Looking Back

What a year 2011 has been. For so many years, it seemed like nothing changed for me: I hated my job, wasn't in love with the city I lived in, but I had the love of a wonderful guy. 2011 changed some of that. I still have the love of my guy, and I think I will for a long, long time. But, I had the courage to change jobs, and went from hell as an ISSR at Acklands-Grainger, to being unemployed from February to June, then I was an Office Administrator for Grimshaw Trucking, then an Office Assistant at the BCOGC before finally landing back at Acklands-Grainger as an ISSR in a different store. We also left the city that I called home, and came to love, to move to Fort Nelson. Lots of changes, I'd say!

 

I think that quitting AGI in FSJ was the best thing I could have done, even though there was a lot of struggle. Quitting with no job to go to is a scary thing. Luckily my hubby made enough to cover us for the few months that I was off. I went through a bit of depression when once I started to look for a job I couldn't find one, but then when I did, I sat on my butt all day and gained back all of the weight I lost the year before plus some. But, even with all of that, quitting is still something I will not regret. That place was totally toxic, and from what I hear, it still is. AGI in Fort Nelson couldn't be more different. There's still the same kind of struggle, but when you don't have a boss screaming at you all the time, it makes it so much nicer. In general, the atmosphere here is 100% better.

 

One thing I can't stand, is our damn radio station. Ever lived in a town with only 1 radio station? Welcome to Fort Nelson! We have the Bear, which is a rock station, which can be bad enough, but the guy who is on first thing in the morning has no personality whatsoever. It's so annoying.

 

Anyways, back to 2011. I think I can look back, and enjoy most of what I did this year. John and I had a great vacation this year, and got a chance to visit a lot of people. It's always nice when you get the chance to see family and friends - and to explore. I am so happy with the fact that we got to spend time around Banff and Lake Louise. Growing up so close to there, we didn't really ever stop to see it, but it was amazing to get the chance to do so. And to finally visit Drumheller! I had never been there, and because a friend of mine was getting married in Hanna, we got to go! I felt like a little kid. It was fantastic. We did a lot more too, lots of camping. Buying our travel trailer was one of the best things we could do. Personally, I'm not much of a camper. I find it very hard to stay focused and not eat all day because of boredom. John is the camper. He works so much that he needs time to relax, and camping is when he relaxes. So, we camped almost every weekend this summer. We usually didn't go too far from home - mostly to Charlie Lake or Taylor, except for our big road trip this summer, and once out to Inga Lake. I even learned how to hook up to the truck myself and haul the trailer. Next year I need to learn how to back it up.

 

And on to 2012. I have no doubt it will also be an interesting year. We still have our house in FSJ, so once that sells, we can buy a house up here. Buying a house is always exciting. Hopefully we can be in one before next fall! And we have a lot of travelling planned again. In February, we're going down to Dawson Creek to see Dierks Bently in concert. Then not much until May. On the 19th of this month we welcomed another niece into our family - John's brother and his wife had their second baby, another girl named Delling Annelle. We'll be heading down to Kamloops for a week to visit them, and our other family and friends in the area. Pretty sure we'll be taking the trailer for that trip, and staying out at the wildlife farm again. Maybe this time we'll actually have time to go and check it out. Then on July long weekend, we're going to camp near Prince George for a week. We're close enough that we can go into town one day, but also close enough that John's family and friends can come out and visit. There is a great beach where we are going to camp, and lots of hiking trails. Then in September, we're going to leave the trailer behind, and go to Edmonton, Golden and Calgary. Visiting family and friends in all places, and John will have his company hockey tournament in Calgary. Yep, another year with a lot of travel. And we want to get up to the hot springs that are just north of here, and to Fort Liard, which is just 2 and a half hours north of us across the NWT border, and to Whitehorse, YT, which is about 9 hours northeast of here. Yep, pretty sure our truck is going to get A LOT of kilometers put on it next year!

 

And then there's the weight loss goals of 2012 which I've already outlined. Man, it's going to be tough, but not too tough. I think, by this time next year, I'll be talking about maintaining, and not about losing. Man, that will feeeel gooooooooood! I can't wait! More on that to come in the next couple of days - weigh0in number 1 is coming up so soon!

 

Anyways, I'm sending this as an email through my work account. It's super dead. I'm the only ISSR here, and I've had one call in the last 50 minutes, and it was John. But, he gave me some orders, so I guess I should get to it.

 

Have a wonderful day all!

The Flu

Yup, I have been hit with the flu. I'm pretty much over it now, but it was an awful weekend. John and I went down to FSJ to bottle some wine and finish some Christmas shopping. Everyone at work has been sick, but I made it through the week without feeling sick at all so I thought I would be ok. Turns out I was wrong. I spent Friday night sick as hell, Saturday basically sleeping, and Sunday in hell. Today was much better. We got the wine bottled, thanks to John, and that's about it. John went to the CEF FSJ Christmas party which was at the casino, so we stayed in the hotel attached. I got to enjoy a wonderful king sized bed basically to myself - I was asleep by 8 and didn't hear John come in! I need a king sized bed! So lovely!

Anyways, it was a good thing I had today off. I tried to get the house all cleaned up so that I don't have as much to do this week. It didn't work out that way. I basically spent the whole day on the couch. I hope tomorrow I feel good. I don't feel bad enough that I need to stay at home, but I don't want to feel weak at work.

Good news is that I weighed in and I lost 4.5 pounds. I have no illusion that I'm going to gain it back as soon as I feel like eating again, but it feels good to me!

Anyways, back to lounging and watching the Big Bang Theory. Have a good night all!

2012

So, 2011 is almost over - can you believe it?!? I certainly can't! It's absolutely crazy!

But, it got me thinking about what I want to achieve next year. I want it to be a better year than this year - as you know, this year was full of change, and not all of them good. I started this year weighing 187.5 pounds, living in Fort St John, and working a job I hated. Now, I'm living in Fort Nelson, working for the same company as before, but much happier, and as of my last weigh in, I was 214.5 pounds - a gain of 27 pounds, 22 of which were gained back from 2010's weight loss. Suffice it to say, I want 2012 to be better. The new town is great so far, and the job is too, but the weight? HORRIBLE!

So, goals for 2012? I want to make them realistic. I know from experience that when I'm pressured too much, I don't lose. This year was proof of that. So, with the help of my husband, these are my goals for 2012:

• Sunday, January 1 - Official weigh-in of 2012
• Sunday, February 12 - 6 week weigh-in - 10 lb goal - reward! {lululemon hoodie}
• Sunday, March 25 - 12 week weigh-in - 10 lb goal - reward! {facial}
• Sunday, May 6 - 18 week weigh-in - 10 lb goal - reward! {lululemon yoga outfit}
• Sunday, June 10 - 24 week weigh-in - 5 lb goal - no reward unless 10 lbs lost
• Sunday, July 22 - 30 week weigh-in - 5 lb goal - {victoria's secret bathing suit}
• Sunday, September 2 - 36 week weigh-in - 5 lb goal - no reward unless 10 lbs lost
• Sunday October 14 - 42 week weigh-in - 10 lb goal {romantic weekend away with hubby}

So, that's a total of 55 pounds in 42 weeks! That's like 0.76 pounds a week. Last year, I would have made the goal of 2 pounds a week, and tried to do it all in like 25 or 26 weeks. It doesn't work for me - and I think this might! I will definitely be reviewing it each weigh-in, but I think this should work. I would LOVE to be down that 55 pounds sooner, but, if it takes me 42 weeks, or 48, it doesn't matter. But, I do think I can do this. 

Here's how it will work:

When I weigh-in on January 1, that will be my starting weight. Nothing before January 1 matters. Then, I will revise my goal for February 12 to be a specific weight, and so on and so forth. Right now, it's a guide. We'll see how my year is going. And how about those rewards? So excited!

2012 WILL BE BETTER.

No other words needed. I WILL use the tread climber. I WILL use the bow flex. I WILL go to yoga classes. I WILL be healthy. I WILL become the best me that I can.

What do you think??

Northern Lights

That's right - Northern Lights. I finally got to see them last night!! I was so excited! Here's what happened:

Last night was John's Christmas party. It wasn't too bad. We went to the community small business party, and it was pretty packed. The food was surprisingly good. Like, yummy. But the band wasn't too hot. We drank a lot, and I even had my first experience with Susan's purse. Yes, Susan's purse. Susan is an older woman (I'd say in her 50s), and a Newfie, so she likes to drink! She had little bottles of Baha Rosa in her purse, and we went into the bathroom and were passing them back and forth under the stalls. Too funny! I couldn't keep up with her at all, so John and I decided to leave.

Now, they were supposed to have safe rides home for us all, but we couldn't get through with the number that was given. It just went t voicemail. So, no, we didn't drive - Curt picked us up so both of our trucks were at home - we walked. Fort Nelson doesn't seem too big, but when you're a little drunk, and it's -5 and you're wearing a skirt and heels, it's a long way home. We were almost home and I looked up, and there were the Northern Lights!

I've only seen them twice before - once near Lloydminster, and once in FSJ. Both times they were green, and rather faint. Last night they were green and PURPLE! And fairly bright! I think if we had been able to get outside of town, away from the street lights, it would have been very bright! It made walking in the cold all worth it! Even if I think I pulled my groin muscle slightly, and my feet are hurting more than normal, it was worth it!

John's off to FSJ for a few days this week. I'm not sure what I'm going to do without him! I got him to put together my tread climber, but I'm having some foot issues that I'm going to need to go to a doctor for. I have a bump on the inside of my foot, above the back of my arch. It doesn't hurt right now, but after standing all day, it's unbearable. It wasn't too bad all week, but by Friday night it was shooting pain through my whole foot. Not pleasant. Makes it hard to want to work out, that's for sure! Hopefully I can get into the doctor this week, and see what the hell is going on.

Anyways, I'm watching Angels and Demons, and working on a really cute baby blanket! Time to go!

Hello Again!

Me and hubby right before a wedding on 11-11-11

It has been a while, again. I know, bad Kara! It's been hard to think about blogging. I've been in a funk for the past couple of weeks, and I am just hoping that it will lift soon. I'm hoping it's just because I'm getting used to being in a new town and not having any friends. I want it to lift NOW.

Good news is that I've lost 2 pounds since I've been here. Bad news is that I was 216.5 pounds when I moved here. Yes, that means that I was the heaviest I can remember. F*@#!!!! I've been eating and eating and eating. So much. Like, I sit on the couch, and think, I probably shouldn't eat any more, but then I do. I'm overeating, and I know it, but nothing is stopping me.

John got the tread climber put together the other night, and I am determined to work through my laziness tonight after work and go on it. I've joined a 30 minute December challenge where all we have to do is put in 30 minutes of exercise every day. I think I can do it - with my tread climber. It's set up to do 30 minutes a day anyways, but I just have to go downstairs and do it!

But, I'm on my lunch break, so I should eat and then get back to work. It's been slow lately, but it's work anyways, haha.