The Coumadin files

My Hubby has a second chance at life.  On December 9th, 2014 my husband was admitted to the hospital for a blood clot in his leg (DVT) and part of it had broke off and hit his lung (PE) causing him to have shortness of breath.  He had suspected a blood clot in his leg for 5 days prior to the hospital visit.  He had a DVT about 13 years ago, so now he is on coumadin for life.  If we had insurance, my hubs would just now be released from the hospital.  But since we didn't, he was released on the 12th, with a box full of blood thinners that I had to inject him with twice a day.

At this point, most people question why this happened.. but not us.  I had been trying to get my husband to take his health seriously for some time.  He was a pack a day smoker.  He didn't exercise.  He ate well at home, but at work he was a soda drinking, fast food eating freak of nature.  He was chronically dehydrated and wouldn't listen to a word I said.  Talk about stubborn...

My husband didn't just develop these habits overnight.  His mother has a large cocktail of ailments and is the perfect example of how not to live your life.  We lost his father a year ago to lung cancer.  Both parents smoked, lacked exercise, and didn't eat well or drink plenty of water.  This is why it's so important to be a good example to your children.  At 40 years old, my husband has to undo all the bad habits and basically undergo deprogramming so he can learn to live a healthy life.

I am very proud of my husband for listening to his Doctor.  He is now over a week smoke free.  I'm settling in to our routine of tracking what he eats and monitoring his meds and blood count.  His spirits are up, and he seems to really be taking his second chance seriously.  We have to learn how different foods affect him, and become very consistent with how he eats.

Even though this was a very unexpected road in our life journey, I am very happy to be able to keep traveling along with him.  My husband can resume his work life today, and I admit that I'm not too happy about letting him leave my watchful eyes.  I will be a wreck today, but I'm sure that all will go well.

I will keep posting the 'coumadin files' so we can openly track our progress.  If you or someone you know is on coumadin, We'd love to hear from you!

Vaping for beginners

I've been a proud vaper since March 1, 2014.  My enthusiasm for vaping is contagious, and I'm eager to show and tell my vaping experience.  Even though I've been vaping for 9 months now (and haven't touched a lightable since then..) I'm still no expert.  I'm not even sure if I'm an intermediate yet.  What I do know, is that I love vaping.  I have successfully converted a few smokers to the vape side.  I feel it's my duty as a reformed smoker to convert as many people as I can to vaping.

For those smokers out there that are ready to try vaping, I have some beginners advice that you may find useful.  I have found that most people will switch entirely to vaping in a short period of time if they just stick with it.  There is no withdrawal when you switch to vaping!  This is why people are switching to vaping so easily.

Most people find that buying a vaporizer pen kit is the quickest way to start.  My first purchase was an Ego kit that included two smaller batteries, two atomizers (the top part that holds the liquid) a charger and carrying case.  I admit that I was really excited that it came with a carrying case to keep it all in one place.. But I quickly dismissed the case because I ALWAYS had the vape out and ready for use.  It only took a week for me to need to move into a large cosmetics type case to hold all my supplies.  (I had what is called in the vaping community, 'shiny syndrome'.. I bought lots of flavors and new equipment almost daily.)

The kit was awesome, because it has everything you need to get started, except for the juices.  I quit cigarettes the same day I purchased my kit, and never looked back.  The case is especially useful for people that are 'weaning' off lightables over the course of a week or more.  You just grab your case, just like you would your smokes and lighter.

A Vape store opened up down the road from where I live shortly after I began my vaping adventure.  I highly recommend buying your equipment and flavors from a Vape store.  First, they show you how to use it, clean it, and care for it.  You are more likely to stick with it if you know those things.  Second, if you have any issues with your equipment, just stop in and they will help you figure it out.  Third, you won't have 20 bottles of flavors that you don't like.  You get to try the flavors before you buy!

If you are a smoker and you are ready to change your life for the better, GO GET YOUR VAPE ON!  You won't stink like an ashtray anymore, and you will reap all the rewards of quitting smoking, without the withdrawal.  This is seriously the easiest way to quit smoking.  What are you waiting for?

Momentum is my friend

Even the best laid plans are interrupted by life.  It's been a crazy week, yet I still managed to get my workouts done!  I had to do some rearranging, but I managed.  It's important to keep your goals on the front burner..  Even when life decides to pile a whole bunch of stuff on you.

My daily workouts are becoming part of my routine.  I feel stronger, but more importantly, I feel no pain.  I'm starting to get that invincible thought process that I used to have when I was younger.  It's quite empowering..  I just need to keep myself in check.  I don't want to damage my cape, or tiara;).

Getting in shape has made me come to realize a few things.  We don't set out to stop taking care of our bodies.  Life carries us along, and somewhere down the line we just forget to do things.  Pretty soon we have a set way of life that doesn't exactly include a whole lot of healthy.  So why do you expect to become healthy or back in shape over night?  Don't stress yourself out!

Simplify your goals.  Challenge yourself to make changes, but you don't have to give up everything all at once!  It's much easier to cut out one bad thing at a time.  If you can revamp your whole lifestyle at once, I give you mad props..  But most of us need to build momentum.  It took me an entire year of goal setting to get to this point.  I didn't give up on myself, and neither should you!

If you haven't committed to a healthier you yet, please message me.  I will help you set goals, and I'll cheer you on to reaching them.  Please don't put your health on the back burner any longer.  You are only a few challenges away from being healthy.  You can do anything you set your mind to! -Nicki

Set your goals!

I would like to take a moment to talk about goals.  Setting goals can help you achieve success in every part of your life.  I recommend setting short term goals that you can work toward and hit right away to give you a taste of success.  The momentum of achievement will help you work towards your  bigger goals!

Write down your goals.  I write mine on a notebook that I leave open on the kitchen table.  I refer to my goal notes several times a day.  Once you have your goals spelled out on paper, write out the steps needed to attain your goals.  Let's say your goal is to get healthy..  This weeks goal steps might include things like; take a brisk walk 3 times this week, start and complete the 30 day squat challenge, replace 3 meals this week with fruits, nuts and veggies.  You can break it down into smaller steps, or go as far as scheduling your entire day.

