Fit for me

Well what's a new year without a post about weight & fitness??!! First, I must share my achievement of 2010: losing 15 lbs! I started in the summer by cutting out gluten completely, minimizing dairy and sugar, eating lots of fruits and veggies and sticking to a low-GI (glycemic index) diet. I also discovered Quinoa, which is a grain with protein and a low glycemic index. The dietary change was on the advice of Dr. Alda Ngo, an acupuncturist and doctor of chinese medicine I saw for my endometriosis - she advised that a change in diet would really help decrease the pains I was having. Well was she ever right!!! She did some acupuncture and gave me some gross-tasting herbs, and my endometriosis symptoms have been minimal for about 4 months now. (I sought out alternative medicine after my Gyn said my only option was to go on the birth control pill. Forever. Um, no thanks!) Such a relief to no longer be in pain so often. Not to mention 15 lbs of extra weight gone too :-) I have so much more energy and feel great.

Now, to my goals in 2011... sticking to my healthy eating and getting fit! Today I start the "30 Day Shred" DVD with a group of BC girls (33 and counting) who started a fitness support group on Facebook ("True to you 2011" if you want to join). I'm excited!! After telling Jose about it, he decided he wants to do the workout video too. It's a 30 minute workout that includes strength, cardio and abs, and you do it everyday - what a challenge! I love challenges :-) I'll start up my Zumba dance again next month, and my sister and I are going to try a weekly cycling class. I also want to try Bikram Yoga... now to fit it all in.

Here's to a fit & healthy 2011!

Christmas and 2011

Christmas was bitter sweet... it was great to have my parents and Jose's parents come out for Christmas day and stay for the week - made it feel much more normal. We had Christmas dinner (roast ham, scalloped potatoes, glazed carrots, pomegranate/feta/walnut salad, arabian rice and lots of baked goodies) at our place with the parents, my sister/Ger/Jess and Ashley/Gerald. Jose's parents stayed with us and he had the week off; we kept pretty busy with skating, tobogganing, pub nights (yes, plural), shopping, Christmas zoo lights and lots of yummy food. Christmas is still hard without my brother Mark, and I miss him dearly, especially on holidays and birthdays. The weeks leading up to Christmas were difficult, missing out on parties, girls night, friends and family. I was feeling pretty blue, although the Christmas party I hosted did help.

It feels good to be starting a new year, with Lucy back in preschool 3 mornings a week, as well as skating and ballet/tap. Ainsley and I are doing Kindermusik, she's on a waitlist for gymnastics and she's in a preschool class once a week for 1 hour a week. And tonight, Jose and I are off to a parent information night for a Spanish bilingual school for Lucy. It sounds really great! New year = new activities = new opportunities to make some more friends :-)