Showing posts with label photo. Show all posts

Traveling for Business - A Witch's View

One of the things I dread most is traveling for work.  Each time I went on a plane, I would have to ask for the seat belt extension. The flights were crowded and the seats small. No one really wants to sit next to the "fat girl".

At the time of this writing I'm prepping for a trip to my companies home office.  I have worked for the same company for nearly 15 years and work remotely.  Over the years I have traveled to the office for special occasions, training sessions and product launches with the occasional visit for symposium.

Here are a few photos from those past visits.



This was one of my first trips with my company.  I went to Vegas.  Got an award.  :P This photo was taken in 2005.




This photo was taken just after a trip to Orlando in 2009.  I went down to work on site to help with an event my company was hosting.  My cell phone was stolen while I was there on day 1 of a 5 day trip. I was grump.  :P 




This trip I needed to go out and buy all new clothes for the trip. Needless to say I'm still completely terrified about getting lost, showing up for work naked (ok not really) and/or spilling coffee on the boss.  But at least that seat belt extension will be a fear that I can tuck away and never worry about again.


Here's the photo - Trip to Connecticut 2017.



Photo Credit - Elijah Olson



This year after getting myself healthy I've been struggling with the whole Eff your Body Standards campaigns. While I get that we want to be happy and healthy in the skin we're in, we also don't want to be promoting unhealthy behaviors or celebrating a disease that is killing us. A few years ago I had my DNA tested and it revealed that I was prone to obesity. My DNA makes it harder for me to lose weight, maintain a healthy weight and with that opened up the door for a lot of weight related illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke. I started at 250. Now this isn't the largest I have been. Before I had a gastric bypass surgery I was up to 305lbs.   Today I'm at 175lbs with a total weight loss (this round of weight struggle) of 75lbs.



Hubby found Dr. Furhman. We have changed the way we work with food and it is really helping me this time.


So what should I weight?  Dr. Furhman says the following:

Women: 95 lbs for the first five feet of height and four pounds for every inch there after.
Men: 105 lbs for the first first five feet of height and five pounds for every inch there after.

These are only rough guides since we all have different body types and bone structures - source

Currently I'm still obese according to the BMI at 33.1.  I will be here for a bit.  But then I didn't get fat overnight so why would I lose the weight overnight?

Screenshot-  https://bmicalculator.mes.fm
According to Dr. Furhman's calculations I need to weigh around 99lbs.  Should be interesting to see if I keep the negative foods out of my diet how close I get to that number.

Ultimately, you'll be able to tell where you should be based on how your body feels when you do day to day basis. Such as traveling for business.  Is it hard to get in the airline seat? (Yes, I know they are really small but just give me a second.)  Is it easier to board?  How about putting your luggage in the overhead?  How about buckling that belt?

Let me state clearly, you can be a full figured person and be healthy.  You can be a skinny person and be unhealthy. Only you and your doctor can make that decision. The only thing I can share with you is my experience and what I have seen in my weight loss journey.  And if I were given a degree for the years of study (or struggle) I have on this subject I would be walking around with a doctorate.

This post is not intended to body shame anyone. Take a moment and do a self assessment. Take what helps you from this post and leave the rest behind.


A Witch's View - Flowers II

Took another trip to Lowe's and wanted to share some of my flowers with you.

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

A Witch's View - February

This week I want to share some photos from around the yard.  These were taken in February.

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson

Resolutions - A Witch's View

This time of year many people start making resolutions to make changes to their lives.  Generally these promises include getting healthier. Many want to quit smoking, lose some weight or exercise more.  This leads to the onslaught of advertisements and sales on work out equipment and gym memberships.

Photo Credit - Elijah Olson


While it is admirable to take stock in your life and decide to make a pledge to change it for the better, it is still quite sad to see so many people quit.  Gyms are expensive and going there every day takes time and energy.  I recall living in California over 10 years ago and spending 2 hours a day at the gym.  This doesn't count the commute.  My gym was on Miramar Road which was one of the busiest roads in San Diego.  You could sit for hours waiting in traffic.  I could never get below 199 pounds.  I struggled daily with it.  After moving to NC I changed to a vegetarian diet and made my goal.  But it didn't last. Quickly I was back up to my old habits.  The bacon and the cheese biscuits didn't help.

Photo Credit - Elijah Olson

But I did rebound and get back in gear to start losing weight again.

Photo Credit - Renee Olson



Sadly after some family issues I slowly added the meat back into my diet.  And along with that meat came the weight.  For many years I sat here in sadness trying to over come the impact that these issue played in my life.  And only recently have I gone back to removing meat products from my life but also actually caring about who I am.





We place a lot of focus on what we want our bodies or our lives to be. We don't need a gym to get healthy. We need the drive to do it.  I saw this video recently and it really spoke to me.



As you get started with your resolutions for the new year, make them attainable. Make them sincere and make them in your own best interest.  As you can see, just over the last 10 years, my goals sometimes fell to the wayside to my detriment.  Be loyal to the most important person in the world. 

Yourself.

A New Year - A Witch's View

This past year I have dedicated A Witch's View to showing off my photography.  I've decided this year I want to focus on my health.  I thought I would take this day to showcase recipes, food, or information on health and nutrition.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson


My goal is to use this day to help share what I have learned about food. My diet leans more vegan however I do eat fish sometimes.  I'm slowly removing that as well.  I am following Dr. Joel Furham's Nutritionian guide.

www.drFurham.com



I hope you'll hang in there with me and take what you need from it.





Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson


I can't wait to document my progress.  Here's an update from July 4th when I went to spend some time with family in MD.

Photo Credit - Elijah Trent Olson


A Witch's View - Outside

This time I'm sharing some of my favorites from outside.  Little bit of everything.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson 
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson



Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson

A Witch's View - Fall

The cold has set in early for us here.  I'm excited to see the leaves fall.  I thought I would start off with some of my favorite photos from the last few years.


Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson

A Witch's View - Zoo 4

Here are the last of the photos from my trip in September.  Hubby and I are going back for another trip and we're going to ride on the bus that gets us a bit closer to the animals.  I cannot wait!!



Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson