Posted on December 8, 2022 by Hangell531

Book Review: Storm Front by Jim Butcher

Genre

Mystery Thriller/ Suspense

Synopsis

My name is Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden. Conjure by it at your own risk. I’m a wizard. I work out of an office in midtown Chicago. As far as I know, I’m the only openly practicing professional wizard in the country. You can find me in the yellow pages, under Wizards. Believe it or not, I’m the only one there.

With rent past due and a decent meal becoming an issue of some importance, Harry needs work, and soon. A call from a distraught wife, and another from Lt. Murphy of the Chicago PD Special Investigation Unit makes Harry believe things are looking up, but they are about to get worse, much worse. Someone is harnessing immense supernatural forces to commit a series of grisly murders. Someone has violated the first law of magic: Thou Shalt Not Kill. Tracking that someone takes Harry into the dangerous underbelly of Chicago, from mobsters to vampires, while he himself is under suspicion of the crimes.

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Heidi’s Hot Take

I absolutely am loving The Dresden Files, but was surprised to see it was not included in paranormal mystery. My guess is because it created a new genre. It’s a genre I am a big fan of and even wrote my own series for the paranormal thriller/ suspense genre with Clear Angel Chronicles! But Harry Dresden is a trope maker, the self-aware curmudgeon, the sinner with a heart of gold. The guy who could have it all if he would just step on others to get it. Reading the first book in the series has been a delight. I have a hard time connecting him to the Harry Dresden of Legends of Tomorrow or even the Dresden Files TV series (both of which I experienced before reading the books.) I definitely love the author’s version so much more. We get a deeper look into this character who often comes of flippant and tortured, but getting to see his inner thought process is fascinating.

And that was far more interesting than the actual plot, with a magical serial killer on the loose. While that moved the story along, figuring out the killer was just not as interesting to me as trying to figure out our protagonist. That, to me, is so different from the TV series where the plot drove the story more for me. It could be the difference in age from the time I watched the series to the time I read, but honestly I suspect it is more to do with the format as I wrote Clear Angel Chronicles about the same time the TV series came out and yet my focus in the stories is much more on understanding the protagonists and solving the crimes is just a back story to guide the interactions of the MCs.

If you’ve not read the Dresden Files and you are a fan of paranormal thriller/ suspense and deep characters you really want to understand then I highly recommend you give this series a go. I am loving it and have already started on the next book in the series. Keep an eye out for that review coming soon!

You can get a sample read of Storm Front sent to your Kindle reader via Amazon.

Posted on December 7, 2022November 28, 2022 by Hangell531 — 4 Comments

December 2022 Update and IWSGQOTM

#IWSG QOTM Are the holidays a time to catch up or fall behind on writer goals?

Hello Lovelies,

I know it’s been a minute. The surgery took more out of me than I expected and while the results have been absolutely worth it (I’ve already lost 90 lbs!) I am still struggling to recover. I have just gotten to the point where I can manage more than just my health and day job but only a little bit more. I get about an hour a day to work on all the other things. I am striving to prioritize projects because jumping from one thing to the next doesn’t work. But I miss doing the Insecure Writer’s Support Group so here I am! and we have a great question of the month for December.

IWSG Question of the Month

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time – and return comments. This group is all about connecting!
Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post. And please be sure your avatar links back to your blog! Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

December 7 question – It’s holiday time! Are the holidays a time to catch up or fall behind on writer goals?

Usually, December is a slowdown on my goals as I am typically doing the 12 Days of Indie, a weeklong goals masterclass, and working on my Annual marketing and business plan. However, this year I am just ramping back up after surgery. I am going to do 12 Days of Indie very differently this year as past years have just been so time-consuming. If you are an author who would like to participate in this free marketing event, be sure to join my FB group Authors Anon as I will be sharing info closer to in that group.

If you struggle with setting and achieving your goals, be sure to join my DreamMaker Challenge as I will teach you how to set SMARTER goals and how to plan for both personal and professional goals and keep them on track throughout the year.

The awesome co-hosts for the December 7 posting of the IWSG are Joylene Nowell Butler, Chemist Ken, Natalie Aguirre, Nancy Gideon, and Cathrina Constantine!

Be sure to check out their posts in the IWSG, as well as all the other awesome authors who participate!

Stay tuned for some great reviews coming over the next few weeks as I catch up on my read and reviews.

Until next time,

Keep Reading!

Posted on December 4, 2022 by Hangell531

Book Review: The Devil’s Sea by Clive Cussler

Genre

Suspense Action Fiction

Synopsis

Fearless adventurer Dirk Pitt must unravel a historical mystery of epic importance in the latest novel in the beloved New York Times bestselling series created by the “grand master of adventure” Clive Cussler.

In 1959 Tibet, a Buddhist artifact of immense importance was seemingly lost to history in the turmoil of the Communist takeover. But when National Underwater and Marine Agency Director Dirk Pitt discovers a forgotten plane crash in the Philippine Sea over 60 years later, new clues emerge to its hidden existence.

But Pitt and his compatriot Al Giordino have larger worries when they are ordered to recover a failed hypersonic missile from Luzon Strait. Only someone else is after it, too…a rogue Chinese military team that makes their own earthshattering discovery, hijacking a ship capable of stirring the waters of the deep into a veritable Devil’s Sea.

From the cold dark depths of the Pacific Ocean to the dizzying heights of the Himalaya Mountains, only Dirk Pitt and his children, Summer and Dirk Jr., can unravel the mysteries that will preserve a religion, save a nation…and save the world from war.

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Heidi’s Hot Take

Anyone who knows me, knows I am a huge Dirk Pitt Fan, which is why when my husband saw this new Dirk Pitt while he was shopping, he had to pick it up for me. Talk about true love! The Devil’s Sea is a fantastic addition to the Dirk Pitt series. But I am struggling with Dirk Giordino’s seeming lack of aging, lol. I think my age is just catching up to me and making me more self-conscious. Cussler’s books do a fantastic job weaving real-world politics into their tales and this one is very focused on China and the conflict with Tibet and the Dalai Llama as well as how China is very much in a tech war with the US and possibly an arms war as well.

It is a fun light read full of ocean and mountain adventures, which are my favorite adventures, and plenty of action. If you are a Dirk Pitt fan, you will absolutely love this addition to the series!

Take a sneak peek on Amazon by listening to an audio sample or having a sample sent to your Kindle.

Until next time,

Keep Reading!

Posted on August 5, 2022August 9, 2022 by Hangell531

Book Review: The Self-Publishing Guru

Book Review: Self-Publishing Guru The Book Marketer

Genre:

Non-fiction, reference

Synopsis:

Great resource for any amazon author. This is helping me navigate so much for a first-time author. Saves a ton of time doing research.” Jim Rowe – Marketing Strategy & Branding Expert.

Do you want a career as a successful author?

You may have worked out how to get your book published for free and launch it on the world’s biggest retailer platforms — but you still need to make people buy it. Which is not always so easy! There are a million blog posts recommending the latest book marketing tips and tricks, but where do you start? How do you find the real book marketing secrets?

The Self-Publishing Guru is a list of must-have tools for new authors. As established authors, we offer you the benefit of our experience in sharing the most efficient and cost-effective resources to develop your author platform. Not everyone can afford a publicist and self-publishing on a budget is a reality for most new authors. We hope this free self-publishing guide will help you.

Start developing your self-publishing empire with this list of the most effective resources available to authors.

Heidi’s Hot Take

This was definitely not what I was expecting when I picked up the book. Each chapter is only 1-2 pages on average. There is not a whole lot of details on the “how” of publishing or marketing.

But it is an excellent reference guide with some great tips on free and reasonably priced tools, groups, and service providers to use for everything from editing to marketing. I’ve been in the industry since 2009, and published my first book in 2011. I would say that 90% of the references are ones that I have used and would recommend. Of the 10% I haven’t, they are definitely ones that I have heard recommended in reputable industry circles.

But I do worry for a complete noobie, there isn’t enough information to help them make the right approach or how to use the tools most effectively. Fortunately, they do offer courses on some of that and there are a lot of great resources out there that can help those who are middle of the game to make wise decisions as they traverse the resources. Worth every penny, but could have been a really fantastic resource if it had been fleshed out a bit more.

Want to check it out for yourself?

Take a peek on Amazon

Posted on August 3, 2022August 1, 2022 by Hangell531 — 6 Comments

August 2022 Update and IWSGQOTM

do you try to be more original or do you try to give readers what they want?

Hello Lovelies,

I am so sorry I missed last month’s check-in. Things have been a bit chaotic and last month was super stressful with a lot of things on hold. Fortunately, I am able to report that a lot of those things on hold have finally shifted and we are no longer stuck in a holding pattern!

My husband finally got and started a new job so the financial stress is slowly mediating itself. My son started his new job too so now we’re all working towards our goals!

I got my surgery approved the end of last month. It is scheduled for August 30th so this month is going to be very heavily focused on getting ready for that. I have to say, I’ve been very pleased with the last several months of progress. I’ve already lost 34 lbs so my liver should be nicely shrunk down and not impede surgery.

As a lot of my saved surgery money had to go to helping pay bills while my husband was unemployed, the next couple of checks will be focused on rebuilding that fund. Then we have to rebuild our general nest egg. But once that is done, back to focusing on re-releasing my books and courses. Still prepping everything so that once the money comes in I will be set to rapid re-release.

I expect the next couple of months to be very busy and very gratifying! Now, on to the IWSG question of the month!

IWSG Question of the Month

The awesome co-hosts for the August 3 posting of the IWSG are Tara Tyler, Lisa Buie Collard, Loni Townsend, and Lee Lowery!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.

Remember, the question is optional!

You ready?
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

When you set out to write a story, do you try to be more original or do you try to give readers what they want?

Honestly, none of my 1st drafts are focused on the reader. They are always focused on the story that needs to be told. When I am plotting, I will get the main points of the story I am inspired to share down. Then from those bones I will determine genre. If it isn’t one I have been reading a lot of lately, then I will do a quick bit of research on what are the most loved and hated tropes. (GoodReads forums are a great resource for this!) then determine which of them make sense for this story and figure out how to weave those in. Once I get the plotting done, I let my characters drive and direct them to the plot map when they start to veer off course.

It isn’t until the editing stage where my main focus becomes the readers. But even then, I am still staying true to the story I felt inspired to share. I am pulling quotes that I think will resonate with readers for advertising, tweaking sentences to make them more appealing to readers, and developing my reader personas for marketing purposes.

I believe there is an audience for every story. I don’t write my stories to that audience, I find the audience for the story.

I know this means a lot more work for me, but I don’t mind the extra work.

Thanks for stopping in.

Until next time,

Keep Writing!

Posted on June 1, 2022 by Hangell531 — 3 Comments

June 2022 Update and #IWSG Question

Hello Lovelies,

Whew, May was crazy busy, between promoting my challenges (which both kicked off today), wrapping up my PMP certification application, hitting the final stages of my surgery approval process, getting little man through to graduation, and helping both my men with their job hunt. Just reading all that made me tired! But as I am still the main provider in the household, no time to rest. June will be heavily focused on releasing my course Social Media 101, promoting my current offerings, re-releasing The Clear Angel Chronicles, and then finishing up with The Hunters Saga re-release. Plus I expect to get more information about sitting for the proctored PMP exam and prepping for surgery. I just started keto again for the surgery prep but there will be some additional steps a few weeks before surgery so… a lot going on! Whew.

#IWSG June Question of the Month

The awesome co-hosts for the June 1 posting of the IWSG are SE White, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguire, Joylene Nowell Butler, and Jacqui Murray!

Struggling with something to say?
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience, or a story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.

Remember, the question is optional!

When the going gets tough writing the story, how do you keep yourself writing to the end? If have not started the writing yet, why do you think that is and what do you think could help you find your groove and start?

This is actually something I’ve been struggling with a lot the last two years. Other than Las Immortales, which I wrote for the Halloween Frights, I’ve not written any new fiction in several years. I have figured out that part of the struggle is because I have all these other things I’m trying to re-release, and part of the struggle is just so much going on in my life and never having time to get back into my writing schedule. So that is why I have been systematically working on getting all that other stuff back out there then will tackle the writing of new projects. You know how you eat an elephant, right? One bite at a time. Same way you eat a herd of elephants. And with 17 books and 5 courses, I am definitely working through a herd, lol. But I can feel myself getting closer every day. And once I get this all worked down, I saw the most success when I was part of the 5 am writer’s club. I would write for an hour every day starting at 5 am. then go for a walk before getting ready for work. I expect to get back into that routine but instead of writing, I will be focusing on re-creating. Then that routine will be all set so I can move on to writing once I get stuff caught up!

How about you?

You ready?
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Until Next Time,

Keep Writing!

Posted on May 4, 2022May 3, 2022 by Hangell531 — 9 Comments

May 2022 Update and #IWSG Question

Hello Lovelies,

Man, oh, man. Where do I even begin? The May theme for IWSG re highs and lows accurately reflects how my April is going. From the weather not being able to decide if it is winter or summer to crazy chaos at the day job, to my becoming the sole provider of the family- this month has been a roller coaster of emotions and contingency planning. Going into May, I am still reeling. My first gut instinct was that I needed to start applying for new jobs. My commission-based job even in the best months barely made half of what he makes. And to say that commission hasn’t been great for a bit now would be an understatement.

But I haven’t finished my PMP Certification which would go a long ways toward me getting paid what I am actually worth. Plus, I’m so so close to approval for the surgery (all I have left is the surgeon’s consult then final approval from insurance.) I cannot throw out all I’ve worked for in hopes of getting a better-paying job. Statistically, my husband is more likely to get a new job than I am.

So we did a quick evaluation of our financial situation and agreed to stay the course but up the speed with which I am working towards those things. I also decided to finish up some merchandise listing on my site and to run The 30 Day Marketing Challenge and the DreamMaker Challenge in June, while offering up to 50% on everything in my store.

We have a razor-thin budget that will only last us 3 months if I don’t bring in more $$ and I would be crushed if this crisis completely derailed everything we’ve been working so hard for. That was struck home even more when I found out my company laid off a ton of people last week. The manager thought she was making me feel better by telling me that “you are not affected”. Yeah, sure, not affected at all. I’ve worked at enough start-ups to know that sudden and unplanned layoffs going into your busy season is not “what’s best for the company”. There is so much more they aren’t telling us. So I have to push everything in place as fast as possible because if I get laid off too?

Needless to say- still spinning contingency planning. But I REALLY feel like this month has just been this:

But I’m not Legolas.

#IWSG May Question of the Month

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time – and return comments. This group is all about connecting!

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Remember, the question is optional!

May 4 question – It’s the best of times; it’s the worst of times. What are your writer highs (the good times)? And what are your writer lows (the crappy times)?

This is so interesting as my Facebook buddy Devani Angeli shared a pretty cool thing that all creatives can really connect with, I think. And it really reflects the theme for this month.

What they don’t show you is that you go through this every. Single. Time. And sometimes you fall in the swamp and have to swim out, which also super sucks. And sometimes after you get out you are so coated in the muck that you can slip right before the finish and slide back in. Then have to clamber back out and fight through back to that peak “This is one I’m Proud of”.

I go through this process with every project- books, courses, creating challenges, building marketing plans, everything.

Creatives are not being melodramatic when we say that we put our blood, sweat, and tears (and money) into our projects. Authors calling books their book baby are not being hyperbolic. I’m a mom. I know.

But as brutal as most of the journey is, when it’s complete it is such a relief and so much pride. I would argue that the worse things go in the middle, the more rewarding the completion feels. That is such a rush.

I keep going back. I can’t help myself.

And I think part of the reason that I am struggling to re-do all my work is that it is not as much about the creative journey as it was. It is now just repackaging what I’ve already done.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below!

Don’t forget to check out the awesome co-hosts for the May 4 posting of the IWSG are Kim Elliott, Melissa Maygrove, Chemist Ken, Lee Lowery, and Nancy Gideon!

don’t miss the other participants in this Blog Hop!

Until next time,

Keep Growing!

Posted on May 2, 2022May 1, 2022 by Hangell531

Book Nerd Meets YouTube by Toi Thomas

I love books. Really. I love to read books and enjoy the stories or information within them. Being the geek girl that I am, I have room in my heart for music, movies, and TV too, but books are my first love. In the year 2022, there is so much more to being a book nerd than carrying an armful of books everywhere you go. These days, we have options.

I read hardcover and paperback books, ebooks in many formats, comic books and graphic novels, and even listen to audiobooks when I’m in the mood. I never leave home without a library of books between my e-reader and cellphone. But no matter how I get my read on, reading doesn’t have to be a solitary activity anymore. You can join a book club, do a buddy read, or dive into social media with cool apps like Goodreads and The StoryGraph, as well as the book communities on Instagram and Tik Tok. But the ultimate book nerd kick for me lately is Youtube.

Aside from YouTube being the ultimate entertainment spot for niche content, communities form quickly and grow quickly, such as #booktube and #authortube. As a book nerd, I’m all for both of these communities.

Booktube is where readers read and share their experiences and invite others to be part of it. This is a great way to find out about new and or trending books, watch book reviews, and share comradery with other readers.

Authortube is where writers and authors share their experiences of being a writer, often giving details about their process and their works, while also providing tips and advice to others seeking to publish in some form or fashion.

I knew I had to find a way to be part of these communities, so I launched my own channel and have never looked back. Every month, I look forward to updating viewers on how my reading challenges are going and then sharing my book reviews with them. Remember, I’m a geek girl, so I also throw TV and movie reviews in there from time to time and share Hauls of the geekish things I’ve acquired. I enjoy giving a monthly update on my writing. I also share an interview series where I have a conversation with authors from my local area as well as authors from around the world.

Like other authors out there, I also post book trailers and promotional content when it’s relevant. One of my favorite things to do, from time to time, is to share the blessings in my life. It helps keep me grounded. Maintaining my Toi Thomas YouTube channel is just another part of my bookish life. Perhaps, if you love books as much as I love books, you’ll stop by and check me out along with all the other amazing people in the #booktube and #authortube communities.

A self-proclaimed techie and foodie, Toi Thomas was born in Texas, U. S. A. but considers Virginia, U. S. A. to be home. She enjoys reading, cooking, painting, geek culture, collecting vinyl records, and spending time with her family. Currently working as a behavioral clinician, Toi and her husband, Eric, share their home with a tortoise named Betty and a Redbone Coonhound named Margie.

Toi writes clean, adult multi-genre fiction ranging from science fiction to romance (as Glorie Townson), nonfiction, as well as writes and illustrates children’s picture books. Toi Thomas is also the founder of Lit Carnivale and the creator of Carnie the Bookworm.

Find Toi online here: https://linktr.ee/toithomas Visit her channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/1ooking4ha99iness Visit her blog: The ToiBox of Words – https://etoithomas.com/blog Find her on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/toithomas

Posted on May 1, 2022 by Hangell531

An Angell’s Life of Health and Wellness Check in 5-1-22

Hello Lovelies,

For those who missed my last wellness check-in, you can check out my 4/10 check-in here. I am kinda sad I didn’t share last week’s weigh-in. I got excited to get down to 359 as it’s been a hot minute. Alas, this weigh-in I am back up to 365. This is my cycle. In the past, I would dig into the data and try to figure out why I gained weight and usually would not be able to find a clear reason (increased calories, lowered activities, etc) so then I would write it off as muscle gain. If you look at my pics for this week compared to the 10th, I do look more tone. Or it could just be the different lighting. IDK.

But I think it actually has to do with stress. Not stress-eating. Just stress. Between my husband losing his job, my webstore being broken, trying to get everything in place for the bariatric surgery, and then some chaos at my day job that is making me feel a ton of pressure about my current goals and strategies the last two weeks has been pretty high stress, with the highest stress hitting me Friday and Saturday.

Looking Back

Unfortunately, I still haven’t figured out the best way to share my tracking information, but bouncing between myfitnesspal tracking, my Samsung health app, and my notes, I *should* have lost 3-5 lbs. I have been consistently getting 5 days a week hitting over 40 min of physical activity.

In addition, I have consistently been using my 1-hour timer to get up and move on average 8 times a day/ tracking it 4 days a week. During my 4 ten-hour days it is really easy to track that. But I am also pretty good about staying moving on my 3 days off as I am doing chores in between working on my side hustles. I expect that is reflected in my over 40 min of activities.

