The E-LAB Project

OK. While I was searching for the blog post in question, I decided to post the entire post -- all over again. You can read it here.

http://www.rainbowswithinreach.blogspot.com/2011/12/blue-christmas-re-run.html

Elaine. I dedicate it to you and all of our birdies who struggle with the joy of Christmas, in the midst of an imperfect real-life.

xx00xx00xx00xx

Crawling in on Saturday (really Sunday morning) - still up at 1AM.  Listening to Christmas carols.  Crying a bit.  Thanks, Debbie for the blog post.  It made me cry, but was so good for my soul.

0 pts for no Friday check - in  (not sure how I missed Friday)  Also forgot to mail in my grades (oops); fortunately, the grades the students care about are posted electronically - I just have to file the paper grades.  I'll probably get a prim reminder.  Hopefully that will be all. 

7 pts for water - doing good there, thanks to Zogo (hope all tests are negative!)

0 pts for weight - last weigh-in was Wednesday and I had gone up a bit, but less than I thought - whew!

6 pts for exercise - some gym, walking the doggies.

1 pt for going to the dr and admitting I was depressed and needed help.  Filled the script and am taking it. 

14 pts

Merry Christmas, everyone. 

Roadrunner checking in

Friday check-in = 3 points

Weight up a bit = 0 points
Exercise = 14 points
Daily H2O = 7 points

Extra credit = 1 point (see below)

Total = 25 points

I am back from vacation and got in a lot of walking.  Unfortunately, my mom was in the hospital most of the time with a-fib (an irregular heartbeat).  Fortunately, she was discharged to a skilled nursing facility for rehab and says they are teaching her how to walk again.

If anyone needs a reason to exercise, compare my mom and my MIL who are one year apart in age.  Mom just turned 81 and gets no exercise at all.  MIL will be 80 in a few months and walks 30 minutes every day and goes to a seniors' fitness class a couple times a week.  The difference between the two is incredible!  My MIL is slimmer, more alert, and does a lot more around the house than my mom.  We are confident she is OK living alone.  My mom, not so much, and IMO exercise is a key factor.

So I'm taking an extra point for seeing 30 years into my future and affirming my efforts to walk at least 30 minutes every day.  Daily yoga is a goal for next year.  Happy New Year birdies!

Robin checking in but no points for anything...........

I've been so AWOL over the past few weeks and a total slug and didn't want to worry about things over the holidays. 

Well they are almost over and it will be the New Year Resolutions to get me back at it.  I promise to be better and do a real checking next week.

Linda checking in with the Flock:

Maintaining from prior week = 1 point

Exercising = 4

Making the Friday Check-in = 3 points

Meeting daily water intake = 6 points 

"Extra Credit" points awarded for special things done to encourage a healthy lifestyle: Bought new boobs.  Had been working through decisions about going flat and fabulous or getting a little something up top.  I don't like wearing bras, but it isn't that bad and I found the prostheses actually keep me warm and provide a little padding/protection from my hug-loving friens and family!

Total: 15

Badger, you have given me a little encouragement to focus on the exercise a little more, too!  I saw my MO this week (or was it last week?  time gets a bit confused) who diagnosed me with "persistent chemotherap-induced fatigue" which I guess is a little like chronic fatigue syndrome except is es caused by chemo and can last over a year to 10 or more years.  So my PT has helped me develop a program where I get a baseline that I can handle without taking a day of bedrest to get strength back, then increase activity by no more than 10% every 3 weeks, which seems SO SLOW compared to what I would  usually do when I had a goal, woud increase by 5 minutes  a day over a couple of weeks, every day or two.  I am having to realize that I CAN do it, it will just take me a little longer.  She wants me to do stregth first to gain some muscle, which then will lead to increased muscle mass and weight, and then work on cardiovascular to work on endurance.  SOunds so simple, yet I know it is going to be challenging.  I am working on accountability, and this is one place I will report to - the other will be with my sisters who are here to spend time with me this week.

Karen, you started out pretty good, and I am sure you can get there again.  Once the holidays are past, we should get back here.  I know we are supposed to be on teams, and that has worked for me before, but I don't see my team being very active here.  Any ideas for changes to get better  accountability and support besides the weekly check-in?  I have some ideas I could share if anyone is interested, but everyone is OK as is, I am not gonna rock the boat.  I am just very grateful to be here at all and meeting up with you each week.

Happy New Year! May 2012 be blessed and peaceful.

Missed Friday for being out of town for a funeral the last couple days. 

Weight went up 5 lbs for having a cheat that turned into 2 days of cheating over christmas.  Fortunately, I caught myself gaining and have reversed a good chunk of it.  So weight will be up and  water was pitiful this week.  Count me out for points at all.  Maybe I get a bit of credit for going skiing for the first time in 3 years!

Happy 2012!  May it be the best year yet. 

Ainm, glad to see you back here and will look for you again soon!  Hope all is going OK for  you.

Hummingbird Checking in
I missed last Friday because I was visiting my DD and future son in law.
Making the Friday Check-in 3 pt
Maintained believe it or not after all the delicious food I ate: 1pt
Exercise 1 point for each 30 minutes , got a lot of exercise walking around the sites: 12pts
Meeting daily water intake 1 point per day 7 pts
Total points 23 pts

AGGHHH, My colonoscopy results show malignant tissue on one of the 4 polyps they took out.  Stage 1 colon cancer. I guess I have to go back in 3 months and have the site looked at again.  My insurance changed on Jan 1 and I have to find a new doctor.  This sucks.

Zogo, so sorry to hear the news.  I will hope for better results with next one; in the meantime, that particular little cancerous polyp is not going to do any more damage since you got it out early!  Sending you special prayers and hugs today.

((((((((Zogo)))))))))

I think Linda put it very well - and you have all of us here sending you much love and strength.

Zogo - so glad they caught it and excised it early!  Colon cancer is one of the most treatable if caught early.  You'll do great.  Good luck with finding a new doctor.

Robin FINALLY doing a check-in again!

Check-in = 3 pts

Weight is up  to 162 (maybe I lose those three points for being "bad" over the holidays?)

Water = 7

That's all I get this week maybe a measly 10 points but it is a start on the year at least.

Checking in with the Flock:

Check in = 3

weight - gained, new high = 2

water = 7

exercise = 4

Total = 16

Not a great start, but did work on a plan with my physical therapist for gradually increasing my activity, so hopefully next week I will be able to count a few more exercise points.

Zogo, I am so jealous!  I have not been skiing for quite some time, really enjoy the winter sports of snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, but we have no snow here. *sigh*  So enjoy it for me!

Roadrunner checking in

Friday check-in = 3 points

Weight down a bit = 2 points
Exercise = 15 points
Daily H2O = 7 points

Extra credit = 1 point - sent in the wellness incentive form to my health insurance company to recoup $100 towards the cost of a health club membership.  That brings the cost down to a level I can afford, and gives me a place and an incentive to exercise.

Total = 28 points