I don’t have 50 or more pounds to lose

This doesn’t make weight a non-issue for me.

Two years ago I weighed 30 pounds less and wore a size 2. I felt good about myself. I make no apologies for equated [my] happiness with how I fit in my jeans.

All through my 20′s I could put on a little weight and lose it with ease just by making a few minor adjustments.

Then I hit 30.

In my early 30′s I could still make some minor adjustments and lose some weight. And yet, I could never quite get back to my happy weight of 115. So, I developed a new happy weight – 125. Okay, I get a little happier at 120, but 125 is more realistic and easier to maintain.

I’m now 39.

In February 2008 I started working out. A lot! I started with a yoga/pilates class. Then it was hip hop abs. I added a 30 minute ab class twice a week. And then there were the step classes. And I felt good.

In about a month I lost, well, I have no idea how much weight I lost, but my size 8′s were huge and I was fitting quite comfortably in a size 4. I was eating better. I was happier. I just felt good.

Then it all went away.

I lost my job. I lost my place to workout. I lost my will to care.

For the next two years I would go back and forth trying to eat better, working out to DVDs, joining gyms, trying to get inspired. Nothing. My family said they supported me and wanted me to start working out again. These were just words. And while they might mean them, they don’t show them. There is no action beyond the words.

A good support system is paramount.

And, sadly, I don’t have one. My family is great, but they don’t worry about what they eat or when they need to exercise. This doesn’t impact their lives other than as it relates to me. I have don’t have girl friends [or guy friends for that matter] to hang out, workout, do anything with. This makes me my own support system.

I’m going to just keep starting

Over and over and over and over and over again until it sticks.

I will start P90X again. I may stop again, too. But I will start again and again until it’s not a chore, but something I want to do – for me. I will follow Tracy Anderson’s menu plan [to the best of my taste buds] as listed in her book 30-Day Method. I may not make it past a week, but I will just start it again.

I will start going to the gym. I’ve used the following excuses: weather, cost [gas], need to organize a shopping trip first, oversleeping, there’s always tomorrow. And I may use them again. I know they are just excuses and one day I will beat them at their own game.

image credit

Here’s to Your Health: On Again, Off Again, On Again is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

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This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hampton Hotels. All opinions are 100% mine.

you could
win an entire hotel for a weekend (100 rooms for 2 nights) in the…

Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes

Every day starting June 1, 2010 through September 4, 2010 Hampton Hotels & Suites is giving away weekend stays for four. 100 winners total.

One grand prize of an entire hotel for 2 nights will be randomly selected on or about September 10, 2010.

Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the fifty United States and D.C., Mexico, United Kingdom, and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 years or older as of June 1, 2010.

Two ways to enter:

1. Book a stay online at a Hampton hotel between June 1, 2010 and September 4, 2010 using the promotion code FRIEND or COF. Stay must be completed by September 5, 2010. Entry will be based on the day booked and only one stay will be eligible. Bookings through third party websites are not eligible.
2. Visit http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/promotions/hx_entry_form/index.jhtml?promo=friends and complete and submit the official entry form during the Promotion Period.

Limit one entry per person/email address for the duration of the promotion period, regardless of method of entry.

[complete rules]

A weekend away with the girls…

or boys.

Sometimes you just have to change your surroundings, gather a few of your closest gal (or guy) pals, and get away for a weekend of relaxation and good times. It’s a great way to recharge your batteries.

Where would you go away for the weekend?

Florida is always my go to state. Hawaii is my wannabe go to state. But I think this time I want to go someplace different. This time I would choose the Hampton Inn Canon City in Canon City, Colorado.

The Hampton Inn Canon City has an indoor heated pool and hot tub. So, even if it’s cold or rainy outside I can get my swim on. And while I’m there I can explore the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, featuring the world’s highest suspension bridge; or behold the stunning scenery along the Royal Gorge Route Railroad. Then there is backpacking, camping, and more in the over one million acres of the San Isabel National Forest.

I would gather my girls, Megan, Amanda, and Tracey and just hang, relax, laugh, and have fun. What about you?

Sweepstakes: Win An Entire Hotel for a Weekend from Hampton Hotel & Suites is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

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It’s been a wonderful week of blog hopping, friendship making, and site seeing. And like all good things this party must come to an end. Good thing those fantastic twins Janice and Susan over at 5 Minutes for Mom will be keeping all of those great linkies up so we can go back all year long and check out the 2300+ sites listed.