Two weeks ago I had the psych evaluation needed before surgery. This week I had a nutritional consult. Based on both of those I feel like I am on track for getting the surgery approved by insurance. Based on the information from the nutritional consult, I feel in a better position to tweak and adapt my current menu planning to prepare for surgery. We went through all of our Tupperware and I have enough to plan 3-5 oz meals for 3 days. We plan to get enough to do 7 days of meal prep.

Moving Forward

I need to add stress management to my self-care routine. I also need to be more agile in my planning. I will continue to work on food prep (look forward to some new recipes on the site!) and meal planning. I will also continue to grow my activity levels. I am currently aiming for 2,500 steps a day (I know, so low) and I consistently hit it 4 days a week, but I’m not hitting it most days I am working my 10-hour shifts. I think that is in large part because the lunges, squats, weights, bands, and stretching I am doing every hour are not enough to trigger “steps” in my small office. Unfortunately, I don’t think I can add in more walking during those 4/10s with my time being really tight trying to bring in money to offset the loss of my husband’s income and ramping up my efforts for completing my PMP quickly. I don’t think I will change my step goals at this time. I think I will strive to find a better tracking system that will allow me to compare all my data side by side. If you have a suggestion for a tool that works with Samsung health, please let me know.

If you’d like to look back on my journey, you can see other posts for my Health and Wellness journey here.

Until next time,

Keep Growing!

Posted on April 11, 2022 by Hangell531 — 1 Comment

An Angell’s Life of Health and Wellness Check in 4-10-22

Hello Lovelies,

For those who missed my April update, I shared some progress on my health and wellness front. I announced then some exciting news about a surgery to help me with my wellness goals and that I was going to get back to my weekly accountability tracking here on the site. Talk about perfect timing. The very next day, I got notification of my pre-approval with insurance for the surgery. The same day my husband was terminated from his job.

So yeah, been a lot of feels this weekend.

Fortunately, the approval was through my insurance with my job so we decided to keep moving forward with the plan and hope that he is able to get another job before then to help cover the costs.

Then I ran into another frustration. Previously when I was sharing my tracking info, I was using Fitbit and Myfitnesspal. Since then my Fitbit died (again) so I decided to replace it with a Samsung Galaxy watch. My husband’s had lasted him well over a year so we figured it made more sense than replacing my Fitbit every 8 months or so. Lol. The downside is that Samsung doesn’t play nice with Myfitnesspal. It will only pull food tracking from myfitnesspal, but it won’t transfer activity to myfitnesspal. It also has kinda sad tracking data and none of the great charts I enjoyed with Fitbit.

So still trying to figure out how I am going to manage comparing the data just for me, let alone in a way that’s easy to share. I have a nutrition appointment on the 28th and hopefully they can give me some ideas. But in the meantime, I am focusing on tracking my food and using the exercise journal on Myfitness pal to track measurements, activities, and how I’m feeling.

Measurements

While I wasn’t tracking here, over the last year, I have been tracking periodically in Myfitnesspal. As you can see my numbers have really fluctuated over the last 6 months.

I was very excited when I got on the scale Sunday as I have lost weight and inches, even though it is still higher than it was at my peak.

Tracking my food has been trickier. I did a calculation back in December for my estimated cal count and was at 267 so have been aiming for 2100-2400 calories but I really struggle to get that many calories in. I still rarely if ever get hungry, but that was also what motivated me to explore this surgery.

Plan Moving Forward

Knowing that after the surgery I will be expected to maintain a diet of 70% protein 30% vegetables, I am transitioning to that diet model and am trying to be better about tracking.

I am also aiming to move every hour and add walking my dog and other physical activity lasting more than 20 minutes. I had a blast going swimming on Saturday and am trying to figure out how I can justify the cost of an annual membership again, but hesitant to do that until we get my husband’s job situation sorted out. But I will aim for 40 minutes of physical activity 3 days a week without injury.

Wish me luck!

Until next time,

Keep Growing!

If you would like to see my weight-loss Journey, you can check that out here: