My Next Venture
Well, I've straightened out my job problems. I have three part time jobs and so my income is sufficient for now. One problem solved. I started school and got through the first semester of full time and can now go part time, probably one or maybe two classes at the time. This way I can actually enjoy it as it won't be so stressful. Two problems solved. Though it still needs some more work, my house is totally functional and I can continue to make progress on it, especially since I now have a decent income. Three problems solved.
My next venture is to work on my body. I need to loose some of the weight I have gained from being depressed over all the other problems I had. Before I start worrying too much about the weight though, I have to quit smoking because I will probably gain weight anyway as I quit. However, by quitting smoking, I will have the energy to do the "work" necessary to loose the weight. So the two really need to go hand and hand. This will be a really big thing for me because I have smoked for forty years. Yes, you read that right, forty years. It is more a part of my life than anything else there is. I can give you way more reasons for me to continue smoking than I can give you for me to quit. But I won't. I really feel like I am at a turning point in life that I can actually do it and be successful.
So, I made an appointment for this afternoon to go and get a prescription for Chantix. I did this a couple of years ago and it worked great. I quit for about six weeks and then I let life get me down and gradually started back. I am very excited about this. I have been waiting for my income tax check to come so I could afford the doctor's appointment and the Chantix. My check came Friday, so this is the first thing on my list to do with this money.
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May 10, 2010 at 9:26 am
I am not familiar with Chantix but I wish you all the best in what I know is a very difficult battle!!!!!! I am so happy for you, about the jobs, and the part time school, and that things are going better. That makes me smile!!!I am with you on the weight issue. I don't know what is going on with me, whether it is thyroid or what, but I am going to get on the treadmill because I am getting worried. I hope that the weight loss and the quitting smoking go well. Keep up posted!! We can be your cheerleaders 🙂 I am so glad that things have made a turn for the better. Bravo, my friend.
May 10, 2010 at 9:40 am
Thank you Freedom. I will keep you up to date. I think if I do this publicly, I will feel like I have to answer to everyone if I slide.
May 10, 2010 at 10:02 am
Yay, I'm so happy for you! I was a smoker as well. What they don't tell you about quitting is that it will change your life – I felt like a whole new person after just a few months. You'll be so happy you quit.
After I was diagnosed with the wheat allergy I gained 20 pounds. So I started reading about weight loss. There's all sorts of new discoveries like how hormones play a role and foods that keep you satisfied longer (soup, eggs, and yogurt is good too). Let me know if you need tips.
LOL @ your comment to FS. I don't care if people slide, I'm in it for the comiseration. And for sharing ideas, Vox is awesome for that. Cheers and good luck with this, you'll be so glad you did so.
May 10, 2010 at 10:18 am
wow – sounds like you are on a great path! you certainly seem to have accomplished a lot of tough goals.
i agree – quitting smoking is important. i fully support you on that.
if you want to talk shop about fitness, let me know. i have a fitness/health blog as well – healthyshy.vox.com
at the moment, i'm doing the p90x program. i wake up an hour earlier then i normally would just to do it.
it doesn't require a lot of room, a few easy purchases for equipment (nothing expensive) and most importantly, your determination. what i can say is – it works. it's a 3 month program and it kicks ass. it comes with 12 dvd's. about an hour each except for their yoga dvd which is 1.5 hrs.
you can choose the lean schedule for the first time around, then the classic the next time around. and then who knows, if you get really fit, you might want to try the doubles schedule.
May 10, 2010 at 10:18 am
Thanks Emmi. I know people don't really care if I slide, it's a mental thing for me. If I have to be honest and say, I went back to smoking it will get to me and I know that. I also hope that if I say I slid then people will encourage me to try again. Anyway, kudos to you for quitting. My sister quit a couple of years ago on her own and I can see such a difference in her, everything about her. I am envious. The thing is, I am also ready!