Don't just write down your goals and forget about them.  Read them several times a day and perform at least one action that will bring you closer to your goal.  You can add new goals every week.  The longer you take the little steps, the more chance they have to become a habit.

Create a vision board.  My goal list is slowly morphing into a vision board now.  I have short and long term goals spelled out for practically every area of my life.  If you don't have room on a wall to create your vision board, I recommend using pinterest..  I have a pinterest board for everything, and growing by the week.  Don't just add stuff.. Look at the things you add and take steps to make it your own!

Every morning, set a small goal that you can achieve that day.  Use the confidence that reaching a goal brings to set bigger goals for yourself.  Tell yourself that you can do it!  Remove the negative thoughts and empower yourself to success!  Every single day you are only one small step away from success.  Grab it and OWN IT! -Nicki

Positivity.. It's a contagion, and I'm a carrier.

There's a lot to be said for staying positive.  If you think you can do it, you will do it.  If you think you can't, you won't.  I've always been an optimist.  I've actually had people tell me that if I keep thinking that way, eventually I will be let down.  But I'd much rather think everything will go my way than to be a negative nancy.

Negative people are a real drag.  I will try to bring them to the positive side, but I'm not ashamed to say that I've eliminated negative people from my life.  I'm also quite proud to say that I've helped someone very close to me become a positive influence in her own life.  Positivity brings an unwavering happiness.  I'd much rather be happy than wallow in self pity.

If you doubt yourself regularly, you are undermining your own success.  Be the positive force that you need in your life.  Cheer yourself on!  Surround yourself with other positive people.  Your thoughts and actions are a vicious contagion.  So use caution when you unleash them!  Think about your thoughts and actions.  Do you want to be the kind of person that brings a smile to someone's face?  Or do you want people to go out of their way to avoid hearing how much you hate your life?

If you say you hate your life, you really hate yourself.  You will only attract others that wallow in self loathing.  That's a miserable way to live.  You are the only person in the world that can make you love your life!  The change you crave is inside you.  Changing your way of seeing life is in your grasp.  All you have to do is stop the negative words in your head from coming out of your mouth.  Believe that you have the power to be happy.  Take tiny steps to make yourself happy.  Don't just kiss the negative you goodbye... Kick her sorry ass to the curb.

Start every morning believing that it will be a beautiful day!  Write down a strategy for happiness.  Think about what you really want out of life.  Be your own personal happiness architect!  If you stumble and fall, brush it off.  If you fail, reevaluate and try again.  Don't stop until you reach your version of happy.  Then patent that happy and send it out into the world.  Don't be afraid of success.  Go after it with everything you have.  -Nicki

My Grams survived leukemia.. Using only carrot juice

My Grams is a 30 year survivor of leukemia.  Out of pure stubbornness, she said to hell with medical treatment.  Luckily, she had met a woman at her Dr. Appt that told her what to do.  My Grams embarked on a carrot juice therapy that was unheard of at the time.  Back in the 80s, we couldn't just hop on the internet and find all the information we cared to consume.  No, we had to talk to people, read books, and sometimes, we had to just take a giant leap of faith.

Listening to Grams talk about conventional medicine vs. natural cures was so scary back then.  I didn't want her to die!  She reassured me that she was getting the best possible treatment in the world.  I was just a kid.. How was a carrot supposed to cure leukemia?  Were these special carrots?  And what the hell was leukemia anyway?  Seriously, I hadn't even heard of it before..

Ah, but these were indeed special carrots.  They were organically grown with no chemicals, no pesticides.  It was like injecting your veins with nanotechnology that sought out and killed leukemia.  My mom helped her juice 5 pounds of these magic carrots every day.  It became a religion in Grams home.. I now worshipped the magic carrot.  A month and a half into her carrot therapy, she had a Dr. Appointment to check her blood counts.  Of course the Doc had been pushing conventional medicine, but after this check up, he told her to keep doing whatever she was doing, as her blood count had improved by 50%.

Over the course of the next few months, we saw all of Grams symptoms just disappear, like she had never even been diagnosed with the L word.  Every day that she juiced her carrots she grew stronger. For 6 long months, we worshiped at the juicer.  Most people have a difficult time making a once a day commitment to juicing, but she did it all throughout the day.  Grams is 83 now, and just as feisty as ever.  Her choice to use nature as a cure was the best decision she ever made.

Instead of taking pills, doing chemo or radiation, or both.. Where you break your body down in a race to kill either the disease or you... She chose to heal and get stronger.  It seems like a simple choice doesn't it?  It is for me.  That's why I juice now while I'm still strong and healthy.  Why wait until you're sick and broken down to start to heal yourself?  What if you 'let thy food be thy medicine, and thy medicine be thy food'?  What if eating healthy actually prevented disease?  What's that?  Eating healthy DOES prevent disease?!

We have known for a very long time that eating right and exercising can catapult you to a healthy long life.  So why, OH WHY!  Do we eat so much junk?  Why put toxic, chemical laden foods into our bodies when we can put healthy, healing foods in them?  Why crack open a soda that poisons you when your body is screaming and begging you for water?  Let's stop just blindly putting things into our bodies.  Instead, let's all make conscious, informed decisions about what we eat and drink.  If we just start.. If we just begin to use knowledge, what a difference we can make in our own health.  In our families health!

I know that many of you find that making healthy changes can be overwhelming.  In fact, I was overwhelmed not too long ago.  The secret to getting healthy is to stop thinking about it, and just do it.  Even if it's just one tiny change or tweak in your life.  Just take that first step.  Just jump, and hit the ground running.  And never beat yourself up if you fall off the wagon.  Dust yourself off and jump back on!  You can do this!  And I'm here to help you! -Nicki

How I love you, my dear sweet sugar.. But it's time I cut you out of my diet.

