Debate

So, I debated whether or not to go back to Weight Watchers(WW). Then two weeks ago on Monday I received a Weight Watcher magazine. I thought it was kind of odd, since I have not subscribed to the magazine since 2007. So, I took it as a sign to join. I hemmed and hawed all week long and finally decided to go and join. I went last Saturday and to my surprise Jodie was still there.

A little back history. I joined WW back in 2005 with my sister in hopes to lose weight and became a life-time member in November of 2006. Kept the weight off for about two years got married and gained a lot back.

So, as I was saying Jodie was there and I felt at ease. I got on that crazy scale and was not surprised at my total. Went back this week and I’m a LOSER! Now, I don’t go around bragging that I am a loser often, only when I do well at WW and lose weight. I tried this week, but not as hard as I could have, but I lost 2.4lbs. YEA me!

For the month of January I am down 5lbs! Not too bad a way to start the year off.

Cooking at Home or Out to eat?

So, it is true that cooking at home helps cut down the budget and waistline. I guess that all depends on what you are cooking. Jarrett made a little shopping/planning sheet for each week. It isn't anything too complicated and not sure why this is working. We have tried all kinds of things from cooking all of the meals on Sunday to planning out each meal on Sunday. For some reason writing out the shopping lists of the recipes one of us has picked and then heading to the store to retrieve those items is helping.

Each week we decided that one person would pick out all the recipes. We pick enough for M-Th and the plan is Friday to be left overs. Well, it is my week and I thought how great I only have to plan two meals. I am going out to eat with some folks from work on Tuesday and Wednesday. I decided though that I can't plan a week to lose weight when I am out to eat and tempted by all the things I love. So, I cut it down to one day out and I feel good about it.

We have been cooking a lot at home lately. Don't get me wrong we always cook, but for some reason I find myself not wanting to eat what we have planned for the week and can't stop thinking of the good food that is prepared as fast as I can say I would like a #3 no onions. (Can anyone guess what restaurant I am at?)

So as tough as it can be sometimes I have to remind myself that nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. A little saying that my former Weight Watcher leader, Barb, used to say.

Weight Update

So, I am about to start my fourth week of bootcamp and I have lost 2.5 pounds. That is almost a pound a week, which feels a little slow, but better than gaining. I feel stronger and so good after a workout. Kind of debating going back to Weight Watchers.

Two Funerals in one week

So, on Jan. 9 I went the funeral of my teacher's aide. She died of Leukemia after battling it for 23 months. So, that was my start to the weekend. During that weekend my mom was giving me updates on my Grampa. He wasn't doing well, but all was okay. I found out on Tuesday night that they were sending him home on hospice. So, it went from bad to worse fast. Needless to say he died in his sleep on Jan. 13.

So the debate was who was going to the funeral and when we would leave. That all would depend on when the services were being held. We found out the services were on Saturday. So Mom, Lisa, Frankie, and myself all went. We were going to leave at 10:55 and we boarded and started to back away from the gate. I realized that we were pulling back up to the gate. So, come to find out there was a bad part in the engine and that it would take at least 45 min. to fix. Finally, after waiting two hours we switched planes. Once we were almost to the next flight our previous flight took off. We finally arrive and we are starving. We have not had lunch at all. So, we head to El Taco Tote, which we have been there before, but it was just as delicious. Got to Gramma's about 3:45 and then waited around for about 40min. before we left for the service.

We headed to the funeral home to say goodbye to my amazing Grampa. It was very sad, but we got to see a ton of our family. So, that was nice. Afterward, we went back to Gramma's and hung out there visiting for a little bit. Then we went to dinner with my cousins, Gabriel, Fernie, and Crystal. These cousins have been our closest cousins. We always visited them when we were in El Paso. Had fun at dinner and then finally went to the hotel and got there at 12:30 El Paso time. WE were exhausted from such a crazy trip. Got up at 5:45 El Paso time and got ready to head home. Our plane was to leave at 8:20. We made it home. It was just such a whirlwind of a trip.

Great day back

Today was my first day back at work with kiddos and it went well. I missed them and, even though sixth graders will not admit it, they missed me. So, it was a good day. I think they were shocked that I had them do work. Hello, school isn't all fun and games. : )

I hope this semester is even more rewarding than the last. I have a really good group of kids that are eager to learn. I just want to make sure that I am delivering.

Get In Shape Girl!

Do you remember "Get In Shape Girl" from the 80's? That was the name of this awesome workout equipment I used to have. The cassette was so cool. Here is a commercial to refresh your minds.



Well, a little coaxing and encouragement and I rejoined thenorthdallasbootcamp.com. I didn't really quit. I just took December off and my instructor new that. So, after five glorious weeks without exercise, ugh I went back and am regretting every bit of it. I should have been doing more than I was, but I am back and that is all that matters.

To top it off tonight's meal was 100% bison steaks with steamed vegetables. YUMM!

I had a little post-dinner workout as well. I talked my husband into doing The Biggest Loser Wii Game. I could only hang for another 10 min. since I had already worked out an hour prior. I am so proud of him because he did about a 30 minute workout. Can't wait for tomorrow's dinner!

The ghost that haunted me!

So, as most of you know that follow this I don't sleep. I don't know what it is, but it all started in 2003 when I moved into my apartment. I would have panic attacks at first and then it was just watching tv during the wee hours of the morning. I guess as age comes I get up to use the restroom. Well, I really only do that because I think if I empty my bladder I will get back to my slumber.

So, for the past few days I have been having even more difficulty sleeping. I don't know if my body is resisting schedules again or if it is Jarrett's snoring. The guy can snore. That said I have been waking up more often. Last night I got up around 3:58 and yes I always look at the clock. I went to the restroom and climbed back into bed. I couldn't fall back asleep right away and the last I saw the clock it said 4:06. At 4:20 I pop up to some kind of noise. Side note: I just moved into a 2100 sq ft. house and have yet to walk around at night with all the lights off. Kind of creepy and partly due to all of my true crime shows that I love.

Back to the noise. I pop up and I say, "Jarrett did you hear that? I think it is coming from the bathroom." Trying to get anyone alert right out of sleep is hard enough, so Jarrett stumbled to the bathroom and opened the door. The hair dryer had turned on. He unplugged it and made sure it was off. Started back to bed and he decided to double check it. Now neither one of us were sure how it happened, but as the great husband that he is he fixed it. Or so I thought. I started my routine of trying to fall asleep and it went off again. So I asked, "What happened I thought you unplugged it?" He said, "I did, but then I plugged it back in." Of course agitated I am wondering why did he do that.

Well, he climbs back into bed and falls right to sleep. So, my mind starts to think, yep another reason why I probably can't sleep, about what would have caused that. I have used a hair dryer for a long time and have never had this happened. I thought you know sometimes he isn't as observant as I am, so I will just go triple check. Good idea right? I walked into the bathroom and that dryer was definitely in the off position.

Needless to say the Ghost Dryer Whisperer will be visiting tonight to make sure all is in check. Hopefully I will get some sleep since I have been up since 4:30. : (

There is always a new day!

So, I posted everything that I was feeling and thought that would also help boost me to the top. It did in more than one way. I had a great breakfast and great lunch yesterday. But then I went to the movies. BTW don't see Where are the Morgans? or something like that. Not that great.

Yesterday was my last day of Christmas break and Jarrett had the day off. We relaxed around the house and then ventured out to the movies. We had already set a plan earlier in the day, but just like two silly people we broke the plan. We went to the movie around 4:30. Just about the time I am getting hungry. Needless to say we shared a small popcorn and drink. But wait! You might be thinking not that bad.

So, we came home and made dinner. We made whole wheat cheese tortellini with pesto sauce, garlic cheese toast, and steamed vegetables. I thought all in all not so bad. And it really isn't, but then I pulled out the WW points tracker and boy oh boy. According to that I went over 20 points. Now I am not really doing WW, but thought I would attempt to journal and if I am doing that then why not just write the points. So, I thought okay, now I have a better grasp.

