Shall We Shrink??

I know, I never post anymore. I think about it, and I check in on you guys, but yeah… Seriously, I am working full time and I forgot how time consuming that is. I was working out, but I somehow fell off that wagon. I was going to go to the gym tonight, but alas, I am sick. Weight is steady at about 5 pounds more than before I left Cali. I must get on that. I only need to lose 15 pounds to be happy with my weight, and yet? No motivation. At all.

I’ll post more later. I really need to get back on the accountability wagon if nothing else.

I just can’t seem to get it back!!!

Yeah, baby! A new low in the weigh in today give me 3 pounds to go til I am back to where I started. Hmmmm, now that I typed that it doesn’t sound as good; it sounds like I should have never gone back up!! Meh, live and learn.

Eating has been okay, but definitely could be better. My 2nd interview yesterday went well, and I ate well up to it, but I got home and was starving so I ate soup then crackers then nilla wafers, which I don’t even like. UGH. I did make up for it by eating a kids meal last night at Chili’s ( I know, all these restaurants here!) with veggies and not fries. And no chips or dessert. Go me! I’m trying hard today to fight the snacky urge.

I got up and miracle of miracles, I ran! I didn’t want to, but I did. My usual 30min route. It was good, hard, but good.

Later, chickies!

Well, I am officially a licensed driver. Now, I didn’t say a good driver, mind you, but nonetheless a legal one! This driving on the wrong side of the road is a bit crazy, but worse than that is the small roads! The roads here are so tiny and have no shoulder. Most of the cars follow suite, but being that I am a reproductive superstar, I can’t drive a dinky car, and instead have settled for a Honda minivan (it looks like a Scion bred with a Caravan!). This lil Honda? Not so great at navigating these tiny roads. We tried to go to Miyagi Island yesterday and literally there were places my car DID NOT FIT! True story. I was so scared, and finally just gave up and came back to the hotel. Gaw! In other news, I have an interview tomorrow! Last night I did a little resume updating, and I’m going to try to find a place to print it today. It may not be in the best paper, but I’ll see what I can find. My interviewer was transplanted here at some point, so she will undoubtably understand my haphazard interview prep. Hopefully.

On the diet front, I am doing meh. I am trying to at least be aware of my portions. That being said, dinner last night was one of those mini pizzas from Pizza Hut! It was so hot here we decided to go bowling and then exploring after it cooled off, and there is a Pizza Hut/A&W combo in the bowling alley. At least I refrained from the root beer floats the boys partook of!! I have been running about every other day. It is hard to run if you don’t wake up super early, and I have been sleeping normal again. That coupled with the time difference, because yesterday morning I spent 3 hours talking to my family on google talk! Which, if you didn’t know, is the GREATEST thing EVER! You can use a web cam and a mike (mine are both built into my laptop) so it is just like real time videoconferencing! SO awesome! Thankfully, I am happy to report my weight is down about 4 pounds from where I started (not sure what day I weighed in though… I think it was about a week ago)!! Yippee!! I still have 5 to go before I am where I was, and then another 15 to be at goal, but I am feeling pretty empowered, and that is all while still hotel living. I know once I get a home things will go MUCH smoother.

Alright, I’m off to go see if there is an alternative route to Miyagi Island that I can fit through!! There is a cliff there to DIE for, and I must take a picture! Happy Sunday, chickies!

My run this morning… OMG. I decided to go the other way this morning, to see what I could see. I had gotten a few blocks down when I noticed the foliage was much more dense this way, but I didn’t think too much of it. It was 5:30 am and still a little dark, so maybe a lil spider or something. HA! I ran right into a HUGE banana spider. Like literally, ran into it. And I jumped around flailing my arms and generally freaking OUT. So much so that a passing motorist was cackling. Yes. But, I am not going to be a baby, so I continue on. And I get a few more blocks when… I almost get flown into by… a BAT! Seriously! At this point I say eff this and turn around, taking great care to watch for spiders. I made my way back to my starting point at about 20 minutes in so I decided I had time to do the same 30 minutes I did yesterday, too. All was going well until on my last 5 minutes I come across a wild cat… staring at me. Like as in a non domesticated WILD cat! And I was once attacked in 2nd grade by a domesticated cat, so much so that I still have 3 scars from that attack, so imagine my fear. Luckily a large bird happened by at which point the cat stopped staring at me and slaughtered the bird. Like immediately. And the bird was making horrific noises. Then all of the birds in the entire area, birds that I didn’t even know were there, starting flying and making so much noise! I felt like I was in an Alfred Hitchcock movie!! Man, I need a gym, stat.

So, I have disappointing news. No marathon for me. WAH! The hubby will be gone too much for me to get my training in. I don’t have a treadmill anymore, but even if I did I would not want to do my long runs on one. So, maybe next time. I am still going to try to run as much as possible though. I really, really want to be a runner.

