Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Great photos from Japan

There are times in our lives that we see things that are so precious and touching, I just witnessed such things.  Sylvia Ahn posted photos on Facebook from Japan where she is visiting her family and presenting the new little guy just born.  What a beautiful family, thanks for sharing Sylvia, enjoy your trip.

I'm just back from a really vigorous workout for my program, P2P.  Tonight I did sit ups, something I've not done for a very long time, we were asked to partner up and my partner was a tremendous lady who has been through 4 challenges, lost well over 100 pounds and knows the routines really well.  She helped me do things I did not know I could do yet, I now have permission to reduce my diabetic meds in half and soon I'll get my heart meds reduced as well.  I'm loving life.

Now I'm off to bed, I worked until 1 am last night getting a report completed, so tonight its shower time and hit the sack for a full night of rest.  This morning I saw a 10 acre farm in Manteca.  It was great and the owner has some very cute goats that were so soft and curious, strong little creatures too.  One thing about my job, every day has slightly new twists with creatures, landscaping ideas, decorating ideas, yesterday it was a big bird, I mean a bit one, I think a wild turkey at Rossmoor, a retirement community and a deer grazing on the hillside along with hundreds of senior citizens doing their thing.

So now I sign off, love to all

Tim

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Exercise over, I can still move, barely!

A day of contrasts.
Woke very early this morning but just dreamed and thought about the day until 7, then up and started, nasty weather outside so it was breakfast prep, 1/2 cup oatmeal and 3/4 cup egg whites and spinach leaves fried.  Actually very good.
Then it was off to Stockton to see a house, pouring rain, I mean intense on the levee road, never fun to drive, less fun in driving rain, very wet at the first house, even more wet at the second house in Lodi and still we at the third house back in Stockton

Then I got hit with very low blood sugar, had nothing to fix it so went to Taco Bell for a Burrito, I know not on the plan, bad things to do but soon I felt OK again so not a totally bad thing to do.

then back to work the rest of the day and make some protein shakes, a nice meal of tofu, romaine hearts and pepper, what a nice difference that made, tofu is not know for its flavor

Now I"m just back from an intense hour at the gym where every day I learn better how to do the exercises and my body is adjusting to let me keep up doing then without running out of wind.

Doing the balancing act of preparing the food, the meals, getting work done, scheduling appointments, keeping raccoons out of the house, last two night they are in the house when I come back from town, tonight he came in my bedroom door, then down the stairs, through the house and into the office where I feed the kitties.  So I come in and I see him, I yell at him and I think I might have hurt his feelings, sure hope so.  thats it, I won't leave any door open again, my poor kitties just will have to suffer.

Life is interesting, work is coming in, I'm behind like usual and Moon talks to me often during the day and night, what a lady!

Love to you all

Tim

Sunday, March 19, 2017

My Sunday

I've been enjoying the encouraging comments made to Facebook about the program and how I'm doing, the comments are typical of the support and care one gets from being a part of this great plan.  I actually missed going to exercise this evening even though it is so difficult and I feel so stupid half the time because I'm not able to do the different exercises like they are supposed to be done, my the coaches do them so perfectly and without breaking a sweat, amazing but one has to remember how long they have been doing these routines and how far they have come in the process.

Today was interesting in that Ray next door has been informed by the county that he has to move some of his many cars from the driveway, the guy from the county is being sort of a jerk and a neighbor has complained about the number of cars.  Well Ray said they all start and run and today he proved that, tonight I have a couple parked in my extra wide driveway under new car covers he bought at Walmart, his towed a third one to Sacramento and was very helpful in cleaning everything up.

I was glad to help Ray and Lois out a little bit by letting them park the Volvo and Nissan Van over here for a few days.  Its true Ray has more cars than drivers and each car needs something fixed.  I'm not a person that enjoys the county and city coming onto my property to tell me what I have to do, I dislike that very much.

I walked yesterday and today my three mile circuit around the lake but could not get signed up for exercise classes, the app only lets one sign in for 5 classes a week I've learned.

I've been pretty faithful to the food plan today, making my egg white and spinach breakfast, so good and oatmeal, always good.  The protein drink with berries a little later, then TOFU and sweet potato a little later along with broccoli, later more tofu and 2 cups of romaine hearts, another protein drink and now its bed time.

I've enjoy talking to Moon many times today, she was up early and went to church to worship and pray for family, then lunch with her friends and some shopping guidance to her friends this afternoon, then dinner with friends and now she is home and heading to bed.  What a great woman, just loves to help, laugh, listen and care for people.  I love to talk to her and help her with things she needs to find on the internet.

Sending love to all,

A new week is here, for me it will be cool and a little rainy at times, thats OK.  For Moon is was 88 degrees today, downright hot and she is buying skirts to enjoy the weather!

Good night

Tim

Saturday, March 18, 2017

Wow, sore and feeling it

Dear Friend and Family Member
As I head to bed now I'm so sore from this afternoon's session, I'm doing things that I've only dreamed of doing, of course I'm not doing them very well yet and I perspire a lot, can not catch my breath at times and am by far the slowest to catch on and the last of the bunch when we are outside running.

But I'm down about 6 pounds and I'm making progress, I can make moves that would have been impossible a week ago, I do miss normal food, I have lots of tofu, greens of every kind, protein shakes with strawberries and raspberries, yams.

Dead tired, long day and very thankful for work, for family, for my Moon and for Gods blessings.

Sending love to all,

Tim

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Long day, hard workout tonight

Wow, these are busy difficult days.  But also they have hints of the near future, its easier for me to tie my shoes, to lift things, to walk fast, to carry my ladder at appointments, to drive long miles without falling asleep, God is so good and very near.

Nikki has been super helpful and she is very busy herself.

I'm having trouble with low blood sugar in the afternoons, I mean to the point where I could hardly function this afternoon, the protein shake certainly helped a great deal.

Today I drove to Lodi for a 10 am appointment, then 11:30 to Stockton, the to shoot comp photos for one I saw yesterday, then raced back to get Kallie from school, she came home here to do homework, then I took her home at 4:20 by way of McDonalds, then it was back to Manteca for me, nearly an hour drive to find a house that did not show on any GPS yet, not even in my phone.  Then finish that one and shoot photos of a home in Lathrop I saw yesterday and then home in time to change clothes and go to the gym for an excellent work out.  Already I can do the exercises much better than at first, I can do 20 jumping jacks without stopping though my heart is beating heard by the end, the instructors are so good and helpful, encouraging, everyone is there to do their best and to help those around them, no put downs, no complaining, just do your best for one full hour, then fall into the car and tonight I had to go to Safeway for more groceries I was already running out of.

Now its bed time and I'm so ready to rest, to sleep, to shower and unwind.

Sending love to all, I encourage you to walk, to watch what you eat, to think about the direction of your life, do you like it?  Great, if not consider options.  70% of weight loss is food and 30 is exercise.

God is so good, today, tonight and all the time.

Love to each and everyone of you.

Tim

Sunday, March 12, 2017

First day of the new adventure.............

So today was the beginning.

I walked 3 miles this morning briskly and in shorts, weather was great.

Then back to shower and made the oatmeal, then my first attempt at cooking egg whites and 1 cup of spinach leaves together, actually tasted great.

The rest of the day involved cooking tofu, sweet potato and a lot of greens of different kinds, drinks with protein powder and strawberries and raspberries.  I kept feeling I was eating too much.  In fact I could not eat everything the plan said to, it was just too much.

So far I've lost from 208 to 203.5 today, not bad for the first day of the program.

There are many things I do not understand yet, like how do I get into Facebook to log in, not sure how to do that, Facebook has always been a mystery to me and still is one.

I'm settle down and written many reports today, really had a very successful day without having to go anyplace or break stride.  I did my laundry for the week but that is easy since the laundry room is right next to office where I work.

Yesterday evening I did some yard work, Used the mower and edger to make things look a little better out front.  My mental attitude is improving and I'm more alert and awake.  I find myself thinking about projects that need attention and work is going better.

Its a little more complicated right now as two days during the week I need to be back in town to pick up my precious girls from school and take them various places.  Steve has done this so faithfully for a very long time but now is working full time and is a long ways away during the day.  Its nice to be involved with this precious family, God has blessed me with such marvelous people as my children and their children.  Wow!  Lucky

I've had some contact with Moon today but not too much as her friends from Dallas and Atlanta are in town and she is pretty busy with them.  One of these days she will return to Singapore and those friends will be far behind, then after that she will come here so time with the friends is especially precious.

Tomorrow will present new challenges as I have to prepare foods to take with me for during the day, I'll be out for hours and hours.  But who does not like a great challenge when ones future and life is at stake!

Love to all

tim

Saturday, March 11, 2017

Wow, P2P is an incredible opportunity and challenge

Recently I spent 3 hours getting photographed, purchasing supplements, listening to people who have reclaimed their life losing lots of weight and listening to the head of the organization as she laid out tips to making it all work.

Basically it is a combination of exercise, workouts that rival military workouts, each day working on a different part of the body,  being sore is the result, I mean really sore but the other side of that is I wake up early and fully alert, ready to face the day with less time in bed, already the weight has dropped.

The meals are a combination of protein and different greens, powerful vegetables along with 1 gallon water per day, that is 7.5 bottles of water per day, 6 meals during the day.  Plus we check in every day on Face book, that is once I learn how to go about it,  when I was at the orientation there were over 500 people in the room there for the challenge.

The challenge:  I put up $497 and have 6 weeks to lose 20 pounds.  If I lose it then I get the money back as long as I've exercised 30 times and checked in to Facebook on a regular basis.  In other words there are strict rules because the leaders know what works and what does not.  they don't ask us to change our ways for ever but they do ask that we do it their way for 6 weeks.

I'm scared and jazzed at the same time.  The level of helpfulness by the trainers is amazing, everyone in the room tries to the best of their ability to do the exercises but they know someone like me just coming in can't do things at the same level as people like Nikki who have been there for over a year.

I ask for your prayers, I'm doing this for many reasons, first is to be healthy and strong for my family, a family that includes 8 people and Moon my dear friend.  I want to feel alive again and get to my ideal weight, 165 and size 32.  Three years ago I lost 50 pounds by myself so I know I can lose the weight but I never exercised beyond walking 3 miles each day, this time I'm going to take advantage of my rebuilt heart and get fit as well.  So far my heart is totally at ease with what I'm doing, it was beating at a rate of 51 this morning when I woke, that is pretty amazing.

So I'm sending love to all and a special thanks to Nikki who has inspired me, is helping me get used to what I'm doing and helped pave the way for my entry into the program.

Sending love to all,

Tim

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

It begins

So today was busy and productive

Up early, research and see a local place at 10, then Target to buy a new microwave oven, mine died yesterday, sort of scary, when the time finished on some eggs it kept cooking, the turnstyle failed to turn but it kept cooking, to get it stopped I had to unplug it, so my $45 purchase years ago finally failed.

I found a new one on sale with more power, great looking stainless steel and $10 off price.  Nice, only problem was, it was really heavy but I got it into the kitchen and tonight its in place and the old one is on its way to the trash.

Then it was pick up Kallie at 2:37 from school, steve is working these days away, then McDonalds, then pick up Keanna, then to the ballet class for Kallie and later to the running club for Keanna, then pick up Kallie, find more food for her and then pick up Keanna and find food for her, it was fun and now I'm home ready to crash and sleep.

At 8 tonight I did the first 1 hour work out at the P 2 P gym and they were so nice but there is so much to learn, I'm sore now and I can only imagine the morning, I'll go back tomorrow night for more workouts and on Thursday evening I'll do the official weight in, then it gets serious.  I have 60 days to lose 20 pounds, Moon is concerned hoping I can do this and encouraging me to do my best.  I believe I can do this and then lose another 20 pounds to reach my goal.  I'm hoping this will change my life for the better.

Love to all tonight,

tim

Monday, March 6, 2017

Work picks up

Good evening
Today has been mostly a write up day and tonight several reports are delivered to their destination and I'm heading to bed.

Just talked to Moon and she has talked to her mom and is now talking again to Crystal, her daughter in Singapore and then will sleep.  Its been raining big time in Houston today so she has pretty much stayed in and out of the weather.

Tomorrow is a day to go out and see properties for me and I'm so thankful for the new orders coming in, what a huge blessing to have work, a family, a girl friend and enough to eat, a warm place to sleep and tonight its cold outside, maybe snow again on the nearby Mountains.

Sending love to all,

Tim

Sunday, March 5, 2017

Dinner with Keanna and Kallie

Dear Family and Friends,
Off to bed soon, dead tired, was up to 1 am finishing a big one for the town of Clayton, highest sale in last year by far, now we see if the lenders will buy my arguments.

Had dinner with Kallie and Keanna tonight at BJ's, that place is so loud, quiet conversation is not possible but thats the draw of the place I guess, that and 15 TVs mounted up high everywhere.  We enjoy our time.

Steve just completed installing a new Kenwood sound system in the bug, wow is it nice.  Takes phone calls, plays CDs, you can plug anything into it, has XM and of course looks really cool, you can change its colors that light up even.  Amazing, Steve had to take apart the dash to install it but he knows his stuff and did a super job.  Wow.

I'm off to bed now, up early to work again.

Love life, love Moon, love family and God is so good, soon I start P2P, the program that will change my life and my profile, I know I'll be sore, miss all my bad foods but I'll be 150 again after about 30 years.

Love

tim

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Thankful after a long day

Dear Family and Friends,
So it felt so good to back into the garage tonight after a long day on the road.

My work took me to Sebastopol today, a little town on the way to the Pacific Ocean.  I inspected a little semi farm with chickens, dogs, kids, a lawyer husband and a British implant as the wife.  Delightful people, they bought the place in rough condition and have done just about everything to it, its very nice now and it was hard to pull myself away and get back in the car and to work again, it was a sunny day, they had huge trees on their 1/2 acre and one could tell there was a lot of love and discipline there.

Once I left the area I had to travel back to Clayton which is near Concord and Walnut Creek.  I have the honor of appraising the highest sale in the entire town for the last two years, with views of everything, distant water, green hills, distant downtown Walnut Creek, perfect pool and spa, interior had the most amazing deep pile white carpet, updated kitchen, I mean the place was nice,  Priced at over 1.2 million it is now a sale and I'm supposed to locate its true value.  Highest sale is just down the street at a little over a million, not 1.2 million.  Nothing like a challenge and they want it back by Friday!  Yikes.

So I drove about 250 miles today and was so very thankful upon reaching home, I just think back on all the different driving situations where cars could have hit me or I hit them.

Now I"m tired and very soon I'll be asleep, no reason to stay up tonight other than bad habits.

How was your day?  Was it a blessing?  Today I talked to Moon a few days but this was not a good day for her at all, we all have those kinds of days and with her situation so uncertain with immigration it really wears on her.  She does not know what to expect next and her family in Singapore do not understand why she does not just get a ticket and fly home, its not that simple at all, there are things to pack, shipping to take care of, takes 2 to 3 months for her boxes to travel to Singapore from Houston by sea.  I really feel for her and I pray for her often during the day.

Sending love to all,

Tim