Thursday, July 03, 2008

The Day Before the Big Boom de Boom Celebration

Wow tomorrow is the big firecracker day. Boom Boom de BOOM! I think I’m actually going to go and watch a display tomorrow night. Not sure where yet. It will be the first time in 5 years that I’ve actually gone to see one.

When we still lived in town I never missed it. All I had to do was walk out the door and I had a pretty good view…lol. I have a view of several towns fireworks from out here but they are all too distant to really enjoy them.

Much better for the dogs though. Tends to scare them sensless when it goes on and on. I used to put everyone inside and turn the radios and tv’s up to help to muffle the sound.

I stepped on the scale again this morning. My weight swung up a pound or pound and a half. At any rate it was at 289 this morning.

It amazes me how much it can swing up and down from day to day. I did not binge or over eat yesterday. Unfortunately my intestines decided to torture me a bit last night. Kept me awake with frequent bathroom trips until 4 o’clock this morning. Something triggered a gastric attack. Made for a very short sleep time. I am a bit wrung out today. Puffy and groggy. Just like a bull froggy…lol…

Worked on web pages for the New Vision Forte Diet yesterday. Managed to get 2 pages put together. I don’t have the links just the way I want them but ran out of time. I should have kept working on them after that gastric attack started. But I didn’t. I was a miserable sort and was doubled over on the love seat.

Gets a bit frustrating at times. Never know what’s going to trigger a gastric attack. Who knows. One thing I do know for sure is that it’s not consistent. Other than consistently miserable and exhausting when it happens. Yes that was a bit of a whine. I am a bit pissy and whiny today. Enough of that.

Gotta do the dogs. Hungry and thirsty hairballs are calling my name. Forget hibernating, they need taken care of. Need to get some photos taken too, as well as grooming and so on and so on. Tit tat and that’s that, later.

Life is a journey…enjoy the trip.
Mary E. Robbins and the Hairballs
Robbins Run Ranch: Living the Dream With Our Pomeranians.
307.788.0202
Yahoo: robbinsrun
Skype: robbinsrun

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

The Day After


Good Morning… Had a decent day yesterday. After I attacked everything in sight. Yes I came out of the closet (the scale is sitting in a walk in closet) an evil b*tch from hell. Pissed off to the extreme over the weight bounce. (Yes I know better-I was still pissed)

After I got over my super troll mode the day went pretty well. Met with a friend I hadn’t gotten together with for months. Ran a few errands, took basic care of the dogs (of course) and went over to her place for a visit a few beers and dinner.

Out of curiosity I popped back on the scale this morning. Got off of it and got back on and checked it again. Mind you this is a good quality balance scale so it doesn’t vary like a bathroom scale. It has that little balance bubble on it so you can line it up accurately.

Here is the kicker. From yesterday morning to this morning my weight dropped 4.5 pounds. This morning it was 287.5 pounds. My body’s weight shifts are enough to drive me natters if I let it. Yesterday I let it. I was natters to the extreme.

Natters … Natters… Natters… that was me yesterday. No rather Natters and Pissed.

I’m not natters today. Thankfully. Lol.
My workout for today: feed and water dogs. Groom dogs. Possibly oxycise and go for a bit of a walk.

Life is a journey… enjoy the trip.
Mary E. Robbins
Robbins Run Ranch: Living the Dream With Our Pomeranians
307.788.0202

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Boop Boop De Doop!


Wow… I got on the scale this morning. I won’t be winning any New Vision contest this week. Woof, I blew up to 292 lbs.

Gee how did that happen? Actually I know how that happened. I ate too much and didn’t get enough exercise. So what am I going to do about it?

First off I like myself. I am a beautiful woman. My husband Loves me. Tells me everyday how beautiful I am. I don’t need to be skinny to be beautiful. Wow what a brain twister that has been. He thinks my belly is wonderful. Tee Hee.

What a change in perspective, I used to run distance and weigh between 135 and 145 pounds. Here’s the kicker I thought I was both: fat and ugly. When I see pictures of myself at a that stage in my life I see a beautiful young woman now. It’s really sad how much we torture ourselves thinking we are less than others or worthless.

Each of us is a valuable creation. Each of us has our own beauty and worth. Each day is a gift. Enjoy the beauty around you and within you.

In truth, I don’t like carrying around this much weight. I have no desire to be skinny but It would be much easier to get around without carrying the equivalent of three, fifty pound bags of dog food on my body.

Here’s another truth for you. It can be quite painful carrying around that much weight. So what do I do? Some crazy diet is not going to happen. Does not work. So what does? How do I remove excess fat in a healthy manner?

Frankly I think the biggest part of doing anything is mind set. I’m not really sure where my mind is on this. I would like to be able to complete a marathon. Just to be able to physically and mentally do it. That is the whole point for me.

It would be great to be able to walk with a spring in my step rather than it being such a labor to walk. That would be great.