I have spent the entire day (thus far) investigating sugar.  I have been slowly cutting out all processed sugar for a little over a week.  It hasn't been too hard yet, simply because I'm replacing junk sugar with a healthy alternative.  I'm consuming a ton of bananas and other fruit in sugars place.  I'm also allowing myself real maple syrup and honey in limited amounts.  I have never cared for artificial sweeteners, and will NOT introduce them into my diet.

When you put processed sugar and it's side effects against artificial sweeteners and theirs, you begin to see there's not much difference.  They are all bad choices to make in consumption.  So why not just start cutting out the junk and replacing it with fruit and other healthy choices?  Why do people think it's so difficult to cut out sweets?  You can still have your sweet tooth satiated simply by choosing wisely.

Bananas are my saving grace right now.  From peanut butter banana pancakes, to plain bananas..  I'm eating them every day.  I haven't craved junk sugar yet.  I'm still giving my body it's sugar craving, but I'm not spiking or crashing, which is a huge improvement.  Not too mention that if I had any junk sugar at all during the day, I couldn't sleep well at all.  I'm sleeping much better now!

I've noticed my craving for sugar is becoming less.  I still do not drink my sugar.. Even when I have a cup of green tea.  I just drink it plain.  I've always had this thought in my head that drinking my sugar is worse than eating it.  (Probably because I was told to cut out sugar in my drinks so long ago)   I do what I consider to be 'clean drinking'.   Plain coffee with just a bit of milk in the morning, after I've had about 16-24 ounces of water.  I drink water all day, even if I'm not thirsty.  I drink one glass of wine per week, even though I really want one a day.. But the wine wasn't agreeing with me in a favorable manor, so I cut it out.  I will also drink an occasional cup of hot green tea during cold months and cold green tea during warm months.  Always with nothing added.

I had mostly cut out pre packaged junk food for the past few years.  I think I've had maybe one candy bar in the past year, which is really good for me.  But, I was still eating my own home baked goodies.  On occasion, I will still have a couple cookies, or slice of cake.  I've only justified this by cutting back on the amount of sugar in the recipe.  I was still experiencing some sugar related side effects.. I was chronically thirsty, and having a hard time getting a full nights rest.  This brings me to the here and now.

Gone are the cookies and cake.  I replaced any sweets I used to eat with fruit themed desserts and snacks.  I try not to eat anything but organic fresh fruit, sometimes embellished with peanut butter and nuts, or coconut and raisins.  For that hard to beat sweets craving, I include a small hand full of semi sweet chocolate chips.  It's been a full week this way now, and I think I'm gonna make it!  I'm
planning a 'cut the sugar' challenge to get more friends and family on board!

Eating for your health is so much easier than people imagine!  Taking one tiny step and making it a habit seems to just snowball into the desire to be healthier in other aspects too!  If we were to all work together in educating ourselves about healthier choices, eventually, we wouldn't be sick.  We'd all have tons of energy.  And we'd all have an abundance of happiness.  Won't you join me on the road to health?  -Nicki

Day 7, I see the light..

It's day 7 of my challenge and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  After a few years of chronic back and neck pain, I'm pain free and feeling fit and strong.  Once my 30 day challenge is over, I will pick a new challenge and keep it going month after month.  I'm never going back to the painful life again!  I hope to inspire YOU to challenge yourself into a healthy life too!

I have a very busy day today and hope to get a lot accomplished.  I've started keeping a notebook where I write down everything that needs to get done so I can be more organized.  I'm often like that squirrel from the movie 'Ice Age', that is so consumed by chasing the nut, he causes himself all sorts of problems.  I'm scatter brained..

 I start a project or a chore and am very easily distracted by shiny things.  Everyone has done it at least once in life.  You start doing dishes, but the dryer buzzer sounds and you run to hang the clothes before they wrinkle.. The dishes are still sitting there and the laundry that can be folded get tossed aside while you go looking for more dirty clothes to start the next load.  While hunting down a full load of towels, I see the bathroom mirrors and counter need wiped down, so I do that, only to hear the dogs fighting in the other room.  I run to break them up, leaving several jobs half finished.  Then I see that the carpet is messy from the dogs dragging in leaves, so I get the rainbow out.. And it goes on like this all day.

So yeah.. I need to get more organized.  What I really need is an app on my ipad that allows me to organize my entire week.  If you know of one, please save me!  I'm always doing something for the kids who drop in at different times of the day, and helping hubby with home projects, while doing projects of my own.  I'm up and going at life hard from 6am to 10 pm.. A little organization would go a very long way.

What do you do to keep your day flowing?  I'm open to suggestions!  -Nicki

Day 6 and the pain of laughter

Ah Monday..  Most people hate you, but I love Mondays.  Mostly because my hubby has Tuesday off.  Monday starts the week anew and gives me time to clean, organize, and plan our day off activities.  We had friends over on Sunday (hubby's other day off) and I laughed so much my face and tummy hurt.  We shot a lot of pool yesterday, took turns picking songs and ate chili till we were stuffed.  It was a much needed fun day off!  Mike and I tend to spend all our free time working on the addition and other home related improvement projects.. So taking a real day off is rare, much needed for sanity, and totally appreciated.

A shout out to Cuban Pete and Stace for coming over and spending the day with us!  For those that don't know Cuban Pete, he is a world class air guitarist with an 80s hair bands showmanship flair.  We actually stop what we are doing to watch the live performance.  (Pool cues make excellent mic stands). Thanks for the awesome entertainment guys!

My Monday brings a little amplification to my daily workout.  I'm increasing the reps in my sets, and staying the course with the 30 day squat challenge.  I am up to 2 pounds of carrots today in my morning juice.  Totally awesome side effect from juicing carrots.. I have a slight tan appearance in my skin!  It's only been one week into daily juicing, and I'm getting a bonus in my complexion.  I just may be a juicer for life!

