What I Have Learned While On My "Sabbatical"

I am back. I plan to be spending a lot less time on SP, but I NEED to be here every day!

As some of you know, I took a leave from SP to spend more time with my DH and to try to make my days a little less stressful. DH has had a fistula put in his arm to prepare him for eventual dialysis. He has been holding his own and giving the fistula some time to get ready for use, thank God. However, he has suffered from some other complications. He was hospitalized for close to a week with congestive heart failure and while there they discovered he was severely anemic. So, more Specialists, more pills and more restrictions. He tries to remain optimistic because that is who he is. I am the Stress Queen!

My weight has fluctuated up and down but tends to level out around the 175 mark. In other words, I have not lost any weight since I have been away. The good news is I have not gained any that stayed with me for long! I know the only way I am going to get this remaining poundage off me is to go back to my tried and true routines again. My exercise has been erratic and I even started smoking again.

So, I turned the big 60 in April and quit smoking (again!) on May 1st! I have started to get myself back to the gym on a more regular basis and my goal is to go at least 4 times per week. Since DH has very restricted exercise options, we plan to walk more and do some swimming together. My nutrition has been erratic too. I cook great for DH on his restricted diet, but it is so bland that I have been sneaking in some extras. A lot of the foods that are healthy for me are actually not good for him at all. He can't have any dairy, broccoli, spinach, brown rice, whole grains, bananas, oranges and most other things we think of as healthy. I know...no excuses!!!

Back to the title of this blog, "What I Have Learned While On My Sabbatical":

1. I need to keep my routines, no matter what.
2. I need to stop making excuses for making bad choices.
3. I need to take time for my needs if I expect to be able to help my DH.
4. I need to keep in touch with my SP friends. The support here makes all the difference!

A little extra information for my friends: I finally went and had my long overdue full body scans and I remain cancer free!!!!