MY SUPER POWER IS I CAN SMELL CHEERIOS THRU THE BOX…

Here’s a weird thing –I have been basically no carbs ( 30 a day) Since Oct 26^th 2015 – and NO grains since that day either. I have not cheated – gone off this way of eating. So the other morning my husband had eaten Cheerios – Honey Nut Cheerios and I came to the breakfast table with my eggs and bacon (can I just say YUMMY??!!)

Anyway As I sat at the table I swear I could smell those Cheerios right thru the box.  My husband had finished eating already so I didn’t smell his bowl full. Nope I smelled those little round O’s right thru the waxed paper bag in the closed cardboard box.

Folks I was jonesing for some Cheerios – some crunchy cereal… I have walked thru the stores and smelled candy thru the wrappers – no not like sniffing candy wrappers but seeing a candy wrapper or a food box and the smell of it comes back to me! 

Now I could get all sciency and try and explain the olfactory system and how smells and memory work but face it we fatties already know about that. What I never realized is that -just as my body remembers  how to walk up steps( seriously have you ever walked up steps that are smaller than normal or all the same but one is a bit off? ) It also remembers the smells of the food I used to love.

I don’t even have to actually smell it to conjure up that beautiful odor of chocolate bars or Carmel apples.

BUT here is the thing – My body is so much better off without all that junk. Yes I miss it, but frankly I wouldn’t exchange my Non scale and scale victories for another bite of anything!!

 I have made a list of Non Scale Victories such as:

• ·         My Constant Planter fasciitis – gone
• ·         My inflammation in my knees and body – gone
• ·         I can walk and breathe at the same time (no seriously!!)
• ·         The pin pricks of nerves as I am trying to sleep -gone 

Just to name a few – But God is good all the time and He keeps me from these things!! 

THE SKINNY ON FALLING DOWN (falling down on the job....and other places)

If a Photographer fall's in the woods and no one takes a picture of it ...did it happen??

I fall down...a lot ... no REALLY ! My  Uncle George nick named me Grace and used to say "she is an accident looking for a place to happen!" (God rest his soul!)

But never the less it is truth. I am clumsy... The first big fall I remember I was 5 and we were at my grandparents cabin at Timber lake, I was wearing a half top and shorts and we went running down a gravel hill... oh yeahhhh recipe for disaster ! I tripped and slid belly first down the gravel hill. I probably did not slid too far - I mean I was only 5, I couldn't have worked up too much speed, but I was a chunky kid so when I went down, it was a hard fall!! I scraped up my belly- ouch!!

Another time as an adult - I had locked my keys in my car and called Scott (my now husband of 31 years) to bring me the extra set. I worked at AFNB bank- where they had just started with the VIP lines. So we had the nice velvet ropes lined up in a snake line . Now me being Me- I couldn't go around them ...nope I went over them and in an imagined hurdlers  jump no less! I am 5 foot 4 inches tall and at that time, while no longer chunky- let's just say I was never an athlete ! Yup my toe snagged the top of one of the ropes which threw me off balance and set the velvet stanchion ropes in their heavy metal bases twirling as I am stumbling trying to regain my balance. Leaving Scott on the other side of the doors a bit stunned and hysterical with laughter! I knocked down the whole VIP line tho my memory says I stayed up right that time but just barely.

Then there was the Girl Scout camp trip that after I lectured the girls about being careful not to injure themselves on this hike, I fall and skin up my knee/ leg in the gravel! I do not remember how I fell but I do remember co leader Peggy's face! Oh the irony of life as she and I sent the girls off with volunteers as we stumbled back to camp!!!

I have hurt my self more trying to stay upright to keep from falling then if I actually fell down!
But falling down at 328 pounds can hurt - you fall much harder the larger you are. Last fall at our cabin which has HARD wood floors in the dining room, my friend Peggy and I were there painting - I do not even remember what I was flying into the dining room after, but once again my toe snagged to top step and I flew! I tackled the dining room chair with my left shoulder and landed with a solid thud on the dining room floor. I was stunned - literally! Peggy rushed in (snickering with concerned LAUGHTER!!!)  to help ,asked me if I was ok?  I couldn't move or breathe for a few seconds ! And then it became funny! Oh my goodness ( later I found out that I had partially dislocated my shoulder on the chair tackle ! ) And also found that I have ab's as my Abdominal muscles were sore!! Who knew??!!