Props to my Cousins Kristen and Kelli for recently sharing on the lifestyles page.  The two of you are inspirations to others!  I'm proud to have such beautiful, strong willed women in my family!  I look forward to watching you both grow in your quest for healthier lifestyles.  I would like to encourage others to share your story on the lifestyles page.  No matter what your battle is, we support your choice to get healthy and want to see you succeed!

Aside from my normal daily schedule, I get to spend time with both of my daughters today!  My youngest daughter has the day off, so I will get some much needed girl time with her.  She works a lot now, and stays at her boyfriends house most of the time.. So it seems like ages between seeing her when I used to have time with her every day.  In the afternoon, I'm going to my daughter Alyssa's home to help install new laminate flooring.  Since she works full time, is married, and has her own home.. It seems like ages between visits.  She does a great job of calling or dropping by, but I so miss the days of having her home with me!

Laughter is the ultimate drug.. I spent most of my Sunday in fits of laughter.. And yelling over very loud music.  I'm so sore!  But.. I'm totally energized today.  Sometimes laughter can cure all that ails you, even when you didn't know you had an ailment:).  Laugh daily friends! - Nicki

Day 5 and my secret fountain of youth

Good morning!  Day 5 brings me a glorious pain free morning.  Today I will be adding some yoga to my routine, just because I wanna!  I'm well on my way now to the healthiest me I've ever been.  It's no secret that I'm a water-holic.  But I wanted to share a bit of my water addiction journey so you can understand its important role in my life.

If you've visited the lifestyles page today, you'll notice that I've posted some water facts.  I did this for two reasons.  First, my beautiful little cousin Kelli is trying to control her soda addiction.. For those of you that are, or have been soda junkies, you know how hard it can be to even THINK about giving it up.  So I want to reinforce her efforts by reminding her the good she's doing to her body when she drinks water instead.  And second, water consumption is my secret weapon in life.  Please allow me to explain..

I gave up soda just shy of my 18th birthday.  I was about ten pounds heavier back then.  I realize that may not seem like a lot, but I was beginning to exhibit signs of type 2 diabetes.  Mostly from my Reese's and soda addiction.  I loved the sugar high that I discovered my sophomore year in high school when vending machines arrived in our lunch room.  I remember the first sugar high I ever experienced..

I bought a can of coke, and 2 packs of Reese's cups.  I scarfed them down, relishing every second the delicious chocolate and peanut butter combination rolled across my tongue.  Sugar had always been limited in my home growing up.  Mom is an excellent baker and made us cakes and cookies on occasion.  But as you know, there is far less sugar and no preservatives in home baked goods.  This new freedom to gorge myself on sugar was nothing short of a religious experience.  By the end of the lunch period, my heart was racing, my face was flushed, and I wanted to scale the building and stick a flag in the roof claiming victory for Nictopia.

I felt invincible.  It's no wonder the experts say that sugar is more addictive than coke and heroin.  I had drivers ed my first class after lunch.  Thank god it was a classroom day and no driving was involved.  I had fantasies all through class of jumping in to the general lee and jumping ramps, driving on two wheels, and speeding through turns with my hair blowing in the wind.  I eagerly
answered questions and practically took the entire discussion over.  It was so obnoxious that our teacher called me to the podium and had me teach right from his book.

I was having a blast.  A one woman party in my head.  And then the crash happened.  I was walking to my next class, Art, which was my favorite.  I was sick to my stomach and felt like any corner on the floor would be a divine place to lay down and sleep.  I had been working on a clay bust of Prince. (Back then, Prince and the Revolution were the shit. Period.).  About halfway through the class I was fast asleep, hugging poor Princes now seriously deformed head.  Thank god we didn't have cell phones back then.

I kept on with my sugar high/crash until my senior year.  I had gone to the Doctor because I had this lovely, painful thing called a urinary tract infection.  This is when my Doctor gave me the best talking to ever.  I wasn't completely honest about my sugar addiction.. But I did tell the truth about how many sodas I was consuming.  Drinking sugar caused my UTI.. Because my body needed water to flush the sugar out.   Mostly because I never wanted to feel that pain again, I listened to the Doc, and gave up soda, and all sugary drinks that very day.

I began drinking loads of water.  I traded the soda for 2 cups of plain coffee with a splash of milk, a habit I retain to this day..  Which brings me to why water is my secret fountain of youth.  In my almost 43 years of walking this planet, I've learned a few things.  Despite many other unhealthy habits in my life, I firmly believe that water is why I look no worse for the wear.  It is the easiest, cheapest, and safest beauty/ health treatment you can do for your skin and overall health.

Your body is mostly water.  Your bodies cells are almost completely all water.  Your bodies cells do everything for your body, from flushing out the toxins, to repairing daily damage.  If you are one of the 75% of Americans that are chronically dehydrated (yes, 75% of you are in desperate need of water) and the odds are good that you are one of them..  You need to start drinking more water and start eliminating any drinks that are NOT water.  This is the easiest thing you can do for your health!

When you stay on top of your bodies hydration needs, you plump your skin and it becomes youthful and Dewey.  You flush toxins from your body like a pro, eliminate depression and fatigue, and have the energy of a rock star.  There is a ton of research that shows that you can help defend against disease by simply remaining properly hydrated.  Aren't those all good reasons to drink the water?  Yes they are!  On top of that, staying hydrated helps you maintain a healthy body weight!  Omg, you mean that water is the ultimate diet plan?  Yep..

You don't have to take my word for it.  You can google tons of information and studies that will show you what I'm talking about.  Don't delay.  If you act now, you can successfully turn back the hands of time!  But wait!  There's more!  Just developing a healthy water habit will catapult you into taking charge of other aspects of your health!  Act now!  For the low low price of walking to your kitchen sink, you can become healthier today!  Xoxo.   -Nicki

Day 4

Good morning beautiful people!  Today is a rest day on the squat challenge, but I'm hitting the core harder today.  I'm feeling a ton of relief in my back and neck thanks to exercising.  I did wake up this morning with a slight throb in my neck, but it went away once I was up and about.  I hit my head again yesterday, which is probably why I had a bit of pain.  Yes.. I hit my head again.  On the exact same thing I concussed myself on a few weeks ago.

In the addition, we have an unfinished wall where hubby ran out of drywall.  Instead of walking into the closet to get things, I just bend down and grab them through the space still lacking drywall.  I've hit my head several times, concussed once, and despite reminding myself prior to bending down, I continue to put myself in melon damaging situations.  I don't know why.. Perhaps I enjoy walking gracefully around the house balancing a bag of frozen broccoli on my head.  I'm starting a new challenge today.. Try not to hit my head for 30 days.  Wish me luck.

I have been enjoying my carrot juice, and plan to add a pre lunch juice to my day as well.  I'm feeling confident in my new daily habits, and hope to make them second nature by sticking to them.  I'm doing okay with the whole 'giving up sugar' thing..  But that's only because I'm eating 4 bananas a day.  I have a sweet tooth, to say the least.. But I don't drink my sugar.  I have 2 small cups of coffee every morning with just a dash of milk.  No flavors, no sugars.  Then I drink water all day long as if my very existence depends on it.  The only sugar I get is in what I eat.  And I'm becoming much pickier about that too.

Changing my eating habits hasn't been too difficult to date.  But this sugar thing sucks.  How I miss my double fudge brownies..  I could eat half the pan before anyone even knew I'd made them..  Ah, now they feel like a distant memory.  I'll go eat my bananas now.  -Nicki

Day 3

Good afternoon from a headache free Me!  I had planned to avoid working my gelatinous upper core yesterday, but around 5pm my shoulders and neck started hurting.  I did a few sets of slow motion push-ups and was able to go to bed fairly pain free.  I am up and at 'em this morning with barely a slight dull pain at the base of my neck.  Very tolerable considering what I usually wake up feeling.  My muscles are not as sore today, so I will be hitting a full spectrum core workout, as well as the squat challenge.

I juiced a pound and a half of carrots today, ate my fruit, and grossed Hailey out by consuming sardines as part of my lunch.  I enjoyed that a little.  Tonight is Mexican night in our house, and I don't really restrict my dinner, so it's fiesta time baby!

If you haven't already started making healthy changes, I encourage you to just take a baby step in the right direction.  You know I'll cheer you on! :).  -Nicki

Behold! The blonde, the carrot, and the grocer.

When I started blogging, (not very long ago) I originally wanted to talk current events and debate.  I'm addicted to reading, and absolutely am a comment section junkie.  Some articles that I read are just so I can see what others have to say about it.  It made sense to me at the time to blog and discuss.. But my blog just sat here, lifeless and alone.  Then I quit smoking with the use of vapes, and I made a commitment to my grams to write her life story.  I spend every Friday with my mom and grams, going over her notes and journals that she's been keeping since she was a teenager.  At 83, my Grams doesn't recall things like she used to.  She encouraged me to start a journal of my own life and that's when this blog sprang to life.

I've made a commitment to myself to write every single day.  So far.. So good.  Posting all the steps I'm taking to improve myself may be of benefit to others, but mostly it keeps me focused and in check.  I encourage everyone to start a blog page, even if you don't want anyone to see it.  You can post private or public.. You have full control of who sees it!  Please don't be afraid.  Just jump in!  You can gain perspective and insight by blogging, and you may even help someone else in the process.  Blogging can help you get more organized, and keep you moving in the right direction.  If you are clueless about blogging, please just ask!  I'm no pro, but I can help you get started!

I recently started juicing carrots every morning.  Although I have made mention of this a few times, there is a lot that I don't mention too.  There are days that I wish there was a camera rolling on me.  I imagine that my blonde moments would be of great entertainment value to others besides myself.  I'm about to go do my morning juice, and I found myself laughing at something I did yesterday.  Roll camera...

I put the juicer together and started washing my carrots.  Never peel them!  Just give them a good scrubbing.  I placed the first carrot in the Shute and crammed it into the juicer.  Enter blonde moment..  I forgot to place the container for collecting the now flowing juice.. So carrot blood ran all over the counter top.  Without even thinking, I grabbed a straw and drank the juice from the counter.  Waste not, want not.. Don'tcha know.  After getting all the juice I could by straw, I grabbed a large mug to satisfy the juicing volcano.  Situation averted, and I continued juicing my carrots.

Upon finishing my pound of juiced carrots, I went about my day.  Now, there's something you should know about juicing carrots that nobody seems to talk about.  If you do not exercise care while drinking your juice, you may find you have a slight orange carrot mustache.  And sometimes, you may find that you ran to the local grocer to grab your organic bananas without checking yourself in the mirror.  And sometimes... You find out when you get home that you spoke to the meat cutter and produce manager while wearing a lovely orange juice-stache.  So, lesson learned.  Drink your juice carefully, or proudly sport a juice-stache.  Your choice:).   - Nicki

Day 2

Good morning from a very sore Nicki!  I'm proud to say that I did the squat challenge, and 30 minutes of core exercises.  Aside from sore muscles that are completely tolerable, I'm happy to announce that just one day of core work brought relief to my neck and lower back!  If you suffer from back pain, or have a back that occasionally 'goes out', you should try this too!  Last night I went to bed without a dull headache, The first time in weeks.. I woke up headache free for the first time in nearly 2 months!

Since my lower back is not sore, I'm going to focus today's workout on lower core and legs.  My arms and chest are feeling like a sore jello like substance, so I will rest them until tomorrow.  Well, I say that, but if pain begins to creep in, I will do my push-ups to head it off.  I can't tell you how amazing it feels to be mostly pain free after living with pain for so long.  I posted the workouts that I did yesterday on the lifestyles page.  I would love to have you join me!  The exercises benefit everyone, even if you aren't in pain!

Becoming a healthier You takes a commitment.  You have to do something every single day for 28 days to make it a habit.  I'd love to see you commit to even just one thing, right now, and we will log our progress together!  If you want to change your current health situation, jumping in to everything all at once can be a daunting task.  I urge you to pick one thing per week, and let the momentum of success fuel you into a healthy lifestyle!  You could start with just push ups every day, or the squat challenge, or eating more fruits and veggies, or giving up your lightables and starting to vape.  Whatever you choose, I will be behind you, cheering you on!

Today's agenda includes my 5 mile walk, lower core, and the squat challenge.  I will juice my morning carrots, and an hour later I will eat my all fruit breakfast.  For lunch, I usually eat an ogres sized salad, loaded with veggies, nuts and seeds, then I make a normal dinner to eat with my family.  Last night I made my spaghetti, but substituted spaghetti squash for pasta.  Mike was not impressed with the spaghetti squash.. But I inhaled it.  He eats his veggie tray without complaint, so I guess I won't push to hard on that front:)

I've been walking for years.. Cardio has always been my friend.  Although it's great for your body, I neglected the muscles that keep you upright!  Now I'm determined to nurture every aspect of my health.  Switching to the vape this march was a huge win for me.  I'm vaping less, and my nicotine addiction is way down!  I'm now more addicted to the act of vaping than the nicotine.. That's a huge step in giving up the nicotine, as I plan to be nic free by the first of the year.  I have enjoyed all the benefits of quitting smoking since I became a vaper.  I'm healthy, I'm fit, and I'm making more healthy strides each day.  Won't you join me!?  - Nicki

Today is day 1

Today I am committing to a personal challenge.  I will be dedicated to improve my back over the next 30 days with the use of exercise.  I will post frequently on the steps I take daily to improve my health.

  My husband and I had a jetski accident about 3 years ago that has left us both suffering occasional back problems.  Mine has been so bad lately that I have suffered headaches on the daily.  Not fun peeps.. Not fun at all.  So I'm rising up to the challenge to take care of my body so that it will properly take care of me.

I do a ton of cardio already, so..  Aside from my normal daily routine, (I rock out all day.. Breaking into full rock star performances for the entertainment of my dogs several times a day;) I'm adding the 30 day squat challenge, and a full 30 minutes dedicated to core exercises.  Meanwhile, I will be looking for dessert ideas that won't make me spike and fall, and new raw ideas (and healthier recipes in general) so I don't get bored with my food.  I need help with ideas please!

If you have been looking for a little incentive to start exercising regularly, please join me!  If you are taking healthy steps of your own, please share!   -Nicki

Vapers and the big picture..

It's no secret that I'm a proud vaper.  I recently joined the Vapers Den, a forum and huge vaping support group.  If you vape, or are thinking about vaping, I highly recommend that you check them out!  They have all types of Vapers, from the 'thinking about vaping', to the 'masters of the vaporverse'.  They don't scold you if you fall off the wagon!  They are eager to help with tips, tricks, and excellent advice!

I introduced myself just yesterday on their newbie board.  They are excellent at welcoming new members, and encourage questions.  My advice would be to sign up as a member and jump right in.  My favorite thread this far into my membership, is an older post from a vaping pro whose wife was struggling to give up lightables.  The outpouring of support was incredible!  Oh! And I evidently coined a new term for analog smokes when I called them lightables.. That was pretty cool;)

If you, or someone you know is still smoking analogs, encourage them to join.  They have made all the smoking mistakes, so you don't have to!  They have entire threads on what to buy, and what you shouldn't waste your money on.  If you aren't ready for a forum yet, I made a group called Lifestyles for health on my Facebook.  Feel free to send any smokers you know to the group.  I try to post loads of information on the health benefits.. So check it out.  See you in the clouds!

30 years is a long ass time

This coming February will mark 30 years of smoking for me.  I was 13 years old when I smoked my first cigarette.  It was on valentines day.. After a school dance.  In these almost 30 years of smoking, I have quit several times.. Only to pick the habit back up again.  I quit smoking while I was pregnant with my kids.  Started right up again.  I quit smoking about 8 years ago with a prescription from my Doc, but didn't like that I couldn't sleep while taking that poison pill.  Not to mention the brain fog it gave me, or the lack of feeling anything, screw that.  Then there was the patch in February of this year (2014) which made me understand what anxiety feels like.. To hell with your bloody patch.

I had to quit smoking.  I just had to..
I had a constant mild congestion.  You know the kind I speak of.  You clear your throat more often than not.  I coughed, not a ton, but enough that I was always self conscious of it.  Like everyone knew I was a smoker just from my cough, or throat clearing.  I hated it.  But I kept lighting up.  I couldn't stand the sound of my own voice.  I still am not entirely fond of it, but it's not like nails on a chalk board to me anymore.  When I had too much to smoke, I could feel it in my lungs.  To the point that I wouldn't have anymore that evening, only to light up that morning smoke.  I knew where smoking was taking me, and it wasn't pretty.  I was smoking my way to death by lung cancer.

I watched 2 people die of lung cancer.  Not one, but two members of my family.  Two beautiful men that bought and paid for their early death.  When my father in law died, I knew I had to act quickly, or I'd never get my husband to wake up and quit.  I'm having a tough go at his quitting.  He looks at me like I speak a different language every time I try to talk to him about vaping.  I can't understand how he could watch them die and not want to do whatever it takes to quit.  If he keeps smoking, he has only 20 years to live.  That's not enough time for me.

  I was one of the pioneers of ecigs.. In a round about way.  They were so new when I started smoking them that you had to order them online.  I toyed with them for years.  I could go a few weeks without an analog smoke.  It took a lot of will power to just smoke ecigs.  I still craved a hard hit from a 'real' cigarette.  I was back on the camel menthol lights for about 6 months when I decided to quit with ecigs.  But I had serious anxiety on March first.. I decided that I was quitting this time, and there had to be something better to help me.

I drove to a local smoke shop.  They had tons of different ecig brands, but I heard about vaping.. So that was gonna be my thing.  The lady that helped me was wonderful, even though she knew NOTHING about vaping.  I was in full anxiety mode and needed a fix.  I bought 2 different vapes, and 4 different flavors.  I didn't even leave the parking lot.  I loaded everything up in the car.  2 vapes, 2 different flavors.. I sat there making cloud sized puffs from each one in turn. I loved the strawberry and the menthol.  I loved them so much that I haven't thought about lighting a stinky cigarette ever since.