Food last night was bad. As in curry bad. Good news was that I don’t care for Japanese curry. I am loyal to my Thai! So I won’t eat it again. Then I had 2 popsicles. It’s so hot here that I like popsicles again! I haven’t eaten them in years. I am going to try hard to get my eating under control today.

Pre run: yogurt (120)
post run: cheerios/skim (200) green tea
snack: balance bar (130)
lunch: turkey sandwich, popsicle (280)
snack: yogurt (son opened it! grrrrr!) with trail mix, and lots of it (480)
dinner: chicken w/ rice and corn (200) cinnamon rolls. yes plural (420)

DAMN it! I did not do well with eating today. I was way too snacky. Tomorrow is another day…

I did a pretty good job yesterday. I wrote down my calories before dinner and I had about 700 left for dinner. I am pretty sure I didn’t go over that. I am having a problem with my bodybugg software… it thinks I am still in California, so everything is on Cali time… and I am 16 hours ahead of that! So logging food is effed up, and my calories burned are all jacked up, too. I’m going to email them, but for now I am just going to do the best I can, and record things manually.

Food here is ridiculous. The produce aisle of the commissary? A JOKE. Seriously. $4.50 a pound for tomatoes. And the fruit they had? Apples, bananas, and pineapple (no joke, that was it)… all expensive. I paid almost $5 for 3 apples! So, I am going to have to get creative with our diet, too. And, the worst part is there is NO Greek yogurt!!! Wah! Its my fave! I think instead of fresh fruit and veggies I am going to buy frozen (still kind of expensive, but better than nothing!) and incorporate a smoothie or homemade frozen yogurt or something into our day. Also, the boys are drinking lots of juice, so that will be good. And milk here is only sold by the half gallon… and it costs the same as a gallon at home! We go through milk like water. I told the boys that because of the humidity here I want them to start drinking more water, so I am going to buy us all new water bottles and that should help, too. What other suggestions do you chickies have for healthy living in a place with no fresh produce??? I am thinking there is probably somewhere out in town that has something, but I can’t drive yet, and won’t be able to for at least 30 days after my class Wednesday (on base restriction). This is a dieters nightmare.

I’m going to go for a walk/run in just a little bit, when the sun comes up. I am having a hard time adjusting to the schedule here. I have been falling asleep around 6pm and waking up at 3am! None of my men are having this problem. I am going to force myself to take a nap today and see if that will help me stay up later. I tried to yesterday, but it was not happening.

Today is the housing appointment, and hopefully we will get our two choices today, as well. I am dying to see where we’ll be living for the next 3 years, and the boys are dying to know if we get to have a pet!!

Pre-run: yogurt (120)
Post run: honey nut cheerios & skim (200), some japanese coffee thing (50?)
Snack: snickers energy bar (220)
Lunch: organic ckn noodle soupn(180), few wheat thins and cheese (100), trail mix (160)

RUN: ok, so I walked for 17 minutes and then turned around and ran back in 13. I am thinking it was around 2 miles, maybe a tad more. It was HOT! Not necessarily hot, but HUMID! I was sweating in places I didn’t know you could sweat. At 5:30am none the less! All in all, the run really wasn’t that bad, I just was feeling a little dehydrated and was having to wipe sweat out of my eyes constantly. I think after I get used to the humidity it won’t be so bad. Also, I am swollen from the humidity, too. My feet and hands both. My poor lil fingers. So maybe if I drink a lot more water I will lose some of the water retention, too. Or at least here is to hoping! I weighed in this morning only 8 pounds heavier (haha), so yay for that!

**I have decided that I am running the Naha Marathin on December 4th here in Okinawa! It will just be a few weeks before my 30th bizzday, and if firefly can run one in Paris on her 40th, surely I can do this! I just made up a 16 week plan (that calls for a 4 mile run tomorrow, and I have never been 4 miles away here!) that I think is pretty doable. Once we live on base this should become much easier. I have an extra week in there, too, so if I get behind or screw up I do have a little leeway. Is leeway a word?! And, the hubby is going to do it with me… he just doesn’t know it yet. Buahahahaha

**WOW, this is crazy hard!!! I went to map out my route for tomorrow and NOPE! It is all in Japanese!! And I don’t read, wrote, nor speak it. So, I think I am going to do this weeks runs in time increments instead of miles, and then hopefully on base I can figure something out. Maybe they will have a track I can use until I get a car and I can drive to estimate mileage? I thought the figuring into kilometers was a pain, but I made a spreadsheet and converted that easily. This is a challenge!!

I am hoping there is some crazy thing whereby you gain a large number of weight when you travel far distances and then it magically goes away. Yes? Ugh, I thought not.

My fabulous hubby brought me a scale as per my request and that scale? NOT my friend, not my friend at all. In fact, that scale thinks I have gained about 9 pounds on this little 3 week moving extravaganza. AGHHHHH! So, starting today, right now, this very minute? I am BACK at it. I logged my food and I’m doing good so far today. I need to go for a walk or something, but it is about 3pm here and SO hot and HUMID. Seriously, like 82% humidity. It’s not natural. I’m charging my bodybugg and then in an hour or so I am just going to suck it up and get it done. Back to twice a day, schedule allowing. The hubby is leaving at 6:30 am in the morning, so I may not have time for anything in the morning. UGH. Maybe a youtube video or something?? I have to get charge of this or else my clothes won’t fit!! My jeans were so uncomfortable on the plane.

