Yesterday I retired from my position as the National Coordinator for Canadian Voice of Women for Peace. I am ready for the change and so excited for the challenge ahead.
Today I am heading to Milford, Connecticut to cat/house sit. Deb and I met in 2015 when I first visited as a Bed and Breakfast guest. I love her home – cozy, clean, quaint and a block from the beach. This will be home for the 2 ½ weeks.
I am back on a very healthy eating and weight loss program. Although I am satisfied with my weight and how I look these days, I can’t seem to get my health in good order. Several years ago, I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and Hypertension (High blood pressure). Both of these are hereditary on both sides of my family but that shouldn’t have made it inevitable. I changed my eating habits, lost 20 pounds and worked closely with a practitioner of Chinese medicine. I take herbs and have monthly treatments. For 2 years, I was able to lower my blood sugar readings to normal and maintain a healthy blood pressure but then last year my numbers started going up. No matter how much I restricted what I was eating, I couldn’t do it. I dropped another 10 pounds but then the weight loss stopped and I have been stuck for several months. I am seeing an endocrinologist ( a specialist for diabetes) and he has me on 3 different medications and they are all at the maximum dosage. I am not feeling any side effects but we are also not getting to the normal numbers that he wants. The prognosis is that I will need a new mediation but he has given me until December to lose more weight.
That’s where I am today, one week later and magically 3 pounds lighter. I am using the weight watchers program (pre 2010). I know it and it has worked for me in the past. In 2004, I lost 35 pounds and kept it off, and since then I have used it to lose another 35. At least I have gained any weight in the past 20 years. I have an ideal weight in mine – my lowest adult weight from when I was 19 years old. That is another 35 pounds but my goal for now is 20 pounds. Since my diagnosis a few years ago, I believed that I could beat this if I could reach that weight.
I am inviting you to come on this journey with me – keep me motivated, keep me honest, encourage me and maybe some of you will work at this with me. When I want a change, I believe in going public! Go big or go home!!
Here is the plan – stick to the old weight watchers plan, work at things that I love, commit to exercise a minimum of 3 times a week but trying for 5. The next 17 days I want to kickstart it! I am going to beach destination in Connecticut, on the beautiful Long Island Sound, a bicycle with flat roads and a state park, miles of beach and quiet. I am going to bike every day with a goal of 12 kilometres per day. I want to walk the beach at low tide everyday rain or shine soaking up the healthy salt air and the “negative ions”. My diet splurges will be fresh lobster and quahogs and a glass or 2 of wine, maybe even a light beer. Alcohol isn’t something I drink very often but vacation screams “Have a glass or 2.” Of course, it means giving up something else on the weight watchers’ plan.
I need to purchase lunch in the airport today and I know I could have chosen a salad but instead I picked a roasted vegetable sandwich and a coffee. I ate one half of the bun and through the rest away. For me, that is important to throw out what I shouldn’t eat otherwise it may find its way into my mouth an hour later. I am only supposed to have one coffee a day but every now and then, I treat myself to an extra one. Love the dark roast with a splash of lowfat cream.
An hour until my flight departs. I feel that my whole life is about to lift off. Fingers crossed.
How did this become our badge of honour? I want to be able to say that I had a great day, a relaxing day, that I am organized and rarely feel overwhelmed. I want to say that there are enough hours in my day. That I have time to make proper meals, time for exercise, time to meet with friends, time to read a book, time to watch a movie, a documentary or a silly sitcom. I want to say it with pride because I actually do. I have been able to create a simple life that most days is balanced and fulfilling.
The old tapes I suppose. What do I mean by the old tapes? Those are those thoughts that flow through our mind. Crap that other people told us or crap that we repeatedly tell ourselves? Can’t, shouldn’t, wouldn’t, couldn’t. Yowzers!! How did that stuff get into my head?
I pride myself on a cup that is more than half full and often spilling over. I think that I am a “take charge, get it done, kind of Womyn”. I never leave dishes in the sink or laundry unfolded. I plan my meals, plan my grocery list, take time to cook healthy from scratch food, keep my home neat and tidy, stay in touch family and loved ones, remember birthdays and special occasions, make lists and check things off. Yup, you got it….I can busy myself with a lot of mundane details and tell myself that I was too busy today but tomorrow….no the next day….ok no….next week…. I’ll do it….cause I love it. What’s going on????
We called our goals sun rays and each ray was a stream that we wanted to pursue and follow. In this time I got my licence to marry couples and started officiating weddings. I was blogging very regularly and many of my ideas were unfolding . I started my training to become a Kohenet (Hebrew Priestess). I was doing it!!! And… Then…I …Stopped !!!!!!!!! Right in the middle of doing what I was sure I loved and what I am still sure I love. What happened? One thing only….I got in my own way.
The coming of age ceremony you did for Kasha was very beautiful and touching! You’ve got the gift of bringing people together in a meantingful way. Marla Slavner June 2016
” Thank you Sandra (Ruch) for your professionalism. It was a pleasure to have you as our officiant to the start of our life together. Sandra had a gentle personality, dressed very professional and had great shoes. We have nothing to say except great things.” David and Wayne
Sandra Ruch was absolutely amazing! She went above and beyond to provide us with a ceremony that my husband and I both loved. She provided with us with many readings and gave us an outline of how the ceremony would go. She was professional, responsive and gave us lots of ideas! Our guests thought the ceremony was beautiful and memorable.Thank you so much Sandra! Kenana & David 09/17/2016
Sandra Ruch went beyond our expectations, she was kind and really guided us through the entire process. I have already had numerous people reach out to me asking for Sandra’s information – she was a huge hit. Sandra was truly magnificent. She was accommodating with us being out of province, she provided so much guidance in the process and really gave us a warm feeling. She has the combination of a really heartfelt smooth tone with genuine excitement and love when performing your service. We would recommend her to all. Kale & Justin
We had the absolute pleasure of Sandra Ruch officiating our wedding ceremony. From the moment we met Sandra it was clear that she truly cared about us and wanted our day to be tremendously special. She spent an evening getting to know us and helped guide us through what turned out to be a very personalized, well executed, and beautiful ceremony. Thank you Sandra for caring so much about us and delivering a beautiful ceremony. Andrea and Rob
Sixty in the City 