Getting back on track...

New Year, new me! That’s what I said back on January 1^st 2014.  We are now end of February and I’m finally getting around to this goal.  I guess it’s better late than never!

I have been watching what I eat and getting a bit of exercise, but I lack motivation and I don’t like working out alone. 

During the past few weeks, I've been doing better.   I've been making use of our treadmill at home more often and going to the gym at work with a colleague.  I've even gone to the gym on my own, a big step for me! It was actually ok.  While at the gym, I do 30 minutes on the elliptical.  My first few times on this beast machine had me leaving the gym with my legs feeling rubbery, but this week, I actually felt good after my little workouts!  I might even try upping my time to 35 minutes next week.  Baby steps. 

On the days I don’t go to the gym at work, I go on the treadmill at home.  On the weekends, I exercise shortly after waking up and usually before having breakfast.  I feel so much better, knowing that I’ve already done my workout and I can get on with my day. My goal was…IS to run a 2K or maybe even 5K with the kids this fall.

My main goal is to be at a healthier weight.  I've been pretty good in the last few weeks, but there’s always room for improvement.  I've had the ‘My Fitness Pal’ app on my phone for the longest time and I wasn’t using it.  I logged in for the first time after almost 2 years, the good news is, I hadn't gained any weight since I last used it.  I really like this app and I have been entering my information daily for 7 days in a row.  It helps me keep track of my fitness activities along with the foods I eat.  You can even scan the UPC code of a product and it will add the nutritional information in your diary. You can add friends to your network.  To me, that’s a bonus as I need a good kick in the butt at times to get me going. You get to cheer and encourage each other.  I have uploaded the app on my iPhone (ios), on my Hobo Arc (android) and I am also able to log in via my computer.  So no more excuses!

Here are some little tricks I've been using.  Maybe they’ll motivate you as well.

No time to exercise?  Schedule it! Add it in your calendar.  This way you know you have the time to do it ;) In my house, we have a rule, no disturbing mommy when she’s doing her work outs.  It’s working well, so not only am I getting exercise, I’m getting some ‘me’ time!

Little things I do to make my time on the machines more enjoyable: 

• I listen to music - I created a workout playlist with my favorite upbeat songs
•  I read my book
• I bring my laptop and catch up on TV shows – episodes of Chicago Fire or The Following keep me busy, next thing I know, my work out is complete

I now have the motivation to exercise more, eat better and lose weight.  Wish me luck!

Christine

 **Please consult with your doctor or a health care professional before beginning any fitness program to avoid and reduce risk of injury. 

** Disclosure:  I was not financially compensated for this post.  The opinions are my own, based on my personal experience.

 Image courtesy of stockimages / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Introduction

Who am I?

I was born and raised in Ottawa.  

I am a busy mom of two wonderful kids! I have a 12 year old son, 'A' and a 9 year old daughter, 'M'.  They keep me busy, entertained and sometimes drive me nuts, but I wouldn't trade them for anything.

I'm a TV junkie! In August 2013, my family and I got rid of our cable.  We found that we weren't watching much TV.  Between Netflix and online streaming, we are hardly missing cable!  No TV withdrawal for this girl ;)  We did find a bit hard during the Olympics and for watching hockey games, but other than that we've adapted.  Some of my favorite shows include Parenthood, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, The Vampire Dairies, Grey's Anatomy, How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory and many, many more!  

I love taking pictures! I like taking pictures of my kid, family, nature or just random things.  Yes, I take pictures of food and drinks at times, but really, who doesn't?!

I also love to read.  For the second year, I'm participating in the 50 Book Pledge Challenge (http://www.50bookpledge.ca/).  I really like having a virtual bookshelves of the books I have read and of the ones I want to read.  Very easy to manage.  Last year I read 68 books, this year, I'm hoping to reach my goal of 75 books.

I'd like to think I'm a good friend.  Believe it or not, but most of my close friends are the ones I made while I was in high school.  We've known each other for over 20 years!  I think that's pretty amazing. We keep in touch via Facebook and Twitter and try to see each other a few times a year. 

Well, this is me!  

Christine / @marlchr

My First Mammogram

I turned 40 in last April and I was dreading it! Not because of the birthday number, but because, it meant that my yearly mammograms will be starting.  For most, getting mammogram starts a bit later, around 43, but since my mom had breast cancer, that meant I have a ‘family history’ and an early start with the mammograms.

January 22^nd.  That was my ‘M’ day.  I admit that I was super nervous & freaking out a little….well, freaking out a lot! I tend to get really nervous when I have to deal with doctors and hospitals.   All week, I had trouble concentrating at work.  To be honest, I was stressing myself out, over-thinking and remembering horror stories that some people told me.  The morning of January 22^nd, I decided to stay home to rest & relax and hopefully get rid of the stress headache that started during the night.  My appointment wasn’t until 3h10. 

How to get started

My doctor submitted the requisition to the Ottawa Hospital. I had requested to have my test done at the Civic Hospital, at their Women’s Health Clinic.  I had a friend who had gone recently and recommended it.  When reception called to book my appointment, they ask that you be there 10 to 20 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment.  I gave myself plenty of time and arrived at the Civic at 2h25.  I figured I had plenty of time to find a parking.  Wrong, that wasn’t the case.  At the Civic, P4 is the closest to the Women’s Health Clinic but when I got there, the parking was full and there was a line up to get in.  I made my way to the next parking.  Again, that one was full.  I started panicking a little, since by then it’s 2h40.  Made my way to the parking garage, at least this one wasn’t full.  I slowly made my way in and the first and second floor there was no space, panic level rising a little.  Level 3, there’s a space, but oops, my van won’t fit in.  I finally found parking on the top level, but by then it’s a 2h50.  I make my way into the hospital and make my way to the information desk, I’m all confused about where I am and no longer sure how to get to the building I’m supposed to be in.  There’s a ‘Be back in 5 minutes’ sign – cue full panic mode! I took a deep breath, then another one.  I finally found someone to help me and arrived on time for my appointment.  My advice, either take public transportation or have someone drop you off and wait for you.  If your appointment is really early in the morning, parking shouldn’t be an issue.

What to expect

When you arrive at your appointment, the nurse will verify your information and give you a form to fill out.  Another nurse will come get you, brings you to a stall to change into a hospital gown.  Once you are in your fashionable gown, the nurse brings you to the mammogram room.  The nurse will explain what she’ll be doing, how the machine works etc.  If you have any questions, they will gladly answer them.  All of the nurses that I encountered were really nice and friendly.

THE mammogram

So I panicked and stressed about having a mammogram for nothing.  The test is actually ok.  Uncomfortable, yes.  Painful, no.  Be ready for being touched and personal space invasion.  The nurse will position your breast, flatten it etc.  They take four x-rays and for me, all was done within 10 minutes.  Each x-ray takes about 10 seconds each.

The results

I was told that I may be asked to come again and redo the mammogram and possibly and ultrasound.  This is fairly normal for first timers.  The reason is that since this was my first mammogram, they have no previous data to base the results on.  If I do get a call back, the nurse told to not panic ;)  The results will be sent to my doctor, so until then, there’s nothing I can do but wait.  I’m sure I’ll be a nervous wreck the day I meet with my doctor to get my results.

Christine

(Twitter - @marlchr)