Then today starts. Well, we(ladies from work) always go out to eat on work days or staff development days. I brought a healthy lunch just in case. So, I had a great breakfast again. Then they wanted to go to Razoos. Do I say, "Oh, I am watching what I eat, then give my frozen meal to the waiter?" So, I went along. I thought hmm coke; yes. Now food. What do I get? Should I get the chopped salad with blakened chicken or the cheeseburger? Now if you know Razoos then you know it is a cajun place, thus I was trying to make a descent choice. Everything is pretty much fried there and if it isn't it is pretty darn close to just as healthy as being fried. So, what did I get? You guessed it, the cheeseburger. Now, I said yesterday I have to work on my mind and this is the start. It was a half pound burger and I am sure I could have eaten a lot of it and all the fries. Instead I gobbled all the fries and ate only half the burger. So I had a quarter pounder with fries. Not soo great, but could have been a lot worse. I sure did miss out on some fried catfish.

Tonight I start my bootcamp. I haven't exercised that much in about five weeks. I was going three nights a week. Over the course of five weeks I have exercised four times. And those times it took the encouragement from my workout buddy that I used to workout with to push me. I am sure I will be dripping sweat and beat after tonight is over. After all I have been up since 4:30 with the hair dryer ghost.

A long time coming...

So, I think it was May that I was on here last. Really I created this blog for a class, but think it will be a great journal for myself. Not sure, since I only keep a journal on my vacations and do not even finish those. But I will shoot for trying.

I am sure that has been lots of news that has gone on since my last post. A new niece, soon to be niece-in-law, a new house, a one year wedding anniversary, and I am sure much more than that. God only knows what 2010 holds and we have to trust in Him for guidance.

Each year we make resolutions and I always find one monkey on my back that I never seem to tackle, weight. Lots of people make this a resolution, but why do I not tackle it. I always make check lists or to do lists and love checking stuff off, but I can't seem to check this one off. Well, except in the year 2006 I didn't have it on my list. What was different? Why the change? What has happened since?

Well, I joined Weight Watchers (WW) in May 2004 with my sister in hopes to lose weight for my brothers upcoming wedding. I think by the end of June I had lost 2lbs. So, as the school year started and my sister quitting I began my journey. I finally lost about 36-40lbs by Nov. 2005. I was on top of the world. Yet, when I looked in the mirror I didn't always see the changes before me. I still thought I looked like my pathetic, fat, sad self. 2006 rolls around and I guess a little bit of food here and little bit there and a few pounds here and a few pounds there wasn't going to hurt. I was already up about 6lbs by the middle of 2006 and by the time I got married in 2008 I was up a total of 13lbs. That is not too bad from Nov. 2005 to June of 2008.

So, the wedding hits and then it was downhill from there. I am not sure if it was a lot easier to compromise with food or what, but since the wedding I have gained 33lbs in a year in a half. Now, I know you are saying, "well you got married that is what is supposed to happen." But not to me. That is just a mere excuse. I think too often we look for an out and find the most normal excuse used by all and voila that has to be the reason. I think there is more to it. I think it is much deeper than that. I think it goes back to what I saw in myself when I first lost the weight. I think my body changed in number, but my mind did not. I think I only worked on losing weight instead of strengthening my mind as well.

So, this year I will learn to be "okay" with a little cheating. I will not think the world and diet is over because I had one or two pieces of candy from work. Or that if I have a coke or ice cream the world is over. I fought so hard with myself that I didn't learn to accept failure when it happened. Instead I was ready to give up and throw in the towel. Well, of course in 2005 this wasn't the case because I am so competitive. My sister had joined and quit on me a few times. So, my journey was alone and a competition with well I guess those that were struggling. Of course, as most of my competitions go my opponent does not know we are competing. Not sure why that motivates me, but it does. Probably if they beat me and I know it then I will quit.

So, a new approach is not only to exercise my body and eat right, but to exercise my mind as well. So, to all with this struggle you can do it and I can too!