Can you believe that it has been three years since my metamorphosis into my Goddess state began? Yes, it was April 14, 2008 when I had my lapband put in.
Results to date -97 lbs.
Yesterday, actual anniversary, was -96. C'mon Lucky -100!
The greatest victory since then is that my confidence in this "tool" never wavered and no regret to bring me down. How could it? Maintaining alone is a victory. And add the fact that it has only been in the last few months that I finally kicked up my activity level. My latest victory is that I am turning towards healthier nutritional intake, as well as, soul resuscitation of meditation. You could call it a body, spirit, and mind overhaul.
It seems that Shrek had it right. Life is like an onion. Sometimes it stinks, sometimes it can make you cry, but as you peel away each layer, you eventually get to the sweet center.
My layers are many - controlling over indulging, listening to my body's messages as to what is good and not (bread-like foods...definitely no-nos), starting to really move, and still some very personal thin layers that were and still are almost invisible to me.
Now, I sit here on the train, and enjoy my victories. I never thought my butterfly experience, or maybe my caterpillar time, would result in my becoming a Goddess of epic proportions.
I end this post grateful for what I have learned from my non-ideal body, happy to enjoy this ever-changing shape, and looking forward to a more beautiful me. NOT because of the weight loss, but because of all the lessons that come along with my butterfly living.
~Goddess Karena
[poetic license and added an 'a' for my middle name...sounds more exotic, don't you think?]
Friday, April 15, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Modern Day Renaissance Woman
Picture Bob the Builder and I Dream of Jeannie's love child and you might just see my face. I know, what did she do now?!?
I went from an evening of being a divine woman which included sensual movement, soul touching meditation, and celebrating me to the next night filled with sawdust, splinters, and maybe the onset of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. All this to better understand me, who I am, and where I'm going.
Last night, I attended a clinic at Lowe's Hardware out East in preparation for my role as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity's "Women's Build." We learned about worksite safety (very, very dangerous so it seems) and how to do framework.
When it was time for somebody to give the hammer a whirl, I was the first one up. My dad always taught me that it's better to get it over with then to sit with nervous anticipation. After banging a nail from all different angles, I got it in after 25 taps. Hmmm! Maybe Water Girl might be a better role for me. Nahhh!
As the night concluded a local news cameraman asked to interview me ]nd two other ladies. That was neat, but I only know one friend (hi Lisa) who has Verizon FIOS to tell me what was shown.
In the end, as I stated on camera, I was very excited to join this group of volunteers as the idea of women building a home and being a role model to my 13 year old son...what can be more empowering?
So get ready to open up your wallets friends, I'm looking for sponsors. We'll be talking soon.
NEXT WEEK on The New Adventures of Karen will be a clinic recap on roofing & siding. Stay tuned.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
A.D.D. & Me
I grew up in a world where kids were either "full of energy" or "not motivated", Clean Freaks or Slops, kids who had "ants in their pants" or were "slow as molasses. Nowadays, those same children would be labeled with ADD, ADHD, OCD, ODD, SID, etc, etc, etc.
As a mother of an active boy, I kept one eye on him and the other on lots of parenting books and articles. In the end, it was ME! who in recent years was diagnosed with ADD.
The good news is over the years, unbeknownst to me, I created the ideal job that required juggling & multitasking where ADD is a great fits. It almost mimics the way I view a hyper-can't-sit-still kid or a never-looks-up-from-a-book kids. The first would make an awesome Emergency Room doctor; the second would be a great heart surgeon that requires hours of concentration.
Each and everyone of us has something that could be tweaked. Most important is to turn what some may label as a weakness into a strength. So the next time you see a somebody with a different way about them, try to see the flip side and celebrate the differences between all of us.
Post Script: for more insight of Me & ADD, check out the March 19 post when I was adjusting my prescription. Happy to say, my mild meds can eliminate the runaway train that sometimes exists and replace with a soothing choo choo train.
Toot-Toot! All aboard! Karen is here and perfect just the way she is.
As a mother of an active boy, I kept one eye on him and the other on lots of parenting books and articles. In the end, it was ME! who in recent years was diagnosed with ADD.
The good news is over the years, unbeknownst to me, I created the ideal job that required juggling & multitasking where ADD is a great fits. It almost mimics the way I view a hyper-can't-sit-still kid or a never-looks-up-from-a-book kids. The first would make an awesome Emergency Room doctor; the second would be a great heart surgeon that requires hours of concentration.
Each and everyone of us has something that could be tweaked. Most important is to turn what some may label as a weakness into a strength. So the next time you see a somebody with a different way about them, try to see the flip side and celebrate the differences between all of us.
Post Script: for more insight of Me & ADD, check out the March 19 post when I was adjusting my prescription. Happy to say, my mild meds can eliminate the runaway train that sometimes exists and replace with a soothing choo choo train.
Toot-Toot! All aboard! Karen is here and perfect just the way she is.
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