One more example was when I had my foot surgery- I was wearing a boot . Well you can't tell where you are stepping in those heavy walking boots and we had gone to see Giggles our new dog. She was at a Dog Breeder having just had a new pup about 7 weeks ago - Giggles is an AKC show dog whose puppies go for $1,500.00. So I put the stupid heavy boot down as I took a step and hear a squeelie sounding yelp and realize I have stepped on the puppy. Since I can't feel anything -I throw the booted foot up- hip high and that of course knocks me off balance ! And down I go... hard onto the cement floor! I have by now lost about 50 pounds but at 275 I weigh enough that when I go down, I fall hard!!! As I struggle to jump up, I looked at the horrified Breeder (whom I am sure at this point is seeing her new business swirling down the drain in a squished puppy and a law suit by me!!!) I look at her as I am struggling to get up off the hard floor and said "No worries! I Fall Well!!!!"

And now to yesterdays stumble. I am a photographer . On a shoot yesterday to take a nice family from our Brown County church's photos, I once again caught  my toe in some downed tree limbs and fell! Now I am holding a very expensive camera so my focus (haha) is on saving the camera not catching myself!! Here is the greatest part of this whole story... having lost 81 pounds in this last year -getting up is much easier!!! LOL
And we still got great shots!!

Wow it's been a long time since posting...

Most of my post's have been about losing weight - needing wanting yet not succeeding in losing weight.
That has changed ----Last June 2015  I was put on a long lasting daily insulin shot my fasting blood sugars were at 258-- after a month of shots they kept raising the amount but my blood sugar also kept raising it was now 268 my in office A1C was 9. I couldn't walk due to the inflammation in my body - I couldn't breathe life was hard and getting harder.

Sept 27th in the Sunday Star was an article that I believe has saved my life.
Study:low-carb, high-fat diet fights bulge, disease -(Sept 27,2015 By Shari Rudavsky)  it was about this study going on in Lafayette IN - thru IU Arnett  hospital - a 2 year diet study for diabetics . I called the number and never mentioned it to Scott at all. I mean sheesh why - this is just another of Kim's weight loss schemes. Anyway I made the appointment to go hear about it - went to Lafayette by myself-  made the appointments to go back for blood testing and such to see if I qualified for the study- I DID!
Then I talked to Scott told him what it was about and all. He said ok! anything to help you.

I will take a moment to say I have the kindest most loving husband in the world!!

So this study they talked about induction and onboarding... sounded like a science fiction movie -- I told a few friends I would NOT onboard if there was a space ship!!! LOL But that- onboarding was where we went back after our blood-work -received the results (OMG look for another post on THAT!) and received our study materials -which included a special Virta Scale that sends our weight to the cloud - the Virta App on our phones - a food scale and blood pressure cuff and the ever delightful Blood/Ketone testing kit. and our food list -(ha that is a post unto itself!)

So how does this work you ask?? We are to weigh daily and check our blood sugars and ketones - they are trying to see how dietary ketosis works  with blood sugar and then they go all sciency on us -
lets suffice it to say I loose weight not being in ketosis -- so I am of course going to be THAT Person in this study!!! LOL

So my 1 year is coming up -October 26 is my onboarding date  as of today tho I am at -81#
yup an 81 pound weight-loss-- I have gone from a 58 in waist to a 49 inch waist  that is 9 inches of FAT off of my waistline!! My fasting Blood sugars have gone from 268 down to this mornings 128 I am no longer on insulin nor the glipazide that I have taken for over 10 years. I am also off of 2 of my 4 Blood pressure meds.

It is incredible!! my energy levels are high my pain levels are low I am sleeping well - and the food is great!!! I have a whole list of NSV - non scale victory's!

