traci

We all have those don’t we? The some days, the should have’s, the could be’s! The lying on the bed with the coat hangers sucking in just ONE more DAMN inch from those DAMN jeans, or the ‘passed over look’ of the one person we wanted to notice us? How about the some day, I will work out ‘ some day’ or I will start my diet ‘ tomorrow’? Yeah, or what about the infamous ‘ Ex’? Yeah, I have that to, I adore my Husband don’t get me wrong but my Ex, as  many issues as I have with him, my memories  got me through some rough moments! Any of you have those? That ONE thought of revenge, that ONE song that plays just for the two of you, the more ‘ twisted’ the better, or maybe it’s just me who is like that? It is not that you want them, but you want them to see you looking just AMAZING? I can be the happiest I’ve ever been and still that one song speaks of the best revenge, the worst breakup, the most ‘ get even’ and in this situation, well, it really helped me. If you could see my iPod, you would understand and maybe I will make that one of my posts, a music post, for hey, what gets you through right? We can’t all be thinking of beaches right, or am I the only twisted sister out there, lol?  The would of, could of, should of’s? I have a daughter who is about turn 18 and I adore her, and all her life I have  never kept my word about this diet, I have failed at EVERY DIET, yeah, how many have you been there? What a role model I HAVE been!  We WANT to and wham, the dreaded three days come around, yeah you know the ones I am talking about and  a cheeseburger NEVER tasted so good, you would DETEST it during the week but something happens on Saturday that just shuts your brain off right? I don’t know why either, but I can tell you I have learned some tricks, we CAN do this, it DOES get easier!

Well, as so many of you know I have gone through this journey, and still going through it.  I ‘m going to  try and  back track and do what I can to show you what I did, help you walk through it and show you what I did! Yes, I made mistakes, yes I went backwards , YES, I blew it on the weekends BUT I learned from it and YES, I have an injury and have lost over 90 pounds and YES, I don’t work out like the majority of people ( not by choice I miss you Beth!), I can’t! At this point, I am still having complications from my total knee replacement I had in 2010 and I am now having shoulder issues, we just did the MRI Saturday to see if my rotator cuff is torn (update) it is NOT torn, we have found out that I have a lot of inflammation and arthritis.  I have to see a specialist to see where to go from here. I am starting to have pain in my right shoulder as well, I am not exactly sure what all this means as of yet.

Here is my first installment…

Before the Eat Clean Diet, before anything else I was lost…I thought, there is NOTHING that could help me. My best friend Kat introduced me to Biggest Loser and I thought, oh lovely, another reality Tv show and then Jillian, Bob and Allie  happened and I was hooked….and frankly I need someone to kick MY ASS! Ya’ll need me to help you and well, I need you to help ME, hold me accountable, keep ME in line! For I am towards the end, I need someone who won’t be afraid to tell ME what is what! Michael is wonderful, God love him! But he is the Hubby and, well that gets complicated for you can only hear that truth so often you know? Does anyone ELSE know what I mean? He means well but we are together all the time, I need someone  else, someone others to help me with this journey, any takers, can someone be my ‘ Jillian’?  It is just different if that makes sense?

Jill  got my ass off the couch, her and her black team which was so often the underdog, I rooted for her, I cried for her, I was like YES, she is MEAN, but she has heart, she has soul- I LOVE IT! I was terrified,  I was scared, I was afraid but I was going to do it, they were coming to Michigan. ( I wanted Jillian, I wanted her to go for her)  I was 245 pounds and I needed to change my life! I needed Jill, Bob and Allie…I needed change! I needed a Jillian, that courage, that strength-someone who can hold ME to it, oh I will do that work, I have…I just need to follow through and get to the end! She inspired me, I miss her! Sadly, I couldn’t I had surgery soon after…

I wish I had the sound, somehow it got deleted but you can at least see what I was going through in this brief clip, I wanted ya’ll to see that I have BEEN there, I do REMEMBER! I walked the walk, I made the excuses, I cried the tears and I was a mess, oh such a mess! So, as Biggest Loser starts their season with no excuses, I believe that should be our theme as well, so please, oh please join me and let’s have NO EXCUSES!!!! I will cheer you on as you cross your finish line, so let’s do this together!!!! We have so much we can learn from one another for my journey is NOT over, I am still walking it! Let’s do this!!! One pound at a time!!!

