Halloween = unsafe work environment

I lost 1 pound last week, for a total of 32.2! Woo hoo!

I am overly happy about this, because I normally maintain or even gain on period weeks. So to lose a pound feels like a HUGE deal.

I didn't exercise yesterday morning because I couldn't get myself out of bed, which is typical of the days that I work long hours. And I didn't exercise last night because I had to watch Survivor, the Office, and 30 Rock. Oh the return of good television. How you taunt me so! Normally I am able to do weight lifting while watching tv, but I have found that this power is only active when the show I'm watching is a rerun. Strange how things like that work.

I probably won't get any exercise tonight, as we are going to the Halloween Parade and Maria's Halloween Party. But I like to think that I'll probably be staggering around drunk all night, which takes a lot of stamina. Stamina = exercise? Right?

Also, there is a big bowl of fun size candy at reception. And it will probably be there all day long. I brought treats in my purse to fortify myself with. But my workspace is often close to "unsafe" environments. Like free food for all! Right next to my desk! All day long! Wee! I don't know how Jennie manages to stay so skinny. I would have issues if it were right on my desk all day. At least I have to move 5 feet if I want something. That takes a lot of effort when every move is guilt ladden.

Wah Wah Wah Waaaah...

Got my period yesterday afternoon. During class. Fun stuff. I had already been feeling pretty sick to my stomach all morning, so by the end of the day I was inconsolable. Ridiculous.

Despite said sickness, Dan suggested that we go for our walk anyway, just at a slower pace. That way I could still get in the exercise even though I wasn't feeling well. So we walked at a normal rate and it was fine. My legs were crampy and my stomach was jumpy, but I did it.

Pretty soon here I will need to either step up the pace or add minutes to my walk. I still feel good when it's over, but I'm not nearly as sweaty anymore. The rate I'm at just isn't a challenge to me now. Which is a good thing, but it also means I need to find another way to kick start exercise. I have gotten better about making time for it every day over the past week, and I'm proud of that. Now I just need to walk faster, damnit!

Progress...it's not just for the election.

I've worked out 16 days in October out of 27. I could make it a solid 20 days if I work out today through Friday. So that's gonna be my goal.

Also, the edu dept went through 386 bottles of water over a one month period during our CPS rehearsal process. 386. How many of those did I consume? Zero. I bring my own bottle and refill it at work, folks. That's just how I roll.

One of the ladies I work with just came up to me and said, "I hear you're dropping (and then she spelled) L-B-S." And I said, "Excuse me?" And she spelled, "L-B-S." And I said, "I don't know what that means." And then she said, "Weight. Pounds." And I said, "Oh. Yes. Yes I am." And then I turned back to my desk.

This is the second time in a week that this person has come up to me to tell me stuff they've heard about me. And both times were in equally strange manners. The first one she just came up and said, "So it's true." And I said, "What's true?" And she said, "What I've heard about your hand." And I said, "What did you hear about my hand?" And she said, "That you have a ring on your finger." And I said, "Oh yes. I got engaged." And she said, "Yeah. That's what I heard from someone else." And thus this request is made for all bloggers to read. I don't respond well when people play strange spelling or guessing games when the answer has to do with my life. If you want to hear it from me, then ask!

Strange Days.

For whatever reason I am having a rough one.

Friday night I was feeling congested, so I opted out of exercise. Dan brought me home some good movies and we had a "cuddle on the couch" fest.

Dan and I went for a 30 minute walk on Saturday, which was much needed. We also had a very good dinner party with friends. I made whole wheat pasta with veggies in a tomato sauce. There was also a light salad and Ryan brought bruschetta. And I made low cal margaritas, which are pretty much the best invention of all time. We drank 3/4 a bottle of tequila in about 3 hours. I used all my anytime points between Friday and Saturday, ha ha.

Sunday was pretty low key, because we were both hung over. Dan got up really early, but I slept in late. By the time I was up, Dan was heading back to bed for a nap. So he slept all day and I overdosed on bad television. I did manage to get in 30 minutes of weight training though, because I am awesome.