May 10, 2010 at 10:29 am
Thank you so much shy! I was in the military when I was young and I used to work out and stay in shape even though I did smoke. I have always been very active. However, I do know that I have to be careful in an exercise endeavor now because I have done so much damage to my heart and lung capacity at this point. I can't jump into anything heavy in the way of cardio exercise because I'll drop dead of heart attack from that. I will actually start with a simple regimen that was used in boot camp. It will get me started and I will work into other stuff later. I will definitely check out your other blog though. Thanks so much.
May 10, 2010 at 10:34 am
cool – if you don't mind, i would love to read about your fitness goals and milestones and such. and yes, safety is key. it's important for everyone, no matter what level – and we shouldn't be doing anything that is uncomfortable to our body.
i took this for granted when i was younger. my body doesn't heal like it use to. i never stretched enough and ignored strengthening my core muscles because i was impatient and wanted to get right into the action.
now, i'm definitely focusing on those areas on top of my cardio and strength routines.
what i'm finding is that improving my flexibility has helped me perform better in everything else. and having a stronger core helps protect my lower back (which has suffered injuries).
if you were in the military and did boot camp workouts, you might like p90x later on down the road when you feel you are ready for the next challenge. it's my personal boot camp at home.
May 10, 2010 at 11:08 am
Wow – you don't look old enough to have been smoking for 40 years! I tried it a few times as a teenager because all my friends were doing it, but I think I only smoked one packet total in all those attempts to take it up LOL.
You have done really, really well in sorting out those other issues so I'm sure you will be successful in this venture too – at least you are going to give it a really good try. 🙂 Perhaps every time you feel like a ciggie take a little walk until the feeling wears off – that will help start the exercise without it really seeming to.
However you do it – I wish you all the best with it!
May 10, 2010 at 12:51 pm
I've got a box of Chantix in the bathroom … and one of these days I'm actually going to open it … maybe. Now that my dad's no longer next door, maybe my stress level will go down … maybe.Three jobs? That makes me want to go take a nap …
May 10, 2010 at 3:26 pm
Congratulations on making the decision to quit. You are so right that the quitting and losing weight go hand in hand, in fact, some people have used going for a walk to help with cravings, and found that this of course helped the cravings and also the weight loss. I LOVE quittters!!!!!!!!
May 10, 2010 at 3:30 pm
I understand that it may seem discouraging to say "Hey VOX, I backslid, things aren't going so great." But I would invite you to muster the courage anyways. Think of us as part of your support system. It has been my experience that a good, comprehensive support system is important for success.Feel free to ask me privately if you'd like to compare notes. (I'll go on too long if I try to explain it here.) I haven't had a smoking habit, but I can relate to what you're saying anyways. And my stuff goes about 25 years (and it still goes on), so… I can believe 40.Good that you're talking to your doctor. Your doc may have some thoughts on the fitness/weight loss, too. Since it takes some $$$ for visits, is there anyone else that can help you in an expert/coach kind of role? I would invite you to get all the help you can get– quitting smoking, getting fit, and losing weight are ALL tough goals separately.
May 10, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Congratulations on all the progress you have made! I'm sure you will be successful at all the rest of your goals as well. Keep us posted!
May 10, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Wow thanks for the compliments Emjay. I feel old enough though! lolI love that you called it a ciggie! I'll have to remember that one!
May 10, 2010 at 6:04 pm
Grouchy, you get that box out and do this with me! There is something in the Chantix that helps with the stress. I went to the doctor this afternoon and talked about that with him. And yes, three jobs, but they are all part time. Still probably better money than I would make at one full time job though because of what they are.
May 10, 2010 at 6:06 pm
Thanks Katiebell. I am excited to start this and I have three acres here to walk around on. I am getting my lawn mower fixed this week so I can walk around and push the mower at the same time! lol
May 10, 2010 at 6:08 pm
Thanks jak, I'll talk to you later to compare notes. I do need a support system and you guys are definitely it!
May 10, 2010 at 6:10 pm
Wow! I'm so excited for you–I know it's tough. My mom quit smoking when I was a kid. I'm with you on the weight gain thing–I'm going to check out Shy's other blog, too. Nothing seems to be working, and all the women in my family get really, really big as they age. I'm starting to pack on some weight this year, like never before, and it's freaking me out a little… (By the way–I got those scores back today–99 on math, 98 on reading, and 99 on writing!)