X0xoxoxoxoxo

Traci

I’m  also really proud of my Husband, he has been eating really healthy as well!  Here is breakfast this morning, Traci approved!

Michael's breakfast

Here is a pic Cort took at the Mall yesterday, just a little diddy I thought I would share with you guys. I am having so much fun with her here! Once I have pictures from our Christmas I will share those too! I am under the weather, hoping to feel better soon!

AND as most of you know, I have suffered with multiple injuries and going  back and forth with SS, I WAS APPROVED!!! This will help in many ways, thank you God! Though, this brings the scary MRI one step closer, I am TERRIFIED of them! EEK!

I hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year! God Bless!

xoxoxo

Traci

xoxoxo,

Traci

As most of you know, I am battling a shoulder injury, so between this and my knee, Traci is often not a happy camper! In  January when I’m  able to have the MRI and start figuring out what is wrong with me exactly, I’m going to do my ‘ Eat Clean Guide’, we have talked about!

For now, so that I can keep in touch, lets  just talk about some ‘ regular’ things which are going on, for even I need a break from all MY misery! LOL

Since I have been shopping ( for Christmas) I have been having to do some for myself, even though the joke is- ‘ I HATE SHOPPING’! My Husband just shakes his head and patiently just does the ‘man nod’! You know the one, where they don’t say anything, they just nod, yep, that was it!

I have been wanting to change my look, get away from wearing ALL black, do you know how much black I have?  Now, that I have changed a bit, lost some weight, I want to add some color back to my world! So Hubby, being the patient man he is, took me shopping.  My (oh my) what a wonderful man I have, took me anywhere I wanted to go!  He waited, carried and commented, all in the most positive of ways! Now, can you ask for more than that?

So, Traci went to Aeropostle, yep, me at 42 thinking, am I crazy, do people my age even KNOW about this store? I have to say this because I have found a wonderful woman Amber whose  been cutting my hair, and  she has the two- toned hair that Avril Lavigne made so popular. I WANT IT, lol, but I joke with her and say ‘ but I am to old’ and she says’ please, you don’t look to be out of your 30′s!’ Now, you see why I love Amber, and I may yet do the two-toned style, but it may be brown and red.

BTW, like my new haircut? I laughed and said that if you were to give me a can of Aquanet and some electric blue eyeliner it’d be like I was back in the 80′s! What do you think?

Traci 2011, my new Haircut!

Also, you can’t see it but I am wearing my new Aeropostle Hoodie! As I mentioned, COLOR, TRACI NEEDS COLOR! So, while we were there, I saw a lime green hoodie and said YES, that is mine! Of course being at an Outlet Mall and EVERYTHING is on sale, they are limited in sizes! They only had a large, and I thought,  YES my size!  You are talking to the lady who was 245 pounds, right, a large, that will work!?  So my Husband had me try it on OVER my sweater, did I tell you HE must have been crazy? Well, umm, you see ( I HATE admitting he is right, sigh!), it was too big! I was like, are you kidding? So, I saw the blue one ( my Husband calls me a smurf, lol) and they only had a small. Well, why not, stranger things in the universe have happened. Yep, perfect fit! A small, with medium bottoms, WOW, can anyone say WOW!

Here is the Hoodie, before I cut my hair!

And there you have it, I am adding some color to my world, I have something really comfy to wear and I am a Smurf, you just gotta love it!

