Sue's Journey Through August

[FrugalSue]

Thanks for the good thoughts, Rocky, and I know that you will get back to where you want to be. It's hard to lose weight when your body is injured, but it can be done! I'm living proof. My weight loss is very, very slow due to not being able to exercise very much, but it is still happening.

I just arrived in Minneapolis tonight after being on the road, driving from Seattle, for three days. My trip went really well. No major problems along the way, and I was able to stick with my plan of getting some exercise in the pool at the motel both nights. I also ate reasonably along the way. We had free breakfasts at the motel each morning, and I ate protein and fruit and stayed away from sweet rolls and stuff like that. During the day, we snacked on things we had brought with us, such as nuts, fruit, whole grain crackers, and light cheese. (Love that Light Laughing Cow! Only 35 calories per wedge and really yummy.) For dinner, we ate at restaurants, and I did pretty well with portions and getting the right nutrients. So I'm feeling very successful, because I can't remember EVER taking a roadtrip in the past when I actually ate healthy along the way!

I'll be here in Minneapolis for a week to two weeks, depending on how long it takes to get my mom's household goods sold and given away to charity. Then Betsy and I will drive back to Seattle, but we will take longer on the way back and have some fun visiting the Black Hills.

All my siblings are in town for a family meeting tomorrow. Hopefully we will get some things decided that are up in the air. My mom owns a cabin in Wisconsin that is falling into disrepair and something should be done with it. It will be good to get some direction on what will be done and who will take responsibility for what.

[FrugalSue]

Yesterday was my first day of sorting through things at my mom's apartment, and it went really well. I uncovered most of the valuable items in the kitchen and dining room, such as china and crystal stemware. I am setting things up to display them like you would for an estate sale, however we're just having antique dealers come in one-at-a-time by appointment. I am also trying to get a charity lined up that will take all of the stuff that's not antique-store quality.

So, as usual, I'm getting plenty of exercise by schlepping things around. I also stocked up on some healthy groceries yesterday. I'm staying at my sister's house, and she doesn't eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, so I got salad ingredients, blueberries, whole grain bread, high-fiber cereal, plain yogurt--the kinds of things that I eat. Today I need to go back to the store and get a decent vinaigrette because I can't eat the creamy fat-laden salad dressings that I found in my sister's fridge.

[FrugalSue]

Almost all of my mom's stuff has been sorted through now...I'm going back this evening with my sister and daughter to do the last of it.

I am really feeling inspired by this whole process--when I go home, I'm going to really get rid of junk at my house! In fact, I think downsizing my belongings is going to be my top priority, right along with being healthy, over this next year. I had thought about taking on some volunteer work at my daughter's school this fall, but then about a month ago, I retracted my offer to do this--and I'm really glad! I just want to make my life as simple and as healthy as I can.

[FrugalSue]

I am almost done going through my mom's stuff, and a lot of it got hauled away by a charity yesterday. They are coming back today to pick up the rest. They are taking just about everything, and I just need to find takers for the piano and organ. I am going to see if anyone in my mom's building would like these, and, if not, there is always Craigslist.

Yesterday was an exhausting day and I just wanted to go back to my sister's and chill after spending the day at Mom's apartment, but then Betsy and I decided on a whim to go to the Mall of America, which is on the way back to my sister's house. And it was a blast. I had a slice of chicken and spinach pizza and some ice tea that gave me a second wind, so then we went to the aquarium and walked all the way around one level of the mall (there are three levels in a huge oval that surrounds the amusement park and entertainment stage). Thank goodness I had my cane with me--I never would have been able to walk that far without it. It was really a lot of fun. Along the way, we found several T shirts and some pants for Betsy, and a cute Minnesota T shirt for me in a misses size L, NOT an XL or plus size, thank you very much!!!!

[FrugalSue]

Scales are sure a stupid way to judge how you're doing healthwise LOL. I checked the scale here at my sister's house in Minnesota several times while I've been staying here. I haven't been eating as healthy as I usually do, yet the scale tells me I have lost 3 lbs while I'm here. What a joke. I don't think that's even possible, given that I've been eating out and having dessert way more than I normally do.

I will start driving back home within a few days, and I'm really looking forward to having some fun on the way home and then getting back into my normal routines.

I've wrapped up all of the things that need to be done here, except for a few loose ends that my siblings will have to handle. Everything is out of Mom's apartment except for her big electric organ which they will have to find someone to take. I got everything else either sold or given away to charity. I totaled up the charitable contributions today, and my mom will get a good tax write-off on her 2007 taxes. I felt really good about getting so much of her stuff donated--we stopped by the thrift shop today where we donated it, and many of the furniture items have already sold to families that needed them!

[muppet]

I think what you have been doing burns a lot more calories than you think. It's hard work, going though and sorting, and hauling things around. I know you probably aren't moving anything too heavy, with your knee problems, but you're constantly moving. I've been doing much of the same type of thing, and my eating has been horrible. But I'm not gaining -- not doing formal exercise either-- but I do think I'm getting a workout, whether I know it or not!
I'm glad your Mom's things are doing good and helping out those in need. I'm sure someone was thrilled to get some of that stuff.

[FrugalSue]

I am doing better foodwise again now that I am on the road, heading home. It was hard to maintain a habit of eating only foods that offer me good nutrition while I was spending time with my family. My family thinks ice cream is one of the basic food groups!

We are vacationing in the Black Hills and it's very fun. I'm doing a lot of walking, just getting out to see the various sights. I'm finding some great food choices even amongst all the touristy fast food type options, like big entree salads for dinner.

[FrugalSue]

I'm finally back home, and I'm glad to be here. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I didn't gain any weight at all during my trip, which surprises me because I was not always very conscientious about my food choices.

[FrugalSue]

It is sure nice to be home, where I can open my cupboard and almost all of what's in there is very healthy stuff. It's so much easier to eat right under these conditions than when I was stopping at gas stations and nearly all of what was in the store was unhealthy!

After Betsy gets back to school in about a week, I'm going to make an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon to talk about knee replacement surgery. I've been wearing the brace he prescribed for several months now and, while it does make some difference in the amount of pain and inflammation I'm experiencing, I don't have the quality of life I want. I noticed this a lot during our trip, because when we would be someplace really interesting that I'd like to explore (such as Mt. Rushmore), I couldn't walk as much as I would like. I had to use both my brace and my cane if there was much walking involved. And there were some things I couldn't even consider doing that I would've liked to do, such as go horseback riding. I feel like I'm settling for less than what life could be.

[Missy]

It's good to explore all your options are far as your knee goes. You never know what's out there for you unless you inquire about it. Hopefully they can find something that works for you and helps you get around a little easier.