Frankly I look fine just the way I am. And I’ll look fine with 100 pounds less on my body.

I’d really like to do that indoor skydiving thing and I need to be under 200 pounds to do that.

I was thinking lose enough weight so my thighs don’t touch, but frankly the way I’m built I would have to be a stick figure for that to happen. At least that’s the way it seems to me. I remember my thighs rubbing at 135 lbs. Frankly there is no way other than uncontrollable illness that I’m going down under that weight. So forget the thigh thing. Phooey on it.

I would look fine with 150 pounds less on my body. I look fine now. So it’s not about Oh I’ll be beautiful when: I am already beautiful. In all my curvaceous glory.

My abundance of fluff is causing some undue wear and tear on my knees. This is true. Ironically so will training for a marathon. Or walking distance at all. I learned that every pound we carry puts four pounds of pressure on our knees. Wow, we have some phenomenal bone structure to be able to carry that weight. Woof baby.

So for every excess pound of fat I get rid of I will be removing four pounds of weight off my knees and feet. That would be a good thing.

I want to lose fat not muscle mass. So how do I do that? Not by starving myself that’s for sure. That destroys your metabolism and your body feeds more on your active muscle tissue than on fat.

Journal-write down what I eat.
Oxycise would be good. All over toning and help with my breathing as well.
Red Exerciser was whittling off my waist. So that would be good.
Elliptical would be good as well.

This is a gradual healthy change in body composition I’m looking for. I’ve made quite a bit of positive change over the past 2 years as it is. Recovering from west nile virus and a monster surgery.

As I continue to build and tone my muscle mass. I should lose inches. And eventually pounds of fat. I’m going to go more by measurements overall than weight loss for change in body composition.

On the weight loss side of it a half pound to a pound a week will be very good. I’m not looking to yo-yo. I’m looking for a life style change. Not a starve lose bounce cycle. Been there done that over and over. I’m simply not interested any more.

I am a big beautiful woman already. Now I want to physically feel better.

Life is a journey…enjoy the trip…
Mary E. Robbins and the Happy Hairballs
Robbins Run Ranch: Living the Dream with Our Pomeranians

307.788.0202

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Happily on the Body Transformation Challenge.

I have had some positive results. First off I stopped weighing every day. That was driving me a bit batty. (more than usual) Actually I stopped weighing weekly as well. I am weighing and measuring monthly. First day of the month.

I got on the scale and whipped out the tape measure this morning. On the pounds issue: I actually gained a pound. So I am at 287lbs. However; on the inches issue: I actually lost 5.5 inches overall for the month. Whoo Whoo.

The first of April I started a 30 repetition workout chart. 30 times at hip hop abs, 30 oxycise level 1, 30 walks around the loop, 30 times on the elliptical at 5km (with increasing resistance) 30 times on the red exerciser (10 minutes each with increasing resistance).

I am still working on my 30 repetition workout. I tried doing all of it each day to start with and it kicked my behind. It was too much for me along with the yard work and kennels. Here are my repetitions for April. Walk loop: 12 times, Oxycise Level 1: 1 time, Red Exerciser: 18 times, Elliptical: 12 times, Hip Hop abs: 1 time.

I am continuing with my 30 repetition workout. When I finish up with this one I will continue on to the next level. I’ve quit beating myself up for not being superwoman. I think that is a positive thing. Lol. I am not making excuses, simply doing a bit each day. Happily I can see and feel the results. On my body the most noticeable for me is in my face. It doesn’t look like a pissed off puffer fish any more. Yay! Yes there Is still too much fat in it but not bloated with my features disappearing into flesh.

I know why I gained a pound. Frankly I’m glad it was only one pound. My eating was all over the place. Some good days and some BBBBBAAAAADDDDD days. My stress levels were pretty high and I went binge nuts. Snarf Snarf Snarf. I know I did it, the ice cream is gone. Along with quite a bit of other foodstuffs. I can’t say exactly what I did because I didn’t write down what I was eating. I know I was putting away 3 to 5 thousand calories a day several times a week. Frankly I was seriously dreading stepping on the scale. I am pleased that I didn’t gain more than I did.

Now to address the binging issue. Eating like that is not about being hungry. It’s a coping method. A compulsive addictive behavior. Basically hiding from life. I am making some major positive long term changes in my life and I freaked and snarfed. Yes I said positive changes, I still freaked. Change can trigger all sorts of buried, emotional land mines. It seems like every inch or pound that comes off my body uncovers another one. Then Boom- explodes all over the place.

What to do? Deal with each issue as it comes up. Sometimes it’s going to be messy. Sometimes not. But as each issue is dealt with I am getting healthier, stronger, more balanced overall.

First I’m not beating myself up over it. It happened can’t change that. Go on from here. Change the behavior. One step one day at a time. Ok, how do I do that?

Step 1: decide to. Step 2: write down what I eat. Every bloody bite. Step 3: when looking for something to eat ask myself if I’m actually hungry. Step 4: get a drink when grazing impulse comes on-see if I’m thirsty rather than hungry. Step5: use substitutions when urge to snarf is overwhelming-sugar free gum. (yes I know that is a crutch but it’s better than stuffing a half gallon of ice cream down my throat or eating several pounds of potatoes, or whatever I can get into my mouth) Step 6: daily plan- not set in stone but timeframes of when to do what. Things to accomplish for the day. Step 7: keep working on organizing my office (life/house/so on). It’s taking a bit to dig out from under. One day/one moment at a time.

These are some of the daily/weekly things in my life:

Read 10 pages of a good book a day (current reading The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson )
Workout
Office organization
Write in food journal
Write in journal/blogs
Back paperwork: not total just make a difference-a bit each day
Clean house: not total just make a difference-a bit each day
Grooming: initial spring groom-dogs
Yard: garden
Kennel Care
Personal Correspondence
Business Calls
Business Correspondence (paper/email)
Edit webpages
Business Calls
Photo editing
SEO
News letters
Listen to productive CD’s mp3’s (Tracy Biller/Jim Rohn/Al Turnquist) while working out, working in kennels, housework etc.
Meetings
Husband/Family (important)
Relax (relax not collapse-write in some down time so do not collapse)

Now to slide them into time frames. Check off daily so can see progress. I am going to put this list into a table and check things off daily.

I as amazed at how much that helped with the workouts. I can actually see progress on paper.

What does this have to do with fitness? Think about it. Fitness has to do with overall health, mind/body/spirit. The total person. Dealing with stresses in a healthy manner. Accomplishing goals. Being a healthy happy person.

Take care of you!

Life is a journey, enjoy the trip.
Mary E. Robbins & the Hairballs
Robbins Run Ranch: Living the Dream With Our Pomeranians

Friday, March 21, 2008

Body Transformation: The Slight Edge

I Feel better this morning. No more nauseous stomach and cramping intestines. I didn’t get on the scale this morning. I’ve decided to not get on it every day. My quest is not only to lose weight. Losing weight is actually a side effect of my quest.

Sounds a bit surprising even to me. I looked at New Vision’s contest banner again. Frankly they have the right idea. It’s a “Body Transformation Contest”. Get it? Body Transformation? In my mind that says overall health. Being physically fit, healthy in mind body and spirit. (Of course their contest guidelines are posted on the New Vision Website)

My aim is to become truly healthy. To become truly healthy is an ongoing process. Losing excess fat is a side effect of becoming healthy. Transforming your body is a side effect of becoming truly healthy. Building a strong flexible body is a side effect of becoming truly healthy.

Transforming your body is not a one time big thing. It is a series of small things daily over time. It is a change in lifestyle.

Transforming your lifestyle is not a one time big thing. It is a series of small things daily over time.

It is truly amazing how things come together.

I was asking what can I do, how do I do this. Not only about losing fat; which I had accumulated way too much of, but about my life, business, relationships, and so on.

My weight was spinning out of control, my business was on total overload and spinning out of control, emotionally and mentally I was in a very dark place. I’d look at everything that needed to be taken care of and just hit total overwhelm. Life seemed impossible. Fighting back from 5 years of illness, and 2 years of recovery. What a bloody mess. Go like crazy and crash from exhaustion, both physical, and mental. Then do it again. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster ride.

Then my 48th birthday rolled around. February 5th, 2008. I thought to myself “I’ve had enough of this, no more”. I’m not doing this any more. No more rollercoaster in weight, business, emotions, health, life! I want off this horrid ride. What are my options? How do I get off this ride? How do I get rid of this static in my mind? How do I live in peace with myself?

It’s amazing, how when you ask questions answers are provided. It’s truly amazing how quickly answers come up when you ask questions. Take note; be aware of what questions you are asking.

It’s amazing how God leads you to useful tools. Most of which have been there all along. (No I’m not getting preachy. Each person’s relationship with their God is between them and their God-by whatever name they choose to use-each of has free will-choice, and the responsibility that goes along with it)

It amazes me how we can complete huge projects by small actions. Truly amazes me. Happily the static is gone from my mind. I am no longer on overload. I am becoming healthy; I can feel the muscles in my abdominal region strengthening. I can actually see my body composition changing. Good by excess fat, pretty exciting stuff.

A dear friend of mine recommended a book by Byron Katie (which I purchased but haven’t read yet) and a set of CDs by Jim Rohn. Challenge to Succeed is the CD set. Excellent. I bought a package deal with the CD’s in it and this little book with a blue and white cover was in there. For some reason it caught my eye and I picked it up and started to read it. Excellent life transforming resource. The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson.

Buy it from me, or don’t buy it from me, it doesn’t matter. But read the book. You will be glad you did.