May 10, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Oh my God! That is so freakin' awesome Kimber! How smart is that! I'm so proud of you! So, you are definitely accepted, unless there are a bunch of idiots at the school…When do you start?
May 10, 2010 at 6:52 pm
I start in August–I sound much smarter than I am–the exams weren't very hard. Just really, really long! I honestly think my teens could have passed them–not in the five hours allotted, probably, but they could have done it!
May 10, 2010 at 6:54 pm
You're just humble. I already know that you are smart. It doesn't matter, you'll do great. So what are you studying? How does graduate school work?
May 10, 2010 at 6:57 pm
I'll be getting my Masters in Teaching–Kindergarten through 8th grade. If I want to teach higher grades, I have to pass some more endorsement exams that are subject specific (History/Science/etc), and the powers that be observe me teach several classes in that area, and if they like me, they give me the endorsement. I want to get endorsements for high school science, history, english, art–whatever will make me more hireable. Yeah, I know, good word. The Master's program will take two years, which includes a semester of student teaching. So my days in childcare are numbered!
May 10, 2010 at 7:40 pm
Sounds like it might be time for a change Kimber. Aren't your own children getting a little older now? Little children are great … for a while. They are wearing though. I tell people all the time that I don't like kids. The truth is I love kids but when mine were young I always had a house full. I would take all the nieces and nephews and neighborhood kids at once and keep them all weekend. I'd have 10, 12, 15 kids at the time. Every one thought I was nuts but I would rent movies, buy snack food and turn the living room into one big pallet on the floor and they would have a blast. I'd take them places all weekend. They were great. My son played football, baseball and basketball and I would bring the whole team over after the games some weekends. My daughter played softball, was a cheerleader and was in the high school marching band. I was team mother, worked the concession stands, did the fundraisers, all that stuff. I wore myself out.Like I said, now I tell people I don't like kids. They don't ask you to babysit or expect anything out of you that way and they think it's really cool if you pay any attention to their kid at all since you don't like them. It's funny. At your age, it's time for you to do something for you because one of these days all those kids are going to grow up and start having kids of their own and if you are sitting at home all day, you're going to have a "non paying" child care service for your grand kids. lolSo what kind of classes will you take then? I mean are you still taking basic subjects just more advanced? I mean how much do you have to know to teach kindergarteners?
May 10, 2010 at 9:50 pm
I need to loose a few pounds and get in shape for a knee replacement. I don't want to be laid up any longer than necessary.
May 11, 2010 at 7:58 am
Oh, believe you me, it's time for a change. I, too, adored my own kids, and sometimes even other people's kids (in moderation) when I was at that stage. But now? I know there are a lot of feminists out there who would have my head for saying this, but I firmly believe, now more than ever, that a mother's place is in her home, mothering those little children she brought into the world, if at all possible, at all costs. Daycare is not the best method for raising a child.
May 11, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Cool. Sounds like fun. Not really, but I guess it will be for you. I want to take psychology (not child) this fall I think. I've always wanted to be able to somewhat understand all the idiots I've been surrounded by all of my life. lol
May 11, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Honestly, I think a lot of the classes are going to be unbearably dull–I'm just jumping through the hoops so I can get my teaching degree, so I can get out of day care. What I'd really like to do, I can't because those degrees aren't offered here, or they are, but they aren't really marketable–like English–who hires an English major? Not often, and not likely. I have to think job security!
May 11, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Yeah, I have an ex sister in law that worked her way through college. I'm not sure exactly what she had in mind to do but she majored in communication. She worked as a waitress all that time, and when she graduated, she never could find a job. She still works as a waitress at the same restaurant. That always bothered me. I thought about that when I decided to go back. I wanted to make sure I was in something that I could so something with. I think 90% of the students at my college are either going for nursing or office management. So all of your kids are almost grown then right? You are just babysitting for all the little ones?
May 11, 2010 at 6:24 pm