Don't Forget Your Pet's Health

My cats are my fur children. They rely on me to provide a good, happy, healthy home for them. That was the promise I made when I invited them into my life. Yes, at times it can be expensive and sure I would rather spend money on shoes than extremely high vet bills not covered under my health insurance, but they are my fur children and worth it. I have met many people who don't understand it, maybe people who think having pets is actually gross. Fur in the home, eww. Those people I will never understand. 

I love coming home from work and they greet me at the door

And they love to rub on my nice pants to work....silly girls

After some recent health issues with my one cat Chelsea I got to thinking...if I am eating better quality food why wouldn't I give the same good quality to my cats. So after MUCH trial and error, anyone with cats can relate to the food struggle, I found one they both agreed on. Until recently...

My cat Chelsea needed to have 4 teeth pulled! My poor fur baby. My poor wallet!  But it was for her health and happiness, I couldn't not have the procedure done. When I went to pick her up the vet informed me she could only eat wet food for a few weeks. WHAT?!?! My cats never liked wet food and now I have to switch both of them. No way am I going to stick Chelsea in a room alone without her sister for a few weeks just for food. So I went and picked up wet food.. The first day was okay, mostly because she was starving and ate everything. The second day they decided they did not like that food any more...back to the store I went. This went on for days. They would stand in the kitchen meowing and yelling at me because they were hungry and missed the dry food. About a week later I was having tea at my parent's house and was telling my mom what was going on. She said it's been about a week how about a very thin dry food easy to crunch on. Luckily my mom had gone through a food change recently and had some different foods for me to bring home and let them try.  

My girls

Mom and I also got to talking about my cats weight. I told her I noticed they both seemed to have put on weight. At first I thought it was just winter puff, but now I wasn't so sure. She asked me how many calories were in the food I was giving them. I was stumped. Calories in cat food?? I never thought about it. She explained she went through something similar with her cat Sammy and him putting on weight and needing to drop the lbs because it wasn't healthy for him. She said after doing research and looking around the best range for most cats is under 400 calories per cup. I looked up my cats food at the time and it was way into the 500 calorie range!! Well that explains a lot. It's just like with people, you eat too many calories you put on the fluff. We just don't look as cute with our fluff. 

My parent's cat Sammy...before losing weight

Sammy after losing weight...he even looks happier

Now started the journey of finding a new cat food that was healthy for them, fit my budget, and they would actually both eat. Petsmart to the rescue!! The best part about Petsmart is they allow you to return opened bags of food. My wallet loves them so much. I also have to thank Jay for being so patient with me as we stopped in before dinner one night so I could pick new food. I looked through bags and bags reading labels and rambling on about calories, taste, and price. I picked a few and brought them home. The results...Abby liked one but struggled to eat the pieces, Chelsea liked another but Abby did not, and the third they both ran away from. Back to PetSmart I went. I returned the other ones and picked up 4 new ones. I decided this time to try them out like a kitty buffet. I put a little of each in separate bowls and would see which bowl got eaten the quickest. So far it appears the Purina Naturals is in the lead...closely followed by Iams Proactive. They want no part of the Hills Science Diet. 

Current situation in my kitchen
I could be a satellite store for PetSmart

Current three foods the girls are taste testing. The middle is Purina, Iams in on the right, and The Hills is to the left

I am just happy they eating again and we are getting back on the path of healthy eating for them and me!! I learned a lot about my cat's health these last few months and I plan on learning more. Have to keep them happy and healthy!

Abby girl playing

Fluffy Chelsea taking in some sun while napping

21 Day Fix...Round 1 Complete

21 days ago I started this new program. I said I can do this and I will do this. I remember the first workout I did, I thought why am I torturing myself again. Maybe being unhealthy isn't so bad. I'm not sure I can do this, but I pushed on. I was so sore the next day and yet I felt proud.

Me, after my first 21 Day Fix Cardio Workout
Someone please peel me off the floor

So 21 days later and here is my update...

I could show you my before and after measurements and weight, but I don't need to because the truth is nothing much changed...well...the things that changed can not be shown in numbers. Now before you go and say the program wasn't a success, let me be honest and say I don't blame the 21 Day Fix program at all. The program definitely did not tell me to binge eat on peanut butter at least once a week. The program definitely did not tell me to eat carrots like my life depended on it (yes, even carrots have limits to what should be consumed). I did all of that on my own. While I eat healthy foods, I tend to binge on those foods, making them not so healthy.

This is the most delicious peanut butter ever!!
But, until I get my peanut butter binge under control, not allowed in my home. 

Now for the positives.... while the numbers are the same, my strength has greatly improved!!  I can do push-ups, yes plural, more than one during a set. I have never ever been able to do a push-up. Now I can. I can do lunges and squats...I can up my weights for some exercises. I can do a few more crunches than I was able to when I first started. This gives me hope, so much hope.

Abby helping me workout
You've heard of downward dog...this is downward cat

LOOK!  Muscle!! They were not there 21 days ago.
I can't wait to see results after round 2!

The numbers may not have changed,
but I'm starting to feel better in my own skin

Besides the physical aspect, there is also the mental aspect. I am proud of myself for getting up at 5 am every morning to make sure I got my workout in. Even when the night before may have been a peanut butter binge night, I still got up and worked out. I didn't once say, I give up. I've also realized, even more, that the stress of my life is starting to take a toll on me. Since January it has been non-stop. My job is crazy right now. My cat needed dental surgery (scary as a kitty mom and expensive). I have bills that need to be paid. And I am still healing from all of last year. I realized I am a HUGE emotional eater, especially at night when I am sooo tired; I've noticed I tend to eat instead of think. I am hoping now that I realize consciously how bad it has gotten I can help myself a little better to prevent it.

Proud of myself for not giving up, even after binge nights.
Proud of the sweat on my face!

Big relief having her surgery over.
She had to have 4 teeth pulled, poor fluffy baby

I know life can get busy and out of control, but I also know right now I need to find my balance and happy place. So my plan is to make sure I don't over jam pack my weeks, especially after work. Some plans may just have to wait until another week. I need to spend more time relaxing, having fun, and playing with my cats. I am going to look for better ways to handle my nighttime eating, I picked up some new tea to try and that might help keep my mouth busy and my taste buds happy.

I love yogi teas!
They have such a good variety I want to try them all

As for 21 Day Fix...bring on round 2! I am so excited to start another round. I feel this time I am even more prepared mentally and psychically. Originally, I posted that I was going to follow their eating plan, but have ultimately decided to hold off and go back to tracking calories with MyFitnessPal. That is a system I know very well and I think it will allow me to track, be aware, but not overly worried about how many fruits I eat in a day. Some days I don' even want fruit, on the 21 Day Fix plan they have built-in allotments. If after Round 2 I don't see results, guess what I am going back for Round 3 and will try the eating plan their way.

Get ready myfitnesspal...I am back!

I've come to realize this isn't about perfection, this isn't about failure, this is about finding what works for the long term. This is about real life. This is about helping myself. This is about finding inner strength and never giving up on myself.

I need to find a good balance in life not just about work and health but that also includes.....

Relaxing with my kitties (sweet Abby face)

Having more fun!
Shark selfie with Jay!!

Stopping each day to take a minute, breathe, say thank you and
appreciate the beauty in the day

Not giving up is already a huge success in my book!!