I've evolved in my vaping since that fateful day in March.  I go to village vapors now to get my vapor juice.  That is a super fun experience in itself.  You get to try the different flavors (there are tons) and batteries (also tons) before buying.  I have learned that a better battery = a better cloud and vaping experience.  I love carmelized banana, donut pounder, and menthol flavors.  Smoking menthol flavor actually freshens your breath!  I can take my vape apart and replace broken or worn parts, and I'm learning to modify.  I'm not a pro yet, but I'm no longer a noob.  I also design girly vapes for my smoking pleasure.  I have one to compliment most of my outfits.. And the accessories.. I have countless necklaces that I've made to carry my vapes.  I'm a stylish vaporista.

Are you a smoker?  Is someone in your life a smoker?  Maybe it's time you become a vaper, or a vaping advocate.  Studies keep coming in every week on the health benefits of vaping.  When you vape, you get the same healthy changes that occur when you quit smoking altogether.  You just don't get the withdrawal symptoms of quitting, and you don't smell like an ashtray.  Start a conversation about smoking today.  The life you save could be your own.

If you still smoke analog cigarettes...

You need to talk to me.
I've been a vaper since march 1st, 2014.  I smoked electronic cigarettes on and off for a few years, but it never really took.  I'd still bum a smoke here and there, and occasionally I'd buy a pack of my own. Ecigs were ok.. But when I tried vaping, I was hooked.  Huge hits that caress your throat like an analog burner does.  Hits so big that I have choked on a few.  But the real deal is this: I haven't touched a lit cigarette since.

I don't stink like an ashtray.  The cough and congestion are gone.  I smell EVERYTHING!  Food tastes amazing.  And I can out exercise my teenagers!  I have a young persons pink fluffy lungs.  I yell louder, my voice went up 2 whole octaves, and my face looks 5 years younger.  If that's not enough to convince you...  There are no withdrawal symptoms by switching to vaping.  You don't need a prescription drug to poison you into quitting, or patches that are chemical ridden.  You just keep smoking, without all the nastiness that cigarettes bring.

Analogs will bring you a slow painful death in the form of lung cancer.  This hits home for me, as my family has lost not one, but two beloved family members to cigarettes.  Once you watch someone die of lung cancer, only pure insanity could make you continue to smoke.  I beg you, for the love of your family... Please put the cigarettes down and pick up the vaporizer.  You can thank me later.. When you are 80 and healthy.

If you find that switching is a bit daunting with the million vape choices out there.. Hit me up.  I'm a pro:)

Visiting the vape store

I had to get new vape juice today, so I ran over to Village Vapors downtown.  I have to say, I totally love this place.  You get to try the flavors before you buy, so no more coming home with a hand full of flavors I end up never using again.  You also get to check out several different types of batteries..  As always, my experience was awesome, and I brought home 2 new flavors I love. (Hopefully Hubby doesn't hate them like the last one!)

When I first walked in, I noticed an old friend sitting at the counter.  How weird, I haven't seen him other than on Facebook for a few years, yet I ran into him at the grocery store last week, and at the vape counter this week!  It was fun trying new flavors and talking vapes with a friend!  His wife doesn't smoke, and vapes really appealed to him because his wife lets him smoke them in the house.  Now if I could only get the Hubs to give in and Vape!

In the front corner of the store, there 2 guys working on their batteries.  There was a cloud of vapor around them that looked like a heavy fog.  I'm at the counter tasting different flavors when I actually see one of them take a hit.  I've read a little about mods, so I just asked them, are you guys making mods?  One of them came over to me with his giant battery and shows me the new coils he just installed.  He did his best to explain how and what he did to achieve a major hitting mod.  Totally cool.. I asked if they'd teach a class.:).  Definitely something I would like to learn to do next.  I'd love a battery that looks like R2D2.

Hallway project day

Today was a project day.  My Hubby gave me a new hall closet and bought a chest freezer to put inside it.  I've been so busy stocking the freezer, I still hadn't finished the new drywall or even painted the door.  I almost stressed out over how I was going to finish the hall.  Thankfully, Netflix added that awesome design show called, 'color splash'.. So I've been marathon watching for a week before inspiration finally struck.

I really didn't want to finish the drywall.  It makes such a mess, and then I would have to repaint the entire hall.  I get my paint for free at the recycling center, and custom mix it.  This was the 3rd time in 4 years that I had painted the hall.  I totally love the color, have none left, and didn't want to do it again!  So... My answer was to go to the Restore in Plymouth and buy some old big mirrors.   My plan was to custom cut the mirrors myself and piece them in around the new closet door.

I bought a new glass cutter and made my first cut on the 1/4" thick glass.  I'm skilled at cutting thin glass... I totally screwed up the first cut.  So, instead of spending the whole day making one crappy cut after another, I called a glass company.  They literally saved me today.  Thank you Glass Doctor of Warsaw!  I was able to spend my day hanging the glass, cutting trim, and putting it all together.  It's now 7pm, and I've been at it since 9am!  I painted the new door to match the other hall doors, and started on customization of each door.  I actually remembered to take a before pic!  Go me!

The Appendix incident part 2

Grams walked to the Theatre with Jack and Glen (I believe they were her cousins as going with a boy was not allowed).  It was a mile and 1 block away from her home.  While they were walking, Grams began to experience cramping pain, but didn't really care yet..  They arrive at the theatre and take their seats to see The Return of Frankenstein.  The pain intensified during the movie.  The boys kept telling her that she was just a 'fraidy cat', and that perhaps she would enjoy the movie further if she removed her head from inside her shirt.

The movie had finally concluded, but the pain was more intense than ever.  Grams was now unable to walk and doubled over to the point that the boys decided to carry her all the way home.  Once home, she received no pity from her mother, who said it was that devil movie that made her sick.  Grams was told to sleep it off, and that she should pray the devil is gone by morning.  (Can you imagine??)