Happy Holidays to everyone, I hope they are blessed!

xoxoxoxo

Traci

Sorry I haven’t been here- I am trying to keep up! I have just had one issue after another…

We saw the knee surgeon and found out that my walking two miles a day was not beneficial for me, and was setting me back, so now I am not getting much movement really.  We also found out that PT is not covered by my insurance, sigh! UGH, CAN WE SAY, I give? So, I have been a bit frustrated, depressed, and ok - pissed off  lol! I am at my wits end to tell you the truth, I can get the MRI for my shoulder for about $400.00 but I can’t do PT at this time, we just can’t swing it. I don’t have to have surgery right away for my knee, thank you God, BUT they want me in PT now  BUT again, we can’t afford it.  I am going to do research for lower body injuries and see what I can find to get some movement which doesn’t hurt for chopping vegetable hurts and by the time I get home I am pretty useless for I hurt so much but try  to just ignore it and be ‘ functional’ yeah, it is really working for me.

 They felt bad for me ( I guess) so they have given me a brace to wear for a month for my bend is 86, should be in the 100′s and my extension is between 3-4, should be 0.  Sorry to be so negative, I am just frustrated for I feel I have gone through hell to get here and I am still here, but we weren’t promised ‘ a pain free life’ so I am doing my best to hang on till January and not have my family either commit me or hate me in the process for Traci is not always a happy camper, really I feel quite sorry for them for they put up with quite a lot from me!

Per my lifestyle, still Veganish, but struggling with the dairy aspect, specifically the cheese aspect so having that occasionally and lately I have been craving red meat. We have been doing more research and honestly think fish is an important aspect BUT I am STILL struggling with the whole ‘ moral’ issue so, I am somewhat stuck.  I am craving it but not sure I can do it,  so where I am?  I think we may try going out to dinner this weekend and I will see IF I can do it that way, my body apparently is wanting/needing this? I am not sure, I am also exhausted and feeling very run down, part of this may be that I not eating enough, since we have cut out dairy AND  meat, I am not eating NEAR enough fruit and vegetables, which is part of the problem. I seem to be around 1100/1200 calories a day but not getting enough of what my body needs so I have starting taking supplements per the Hubby. So, Traci REALLY needs to figure this out so I don’t make myself sick, I am having a hard time mixing my clean lifestyle with this new lifestyle but I think that is in my head.

Can anyone see I am struggling?

My weight seems to be stuck in the low 150′s, about 153 (size 9 in juniors seems to fit the best but I get no movement, go figure, can’t lift my arm that much (still thinking the rotator cuff is torn) and only sorta bend my knee, so trying to figure it out and the burning is still there- Mama says this too shall pass! I am doing PT at home and doing it at work as well…so we shall see.

 I will update, I still believe in paying it forward, I am just trying to get myself figured out, God only gives what we can handle, so I am praying for peace- Dear Lord please give me peace!

Thank you all for being here for me while I try and get it together!

xoxoxo,

Traci

Still planning on doing my journey, tips and anything I can think of to help those who are just starting, currently going through it or just need some help!

Thanks for hanging in there with me!

xxoxoox,

Traci

So, my Vegan cookies, first draft, they were a little dry, I will work on that. The next draft will be better I think.

Hubby Approved

And of course, Michael had to take one with me eating them, one

Yep, I was eating them!

So, here is the proof, they were tasty, trial and error, but they were GOOD! I have learned, especially during ‘THOSE’ times, you must have sweet eats, and instead of invading the pantry, which I have done. I need to have healthy eats, that of course are tasty!

Here is the recipe, now I had to add and extra 1/4 cup of oil and I also added an extra 1/4 cup of chocolate chips for I used mini and vegan ones btw…

Vegan Choc Cookies049

So, not sure  you can see this, I will have to find a way to put this another way, for it was a great recipe. I truly believe a lot of this will be trial and error for I am not the best cook but it is making me try more and different things, so that is good.

So, all for now, off to work, looking for mugs for our Thanksgiving Luncheon, my first I have planned, eek! Thankfully, my boss, though not Vegan, she is healthier so there will be some options available for me.

Have a blessed day!

Traci