OK, So Today is Actually Day One

There's been a change in plans.  Just a minor one.

Yesterday, I blogged about starting my new weight loss pill.  I was supposed to start yesterday, but being that I had to go and have a medical procedure done... I had to hold off another day.  Just to be on the safe side.  I had a mole removed, which I blogged about on my other blog.  You should go check it out... I feel like I don't get as much love over there:  www.lifeandtimesofjoblog.blogspot.com

I would have hated driving all the way to my doctor's office and finding out they couldn't do the procedure due to the medicine.  Which, I find out, was exactly what would have happened.  Good thing I waited.

This morning, however, I did start my medicine.

It's been a little over an hour since I've taken it...and apart from feeling a little shaky about 20 minutes after I took it, I'm feeling OK now.  

Some of you asked what medicine I had been put on.  Well, it's Phentermine.  I had kinda thought about keeping the name quiet, because I know there is so much hoopla out there about the dangers associated with Phen-anything.  But, it is what it is...and it's not worth trying to keep it quiet, because I'm not ashamed to be taking it.

I'm fully aware of the dangers involved with the drug because my doctor told me.  That's why I have to be monitored so closely.  But, the positives far outweigh the negatives... so I'm going to try it.

After taking my medicine, I waited the 30 minutes instructed before eating breakfast.  I opted for a Greek yogurt for breakfast. I was told that I had to eat something with a good amount of protein...and with only 160 calories, it gets me off to a good start.  

I can gradually start increasing my breakfast intake when I get used to eating breakfast.  Which is something I really have to work on.  The most important meal of the day is usually the only meal of the day I don't eat.  That's going to have to take some forcing on my part to turn it in to a habit.  

Here in a little while, I'm going to the store to stock up on some stuff for my lunches this week.  I start back to work "officially" on Monday, and I will be taking my lunch each day.  My lunches will consist of a sandwich and some crackers.  Maybe some veggies, but I want stuff that will last in my refrigerator.  My doctor did say that if I'm worried about wanting to eat more for dinner, that will be the time to load up on the veggies.  So, a small lunch is what I'm shooting for.  Although, now that I'm thinking about it... some veggies with hummus to go along with my sandwich does sound yummy.

I took a big step yesterday in decreasing my caffeine intake.  Hubby and I bought a single serve coffee machine.  Like a Keurig, but cheaper.  That way, I don't have to make a pot of coffee and see it sitting there wanting to me to drink it.  I can make one cup and be done.  Which is what I did this morning.  Just one cup.  Which is about 4 cups less than what I'm used to drinking on a Saturday morning.

I also have my water cup ready to go, so that I can drink nothing but water.  That's all I'll be drinking, now, besides my morning cup of coffee.

I've updated my Fitness pal tracker so that I can use it to track my food...and added my breakfast as I was eating it.  

As I'm typing this, I feel this rush of energy inside of me.  I could just go run right now.  I don't feel jittery or that my blood pressure is rising...just full of energy.  And, the weird part is, I feel happy.  Really happy.  

I've been a little cranky these past few days because Aunt Flo is here.  I don't usually suffer from PMS, but I always tend to have a shorter straw when she's around.  I snap a little easier and get irritated a little quicker.  But, right now, I feel like I'm super happy.  That I just want to laugh... for no reason.

If this is what taking this pill is going to be like... I think I'm going to be A-OK.

But, now, I just can't sit here any longer.  I have to go do something.  Anything.  Move.

Till next time!

Who Picks This Stuff?

As a person that has been blogging for over 3 years... I become fascinated with the traffic sources of my readers.  Meaning, I constantly check my stats to see what websites or keywords people have used to find me.

Back when I was using this domain name before, I had 200 followers and several hundred hits per day.  Then, when I changed my blog domain and moved everything over to my other blog (www.lifeandtimesofjoblog.blogspot.com), it moved all of my followers with it.

So, I basically started from scratch again when I resurrected this blog domain.

Since starting back up, I've accumulated 8 followers.  That's fine with me... even if I didn't have any followers, I'd still write.  But, one thing that caught my eye this morning was the amount of page hits I've had since starting over.  There has been over 6000 page hits to my 40 blog posts.  That means I've been posting for little over a month, and I'm averaging over 150 hits per day.

Something didn't sound right with that.

What on earth is sending people my way in those kinds of droves?

Well, a quick review of the stats revealed this as the top source of my hits...

http://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/get-motivated-top-8-sites-fitness-inspiration/page/3/2

A couple of things don't add up.  The date located with this article is July 25th, 2013.  That can't be right, because I've had over 1300 hits from this site in the last month, and only 150 of them being from the last week... how is that possible when it was supposedly published a couple of days ago?

Regardless, I know for a fact that the article is older than that, because I was first notified of the article a few years ago...back when I really did the stuff it said (like lose 60lbs).  Back then it was located in the weight loss motivation section... now it's been moved to the fitness inspiration section.  Maybe July 25th was when it was moved to the new section..and people were still visiting from the old section.

I've gone to Shape Magazine's site a few times... looking for tips and information.  But, now I'm a little miffed.

Why on earth would they use my site for a motivation source?  

If the article's writer had spent any amount of time reading my blog, she would definitely reconsider that title.  Maybe, back in the day, when I really was having a ton of success and losing a ton of weight... but certainly not anymore.  If anything, I should be showcased in a "success stories gone bad" section.

Back when this article was first written (three years ago), I felt honored.  I found out about it through Twitter.  Nobody from Shape magazine contacted me and asked my permission to even publish my website on theirs... but it didn't bother me.  To be considered one of the most motivational sites out there for weight loss was a humbling honor.  Even back then, I could have named off 30 more blogs much more worthy of a place on that list before mine.

Where do they even get their information?  That's my biggest question.

I didn't nominate myself.  I didn't really have that many followers that would nominate me.  So, what?  Did the author just do a quick search of weight loss blogs and found the first few that looked somewhat interesting?  Still don't know if that's possible.. because I'm quite sure that my blog wouldn't show up in the first 100 pages on a Google search for Weight Loss Blogs.

And now, it's just been regurgitated on to the site once again.  No check of updates or if the owners of the blogs (myself only being the point in this) is still worthy of being known as "motivational".  I did a quick check of the other sites listed...and besides Yum Yucky (who is one of my favorite bloggers) the others aren't really all that motivational...in terms of fitness.  Of course, I suppose you could look at them that way if you wanted.

Looking at my other traffic sources has also left me a little puzzled.  I mean, I know how people get here from weight loss blogs... but there are websites listed as traffic sources that in no way, shape, or form list anything about my site or are even associated with weight loss.

I've had 408 hits originating through a site called vampirestat.com.  Looking at the site doesn't give me the slightest clue how traffic was directed to me.

I've had over 1000 hits from Google.  Those come from the keyword searches like "fat women" or "diary of fat woman".  Not sure who searches for stuff like that, but they get to come see me when they do.

The rest originate from Twitter and Facebook... which makes total sense because I publish my blog to Twitter and Facebook each day.

It's all so puzzling and confusing.  Maybe it's best if I don't bother looking at the stats anymore.  Maybe I just focus on who's reading and commenting... and just keep writing what I write.

Anyone else get puzzled by checking their stats?  I'd love to hear about it.

But, that's enough for me for one day... need to get my butt in gear to do something productive.

Ten Things Thursday!

I haven't done one of these in a while.  And I noticed my Ten Things Thursday creator did one this morning:  Draz.  So, I'm gonna do it, too.

1.  I'm going to the water park today.  Which means I'm going to be wearing my bathing suit out in public.  I've realized I just have to suck it up - or just suck it in - and do it for the sake of my kids.  I may not be comfortable with it... but I can still have a good time and not let it bother me.

2.  I ate quite a bit of Indian food yesterday.  Mostly sampling different types of vegetarian dishes.. that I don't think offer too many calories... but the think is the key word in that statement.  The food was tasty...most of it... but I probably ate more than I should have.

3.  I have been offered the chance to take boxing classes... for free!  Yep.  An old friend of mine has decided to teach some boxing classes, and if my schedule can align up I might actually do it.  

4.  I don't know why I bother trying to write blog posts like this when I'm crunched for time.  Trying to think of ten random things to share is extremely hard when I know that I have to be walking out of the door in 45 minutes...and I'm still not dressed.

5.  I haven't heard anything else from my "anonymous" friend.  Not sure if he or she saw my post or not, but if he/she did...I didn't hear about it.

6.  Oikos has started making the YUMMIEST new flavors.  Latte, Orange Creme, and Coconut are just some of the new flavors I've sampled and loved!!  I have a thing for Greek yogurt, but Oikos is taking the front running spot right now...because the flavors are to DIE FOR!

7.  I only have three more things to come up with.  Nope.  Only two because I'm using this one to say what I'm saying right now.

8.  I've been reading a lot about summer running.  I envy those people.  I have had to really fight to do any form of walking in this heat...and there are people out running 5Ks and running miles each day regardless of the heat.  One day I'll be one of those people.  Today?  I'll be one of those people that thinks I'm brave and bold for walking when it's 90+ degrees outside.

9.  I've decided to start really cutting back on carbs.  Not completely Atkins version of carb cutting, but decreasing a large portion out of my diet.  By that, I mean getting more carbs from veggies instead of bread or pasta.  I'm being conscious when planning out my meals so that I'm watching how many carbs I'm getting in...and doing my best to take out carbs when they aren't necessary.  If that even makes sense.

10.  I need to go get my butt ready.  I have done this so many times that you'd think I'd learn my lesson about trying to write posts like this when I'm in a hurry.  But it satisfied my craving for writing... and now my anxiety level has decreased.  Anxiety about being out in public in my bathing suit.  Now I'm going to get ready and not think about it again.  Until I walk out of the changing rooms.  Gulp!

Have a great Friday!!