Life is a journey, enjoy the trip.
Mary E. Robbins & the Hairballs
Robbins Run Ranch: Living the Dream With our Pomeranians
307.788.0202 Mountain Time USA

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Walked the Loop

Good morning on this cloudy spring day. Walked the driveway loop with min min and Cheyenne again this morning. Stomach still funky, but manageable. Not running to the toilet every five minutes. Just feeling gaggy.

Feels good to have walked that loop each day. I can really see a difference in min min. That hill is quite the incline. I thought I could train on the elliptical for the most part to be able to complete the Cheyenne/Laramie marathon. Wrong! Woof Wrong! My elliptical is good basic training but to be able to handle that mountain marathon I’ve got to work the hills for real. I found that out pretty quickly walking the driveway loop. Driveway loop sounds kind of silly until you know what it actually is. Our drive way is around ½ mile, one portion is on about a 40 degree angle upwards. That’s what it looks like anyway. I just know I have to lean into it to walk up it.

The loop is actually more of a triangle. With uneven surface and steep grade. The loop isn’t all that long. Something between ½ mile and a mile. It was a major wake up call. I’d been doing 10 km (a bit over 6 miles) on the elliptical and I thought that driveway loop would be gravy. Ha! Not. It feels good now. But it tells me that I need to take more training time before attempting that marathon. Frankly I want to be able to enjoy that race. Feel good about doing it and actually feel good during the walk and enjoy the mountain scenery. Completing a marathon isn’t about beating someone else for me. It’s about being well, and physically fit enough to be able to complete it and enjoy the process. It’s about being healthy, mentally, spiritually and physically.

Gotta head out the door, time to feed and water the kennels. We brought in the feed last night. This time my husband unloaded the truck. I truly appreciated that. I was having painful muscle spasms on my left side yesterday. My hand, wrist, arm, and leg were being just nasty. I’d missed my vitamins a few days, and had not drank enough water either. At least I think that’s what was going on. I’ve been hydrating this morning and took my vitamins and the pain has eased off a bit.

I think my body is fighting off some kind of bug. Something has triggered a gastric attack and diarrhea. I used Imodium to stop the diarrhea one day and as soon as the drug was out of my system it came right back. So something is going on. Don’t really care whether I eat or not and my body wants to sleep.

That is exactly what I’m going to do after the kennels are taken care of. The baby ducks are picked up from the store and taken care of and some book work is taken care of. Then I can sleep a bit.

Frankly a hot bath with some essential oils and Epsom salts sounds good to me. That is where I am going after my work is done for today.

Life is a journey…one day one step at a time.
Mary E. Robbins & the Hairballs
Robbins Run Ranch: Living the Dream with our Pomeranians
307.788.0202 Mountain Time USA

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

In like a Lion



Whoo Hoo it’s March! Makes me think of a rhyme a grade school teacher taught. I can’t remember all of it. But it’s about what happens in each of the months. March in like a lion out like a lamb and she had these cute pictures that went along with it. Wow flash back to over 35 years ago. That soooo doesn’t seem possible.

Of course turning 48 this year didn’t seem possible either. I remember being a teen ager and in my 20’s and thinking how different people in their 40’s 50’s and so on were. Now it seems strange to be in a 48 year old body looking out. Wow. Got to take care of this body or the rest of my time on this planet is going to be hellish.

I don’t mean to not live. I mean take care of that carcass you are living in or you will regret it. Wow. I’ve been working on this one. Yes I used and abused it in my teens and 20’s part way into my 30’s. Any of you that have been following my blogs at all know that I got fat. Woof fat. Got very ill, then even fatter. Up to 299 lbs. Yes I know there are folks out there that are even larger. Frankly I cringe at the thought of it. They must be in constant pain.

Our bodies are pretty amazing pieces of engineering. After all the crap I’ve done to mine over the years. I don’t mean just sports. I mean starving it, over feeding it, feeding it crap, drowning it in alcohol, various drugs-prescriptions and all.

I’m not saying to not eat or drink. I am saying all things in moderation. Frankly when it comes to drugs, do your research. The side effects of many are not worth the perceived benefits. Especially if you are on them for a very long period of time. Please don’t depend on your doctors to tell you the side effects. Especially if you don’t ask them. Geez, people do a little research. If you are reading this you have access to the internet. Do some searches on the drugs you are taking and take responsibility for your lives.

I used to hear the side effects of drugs and think “Oh that happens to other people not me.” Surprise! It happened to me and it can happen to you too.

Oh my God! What are they selling with this diet drug ALLI what crap is that? It’ amazes me that it was approved. Bottom line is it’s up to you as to whether you take that crap or not. And can we say crap. As in crap yourself. That’s right, leaky crap your pants. As in oily bowel leakage. It’s actually causing oily bowel leakage.

So, just what do you suppose it’s doing to your body.

Bottom line, a pill, diet shake, surgery, none of it will address the issues that are behind you being too bloody fat! These are just tools.

