A few weeks ago my husband and I joined a walking challenge sponsored by our local hospital that pits us against some of the most fabulous speed walkers you have ever met. You know who I’m talking about. Stylish sweat suits, visors, jewelry, a freshly made face…yes, those ladies. One group we’re competing against (closely; we’re in the same organization) is averaging over 20,000 steps per day and they are militant. A couple of them tried to draft me into their group, but I knew better. If I had joined they would have already drawn and quartered me by now because I’m doing good to meet our team’s goal of 10,000 steps per day.

It’s a great challenge. One that, literally, anyone can participate in (they even offer wheelchair pedometers for those who need them) and it’s served to motivate me and Kevin. Both of us think that by the time it’s done we will have developed a healthy habit of walking around the neighborhood. And just a 30-minute walk each day has shown to reduce risks of a number of health issues. You can never start too early.

There was only one thing that stood between me and the challenge when we first started. I had dealt with it in the past and had never really been able to overcome this obstacle.

What daunting thing stood in front of me? Well…finding the right pedometer.

If your experience has been anything like mine, finding one was no easy task. I have tried out a number of them and I know what my dilemma is. I refuse to pay over $20 for one. I know, I know. How can I expect to get a quality piece of plastic, pendulumy craftsmanship if I’m not going to shell out the dough? Well, as a college student I chose to spend my money on other things, like antique books on eBay (the purchase of which garnered a letter from the FBI inviting me to join the witness protection program…wait, I need to tell you that story, don’t I?), Rusty’s Frozen Custard, and kitchen gadgets from IKEA with names that I am incapable of doing the tongue gymnastics that are required for pronunciation.

This time I headed to our local Academy to peruse what they had to offer. Again, my goal is middle-of-the-road, not over $20, and quality. I made it out of the store with this:

It is the Sportline 340, Step and Distance pedometer. At $17.99 it comes in just under my spending limit. After setting my stride length (exactly 24 inches for those that may be curious; I’m a short-legged little thing) I was off and racking up the steps.

This is the best pedometer I have ever owned. I check it for accuracy a few times per day and so far it hasn’t failed. The battery is still alive (I’ve heard of different pedometers needing to be changed regularly) and the best thing of all? It’s durable. I have dropped this thing countless times. It’s what I do. If you are making a product that I am going to hold in my hands it needs to be able to withstand being dropped on concrete. Seriously, it happens a few times every day. The front cover has popped off a couple of times when I dropped it, but I pop it right back on and go on my merry way.

Thank you, Sportline, for making a pedometer that meets all my needs, doesn’t count a walk across the room as 100 steps, and seems to be strong enough to endure whatever I throw at it. Next time I may even upgrade to the 955 Women’s Pedometer Watch. You heard me right, I might actually spend over $20. I’m sold.

I don’t know Sportline. Sportline doesn’t know me. But I love this pedometer and want the world to know!

I’d like to go ahead and dedicate this song to all the carbs out there. I know you’ll be back.

It’s just a matter of time. But right now…right now, fellas, we’re breakin’ up. Giving up my bready ways and starting over without you. Over the past few years I have learned what I can tolerate and what I can’t. I’ve learned that, for the most part, you’re just plain bad for me and that I’ll continue to be jealous of those that can enjoy you on a regular basis. To all of you folks who can enjoy a biscuit or a baked potato without hacking and coughing and intense abdominal cramps, well…

So, be prepared to endure recipes where I essentially do nothing but heat heavy cream, stir in a little dark cocoa, add a dose of Nyquil, and try to forget my carb-free sorrows. It’s a little like those Edwardless months of New Moon, only I describe every last second of my lamentations.

Truth is that I need to coffee more on Monday than Sunday, anyway. This weekend (ever since I bought that box of candy canes) I’ve been enjoying peppermint mochas. Mmm.

• Mountain Rose Herbs lists “50 Ways You Can Spice Up Your Life” – some great tips here on herbal baths, remedies, tea, etc.
• They also have a number of recipes for relaxing winter baths. I must try these.
• Been reading my series of posts covering our honeymoon? No? Get caught up: Day 2 – Pt. 1, Day 2 – Pt. 2, Day 3, Day 4 – Pt. 1, and Day 4 – Pt. 2.
• Christopher Walken covers Lady GaGa – Oh, the hilarity.
• This is an instance where a Google ad really worked. All I’m going to say is BACONNAISE.
• Another group of Compassion bloggers are headed to El Salvador. Shannon reminds us to keep them in our prayers.
• Ronnica is in Turkey! Go check out her blog as she posts about her experiences there. Personally, I’m hoping for more food photos.

Short week at work, but likely a busy one with all we have going on. Best thing? The week ends with my birthday. I should probably come up with a list of things that I’d like to have. One of our good friends (the minister who married us) has a running list that he updates. And it’s LONG. Perhaps I should do that?

I know. You’ve been longing for one of these. Here goes.

• First off, question. Does anyone have a good pizza dough recipe to share? I’m trying to find one that my husband will like. I’ve been using plain old Pillsbury and I’ll be honest: it’s not the best. His issue is with the texture. Mine is with the sweetness. I want something that will provide a thin crust, crispy all over. Nothing doughy.
• Batman. Vanishing.
• This is one of my pet peeves as well. I sometimes wish that people who ask these kinds of questions could understand what it’s like to suffer from chronic health issues that don’t always manifest themselves in a way that is visible to the general public. I mean, I could make that happen, but seriously you do not want that. For the record, I would love to be able to participate in things every time a person asks me to. The issues I have suffered from are one of the reasons that I rarely, if ever, volunteer my time or spread myself too thin with obligations. You get really tired of disappointing people after a while.
• The aforementioned is another reason that I hate it when people flake out on plans with no reason.
• Great post from The Happy Housewife on surviving a deployment when you have small children. I have a few friends in this boat and I thought they might find the article helpful.
• While you’re over at The Happy Housewife, take a look at her recipe for Salmon Turnovers. I can’t wait to try these!
• This week I missed meeting The Pioneer Woman at her book signing in Oklahoma City. *cry* But watching this video made me feel a little bit better.
• A little shoutout to Miss Melissa and all the other NaBloPoMo participants joining in this year! I think this is my second year? Can’t remember. I’ll check my archives. Maybe I should have done that before writing this bullet point and floundering around like an imbecile. But that’s why you love me, right?

Wedding planning truths continued…

4. You will forget things. Like the fact that a human being needs to consume a certain amount of water to not go crazy or die. So, if you’d like to stay sane and out of urgent care in the middle of a workday where a doctor asks you if you’ve been drinking enough water and you can’t recall the last full glass you’ve had, drink some water. Eight glasses per day, ladies. You’ll thank me.

I almost apologize (or do I go ahead and do it?) every time I take a break here. Maybe it would be different if they were planned absences. But I watch my StatCounter hover around the same number every day, no matter if I’m posting or not, and I feel bad for not providing you all with something to read. For that, I apologize. For the rest, well, let me give you a run down of what’s been going on.

Soundtrack for today’s post

One week (the week and a half before Valentine’s Day) I had the flu, the next week I had an unbearable amount of stressful drama, and this past week, I broke. Without sharing too many details (the truth is that I don’t mind sharing with about 99.77365% of you, but there is one person I am in contact with on a day-to-day basis that I don’t want to share most of this with…maybe I’ll make a password protected post in the future) I will tell you that last week a coworker had to rush me to an urgent med center because I had gone numb in my hands and face, was faint, and had difficulty breathing. I had rushes of warmth all over my face and I sat alone at my desk at work thinking I was dying. As a last effort (I thought) to save my life (or possibly just NOT die at the front desk), I called my boss and everything after that is pretty blurry. I was taken to the urgent med center and they immediately checked the level of oxygen in my blood. They handed me forms to fill out (seriously? I cannot believe that they did this. The girl at the front desk clearly did not realize the severity of the situation. And I told her that). I couldn’t remember my phone number, work address, or my parents’ area code.

The whole reason I was so concerned was because I had started birth control about 3 weeks before and the things that I was experiencing were all things that it said to seek a physician’s care for immediately because of the risk of a blood clot. I was freaking out because I thought it was a stroke or a heart attack. I have never been so frightened in my life. They ran an EKG and did some chest x-rays to make sure that it wasn’t a blood clot (because it was a possibility) and there weren’t any problems there.

