Agent Jake of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Look what I got! Mom got them in the mail, it's badges made like the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on TV and movies! Mom made one for all of us... it was after Zoya passed away so we didn't get her one, but it's okay.

Mom said that the height options were too big for me and Atom, so she just did the smallest size for Atom and then a few inches bigger for me. And there wasn't an option for "Tri-Color" under hair color so Mom just picked "other".

Beagle Diet Progress - October Updates

     So it's been a while....

     As far as my knee goes, I'm feeling a lot better. I only take the pain medicine every now and then. At first I would take 1/2 tablet every morning. You only take it once a day because it's really strong, and actually the Doctor said that the 1/2 tablet was slightly more than what I should have but it was okay. I was also taking another medicine everyday too for pain. And the Doctor gave me these chewable supplements to help my knees and other joints feel good despite my arthritis.

     I feel old.... there's really no getting past it. But I don't have to let it keep me down.

     I started going for slightly longer walks in the morning. It's much cooler now since the Summer is over. A little chilly some mornings but I can handle it.

     Anyway, during the past few months while I've been recovering from my partial-tear ACL injury I've watched what I ate and I've tried to stay motivated. Mom tries to remember to pick up the food dish at night before it gets too late. She said that for people, you have to stop eating a few hours before you go to bed otherwise you just pack on extra weight from the food you ate because you didn't have enough time to digest and use it. She thinks it might be similar for Beagles -- well, for dogs in general but in my case for Beagles specifically.

    The thing is, I'm not hungry during the day. I try to eat but I just don't want anything. Mom laughs because if she offered me something other than my regular food she's certain I'd be hungry for it!

    I'm trying to drink more water too... I don't know if Beagles store water-weight like people, but Mom talked about that too and so she makes sure the water dish is always clean and full. Zoya makes a mess... she drinks from the water dish but it's like she has no clue what she's doing! Slop! Splash! Slop! Splash! Slop! Splash! and then when you check, half the water is on the floor around the dish and the other half is all over her face!

    Mom knows this though, that's why she tries to clean the dish as soon as Zoya finishes.

    So we lost track of my Beagle Diet.... we were tracking the days and weeks but we lost track because so much time was spent just HEALING.  It's okay.  It doesn't matter where you start or continue something, what's important is that you start and/or continue it to the end.... right?

    What else is knew...?

    Mom and Dad had to go away for a week last month, and that wasn't too bad. I don't like when they go away though. The boarding place is nice, and they make sure Atom, Zoya, and I are all together... but I want my own bed and my own toys and everything. Also... there's no TV in the pet hotel. We have our own room that we share, and we get to play in an indoor play area.... but there's no TV. I like the TV. Mom leaves it on all day for us.

    Anyway, I went for a short walk this morning. It was about 15-18 minutes. Mom guessed but she lost track because she wasn't sure what time we left the house. It was me and Zoya though, and we took a few pictures. I feel like I'm still making progress. Even though I was stuck for so long after I hurt my leg, I don't feel like I gained weight. I don't know if I lost much, but I feel okay considering I'm still "big"....

First, a few with fun stamps and decorations...

Me and Zoya

Me and a rabbit...

Me and another rabbit... 

Me and Zoya just hanging out...

Watching cars drive by as everyone leaves for work...

Just me... I think this is a good angle for me.

Week 4 Day 2 - The Beagle Diet Continues

       This morning Mom took me and Zoya for a walk for about 30 minutes. It was nice out, actually - not too hot, a little cool with the breeze. I'm feeling better after relaxing a bit yesterday. Zoya seems to feel better too, and Atom is back to his usually rambunctious self. After we got back from the walk, I ate a lot! I was just starving after not feeling great yesterday and having such a long day at the vet on Tuesday.

    I've receive a lot of support from people on Facebook, Instagram, and here through my blog. I really appreciate that! It helps me stay focused and motivated to go out for my walks and to eat better. I'm happy with the weight I've lost so far, and my decreasing measurements! It's only bee a little over 3 weeks but those results are what will help push me through this journey until I get to my goal weight.

We made this one just for fun :-)

Accountability Pic for 14 June 2012 - Week 4 Day 2

Mom put this one together also, so we could share with our Instagram friends.

Just me walking

Down a small set of steps with Mom

It was bright this morning... I was all squinty!

Mom said I looked suspicious in this picture... I was trying to see the dog across the street :-)

But the sun was in my eyes

Yup... too bright...

One of those cats was in the window watching me this morning again.

I tried to get a closer look but it was too difficult to see inside the window.

Me, crossing the street and walking on grass.

Yes - I do look both ways before crossing the street and I never cross the street alone :-)

Steps...

Mom said when I get in better shape she will take me to do exercise on steps.

A collection of some pictures from today's walk in the morning sun...

We tested out some different templates for today's Accountability Picture

But I still prefer the original one we keep using.

Sometimes I move too quick for Mom's camera :-)

A Bit of Beagle Wisdom

Remember before when I talked about how not all roads in life are straight?

Well, whether your path is straight or not, sometimes you have to veer off the path to make real progress. Take me and Zoya for example.

Zoya has a lot of anxiety.... she's afraid of noise, strangers, thunder, lightning.... she's even afraid when the power goes out. Zoya doesn't like change. She sticks to the path.

I sometimes step off the path and walk on the grass. 

Sometimes I walk far on the grass, really far away from Zoya and Mom.

The sidewalk is "comfortable" and there's a clear path to walk on....

but I'm not afraid to step off the path and walk where there isn't a clear route.

The point? In order to make progress in life, we often have to step OUTSIDE our comfort zone.

Zoya doesn't leave her comfort zone, and the result is - she remains afraid of everything.

I step off the path, away from my comfort zone, and even though it's "unknown territory" I have the opportunity to sniff new places and pick up scents from stuff I might never have encountered. I get a little extra exercise by taking time to cover more ground, too!

If you want different results...

If you want something that's different from what you are accustomed to...

You need to step outside that comfort zone and do something different...

~Okay~

Off my Beagle Soap Box for today!

Diet 3-Week Progress Update

     As I mentioned, yesterday I went to the vet for my regular checkup and dental cleaning. It's a very long visit because Zoya and Atom go with me and we all have to go under anesthesia for the teeth cleaning and a lot of the checkup is done while we're asleep so the doctor can work quickly and easily. BUT.... because we are put under anesthesia, even though we wake up and feel okay, the doctor makes us wait until the afternoon before we can go home... just to make sure we're not sick or anything.

Ready to go to the vet!

    Anyway, so yesterday Mom dropped us off at around 7:30am. When they sign us in, we have to step on the scale and be weighed. I was really nervous!!! I stepped on the scale and Mom told the vet tech what the numbers said, "46.2 lbs." I looked up at my Mom when she read the numbers... did I hear her correctly?!  She smiled at me and then explained to the vet tech that I've been working hard to lose weight and be healthy again.

Beagle Diet 3-Week Progress Updates

• Body Length 22" <--- This isn't going to change haha
• Waist 27.5"  <-- Down 1/2"
• Chest 27.5"  <-- Down 1/2"
• Neck 16.5"  <-- Down 1/2"
• Weight 46.2 lbs. <-- Down 3.8 lbs!

My starting weight and measurements can be found in my first blog post, here.

My official update for 12 June - Week 3 Day 7 of my Beagle Diet

Starting Weight: 50 lbs.

Current Weight: 46.2 lbs.

     I'm really glad that Mom didn't weight me or measure me for the full 3 weeks. I think that the progress would seem less significant if I was tracking lost millimeters every week. Losing a half-inch from my waist, chest, and neck plus almost 4 lbs.... that's significant! 

Here's a few pictures of me and Zoya, my sister.

This was after we got home. Mom was able to come get us at around 4pm, so it was a long day for all of us. Me and Zoya got bandanas but we took them off shortly after getting home.

This is my and Zoya again, and Atom, our baby brother.

Atom has a blog too, if you want to see it.

Zoya tried to creep closer to Mom...

Mom was sitting on the sofa with Atom because he didn't feel well.

When Zoya got too close, though, Atom growled at her and nipped at her nose.

She was startled and eventually just plopped on the ground nearby.

See... she just plopped down in front of the other recliner on the sofa.

Me... obviously :-)

I felt okay after the vet appointment but I was very tired.

Oh! You can see on my front leg where I had an IV for the dental cleaning anesthesia and fluids.

I went to sit near Mom and Atom.... 

And eventually I plopped down too and just napped for a little while.

Atom actually got real sick later at night. He made a mess on his fur and Mom gave him a bath then trimmed his hair so he could be neat and feel better.

But in the middle of his hair cut he fell asleep!

He's feeling better today, but we're all pretty sleepy from yesterday. It's stressful being away from Mom and Dad for the whole day, and being poked and prodded, put under anesthesia, woken up still at the vet, feeling all groggy... it's a lot for one day.

Plus, anesthesia can make your belly feel yucky so I think we all just need a day to relax.

Beagle Weightloss Progress - Week 3 Day 6

    Tomorrow is the last day of my first FULL 3 weeks on a diet and exercise regimen. It's also my check-up appointment with the vet.  I'm a little nervous, but Mom says that's normal.

   This morning, Mom managed to get up a little earlier and took me and Zoya for a walk before she fixed breakfast and lunch. It was nice being outside so early, when the sun was just coming up. I'm glad we went early too, it looks like it might rain today.

We walked around a bit...

I tried racing Zoya but she never gets it!

I'm like, "Ready, Zoya? 1-2-3 GO!"

But she's like, "What's going on? Why are you running? Is there danger?!"

Today I decided to pose for a few pictures for Mom...

     During the walk, we walked by a window with cats inside. I like cats, actually. Zoya chases them, but I grew up with a fat kitty that was nice to me so I like cats. Sometimes I miss the fat kitty, but it's okay. Maybe in the future Mom and Dad will get another cat I can be friends with.

See that cats in the window?

They watch me a lot in the mornings, but today we got a picture of them.

Accountability Pics for Week 3 Day 6

We used the cat picture in my official Week 3 Day 6 Accountability Picture today!

How about a few more pictures of me? Okay!

The sun was out but it wasn't very bright.

I think it might rain today ~ the sky is a little gray.

Mom kept saying, "No, look over here."

I kept looking but I guess I missed what she was saying...

At this point on my walk I was a little tired. We were more than 3/4 done.

There were kids out this morning. They were running to get on yellow school buses.

I like when kids run! It makes me want to run too!

(I was trying to toss my ears like a super model tosses her hair)

Just watching the kids run by...

I sat still for a long time this morning...

It's hard to sit still when kids keep running by....

Maybe one of the kids will drop something to eat....

Kids are good like that :-)

Wish me luck at my appointment tomorrow!