If you don’t address the issues they will continue to sabotage your life!

You know, it doesn’t have to be some big major thing, it’s one small change at a time. Not overwhelm change your whole life all at once. Like that works, not. One small thing at a time. I’ve been reading a book that really explains it well. Excellent Excellent Read. The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson.

I could ramble on for pages, but there’s kennels to care for, a workout to be attempted, email to sort, and so on and so on.

Later Tater…

Life is a journey… enjoy the trip…
Mary E. Robbins & the Hairballs
Robbins Run Ranch: Living the Dream with our Pomeranians
307.788.0202 Mountain Time


Thursday, February 28, 2008

Building your philosophy:

I feel good today. Not over the top jump around nutsy good. Just good. It’s a pleasant feeling. I got on the scale again this morning. I stayed the same from yesterday to today. That is a good thing since I dropped 4 pounds the day before. My crash/burn/and binge earlier this month socked some pounds back on. Happily that is over.


Actually I am at peace with in myself. Nice contrast to what has been happening. I had been so full of static and conflict that I was not accomplishing what I wanted to and frankly driving myself a bit nutty. Time management can be a real issue. My upline in New Vision recommended Challenge to Succeed Cd set by Jim Rohn. Excellent recommendation. I’ve been listening to it while I work out on my elliptical. One of the tracks is called Time is More Valuable Than Money.

That is just too true. If you don’t manage your time what do you have? Absolutely nothing! Actually that’s not quite true, you do manage to accumulate quite a bit. Not things you would really want but they are there just the same. Poor health is one of the things you acquire when you do not manage your time. Masses of unpaid bills. Calls from collection agencies. Massive amounts of stress. Frustration topped off by rage. Conflict in relationships. So saying that you have absolutely nothing would actually be untrue. I don’t know about you; but frankly I can do without those particular things.

The same time I bought the Challenge to Succeed: A Philosophy for Successful Living by Jim Rohn I stumbled across a wonderful book. The Slight Edge, Secret to a Successful Life by Jeff Olson. Excellent Excellent. I strongly recommend it.

Speaking of time. I am on my way to do Oxycise grab a wonderful soak in the tub and head to town for kennel supplies. My mother dogs are out in the exercise yards, puppies cared for, did 10 kms on my elliptical.




Whoo hoo. I’m going for it on the contest New Vision is having. Whoo Hoo! Want to get in the money and lose some weight as well. Give me a call. I have some $50.00 gift cards for the
mangosteen and forte diets. 307.788.0202 Of course you can go directly to my website and get involved. However, the gift cards come from me personally. So pick up the phone. I’m pretty busy so you may get my voice mail. Simply leave me a message.

Have a wonderful day!




Life is a journey… book the trip.
Mary E. Robbins & the Hairballs
307.788.0202

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

I had an epiphany today.

I watched the biggest loser last night. First time this season that I’ve seen it. Usually I’m doing something else or my husband has the remote. I was getting on my elliptical to work out and decided to watch tv while doing so and came across the program. I’m glad I did. I watched these 2 teams, blue and black go for the big weight loss numbers. Some with success and some with utter failure. I saw some of the same emotional pain and frustration on their faces as I’m dealing with.

At the end of the program Jillian (one of the trainers) came on and was talking about diet. As in what you put in your mouth, chew and swallow. A couple of the folks on the black team had severely restricted their calories trying to drop a high number of pounds for the week and it backfired.

If you cut your calories too low your metabolism will slow way down and you will not lose fat. You may even gain weight because your body will hang on to every calorie it gets. It goes into starvation mode.

So what do you do? Eat 5 or 6 times a day. No not 5000 calories unless you are doing an ultra marathon every day. Get a grip, and get off your butt.

I am using New Vision’s diet program, and it’s excellent. Now make sure you hear me. I am not living on diet shakes alone. I am eating 5 or 6 times a day.

Transforming your body, losing excess fat (note the excess in this sentence), developing a healthy relationship with your body, dealing with the physical changes in your body; is not only a physical transformation. It is a mental/emotional/spiritual transformation as well.

How you see yourself; what you believe, determines how your physical body transforms.

Actually; how you see yourself, what you tell yourself, the questions you ask yourself, what you believe not only determines how your physical body transforms; it determines how you live your life.

Your physical life. Your personal life. Your spiritual life. Your business life.

That said I had an epiphany today. Actually tonight as I was trying to go to bed. Yes I got out of bed and started writing. If I ad 2 kilometers a week I can make the full marathon distance by race day. May 25th 2008.

Yesterday I did 5 kilometers in the morning and 5 kms (kilometers) in the evening. Today I ate breakfast and went straight out to the kennels. Took about 20 minutes for lunch and kept working until around 5 pm. Popped into an online meeting at 5pm. Turned up the volume so I could listen without being tied to the computer. Stuck supper in the oven and got on my elliptical.

