Rash

Yesterday I had to go to Urgent Care. I had a rash. Grrr. I hate them. We were there for 2 hours. But, hey at least I got all my magazines read while I was there and left about 8. 8 less to have around this house! lol So today I have to refill my canvas bag.

Martha!

I received a phone call last night, that they were looking for NYC people who have lost weight using Richard Simmons method, for Martha Stewart. So I may be one of his success stories on Tuesday on the Martha Stewart show. It sounds like fun! Thankfully cause of flylady I have clean clothes to wear! lol I can't wait. Any way, if I get to go, I will be on the front row and they will use me as one of Richard's success stories. I also got a application in the mail to be on his next infomercial. I think it would be really neat if they pick me.

Flylady

Man again not posting in forever.

I have been staying on the Fly Lady band wagon, thank goodness! I was a little stale about doing things for about a week. But, still have been making progress. So I am happy about that. I can open the front door and not be embarrassed! I'm thinking about starting a TOPS group, and wow I think I could actually have meetings here now! We have gotten rid of so much junk! I am just very happy. It seemed impossible and I thought it would be next year before we got to the point we are now. But, it actually is working faster then I thought. I am just amazed I have been able to stay on top of it this long. I think I really am giving up some of my control issues, finally!

Divabetics

Divabetics have so much coming up. Saturday I will be going to some classes they are offering. It sounds like it will be a lot of fun. If any of you who read my blog are diabetic and in NY, Saturday is going to be a free open house for diabetic courses. Here's the info.

Bee A D.I.V.A.
Diabetes Coaching Classes Open House:
Saturday, September 24th, 2:30 - 4 pm
2:30-3 PM : ‘Pass The Tiara’ Meet & Greet plus Registration
3-4 PM: ‘From Stressed to Success!’ Goal Setting Session
4-5:30 PM: AUDITIONS FOR THE ‘HIP HOLIDAY SHOW’


4 FIERCE & FABULOUS Training Weeks!
October 9th: (BEE ) DISCIPLINED Make-Up for a Cure
October 16th: (BEE) INFORMED Models & Methods
October 23rd: (BEE) VISIBLE Denial’s Not My Style
October 30th: (BEE) ACTIVE Keep Your Song Strong!
all sessions presented from 2 -4pm

$25 per class or 4 WEEK SERIES for $80 Save $20
All sessions include goal setting and attainment exercises, diva online support, lifestyle modifers, diva ball raffle, counseling and peer feedback, self-esteem enhancers, and performance therapy to help you 'bee' creative about your blood sugar control!

featuring: Exercise & Life Coach, Dana Hariton HIP TO BE YOU’ director Amy Jordan and the DIVABETIC Creative Control Patrol
At McBurney YMCA at 125 West 14th Street between 6th & 7th Ave. in New York City for info contact us: www.comments@divabetic.com . No credit cards.

Diabetic Life

Last month we went to more Dlife tv tapings. It was a lot of fun again! I finally got the pics on the pc from it.

I also was made co-chair of Divabetics support groups in NYC. I think that's going to be really fun.

Next week we are going to my first diabetic walk. I think it will be fun too.

Here's a photo of Mother Love and I.

Keep Flying

I'm steadily keeping up with fly lady. I think longer then I have before. (since I got back from my first vacation in June!). So this is let's see, August, so I guess almost three months. Things are looking better. Still have a long way to go. But, looking better.

I went to upstate New York yesterday to a mall. It was fun, I got my favorite Chia Tea. And also a pair of clearance pink pants, size 12! Been needing a pair for a while. I am so happy! lol haha They were in a regular store and a regular size. At least for me. They are really cute too. I also bought some DeVinci Hazelnut flavored sugar free syrup, I tried it mixed with Walden Farms Pancake syrup for my french toast this morning and it is delish! A real keeper!!! And zero calories! Can't beat that!

I really want to start a diabetic restaurant or bed and breakfast, maybe some day. :)

Starting TOPS

I had been slacking off on my fly lady. But, I am back at it again. Maybe some day, my house will be presentable. lol The kitchen is almost there! It's clean, just have to build the new side boards, and it will be done. As for the rest of the apartment, it has a long long long ways to go! lol

I am glad to finally be back home again for a while. I have been cooking up a storm. I love cooking. Last week I tried 5 new recipes, and this week 6. I am hoping for at least another 5 this coming week. :) It's been fun!

I went to my first TOPS meeting on Wednesday, since getting back home. And I get this month for free, cause I went on vacation and came back with a weight loss. Woo whoo! I didn't know I would get that. Well I can do that every vacation! lol That's not a problem for me! :) So uh... I guess I will get one month free every year! YEAH! :)

District Convention

Finally things have calmed down. We went to the district convention in Richmond, Va, and it was great! We got to see a lot of good friends, and over all just had a very good time. The District Convention of course was wonderful as well. :) And we loved the drama.

When we got back we went to see Steele Magnolia's the Broadway production and it was so nice! Delta Burke was in it and did wonderfully.

However, I am now glad to be back home for the rest of the year, and just be in my normal routine again.

In August we get to go to 5 more tapings of Dlifetv. I think that will be a lot of fun.

The kitchen is finally coming along the way I want it to. And the rest of the apartment is following suit.

I won't promise to try to come back more often, but I will try! lol I know I need to! hahaha

Family Visit

This week, was a busy, busy, busy week. My dad, step mother, and 6 of my siblings came to visit! We walked all over the place. We walked through central park, through the Museum of Natural History, on a 3 hour cruise, to 3 Broadway shows-which I highly suggest Drumstruck, it was a ton of fun, and we got to play the drums the whole time, what a upper body workout! We walked all over here and tarnation, that was for sure. But, we had a really good time.

When they first arrived, I went outside to meet them, and since my younger siblings haven't seen me in a year and a half, they didn't even recognize me. They said to my dad, when he started coming towards me, that's Heather? And he said yup it is. They didn't even know who I was! But, they kept telling me how great I looked, and they even liked my hair. So that felt really, really good. Although when I looked back, I remember that the last time, the two oldest seen me at this weight, they were only 1 and 2 years old, so no wonder they didn't recognize me. And the youngest ones, have never seen me at this weight, except maybe in pictures. And this time, I look thinner at this weight then I did back then any how. I know for sure I am thinner too, cause I am wearing smaller clothes then I did back then. Back then I wore a woman's size 14, a woman's size 14 has been hanging off me since November of last year. I wear a size 12 loosely now! And a Juniors medium!

So any way, it was a GREAT week! :)

The Apollo

It's been a while since I posted but, I am back. I went on vacation, to Branson, Mo. It was a good vacation, all in all. Some crazy things happened. But, the good things, were really good. I got a really nice quilt that I will share a picture of later. I also bought some cozies for my 8x8 dish, and my 9x12 dish. I will use it a lot, in the coming weeks, with block parties, and congregation picnics coming up! I walked, and walked, and walked some more. I also enjoyed a lot of treats-home made chocolate covered strawberries, candies, and fudge! However, I did make most of our meals. In fact, the whole week before we left, I was cooking and freezing for the trip. I returned home with a 2 pound weight loss! So I was very happy with that. I will try to share pictures of our trip soon.

I also bought the hat I am wearing in the picture below, while on my vacation, I really love it! I bought it from one of my favorite shops in Branson, called Mulberry Mill. The owner, Chad, is so nice, and helpful. And I love what he sells in his shop. And a picture of the casserole cozy basket I bought at Silver Dollar City.

Last Saturday, I went to Apollo's Theater's Health Fair, in Harlem, NYC.

I was there with the Divabetics, helping get people to sign a petition that will be taken to Mc Donald's, Taco Bell, Wendy's and other Fast food chains, to plead with them, to put nutritional facts for diabetics, directly on their menus.

While I was there, I won the grand prize at the health fair..... a 225.00 hat from Harlem's Heaven Boutique. I really didn't think I would win it. First of all, it wasn't supposed to be up on the block to win, for another hour. But, I had to leave to get dinner. And I had been saying how lovely the hat was. And I really wanted it. I was wearing my own hat that day too! So I said, oh well let me draw, and I will shoot for a tee shirt. (you were to put your hand in a bag, and pull out a ball, and if the ball said divabetic on it, you won. If the ball was blank you lost.) Max, the founder of Divabetic, stopped me and said WAIT! Ok, Heather is playing for.... and held up the hat, and did the whole intro for the hat-think Price is right, or Wheel of Fortune! lol Then they did a big count down, shook up the bag, I put my hand in and low and behold I WON! And no it wasn't set up! I was so shocked I won. I didn't even think I could get the right ball any way, many that day lost just trying for the tee shirts! Any way..... here's a couple of pics from the day.....

