A year in Review

What a year.  Some years are trial and some are rest.  We've had two in a row now that were trial.  I'm waiting for the rest.  Trying to make significant lifestyle changes is never easy in the best of conditions, but trying to do it under stress when all you want to do is stress eat, is another kind of trial all together.  In the past year we have endured and tried to deal with:
 1. Back to the studs renovation of the kitchen
 2. Back to the studs renovation of two bathrooms
 3. Addition of a pantry
 4. Division of one room to make two
 5. Refinishing first floor wood floors
 6. Painting nearly every wall, most of the trim, and most of the ceilings on the first floor
 7. Removal of a huge nest of yellow jackets in the attic that broke through into the house and the ceiling repaired and painted
 8. The death and replacement of the hot water heater
 9. A defective hub that caused a wheel to come off the car at highway speeds causing damage to the body, axle, wheel, and tire.  Thankfully my son who was driving was not injured.
10. Two cavities (not mine)
11. My first colonoscopy
12. Dealing with an improperly coded insurance claim that went to collections when the provider failed to file it with said insurance
13. The four month absence of my women's organization president while she worried over her young daughter with cancer and I had to run the organization in her absence.
14. The resignation of two consecutive assistants
15. My mother breaking her leg and worrying over her during months of rehab (she is still recovering)
16. Helping my youngest son prepare through medical and practical issues to serve a two year mission.
17. Purchase of a new car and retiring one that's been with us for fourteen years.

Those are just the highlights--or lowlights as it were.  I suppose when I consider the stress specific to the month of December, and the food I ate, the fact that I "only" gained two pounds is quite remarkable.  I was especially discouraged when I had my A1C retested and despite months of healthy eating and regular exercise, it didn't budge.  Not even a tenth of a point.  I complained to my mother (nurse) who told me it takes a loooong time to affect A1C numbers. It should have made me feel better, but don't we always think we are the exception?  Like my number should have changed just because it's me.  If my body has proven anything to me over the years, it's that it's pretty medically typical.

Twenty-ish pounds has always been my weightloss limit regardless of my starting weight.  My goal for 2020 will be to break through that wall to lose the rest of the weight that needs to come off.  I have an appointment with my hormone doc this morning to consult with her on what to expect from my 53 yo body and what my current replacement therapy can and can't do.  Then I'm getting my bike remeasured with the hope of tooling around my neighborhood in a few more weeks as spring comes to the south.

And the Hits Keep Coming...

Today is an official weigh-in day so I have to accept the gain.  I'm up two pounds and I'm hoping at least one of those is water weight, but stress eating has definitely been happening.  A week before Thanksgiving, just days after we got home from Belize, the hot water heater died.  Because we were trying to work through the home warranty that came with the house when we bought it last year, it didn't get replaced for a week and only after we took matters into our own hands.  It was an albeit first world nightmare of hauling laundry back and forth to the laundromat, boiling water to wash dishes, and showering at the gym.  It just took a lot of time and effort when I was trying to prep for a major holiday. 

Then days after getting it replaced, the wheel came off the car my son was driving in the left lane, at highway speeds.  He's okay, but I shudder to think what could have happened.  Now the battle starts to get it fixed. The mechanic who did the wheel bearings three weeks ago better make this right.  

In the meantime, the holiday food gauntlet continues tonight with hubby's office party.  I think it's weird to have a party on a Monday night, but at least it doesn't interfere with the weekend. I'm starting the day with an easy, solid breakfast. I have to get back on track.  I'll be spending the week working this weight off which won't be easy since I drive up to Cincinnati with Jake on Wednesday and back on Saturday.  The friend I'm staying with has battled weight as well and since she loves me and will go to great lengths to help me stay on track. I'm grateful for her love and friendship.