2300+ sites – WOW!

I didn’t keep count of all the sites I stopped by and visited, but it wasn’t nearly enough. I do plan to go back and check out more as time allows. I did find a few that I know I will be visiting again and again. Here are three of them.

1. Me:Daily
2. Divorced Before 30
3. Writing to Distraction

There are so many more great sites to see, but these three really spoke to me in very different ways. I am a multifaceted individual, ya know.

Why not stop by the UBP After Party, grab a drink, and wind down the ultimate of the Ultimate Blog Party-goers. I’ll be looking forward to seeing you there!

If you like my writing why not subscribe and never miss an update. Let’s be friends. Connect with me on Facebook and Twitter, too.

UBP After Party – It's Not Over Til It's Over is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

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day by day

I think. No, I think a LOT! All the time, every day, thoughts running through my head. Trying to decipher all that is happening. Why things happened in the first place.

What if I did this instead?

Then there are the things that are going to happen. Blog post ideas, what exercise video will I attempt today, what the hell is for dinner?!? Thinking, thinking, thinking. It can be quite demanding, but it is most definitely tiresome.

I am sooo tired.

death, dying, finite!

This is what I am thinking about these days. Over and over in my mind I am constantly thinking about the lives we live and then it’s just over. I guess I should preface this with I am NOT depressed.

I am sad. I am reminiscent. I fully understand if you decide to skip this post.

I posted a bunch of old photos on my Facebook page yesterday. My cousins were loving this. Even one I hadn’t seen online in awhile made an appearance.

the grandparents

Nan & Pop. The first one was taken in 1940; they are in their early 20′s. The second is my grandmother; there was no date, but we think this was her confirmation picture.

My grandparents lived long, fulfilling lives. They raised 5 daughters, had 12 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. Both lived to see their early 80′s. And theirs is a great love story, too.

the parents

Here is a picture taken December 30, 1949. My mom is just over 1 1/2 years old. She’s the one on the right. Isn’t she adorable?

Last year my mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is almost impossible to detect until it is too late. She underwent surgery and had a cyst the size of a football removed from her abdomen. After a year of chemotherapy we thought things were getting better. There was one stubborn spot, but everything else looked good.

Two weeks ago my mom was told the cancer is spreading. It is in her lungs and liver. She expects to hear it is also in her stomach. She has trouble breathing and is short on strength. My mom will be 62 tomorrow. We are praying for a miracle.

And I came across this picture of my mother-in-law taken in early August 1991. That’s Megan in her arms.

Now, here was a woman who could take a radiator out of a car, fix it, then put it back together again. She once dumpster dived for tickets so Megan could get a Power Ranger toy from the neighboring Fun Zone. Megan was thrilled! I had hoped she would one day teach the kids German [she was from Austria, ya know]. Megan vaguely remembers, Amanda nothing, Stephen was yet to be born. Kathy was diagnosed with Colon cancer and died the day after Thanksgiving, 1994. She was 47 years old.

the friends

And the things that impact us the most are the things we struggle to comprehend.

I was contacted last night via Facebook. The sister of a good friend of mine from grade school. She found me and remembered how close I once was to her sister. I accepted her friendship and replied that I had last heard from Janice over a year ago, via Classmates.com. I had replied, yet never heard back. I hope they were both doing well.

«««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««

Janice and I met when we were in 7th grade; we were 12 years old. We rode the bus together. She was a dancer [ballet, tap, jazz]. I had often thought of her as Megan had taken up those very same things. We drifted apart sometime after our senior year of high school. Then, in 1991, we found each other. She had gotten married in October 1990; me the following March. We were both expecting our first child. I was three weeks early. She was three weeks late. Her daughter was born the day after her birthday.

We kept in touch and spent time together. I even babysat for her once or twice. Then I got pregnant again. The last time I saw Janice was the day I was released from the hospital with Amanda in 1993. I sent birthday and Christmas cards for a year. I had my thoughts as to why she stopped talking to me. I didn’t think I had done anything, but it was something else. I understood, sort of.

Then, one day she sent me note online. She included her phone number. I entered it into my cellphone thinking I would one day summon up the courage to call. I never did.