In other news, this living in Japan thing is quite interesting. I ventured to the local Starbucks today (I know, diving right into the culture here!) and I had to use a picture menu!!! I had no idea how to communicate with them! So Rosetta Stone here I come starting tonight.

Alright, I’m off to get something done. Not sure what yet, but something to take my mind off of gaining NINE POUNDS in THREE weeks!

Happy Sunday, chickies!

So tonight is our last night in the states… we leave for Japan tomorrow just after noon! How exciting… and nerve racking, and scary, and all sorts of other emotions.

I have been gone for a while because I have been homeless We have been staying in hotels for the last couple of weeks, and this makes food really, really difficult to plan and even control at times. I am making moderately decent choices. My clothes still fit, so that is a good sign. I have no idea what I weigh, as I haven’t weighed in since the movers packed my scale. I really am curious, though. Up until about 3 days ago my exercise was crazy good, but since we have been here at this last hotel I haven’t done much. We are just off the harbor in San Diego and frankly it isn’t really a safe place! I mean, this hotel is nice, but the area downtown is not so much. Someone got shot last night! And I? I am a weenie!! But, as soon as we get settled in Japan I will be updating you with all sorts of exercise, and I will start using my bodybugg again. I just have to find the charger first!! I wished I had worn it at Disney, because for three days straight I walked at least 11 hours a day! I bet I burned major calories. I would put pics on here, but it takes forever to download here, so I’ll give you this link to my facebook. Be my friend if you wanna

Hope all you chickies are kicking much booty! I am still trying to keep up with you, even if I suck at posting myself, and posting comments!!!

SO I haven’t logged food for 3 days, and frankly? Don’t care! I’m not being perfect or even good by any stretch of the imagination, but I am doing the best I can with the situation I am in. The movers will be here Monday and it has been crazy hectic to get organized. AGHHHH So far no weight gain and I am tying to stay active. At least that is good, right?

My sisters will be here in a few hours (with my son that I miss like CRAZY!) and we’re having a girls weekend!!! Mani-pedi action in the morn, followed by haircuts and shopping in downtown San Diego, and then we’re gonna hit the town! I’m wearing a LBD with some HOT red heels! Sunday we’re going to lounge on the beach and then Sunday night the hubby and I are going on a date! And then Monday the movers come and that night I have to take them back to the airport (BOO!). So, I’ll probably be gone all of this weekend, but I hope you chickies have a great one and stay true to your goals!!!

Sorry I have been MIA. I am so freaking stressed out it’s unreal. This is my last week to pack, and Friday my sisters will be here so I am in overdrive. Funny thing though… I have made sure to hit my calorie burn target everyday, including jogging in place Saturday night so I could play a game with my son instead of going for another run/walk… and what is the result? A three pound gain. Yep. I should have lost 2.5 pounds according to the bodybugg, but seriously, SOMEONE HATES ME. WHy is losing weight so hard for me?? I just don’t get it. I can weigh myself one day and the next have gained 5 pounds… for NO reason. I’m just so discouraged. I feel like I work so hard and sacrifice so much, only to be let down in the end. I hate this feeling. This is the one thing that I try the hardest at, and no matter what I just can’t win. The first 3 weeks I did this I rocked it, and then the last two pretty much negated any progress. So in 5 weeks I have lost 5 pounds, walking and or running about 7-8 miles a day and keeping my calories in check around 1600. How is that even possible?? I’m just so close to saying screw it.

*****************
Thanks guys. I am over (mostly) my pity party now. Because? A worse thing has come along. My effin knee is HURTING! I am icing it right now. I think I am just overdoing it on the mileage. I did my morning walk and run and I think that is all the intentional exercise I am going to do today. Maybe the elliptical would be okay? I dunno, I just know that I have been doing laundry and packing all morning and it has been achy. It got so bad on one stretch of running that I had to stop and just walk. It makes a popping noise when I extend it. I know, can’t be a good sign.

But, I have decided, you know what? I am in this to be healthy, not skinny (though that would be a nice side prize!), and I AM healthy! I am one of the most healthy people I know. I eat right 90% of the time, I exercise, I set a great example for my boys. So effing what if I weigh too much. I’m over caring. I think the stress of thinking about it so much in combination with the stress of moving is making it worse.

So I hope all you chickies are having a GREAT day!! I promise I’ll be more positive from now on =]

**************
I put all my bad energy to good use and knocked a HUGE dent in my packing. YAY. I totally have done a 180 from my mood this morning. OMG, can you sayhormones?

B: oats, brown sugar, blueberries
S: none
L: kashi roll, green tea, cottage cheese
S: greek yogurt, honey, strawberries
D: