Health Risk Assessment, And A Few Thrift Finds

A couple of times a year, I have to fill out a Health Risk Assessment. It gives my insurance company a better understanding of what care I might need.
It starts out with :"In general what would you say your health is?"
Excellent...Very Good...Good...Fair...Poor.
July 2014, Very good.
July 2009, POOR

Compared o a year ago:
Much better...Slightly better...About the same...Slightly worse..much worse.?
July 2014, Slightly better
July 2009, MUCH WORSE.

Here are some common activities I might do during a normal day.
Do you need assistance in any of the following. Answer YES or NO.
1. Shopping, preparing meals..NO.
2. Cleaning home? NO
3. Showering or dressing yourself/ NO
4. Getting up or down or in, out of chair or bed? NO
5. Eating or drinking? NO.

Back in 2009, the answer would have been YES on 1 through 4. Eating came too often. I could still eat, But I was starting to choke on food. My throat was getting too fat.

I have to answer questions about my stability, My activities. Am I able to exercise? YES. Do I exercise. YES. Do I maintain a healthy weight. YES. If not am I trying to have a healthy weight. YES.
Do I smoke, NO. Quit 24 years ago.
Have diabetes, NO. In 2009, YES.
Have an annual blood sugar test. YES. It's Normal. In 2009, it was HIGH.
High Cholesterol, NO. In 2009, YES
Hypertension, high blood pressure, NO. It's 110/75 . In 2009, 150/95

In comparing my health after losing 189 lbs, it's changed my life. FOR THE BETTER. How many women are in better health and fitness at 72 than they were at 66. The truth is I'm in better shape now at 72 than i was at 55. That's saying something.
Everyday I get up in the morning, from grooming myself to walking outside, getting in my van. I feel and move like a different women from the crippled, obese one I was back in 2009.
I do want to thank all my Spark friends for the support you give me on my exercise minutes. In the way I take time, make the time to exercise in some way or fashion everyday, I am able too. Which is almost 99.9% of the year. Smile!!

There's no secret to doing it. You just have to make up your mind that it's important. Let nothing deter you from doing it. After a while it becomes as routine as brushing your teeth. You feel like something is off if you haven't walked or exercised ..
I used to go to the gym five and six days a week. Sometimes twice a day. I don't do that as much anymore. I love going for walks, hikes. Sometimes by myself. If I want to make good time. Then It's Titan's time to walk , He likes to sniff and stop, smell the trees. It's more exercise for me and time for us to inter act with others, who are also walking their dogs.
Sometimes I think having a dog, is a good way to get you up and out. Just a stroll around the neighborhood is better than laying around the house.

Throughout my obese years, with numerous aches and pains, I knew every excuse NOT to exercise. Now I know that even if I do have some aches , there is something that I can do. Maybe not as vigorous , but there is no more excuses.

Have discovered that many times some exercise, moving around will reduce the stiffness and pain. I'm not saying there is never a time that I could be in so much pain, any movement would be too much. Never say Never.!!

I do have a bad back. But the doctor encourages me to exercise. Last time it went out, I was moaning around here, and thinking of just laying in bed or the couch and taking it easy. But I knew that wasn't what was called for. So took a deep breath and went through the movements, the therapist had set up for me. It hurt for a few minutes, but gradually felt better. All in all, the recovery time was shorter than when I used to let the pain rule.

I have been working on some new jewelry pieces for a Art fair later this month.
I spent a few months, not doing any designing. Just didn't feel it. Then I started to have dreams of new pieces. It's fun to have an idea and see the end results.
Later this week will post some pictures of what I have been making.

It's been a few weeks since I went thrift shopping. I really don't need anything.
Had a couple of customers who had me redo their closets, weed out unwanted, unworn clothes and find pieces that they could add to what they had.
I just got a call from one of the women asking me to get some fall/winter things.
So that's something to look forward to.

I have bought a few nice pieces for myself. More tops ,skirts, and leather beige jacket. I love leather too.
What I do love shopping for is shoes and handbags. I guess you could say I collect them.
After spending 5 to 6 yeas wearing these two ugly pair of shoes during my obese years, I wasted no time getting get back into fashion.
Here a photo of the UGLY shoes.

The following photo shows some of the latest heels and hand bags. Also a couple of belts. love belts. Never wore them when my waist was 58 in. But now at 33 in. belts look good.



These are some of my latest finds. love the high heel suede boots and snake skin blue print heels.
The four black leather NEW Men's jackets, got for $2.00 each. Very lucky day.
The item that cost the most is the red/black snakeskin D&G handbag. $12.00
Everything else was mostly $2.00 , couple of $4.00 items. The New Nike's $8.99
The baby blue bike was FREE. Am I lucky or what???? Got it from Trash area.
Well it's time for more unique designs to emerge from my creative mind. Back to work.
Hope everyone is enjoying the Summer. Even when things don't go as we like, it all evens out in the end.
Take care,
Love and Peace.
Tisha