#measuringlife

The world lost a good one, my Dad, 13 years ago today. . This picture is from my high school graduation in 2001. While in high school (around the time he turned 50) my Dad had lost over 100 pounds with Slim Fast/diet and exercise. I remember he could practically fit into my size 14 Gap corduroys back then. . My Dad kept off the weight for few years, but when he retired in 2004 at age 55 and his routine and lifestyle changed he slowly starting putting weight back on. By 2007 he had put back almost all the weight he lost and he decided he couldn’t commit to losing it again so he opted for a lap band. However the week or two before the surgery his surgeon “convinced him” (I think bullied him), into getting gastric bypass instead as a more “permanent” solution. . My Dad went in for his lathroscopic “minimally invasive” surgery on Thursday, November 15 for what was supposed to be an outpatient overnight stay. However he was never discharged and ultimately died from blood loss (and negligence) on Sunday, November 18, 2007. . I wasn’t ready to face my weight and family history just yet, but by 2009 I was a size 18 and well over 200 lbs. So in January 2010 I starting “Measuring Life” (in every way) and never looked back. . Today I got on the scale and am back to a “healthy” BMI after gaining some weight since spring 2019 when I was first at a “healthy” BMI. I know BMI isn’t everything, but it’s a datapoint. . I will always choose eating well and exercising. I have losing my Dad to thank for that. . RDJ 4.25.1949 - 11.18.2007 . #weightlossjourney #mywhy #grief #healthylifestyle #measuringlife https://www.instagram.com/p/CHwB1JgBblu/?igshid=hw1huvakav51

Tagging: @measuringlife, @westcoaststartinganew, @raevenously, @positiveweightloss, and @hazeybluesoul to stop, drop, and gimme a selfie!

Monthly accountability. . Nothing shocking here, I’ve been too busy, lax, stressed. . Planning to get a grip on Monday! . #accountability #measuringlife #ww #weightlossjourney https://www.instagram.com/p/CDUdFf8hF20/?igshid=1in34td2ounn8

Monthly measurements! . Feeling great about my progress, good choices, hard work, and dedication. . I’m down 10.7 pounds in quarantine overall. As challenging as this time has been it gave me a gift to focus on me without too many external distractions. As stay at home orders lift I will still be teleworking for the foreseeable future and hope I can continue with most of the good habits and routines I’ve established. . #weightlossjourney #fitnessmotivation #fitnessjourney #ww #myww #measuringlife #accountability #quaratinelife https://www.instagram.com/p/CA22SX8BRm-/?igshid=1mzo4cv7bfpf6

Oh snap I did a thing I’ve always dreamed about doing. Paying off my “outstanding balance” as opposed to just my “statement balance” on my credit card! . I use a credit card to earn cash rewards and have been trying to get ahead on money to pay this months balance with this months money. As opposed to paying last months balance with this months money. . With a major slowdown in spending due to quarantine life, coupled with getting my stimulus check the same day as my paycheck hit I seized the day! . Paying off the remainder of my school loan by my birthday on August 4 is my next major goal! . #debtfreecommunity #debtfreejourney #quarantinelife #financialfreedom #financialgoals #measuringlife https://www.instagram.com/p/B_niNNVhwsE/?igshid=b1u15rv86kcc

How amazing and thoughtful is this birthday gift from my dear friends AJ and AL! . I have great friends and it’s a good thing I had so many in town last week for belated birthday celebrations because I needed them. . To make a long story short my alcoholic mother fell at home and broke her hip which required a hip replacement last weekend. I flew up to tend to things as the oldest/next of kin along with my sister. Lots of information to gather, tasks to take on, decisions to make, people to call. . My childhood home where my mom lives which was built in 1913 is no longer an option for her due to all the steep stairs and antique bathrooms. She’s in a rehabilitation wing at the hospital for now, then we’ll likely put her in respite care on LI, then ultimately move her to a senior living community near me in VA - I can’t spent the next who knows how many years racing back and forth to NY. So finding her accommodations, clearing out the house, and eventually selling it are all on my mind and to do list. Plus all the asset gathering and various legal paperwork - which we at least got a good jump on. . We also took in my mom’s 4 year old Chorkie (Chihuahua/Yorkie) named Louie. Louie is sweet, but it’s an adjustment for all of us, especially my 12 year old Pomeranian. . My fiancé, two puppers, and I are going back to to NY Labor Day weekend. I’m thankful for my support system and the ability to take off 4 days of work last week even during a really busy time. I played a lot of catch up the past few days, but at the moment my mom is good, my sister and my aunts who are all in NY are doing their parts. I definitely did not expect a curveball like this, but things with my mom’s mental health have been especially not great lately so the fact that she’s being given her meds and she’s without alcohol had made her the most lucid and pleasant she’s been in years. I’m hoping this is all a turning point for her because she was really circling the drain this summer on many levels. More on how I’m handling all this in a future post. However weirdly enough my whole life has prepared me for this. . #measuringlife #aca #adultchildrenofalcoholics #adultchildrenofnarcissists https://www.instagram.com/p/B1U6hDJhgz1/?igshid=1x682gyzysq9b

I’m not close with my Aunt (my Mom’s sister), but she was the person who bought me my first journal for Christmas in 1996. She’s been a long time journal-er and catalog-er of things. For my birthday yesterday she texted and sent along a picture of her diary entry from August 4, 1983 ❤️ . #journaling #diary #deardiary #measuringme #measuringlife https://www.instagram.com/p/B0yn31iBSTL/?igshid=1p1ien27yhb7v

Woohoo I got bingo! . I went to another free @pwc_pricewaterhousecoopers financial wellness seminar today at work (and attended another one virtually today too). Last summer I got serious about finances and started tracking our spendings and making budgets. Then in November I first went to introductory financial wellness seminar at work. Since then I took everything I learned and put it into ACTION. . These days I do weekly budget and spending check ins through @everydollar. I also check all my financial accounts daily. I have my 3 month emergency fund, sinking funds (including a wedding fund), an Ameriprise investment account as part of inheritance from my grandma in January, and we’re aggressively paying down our home renovation loan (we’re on track to have it paid off next spring - thanks to creating multilayered amortization loan schedules! . Also side hustling is helping too. Already in 2019 I made $1,600 in dog sitting and $900 in teaching group fitness, plus another $4,000 from airbnbing our spare bedroom! . I try not to talk money and finances too much here, but it’s certainly been a HUGE piece of life I’ve been measuring lately! I track EVERYTHING comprehensive spreadsheets which is become my new favorite pastime! I also use the Personal Capital app to monitor my net worth and assets! . #measuringlife #debtfreecommunity #debtfreejourney #sidehustles #financialfreedom #financialwellness https://www.instagram.com/p/ByVzRvzB2Tp/?igshid=1q050ggieme7m