I did 10 kilometers on the elliptical tonight.

As I went to bed I was asking myself how could I make the full 26.2 mile (42.16 kilometer) marathon rather than the half. Just as I was starting my prayers, add 2 kilometers a week popped into my head, along with the belief that it’s actually attainable.

This is a huge thing for me. I’ve had doing a marathon on my life list for a very long time. Every time I started training for it I would sabotage myself. I didn’t believe I could actually do it.

Mindset is a powerful thing. I believe I can do a marathon. I believe I can do the Wyoming May 25th, 2008 Marathon.

Training for this marathon will play a major part in my body transformation. Good nutrition, plays a major part in my body’s transformation as well. Yes I’m taking vitamins and minerals: New Vision of course.

How much weight am I going to lose? How many inches am I going to lose? I’m not really sure. Overall weight loss, and overall inch loss can be pretty variable. So what am I working for. A sleek athletic, healthy body. A major goal for me is to be able to walk normally, and not have my thighs touch. So I’m not sure at what weight that will occur. Frankly I don’t care what weight that happens at. I do not want my thighs rubbing together when I walk.

What I do want is a firm athletic, healthy body. For the first time in my life I can actually see it in my minds eye. And get this, it’s attainable.

He he he, happy dance, happy dance, happy dance. I’m free. For the first time in my life, I am free. I am free and I am not afraid. That’s a biggie.

Life is a journey… one step at a time…
Mary E. Robbins & the Hairballs
Robbins Run Ranch: Living the Dream with our Pomeranians

Monday, January 28, 2008

I went Haywire...

Wow, I went haywire. I feel like my mind is clear again. I got excited about the body transformation challenge and of course told my friends and relatives. Things were going pretty well. I was excited and seeing weight loss pretty consistently.

Then I went haywire… I’ve been heavy for a while. Really heavy since my hysterectomy a couple of years ago. September 9th 2005 to be exact. Changing your body composition. Losing fat, gaining muscle, becoming sleek and athletic is not just a physical thing. It’s a psychological and spiritual thing as well.

Saying that I want to lose weight and actually doing it are definitely two different things. My fat suit has been a safe place to hide for years. People around me see me a certain way and when I start changing that they tend to panic as well. Many of you who have made changes in your lives or are working on changing your lives have encountered the same type of things.

The past couple of weeks it’s been one crisis after another. Both in my mind and laid at my feet by friends and relatives. My main coping system for the past few years has been to eat until my mind is numb. Then collapse on the couch in font of some mind numbing television program or stare at the wall in a fugue state. Ok now I know what’s happening. Actually took responsibility for it and I am journaling rather than eating.

During the 2 week stretch that I went haywire, yes I had moments of clarity. If not I wouldn’t be here now. This is another step in the process of change.

I am getting stronger, physically, spiritually, and mentally. Frankly I could do without the process, but then growth in any form is always a process.

I’ll leave you with this little poem… I don’t know who wrote it, but it is well worth reading. Then I’m out the door to to take care of the kennels…

Don’t Quit
When Things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit-
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a person turns about
When they might have won had they stuck it out
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow—
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor’s cup:
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out—
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit—
It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.



Life is a journey... sometimes there are rocks in the road...
Mary E. Robbins & the Hairballs
Robbins Run Ranch: Living the Dream With Our Pomeranians

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Buggered it: VS Decide, Commit, Succeed

Well I did it. I truly buggered it yesterday. I opened up my Hip Hop Abs dvd’s (yesterday morning) with the intent of checking each of them to make sure all the dvd’s worked. Well I did a lot more than just look at them. I know better but I did it anyway. I did the big OD. That’s right I over did it and as a result I had a very painful (not very productive) exhausted day yesterday. Knocked me out.

This morning is a raw hamburger day, as in I feel like a piece of live raw hamburger. No not like eating it. I feel like I’ve been run through a grinder. Hello lactic acid buildup. Ugh!

I took a couple of ibuprofen last night and crashed. Thanks to the ibuprofen , the pain dulled and I actually got some sleep. I didn’t even get up to stoke (reload) our wood stove. As a result it was a bit frosty in here when I got up this morning.

What’s the point, other than all this ow … ow … ow… whining? In the past when this happened, or rather when I did this to my self. I would crawl off in a corner (couch or bed) and hide under a blanket until the pain went away. Heads up folks! That doesn’t work, oh yes the pain will eventually go away. But you end up with less muscle tone. Usually pigging out on junk food while hiding under the blanket feeling sorry for yourself. So when you do emerge you have an extra fat roll or two hanging off your rear.

I am happy to say, well not overly happy still annoyed with myself for completely overdoing it. When I could have gradually worked into a full Hip Hop Ab workout without all this pain and swelling. Ok, it’s too late to get that off to a less painful start. I am where I am.

