My eating habits as a child and young adult..... and..... addiction....

In coming up with a new life-long committment to eating healthier, I have done a lot of introspection into my childhood.  Understanding that bigger picture has helped me deal with the changes I am making.  A big part of the whole process deals with "attitude".  I will get to an explanation of that after I go through some basics of my childhood.

When I think back to Lil' Amy during my days in elementary school, I remember that I was always the tallest child.  We often had our class pictures taken based on each person's height, and I am often at the top of the picture.  2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th and 6th grades, I was usually the tallest in the group.  I think I reached my current height of 5'2" in Jr. High.  I started wearing a bra in 3rd grade.  I didn't notice any of my classmates wearing bras then!  I started having regular monthly periods in 4th grade.  I didn't notice any of my classmates having to deal with that yet!  By 5th and 6th grade, I was as tall as my teachers.  Most of my classmates, even the boys, were shorter than I was.  I'm not exactly sure what effect this had on me, but I think I felt "superior" in some ways to my classmates.  I was "The Big Girl".  At that time, I wasn't really "fat", but I was bigger overall, and maybe a bit chubbier than the other kids my age.  

I was an only child at home.  We moved twice to completely new communities - once, from a suburb of Dayton to Lima during the summer between 1st and 2nd grade, and again from Lima to Milan during the summer between 10th and 11th grade.  Those two times were big changes for me.  I lost friends during each move, and I felt lonely until I was able to get involved with new people.  During those times of loneliness with no friends or siblings to do things with, I spent a lot of time sitting in front of the TV..... snacking.  At my house, we always had snack food: cookies, chips, candy, crackers, ice cream, cakes and pies. I always had the freedom to eat what I wanted to eat, and I don't remember ever being told not to.  Yes, I was "bigger", but I was getting taller, so maybe that balanced out in my mother's eyes?  Maybe my mother allowed me to eat what I wanted because she thought it would help me deal with my loneliness?  Looking back on it now, I think the food world of the '60s and '70s was very different than it is now.  Newer, tastier snacks just kept appearing on grocery shelves! Why not buy them and enjoy them?  

Looking back now, I also think about meals that were a big part of my life. My mother and both of my grandmothers were great cooks.  They each prepared a lot of food, and in retrospect, it wasn't what we would call "healthy" today.  My mother did a lot of frying.  She put sugar on veggies and fruits.  (Do we really need sugar on a bowl of strawberries, now?)  Salads were loaded with a lot of dressings. We always had pies or cakes or ice cream for dessert - every night! We always had enough food to have seconds.  To me, all of what Mom made was "delicious",  "tasty", "filling".  Now, I know it wasn't "nutritious". Our meals were dominated by some sort of meat:  Steak, Chicken, Pork Chops, Ham.  The secondary item was usually a type of potato or noodle, and veggies were a small part of the meal.  

 I think Mom did most of her cooking to please Dad.  Dad's mother was also a fabulous cook, and he had grown up with that.  Grandma T. also did a lot of frying and baking.  She used a lot of heavy grease in her foods, and she also found ways to add sugar to almost everything.  Everytime I ate at Grandma's house, I was given a huge amount of fried foods that now are a huge turn-off.  And, "Grandma's noodles"  - OH MY GOODNESS - they were sooooo delicious!  Now, the very thought makes my stomach turn..... They were cooked in lard!!  (If you don't know what lard is, I give you permission to look it up!) Just imagine frying heavily breaded chicken in bacon grease!  Grandma was also known for her fruit pies..... very thick and heavy crusts, and a TON of sugar in and on the pie. 

All of that fried and sugary food is what I grew up with - seasoned with all the "snacks" that I ate.  As I look back on it now, I believe that eating all of that made me an addict with an addiction to fats and sugars ... particularly CHOCOLATE!  Yes, I now know I am a "chocoholic".  

As an adult, I kept eating what I was raised eating.  During the '80s and into the '90s, I kept up with fried chicken and mashed potatoes.  I kept up with burgers and french fries.  I ate processed foods like hotdogs, and a lot of ice cream and cookies.  Always cookies.... and candy.... always chocolate cookies and candy. Chocolate chip cookies and M&M's...........  Always. 

I deserved all of that..... right?  I was "entitled".....  right?

When I was in college I hit 200#.  After college, I kept going up and up.... eventually getting to the 280# range in the late '90s and early 2000s.  I got myself down to the 260s about 17-20 years ago, but there I was..... I was still 5'2" tall..... and was now "fat".  Eventually, both knees gave out, and I had replacements in 2013 and 2018.  I developed thyroid issues and started meds for that.  I developed Sleep Apnea issues and started using a CPAP machine in 2000. 

As you know - I tried the Weight Watchers approach.  That didn't work..... and now I have a new plan  - A Lifelong Goal.  This time I will be healthier and happier and live longer! As of today, I am down to 226#.  I will continue work on losing weight.

The 2nd part of my Big Picture is to focus on FITNESS!  Stay tuned, and I will go into that next....

I hope you enjoy a healthy, nutritious meal today!  

Hugs,

😎 Amy

A New Lifelong Journey has begun!

 Hello Friends,

To those of you who have been avid readers of my blog over the years, you may remember having read about my journey through Weight Watchers, starting back in September of 2015.  While that was a successful endeavor allowing me to lose 55 pounds over about 2 years, once I ended being in that program, I started to gain back most of what I had lost.  I started WW at 260 pounds and got down to 205.  Sadly, I need to report that by October 2024, I was back up to 253 pounds.  This was a very sad reality, and I knew I had to deal with it.... again!

Let's turn the clock back, just a bit... 

As of the Summer of 2022, I have been involved in working with a trainer every week.  His name is Andy.  I have also worked for a couple of years before that with his wife Laura, a nutrition specialist.  This couple has been working together for several years to build a strong program to help their clients meet lifelong goals of getting healthier and stronger.  I had been getting bits and pieces of their program, but I really wasn't putting it all together as a lifelong goal.  Once I started seeing that scary 250 pound number on my scale, I realized that I had to make some changes.  I decided to join their fitness program.  I committed to a goal that should take me through the rest of my life being healthier and stronger and helping me to lose and MAINTAIN a healthier weight.  

For the next few blogs, I would like to share how this program works and show what it is doing for me.  Ultimately, my Life Goal is to spend the rest of my life making healthy choices so that I can stay strong and fit forever.  I want to be the healtiest I have ever been in my life.... for the rest of my life. 

Having that plan internalized now, I realize that I can't do what I did before in Weight Watchers.  The WW plan mainly involves counting calories and maintaining those calories to lose weight.  Granted, that works, short term.  However, once you are no longer following WW and counting calories, it is very easy to gain back what you lost.  

The program that I am now in has 2 main parts.  Here is Part 1: 

A big portion of the new fitness program that I am following now involves establishing a healthy way of making the best choices of food.  It's not about counting calories, and eating anything in smaller amounts.  This is about learning what the healthy foods are, and building your life around those food choices... forever.  

The main foods that should be 99-100% of your consumption involves eating a sustainable amount of protein daily, and eating a good quantity of healthy vegetables and fruits.  That's it:  Protein and Vegetables/Fruits.  Period.  

Here are my food choices:

• Protein:  Eggs, Chicken, Turkey, Salmon, Shrimp, Scallops, Cod, small amounts of cheeses. (Personally I do not eat beef, and the only pork I eat is bacon, which I have rarely.)  
• Veggies: Broccoli, Asparagus, Cauliflower, Carrots, Green Beans, Zucchini/Squash, Mushrooms, Tomatoes, Lettuces, Spinach, Kale,  (primarily all fresh - not canned)
• Fruits: Avocados, strawberries, blueberries, other berries, small apple pieces.  Some other fruits are fine in small amounts but I avoid pineapple, melons and bananas. 
• Soups: I rarely eat canned soup, and I try to eat the healthiest options if I need to have soup.  Usually, in the winter, I make my own soup. 
• Rice is very limited.  
• I will eat a small serving of pizza on a cauliflower crust with limited cheese, and good protein like grilled chicken. 
• Beverages for me are water, iced tea, coffee. Very rarely, I drink 1 glass of wine. That's it.  

------------------------------

Here is what I do NOT eat:

• Gluten - no breads, no pasta, no foods made with flour like muffins, cakes or cookies.  
• Potatoes - no form - not baked, mashed, fried... 
• Egg yolks - they upset my digestive system. 
• Milk or milk products, ice cream or other desserts that are high in sugar. 
• Packaged foods like cereals, crackers (even gluten-free crackers). 

