Life in the Lynn-Lane is Always at Full Speed!

My last post was expressing my amazement at becoming a mother-in-law. I would never have imagined that my next one would be in reaction to becoming a GRANDMOTHER... at least I certainly never imagined it would be regarding my younger daughter! Yet here we are, less than two weeks away from the due date of my "baby" girl giving birth. I'm excited, yet scared for her at the same time, realizing how the demands of motherhood will be multiplied by the fact that she'll be a single mom. I can't say that she'll be doing it all on her own, though, because she has the most awesome and supportive sister anyone could wish for. Her newlywed big sis is stepping up to care for the baby (a girl, by the way) when mom returns to work. There is no one who could take better care of our new little "peanut" -- not even me, honestly. So, a lot of changes are about to happen in our lives, but it's just another curve on Lynn-Lane... to be handled with both hands on the steering wheel and eyes on the road - but with vigilant glances all around to keep a "heads up" on everything. Keep the seat belts fastened!

ME a MOTHIER-IN-LAW?!

My sweet, beautiful daughter just got engaged last night to a sweet, adorable guy who is so much like her dad that it's just awesome. I used to worry that my daughters wouldn't be able to find someone as wonderful as their dad -- I really thought I got the last one. Fortunately for Chelsea, Mike is a very close facsimile. Close. So, at least one daughter got lucky so far! (I don't think the other two daughters are even looking, but I'm just the mom, so what do I know?)

Well, it was all fun and games last night until it hit me... Oh my, I'm gonna be a mother-in-law. Wow. I know Chelsea thinks I'm the best mom ever -- she tells me so all the time -- but I really hope that when all is said and done, Mike will be able to say that he has the best mother-in-law ever. I know he's getting the best bride any guy could hope for! And my Hunny is so amazing, I'm sure he'll be a fabulous father-in-law. But then, it's not the fathers-in-law that get all the jokes and wise-cracks, is it? It's a tough job, but I'm ready!

Here's to a beautiful new year, full of hope and promise. Let's do our best to savor each moment of it and spend each breath wisely.

Persevering. Again. Sigh.

Sheesh, has it really been over two months since I posted? Must be a symptom of denial. Or avoidance. Or both. Anyway, here I am again. Still on the lose a couple, gain a couple loop-the-loop. Haven't made the progress I'd like to, because I haven't done what it takes to achieve it. But, I have not given up. I hope I never do. 

Natural Sweetener with NO CALORIES! Here's how you might score some for FREE!

A fellow blogger, Trish, is running a contest to win some free Stevia in the Raw. I have definitely entered and you might want to give it a go, too. I've tried Truvia, and I love the zero-calorie sweetness, but I'm not real thrilled by the sugar alcohol they add to stevia, so I'm anxious to try this new product. Check out Trish's giveaway here and see the web site for Stevia in the Raw for more info about their product.  Good luck!

Write it DOWN, watch it go DOWN!

I've been writing down what I eat every day in a fitness journal that I received from my new friend, Cheryl, over at Losing My Behind. It also has a space to record activity each day. Even though I've only been doing it for a few days now, it has already begun to pay off. I weighed this morning and was delighted to see the lowest number since I started this blog! Since I haven't recorded any weigh-ins since April, my "Progress Report" page makes it look like I just lost one pound since then. Truth is, I went back up to 320 during that time but, thankfully, I'm now coming in at 315.

I've surprised myself, actually, by eating substantially fewer calories per day than my "goal." I think there's probably some psychological thing involved in looking at the list of food as it grows over the day and thinking, even subconsciously, that "Hey, that looks like enough food for..." the meal, the day, whatever. It's also helping me make sure I get an appropriate amount of water every day.

In addition, I've been reading an extremely thought-provoking book, "The Diet Alternative" by Diane Hampton, which is aiding me greatly in dealing with the spiritual aspect of overeating.

So, for this moment of this day -- and really, that's all any of us has -- I am feeling happy and successful and optimistic. God is good and friends are a blessing from Him!

Another Step in the Right Direction

I finally got things reorganized and started back with physical therapy for my left knee. I had been doing PT for a few weeks, but toward the end of my last semester of college this past fall, things became so hectic and overwhelming that I stopped going. At first, it was just cancelling a couple of appointments with the intention of rescheduling, but then I just never seemed to get around to making a new appointment. In the meantime, my knee has gotten worse and I realize that I need to get it back in shape if I'm going to be able to continue increasing my level of activity to aid my weight loss. As it is now, I can't stand or walk for more than a little while before the pains causes me to stop. Even shopping, with a cart to lean on, becomes too painful after a couple of hours.

So, today was my first appointment since October. It went very well, actually, although I had a bit more aching than usual at home later on. Getting this knee straightened out will give me the ability to be more active, thereby losing more weight. And, of course. losing weight will help take the excess pressure off my knee.

Will I ever be back to jumping rope like a kid? I dunno about that... it would be fun, but right now, I'll be happy just to be able to walk my dog or take a stroll with my Hunny without limping and grimacing. Being able to get through a routine dinner preparation without having to sit down frequently would be nice, too.

A Shame When We Waste Opportunities to Teach

I just got home from a shopping trip to Target and had an experience that bummed me in more ways than one.

I was standing at the end of an aisle, between two rows of merchandise shelves. A young couple with a little boy passed by, walking past the ends of the rows of shelves. The little boy, who looked to be about three years old, was riding in the shopping cart that his mom was pushing, with the dad walking beside her.

I didn't see them at first, because I was occupied looking at a piece of merchandise, but I heard the child say what sounded like something about "fat" but I wasn't sure what he said. But then, the mom laughed, followed by the dad asking, "What?" The mom replied, "He said, 'She's really fat'." When they both laughed, the little boy joined them.

I was the only shopper standing nearby, so the child obviously meant me. I really, really wanted to speak to them about it but unfortunately, by this time, they were more than an aisle over from me, and I didn't really want to seem like I was chasing them down. At least, that's what I told myself. Maybe I was just too concerned (afraid?) about how they would react.

What would I have said if I had the opportunity? Just this: "Excuse me. I happen to have heard your little boy's comment about me just now. I'm not mad, but I do think it's really sad that you just missed such a teachable moment with your child. Young children say whatever they think and it's up to us, as parents, to teach them what is appropriate and what isn't. You could have explained to him that saying such things about people is considered rude and it can hurt people's feelings. Instead, you chose to laugh at it, which sent him the message that not only is it okay to say unkind things about people, it's even funny. I hope that when this kind of opportunity presents itself again -- as it surely will -- that you will give some thought to handling it differently."

Of course, I missed my own teaching opportunity here -- the opportunity to perhaps help a young, inexperienced couple of parents see things in a different light. They may have been receptive, or they may have told me to... well... %$*&@#.... or whatever.

So, I'm doing the next best thing I can think of. I'm sharing here and perhaps someone else will be able to get something from it. At least it makes me feel like I did something even if it wasn't what I really wish I'd done. And, maybe next time I have such a teaching opportunity, I'll take advantage of it.

On the brighter side... this encourages me to keep working on my goal so that someday I will be disqualified for the "really fat" title!