Victoria’s Read

Women’s self empowerment week is Jan 4th -10th

Rid the world of fad diets and gimmicks day is Jan 19th

Why do men get married?
So they don’t have to hold their stomachs in any more

Why are blonde jokes so short?
So men can remember them

Let me start by stating that I am sick of jell-O and just the thought of eating pureed anything ever again is nauseating. Okay, enough with the whining.

I had tried and failed to lose weight so many times before and fought with the feeling of failing yet again but when my daughter came over for a visit, she took one look at me and said “ Mom, do you go out in those clothes? Look at you. Your clothes are way too big and they make you look….frumpy.”  Well, there’s nothing like the honest words of your youngest child to shock you into reality.

My husband and I went shopping that very night. I tried on a pair of jeans that were one size smaller than what I was wearing. They were way too big! I tried on a size smaller but they were too big as well. I came out of the dressing room informing my husband that we needed to cross the hall into the forbidden zone of NORMAL size clothes, over where the selection was greater and the prices were lower. I held up the jeans, thinking that they will never fit but my husband encouraged me to “Just try them on.” I did and they fit great! Now, there was no denying the fact that I was shrinking.

Our trip down to Rochester on the 22nd for a follow-up was a breeze. It should be after the fifth time! Once again, my parents and I made the trip there and back in one day. It’s never gets boring though. Going over the large spans of water on those high bridges still gives me a fantastic rush.

My doctor informed me that I had lost 30 pounds so far and that I was doing great. “I feel great.” I replied. I am no longer in plus size clothes and had to stop wearing my rings since they just slip off my slendering fingers!

So, now I’m on a soft food diet for a month. This means that I don’t need to puree my food anymore and can add hamburg and some cooked vegetables to my diet. So far so good but I will appreciate the day I can eat whatever I want again. Never the less, Christmas dinner tasted really, really good.

If you are contemplating on of having a gastric bypass surgery, I suggest that you consider the Highland Hospital in Rochester, New York. The website address is www.urmc.rochester.edu/hh/services-centers/bariatrics/. It is a very informative site and should answer any of your questions then you will need to talk to your doctor to start the proceedings with OHIP. It is not a decision to enter into lightly. Your way of life as you know it now will be changed forever. You need to have a lot of self-discipline to be able to stick with the diet plans and the surgery itself was a bit painful. For me though, it was well worth it. I am no longer a diabetic and can get around with greater ease.  

I head back down on the 22nd of January for another follow-up visit. My parents will be in sunny Florida by then so my husband and I will be making the trip. Stay tuned.

-The Nootka Indians of the Pacific Northwest consider a girl’s first period a time to test her physical endurance. She is taken way out to sea and left there. She must then swim back to shore on her own, where she is greeted and cheered by the whole village.

-Among the Aborigines of Australia, a girl is treated to the tradition of “love magic” when she gets her first period. The women of the tribe sing and teach her about the female powers and the physical changes that mark womanhood.

-The Tiv tribe in Nigeria literally mark a girl at the time of her first period. Four lines are cut into her abdomen. The remaining scars represent her womanhood and are thought to make her more fertile.

A few years ago, Linda Ashford did a favour for a friend. “I was asked if I could help pack up a house. I packed up a lot of real nice stuff, including 15 boxes of pure crystal and loads of antiques. The next time I saw my friend, I casually asked her what became of all the items and was told that they all went to the dump!” Linda’s friend proceeded to tell her that the company that she works for also has to pay the dump fees which can become quite costly. Linda couldn’t believe that all those beautiful objects simply went into the dump and asked her friend for her boss’s name and phone number.  Linda called and offered to buy the next estate items. An agreement was made that saved the company money and helped the environment.                                                                                                                                     

Linda began holding lucrative yard sales. She then came across an advertisement, stating that the old Pub 63 in Redbridge was for sale. A few short months later, Linda was open for business.                                                                                                                                                          

Estate Finds and Flea Market is turning 2 years old this month and business is great. Linda and her daughter Tammy receive calls from real estate agencies that need to clear the homes out for the new owners. The mother and daughter team usually take one to two days to completely clear out the estate at no charge.                                                                                                                                                           

Linda feels that donating to the less fortunate is essential. “I donate the clothes to the diabetic association as well as kitchen supplies to a local handicap association. I also donate all the medical supplies I receive and provide items to a woman who sells them to raise funds for Nicaragua.”            

Linda’s hobby is dog breeding. “I breed French Bull Dogs and Boston Terriers who are all CKC registered.”            

Written by: Victoria Evangeline Reed