Monday, June 30, 2008

Weigh-In



Monday night Weight Watchers Weigh In....
I'm now 28 days into Weight Watcher CORE program without a binge....
I'm now down 16 pounds and I recieved my 16 week charm.
My goal is 50 pounds in my 50th year!!! 16# Down - 34 to go!!!!

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Friday's FIVE!




Summer is officially here!!!!

Five of my Favorite Summer things~~~~

1. Visits from my kids for fun summer weekends.

2. Boat rides with our friends... cold beer - oldies radio... frozen Boone's Farm and Good friends..

3. Indiana Tomatoes and Indiana Corn on the Cob!!!! Local Farmer's Markets...

4. Kosciusko County 4H Fair - and other Summer Festivals....

5. Lankenau's Luau on Yellow Creek Lake!!! The highlight of my summer!!!!

This year - July 5th, marks the 6th annual Lankenau's Luau - we're busy with last minute details... getting ready to cook the HOG - and set up the tents. It will be a busy a week!!!

Friday, June 20, 2008

Friday's FIVE!

I've been hesitant to bring this up - I'm not sure if I thought it might jinx it - or I'm afraid of being held accountable or I'm afraid that I might not succeed and none of us really like to make our weaknesses public.....

I've lived my life battling my weight with a flurry of eating disorders. My weight has fluctuated at least 70 pounds and as much as 100 pounds at a time. I've lost and gained weight more times than I can count. Many people fluctuate 10-20 pounds...but I truly fluctuate 50-80...Its hard on my body, I know it is.
I don't like being overweight - and I love being fit and thin. I know both extremes. I've worn clothing as large as a size 40 jeans - and I've worn a size 3. I've been extremely fit and I've been extremely obese.
I've struggled with bulemic behaviors -and I've been on every diet in the world. I was just 9 years old when I experienced my first episode of 'diet' pills. My pediatrician actually prescribed diet pills!!! I had the cleanest bedroom in my class! Mom also had me on the diet candy 'Aydes' when I was a child.
I was 15 when I went to Weight Watchers for the first time. That was my first big loss - I lost about 70 pounds that time. By the time I married when I was 18, I had to order a size 20 wedding dress. In 1977, I was 19-20 years old I started a diet on my own, counting calories... 600-700 a day. I lost weight pretty fast ... about 85# that time. I have done the Adkins diet, I have done the cabbage diet, I've taken Redux, Adipex, Didrex, Phen Fen, Xenical - you name....I've done it.
In 1980 - after Katie was born I went back to Weight Watchers and lost 77#.... I became a leader for Weight Watchers and kept the weight off for over 10 years. After I was accepted into the OT program in Indy - I had to leave my job as a Weight Watcher leader....and it all (and more) came back on again.
I graduated from OT school in 1993 - and by 1996 I had acheived my all time high of 246#. I was miserable. I went to a Weight Loss Dr. and started taking diet pills with monthly Dr. visits, cardio checks, blood pressure checks and weight/body fat measurements. I lost about 100# and took up weight lifting. I became very thin and extremely fit....it was my obsession. I worked hard on my body - and my body became hard. I also learned at that time that there was a little bit of an athlete in me. It was at this time that I took up my bike riding and my routine work-outs.

After Bruce and I married in 2002 - my weight gradually increased about 30#. I've fluctuated about 15 -20 pounds over the last 5 years. The recent foot surgeries have kept me from being able to go to the YMCA or ride my bike. More weight has crept on.... so......

In February I went back to Weight Watchers... and followed the Flex plan without much success. Three weeks ago - I decided to start following the Weight Watchers CORE program.
The Core Program consists of foods that are low in energy density, meaning they contain a small number of calories per ounce. CORE foods are whole foods- and very few foods are processed... measuring and tracking is not a part of this program. Just healthy eating to satisfaction from CORE foods! Its a balanced, highly nutritious lifestyle ... with healthy whole foods high in antioxidants.
I have been enjoying enjoying cooking and trying new recipes - we've been eating at home more and we will both be healthier because of it. I'm proud to be doing this without diet pills or purging of some kind. I've decided that even if I don't lose weight (I'm down 10# so far) - at least I'm eating healthy and focusing on a better lifestyle for Bruce and I.


So - with a focus on my current Weight Watcher CORE program... this weeks Friday's FIVE! is a tribute to five of my favorite things about the CORE program.



1. FRESH fruits and vegetables - especially fruit. I have really enjoyed Honey-Dew, Blueberries, Strawberries, Cherries, Nectarines... etc. etc. etc.


2. Skim Milk ...I have always loved milk - but didn't drink it very often because it seemed a 'waste' of my calories. Focusing on nutrition - I enjoy a cold glass of skim milk everynight before I go to bed.


3. Steel Cut Oats ... I've mentioned this more than once in this blog - but I just love Steel Cut Oats! 1/4 C Steel Cut Oats/1 Cup Water/1/4tsp salt and a dash of cinnamon in a 1.5 qt crockpot before bed - and hot and steamy oats are ready for breaksfast when I wake up in the morning!


4. Weightwatchers.com - I love the Weight Watchers website ... the recipes, the message boards and the e-tools. http://www.weightwatchers.com/


5. Weekly Weigh-In - Monday nights....my weekly weigh-in. I look forward to weighing in and sitting through the meetings in a must for me. I need the accountability of getting on the scales routinely...



Okay - I did it. I made it public....I'm trying to lose weight, again. I'm not ready to post my official 'before' pictures yet....but I have had the guts to have Bruce take some photos. I'll be posting occassional updates on my progress.... My goal = 50# in my 50th year!


I think it is realistic to see my goal by my birthday - February, 2009 when I turn 51.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Friday's FIVE!

Father's Day weekend - a time to celebrate Fathers. While my own Daddy is in heaven, and I'm no longer married to the father of my daughters - I have a lot to celebrate. I have memories of my own father, I have two beautiful daughters that I shared with their own father, and I had two wonderful grandfathers that I loved... and my own husband - who is a wonderful Step-Father to my daughters - and an amazing grandfather to our two grandsons...
My own Daddy taught me many, many lessons in life - so, in honor of Fathers Day... and my own Father - today's Friday's FIVE! is a focus on five valuable lesson I learned from my Daddy.

1. Never go to bed mad.
This was a life law we lived in our home. You can get as mad as you want- and you can even still be upset when you go to bed, but when you lay your head down... you need to let go of the anger and say "I love you"...

2. You don't have to talk dirty to have a good time
I rarely heard my Dad swear - He had very little tolerance for swearing or harsh talk ... and he didn't want to hear it from us. I'm sure that when he was with his fishing buddies or the guys at work, he could spit a few harsh words.... but at home and in the presence of his wife and children, it just wasn't heard - or tolerated.

3. Never bet on a grey horse
Daddy loved Churchill Downs and he loved to take us to the races. It was a wonderful time sitting in the clubhouse - drinking Bloody Mary's and betting on the horses. He taught me how to read a racing form - he taught me how to bet on the horses. While his lessons were good, I still work for a living... however, the joy and entertainment he taught me is enough. He always said - "Don't ever bet on a grey horse, they will run every way but forward"... and for that reason... I have never bet on a grey horse.

4. Spend Some and Save Some
Daddy would offer a little extra cash sometimes - for no reason. He would just hand me a little windfall, maybe a $20. or maybe $100. but it always seemed to be timed perfect when I was running a little low. He would always say "Spend some and save some".... a valuable lesson for all of us.

5. You have a debt to pay
Whenever he would help us out - in anyway ... I was always so thankful, but his response to me was "you have debt to pay"... and he didn't mean, to re-pay him. He meant it in the 'pay it forward' kind of way. He meant it in that - he had been helped, and he was repaying that debt to me... he expected me to pay it forward to generations a head of me. I hope I can follow his footsteps.

My Daddy was loving man... and I learned many valuable lessons from him. I'm proud to have been raised by such a generous, wise man..... and I miss him everyday.
Happy Father's Day, Daddy!!!!

Friday, June 6, 2008

Friday's FIVE!