Back on point, I got up this morning. Gimped around my house letting the dogs out, got on the scale, (bounced up 2 pounds- yes I know it’s a result of the swelling but I still don’t like it) got dressed, and got on my elliptical. Yes I am still working out.

No I’m not binging on junk. Actually I’m not binging at all. That’s how I know the weight bounce is due to the swelling and not fat packing back on my body. In truth I was more than a bit concerned about my mindset after a weight bounce, but it’s good. It’s good because I know it’s just part of the process of my body’s transformation to a healthier sleeker physique, not a result of a pig out session.

Yes I did hip hop abs again today. Just not the full workout. I set the timer for 10 minutes and worked my way through 10 minutes of a dance routine. Yes I was ouching it all the way through. No I’m not so tough, nor am I a total whiner. What I am is determined. At the beginning of the workouts on hip hop abs it has this 3 word series scrolling across the screen. It describes exactly what it takes to reach you goals. Decide…Commit…Succeed.

I have Decided, I have Commited, I am Succeeding. Whoo Hoo… sore muscles will not stop me. A minor bounce will not derail my commitment. I am succeeding.

I am going for the $50,000 New Vision has put up for prize money. But you know it’s not just the money. Although it’s true, the money is a great inspiration. I am feeling so much better than I have in a very long time. Sore muscles aside. I feel better physically. I feel better mentally. I am more at peace with myself.

I had my Forte Shake for breakfast. Took my vitamins and minerals and am on to my day.

Life is a journey…enjoy the trip
Mary E. Robbins
307-788-0202
Robbins Run Ranch: Living the Dream With Our Pomeranians

Sunday, January 06, 2008

New Vision Does it Again: Weight Loss challenge: $50,000 first prize!

Wow, Ok where do I start? I’ve been struggling with my weight. Gotten very heavy in fact. This past summer I hit 299 pounds and it was a wake up call. I was actually losing some weight Up until Thanksgiving then I went binge nuts and gained part of it back. I had lost down to 278 pounds, and then gained back up to 287 pounds. We all know the yo yo bit in weight is not good for a person, ok.

Anyway I was working on goals, and looking around for an outside motivator for me. A bit of support and inspiration.

Well on January 3rd I popped into a conference call for New Vision. There was President BK Boreyko announcing the winners of the Weight Loss Challenge that had just wrapped up. I was a bit pissed at myself because I had planned on entering it and had not gotten my starting photos taken.

I was sitting at my desk listening to the names and stories of the winners. The 5th place winner lost 16 pounds for a $1500.00 prize, and it went up from there. The first place winner lost 47 pounds for a first place prize of $15,000.00. It was a 3 month contest.

After the winner’s were announced and congratulated BK Boreyko had another announcement. By this time I was feeling, more than a bit, pissed at myself for not being a part of this whole process. In truth feeling a bit sorry for myself as well. You know, the slumped over my desk, lip sticking out sulk bit.

Then my ears perked up, what was he saying?! Thankfully he repeated it, and I promptly went to the website to confirm. New Vision is running another weight loss challenge. It is running for 179 days from the start (the start date was Jan 3rd) with total prizes amounting to $100,000.00.

Ok I’m sitting up much straighter by this time. Remember; I was looking for inspiration. A bit of leverage to keep myself going, you know other than feeling better and looking better and so on. Frankly, Money is a very good method of inspiration for me. $50,000.00 for first prize, $20,000.00 for second prize and so on.

I have my starting point photos taken this time. No more hiding for me, I’m going for it. I figure I have as good as chance as anyone for that first prize, I wouldn’t turndown any of the prize money for that matter. Would you? At any rate I’ll be getting rid of some very unwanted fat. In time for that summer season.

The Holiday Fat Fanny Season is over. Oh come on, you know nearly everyone packs on some pounds over the holiday season. Whether it’s just a few or a truckload of lard. Why not get paid to lose the fat and feel better at the same time.

New Vision has excellent products; there is no question about that.

Jump on Board and Get Paid to Lose Weight Now!

If you have any questions, need help or support I’ll be glad to help. Just pick up your phone and call. This is my number 307.788.0202

I decided to blog my progress… So I’m posting my start photos… no more hiding for me.

Go to my website click on the weight challenge link and check it out. While you are there order the diet systems. Both are excellent.

Life is a journey… see you lighter
Mary E. Robbins & the Hairballs
307.788.0202
USA Mountain Time


Click here and Get Started Today.

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Thursday Morning: Up Before the Butt Crack of Dawn!


Thursday morning… I’d say bright and early … but the only thing bright here right now are the embers in the wood stove. The stars are even hidden behind an early morning cloud cover… the moon is barely peeking through… It’s supposed to warm up today. I hope they are right. It’s still 4 degrees Fahrenheit here according to the weather channel on my computer. Happily my thermometer says it’s closer to 20 in this hollow. Much warmer than yesterday at this time.

My back feels better, Thank God! Literally! I used my abdominal/back band all day yesterday and I’m using it again today. I thought I could go without using it much and just build the strength in my abs and back. Unfortunately I was mistaken. I have built strength, but I’ve injured myself along the way. So, I’m taking a new tack. I’m using the back and abdominal supports. It will probably take a bit longer to build the strength as my body will rely on the supports. However in the long run I think I’ll come out better for it.

The kennel work has to be done, so does my house… in the process of this work I’ve been hurting myself. So I’m using the supports to protect myself and I’ll use oxycise, to help build the muscle strength.

It’s been miserable, absolutely crazy pain from the muscle spasms in my back pulling me over backwards after taking care of my kennels. That’s just nuts, and it’s damaging to my body as well. Bloody muscle spasm pulled my spine out of alignment to the point I could barely use my legs from the pinched nerves. I was losing control of my arms as well, then there was that nauseating pain. Ugh.
If I’m a wimp for using the supports, then so be it. But in the long run I’ll be stronger and healthier for it.

I should have used supports from the start of my recovery rather than listening to those that said I shouldn’t. I could have gotten a lot more done, with a lot less pain.

I’m not talking about being totally dependent on supports, I’m talking about using them to protect my body while I’m healing and strengthening my body. Frankly it’s amazing to me just how long it’s taking to regain even part of the strength and endurance I had before I was ill. But then I was ill for a long time. Long time to me anyway, over 5 years, and 2 major surgeries. With a nasty case of West Nile Virus tossed in the middle of it all. Ok, all things considered I’m doing pretty well. Maybe just maybe I can piece my superwoman cape back together… lol…

At least, get into good condition physically, mentally and spiritually as well… oh and lets not forget financially. Illness can certainly do a number on the finances… eeeewwww… Happily I’m starting to turn that around as well…

On to fitness:
I did the elliptical for 1 km yesterday… and again this morning
I wrote down everything I ate yesterday.
Had a tasty breakfast this morning of hot tea, Yoplait… the sugar free/fat free kind, and a toasted English muffin with a bit of butter and honey.

Nope no coffee first thing this morning, my tummy was a bit off and coffee just doesn’t appeal to me when I feel like that. Now a good spot of tea does just fine. Yes I’m still a coffee lover and I will more than likely have some later. Just didn’t want any this morning.

As for the rest of the day on the exercise front; I’m going after kennel feed, and supplies so I’ll be blasting around the store and unloading supplies at my mom’s before I come home to take care of the kennels. Dump that Ice wield that sledge hammer, unload those bags, scoop that feed, muck out the whelping house… and so on and so on… it’s get fit or croak…lol… soooo… I’m working for get fit. It will be so nice to feel a spring in my step, rather than trudging under the weight. Just the thought of that makes me smile all over.

Life is a journey… how you take the trip is up to you!
Mary E. Robbins & the Hairballs

Bright Cold Wyo Morning, fitness goals Jan. 2nd

Good Morning…
Yes it is a good morning. It’s bright sunny and cold, and absolutely beautiful outside. It was 2 below zero Fahrenheit when the dogs chased me out of bed this morning at 5:00.
My back seems better, still pain radiating down my legs and arms and a bit dizzy; but not as bad as yesterday pinched nerves can be a bugger.

I’m hoping using the reverse incline will pull me back into alignment. I was having severe muscle spasms in my back after taking care of the kennels for several days. I’m thinking that is what pulled me out of alignment. I am wearing an abdominal and back support trying to hold things together. That has helped a bit. I’m thinking that the more I move the more chance I have of coming back into alignment so I walked a km on my elliptical this morning. I am restarting my training program to get ready for the half marathon the end of May 2008. I’ll be adding 1 km a week up until the race, maybe a bit more just before. At any rate it will help me to increase my endurance and elongate my leg muscles a bit.

My Daily Meal Plan at this point is as follows:
Eat at least 1 fruit daily
Eat at least 1 salad daily
Listen to my body
Eat only when hungry
Write down what I eat
Write down my exercise/workouts

Workout Plan:
Elliptical-start with 1 km per day increase 1 km per week
Oxycise Level 1-several times per week
Hip Hop abs-several times per week
After it warms up a bit do some lifting on my bowflex. The bowflex is out in the quonset… there is no heat in there and frankly I refuse to lift any more weight than I already am in subzero temps. I’m lifting 20 to 55 lb bags of feed, dragging 100 foot hoses full of water, dragging my feed tubs, beating the ice out of water containers with a 3 pound sledge hammer. That 3 pound weight doesn’t seem like much until you do a couple hundred reps with it. Tossing bales of straw into pens and distributing the straw about with a pitch fork. Once it warms up I’ll be cleaning out kennel runs with a rake, shovel, and pitch fork, and grooming dogs as fast as I can to get their coats brushed out before the heat of summer gets here.

At any rate that’s the plan for now.

Life is a journey… enjoy the trip…
Mary E. Robbins & the Hairballs