The Girl with IBS

As Rosh Hashanah continues, I am trying hard to focus on leaving the old behind and rejoicing in the new. Because I am at work and not really a "real Jew," I have been watching Rosh Hashanah services online. It has been nice to listen to everyone, the late morning sermon about the legacy you leave was amazing. The Rabbi talked about even if your own family doesn't remember you, the actions of your life will influence history. What you do with your time on Earth matters. What I ate : Breakfast : pancakes and honey Morning Snack : dried apples with cinnamon and honey Lunch : chix patty and rice Afternoon Snack : fresh fruit, chicken nuggets, and wine (at work?!) Dinner : Moe's quesadilla and queso Daily Challenges : Reading : Once and For All Creativity : knitting Exercise : Self-Care : having fun at the work event Unrelated to the Jewish High Holiday, the Blue Company threw a Las Vegas themed party complete with gambling. The winner of the most "B...

May you be written and sealed for a good year. Tonight, at sundown, Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins. It is a holiday of saying good bye to the bad and hello to the sweet hopes and dreams of a new year. When the sun sets today, I have the opportunity to press refresh on my life and start the new year fresh and sweet. I am bringing all of my hopes and dreams together today so this will most likely be a very long blog post.  Weight-In Wednesday : 153.6 lbs  I am disappointed by my current weight, September has been a disappointing month but Rosh Hashanah is about saying good bye to disappointments so it is time to reevaluate my goals.  What I ate : Breakfast : pancakes and honey Morning Snack : Cave Man chicken bites Lunch : chicken teriyaki bowl Afternoon Snack : bean chips Dinner : chix patty and rice Daily Challenges : Reading : Once and For All Creativity : knitting Exercise : yoga Self-Care : yoga and talking to husband Pros to Leav...

Another long morning commute today caused by a terrible accident. People just don't know how to drive. I mean, yes, you are passing an accident so slow down and be respectful. But then speed up and drive like a normal person! Driving too slow causes accidents too! Rant about other people's driving skills is now over. What I ate : Breakfast : pancakes and honey Morning Snack : cinnamon pretzels Lunch : Slim Turkey Tom and Sprite Afternoon Snack : plain baked Lays Dinner : clam chowder Daily Challenges : Reading : Once and For All Creativity : knitting Exercise : Self-Care : getting a shirt fixed and eating for my IBS So lets talk about the real reason you are following my blog, (even though you are probably a bot) my IBS. Today is worse than yesterday. I feel like I am getting an ulcer again, which I could be. I feel nausea coming in and out like waves while I am trying to work. I feel clammy and tired. I feel like I want to go home and curl up in a ball and c...

Today was a hell of a Monday. My 20 minute commute was almost 50. My IBS decided to flare up. I have felt overwhelmed and gross all day. But, this Monday was my last at my Blue job. I'm calling it Blue because the company colors are light blue and navy, so it seems fitting. This day next week I will be at the Red company. At one time I guess I was happy at Blue. The first seven months were nice. I made friends, enjoyed parties, and had plenty of down time to work on homework. Then came August 22nd, the day Blue let go of 10% of the company. I kept my job along with the memory of crying alone in my cubicle, waiting for the phone to ring and tell me I was unemployed. Since that day, Blue has not been the same. A few friends left, I had a falling out with another, and lost touch with the rest. The hallways now seem bleak. The new friends I have made are wonderful, but I feel a wall between us. The morale is terrible and the work satisfaction is worse. Earlier this year I appl...

Remember when I used to have weekly incentive rewards and I actually met my challenge? Yeah I remember that too... Well, one of the rewards was a Paint Your Pet class at my local studio. And today was the day! The painting class was small, only myself and two other ladies. One of them was painting her pet goat, the other was painting her puppy for her husband's birthday. They were close friends but did a wonderful job of including me in conversations. I also loved my painting instructor and we chatted a lot. During the break, we walked over the brewery and my classmates tagged along. They were hesitant at first but when their much younger acquaintance ordered, they did too. I feel like I should have received commission for them! So I sipped my glass of cider and worked on my masterpiece. The painting looks just like my beautiful kitty and I am so happy. Maddie is my princess and her portrait turned out better than I could have expected. I loved spending the afternoon learning n...

Like my mother, Rum is my favorite hard alcohol. So when I heard that Bahama Breeze was celebrating the fall with Rumtoberfest event, I just knew I had to try something! So after our favorite college football team won in an amazing victory, we headed to our local Bahama Breeze to enjoy way too much food and booze. What a night. The day wasn't too bad either. My husband accompanied me to my annual eye exam where we learned that I can finally accept the prescription I need! We also purchased a new pair of glasses and sunglasses for me and I cannot wait for them to arrive. After my husband helped me get my car cleaned and I took a long nap. It is exhausting trying to function with dilated eye balls. During the football game I watched my Netflix show and knitted. What I ate : Breakfast : pancakes Morning Snack : Lunch : Taco Bell Afternoon Snack : chips Dinner : Bahama Breeze Daily Challenges : Reading : The Hate U Give Creativity : knitting Exercise : walking the mall ...

Growing up, one of my family's favorite movies was Oscar. Starring Sylvester Stallone, Marisa Tomei, and Tim Curry, Oscar made us laugh during difficult times. I feel like I might need to re-watch this movie as this week is during south, real fast. Today I learned that LuLaRoe might be screwing me over one last time. I am trying not to dwell on this fact as we don't know for sure yet. I am scared and mad. For the first time in my life, I am ready to fight with every bone in my body to get what I deserve. So sue me, Toomey, or in this case, I might sue Toomey. What I ate : Breakfast : pancakes and turkey bacon Morning Snack : Lunch : grilled salmon, rice, and zucchini Afternoon Snack : chocolate cake Dinner : pizza and salad Daily Challenges : Reading : Creativity : Exercise : Self-Care : Booked a Massage for 10/14 Tonight we spent the evening with a woman who is like a second mother to me. It was wonderful to feel a mother's love again and here how...

Every day is one step closer to what? The day we find happiness? The day everything makes sense? The day we stop worrying? The day we die? Every day is just one more step into the fog of life. Think of our journey as a walk through and English Moor full of thick, vision-blocking fog. Every step you take, you don't know if your foot will land on solid ground, a puddle, a living creature, or something you never expected. You cannot see where the path ends. You cannot see if you are alone or surround by other travelers. You cannot spot rest stops that offer food and beds. You do not know if there are mountains ahead or valleys or lakes. All you can do is walk. You have no choice, the sun sets and rises each day despite the amount of steps you take, the weather, or the condition of the ground. All you can control is your thoughts and your reactions to your fellow travelers. You can think about how many lakes the Moor contains, you can plan for tomorrow's weather, or remember the sn...

I am loving my new hair. The single color and new cut is making me feel so much better. I cannot wait to see what it will look like after a shower tonight. Curls should look really good too. Before I start my new job, I want to make a list of things I need/want to complete. Here is the list: Color and cut hair Organize closet Buy new work clothes Completely clean car Ship LLR boxes (if possible) Sell (most) LLR supplies  Set up my room Clean up guest room Clean master bathroom Finish MNSSHP costumes While I know that some of it, like the LLR items, are out of my control. I am going to strive to finish as much as I can before the 25th arrives. I think having a complete list that I can reference will help me stay on track so that I don't forget or procrastinate anything. What I ate : Breakfast : pancakes and honey Morning Snack : fresh fruit Lunch : leftover food from the weekend Afternoon Snack : Cherry Coke Dinner : pasta with meat sauce Daily Challenges ...

September has been a month of emotions and I have not been doing well with my challenge. So can you just let me know when the month is over? K, thanks.  What I ate : Breakfast : peanut butter crackers Morning Snack : Lunch : leftovers from the weekend Afternoon Snack : dried apple slices Dinner : homemade tacos, wine, and cake Daily Challenges : Reading : Palace of Mirrors Creativity : chosing a new hair color Exercise : Self-Care : coloring and cutting my hair Tonight after work I had my hair redone. When I started LuLaRoe, I had my hair cut and highlighted and the lady did a horrible job. For months I have been living with hair I hated. Now the blonde highlights are gone and the weird layers are even. I love my new dark hair. I hope this helps me feel better.  I did have cake tonight. It was the last piece from my husband's hurricane baking. It's all gone now. Is it October yet? Over and Out, The Girl with IBS

Well, that was quite the storm. We have no major damage or flooding, just a lot of leftover debris and anxiety. I barely slept this weekend but I managed to finish packing up LuLaRoe, cleaning out my room, and get a good about of knitting done. We ate horribly, watched a ton of Netflix, and I don't think I took a single vitamin. But I am blaming everything on Irma. Today's post is just a breakdown of my feelings over the past three days during the hurricane. If you stopped by to see what I ate, I probably had Five Star Pizza, Chinese Takeout, and cake. Yup, it was one of those weekends. The fear of the hurricane hit me hard Sunday night listening to the limbs fall on the roof above me. All weekend I experienced high amounts of stress (paired with terrible food) and IBS symptoms. We barely left the house so I didn't get much exercise until today when I packed up all of the LLR boxes and moved them to the garage. We stayed up late watching the first season of Sense8 and I...

Hurricane Irma is expected to hit Florida tomorrow and today, it appears we haven't gotten the memo. I hate being stuck inside on sunny days, especially when I might be stuck inside for the next three or more days! I just want to go outside and enjoy the weather. What I Ate : Breakfast : pancakes and honey Morning Snack : cheese snack mix Lunch : grilled salmon, grilled zuccini, and rice pilaf Afternoon Snack : dried apples Dinner : rice and pork Daily Challenges : Reading : Once and For All Creativity : Knitting Exercise : Self-Care : Disney, Universal, and other major state and local companies are closing Sunday and Monday due to the storm. When Disney closes, you know sh*t is getting real. That is when you should get worried, really worried. Thankfully my company is closing Monday but I might have to still work from home, which kinda isn't fair but it is what it is. I just have to remember to keep my chin up and my spirits high. Over and Out, The Girl w...

It is funny that yesterday I was complaining about how I was stuck in my career. I was certain that the company I had been interviewing for, wouldn't want me. I don't have a lot of experience and knowledge. But I was wrong. They wanted ME! Today has been a whirlwind of a day full of emotions and talking. Before news started to spread, if it did spread, I wanted to tell the people I considered my work friends first. I know I have said that I don't have many friends because when I think of the term friend, I consider it to be someone that I trust, spend quality time with, and have them think of me when they need someone to talk to. Most of my work friends talk to me at work but most don't have much to do with me on nights and weekends. But I still wanted to be nice to them and give them a heads-up that I am leaving. It was a lot of talking today. A lot. What I ate : Breakfast : pancakes and honey Morning Snacks : mustard snack mix Lunch : leftover Olive Garden Af...

Weight-In Wednesday : 152.6 The number above is not what I wanted to see today but I cannot lie and say I am surprised. My stomach is a wreak from hurricane nerves, lack of alone time, and too many No-No Foods. Everyone around me is stressed and my Challenge Tracker Excel file has too many X's and not enough check marks. I feel like if I don't plan for self care now, I am just going to breakdown. What I ate : Breakfast : peanut butter crackers Morning Snacks : chips Lunch : leftover Olive Garden Afternoon Snack : applesauce Dinner : avocado and black bean salad Daily Challenges : Reading : Just Ella and Palace of Mirrors Creativity : knitting club Exercise : Self-Care : Reading and kitting in my room I added a new Daily Challenge. I know what you are thinking, I cannot even keep all of my current ones, why add another? But every day I NEED to do something for myself. Shower, put on makeup, buy a new shirt, spending time alone in my room, do laundry... Anythin...

Today we received news that Hurricane Irma is headed straight for us and it expected to make landfall at a higher category than originally expected. The entire state is flipping out and apparently water is flying off the shelves, even in our northern city. I cannot lie and say I am not worried, I am very worried. But all we can do is prepare, not panic. What I ate: Breakfast : pancakes Morning Snack : trail mix and applesauce Lunch : BBQ chicken flat bread and Asian salad and cookie Afternoon Snack : baguette Dinner : Turkey Tom from Jimmy Johns Daily Goals: Reading : Creativity : knitting baby blanket Exercise : moving furniture and shopping This September challenge is not going well... I ate a cookie today even though I knew I shouldn't. Without the Weekly Incentive Awards and the major challenge goal to look towards, it is easy to say yes to No-No Foods and skip daily challenges. If you have any ideas to combat this without draining my bank account, please post t...

I am going to be honest, I am completely failing at following my September rules, especially the no sugar. It is terrible but it is true. I just have to keep going and realize that it is all about a healthy lifestyle. Well, I guess there is always tomorrow. Today we took advantage of the Labor Day sales and picked up a new couch, love seat, recliner, dish washer, and range hood. All things we needed for our home. It was nice to get things I have been wanting for awhile. Like the couch for our living room to replace the ugly maroon one we had and a big, fluffy love seat for my room for binge reading. Now I just need to remove the rest of LLR from the teal room and I am good to go! What I ate: Breakfast : pancakes and honey Lunch : Olive Garden soup, bread sticks, appetizer, and ravioli Dinner : Mac 'N Cheese Daily Goals: Reading : Just Ella Creativity : knitting baby blanket Exercise : shopping They delivered our new couches during the evening and then we watched The...

Today we took our goddaughter to SeaWorld as a late birthday present. She is obsessed with sea animals, especially dolphins, and has been asking to go to SeaWorld for over a year. I knew taking a six-year-old to a theme park for the day would be hard but we filled the car with color books, snacks, and hope. Overall the day was pretty good. It was very hot and a little crowded but nothing to stop us from having fun. Running after an active six-year-old can be hard however, I think we did a pretty good job. We went to aquariums, saw the dolphin show, pet a few stingrays, and rode a couple kids rides. We were all exhausted by the end of the day. What I ate: Breakfast : pancakes and honey Morning Snack : trail mix Lunch : ribs and sides Afternoon Snack : taco Dinner : tapas and drinks Daily Goals: Reading : Creativity : photographing animals Exercise : walking around the park We ended the day with a surprise date night planned completely by my husband. He took me to my fa...

When my goddaughter was about two-years-old I took her to Michael's to shop for Halloween and fall decorations. She found a trick-or-treat bag and began stuffing random items inside. Every time she added something new she said, "I put it in my bag." Well, that is all I did today, stuff things into bags. To be more exact, I stuffed individual LuLaRoe items into brand new Ziplock bags. Once finished, I will then sort the bags by style and add them to shipping boxes. This is all part of the process to leave LuLaRoe. Why did I get into this in the first place? Today has been extremely frustrating because I am doing everything alone. I understand that my husband is tried of LuLaRoe but I am upset that he doesn't even offer to help me leave. I know that I expect too much of people, but it hard to see the big picture when you spend hours alone in a room stuffing ugly shirts and dresses into gallon sized bags while hoping the company doesn't mess up and you get all of...

Happy September 1st everyone! Need something to celebrate today? It is Ginger Cat Appreciation Day, National Wear Teal for Ovarian Cancer Day, Back to Hogwarts Day, and the first day of our new challenge! Wow, a lot going on today! What I ate today: Breakfast : pancakes Morning Snack : Lunch : Leftovers from last night Afternoon Snack : chips and grapes Dinner : baked orzo Daily Challenges: Reading : Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix Creativity : Finished my scarf! Exercise : I worked a short day today due to the upcoming holiday so I was able to nap and finish knitting the scarf I have been working on for months. This long weekend is going to be all about getting things done and getting ready for a new season of life! Over and Out, The Girl with IBS

So as the month of August comes to a close, it is time to reevaluate my challenge, chose new rules and incentives, and decide how to proceed from here. For the past two months, I have rewarded myself weekly with the ultimate prize, a trip to Disney, at the end. Moving forward, I have decided to limit my incentive rewards to monthly gifts. While I will be sticking to the same rules, I will plan for one day each month as my "Off-Day." I was terrible at following rules 8-13 during the month of August so I am going to strive even harder to meet my new goals. My new challenge will last until December 31, 2017 and I will attempt to follow all 14 rules every day for all four months. I will continue blogging daily and weighing myself on Wednesday mornings to track my progress. During this challenge, I will also strive to focus on my food as part of my mental health since bloating and weight gain effects more than my physical body. My goal for the next four months is to work out thr...

The day after my birthday can be rough. I spent the past few weeks counting down and then all of yesterday enjoying and now it's just a typical Wednesday. Nothing really special about that. Weigh-In Wednesday : 152.2 The day has be alright so far. I finished the rest of my toffee chocolates from yesterday and then broke into my new pack of Ferrero Rocher from another coworker. My stomach is killing me but hopefully I can work that off tonight at cycling. I gained two pounds over the weekend which was expected. I just hope I can lose them as fast as I gained them. Here is what I ate today: Breakfast - oatmeal Snack - Ferrero Rochers Lunch - leftovers from last night Snack - peanut butter and jelly trail mix Dinner -  Miso Chicken Ramen Cycling class was a killer tonight and not so much in a good way. I did not enjoy the teacher and after a while, I found myself growing tired of the movement. I normally do not feel this way with the regular cycling teacher but...

Today is my birthday! I am wearing my brand new Lilly Pulitzer dress that I bought last year and everyone keeps telling me how pretty I look! I have been munching on chocolate cover toffee bits all day and my stomach is killing me but it's my birthday! Haha... This motto might kill me. Here is what I ate today: Breakfast - oatmeal Snack - toffee chocolates Lunch - sushi and spring rolls Snack - toffee chocolates Dinner - chicken teppan yaki and Yogurtology My stomach hurts so bad but today was so fun. I worked all day but my husband met me for lunch at our favorite sushi restaurant. When the work day ended, he took me to the bookstore and let me purchase five new books. We then walked around Hobby Lobby until it was time for dinner. We met three of my closet friends for dinner and had a blast. Even though we were completely stuffed, my husband surprised me with an impromptu birthday visit to Yogurtology. For my birthday, I received the toffee chocolates from my coworker...

My birthday is tomorrow!!! I know Mondays are usually my least favorite day but today I am so excited! Only one more day! My stomach is killing me and I am pretty sure humans are not supposed to have this many bowel movements in a 24 hour period... But at least I know that things aren't just sitting in my stomach making me feel worse. I am determined to take it easy today so I can stuff myself full of birthday deliciousness tomorrow. Here is what I ate today: Breakfast - peanut butter crackers Snack - applesauce and boiled egg Lunch - leftover chicken and hamburger Snack - pretzel sticks and peanut butter Dinner -  Cod & Fairy Tale Eggplants I finally went back to Body Combat tonight and now I am extremely tired. But tomorrow is my birthday! Eek, can you tell I am excited?! The next time you read my blog post, I will be a year older! Over and Out, The Girl with IBS

Waking up this morning felt like waking up the morning after a marathon. Not that I would know what that feels like, I can only assume. We slept until our stomachs woke up us and waddled to the breakfast buffet. I filled my plate with carb-dense foods to ease my pain including a blueberry bagel, cornflakes, and mini waffles. After eating, we retreated to our room to watch movies on Netflix until checkout. For lunch we enjoyed our leftovers from dinner at Friday's and talked. Since we were too tired to do anything, we decided to head home. We made a quick pit stop before leaving and purchased large bottles of water, prunes, Gatorade, and watermelon. Everything to help us sooth our stuffed stomachs. When we pulled into town, we stopped at Taco Bell for our last bad meal and I spotted a flock of ducklings. My husband encouraged me to go up to them and he bought me some snacks to feed them. They were too cute and completely made my day. I loved their little quacks and watching them...

We spent the majority of the day at an all-inclusive resort where we snorkeled with exotic fish and sting rays, watched dolphins play, and met an owl! Wow was today an adventure! The resort included breakfast, lunch, snacks, and beer and wine so we didn't have to worry about food for most of the day. We spent hours in the water exploring coral colonies and winding down calming rivers. For lunch, I had key lime pie and chocolate cake and even found warm fresh chocolate chip cookies at a snack stand. I tried to balance the day with real food, too. But those weren't as fun!  After swimming and eating, we took a few hours in our room to rest and watch episodes of The Office. Once we felt hungry again, we enjoyed an appetizer sampler, mac 'n cheese, and cider from Friday's. That dinner was one of my favorite parts of this trip. We finished the evening with a good amount of burping while we finished the final episodes of The Office.  I feel like tomorrow is going ...

Today is the first day of my birthday celebration vacation. I am so excited to get away from our normal lives for a few days, enjoy new experiences, and eat whatever I want! The day began with a few hours of work. At lunch, I left for home and packed my favorite Vera Bradley duffel bag. On the road, I purchased my first Coke and bag of Swedish Fish since my challenge began. We enjoyed a late lunch of Asian food then indulged in a giant Red Velvet Milkshake with whipped cream and topped with a Red Velvet cupcake! At this point, it is safe to say that my stomach really hurts... But it's (almost) my birthday! I am allowing myself this break in the challenge just so I can enjoy the vacation a little bit more. Today was amazing and I loved petting a sting ray, riding Cat in the Hat, and consuming more sugar than one should in one sitting. I will be taking a break from writing down everything I ate because I have a feeling that (a) it will be a lot and (b) it won't be in any part...

On my 15th birthday, I asked my dad to take me to the DVM to get my Learner's Permit. I hated driving so it took another 14 months before I became a licensed driver. I usually follow the rules but for the past 11 years, I have been going faster than I probably should. It didn't matter because I was getting away with it. Well, until today. Driving home after running a quick errand, I spotted the red and blue flashing lights in my rear view mirror for the first time as a driver. Hands shaking, I pulled over and struggled to hold back tears. However, I was lucky and the world's kindest officer walked up to my window. She was professional and stern yet she was able to calm me down and sent me away with a warning. I promise I won't speed that much again. When I arrived home, I poured myself a large glass of wine and called my husband. His comforting voice brought out my tears and eventually completely calmed me. We spent the evening talking and relaxing since my birthday...

If you keep telling yourself something, it comes true eventually, right? Well, I am NOT sick six days before my birthday and two days before my birthday trip. I am not. Weigh-In Wednesday: 150.8 lbs My weight is not bad, hovering around the same so that is good, too. Right? At least the weight that I have been gaining is small. I wish I could get back down to 140s but I haven't been working out and eating worse than ever. So much fast food and junk... Here is what I ate today: Breakfast - pancakes and honey Lunch - Morning Star Griller on whole wheat bun and popcorn Snack - applesauce Dinner - chicken, mac n' cheese, and potatoes from Publix My throat, head, body, and ears hurt. Everything hurts. I feel sick but I am not sick. My husband brought home my "sick meal" and orange juice to help me feel better. After a good night's sleep, I am going to wake up all better! I will! Over and Out, The Girl with IBS

This challenge has been really hard. I never thought I would go 7 whole weeks without sweets, I am so proud. This month has been the biggest challenge because I haven't stayed true to all of my new rules. However, another week without sugar means another incentive! For finishing week 7 I have earned one class at our local Painting with a Twist studio. The class is on September 17th however, I purchased is today to mark the occation. Here is what I ate today: Breakfast - peanut butter and honey sandwich Snack - popcorn Lunch - leftover pizza Snack - applesauce Dinner - Taco Bell Once this week is over, I will be changing the rules and incentives a little. I will be posting more about that soon. I am not sure how this blog will work once I change things up. It has been nice to write every day and I haven't "journaled" daily for this long since middle school. I am still feeling emotionally down today and a little worse for wear. I am very tired and I have a p...

So happy Monday everyone. Today marks my best friend's 25th birthday, the 6th anniversary of the passing of another friend, the start of a new week, an important professional meeting, and the first total solar eclipse seen across the United States since 1979. Easy peasy lemon squeezy, right? Well, the excitement of the eclipse out weighed the stress of Amy's death day, the meeting, and normal Monday blues for the majority of the day. However, once everything was over, I was reminded again of everything hanging around me. Here is what I ate today: Breakfast - oatmeal Snack - applesauce Lunch - Buffalo Chix Patties and rice Snack - peanut butter crackers Dinner - breaded cod, rice, and mixed veggies I honestly have no idea how to feel about my meeting. It either went really well, or really bad. I said some things I immediately regretted but I cannot take them back now. It is all in God's hands now, I guess. I feel terrible today and I just want to run away like th...

So... today was not the best day for food. I am struggling to stick with the rules I added for August. Apparently this might be harder than I thought! Here is what I ate today: Breakfast - Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sandwich Snack - Applesauce Lunch - Leftover Burrito Snack - Frozen Banana Slices Dinner - Papa Johns Pizza (I know... I know...) So right now, my stomach feels absolutely terrible. Getting to sleep tonight will be quite the chore... I am also very worried about tomorrow because I will be sending LuLaRoe my letter, announcing it on Social Media, and having an important work meeting. Today we spent almost the entire day cleaning the house. It was a complete mess and smelled horribly from unkempt litter boxes and forgotten trash bags. But now it is spotless and smells like tropical fruits. It was a long day but waking up to a clean house tomorrow will make everything worth it. Over and Out, The Girl with IBS

So today I participated in my last ever LuLaRoe vendor event. I bagged up the clothing in large blue bags for the last time. I packed my car with everything I could need for the last time. And I hung my LuLaRoe banner on the table for the last time. YAY!  The event went alright. Unfortunately, I did not make enough to qualify for LuLaRoe's matching program so I could not donate money to the non-profit that held the event. That was very disappointing even though it would have only been about $15. I met a lot of wonderful people though, many were local artists. I spent some of my profits from the event supporting their businesses. I came home with handmade yoga mat cleaner, lip scrub, a face mask, stickers, earrings, and necklaces. I also bought an amazing coloring book from a local feminist bookstore.  Here is what I ate today:  Breakfast : Peanut butter crackers Snack : Gatorade Lunch : Jimmy John's Turkey Tom sandwich Dinner : Chicken Burrito from Chuy's ...

Friday is finally here. This week has seemed to drag on and on and I am glad to finally see it disappearing in the rear view window. Next week should be a good one with the Solar Eclipse, leaving for my birthday vacation, and sending my letter of resignation to LuLaRoe.  Here is what I ate today: Breakfast: Peanut butter and honey sandwich Snack: Applesauce Lunch: Chili and rice Snack: Peanut butter crackers Dinner:  Thyme and Honey Pork Chops I am looking forward to participating in my last LuLaRoe Vendor Event tomorrow and for resting all day Sunday. Well the house is a mess so we will see how much resting I actually get.  I have been feeling really tired and cranky lately, maybe it is just because of everything on my plate. It will be nice to get some things done this weekend. Also, my birthday is coming!!!  Over and Out,  The Girl with IBS

Have you ever been so burned out by life and everything that even playtime seems like a chore? I think I have gotten to that place in my life. That even downtime takes work because I am actively ignoring my adult responsibilities. Here is what I ate today: Breakfast - pancakes Snack - popcorn Lunch - turkey sandwich and chips Snack - peanut butter crackers Dinner -  Honey Mustard Chicken I did better with food today, much better. I still feel guilty about my cheat meal yesterday but that is over and there is nothing I can do. I am not going to punish myself for one meal. I still have not eaten sugar that was my main goal of this challenge. Nothing really else to say today. I am not really in the mood to talk or write anymore. Mostly because it hasn't done me much good lately and I just feel like I am blowing steam now. Over and Out, The Girl with IBS

Weigh-In Wednesday:  150.2 lbs So today started by getting my (rightfully but nonetheless) grumpy husband out the door for work. Next, it was weigh in time where I was greeted with a number in the 150's, again. Walked into work to see an email from a very rude coworker throwing me under the bus for her mistake. Followed by an inquiry from an upset coworker about an incident that was taken care of weeks ago. I explained everything twice and then stopped trying. The system is down and half of our server is acting up. Why I am here? Oh yeah, because I pay mortgage for a house I am not in, payments on a car I barely drive, and I have a crippling amount of student debt for a degree that have provided me with a higher position than I am currently working. If ever I needed comfort food, it was now. Here is what I ate today: Breakfast - pancakes Snack - cherries Lunch - turkey sandwich and popcorn Snack - peanut butter crackers Dinner - *cheat meal* I am just wanting all the th...

With today, we enter into Week Seven of my Summer Challenge. We are officially together in the home stretch. By finishing last week, I was rewarded with the Hogwarts Complete Collection in hardback from Amazon. If I finish this week, I am supposed to receive a seat in Paint Your Pet Night however, that probably will be changing soon. Two weeks from today and I have earned my spot at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at the end of September! I am so close I can taste it! I have a lot of feeling about this achievement. I don't successfully finishing things often. I usually give up, or cheat, or fail. It feels nice to know that I am so close to finishing the most challenging challenge of my life. It feels nice to know that I am not failing. But I don't want to get too excited because I still have two weeks to go. Here is what I ate today: Breakfast - pancakes Morning Snack - applesauce Lunch - turkey sandwich, popcorn, and grapes Afternoon Snack - cherries and str...

My husband reminded me over the weekend of one of my many struggles, my need to control. Some say that is part of my ADHD, others say it is the result of my mother's cancer. One thing I know for sure is that I have always been controlling. When I was little, I used to ask my parents to play games with me. However, before we started, I would give them exact instructions on how to play and remember every detail of my "script." As I grew older, it was hard to make friends because they weren't as agreeing as my mom and dad. Being an only child did not help my control issues and when my mom began her battle with Ovarian Cancer, the issues only intensified. I knew girls growing up who became anorexic because food was the only thing they could control, but food never meant that much to me. Instead, I turned to the budding world of Social Media. I made several accounts on the popular platform MySpace because I could never get an account to look just right. I pretended to be ...

So we have finished the first season of Stranger Things. I am not sure if I enjoyed it, but I feel like I need more. Did I like it? Or am I just infatuated with it? No idea but I need more, lol. I only left the house once today, to return the DVD of Table 19 to the RedBox down the street. I spent my entire day resting and relaxing. We finished Stranger Things, watched a few episodes of The Office, and I took a long nap. While my husband did yard work, I read a little and watched early episodes of The Fosters. Best day ever! Here is what I ate today: Breakfast - boiled eggs and cherries Lunch - beef fried rice Dinner - Gatorade and popcorn The beef fried rice set off my IBS like nothing has in a while. The boiled eggs yesterday and today did not upset me so my husband believes it is fried eggs that are the problem. They are the only thing in common with a breakfast sandwich, french toast, and fried rice. Since every serving of fried rice has been a problem, I might have to agr...

We decided not to go anywhere today. No snorkeling, or water parks, or trail hikes. We decided that we just needed a rest day (or weekend). And I couldn't be happier about that decision. Sometimes you just need a break from the world. Our only outing today was to eat lunch at Bahama Breeze. We had never been and I was excited to try a new restaurant. I loved the food and atmosphere! It was like taking a trip to the islands without having to leave town! Here is what I ate today: Breakfast : boiled eggs Lunch : Seafood Paella and Plantains Afternoon Snack : frozen yogurt blueberries Dinner : leftover fried rice Post - Dinner : peanut butter and honey sandwich We slept in today and spent the morning apart doing what we wanted. Which was great because we ended up staying awake until 2am watching Stranger Things. I know we are a little late to the party but we quickly became hooked and couldn't stop. We clicked on the show after finishing the amazing movie, Table 19. My ...

I love to read but lately, I have been out of a reading mood and more focused on watching Netflix. I have been feeling unlike myself without my nose in a book. I also used to listen to audio books all day at work because most of my day is troubleshooting HTML coding or clicking on random links to ensure they open correctly. I recently moved into a new cubicle surrounded by loud talkers and I can no longer concentrate on audio books. I feel like that put me into a big reading slump. However, today I was left alone during lunch to read and my bookworm spark took hold. When I arrived home, I couldn't stop reading and ended up finishing a book I had been carrying around for about 2 months. It was a wonderful feeling. Breakfast - french toast and honey Morning Snack -  popcorn Lunch - Chix Patties and rice with grapes Afternoon Snack - cherries Dinner -  Roasted Pork Tenderloin and wine I am ready for the weekend. We are planning to go to the springs tomorrow to snorkel ...

Happy Thursday everyone. In July, Thursday was a happy day for me because it meant I had finished another week. However, I reset my August schedule to follow the dates and now I have to wait till Monday for my rewards. That leaves an empty hole on Thursdays. But they are still date night, so I have something to look forward to. My stress has been out of control lately. With so much going on (or not going according to plan), I am left with physical symptoms of my stress. Today, I am experiencing muscle soreness and IBS symptoms. Stomach pain, nausea, and constipation are just a few of the wonderful symptoms I have been experiencing all day. Of course, the more uncomfortable I become, the more I stress that something is wrong. That is my constant battle with IBS, the battle with the unknown. As you may remember from my earlier posts, I was diagnosed with IBS because the doctor was not entirely sure what was wrong with my stomach. IBS is more of a catch-all diagnosis than an actual di...

I relate to Belle, Elsa, and Tiana more than any other Disney characters (or pretty much more than all other characters besides Leslie Knope). I feel like Belle most of the time because I am constantly looking at me repetitive life and wishing for more. More challenge, more adventure, more than those around me have planned. I want to travel, love my work, have flexibility to explore places and hobbies, read more... Just sometimes I want more. Elsa is the animated representation of my struggle with anxiety and ADHD. On a daily basis I feel trapped inside my own walls, continuously having to cover up my symptoms. I feel trapped by the diseases my body has accumulated as the result of years with anxiety and ADHD and I often feel like I need to keep my true self hidden. The idea of running away to an abandoned refuge alone has entered my brain more than once. And then comes my Tiana part. I work so hard because I feel like that is the only way I will ever achieve anything. While that i...

Yes my friend, today I enacted extreme self-control. I said no to a gooey, warm, icing-covered cinnamon roll. I love cinnamon rolls. I sat next to a co-worker in a meeting while she poured icing over the rolls in front of me. I watched everyone at the table eating them. But I held my ground and drank more water. I have Mickey Mouse to think about. Here is what I ate today: Breakfast - pancakes and honey Morning Snack - popcorn Lunch - turkey hot dogs with grapes Afternoon Snack - strawberries Dinner - panko crusted salmon with rice, mixed veggies, yogurt-covered blueberries & frozen bananas We went on a walk this evening which was nice. Our walks around the neighborhood are great for exercise and for me to get things off my chest. It is the only time my husband doesn't talk much so I get to just word vomit everything I am thinking and feeling. Kind of like this blog. Today starts my second week in August. I am finally feeling better about life, my body, and just in ...

Today I switched my workout schedule from Monday Body Combat and Wednesday Cycling to Monday Cycling and Wednesday Body Combat because my husband is teaching his first ever class on Wednesday. I am so proud of him! But knowing that I had to start my week with Cycling has been a less than appetizing thought. Here is what I ate today: Breakfast - pancakes and honey Morning Snack - banana Lunch - turkey hot dogs and blueberries Afternoon Snack - peanut butter RXBar Pre - Workout - almonds Post - Workout - Gatorade Dinner -  Thai Pork Stir-Fry and berries I did not drink enough water today so I am not feeling my best. That is completely my mistake and I need to focus on my water intake more. Especially when eating salty foods like hot dogs and almonds. Cycling tonight was rough, y'all. The teacher was so intense and I thought I was going to fall off the bike more than once. But I did it. It wasn't pretty or as strong as everyone around me, but I did it. Now I am goin...

Today my sweet husband surprised me by planning an entire date-day for me. I was completely blown away by his thoughtfulness. The day started with a relaxing morning in, followed by lunch and movie, and then a bit of shopping at my favorite stores. We ended our day with a mini-marathon of The Office and my favorite foods. Here is what I ate today: Brunch - McAlisters Turkey Club sandwich and Chicken and Dumplings soup Afternoon Snack - crackers, cheese, and turkey Dinner - turkey hot dogs and Greenwise pizza I loved the Spider-Man Homecoming movie. I didn't think I would because I thought the new Spider-Man would be too annoying to watch but I was pleasantly surprised. It is a more YA version of the Amazing Spider-Man series but I wouldn't say that was a bad thing. The new movie fills a void that the previous versions of Spider-Man missed and I do appreciate that. If you are on the fence, I suggest you go and see it for yourself. Tomorrow marks my first week of my Aug...

