It’s all up to me

Current weight: 220.5 (no change)

We had our open house today and our realtor said that well over 50 people came though and that several stayed for quite a while and really looked things over. I’m hopeful that maybe we’ll have an offer w/i the next few days and I’m actually fantasizing about multiple offers!!

Did my regular CE workout today and then did the new TaeBo DVD afterward. I didn’t like it as well as TJ b/c it wasn’t fun, nor did he give good explanations of how to do the steps. But it did make me sweat, even more than TJ. And I think that it will definitely do the job. I won’t necessarily look forward to this workout like I do TJ, but I’ll probably throw it in the rotation 1 day a week.

Hope to catch up w/you all later, got to run a few errands. I’m also gunning for a food star today, my first ever on a Sunday! I can do it.

Progress toward workout goal: 92/300

4:45
I should know better than to post about how I’m going to eat well on a Sunday before Sunday is over. I had 2 cookies, which is ok b/c I’m allowed about 400 extra calories on Sunday. What’s happening, though, is that I think I’m afraid not to have a splurge/treat meal on Sunday even if I don’t want it. All week I have been craving hot wings but now I don’t really want them any more. Granted, they’d be good, but I’m not CRAVING them. Why, then, do I want to order the 2 for 20 meal from Applebees? My hubby and I will get that and get the wings as an appetizer and it’s actually a great deal. Even if I eat it, the calories aren’t a huge deal. I worked out like crazy today and have eaten well so far. What bothers me is that if I order this food it will be admitting that I can’t make it through a Sunday. Complete emotional eating. Not because I’m happy or sad, but b/c I’m afraid. I’m afraid that if I don’t eat it now I’ll lose control and eat crazily all week. I “know” that it’s not true, but I still think it’s true and in all honesty, that’s all that counts. I have to conquer this but I don’t know how.

Current weight: 220.5 (-2)

I’m watching a show right now about celebrities who have had plastic surgery, good and bad. I don’t have anything against surgery as long as you admit to it, if I had the money I’d probably have my boobs restored to their proper location and I’m sure I’ll have extra skin once I lose all of this weight. But there are a few people on here who are seriously scary. I can’t believe they think they look good!

I don’t think the showing today is going to develop into anything. We have a fairly steep driveway and it appeared to be a single woman in her late 40’s w/2 small kids. Having to remove snow in that situation from our driveway would be a problem. Hopefully the open house tomorrow will yield better results. I’m a bit worried b/c it’s supposed to rain A LOT but I’ll worry about that tomorrow.

This morning I was able to do most of my yoga/pilates with everyone asleep. It’s so much more relaxing that way. Later, I cut the grass so I was able to get in some good exercise today. Food is also good so far. My goal for the week was to maintain which means I have to be down 2 more pounds by tomorrow. Unlikely but I’m going to get as close as I can. I’m PMSing so even if I’m up by a pound or so I won’t be too upset b/c I’m retaining water.

Progress toward workout goal: 91/300

Current weight: 222.5 (no change)

We have our first showing tomorrow since our home has been for sale and we’re having an open house on Sunday. I know it’s not realistic but someone has to buy it, why not the first person who sees it?
******************************************************************
I’m working on my workout schedule for after school starts until we move. After we move I don’t think it will be much of a problem b/c my older son can ride the bus home so I can head home after school and start working out before he gets there. He’ll grab a snack and hang out while I’m finishing my workout. But for now, I get done officially at 2:30, although I know I’ll be working late for the first month or so of school. He gets out at 3:30 and since we’re having him start at his new school so he doesn’t have a change 6 weeks into school I have to pick him up. We won’t get home until at least 3:45 which is too late to begin a 60-90 minute workout. For now I have figured I’ll do about 30-45 minutes in the morning before school and finish up after school. I’m going to be doing a lot more cardio on DVD than I’m used to and I’m afraid I’m going to burn out on TJ. Any fellow TJ lovers out there, are there other workouts that are as much fun and make you sweat like TJ? I can’t stand peppy leaders like Denise Austin which is why I like Chalene Johnson so much. I have ordered a few more of her DVDs and today I picked up a TaeBo Cardio DVD b/c I would think it’s somewhat like TJ. I’m also looking at Hip Hop Abs on ebay but haven’t fully committed. Any input would be appreciated.

