Staying Honest

A while ago I posted about my new lifestyle and promised to keep on posting to "keep myself honest".

So, I am posting to let everyone know that things are going well. Not without a few hiccups along the way, but it is going well.

After much debate and soul searching I changed my diet plan. I left Weight Watchers and joined the Biggest Loser Club online.

I think it is the single most positive move I have made.

I'm not going to trash Weight Watchers because it is a good plan and it works for lot's of people but for some reason their new program just did not work for me. I actually believe that the problem is that I exercise at a very high rate. I don't think that Weight Watchers is equipped to cope with that type of exercising and their Leaders don't have the expertise to really deal with it.

The Biggest Loser Club is great. A very similar website but their support from nutritionists and exercise experts is absolutely phenomenal. I think its what I have been seeking for so long.

So, I am very comfortable with my plan. I am able to cope with it, live with it and I very much enjoy feeling healthy and energized.

Since January, I have lost 25 lbs. I still work out at Curves but I have added my elliptical trainer to the exercise regime. I am getting stronger every day.

I am pumped!

In The Light of Day

Last night on my way home from work I was involved in an extremely serious accident.

I had two of my dogs in the van with me yesterday. I was on the road for a while and thought it would be nice to bring them along.

As I was leaving work, I opened up the crates, and for a minute, thought of letting Jett ride shotgun. It's my way of telling her that she's special. It's her turn to hang out with me. It's her privilege.

I had her out of the van and was just about to put her up front when I decided not to bother.

In that moment, I saved Jett's life.

Not fifteen minutes later did I make a left turn, when a car coming in the opposite direction, ran a red light and t-boned me.

I saw the car coming. I saw the red light. Funny, I wasn't scared. I knew the car was going to hit me and I knew it wasn't going to be a small accident. But in that second, I turned to look at my dogs in the back. I was so afraid for them.

The car hit us at full speed. It didn't even try to brake. My van took a direct hit, lurched up on two wheels and almost toppled over. It then righted itself and came down hard at which point we were hit again by another car. We spun until we stopped facing in a macabre direction.

I remember looking back and seeing Jett bounced around. I don't recall watching Porter. But Jett bounced in her crate.

When we finally came to a stop. I put the car in park. I couldn't move. All I could do was shake.

Some very wonderful people came running to help us. A lovely woman with a very soft European Accent came to my aid immediately. It was really hard for me to talk. She held my hand and told me I was OK. When I was finally able to speak, I asked her to check my dogs. I could see the look on her face. I think she thought the worst. I had not seen the condition of my van at that point. A man came up and asked what I needed. I asked him to check my dogs. He ran to the back and flung open the back. He yelled that they were fine. Jett was doing her happy dance. I couldn't see as my glasses were thrown from my face. It was dark and I couldn't find them. But I could hear Jett greeting everyone who came to look at her. I was so relieved. The police checked on them, the fireman checked them out, and the paramedics did a quick check of them as well.

In the end, we all walked away unscathed. A little sore, a little shocky and somewhat traumatized but OK. The police officer told me over and over how lucky we were. It could have been much worse. He told me that if my dogs had been loose in the van, they probably would not have survived the accident. To tell you the truth, I heard the words but I didn't "hear" the words.

This morning I got a ride to the dealership to survey the damage and get all my stuff out the van.

In the light of day, it was much worse than it appeared the night before. I actually had to stand quietly for a while and take it all in. My Van is a write off. I went to the back and opened the lift gate and it was then that I saw the condition of the crates. Porter was nearly pushed right through his crate into Jett's. The force must have been quite something. The crate was bulging on one side the the top of the crate was buckled.

My dogs would dead today if they had not been in their crates. They would have been thrown through the windows. Everything in the front seat ended up in the back. It would have been horrific.

Sometimes I find myself defending my use of crates to friends who don't use them. They think it's terrible that I confine my dogs. They actually believe it is inhumane. They think a dog should be loose in the vehicle with their heads out the window.

