The Food Journal Story

I've been wanting to share my weight loss story for some time, but felt I needed to wait for the right time. It feels like that time about now.

Near the end of 2009 I was feeling quite unwell in general. My cholesterol was fine, blood sugars not a worry, blood pressure excellent, but I was overweight, obese even. I still managed to do a lot in a regular day, though, and am surprised when I look back now at just how much I did manage, considering I was carrying at least 60 more kilograms than I am now.

The last few days of that year, 2009, had me suffering an horrific bout of vomiting and painful diarrhoea, with an ache in my upper right belly. The illness passed, but I made a decision to lessen the amount of fats and sugars in my diet, reduce my portion size and make sure I was active every day. I decided that I lived at a new address as far as my health was concerned and began to keep a food journal to help document my input.

Me with my youngest brother at the end of 2009

The food journal really helped. I found myself experiencing more bouts of vomiting and diarrhoea, but more often the pain in my upper right tummy. I began to track and work out what foods were making me feel so sick and which caused the pain. I had lost some weight, but had no idea how much I weighed, just that my clothes were getting looser. About March 2010 I tried to donate blood but my iron was extremely low and they refused, later sending me a letter to present to my doctor, etc. At the blood clinic I had weighed in at 127.6kg. 

Beading meet up May 2010

By the time the doctor investigated what was up with me and sent me to have my gallbladder removed, in May 2010, I was down to 97kg. I continued to experience trouble with certain foods, though, so the food diary was still valuable in locating culprits. I found foods high in fats and many dairy products caused painful gas, headaches and often diarrhoea. I didn't enjoy this at all, so began to avoid certain foods and felt much better for my efforts.

Mother's Day 2011

By early 2011 I weighed 67kg, thereabouts and have maintained this loss over the time since, averaging 65kg with a weigh in once a fortnight. I went from size 24-26 to 8-10 and feel so much better I could go on all day. But I feel the pictures tell the story and hope you are inspired to also begin a food journal to help track your weight loss journey.

Me Sunday 21st October

Heather

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Almost a year since I blogged

I couldn't believe it when I saw it's been almost a year since I posted an entry in this blog. While I haven't been blogging much I have been writing, quite a lot. I've also been busy looking after my unwell hubby and caring for my little boy, working and all the other stuff mums do in life.

Just this month, though, I've joined in a challenge with fellow blogger Chantelle from Fat Mum Slim. She holds a monthly photo a day challenge, which I enjoyed following from several of my Facebook friends. I figured taking a photo a day couldn't be too difficult. Besides, seeing the other photos is so inspiring. Many of those images would make great journal prompts, too.

Here are my entries for the last three days:

Day 1: You, Now
Me, it's no more complicated than that.

Day 2: Father
The father of my three children.

Day 3: Far Away
Summer seems so far away on days like this.

Heather
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Stencil 101

Free Workshop

I found this cool little workshop yesterday on Balzer Designs, which I thought would be a little bit of fun. I picked up a couple of stencils at the recent WA Craft, Quilt & Stitch Show. I've done a few pages using them, but felt some inspiration in the form of a workshop and mingling with other crafty, arty types might be just what I needed right now. Hope you'll join in, too.

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Heather

Exploring Presence

Since deciding on a word for this year I've tried to daily incorporate presence into my life. I've worked at enjoying the presence of my family, friends, my mother and other people I know. I've concentrated on the presence of God while in church. I've been present as much as I can with doing things for other people who need me. I've also tried to keep a regular presence in the online communities where I'm a member.

Mostly, I've been finding time to be in the presence of creativity. I've left my art journals open on a desk in the study. Any time I pass by I splash a bit of paint around, paste something in, colour with a watercolour crayon or pencil, drip or mist water or even rubbing alcohol, trickle inks, doodle and draw with all kinds of media. I'm having a great time.

For me the key to actually getting any of this done is to leave the play things where I will play with them. Just seeing them out on the desk, with all the supplies on hand, is a lure to my senses. While showering my little boy I can sit for a total of three or four minutes. It's surprising just how much you can get done in those few moments.

An added bonus is that my little boy is only too happy to join me whenever I pull out my art supplies and journal at the park or in a café. Although I love playing alone, he is a very pleasant companion and we share supplies often. Here's the page I began with him last Saturday and finished over the last couple of days at home. I started this page using only my little boy's colour pencils and crayons.



Click on the links for some close ups.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/bwheather/IMGP3302.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/bwheather/IMGP3303.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/bwheather/IMGP3304.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/bwheather/IMGP3305.jpg


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Journal Stamps

For ages and ages, well a long time at least, I've wanted to own a set of Teesha Moore's unusual, yet totally practical journal stamps. I've lost count of the number of times I've put them into the cart on her Land of Odd website, but sadly removed them again once I saw the total cost with shipping.

But when I received a newsletter with the wonderful news about free shipping until March 15, well, I knew my time had come. I snapped up a set and then waited and waited for them to arrive. Yesterday my journal stamps came in the mail. Yay!

I've been too busy to play with them so far, but I'm setting aside a date next week to cut them out and ink them up. Why don't you grab something you've been longing for while the free shipping offer lasts?

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Journal Spilling

So, I've been playing and sketching in my journal every day. Perhaps I've missed a couple of Sundays, but most days I write in my handwritten journal and sketch something or someone, usually several someones. But I finally had a chance to read the book that arrived just before Christmas, Journal Spilling by Diana Trout.

Well, I've got to say, you can't possibly read this book and feel uninspired. I just itched to pull out a page a play with paint. So, I did one of the exercises in the book. I grabbed some collage images and words, tore them out, glued them down without thinking about where they went. I spread paint about the place and, yeah, just played. It was fun and I even did this with the family around. They chatted with me while I played and I still felt relaxed at the end of it.

I let the page dry and did some more to finish off the following morning. I can highly recommend you do the same. The image above is the end result.





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Generosity

A sketch from my own journal

If there is a word for the art journal community this year, it has to be generosity. I'm sitting here overwhelmed with the free stuff you can learn and be part of just by having a computer connection. Take a look at the Strathmore Visual Journal online course. With Pam Carriker kicking things off in the first month, Linda Blinn in the second month and Roz Stendahl covering March, there's plenty to keep you busy.

If you fancy something every day, there's Millande with her fun Art Journal January 2011. Prompts and videos every day, and the fun community to join in with even if you don't create anything each day.

Or check out the Sketchbook Challenge, with a monthly theme and randomly selected prize winners for each theme if you share you pages on the flickr group.

I don't know about you, but I think that's incredible. I won't even bother to mention the loads of other people who share their talents, time and tutorials with anyone with a youtube or ustream account. Seriously, you couldn't be stuck for inspiration or ideas this year. So, go to it. Create, journal and share about it if you do.


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