«««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««

Last night, as I really looked at the words her sister wrote I grew curious. “I was going through the north shore website and found your name. You and Janice were great friends.” Yeah, we were, but it was what was not said that made me wonder if something was wrong. I immediately did a search.

JANICE MARIE BIDDINGER ROBINSON

Janice Marie Biddinger Robinson, age 38, died suddenly Wednesday, October 14, 2009. She was born in West Palm Beach, FL on August 30, 1971.

And I cried…

no words of comfort

I had a restless sleep last night. I heard Dwayne fumbling about at 5:30 this morning and waited. I sat up and he smile a good morning my way. I told him the shortened version of what I had learned. He looked at me and knowing I was looking for answers he could never give just said, “Not everyone is guaranteed a long life, Anne. These things happen.”

life

It goes by so quickly. Tomorrow I’ll get to it. Tomorrow will be a good day. Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow. What if tomorrow never comes?

Take time today to watch the water run over the rocks, to listen to the sounds of nature. Take time today to live your life. Today you have. There are no promises of tomorrow.

{the little creek that runs through our yard}

If you like my writing why not subscribe and never miss an update. Let’s be friends. Connect with me on Facebook and Twitter, too.

There Are No Guarantees of Tomorrow, Make Today Count is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

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The fun twin moms, Janice and Susan, behind 5 Minutes for Mom are at it again. It’s that time of year for a ❀Blog Party❀! This is my first time, so I guess that makes me a party virgin [is that family friendly?].

All about me…

For those just stopping by, I’m Anne. I’m a 38 recent college grad, currently unemployed number cruncher, urban turned country farm girl, and mom to 3 wonderfully, crazy, insanely smart, funny, witty, and loving teenagers. I have an affinity with numbers and find it annoying to be so good at something I find to be so painstakingly boring. One day I hope to become a published writer [in actual print media].

Here on my bloggy home I share a little bit of everything. You’ll find posts on my kids and images of our chickens. Looking for a recipe? I have a few intermittently scattered about with more to come. Want to know what fitness videos work? Well, I’ve tried P90X and Core Fusion, as well as, Shaun T’s Hip Hop Abs and a few more. Now to motivate myself to workout more often! I also share my thoughts on things as I look to inspire a little thought from my readers. And every once in awhile I hold a giveaway. In fact, look for a few in the upcoming weeks.

And there are prizes!

I would love to win:

1. USC17 $200 Apple gift certificate from CmomGo
2. US41 a copy of Peter Walsh’s best selling DVD and Book: It’s All Too Much from Lisa Reviews
3. US39 Be My Guest certificate [$250 value] for a 2 night stay for a family of four at any Hilton Garden Inn from Hilton Garden Inn.

If not one of my top 3, then any of these would be very sweet indeed: US15, US18, US73, US74, US76, US79, US86, US87, US88, US91, US98, US100, USC3, USC8, USC13, USC15, USC60, USC63, INTL1, etc, etc, etc.

Whew! That’s a lot, but that’s only a small portion of the actual prizes available. These are some really generous bloggers! So, what are you waiting for… time to join in on the party and start mingling. See you around the blogosphere!

Ultimate Blog Party 2010 = Ultimate Fun! is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

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Why did I ever think having 3 kids so close in age would be a good idea?

Talk about your duh moment. Okay, not really. It’s not like I planned any of my kids. I meant to, really I did. But the best laid plans… uh, no pun intended.

Anyway, I now have 3 teenagers. Honestly, I’m not sure if the boy will be harder or easier than the girls. I don’t want to be one of those moms who feels no girl is good enough for her son. Just like I’ve worked hard at making sure Stephen is not a mama’s boy. Stephen is 13, so his girlfriend problems days have yet to start. Not that he hasn’t tried. Nothing real and long lasting just yet.

Today it’s about the girls

I like the girls’ friends. I have no problem with their boyfriends. They are kids and they have issues. And I like to say neutral when it comes to their issues.

Sure, I’m supportive of my children. But knowing kids, well, people are likely to change their minds often I try not make judgments of their friends. It’s not my place. Is it?

Megan went off to college this fall. With that change in her life she also allowed herself to be free of any boyfriend ties. This was all well and good [and expected] for all except the boyfriend.

Lashing out in response to real heartbreak

I know the heartache. I’ve been there.