After a rough week, we ran away to our favorite theme parks for the day. It was a day of ups and downs, much like the past few days. Nonetheless, we still had a great time because we were together. Here is what I ate today: Breakfast - pancakes and honey Morning Snack - cheese, grapes, and apple slices Lunch - spare ribs, baked beans, and watermelon Afternoon Snack - almonds Dinner - Sweet Tomatoes buffet My favorite part of our day trip was seeing baby dolphins playing with each other and their imaginations. They were adorably entertaining to watch! I also loved swimming around the pool with my husband because like the dolphins, he is adorably entertaining. I am feeling a bit better physically today but some of the rides made me motion sick. I am wondering if maybe my ears are just out of wack. Hopefully I can start feeling normal again soon. Over and Out, The Girl with IBS

Thank you for listening to my rant yesterday. The weekend is around the corner now and I am feeling a bit better about life. Well, at least in that aspect. I still have a lot of things floating around my head like my career and LuLaRoe that I am not feeling too hot about. But you didn't come here for that. You came here to see what it is like to live for months without sugar and delivery pizza! Here is what I ate today: Breakfast - pancakes and honey Morning Snack - fresh fruit Lunch - Buffalo Wild Wings traditional wings with salt and vinegar rub and a salad Afternoon Snack - fresh fruit and popcorn Dinner -  Crispy-Top Parmesan Chicken and wine I still am not feeling that hot today. I am lightheaded and suffering from a bad headache. My stomach has also been upset all day. Because of this, I have been eating as much fruit as I can find in a hope that the natural sugars will realign my system. My husband things my body is detoxing from not eating my new No-No Foods. I t...

I hate my period. I hate it more than anything in the world. I hate taking a daily pill to make it better and then suffering once a month with a "better" cycle. I hate my bloating. I hate my mood swings. I hate the way every part of my body hurts and all I crave is No-No Foods. I hate my period. The worst day for my mood is the first day. Then the cravings hit hard tomorrow. This month, I cannot have chocolate, or pop-tarts, or Coke, or even a bagel. No blueberry bagels?! Yes, no blueberry bagels. Why am I doing this? Oh yeah, to my make my non-period stomach feel better. Right now it feels like an army is invading. Here is what I ate today: Breakfast - pancakes and honey Morning Snack - fresh fruit salad Lunch - turkey, cheddar, and pepperoni panini with popcorn Afternoon Snack - frozen bananas Dinner - gyro and hummus For this week's date night, we took it easy because I am not feeling well. We went to our favorite gyro restaurant to pick up food and watched...

I haven't been overly happy about anything since starting this challenge. I will admit, it has been hard. But I finally have some great news to share with you. Weigh-In Wednesday : 149.4 lbs You read that right! I am below 150! Eeek! It feels like forever since I have seen those numbers, I have been stuck at 150 or 151 for way too long. This is very encouraging and I am excited to see what August brings! Here is what I ate today: Breakfast - pancakes and natural honey Lunch - baked chicken, brisket, green beans, baked beans, and toast Afternoon Snack - peanut butter crackers Post Workout - Gatorade and popcorn Dinner -  Turkey Chiles Rellenos by HelloFresh We had a cater lunch at work today and saying no to mac and cheese was extremely difficult. But I passed right by it. I did grab a piece of bread, but only one! See, I am getting better at this! Thankful they did not put out dessert so I was only tempted by BBQ sauce and cheese covered noodles. I thought the beans ...

August 1st marks the first day of my birthday month and the first day of new challenge! My part two includes staying away from fatty foods while also avoiding added sugars. I know that if I can get through one month, I can get through two! I am also halfway to earning a night at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party! Rules: No Packaged Sweets No Vending Machine Purchases (even chips) No Baked Goods No Ice Cream or Fro-Yo or Popsicles No Artificial Sweeteners No Soda, or Mixed Alcoholic Drinks No Food Truck Meals or Sides No Fried Foods (not prepared at home) No Delivery Pizza  One Glass of Wine or Cider per Week No Fast Food  No Carb Dense Snacks or Meals (i.e., bagels) No Cheese Based Meals (i.e., mac & cheese)  If I can follow these rules, I will earn:  Week Five = Leslie Knope Funko Pop Figure Week Six = Snorkeling Day Week Seven = Paint Your Pet Night at Painting with a Twist Week Eight = Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party ...

Before the 2016 presidential election, I read Hilary Clinton's book, Hard Choices. A memoir stating the reasons and events behind some of the most important decisions she made while serving President Obama, the book showed readers that you cannot judge a choice by the outcome. Right now, I feel like writing the same book so everyone around me can understand my upcoming choice. My hard choice is should I keep selling LuLaRoe or should I leave? I joined LuLaRoe because I feel in love with the way their clothing kept my body comfortable during IBS flare-ups. However, the pressure of selling is causing my IBS to flare-up. Now I am left wondering if I should leave or stay and fight? Do I even have something worth fighting for? The stress of this decision is making me physically sick. But maybe it is not the decision, just that I have not left LuLaRoe yet. I am not sure. All I know is that since starting LuLaRoe my husband and I have less adventures, I have less true friends, and my ...

My final incentive of July was to see Legally Blonde the Musical at our local community theater and oh my gosh you guys, it was like totally great ;) Looking back at the month of July, I am so proud of saying no to so many sweets. However, I am not proud of replacing my sweet-tooth with a strong desire for unhealthy meals and alcohol. So now I must prepare for part two of the challenge! Here is what I ate today: Breakfast - Jimmy Dean sausage biscuit Lunch - everything bagel with salmon cream cheese and Veggie Straws Dinner - applesauce and chips I did sell two LuLaRoe items today and snuggled with my kitties most of the evening. I also finished a load of laundry, mostly full of gym clothes. I am not feeling myself but I don't feel like I am getting sick. I have been off since Thursday so hopefully things will start getting better soon. Tomorrow is the last day of July and I am excited to start working on August. It's also my birthday month! Over and Out, The Girl wit...