Getting Back on Track

I just wanted to let those of you who are wading through my BLOG that I am so glad you are here and I hope it will be of some help and encouragement to you. This is a red-letter day for me, in that I am now able to get back on program, after being totally off since December 26th. I had planned to do all my cooking for the next week that day, but my 89-year-old mother became very ill that day, and in about 8 days landed in the hospital for 8 more days. I "lived" with her at the hospital and had to depend on getting all my meals at the hospital cafeteria. I made good choices as best I could, but it did take a toll on me. Then, she was released, but to skilled nursing, which meant I tried to be with her as much as possible, just to be sure she was getting the care and services she really needed. After 3 weeks there (and still not having time to get my cooking done or exercise in), she was diagnosed with pneumonia, landing BACK in the hospital for another week. I again "lived" at the hospital, and from there she was released to a rehab hospital. I did not stay with her there, and after 2 weeks of going and staying all day, I STILL did not have a chance to do my cooking. Joyously, she was released to go home to her apartment on Friday, February 24th. Since I was still spending most of my days with her, you guessed it.....I still have not had time to really get all my cooking done. BUT, today I got the groceries bought, and tomorrow and Saturday, March 3rd, I'll be camping out in my kitchen, thank goodness!! I'm so excited to get back to the program, to exercise, and to eating right.

Yes, I did gain some weight during that 2-month process, but I am still in my size 14 clothes. They are just a little tighter than I'd like them to be, and now my next goal is to get down to that proverbial size 12.

During these past two months I've been reminded of the effects that eating commercially prepared foods have on my health. My fingers have become stiff again (salt) and I feel sluggish and puffy all over. I am so thankful to have had the tools that Michael Thurmond put together for us. If I had not tried to get all six meals in, or if I had not kept my portions small, or if I had not tried to get my 100 oz. of water in, I would have been in terrible shape by now. However, the tools and ideas for success that we have in our manual, in the online community with Provida, and that are shared here in this BLOG will serve us well, if we will just do them. I still give all the credit for my success to my Father in heaven, for without his love in pointing me in Michael's direction and his mercy when I am disobedient, I would still be morbidly obese! I cannot tell you how wonderful it feels to know that the foods I will be cooking tomorrow, will be the new beginning for me! Take care, and happy losing! Liz