My BESTIE!!!!

I have to give credit where credit is due...I have to proclaim LOUDLY AND PROUDLY that I have the absolute BEST BEST BEST BESTIE in the whole world! This awesome person has been part of my life since 6th grade...and lets not even mention how long ago that was! She has stood by my side through good times and bad, through shitty moods and giddy moods, through bad decisions and wonderful experiences, what in the heck would I ever do without her????!!! This year alone she pulled me up by my big girl panties...got me out of a terrible slump and brought me to Tampa to spend the BEST week together!!! I can't begin to thank her for that!!!! Through the years WE have laughed, cried, hugged, argued, ignored each other, and shared good news and bad news...but got through it all because we love each other...we are more than just besties...we are sisters!!! We have earned the right to be sisters...we are probably closer than most sisters and I wouldn't trade her for all the money in the world...ok...well maybe...but then we'd argue, and get over it, and share the money!!!! I know for certain she would do that for me as well!
Tonight...just when I was feeling a bit down I get an email that I will be receiving some delicious Honeybells in the mail compliments of Staci!!!
I will sing it from the rafters...shout it from the mountain top...the best friend and sister...ANYONE could ever have is....
Staci Ann Thomas Bruce!!!!!!!!

I love you!!!!

Just ordered this juicer...on sale starting 1/25 at Macy's. I will be picking it up on the 25th! Can't wait to try it out!
http://brevillebje510xljuicer.com/

i NEED a change....for the better!

I just watched the movie Fat, Sick & Nearly dead (free to watch on Hulu http://www.hulu.com/watch/289122/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead )...and was astounded with the results that these people have experienced. I am reading Dr. Fuhrman's book Eat to Live http://www.drfuhrman.com/ and can't believe how many things in my life could actually be affected by what I eat. I am making a resolution to start this radical diet for Valentines Day. I am going to ask my hubby to get me a juicer for my gift and hopefully it will give me the gift of life. I need to make a Dr.'s appt to get the go ahead to start this journey, obtaining blood work and any other tests that need to be done prior to starting.
I plan on recording my progress on this diet here...so between now and VD I will post "before" pics as well as vital information. Believing that this CAN work is somthing I already believe...but putting it into play is something I am struggling with. I have never been a very avid fan of veggies, let alone eaten raw and mixed into a smoothie.
Suffering from a multitude of ailments at at 44 ...I am sick and tired of feeling like crap and popping pills to get through the day.
I am sure that you don't want to sit and listen to all of my bitching and moaning about everything...but I need to record my difficulties and the progress of ridding myself of them as the way of life evolves.
OK...I am 44 years old...and I weigh over 300 lbs. I don't know the exact amount but I am guessing about 310-315. I am 5'8.5 and I have not been under 200 lbs since I was a teen.
I have joint pain, not just knees and hips but all of my joints hurt me. I have thought that I had fibromyalgia I can't remember the last time I went through a completely pain free day. If my joints are not hurting, or my head is not hurting I get aches that feel similar to the aches and pain you get when you have the flu. I also get stabbing pains in random areas that actually feel like someone is poking me with a sharp needle.
I get migraines...and have been getting them since I was around 12 years old. I have tried about every migraine medication on the market and nothing really works. I am currently taking Propanolol 40mg BID to lower my blood pressure and as a migraine preventative. My BP runs about 140/80 WITH the medication and my heart rate varies between 56-100 bpm I have been getting heart palpitation while sitting completely still and hell...going up stairs or a hill makes me feel like I am going to die.
I have chronic sinus issues and am addicted to OTC nasal spray (oxymetazaline Hcl). I am terrified of not being able to breath and I have had nightmares where I am going into surgery and I am fighting with the nursing staff because I won't let them take my nasal spray away. I take allergy medication (Zyrtec) every morning...and 50mg of Benadryl every night...both to help w/ allergies and to help me sleep. I also use Flonase Nasal spray daily.
I suffer from GERD and take Prilosec OTC day along with a couple of OTC Tums before going to bed.
I take Ambien EVERY night to make me sleep. yes I said MAKE ME...because I haven't slept well for a long long time.
I was taking Cymbalta 60mg daily up until about 2 weeks ago. I stopped taking it (yes I know I shouldn't have stopped cold turkey) Between the monthly cost and the fact that it really wasn't helping that much w/ pain anymore I figured why keep taking it. It had been helping with depression and mood swings...and I am back to being VERY emotional...but I will stay off of it for now. I also had NO desire for sex AT ALL while taking Cymbalta, that fortunately has improved since stopping it, which has improved my relationship with my husband.
I do take Ibuprofen 600-800mg at least 3 times a day...which I know isn't good for my kidneys...but it is about the only thing that helps with the severe aches and pains. It at least makes it so I can move. I also have a few herniated cervical discs that cause almost constant pain in my neck/upperback/shoulder area. I get numbness in my left arm at times when I have a flare up.
I have a new ailment that has been present for about 2 months now. I get itchy feelings on random places all over my body. There is no redness or rashes or anything to account for the itching. One minute the itch is on my leg, then my nose, then my neck, then my arm.
I have also been VERY restless, unable to sit still...i am constantly readjusting myself when trying to just sit still and relax.
My God...that is a lot going on when you put it in writing...but it helps me realize that I MUST do something about it...now while I still can.
I have a 14 year old son that I have denied an active childhood because I have limited him to what I could do w/ him. I don't want to have an obese child because of my laziness and obesity. I have a 47 year old husband that is obese and struggles with DMII also with joint ailments, allergies, stomach issues etc.
I want to make a healthy househouse and change everyone's eating habits to make all of our lives better. I certainly hope that I can do this!

Well I think I have written enough for now, I am going to continue to write between now and Valentine's day when I embark on this challenge.
If you have read this far...then THANK YOU!!! and please continue to check in and leave me some comments.