Monday was just a bad day from the start. I had a doctor's appointment and they saw me an hour and a half later than scheduled. And then while I was in his office his phone rang. He picked up and told me it would just be a second. Twenty minutes later I had sat through him talking this guy down from commiting suicide. Not fun. Not fun at all. I mean, I'm glad he took the call but I wish he would have asked me to leave the room or something. I then proceeded to wait 45 minutes just to be able to drop off my meds and I have to go back to pick them up tomorrow. Overall it was shit-tastic.

I decided to go to the Diner for lunch, because I wanted to sit somewhere that wasn't my house to calm down and collect myself before class. I knew that if I went home I would probably start to cry and have a hard time leaving. So I had a new lunch item at the restaurant which was good, but when I calculated my points after I realized I only left myself 7 points for dinner. Woops.

Class was a little better, although they created a new way to do snack time which was not only obnoxious but wasted at least 20 minutes of class time. We finally got to the puppet making lesson today, which was something they've been waiting to do. But two of my students were really disrespectful and I yelled at them in front of the whole class. I've been letting them get away with speaking their minds quite loudly the past three weeks and I guess today was not the day to test me. Anyway, it worked out in my favor because they apologized to me and told me that they didn't want to get kicked out of the class. The only bummer was that I forgot the Halloween treat I wanted to bring everybody and we didn't have enough time at the end of the day for them to get playground time. Oh well. It happens.

Dan was amazing last night and went on my 30 minute walk with me immediately when I got home. So that was really nice. I made myself some boca chilli because it was in my points range and ended the day much better than how it had started. Dan also offered to do the same thing tonight, to walk with me immediately, which I took him up on. I also have to do weights tonight, but I normally do that just before bed.

So I'm hoping that the rest of the week goes much better. I haven't eaten all 35 anytime points in a while, but it hopefully shouldn't be a problem on the scale. I will have gotten in 5 days worth of exercise by my next meeting. That's much more than I did last week.

Big Roller

I am on a metaphorical roll.

I lost 4.2 pounds this week, bringing the weight loss number to a grand total 0f 31.2. I like it when I not only hit a "5 pound marker," but then surpass it by a little bit too. It leaves a little less work to do on my way to the next check point.

My 30 pound reward is a big haircut. The last time I got my haircut was at checkpoint 15. I have something very specific in mind, which is exciting. There is a hairdo that I really WANT for my wedding, but I'm not sure how it will work with my facial features. So I'm going to bring the photos to the hair dresser and see what they think of it for me. And I'm also going to get the haircut so I can also see whether or not I like it. It's very 1950's, which is where my wedding style is headed (cardigan sweater, big skirt, little Cami, feather headband). Here is a photo. Clearly I will not be doing the pink part, but otherwise it is what I want (the hair, the cardigan, the undershirt).

So 3.8 pounds to go and I hit my first BIG GOAL. That is pretty exciting to me. I am more and more leaning for the reward of a hunt for the Wii fit, as I need an exercise boost in my life. It's funny how I can manage to stay on point every week, but that my exercise fluctuates so much. I want to remedy that, but I need help. And I'm not ready for a gym membership, as I don't have a schedule that would afford for trips to the gym. So home workouts are a go (and of course outdoor ones too).

I celebrated last night at the diner with Holly. I got the lentil loaf, as it is the greatest thing known to man. It is basically a "meat" loaf made from tofu, lentils, and hearty veggies with mashed potatoes and veggie gravy on top. It's very hearty and pretty low fat. I'm stoked that they added it to their menu permanently, because I was sad that it was only an occasional special item.

I also had a big vegan chocolate chip cookie - they use regular sugar, but whole wheat flour, a fake egg substitute, and carob chips. It is a huge cookie of delicious happiness. It costs many points, but is sooooo worth it.

The new exercise plan begins today (see yesterday's post for more details). I am excited to begin, as I'm starting to feel anxious about not using my limbs vigorously every day. My legs were really achy the day after my playground romp and I want to be back to the point where I feel tiny aches the day after a workout.

It will bring me back up to seven work outs per week, which was what I was doing in August. And frankly, I felt really good about that. And none of what I'm planning will be difficult to fit into my schedule, in fact I am trying hard to work around said schedule. And I'm also staying at 30 minutes for the most part, until it feels appropriate to move the time up. I'd rather spread out my workouts than just do an hour three times a week, though.

When I hit 50 pounds I'm probably going to do a progress photo. I don't have a "before" full body shot persay, but there are plenty of "gross" photos of me that I hate, but that would show progress pretty nicely.

I'd like to hit 50 pounds by January 1st. That gives me 2 months and 1 week. I think it's doable.

Back to work. I'll update on exercise progress later.

I am a Sea Monster.

So exercise has been difficult since I got back from Disney. Last Friday Dan and I went for a 40 minute walk and then on Saturday we went for an hour walk. But that's all she wrote, folks.

Sunday there was just too much going on in prep for the workshop. Monday I was having a very hard personal day and I was also very busy with Blackbird stuff. I have been trying to wake up at 6:15 now to work out in the morning, but have discovered every morning that it is A. Too Dark for me to want to get up and B. Too cold for me to want to get up. So that killed exercise on Tuesday for me and this morning, too.

I need to figure something out that works for me, folks. It needs to work within my schedule and it needs to work with the cold early morning hours AND it needs to work with the eventual reherasals I'll be having three nights a week. So here is what I'm going to try...

On Mondays and Wednesdays I have the morning off from work. So sometime between 9am and 12pm I need to muster up the courage to go outside when it's cold and walk for 30 minutes.

On Saturdays and Sundays there is plenty of time when I am not busy - but would rather be curled up on the couch doing nothing. I can find time in between weekend craziness to walk for 30 minutes, especially since Dan is willing to go with me on the weekends.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays I work a full day - and starting in Dec. I will have rehearsal every Tuesday night. I also have been going to Weight Watchers on Thursdays after work. So on these days I need to wake up early and lift weights in the house. It will be less chilly than the early AM jaunt outside and it will be lighter in the house too. So there.

And finally - on Fridays I can just stick with what I'm doing now! Dan and I have made quite a lovely habit of walking to Hollywood Video and back every Friday night. It takes 20 minutes each way (and we keep the pace up by power walking) plus it helps us save money on the weekends!

Okay. I like this plan. It varies what I'm doing during the weekdays, but it does so in order to work with my schedule. I am normally the kind of person that likes to have the same plan for every day, but clearly life is busy and I can't have everything I want all the time.

And now - onto the title of this blog. To keep discipline in my classroom, my students can "earn" minutes for the playground (which I can constantly threaten to take away if they are being bad). Wednesday's class had a Halloween theme and they wanted to take it with them on the playground too. So they deemed me the "sea monster." The blue area of the playground floor was my swamp and the playground was the boat. And if they got off the boat into the swamp, then I could chase them. At first I was hesitant to be the monster, mostly because I haven't done a lot of running since last fall (when I taught the sports and rec class) and I could barely keep up with the kids then. But they wanted me to be the monster (and I wanted to do it too), so I agreed to play along with the thought that I could always tag a kid and make them the monster when I got tired. So I started to run all around the playground, chasing kids and tickling them. The kids got a huge kick out of it, they would all jump down and taunt me and then run away screaming as I would roar and give chase. And, to my surprise, for the full fifteen minutes I didn't get winded! I ran all up and down the playground, screaming, jumping, picking up kids and throwing them in the air...and it felt really good! I was a little sweaty by the end of it, but I could breathe easily and I probably could have played a little longer!

And so I say this. Even when I have a hard week of exercise or a hard week of eating, I have lost almost 30 pounds and I FEEL HEALTHIER. My body is lighter and my muscles are starting to take shape. The only cravings I get now are for big bowls of vegetables, a honey crisp apple, or maybe a baked potato. I am walking at a faster pace and I am less hungry through out the day. By no means have I perfected my diet and I know I will have more slip ups as I continue forward, but I am past the starting point now and well into the journey. And things are looking different for me. I like that.

