It’s all up to me

I know I haven’t been on here for a while but things are going well.  Three of my friends from school and I have joined weight watchers and I’m loving it.  It’s not that there’s anything magical w/weight watchers, although I like the program, but it’s the fact that we’re all doing it together.  Group support is so important to me (which is why I love this site) and I hope we’ll all be good for each other.  I know that one of my friends for sure is in it for the long haul and I think the other 2 are pretty committed, too.  That’s critical b/c as long as they’re all doing it I will continue to do it but as soon as they quit paying attention to points, eating junk food, etc. I know they’ll quit going to meetings and my support will be gone.  Oh well, I’ll worry about that if it happens.

I’m also going to try zumba.  A new healthclub has opened in town and it has a zumba class 1 day a week right after school.  Several of us are going to go which again, will be fun b/c I like group things.  Otherwise I’m weightlifting at home, using the treadmill, doing TurboFire, etc.  I have a goal of wearing a size 10 dress that’s hanging in my closet for graduation, I’m a 14 right now.  I know it’s doable but I need to get moving!

The 17-day diet is on hold.  Partly b/c I got sick last night and partly b/c I am sick, sick, sick of chicken and veggies.  I am essentially going to move onto the 2nd phase w/o completing the 1st but ultimately plan to create my own hybrid.  I’m glad I did the full 10 days but I’m not going to continue exactly as planned.

Today was a strange day and started out with something I hope I never have to do again.  Days before Christmas I had to file a child abuse report for one of my students.  Allegations of sexual abuse.  Today, the DHS worker and police officer showed up to take my statement.  I have filed dozens of reports over my career (sadly) but I have never had one pursued criminally.  I feel so badly for this girl and I hope the perpetrator pleads guilty so she can be spared a trial and selfishly so I don’t have to testify.  Ick.

Major snowstorm headed our way–I’ll be surprised if we have school tomorrow.  If we don’t that will give me time to catch up on some blogs and create my custom eating plan

Today I’m struggling but holding strong.  Again, it’s b/c of a change in my routine.  Nothing major, but instead of being able to workout right after school I had to take the dog to the groomer.  I did do a quick 20 minute interval workout and hoped to hit the treadmill later tonight but the 2nd workout didn’t happen.  We had more snow and my hubby had to spend quite a bit of time snowblowing the driveway.  Oh well, I need to remind myself that the 20 minute HIIT workout was intense and that needs to be ok.

I didn’t post yesterday b/c we had company but I am so proud to say that I stayed on plan!!!!  I truly cannot remember the last time that I didn’t have a free day on Sunday and I’m amazed that it wasn’t that tough.  I’m going to enjoy this feeling b/c I know the mental portion is the most important and I know it can change on a dime.  But I also know that I am making the choices to put myself in this position and that I have worked hard for this.

I’m really excited to see where I am next week.  I don’t know if it’s realistic or not but I’d love to be down another 5 by next Sunday.  I started at 209 last Sunday, saw 201.6 this Sunday.  A ton of it is water weight but given the fact that I have gained a lot recently over the holidays I know it comes off quickly.  I am actually going to hide my scale until Sunday so I can focus on my behavior and not let the scale derail me.

On a completely unrelated note, my mom (that was our company from last night) had a session w/a medium today.  I was so hoping that my dad would come through and he did!!!  He told her that it’s ok if she moves on and that in fact he wants her to.  She just recently took off her wedding rings (it took 4 attempts to actually keep them off) and has a “friend” but I know she feels guilty about it.  She was with my dad for nearly 40 years, I can’t imagine how weird it must be to think about dating again, but she’s way too young to be along for the rest of her life (she’s 62).  I know some of you may be suspicious that this guy is a quack (and I do believe that some are fakes) but through my own experiences and experiences of people I have known I can say he truly has a gift.

Being home all day was actually easier than I had thought it would be.  I like the fact that I can break my breakfast up into 2 mini-meals.  Plus, I start eating later in the day (love not having to wake up at 5:00!) which means less hunger.  I also spent part of the day researching phase 1 recipes b/c I am getting a wee bit sick of chicken breasts.  Luckily when I am at home I am able to look at food as fuel for my body instead of something that’s purely for taste.  Why can’t I do that when I’m away from home????

My shoulder is almost completely healed.  About the only exercises I can’t do now are things where my entire body weight is on one shoulder (1 arm pushups, 1 arm planks, etc.)  Otherwise, I would say I am at 95%.  For the most part I no longer have to lift different weights on my right and left sides which is nice.  For not even knowing how I injured my shoulder I can’t believe it took 3 months of physical therapy to make it better.  I now have even more respect for professional athletes who play w/rotator cuff injuries!

Tomorrow will be the biggest challenge so far but I’m feeling good.  Sunday has historically been my “free” day but lack of portion control w/cheat foods has held me back.  I told my hubby that if he and our older son want dessert they need to go somewhere and have it and not bring anything back.  I will get to the point where I can see them eat it and not have to partake (or better yet, have a small piece and call it good) but I’m not there yet.  I need a couple of weeks in a row of success before I take that next step.

Not much new to report today.  It’s my rest day for exercise and it’s a good thing b/c I got too busy to eat one of my snacks and I wouldn’t have had any energy to workout.  I sneaked a peek at the scale this morning and saw 203.6–it was 209 on Sunday so I’m very happy.  I can tell my face is looking thinner and although there was still a muffin top on my size 14 jeans this morning it was more of a mini-muffin. 

The first major challenge will be the weekend but I will do it.  We’re off Monday which complicates things b/c I’m off my routine but I’ll figure out how to handle it later.  Also, my treat on Sunday is only going to be a container of sugar free pudding.  Luckily I like that but it’s not going to compare to the 3 pieces of cheesecake (yes, 3) that I had last weekend.  But I guess the cheesecake can’t compare to meeting my goals.

To answer the question in my comments, I’m using the Cathe Friederich STS Mesocycle 1 workouts.  I’m halfway through the 1st month and really like it.  I’m excited for the 2nd month b/c in nearly all of the reviews people talk about how they like this month even better than the 1st!

Today I hit my first big challenge but I’m happy to say I made it through.  We did get the big snowstorm but fortunately were able to have school.  Our secretary brought in part of a leftover double-decker frosted cookie.  I honestly could exist purely on those things if I could get away with it.  Although it looked tasty I am surprised that it wasn’t that tough to walk away from it.  I just told myself that I don’t eat that food and walked away.

We did have an early relase due to the snow which allowed me to have a longer workout.  I don’t know if I already mentioned this but I found a workout series from Cathe Friederich that has a new workout every single time.  I just finished the 2nd week and really like it.  Tonight the focus was on lower body and since I had extra time after I lifted I was able to do a 20 minute extended stretch from Chalene Johnson’s Turbo Fire.  I know it’s something I need to do but never seem to have the time.  It felt GREAT!  I turned off the overhead light and turned on a lamp which put the room into a really relaxing mood.

I do feel stronger every time I overcome a craving.  Weirdly, tonight the craving was bananas.  I know a banana isn’t the end of the world but I want to do this completely, not hit and miss.

Still going strong.  I have a feeling this diet is going to be fairly easy as long as I’m able to stick to my routine but as soon as I’m faced with a social situation or a change in my schedule the challenge will be there.  Fortunately our social calendar is fairly light this month :)  I do worry b/c a snowstorm is headed our way and it’s fairly likely that we’ll have a snow day tomorrow, but I’m pretty comfortable any more having a day at home.  And, given the fact that I have stayed faithful to the plan reminds me that I have the ability to make the tough choices.

Day 2 and I’m still feeling good.  I am going to need to vary my protein choices b/c for the last 2 days I have literally had chicken for breakfast, lunch and supper.  Granted, I love chicken, but I think even I could get sick of that much chicken.

In combination with this diet I’m reading the book “Push” by Chalene Johnson.  She’s the lady who does Turbo Jam, Turbo Fire, Chalean Extreme, etc.  It’s not really a book you read cover to cover but a 30 day program.  Normally I read these types of books and do the “homework” in my head but for some reason I have decided to really do it.  Last night was the 1st night and I had to essentially create my mission statement.  She walks you through the process and to my surprise, my mission statement involves getting out of my comfort zone and doing things I may not be good at.  I tend to play it safe and my goal is to make myself uncomfortable.  I have a small sign in my office that says “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”  I suppose it’s time to actually live those words.

It has been a long time since I have followed a specific “diet” and I’m finding I like the structure of it.  To prepare last night I wrote out my menu for the day.  It’s kind of like reverse journaling.  I can always change my mind about something I want to eat but generally I don’t and this way I still write down everything I eat.  I know it’s not always going to feel this effortless and there will be days where mentally it’s tough but there were a few times today where I was tempted by the idea of something and knowing that each segment is only 17 days long is helpful.  I’m even considering writing the number of days left on the web-area between my thumb and forefinger of my right hand.  I will see that number when I reach for something to eat and it would be a visible reminder of what I’m doing.  I’m not going to commit to that yet but will use it if needed.

Today I booked a weekend getaway for me and my hubby on March 9th which happens to be exactly 2 months from today.  I’m excited to see where I can be in 2 months if I truly follow this diet.  I would love to HAVE to go shopping for some new clothes