I have a low carb high fat cheese cake I make that is out of this world - I eat sausage and eggs every morning for breakfast - some days I actually skip meals!! yes you heard me I  SKIP whole meals!!!
so ok now that my life is a changing that will be some of the focus of my blog... have I got some great stories to share!!!

peace out!

Insulin

welll today I have become a type 2 insulin taking diabetic... hate it that this has happened.
Seriously Diabetes is a serious condition -that we shouldn't take lightly- my doctor was like do not feel bad face it your pancreas has stopped producing insulin - now you need to supply it.

He was kinda funny tho he said well we can hook you up with a social worker to get you insurance....If he only had a clue about how much I know about the current Ins. AFFORDABLE care pahh - I explained ot him we are self pay now thru Christian Healthcare Ministries by CHOICE!!! LOL That affordable healthcare was 1,520 .00 a month for the 3 of us....he was like oh my goodness!!!

So please take care of your body--

Happy New Year 2015

Well it is another new year and I am still FAT.
Crap I so thought I would have this weight down by this time at least back to my 50 pound weight loss of 2011. But THATS not happened.
I have stopped going to OA and back into Weight watchers ...I lost 11 pounds before Christmas but my giess is i am back up about 5 pounds...this is not good at all-- not for my health not for my marriage not for my kids not for my Grandkids- not for ME -

So as I am smelling the freshly baked brownies I just took out of the oven and ask myself why can I not lose weight?? yeahhh and Scott and I are headed for our first Cruise in 18 days do you think i can lose 50 pounds by then...I don't think soooo....LOL

Sucks -- it really really does. I spent most of this last year wearing shoes too small for my feet which has made it hard to walk- so starting tomorrow --YES tomorrow I am walking 1 mile a day - I will start with my walking tape it is 17 minutes and fly lady says we can do ANYTHING for 15 min so i can do this --

And the brownies? yeah whats not eaten tonight is going to work with Scott in the morning and my tracking App on my phone yeahhh well before it goes in my mouth it goes in my food tracker . 

So what else can I do for myself this year?? 
I am going to get massages once a month- 
I am going to craft more -- I signed up for Darby boxes which once a month they will send you all the supplies to do a craft of the month 
I am going to paint more 
I am going to finish editing the poems and by December of this year I will be holding a hard back copy in my hands and even more importantly into the hands of women and girls they can help. 
I am going to date my husband --yup 52 weeks of dates 
I want to still spend one day a week with Sam and hopefully I will get to add Callen to the mix 
I want to spend more time in the Word , with the Lord 

These are some of the ways I will be nice to myself this year.

How many times??

How Many Times?

How many times do you have to break....
         Before you are truly broken?
How many faces does repentance take....
         Before it becomes just a token?
How many times do you have to hear the words...
         Before you realize it is God who has spoken?
KS 2013

The End of 2014

Wow the end of a wonderful year! the year of the grandbabies!!! as we started the year with Sam we have now ended the year with Callen  !

of course Sam looks a bit bigger now!! LOL

These new grandbabies ahve been a wonderful Blessing to our famiy! Jeremy and Morgan and Sam are doing wonderfully well 

And Josh and Lauren also are plugging along getting into the groove of the parenthood! 

so wonderful year has come to a close ...can't wait for 2015!!

Changing my life one day at a time

trying to make some changes in my life- to make room for all the Blessings God has given me. My time is valuable to Him and to Me! So why am I wasting it on the computer Facebooking or googeling random things. Or on junk TV, or by binge reading instead of doing things to make my life better.

So I have this system Jessica suggested by www.LaraCasey.com - it is a Poewer sheets - and a 2014 make it happen goals book - she helps you make goals and implement them in a big way daily weekly monthly . So kinda like the old Lowes or maybe it is Home Depot ad stop thinking and start doing!!!

So my 5 big goals to work on for the last 6 months of the year are
1. I want to be 1/2 the size I am now--- ok this won't happen in 6 months BUT if I don't start doing it will not happen at all!

2. I want to get the poems published

3. I want to be the best Grandma EVER --- again an ongoing one!

4. I want to BE still and KNOW Jesus is my Lord

5. Become a better Photographer

\So thats my list to work on the next 6 weeks --so far today things are going well!!

Thank you Jesus

A summer winter .and our grandson - ...

We are leaving for Florida for 2 weeks on Monday! I am so excited to go to the warmth - to spend some time with my sweetie - to see the Mouse! To see the beach to spend some time in the warm sunshine.

Tho I will miss my little guy Sam- He is such a sweetie!  

We - Jen and I had a photo shoot with Jeremy Morgan and Sam 

                                                               SO Stinkin Cute!

  This picture of Sam is so sweet he is wearing the outfit Jeremy wore home from the hospital and the blankie he is laying on is Jeremy's Blankie 

Anyway 2 weeks in Florida while Indian is in another Arctic Vortex 

yeahhhhh I love my LIFE! 

My name is Kim and I am an Addict

this was after my surgery in 2010 I just never published it

oh man yesterday was HELL... yes it was a bad food day,,,
once you poison your body with the drug of choice it invades your system your brain until you can think of nothing else yesterday was that kinda day in fact I got in the car (I am not released to drive) I drove to the CVS looking for a ginormous tootsie roll they had none except a bag for 7.99 of assorted sizes...well I knew i didn't want a whole bag full so that was just a waste of money and of course the tootsie roll was just the gateway drug...

Snow day's ~ Cold day's

Snow snow snow (11.5 inches) !!! And bitter cold (-17 / -42 wind chill)  no exercise today and yesterday I just rode the bike 10 min which is the longest I have ridden it but today I really did nothing but sit at the computer on FB scanning photos killing time.  Didn't even read !! I have however downloaded about 10 books in the last 3 days gonna have to make a moratorium on downloading books...lol I need to read about 5 before I download anymore!!! 

The park on the 2nd day

                                              This is the only black and white I did

                                                these look like black and whites but .....

Really it was just a black and white day! 

I can say I am going to be happy happy happy to go to Florida at the end of this month! 

Happy New Year! 2014

Another year to start anew...2014 -- you know as a child We all thought that by now we would have our own flying cars and a robot to do all our boring mundane tasks! WELL.... THAT hasn't happened!!!LOL

But it is a new year it is a new beginning at life at love at food at exercise  
 at the things we didn't maybe get quite right last year -

A new year to me is like a new tablet of fresh paper and I am ready to write my story I am ready to be who God wants me to be. My wilderness is over - it is time to do what He has laid out for me .
It scares me a bit to be so open - but HE is my protection HE is my armor . With Him I will always be safe .

2014-- a new year the same Me just better and different....

Happy New  Year

Christmas time ~ Oh Christmas Time

As I am writing this the Charlie Brown Christmas music is playing in the background... It is December 14th - Christmas is almost upon us. I love the promise that the Christmas season brings -the Birth of our Savior Jesus Christ - the family events That while are usually fun and loving times are NOT always easy times.  The Snow the lights the fireplaces with warm fires glowing - the heart of my home is right there at Christmas time.

The promises of what lies under the tree from Santa ~ but even more in that lowly manger. Tomorrow we start our first family gathering it is for the Shepherd side of the family Scott's mom his brother Shannon- wife Margie their daughter Kerri and her family  Kim's Daughter Amy and her family and Scott myself and our kids and spouses . Lots of people missing from the Shepherd line up - not even sure how long this will happen after Priscilla Mom is gone - And it is sad to think that this may be her last Christmas here on Earth and yet Scott's 2 brothers Kim and Matt can't be bothered to come and spend family time with their mom and each other -Susie is up in Wisc. I get why she isn't here. But not the rest of them. And I shouldn't judge - I know I shouldn't -my heart breaks for My husband and his dear sweet momma -

Then of course we have MY family  the Christmas Eve tradition - God Bless them - My brother Rick who has some work to do before he is allowed back into the fold of hearth and family . Of course we love and miss his wife Beth but I understand her not coming when her husband isn't allowed. Praying Rick gets the counseling he needs. And my sister Courtney who is in Kansas but even if she was here no one would be comfortable with her drinking - I heard her boy JD is in Indy  actually in Whiteland - not sure if he will be coming this year since at this point he is out of jail . And my sisters who have issues with their mom . My sisters husband who holds a grudge against me - My aunt Becky who is here on this side of town this year after last years Christmas eve emergency move out . And yes my Momma who will be here wishing for things that ended back in 1966.

