Ok..for some reason or another, a rush of emotions came over me today relating back to my battle with Breast Cancer.  My mastectomy was done on October 4th of 2007 (almost 4 months ago). It was ironic that October just happened to be Breast Cancer Awareness month…so every time I turned on the TV or opened a newspaper there was another article or segment on breast cancer survivors.  

The one that got to me the most was a segment the Today show did on Hoda Kotb (one of the anchors).  I remember watching this segment on October 17th….8 days after my surgery. I can relate to her story so much that it actually makes me feel “connected” to her. She had the exact same procedures done that I did.  A unilateral mastectomy (meaning I only had one breast removed) and we also had the exact same reconstruction procedure…where they created our new breast out of our tummy tissue.  (So the added benefit of a tummy tuck).  She talks about how her battle with cancer made her realize how strong and fearless she is now.  It changed her.  I feel exactly the same way!  If you’re interested in watching her video clip…here it is Hoda’s Story.  Every time I watch this, it brings me to tears…just because I can relate to absolutely EVERYTHING she says.   The diagnosis…getting the news on the phone…how you feel when you hear the words…the recovery…etc.

I had 10 weeks off of work and tried to stay active and eat right, but I still managed to gain a few pounds. So now that I feel THIS good…I am committing to losing this weight!  I don’t just want to be cancer-free…I want to be healthy!!! 

I mean to bring this to you as a reminder.  If you are 40 or older …. PLEASE get your mammogram! This years was my 3rd…and it was the first DIGITAL mammogram.  If you have a choice, make sure your medical provider is using a digital mammogram machine.  If not, find a place that DOES!  The digital image enabled them to find my cancer at a very early stage.  The spots were the size of grains of salt (little clusters of them in 3 separate areas of my breast).  At that size, you would never find them with a self exam!

Well, week 1 seems to be going great! I’ve been counting my points, drinking my water, exercising and I feel GREAT!  Since I am on vacation this week, it is a lot easier…so I may try to do some planning ahead this weekend so that I am prepared when I go back to work next week.  Usually where I slip up is the snacking area. So yesterday I decided to do a little “thinking ahead”. 

 When I want to snack, I usually lean towards something crunchy and salty. So to combat that this week I have decided to make one of my favorite snacks and will share that with you! It’s point friendly and Good For You!! I  make a Black Bean Salsa that goes great with my own homemade tortilla chips.  I posted the recipes here for you Black Bean Salsa & Chips.

So..I went to bed at 11:30 p.m. last night and woke up at 4:30 and couldn’t get back to sleep. So at 5:30 I got out of bed and headed to the gym!  On a Freakin Vacation Day! Am I crazy??  Either that or I must be really serious about losing this weight?  Then at 8:30 ran my son to the orthodontist for an emergency “fix”…then home to start laundry. Then I prepared a Pizza Hotdish for dinner tonight ..(it’s not point friendly so I’ll be making something else for me!….I know…. baaaaddd habit to get into! I should be cooking point friendly for them too!).

What the heck is with the weather “swings”?  Yesterday it was 45 degrees in the Minneapolis area. Now today we are expecting -15 and also -35 to -45 windchills!  I can hear the wind whipping out there just awful right now, but at least we are still above 0 (4 degrees right now).   I’m so darn excited to get this “over insulated” body out the door and to the gym!  I just ate my healthy breakfast and am thinking about taking in the 9:30 a.m. Spinning Class at my gym.

Although I do complain about the cold now and then, I still couldn’t imagine living somewhere that doesn’t get snow?  The change of the seasons is something I look forward to!

Will be back later to update my points and how my day went!

I got up this morning just EXCITED about today! I am on vacation all week so I plan to go to the gym this afternoon and also go to the grocery store to stock up on healthy fooods! My kids don’t have school today, but my daughter (Jordan, 16) is gone for the day snowboarding. My “baby” (Chad, 14) is still sleeping!!!  It’s noon!!  He had a friend sleep over last night and I assume they were up til the wee-hours of the morning!  I may need to go down and rattle their cage here shortly. 

I’ll probably be on later tonight to let you know how Day 1 went!

 OK…didn’t do the best on my points today. I actually slept in TOO late to get all those points in!  lol.  I’ll do better tomorrow!!  But yay for me on getting to the gym!

I’ve spent the majority of my morning reading other blogs…giving me inspiration to start my own success story!  I’ve been planning menus for the week ahead and preparing my shopping list.  This week may be a little easier than most for me as far as planning and exercising as a I am actually on vacation all week! YAY!  Since I was off work for 10 weeks after my mastectomy surgery, I wasn’t able to use all of my vacation time. Our work (IBM) doesn’t allow you to carry over vacation unless it is a rare occurrence…and then your manager has to approve it. My manager allowed me to carry over 5 days, but then stipulated that I use it in January…so hence I’ll be taking these 5 days off just so I don’t lose them.

I’ve found so many great meal and snack ideas from Roni’s Greenlite Bites site. It’s amazing how much info she has on that site, as well as her regular site… Roni’s Weight Watchen Page. Such an inspiration to us all! Thanks Roni!

 Well…here we go! 

OK…brand new to this BLOGGING stuff…but I’m going to give it a try! So many others have inspired me with thier success stories, that now I want to write/create my own! I know I am just starting my journey (for the umpteenth time)…but this time it will be different!