---------------------

My favorite meal is a nice piece of salmon or grilled chicken with a nice helping of asparagus and broccoli.  

I also enjoy a salad with a good variety of nutritious lettuces, some veggies added like carrots, blueberries, tomatoes, avocados, and some grilled chicken or shrimp.  I am also selective about nutritious dressings in small amounts.  I like to use guacamole as my dressing if I  can.  

My favorite breakfast is a white omelet (3 egg whites) with zucchini, mushrooms, spinach, and a protein like chicken, turkey, salmon.  I make them myself, but many restaurants also make them to order.  They will also add avocado slices - YUM!

I've been following this plan since October 2024.  As of now, I've lost about 25 pounds!

Ok - that's a basic rundown on Part 1 of this fitness program.  Thanks for reading, and stick with me.  Next, I will get into Part 2!

Happy Munching!

😋 Amy

More of Franklin Park Conservatory

 One display that we enjoyed involved items made of Legos.  Some were quite large and complex.  All were colorful and interesting, and they were set in a themed landscape that added to their impact.  

Here are some photos to enjoy:

It was a lovely day to enjoy these exhibits!  Thanks for viewing these photos!  I will be adding more displays on another day!  

Happy Reading!

😊  Amy

Franklin Park Conservatory

 On Monday, July 21, 2025, I visited The Franklin Park Conservatory.  Attached below are some of the Bonsai Trees that they have on display:

    This is a FIG tree.  

This is a Crape Myrtle

This is a Willow Leaf Fig

This is a Pitanga

This is a Natal Plum

Visiting the conservatory was a lovely experience!  I will share more photos in the next few days!  Stay tuned!

😊Amy

Moons....

 I am totally fascinated by them, and I try to get a full moon photo every month.

Here is my collection for the first half of 2025: (Yes, they really are different colors!) 

                                                       1-13-25 - Wolf Moon

                                                    2-10-25 - Snow Moon

3-13-25 - Worm Moon 

4-14-25 - Pink Moon

5-11-25 - Flower Moon 

6-10-25 - Strawberry Moon

7-10-25 Buck Moon

Here are some other special effects so far this year:

2-1-25 Crescent Moon and Venus

3-13-25 Eclipse

3-13-25 Rising in the Trees

6-2-25 Perfect Half Moon in Daylight

7-4-25 Pudgy Half Moon in Daylight

Getting "A Dream Job"

 In the late fall of 2021, I was contacted by a former English colleague from North who was working in the Department of Teaching and Learning at The Ohio State University.  She was working with students who wanted to become teachers and were enrolled in the Student Teacher program.  She worked with a cohort of juniors in the ILA section (Integrated Language Arts), and she was wondering if I would be willing to work with them for the Spring Semester of 2022.  

At that time, I had improved quite a bit after my surgery, but I explained to her that I wasn't going to be able to travel to the main campus.  She said that was fine - everything I would be asked to do would be done online through Zoom and email.  At that time, OSU was still working mostly remotely due to the Covid Pandemic.  (Btw, I had been vaccinated in January or February of 2021 when I was still employed at my school, before my brain surgery.) 

Starting in January of 2022, I met with my group of juniors in Zoom meetings.  I think I had about 30 students, so we did Zoom meetings in smaller groups.  During those meetings (called "Recitations"), I discussed various topics related to Student Teaching which they would be doing in the following school year.  I found these meetings to be very rewarding, and I looked forward to each one.  

As those meeting were ending in March/April, I had an interesting conversation with my colleague about what happens next when the juniors move into their senior year and start doing student teaching.  She explained to me about how the STs get Supervisors who observe and evaluate them.  She told me more about that, and I asked if maybe I could try that.  She indicated that there would be 3 seniors doing their Student Teaching at North, and I could Supervise them if I wanted to give it a try.....

That was the beginning of what would become my DREAM JOB!  

For 3 school years ('22-'23, '23-'24, '24-'25) I have been employed by OSU as a Student Teacher Supervisor.  In August of each year, I am given a group of Student Teachers assigned to schools in my general area.  I try to stick with Westerville, Olentangy, and Worthington - I have indicated that I don't want to have to drive to Dublin or Hilliard or go to Columbus City Schools.  I can take English Student Teachers (STs) in grades 7-12.  I am asked to work with the STs and their Mentor Teachers (MTs).  My specific job is to observe their work in their classroom and then meet with both of them to discuss their activity.  During semester 1, I will observe 3 times (Sept, Oct, Nov), and during semester 2, I will observe 4 times (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr).  

I am also asked to meet with my cohort of STs in Recitations every other week.  Sometimes, I can do that in person with a small group in one district or building, but usually we meet as a larger group in a Zoom meeting.  

The ST program is governed or "graded" based on a CPAST document (Candidate Preservice Assessment of Student Teaching) which provides a list of skills that need to be demonstrated and observed.  During semester 1, the STs are given a Pre-CPAST form which has a partial list of skills, and for semester 2, they get a complete CPAST form.  At the start of the school year, we spend some time discussing each skill on the list.  They are also given a master document that gives detailed information about what is expected with each skill on the list.  During each semester, the STs get their grade based partly on attendance, but more largely on how they are doing with the skills on the CPAST form.  

In Dec or Jan of each year, I write Letters of Recommendation for my STs to use as they begin to apply for jobs.  Often I am contacted by school administrators to discuss my STs before they are hired.  

This "Dream Job" has been very rewarding for me.  I love being able to share my 36 years of knowledge with future teachers. When I was teaching, I was lucky to have had 10 STs of my own, and I got to see what that was like for them.  I feel very fortunate to get to work in the program at OSU.  The fact that they send STs out into their classrooms for a whole school year is an incredible asset to their program, and I feel honored to get to be a part of that.  

Thanks for reading!  Enjoy your July day! I hope to see you again, soonly!

😎 Amy

It was the size of a tennis ball...

That's what I was told about my meningioma by my surgeon when he met me in the hospital the day after my diagnosis.  

I asked if it had to be removed.  He said that it would keep getting bigger and keep impinging on my brain in ways that it would eventually interfere with my ability to function. So this wasn't something I had to avoid.  My meds allowed me to function fairly normally even though I wasn't allowed to drive, but that would only last for so long.  

There was quite a bit of confusion about when my surgery would happen.  Initially, I was given a date in September.  However, that was a problem for my insurance coverage.  As a retiree, I was still covered by my health insurance from my job as a teacher, and that would last until the end of August.  Starting Sept. 1, I would start a new insurance plan under my retirement package from STRS.  After several conversations about the importance of having my surgery in August, that was finally set for August 26.  Then there were several changes made about which hospital this would actually take place in.  My surgeon preferred the facilities at Mount Carmel East, so eventually, that is where I went! 

In the years since my brain surgery, I have shared much information about it with students in the anatomy classes at Westerville North.  I created a slide presentation that explains much about the whole process.  I will attach a link here for you to look at if you are interested in more details:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/13ND1WSwIO4huFBXQenmwDUKyPm-vP6AQ7YzpUvAroME/edit?usp=drive_link

I came home from the hospital on August 31.  The recovery process was very interesting and took a few months before I was really mentally functional again.  I was told that I would have therapy, but that didn't start for several weeks.  During that time, I relied heavily upon my husband and my cousin to help me regain my normal brain power.  Initially my short term memory was strongly affected, and I had trouble coming up with the right words to express my thoughts.  

My cousin was great about taking me for walks and making sure I took my meds on time.  My husband worked with me on reviewing words using flashcards.  He also encouraged me to write down names I needed to relearn like banks, grocery stores, streets and addresses.  My husband also created slide shows of famous people, and I had to guess their names.  Sometimes it helped if he could give me their initials.  

As soon as I woke up in the hospital, I could state my name, birthdate, SSNumber, as well as that info about my husband.  Knowing that much was a good sign.  It took about 2-3 months before I regained a lot of memories and was able to have mostly normal conversations with my friends.  I tried reading books, but at first, that was a bit overwhelming.  I also couldn't play word games for the first couple of months.  

I still have trouble remembering some words and names.  When I struggle over a word, I need to repeat it many times or write it down many times to make it a more common memory.  

I am also taking Keppra again to keep from having brain seizures.  After my surgery, I didn't have any seizures for many months, but there came a time when I started having them frequently.  That was a sign that the scar tissue in my brain was changing and evolving.  My seizures are very mild.  They usually cause a tingling sensation that goes through my body, but it only last for a minute or so and is not debilitating at all.  I will likely need to take meds to control this for the rest of my life.  

For several years after my surgery, I needed to have an MRI done annually to make sure there is no sign of a new brain tumor.  So far so good!  

The main experience of dealing with my meningioma was about the last 6 months of 2021. I feel very fortunate that I had a great surgeon and excellent hospital care. I now have a tennis ball printed with "Amy's Meningioma 2021" on it.  It was a life-changing experience that I will never forget!

Thanks for listening!  

🙌 Have a great day!  

Amy

Moving on from a career in teaching ...

 A major change in my world came in the spring of 2021, when I officially retired as a teacher in the Westerville City Schools.  The choice to retire was filled with many mixed feelings:

• I had taught high school English, Speech, and Theatre for 36 years. That was my life!
• I turned 62 that spring. I was getting a bit tired, and was a bit out of the loop. 
• I finally reached the top of the pay scale at WCS! (As a side note, when I was hired in Westerville, I had 16 years of experience, but was placed at 10 years on the pay scale, so it took me a little longer to get to the top!) 
• I was entering the State Teachers Retirement System at a good place regarding benefits and health insurance coverage.
• I was looking forward to a break in the routine, but I knew I was going to miss that big part of my world.  

When the Covid Pandemic hit, that was a big incentive for me to grab on to this retirement option. In March of 2020, we all had to do "school from home" for the rest of the school year, and for the 2020-2021 school year, I was teaching half of the student body from home through an online English program.  I spent all day every day sitting in front of my computer keeping up with what my 150 students were doing - or NOT doing, as the case may be. This was exhausting and frustrating as I watched many of my students fade out of "doing school".  Some succeeded, some just got by, and some totally failed.  In the spring of 2021, I indicated to my principal that I would stay on if they wanted me to continue with the home schooling for English, but that was not going to be happening, so I indicated that I would be retiring.  Period.

I knew I had to have something productive to do, so I got involved immediately at WARM - Westerville Area Resource Ministry.  WARM provides food assistance to anyone living in the Westerville School District who meets income eligibility requirements.  I went in as a volunteer, and tried several different jobs. I ended up choosing to be a Dry Goods Stocker. I did that every week for about a month.  As a Stocker, I would go through the boxes and bins in the warehouse to pull items that were needed on the Market Shelves.  One thing I learned very quickly is that I didn't have much strength in my back.  Part of that was from my age.  Part of that came from sitting in front of my computer for more than a year instead of walking around a large school building every day! As I tried to lift and move boxes of canned goods, I learned that I needed to gain some strength in my back!!!  I really enjoyed my first month at WARM, and I knew I was going to stay active there.....

And then.... all of my work at WARM stopped on July 4 when I was diagnosed with a brain tumor in the ER at St. Ann's Hospital.  I had a Meningioma that had been growing in my brain for about 20 years.  I was put on heavy meds (Levetiractam or Keppra), told I wasn't allowed to drive, and the work began to schedule me for brain surgery.  

Stay tuned... in my next entry, I will explain more about my surgery and recovery period. 

Thanks for joining me again!  Feel free to comment on my blog entries as the spirit moves you!

Stay Happy and Enjoy the Summer Weather!  

😊 Amy

Review and Proceed

 Hello to anyone who might receive a link to this blog!  

A couple of days ago, I happened to be browsing my links, and magically my blog appeared!  WHAT?  Until I saw the familiar icon, I didn't remember that I had kept a blog from 2011-2020.  I have reread parts of it, so far, and I am thrilled that I found it!

At the time I started it, I don't think I was very active on Facebook because I was still teaching full time, and I didn't feel I should do much on Facebook.  Once I retired, I became active on Facebook, and I guess that is why my blog faded into the background.  I am no longer active on Facebook, and while I am now on BlueSky,  I don't post too much there.  I think I am going to try to get back into blogging.... we'll see how that goes!  If you are linked here as a "follower", you are welcome to read and leave your comments.  Let me know if you want me to remove you from my list.

In reviewing some of my posts, I am reminded of the many changes that have happened in the last 5 years:

• In May of 2021, I retired from teaching English at Westerville North High School.
• In June of 2021, I began to do volunteer work at WARM. 
• In July of 2021, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
• In January of 2022, I began working at OSU in the Teacher Training deparment.
• Due to the Covid Pandemic, much has changed in the world.
• Due to the election of a MAGA Republican to the Presidency, much has changed in the world. 

All of these events have changed my world, and it is based on those changes that I will restart my blog.  Join me, if you so desire....