It’s all up to me

Current weight: 221.5 (+2)

One thing that’s looking up is my weight but I deserve it so I’m not going to let it get me down. Life is crazy right now and I have accepted it.

In other areas, though, the upward trend is positive. Our house is supposed to be ready by the 22nd which is when we have to be out of this one. We’re going to move boxes on Saturday and just store them in the basement and garage of the new house, and then we’re having the movers come Thursday morning to move furniture. Fortunately we were already planning to pay movers for the big items. I never thought it was something that normal people did b/c I figured it would be way too expensive, but it’s only going to cost us about $300 to have all of the big furniture, exercise equipment and humongo cast-iron grill loaded up, moved and unloaded into our new house. Sold!

Speaking of exercise equipment, I finally found my elliptical!!!! I was getting discouraged b/c everwhere I went I’d hop on an elliptical and feel like it was going to tip over. At first I set my budget at $500 and realized that wasn’t going to happen, so then I was looking in the $800 range and still not happy. I even, out of frustration, got on a model that was on sale for $1199 and wasn’t pleased. For some reason I went to a specialty sporting goods store and ran into the deal of a lifetime. This store is typically VERY expensive (which is why I hadn’t been there before) but they had a commercial-grade elliptical clearanced out at $799 from $2299!!!!! It was the only one left and it felt just like the one I used to use @ the gym. Silent as a mouse and completely sturdy. I asked if they could store it until we moved b/c I didn’t want to move it twice and he said no, they have inventory coming up and he needs to get rid of it. I went home, did some research on it and realized that it’s truly a piece of equipment worth $2299 and that I’d be kicking myself if I let it get by. When I went back to pay for it he agreed to let us keep it there until Saturday when we’ll have a moving truck and a bunch of men to load it up and move it to our new house. At least this way we’ll only have to move it one time, and if it’s super duper heavy we can have the moving guys move it to my workout room on the 22nd. I’m so excited to get on it and get rid of this muffin top/spare tire that I’m hauling around.

I also bought Kettlenetics today, the infomercial w/the kettlebell. I’ll let you know how I like it in a few days. No workout today, just powershopping!

Progress toward workout goal: 125/300

Current weight: 219.5 (no change)

The guy who is buying our house refuses to let us rent our house for a few days so unless our builder can kick it in the butt we’re going to be homeless for a while. I still haven’t heard from the builder so until he tells me that there’s no way to get it done in time I’m going to be hopeful but we’re still looking into hotels and seeing if there are rooms that will be big enough for me, my hubby, 2 kids, medical equipment and a nurse. Keep your fingers crossed that he gets it done by the 22nd.

Did the TJ weighted workout after school today and I’m guessing I’m going to be sore tomorrow b/c I had to stop before I stretched. But I like being sore so it’s ok.

Progress toward workout goal: 125/300

Current weight:  219.5

I was trying to figure out what workout to do after school and my son asked if I wanted to play Wii Fit.  I had already gotten up early this morning and did pilates so some fun activity on the Wii sounded great!  I’m going to get up early tomorrow and do cardio so I don’t mind not getting it in tonight.

We’re going to check w/the guy who bought our house and see if we can rent our home from him for a couple of days or hopefully a week.  Our builder said he’s pay for us to stay in a hotel but that’s not feasable in our situation, plus we still would have to figure out what to do w/all of our stuff.  I’ll be soooooo glad when it’s November and all of this is OVER.

Progress toward workout goal:  124/300

My sister and I have been on this journey together for almost 2 years now and we’re both struggling right now to make any progress. To kickstart both of our butts we’re entering into a challenge. We each determine our own goal (mine is to lose 15 pounds by Christmas) and if we don’t make it we have to pay the other person $50. I’m cheap and hate to lose so now I’m fired up. This is good b/c it will keep me focused over the holiday season. It will also help b/c I’m having trouble being motivated to workout. I did a lower body weight DVD today and stopped partway through b/c I packed away the 14″ step I normally use for leg presses and didn’t feel like it was safe to use my coffee table. But I’m working out a little bit which is better than nothing.