I know the lashing out. I’ve been there.

I know there is light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve been there.

I must say, I am glad I grew up. Emotional rollercoasters suck!

And things worked themselves out and all was okay with the now ex-boyfriend. Or was it?

Round two

Megan has been home for almost a month now. She has hung out with many of her local friends [boys and girls]. She talks to her college friends [boys and girls]. Ex-boyfriend comes around as he is her ‘friend’ now. Nothing new to me. My best friend was their father, after we were divorced.

Yet, something went wrong and communications got a little skewed. Now he’s emotionally and stalkerish and bashing and cursing and demanding.

She can handler herself. She blocks him online. Ignores him when he calls or texts. No problem. It will pass, right? Then I get texts. And I get emails. And I ask to be left out of it and to remain neutral. But the other mom is not neutral [as I'm led to believe].

And then I lost it

Instead of ignoring and not responding, I replied.

I lashed out.

I got emotional.

I was pissed!

Really. I’m fairly easy going, too. I asked to be left out of it. I don’t want to be involved.

Am I really supposed to get ‘all up in’ my daughter’s business every time there is trouble in friend land? I don’t think so, but maybe I’m the only one.

Regardless, I feel bad for responding and lashing out. And I had to say that, publicly.

Thanks for listening.

Parenting ~ How Involved Do You Get In Your Teenager's Life? is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

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That’s right! Who out there likes to wake up and sit down on a cold toilet seat first thing in the morning? Come on, be honest. I thought so. Now you’re wondering ‘why is she telling us this?’ Ah, young grasshopper, patience.

When I was younger I would have to walk 20 miles to school, uphill, in the snow, both ways

Let’s see, I was 15 years old, yeah, I am going waaaaayyyyyy back. Some 23 years to be exact. Holy Crap! That is a long time ago! But, I digress. I am not a morning person. My mom would come in and very nicely try to wake me up for school. I would begrudgingly get out of bed and shuffle into the bathroom. Not too far of a walk for me as it was just across the hall from my bedroom. Every morning I would brace my behind for the shocking reality that awaited it. {brr}

Somehow I would manage to get ready for school and rush out the door to the bus stop. There I would grouse about my morning and how I wished I had a cushioned toilet seat so my butt would not be so cold in the morning.

Cold Butt, Warm Heart

As is wont to happen, the holidays came around. My friend Laura came over to give me a Christmas present. And I must say I do not recall what I gave her, ever. I am horrible, I know. But I will never forget what she gave me. She was almost giddy with excitement as I picked up the somewhat square package. It felt heavy and she told me it was something I really wanted. I did not have a clue. Seriously, I forget almost everything soon after thinking or saying it. That can’t be a good thing.

Someone was at the ready with a camera, because I know there is a picture around somewhere. I will have to look around, but I feel it may be packed away. I carefully unwrapped the package. I must stop here and explain something. I am a horrible gift receiver. I love to give, but always feel awkward when I receive a gift. I never know how to react and show proper appreciation. I always smile and say thank you, but I am not one of those overly emotional gift receivers. Well, except for this one time.

I opened the package and laughed so hard. I did not know I could smile so big! To this day I think back on this and smile. It was the best gift I ever received ~ my very own cushioned toilet seat! I took it out of its packaging and made quick work of getting it in place. Boy, I sure wish I had one of those now. I still don’t like a cold butt first thing in the morning.

Twitter Moms & Target

This post answers the question: What was the most surprising gift you’ve ever received? Now it’s your turn. Was it funny or silly? Maybe it was sweet and sappy. It could be sad and soul-wrenching, too. Share your most surprising gift and you could win a Target $100 gift card. The sweepstakes ends December 27, 2009, so you have plenty of time to get your post up. Then be sure to come back and leave a link below so I can read all about it.

Butts image courtesy of Cody Pomeroy

Answer: Because I Don't Like A Cold Butt First Thing In The Morning #TargetGiftGiving is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

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I have been away from blogging for about a week now and I do have to say the break was much needed and much appreciated. My family and I traveled down to North Florida, just outside of Gainesville, to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with my mom, my step-dad, my aunt & uncle, and my cousin.

We had a lot of fun. The girls and I hit the freebies at CVS on Thursday. I did not have to worry about getting their early since my parents live in such a small town. Everything was in stock. Then we ate lots of turkey and mashed potatoes, gravy and veggies. And of course my mom had pie. There was apple pie [with and without raisins] and pumpkin pie. My aunt made cookies shaped like turkeys and there were brownies.

On Friday the girls and I were at the mall a little after 4 am. We stopped in JCPenney first and collected our free snow globes. My mom collects these. Then we drove over to Target and waited. Just before 5 am we went to get in line only to find it was wrapped around and behind the building. Needless to say, we left.

We drove back to the mall and got food. Then we hit Sears, Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, and a few others. We did not make too many purchases. I did get stopped by one of the Dead Sea people and tried to leave without buying anything. All I can say is these sales people are good. I took the girls to get hair cuts then we walked over to the people selling hair straighteners. Amanda wanted them to re-straighten her hair. We left with three straighteners and various hair stuffs. These things are amazing! We left after that.

We made one last stop at Publix for some Black Cherry soda ~ the best around ~ and this is always a must for any Florida trip. I tried to take a nap when we returned, but my parents had other plans. We headed out to a working farm and orange grove. I have to say, these oranges were so good. Fresh picked and oh so tasty. We brought back six small boxes of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and lemons. I also got some orange blossom honey ~ farm fresh.

Mom made a ham dinner for us on Friday and there was leftover pie and a Carvel ice cream cake for dessert. I think we can all live for a few weeks on all the food we ate on our trip.

We left Saturday around 11 am and arrived back in Virginia around 9:30 pm. Sunday we were greeted by our chickens and today I have to go by the vet and pick up Ivy. I really miss her. Amanda and I took Megan back to Radford yesterday and hit more traffic on I-81 then we did on any of the roads coming back from Florida the day before.

Today I am working on finishing up NaNoWriMo [2400 words to go as of this posting] and will be a bit MIA for the next three weeks as I finish up my final college class ~ which is going to kick my ass ~ and get ready for the holidays.

Well, so much for my super quick update. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, ate lots of turkey, and enjoyed the company of friends and family be it close to home or far away.

Image courtesy of fmsparis.

Super Quick Update is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

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Want to give someone an *awesome* gift at absolutely no cost to you?

Well, who wouldn’t want to do that?! Trisha, the awesomeness behind MomDot.com has entered a contest and has asked all of us to vote for her. Now, she didn’t ask we get everyone and their mother to vote or to vote every day [which you can, ya know?]. No, she just asked us to go vote once and help her out a bit. I have so much fun over at Trisha’s blog that I wanted to do more than just vote once. I am going to vote every day [as long as I remember, and I am trying to remember].

If you want to help just click here to vote for Trisha to win a Smile Makeover. Watch the video, it’s touching. Trisha makes me laugh every time I visit her site and I never noticed she hid her smile. Well, I know how that feels and I don’t want her to have to do that anymore!

There is no registration or signing up or anything. Just click on vote and you have done your part.

Tis the Season for Giving is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

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If you haven’t checked out Happymaking then you are truly missing out on something wonderful! I was first introduced to Heather through her Interview with Holly Jahangiri – read it, it’s really fun! We were both participants in the weekly W.O.O.F. Contest held by PlotDog.com. I immediately knew Heather was someone I wanted to follow [not stalking or creepy like that, but in a bloggy way].

Today Heather is sharing with all of us a portal to the past. Yes, you too [two?] can be a Mad Man, er, Wo-Man. That’s mine to the side there . No, I don’t drink, but it fit the mood I wanted to establish. I admit it, ‘My name is Anne and I’m a teetotaler!’ You cannot see my awesomely matched black clutch and black pumps. And I just adore those extra long gloves. Do the scream classy or what!

Want to create your own? Well, you have to check out Heather’s post Mad Men Yourself! to find out how!

Wait, don’t go yet. I want you to check out another post while you are there. I kid you not, every time I write [this post, a comment on someone's blog, an email, Twitter, well, you get the picture] I see me writing it all in fuzzmail. Some of it would be hi-lar-ious while others would be downright sad. Can’t win them all.

Okay, I’m done – WAIT – don’t forget to subscribe while you are there, then you will never miss another fun moment brought to you by the makers of Happymaking ~ where it is not only acceptable, but expected that you fart in the dark. ~ I’m sold!

Going Mad [Men] With Heather & Cindy The Bat Lady? is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

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