I joined Noom

So I am 50 and fat.
I would rather be 50 and fit.
So last Sunday after seeing the Noom commercial for the 10 millionth time I picked up my cell phone, almost unconsciously, and I went to Noom.com and checked it out.
I couldn't really ascertain what Noom was still, but the further I went with the questions and the pages, the more I knew I was going to follow through.
When asked for what I wanted to pay to start, I did $1.
I didn't know anything about it so I was not willing to put too much in just in case it wasn't something that wouldn't work for me.
So almost 2 weeks later and my $1 was worth it and I will be doing the full program which for me is another 4 months after January 26th.

I wrote this 4 months ago but never posted it...

and now it is May and I am...

30 pounds less and eating the best I have ever eaten in my life.
I have learned so much about myself and my relationship with food... my horrible relationship with food.

Food will not fix my problems. Food will not comfort me. Food is not my friend. Food is fuel. Food is meant to be savored, not shoved into my face to try and calm me or fix me. An apple is just as satisfying and tasty as a bag of cookies, it really is.

BUT the very best part... no food is off limits, no exercise programs are needed, and I am completely in charge. Just 10-15 minutes a day to read the posts that Noom creates for the timing of your program. You do log your food and I would say that that is actually my favorite part. It is eye opening to say the least but also the most helpful. You learn what your choices mean for your body and how you can make other choices, IF YOU WANT. There are color codes to use for foods: Green, Yellow, Red. Red does not mean no, it means less.

I have learned so many changes for my foods and I love them all. Cauliflower rice?? Yes please. Hummus?? Yes please. Guacamole.... homemade?? I am going to make it?? Yes, yes I am and I love it. I even make my own tortilla chips... because I get to eat more of them than any I could buy in a bag :)

You also are assigned a Goal Specialist and a Group Chat with a Team Leader. You interact as much or as little as you want. I was not crazy about my Goal Specialist and I might not still be his cheerleader but we have had some good interactions that have led to new thoughts. The group chat is better because you chat with others just like you and that should be at the same point in the program as you. We share troubles, goals, accomplishments, ask for help or ideas, and basically cheer each other on. We have a very large group but only a handful interact there. I like my group and the team leader is good but a little too cheery cheer for me some days.

The best thing I can say is if you have ever said: "I have a bad relationship with food." Then Noom is for you. It is not a diet, it is not an exercise program, it is a mind changing program that I am forever grateful for. If you stick with it and if you believe in yourself just a tiny bit, it can work for you too.

You all know I don't tout things I don't believe in or post anything to gain personal kudos. I only bring things up when I think people can benefit from the knowledge. I can't promise anything to you except that this worked for me and I  believe it will continue to work forever for me and it might also work for you. It might be worth the investment to find out. I found that I was worth it and so are you.

Let’s Get This Party Started

Friday September 13, 2019

My 26th anniversary at my job.
My sister’s birthday.
The kickoff to my 50th birthday celebration which isn’t until 10-25-19 🙂

Mom and I are heading to Las Vegas tomorrow and there we will meet up with my good friend, Sue, and she and I will see Donnie and Marie in concert at Flamingo. We will then also have a meet and greet with them and hopefully some awesome photos together.

Here’s to a great birthday kickoff!!

50 days to 50

So I love the Hallmark Channel. I mean I LOVE the Hallmark Channel and even more so their Countdown to Christmas.

On Facebook yesterday they posted 50 days to Countdown to Christmas and I had a revelation!

Their Countdown to Christmas starts October 25th.

That day just happens to also be my birthday, my 50th this year!

So that means it is only 50 days until I’m 50!!!!

Let the celebrations begin!!!!

Labor Day 2019

So it is the unofficial end of summer today and while I won't miss the heat of summer, I will definitely miss the longer lit days. I find as I get older, not only do I misremember how long it used to stay light in the summer... I swear it used to be light until 9pm every day each month of summer vacation...but I find I prefer the longer days. I seem to get so much more done whether outside or inside. I might even be able to be ok with the cold as long as it were lighter longer.

I thought I would get outside more this summer but I didn't. I thought I would try to do more yard work this summer but I didn't. I thought I would exercise more and lose weight this summer but I didn't. It goes by so quickly and only getting quicker.

I have lots to look forward to this fall and winter though and perhaps I planned it that way to make up for my less than successful summer. I will turn 50 in October and I had made some small "resolutions" to accomplish before then but so far only one has happened and while it is an amazing one I need to get on track with the rest. Almost 2 months until the big day.

I hope you all had a great summer. Share your favorite memory from summer 2019 in the comments please.

My favorite memory would be planning a trip to LA with a few weeks notice to attend the Lucifer Convention. It was a wonderful trip and such a great time. We got an amazing hotel room upgrade and had no issues with travel. We had so much fun and the weather was perfect!

A Love Letter to Jane the Virgin

There are no words to describe my grief over the series finale of this show. Jane the Virgin starring Gina Rodriguez tells the story basically of a Grandmother, mother and daughter and how they navigate the world we live in, all under the guise of a Telenovela.

To say that I love these characters, this show and their stories is an understatement. This show covers so many incredibly important topics and makes them so accessible. From virginity, to religion, to love, to friendship, to sex, to ageism, to racism, cancer, everything. I kid you not, this show has covered so much and so well. It is so sad that these stories will end and we will miss out on all the magic they create.

Gina Rodriguez is spectacular as Jane. She is my best friend and we don’t even know each other. She tells my stories as a woman and I learn about her life and struggles as a woman of color. But honestly that isn’t even part of the story any more. These are just people who speak a different language but speaking the exact same language as all of us. Humanity. All they want is love, friendship, peace and a place in society. Isn’t that what we all want?

Yes, there are crazy things that happen in this show but that is also what I love most about it. The “mundane” mixed with the “crazy”, sounds like life to me. I love that there are no punches pulled, they all land squarely where they should but resolutions are always around the corner. The mysteries are twisted and complicated and I have yet to figure one out but maybe I just don’t try as hard with this show because I WANT it to surprise me and challenge me and make me yell out... and believe me I have yelled at this show many times and I love it.

I already know that just because it has Telenovela attached to it, people will choose not to watch but I implore you to just go with it. Enjoy the crazy, enjoy the amazing writing, enjoy a 7 minute uncut dialog performed by Gina Rodriguez this season... but AFTER you watch all the episodes in all the years before it. You will be blown away by her talent and that of the writers and all the other actors and everyone involved in the show. You will definitely have moments where you think they are in your head and stealing your thoughts and I relish those moments.

The love stories are the best they can be. Soulmates, true love, amnesia, familial love, all of the love. This show consistently breaks my heart but in the most delicious ways. I have cried more tears for Jane than for This is Us (and we all know how much we cry at that show). This has become my family and I will miss them so much when they are gone. The fatherly love Rogelio has for Jane is the most precious love I have seen. I pretty much just assume this is a real family and they are just filming their lives for us.

I so want the cast and crew to see this post and to see my love for them and to hear my gratitude I have for them sharing everything they have with me/us. From the beautiful sets, colors, clothes, backdrops, writing, filming and acting, there will never be another show like this. I wish I could put my thoughts together better but I don’t know how. I just absolutely love this show and I want everyone else to love it to. I want you all to see what I see and feel the glowing heart that I feel with every episode. I will miss having Spanish spoken in my house every week and seeing what my friends are up to in Miami and the Mirabella.

I wish they could just keep telling me stories and making my heart glow until the end of time. Sounds like a Telenovela...

Thank you for everything.