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Introduction Text Hi ... I'm Sally from Wisconsin ... ****************************** 2020 is a nightmare that I'm sure we all are happy to leave .. Normally I try to find good throughout the year, but 2020 was not an easy task .. but here goes ..I'm stealing from one of my postings .. As the year 2020 comes to a close, this time of year I make a post reflecting on the positives of the past year .. Sorry .. this past year it's not going to happen, as finding positives is almost null .. At the beginning of the year, (sorry to those involved) the business that I retired from in 2018; sold .. and I could finally see myself retiring .. FULLY !! No more call backs .. no more questions, no more can you's .. I could finally fully Retire !!! Only within the month, the covid beginning .. and quarentines and pure uncomfortableness on going out and associating with friends and people .. While I didn't go nuts with hoarding; and overstocking on the necessities of life (toilet paper, and paper towels) we survived... but that was all .. we survived .. I could still go out and be by myself with photography .. there was social distancing at being by myself .. I am thankful for my photography runs .. finding quiet places to just be, and forget about what has been going on .. By this time, mom spending much of the year in the hospital and family unable to visit; trying to make sense out of what the social workers had to say, and what mom told us .. never getting to speak to the doctors on staff, has really messed with our family ... On that note .. I thought of a "thankful" .. I'm thankful that my brother and I have gotten closer over the last year .. whether he feels the same or not ... I'm comforted for the time we spent mom business and not throughout the year .. I have known people that have contracted Corona, and known people that have passed form Corona .. I've missed my interactions with friends, (heck was EXCITED to work the dugout this year ... lol) and I've missed being able to go out without fear of what I touch, what I breathe going to make me one of those statistics .. I can't post my "positive end of the year" posting .. What I'm thankful for is... 1-I found a way to escape without having to go out and worry about "social distancing" .. with my drawing .. I go into my playroom, and turn on cd's or the radio and literally get transported to a new place .. a place of sunshine and blue skies .. it's a place that I can go to lose myself .. 2-I'm thankful that my brother, sister in law, and I (I feel) have come closer through mom's hospital stays, and troubles 3... I'm thankful for my happy hubby and his attempts at keeping myself in focus as to what is truly important in life .. 4... I'm thankful for my friends that even though I haven't seen in ages in person, have remembered me when I felt I was at wits end without even knowing it ... Welcome 2021 .. Let's say goodbye to 2020, and good riddance .. While 2021, may or may not be as difficult .. just the thought of saying farewell to 2020 .. makes me feel more confident in my future .. That's as close as I could get to my year end coffee clutch posting .. I'm praying and hoping that my friends and family are handling this crisis .. and (((((((((((AIR HUGS))))))))))))) to all !!!! ***************************** As we close yet another year ... 2019 leaves alot of learning behind it .. I'm no longer needed at work, because the business actually sold .. (silent sad but also yay), so I can fully enjoy my retirement without the fear whenever my "coworkers" call, or text .. :) and I'm learning the process well .. We did alot of traveling this year, and I found my new favorite location of vacation .. :) Friendly, and relaxing ... I'm actually in hopes that next year (we were too late for this year) to actually take my first "New Years" vacation in 42ish years ... My job always required "year end" and "closing of the books" which was full time plus from December 1 to after January 31 ... so one of my goals for 2020 is to plan on a New Years vacation !!!! Bring on 2020 .. I'm ready .. I've got the proper mindset and have created fun, healthy habits .. I know 2020 will be a better year yet !!! BRING IT ON !!!!!! 2018 has been a year of ups and downs .. Excited because I officially retired after 42 years(even though my bosses still use me for confidential help) as of July 1, and it feels weird .. the first month or so felt like an extended vacation; but as time went on .. I'm becoming accustomed to enjoying MY time as much as I can. I'm excited for 2019 and the new experiences it will give me .. :) As 2017 comes to a close, I need to take a good hard look at where I'm at. I turned 60 this year, and already know that 2018 is going to be a year of changes with retirement beginning on July 1. I am looking at 2018 realistically. I'm not going to be 110 pounds again, but my goals have taken a bit of change. I thought I was in good shape, but with the passing of puppy on September 17, hubby took me on a REAL vacation to Las Vegas, and we did a lot of walking. I'm not in as good of shape as I thought, so my one major goal for 2018 is NOT to lose weight; but to UP my exercise, and I'm sure that the loss will follow. 2018 is going to be my Year of Health ! ********************** Again, we come to January, (2017) another year has passed .. I have worked for the last 2 years reorganizing my life, and removing the stressor's that I can, and learning how to work with the stressor's I can't. The successes I have made over the last year are I have learned that yes -- not even "I" can do it all. I've learned that sometimes simple things like sleep are more important than multitasking. I've learned that I can do things. I had been afraid of exercise .. and took that step off of the edge and actually joined a gym. Planet Fitness had been the best psychotherapist during times of extreme need, when I would have normally turned toward food that was not needed; and turned toward exercise. It proved to me; even at coming up to 60 years old .. there is not any age in which we can not exercise .. even if it's just gentle exercise. I've stepped out of my comfort zone a number of times through the year ... I "tried" instructing at puppy club, finding I'm not ready for that .. It created stresses that I really am trying to avoid, but I tried it .. I proved to myself that I can do things if I chose to work hard at it. I have discovered things about myself, that I forgot were there. Sometimes the magic word has to be said "no" .. and the world continues to turn. My doctors tests came out perfect in my December physical, proving to me that if I try hard enough, I can feel better ... This year, I have been doing studying and had a talk with my happy hubby. I am working on my belly .. This is the last step. I spoke with my husband and he is willing to be support for me .. Even try and lose some weight himself. I have been studying the last week and feel this first week of January will help me put things into place. I have put up a new STARTING photo .. as painful as it is .. I'm planning on taking a photo on the first of every month .. If I have to "show myself" to the world, I feel I will try harder on my end. The photo shows my "wish top" .. one of many that I have in my closet .. The good news is this 'growing up' I have not gotten rid of my small clothes .. so as I shrink (and I will) I will feel like I have new clothes .. my "big" clothes can then turn into "cleaning clothes". I can do this .. I know I can .. Between hubby and here .... these will be the only places I'm telling of my goals. If I tell others, I know what will happen. I will be put under a microscope and while successes may be noticed, failures will be pointed out.. (been there done that) .. if failures are pointed out, self image decreases, and continual failure can't be avoided .. so this is our secret .. So -- that is my plan .. and yes -- my goal for 2017 is to lose weight .. I know -- cliche .. but I will succeed ... I need to knock Dr B on his keester come my March appointment (bloodtests again) .. I know I can I know I can I know I can !!! I KNOW I WILL !!!!! *********************************************************** Once again the new year comes around. January 1, 2016... This is the year for me !!! Me learning how to be healthy again. Me building up my exercise. Me to be ME !!! I have slipped horrible, and am now at 75 ish pounds to lose to get back to where I want to be. 75 pounds is very intimidating, so if you read my goals, I have cut them down to "mini goals" .. 5 pounds at a time .. the "rewards" increasing more and more each time I reach those 5 pounds .. BUT in order to get my reward, I must hold that 5 pounds (I can lose more in the proces) for 3 weekly weigh ins .. because I have lost 75 pounds ... over and over and over and over again .. 5 pounds at a time, but as soon as that 5 pound mark shows up .. I seem to relax, and *bweeeeee* there is goes .. lol .. That will be the most difficult part of this journey. My automatic response is "treat with food" .. Well Sally -- treating with food is what got you here ... Let's change up the anti .. and "treat with non-edible things" .. So my journey continues .. the only difference between 2015 and 2016 .. will be there will be success in 2016. I'm not guarenteeing to myself that my goal of 75 pounds will be reached, because I lose very very slowly ... but I will have a loss !!! I will be able to exercise !!! My medical tests will improve again !!! I WILL SUCCEED !!!! *************** May 25, 2015 .. It's about time to start reposting here again. I've spent the first 6 months of the last year feeling sorry for me with pain, and learning how to de-stress. I have left my position at Puppy club (volunteer) after 12 years of organizing the Monday night (public) training program. Within the last 5-6 months, I have regrouped, and figured, I will always have the pain following me, but since it's not going to kill me .. I have to learn to work through it ... so I have reset myself a goal for this summer. I thought of it while taking a long walk the other night after a stressful day at work. I am going to work back up to my 3 mile walk .. I used to love walking around the outside of the subdivision. I love to walk .. it clears my head .. Even though I walk slow now .. I still love to walk, but unfortunately the pain after the fact detoured me .. My will power has to be stronger .. it's not like I can't do it .. I just have to do it slower ... I WILL SUCCEED WITH MY GOAL !!! Unfortunately ... I have gained my weight back yet again .. it came back with friends .. oh heck .. it came back with a WOODSTOCK group of friends .. so we're on our trek for getting rid of that again .. However, I have been working with my eating habits again, (why is it when you get yourself into a funk, you tend to eat more :( ) and hope that with the added small walks (to turn into a big walk) will start chipping away at them .. I don't need a Woodstock anymore .. My Woodstock is over !!!! So I re-continue once again ... July 6, 2014 ... The last 12 months have been loaded with many changes .. some good ... some bad ... but we must move on. Stress seems to be on the forefront, but working on making the changes to rectify that .. these have and will be major changes in my life, and I think in the long run they will make a difference ... None have been easy -- and some out of my control .. but what it is it is ... and my new favorite saying is "God doesn't put any more on your shoulders than you can carry .. boy .. He must think I'm pretty darn strong .. " :) ... March 1, 2013 .... Time to step back .. Things I've discovered over the last 28 days is ... I can't do everything .. I can't do it all .. time to start deligating .. Stress may be the result of my weight gain (see my blog of today 3/1). Menapause may have started it, but the sequence of that and life becoming overwhelming with obligations may have made it continue ... (again .. see my blog of 3/1 where I let it loose .. :) ) February 1, 2013 ... Life begins to become overwhelming. Between work, social engagements, commitments; my ME time seems to be pushing farther and farther into the background again. Where are all of the other commitments going to be if my health suffers. I needed to step up and take a deep, long look at where I am going .. I stopped doing a few things that I felt were "beating me down", and started looking yet once again, at what is best for Sally. Slowly I'm crawling out of that hole again, and it's only a bit longer, before Wisconsin STOPS being an ice block, and turns back into springtime, and fresh air time !!!! January 1, 2013 ... My NEW 3 month Tracker is out of it's bag, and my NEW daily journal is ready for the first entry .. Going to keep my stickers handy for putzy journaling .. :) Practice session is done .. this is the REAL THING !!!!! January 2013 ... And yet I begin again .. 2012 is a year I'd rather forget. I am back hovering around 200 .. and not a happy camper. Not only did I get hit with excess stress of 2012 .. but menopause has hit as well. I don't have any extreme reasons in which to be on hormones, with the exception of I regained all my weight yet again. I have read articles in weightgain and menopause .. and have read that there are connections, and the solution is to eat more and excercise less .. Whoops .. I mean eat less and exercise more. Now this is one of the challenges that 2012 has thrown at me .. My favorite exercise, walking .. I now have to do with a cane .. I got slapped with a horrible case of psyatica and since then I have been able to only walk a half mile without the use of a cane. It got very depressing, and I stopped. 2013 will be different. I don't care that I have to use a cane .. I will start up my walks come the warm weather .. that is my goals .. cane or not !!!!! January is always a clean fresh feeling .. Always a chance to make changes .. a chance to leave the slush of the old year behind .. I am going to succeed again in the year of 2013 !!!!!! *************** 2012-- My weight has increased, partly because of life, partly because of me ....but am staying determined, still religiously going to my WW meetings, and still haven't had to buy higher that size 14 pants .. so I'm hanging in there .. but I think it's time to start blogging more again .. ***************** 12/25/09 --- As 2009 comes to a close, I can honestly say (after re-reading my previous book ;-) ) that I have accomplished my goals of the year ... My only goals for the upcoming year, is to take time for me. Enjoy each day to the fullest, try tolearn something new each day, and never regret when the day is over ... because a new day and new adventures will begin again when my head lifts from the pillow. I'm close to goal now, and I plan on learning to maintain. There have been some changes in my life, but nothing that can't be adapted to, and as far as I'm concerned, nothing in comparison to what others may have to go through. I'm thankful that I still have a job, I'm thankful that I still have a husband that loves me with all my quirks, and I'm thankful that I have a life that is enjoyable, and friends (real and cyber) that "have my back" no matter what the situation. With that being said .. On to an even more prosperous 2010 !!!!! ***12/29/09*** Reached WW goal! ***03/02/09*** After celebrated 3 years of WW (as of 2/27) I have become a LIFETIME member !!!! Now the trick will include maintaining this status !!!!! I WILL DO IT !!! ********************************** January 2008 .... Here I am again. Since joining WW; I have currently lost approximately 25 - 30 pounds. Currently I am at a stall; so it fluctuates, but I'm proud to say my frustration hasn't let me go any lower than 25 pounds. This is where I had stalled before on my way down, so it was expected. It will get tired, and give in, as long as I am stronger than it is .. ;) So since the beginning of the year (2008) I have been at least re-losing those couple of pounds put on during the holidays. I am currently what I call a "Core Plan Trainee" .. It scared me, but then entire month of December I worked on my eating habits to bring my mind and belly together .. I now have the knack of eating slow enough to get my belly to catch up with my brain .. and being the President of the Clean your plate club -- leaving food on the plate because you are comfortably full, is VERY VERY difficult .. but I'm working on it .. :) The holidays of 2007 were actually quite easy for me; as I had NO absolutely NONE, commitments. Considering my normal lifestyle, this was a wonderful break. My normal lifestyle consists of running constantly; and for the most part enjoying it .. but it also makes the eating habits suffer as well. So the solution for that is to make sure I have plenty of grab and run food available. My goals for 2008 are as follows, besides the obvious of the want to lose weight and exercise more.... -Spend more outside time exploring parks with my little maltese -- this in turn will give me fresh air; and exercise as well as her. -Take my weight loss in very small increments ... after 5 pounds (as alittle inspiration because I AM at a stall) treat myself to a day of shopping, a day at the spa, buy myself a new outfit, something other than the clearance rack of Walmart .. :) After the next 10 pounds .. (because after the loss of 5 pounds - that will mean THIS stall is over) give myself something special .. I want to make my rewards something NOT food related .. This has been a problem all my life; something bad happens, turn to food, something good happens, turn to food; something stressful happens, turn to food ... well -- I'm learning there are other things out there that are just as nice as food .. and just as rewarding .. especially if one has to work to get there .. At this point I should be getting close or at lifetime at WW .. so I don't know what it is that I want for reward, but trust me -- it will be something WONDERFULLY special .. and something I truly WANT!!! -Take at LEAST one day a month for ME ME ME ME !!! This was a problem in 2007 -- between work; home; social; puppy club .. I was not taking time for ME !!! Me -- the want to play in the yard with gardening; and get into mud up to my elbows, and get all sweaty that only a good long shower would solve, Take a day with puppy --- and explore outside towns -- This will help with getting her re-familiar with walking in strange areas again .. (because the vet wants her to lose alittle weight too .. but when you are overweight at 7 pounds .. Hmmmm ??? I think she only needs about 1 pound to bring her back to where the vet wants her -- even though she IS within AKC guides still) but that would give both her and I exercise and fun, to spend the day together !!! window shopping ... :) But