I love my dogs. I always have and I always will. From this day forward, the best thing I can do for my dogs is make sure they are in a crate when we travel. I will show them how much they mean to me, every time I close the gate, and slip the latch. I won't fall for the sad eyes that beg to come sit up front.

I'm very sore tonight. The Jett and Porter seem quite happy. There is no appearance of any soreness with them. They're wrestling around in the living room right now. Life is good. I bought some very special bones for Jett and Porter tonight. I think we will have a quiet evening together, on the couch, watching Glee.

Hug your dogs tonight. They deserve it.

My New Lifestyle - Something Completely Different

About a year ago I started educating myself about nutrition (human not dog).

My entire life I have been heavy. I am one of those people that loses weight, gains weight, tries every diet out there....low carb, no carb, grapefruit, soup, glycemic, weight watchers, etc. etc. looking for 'THE" diet that "WORKS" for me.

I AM THE POSTER CHILD FOR FAD DIETING FAILURE

So, after doing a whole lot of reading, research, etc. I have finally convinced myself that it is not a diet that I seek. What I actually need is to get a grip and to change my way of thinking and not try to fool myself. All I need to do is change my lifestyle.

I rejoined weight watchers a week and a half ago because truly their eating plan is sustainable and healthy. It hits all the right points and it is something that I can do for the rest of my life.

I rejoined Curves and work out 6 days a week. I enjoy working out and feel so much better afterwards. I also joined the Y so that I can mix up my exercise.

I have pledged to walk my dogs everyday unless it is too cold for them and me or its really poor weather.

I'm going to post periodically on my blog to keep myself honest.

This is a positive step in reshaping my body, my health and my mind. I'm on a new journey that I am excited to be taking.

It's Been A While

It's been quite some time since I have posted on my blog. No particular reason really. Things were just very very busy both at work and at play.

Meg and I had a good trial season. Meg Jammed her first Junior. Placed in her second Junior, and then placed third in our first Qualifying Stake. With limited trialing it was a successful first season.

I brought Meg home in October for a break and then at the end of November Meg flew off to Colorado to train with Kenny Trott at Horsetooth Retriever Kennels. As of a few weeks ago, Kenny, Marcy and the crew arrived in Texas for the "winter trip". So far so good. Meg is getting along famously and from all accounts working well.

I'm planning a couple of trips to Texas in the next couple of months and I'm really looking forward to it, as I didn't get to go last year.

Since Meg has been gone, Jett was somewhat depressed. She didn't have Logan to play with so....I am fostering a beautiful golden retriever named Porter. Porter is about a year old so he is still quite the puppy. Porter's future will be in the show ring. I'm just very fortunate to have some time with him.

You may recall the puppy fits I had with Meg with her determination to "be free". Well, Porter puts all of Meg's efforts to shame.

Today, I went out and bought a new door for the grooming room. I had Rona Hardware saw the top off at a point where Porter can't reach his paws up to. Tomorrow, the new door is being installed and Porter will spend his alone time in the grooming room with no way of escape.

Jett and Porter love each other. My plan is to put the two of them together in the grooming room. They can play, chew on bones, sleep....do whatever their little hearts desire. The only thing Porter won't be able to do is get into the food bins, chew up my boots, distress my cleaning lady, and in general,...get into trouble.

Although I sound like I'm complaining, Porter has been great company for Jett and he's very playful and very sweet. I've got him figured out though. He's smarter than he looks. I can no longer be sucked in by his antics. I was talking to Porter's owner the other day and I told her that Porter was exactly what I would consider a golden retriever to be like. His temperment is awesome. He is generally laid back and sweet. He doesn't fight with other males and he just wants to have fun. Porter makes friends with everyone he meets whether they be animal or human. He has such a gentle way about him. He manages to wrap everyone around his little finger. It's quite amazing actually. Marcy says that Miikka makes her laugh. Trust me when I say that Porter genuinely makes me laugh. I really enjoy having him around.