Progress toward workout goal: 123/300

Current weight: 224.0 (-.5)

I’ll spare you the details but the day started at 1:30 am w/the call of “Mom???” which meant “I wet the bed.” The sheets were changed, he was cleaned off and then when I crawled back into bed I couldn’t shut my mind off and rattled off a to do list. I nearly got up for the morning at that point but found a way to fall back asleep. Two major crises @ school (a kid on the run and a girl who is being physically abused and mentally tortured by her boyfriend) and tonight we found out our house most likely won’t be ready by our moving date. I’m happy to say, though, that I never thought of turning to food. A friend even offered me some chocolate and although it was super tempting I realized I didn’t want it so I turned it down.

I did about 20 minutes of pilates this morning before school and then did 30 minutes of TJ Cardio Party after school. It felt good to be working out again but it’s kind of sad how out of shape I got in 2 weeks of being a slug.

Progress toward workout goal: 122/300

Life is finally starting to slow down a bit so I’m going back to what has worked in the past. I’m going to suck it up and get up early to workout (weights) in the morning, but I’m only getting up at 4:30 instead of 4:00. I was worried last week that I was getting sick so my sleep was more important but I think that was more stress than anything. I’m going back to my regular breakfasts/lunches and sticking w/the frozen meals or chicken breasts for supper. And I’m going to get in a bit of cardio in the afternoons which helps me to make healthier supper choices. Once we move (2 weeks!!!!) I’ll probably switch it to do the elliptical or yoga in the mornings and then weights in the afternoons but for now this is good. The good news is after 2 weeks of no exercise due to injury/laziness and some fairly poor eating I’m only up about 4 pounds but my clothes are still fitting. Granted, I don’t feel as firm as I did 2 weeks ago but to others I look the same.

I also found some motivation as I was packing. Years ago I bought some pants on ebay that I have been saving for when I lose enough weight. Technically I can wear them but it isn’t pretty, so losing another 10-15 pounds will make them look good. Two of them are some cool cordouroys from Old Navy that will look awesome w/my boots so they’ll be great for winter.

The last several months I have been weighing myself every day and it has been working well. This week, however, I decided to suspend that b/c I know I gained a few last week and w/the benefit on Sunday I didn’t want to see the result. It’s not that I was hiding my head in the sand, just more of a “what’s done is done” and seeing the big number would not be motivating but instead discouraging. My goal was to slowly start working out again and eat well for the week and then weigh myself on Sunday to have a “new” starting number. That plan hasn’t worked very well, I have only worked out once and food could have been better. So to shock myself back into a healthy way of life I got on the scale, prepared to see something close to the 230 range. Imagine my surprise to see 220.5! It’s almost like it was divine intervention b/c I have been craving a cappuccino lately and was prepared to stop on the way to school this morning which would have lead to a donut which would have lead to…anything that wasn’t nailed down.

I know that even with this renewed enthusiasm the next few weeks are going to be hard so I’m going to do what I can. I’m starting to get that “fat” feeling b/c I haven’t been working out. I’m going to set a goal that next week I’ll walk on the treadmill for at least 15 minutes every night. The scary thing is I’m not sure if I’ll be able to accomplish that which is odd coming from the girl who usually works out 1-2 hours a day but I’m finally willing to admit that I have bitten off more than I can chew. I have only written 5 thank you notes for the benefit when I have about 100 to go, we haven’t started packing and I feel a cold coming on which is why I’m choosing to sleep extra instead of getting up at 4:00 to workout. I know that I’m doing the right thing and I know that this too shall pass but I hate having to admit that I can’t do it all right now. I love, love, love my new job but it requires so much more time than my teaching position ever did. Plus, it’s so much more mentally draining. Just this afternoon I was dealing w/a kid who’s mom died suddenly over the summer, a girl who was raped when she was in 2nd grade and another girl who’s dad tells her she’s a loser and will never amount to anything. I found out a girl yesterday has been told her entire life that her mom wishes she would have killed her when she was a baby when she had the chance and that she never wanted her while she treats the boys in the family like kings. I think if I knew even half of the stuff our kids are dealing w/I wouldn’t get out of bed in the morning and I even work w/kids @ the “good” high school in town.

Can we just fast forward to Halloween?????