Bring On Lemons

  If you read yesterday's post, you know I'm not buying bigger clothes. I am committed to getting my health back in check. I look at this picture and as much as I still love myself, and my role as a mom, I see a difference from a year ago. My face is fuller, There's so much roundness, and my wardrobe favorites no longer fit the way they should.  I'm getting back to the basics: drinking the water, eating every few hours to fuel my metabolism (small healthy meals that is), exercising regularly, and getting enough rest. These are such basic principals of life, but so difficult for caregivers.  In my case, something has got to give and as much as I enjoy a good trip to the thrift shop, I would much rather get healthier for my long term good and well being instead of shopping for new clothes and spending money on something I don't need. That is all - my temptation was to go and pick up some new wardrobe essentials and wait another week or two to gain control of my health...

January first me was ready. I had plans. I was going to drink more water, exercise regularly, blog daily, read a book a week all year, never be late for work, never miss an event or opportunity to support the children, say no more, have more fun, worry less, laugh more, floss daily, lose ten pounds a week and reach my health goal by mid-summer, prioritize my family first by putting them ahead of my mother and other older folks needing my care. Well...here I sit on this, the 13th day of January and I'm a complete failure. I'm likely dehydrated, my Y locker actually texted me asking if I was dead since it's been a few days, my blog is getting daily updates but hasn't been revamped as I'd planned, I've agreed to host things cook things and care for things I don't get joy from, it's been a week since I laughed, I didn't floss all weekend, I gained 3 pounds (damn peanut butter balls) and I still wonder daily why my mother expects so much from me and yet h...

 Last Thursday felt like the first Monday of the new year - alas, it was not! Today is the big day! I try to do something wonderful each Monday to help me look forward to instead of dread Monday. Today I shall start with coffee at one of my favorite shops, a trip to the gym, and then off to work. This will all happen after the rousing of children, folding of laundry, cleaning of the house, and chauffeuring of the children (and don't forget the brewing and drinking of coffee, and the negotiating that happens on the way to school as a way to lesson a sibling disagreement).  Mondays were intended to be a day to discuss what motivates me. As someone who packed on the pounds the last quarter of 2024 (stress, lack of will power, medications, etc...) I can tell you my current motivation is the fact that if I don't do something immediately I am going to need to donate my entire wardrobe and start all over again. And it's not because my clothes are too large - there is nothing in my...