TAGGED

I was tagged by Aileen. I am not sure who even reads this blog (so sorry if you do and I don't tag you), but I am supposed to tag 10 people and then blog about 6 random facts that you may not know about me. And those 10 people - well THEY have to tag 10 people and then do the same. Good grief. I am only tagging 5. Mostly because I am lame and don't have a lot of blogger friends. I think I may stick to Aileen's good idea and still try to keep my random facts within the "weight loss," good health arena.

1. Bernadette

2. Amy

3. Cassie

4. Holly (when you set up your blog)

5. Yolanda (see Holly)

Random Facts:

1. The first time I lost weight I exercised two times a day, seven times a week. At first it was a great weight loss booster, but by the end I think it became unhealthy for me. Regardless, no matter how long it takes me to meet my weight loss goal, I'm not going down that route again.

2. I AM NOT A VEGETARIAN. Dan and I attempted to eat vegan, because we thought it would be a healthy alternative that would help me lose weight. We discovered that a weekly combination of vegan meals and lean meat/dairy meals worked much better. There is not one right way to eat, that's for sure. It IS important to have a diet full of iron, fiber, protein, and vitamins, which we now get from soy products, whole wheat products, spinach and tons of other veggies and fruit (If you are worried about the cost, buy fruits and veggies in season, it is easy to find produce that is under $2 a pound.), yogurt, and the occasional chicken and turkey meat.

3. The first time I lost weight, I lost my sense of self. It is a hard thing to change one hundred percent on the outside, but to still be the same person on the inside. You have to find a way to see yourself differently if you want to be successful. I am working hard to find that balance all the time now. I am hopeful that I'll get there when I reach my goal.

4. Being fat and fashionable is hard work! I'm sure anyone will tell you this. What is hard about it for me is that the style I like to subscribe to would normally be effortless! I used to love going into any store, seeing something on the rack that catches my eye, and just buying it! It was fun that I didn't have to worry about how something would fit, or whether it was fashionable in someone else's eye. I felt like EVERYTHING looked good on me when I was thin. Now I have to constantly work to not only make sure that it is something I like, but that it also actually fits my body and doesn't make me seem too "fat." And granted, when I was thin I by no means had the perfect body. But I had more options.

5. Right now, I would rather have dogs than children. I am at a point in my life right now in which I want what I earn in life to be for us (me and Dan). I want the ability to take on multiple projects and be out late. I want the chance to try everything out there that interests me. I want to go to grad school, I want the ability to quit a job that I don't like and not worry about how I will support my children. It sounds selfish and it may change. But Dan and I have realized that we wouldn't want to raise children in the city, so if we ever have children we have to be ready to settle. So kids, if any, are WELL into the future. We're talking late 30's, early 40's. Because if we do have kids, we're adopting. At least, that's the more preferable choice to us. If we do want to bring a child into our life, we want to help an older child who feasibly has less of a chance to find a good home. There are so many children who need a home - and I can understand why people have their own kids - but I would rather help someone who is already out there. Especially if Roe Vs. Wade ever gets taken away from us - there will be MANY unwanted children in our futures. I'm just saying, that's the reality.

6. I am learning every day more and more that having a fully supportive partner makes all the difference in this world. And not the sort of person that offers support and then whines through it every step of the way. That's not true support, not really. I feel so blessed to be marrying a person who happily takes on whatever healthy life plan I need without one word of complaint. Just support. He not only eats the vegan meals, he prepares them. He suggests we eat out at our neighborhood healthy restaurants. He recognizes that I need the support and gives it fully, without ever making me feel bad for making changes in our lifestyle. And while I support him too, it's in smaller every day ways. I look forward to the day when he needs my full support on something as big as this and I can give it so fully. He amazes me every day.