Morning came, but the devil decided to double down...  Grams didn't rest at all that night.  By morning, it became evident that she needed a Doctors care.  She was lucky that they removed it before it burst.  Ten days later, she was home recovering from the 'devil movie nightmare'.

I couldn't imagine growing up the way she did.  I'm just in awe at times that Grams was able to turn out so normal..

Grams.. The appendix incident

I think I'm loving the idea of using this blog as a diary....

 I spent a few hours Friday morning with Grams, and it made me realize the importance of writing things down.   She has notebooks, and boxes of loose paper with her thoughts and experiences written down.  She was upset because she had been trying to organize each box chronologically.  Somehow, she managed to undo what we had already done.  I told her it was no big deal.  Really, it is no big deal.

We had been going through her childhood stories for a few weeks now.  I am half my grandmothers age, and I struggle with details on my childhood, so I find her notes to be made of gold.  How wonderful it is when I ask a question she can't recall the details to.  She just shuffles through her papers until she can read me a story.  It was on her mind to talk about her injuries and illness throughout life.  So we began..

My Grams was born into the depression era.  Her parents had 6 kids.  6 freaking kids in the depression era.  Seriously. What were they thinking?  Her parents were poor for the majority of her life.  (6 kids to feed would put anyone in the poor house!)  When my Grams fell ill to appendicitis, a ten day stay in the hospital wasn't exactly in the budget.  Amazingly, Grams still has the bill and payment receipts for most of her Doctor Visits over the years.  Ten days in the hospital, a removed appendix, anesthesia and all were a whopping $57.00.  Do you know what a TWO day stay in the hospital for appendicitis is now?  $20k...( My daughter went through this 2 years ago. )

Grams had a very strict, very religious mother.  She wasn't allowed to go to the theatre to see a movie because it was, 'the devils work'.  (I'm not kidding)  Grams was now a teenager, and going to the theatre was kind of a big deal.  After a long time of begging and pleading had passed, Grams was finally allowed to see a feature film on the big screen.  Permission was granted with a terrible amount of religious guilt that was sure to hang over her head for years to come.

Grams and her book

So, it's been a few weeks since Grams and I started going through all the notes and stories of her life. She's been trying to write a book for, well.. As long as I can remember.  I volunteered to help her put all her notes in chronological order and then write the book.  I have come to realize a few things.

First, Grams is pretty cool in her old fashioned way.  The stories, written in her own words and then told to me in her perspective, have been enlightening.  Some of the best stories are a bit naughty.. And she doesn't want me to include them in the story of her life.  Grams can make me nearly piss myself in pure laughter.

Second, due to the large volume of notes that she took, her "diary", and the fact that she's 80 something and counting make me realize that her book may indeed be my life's work.  I'm not turned off by this.  It's just a tad daunting.

Third, story telling is in the genes.  Come to find out, Grams' Auntie wrote a book.  So, this may explain my desire to start my diary 'on the line'.  I kept looking into blogging forever... Finally just did it.

And last, I'll never regret the extra, quality filled time I'm spending with her.  We get together once a week for a few hours.  And I'm enjoying the fact that I totally FEEL like the favorite:)

But, did I really quit smoking?

I threw my cigarette pack in the trash upon waking on March 1, 2014.  I had a positive attitude and a pack of brand new ecigs.  I had read about so many different people using ecigs to quit... So, why can't I?  I kept telling myself that this was gonna be a cakewalk.  I even said it out loud in front of the mirror.

I was just shy of being a 30 year smoker.  As awful as it sounds, I started smoking when I was 13.  I quit smoking when I became pregnant with my kids, but I just picked them back up again after I had them.  I was prescribed a pill to quit smoking a few years ago, but it didn't last long.  I tried the patch, with about as much success as the pill.  And here I am today, 7 months into quitting with the use of electronic smoke.

What is different this time?  I don't feel like I quit smoking.  But yet I have.  I haven't touched an 'analog cigarette' since I threw them away.  Not one lit cigarette has touched my lips.  Not one puff has filled my lungs.. And I can feel the difference.  No more congestion.  My voice is a few octaves higher.  I smell EVERYTHING.  I don't smell like an ashtray anymore.  My car doesn't smell like one either.  But most of all, I don't have that desire to start smoking again.  In the past, it was always there.  No matter how long I had gone without a smoke, I always wanted one.  Now, I don't ever want to be a smoker again.

I'm not gonna make it out to be all roses and rainbows, because it wasn't.  The first couple hours were easy.  Then the anxiety started creeping up.  That, ' I'm about to lose my mind...  Could jump over the Grand Canyon to get a cigarette' feeling started poking at my brain until I just wanted to scream.  I wasn't about to cave in this time.  No, not this time.  The ecig wasn't doing it for me.  But, I'd heard about a vaporizer pen from a friend, so I headed to my local smoke shop.

Vaping was pretty new here.  In fact, the smoke shop had one model to choose from..  The girl working behind the counter was as helpful as she could be.  She had no experience with vaping, and only knew the basics.  I bought the pen, and 5 different favors of the highest nicotine juice they had to offer.  I was craving a smoke so bad that I was talking too fast.  I just wanted to get to my car, open the new stuff, and smoke my happy head off.

There were clouds in my car.  Seriously.  Lucky for me, the new pen came charged.  I was smoking in minutes, and it was amazing.  I could feel the nicotine caress my brain.  My new device was Enveloping my mind, hugging me, and telling me it was all gonna be ok.   I sat there puffing huge white vapor clouds for about 5 minutes before heading home.  It's been a cakewalk ever since.

I love vaping.  My analog friends are fascinated, and I've managed to convert a few.  I have since stepped down from 2.4 nicotine to 1.2.  Just yesterday I bought zero nicotine liquid.  It won't be long until I'm nicotine free.  Will I keep vaping?  Only time will tell.  Have you vaped?