Today I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to workout b/c yesterday my hip/right thigh was super sore. I lifted yesterday and one of the scheduled exercises is called a bowling lunge and I used 30 pound weights. I must have done it wrong b/c I have never had pain like that after lifting weights. I would honestly have to press into my hip muscle all afternoon/evening when I was walking to help dull the pain. But fortunately some sleep helped and today I was able to do TJ w/my regular intensity.

Side note: I wish they’d quit running so many Pizza Hut commercials during this football game. I wasn’t craving pizza until now and it’s all I can do to not run out right now and eat a pizza. Fortunately it’s almost 8:00 so it’s close enough to bedtime that I can tough it out.

Off to see what you all are doing.

Progress toward workout goal: 90/300

Current weight:  222.5 (-.5)

Apparently so b/c after my whopper combo last night WITH a chocolate pie I lost .5 pounds.  It might catch up to me tomorrow but I’m enjoying it for today.  I’m not stupid enough to believe that a repeat performance will yield the same results but I’m pleased.  I was fully prepared to see 225 this morning so it was a good surprise.

Today has been strange for me.  My hubby has started inservice and my older son goes to daycare to see his buddies on Tuesday/Thursday.  The nurse is here to take care of Kyle and the house projects are done so I have nothing to do.  You would think that I would sit back and enjoy it, especially considering that next Wednesday I start inservice, but I’m going crazy.  I worked out, did 4 loads of laundry, dusted again for good measure (why did we buy dark furniture?????), got a mystic tan and then ran errands.  I do need to balance the checkbook but keep putting that off.  Tomorrow will be more of the same b/c my older son goes to grandma’s every Friday but we’re having an open house on Sunday so I’ll be busy scrubbing shower walls and cutting the grass.  I do have a book I have been wanting to finish but I don’t do a good job of sitting around.  Geez, I need to learn how to relax.

Progress toward workout goal:  89/300

Current weight: 223 (-.5)

I ended up not having time to workout before registration b/c I cleaned for 3 hours before I left. I didn’t think we had that much to do but I wanted to make sure that everything was spic’n’span in case someone stopped by. Turns out that the listing didn’t really go out until the afternoon but our realtor did get a call just from someone who drove by and saw the sign. I’m hopeful that in the next few days we have a lot of showings.

I LOVE my new job. I am really going to have to watch my eating, though. Being in an office instead of a classroom I’ll have a bit more freedom to nibble and many of the counselors are food lovers. Apparently there is always food in the conference room. Plus, I won’t have a set schedule so lunch times are going to vary. I’m going to have to start out very rigid in my eating plan until I get a few weeks or months under my belt. And hopefully it will be a smaller belt by then

Food was not good today but I’m not going to fret. I was so busy cleaning this morning that I didn’t have time to pack a lunch so I had to eat what was in the conference room. And since I didn’t pack snacks I was tired and starving when I left which turned into a trip through the drive-thru. I hardly ever do that so I’m not going to get too upset. Tomorrow I’m back to my regular routine so I’ll get in a workout and eat properly.

Progress toward workout goal: 88/300 (no change)

Current weight: 223.5 (+1)

Our home is officially for sale starting tomorrow. The sign is in the yard but I’m freaking out b/c the house isn’t 100% ready. Just a bit of freshening up is needed and I’ll do it before registration tomorrow but I wish it was done now. I just put Kyle to bed and when I know he’s asleep for sure I’m going to be touching up some paint in the kitchen. Tomorrow will be dusting/vacuuming/cleaning bathrooms before I go to day 2 of registration. Day 1 went well, I actually don’t mind schedule changes; it’s like a puzzle to be solved.

Food was w/i calorie range today but it wasn’t super healthy. I ate my regular breakfast and lunch but from 10:30 am until almost 6:00 all I had was a bag of almonds that I brought to snack on. I ate about half of the lunch that I brought, 4 little chocolates and a sliver of a decorated cookie. I did get in a good workout this morning (CE and 20 minute TJ) so hopefully I won’t gain any more. I’m going to have to kick it into gear to get back to the 218.5 that would be maintenance from last week.

Progress toward workout goal: 88/300

Current weight: 222.5 (+4)

Boy, do I know how to bust through a plateau or what? Pig out and gain 4 pounds!!! It’s amazing how much water carbs retain b/c for the most part my food was good yesterday. I ate my regular breakfast, lunch and snack and we had grilled porkchops (enormous but fabulous) and veggies for supper. Where I went wrong was the grilled/fried potatoes and corn and the 3 pieces of white cake w/icing. I was probably over on my calories by a good 2000-3000 calories but not enough to gain 4 pounds. So I’m guessing that by Wednesday or Thursday I’ll be back at the 218.5 I was stuck at last week.

So that brings me to my weekly goal; simply maintaining my weight. We have registration the next 2 days which will make sticking to my eating plan more challenging. I’m going to bring my meals and snacks but I’m not going to add to the stress by trying to lose weight this week. If it happens, fabulous, but I’m not going to expect it.

It is freakin’ hot here! It didn’t feel too bad until I cut the grass today and by the last 10 minutes or so I thought I was going to fall over. We’re listing the house on Wednesday so I did an extra good job of string trimming and cutting the grass, not to mention the sweeping afterward. I was soaked when I came in and downed 2 huge glasses of green tea. But our weather most of the summer has been amazing and our lawn shows it. I would honestly guess it was mid-June instead of mid-August b/c the grass is so green and lush…perfect for selling a house

Progress toward workout goal: 87/300

Current weight: 218.5 (no change AGAIN)

For the 3rd day in a row I’m at 218.5 and I’m wondering if I’m at a plateau. I lost a ton of weight last week, I think 6 pounds, so I’m not complaining. It’s just that I really liked seeing those numbers going down each day. It was good while it lasted And I would guess that I’ll see a different number tomorrow b/c I’m having my Sunday treat meal and that always makes me “gain” a few pounds that go away a few days later.

Today I started the Push circuit in Chalean Extreme and this is my favorite month in the plan. You lift heavy enough that you can only do 6-8 reps so even when you’re dying it doesn’t last for very long. Then I did the 20 minute TJ and happened to catch my reflection in the glass while I was “pumping”. Even though there’s still waaaaay more flab than I want to see I didn’t look too bad. Much better than when I started.

Progress toward workout goal: 86/300

Current weight: 218.5 (no change)

Yesterday I watched a few episodes of a show called “Ruby”. She’s a woman from Savannah, GA who starts at nearly 500 pounds and it’s her quest to lose weight. One episode had her hosting a support group for her fat friends and one brought a t-shirt that she wears as a cover-up at the beach. It said “I beat anorexia”. Now before you all lecture me about how anorexia is a serious illness (I know, I work w/adolescent girls) it still struck me as funny.

Today has been up and down. Saturdays are always like that for some reason. I didn’t feel like working out at first but I did pilates for the 20 minutes that Kyle was getting his treatment. Later I did TJ and I felt much more energized after that. Food has been good, fortunately I don’t get bored eating essentially the same food over and over.

Tomorrow my brother is coming to spend the night b/c he has an interview for my old teaching position on Monday. He lives an hour away so he’s going to spend the night here so there aren’t the worries of car trouble, traffic, etc. and then he can ask me questions about the school and I can give him pointers. I so hope he gets the job; he needs one, would do a great job and it would be great to have someone from my family in town. Our older son absolutely adores my brother and it would be another person to babysit!!

We’re getting down to the nitty-gritty for the house. I went through about 10 Mr. Clean Magic Erasers for the marks on our basement walls, scrubbed the lazy susan, cleaned the shelves in all of the medicine cabinets and am getting ready to scrub-a-dub-dub the tub/shower in both of the bathrooms. Be prepared for a lot of complaining from me if our house doesn’t sell quickly.

Progress toward workout goal: 85/300

Current weight: 218.5 (-2)

At least in the weight department. I really wanted an extra treat last night but I was desperate to see the 2-teens that I held back and it paid off. I don’t know why things are working so well right now but I’m not going to question them, lord knows there will be a time (probably very soon) where no matter what I do that damn scale won’t budge. But for now she’s my friend and keeping me motivated.

What’s also exciting is that I just realized that I’m halfway to my goal. I started at 289, I have now lost 70.5 pounds and my goal is 150 which leaves me 68.5 pounds to lose. I have NEVER been halfway to my goal. And even though it has taken me about 20 months to get this far, I’m ok if it takes me another 20 months to get there. The important thing is that I get there. And honestly ladies, I would not have gotten this far w/o you.

I’ll post more later after my workout.

Stayed really busy today getting the house ready but I’m proud that before I did anything I got in my workout. I didn’t really want to for some reason but after I was done I felt great.

Went shopping for a bit this afternoon and I fit into a regular size 16 dress. Not 16W, mind you, but 16! It looked nice and after discounts and everything it would have been under $20 but I didn’t really need it and I have enough clothes right now so I put it back. I’m just happy that it fit.

Progress toward workout goal: 84/300