Again, I’m not going to say exactly what it was. I’m pretty sure most people can figure it out. If you can’t, email me. I’ll talk to you about it. The reason I’m being so cryptic is because there are people that I don’t want advice from. They aren’t qualified to give it. I am working on getting things under control, relaxing, and focusing on what I can do today and not the piles of things that have to be finished in the next 96 days.

I am okay, my life is good, and things are getting better. Thank you for your concern.

It’s been a weird, rough past week and a half. First I was sick and while I was sick, I realized that I’d had enough. Some people know what happened. If you don’t, I’ll be glad to tell you in an email, I’m just not interested in airing any dirty laundry online.

This morning I wrote something for my SparkPeople blog to sorta motivate myself and help me to remember in the future why I did what I did. I’m pretty bad about forgetting my reasons behind serious action and this is something I cannot afford to forget.

Your mind and spirit are just as important to be nourished as your body. I know that I can lose sight of that pretty often. This is a note so that I will remember, and maybe encourage other people, to take whatever steps are necessary to remove the poison from your life. I firmly believe in trying to remain strong and a good example to those around you, but there comes a time when you have to choose to remove yourself from the situation. If you are not being built up, you’re being dragged down.

When we’re talking about our bodies we decrease the bad intake and increase the good output. It’s the same with our mind and spirit. I am choosing to refuse the insensitive, uneducated, and unknowledgeable criticism aimed at myself and my life. It is tearing down my mind, bringing down my spirit, and taking me to the same level as the people doing this.

Instead I am embracing the things that matter:
The love of my Lord, Jesus Christ
My loving fiance
My devoted family
Friends that love and support me

I am turning away from and refusing to take the following:
Unfounded criticism, intended to hurt and bring chaos
CHAOS, encouraged by those whose lives center around it and therefore believe other’s lives must as well
Hatefulness
Insanity, I will not take diagnosis from people who need to be diagnosed themselves
Divisive speech
Direction from someone who is not my superior
Uneducated advice

And I will no longer listen to the voice of inexperience. I am committing today to continue working towards my goals with my success in mind. Looking toward the future and refusing to let anyone else drag me down. I will embrace my success, not be ashamed of it, and go forward.

Originally posted on July 16, 2008.

First of all, for future reference, be prepared to take off all your clothes (except panties) when you visit [an endocrinologist]. I had not been informed and consequently had hairy legs. Oh well. Plus, it was a male doctor who was seeing me naked and that was unexpected as well. It’s not like it killed me, but I would have preferred a female doctor had I known that was going to happen.

…

I am to a point where I can say to the world, “This is how much I weigh.” I am a woman and I’m telling you my weight. This is a breakthrough. Why? Because I’ve felt fat since I was 6-years-old. First, I’ll tell you where I started. My highest weight on SparkPeople.com is listed as 168 lbs. That’s right folks. However, I distinctly remember reaching 171, being too depressed to enter it, pouring a jar of hot fudge on some Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream, and dying a slow, fudgey death.

Read more…

It’s a miracle I lasted this long. I came down with a cold on Saturday evening and am now suffering something fierce. Instead of hanging out with my fiancé tonight like I would prefer, I’ll be soaking in a Burt’s Bees milk bath, watching Arthur from the tub, drinking some hot hot tea, disinfecting my nesting areas around the house, and washing the piles of laundry I’ve been putting off. And maybe polishing the day off with the (literal) bloody mess that is Breaking Dawn.

In case you were wondering, it’s now 198 days until we get married–just a little over 6 months.

The engagement pictures are done and I should have some to show you in the next few days.

My dress is in and locked up in a boutique in OKC (I just love the thought that someone hand sewed this for me in Barcelona. I want to go to Barcelona).

And on a somewhat unrelated note (but sorta related because it’s going to make me a more pleasant person to be around), my hormone/herb cream is going to be here today and THAT is a reason to be happy, for sure.

I find these things altogether thrilling. What’s thrilling you today?