Yes the crazy Christmas season is upon us!

And Christmas day this year promises to be a good one! my kids are all old enough to want to start a Christmas Day dinner tradition so the older ones who are married do not have to rush from house to house - yes this is going to be a good Christmas - full of all the emotions sadness craziness and laughter !

And next year ? yes our Grandbaby Sam will be here to help us celebrate our Saviors birth!

Loving The Christmas Season

I love the Christmas season the Coming celebration of Jesus Birth - the excitement in the air of Santa the Christmas tree the lights the presents all of it . The Family times good and bad ... it is all special and this has not always been my situation so i get ya if you are not there... I used ot have so much stress and sadness and depression over the Christmas season - Praise Jesus that I do not suffer from that any more!

Our Tree this year 

My Sister had a Texted conversation about my love of all things Santa - and how was this ok -for a Christian woman? I was really shocked I guess because face it most EVERYTHING we do tradition wise has not much to do with Jesus birth - there were no pagan trees with lights or ornaments there were no presents for others - it was ALL about Jesus - The only thing at all remotely Christian about my tree is the star at the top - I see Santa as a fun part of the season I do not see it as a distraction from Jesus in fact ST Nicholas was a Christian man -  who gave to the poor - 

I am ok if my sister is not up with Santa but hey her house is decorated in Snowman soooo wheres Jesus in THAT???

So celebrate our Saviors birth however you see fit - My Saviors love is bigger then Santa it is bigger then all the Crap we have made this day to be - 

Life in my mess

My life in general is a mess - My house ...a mess...my office/ scrapbooking room ...a mess ...my weight program ...a mess and going into the holidays makes it all worse the pressure I feel and the procrastination just sits there on my shoulders and holds me in place so nothing gets done . I flit from one project to the next and get nothing REAL done.

So how can I change this?? live in the NOW not the tomorrows or the yesterdays .

I sometimes think I need medication but REALLY all I need is Jesus -
I need to put Jesus FIRST in my life once again focus on HIM let HIM be my all and all .

He will put my focus back where it needs to be -

that song -Give me Jesus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we6G6q1i9Wo

or the one about Just Say Jesus :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWbYo6H0WiI

ife gets tough, and times get hard
It's hard to find the truth in all the lies

If you're tired of wondering why
Your heart isn't healing
And nothing feels like home
Cause you're lost and alone just screaming at the sky

When you don't know what to say
Just say Jesus
There is power in the name
The name of Jesus
If the words won't come
Cause you're to afraid to pray
Just say Jesus

Whisper it now, or shout it out
However it comes out, He hears your cry
Out of nowhere He will come, you got to believe it
He will rescue you
Just call out to the Way, The Truth, The Light

When you don't know what to say
Just say Jesus
There is power in the name
The name of Jesus
If the words won't come
Cause you're to afraid to pray
There is just one name
Strong enough to save
There is just one name
There is just one name
Jesus

When you don't know what to say
Just say Jesus
There's still power in the name
The name of Jesus
If the words wont come
Cause you're to afraid to pray
If the words wont come
And you don't know what to say
Just say Jesus


Publishing: (c) 2013 Moms Like us Too/Love Journey Music(SESAC)/Moms Like Us Too/Aevinesaintmusic(SESAC)/Wordspring Music, LLC/Early Service Music(SE

Grandparent classes

So yeah we are going to be Grandparents come January 2014 to little Sam -- so along with this came a Grandparent class... it was 3 hours of info on whats changed since we had our kids... Now yes it was full of information it was good information I went with an open mind and heart but REALLY???? !!!