take 1 day a month for ME --- do something that "I" want to do .. :) ---I want to sign up for more classes with my girl .. We had to miss our January show (which I just worked at instead of participated in) because I didn't have the time in 2007 to work with her (even though I do believe she would have done better than some of the people that did sign up .. but you have to understand that's just a proud mom talking here .. :D) but I want her to be more active WITH me .. I missed that last year because alot of the time, I just wanted whatever was going on in my life to just be OVER .. I looked forward to the next day that I had nothing planned, which unfortunately sometimes was 2 weeks away .. *sigh* So I've learned from my errors of 2007, but my focus is on the future of 2008 ... and my ability to control what is going on in my life !!!!!!!!! (see the determination here :) ) These are my thoughts to start 2008 .. I have decided to reactivate my account at Spark -- because for some reason the WW site doesn't like to play with me .. so since I want to maintain a regular journal .. I thought that I would reinstitute and update my Spark page .. Welcome to anyone that wants to take the time to read my babbling .. :)

I haven't SET my goals for 2 years .. so it's time to update this section of my SPage 2018 --- I'm not setting "NUMBERS" but "HABITS" .. My first steps will be small .. to give me the feeling of success during my time of chaos. 1-I have stepped away from eating breakfast .. That is a habit that needs to come back. It sets the pattern for the day. I eat breakfast, and I can fight with my want to eat easier .. because it's most likely stress or boredom related (but boredom isn't part of the picture right now at work) I can then be more "logical" about my lunches, as I won't be as hungry when lunch comes 2-Drink more water ... I'm okay during the warmer months but once the cold months come; and while I thoroughly enjoy my coffee in the morning; I'm drinking more and more soda .. granted it's diet soda; but that's not good either. My goal is to extend the times between sodas, and turn toward water throughout the day... slowly getting back to my 1 or 2 sodas max

2016 -- I am watching what I eat .. paying attention to how much I eat, and my TRUE hunger. Is it truly hunger, or is it thirst ?? I try thirst first .. I find the more I move the more the joints do NOT hurt .. As of 2.27.2013.. I have cancelled my membership with WW. I have complete respect for them, but I need to stop and take some time for Sally. As of 2.27.2007 I have joined Weight Watchers, and having wonderful success with it .. averaging about 2-2.5 pounds per week ... Currently as of 4.2.2007 I have so far lost 11.8 pounds .. This is a safe reduction, and my clothes-o-meter is WONDERFUL!!!! As of 12.25.09 -- I am currently less than 1 pound away from goal !!! What a happy new year it will be if I hit my goal by my next weigh in of 12.29.09 !!! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ME !!!! :D Lookout world .. I've come back !!!!! 2013 -- back up 40 pounds .. back to square one, but still continuing in WW. It worked before, it will work again

My real name is Sally, and I live in Wisconsin ... I had a little Maltese and have been enjoying "obedience showing" with her. She left our family on 9/17/2017 .. I have left the dog training club I had been a member of since about 2003. I had co-run the Monday night public program until 2016, and since puppy is gone now, there really wasn't any reason to stay on. When we get another puppy, I will probably rejoin. I have been married since 1978 very happily .. I'm stuck with a lucky one .. he gives me ANYTHING within his power .... I have no wants !!! I have worked as a corporate controller / systems adminstrator in a small family business since 1976 ... In fact I've been here so long, I've been "adopted" into the family .. :) 2013 -- due to recent changes made in 2012, I am currently up to 6 what could be considered full time positions .. and doing them to the best of my ability .. Is it time for retirement yet ??? :) Yes .. As of July 1, 2018 I will be joining th

Thought of life: Handle every stressful situation like a dog. If you can't eat it or play with it, pee on it and walk away.

Add a Link Sally (dba PrincessPP) Co-leader: Spark Wisconsin (<link>www.sparkwi.com</link> ) Wanted: Wisconsinites for fun !!! Leader: Positive Sparkers ( <link>teams.sparkpeople.com/POSITIVITY</link> ) Stop by for your FIX of POSITIVE POWER !!!!! Co-leader: Heathy Lifetsyle ( <link>teams.sparkpeople.com/HEALTHYLIFESTYLE</link> ) Stop by!! We're always looking for Healthy guidelines, and suggestions
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