I
Bruce and I married in February of 2002 - beginning a new life together later than most.
The first summer we were married, we continued the tradition of weekends at Yellow Creek Lake. One hot July Sunday afternoon, we were sitting on the front porch... thinking about our life together. I was working in Richmond, IN as Director of OT at Ried Hospital. It was a two hour drive from Marion - and I was making the commute daily to a postion that just wasn't a good fit for me. I wasn't happy with my job and Bruce was also struggling with his business.
We loved our escapes to Yellow Creek - and we dreaded Sunday nights when we had to go home.
I really don't remember all of the conversation... but I remember in the discussion of our future saying "Well, we can't live here (at YCL)".... and his response was "Why NOT?" - I couldn't answer that. We weren't that far away from family here - and they enjoyed being here anyway.
In our mid-forty's - we were starting fresh with friends and lifestyles.... and we both had careers that could be found in any location....Why not just live here and start over with my peaceful husband in a peaceful place that is so dear to my heart? So - the first weekend in August, we came to the lake for the weekend.... and never went back 'home'. We both found jobs in this area and made friends and established our 'community'. Yellow Creek Lake is now our full time residence - and we love living here.
The first year or so that we lived here - I worked as an independent "First Steps" Occupational Therapist. First Steps is an Indiana early intervention program for infants and children 0-3 years old. I traveled to homes throughout the county holding babies, teaching them to eat, roll and sit. Another benefit of the position - was that I traveled all over the Kosciusko-Marshall county area. I learned to appreciate and love the Amish homes - gardens and lifestyle as many of the children I treated were in Northern Indiana Amish homes.
I would drive down country roads and observing farmers with an 8 horse hitch plowing fields, see drab laundry hanging clothes lines, gorgeous gardens filled the front yards and there were several Amish country stores that offered fresh produce, fresh baked goods and bulk dry goods.
I gained a lot of weight that first year as the Amish cookies were just too hard to resist.
I don't do First Steps services and that kind of traveling anymore - but we are lucky enough to have two Menonite bulk stores near our home. The bakery items are delicious and continue to be difficult to resist - however, because of these stores.... I have learned to enjoy a whole new variety of foods that I might not have ever tried. This weeks Friday's FIVE! is a focus of some of my favorite items that I buy at Maple Lane Bakery in Silver Lake, IN just a few miles down the road.

1. Steel Cut Oats (and many other grains and cereals) 1/2 C Steel Cut Oats in 2 Cups of Water cooked overnight in a 1.5 qt crockpot and a hot and steamy, good for you breakfast available when you wake up in the morning...
YUMMY!!!!!!

2. BULK Cumin and other spices. We love home-made salsa... and mexican food. Kosc. County also has a large hispanic community and many of these items are available to us. I'm sure that will be the topic of another Friday's FIVE! someday!

3. Jams and Jellies and Butters - Elderberry Jelly is a favorite - as is Pumpkin Butter!!
Elderberries are a Pence family favorite and I love the savoring the flavor of Elderberry jelly - remincent of Pence family Elderberry Pies.

4. Amish Style Rolled butter - So delicious ... especially on the soft homemade Amish rolls and bread!!! I also love the cheese you find in many of these stores.

5. Buttermilk Cookies...I can hardly resist the soft cake like cookies with the confectioner sugar glaze. Bruce likes Peanut Butter and Chocolate chip - and the kids love the Amish Monster Cookies and Whoopie Pies.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Living the Legacy at Yellow Creek Lake!


In the summer of 1927 - my Grandma and Grandpa Pence rented a "clean, but simple little cottage" on Yellow Creek Lake for a week. Married just 8 months, Grandpa was recovering from an adverse reaction to rabies inoculations and my Grandma was pregnant with their first child, my Aunt Barbara - they called this vacation at Yellow Creek Lake, their "Honeymoon".
The "Honeymoon" began a legacy of family fun that has spanned 5 generations.

Following this "honeymoon" my grandparents spent several summers renting and camping on the lake - and in the early 1930's built a cabin on the same lakefront property where we live today. My grandma's memories indicate that in the summer of 1929 - "something must have happened during our week at Yellow Creek Lake" = that 'something' was my father, born the following spring on April 4, 1930...

My Grandpa writes in is personal memories:

"We built a small cabin on the lot (most of the material was scrap from the lumber yard), drove a water well, and put a pitcher-pump in the kitchen. We had a pot-bellied coal stove in the front room so we could extend our seasons a bit. The cooking was done on a coal-oil stove and we had a wooden ice-box. Each time we went to the lake, the first thing I did was take the tongs and a small wagon and walk to the little store to get a 50lb. block of ice for the ice-box. It would last all weekend. We enjoyed many years at Yellow Creek Lake as our family grew up around us"


When my father and my aunt were children at Yellow Creek Lake - they became friends with a neighbor, Janyce Knotts. The Knott's continued the same Yellow Creek legacy with their own family. In 1958 I was born - and late in 1959 - Janyce Knotts Ward gave birth to Laura Ellen Ward. Laura and I grew up together at Yellow Creek Lake and in the spring of 1980 we both gave birth to daughters , Katie and Amanda. This spring- our daughters both gave birth to sons. Wyatt Kucartz and Trevor Morgan are now the 4th generation of family friends to grow up together in the fun and the sun at Yellow Creek Lake.