Unless WE are breastfeeding little Sam I don't think we needed the 1 hour spent on the topic...lol  Breast is BEST I got it ---except she covered nothing about if Breastfeeding doesn't work out what then?? I guess we can figure out the bottle on our own even though Breastfeeding has been around since EVE--

And I suppose if I hadn't spent my life mothering my own children and lots of other peoples children I can see how a class like this could be helpful.

 And of course I REALLY can't imagine any of our kids asking us to be on the "Delivery Team" lol being in the room - not that I wouldn't be willing I just think they are all private enough to not want that show!! At least that's what Scott is hoping!!! LOL

Gotta lay babies on their backs yup I get it and nothing in the crib just baby and mattress I wanted to raise my hand and ask if a sheet was ok...I refrained  See i am learning the next rule of order is ....

Basically as Grandparents we are to keep our Mouths shut! I get that and frankly that's great advice! I have been learning thru these last few years how to do just that . How to let go of my babies! I am sure there are going to be challenges thru these next years with Grandkids But frankly we are looking forward to the fun
times once again.
And after the big breastfeed review... ummm glad I don't have to relive THAT!!! LOL

When it is all said and done she Diane the instructer said our kids get all the parenting info in class but of course they won't retain any of it - they will have to learn it all as we did on the learn as you go program and thats I suppose where we come in - those phone calls on what should we do if he won't stop crying --- Well DUH You call Grandma coz she won't care she can rock him till the sun comes up--- :)

another year older

wow - well I had a Birthday on Saturday - as we get older I think Birthdays are supposed to be more quiet and reflective --ummm NOT SO!!! lol I will always want balloons and streamers and cake!!! LOL
of course what I got was quiet and reflective lol But thats ok too life is good as long as you are living it right?
Heres how beautiful the lake is and that is Molly out htere with Scott !!! LOL

fun and games

We have been able to get down to the cabin this last weekend and maybe again this weekend ! it is awesome to go down and spend the time - it is like being on a dream vacation ! well sorta!! I mean I still gotta cook ect but the rest is good!! 

These are the new shutters we are putting on --they will look much better with a green roof which is also getting done soon I hope!! it is going to look awesome when we finally get it done with landscaping ect,.

But the FALL has been glorious in color !! 

How wonderful is our Savior - our God to create this wonderful burst of color before the death sleep of winter -

Molly the wonder dog! 

Our faithful Alarm system!! Tho I must say it is so sad to watch how Molly is aging before our eyes! When she is down there and running and playing and swimming then we come home and like last night she sat on the floor and moaned at me as she would try to get up and couldn't - well she could but it hurt! Her heart is fierce though!!

And our kids came down though we missed Jennifer being there it was fun to see the rest of them!!

Life is good !! 

Life is NOT really a walk in the park....Graphic pic-

Life is NOT really a walk in the park....Addiction is cunning and baffling for sure and for real . An eye opener came yesterday when having a conversation with a friend about the new drug Krokodil
 
A drug that eats your body from inside out people use it because it is cheaper then Heroin but it has a mixture of Codeine and Toxic ingredients including gasoline and lighter fluid .

Soooo what does this mean for me? Well I am a sugar addict and I am also a diabetic yesterday I ate a whole bag of caramel corn the day before that I ate a whole bag of tootsie rolls  I am an addict there is not one thing in my life that is wrong right now not one thing that is causing me pain . This is just pure sugar lust Do I want to go blind? do I want to lose a kidney? have a heart attack ? lose my husband ? what the HELL am I doing???

I am no different then these Addicts using a drug that kills you from the inside out -

I surrender all to Jesus

Seriously I do just for today... that's all I have to do is surrender for today. I didn't do so well yesterday on surrendering it was so sad really I got insecure needed comfort went to eat carbs.... life cereal 1/2 a bagel a bag of popcorn none of it was awful calorie wise none of it tho was the healthy choice I needed to eat I was seeking comfort from Food not from Jesus not from a person -I could have made a phone call but I chose food- my first frienemy - because truly food is just that - it is my friend it is my enemy it is going to kill my life .

I am listening to a podcast of the 1st step - a meeting  it is so good to know i am not alone in this struggle So for today I am surrendering it all to Jesus that's the song playing in my head today.
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