And here's the article about me on the Divabetic website......

Grand Prize winner Heather & the AVON Makeover Team

originally uploaded by divabetic. DIVABETIC Hall of Famer Heather walked off with the grand prize at our Apollo Theater Health Fair Raffle Extravaganza and we couldn't be happier!

Heather looking radiant in pink spent the better part of the day with her charming husband getting people to sign our SUGAR SAVVY petition in 90 degree heat! DIVABETIC's commitment to diabetes outreach and education, SUGAR SAVVY, continues to build steam our list of supporters grows to over 600 people!

As our GRAND PRIZE winner, Heather, also enjoyed an all star GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS makeover provided by the friendly happy faces of the AVON beauty team. AVON joined DIVABETIC at the Apollo Health Fair to help promote our 'GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS' message and inspire you to look gorgeous and feel great.

Sadly yesterday Luther Vandross died. I really hope this will help get diabetic awareness even more in the spot light! It is so misunderstood, and so needed!

No Insulin!

I went to the doctor Wednesday, and thanks to my diet, exercise and losing weight, I am completely off insulin and all diabetic medication. And on paper am no longer diabetic. I have also possibly reversed my kidney disease! If my test are good again next visit I will be off kidney medication too! I am seriously happy about this!

Divabetics

Max, put me on the Divabetic site. My hair is frightful. It was a pic he took in Manhattan. Today I will have Vince take a different pic of me, and send it to Max, (the founder of DiVabetics) and beg him to use it instead! lol hahaha

Here's the link, and the story, I forgot to put in about my dehydration in my story. Oh well! BTW it's a blog too!

http://www.divabetic.com/divabeticboard.php

Up Close & Personal: Heather's Story

heather,
originally uploaded by divabetic. We met Heather, a bubbly woman who loves anything pink, at a recent dlifeTV show taping in New York. Here's Heather's story:

I was diagnosed with diabetes, March 8th, 2001. When I went to the doctor with Diabetic Keytone Acidoses. My kidneys, pancreas, and some other organs had completely shut down. The doctor at the time, said he thought if we gave my pancreas a break, and I went on insulin, ate right and exercised, we may be able to restore my pancreas. It took two weeks to adjust the amounts of insulin I would need to be on. I ended up on 144 units of insulin a day, 4 shots a day, 2 different insulins, NPH and Humalog. However, the first two years of diabetes, was very debilitating. It took me 2 years to even wake up in the morning with the energy to get out of bed. So I stayed in bed most the time. I watched what I ate, but only to the degree I was physically able to. I didn't eat sugar, or simple carbs, but I was eating too much protein, and too many fat choices. I had good glucose levels since I knew I had diabetes, but was never able to reduce my insulin. May 2003, I started feeling a bit better. And I said now is the time to get even more under control. I started doing the American Diabetic Association Exchanges. And I started exercising 5 minutes everyday. Each month I would increase my exercise by 5minutes, until I worked up to 1 hour and 15 minutes a day of exercise. Gradually but surely my HbA1C was dropping more and more, and I was being able to decrease my insulin more and more. As of this month, May 2005, I have been able to decrease my insulin to only one insulin, Humalog, 3 shots a day, and only 11 units a day! My HbA1C is only 5.1. And I have lost 90 pounds! (You go, diva!)

My whole life has changed. I can now walk any where, and every where, take the stairs with out a challenge or anything I want to do. Two years ago, cooking a meal, or washing the dishes was near impossible for me. Because of the extreme fatigue, brought on by diabetes. Now I wash all my own dishes, and cook all my own meals. Last summer I took a two hour cave tour, with 56 flights of stairs to climb. I flew through the tour with out hesitation, or tiredness, even on parts of the tour that the tour guides humourously referred to as the huff and puff parts. After the tour, we went on with our vacation and went to a amusement park right afterwards, where I walked all day. 2 years ago, and certainly 4 years ago this would not have even been a possibility for me. We plan on going on the same tour this year again! "

Heather from New York
Heather's a Jehovah's Witness and she has yahoo group, for Jehovah's Witnesses with Diabetes, PreDiabetes, or Hypoglycemia, and their friends, family, and care givers.
Here's the address: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/DJW/